Editing Kez'katu-pattern Phantom

{{Title|''Kez'katu''-pattern Phantom}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{Disambig header|the Phantom introduced in ''[[Halo 2]]''|other Phantom models|Phantom}}
{{Ship class infobox
|image=[[File:H2A Render Phantom.png|300px]]
|name = ''Kez'katu''-pattern warrior transport
|manufacturer = [[Assembly Forges]]{{Ref/Book|EVG|Page=137}}{{Ref/Reuse|enc22}}
|class = [[Phantom]]{{Ref/Reuse|enc22}}
|length = {{Convert|106.2|ft|m|sp=us|disp=flip}}{{Ref/Reuse|enc22}}
|width = {{Convert|66.8|ft|m|sp=us|disp=flip}}{{Ref/Reuse|enc22}}
|height = {{Convert|39.7|ft|m|sp=us|disp=flip}}{{Ref/Reuse|enc22}}
|mass={{Convert|174.6|MT}}{{Ref/Reuse|enc22}}
|hull=
|crew=*1 [[pilot]]{{Ref/Reuse|enc22}}
*1 co-pilot{{Ref/Reuse|enc22}}
*1 navigator{{Ref/Reuse|enc09}}{{Ref/Reuse|enc11}}
*1 operations officer{{Ref/Reuse|enc09}}{{Ref/Reuse|enc11}}
|complement=*24 passengers{{Ref/Reuse|enc22}}
*2 light vehicles or 1 heavy vehicle{{Ref/Reuse|h2}}
|engine=Twin [[impulse drive]] system{{Ref/Site|Id=HW|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/vehicles/phantom|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Phantom|D=26|M=11|Y=2015}}
|slipspace drive=
|armament=3 [[medium plasma cannon]]s{{Ref/Reuse|enc22}}
|introduced=[[2552]]{{Ref/Reuse|HW}}
|othersystems=[[Gravity lift]]{{Ref/Reuse|h2}}
|role=*[[Dropship]]{{Ref/Reuse|enc22}}
*Gunship{{Ref/Reuse|enc22}}
*Support{{Ref/Reuse|enc22}}
|era=*[[Human-Covenant War]]{{Ref/Reuse|HW}}
*[[Great Schism]]{{Ref/Reuse|h2}}
*[[Post-Covenant War conflicts]]
**[[Sangheili-Jiralhanae war]]{{Ref/Book|Id=HSOI|Halo: Shadow of Intent}}
**[[Blooding Years]]{{Ref/Book|Id=mythos|Mythos}}
|affiliation=*[[Covenant]]{{Ref/Reuse|enc22}}
*[[Covenant separatists]]{{Ref/Reuse|h2}}
**[[Fleet of Retribution]]{{Ref/Reuse|h2}}
*[[Covenant remnants]]{{Ref/Reuse|mythos}}
**[[San'Shyuum flotilla]]{{Ref/Reuse|HSOI}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=HDW|Halo: Divine Wind}}
***[[Covenant loyalists]]{{Ref/Reuse|HSOI}}{{Ref/Reuse|HDW}}
**[[Servants of the Abiding Truth]]{{Ref/Novel|Id=ttw133|Halo: The Thursday War|Page=133}}
**[[Swords of Sanghelios]]{{Ref/Reuse|HSOI}}
}}

The '''''Kez'katu''-pattern warrior transport'''{{Ref/Book|Id=enc22|Enc22|Page=282}} {{Type|52|Troop Carrier|TC}}, more commonly known as the '''Phantom''', is a [[dropship|troop carrier]] and gunship in service with the [[Covenant]].{{Ref/Reuse|enc22}}  They were used primarily as troop transports, flying into combat zones and deploying infantry while providing suppressing fire.{{Ref/Site|Id=waypoint|URL=http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/Universe/detail/phantom/b5b73b06-50fa-4bcf-b624-ae5110223eb2|Site=Halo Official Site|Page=Phantom Halo Official Site|D=28|M=12|Y=2011}}

==Overview==
===Design details===
[[File:H2A Render PhantomInterior-Cropped.png|thumb|left|250px|The interior of a ''Kez'katu''-pattern Phantom.]]
The ''Kez'katu''-pattern Phantom represented the most standardized pattern of the Phantom at the final stages of the [[Human-Covenant War|War of Annihilation]].{{Ref/Reuse|enc22}} It was optimized for insertion runs, close air support, and [[Covenant Special Operations|special operation]] details.{{Ref/Reuse|enc22}} The hull of a Phantom is nearly invincible to small-arms fire, although explosives can easily damage or destroy the dropship.{{Ref/Reuse|enc09}}{{Ref/Reuse|enc11}} The ''Kez'katu''-pattern Phantom is primarily composed of a curved central hull that features a closed operator cabin in the front and a twin [[impulse drive]] propulsion system that feature pivotal fins to control the direction of the thrust at the back of the Phantom.{{Ref/Reuse|HW}} On either side of the [[dropship]] lie bay doors that can be sealed for exoatmospheric environments. At the bottom of the Phantom, there is a ventral [[gravity lift]] that is able to tow and carry vehicles to and from destinations or deploy passengers. The gravity lift and bay doors were created to allow quick and simple infantry deployment in nearly any terrain type or environment.{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint}} A ramp is also attached to the dropship to allow passengers to simply walk off when the Phantom has landed.{{Ref/Novel|Halo: The Thursday War|Page=???}} An intruder countermeasure system is also found on Phantoms.{{Ref/Novel|Halo: Mortal Dictata|Page=142}}

One of the Covenant's primary dropships, the ''Kez'katu''-pattern Phantom is capable of both infantry transportation and deployment in atmospheric and exoatmospheric environments. The Phantom is notably more maneuverable—capable of gracefully steering and weaving through tightly-cropped environments like narrow gorges, caverns, or urban centers such as a city with ease.{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint}} The Phantom is roughly equivalent to the [[D77-TC Pelican]] in terms of function and performance. Phantoms are more heavily armed than the more traditional [[Spirit]] dropship, sporting three defensive weapons that offer 360-degree turning radius.{{Ref/Book|Id=enc09|Enc09|Page=268}}{{Ref/Book|Id=enc11|Enc11|Page=281}}

===Armament===
Unlike most of Phantoms models (including the {{Pattern|Mikpramu|Phantom}}) which are typically armed with one single limited-rotation [[heavy plasma cannon]] turret and two smaller plasma cannon door guns on the flanks,{{Ref/Reuse|HW}} ''Kez'katu''-pattern Phantom is more armored than any other Phantom chassis, armed with three separate automatic and fully rotational [[medium plasma cannon]]s, directed by automated target sensors that are explicitly designed to provide coordinated suppressive fire in deployment fire without risk of opening the dropship's bay doors to do so.{{Ref/Reuse|enc22}} These cannons also have a rate of fire that are even faster than that of other variants.{{Ref/Game|Id=h2|H2|Detail=''campaign gameplay''}}

===Crew and complement===
The Phantom crew consists of a pilot, a co-pilot,{{Ref/Reuse|enc22}} sometimes alongside a navigator and an operations officer, who is in charge of the defensive automatic [[heavy plasma cannon]]s.{{Ref/Reuse|enc09}}{{Ref/Reuse|enc11}} The Phantom can carry from twenty-four soldier passengers in its troop bay.{{Ref/Reuse|enc22}} Generally, passengers are deployed from the ventral [[gravity lift]] and from the doors located by either of the dropship's large side doors. However, due to their size, [[Mgalekgolo]] soldiers are deployed from the Phantom through the use of its gravity lift.{{Ref/Reuse|enc09}}{{Ref/Reuse|enc11}} Like the Spirit dropship and the older {{Pattern|Ru'swum|Phantom}}, the Phantom is capable of carrying a variety of Covenant vehicles such as two {{Pattern|Karo'etba|Ghost}}s or a single {{Pattern|Zurdo|Wraith}} or {{Pattern|Wuzum|Spectre}}.{{Ref/Reuse|h2}}

===Usage===
Introduced into the [[2552|final year]] of the [[Human-Covenant War]], the ''Kez'katu''-pattern Phantom was created by [[Assembly Forges]] to replace the earlier {{Pattern|Ru'swum|Phantom}} as its improvement over it in every way.{{Ref/Reuse|HW}} It was one of the primary Covenant [[dropship]]s and the most well-known of Phantoms among the [[human]]s, with its lustrous silhouette being marked in minds of wars survivors from the [[Fall of Reach]] and [[Battle for Earth]], though many Covenant forces never used it before the [[Fall of High Charity|loss]] of [[High Charity]] that effectively ended its production.{{Ref/Reuse|HW}}

==Identified Phantoms==
*''[[Glorious Advance]]'' – Used for a boarding action against the ''[[Infinite Succor]]'' during [[skirmish on Infinite Succor|skirmish]] above [[Battle of Installation 04|Installation 04]].{{Ref/Comic|Id=hgnp16|HGN|Story=The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor|Page=16}}

==Non-canon and dubious canon appearances==
===''The Duel''===
{{Main|The Duel}}
By around [[2152|400 years]] before the [[2552|climax]] of the [[Human-Covenant War]], several {{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}}s and ''Kez'katu''-pattern Phantoms were present above [[Sanghelios]].{{Ref/Film|Id=duel|Halo Legends|Story=The Duel}}{{Ref/Note|Id=hld|Text=While ''The Duel'' anime film used the ''Kez'katu''-pattern Phantom model from ''[[Halo 2]]'' unlike other ''[[Halo Legends]]'' series which used the ''Ru'swum''-pattern Phantom from ''[[Halo 3]]'' instead, this does contradict other media, which are clearly stated that the ''Kez'katu''-pattern Phantom was introduced at the end of the Human-Covenant War in 2552 - making this panel therefore non-canon.}}

===Silver Timeline===
{{Main|Silver Timeline}}
Phantoms are used by the Covenant against humanity.{{Ref/YouTube|Id=HTVOT|b4doITNi2RE|Paramount+|Halo The Series (2022) Official Trailer|Y=2022|M=3|D=14}}

==Gameplay==
The role of the Phantom is to transport squads of Covenant troops and vehicles into a combat zone with speed and efficiency. While the T-25 "Spirit" Troop Carrier serves primarily as a dropship, the Phantom, with its heavier armament, also fills the role of a ground support gunship. As their hull is heavily reinforced, Phantoms are invulnerable to small arms fire. The Phantom has three defensive weapons, making it a more challenging adversary than the Spirit. Like the Spirit, the Phantom is mostly scripted to deploy troops and leave, sometimes without coming to a halt, though in rarer cases it may stick around to lay siege on the player.

In ''Halo 2'', the Phantom is invincible and can not be destroyed, although its weapons can be taken out, forcing it to retreat. The two silver engine plates can also be destroyed, although it will have no effect on the Phantom's speed.

==Production notes==
According to [[Shi Kai Wang]], when ''Halo 2'' began it's development, Bungie was in the mindset of improving on what they learned on ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', in a "box product" mentality. Wang, who didn't liked the [[Dextro Xur-pattern Spirit|Type-25 Spirit]]'s design, wanted to give the Covenant dropship vehicle a more animalistic personality.{{Ref/Site|Id=twitter2|D=28|M=2|Y=2021|URL=https://twitter.com/shiekthegeek/status/1365906031826542596|Site=Twitter|Page=Shiek Wang 王峙凱 - (2/8)Like I said earlier, I didn't quite like the Spirit design.  When Halo 2 came around, we were all in the mindset of improving on CE, box product mentality. Given that chance, I wanted to give the #halocovenant dropship a more animalistic personality.}} At first, Wang tried to redesign the Spirit into a curved shape, but after seeing it lacked the Spirit's personality, and functionally proved to be too hard to carry units, the design was discarded.{{Ref/Site|Id=twitter3|D=28|M=2|Y=2021|URL=https://twitter.com/shiekthegeek/status/1365906031826542596|Site=Twitter|Page=Shiek Wang 王峙凱 - (3/8)Initially, I tried redesigning the Spirit with more of a curved shape.  As indicated by this sketch here.  But it lacked the personality the Spirit already had.  So this felt like a half, or step backwards.  The curved transport also proved hard to carry units functionally.}} After many attempts, Wang managed to sketch the Phantom's characteristic silhoutte{{Ref/Site|Id=twitter4|D=28|M=2|Y=2021|URL=https://twitter.com/shiekthegeek/status/1365906038747144195|Site=Twitter|Page=Shiek Wang 王峙凱 - (4/8)After many failed attempts to curve the Spirit, I sketched out a promising silhouette. This was the very first sketch of the now Phantom. It finally had a new but interesting personality, AND animalistic.  Which animal?}}, based on the Cobra; the cobra's posture and "wing span" being the inspiration for the Phantom's shape and its curve posture when threatened being the inspiration for the Phantom's ability to carry vehicles.{{Ref/Site|Id=twitter5|D=28|M=2|Y=2021|URL=https://twitter.com/shiekthegeek/status/1365906042010279937|Site=Twitter|Page=Shiek Wang 王峙凱 - (5/8)The Phantom was based on the cobra.  The graceful yet aggressive posture it has, and how it's narrow in the front but broadens out was such a beautiful natural design.  That curvature doubled up as the negative space to hold vehicles under it's 'wing span'.}}

When the Phantom's base design was done, Wang tried to formulate where the units would deploy from inside the Phantom: originally, he tried units would deploy from the back, but the Spirit's troop deployment method showed it wouldn't be as fun.{{Ref/Site|Id=twitter6|D=28|M=2|Y=2021|URL=https://twitter.com/shiekthegeek/status/1365906045256626177|Site=Twitter|Page=Shiek Wang 王峙凱 - (6/8)Once the feel was set, it was time to figure out the details.  If the concave portion can house the vehicles, where do the units come from? I attempted to have units come out the back.  But the Spirit already proved 360 engagement was too much fun.}} At the end, Wang came up with the idea of a tractor beam in the Phantom's belly, using the Spirit's holographic tractor beams as a tube, forcing the troops to deploy one by one, allowing players to engage the enemy from any direction.{{Ref/Site|Id=twitter7|D=28|M=2|Y=2021|URL=https://twitter.com/shiekthegeek/status/1365906048754749442|Site=Twitter|Page=Shiek Wang 王峙凱 - (7/8)Thus the magic tractor beam.  Using the same technology as the Spirit holo tractor beams, the Phantom employs it as a tube.  But this time to drop units down one by one to be engaged from any which direction, ready for sandbox fun.}} The Phantom's design end up being one of Shi Kai Wang's favourites.{{Ref/Site|Id=twitter1|D=28|M=2|Y=2021|URL=https://twitter.com/shiekthegeek/status/1365906029863571457|Site=Twitter|Page=Shiek Wang 王峙凱 - (1/8)Let's talk about the #halo phantom design real quick before we go to bed.  One of my personal favorite redesigns.}}

==Trivia==
=== Production notes ===
{{Linkbox|gallery=yes}}
*In the [[E3]] 2003 Preview of ''Halo 2'', the Phantom does not possess any form of gravity lift and the troops are instead dropped off from the back, similar to a [[Pelican]]. The Phantom is also capable of carrying a Spectre or a Wraith by using hooks located under its "belly". It also seemed to have only one heavy plasma cannon.
*In the ''[[Art of Halo]]'', there is a Phantom render for ''Halo 2'' which had its side doors down and sported heavy plasma turrets on them.
*In ''Halo 2 Anniversary'' the cutscene Phantom is purple with the grey underside similar to previous game's Phantoms, in gameplay however the Phantoms are a more reddish colour including on their underside with also a slightly different design that is partially based on Type-44 Phantom in ''Halo 4''.{{Ref/Game|Id=model|H2A|Detail=''3D model data''}}

==Gallery==
=== Concept arts ===
<gallery>
File:H2_Phantom_Concept_1.jpg|''Halo 2'' concept art for the Phantom.
File:H2_Phantom_Concept_2.jpg|''Halo 2'' concept art.
File:H2A Phantom Cockpit Concept.jpg|''Halo 2: Anniversary'' concept art of the Phantom's cockpit.
File:H2A Phantom TroopBay Concept.jpg|''Halo 2: Anniversary'' concept art of the Phantom's troop bay.
File:H2A Phantom Concept.jpg|''Halo 2: Anniversary'' concept art of the Phantom.
File:H2A Phantom Gun Concept.jpg|''Halo 2: Anniversary'' concept art of the Phantom's gun.
File:H2A Phantom SideGun Concept.jpg|''Halo 2: Anniversary'' concept art of the Phantom's side guns.
</gallery>

=== Renders ===
<gallery>
File:H2-PhantomDropship-Underside.png|The underside of the early Phantom Dropship in the ''Halo 2 E3 Demo''.
File:Halo2-PhantomDropship.png|An angled render of the Phantom from ''Halo 2''.
File:H2-PhantomDropship.png|An angled view of the Phantom as it appears in ''[[Halo 2]]''.
File:H2-PhantomDropshipSide.png|An in-game profile view of the Phantom in ''Halo 2''.
File:H2APhantom.jpg|A model of the Phantom for ''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''.
</gallery>

=== Screenshots ===
<gallery>
File:Phantom-Fleet.JPG|A Phantom seen leaving a Covenant fleet around [[High Charity]] in ''Halo 2''.
File:Halo2 - Phantom Gravity Lift.jpg|The gravity lift of a Phantom from ''Halo 2''.
File:Phantom with Spectre.jpg|A Phantom dropping a Spectre in ''Halo 2''.
File:H2A-Phantoms.jpg|Phantoms during the [[Raid on the Threshold gas mine]].
File:HM-BloodingYears.jpg|Phantoms participating at [[Siege at Kolaar]].
File:HTV-Reckoning Phantom.png|A Phantom in ''[[Halo: The Television Series]]''.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
*''[[Halo 2]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo Graphic Novel]]''
**''[[The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor]]''
**''[[Second Sunrise Over New Mombasa]]''
*''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''
*''[[Halo: Uprising]]''
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
**''[[The Duel]]'' {{c|Non-canonical appearance}}
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
*''[[Hunt the Truth]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos: A Guide to the Story of Halo]]''
*''[[Halo: Rise of Atriox]]''
{{Col-2}}
*''[[Halo: The Television Series]]''
**''[[Contact]]''
**''[[Reckoning]]''
**''[[Allegiance]]''
**''[[Transcendence]]''
{{Col-end}}

==Notes==
{{Ref/Notes}}

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

{{Covenant Atmospheric/Exoatmospheric Vehicles}}

[[Category:Phantom variants]]