Aggressor Sentinel

"Sentinels! The holy warriors of the sacred rings!"

— A Special Operations Sangheili exclaimed upon seeing Aggressor Sentinels in the Threshold gas mine^[1]

Z-1500 Automated Systems Drones,^[2] more commonly known as Aggressor Sentinels,^[3] are Forerunner automatons programmed to act as security and maintenance drones, suppress small-scale Flood outbreaks, and protect Forerunner installations. As the basic type of the fairly inclusive Sentinel class, Aggressors are generally referred to simply as Sentinels.^[3]

Design details

Three specialized Sentinels, as hinted by their gold chassis.

Aggressor Sentinels have two arm-like appendages, with two fine manipulators at the end of each arm. Their central head rests above a curved undercarriage housing an offensive Sentinel beam. Their powerful beam weapons and defensive energy shields make them very effective in combat against intruders or foreign objects that present themselves as threats. Their smaller lasers are used for both repairing damaged Forerunner constructs in conjunction with Constructors, and self-repair should the Aggressors be damaged in combat.^[4] Aggressors are propelled by both an anti-gravity unit located on the undercarriage and small, exotic form of impulse drive which enables them to travel at high speeds.^[2] They are also capable of tapping into their installation's teleportation grid.^[2]

There are at least two variants of the Aggressor Sentinel; the most common model is grayish white in color while the specialized model is golden. The differences between the two variants lie solely on their offensive and defensive systems; the gold-colored version sports superior weaponry and shielding system to the common grayish-white model's.

Aggressors are created at specialized manufacturing facilities,^[4] massive airborne platforms that are located on every Halo installation and on other key Forerunner installations such as shield worlds. These compounds produce Sentinels when facing either a Flood outbreak or an external threat to their local installation. The massive assembly lines, at maximum performance, can produce Sentinels at a very fast rate to either supplement existing Forerunner defenses or to replace those destroyed for whatever reason.

Operation

File:Sentinel Shielding.jpg

A Sentinel's energy shield.

Aggressors were utilized as all-purpose workers and guards on Forerunner stations. Following the construction of the Halo Array, they were reconfigured to be the first line of defense against Flood outbreaks and other external intruders. The mechanical nature of the Aggressors make them ideal combat units against an enemy that could convert conventional biological infantry into biomass - by deploying the Aggressors en masse, the Forerunners could battle the parasite without contributing to its numbers. Controlled by their own basic AI functions, as well as their installation's monitor, Aggressors patrol the installation's vast terrain and network tunnels tirelessly and attack as their protocol demands.^[4]

When not in combat Aggressors serve as basic repair, maintenance, and security drones for Forerunner installations and facilities where Flood samples are kept, working in conjunction with Constructors and Enforcers to ensure that the facility remains in working order.

The Forerunner Dreadnought, the San'Shyuum's keyship, was equipped with its own contingent of Sentinels. The San'Shyuum managed to adapt these machines to serve them in a combat support role. Aggressors under San'Shyuum control were used in battles during the San'Shyuum-Sangheili War before the Covenant's formation.^[5] The war depleted the Sentinels' numbers almost completely and the few that remained in High Charity were regarded as relics to be preserved and were no longer used in combat.^[6]

Combat behavior

File:Sentinel Firing.jpg

A Sentinel Aggressor firing its beam.

Aggressors are the first Forerunner automated defense systems to assist a situation and generate a proper response protocol. While Aggressors are strong enough to handle small-scale battles, they are more of a supplement rather than a reliable combat system. The Aggressors' weapons systems are limited and not as powerful as some of the other Forerunner weapons employed against the Flood, and can only hold them at bay for a limited amount of time.

Because of their limited AI, they are only individually able to handle situations on a basic scale, which makes them vulnerable to strategic Flood attacks. Because of their limited intelligence they are not often able to perform evasive maneuvers when facing imminent attack and are usually destroyed. In overwhelming numbers, Aggressors are more than capable of handling a situation for a certain time until more permanent measures can be applied.

The Aggressor's energy shield is their primary defense mechanism. Once taken down, it is susceptible to any type of small-arms fire. When an Aggressor has been damaged beyond repair, it explodes violently and releases a powerful electromagnetic pulse, a tactical last resort that disables all nearby electronics.

When faced with a single threat of sufficient physical size, such as a Capital ship, Aggressors have been known to deploy en masse and create a swarm. Instead of using their individual weapons, they fly in formation and use their bodies as projectiles, causing enough damage to end the threat. This was seen during the Battle of Installation 00 (2559), when Enduring Conviction's Energy Projector was fired upon the surface of The Ark, breaking the Installation's outer crust. The Aggressors were quick to respond, using their combined mass to tear the ship's hull apart and cut it into two pieces ^[7].

Variants

Gold variant: This variant acts just like an average Sentinel, but utilizes a stronger blue Sentinel Beam. This variant was deployed during the Flood-outbreak on Installation 05.

Gold variant

Gameplay

Evolution of the Aggressor Sentinel's design throughout the Halo games.

Changes from Halo: Combat Evolved to Halo 2

The Aggressor Sentinel received a graphical update.
There are now two variants of Aggressor Sentinel: The standard grayish-silver and gold variants.
As opposed to the Sentinels in Halo: Combat Evolved, the standard silver-gray Sentinel lacks shields, and the gold Sentinels do not.
The Aggressor Sentinel's beam weapon can now be used when the Sentinel is destroyed.

Changes from Halo 2 to Halo 3

There is now only one variant of Sentinel: the standard grayish-silver type.
The Sentinel now sports a blue "eye" and teal lights.
All the Sentinels now have shields.

Changes from Halo 3 to Halo 4

Sentinels have undergone a moderate visual redesign, now sporting a more rounded carapace.
Sentinels now make a much less shrill whirring sound while flying.
Sentinels now fire a bluish-colored beam, similar to the beam of the golden Sentinel of Halo 2, instead of an orange beam.
Sentinels will no longer explode when destroyed; instead they teleport away after sustaining severe damage. Because of this behavior, combined with the lack of the weapon's appearance in the game, the Sentinel beam cannot be obtained in Halo 4.

Halo Wars 2 Open Beta

These units will defend the Domination Point in Domination.

Trivia

Chris Hughes created the original concept art of the Sentinel.^[8]
A lone Aggressor that fires sporadic Needler rounds can be found on the Halo 2 campaign level, Quarantine Zone. The Aggressor will drop a Needler when destroyed. This is the result of developer experimentation with giving Sentinels different weapons.
On certain levels in Halo 3, it is possible to 'surf' on Aggressor Sentinels, by standing on the furthest possible point from the front of the Aggressor. This is easiest on The Ark, at the point where the light bridge must be opened for the Scorpions and Warthogs. The Aggressor will, eventually, hover over the edge, holding the player up about half of the time. Remaining on top of the Aggressor allows the player to reach inaccessible locations.
Aggressor Sentinels share both similar design and functions to that of the P'fhor Defense Drones from the Marathon series. In addition, they share the same weaknesses against shotgun and plasma/fusion pistol fire.
In the Deliver Hope trailer, the shielding on the Covenant CCS-class battlecruiser appears similar to the energy shields on the Aggressors in Halo 3.

Gallery

HCE - Sentinel 1.png

Concept art of Sentinels in Halo: Combat Evolved.
HCE - Sentinel 2.png

Another concept art of Sentinels in Halo: Combat Evolved.
A Sentinel in Halo: Combat Evolved.
POAEngineRoom.jpg

Sentinels fighting the Flood in Halo: Combat Evolved.
A Sentinel in Halo 2.
A pair of Aggressors during the Battle of Installation 05 in Halo 2.
The gold variant of the Aggressor Sentinel as seen in Halo 2.
An Aggressor Sentinel in Halo 3.
An overview of the Aggressor Sentinel.
A basic overview of the Aggressor in Halo 3.
Sentinels fighting against the Covenant.
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A Sentinel's energy shield in Halo 3.
Idle Sentinel.jpg

An Aggressor in its folded-up "idle" form.
John-117 has a face-to-face encounter with a Sentinel on Installation 00.
Several squadrons of Sentinels head out to deal with the Flood.
Aggressor Sentinels firing their Sentinel beam weapons on several attacking Flood combat forms.
An Aggressor Sentinel in Halo Wars.
Conceptual explorations of an Aggressor Sentinel in Halo 4.
Render of an Aggressor Sentinel in Halo 4.
Sentinels attacking a Hunter, as seen through the scope of a Type-51 Carbine wielded by John-117.
Aggressor Sentinels on the cover of Halo: Escalation #21.
A Sentinel in Halo 2: Anniversary.
A Sentinel in the Halo Wars 2 Open Beta.
Sentinels on Installation 00 in Halo Wars 2.