Morsam-pattern Seraph: Difference between revisions

The '''Type-31 Exoatmospheric Multirole Fighter''',<ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/theuniverse/tech/ '''Halo Waypoint''': ''The Universe - Tech'']</ref> more commonly known as the '''Seraph''', is the [[Covenant]]'s primary [[space fighter]].<ref>'''Halo: Reach''': ''Game Stats''</ref> Formerly manufactured and produced by [[Assembly Forges]], the Seraph is the successor to the older [[Tarasque heavy fighter|''Tarasque''-class heavy fighter]]. It is a more powerful, though less common counterpart to the unshielded and expendable [[Type-27 Banshee]].<ref>'''Halo: Reach''', ''game manual''</ref>

The Seraph features a piscine, teardrop-like shape, fitting with the overall design elegance the [[Covenant]] is known for. Seraph fighters are mostly stored in the [[hangar bay]]s of Covenant ships or stations when they are not in battle or escorting a ship. Morsam-pattern Seraphs have two movable flaps on either side of their hull, and their twin "tails" are articulated to aid with directing exhaust; Kai-pattern Seraphs have fixed "tails". These features give the Seraph superior turning capabilities in zero-gravity environments. Despite their efficiency and speed in space, Seraph fighters are graceless and sluggish in atmospheric conditions due to their odd teardrop-like shape. Seraphs fill a variety of roles in a [[Covenant fleet]], such as a strike fighter or for ship-to-ship combat in dogfights.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-gb/universe/detail/82613d70-17cc-4652-8ab1-a1f16e29c516/banshee-fighter '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Banshee Fighter'']</ref> Seraphs can also be used for the occasional bombing run,<ref name="enc283"/> but it is considered a rare sight by [[UNSC]] forces.<ref name="ghosts">'''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''', ''pages 17-22''</ref> Seraphs have the ability to power down and slip past hostile sentries and human sensors.<ref name="flood12">'''[[Halo: The Flood]]''', ''page 12'' (2010 edition)</ref> Unlike the [[Type-26 Banshee]] or [[Type-52 Phantom]], nearly all Seraphs are equipped with multiphase [[energy shielding]],<ref name="ghosts"/> although this does not seem to always be the case.<ref name="package">'''[[Halo Legends]]''', ''[[The Package]]''</ref> However, these energy shields are only a fraction of the strength of those on [[capital ship]]s and are easily depleted with sustained fire.<ref name="For">'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''', ''page 330'' (2010 edition)</ref> They also reinforce the craft's inertial compensators, allowing the craft to take hits that would rip other craft apart.<ref name="warfleet"/> Seraph hull plating self-repairs when damaged, adjusting to compensate for lost aerodynamic features during combat.<ref name="warfleet"/>

As the Covenant's main space-based attack fighter, the Seraph is highly maneuverable while in space, and can easily keep pace with the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]]'s [[GA-TL1 Longsword]].<ref name="enc283"/> Though not specifically intended for atmospheric use, Seraphs still are significantly faster than Banshees while flying at low altitudes. They have even been shown to fly in the hurricane force winds of the gas giant [[Threshold]].<ref name="oracle">'''[[Halo 2]]''', campaign level ''[[The Oracle]]''</ref> Seraphs are controlled via a direct neural interface with their flight harness, using minimal safety cutouts and filters. While the pilot's body is rendered immobile to reduce the risk of injury, they control the ship with their thought, much the same way as a UNSC pilot's neural interface.<ref name="warfleet"/> Unlike UNSC systems, however, this method induces significant pain called interface burn in the pilot, Elites entering a meditative state before they complete an uplink to control the pain, while Brute pilots embrace the pain to trigger their their own focus.<ref name="warfleet"/>

Seraphs have demonstrated that they are a very effective counter-weapon against Longsword interceptors unless the latter attacks from the side or behind. Seraphs usually attack in formations of ten, their assaults on enemy ships range from simple harassment, to full out strafing attacks. They have also been seen patrolling in pairs. It is assumed that Seraph fighters can be piloted by a single [[Sangheili]] or [[Jiralhanae]].<ref name="enc283"/>

Seraphs have been seen operational as early as the [[Harvest campaign]]. They are a common adversary of the Longsword fighters. These starfighters provided excellent fire support to all Covenant forces in space and on the groundside. Elite pilots considered piloting a Seraph merely a means to attaining enough glory to be reassigned to a ground combat position, valuing their fighters only as tools to accomplish this. Despite their extensive training, their honor code had a tendency to peel off from their squadrons to engage in one-on-one dogfights, making them vulnerable in combat. Brute pilots were excluded from such training, but their pack mentality and rigid social hierarchy made them far more effective teams, and human pilots soon learned to fear Brute-piloted Seraphs, identifiable by clan markings and Forerunner symbols carved on their hulls, more than Elite-piloted Seraphs.<ref name="warfleet"/>