Military base



A military base is a facility used by the military that shelters military equipment and personnel, and facilitates training and operations. Because of their stationary nature, they make a promising option for enemy assault by either ground or air forces, as well as making an easy target for artillery and orbital bombardment.

UNSC
The United Nations Space Command makes extensive use of military bases. They are often flexible, using various designs, terrain, and functions in their setup, allowing their occupants the best degree of flexibility possible. Incorporating existing and specialty equipment, ranging from old 20th Century bunkers to Forerunner mesas, to repurposed colony starter units, there are many different types.

Typically, UNSC bases incorporate facilities for storage of weapons, ammunition and equipment, as well as barrack facilities for the personnel that staff it. They are often equipped with heavy defenses, such as autocannons to fend off assaults from Covenant air and ground forces. Normally, arrangements are made for the storage of vehicles for transport and combat, such as Warthogs, allowing fast transport to and from the base. Facilities for aircraft, such as Pelican dropships and Sparrowhawk gunships, are standard and, indeed, vital for the bases survival, allowing response to aerial threats, such as Banshees.

Since at least November 2552, the UNSC has used energy shielding, reverse-engineered from Covenant technology, to protect generators in their bases, such as Crow's Nest.

The UNSC also uses Firebases, prefabricated base facilities that serve as platforms for other base structures. Based on colony starter units, their modular design allows for rapid deployment and construction on the battlefield. They can be fitted with up to four automated turrets and a number of different buildings.

Covenant
Covenant bases are often supported by a ship hovering overhead, supplying troops and matériel through its gravity lift or, in rare cases, teleportation spires that also serve as command centers. Covenant base facilities are usually defended by Shades or Heavy Plasma Turrets. The Covenant also employ Citadels, modular socket base units similar in principle to the UNSC Firebase. Covenant Citadels can be protected by an energy shield generator, or larger, dome-shaped shields that are integrated into their Spire facilities but have also been used without a Spire.

In addition, each Covenant species has their own accommodation facilities in the field, including Sangheili tents and Unggoy atmosphere pits.