Editing Zo'op-pattern Weevil

{{Title|''Zo'op''-pattern Weevil}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{disambig header|the artillery piece encountered in [[Halo 2]]|the artillery weapon in [[Spartan Ops]]|Ra'aam-pattern burst cannon}}
{{Vehicle infobox
|name=''Zo'op''-pattern Sky Striker
|image=[[File:H2A-T48WeevilArtillery.png|300px]]
|manufacturer=[[Assembly Forges]]{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=305}}
|line=
|model=
|cost=
|length={{Convert|62.4|ft|m|disp=flip|sp=us}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|width=
|height=
|mass={{Convert|40.5|MT}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|max speed=
|engine=
|hull=
|armament=1 [[ultra-heavy plasma mortar]]{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|crew=1 operator or remote-link{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|complement=
|consumables=
|othersystems=
|firstuse=
|service=
|role=
Indirect-fire artillery<br>
[[Sky striker]]
|affiliation=[[Covenant]]
}}
{{Quote|This is heavy artillery, [[Dokab]]. It must be prepared and loaded, and the crews must be assembled and supplied. The transit itself will be the quickest part of the deployment.|[[Dhas Bhasvod]] discussing a Weevil deployment with [[Castor]].{{Ref/Reuse|DW9}}}}
The '''''Zo'op''-pattern Sky Striker'''{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} {{Type|48|Artillery Platform|AP}}, colloquially nicknamed the '''Weevil''',{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/db05ce78845f4120b062c50816008e5d/topics/catalog-interaction/4c3e1c6f-6519-4ee0-83a4-4bac13bf07a3/posts?page=51|Site=Halo Waypoint Forums|Page=Catalog Interaction|D=13|M=04|Y=2016|LocalArchive=Catalog/Archive/2014#Post_.2313}} is a [[Covenant]] artillery piece. The Weevil was the most common mortar artillery used by the Covenant during their [[Human-Covenant War|war]] against [[human]]ity.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}

==Overview==
===Design details===
The Weevil is a heavy [[sky striker]] commonly employed by the Covenant's military. The piece consists of a tripodal base mounting a single ultra-heavy [[plasma mortar]] weapon. The mortar is capable of providing long-ranged fires for Covenant ground forces, striking deep into enemy territory. They are generally deployed via [[dropship]] and guarded by a light security contingent, and can be crewed by a single operator directly via tethered console from afar via remote-link. When remote-linked with the [[Proselytization network|Covenant battle network]], a Weevil is capable of being controlled from a remote base or [[Covenant starship|spacecraft]] and can be coordinated with other sky striker platforms in the region.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}

While in the field, Weevils are generally surrounded by light fortifications constructed by their support crews such as [[deployable lookout tower]]s, [[Plasma battery|plasma batteries]], and [[Covenant defense barrier|Guardian Triptych]] barriers.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}

==Operational history==
The Weevil was the most often-used form of mortar artillery deployed by the Covenant during their [[Human-Covenant War|genocidal campaign]] against [[human]]ity.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} During the opening stages of the [[Battle for Earth]] on [[2552#October|October 20, 2552]], Covenant forces stationed several Weevil emplacements along the beaches of [[Old Mombasa]], protecting them with ground forces including [[Sangheili]]-piloted [[Karo'etba-pattern Ghost|Ghosts]], [[Kig-Yar]] [[Kig-Yar Sniper|snipers]] in [[Deployable lookout tower|watchtowers]] and groups of infantry. During their push towards the ''[[Solemn Penance]]'s'' [[landing zone]] in [[New Mombasa]], [[Spartan-II program|Spartan]] [[John-117]] and several [[UNSC]] [[UNSC Marine Corps|marines]] encountered these defences, and after a struggle, managed to eliminate all of the Covenant forces on the beaches, preventing the Weevil emplacements from being used.{{Ref/Level|Id=Outskirts|H2|Outskirts}}

Weevils were later carried aboard [[Truth's fleet]] to [[Installation 00]] during the [[Battle of Installation 00|final battle]] of the war. These units would survive the battle and ultimately be kept among the forces of the [[Covenant loyalists|loyalist contingent]] led by [[Dhas Bhasvod]] - ultimately seeing service against the [[Banished]] and {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} in the [[Second Ark Conflict]] in [[2559]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=DW9|HDW|Chapter=9}}

==Production notes==
The Weevil was first seen (albeit unidentified) in the [[Halo 2 E3 demo|''Halo 2'' E3 demo]], in which it is much larger than the version in the final game. In the demo, a Weevil emplaced on top of a building in [[New Mombasa#Halo 2 E3 demo|New Mombasa]] is used against UNSC forces in the city. The weapon fires orbs of plasma that travel in a parabolic arc, much like the Wraith's [[plasma mortar]]. Early in the demo, the artillery piece is encountered by the Master Chief and a group of marines. [[Banks#Trivia|Sergeant Banks]] calls in an air strike to destroy the weapon shortly after its introduction. Contrary to its significant role in the demo, the scaled-down version of the weapon that appears in the retail version of the game is never seen in use.{{Ref/Reuse|Outskirts}}

A Weevil cannon was intended to be included in the [[Cut Halo 2 levels|now-cut]] campaign level "[[alphamoon]]". In the level, the cannon would have been featured as a defensive installment deployed by [[Sesa 'Refumee's heretic faction|the heretics]], with the player tasked with destroying the guns so reinforcements could land.

== Gallery ==
{{Linkbox|gallery=yes}}
=== Retail ===
<gallery>
File:H2-CovenantArtilleryTurret.png|The Weevil.
File:H2-CovenantArtillery.png|The Weevil artillery piece as viewed from the side.
File:H2A_Type48Weevil_Concept_1.jpg|Concept art of the ''Zo'op''-pattern in ''Halo 2: Anniversary''.
File:H2A_Type48Weevil_Concept_2.jpg|Alternate concept piece of the Weevil for ''Halo 2: Anniversary''.
</gallery>

===Early builds===
<gallery>
File:H2E3Demo_CovenantArtillery.png|An artillery gun firing in the ''Halo 2'' E3 Demo.
File:H2 alphamoon Menu.png|A Weevil cannon in an early build of the alphamoon level.
</gallery>

== List of appearances ==
* ''[[Halo 2]]'' {{1st}}
* ''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
* ''[[Halo: Divine Wind]]'' {{Mo}}

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

{{Covenant heavy weapons}}
[[Category:Artillery]]
[[Category:Covenant weapons]]
[[Category:Plasma weapons]]