Tactical Signals Intelligence Collection System
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
A Tactical Signals Intelligence Collection System is a kind of intelligence-gathering equipment employed by the United Nations Space Command.[1]
Known TSCS modules[edit]
EXO/TSCS[edit]
The EXO TSCS chest piece consists predominantly of a dark gray metal collar encircling the user's neck, set upon a thicker armored base that connects to the existing the Mjolnir Mark V chest piece upon which it is layered. The two sides of the collar are cut off beneath the user's chin, and therefore do not meet to create a full circle. Instead, the armored base on each side extends downward along the user's chest, forming two parallel strips which are joined at the sternum by a small connecting segment.
ICEBREAKER TSCS[edit]
The ICEBREAKER is a TSCS chest piece manufactured by Venezia's New Tyne Armory. The ICEBREAKER is a reverse-engineered copy of ONI's WILLOWKEY TSCS module, also featuring two Combat knifes similar to those used by the Jiralhanae. The ICEBREAKER module is compatible with the Mirage IIC powered armor.[2]
UTIL/SCYTALE[edit]
The SCYTALE is a TSCS module manufactured by the Watershed Division, and its a Spartan-specific equipment equipped with upgraded cyberwarfare and AI acceleration hardware. The module is also equipped with two pouches.[3]
WILLOWKEY TSCS[edit]
The WILLOWKEY is a TSCS module worn on the lower abdomen manufactured by the Office of Naval Intelligence. It is often used by Orbital Drop Shock Troopers as part of their armour configurations.[4] One such module was employed by the ONI operative Captain Veronica Dare during the Battle for Earth in 2552,[5] while another such module was used by Corporal Alannah Quinn during the Second Ark Conflict.[4]
In-game information[edit]
Halo: Reach[edit]
The EXO/TSCS chest is unlockable in Series 5: Anvil of Halo: The Master Chief Collection.[6]
| Attachment(s) | Description | Unlock requirements (Halo: Reach) | Unlock requirements (Halo: MCC) |
|---|---|---|---|
 EXO/TSCS |
Modified for exo-atmospheric engagements, with onboard Tactical Signals Intelligence Collection System. | N/A (Cut) | Series 5 Tier 20,  1
|
Halo Infinite[edit]
The UTIL/SCYTALE is unlockable in Operation: Fleetcom of Halo Infinite
| Armor | Manufacturer | Lore | Rarity | Unlock Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 UTIL/SCYTALE |
Watershed Division | Spartan-specific Tactical Signals Intelligence Collection System with upgraded cyberwarfare and AI acceleration hardware. | Epic | Fleetcom Operation Battle Pass 20 |
Production notes[edit]
The chest piece that would later become known is one of a handful of cut armour sets intended to be included within the release of 2011's Anniversary Map Pack.[7] The chest was first revealed in promotional screenshots for the map pack, though usually obscured behind weapons and character positions. The chest was later revealed as being included in the early Flighting files for Halo: The Master Chief Collection on PC, though little was confirmed of the armour's status until late 2020 when it was officially confirmed to be included in Series 4: Reclaimer.[6] Production issues ultimately pushed the release of EXO/TSCS back to the January 2021 release of Series 5: Anvil.[8]
Gallery[edit]
Defiant Map Pack promotional images[edit]
A Spartan wearing the EXO/TSCS chest piece and wielding an SRS99-AM sniper rifle, flanked by two other Spartans.
A close-up of the Spartan from the previous image.
Several combatants battling on Condemned, one of whom wears the armor.
A close-up of the EXO/TSCS-clad Spartan in the previous image.
Another battle on Condemned, with the leftmost Spartan wearing the armor.
A close-up of the Spartan in the previous image.
Dolls[edit]
One of the dolls featuring the armor in the Anniversary Map Pack.
The "5th Spartan" doll from Halo 5: Guardians' Forge mode.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection datamined models[edit]
The customization render discovered by Gamecheat13.
The EXO/TSCS chest piece and Mariner helmet, extracted from the files of The Master Chief Collection. Together, these make up the set internally code-named
spartan_dlc_preserve.
Halo: Reach MCC screenshots[edit]
The EXO/TSCS armor piece viewed in MCC's armor customization screen.
List of appearances[edit]
- Halo 3: ODST (First appearance)
- Halo: Reach
- Anniversary Map Pack (Doll only)
- Halo: The Master Chief Collection port (First usable)
- Halo 5: Guardians (Doll only)
- Halo Wars 2
- Halo Infinite
Sources[edit]
- ^ Halo: Reach, Armory: EXO/TSCS Chest Description "Modified for exo-atmospheric engagements, with onboard Tactical Signals Intelligence Collection System."
- ^ Halo Infinite, Armor Hall: ICEBREAKER TSCS - Chest Description "ICEBREAKER is a reverse-engineered copy of ONI's WILLOWKEY Tactical Signals Intelligence Collection System."
- ^ Halo Infinite, Armor Hall: UTIL/SCYTALE - Chest Description "Spartan-specific Tactical Signals Intelligence Collection System with upgraded cyberwarfare and AI acceleration hardware."
- ^ a b c Halo Waypoint, Canon Fodder - Sweet Centennial (Retrieved on Sep 24, 2021) [archive]
- ^ Halo 3: ODST, Veronica Dare in-game model
- ^ a b Halo Waypoint, News, MCC Development Update - October 2020 (Retrieved on Jun 1, 2020) [archive]
- ^ NeoGAF, Halo |OT| HaloGAF Evolved: "We were prototyping and experimenting with adding new armor variants as part of the Anniversary release. Unfortunately, that feature was cut due to time/resource constraints. The Spartan plushies on the Anniversary Maps are an acknowledgement of that via easter egg." - David Ellis (Retrieved on Oct 15, 2021) [archive]
- ^ Halo Waypoint, News, MCC Development Update - November 2020 (Retrieved on Jun 1, 2020) [archive]
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