A plasma lance is a kind of energy projector employed by Covenant starships as an ultra-heavy anti-ship weapon. Plasma lances fire tightly-focused streams of plasma at their enemies, dealing a great deal of kinetic and thermal damage.[1] At close range, plasma lances are capable of cutting un-shielded warships in half.[2]
Scaled-down forms of plasma lances known as plasma beam emitters may also be present on larger warships, intended for use as general-purpose anti-ship weaponry. Plasma emitters emit continuous beams of plasma capable of being used to bore into a planetary surface to excavate Forerunner artifacts.[1]
ModelsEdit
Unique and individual designsEdit
- Muesh-pattern flensing lance turret
The flensing lance turret entered service during the Ninth Age of Reclamation.[3]
- Kewu-pattern battleship - One such weapon was present on the Kewu, and was considered considerably more powerful than the regular energy projectors used by the Covenant. The Ministry of Concert commissioned the Kewu-pattern battleship for policing other Covenant warships, indicating they were the Muesh-pattern's intended targets.[3]
- Worthy Fire relic lance
Worthy Fire relic lances are built upon weapon-cores of Forerunner origin. In Covenant usage, they were in service by the Twenty-Third Age of Doubt.[3]
- Rasus-pattern interdictor - five such weapons were included on the Rasus-pattern, each sourced from an array of irreplaceable Forerunner weapon-cores.[3]
Heavy and superheavy plasma lancesEdit
- Lances of the Faithful
- Main article: Lances of the Faithful
The Lances of the Faithful were an array of 32 superheavy plasma lances serving as the primary defenses of High Charity, alongside 1,900 plasma beam emitters.[4][5]
- Urpeon-pattern superheavy plasma lance
The Urpeon-pattern superheavy plasma lance was introduced into Covenant service as early as the Third Age of Discovery and Fourth Age of Conversion.[6]
- Sh'wada-pattern supercarrier - 12x Urpeon-pattern plasma lances[6]
- Kerel-pattern assault carrier - 2x Urpeon-pattern plasma lances[7]
- Syfon-pattern assault carrier - 2x Urpeon-pattern plasma lances[6]
- N'nap-pattern heavy plasma lance
The N'nap-pattern plasma lance was in service as early as the Twentieth Age of Discovery.[3]
- Rothen-pattern fireship - 1x N'nap-pattern plasma lance. The installation of the oversized N'nap-pattern lance requires sacrificing most other crew comfort considerations aboard the Rothen-pattern fireship.[3]
- Razu-pattern heavy plasma lance
The Razu-pattern heavy plasma lance was employed by Sangheili forces during the Former Age prior to the War of Wills and formation of the Covenant.[8]
- Lursu-pattern brigantine - 12x Razu-pattern heavy plasma lance batteries[8]
- Ventrax-pattern heavy plasma lance
- Varric-pattern heavy cruiser - 1x Ventrax-pattern plasma lance[9]
Light and regular plasma lancesEdit
- Baen Ka-pattern plasma lance
The Baen Ka-pattern plasma lance was in service during the Third Age of Discovery.[3]
- Ester-pattern armored frigate - 1x Baen Ka-pattern plasma lance[3]
- Ignis-pattern plasma lance
The Ignis-pattern plasma lance was in service as earlier as the Eighteenth Age of Doubt and Seventh Age of Reconciliation.[6][9]
- Ket-pattern battlecruiser - 1x Ignis-pattern plasma lance[9]
- Ruma-pattern light carrier - 2x Ignis-pattern plasma lances[6]
- Emri Ka-pattern light plasma lance
The Emri Ka-pattern plasma lance was in service by the Sixth Age of Conflict.[10]
- Mutan Et-pattern storm cutter - 4x Emri Ka-pattern plasma lances[10][11]
The Banished dreadnought mounts six light plasma lances of unknown model or design pattern.[12]
SourcesEdit
- ^ a b Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 261
- ^ Halo: Warfleet - Examiners, page 64-65
- ^ a b c d e f g h Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 266-267
- ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 226-227
- ^ Halo: Warfleet, page 56-57
- ^ a b c d e Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 262-263
- ^ Halo: Warfleet, page 70-71
- ^ a b Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 271
- ^ a b c Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 264-265
- ^ a b Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 269
- ^ Halo: Warfleet, page 18
- ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 462