Phaeton

The Z-1800 Exoatmospheric Multirole Fighter, alternatively known as Phaeton, is a class of Forerunner weapon-ship employed in a role analogous to a VTOL gunship. These craft were encountered by UNSC forces in several engagements following the Requiem Campaign.

Design details
Controlled by a single pilot, the Phaeton has a teleport ability that allows the aircraft to move short distances rapidly in any direction. The Phaeton is armed with a chin-mounted dual set of directed-energy weapons along with missile launcher-like weapons on both sides of the fuselage.

Variants

 * Phaeton Helios - Phaeton variant armed with dual beam emitters.

Operational history
One of the smallest classes of weapon-ship, the Phaeton was employed by the Forerunners in the billions during the war against the Flood. A single Forerunner Warrior-Servant could command thousands of Phaetons and support vessels, trusting in their Soldier pilots to self-organize into tactical phalanxes that could be thrown against the trillions of Flood combat forms and their vast fleets of corrupted Forerunner ships. Few survived to see the firing of the Halo Array, though their remains form debris rings around shattered worlds and dead fleets throughout the galaxy.

Most Guardians were assigned a modest wing of Phaetons to carry out their duties. These vessels were supplemented by newly grown craft in October 2558. Cortana's Prometheans used several Phaetons during the battles of Kamchatka, Meridian, Genesis, and Nuusra.

Trivia

 * In Greek mythology, Phaeton was the son of the god Apollo.
 * The Phaeton's tactical use can be considered analogous to the UNSC's AV-14 Hornet.

List of appearances

 * Halo 5: Guardians