Varric-pattern heavy cruiser: Difference between revisions

|class=[[Cruiser]], [[Covenant ship classification system#Major categories|Examiner]]<ref name="Warfleet"/>

|width=1,451 meters (4,760 feet)<ref name="EVG"/>

|mass=200 million tonnes<ref name="Warfleet"/>

*3× [[Energy projector|''Felo''-pattern plasma beam emitters]]<ref name="Warfleet"/>

*48× [[Plasma cannon (starship)|''Melusean''-pattern heavy plasma cannons]]<ref name="Warfleet"/>

*16× [[Plasma torpedo|''Qur''-pattern plasma torpedo silos]]<ref name="Warfleet"/>

*16× [[Plasma bombardment mortar|''Fet''-pattern plasma bombardment mortars]]<ref name="Warfleet"/>

*80× [[Pulse laser turret|''Ferriel''-pattern pulse lasers]]<ref name="Warfleet"/>

*[[Type-52 Phantom]]<ref name="Warfleet"/>

*400 [[Sangheili Major|Obedientaries]]<ref name="Warfleet"/>

*6,000 Warriors<ref name="Warfleet"/>

*8,500 Thralls<ref name="Warfleet"/>

|crew=*16 [[Sangheili|Superiors]]<ref name="Warfleet"/>

*70 [[Huragok|Engineers]]<ref name="Warfleet"/>

*1,200 [[Menials]]<ref name="Warfleet"/>

The '''''ORS''-class heavy cruiser''' is a [[capital ship|capital]] [[warship]] classification within the now-defunct [[Covenant fleet]].<ref name="EVG"/> It is used for planetary occupation and naval command, as well as to support Covenant [[flagship]]s.<ref>'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''', ''page 277'' (2011 edition)</ref> Following the [[Great Schism]], these ships have become invaluable to [[Covenant remnants|independent warlords]].<ref name="WC">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/vehicles/covenant-cruiser '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Covenant Cruiser'']</ref>

Unique to this class are a number of [[Forerunner]] [[shrine-core]] power plants of various sizes. Drawing their untapped potential is a risky affair, as it can destroy the cruiser. As a result, their full power is restrained by devotional seals and interlocks, which is then harnessed by Covenant control and weapon systems. Blessed keepers in the warship's engineering section practice many strange rituals to bypass the Forerunner security systems.<ref name="Warfleet"/>

Compared to other Covenant warships, the ''ORS''-class heavy cruiser is labor-intensive and difficult to operate, requiring about 1,286 hand-picked personnel to be effectively manned. These are led by sixteen [[Sangheili]], with seventy [[Huragok]] for maintenance duties, and Menials make up the rest. The reason for this is because these cruisers are old, dating back to the Covenant's early centuries. Special interpreters and scholars are required on the warship's bridge, as many of the ship's controls and data feeds only display now-cryptic messages in an early Sangheili dialect.<ref name="Warfleet"/>

The ''ORS''-class is well armed for its size, enabling its use as a [[flagship]] for small [[battle group|task force]]s. It is equipped with a [[Energy projector|''Ventrax''-pattern heavy plasma lance]] as its heaviest ship-to-ship weapon, which fires a tightly-focused stream of plasma which travels almost as fast as light. These weapons do damage via a combination of thermal and kinetic effects, and have proven capable of bisecting unshielded warships at close range. In addition, three [[Energy projector|''Felo''-pattern plasma beam emitters]] are installed. Due to power restraints, only one of these weapons can fire at once, with the ''ORS''-class typically combining its forward-mounted projector with two plasma torpedoes.<ref name="GoO2">'''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''', ''page 197''</ref> For ship-to-ship combat, forty-eight [[Plasma cannon (starship)|''Melusean''-pattern heavy plasma cannons]] and sixteen [[Plasma torpedo|''Qur''-pattern plasma torpedo silos]] are installed, with the plasma torpedoes being preferred because of their tracking capabilities. Defending the ship against fighters, attack ships and missiles are eighty [[Pulse laser turret|''Ferriel''-pattern pulse lasers]].<ref name="Warfleet"/>

For ground attacks, the ''ORS''-class has two types of weapon systems to bring to bear. The first is its [[Energy projector|''Phar''-pattern superheavy excavation beam]], which is capable of [[Glass]]ing worlds in the name of the Covenant and excavating Forerunner artifacts. Sixteen [[Plasma bombardment mortar|''Fet''-pattern plasma bombardment mortars]] are there for smaller, more precise attacks.<ref name="Warfleet"/>

The ''ORS''-class boasts a variety of stealth-related advancements, including a [[active camouflage|cloaking system]]<ref name="Unboxing">[https://www.waylandgames.co.uk/blog/78-halo-fleet-battles-unboxing Wayland Games'] [http://www.waylandgames.co.uk/img/cms/WG%20Blog/Toby%20S/9%20-%20Halo%20Unboxing/HALO%2015.jpg ''Halo: Fleet Battles - Unboxing''] {{C|excerpt image}}</ref> to mask it from enemy fleets.<ref name="canon fodder"/>

The first ''ORS''-class heavy cruisers were commissioned during the Covenant's early centuries to fight the many bloody civil wars and slaughters, which in turn typified the Covenant's [[Ages of Conflict]] and [[Ages of Doubt|Doubt]] during this early period. Because of this service, each ''ORS''-class warship is a symbol of ancient honor, and their accumulated glory reflects on the hand-picked crews. As an [[examiner]]-class vessel, ''ORS''-class heavy cruisers were sent far across the [[Orion Arm]], where their missions often determined the fate of entire worlds and species. Because of this prestigious assignment, only Ministries that had received approval from the Hierarchs were allowed to activate, crew, and deploy these powerful warships.<ref name="Warfleet"/>

After the Human-Covenant War concluded, most ''ORS''-class heavy cruisers found themselves in service of [[Covenant remnants|various warlords]], with many disregarding or forgetting the significance of their names and achievements as they fought over what remained of the Covenant.<ref name="Warfleet"/> Two heavy cruisers, manned by [[Sangheili]] and [[Jiralhanae]] respectively, would be destroyed during the [[Carrow Conflict]].<ref name="Envoy">'''[[Halo: Envoy]]'''</ref>

The ''ORS''-class heavy cruiser was first identified as such in [[2011]]'s ''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]'', though its first appearance was as the "''Reverence''-class" cruiser ''[[Incorruptible]]'' in [[2006]]'s ''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''. The class' first canonical visual appearance was in ''[[Halo: Fleet Battles]]''. As the ''ORS'' had never appeared in any visual media prior to 2015, the class had to be designed from scratch for the game. [[343 Industries]]' Franchise Team noted that "''[[Spartan Games]] 'got' the design language of the Covenant''", and so the design of the cruiser went through only a few rounds of iteration. The basic shape was decided upon immediately when the design process began.<ref name="canon fodder"/>

The ''ORS'' combines design features of the {{Class|CCS|battlecruiser}}, the {{Class|SDV|heavy corvette}}, and the {{Class|CSO|supercarrier}}. The ''ORS'' class was intended to be the "big brother" of the ''CCS'' class while concomitantly paying homage to the {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}} (which is identical to the ''CSO''). The heavy cruiser was designed to be an apparent visual link between Covenant cruiser and [[carrier]] classes in terms of size.<ref name="canon fodder"/>