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 [[Plasma mortar#Ultra-heavy plasma mortar|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 [[Covenant watchtower]]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 [[Covenant watchtower|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 [[Dhas Bhasvod's Covenant|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. In the version of the mission restored by the [[Digsite]] project, the player can destroy the guns by attacking them with a [[Wraith]] tank, or by manually attacking and blowing up a vulnerable weak spot underneath the gun. This second, infantry-based, method of attack was replicated in the level [[The Storm]] in ''[[Halo 3]]'', as the method by which the player destroys the [[Skar'wa-pattern Mantis|Mantis AA gun]] at the end of the mission. In alphamoon, the guns will track and fire at the player, requiring the player to dodge their plasma mortar shots.

The Weevil is featured in the ''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]'' and its [[Halo Encyclopedia (2011 edition)|2011 reprint]]. However, this factor only extends to an image of the weapon; the associated text box details instead refer to the {{Pattern|Shuku|sentry turret}} featured in ''[[Halo 3]]''.{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc09|Enc09|Page=330-331}}{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc11|Enc11|Page=345}}

== Gallery ==
{{Linkbox|gallery=yes}}
===Development images===
<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.
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>
=== Screenshots ===
<gallery>
File:H2-CovenantArtilleryTurret.png|The Weevil.
File:H2-CovenantArtillery.png|The Weevil artillery piece as viewed from the side.
File:HTMCC H2 Weevil Screenshot 1.png|The first Weevil on the beach in ''Halo 2''.
File:HTMCC H2 Weevil Screenshot 2.png|The second Weevil on the beach in ''Halo 2''.
File:HTMCC H2 Weevil Screenshot 3.png|The Weevil's mortar component in ''Halo 2''.
File:HTMCC H2 Weevil Screenshot 4.png|The Weevil's underside in ''Halo 2''; note the energy barrier.
File:HTMCC H2A Weevil Screenshot 1.png|The second Weevil on the beach in ''Halo 2: Anniversary''.
File:HTMCC H2A Weevil Screenshot 2.png|The Weevil's mortar component in ''Halo 2: Anniversary''.
File:HTMCC H2 Digsite E3 Weevil 1.png|The Weevil charging its mortar in Digsite's ''Halo 2'' E3 demo.
File:HTMCC H2 Digsite E3 Weevil 2.png|The Weevil firing its mortar in Digsite's ''Halo 2'' E3 demo.
File:HTMCC H2 Digsite E3 Weevil 3.png|The Weevil's plasma mortar bolt in Digsite's ''Halo 2'' E3 demo.
File:HTMCC H2 Digsite E3 Weevil 4.png|The impact of the Weevil's plasma mortar in Digsite's ''Halo 2'' E3 demo.
</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]]