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| {{Status|Canon}} | | {{Era|HW|FOR|H2|H3R|FS|H3|GOO}} |
| '''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}}
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| ==Overview==
| | [[Image:Halo3_E3_TRAILER_2007_720p30_ST_6300Kbps_002_0001.jpg|thumb|250px|A {{Class|CCS|Battlecruiser}} firing an Energy Projector.]] |
| ===Design details===
| | {{Quote|...And ''you'', Ship Master, just [[Glassing|glassed]] half a [[Africa|continent]]! Maybe the [[Flood]] isn't all I should be worried about...|[[Terrence Hood]]}} |
| [[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.
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| 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}}
| | {{Quote|Were it not for the [[Thel 'Vadam|Arbiter's]] counsel, I would have glassed your entire planet!|[[Rtas 'Vadum]]}} |
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| ==Types of energy projector==
| | The '''Energy Projector''' is a [[Covenant]] weapon used exclusively by large ships. It fires a thin beam of energized matter which has very long range and is extremely accurate and destructive, capable of destroying ships effortlessly and "[[Glassing|glassing]]" planets, systematically rendering them sterile and incapable of sustaining life. |
| 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.
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| ===Excavation beams=== | | ==History== |
| {{Main|Excavation beam}}
| | The Energy Projector was first encountered during the [[Battle of Reach]], where it was used by a Covenant [[Covenant Supercruiser|Supercruiser]], a ship that was seen for the first time. It is more frequently seen several months later, where [[Regret's Carrier]] uses one to destroy the [[Prophet]]'s temple after he had been assassinated by the [[John-117|Master Chief]] on [[Installation 05|Delta Halo]]. In [[Halo 3]], parts of Eastern Africa, Kenya and the city of [[Voi]] were glassed by [[Rtas' Vadum]] to stop the [[Flood]] infestation. |
| 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}}
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| 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).
| | ==Operation== |
| <gallery> | | [[Image:AC Cargobay.jpg|thumb|right|270px|Large Covenant ships, such as the [[Shadow of Intent]], have their Energy Projectors located on their underside.]] |
| File:Mombasa_Glassing.jpg|A {{Pattern|Kerel|assault carrier}} glassing [[New Mombasa]] with its ''Infernus''-pattern superheavy excavation beam.
| | The weapon can fire a thin beam of extremely powerful and energetic particles. It is possible to predict when it was about to fire as it typically charges the beam up before firing. The beam has an effective range of over 50,000 kilometres, longer even than that of a [[UNSC]] [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|MAC]] gun used by [[Orbital Defense Platforms]]. It is described as looking like pulse lasers, but tinged silver white, which is compared to the scintillation effect that is seen when a Covenant ship's shields are hit. The long range allowed a ship armed with this weapon to 'snipe' targets during ship-to-ship combat, albeit less effectively. The weapon has been observed to gut UNSC ships from stem to stern, such as the Frigate [[Gettysburg]] over Reach.<ref>''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''[[Halo: First Strike]]''</ref> It also seems to be able to expand in size, depending on the size of the ship. |
| </gallery> | |
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| ===Plasma lances=== | | ==Effects== |
| {{Main|Plasma lance}}
| | The Energy Projector's beam is able to take down the shields of a [[Covenant Frigate]] or [[Covenant Destroyer]] with a single hit. |
| 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}}
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| 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}}.
| | Against UNSC vessels, the weapon was able to pierce dozens of [[Titanium-A]] armor layers with comparative ease, rendering any form of physical solid defense useless. Therefore, a single hit or perforation could potentially disable or destroy vital systems, such as the MAC Cannon or engines, rendering the ship useless for combat (as seen at the [[Battle of Earth]] when a single shot from an [[Assault Carrier]] crippled a [[Marathon-class cruiser]]), or if the shot was in a critical area, such as the reactors of a ship; it could destroy the ship completely. |
| <gallery>
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| File:Invasion - Sniper vs Autumn.png|A {{Pattern|Kewu|battleship}} firing its ''Muesh''-pattern flensing lance during the [[Fall of Reach]].
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| File:H2A_Cutscene_EnergyProjectorPiercing.png|A {{Pattern|Syfon|assault carrier}} firing its dorsal ''Urpeon''-pattern superheavy plasma lance during the [[Battle for Earth]].
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| </gallery>
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| ===Plasma beams===
| | The beam is similar to the [[Particle Beam Rifle]] on a larger scale in how and what it fires. It is also speculated that the beam can be focused to varying degrees. In space, they can be focused to a smaller, therefore more powerful beam generally used to decimate enemy ship fleets from afar. It also seems to drain all or most of the energy in a Covenant ship for a brief period unless the ship is big enough to supply the power without too much of a drain. This weapon is also used for [[glassing]] enemy planets. |
| {{Main|Plasma beam emitter}}
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| 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}}
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| <gallery>
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| File:HCD_-_AlphaCorviSpaceBattle.jpg|A {{Pattern|Sinaris|heavy destroyer}} firing its ''Aljordan''-pattern plasma beam in the [[Battle of Alpha Corvi II]].
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| </gallery>
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| ===Focus cannons===
| | When glassing a planet, the beam causes atmospheric and biospheric destruction by exciting the atoms in the air, thus scorching land and air life, and evaporating water with ease, suffocating aquatic life and destabilizing the planet's surface temperature. Therefore, merely firing it through the air would cause biospheric destruction on a planetary scale. In addition, the excitement of atoms could chemically alter the atmosphere or even blow it away. The combined effect can make the planet permanently inhospitable to life, as was the case with [[Harvest]]. |
| {{Main|Focus cannon}}
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| Focus cannons are small-scale energy projectors used by the Covenant for [[Planetary warfare|ground warfare]] and excavation. Unlike their aforementioned counterparts, focus cannons are generally not mounted on starships, but instead on the ground vehicles of the Covenant. They are most prominently used on [[excavator]]s such as [[Locust]]s and [[Scarab]]s, though select heavy ground vehicles like the {{Pattern|Zashk|Draugr}} may also use them too.{{Ref/Site|Id=WPScarab|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/vehicles/scarab|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Scarab|D=13|M=04|Y=2016}}
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| <gallery>
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| File:1216050538 Scarab.jpg|A {{Pattern|Deutoros|Scarab}} firing its focus cannon in the [[Battle of Voi]].
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| </gallery>
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| ==''Halo Wars''== | | ==Distribution== |
| 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.
| | According to [[Fred-104]], only the "big ships have them." Ships of the {{Class|Reverence|Cruiser|}}, the [[Covenant Supercruiser]], and the [[Assault Carrier]] were known to wield this weapon. Other large ship classes, such as the [[Covenant Supercarrier]], are very likely to have it too. The [[CCS-class Battlecruiser]] have them too, albeit they have only two projectors, located under the ships bow, and under its middle. The Prophet of Regret's cleansing beam acts as a mini-Energy Projector in ''Halo Wars''. |
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| 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. | | ==Trivia== |
| | *The weapon's beam has a similar appearance to the Particle Beam Rifle's Beam, and also has a similar purpose: To land a precise shot into critical areas of the enemy, and works using the same principle: accelerate small amounts of mass to near light speed to burn through human ships or human heads respectively. |
| | *It has been noted that a small group of [[Wraith]]s could glass an area. This is possible due to their extremely powerful Plasma Mortars. |
| | *It is not entirely known as to why the carriers did not simply use the energy projectors to destroy the Orbital MAC Cannons during the Battle of Earth, although it may have rendered them sitting ducks. |
| | *This beam is never used in gameplay apart from in [[Halo Wars|''Halo Wars'']]. |
| | *In [[Halo 3]], on the level [[The Storm]], Covenant ships can be seen uncovering [[The Portal]] by [[Glassing|glassing]]. |
| | *In Halo Wars, the color of the Energy Projector in based on your team color. |
| | *A Covenant Assault Carrier boasts an armament of four energy projectors as well as five pulse laser turrets and 12 plasma torpedo launchers. |
| | *Even though the energy projector is capable of cutting through the armor of several UNSC ships at a time, it is seen as only a needle thin beam going at light speed. |
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| ==Gallery== | | ==Sources== |
| <gallery> | | <references/> |
| File:Firing Energy Projector.png|A Covenant assault carrier firing its energy projector in ''Halo 2''.
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| File:Glassing Upclose.jpg|A close-up to the energy projector used by a ''Ket''-pattern battlecruiser.
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| File:AC Cargobay.jpg|Large Covenant ships, such as the ''[[Shadow of Intent]]'', have energy projectors located on their undersides.
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| File:Mombasa Glassing.jpg|A Covenant assault carrier glassing [[New Mombasa]] with an energy projector.
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| File:HW Screenshots E3 3.jpg|The Cleansing Beam in ''[[Halo Wars]]''.
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| File:HaloReach - Glassing.jpg|A ''Ket''-pattern battlecruiser glassing [[New Alexandria (location)|New Alexandria]].
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| 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]].
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| 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}}.
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| File:H2A - Chief outrunning plasma.jpg|John-117 avoiding ''[[Solemn Penance]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s energy projector.
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| File:FoR TAS - Unrelenting energy projector.png|The ''[[Unrelenting]]'' firing its energy projector.
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| </gallery>
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| ==List of appearances== | | ==Links== |
| {{Col-begin}}
| | ===Internal=== |
| {{Col-2}}
| | *[[Glassing]] |
| *''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'' {{1st}}
| | *[[Covenant Supercarrier]] |
| *''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''
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| *''[[Halo: The Flood]]''
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| *''[[Halo 2]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Uprising]]''
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| *''[[Halo 3]]''
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| *''[[Halo Wars: Genesis]]''
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| *''[[Halo Wars]]''
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| *''[[Halo 3: ODST Pre-mission Evaluation]]''
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| *''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''
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| *''[[Halo Legends]]''
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| **''[[The Duel]]''
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| **''[[Origins]]''
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| **''[[The Package (animated short)|The Package]]'' | |
| *''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]'' | |
| **''[[Midnight in the Heart of Midlothian]]''
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| **''[[The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole]]''
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| **''[[The Return]]''
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| *''[[Remember Reach]]''
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| **''[[Deliver Hope]]''
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| {{Col-2}}
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| *''[[Halo: Reach]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]]''
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| **''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Boot Camp|Boot Camp]]''
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| **''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Covenant|Covenant]]''
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| **''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion|Invasion]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''
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| *''[[Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn]]''
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| *''[[Halo 4]]''
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| **''[[Spartan Ops]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Spartan Assault]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Initiation]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Escalation]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Mortal Dictata]]''
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| *''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Fleet Battles]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Last Light]]'' {{Mo}}
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| *''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Shadow of Intent]]''
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| *''[[Halo Mythos]]''
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| *''[[Halo Wars 2]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Legacy of Onyx]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]'' {{Mo}}
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| *''[[Halo: Shadows of Reach]]'' {{Mo}}
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| {{Col-end}}
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| ==Sources== | | ===External=== |
| {{Ref/Sources}}
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| {{Covenant heavy weapons}} | | {{Template:Covenant Weapons}} |
| [[Category:Covenant naval weapons]] | | [[Category:Covenant Weapons]] |
| [[Category:Starship weapons]]
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| [[Category:Directed-energy weapons]]
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