Okay, sources have been added to the Jackal and Drone Lance sections (Halo: CE level Silent Cartographer and Halo 2 level Outskirts, respectively), but when does it ever refer to those groups as a Lance? AlphaPrime 03:17, 11 April 2007 (UTC)
- More observation than anything else. In those levels, small groups of the enemy can be seen, as well as their behavior and ranks, commanders etc. --ED(talk)(shockfront) 19:31, 11 April 2007 (UTC)
Sorry ED, I'm with AlphaPrime here. We could pick any random name for this formation, but it doesn't make it true. -- Manticore 
Talk | CSV 07:42, 12 April 2007 (UTC)
The Arbiter Level, Anybody?
Phantom Pilot (O.S.): "Arbiter, clear the hangar and open this door, so I may drop the second Lance!" ~Transcript, Part 2, Whisper of the Storm, The Arbiter (Level)
As this apparently refers to reinforcements, it makes sense to conclude that a Lance consists of Elites and Grunts. What is not known is the numbers of either race, or ratio of Elites to Grunts, especially since it was a Spec-Ops mission, there are bound to be more Elites than normal. Also, as this is the only time I personally have heard the term in-game, it is possible that "Lance" is in fact a Spec-Ops term, perhaps even slang (however unlikely in the ultra-formal Covenant society). To me, there is no debate as to the term's existence and what it generally means, but certainly the specifics may need to be beaten out.