Covenant: Difference between revisions

Covenant technology has been often described as more imitative rather than innovative,<ref name="copyme">'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 241'' (''"The Covenant’s science is imitative rather then innovative, a by-product of this societal ‘absorption,’"'' Dr. Halsey continued. ''"This is not to say that they are lacking intelligence, however. During our first encounter they gathered computer and network components from our destroyed ships... and they learned at an astonishing pace."''); '''2010 edition''', ''page 275''</ref><ref name="copymetwo">'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 87'' (Cortana: ''"The Covenant were imitative, not innovative; at least, that's what all the ONI intelligence gathered on the collection of alien races had reported. She had thought this was exaggeration, propaganda to bolster human morale."'')</ref> as they are based largely on mimicry and reverse-engineering of the leftover Forerunner artifacts they have discovered. Such examples are their exceedingly accurate slipspace navigation, near-instantaneous interstellar communication and man-portable application of energy manipulation.<ref name="techtier">'''[[Bestiarum]]''': ''[[Technological Achievement Tiers]]''</ref>

Although innovation is not one of the Covenant's strong suits, the Covenant has shown considerable advancement in bridging the technological gap with newly-encountered species. For example, in the first encounter of the Human-Covenant War, the Covenant learned of the humans' computer systems and of its language from salvaging human computer and network components from destroyed human ships.<ref name="copyme"/> This knowledge benefited the Covenant greatly in understanding the humans' military operation, to the extent that the UNSC enacted the [[Cole Protocol]] to deter the Covenant from finding human colony worlds and Earth. In another scenario, during the preliminary of the [[Fall of Reach]], the Covenant crippled [[Reach]]'s telecommunication network to prevent the colony world from contacting reinforcements and placed numerous [[Covenant spire|teleportation spires]] to deploy its forces without having to face directly with the planet's orbital defences.<ref name="Reachgame">'''[[Halo: Reach]]''''</ref>

Covenant starships use [[repulsor engine]]s for propulsion in space, rather than traditional reaction drives such as the [[fusion engine]]s utilized by humanity.<ref>'''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''', ''page 331''</ref> Covenant drive systems seem to be propelled by an unusual combination of gravity "waves" and some form of highly reactive plasma displacement, but the actual means and method of propulsion is currently beyond human understanding.<ref name="enyc224"/> Both starships and ground vehicles are equipped with various forms of [[anti-gravity technology]], allowing ships to hover easily inside an atmosphere and allowing frictionless movement of vehicles across terrain.

Most of the Covenant arsenal consists of [[plasma weaponry|plasma-based]] [[directed energy weapon]]s, but the Covenant are known to also utilize [[Pulse laser turret|pulse lasers]], [[particle beam weapon]]s, [[antimatter]] explosives and even chemical crystal-based weapons. While most Covenant weapons are modeled after Forerunner ordnance, this is often accomplished through their apparent effects rather than their inner workings; the widespread use of plasma, for example, is regarded as crude in comparison to the exotic [[hard light]] and ion particle streams utilized in Forerunner weaponry.<ref name="EVGplasma"/> Interestingly, Covenant weapon designs seem to defy known laws of mechanics; there is typically no form of radiative, physical or electrical contact between the firing mechanism and "trigger" of a weapon. For these and other reasons, the workings of Covenant weaponry is generally beyond the comprehension of UNSC scientists.<ref>'''[[Halo: Reach]]''', ''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'' [[:File:Journal Needler.png]]</ref>

[[File:Tyrant Plasma.png|thumb|left|250px|The Covenant favors plasma weapons, used for both their starships and infantry.]]

Plasma weapons typically use a rechargeable power cell to provide power to their internal components. Covenant plasma weapons are effective but crude, and most automatic-fire plasma weapons are prone to overheating. To compensate, most weapons have vents that open up and discharge excess heat and plasma when they overheat, although they render weapons inoperable as the excess heat is dissipated. Once the energy of the plasma weapon is depleted, it must be recharged or discarded. To date, the means by which plasma weapons can be recharged is still unknown to UNSC forces. Handheld plasma weapons include the [[Type-25 plasma pistol]], [[Type-25 plasma rifle]], [[Type-33 fuel rod gun]], and [[Type-50 particle beam rifle]].

Though rarer, the Covenant occasionally uses projectile weapons, the most common of these being unconventional crystal-based weapons, such as the [[Type-33 needler]] or the [[Type-31 needle rifle]]. These weapons appear to use some type of chemical that forms a hard, razor-sharp crystal on contact with the atmosphere.<ref>'''[[Halo: Reach]]''' ''Type-31 Needle Rifle''</ref> Certain medium to long-range weapons fire them at high speeds, allowing them to strike targets accurately at long distance. Other mid-range weapons fire them at very slow speeds, and through unknown means "steer" them towards enemy targets. Needles fired in either of these ways will penetrate the flesh or armor of a target, and several seconds after coming to rest will explode into thousands of tiny, sharp fragments that can maim or cripple a target. When a certain number of needles have penetrated the same target, they will detonate simultaneously, producing a much larger explosion that kills the target instantly.

With the introduction of the Jiralhanae as a major military caste within the Covenant, their weapons found limited to widespread use. Utilizing crude projectile-like metal spikes in place of plasma, explosive grenade-like launchers, and sharp blades, they are more primitive, yet brutal-fitting, considering the nature of their creators. Brute weapons include the [[Type-25 Carbine|Spiker]] carbine, the [[Type-52 Pistol|Mauler]] pistol, and [[Type-25 Grenade Launcher|Brute Shot]] grenade launcher.

The Covenant are also known to employ melee weapons in addition to their already fearsome arsenal. The most well-known is the [[Type-1 Energy Weapon/Sword|energy sword]], used solely by the [[Sangheili]]. Creating a double blade of superheated plasma, it has both ceremonial and martial value to the Sangheili warriors, and its possession is closely monitored. Another is the [[Type-2 Energy Weapon/Hammer|Gravity Hammer]], used by Jiralhanae, which seems to be the cultural equivalent to the sword. However, rather than using a blade of plasma, it can generate a gravitational field, doing devastating damage, even knocking vehicles over.

Covenant vehicles use [[Boosted gravity propulsion drive|advanced anti-gravity technology for propulsion]], and are armed with directed-energy weaponry of varying potency. Though often faster than their [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] counterparts, Covenant vehicles are more unstable over uneven terrain where the sudden changes affect handling. All Covenant vehicles (except for Jiralhanae vehicles) and structures are made from a purple or dark blue type of metal, said to be much more advanced than any alloy known to humans, and all Covenant vehicles are nicknamed after some kind of supernatural entity by the UNSC, except for [[Type-47 Ultra Heavy Assault Platform|Scarabs]] and [[Locust]]s. Recently, Jiralhanae vehicles and technology have been incorporated into the Covenant's arsenal. Though more primitive, they serve the Jiralhanae's need for power. Jiralhanae vehicles are not named after spiritual entities, and rather than being a series of Covenant vehicles are regarded as native Jiralhanae technology.