Cryo chamber

A Cryo-chamber is a chamber that allows all UNSC non-essential personel to be frozen for long periods of time. They are basically large metal pods with form-fitting gel beds where the personnel are frozen until they are "needed". Master Chief makes his first appearance in Halo 1 inside a cryo-chamber.

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The cryo-chambers are usually stored in their own areas of the ship. Each cryo-chamber will hold an individual for as long as necessary, provided they use a Bronchial Surfactant, and can be ejected prior to a ship landing, thus saving some crew from harm to be recovered later. Linda-058, after being severely injured during the fall of Reach, was placed in a cryo-chamber in the Pillar of Autumn. Prior to the ship's landing on Installation 04, her cryo chamber was ejected, and she was picked up by the Master Chief at a later date.

Cryo-chambers are monitored by the Ship's AI, and the AI can awaken crew members at a moment's notice. Cryo wake-up protocols demand that crew check each other to make sure everyone revives from cryo alright. There is usually a medical pod in cryogenics bays for emergency resuscitations. Many times people are stored in cryo-pods naked, as covered skin generally reacts badly to the cryo process, leaving skin raw and blistered.

However, in Halo: Combat Evolved, the Master Chief emerges from the cryo-pod completely fitted in his armor, using Spartan training to ignore the pain. His enhanced physiology presumably allows for a quick recovery from superficial pain and injury such as this.

Trivia

• Cryo-chambers are referred to as "the freezer" in slang.