Dextro Xur-pattern Spirit: Difference between revisions

|class=DX<ref name="DXC"/> ([[UNSC]] designation: "Type-25")<ref name="Reach">'''Halo: Reach''', ''Game Manual''</ref>

|length={{Convert|33|m|ft|sigfig=3|sp=us}}<ref name="EVG"/><ref name="universe"/><ref name="ENC">'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''', ''page 270'' (2009); ''page 282'' (2011)</ref>

|width={{Convert|18.1|m|ft|sigfig=3|sp=us}}<ref name="EVG"/><ref name="universe"/><ref name="ENC"/>

|height={{Convert|11.6|m|ft|sigfig=3|sp=us}}<ref name="universe"/>

|mass={{Convert|67.9|MT}}<ref name="universe"/>

|power={{Convert|1099|km/h|mph}}<ref name="universe"/>

|armament=One [[heavy plasma cannon|''Murien''-pattern heavy plasma cannon]]<ref name="Warfleet"/>

|complement=*Two [[Sangheili Major|Obedientaries]]<ref name="Warfleet"/>

*Thirty Warriors<ref name="Warfleet"/>

*Two light vehicles<ref name="T25">[http://halo.bungie.net/projects/reach/article.aspx?ucc=ordnance&cid=24584 '''Bungie.net''': ''Type-25 Troop Carrier'']</ref> or one heavy vehicle<ref name="Warfleet"/>

|crew=One [[pilot]], one sensor operator<ref name="Warfleet"/>

|othersystems=[[Gravity hoist]]<ref name="Warfleet"/>

The '''Type-25 Troop Carrier''',<ref name="EVG"/><ref name="Reach"/> designated as the '''DX-class dropship''' by the [[Covenant]]<ref name="DXC">'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 286''</ref> and commonly known as the '''Spirit''',<ref name="Reach"/> is an infantry and logistical [[dropship]] and utility craft manufactured by their [[Assembly Forges#Classifications|Tertiary Assembly Forges]].<ref name="EVG"/> Dubbed the '''''Dextro Xur''''' [[design pattern]],<ref name="Warfleet"/> the Type-25 Spirit served as one of the primary transport crafts of the [[Covenant military]], though the [[Type-57 Spirit]] is now utilized by the [[Swords of Sanghelios]]' army and other [[Covenant remnants|Covenant remnant]] factions.<ref name="universe"/>

The Spirit is a moderately large craft, being {{Convert|33|m|ft|sigfig=3|sp=us}} in length.<ref name="EVG"/> The [[dropship]] is an angular, tuning fork-shaped spacecraft with two parallel personnel bays along the exterior of each "prong". The [[pilot]]'s compartment is located at the rear, between the twin troop bays. Each of these personnel bays has two doors that open and close vertically; however, they do not close fully and leave a small opening along the length of the bay. Between these extended personnel bays, a [[gravity hoist]]<ref name="Warfleet"/> fluctuates visibly as it generates the ship's anti-gravity propulsion, similar in appearance to the energy pulse of the [[gravity lift]]s the Covenant use to commute between the ground and hovering ships. This same system is used to ferry payloads to their destinations.<ref name="universe"/> A uniquely stable contragravity system is fitted onto the dropship, which can adapt to a wide range of load profiles without any apparent compensation delays or loss of efficacy.<ref name="Warfleet"/> The hull of the Spirit is unexpectedly robust and the pilots are well protected in the dropship's aft cockpit. A Spirit is more likely to survive combat zones that would be considered suicidal for the somewhat more fragile [[Phantom]].<ref name="universe"/>

Like all Covenant dropships, the Spirit utilizes field shaping vanes to modify its aerodynamic profile, but this has little defensive application. Energy shields could be fitted, but there were few reasons to do so before the Human-Covenant War.<ref name="Warfleet"/>

The Spirit's awkward split-fuselage design and claustrophobic troop bays have proven to be a significant disadvantage for the dropship. The features may make troop and vehicle deployment a difficult and frustrating affair for the pilot, as well as a distressing experience for the Spirit's passengers. These disadvantages proved even more troublesome for its occupants after the [[United Nations Space Command]] learned to exploit the Spirit's predictable deployment methodology.<ref name="universe"/>

The Spirit is crewed by two personnel, a [[pilot]] and a sensor operator, which both occupy the armored command pod at the rear of the ship. Because its sensors and flight control system are intuitive and well-integrated, the pilot has excellent situational awareness of aerospace threats and environmental hazards. Because Sangheili disliked piloting dropships, Spirits were more often controlled by Unggoy and Kig-Yar crewmen.<ref name="Warfleet"/>

As dedicated transports for infantry and vehicles, the Spirit is capable of carrying up to thirty passengers—with fifteen being held in each troop bay. Apart from stasis harnesses that buffer the stress of evasive maneuvers and turbulence, there are no safety systems installed in the bays to protect passengers stationed within.<ref name="Warfleet"/> Up to two light-armored vehicles such as two [[Type-32 Ghost]]s, one heavy-armored vehicle such as a [[Type-26 Wraith]], or other possible payloads such as supply canisters for ground troops can also be carried. As aforementioned, these payloads are ferried underneath the dropship via its gravity hoist.

Capable of powered flight and hovering, the dropship appears quite cumbersome and awkward to pilot based on battlefield observations. Despite this, the Spirit has been known to reach speeds of {{Convert|350|km/h|mph}} while cruising and has a maximum speed of {{Convert|1099|km/h|mph}}.<ref name="universe"/><ref name="ENC"/>

Spirits are armed with a singular rotating, low-mounted [[heavy plasma cannon]], located directly below the cockpit of the dropship.<ref name="ENC"/> Though the weapon serves a defensive role,<ref name="universe"/> the cannon is capable of delivering substantial damage to ground troops and vehicles.<ref name="universe"/> An ancient design, its fire-control system is programmed with command codes that are barely understood by modern users.<ref name="Warfleet"/> Unlike the humans' conventional bullet projectiles, the superheated [[plasma]] fired from the cannon travels slower, and are ineffective against fast-moving objects. Thus, it is only used as fire support during deployment of troops.<ref name="universe"/> A simpler, manually-controlled version of this weapon is used in some Shade turret patterns.<ref name="Warfleet"/>

Spirits were the primary dropship and utility transport for the Covenant centuries before it was encountered on [[Harvest]] in [[2525]].<ref name="Warfleet"/> The crew of the ''[[Rapid Conversion]]'' used Spirits during the [[First Battle of Harvest]].<ref name="CH">'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]'''</ref> Spirits were also used by the Covenant during the [[Battle of Kholo]].<ref name="TR">'''[[The Return]]'''</ref> During the [[Fall of Reach]] Spirits were deployed by the Covenant against the UNSC.<ref name="HR">'''[[Halo: Reach]]'''</ref> Spirits attached to the [[Fleet of Particular Justice]] were used against the crew of the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} and the Flood during the [[Battle of Installation 04]].<ref name="HCE">'''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'''</ref>

*The Spirit dropship was erroneously designated as the "Type-28 Troop Carrier" during the development of ''[[Halo: Reach]]''; this was soon corrected following the release of the game. This error, however, persists in the [[2011]] edition of the ''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''.<ref name="ENC"/>