Covenant comm node

Covenant Communication Nodes are mobile communication antennas used by the Covenant on the battlefield, used to connect to the Covenant Battle Network.

Appearance and function
It appears that the Comm Nodes have undergone a series of refits, seeing as how the shape, color, and height of the units vary between games. They most likely are similar to human technology, where when one model becomes outdated, another, more updated model takes its place. These differences between games is most probably because in different areas, different variants are utilized with varying distance and functionality belonging to the different models.

The Comm Node appears to be either a modified storage crate or a similar device based on the same framework. It stands approximately eight feet tall and the three antennae on top add about five feet of height. It has several fold out controls on it, but they are in the Covenant language and are completely useless to the player. It is notable however, that the screens on uplink crates usually contain readouts on a planetary surface, likely the nearby planet Threshold, and links to orbiting spacecraft. The uplink crate emits a loud, random chirping noise and static when active. Its dark purple color affords it no camouflage whatsoever, tending to make it stand out. The only exception to this rule is when they are located in the interiors of Covenant vessels for transport. In this event, they provide extremely good cover, often blending into the background.

In Halo: Combat Evolved, the Comm Node is impervious to all forms of firepower or impact. They can be neither damaged nor moved, for which reason they make excellent cover. They are never seen knocked over or even tipped in any of the levels, suggesting the Flood are either capable of utilizing them, or cannot move their bulk. However, the first possibility seems more likely, as Flood are able to effortlessly move heavy machinery, up to and including armored vehicles. Nonetheless, the Master Chief, who can flip over an M12 LRV, is unable to budge the nodes an inch, suggesting that they are either fixed to the ground in some way or far heavier than they look. Even a direct impact from the 90mm shell of a Scorpion Tank can not scratch the heavily engraved metal alloy that protects the machine. In fact, a Warthog may even flip over on impact with a crate, thus making them rather dangerous obstacles. It is also possible that this could just be game mechanics because the nodes could be modified Supply Cases, which are also immobile. The objects are also considered scenery objects by the game, just as rocks and the like are, and are therefore made immobile by the game itself.

Halo: Combat Evolved
One type of communication node was seen on Alpha Halo, and greatly resembled a Covenant Supply Case with three antennae. Although extremely similar in appearance to the supply case, their sides appear to have folded outwards, producing a small screen and keyboard for the communication interface.


 * Dimensions
 * Height: 13.8 feet


 * Appearances
 * Silent Cartographer - A pair of comm crates may be found in both the security sub system and in the Silent Cartographer itself. Additionally, several of them are found at the Pelicans' landing zone, mixed in with the normal supply crates.
 * 343 Guilty Spark - In the swamp, they broadcast the same message as Victor 933's crash message, suggesting that V933's pilot was desperate enough to broadcast on all channels, even those occupied by the Covenant Battlenet.
 * The multiplayer map Death Island, based on Silent Cartographer, contains several. Also, several may be found in the multi-player map Damnation; this makes sense, as Damnation takes place in a Covenant hydro-processing facility.

Halo 2
In Halo 2, they are similar to Covenant visual recording devices, but have large metal antennae protruding from the top of the casing. If the Crate is functioning, the antenna will be encased in a purple energy field. However, if the player shoots the crate, the charge over the antenna will flicker and disappear.


 * Appearances
 * Delta Halo - There are several of these scattered throughout the level.
 * Gravemind
 * Uprising - Some are seen across the battlefield and especially at the Brute encampment.
 * Sacred Icon - Right at the beginning of the level.
 * High Charity
 * The Great Journey - One can be seen on the bridge where you fight Jackals.

Halo 3
In Halo 3, the Communication Nodes were redesigned to have a more elegant shape. Again, they can be destroyed, in which case the bluish energy field will disappear. They now have a more rounded and updated look. It still has the same basic shape as the Halo 2 model, with a device at the bottom and antennae at the top. It is now seen more frequently.

Campaign: Multiplayer:
 * Appearances
 * Tsavo Highway
 * The Ark - Several can be seen scattered across the battlefield.
 * The Covenant - They are especially noticeable on this level, and many can be seen across the battlefield.
 * Snowbound - Located near the Shotgun spawn next to two Plasma Batteries.

Note: They are also one of the available items in Forge on Snowbound and Heretic.

Halo: Reach
Two different varieties of communication nodes are featured in Halo: Reach. The default version is near-identical to the Halo 3 iteration, while the larger one has three vertical antennas covered in energy fields.

Trivia

 * If you were to break off one of its legs, the comm will still be active, and you can still pick it up in Forge. To fully destroy it, you must break the tower off the base.
 * On the main body of the node, something resembling the marathon symbol can clearly be seen.
 * The Halo: Combat Evolved communication nodes not only appear to be modified supply cases, but supply cases that are upside-down.