Editing Modular Dispersal Technology

{{Status|Canon}}
[[File:MDT.png|thumb|300px|A conceptual image of an [[CAS-class assault carrier|assault carrier]]'s two main sections.]]
'''Modular Dispersal Technology''' ('''MDT''') is the [[United Nations Space Command]]-given name for a technology developed by the [[Forerunner]]s relating to the detachment of modular starship sections while in a vacuum. The technology was adapted by the [[Covenant]] for use in their [[Covenant starship|spacecraft]].{{Ref/Site|Id=waypoint|URL=http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/theuniverse/tech/gallery/modular-dispersal-technology/e10ac7c3-932c-4b3a-91e5-3bf79c179b68?page=2|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Modular Dispersal Technology|D=14|M=03|Y=2011|LocalArchive=Archive:Halo Waypoint/2009 to 2014/Universe/Technology#Modular Dispersal Technology}}

==Overview==
The technology was first used by the [[Forerunner]]s during the [[Forerunner-Flood war]] against the [[Flood]] to break off infected sections of ships while allowing the rest of the ship to continue operating.{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint}} [[Forerunner starship]]s early in the conflict made use of [[grappler]]s and [[hard light]] construction, allowing them to reshape their geometry to suit the needs of the current situation - something which presumably aided in modular dispersal.{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=338}}

Modular Dispersal Technology is equipped on select Covenant warships, such as the {{Pattern|Kerel|assault carrier}}. It is used by them to detach damaged, non-critical sections of a ship rather than return to a repair center, or to disperse a part of the ship which could leave any hostiles stranded in space. To do this the ship must detonate charges that would break off that part of the ship. Due to the modular design of Covenant ships, a ship would be able to function even with a large amount of its major sections detached. Afterward, a ship could be easily reassembled at a repair facility.{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint}}{{Ref/Film|Id=Package|HLeg|Story=The Package (animated short)}}

The technology is also consistent with the Covenant's overall design philosophy, which usually involves many modular and redundant components instead of a centralized design.{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint}}

==Usage==
Modular Dispersal Technology was used during the final stages of [[Operation: WARM BLANKET]]. Toward the battle's end, [[shipmaster]] [[Luro 'Taralumee]] ordered the separation of the assault carrier ''[[Resplendent Fervor]]'' in an effort to prevent the [[boarding]] action of [[SPARTAN-II program|SPARTAN-II]] [[Blue Team]]. The front half of ''Resplendent Fervor'' was able to successfully detach from the aft section and fled into [[Slipstream space|slipspace]], while the remaining half was set to self-destruct.{{Ref/Reuse|Package}} This is one of only a handful of recorded instances of the Covenant practically using MDT in a combat scenario - of which the majority are still largely ill-understood.{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:1771439-gallery.png|Shipmaster Luro 'Taralumee gives the order to scuttle the carrier, ''Resplendent Fervor''.
File:1771440-gallery.png|''Resplendent Fervor'' separates from the aft section. Note the hull plates being hurled in space.
File:1771441-gallery.png|The front end of ''Resplendent Fervor'' separates from the aft section just prior to making a slipspace jump.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
**''[[The Package (animated short)|The Package]]'' {{1st}}

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}
{{Forerunner|technology}}
[[Category:Covenant technology]]
[[Category:Forerunner technology]]