The Z-8060 High-Impact Particle Weapon, alternately known as the Particle Cannon,[1] is a heavy Forerunner directed energy weapon used for anti-air defense.[2]
Description
Forerunner particle cannons are enormous floating weapons platforms. They are spherical in shape, surrounded by three curving "arms" spaced at equidistant points around the main gun assembly. Particle cannons project a beam of energy similar to a Sentinel beam to disintegrate any target in range. The beam is composed of a hyper-dense collection of negatively charged ions.[1] They are slow to turn, however, and are vulnerable to ground-based attacks. A well-placed hit from a small MAC in the central beam port will destroy the device.[2]
History
A number of these weapons were encountered on Requiem in use by the Prometheans as anti-air defenses; one of the cannons obliterated a squad of Pelicans in a single hit. Two cannons were destroyed by a Mammoth siegework platform deployed to the surface by the UNSC Infinity, with Master Chief John-117 providing targeting for the Mammoth. These cannons were controlled from a central core via an AI, before it was deactivated by Cortana; causing the remaining two to fire on each other.[2]
A larger variant was used as a ship-to-ship weapon on the Forerunner flagship Mantle's Approach. Unlike their planetside counterpart, this version is powered by an external energy core. John-117 used this vulnerability to neutralize the Mantle's point-defense capacity with his F-41 Broadsword, allowing the Template:UNSCship to attack the ship.[3]
Trivia
The particle cannon's overall design bears a great deal of resemblance to the description of an Onyx Sentinel.
Gallery
Concept art of a Forerunner anti-air particle cannon in Halo 4.
Concept art of the Mantle's Approach's point-defense particle cannons in Halo 4.
A particle cannon on Requiem.
A view of a particle cannon on Requiem.
Another view of a particle cannon.
An M510 Mammoth encountering a Particle Cannon.
A Particle cannon firing on a Pelican.
List of appearances
- Halo 4 (First appearance)
Sources