Editing Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle

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<center>''Were you looking for the [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] equivalent, the [[Orbital Insertion Pod]], or for the Flood equivalent, the [[Flood Dispersal Pod|dispersal pod]]?''</center>
{{Ship Class Infobox
|name=Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle
|image=[[File:Halo3-ODST PodConcept-03.jpg|300px|The layout of a SOEIV.]]
|class=Insertion vehicle (Human Entry Vehicle) 
|manufacturer= [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]]
|modifier=
|sysmods=
|length=2.7 meters (9 feet)
|width=2.6 meters (8.5 feet)
|height=5.5 meters (18 feet)
|max accel=
|max speed space=
|max speed air=
|engine=
|slipspace drive=
|slipspace speed=
|poweroutput=
|power=
|shield gen=
|hull=
|sensor=
|target=
|navigation=
|avionics=
|countermeasures=
|armament=Small arms for ground combat are located within the vehicle. 
|complement=
|skeleton=
|passengers=1
|capacity= Single occupant
|consumables=
|other systems=
|role=
|commission=
|first sighting=
|destroyed=
|retired=
|last sighting=
|battles=
|affiliation= *[[United Nations Space Command]]
|fleet=
|taskforce=
|owners=
|namedcrew=
|captains=
}}
The '''Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle''', informally referred to as the '''Human Entry Vehicle''' and '''drop pod''' and sarcastically known as the '''Egg''', is a small pod used by the [[United Nations Space Command]] to deploy an individual from high orbit to the surface.<ref name="bungie.net">http://www.bungie.net/projects/odst/guide.aspx</ref><ref name="HtF">'''[[Halo: The Flood]]''', ''page 35''</ref>

== Operation ==
The SOEIV is an angular pod, approximately nine feet in length, a span of 8.5 feet and a height of 18 feet. Within it is a crash seat, communications gear, numerous equipment racks, and a rudimentary control system and a single entry and escape hatch. In spite of the size of the pod, there is not much room to move around, as the space given over to equipment storage lines the interior attached to the frame.<ref name="bungie.net"/> To allow re-entry from high orbit or insertion from deep space, the top of the SOEIV possesses a rocket thruster that also serves as a maneuvering aid during the drop.<ref>'''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''', campaign level ''[[Prepare to Drop]]''</ref>

=== Doctrine ===
In use for nearly three decades,<ref name = "Xbox">''Xbox 360'' #35, pages 34-37</ref> SOEIVs allow for the rapid deployment of ground assault troops near or right onto an objective. Their smaller profiles make them more difficult to destroy by defensive fire than conventional [[dropship]]s or [[armed assault boat]]s, which preceded the SOEIV in service.<ref name="HtF"></ref> Each pod bears the name of the soldier inside; amongst other things this identification could be used to identify the unfortunate occupant of a destroyed pod.{{citation needed}}

[[UNSC Insertion Protocols]] call for the command unit of an SOEIV-facilitated assault to land first to minimize the period of disorder that might occur as pods land and troopers deploy. The reasons for this rule include the strongly held belief that officers should lead rather than follow, should be willing to do anything their troops are asked to do, and should expose themselves to the same level of danger as their subordinates. The commander’s pod is equipped with a great deal of equipment that the regular SOEIVs do not possess, including high-powered imaging gear, tactical sensors, and a fourth generation, Class C Military "dumb" [[Artificial Intelligence|AI]]. SOEIV usage is popularly associated with the soldiers of the elite [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper]] divisions, although [[UNSC Special Forces]] operators and [[SPARTAN-II Program|SPARTAN-II]] supersoldiers are known to use these as one of their primary infiltration methods as well.<ref>'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', ''page 350''</ref><ref>''[[Halo 2]]'', campaign level ''[[Delta Halo (level)|Delta Halo]]''</ref>

=== Re-entry ===
[[File:Hev_insertion.png|thumb|250px|SOEIVs being deployed to [[Installation 05]].]]
The trooper enters the SOEIV and straps in facing the hatch. The hardened and shielded communications gear, which is built directly into the hatch, feeds the soldier information relevant to the current operation as well as providing a link between all members of the unit during the drop. While within the SOEIV a soldier's helmet integrated comm units are redundant and are normally only used if the pod's comm gear malfunctions.

A 30-second countdown begins on the commander’s mark, and the SOEIVs fire quickly down through the ship’s belly. The SOEIV is balanced to stabilize in a feet-down position. The pod has limited maneuvering capability, used primarily to coordinate landings, but may be used to avoid defensive anti-aircraft fire. However, if defensive anti-aircraft is present it is almost a mathematical certainty that some pods will be lost. A SOEIV is made of [[Titanium-A armor|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, as the ceramic skin burns away the air inside the pod becomes unbelievably hot,<ref name="HtF"></ref> and if the armored skin that covers a pod is damaged before or during its entry into atmosphere it has a tendency to fail spectacularly. This is the reason for the SOEIV's small size — each pod loss only results in one death rather than the deaths of the entire unit.
[[File:hevstohalo05.jpg|200px|thumb|left|SOEIVs carrying troopers from the [[7th Shock Troops Battalion|7th ODST Battalion]] over [[Installation 05]].]]
After the SOEIV has penetrated the atmosphere, at an altitude of 3,000 feet,<ref name = "Xbox"/> the upper exterior panels separate acting as a drag-type chute, slowing its descent some and helping to keep the pod on course. At about 50 meters{{citation needed}}, the pod’s computer controlled braking rockets engage, slowing the pod further; allowing for a safe though somewhat abrupt landing. Braking rockets on SOEIVs do fail on rare occasions, leaving the pod’s occupant to die on impact. It’s the death that every ODST fears, and is referred to in hushed tones as "digging your own grave."</ref><ref name=“HtF”>'''[[Halo: The Flood]]''', ''page 49''</ref>

SOEIVs are capable of smashing through almost any surface during re-entry, including buildings.<ref name = "Xbox"/> However, a reinforced roof should be able to withstand the impact, allowing an ODST to begin his mission with a distinct vertical advantage.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''', ''page 132''</ref>

Besides the distinct speed and shook value advantage that the SOEIV has, it also has another advantage over conventional systems. Because the SOEIV is dropped from above, this allows it to enter much tighter spaces like an urban area where a Pelican might have trouble maneuvering, this can also be used of hazardous terrain where the long length of a pelican makes landing a challenge. <ref>'''[[Halo 2]],''' campaign level ''[[Outskirts]]'' - ''"They'll Regret That Too"''</ref>

Along with the quick deployment speed of a SOEIV comes the responsibility of being the first ones in, this means the first wave of ODST's primary objective will be securing a landing zone for [[D77-TC Pelican|Pelican]] and [[Albatross]] dropships in order to get a more concentrated force on the ground and to bring in heavier equipment like [[M12 FAV|Warthogs]] and additional heavy weapons. <ref>'''[[Halo 2]]''', campaign level ''[[Delta Halo(level)|Delta Halo]]''</ref> 

Upon landing, each ODST is responsible for stripping their pod of its store of extra weapons, ammo, and other supplies, which are then hauled to the unit’s temporary base camp. ODSTs are used to operating without resupply for extended periods, and they are well known to be at their best when under difficult conditions.

=== Capacity ===
Each SOEIV contains a variable number of weapons, ammunition, rations, a radio, and can be used as a shelter if need be.<ref name = "Xbox"/> Dedicated SOEIV variants exist to deliver supply caches to ground forces, ranging from weapons and ammunition, to small light&nbsp;vehicles such as an&nbsp;[[M274 Mongoose ULATV]], and even a [[Shiva-class nuclear missile]].<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 315''</ref>

The SOEIV also stores an extra tank of rocket fuel, which is not used up in the landing, but is rather used for moving to a different location if the vehicle has somehow been knocked off target or is in a currently undesirable position. The pod, however, must be stood up in the position designed to land in.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 319''</ref>

== Other versions ==
===Long Range Stealth Orbital Insertion Pod===
{{Main|Long Range Stealth Orbital Insertion Pod}}
An improvement on the SOEIV was the Long Range Stealth Orbital Insertion Pod which came into service around [[2545]]. The long range pods featured a [[Stealth Ablative Coating]] and could be launched from [[Slipspace]]. This pod was used to transport [[SPARTAN-III Beta Company]] to the surface of [[Pegasi Delta]] during [[Operation TORPEDO]].

== Trivia ==
*The United States Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is currently working on [[wikipedia:SUSTAIN (military)|project SUSTAIN]], codenamed Hot Eagle. The basic thought is to have heavily armed [[United States Marine Corps|United States Marines]] launched into suborbital space and then reenter anywhere on earth in less then a total of four hours. Specifications have not yet been revealed to the public.
*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.
*In ''Halo Wars'', [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[James Gregory Cutter|Cutter's]] special ability allows the player to drop an entire squad of ODSTs in a single pod. This likely should not be regarded as canon, as it is undoubtedly applied to enhance gameplay, as the individual arrival of every single SOEIV would cause the feature to be much too slow for practical application. Also, the ability drops the ODST squad into battle much too quickly, with pods arriving on the surface seconds after the order is given. This, too, is acceptable as a gameplay conceit. It is possible, however, that ''Spirit of Fire'' used special pods that were used to deploy the entire squad in a single location.

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="150">
File:50105991-Full.jpg|External view of SOEIV launching tubes at the bottom of the {{UNSCship|Forward Unto Dawn}}.
File:Halo3-ODST PodConcept-01.jpg|Concept art of a variety of SOEIV variants.
File:SOEIV Interface.png|View from inside a SOEIV, with various screens and monitors.
File:Concept_dropbay.png|SOEIVs inside a ship's drop bay.
File:HEV-ODST-scaled.jpg|A scaled drawing of the SOEIV.
File:H3_ODST_SOEIV.jpg|[[The Rookie]]'s SOEIV seen in ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''.
File:Crashed HEV.jpg|A crashed SOEIV on [[Installation 00]].
File:HEV Deployment.jpg|SOEIVs being deployed from the UNSC ''In Amber Clad''.
File:SOEIV-HEV-Drop-Pods.png| A render of three SOEIV Drop Pods.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo 2]]'' 
*''[[Halo 3]]''
*''[[Halo Wars]]''
*''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''
*''[[Halo: The Flood]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: First Strike]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''
*''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''
**''[[Dirt]]''
*''[[Halo: Helljumper]]''
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
**''[[The Babysitter]]''
*''[[The Life]]''

==Sources==
<references/>
[[Category:UNSC technology]]
[[Category:UNSC Vehicles]]