Mutan Et-pattern storm cutter

DAS-class storm cutter
Production information
Manufacturer:	Primary Assembly Forges
Role:	Scouting Pursuit and attack Harassment
Technical specifications
Length:	225 meters (740 ft)
Mass:	41,000 metric tons
Engine(s):	Repulsor engines
Other system(s):	Hyperscanner detector
Hull:	Nanolaminate plating
Armament:	4 Emri Ka-pattern light plasma lances 4 Enteros-pattern plasma beams 4 Phot Et-pattern pulse lasers
Complement:	1 Obedientary 10 Warriors
Crew:	1 Superior, 15 Menials
Chronological and affiliation
Era:	Human-Covenant War Post-Covenant War conflicts
Affiliation:	Covenant (formerly) Covenant remnants Kig-Yar pirates

The DAS-class storm cutter is a class of light attack ship formerly serviced by the fleet of the Covenant, now in use by its successor factions. Once manufactured by the Primary Assembly Forges of High Charity, these storm cutters are constructed following the Mutan Et design pattern. Primarily used for pursuit, scouting, and harassment in battle, the DAS class is regarded as relentless and elusive.

Specifications

The DAS class are small warships at 225 meters in length and with a mass of 41,000 metric tons. Protected by a hull of nanolaminate plating, these storm cutters are also equipped with energy shielding. When both shield and hull fail, like all warships of the Covenant fleet, DAS-class storm cutters rely on active jammers, deception field generators, and auto-repair systems to ensure the vessels remain combat effective.

DAS-class storm cutters are armed with four Emri Ka-pattern light plasma lances, four Enteros-pattern plasma beam emitters, and four Phot Et-pattern pulse lasers. The storm cutters are also equipped with an advanced hyperscanner that provides extremely detailed information on any object within range. Crewed by one Superior and fifteen Menials, the DAS class also carries a small complement of ten Warriors led by a single Obedientary.

Operational history

Human-Covenant war

DAS-class storm cutters were employed by the Covenant's fleet during the Human-Covenant War. Throughout the war, these vessels served as scouts and strikecraft tenders, prowling in hunter-killer teams at the far edges of major fleet engagements. In at least one instance, the Heresy's Sorrow harassed UNSC's supply lines and UEG trade routes.

Post-war

Following the Covenant's collapse in December 2552, many of these storm cutters have fallen into the hands of Kig-Yar raiders and the empire's various successor factions.

In 2554, the twin DAS-class storm cutters, Mark of Prophecy and Divine Breath, were being used by Kig-Yar engaged in smuggling and piracy near the human Inner Colony of New Carthage. The two ships had a deadly encounter over the planet with the Gladius-class heavy corvette UNSC Sagan Blue of the UNSC Navy.

Ships of the line

Mutan Et pattern

• Divine Breath – Operated by Kig-Yar, engaged in smuggling and piracy operations over New Carthage in 2554.
• Mark of Prophecy – Operated by Kig-Yar, engaged in smuggling and piracy operations over New Carthage in 2554.

Unknown

• Heresy's Sorrow - Formerly led by Inka 'Saham, harassed UEG and UNSC supply and trade routes.

Production notes

The DAS-class storm cutter was first introduced in Halo: Warfleet, with the Halo Story Bible previously containing only a handful of technical details on the class. After determining the dimensions of the storm cutter from the Story Bible's notes and Isaac Hannaford's reference render of the ship, Kenneth Peters was able to derive crew, mass, and armament details for Warfleet.

Gallery

• Divine Breath.png

  A DAS-class storm cutter engaged over New Carthage; note the unique pronged design of the vessel.

• 

  Two storm cutters engaged over New Carthage.

List of appearances

• Halo Infinite (First mentioned)