Editing Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle

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[[Image:HEV-tech.gif|thumb|right|HEV pod stats]]
A '''Human Entry Vehicle''' was a small pod used by the [[UNSC]] to deploy an individual soldier from high orbit to the ground. HEV usage was popularly associated with [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper]]s although [[SPARTAN-II]]s were also fully qualified in their use<ref>[[Delta Halo (Level)]] cinematics</ref>.

== Doctrine ==
[[Image:hevstohalo05.jpg|thumb|left|HEVs in action.]]
HEVs allowed for the rapid deployment of ground assault troops near or right onto an objective. Their smaller profiles made them more difficult to destroy by defensive fire than conventional dropships. The large number of pods dropped at once also increased the probability of some of the attack force surviving to the land. Each pod bore the name of the soldier inside; amongst other things this identification could be used to identify the unfortunate occupant of a destroyed pod.

[[ODST]] doctrine required the command unit of an HEV-facilitated assault to land first to minimize the period of disorder that might occur as pods landed and soldiers deployed. Command unit HEVs were equipped with additional features, including high-powered imaging gear and the Class C military [[AI]] (such as [[Wellsley]]<ref>[[Halo: The Flood]], page 47</ref>) required to operate it.
[[Image:HEV-ODST-scaled.jpg|right|thumb|a HEV interior]]
The first UNSC troops on the ring during the [[Battle of Installation 05]], [[John-117]] and a [[platoon]] of [[ODST]], were deployed by HEV from the {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}}. In this case, the Class C AI was supplanted by the AI [[Cortana]]<ref name="dh">[[Delta Halo (Level)]]</ref>.

== Reentry ==

An HEV slightly resembles a somewhat sleek teardrop and is made of [[Titanium-A]], [[Lead Foil]], and a ceramic skin. The skin burns away during atmospheric reentry, protecting the rest of the pod and its occupant from the worst of the considerable heat. The Lead Foil is there to keep the Armor from ripping away and to replace the ceramic skin once it burns away. However, even with this ablation it is not unknown for passengers to be killed when tolerances are exceeded<ref>[[Halo: The Flood]], page 35</ref>.

Once within the atmosphere, a metallic drag chute deploys for a short while before detaching to steady the descent, keeping the pod on course, and providing some deceleration. A more conventional backup chute is provided for landing, although final deceleration is often accomplished using retro rockets forcing the passenger to experience significant g-forces. Needless to say, failure of any combination of components could be fatal. The mere impact of the "Pod" is also life threatening.

== Cargo ==
[[Image:IAC-HEV1.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Another HEV pod.]]
In addition to the trooper, the HEV necessarily carried other supplies, such as [[UNSC Weapons|weapons]], ammunition, [[MRE|rations]], and a [[cubicle]] for shelter. This allowed a trooper to fight from the HEV without need for immediate resupply.

== Radio ==
The HEV has at least two radio frequencies, a command frequency and what is probably a regular troop frequency, which was used to play the ODST anthem before entry to [[Installation 04]].

==Other Versions==
=== Long Range Stealth Orbital Insertion Pod ===

An offshoot of the HEV was the [[Long Range Stealth Orbital Insertion Pod]] which came into service around [[2545]]. The long range pods featured an [[Stealth Ablative Coating]] and could be launched from [[Slipspace]].

=== [[Flood Dispersal Pod]] ===

Even the [[Flood]] parasite employs a similar method of troop-delivery, using a frame of Flood biomass or an encased [[HEV]] pod to encase single [[Combat Forms]] or a number of Flood [[Infection Forms|forms]] for surface delivery in a similar manner. These were used by the Flood on two levels of [[Halo 3]].

=== Covenant [[Orbital Insertion Pod]] ===

[[Image:ElitePod.jpg|thumb|An Elite emerging from his Covenant drop pod.|90px|right]]
The [[Covenant]] had a HEV equivalent known as a [[Orbital Insertion Pod]]. These were used to deploy [[Elite]]s during the [[Battle of New Mombasa]]<ref name="dh">[[Outskirts (Level)]]</ref> and to aid [[Spartan-117]] and [[the Arbiter]] during the Flood infestation in [[Voi]]. These also make a short appearance in the Halo 3 level [[Floodgate]].

== Similarities ==
[[Image:Onipods.gif|200px|left|thumb|A HEV from Oni, another game produced by [[Bungie]]]]
HEVs bear some resemble to the blue and red objects (pictured at left) from Bungie's previous game, [[Wikipedia:Oni (video game)|ONI]].

Popularly, the concept of dropping individual soldiers onto a planet from orbit in pods is attributed to [[Wikipedia:Robert A. Heinlein|Robert A. Heinlein]]'s novel ''[[Wikipedia:Starship Troopers|Starship Troopers]]''. HEVs in the Halo universe act similarly to those described in the book. ODST doctrine of 'command unit first' also resembles Mobile Infantry doctrine of 'officers first'. Additionally, the ODST tradition of playing the ODST Anthem prior to a drop is similar to Mobile Infantry traditions in Starship Troopers, with the anthem of the unit's respective troop ship played on their radios during mid drop.

== Trivia ==
*A group of [[Spartans]] once landed on the surface of [[Reach]] performing a low orbit insertion without the use of pods. However, four were killed and others sustained various injuries, some life threatening.
*Human Entry Vehicles only appear on the level [[Delta Halo (Level)|Delta Halo]] in [[Halo 2]].
*In [[Operation: PROMETHEUS]] the Spartan-III's emerged on the Covenant factory world of [[Pegasi Delta]] from possible HEVs.
*The HEV is also seen in [[Halo 3]] on the level '[[The Ark]]' right after the two Prowlers of [[Brutes]] attack.
*The [[Covenant Drop Pod]] is the HEV's opposite.
*HEVs also have a similar shape to the much larger examples used by Space Marines in Warhammer 40,000, another franchise that drew inspiration from ''Starship Troopers''.

== Sources ==

<references/>

[[Category:UNSC]]
[[Category:Technology]]