Hardpoint

A Hard Point is a point on the outer hull of a starship where another vessel of similar size and density may dock and link systems. These points can be used to combine engine power, telemetry and computer/A.I. systems.

Background
Newer UNSC starships have these hard points on their dorsal and ventral sides, in case the ship were too crippled to move under its own power. Another UNSC vessel could then use its own hard points to dock with the wounded ship, link systems and carry it away (presumably to a repair platform or safe zone). Most likely these "hard point" on a UNSC starship are magnetic clamps or large locks on the outer hull.

Some Covenant ships have hard points that can be used by a ship too large to fit inside one of the docking bays.

Trivia

 * They are first mentioned in Halo: First Strike, when Cortana used the captured Covenant Flagship Ascendant Justice to dock with the disabled and abandoned UNSC Gettysburg. The two systems were incompatible, but Cortana used the Gettysburg's service drones and the Ascendant Justice's Engineers to adapt their power uplinks.