The flame-bore is a Banished excavation tool that fires superheated plasma.[1][2]
Overview
Excavator-mounted flame-bore
The flame-bore is typically mounted on mobile excavators. It fires a mining laser composed of superheated plasma at levels approaching that of the ventral excavation beam of a Covenant capital ship, though on a much smaller scale.[2] The flame-bore is commonly used for excavating tunnels and egress points into the terrain, leaving behind a cavernous passageway, which is then reinforced with support beams along its walls.[3]
Site Novem's flame-bore
During the Battle for Zeta Halo, the Banished assembled four flame-bores at Site Novem to breach the Conservatory.[2][4] Proved to be ineffective,[4] the flame-bore was further modified by the Harbinger to cut through Forerunner alloys. It required two external power regulators to prevent overheating. Each power regulator was itself regulated by a pair of cooling pylons. These pylons were normally concealed underground to protect them from attack, but can be raised using nearby manual controls. Banished troops operated and monitored the flame-bore from behind an energy barrier.[5]
History
- Main article: Battle for Zeta Halo
During the Battle for Zeta Halo, the Banished deployed multiple excavators with flame-bores to the surface of the ring. After the Banished forced UNSC survivors out of the wreckage of UNSC Mortal Reverie, in establishing Outpost Tremonius, they used a flame-bore to excavate new egress points below the mountain for access from one side of the crash site to the other.[3][6]
Later on, the Banished assembled four flame-bores atop of the central structure at Site Novem for the purposes of cutting through Forerunner alloys and breaching the Conservatory from underground. When the Harbinger inspected the dig site, she modified the flame-bore, so that it could pierce Forerunner alloy.[4][5] By May 15, 2560, the Banished had used their modified flame-bore to successfully breach the Conservatory.[7]
On May 28, 2560, when John-117 investigated the dig site, the Banished tried to stop him from entering the Conservatory by reactivating the flame-bore and firing it into the tunnel. The Master Chief stormed the central structure, eliminated the flame-bore's crew, and uploaded the Weapon into the controls. However, the Weapon couldn't shut down the flame-bore, so the Chief decided to destroy it instead. The Weapon advised him to take out the flame-bore's power regulators so that she could trigger an overload. The Chief exposed and destroyed all four cooling pylons, which in turn caused the regulators to overheat and explode. He then returned to the flame-bore's control room, where he fought and defeated the Jiralhanae Chieftain Bassus. He then uploaded the Weapon into the flame-bore's controls once again. The Weapon hacked into the flame-bore and triggered the overload, causing it to explode. With the flame-bore destroyed, the Chief entered the Conservatory.[5]
Gallery
Concept art
Concept art of the flame-bore at Site Novem.
More concept art of the flame-bore at Site Novem.
More concept art of the flame-bore at Site Novem.
More concept art of the flame-bore at Site Novem.
Concept art of the flame-bore's laser projectors.
Screenshots
A flame-bore detached from an excavator.
Two excavators with flame-bores.
The rear of a flame-bore on an excavator.
A flame-bore undergoing repairs at Ransom Keep.
A flame-bore excavating a tunnel at the Forge of Teash.
A tunnel excavated by a flame-bore.
Site Novem's flame-bore when powered down.
Site Novem's flame-bore prepares to fire.
Lasers from Site Novem's flame-bore block off the tunnel's entrance.
Forerunner alloys seared with residue from the flame-bore's superheated plasma.
One of the two power regulators for Site Novem's flame-bore.
A cooling pylon for a power regulator at Site Novem.
The control console for the flame-bore at Site Novem.
The Weapon hacks into Site Novem's control for the flame-bore.
The flame-bore on fire after its destruction.
List of appearances
- Halo Infinite (First appearance)
Sources
- ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 440
- ^ a b c Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 441
- ^ a b Halo Infinite, open world: An excavator can be found in Outpost Tremonius' tunnels.
- ^ a b c Halo Infinite, Banished Audio log: Outpost Intel #06 - Secrets Below
- ^ a b c Halo Infinite, campaign mission Connections: Excavation Site
- ^ Halo: The Rubicon Protocol, chapter 26
- ^ Halo Infinite, Spartan Audio log: Scattered #07 - Infiltration