Canon

Preksheda-pattern Shade

From Halopedia, the Halo wiki

This article is about the Shade turret model introduced in Halo: Reach. For other models of Shade turret, see Shade.
Preksheda-pattern Gun Pod
T26 ASG.png
Production information

Manufacturer:

Assembly Forges[1][2]

Product line:

Shade

Technical specifications

Length:

4.0 meters (13 ft)[1][2]

Width:

3.0 meters (9.9 ft)[2]

Height:

3.1 meters (10.1 ft)[1][2]

Weight:

271 kilograms (598 lb)[2]

Armament:

2 Class-2 directed energy cannons[2](or)
1 fuel rod cannon (or)
2 rapid-fire explosive plasma cannons

Crew:

1 gunner

Usage

In service:

Human-Covenant War
Great Schism
Second Ark Conflict

Role(s):

Anti-infantry

Affiliation:

Covenant

 

The Preksheda-pattern Gun Pod (UNSC Type classification: Type-26 Anti-Infantry Stationary Gun, T-26 ASG)[1] is a Covenant anti-infantry gun turret and one of several turret models commonly identified as Shades.[2][3] The Preksheda is one of two visually-similar Shade models commonly identified as the Type-26 ASG, alongside the Rizsheda-pattern Shade.

Overview[edit]

Design details[edit]

The Preksheda is an extremely common variant of the Shade platform—and the most common seen in use during the Human-Covenant War. The turret consists of a ball mount situated atop a circular baseplate, suspended in the air via anti-gravity technology. The Preksheda is most notable for its extremely optimised modularity, allowing the operator to replace its various systems with optional addon modules for specialised purposes. These include the addition of heavier armour protection and energy shielding, or even the installation of new weapon systems to replace the standard plasma cannons.[1][2] The Preksheda variant can be transported underneath the Ru'swum-pattern Phantom.[4][5]

Variants[edit]

The Preksheda's vast modularity and component interchangeability allow it to have a number of weapon systems installed. These include anti-armour fuel rods, anti-air plasma turrets and even mortars.[2] Several additional distinct Shade design patterns draw their origin from the Preksheda thanks to its enduring legacy - these include the Rizsheda-pattern Shade descended from the same base template,[2] and the post-war Bmur'resh-pattern Shade and Bolroci Workshop designs produced for the Covenant remnants and the Banished, respectively. The latter designs draw heavy aesthetics derived from the Preksheda design.

Image Name Description Changes
Fuel rod Shade.png Fuel rod Shade turret A variant of the Shade modified to fire fuel rods. Semi-automatic fuel rod cannon replaces the standard plasma cannons.
AA Shade.png Anti-air Shade turret A variant of the Shade modified for use as an anti-air emplacement. Fires rapid-fire explosive plasma bolts.

Usage[edit]

The Preksheda-pattern was the most common Shade variant used during the Human-Covenant War, thanks to its configurable design. It was prominently used during the Fall of Reach,[4][5][6][7][8][9][10] and has continued to see widespread adoption among the empire's remnants in the post-war years. Its ongoing legacy has seen it heavily influence a number of designs developed in the years since the war's end.[2]

Production notes[edit]

  • In all of its appearances throughout the Halo: Reach campaign, the anti-air variant of the Shade has no operator, much like enemy Banshees that appear in Exodus, New Alexandria, and The Package.
  • On the campaign level Exodus, the two Shades that occupy the executive landing pad at Traxus Tower are programmed to automatically explode (even if they are left undamaged) when their operators are killed.
  • If an Unggoy enters a Shade while holding an overcharged plasma pistol, the Shade replicates the weapon's overcharged state: in addition to the gunfire sound effect playing continuously, the particle effects for the plasma bolts or the fuel rods are held at Shade's muzzle. No projectiles would be fired, even when the Unggoy exits the Shade, at which point, the visual and audio effects both disappear.

Gallery[edit]

List of appearances[edit]

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 171
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 303
  3. ^ Halo Waypoint, Shade Turret (Retrieved on Jan 4, 2020) [archive]
  4. ^ a b Halo: Reach, campaign level Exodus
  5. ^ a b Halo: Reach, campaign level New Alexandria
  6. ^ Halo: Reach, campaign level ONI: Sword Base
  7. ^ Halo: Reach, campaign level Nightfall
  8. ^ Halo: Reach, campaign level Tip of the Spear
  9. ^ Halo: Reach, campaign level The Package
  10. ^ Halo: Reach, campaign level The Pillar of Autumn