Z-510 focus turret

The Z-510 Directed Energy Focus Weapon (Z-510 DEFW), also known as focus turret, is a Forerunner directed energy weapon emplacement manufactured by Ferrarius Assembler Vats.

Design details
The Z-510 focus turret is a defensive weapon emplacement deployed at key strategic points in order to provide defensive and suppressive lines of fire. They are capable of being instantaneously phased to a location by Watchers, then held up by an anti-gravity mooring upon deployment and controlled by a beam sustainment governor. Powered by a vacuum energy plate to gather power, the focus turret splays its upper and lower charging arms when it prepares to fire, as it gathers energy into its ionization core located in its center. Bright rings then form around its muzzle, and it fires a charged particle beam—much like the Sentinel beam—of ionized particles at its target. When destroyed, the focus turret disintegrate in a manner resembling that of Promethean Knights.

The Covenant attempted to reverse-engineer the focus turret's technology using comparatively primitive electromagnetically guided plasma with weapons like the. Given it (and the focus rifle's) name, this is presumably the basis for the Covenant's focus cannon weaponry.

Operational history
During the Battle of Draetheus V, Merg Vol was able to activate the turrets around the control room for X50's primary weapon after having spent considerable resources to unlock its secrets. The turrets aided Vol in battle against Spartan Sarah Palmer alongside his forces. However, Merg Vol was ultimately defeated and killed by Palmer. When accessing the Cistern, Palmer encountered focus turrets guarding two of the three power cores she had to destroy in order to unlock the main door. Several more protected the area of the Cistern where Spartan Edward Davis' remains were being held in a Durance, particularly the power cores Palmer had to destroy in order for a Pelican to extract the Durance.

In July 2557, John-117, and later the crew of the, faced several such turrets inside the shield world Requiem. Later, a number of these turrets were hacked by Cortana on the Mantle's Approach during the Didact's attack on Earth, during which time they took on a blue light, like those of the Sentinels on Requiem, as opposed to the characteristic orange coloration of those under the Didact's control. The turrets temporarily repelled waves of Crawlers to help John-117 on his way to destroy the Composer.

In that same month, many focus turrets were used against UNSC forces during the Battle of Installation 03.

When the Infinity returned to Requiem in 2558, several focus turrets were again used against UNSC forces. Fireteam Crimson faced numerous turrets during their missions. At some point, the Spartan-IVs were able to turn the turrets of the location "Control" into allies to help repel members of Jul 'Mdama's Covenant. Later, when the Spartans searched for Dr. Halsey's signal at Cyclone, the Librarian provided them support with some allied focus turrets along with Aggressor Sentinels.

After Cortana took over the Promethean forces, focus turrets took on a modified design. Larger anti-vehicle turrets were encountered on Meridian by Fireteam Osiris, being more heavily armed but rarer overall. The Warden Eternal would also use focus turrets as support in his engagements against Osiris and Blue Team on Genesis. Later, Osiris encountered more focus turrets in their mission to free Blue Team from Cortana. In Warzone simulations, like those on March on Stormbreak, should the Warden Eternal be encountered as a Mythic boss, he may also spawn focus turrets against the two Spartan teams who are competing against each other for victory in the simulation.

Production notes

 * The Halo 4: Official Game Guide referred to the focus turret as the beam cannon and beam turret.
 * In Halo 5: Guardians, if it is shot in its core while it is charging its weapon, the turret will take extra damage and be destroyed faster.

List of appearances

 * Halo 4
 * Spartan Ops
 * Halo: Spartan Assault
 * Halo: Spartan Strike
 * Halo 5: Guardians