Seraph

Seraph is a name applied to a series of Covenant space fighters. The Covenant fielded at least two design patterns of Seraphs during the Human-Covenant War: the Kai-pattern, distinguished by its smooth hull and fixed fuselage structure, and the Morsam-pattern, featuring more complex hull patterning and an articulated tail.

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, while those on the Kai-pattern are fixed. 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, but it is considered a rare sight by UNSC forces. Seraphs have the ability to power down and slip past hostile sentries and human sensors. Unlike the Type-26 Banshee or Type-52 Phantom, nearly all Seraphs are equipped with multiphase energy shielding, although this does not seem to always be the case. However, these energy shields are only a fraction of the strength of those on capital ships and are easily depleted with sustained fire.

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 a heavy plasma cannon, and are also armed with a pulse laser and plasma charges for strafing and bombing runs. A Seraph's bombing runs are very deadly, as evidenced in Operation: TORPEDO, the SPARTAN-III Beta Company's attack on a Covenant refinery on Pegasi Delta. The Seraph's energy weapons deliver a hard punch to anything it attacks, such as D77-TC Pelican dropships, and when dueling with the UNSC space-superiority YSS-1000 Sabres. A Seraph was also capable of doing some damage against a 's Titanium-A armor plating.

Variants

 * Morsam-pattern Seraph
 * Kai-pattern Seraph

Unidentified Seraph encounters
Seraphs have seen operational use as early as the Harvest campaign, and would later become a common adversary of 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 attain 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 gave them 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. Human pilots soon learned to fear Brute-piloted Seraphs, identified by clan markings and Forerunner symbols carved on their hulls, more than Elite-piloted Seraphs.

In Operation: TORPEDO, the Seraphs harassed the incoming SPARTAN-IIIs by bombarding them during the UNSC surprise assault of the Covenant refinery facilities. Several fighters were shot down by missiles fired from the M19-B surface-to-air missile launchers used by the SPARTAN-IIIs.

Several wings saw action on both sides during the Battle of Sunaion.

List of appearances

 * Halo: The Fall of Reach
 * Halo: The Flood
 * Halo: First Strike
 * Halo 2
 * Halo: Ghosts of Onyx
 * Halo 3
 * Halo Legends
 * The Package
 * Halo: Reach
 * ''Halo: Fall of Reach
 * Invasion
 * Halo 4
 * Spartan Ops


 * Halo: Escalation
 * Halo 2: Anniversary
 * Terminals
 * Halo: Fleet Battles
 * Halo 5: Guardians
 * Halo: Shadow of Intent
 * Halo: Ground Command
 * Halo Mythos
 * Halo Wars 2
 * Halo: Envoy
 * Halo: Retribution
 * Halo: Fireteam Raven
 * Halo: Silent Storm
 * Halo: Outpost Discovery

Trivia
Instead of having a name that represents a sinister supernatural being like the Wraith or Phantom, the word "Seraph" is derived from the highest level of angels as described in certain texts of the Bible. However, Biblical seraphim have six wings while the Seraph has none.