Covenant: Difference between revisions
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
Imrane-117 (talk | contribs) m (→Trivia) |
NightHammer (talk | contribs) mNo edit summary |
||
| Line 185: | Line 185: | ||
== Technology == | == Technology == | ||
[[File:Charging Zealot.png|thumb|right|250px|[[Energy shielding]] and [[active camouflage]] were reverse-engineered from Forerunner technology.]] | [[File:Charging Zealot.png|thumb|right|250px|[[Energy shielding]] and [[active camouflage]] were reverse-engineered from Forerunner technology.]] | ||
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]] [[astrogation|navigation]], near-instantaneous [[Slipstream space#Communications|interstellar communication]], the manipulation of extremely high volumes of plasma energy from sublight travel, short-range translocation of matter, a great influence over gravity and repulsor-based technologies,<ref name="wp cov">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/factions/covenant '''Halo Waypoint | 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]] [[astrogation|navigation]], near-instantaneous [[Slipstream space#Communications|interstellar communication]], the manipulation of extremely high volumes of plasma energy from sublight travel, short-range translocation of matter, a great influence over gravity and repulsor-based technologies,<ref name="wp cov">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/factions/covenant '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Covenant'']</ref> and man-portable application of energy manipulation.<ref name="techtier">'''[[Bestiarum]]''': ''[[Technological Achievement Tiers]]''</ref> Much of the Covenant's rapid technological advancement was made by stripping Forerunner [[Shield world#Conservation sphere|shield worlds]] of useful matériel early in the hegemony's existence.<ref>'''Halo Wars''', [[Halo Wars Timeline Events|Excerpt from ''The Punished Deeds, Vol. III'']]</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 [[Human colonies|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 defenses.<ref name="Reachgame">''Halo: Reach''</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 [[Human colonies|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 defenses.<ref name="Reachgame">''Halo: Reach''</ref> | ||
| Line 193: | Line 193: | ||
The Forerunners' ubiquitous [[hard light]] technology was never completely understood by the Covenant,<ref name="wages">'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]] Volume II''', ''"[[Wages of Sin]]"'', ''page 291''</ref> although they managed to develop at least one hard light-based device in the [[Prelate]]s' shield gauntlets.<ref name="Shadow of Intent">'''[[Halo: Shadow of Intent]]''', ''page ??''</ref> However, they did possess advanced energy field shaping and complex [[holography]]. This technology was advanced enough to produce realistic and tangible simulacra of physical objects. The [[holo-drone]], for example, generates an independent decoy of the operator capable of inflicting physical harm on the enemy despite its incorporeal nature;<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[The Oracle]]''</ref> the [[Type-27 hologram|T-27 holographic decoy]] is a more basic variation of this concept. The Covenant applied forcefield technology in a broad range of roles, from the San'Shyuum's spherical [[stasis field]]s to contain beverages such as tea<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 154''</ref> to the enormous [[Energy barrier|fields]] used to hold in ''High Charity''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s atmosphere while the holy city's exterior dome was still under construction.<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 20''</ref><ref>'''Halo 2: Anniversary''', ''[[Terminal/Halo 2: Anniversary|Terminal 8]]''</ref> | The Forerunners' ubiquitous [[hard light]] technology was never completely understood by the Covenant,<ref name="wages">'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]] Volume II''', ''"[[Wages of Sin]]"'', ''page 291''</ref> although they managed to develop at least one hard light-based device in the [[Prelate]]s' shield gauntlets.<ref name="Shadow of Intent">'''[[Halo: Shadow of Intent]]''', ''page ??''</ref> However, they did possess advanced energy field shaping and complex [[holography]]. This technology was advanced enough to produce realistic and tangible simulacra of physical objects. The [[holo-drone]], for example, generates an independent decoy of the operator capable of inflicting physical harm on the enemy despite its incorporeal nature;<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[The Oracle]]''</ref> the [[Type-27 hologram|T-27 holographic decoy]] is a more basic variation of this concept. The Covenant applied forcefield technology in a broad range of roles, from the San'Shyuum's spherical [[stasis field]]s to contain beverages such as tea<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 154''</ref> to the enormous [[Energy barrier|fields]] used to hold in ''High Charity''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s atmosphere while the holy city's exterior dome was still under construction.<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 20''</ref><ref>'''Halo 2: Anniversary''', ''[[Terminal/Halo 2: Anniversary|Terminal 8]]''</ref> | ||
Covenant architecture is known for its curved, organic and sophisticated looking style, primarily based on the aesthetic tastes of the [[San'Shyuum]] with loose connections with [[Sangheili]] designs. Even military vehicles were fashioned after San'Shyuum aesthetics early on, incorporating many of the Sangheili designs over the Covenant's history.<ref name="wp cov" | Covenant architecture is known for its curved, organic and sophisticated looking style, primarily based on the aesthetic tastes of the [[San'Shyuum]] with loose connections with [[Sangheili]] designs. Even military vehicles were fashioned after San'Shyuum aesthetics early on, incorporating many of the Sangheili designs over the Covenant's history.<ref name="wp cov"/> Constructed of distinctive purple, blue or white metal, these colors are the main focus of Covenant design and distributed throughout their starships, vehicles, and weapons. The materials they use are unknown to the UNSC but are very strong and resilient. | ||
The Covenant possess a variety of medical technologies, including the life-extension treatments the San'Shyuum have used for some time.<ref name="bestSan"/> The San'Shyuum Prelates were also know to have used a form of biological augmentation to greatly enhance their normally frail bodies.<ref name="wp cov" | The Covenant possess a variety of medical technologies, including the life-extension treatments the San'Shyuum have used for some time.<ref name="bestSan"/> The San'Shyuum Prelates were also know to have used a form of biological augmentation to greatly enhance their normally frail bodies.<ref name="wp cov"/> As an idiosyncrasy of their warrior culture, the Sangheili view the notion of doctors as dishonorable.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 143''</ref> However, as injuries are an inevitable byproduct of combat, the Covenant military still employs a number of medical amenities. Among these are [[automated surgery suite]]s, featured on Covenant ships to treat wounds received in combat,<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 259''</ref> and [[magnetic splint]]s which are are used to hold broken bones in place. The [[Huragok]] (both the common [[Builder]] kind and the [[Lifeworker]] variation) also provided medical aid in addition to their primary role of maintaining Covenant technology.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 256''</ref><ref>'''Halo: Hunters in the Dark''', ''page 152''</ref> It was known that even after suffering major injuries, after only minutes of treatment the patient would feel back to normal without as much as a scar to show for it.<ref>'''Halo: Hunters in the Dark''', ''page 152''</ref><ref>'''Halo: Hunters in the Dark''', ''page 349''</ref> | ||
===Spacecraft=== | ===Spacecraft=== | ||
