Hard light: Difference between revisions
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==Background== | ==Background== | ||
Hard light was used extensively by the Forerunners for a variety of purposes. The control panels and interfaces found in many Forerunner installations are composed entirely of hard light, and can react to the touch of a Forerunner or human despite their utter lack of mechanical components. Hard light was also commonly used in the composition of Forerunner structures and ships, either for aesthetic purposes or as a covering for mechanical and technological mechanisms, such as on the arms of a [[war sphinx]].<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''pages 93, and 194''</ref> Hard light is also used in the locking mechanisms of Forerunner [[door]]s.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', "Wages of Sin"</ref> Bridges made of hard light, known as [[energy bridge]]s, are common throughout Forerunner installations; these bridges are strong enough to bear the load of heavy objects such as a [[Scorpion]] tank, yet can be switched on or off as easily as a normal beam of light. Some of the larger [[Bridge (structure)|conventional bridges]] constructed by the Forerunners also feature support cables made of hard light.<ref>'''Halo: Combat Evolved''', campaign level ''[[Assault on the Control Room]]''</ref> | Hard light was used extensively by the Forerunners for a variety of purposes. The control panels and interfaces found in many Forerunner installations are composed entirely of hard light, and can react to the touch of a Forerunner or human despite their utter lack of mechanical components. Hard light was also commonly used in the composition of Forerunner structures and ships, either for aesthetic purposes or as a covering for mechanical and technological mechanisms, such as on the arms of a [[war sphinx]].<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''pages 93, and 194''</ref> Hard light is also used in the locking mechanisms of Forerunner [[door]]s.<ref name="wages">'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]] Volume II''', ''"[[Wages of Sin]]"'', ''page 291''</ref> Bridges made of hard light, known as [[energy bridge]]s, are common throughout Forerunner installations; these bridges are strong enough to bear the load of heavy objects such as a [[Scorpion]] tank, yet can be switched on or off as easily as a normal beam of light. Some of the larger [[Bridge (structure)|conventional bridges]] constructed by the Forerunners also feature support cables made of hard light.<ref>'''Halo: Combat Evolved''', campaign level ''[[Assault on the Control Room]]''</ref> | ||
Forerunner [[design seed]]s also made use of hard light. When activated, the rotating pillars of the machine would emit "scaffolding" of hard light that would fabricate a machine or ship using raw materials obtained on-site. | Forerunner [[design seed]]s also made use of hard light. When activated, the rotating pillars of the machine would emit "scaffolding" of hard light that would fabricate a machine or ship using raw materials obtained on-site. | ||
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Most Forerunner structures project a hard light decorative shell over the structural support elements of the building. Almost all Forerunner buildings seen on the Halo installations or the Ark lack this covering; the Forerunners did not install hard-light generators on the Halos' structures, as they were meant to be purely functional.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 319''</ref> Additionally, any structures that possessed hard light decor only activated in the presence of Forerunners,<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 242''</ref> although the decoration in the [[Menachite Forerunner complex]] activated when a group of [[human|Reclaimer]]s entered.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 143''</ref> | Most Forerunner structures project a hard light decorative shell over the structural support elements of the building. Almost all Forerunner buildings seen on the Halo installations or the Ark lack this covering; the Forerunners did not install hard-light generators on the Halos' structures, as they were meant to be purely functional.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 319''</ref> Additionally, any structures that possessed hard light decor only activated in the presence of Forerunners,<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 242''</ref> although the decoration in the [[Menachite Forerunner complex]] activated when a group of [[human|Reclaimer]]s entered.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 143''</ref> | ||
Certain Forerunner weapons used hard light for offensive purposes, creating solid projectiles that could be fired like conventional bullets or plasma bolts. | Certain Forerunner weapons used hard light for offensive purposes, creating solid projectiles that could be fired like conventional bullets or [[plasma]] bolts. | ||
The Forerunners also used hard light technology to create protective personal shields, such as the [[Z-90 Photonic Coalescence Emitter/Aegis]], more commonly known as the "hardlight shield," which could be deployed in the battlefield by fighting units like [[Promethean Knight]]s. After encountering such technology in [[2557]], [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] forces were able to adapt these shields for use by [[SPARTAN Program|Spartan]] supersoldiers.<ref name="Official Site"/> | The Forerunners also used hard light technology to create protective personal shields, such as the [[Z-90 Photonic Coalescence Emitter/Aegis]], more commonly known as the "hardlight shield," which could be deployed in the battlefield by fighting units like [[Promethean Knight]]s. After encountering such technology in [[2557]], [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] forces were able to adapt these shields for use by [[SPARTAN Program|Spartan]] supersoldiers.<ref name="Official Site"/> | ||
==Trivia== | |||
Hard light was one of the several Forerunner technologies the [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] never successfully reverse-engineered.<ref name="wages"/> | |||
==List of appearances== | ==List of appearances== | ||
Revision as of 08:26, September 13, 2012
Hard light, alternatively spelled hard-light or hardlight,[1] is a Forerunner technology that allows light to be transformed into a solid state, capable of bearing weight and performing a variety of tasks. This involves an as-yet unexplained interplay between coherent, high-energy light and gas particles, such as air.
Background
Hard light was used extensively by the Forerunners for a variety of purposes. The control panels and interfaces found in many Forerunner installations are composed entirely of hard light, and can react to the touch of a Forerunner or human despite their utter lack of mechanical components. Hard light was also commonly used in the composition of Forerunner structures and ships, either for aesthetic purposes or as a covering for mechanical and technological mechanisms, such as on the arms of a war sphinx.[2] Hard light is also used in the locking mechanisms of Forerunner doors.[3] Bridges made of hard light, known as energy bridges, are common throughout Forerunner installations; these bridges are strong enough to bear the load of heavy objects such as a Scorpion tank, yet can be switched on or off as easily as a normal beam of light. Some of the larger conventional bridges constructed by the Forerunners also feature support cables made of hard light.[4]
Forerunner design seeds also made use of hard light. When activated, the rotating pillars of the machine would emit "scaffolding" of hard light that would fabricate a machine or ship using raw materials obtained on-site.
Hard light was also used in the firing mechanisms of the Halo installations,[5] and also as a protective structural reinforcement to stabilize and protect the rings against tidal and gravitational forces from other objects.[6]
Many Forerunner ships use hard light technology to form its internal divisions and compartments. This allows a Forerunner ship to easily reconfigure its layout, furnishings or decoration at will.[7]
Most Forerunner structures project a hard light decorative shell over the structural support elements of the building. Almost all Forerunner buildings seen on the Halo installations or the Ark lack this covering; the Forerunners did not install hard-light generators on the Halos' structures, as they were meant to be purely functional.[8] Additionally, any structures that possessed hard light decor only activated in the presence of Forerunners,[9] although the decoration in the Menachite Forerunner complex activated when a group of Reclaimers entered.[10]
Certain Forerunner weapons used hard light for offensive purposes, creating solid projectiles that could be fired like conventional bullets or plasma bolts.
The Forerunners also used hard light technology to create protective personal shields, such as the Z-90 Photonic Coalescence Emitter/Aegis, more commonly known as the "hardlight shield," which could be deployed in the battlefield by fighting units like Promethean Knights. After encountering such technology in 2557, UNSC forces were able to adapt these shields for use by Spartan supersoldiers.[1]
Trivia
Hard light was one of the several Forerunner technologies the Covenant never successfully reverse-engineered.[3]
List of appearances
- Halo: Combat Evolved (First appearance)
- Halo 3
- Halo Wars
- Halo: The Flood
- Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe
- Halo: Cryptum
- Halo Graphic Novel
- Halo: Blood Line
- Halo 4
Sources
- ^ a b Halo 4 Official Site: GAMEPLAY
- ^ Halo: Cryptum, pages 93, and 194
- ^ a b Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe Volume II, "Wages of Sin", page 291
- ^ Halo: Combat Evolved, campaign level Assault on the Control Room
- ^ Halo: Cryptum, pages 307, 310
- ^ Halo: Cryptum, page 311
- ^ Halo: Cryptum, page 124
- ^ Halo: Cryptum, page 319
- ^ Halo: Cryptum, page 242
- ^ Halo: First Strike, page 143
