Editing Taaku Xur-pattern Spirit

{{Title|''Taaku Xur''-pattern Spirit}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{Disambig header|the model introduced in ''[[Halo Wars]]''|other Spirit variants|Spirit}}
{{Ship class infobox
|name=Taaku Xur-pattern Warrior Transport
|image=[[File:HW-SpiritDropship-FrontView.png|300px]]<br>
[[File:HW-SpiritDropship-BackView.png|300px]]
|manufacturer=[[Assembly Forges]]{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|class=
|role=
|length={{Convert|91.3|ft|m|sp=us|disp=flip}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|width={{Convert|59.1|ft|m|sp=us|disp=flip}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|height={{Convert|38.8|ft|m|sp=us|disp=flip}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|mass=70.2 tons (63.7 tonnes){{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|power=
|engine=
|slipspace drive=
|navigation=
|hull=
|shielding=
|armament=One [[heavy plasma cannon]]{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|complement=30 passengers{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|crew=
*One [[pilot]]{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
*1 ops/ gunner{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|passengers=
|othersystems=
|era=|introduced=
|affiliation=[[Covenant]]<br>
[[Swords of Sanghelios]]<br>
[[Merg Vol's Covenant]]<br>
[[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]]
}}
{{Quote|Marines called them Spirits because they were death reincarnate. They'd come out of nowhere, without a word, and just start dropping Covies in our front yard.|Lieutenant Tara Nguyen{{Ref/Reuse|HSA}}}}

The '''Taaku Xur-pattern Warrior Transport'''{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=280}} {{Type|28|Troop Carrier|TC}} or more commonly the '''Spirit''', is an infantry and logistical [[dropship]] used by the [[Covenant]].{{Ref/Book|Enc11|Page=282}}

==Overview==
===Design details===
''Taaku Xur''-pattern Spirits are armed with a singular rotating, low-mounted [[heavy plasma cannon]], located directly below the cockpit of the dropship. This variant, unlike the {{Pattern|Dextro Xur|Spirit}}, has a [[gravity lift]] straight into the cockpit allowing for quick deployment or retrieval of personnel from a battlefield.{{Ref/Level|HW|Anders' Signal}} Due to the craft's resilient armor and impressive top speed, it saw little need for modification in its service life despite being the earliest variant of the Spirit series of dropships in the Covenant.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}

==Operational history==
Towards the end of the [[Harvest Campaign]] Covenant forces used Spirits against the crew of the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}}. The Covenant also utilized Spirits against UNSC forces and civilians alike during the [[Battle for Arcadia]] where one retrieved [[Arbiter]] [[Ripa 'Moramee]] after he kidnapped Professor [[Ellen Anders]]. During the [[Battle of Trove]] Covenant forces used Spirits not only against the crew of the ''Spirit of Fire'', but also against the [[Flood]] and [[Sentinel]]s.{{Ref/Game|Id=HW|HW|Spirit in-game model}} During the [[Human-Covenant War]] at the [[Battle of Mombasa]], Type-28 Spirits were deployed to recover the [[Conduit]].{{Ref/Game|Id=HSS|HSS|Spirit in-game model}}

After the end of the [[Human-Covenant War]] T-28 Spirits were used by [[Merg Vol's Covenant]] during the [[Battle of Draetheus V]].{{Ref/Game|Id=HSA|HSA|Spirit in-game model}} A Type-28 Spirit was also used by a [[Unidentified Sangheili Zealot (Sedra)|Zealot]] to assist him in the [[terrorist attack on Sedra City]].{{Ref/Film|Id=HN1|HNF}} During the [[Battle of Installation 03]] [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]] used T-28 Spirits against UNSC forces.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS}} The ''Taaku Xur'' continues to see use among the [[Swords of Sanghelios]].{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}

==Gameplay==
===''Halo Wars''===
In ''Halo Wars'', the Spirit only appears in the campaign and cannot be used in multiplayer or Skirmish. It is a fast dropship used to deliver large numbers of troops on the battlefield. Unlike ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', the Spirit is not indestructible: it is advisable that players should eliminate it before the troops it carries disembark. Once the troops are on the ground, it cannot be destroyed.

The preferred units for taking down an airborne Spirit are [[M9 Wolverine]]s, [[AV-14 Hornet]]s, and [[AV-22 Sparrowhawk]]s. Spirits in ''Halo Wars'' do not engage enemy targets and are only seen in the [[campaign]], mainly on the mission [[Dome of Light]] and [[Repairs]]. Spirits in ''Halo Wars'' utilize gravity lifts to deploy and pick up troops, rather than the side-mounted troop bay doors as in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' and ''Halo: Reach''.
==Non-canon and dubious canon appearances==
===Silver Timeline===
{{Main|Silver Timeline}}
'''Spirit dropships''' 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}}

==Production notes==
Early in the [[Development of Halo Wars|production process]] for ''[[Halo Wars]]'', the ''Taaku Xur'' was intended for use by Covenant players in a transport ability similar to the UNSC's [[D77-TC Pelican|Pelican transport]] ability. This was trialled in early development, though [[Cut Halo Wars abilities|eventually removed]].{{Ref/Site|URL=http://www.halowars.com/news/devblog/archive/2009/07/21/Leader-Powers-Part-Two.aspx|Site=Official Halo Wars Community Site|Page=Leader Powers Part Two|D=10|M=11|Y=2011}}

==Gallery==
{{Linkbox|gallery=yes}}
<gallery>
File:HW Spirit Transport.jpg|A Spirit being used by a player to transport infantry in an early build of ''Halo Wars''.
File:Halo Wars Spirit Dropship.jpg|3D model of the front end of a Spirit dropship for ''Halo Wars''.
File:Covenant spirit back.jpg|3D model of the back end of a Spirit dropship for ''Halo Wars''.
File:HW Screenshots Screens 6.png|A Spirit dropship hovers over a battlefield in ''Halo Wars''.
File:HW1 Type-28 gravlift.gif|The gravity lift being used on this Spirit Dropship in ''Halo Wars''.
File:HWDE ONIBase Spirits.png|Two Spirits approaching the [[Arcadia ONI facility]] in ''Halo Wars''.
File:HW TroveSurface.png|A Spirit flying above Covenant forces in ''Halo Wars''.
File:BattleOfKholo.png|Spirits during the [[Battle of Kholo]] in the ''[[The Return]]'' motion comic.
File:Defense of the Enemies' Airbase.png|Spirits loyal to [[Merg Vol]] on [[Draetheus V]] in ''[[Halo: Spartan Assault]]''.
File:Nightfall - SpiritRear.png|A Spirit during the [[Terrorist attack on Sedra City]] in ''[[Halo: Nightfall]]''.
File:HTV-John&Spirit.jpg|A Spirit in ''[[Halo: The Television Series]]''.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
{{Col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
*''[[Halo Wars]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''
**''[[The Return]]'' {{C|Motion comic only}}
*''[[Halo: Spartan Assault]]''
*''[[Halo: Nightfall]]''
*''[[Halo: Spartan Strike]]''
*''[[Halo: Collateral Damage]]''
*''[[Halo: The Television Series]]''
**''[[Reckoning]]''
==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

{{Covenant Atmospheric/Exoatmospheric Vehicles}}

[[Category:Spirit variants]]
[[Category:Covenant vehicles]]