Editing Spear of Light

{{Title|''Spear of Light''}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{Individual ship infobox
|name=''Spear of Light''
|image=
|manufacturer=
|class={{Class|CRS|light cruiser}}<ref name="soi19">'''[[Halo: Shadow of Intent]]''', ''page 19'' (Google Play edition)</ref>
|role=
|length={{Convert|300|m|ft|sigfig=3|sp=us}}<ref name="EVG">'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 41''</ref>
|width={{Convert|145|m|ft|sigfig=3|sp=us}}{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}
|height=
|engine=[[Repulsor engine]]s
|slipspace drive=Equipped
|hull=
|countermeasures=
|armament=[[Plasma turret]]s
|firstuse=
|commission=
|lastsight=[[2553]]
|destroyed= 
|battles= ;[[Human-Covenant War]]
*[[Fall of High Charity]]
;[[Post-Covenant War conflicts]]
*[[Attack on Rahnelo]]
*[[Ambush at Duraan]]
|fleet=
|namedcrew=
|captains=[[Prelate]] [[Tem'Bhetek]]
|affiliation=[[Covenant]] {{C|formerly}}
}}
{{Quote|no=two|1=Rtas 'Vadum|q1=Kel 'Darsam Silket…|2=Vul 'Soran|q2=Spear of Light.|3=[[Shipmaster]] [[Rtas 'Vadum]] and [[Blademaster]] [[Vul 'Soran]]<ref name="soi45">'''Halo: Shadow of Intent''', ''page 45'' (Google Play edition)</ref>}}

'''''Spear of Light''''' ([[Sangheili (language)|Sangheili]]: ''Kel 'Darsam Silket'') is a {{Class|CRS|light cruiser}} that was commanded by [[Prelate]] [[Tem'Bhetek]]. The cruiser was originally in service with the [[Covenant]], and was later used by the Prelate to launch attacks on [[Sangheili colonies]].{{Ref/Reuse|soi45}}

The cruiser is named in reference to the [[ballad of Kel 'Darsam]], a [[Sangheili]] legend in which the demi-god Kel 'Darsam was killed by a spear before he was transformed into pure light by his father [[Urs]], the lord of all Sangheili gods.<ref>'''Halo: Shadow of Intent''', ''page 64'' (Google Play edition)</ref>

==History==
===Covenant service===
''Spear of Light'' was an older cruiser that predated the [[Human-Covenant War]] that was once crewed by [[Sangheili]]. In order to reward the loyalty of the [[Jiralhanae Chieftain|chieftains]] of the recently incorporated [[Jiralhanae]], the [[San'Shyuum]] had Sangheili [[shipmaster]]s gift these chieftains a handful of ships, including ''Spear of Light''. The cruisers were also given to the Jiralhanae to allow them to fight against [[human]]ity in the nascent [[Human-Covenant War]]. However, the cruiser's major armaments and other systems had been deliberately disabled by the Sangheili to prevent the prideful Jiralhanae chieftains from becoming too powerful. Additionally, no shipmaster cared to give up the opportunity for frontline glory to train the Jiralhanae in the operation of comparatively underpowered, surplus ships such as ''Spear of Light''. Instead, San'Shyuum [[Prelate]]s of the [[Ministry of Preparation]] came aboard these ships to overtly serve as technical advisors to the Jiralhanae crews; [[Tem'Bhetek]] was the Prelate charged with serving aboard ''Spear of Light''.<ref name="soi44">'''Halo: Shadow of Intent''', ''pages 44-46'' (Google Play edition)</ref> During one of the Prelate's training missions, ''Spear of Light'' traveled to the Sangheili [[Sangheili colonies|frontier colony]] of [[Duraan]], where Duraan's [[Duraan's red dwarf star|unstable star]] caused the cruiser's [[energy shielding]] to drain. The Prelate took note of this, and sought to apply it in the future.<ref>'''Halo: Shadow of Intent''', ''page 51'' (Google Play edition)</ref>

While this was partly true, the Prelates were tasked by the [[Prophet of Truth|High Prophet of Truth]] to covertly refit the Jiralhanae ships and to train the crews to attack the Sangheili. Following the [[Battle of Installation 04|Battle]] of [[Installation 04]] when the Sangheili failed to prevent the ring's destruction, the Sangheili began to fall out of favor among the Covenant, leading to Tem and the other Prelates redoubling their preparations. On [[2552#November|November 3, 2552]], ''Spear of Light'' was stationed at [[High Charity]] over [[Installation 05]] when the Prophet of Truth ordered the Covenant to execute the Sangheili, marking the beginning of the [[Great Schism]]. At the time, ''Spear of Light'' was tasked with supporting the Sangheili-crewed {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}} ''[[Eternal Reward]]'', along with five [[Covenant destroyer]]s and two other [[cruiser]]s, all crewed by Jiralhanae. The Prelate led the eight ships in attacking ''Eternal Reward''; while the carrier was able to destroy all of its attackers with the exception of ''Spear of Light'', ''Eternal Reward'' was badly damaged and its crew was forced to abandon the ship before the carrier was destroyed. Afterwards, ''Spear of Light'' was able to destroy or disable six more Sangheili ships, two of which were cruisers of larger classes. While [[Shipmaster]] [[Rtas 'Vadum]] of ''[[Shadow of Intent]]'' led Sangheili forces, Tem led many Covenant ships against High Charity's attackers. As the [[Flood]] began to infect the city and 'Vadum worked to quarantine the city, ''Spear of Light'' retreated from the fight to aid in the evacuation of High Charity's San'Shyuum population.{{Ref/Reuse|soi44}} Docking with High Charity, the Prelate was able to rescue the [[Boru'a'Neem|Minister of Preparation]], who lied to him that all San'Shyuum who were not already aboard ships were dead and insisted that they leave. Believing his family to be dead, Tem reluctantly departed High Charity aboard ''Spear of Light'' with the Minister and left [[Coelest system|the system]] to rendezvous with the surviving San'Shyuum. With the Minister telling Tem that the Sangheili had allied with the Flood, the Prelate blamed 'Vadum for the death of his family.<ref>'''Halo: Shadow of Intent''', ''page 39'' (Google Play edition)</ref>

===Post-Covenant War===
{{Quote|A light cruiser. It bombed the port and bastion compounds, then it dropped its infantry…|[[Tul 'Juran]], after the attack on Rahnelo{{Ref/Reuse|soi19}}}}
At some point, the Minister had the Prelate take ''Spear of Light'' to [[Prototype Halo installation|a Forerunner installation]] that contained a prototype [[Halo Array|Halo installation]]; this area of space had previously been restricted to most by Covenant leadership.<ref>'''Halo: Shadow of Intent''', ''page 10'' (Google Play edition)</ref> The Minister tasked Tem with capturing ''Shadow of Intent'' to allow him to transport the ring to [[Sanghelios]] and give it enough power to eradicate all life on the planet, while giving the Prelate an opportunity for revenge on 'Vadum.<ref>'''Halo: Shadow of Intent''', ''page 75'' (Google Play edition)</ref> To gain 'Vadum's attention, in [[2553]], ''Spear of Light'' [[Attack on Rahnelo|attacked]] the Sangheili [[Sangheili colonies|frontier colony]] of [[Rahnelo]]. Upon arriving at the planet, ''Spear of Light'' destroyed Rahnelo's [[spaceport]] and bastion compounds before the Prelate led Jiralhanae infantry to the planet's surface. While engaging the planet's residents, the Prelate captured [[Kaidon]] [[Tulum 'Juranai]] and his two eldest sons.{{Ref/Reuse|soi19}} After the attack, ''Spear of Light'' and its crew returned to the Forerunner installation, where they executed their Sangheili prisoners by testing the ring's effects on them.<ref>'''Halo: Shadow of Intent''', ''page 8'' (Google Play edition)</ref>

Afterwards, ''Spear of Light'' traveled to Duraan and began attacking the settlements to lead ''Shadow of Intent'' to the system. After ''Shadow of Intent'' arrived in the system, ''Spear of Light'' promptly [[Orbital bombardment|bombarded]] the planet's largest settlement. Duraan's star drained the shields of both warships, but ''Spear of Light'' charged at the carrier as ''Shadow of Intent'' attempted to destroy the cruiser. Moving alongside the carrier, Tem had the entire crew of ''Spear of Light'' abandon the cruiser to board ''Shadow of Intent'' by using the cruiser's [[Covenant escape pod|escape pods]].<ref>'''Halo: Shadow of Intent''', ''pages 42-50'' (Google Play edition)</ref> Once aboard the carrier, the Prelate sought to take control of ''Shadow of Intent'' and eliminate 'Vadum, but all of the Jiralhanae crew were ultimately killed and Tem was captured and interrogated by 'Vadum.<ref>'''Halo: Shadow of Intent''', ''pages 55-60'' (Google Play edition)</ref>

After the engagement, ''Spear of Light'' was captured by ''Shadow of Intent''. Most of the cruiser's systems were beyond repair, but its navigational database remained intact. 'Vadum analyzed the database and learned the coordinates of all locations ''Spear of Light'' had traveled to, including the Forerunner installation. With the coordinates, ''Shadow of Intent'' was able to travel to the installation to stop the Minister.<ref>'''Halo: Shadow of Intent''', ''page 62'' (Google Play edition)</ref> After the installation was destroyed, 'Vadum further analyzed the cruiser's database and learned of ''Spear of Light'''s rendezvous with surviving San'Shyuum, realizing that possibly thousands of San'Shyuum lived.<ref>'''Halo: Shadow of Intent''', ''page 82'' (Google Play edition)</ref>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: Shadow of Intent]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo Mythos]]'' {{Mo}}

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

[[Category:Cruisers]]
[[Category:Covenant ships]]