Editing Despair-class fighter

{{Title|''Despair''-class fighter}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{Ship class infobox
|name=''Despair''-class fighter
|image=[[File:HW2 Despair-Class-Fighter.png|300px]]
|manufacturer=[[Minoris Assembler Vats]]
|class=[[Space fighter]]{{Ref/Novel|Id=cryptum|HCry|Chapter=23}}
|role=Hunter-killer fighter{{Ref/Reuse|cryptum}}
|length={{Convert|586.3|ft|m|disp=flip|sp=us}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|width={{Convert|543.6|ft|m|disp=flip|sp=us}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|height={{Convert|227.4|ft|m|disp=flip|sp=us}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|mass={{Convert|306000|MT}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|power=
|engine=
|slipspace drive=
|navigation=
|hull=
|armament=
|complement=
|crew=18 + 1 [[ancilla]]{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|passengers=
|othersystems=*Tracking devices{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=389}}
*A combat [[Cryptum]]{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|era=*[[Forerunner-Flood war]]{{Ref/Game|Id=pl ship|HW2|Phoenix Logs|Detail=Forerunner Ship}}
*[[Post-Covenant War conflicts]]
|introduced=
|affiliation=*[[Builder Security]]{{Ref/Reuse|cryptum}}
*[[Warrior-Servant]]s{{Ref/Novel|Id=sil|HSil|Chapter=34}}
}}

The '''''Despair''-class fighter''', also known as the '''''Despair''-class hunter-killer''', was a classification of [[Forerunner]] fighter craft. They were described as curved and sleek in design.{{Ref/Reuse|cryptum}} The craft's name was chosen in references to the cultural milieu and trials of the era in which it was commissioned in a fashion similar to that of the {{Class|Dignity|escort}}.{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=380}}

==Overview==
===Design details===
The ''Despair'' is considered the most renowned hunter-killer in the [[Forerunner fleet]], designed with a total focus on overwhelming firepower and tracking capabilities. The craft features an integrated combat [[Cryptum]], which is used to house its pilot in a subdued, trace-like focus. This state allows the pilot to focus all of their neural activity on processing the enormous amount of data the craft is projecting them.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}

While considered a fighter in its own right, the ''Despair'' measures in at a length of {{Convert|586.3|ft|m|disp=flip|sp=us}} - comparable to the {{Convert|525|ft|m|disp=flip|sp=us}} {{Class|Razor|prowler}} of the [[United Nations Space Command]].{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}

==Operational history==
===Forerunner era===
''Despair''-class hunter-killers were present at the [[Battle of Janjur Qom]].{{Ref/Reuse|cryptum}} At the close of the [[Forerunner-Flood war]], multiple ''Despair''-class fighters were stationed at [[Requiem]] in defense of the [[shield world]].{{Ref/Reuse|sil}} Several ''Despair''-class fighters saw action against the rogue {{Class|Contender|artificial intelligence}} [[Mendicant Bias]]. After the [[Great Purification|firing]] of the [[Halo Array]], some of the ''Despair''-class fighters were moved to shield worlds and Halo installations. At least one ''Despair''-class hunter-killer was moved to [[Installation 00]] by the [[Librarian]].{{Ref/Reuse|pl ship}}

In [[29,823 BCE]], the Ark's [[monitor]] [[000 Tragic Solitude]] moved to dismantle the fighter's [[Design seed|ship seed]], viewing the Ark has having completed its purpose and not wishing to be tempted into using it for greater ill.{{Ref/Game|HW2|Phoenix Logs|Detail=A Tensed Bolt}}

===Second Ark Conflict===
{{Main|Operation: SPEARBREAKER}}
During the [[Second Ark Conflict]] in [[2559#April|April 2559]], the [[Swarmlord]] [[Colony]] was tasked by [[Atriox]] with uncovering new technologies from the Ark with which to fight back against {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}}.{{Ref/Game|HW2|Phoenix Logs|Detail=A New Commander}} By May of that year, the buried ''Despair'' design seed had been discovered and disguised under a large cloaking field,{{Ref/Game|HW2|Phoenix Logs|Detail=Hold Fast}} with the [[Huragok]] [[Floats Low But Steady]] (among others) tasked with restoring it to full function. Within a day, Floats had begun to "talk" with the ship and its launching systems, resulting in it beginning to grow anew and restore to full functionality.{{Ref/Game|HW2|Phoenix Logs|Detail=Floats Low But Steady}}

Despite these efforts, ''Spirit of Fire''{{'}}s reconnaissance drones noticed the cloaking shield and deployed forces to investigate - with the operated termed [[Operation: SPEARBREAKER]]. [[Sunray 1-1]] led the operation, leading the UNSC forces to capturing five [[Control Tower]]s despite heavy Banished and [[Sentinel]] resistance around the site. Once successfully captured, the control towers dropped the cloaking shield, revealing the ''Despair'' within and causing a [[Retriever Sentinel]] to attack.{{Ref/Level|HW2|Gatecrashers}}

With the Banished's Huragok hacking the Ark's local systems to prepare the ship for launch, an attempt was made to send in a [[G81 Condor|Condor gunship]] to destroy the fighter without success. Instead, Sunray 1-1 an assault on the fighter. While it was originally believed that the Banished intended to use the fighter to get reinforcements in lieu of the destroyed ''[[Enduring Conviction]]'', it was quickly determined that the fighter was going to be launched on a collision course with the ''Spirit of Fire'' itself with a direct hit being enough to destroy the human ship. Spotting four charging columns connected to the ship, the UNSC forces, fighting through heavy Banished and Sentinel defenses, assaulted the columns' control pads, using [[HRUNTING/YGGDRASIL Mark II (J) Colossus|Colossus]] to destroy them, delaying the ship's launch each time one was destroyed. Finally, with the charging columns destroyed and the Banished forces in the area defeated, [[Alannah Quinn]] was able to use the control terminal near the fighter to shut it down. Though the Banished sent in a [[Mgalekgolo Captain|Hunter Captain]] supported by [[Goliath]]s, the UNSC was able to clear out the Banished forces. To ensure the Banished could not try to use the ship again, Sunray 1-1 dropped [[satchel charge]]s from [[AV-14 Hornet|Hornets]] while Quinn lowered the ship into the ground. The charges destroyed the ''Despair''-class fighter, keeping both the Banished and the UNSC from using it.{{Ref/Level|HW2|Not on My Watch}}

==In-game information==
===''Halo Wars 2''===
The ''Despair''-class fighter appears in the ''[[Halo Wars 2: Operation: SPEARBREAKER]]'' level [[Not on My Watch]] as the mission's central objective. During the level, the player must lead an attack on the fighter's construction site.

====Phoenix Log====
{| class="wikitable": style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none; width: 45%"
|+ '''[[Phoenix Logs|Phoenix Log]] - Forerunner Ship'''
|-
|{{:Phoenix Logs/Forerunner/Forerunner Ship}}
|}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Despair.jpg
File:Despair2.jpg
File:Despair3.jpg
File:HW2_DespairDock.jpg|A Despair-class fighter in its dock on Installation 00.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: Cryptum]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Silentium]]''
*''[[Halo Wars 2]]''

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

[[Category:Space fighter classes]]
[[Category:Forerunner ship classes]]
{{Forerunner|ships}}