Energy projector: Difference between revisions

The '''energy projector''', also known as the '''cleansing beam''',<ref>'''Halo Wars'''</ref><ref name="EVG">'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page ???''</ref> is a [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] weapon used exclusively by large ships. It fires a thin beam of energized matter which has a very long range and is extremely accurate and destructive, capable of destroying ships effortlessly and "[[Glassing|glassing]]" planets, systematically rendering them sterile and incapable of sustaining life.

The energy projector was first encountered during the [[Second Battle of Harvest]], where it was used by a [[Covenant super-destroyer]]. It was more frequently seen in later years, such as during the [[Harvest]] [[Harvest Campaign|campaign]] and [[Operation: TORPEDO]]. Throughout the course of the [[Fall of Reach|Covenant invasion of Reach]], the population centres suffered tremendous structural damage due to the Covenant's glassing of the planet.<ref>'''[[Halo: Reach]]''', campaign level ''[[New Alexandria]]''</ref> Similarly, several frigates fall prey to the energy projectors during the engagement.<ref>'''Halo: Reach''', campaign level ''[[Tip of the Spear]]''</ref>

The ''[[Solemn Penance]]'' used an energy projector to destroy the [[San 'Shyuum|Prophet's]] temple after he had been assassinated by [[John-117]] on [[Installation 05]].<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Regret (level)|Regret]]''</ref> In the [[Battle of Earth]], the city of [[Voi]] was glassed by the [[Fleet of Retribution]] to stop a [[The Flood|Flood]] infestation.<ref>'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[Floodgate]]''</ref>

The weapon fires a thin beam of extremely powerful and energetic particles. It is possible to predict when an energy projector is about to fire as it typically charges the beam before firing, creating a visible maelstrom of energy. The beam has an effective range of over 100,000 kilometers. They resemble pulse lasers but are tinged silver white, which is similar to the scintillation effect that is seen when a Covenant ship's energy shields are hit. The energy projector's beam is seen as only a needle-thin beam that travels at light speed. The energy projector's long range allows a ship armed with such weapons to 'snipe' targets during ship-to-ship combat. The weapon has been observed to gut UNSC ships from stem to stern, as happened to the [[uNSC frigate|frigate]] {{UNSCship|Gettysburg}} over Reach.<ref name="for"/><ref>'''[[Halo: First Strike]]'''</ref>

Against UNSC vessels, the weapon is able to pierce dozens of centimeters of [[Titanium-A armor|Titanium-A]] armor with comparative ease, rendering any form of physical defense useless. Therefore, a single hit or perforation can potentially disable or destroy vital systems, such as the [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon]] or engines, as seen during the [[Battle of Earth]] when a single pulse from an [[covenant assault carrier|assault carrier's]] dorsal energy projector crippled a [[marathon-class cruiser|''Marathon''-class cruiser]]. If an energy projector strikes in a critical area, such as the reactors of a ship, it could destroy the ship completely. The energy projector's beam is also able to take down the shields of a [[Covenant frigate]] or [[covenant destroyer|destroyer]] with a single hit.{{Citation needed}}

The beam is functionally similar to the infantry-issued [[Type-50 Sniper Rifle System|particle beam rifle]], albeit on a vastly larger scale. It is also speculated that the beam can be focused to varying degrees. In space, the beam can be focused to a smaller, more concentrated, and thus more powerful beam generally used to decimate enemy fleets from afar. It also seems to drain all or most of the energy in a Covenant ship for a brief period unless the ship is big enough to supply the power without too much of a drain.

When [[Glassing#Low range bombardment|glassing]] a planet, the beam causes atmospheric and biospheric destruction by exciting the atoms in the air, thus scorching land and air life, and evaporating water with ease, suffocating aquatic life and destabilizing the planet's surface temperature. Therefore, merely firing it through the air would cause biospheric destruction on a planetary scale. In addition, the excitement of atoms could chemically alter the atmosphere or even blow it away.{{Citation needed}}

According to [[Frederic-104]], "Only the big ships have them." [[reverence-class cruiser|''Reverence''-class cruisers]], [[Covenant supercruiser|supercruisers]], [[Covenant assault carrier|assault carriers]], [[Covenant supercarrier|supercarriers]], [[CPV-class heavy destroyer]] and [[CCS-class battlecruiser|''CCS''-class battlecruisers]] are known to be equipped with energy projectors. Carriers are armed with one energy projector underneath the bow, one on their dorsal sides, and one near the [[gravity lift]]. ''CCS''-class battlecruisers feature one under the bow and one near the gravity lift.