Covenant drop pod: Difference between revisions

The '''Orbital Insertion Pod''' is a one-man [[Covenant]]-manufactured high-altitude deployment vehicle. It is roughly cylindrical in shape, but with two tapered, slightly angular ends. It is made of burnished cyan-purple metal, but has an opulent, white interior with a contour that conforms to the physique of a Covenant [[Elite]]. Upon impact with the ground, the pod splits into two halves, revealing the interior and allowing the Elite inside to escape and move.

The Orbital Insertion Pod is a mode of transportation currently in use by the [[Covenant]]. When the Covenant decide to capture a planet rather than simply [[glassing]] it from orbit, they use orbital insertion pods to drop Elites to the planet’s surface as shock troops. Use of these pods is very hazardous and is reserved only for critical situations, or when a surprise attack is necessary. It is theorized that the pods are coated with an energy shield to disperse heat and are armored to withstand anti-air flak cannon fire. The vaguely coffin-shaped pods are small and cramped, with barely enough room for one Elite and his weapon and there appear to be no restraints or other devices inside. It is probable that a stasis field holds the Elite safely in place during impact. Upon landing, the front of the pod blows off to allow exit, so the fronts are probably placed on the pod just before the drop.

These pods made their first appearance in the [[Halo 2]] level [[Outskirts]] and subsequently were evident around [[New Mombassa]] during [[The First Battle of Earth]]. They also appear in the levels [[Sacred Icon (Level)|Sacred Icon]], [[Quarantine Zone]], and [[Uprising]] as allies of [[Thel 'Vadamee]].<ref>''[[Halo 2: The Official Strategy Guide]]'' page 140</ref>

They also appear in the [[Halo 3]] level [[Floodgate]] sent by [[Shadow of Intent]] to aid [[Spartan-117]] and Thel 'Vadamee against the [[Flood]] infestation in [[Voi]]. The impact is hard enough to break the occupying Elite's energy shield once it hits the ground.