Hydro-processing center
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
Hydro-processing centers[1] are Covenant facilities devoted to processing water for the purposes of powering and refueling their capital ships.[2][3] As Covenant starship pinch fusion reactors use the hydrogen isotopes deuterium and tritium for fuel,[4] the process likely involves isolating the said isotopes from water.
While a critical element of the Covenant's logistics network, hydro-processing centers are not the only means of producing fuel for starships. Massive bladder ships may also be used to harvest the relevant elements from the atmospheres of planets and transport the fuel in the logistics train of a Covenant fleet.[5]
History[edit]
A "Covenant refinery", presumably a hydro-processing center, was the target of Operation: TORPEDO in 2545. The refinery was established on the moon Pegasi Delta thanks to the unusually high concentrations of deuterium and tritium in its oceans and used by the Covenant as a major piece of refuelling infrastructure for invasion fleets headed towards the Human Sphere. After a failed nuclear bombardment, SPARTAN-III Beta Company were deployed to eliminate the refinery and deny its use to the Covenant.[4]
After the collapse of the Covenant in 2552, several hydro-processing facilities were abandoned, or fell under the control of the warlords carving up the empire. One such facility was located on Ansket IV, abandoned by the Covenant and quickly the target of a United Nations Space Command deployment. The UNSC established a base on the world, which remained there until early 2553, when the facility became the target of an attack by the Banished. The attack was spearheaded by the carrier Enduring Conviction after its defection from the separatists. After escaping its fleet, Shipmaster Let 'Volir noted that the carrier's low fuel reserves and now-traitor status meant it was unable to return to any known hydro-processing facility. Ansket IV was provided as a target by Atriox as reward for 'Volir's loyalty, promising its fuel reserves to the carrier, and the human presence on the planet as practice to keep the troops' skills sharp.[7]
One such facility was located on Buwan, the primary natural satellite of the Unggoy homeworld, Balaho. Though abandoned following the Covenant's collapse, the facility continues to operate through its automated subsystems.[2][3] Three separate streams of water flow down into an abyss in the main chamber, with many interconnecting platforms, bridges and walkways hanging dangerously close to the pit. Other rooms are mostly empty, except for Covenant communication nodes and Covenant supply cases.[8] Another such structure, identical in layout, was built by the Covenant during their brief occupation of Installation 04.[1][6]
Trivia[edit]
The Halo: Combat Evolved map, Damnation and its Halo: Reach remake Penance, are situated inside this type of facility.
List of appearances[edit]
- Halo: Combat Evolved (First appearance)
- Halo: Ghosts of Onyx
- Halo: Reach
- Halo: Rise of Atriox (Mentioned only)
Sources[edit]
- ^ a b Halo: Combat Evolved, multiplayer map Damnation: map description "Covenant Hydro-Processing Center"
- ^ a b Xbox Live's Major Nelson, News From Halo Fest (Retrieved on Sep 9, 2011) [archive]
- ^ a b Halo Waypoint, The Halo Bulletin: 11/9/11 (Retrieved on Nov 13, 2011) [archive]
- ^ a b Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, Prologue
- ^ Halo: Silent Storm, chapter 21
- ^ a b Bungie.net, Guides: Multiplayer Pages: "A covenant structure that was used to control water flow into a section of HALO." (Retrieved on Feb 12, 2005) [archive]
- ^ Halo: Rise of Atriox, issue 4
- ^ Halo: Reach, multiplayer map Penance
