Morsam-pattern Seraph

This article is about the Seraph seen in Halo: Reach, Halo 4 and several other sources. For the Seraph model seen in Halo 2 and Halo 3, see Kai-pattern Seraph.

Morsam-pattern Heavy Strike Fighter
Production information
Manufacturer:	Assembly Forges
Class:	Seraph
Role:	Combat space fighter
Technical specifications
Length:	31.0 meters (101.8 ft)
Width:	15.1 meters (49.5 ft)
Height:	5.6 meters (18.4 ft)
Mass:	61.7 metric tons (60.7 LT; 68.0 ST)
Engine(s):	Impulse drive
Hull:	Nanolaminate hull plating Equipped with energy shielding
Armament:	4× Gle'mahn-pattern heavy plasma cannons 4x Novox-pattern fuel rod cannons 1× Plasma charge
Crew:	1 pilot
Chronological and affiliation
Era:	Human-Covenant War Post-Covenant War conflicts
Affiliation:	Covenant Jul 'Mdama's Covenant Swords of Sanghelios Keepers of the One Freedom Banished

The Morsam-pattern Heavy Strike Fighter (UNSC Type classification: Type-31 Exoatmospheric Multirole Fighter), was one of the main production models of the Covenant's Seraph space fighters, alongside the older Kai-pattern Seraph. Formerly manufactured and produced by Assembly Forges, the Seraph is the successor to the older Keljiric-pattern Tarasques. It is a more powerful, though less common counterpart to the unshielded and expendable Elsedda-pattern Banshee.

Overview

Design details

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 bays 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. 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. Seraphs can also be used for the occasional bombing run.

As the Covenant's main space-based attack fighter, the Seraph is highly maneuverable while in space, and can easily keep pace with the UNSC's GA-TL1 Longsword.

Armaments

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.

The Seraph is armed with a variety of weapons. Seraphs are seen firing multiple heavy plasma cannons and are also armed with fuel rod cannons and plasma charges for strafing and bombing runs. The Seraph's four fuel rod cannons are also capable of locking onto air targets. The plasma charge's flames are 3,000 degrees.

Operational history

During the Fall of Reach, Seraphs attempted to disable the UNSC ships and orbital stations over the planet Reach, while providing some cover for the Covenant boarding crews. These attempts were subsequently prevented by UNSC FSS-1000 Sabre interceptors, frigates, and Longsword interceptors.

During the opening stages of the Battle of Installation 04, as the UNSC Pillar of Autumn was boarded by Covenant forces of the Fleet of Particular Justice, Seraph fighters, as well as Elsedda-pattern Banshee were deployed to attack the UNSC cruiser. The ODSTs of Fireteam Raven managed to activate the vessel's M910 Rampart point defense network, inflicting heavy casualties on the attacking Seraphs and Banshees.

During the Skirmish over Threshold, the Covenant Ruma-pattern light carrier Ascendant Justice deployed Seraphs to stop the approach of the Longsword fighter commanded by John-117. However, John and his makeshift crew sent a remote-piloted Pelican dropship with M1011 Moray space mines attached ahead of them. Though the dropship was destroyed, the mines detached and destroyed the Seraph squadron, allowing the Longsword to land safely in Ascendant Justice's hanger bay.

Following the end of the Human-Covenant War, Mosam-pattern Seraphs were adopted by numerous Covenant remnant factions. On February 7, 2558, when the UNSC Infinity returned to the shield world Requiem to engage the local Promethean forces, numerous Seraphs belonging to Jul 'Mdama's Covenant were deployed around Requiem to prevent the humans from gaining entrance. These Seraphs attacked Infinity and the Pelicans it deployed to the surface, but were repelled by a squadron of F-41 Broadsword strike fighters.