Hardened Uplink: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 06:09, October 24, 2023

The Hardened Uplink (HUL), sometimes stylized as Hardened UpLink, is an external helmet attachment compatible with helmet variants of the MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor.^[1]

Overview

Specification

As their name suggests, the Hardened Uplink is a device that establishes and provides the operator with a communications link to a satellite. Improved modules are designated as HUL-I (Hardened UpLink-Improved).^[2] Modules designated with the "BNR" suffix (meaning "battlenet relay") also serve a relay for the UNSC battle network.^[3] Two other suffixes (ENIT and XFTREC) exist, though their specific functions are unspecified. The hardened uplink is commonly used for the acquisition of military intelligence,^[4] and can be integrated into other helmet attachments, like the Command Network Module.^[5] The device can also be integrated with remote sensors into a single package.

Usage

The hardened uplink was in use in as early as the Colonial Military Authority era.^[6] Different modules are adopted by various branches and roles within the UNSC. The HUL is required for personnel employing the Pilot helmets while on sensitive operations.^[7] When used in conjunction with the Command Network Module, it is a favorite of pathfinder units employing the AIR ASSAULT-class Mjolnir helmet.^[8]

Known modules

For HUL/RS packages, see Hardened uplink/remote sensor package.

The HUL has multiple observed modules, each with its own distinct physical appearance.

COURIER PEARL

The COURIER PEARL module on the Commando helmet.

Designed and manufactured by Watershed Division,^[9] the COURIER PEARL module is the third-generation module, featuring an external hardened uplink for military intelligence acquisition.^[10] Usually used by Section III and Spartan team leaders,^[9] its adoption is required for personnel employing the Pilot helmet during sensitive operations.^[7]

The COURIER PEARL module is compatible with the following helmets:

Air Assault^[9]
Commando^[11]
EVA^[10]
- EVA [C] helmet^[4]^{[Note 1]}
HAZOP^[9]
Mark VI^[12]
ODST^[9]
Pilot^[7]
Recon^[13]
Scout^[9]

DEWSPRING

The DEWSPRING module on the Rakshasa helmet.

Manufactured by the Materials Group, the DEWSPRING Harden UpLink-Improved (HUL-I) module is a battlenet relay and an uplink co-processor that provides hardware-acceleration for interpreting deep-layer Covenant proselytization network protocols, which remain in widespread use by various remnant forces and pocket empires. It is compatible with the RAKSHASA-class Mjolnir.^[3]^[14]

ECHELON

The COURIER PEARL module on the Linebreaker helmet.

Manufactured by Lethbridge Industrial, the fifth-generation ECHELON module is a high-power battlenet relay with the latest in electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM), which can "burn" through active jamming and signal flooding techniques employed by the Insurrection and Covenant remnant forces. It is compatible with the LINEBREAKER-class Mjolnir.^[3]

KORDA

The KORDA module on the Mirage IIC helmet.

Manufactured by Emerson Tactical Systems, the KORDA module is a cost-reduced second-generation battlenet node optimized for fast uplink and minimal onboard cache.^[15]

The KORDA module is compatible with the following helmets:

LIGHTLINK

The Lightlink module on the Cavallino helmet.

Manufactured by Lethbridge Industrial, the Lightlink module is a Harden UpLink-Improved (HUL-I) module that serves as a readily available device for short-range uplinks. Before being adopted by the Spartans, Lightlinks were widely used by the UNSC Army.^[16]

The LIGHTLINK module is compatible with the following helmets:

Model 990101-1 FLAMINGO

The Model 990101-1 module on the Mark V [B] helmet.

The Model 990101-1 FLAMINGO is a Harden UpLink-Improved (HUL-I) module, an upgraded variant of the standard issue HUL unit.^[17] It features improved battlenet reception and bandwidth in challenging mission areas, like previously glassed planets.^[2] The FLAMINGO module has been observed to be compatible with the Mjolnir Mark V [B] and JFO-class Mjolnir helmets.^[17]

ORIGO

The ORIGO module on the MIRAGE IIC helmet.

Manufactured by Misriah Armory, the ORIGO was a CMA-era battlenet relay device that had been cleverly upgraded in the field to work with contemporary mesh networks.^[6]

The ORIGO module is compatible with the following helmets:

WITCHBRANCH

The WITCHBRANCH module on the Cavallino helmet.

Manufactured by Watershed Division, the fourth-generation WITCHBRANCH module can remotely hack most UNSC and UEG computer hardware though exploitation of embedded architectural faults and hidden siphon implants placed there by ONI. However, as the Created rapidly iterate on their own computational technologies, this tool is unlikely to remain useful for much longer. It is compatible with all Mjolnir Mark VII helmets.^[18]

In-game information

The HUL serves as a cosmetic option and has no impact on gameplay.

Halo: Reach

All three module of the HUL are available as attachments on several helmets in the armor permutations of Halo: Reach. The device is priced at different levels of Credits, depending on the base helmets. In Halo: The Master Chief Collection, the same HUL-attached helmets are unlockable in Season 1: Noble.

The standard HUL module on the Recon helmet.^{[Note 2]}
The HUL-I module exclusive to the JFO helmet.
The HUL[3] module on the Pilot helmet.

Halo Infinite

HUL attachments are available as customization options in Halo Infinite.

Mark VII core

Helmet Attachment	Manufacturer	Lore	Compatible Helmets	Rarity	Unlock Requirements
HUL[5X]/BNR/ECHELON	Lethbridge Industrial	High-power battlenet relay with the latest in electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM) to"burn" through active jamming and signal flooding techniques employed by Insurrection and Covenant remnant forces.	Linebreaker	Epic	Season 02: Lone Wolves Battle Pass level 81 (Free)
HUL-I/LIGHTLINK	Lethbridge Industrial	Widely used by UNSC Army, Lightlinks have been adopted by the Spartans as a readily available source of short-range hardened uplinks.	Flanker Menachite Mercury Security	Epic	Purchase the "Groovy Grendel" Bundle from the Shop for 2,200 cR Purchase the "Lightlink" Bundle from the Shop for 800 cR
HUL[4X]/ENIT/WITCHBRAND	Watershed Division	WITCHBRANCH can remotely hack most UNSC and UEG computer hardware though exploitation of embedded architectural faults and hidden siphon implants placed there by ONI. As the Created rapidly iterate on their own computational technologies this tool is unlikely to remain useful for much longer.	Available on all helmets.	Epic	Season 03: Echoes Within Battle Pass level 70 (Premium)

Mark V [B] core

Helmet Attachment	Manufacturer	Lore	Compatible Helmets	Rarity	Unlock Requirements
HUL[3]/BNR/COURIER PEARL	Watershed Division	COURIER PEARL is a 3rd generation HUL (Hardened UpLink) designed and manufactured by the Watershed Division for use by Section III and Spartan team leaders.	Air Assault Commando EVA EVA [C] HAZOP Mark VI ODST Recon Scout	Epic	Season 01: Heroes of Reach Battle Pass level 18 (Premium)
HUL-I/XFTREC/FLAMINGO	TBD	Codenamed FLAMINGO, the Model 990101-1 HUL-I (Hardened UpLink-Improved) improves battlenet reception and bandwidth in challenging mission areas, such as previously glassed worlds.	JFO Mark V [B]	Epic	Joint Fire Event Pass Level 10

Rakshasa core

Helmet Attachments v • d • e
Helmet Attachment	Manufacturer	Lore	Compatible Helmets	Rarity	Unlock Requirements
HUL-I/BNR/DEWSPRING	Materials Group	DEWSPRING is an uplink co-processor which provides hardware-acceleration for interpreting deep-layer Covenant proselytization network protocols, which remain in widespread use by various remnant forces and pocket empires.	Rakshasa	Epic	Complete the "Right Between the Eyes" Ultimate Challenge between June 21 and June 28, 2022

Mirage IIC core

Helmet Attachment	Manufacturer	Lore	Compatible Helmets	Rarity	Unlock Requirements
HUL[2I]/KORDA	Emerson Tactical Systems	Cost-reduced battlenet node optimized for fast uplink and minimal onboard cache.	Athlon Balor Belus Erinyes Extender Mirage IIC Neith Nexus Tyro Veles	Epic	Purchase "ComNet Bundle" from the Shop for 1,500 cR
HUL/BNR/ORIGO	Misriah Armory	CMA-era battlenet link, cleverly upgraded in the field to work with contemporary mesh networks.	Athlon Balor Belus Erinyes Extender Mirage IIC Neith Nexus Tyro Veles	Epic	Site Unseen Event Pass level 6

Production notes

The CQC helmet with the "camera" CNM variant labelled as "HUL" in the Beta.

During the Halo: Reach Multiplayer Beta, the "camera" variant of the CNM on the CQC helmet, along with UA attachment on the Mark V[B] helmet, was labelled as HUL. Both helmet attachments costed 5,000 credits.
In the final release of Halo: Reach, four mislabeled helmet attachments involved the HUL:
- The standard HUL module was mislabeled as the CNM on the EVA[C] helmet.
- The standard HUL module was was mislabeled as the UA/HUL[3] on the EVA[C] helmet.
- The standard HUL module was mislabeled as the HUL-I on the Recon helmet.
- The CNM module was mislabeled as the UA/HUL-I on the Mark VI helmet.

List of appearances

Remember Reach
- Birth of a Spartan (First appearance)
- Deliver Hope
Halo Reach
Halo: Fall of Reach
- Covenant
- Invasion
Halo 5: Guardians
Halo: Lone Wolf
Halo: Outpost Discovery
Halo Infinite

Notes

^ The in-game options in Halo: Reach Armory erroneously refer to the standard HUL attachment on EVA[C] as "CNM" and "HUL[3]".
^ The release of Halo Infinite was accompanied by a series of retcons, with this HUL variant being re-designated into the CNM/BNR/FARNDALE.

Sources

^ Halo: Reach, Armory
^ ^a ^b Halo Infinite, Armor Hall: HUL-I/XFTREC/FLAMINGO - Helmet Attachment Description "Codenamed FLAMINGO, the Model 990101-1 HUL-I (Hardened UpLink-Improved) improves battlenet reception and bandwidth in challenging mission areas, such as previously glassed worlds."
^ ^a ^b ^c Halo Infinite, Armor Hall: HUL[5X]/BNR/ECHELON - Helmet Attachment Description "High-power battlenet relay with the latest in electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM) to "burn" through active jamming and signal flooding techniques employed by Insurrection and Covenant remnant forces."
^ ^a ^b Halo: Reach, Armory: Mark V[B], CQC, EOD, Operator, EVA, Security & CQB - UA/HUL Helmet Descripvtions "Up-armored variant with hardened uplink module for MILINT acquisition."
^ Halo Infinite, Armor Hall: CNM(5)/BNR/FASCINATOR - Helmet Attachment Description "Known to ONI by the codename "FASCINATOR", the AN/PCK-440 "pick four-forty" is a fifth-generation hardened uplink rarely seen outside of UNSC special forces."
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l Halo Infinite, Armor Hall: HUL/BNR/ORIGO - Helmet Attachment Description "CMA-era battlenet link, cleverly upgraded in the field to work with contemporary mesh networks."
^ ^a ^b ^c Halo: Reach, Armory: Pilot - HUL[3] Helmet Description "Third-generation external hardened uplink for MILINT acquisition; required for sensitive OPs."
^ Halo: Reach, Armory: Air Assault - FC-I Helmet Description "Command network module-Improved; external hardened uplink. A favorite of Pathfinder units."
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Halo Infinite, Armor Hall: HUL[3]/BNR/COURIER PEARL - Helmet Attachment Description "COURIER PEARL is a 3rd generation HUL (Hardened UpLink) designed and manufactured by the Watershed Division for use by Section III and Spartan team leaders."
^ ^a ^b Halo: Reach, Armory: Commando - UA/HUL[3] Helmet Description "Up-armored variant with hardened 3rd generation uplink module for MILINT acquisition."
^ Halo: Reach, Armory: Commando - UA/FC-I[2] Helmet Description "Up-armored variant with external command network and hardened 3rd generation uplink modules."
^ Halo: Reach, Armory: Mark VI - FC-I[2] Helmet Description "External command network and hardened 3rd-generation uplink modules."
^ Halo: Reach, Armory: Recon - UA/HUL[3] Helmet Description "Up-armored variant with hardened 3rd-generation uplink module for MILINT acquisition."
^ Halo Infinite, Armor Hall: HUL-I/BNR/DEWSPRING - Helmet Attachment Description "DEWSPRING is an uplink co-processor which provides hardware-acceleration for interpreting deep-layer Covenant proselytization network protocols, which remain in widespread use by various remnant forces and pocket empires."
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Halo Infinite, Armor Hall: HUL[2I]/KORDA - Helmet Attachment Description "Cost-reduced battlenet node optimized for fast uplink and minimal onboard cache."
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Halo Infinite, Armor Hall: HUL-I/LIGHTLINK - Helmet Attachment Description "Widely used by UNSC Army, Lightlinks have been adopted by the Spartans as a readily available source of short-range hardened uplinks."
^ ^a ^b Halo: Reach, Armory: JFO - HUL-I Helmet Description "External hardened uplink-improved; upgraded variant of the standard issue HUL unit."
^ Halo Infinite, Armor Hall: HUL[4X]/ENIT/WITCHBRANCH - Helmet Attachment Description "WITCHBRANCH can remotely hack most UNSC and UEG computer hardware though exploitation of embedded architectural faults and hidden siphon implants placed there by ONI. As the Created rapidly iterate on their own computational technologies this tool is unlikely to remain useful for much longer."

[evacerror-12] The in-game options in Halo: Reach Armory erroneously refer to the standard HUL attachment on EVA[C] as "CNM" and "HUL[3]".

[farndale-20] The release of Halo Infinite was accompanied by a series of retcons, with this HUL variant being re-designated into the CNM/BNR/FARNDALE.

[1] Halo: Reach, Armory

[flamingo-2] Halo Infinite, Armor Hall: HUL-I/XFTREC/FLAMINGO - Helmet Attachment Description "Codenamed FLAMINGO, the Model 990101-1 HUL-I (Hardened UpLink-Improved) improves battlenet reception and bandwidth in challenging mission areas, such as previously glassed worlds."

[echelon-3] Halo Infinite, Armor Hall: HUL[5X]/BNR/ECHELON - Helmet Attachment Description "High-power battlenet relay with the latest in electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM) to "burn" through active jamming and signal flooding techniques employed by Insurrection and Covenant remnant forces."

[milint-4] Halo: Reach, Armory: Mark V[B], CQC, EOD, Operator, EVA, Security & CQB - UA/HUL Helmet Descripvtions "Up-armored variant with hardened uplink module for MILINT acquisition."

[cnm5-5] Halo Infinite, Armor Hall: CNM(5)/BNR/FASCINATOR - Helmet Attachment Description "Known to ONI by the codename "FASCINATOR", the AN/PCK-440 "pick four-forty" is a fifth-generation hardened uplink rarely seen outside of UNSC special forces."

[origo-6] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l Halo Infinite, Armor Hall: HUL/BNR/ORIGO - Helmet Attachment Description "CMA-era battlenet link, cleverly upgraded in the field to work with contemporary mesh networks."

[Pilot-7] Halo: Reach, Armory: Pilot - HUL[3] Helmet Description "Third-generation external hardened uplink for MILINT acquisition; required for sensitive OPs."

[AA-8] Halo: Reach, Armory: Air Assault - FC-I Helmet Description "Command network module-Improved; external hardened uplink. A favorite of Pathfinder units."

[courierpearl-9] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Halo Infinite, Armor Hall: HUL[3]/BNR/COURIER PEARL - Helmet Attachment Description "COURIER PEARL is a 3rd generation HUL (Hardened UpLink) designed and manufactured by the Watershed Division for use by Section III and Spartan team leaders."

[eva-10] Halo: Reach, Armory: Commando - UA/HUL[3] Helmet Description "Up-armored variant with hardened 3rd generation uplink module for MILINT acquisition."

[Commando-11] Halo: Reach, Armory: Commando - UA/FC-I[2] Helmet Description "Up-armored variant with external command network and hardened 3rd generation uplink modules."

[mk6-13] Halo: Reach, Armory: Mark VI - FC-I[2] Helmet Description "External command network and hardened 3rd-generation uplink modules."

[Reconhul3-14] Halo: Reach, Armory: Recon - UA/HUL[3] Helmet Description "Up-armored variant with hardened 3rd-generation uplink module for MILINT acquisition."

[dewspring-15] Halo Infinite, Armor Hall: HUL-I/BNR/DEWSPRING - Helmet Attachment Description "DEWSPRING is an uplink co-processor which provides hardware-acceleration for interpreting deep-layer Covenant proselytization network protocols, which remain in widespread use by various remnant forces and pocket empires."

[korda-16] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Halo Infinite, Armor Hall: HUL[2I]/KORDA - Helmet Attachment Description "Cost-reduced battlenet node optimized for fast uplink and minimal onboard cache."

[lightlink-17] Halo Infinite, Armor Hall: HUL-I/LIGHTLINK - Helmet Attachment Description "Widely used by UNSC Army, Lightlinks have been adopted by the Spartans as a readily available source of short-range hardened uplinks."

[JFO-18] Halo: Reach, Armory: JFO - HUL-I Helmet Description "External hardened uplink-improved; upgraded variant of the standard issue HUL unit."

[witchbranch-19] Halo Infinite, Armor Hall: HUL[4X]/ENIT/WITCHBRANCH - Helmet Attachment Description "WITCHBRANCH can remotely hack most UNSC and UEG computer hardware though exploitation of embedded architectural faults and hidden siphon implants placed there by ONI. As the Created rapidly iterate on their own computational technologies this tool is unlikely to remain useful for much longer."

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[Note 1]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[Note 2]