Mjern-pattern agricultural support ship: Difference between revisions

{{Title|''DSC''-class support ship}}

{{Era|HCW|Post}}

{{Ship class infobox

|name=''DSC''-class support ship

|image=[[File:HFB-DSC.jpg|300px]]

|manufacturer=[[Assembly Forges|Primary Assembly Forges]]<ref name="warfleet"/>

|role=Food production, seminary,<ref name="warfleet"/> Supply transport<ref name="enc281">'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''', ''page 281'' (2011)</ref>

|length={{Convert|1550|m|ft}}<ref name="warfleet"/>

|width=

|height=Approx. {{Convert|400|m|ft}}<ref name="ships">[[:File:HFB-Lotsofships.png]]</ref>

|mass=82 million tonnes<ref name="warfleet">''[[Halo: Warfleet]]'', pages 68-69</ref>

|power=[[Pinch fusion reactor]]

|engine=[[Repulsor engine]]s

|hull=[[Nanolaminate hull plating]]

*Equipped with [[Energy shields|energy shields]]

|armament=*12 [[Plasma cannon (starship)|''Melusean''-pattern heavy plasma cannons]]<ref name="warfleet"/>

*8 [[Plasma torpedo|''Jaet''-pattern plasma torpedo silos]]<ref name="warfleet"/>

*20 [[Pulse laser|''Pallio''-pattern pulse lasers]]<ref name="warfleet"/>

|complement=*4 [[Type-28 Tick]]s{{Citation needed}}

*7 [[Sangheili Major|Obedientaries]]<ref name="warfleet"/>

*150 Warriors<ref name="warfleet"/>

|crew=*1 [[Minor Prophet|Precentor]]<ref name="warfleet"/>

*40 Hieromonks<ref name="warfleet"/>

*110 [[Sangheili|Superiors]]<ref name="warfleet"/>

*20 [[Huragok|Engineers]]<ref name="warfleet"/>

*9,800 Menials<ref name="warfleet"/>

|passengers=

 

The '''''DSC''-class support ship''',<ref name="Ship happens">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/canon-fodder-ship-happens '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Canon Fodder - Ship Happens'']</ref> also simply referred to as the '''agricultural support ship''', is a type of support vessel that was used by the [[Covenant]], and attached to their wandering [[Covenant fleet|fleets]].<ref name="enc281"/>

The ''DSC'' is not designed for combat but rather is used to provide fresh food for Covenant soldiers.<ref name="enc281"/><ref>'''Halo Graphic Novel''', ''Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor''</ref> The support ship contains large hunting preserves holding many types of animals to be hunted, killed, and fed to the personnel of the [[fleet]].<ref name="enc281"/><ref name="Ship happens"/> Vessels of the class are primarily crewed by [[Huragok]] and [[Unggoy]], with little to no [[Sangheili]] on board, and are occasionally commanded by a single [[Minor Prophet]].<ref name="enc281"/> Strangely, the "S" (for Salvation) in the classification code "DSC" indicates that the ship is a dedicated warship.<ref name="canon fodder2">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/canon-fodder-have-s-moa '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Canon Fodder: Have S'moa'']</ref>

Maintaining a vaguely-triangular silhouette with a curved aft and holes cut into its superstructure, the ''DSC''-class is immediately distinguished from any other class of Covenant warship. The rear and fore sections are connected with four massive arches that are angled slightly outwards, with a wide but thin platform connecting the port and starboard sides. It is here that the support ship's Tertiary [[Assembly Forges]] are located, made up of factories and workshops that manufacture food packs, maintenance kits, clothing and even small arms for its tenant fleet. Should they produce more material then needed, they ship off their products to [[High Charity]] for redistribution. Carefully protected by the ship's superstructures are two massive hunting domes, which serve as training areas, recreational zones, cloisters of worship, and animal paddocks. They are divided between multiple unique biomes, although these are usually comprised of environments comfortable to the [[San'Shyuum]] and the Sangheili. However, these can be adapted to service the particular needs of other species, such as vermiaries that sustain [[Lekgolo]] colonies transplanted from their homeworld of [[Te]]. On the very back of the vessel is a tall semi-circular structure that extends both from the top and bottom. The outer surface is potmarked with numerous relays and mediator consoles for the ship's [[Supraluminal communications|proselytziation network]], which allows the [[Hierarchs|Prophets]] to reach out to faithful hearts and coordinate the military and administrative activities across the Covenant's many worlds.<ref name="warfleet"/>

A variant of the ''DSC''-class built and maintained by the [[Ministry of Preparation]] has the larger aft hunting dome removed. Instead, it is filled with arcane instrumentation and a staff of chirugeons to create [[Prelate]]s.<ref name="warfleet"/>

Being designed as a support ship first, the ''DSC''-class had an unusually-large crew and small complement, carrying over ten thousand men. Of these, only seven [[Sangheili|Obedientaries]] and 150 Warriors stood ready to defend the ship from boarders. 9,800 [[Menial]]s manned most of the ship's systems, and twenty [[Huragok]]s were stationed on these ships to maintain much of the Covenant's technology. Other crewmembers included the sole [[Minor Prophet]], forty Hieromonks and ten Celebrants.<ref name="warfleet"/>

In a regular fleet, the Minor Prophet is expected to serve the [[Supreme Commander]] as a religious authority, logistics coordinator, and mediator.<ref name="warfleet"/>

Although classified as a support ship, the ''DSC''-class is still equipped with enough weapons to adequately fend off most threats. Its primary ship-to-ship weapons are its six [[Plasma torpedo|''Jaet''-pattern plasma torpedo silos]]. These fire guided comets of superheated plasma that are difficult for warships to outmaneuver in combat, and are capable of causing severe damage to human ships. Backing this up are twelve [[Plasma cannon (starship)|''Melusean''-pattern plasma cannons]], which are similar but fire unguided munitions. For point-defense purposes are twenty [[Pulse laser|''Pallio''-pattern pulse laser turrets]].<ref name="warfleet"/>

==History==

Before first contact with [[Humanity|humanity]], procurators like the ''DSC''-class supported the Covenant fleets that ventured far from established supply lines in search of [[Forerunner]] relics to plunder and species to convert to the path of the [[Great Journey]]. While bulk transports and barges based on High Charity supplied their need for food, water and power cells, ''DSC''-class ships would improve the endurance of their fleets with additional food from hydroponic pods, hunting grounds and recreation, and using their great maintenance forges and Huragok savant-technicians to repair their weapons, armor and Forerunner mechanisms. Surprisingly, these support ships could not be directly commanded by the militant orders or system governors, although their missions are so closely aligned that disagreements are unheard of. Nevertheless, despite their abundance during the height of the Covenant's power, there were only a handful of ways to acquire the dedicated services of ''DSC''-class support ships without direct intervention from the Hierarchs. This was done to not only reinforce the dependency colonies and fleets had on the Prophets, but also to restrict the power of the Sangheili and Covenant's militant factions. As a result, each [[Supreme Commander]] was responsible for ensuring this approval was gained and maintained, while also conducting the political machinations needed to ensure that that warriors, vehicles and ammunition are delivered regularly.<ref name="warfleet"/>

At least one ship, the ''[[Infinite Succor]]'', was attached to the ''[[Fleet of Particular Justice]]'' and participated in the [[Battle of Installation 04]].

Prior to the [[Great Schism]], the [[Prophet of Truth]] lured many Minor Prophets in command of these vessels into his service, using the promises of wealth and privilege to guarantee the shipmasters would support his [[Jiralhanae]] fleets. After the [[Fall of High Charity]] and the death of Truth, these ships would abandon the Covenant, fleeing to join the surviving San'Shyuum in exile.<ref name="warfleet"/>

==Ships of the line==

===''Mjern''-pattern===

*''[[Infinite Succor]]'' – Attached to the ''[[Fleet of Particular Justice]]'', destroyed in [[2552]].

This element includes a single ''DSC''-class support ship.

*Cost: 95 points

*Movement: 7"

*Damage Track: 7 • 6 • 4

*Hangers: 3

*Boarding Craft: 4

*Security detail: 4

**Defense array (3)

**Glide (4")

*Primary Weapon: Plasma Cannon Arrays

**Range: 10/20"

**Weapon loadouts: Plasma

**Firing arc: Forward/Port/Starboard

**Dice: 6

*Secondary Weapon: Plasma Torpedoes

**Range: 12/24"

**Weapon loadouts: Missiles/Plasma

**Firing arc: Forward

**Dice: 8

This element includes a ''DSC''-class support ship and one ''SDV''-class heavy corvette.

*Cost: 115 points

*Movement: 7"

*Damage Track: 7 • 6 • 5

*Boarding Craft: 4

**Defense array (4)

**Glide (4")

**Labyrinthine

**Point defense (5)

*Primary Weapon: Plamsa Cannon Arrays

**Range: 10/20"

**Weapon loadouts: Plasma

**Firing arc: Forward/Port/Starboard

**Dice: 8

*Secondary Weapon: Plasma Torpedoes

**Range: 12/24"

**Weapon loadouts: Missiles/Plasma

**Firing arc: Forward

**Dice: 8

*Cost: 135 points

*Movement: 7"

*Damage Track: 7 • 6 • 6

*Hangers: 5

*Boarding Craft: 4

**Defense array (5)

**Glide (4")

*Primary Weapon: Plamsa Cannon Arrays

**Range: 10/20"

**Weapon loadouts: Plasma

**Firing arc: Forward/Port/Starboard

**Dice: 9

*Secondary Weapon: Plasma Torpedoes

**Range: 12/24"

**Weapon loadouts: Missiles/Plasma

**Firing arc: Forward

**Dice: 10

This element includes a ''DSC''-class support ship and one ''ADP''-class escort.

*Cost: 115 points

*Movement: 7"

*Damage Track: 7 • 6 • 5

*Boarding Craft: 4

**Glide (4")

**Labyrinthine

**Point defense (6)

*Primary Weapon: Plasma Cannon Arrays

**Range: 10/20"

**Weapon loadouts: Plasma

**Firing arc: Forward/Port/Starboard

**Dice: 7

*Secondary Weapon: Plasma Torpedoes

**Range: 12/24"

**Weapon loadouts: Missiles/Plasma

**Firing arc: Forward

**Dice: 12

*Cost: 135 points

*Movement: 7"

*Damage Track: 7 • 6 • 6

**Defense array (4)

**Glide (4")

**Labyrinthine

**Point defense (6)

*Primary Weapon: Plamsa Cannon Arrays

**Range: 10/20"

**Weapon loadouts: Plasma

**Firing arc: Forward/Port/Starboard

**Dice: 7

*Secondary Weapon: Plasma Torpedoes

**Range: 12/24"

**Weapon loadouts: Missiles/Plasma

**Firing arc: Forward

**Dice: 14

On the ''Halo Wars'' Skirmish map [[Release (level)|Release]], there are several agricultural support ships crashed on the map.  

File:HW_DSCWreck.png|A crashed ''DSC''-class support ship infected by the Flood on the map [[Release]] in ''[[Halo Wars]]''.

File:HE21 - Support ships.jpg|Support ships repairing the damaged ''[[Breath of Annihilation]]'' in ''[[Halo: Escalation]]''.

File:HFB-DSChuntingground.jpg|The hunting preserve on a ''DSC''-class support ship, based on the ''Halo 2'' concept art, in ''[[Halo: Fleet Battles]]''.

File:HFB-DSCmodel.jpg|DSC model for ''Halo: Fleet Battles''.

<references/>