Antimatter charge: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 09:16, August 8, 2024

A Chershi-pattern Void Maker antimatter charge.

"The Covenant must have brought something with them. A bomb."

An antimatter charge, formally designated as a void maker,^[2] is a Covenant antimatter weapon employed as an explosive.^[3]^[4] Sizes and uses of antimatter charges vary,^[2] with some being a counterpart to the UNSC's tactical nuclear weapons. The UNSC are known to operate at least one model of antimatter bomb—the Type 14 Magnetic/Anti-Tank Mine.

Overview[edit]

An antimatter charge's explosion destroys the Athens Station.

Design details[edit]

Covenant antimatter charges utilize the annihilation of matter and antimatter to create an explosive. They have various shapes and sizes,^[2] ranging from an infantry-portable small sphere, like the Riruku-pattern antimatter charge,^[5] to a long bulbous shape with many spikes protruding from it, such as the Chershi-pattern antimatter charge.^[1] Charges typically have a smooth, heavily armored casing with an interface that displays status symbols, warning glyphs, and a countdown timer.^[6] Explosions from smaller charges may be used for demolition purposes, whereas larger charges are capable of cratering entire cities or crippling capital ships.^[2]

Usage[edit]

Antimatter charges are employed for a variety of destructive purposes, such as breaching enemy fortifications, sabotaging enemy ships during naval boarding, or large-scale excavation.^[2] Infantry-portable versions are typically used for demolition purposes, detonated individually or collectively from a centralized detonator.^[7]^{[Note 1]} Little is known of the smaller variant used by Covenant troops to breach UNSC vessels,^[3]^[4] though a larger variant has been seen with more frequency.^[1] Some warships, such as the Ceudar-pattern heavy corvette Mayhem, are armed with antimatter mines which are supposedly a specialized form of antimatter charge used as a naval mine for space combat.^[8]

Known types[edit]

Chershi-pattern antimatter charge
Riruku-pattern antimatter charge
Unidentified infantry-portable charge^[7]^{[Note 1]}
Unidentified antimatter mines^[8]

Operational history[edit]

Several antimatter charges were utilized by the Covenant during Operation: WARM BLANKET in 2544, with charges being placed within a number of Ket-pattern battlecruisers as decoys designed to vaporize the attacking Spartan-IIs. One of the Spartans, Solomon-069, was successfully lured onto one of the battlecruisers and subsequently killed by the antimatter charge onboard.^[6] In 2552, Cortana believed Covenant boarding parties used an antimatter charge to disable the UNSC Pillar of Autumn's Magnetic Accelerator Cannon during the opening stages of the Battle of Installation 04.^[4]

John-117 removes an antimatter charge from Cairo Station during the Battle for Earth.

A number of these weapons were used during the early stages of the Battle for Earth to destroy Earth's orbital defense platforms. Covenant boarding parties manually delivered the ordnance and detonated them from a safe distance, destroying both Athens and Malta stations. The bomb destined for Cairo Station was secured by John-117 and Cortana. John-117 later performed a micro-gravity maneuver to deliver the device to the Covenant Syfon-pattern assault carrier Day of Jubilation, entering a breach in the ship's hull created by a pair of Longswords. The charge was activated within the ship's reactor core, and John launched himself from the vessel shortly before its destruction.^[1]

During Operation: FAR STORM, N'tho 'Sraom ordered that his Ceudar-pattern heavy corvette Mayhem deploy a collection of low-yield antimatter mines against attacking Retriever Sentinels.^[8]

Production notes[edit]

Jason Jones of Bungie referred to the antimatter charge as a "giant Covenant space pickle".^[9] This nickname is referenced in Halo Infinite, in which a Weapon Charm depicting the antimatter charge is named the "Space Pickle".
The antimatter charge was not originally going to be included in Halo 2. Instead there was to be a level called Covenant Ship, where the Master Chief would board the Covenant assault carrier and destroy it from within. Due to time constraints however, the level was cut and the antimatter charge was instead introduced as a means of destroying the carrier.^[9]

Gallery[edit]

Halo 2[edit]

The Chershi-pattern antimatter charge.
Alternate view of the Chershi-pattern antimatter charge .
John-117 removing the Chershi-pattern antimatter charge from Cairo Station.
John-117 delivering the Chershi-pattern antimatter charge to the Day of Jubilation's fusion reactor.
John-117 arming the Chershi-pattern antimatter charge.

Halo 2: Anniversary[edit]

John-117 dragging the Chershi-pattern antimatter charge.
John-117 delivering the Chershi-pattern antimatter charge to the Day of Jubilation's fusion reactor.
John-117 arming the Chershi-pattern antimatter charge.
The antimatter charge detonates, completely destroying the assault carrier.

Halo Wars[edit]

An Unggoy carrying an antimatter charge.
Three Unggoy carrying antimatter charges.
The detonator connected to multiple charges.
The explosion from an antimatter charge.

Halo Legends[edit]

The countdown of an antimatter charge in The Package.
Solomon-069 in front of an antimatter charge in The Package.
The arming screen of an antimatter charge in The Package.
The antimatter charge's arming screen, just prior to detonating in The Package.
The antimatter charge's arming screen as it detonates in The Package.

Halo: Reach[edit]

The Riruku-pattern antimatter charge.
A Sangheili carrying the Riruku-pattern antimatter charge.

List of appearances[edit]

Halo: Combat Evolved (First mentioned)
Halo: The Flood (Mentioned only)
Halo 2 (First appearance)
Halo Wars
Halo Legends
- The Package
Halo: Reach
Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary (Mentioned only)
Halo 2: Anniversary
Halo: Hunters in the Dark (Mentioned only)
Halo Infinite (Charm only)

Notes[edit]

^ ^a ^b Given their shared resemblance—albeit at a smaller size—the explosives charges in Halo Wars could be reasonably inferred as a similar type of antimatter charge to the Chershi-pattern antimatter charge.

Sources[edit]

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Halo 2, campaign level Cairo Station
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 306
^ ^a ^b Halo: Combat Evolved, campaign level The Pillar of Autumn
^ ^a ^b ^c Halo: The Flood, chapter 1
^ Halo: Reach, Covenant bomb in-game object
^ ^a ^b Halo Legends, episode The Package (animated short)
^ ^a ^b Halo Wars, campaign level Relic Approach
^ ^a ^b ^c Halo: Hunters in the Dark, chapter 7
^ ^a ^b Halo 3, Legendary Edition: Essentials, Disc Two - Halo 2 Cinematics Commentary

[hw-8] Given their shared resemblance—albeit at a smaller size—the explosives charges in Halo Wars could be reasonably inferred as a similar type of antimatter charge to the Chershi-pattern antimatter charge.

[cairo-1] Halo 2, campaign level Cairo Station

[EN-2] Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 306

[poa-3] Halo: Combat Evolved, campaign level The Pillar of Autumn

[tf-4] Halo: The Flood, chapter 1

[hr-5] Halo: Reach, Covenant bomb in-game object

[tp-6] Halo Legends, episode The Package (animated short)

[relicapproach-7] Halo Wars, campaign level Relic Approach

[hitd-9] Halo: Hunters in the Dark, chapter 7

[Commentary-10] Halo 3, Legendary Edition: Essentials, Disc Two - Halo 2 Cinematics Commentary

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[Note 1]

[8]

[9]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Ratings}}
+{{Status|Canon}}
-{{Era|H1|TF|H2|LE}}
+[[File:H2A AntimatterCharge.png|thumb|350px|A ''Chershi''-pattern Void Maker antimatter charge.]]
-{{Quote|Sir? Permission to leave the station.|[[John 117]]}}
+{{Quote|The Covenant must have brought something with them. A bomb.|[[Cortana]]{{Ref/Level|Id=cairo|H2|Cairo Station}}}}
-{{Quote|For what purpose, Master Chief?|[[Lord Hood]]}}
+An '''antimatter charge''', formally designated as a '''void maker''',{{Ref/Book|Id=EN|Enc22|Page=306}} is a [[Covenant]] [[antimatter]] [[Wikipedia:Antimatter weapon|weapon]] employed as an explosive.{{Ref/Level|Id=poa|CE|The Pillar of Autumn (Halo: Combat Evolved level)|The Pillar of Autumn}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=tf|TF|Chapter=1}} Sizes and uses of antimatter charges vary,{{Ref/Reuse|EN}} with some being a counterpart to the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]]'s tactical [[nuclear weapon]]s. The UNSC are known to operate at least one model of antimatter bomb—the [[Type 14 Magnetic/Anti-Tank Mine]].
-{{Quote|To give the Covenant back their bomb.|[[John 117]]}}
-The '''Antimatter Charge''' is a [[Covenant]] weapon utilising [[Antimatter]] as an explosive. Sizes and uses varied, with some being a counterpart to the [[UNSC]]'s tactical [[nuclear weapon]]s.<ref name="HaloTheFloodCh1">''[[Halo: The Flood]]'', chapter 1</ref>
+==Overview==
+[[File:Athensstation.jpg|thumb|200px|An antimatter charge's explosion destroys the [[Athens Station]].]]
+===Design details===
+Covenant antimatter charges utilize the annihilation of matter and antimatter to create an explosive. They have various shapes and sizes,{{Ref/Reuse|EN}} ranging from an infantry-portable small sphere, like the {{Pattern|Riruku|antimatter charge}},{{Ref/Game|Id=hr|HR|[[Riruku-pattern antimatter charge|Covenant bomb]] in-game object}} to a long bulbous shape with many spikes protruding from it, such as the {{Pattern|Chershi|antimatter charge}}.{{Ref/Reuse|cairo}} Charges typically have a smooth, heavily armored casing with an interface that displays status symbols, warning glyphs, and a countdown timer.{{Ref/Film|Id=tp|HLeg|Ep=The Package (animated short)}} Explosions from smaller charges may be used for demolition purposes, whereas larger charges are capable of cratering entire cities or crippling capital ships.{{Ref/Reuse|EN}}
-==Mechanism==
+===Usage===
-Little is known of the smaller variant used by Covenant troops to breach UNSC vessels, though the larger variant has been seen close-up.
+Antimatter charges are employed for a variety of destructive purposes, such as breaching enemy fortifications, sabotaging enemy ships during [[naval boarding]], or large-scale excavation.{{Ref/Reuse|EN}} Infantry-portable versions are typically used for demolition purposes, detonated individually or collectively from a centralized detonator.{{Ref/Level|Id=relicapproach|HW|Relic Approach}}{{Ref/Note|Id=hw|Given their shared resemblance—albeit at a smaller size—the explosives charges in ''Halo Wars'' could be reasonably inferred as a similar type of antimatter charge to the ''Chershi''-pattern antimatter charge.}} Little is known of the smaller variant used by Covenant troops to breach UNSC vessels,{{Ref/Reuse|poa}}{{Ref/Reuse|tf}} though a larger variant has been seen with more frequency.{{Ref/Reuse|cairo}} Some warships, such as the {{Pattern|Ceudar|heavy corvette}} ''[[Mayhem]]'', are armed with '''antimatter mines''' which are supposedly a specialized form of antimatter charge used as a [[Space mine|naval mine]] for space combat.{{Ref/Novel|Id=hitd|HitD|Chapter=7}}
-The charge's appearance is that of a long bulbous shape with many spikes protruding from it. It has a central control hub located at the top of the bomb.
+===Known types===
+*{{Pattern|Chershi|antimatter charge}}
+*{{Pattern|Riruku|antimatter charge}}
+*Unidentified infantry-portable charge{{Ref/Reuse|relicapproach}}{{Ref/NoteReuse|hw}}
+*Unidentified antimatter mines{{Ref/Reuse|hitd}}
-The bomb utilises the annihilation of matter and antimatter to create an explosive. Nearly one hundred percent of the energy in the matter is released in a massive explosion, in contrast to the mere seven percent released by a UNSC nuclear fusion warhead.
+==Operational history==
+Several antimatter charges were utilized by the Covenant during [[Operation: WARM BLANKET]] in [[2544]], with charges being placed within a number of {{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}}s as decoys designed to vaporize the attacking [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan-IIs]]. One of the Spartans, [[Solomon-069]], was successfully lured onto one of the battlecruisers and subsequently killed by the antimatter charge onboard.{{Ref/Reuse|tp}} In [[2552]], [[Cortana]] believed Covenant boarding parties used an antimatter charge to disable the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}'s [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon]] during the opening stages of the [[Battle of Installation 04]].{{Ref/Reuse|tf}}
-==History==
+[[File:Master Chief Collection - Chief with bomb in space.png|thumb|250px|John-117 removes an antimatter charge from Cairo Station during the Battle for Earth.]]
-[[Cortana]] believed Covenant boarding parties used such a weapon to disable the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}'s [[MAC]] cannon during the opening of the [[Battle of Installation 04]].<ref name="HaloTheFloodCh1">''[[Halo: The Flood]]'', chapter 1</ref>
+A number of these weapons were used during the early stages of the [[Battle for Earth]] to destroy [[Earth]]'s [[orbital defense platform]]s. Covenant boarding parties manually delivered the ordnance and detonated them from a safe distance, destroying both [[Athens Station|Athens]] and [[Malta Station|Malta]] stations. The bomb destined for [[Cairo Station (station)|Cairo Station]] was secured by [[John-117]] and Cortana. John-117 later performed a micro-gravity maneuver to deliver the device to the Covenant {{Pattern|Syfon|assault carrier}} ''[[Day of Jubilation]]'', entering a breach in the ship's hull created by a pair of [[GA-TL1 Longsword|Longswords]]. The charge was activated within the ship's reactor core, and John launched himself from the vessel shortly before its destruction.{{Ref/Reuse|cairo}}
-These weapons were used during the [[Battle of Earth]] to assault [[Earth]]'s [[Orbital Defense Platform]]s. There were several boarding parties which consisted of many Elites, Grunts, and Drones. The Boarding parties delivered the ordnance and destroyed [[Athens Station]] and [[Malta Station]]. The bomb that was on [[Cairo Station]] was secured by [[John-117]] and [[Cortana]]. The [[SPARTAN-II|Spartan]] performed a micro-gravity maneuver to deliver the device to a Covenant [[Assault Carrier]] with shields down and a 'hole' created by a pair of [[Longswords]]. The Chief entered the hole and detonated the bomb in the core resulting the destruction of the assault carrier.<ref name="H2_CairoLevel">''[[Halo 2]]'', [[Cairo Station (Level)]]"</ref>
+During [[Operation: FAR STORM]], [[N'tho 'Sraom]] ordered that his {{Pattern|Ceudar|heavy corvette}} ''[[Mayhem]]'' deploy a collection of low-yield antimatter mines against attacking [[Retriever Sentinel]]s.{{Ref/Reuse|hitd}}
-The bombs were also used by the Covenant during an [[The Package|op]] that was being conducted by the [[Spartan II]]s. One of the Spartans, Solomon, was lured onto a Covenant [[Battlecruiser]] and subsequently killed when an anti-matter charge aboard was detonated.
+==Production notes==
+*[[Jason Jones]] of [[Bungie]] referred to the antimatter charge as a "giant Covenant space pickle".{{Ref/Game|Id=Commentary|H3|[[Halo 3 Legendary Edition|Legendary Edition]]|Detail=Essentials, Disc Two - [[Halo 2]] [[List of Halo 2 Cinematic Cutscenes|Cinematics]] Commentary}} This nickname is referenced in ''[[Halo Infinite]]'', in which a [[Weapon customization/Charm|Weapon Charm]] depicting the antimatter charge is named the "Space Pickle".
-== Trivia ==
+*The antimatter charge was not originally going to be included in ''Halo 2''. Instead there was to be a level called ''[[Covenant Ship]]'', where the Master Chief would board the Covenant assault carrier and destroy it from within. Due to time constraints however, the level was cut and the antimatter charge was instead introduced as a means of destroying the carrier.{{Ref/Reuse|Commentary}}
-*[[Jen Taylor]], as [[Cortana]], had trouble recording the ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' line, "It must have been one of their boarding parties, I'd guess an antimatter charge!", joking that "It sounds so weird!".
-*[[Jason Jones]] of [[Bungie]] referred to the bomb as the "Giant Covenant Space Pickle".
-*When the bomb is reactivated by [[John-117]] it takes [[7]] seconds to explode.
-*It appears in [[Halo Zero]], a fan-made 2D Halo game made for the PC.
-*The bomb's appearance looks like a present-day naval mine (sea mine).
-*The bomb was not originally going to be included in Halo 2, instead there would be a level were the Master Chief would board the Covenant Assault Carrier and destroy it from within, but due to deadlines, it was cut and Bungie decided to add the bomb.
-*The bomb may have been made easier to move by the boarding parties through anti-gravity fields presented by protrusions on the bottom of the bomb. Then, once the bomb had been sufficiently placed, these fields would have been permanently disabled, making the bomb all the more difficult to move.
-*It is not likely that the entire bomb was filled with antimatter as the explosion would be inconceivably large. it is more likely that the bomb is so bulky because the antimatter must be kept in a vacuum and kept from touching the walls via force field. Even with the Covenant's superior force field technology it is understandable that they would add as many fail safes as possible due to antimatter's volatile nature when in contact with real matter.
 ==Gallery==
+{{Linkbox|gallery=yes|gallerypage=Images of Antimatter charges}}
+===''Halo 2''===
+<gallery>
+File:Halo2-AntimatterCharge.png|The ''Chershi''-pattern antimatter charge.
+File:H2-AntimatterCharge-SideProfile-02.png|Alternate view of the ''Chershi''-pattern antimatter charge .
+File:H2 covbomb mchief.jpg|John-117 removing the ''Chershi''-pattern antimatter charge from Cairo Station.
+File:Covenant bomb and core.jpg|[[John-117]] delivering the ''Chershi''-pattern antimatter charge to the ''[[Day of Jubilation]]''{{'}}s [[fusion reactor]].
+File:H2-MasterChief-ArmingBomb.jpg|John-117 arming the ''Chershi''-pattern antimatter charge.
+</gallery>
+===''Halo 2: Anniversary''===
+<gallery>
+File:H2A - Master Chief and antimatter charge.png|John-117 dragging the ''Chershi''-pattern antimatter charge.
+File:H2A-JohnWithCovenantBomb.jpg|John-117 delivering the ''Chershi''-pattern antimatter charge to the ''Day of Jubilation''{{'}}s fusion reactor.
+File:H2A-AntimatterChargeActivate.jpg|John-117 arming the ''Chershi''-pattern antimatter charge.
+File:H2A - Carrier destroyed.jpg|The antimatter charge detonates, completely destroying the assault carrier.
+</gallery>
+===''Halo Wars''===
+<gallery>
+File:HW_RelicCinematicExplosive.png|An Unggoy carrying an antimatter charge.
+File:HW RelicGruntsExplosive.png|Three Unggoy carrying antimatter charges.
+File:HW RelicDetonator.png|The detonator connected to multiple charges.
+File:HW RelicInteriorExplosion.png|The explosion from an antimatter charge.
+</gallery>
+===''Halo Legends''===
+<gallery>
+File:Package bomb countdown.png|The countdown of an antimatter charge in ''[[The Package (animated short)|The Package]]''.
+File:HaloLegends-AntimatterCharge.png|[[Solomon-069]] in front of an antimatter charge in ''The Package''.
+File:HaloLegends-AntimatterCharge-ArmingScreen.png|The arming screen of an antimatter charge in ''The Package''.
+File:HaloLegends-ArmScreen1-Preblast.png|The antimatter charge's arming screen, just prior to detonating in ''The Package''.
+File:HaloLegends-ArmScreen2-Postblast.png|The antimatter charge's arming screen as it detonates in ''The Package''.
+</gallery>
+===''Halo: Reach''===
 <gallery>
-Image:H2_covbomb_mchief.jpg|[[John-117]] removing a bomb from [[Cairo Station]].
+File:HR Covenant Bomb.jpg|The ''Riruku''-pattern antimatter charge.
-Image:Covenant bomb and core.jpg|[[John-117]] delivering a bomb to a Covenant [[Assault Carrier]].
+File:Covybomb.jpg|A Sangheili carrying the ''Riruku''-pattern antimatter charge.
-Image:H2_covbomb_destroyathens.jpg|[[Athens Station]] is destroyed by a bomb during the opening stages of the [[Battle of Earth]].
 </gallery>
+==List of appearances==
+*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' {{Fm}}
+*''[[Halo: The Flood]]'' {{Mo}}
+*''[[Halo 2]]'' {{1st}}
+*''[[Halo Wars]]''
+*''[[Halo Legends]]''
+**''[[The Package (animated short)|The Package]]''
+*''[[Halo: Reach]]''
+*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]'' {{Mo}}
+*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
+*''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]'' {{Mo}}
+*''[[Halo Infinite]]'' {{c|Charm only}}
+==Notes==
+{{Ref/Notes}}
 ==Sources==
-<references/>
+{{Ref/List}}
-==Links==
-===Internal===
-*[[Antimatter]]
-===External===
-*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1opGjdOwjs Final Cut Scene of Cairo Station, featuring the infamous ''Covenant Bomb''.]
-*[[Wikipedia:Antimatter|Antimatter on Wikipedia]]
-*[[Wikipedia:Antimatter Weapon|Antimatter Weapon on Wikipedia]]
-{{Covenant Weapons}}
+{{Covenant ordnance}}
 [[Category:Bombs]]
-[[Category:Covenant Weapons]]
+[[Category:Covenant weapons]]
-[[Category:Explosives]]