Canon

Retriever Sentinel

From Halopedia, the Halo wiki

This article is about a variant of Strato-Sentinels. For the other variant, see Steward Sentinel.
Retriever Sentinel
Artwork of a Retriever Sentinel cropped from the Encyclopedia p.329. This variant is seemingly based on Theo Stylianides' concept take on the Sentinel (pictured here) rather than the final in-game model.
Overview

Role:

Construction and mining[1]

Length:

484.0 meters (1,587.9 ft)[2]

Width:

458.3 meters (1,503.6 ft)[2]

Height:

118.1 meters (387.5 ft)[2]

Propulsion:

Impulse drive[2]

Armament:

  • Sterilization beam[2]

Energy shielding:

Little to no energy shielding[3]

Other systems:

  • Gravitic impeller[2][3]
  • Reconstitution emitters[2]
 

"It's a Strato-Sentinel. It's one of the automated drones the Forerunners use on their artificial worlds. The Covenant originally thought them to be holy warriors of the Sacred Rings. There are many types of Sentinels that the Forerunners created—this particular one is designated as a Retriever."
— Usze 'Taham[3]

The Retriever Sentinel, is a variant of Strato-Sentinel drones employed by the Forerunners. Considered to be one of the more powerful variants of the Sentinel, Retrievers are massive, ship-sized drones that were utilized to construct installations of the Halo Array from Installation 00, as well as to provide maintenance to the Ark itself.[4]

Overview[edit]

Design details[edit]

Nathaniel Palmer and other scientists observe Retrievers operate on the Ark.

"Our records indicate that it employs an artificially produced gravitic force to remove minerals from a planet's surface. Those minerals in turn are used to build Forerunner structures and installations."
— Usze 'Taham, referring to the Retriever Sentinels[3]

A Retriever is capable of producing an artificial gravitic force that allows it to remove materials from a world's surface. Once in position above an acceptable place to harvest, the Retriever deploys its blue, gravitic beam towards the world's surface and begins hauling chunks of land caught in the beam into its underbelly.[3] The mining process utilized by a Retriever is noted to create a tornado-like effect as the ground is pulled into the Sentinel's hold.[5] If deemed necessary, a Retriever is capable of connecting and merging with another Retriever and forming a single unit. Combined Retrievers somewhat resemble an average Retriever, though they seem to be more effective in combat and are significantly more maneuverable. With no apparent drawbacks, a combined Retriever seems to take on the benefits of both Retrievers' speed and weaponry.[6][7]

When a Retriever is threatened or attacked, these Sentinels may use their gravitic beam as a dangerous and highly destructive,[8] though cumbersome, weapon. As the Sentinel was not designed for combat situations, Retrievers have little to no shielding.[3] In 2555, monitor 000 Tragic Solitude outfitted thousands of Retrievers with massive energy weapons mounted on their fronts. These weapons are similar in design to the Sentinel beams employed by the smaller Aggressor Sentinels.[4] These Retrievers were capable of utilized powerful volleys of energy against opponents and were significantly faster and had greater maneuverability in space.[6]

Role[edit]

"I thought Retrievers were just for mining and gathering minerals!"
— Captain Annabelle Richards, upon seeing a heavily armed Retriever[6]

The Retrievers are among the most powerful of the Sentinels employed by the Forerunners,[4] with their primary purpose being the mining, gathering, and transporting of minerals and other natural resources from a world.[6] Using its artificially created gravitic force, Retrievers extract materials from a world's surface and transport to construct Forerunner structures and installations.[3][2]

The Forerunners utilized Retrievers to help in the maintenance of Installation 00.[4] The Retrievers employed at the Ark worked with Assembler Sentinels to construct new installations. Populating the Foundry,[8] Retrievers mined and gathered raw materials from the planetoid hosted in Installation 00's center and transported them to a forge within the Foundry that refined, processed, and stabilized the materials into the mold of a Halo installation.[5] The Assemblers would then use these resources to build components of the installations.[9] Although usually automated, Retrievers can be controlled by a monitor. Monitors are capable of effectively utilizing Retrievers in combat, and can have them overwhelm opponents.[6]

A Retriever is programmed to complete its tasks with no deviations or hesitations.[7] Although the function of the Retriever is primarily construction-related, the Sentinel is able to defend itself, or its installation, if necessary.[8] However, Retrievers maneuver poorly and are unable to effectively combat modern Sangheili and human vessels alone.[6] Thus, Aggressor and Protector Sentinels are primarily used as defensive constructs on installations.[8]

Variants[edit]

Multiple variants of Retriever have been seen in use across Forerunner megastructures.