Alpha Project

Alpha Project (α-Project) is the name given to initial experimentation with T'lan DNA, referred to by scientists as T'langen. Conceptualized with the intent of creating "Super-Soldiers," α-Project yielded unsatisfactory results with all but one of the ten subjects dying in the process. Derrick Cole is the sole surviving, and only successful, test subject of α-Project.

α-Project involved administering large quantities of T'langen into the test subject in a single injection. The consequences of this action often resulted in severe complications such as seizures, increased blood pressure, or cardiac arrest. Additionally, one of the test subjects was cited as having complained about pain in his right arm (indicative of the glowing energy later experienced by Derrick Cole). As a result, most subjects died shortly after the T'langen injection. Derrick Cole survived this process, though he entered a coma and now suffers from amnesia.

Dr. Ogawa is the administrative head of α-Project. It is quite clear he feels guilt due to the deaths of the α-Project test subjects as he is witnessed by Derrick lamenting over their graves. He is glad that Derrick survived the experiment and comments that there was at least "some success." After recognizing Derrick's potential, he administers an Accelerator to boost his powers. This is then followed by the Ultra-Accelerator fifteen years later.

α-Project was followed by the more successful β-Project.

It's estimated that Derrick's powers are initially on par with those of Alex. The single large dose of T'langen he received is more or less equivalent to the multiple smaller doses Alex received over the years, though it is possible Alex may be slightly more powerful than Derrick at this point depending on the overall amount of T'langen administered. It is quite clear that Derrick's powers later surpass Alex's after administering the Accelerator. This becomes even more prevalent with the Ultra-Accelerator at which point Derrick's powers are nearly on par with those of Solus. It is documented in game that there are ten α-Project test subjects. There are also ten graves for α-Project test subjects located in Terminus 4. This doesn't quite add up as Derrick Cole, α-Project subject 7, survived. It's possible that this grave was made in preparation for his expected death.

α-Project closely resembles the ORION Project (retroactively renamed the SPARTAN I Program) from the Halo series in which combat veterans were genetically modified to create "Super-Soldiers." While much more successful (and with no known immediate failures) in comparison to α-Project, the SPARTAN I Program did lead to many of its candidates developing mental instabilities as result of their augmentation. The high casualty rate of α-Project is more closely in line with that of the SPARTAN II Program, in which many subjects died due to their augmentation, though the failure rate of α-Project is notably much higher.

Derrick Cole is test subject 7 of the α-Project. This is yet another nod towards Halo as Bungie often incorporates the number seven into their works.