Editing Energy projector

{{Status|Canon}}
'''Energy projectors''' are a broad classification of naval weaponry used by the [[Covenant]] aboard their [[Covenant starship|spacecraft]]. They operate as high-tier [[plasma weaponry]] firing streams of high-intensity [[plasma]] at a target typically guided by a combination of magnetic fields and [[gravitic]] energy.{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=261}}

==Overview==
===Design details===
[[File:Halo3 E3 TRAILER 2007 720p30 ST 6300Kbps 002 0001.jpg|thumb|300px|A {{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}} using its energy projector to help contain the [[Flood]] outbreak in [[Voi]].]]
Energy projectors employ the use of [[gravitics|gravitic impellors]] and magnetic lensing to accelerate, focus and direct beams of high-intensity plasma generated by the ship's [[pinch fusion reactor]]. The most powerful energy projectors form tight beam lances for excavation and cutting, while lesser mechanisms emit streams of plasma which are bent towards targets using magnetic fields.{{Ref/Book|HWF|Page=90}} When preparing to fire, energy projectors employ targeting vanes that iris into position around a magnetized muzzle, ready to direct the plasma they fire.{{Ref/Novel|HSoI}} This charging period is signified with a buildup of plasma around the targeting mechanism and a bright glow, before the firing sequence commences.

Some classes of Covenant [[space station]]s also carry energy projectors as their main defensive capability; one of the few known instances of this was when the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} encountered a [[Oth Lodon station|Covenant battlestation]] orbiting the gas giant [[Oth Lodon]] in [[2558]]. In this engagement the station, commandeered by [[Insurrectionist]]s of the [[New Colonial Alliance]] fired the station's main energy projector upon the UNSC flagship, severely damaging it with a single shot. This particular projector was mounted upon the station's central "tower", allowing for maximum range and effect against approaching targets.{{Ref/Comic|Id=HE5|HEsc|Issue=5}}

==Types of energy projector==
There are multiple kinds of energy projector used by the Covenant. In the same way that [[coilgun]] technology is used by [[human]]ity in a wide variety of applications ranging from small [[point-defense gun]]s to gargantuan [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon]]s, so do energy projectors for the Covenant.

===Excavation beams===
{{Main|Excavation beam}}
Excavations beams serve aboard the largest Covenant ships as tools for mining and [[orbital bombardment]], and are as such typically placed on the ship's ventral surface - giving rise to the colloquialism "ventral beams". They are used on only the largest [[capital ship]]s, and can have their output dialled as such to excavate [[Forerunner]] artefacts with fine-tuned precision or obliterate ground installations with plasma until the surface is but glass.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}

Excavation beams are generally only equipped on the largest Covenant [[capital ship]]s; [[Covenant carrier|carriers]], [[Covenant cruiser|cruisers]] and [[Covenant destroyer|destroyers]] all see them as a standard fitting - with generally only one excavation beam per-ship (the {{Pattern|Sh'wada|supercarrier}} serves as a notable exception to this rule, hosting multiple arrays of excavation beam).
<gallery>
File:Mombasa_Glassing.jpg|A {{Pattern|Kerel|assault carrier}} glassing [[New Mombasa]] with its ''Infernus''-pattern superheavy excavation beam.
</gallery>

===Plasma lances===
{{Main|Plasma lance}}
Unlike excavation beams, plasma lances serve as a primary anti-[[warship]] weapon aboard the largest Covenant ships, serving in a role similar to the [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon]]s of [[humanity]]. Plasma lances fire tightly-focused streams of high-velocity plasma that deal damage via both thermal and kinetic means, able to bisect unshielded warships entirely.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}

Plasma lances are distributed more throughout the Covenant naval forces than excavation beams; while still predominantly used on larger warships, they also see some use on the smaller vessels of the Covenant too. Notable examples include the {{Pattern|Rothen|fireship}} and {{Pattern|Mutan Et|storm cutter}}.
<gallery>
File:Invasion - Sniper vs Autumn.png|A {{Pattern|Kewu|battleship}} firing its ''Muesh''-pattern flensing lance during the [[Fall of Reach]].
File:H2A_Cutscene_EnergyProjectorPiercing.png|A {{Pattern|Syfon|assault carrier}} firing its dorsal ''Urpeon''-pattern superheavy plasma lance during the [[Battle for Earth]].
</gallery>

===Plasma beams===
{{Main|Plasma beam emitter}}
Plasma beams function as a scaled down-form of plasma lance for use as a more general-purpose anti-ship weapon comparable in form to human [[Naval autocannon|naval coilgun]] turrets. They are found on most Covenant warships in higher numbers than plasma beams, and serve as a major weapon system for use in combat.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
<gallery>
File:HCD_-_AlphaCorviSpaceBattle.jpg|A {{Pattern|Sinaris|heavy destroyer}} firing its ''Aljordan''-pattern plasma beam in the [[Battle of Alpha Corvi II]].
</gallery>

==''Halo Wars''==
In ''[[Halo Wars]]'', the [[Prophet of Regret]] uses the '''Cleansing Beam''' as his leader power. An orbiting vessel "[[Glassing|glasses]]" the target, and has the power to destroy almost anything. The weapon's capabilities can be upgraded to progressively increase power and decrease supply usage at the [[Covenant temple|temple]]. The upgrades are named ''Regret's Sentence'', ''Regret's Doom'', and ''Regret's Condemnation'', respectively.

To use it, the player must select the Prophet of Regret and press the '''Y''' button. The player can then use the left thumbstick to move the beam around the Prophet's field of view. The Cleansing Beam can damage all units, including the player's and allies' forces; however, Regret himself cannot be damaged by the beam. The beam's color is dependent upon the player's team color.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Firing Energy Projector.png|A Covenant assault carrier firing its energy projector in ''Halo 2''.
File:Glassing Upclose.jpg|A close-up to the energy projector used by a ''Ket''-pattern battlecruiser.
File:AC Cargobay.jpg|Large Covenant ships, such as the ''[[Shadow of Intent]]'', have energy projectors located on their undersides.
File:Mombasa Glassing.jpg|A Covenant assault carrier glassing [[New Mombasa]] with an energy projector.
File:HW Screenshots E3 3.jpg|The Cleansing Beam in ''[[Halo Wars]]''.
File:HaloReach - Glassing.jpg|A ''Ket''-pattern battlecruiser glassing [[New Alexandria (location)|New Alexandria]].
File:Energy_Projector.jpg|The {{Pattern|Sh'wada|supercarrier}} ''[[Long Night of Solace]]'' using its energy projector on the {{UNSCShip|Grafton}} during the [[Battle at Szurdok Ridge|Battle of Viery]].
File:Infinity attacked.... by a third time.jpg|The [[Oth Lodon station|Covenant battlestation]] at [[Oth Lodon]] fires its main energy projector at the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}.
File:H2A - Chief outrunning plasma.jpg|John-117 avoiding ''[[Solemn Penance]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s energy projector.
File:FoR TAS - Unrelenting energy projector.png|The ''[[Unrelenting]]'' firing its energy projector.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''
*''[[Halo: The Flood]]''
*''[[Halo 2]]''
*''[[Halo: Uprising]]''
*''[[Halo 3]]''
*''[[Halo Wars: Genesis]]''
*''[[Halo Wars]]''
*''[[Halo 3: ODST Pre-mission Evaluation]]''
*''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
**''[[The Duel]]''
**''[[Origins]]''
**''[[The Package (animated short)|The Package]]''
*''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''
**''[[Midnight in the Heart of Midlothian]]''
**''[[The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole]]''
**''[[The Return]]''
*''[[Remember Reach]]''
**''[[Deliver Hope]]''
{{Col-2}}
*''[[Halo: Reach]]''
*''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]]''
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Boot Camp|Boot Camp]]''
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Covenant|Covenant]]''
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion|Invasion]]''
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''
*''[[Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn]]''
*''[[Halo 4]]''
**''[[Spartan Ops]]''
*''[[Halo: Spartan Assault]]''
*''[[Halo: Initiation]]''
*''[[Halo: Escalation]]''
*''[[Halo: Mortal Dictata]]''
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
*''[[Halo: Fleet Battles]]''
*''[[Halo: Last Light]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series]]''
*''[[Halo: Shadow of Intent]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos]]''
*''[[Halo Wars 2]]''
*''[[Halo: Legacy of Onyx]]''
*''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Shadows of Reach]]'' {{Mo}}
{{Col-end}}

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

{{Covenant heavy weapons}}
[[Category:Covenant naval weapons]]
[[Category:Starship weapons]]
[[Category:Directed-energy weapons]]