Clarion spy drone

Clarion spy drones are small probes used by the UNSC. They can be programmed to follow a course, and can propel themselves through space. They use a variety of sensors and cameras to scan space and transmit data to any ship, station, or planet in range.

Massacre at Eridanus Secundus
In September, 2552, after a Covenant cruiser appears near the Eridanus Secundus asteroid base John-117 discovers that the only has three Clarion spy drones in its launch tubes. Vice Admiral Danforth Whitcomb has John launch two of them to keep an eye on the cruiser. After a plan is devised to use the Gettysburg's magnetic coils to shape the plasma for Ascendant Justice's one working turret, Cortana uses the drones to calculate her shot from behind cover, enabling them to fire on the cruiser before it can enter firing range itself. The cruiser is destroyed while the action leaves one of the drones destroyed as well.

Operation: FIRST STRIKE
After returning to the Gettysburg after rigging the Unyielding Hierophant to blow, the Spartans are informed by Sergeant Avery Johnson that they have a drone almost in place to watch the coming destruction of the station. After realizing that Whitcomb intends to use Ascendant Justice as a lure, John orders a link to be opened with Ascendant Justice, bouncing it off of the drone. When Johnson is unable to do it, Frederic-104 manages to get the link. Through the camera of the drone, the crew of the Gettysburg watches as Whitcomb and Lieutenant Elias Haverson succeed in luring most of the Covenant fleet in close to the Unyielding Hierophant resulting in their destruction when the station explodes. After pulling the drone back briefly for safety, it is used to observe the aftermath, discovering that only about a dozen ships out of around five hundred survived.

List of appearances

 * Halo: First Strike