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|image=[[File:HW2 Despair-Class-Fighter.png|300px]]
|image=[[File:HW2 Despair-Class-Fighter.png|300px]]
|manufacturer=[[Minoris Assembler Vats]]
|manufacturer=[[Minoris Assembler Vats]]
|class=[[Space fighter]]<ref name="cryptum">'''[[Halo: Cryptum]]''', ''page 195''</ref>
|class=[[Space fighter]]{{Ref/Novel|Id=cryptum|HCry|Chapter=23}}
|role=Hunter-killer fighter{{Ref/Reuse|cryptum}}
|role=Hunter-killer fighter{{Ref/Reuse|cryptum}}
|length=178.7 meters (586.3ft){{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|length={{Convert|586.3|ft|m|disp=flip|sp=us}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|width=165.7 meters (543.6ft){{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|width={{Convert|543.6|ft|m|disp=flip|sp=us}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|height=69.3 meters (227.4ft){{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|height={{Convert|227.4|ft|m|disp=flip|sp=us}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|mass=306,000 tonnes (337,307 tons){{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|mass={{Convert|306000|MT}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|power=
|power=
|engine=
|engine=
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|othersystems=*Tracking devices{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=389}}
|othersystems=*Tracking devices{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=389}}
*A combat [[Cryptum]]{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
*A combat [[Cryptum]]{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|era=*[[Forerunner-Flood war]]<ref name="pl ship">'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''', ''[[Phoenix Logs]]: [[Phoenix Logs#Forerunner Ship|Forerunner Ship]]''</ref>
|era=*[[Forerunner-Flood war]]{{Ref/Game|Id=pl ship|HW2|Phoenix Logs|Detail=Forerunner Ship}}
*[[Post-Covenant War conflicts]]
*[[Post-Covenant War conflicts]]
|introduced=
|introduced=
|affiliation=*[[Builder Security]]{{Ref/Reuse|cryptum}}
|affiliation=*[[Builder Security]]{{Ref/Reuse|cryptum}}
*[[Warrior-Servant]]s<ref name="sil">'''[[Halo: Silentium]]''', ''String 34''</ref>
*[[Warrior-Servant]]s{{Ref/Novel|Id=sil|HSil|Chapter=34}}
}}
}}


The '''''Despair''-class fighter''', also known as the '''''Despair''-class hunter-killer''', was a classification of [[Forerunner]] fighter craft. They were described as curved and sleek in design.{{Ref/Reuse|cryptum}}
The '''''Despair''-class fighter''', also known as the '''''Despair''-class hunter-killer''', was a classification of [[Forerunner]] fighter craft. They were described as curved and sleek in design.{{Ref/Reuse|cryptum}} The craft's name was chosen in references to the cultural milieu and trials of the era in which it was commissioned in a fashion similar to that of the {{Class|Dignity|escort}}.{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=380}}
 
==Overview==
===Design details===
The ''Despair'' is considered the most renowned hunter-killer in the [[Forerunner fleet]], designed with a total focus on overwhelming firepower and tracking capabilities. The craft features an integrated combat [[Cryptum]], which is used to house its pilot in a subdued, trace-like focus. This state allows the pilot to focus all of their neural activity on processing the enormous amount of data the craft is projecting them.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
 
While considered a fighter in its own right, the ''Despair'' measures in at a length of {{Convert|586.3|ft|m|disp=flip|sp=us}} - comparable to the {{Convert|525|ft|m|disp=flip|sp=us}} {{Class|Razor|prowler}} of the [[United Nations Space Command]].{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}


==Operational history==
==Operational history==
===Forerunner era===
''Despair''-class hunter-killers were present at the [[Battle of Janjur Qom]].{{Ref/Reuse|cryptum}} At the close of the [[Forerunner-Flood war]], multiple ''Despair''-class fighters were stationed at [[Requiem]] in defense of the [[shield world]].{{Ref/Reuse|sil}} Several ''Despair''-class fighters saw action against the rogue {{Class|Contender|artificial intelligence}} [[Mendicant Bias]]. After the [[Great Purification|firing]] of the [[Halo Array]], some of the ''Despair''-class fighters were moved to shield worlds and Halo installations. At least one ''Despair''-class hunter-killer was moved to [[Installation 00]] by the [[Librarian]].{{Ref/Reuse|pl ship}}
''Despair''-class hunter-killers were present at the [[Battle of Janjur Qom]].{{Ref/Reuse|cryptum}} At the close of the [[Forerunner-Flood war]], multiple ''Despair''-class fighters were stationed at [[Requiem]] in defense of the [[shield world]].{{Ref/Reuse|sil}} Several ''Despair''-class fighters saw action against the rogue {{Class|Contender|artificial intelligence}} [[Mendicant Bias]]. After the [[Great Purification|firing]] of the [[Halo Array]], some of the ''Despair''-class fighters were moved to shield worlds and Halo installations. At least one ''Despair''-class hunter-killer was moved to [[Installation 00]] by the [[Librarian]].{{Ref/Reuse|pl ship}}


In [[2559|May 2559]], a ''Despair''-class fighter's [[design seed]] was found and reactivated by [[Colony]]'s [[Huragok]], with the [[Banished]] planning to use the fighter to destroy the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}}.<ref name="Gatecrashers">'''[[Halo Wars 2: Operation: SPEARBREAKER]]''', campaign level ''[[Gatecrashers]]''</ref><ref>'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''' ''[[Phoenix Logs]]''</ref> The Banished managed to establish a cloaking shield around the fighter to protect it from detection as the ship prepared for launch, but recon drones noticed the cloaking shield and the [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper|ODST]] squad [[Sunray 1-1]] was sent to investigate. Despite heavy Banished and Sentinel resistance, the UNSC forces managed to take over five Forerunner [[Control Tower]]s in the area and deactivate the cloaking shield, causing a [[Retriever Sentinel]] to attack. Once the Retriever was destroyed, the ''Spirit of Fire'' discovered the hidden Forerunner ship.{{Ref/Reuse|Gatecrashers}}
In [[29,823 BCE]], the Ark's [[monitor]] [[000 Tragic Solitude]] moved to dismantle the fighter's [[Design seed|ship seed]], viewing the Ark has having completed its purpose and not wishing to be tempted into using it for greater ill.{{Ref/Game|HW2|Phoenix Logs|Detail=A Tensed Bolt}}
 
===Second Ark Conflict===
{{Main|Operation: SPEARBREAKER}}
During the [[Second Ark Conflict]] in [[2559#April|April 2559]], the [[Swarmlord]] [[Colony]] was tasked by [[Atriox]] with uncovering new technologies from the Ark with which to fight back against {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}}.{{Ref/Game|HW2|Phoenix Logs|Detail=A New Commander}} By May of that year, the buried ''Despair'' design seed had been discovered and disguised under a large cloaking field,{{Ref/Game|HW2|Phoenix Logs|Detail=Hold Fast}} with the [[Huragok]] [[Floats Low But Steady]] (among others) tasked with restoring it to full function. Within a day, Floats had begun to "talk" with the ship and its launching systems, resulting in it beginning to grow anew and restore to full functionality.{{Ref/Game|HW2|Phoenix Logs|Detail=Floats Low But Steady}}
 
Despite these efforts, ''Spirit of Fire''{{'}}s reconnaissance drones noticed the cloaking shield and deployed forces to investigate - with the operated termed [[Operation: SPEARBREAKER]]. [[Sunray 1-1]] led the operation, leading the UNSC forces to capturing five [[Control Tower]]s despite heavy Banished and [[Sentinel]] resistance around the site. Once successfully captured, the control towers dropped the cloaking shield, revealing the ''Despair'' within and causing a [[Retriever Sentinel]] to attack.{{Ref/Level|HW2|Gatecrashers}}
 
With the Banished's Huragok hacking the Ark's local systems to prepare the ship for launch, an attempt was made to send in a [[G81 Condor|Condor gunship]] to destroy the fighter without success. Instead, Sunray 1-1 an assault on the fighter. While it was originally believed that the Banished intended to use the fighter to get reinforcements in lieu of the destroyed ''[[Enduring Conviction]]'', it was quickly determined that the fighter was going to be launched on a collision course with the ''Spirit of Fire'' itself with a direct hit being enough to destroy the human ship. Spotting four charging columns connected to the ship, the UNSC forces, fighting through heavy Banished and Sentinel defenses, assaulted the columns' control pads, using [[HRUNTING/YGGDRASIL Mark II (J) Colossus|Colossus]] to destroy them, delaying the ship's launch each time one was destroyed. Finally, with the charging columns destroyed and the Banished forces in the area defeated, [[Alannah Quinn]] was able to use the control terminal near the fighter to shut it down. Though the Banished sent in a [[Mgalekgolo Captain|Hunter Captain]] supported by [[Goliath]]s, the UNSC was able to clear out the Banished forces. To ensure the Banished could not try to use the ship again, Sunray 1-1 dropped [[satchel charge]]s from [[AV-14 Hornet|Hornets]] while Quinn lowered the ship into the ground. The charges destroyed the ''Despair''-class fighter, keeping both the Banished and the UNSC from using it.{{Ref/Level|HW2|Not on My Watch}}
 
==In-game information==
===''Halo Wars 2''===
The ''Despair''-class fighter appears in the ''[[Halo Wars 2: Operation: SPEARBREAKER]]'' level [[Not on My Watch]] as the mission's central objective. During the level, the player must lead an attack on the fighter's construction site.


With the Banished's Huragok hacking the Ark's local systems to prep the ship for launch, an attempt was made to send in a [[G81 Condor|Condor gunship]] to destroy the fighter without success. Instead, Sunray 1-1 led [[Operation: SPEARBREAKER|an assault]] on the fighter. While it was originally believed that the Banished intended to use the fighter to get reinforcements in lieu of the destroyed ''[[Enduring Conviction]]'', it was quickly determined that the fighter was going to be launched on a collision course with the ''Spirit of Fire'' itself with a direct hit being enough to destroy the human ship. Spotting four charging columns connected to the ship, the UNSC forces, fighting through heavy Banished and Sentinel defenses, assaulted the columns' control pads, using [[HRUNTING/YGGDRASIL Mark II (J) Colossus|Colossus]] to destroy them, delaying the ship's launch each time one was destroyed. Finally, with the charging columns destroyed and the Banished forces in the area defeated, [[Quinn]] was able to use the control terminal near the fighter to shut it down. Though the Banished sent in a [[Mgalekgolo Captain|Hunter Captain]] supported by [[Goliath]]s, the UNSC was able to clear out the Banished forces. To ensure the Banished could not try to use the ship again, Sunray 1-1 dropped [[satchel charge]]s from [[AV-14 Hornet|Hornets]] while Quinn lowered the ship into the ground. The charges destroyed the ''Despair''-class fighter, keeping both the Banished and the UNSC from using it.<ref>'''[[Halo Wars 2: Operation: SPEARBREAKER]]''', campaign level ''[[Not on My Watch]]''</ref>
====Phoenix Log====
{| class="wikitable": style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none; width: 45%"
|+ '''[[Phoenix Logs|Phoenix Log]] - Forerunner Ship'''
|-
|{{:Phoenix Logs/Forerunner/Forerunner Ship}}
|}


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:Despair.jpg
File:HW2 DespairFighter Render 1.jpg|The ''Despair'', as viewed from above.
File:Despair2.jpg
File:HW2 DespairFighter Render 2.jpg|The ''Despair'', as viewed from the front and back.
File:Despair3.jpg
File:HW2 DespairFighter Render 3.jpg|The ''Despair'', as viewed from the side.
File:HW2_DespairDock.jpg|A Despair-class fighter in its dock on Installation 00.
File:HW2_DespairDock.jpg|A Despair-class fighter in its dock on Installation 00.
File:PL - UncomfortableTruth1.jpg|The ''Despair'' fighter's design seed disassembling into the Ark.
File:HW2 Not on My Watch.jpg|The ''Despair'' fighter from the front, during Operation: SPEARBREAKER.
File:HW2 Spearbreaker Loadscreen.jpg|A ''Despair'' (top-right) in the keyart for ''[[Halo Wars 2: Operation: SPEARBREAKER]]''.
</gallery>
</gallery>


Latest revision as of 19:12, February 21, 2024

Despair-class fighter
The model of the Despair-class fighter.
Production information

Manufacturer:

Minoris Assembler Vats

Class:

Space fighter[1]

Role:

Hunter-killer fighter[1]

Technical specifications

Length:

178.7 meters (586.3 ft)[2]

Width:

165.7 meters (543.6 ft)[2]

Height:

69.3 meters (227.4 ft)[2]

Mass:

306,000 metric tons (301,000 LT; 337,000 ST)[2]

Other system(s):

Crew:

18 + 1 ancilla[2]

Chronological and affiliation

Era:

Affiliation:

 

The Despair-class fighter, also known as the Despair-class hunter-killer, was a classification of Forerunner fighter craft. They were described as curved and sleek in design.[1] The craft's name was chosen in references to the cultural milieu and trials of the era in which it was commissioned in a fashion similar to that of the Dignity-class escort.[5]

Overview[edit]

Design details[edit]

The Despair is considered the most renowned hunter-killer in the Forerunner fleet, designed with a total focus on overwhelming firepower and tracking capabilities. The craft features an integrated combat Cryptum, which is used to house its pilot in a subdued, trace-like focus. This state allows the pilot to focus all of their neural activity on processing the enormous amount of data the craft is projecting them.[2]

While considered a fighter in its own right, the Despair measures in at a length of 178.7 meters (586.3 ft) - comparable to the 160 meters (525 ft) Razor-class prowler of the United Nations Space Command.[2]

Operational history[edit]

Forerunner era[edit]

Despair-class hunter-killers were present at the Battle of Janjur Qom.[1] At the close of the Forerunner-Flood war, multiple Despair-class fighters were stationed at Requiem in defense of the shield world.[4] Several Despair-class fighters saw action against the rogue Contender-class artificial intelligence Mendicant Bias. After the firing of the Halo Array, some of the Despair-class fighters were moved to shield worlds and Halo installations. At least one Despair-class hunter-killer was moved to Installation 00 by the Librarian.[3]

In 29,823 BCE, the Ark's monitor 000 Tragic Solitude moved to dismantle the fighter's ship seed, viewing the Ark has having completed its purpose and not wishing to be tempted into using it for greater ill.[6]

Second Ark Conflict[edit]

Main article: Operation: SPEARBREAKER

During the Second Ark Conflict in April 2559, the Swarmlord Colony was tasked by Atriox with uncovering new technologies from the Ark with which to fight back against UNSC Spirit of Fire.[7] By May of that year, the buried Despair design seed had been discovered and disguised under a large cloaking field,[8] with the Huragok Floats Low But Steady (among others) tasked with restoring it to full function. Within a day, Floats had begun to "talk" with the ship and its launching systems, resulting in it beginning to grow anew and restore to full functionality.[9]

Despite these efforts, Spirit of Fire's reconnaissance drones noticed the cloaking shield and deployed forces to investigate - with the operated termed Operation: SPEARBREAKER. Sunray 1-1 led the operation, leading the UNSC forces to capturing five Control Towers despite heavy Banished and Sentinel resistance around the site. Once successfully captured, the control towers dropped the cloaking shield, revealing the Despair within and causing a Retriever Sentinel to attack.[10]

With the Banished's Huragok hacking the Ark's local systems to prepare the ship for launch, an attempt was made to send in a Condor gunship to destroy the fighter without success. Instead, Sunray 1-1 an assault on the fighter. While it was originally believed that the Banished intended to use the fighter to get reinforcements in lieu of the destroyed Enduring Conviction, it was quickly determined that the fighter was going to be launched on a collision course with the Spirit of Fire itself with a direct hit being enough to destroy the human ship. Spotting four charging columns connected to the ship, the UNSC forces, fighting through heavy Banished and Sentinel defenses, assaulted the columns' control pads, using Colossus to destroy them, delaying the ship's launch each time one was destroyed. Finally, with the charging columns destroyed and the Banished forces in the area defeated, Alannah Quinn was able to use the control terminal near the fighter to shut it down. Though the Banished sent in a Hunter Captain supported by Goliaths, the UNSC was able to clear out the Banished forces. To ensure the Banished could not try to use the ship again, Sunray 1-1 dropped satchel charges from Hornets while Quinn lowered the ship into the ground. The charges destroyed the Despair-class fighter, keeping both the Banished and the UNSC from using it.[11]

In-game information[edit]

Halo Wars 2[edit]

The Despair-class fighter appears in the Halo Wars 2: Operation: SPEARBREAKER level Not on My Watch as the mission's central objective. During the level, the player must lead an attack on the fighter's construction site.

Phoenix Log[edit]

Phoenix Log - Forerunner Ship
Phoenix log artwork

A long dormant Despair-class fighter

Forerunner Despair-class fighters saw action during the Forerunner-Flood war against the rogue Monitor Mendicant Bias. After the firing of the Halo superweapon, some of these fighters moved to Shield Worlds and Halo installations.

The Forerunner ship found and reactivated by Colony's Huragoks was 'regrown' from a ship-seed planted by the Librarian prior to the Halo activation. Ship-seed technology provides all the building blueprints needed to built a ship upon activation using on-site materials.

Gallery[edit]

  • The Despair, as viewed from above.

    The Despair, as viewed from above.

  • The Despair, as viewed from the front and back.

    The Despair, as viewed from the front and back.

  • The Despair, as viewed from the side.

    The Despair, as viewed from the side.

  • A Despair-class fighter in its dock on Installation 00.

    A Despair-class fighter in its dock on Installation 00.

  • The Despair fighter's design seed disassembling into the Ark.

    The Despair fighter's design seed disassembling into the Ark.

  • The Despair fighter from the front, during Operation: SPEARBREAKER.

    The Despair fighter from the front, during Operation: SPEARBREAKER.

  • A Despair (top-right) in the keyart for Halo Wars 2: Operation: SPEARBREAKER.

    A Despair (top-right) in the keyart for Halo Wars 2: Operation: SPEARBREAKER.

List of appearances[edit]

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Halo: Cryptum, chapter 23
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 389
  3. ^ a b Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs: Forerunner Ship
  4. ^ a b Halo: Silentium, chapter 34
  5. ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 380
  6. ^ Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs: A Tensed Bolt
  7. ^ Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs: A New Commander
  8. ^ Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs: Hold Fast
  9. ^ Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs: Floats Low But Steady
  10. ^ Halo Wars 2, campaign level Gatecrashers
  11. ^ Halo Wars 2, campaign level Not on My Watch

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The Forerunners

v • d • e
 
Ships
Civilian starships
Small craft and weapon-ships
Escorts
Unknown type
For a complete list, check out our Forerunner category.
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