The Z-8060 High-Impact Particle Weapon, alternately known as the Particle Cannon,[1] is a heavy Forerunner directed energy particle cannon used for anti-air defense.[2]
Description
Z-8060 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. The cannons project a hyper-dense beam of negatively charged ions to disintegrate any target in range.[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]
Interestingly, this particle cannon bears a great resemblance to a certain Forerunner portal-generating machine, albeit with its "arms" protruding outwards instead of upwards.[3][4][5]
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]
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
- ^ a b Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide, page 105
- ^ a b c Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedReclaimer - ^ Halo: Spartan Strike, Operation C: Valiant Hammer
- ^ Halo: Spartan Strike, Operation D: Adamantine Shield
- ^ Halo: Spartan Strike, Operation E: Brother's Keeper