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| {{Status|Canon}} | | {{Era|GOO}} |
| {{Forerunner infobox | | {{ratings}} |
| |name= Onyx Sentinel | | {{Forerunner Infobox |
| |image= | | |
| |role= Defense of [[Onyx]] | | |name = Onyx Sentinel |
| |first seen= [[Onyx]], [[2552]] | | |aprox. size = Three meters long |
| |length= | | |purpose = Defense of [[Onyx]] |
| *Central sphere: approx. {{Convert|25|cm|ft|sp=us}}<ref name="g231">'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''pages 231, 298''</ref>
| | |strength = High |
| *Booms: approx. {{Convert|300|cm|ft|sp=us}}{{Ref/Reuse|g231}}
| | |first seen = [[Onyx]], [[2552]] |
| |length-title=Dimensions
| | |primary = High Power Sentinel Beam |
| |width=
| | |weaponry strength = More powerful than the Standard Issue |
| |height=
| | |other abilities = Fast speeds, Capable of conversing in root languages |
| |armament=High-powered [[Sentinel Beam]]
| | |defense = Superior Shielding (Activated when fast motion is detected) |
| |armor=Superior shielding (activated when fast motion is detected) | |
| |misc3-title=Other abilities | |
| |misc3=Fast speeds, capable of conversing in root languages
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| }} | | }} |
| The '''Onyx Sentinel''' is a deadly and versatile variant of [[Forerunner]] [[Sentinel]] capable of adapting to different threats and fulfilling a variety of roles both offensive and passive.<ref name="G175">'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 175''</ref> This variety has been encountered only on the [[Astroengineering|artificial world]] [[Onyx]], which was actually comprised of trillions of the machines.<ref name="G378">'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 378''</ref>
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| ==Description==
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| The Onyx Sentinel shares a vaguely similar appearance to a [[monitor]]—a round metallic sphere a quarter meter in diameter,{{Ref/Reuse|g231}} with a central red "eye" that glows golden. The interior of the sphere, only visible if the casing is breached, glows blue-white with heat.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 168''</ref> Hovering around this sphere are three meter-long cylindrical spars or "booms",{{Ref/Reuse|g231}} which are suspended in midair at equidistant points around the sphere.<ref name="G118">'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''pages 118-119''</ref> These booms can change position for various purposes, and will rapidly "pop" into place to form a triangular plane when the sentinel's shields are active. The central eye is the weaponry and offensive capability of the sentinel and is capable of unleashing a devastating beam of energy.<ref name="G120">'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 120''</ref> The booms are covered in a matte silver metal engraved with a subtle circle pattern,{{Ref/Reuse|g231}} while the central eye is surrounded by tiny [[Forerunner symbols|Forerunner glyphs]] floating a centimeter off the surface.<ref name="G133">'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 133''</ref> The central sphere is known to emit a blackbody radiation equivalent to 6,000 degrees Kelvin (5,726.85°C / 10,340.33ºF) in its normal active state,<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 153''</ref> and 15,000 degrees Kelvin (14,726.85°C / 26,540.33ºF) when charging.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 156''</ref>
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| The Onyx Sentinel is also equipped with [[anti-gravity technology]], similar to that of the monitors. Onyx Sentinels can even reach escape velocity and fly into outer space; in ground operations, they normally work a "higher ground" battle mentality. They are able to attenuate their communications systems to various signals, such as those of [[UNSC]] [[COM]] channels, and are equipped with Forerunner [[Translation software|translation technology]]. During the [[Onyx Conflict]], one attempted to communicate with [[Ash-G099]] using the [[human]] root language of [[Latin]],{{Ref/Reuse|G133}} supposedly based on a minimal linguistic analysis of the humans' communication.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 338''</ref> The Onyx Sentinels are highly adaptive in their behavior, being able to learn from their opponents with each encounter and adjust their tactics accordingly.{{Ref/Reuse|G175}}<ref name="G251">'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 251-252''</ref> | | The '''Onyx Sentinel''' is a [[Forerunner]]-created machine designed to protect and maintain the Forerunner [[Astroengineering|artificial world]] known as [[Onyx]]. The Sentinels were a more deadly and versatile variant of the standard Sentinel design found on other Forerunner installations. This variety has been seen only on the artificial planet Onyx, which was actually comprised of trillions of the machines.<ref name="GoO">'''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''', page 378</ref> Whether the same model is on other similar worlds is currently unknown. |
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| == Roles == | | ==Appearance== |
| === Combat ===
| | The Onyx Sentinel shares a vaguely similar appearance to a [[Monitor]] - a round metallic sphere a quarter meter in diameter, with a central "eye" that glows golden. Hovering around this sphere are three meter-long cylindrical spars or "booms", which are suspended in midair at equidistant points around the sphere. These booms could change position for various purposes, and would rapidly "pop" into place to form a triangular plane when the sentinel's shields were active. |
| The Onyx Sentinel is one of the deadliest sentinel variants encountered to date, and is a powerful combatant on both the ground and in space. Unlike the shields of ordinary sentinels, which can be disrupted by conventional gunfire, Onyx Sentinels are protected by a spherical gold-colored [[energy shield]] that is resistant to nearly all projectiles, even the rockets of the [[M41 rocket launcher]] and [[Lotus anti-tank mine]] detonations. However, whereas normal sentinel shields are constantly in a state of activation, the shields of an Onyx Sentinel only activate when the machine detects the approach of fast-moving objects, such as bullets or [[Plasma weaponry|plasma bolts]]. This behavior does provide an exploitable advantage, as the Sentinel can be duped by slow-moving projectiles such as falling rocks.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''pages 134, 137''</ref> In addition, an individual Sentinel cannot fire its weapon and activate its shields at the same time.{{Ref/Reuse|G251}} | |
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| Onyx Sentinels fire golden, lethal beams of energy from their central eye, which are thought to be similar in strength to the beam weapon used by monitors. These beams impact with explosive power and are powerful enough to blast apart rock formations and vaporize organic targets on contact.{{Ref/Reuse|G120}} When multiple Sentinels merge to combine their fire, they can unleash a beam capable of destroying large starships.<ref name="G279">'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''pages 279-280''</ref> When they first appeared, a group of Onyx Sentinels destroyed a large mesa on Onyx; [[Ash-G099]] estimated the explosion to be equivalent to a megaton of TNT.{{Ref/Reuse|G118}} | | The Onyx Sentinel also has anti-gravity technology, similar to that of the [[Monitors]]. The Onyx Sentinel can even reach escape velocity and fly into outer space; in ground operations, it normally engages its targets at a height of three meters, working a "Higher Ground" battle mentality. It is also able to attenuate its booms to the various signals, such as that of [[UNSC]] [[COM]] channels. The sentinels are also equipped with Forerunner translation technology and can actually speak the [[Human]] archaic language and root language of [[Latin]]. |
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| In combat, Onyx Sentinels possess adaptive behavior that is unique among known Forerunner constructs. The Sentinels are linked to one another, with each Sentinel recording and transmitting combat footage to one another. As they process new information, they adjust their strategies and combat behavior accordingly, and broadcast the altered battle plans to all Sentinels in range. This makes them highly dangerous on the battlefield, as a strategy that managed to destroy a Sentinel once will almost certainly not work twice.{{Ref/Reuse|G251}} While they initially operated on their own, the Sentinels on Onyx soon configured into trios with a combined pair of them on patrol and one two or three kilometers above on overwatch.{{Ref/Reuse|G251}} Even the hunter-killer pairs preferred to operate at a high altitude unless forced to descend near ground level.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 249''</ref>
| | ==Roles== |
| | ===Combat=== |
| | The Onyx Sentinel is infamous to be the most dangerous classification of any known Sentinel, is extremely versatile, and is a powerful combatant on both the ground and in space. One of their primary advantages, is a gold-colored [[Energy Shield]] that is entirely resistant to all projectiles, even the rockets of the [[Rocket Launcher|SPNKr Launcher]] and [[LOTUS Mine]] detonations; however, the motion sensors that activate the shield are duped by slow moving objects, such as a rock, which was used to destroy one Sentinel on Onyx. It is unknown why the shields only snap into place when fast moving projectiles are coming in the direction of the Sentinel (it is unlikely that they do so to conserve energy, for the enormous output of energy per beam is, presumably, far greater than the amount used to hold shields in place), but it's possible that it has flaws in its sensors, and objects moving at slow enough speeds can be virtually invisible to it. |
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| Onyx Sentinels can merge together, re-arranging their central spheres and orbiting booms into new, combined forms. These configurations can serve a variety of purposes; a pair of Sentinels can combine so that one can project a shield while the other fires, while a large group of Sentinels can form a cluster that can fire a single, devastatingly powerful beam of energy. Each combination adds cumulative power to their weapons, thrust, and shields.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 174''</ref> In space, large groups of Onyx Sentinels form crystalline geometries with [[seven]] as a baseline: at one point they formed into a triangular lattice of 49 Sentinels consisting of seven line-shaped formations each consisting of seven drones. Such a configuration was easily capable of overpowering a [[Covenant destroyer]].<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''pages 232-233''</ref> When engaging [[Voro Nar 'Mantakree]]'s [[Second Fleet of Homogeneous Clarity|fleet]], thousands of the Sentinels combined into elaborate octahedral geometries.{{Ref/Reuse|G279}} Although they do not possess a slipspace capability on their own, the combined Sentinel formations are capable of tapping into other vessels' [[slipspace drive]]s and using the active slipspace matrix to perform short-range jumps to gain an edge in battle.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''pages 282-283''</ref> The space-borne Sentinel formations were also capable of effectively capturing the energy of Covenant [[plasma torpedo]]es and rendering them harmless.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''pages 298-299''</ref> | | It is also very adaptive, each Sentinel transmitting its combat footage to an unknown intelligence that continually upgrades Onyx Sentinel combat algorithms. As per a Spartan: "We are teaching it how to fight." The Onyx Sentinels can also merge together for a variety of purposes, such as combining to increase firepower and shield strength, architectural purposes, and forming clusters to protect Onyx. Even a pair of Sentinels is exponentially more dangerous than a lone one, as a pair, unlike individual Sentinels, can activate its shields and fire its energy weapon at the same time. |
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| === Non-combat roles ===
| | It is far superior to the regular [[Sentinel]]s that guard the [[Halo Array|Halo installations]] and [[Installation 00|The Ark]] and even the [[Sentinel Majors]] of [[Installation 05]] due to its shielding and extreme firepower. Onyx Sentinels fire golden, lethal beams of energy from a central eye, which is thought to be similar in strength to the beam weapon fired by [[343 Guilty Spark (Monitor)|343 Guilty Spark]] at several points of ''[[Halo 3]]'' when the player is on the Ark, not just fighting him at the end. This attack causes devastating damage: the destruction of a granite plateau, vaporization of a combat bunker, and the instantaneous destruction of any ground vehicle or infantry, even including a [[SPARTAN-III]]. Enough Onyx Sentinels (about forty-five) can even vaporize a large starship with apparent ease. |
| [[File:HM OnyxDestruction.jpg|thumb|250px|Onyx's artificial crust dissolving into its constituent Sentinels.]] | |
| Onyx Sentinels are also known to have other specific tasks beside combat, much like other types of Sentinels. Because of their modular design, they can transform into several different types of configurations. For example, they can interlace into oblong-shaped formations, which are used for excavating and earth-moving. In the center of the worm-shaped configuration travels a continuous stream of stone. This type of configuration has been observed excavating the underground Forerunner city in Onyx's [[Zone 67]] in order to allow access to the [[Sarcophagus|shield world]] within. These variants are not hostile unless provoked.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 267''</ref>
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| Another, more original role of the Onyx Sentinels was making up the entire planetary structure of Onyx. Under the artificial and entirely [[terraform]]ed surface were trillions of these machines, arranged into elaborate scaffolding resembling the carbon bonds of a polymer chain. This latticework made use of the Sentinels' components in a way that the central spheres served as joints, connected to one another by the cylindrical spars. In the end of the [[Onyx Conflict]], as the portal to the shield world closed, the artificial planet dissolved with the sentinels obliterating a Covenant fleet.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 377-378''</ref>
| | However, they can still be defeated; the Spartans on Onyx once destroyed one at extreme altitude with multiple rockets and sniper rounds, ultimately depleting its shields and destroying it. Although ground troops with only small-arms are virtually helpless when they form larger groups, once these formations are separated they become easy targets for units with heavier firepower; for example, [[Fleet Master]] [[Voro Nar 'Mantakree]]'s fleet dispatched to Onyx destroyed many Sentinels after they were forced out of formation. |
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| To maintain the Sentinel population of Onyx, the artificial planet had a massive [[Sentinel constructor factory|Sentinel production facility]] that produced a new Onyx Sentinel every six seconds.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 314''</ref>
| | === Other Roles === |
| | Onyx Sentinels are also known to have other specific tasks beside combat, much like other types of Sentinels. Because of their modular shape, they can transform into several different types of configurations. For example, they can interlace into oblong-shaped formations, which are used for excavating and earth-moving. In the center of the worm-shaped configuration travels a continuous stream of stone. This type of configuration has been observed excavating the underground Forerunner city on Onyx, to allow access to the [[Onyx Shield World|Shield World]] within. These variants are not hostile, unless provoked. |
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| ==List of appearances==
| | Another, more original role of the Onyx Sentinels was making up the entire planetary structure of Onyx. Under the artificial and entirely [[Terraforming|terraformed]] surface were trillions of these machines, forming the megastructure. In the end of the battle of Onyx, as the portal to the Shield World closed, the artificial planet dissolved with the sentinels decimating a Covenant fleet. It is unknown if they rearranged to form the planetary structure after this.<ref name="GoO"/> |
| *''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'' {{1st}}
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| *''[[Halo: Glasslands]]'' {{Mo}}
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| *''[[Halo Mythos]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Legacy of Onyx]]''
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| ==Sources== | | ==Sources== |
| {{Ref/Sources|2}}
| | <references/> |
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| {{Forerunner|sentinel}} | | {{Forerunner2}} |
| [[Category:Sentinels]] | | [[Category:The Forerunner]] |
| | [[Category:Technology]] |
