Borer
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
A borer is a type of slipspace drive created and used by the Covenant and its remnants. It is a spacecraft propulsion system capable of making transitions to and from slipstream space and by extension allowing faster-than-light interstellar travel.
Description
Being more technologically advanced than humanity, the Covenant have numerous advantages in slipspace propulsion systems. Whilst the human Shaw-Fujikawa engine is said to “punch” a hole between realms using brute force, Covenant engines instead take a small rupture and delicately enlarge it with surgical precision. This allows the latter to execute far more accurate slips.[1] Covenant slipspace drives are often referred to as "jump drives".[2] In addition to their more powerful thruster engines, it has been theorized by the UNSC that Covenant drives generate several "microjumps" within a single slipspace transition to measure the dilation involved in a jump, allowing them to reach their destinations faster.[3]
Covenant drives are generally more flexible and powerful than those of humans. They have thrice been seen to execute in-atmosphere slipspace transitions[4][5] (although the first time the drive in question was controlled by a human AI). In addition, Covenant drives can execute successful slips even if underpowered.
Covenant slipspace drives can also be refitted to human ships, as seen during Operation: FIRST STRIKE, where the UNSC fitted Ascendant Justice's slipspace drive to the UNSC Gettysburg to escape Unyielding Hierophant and reach Earth faster.
Known Borers
- Ophon-pattern - Used on the Ket-pattern CCS-class battlecruiser.
- Primus-pattern - Used on the Kerel-pattern CAS-class assault carrier.
- Tyros-pattern - Used on the SDV-class heavy corvette.
Sources
- ^ Halo: First Strike, page 86
- ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 136
- ^ Halo: First Strike (2010), Tug o' War
- ^ Halo: First Strike
- ^ Halo 2, level Delta Halo
