Zanar-pattern light cruiser: Difference between revisions

==Specifications==

Resembling a luminous manta ray,<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 205''</ref> the ''CRS'' is essentially a smaller, weaker version of the {{Class|CCS|battlecruiser}},{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}} with the ''Zanar''-pattern light cruiser originally spawning as a stable mutation of the class' ''Elefen'' and ''Ket'' design patterns. One notable difference is that the ''CRS''-class (at least those used by [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]]) bears green lights, as opposed to the white-blue lighting on the ''CCS'' class. The control coils of ''CRS''-class light cruisers require careful fine-tuning to prevent disorientation and hallucination when operating at full power. In addition, in rare cases the sensor arrays of these ships subject to aberrant mutations during fabrication that make them appear friendly to Forerunner defense protocols.{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet72}}

The four ''Pok''-pattern beam lasers coordinate fire using two dedicated auger arrays to coordinate fire and rapidly target dozens of targets in quick succession, a useful feature during suppression operations on Covenant worlds. Their ''Sintra''-pattern plasma torpedoes were extremely fast, but their high velocity in flight made them almost impossible to guide to the target, making them better employed as airborne artillery.{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet72}}  

==Operational history==

While some ''CRS''-class light cruisers engaged human forces during the [[Human-Covenant War]], the majority of them were assigned in rear echelon assignments to ensure Covenant supply lines were well protected. This made them a prime target for opportunistic warlords during and after the Great Schism to expand their fleets, using them in more combat focused roles than they were intended for.{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet72}}

The heavily-modified light cruiser ''[[Spear of Light]]'' acted as the vessel for [[Prelate]] [[Tem'Bhetek]] who used it to rescue the [[Boru'a'Neem|Minister of Preparation]] during the [[Fall of High Charity]] and personally destroyed a number of Sangheili-controlled vessels such as the {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}} ''[[Eternal Reward]]''. Convinced that [[Rtas 'Vadum]] was responsible for the death of his family, the Prelate formed [[Tem'Bhetek's faction|a faction]] to get revenge upon the [[Sangheili]]. The cruiser attacked two [[Sangheili colonies]] and ambushed the ''[[Shadow of Intent]]'' at the second one with the crew abandoning the ''Spear of Light'' to board the ''Shadow of Intent''. After the boarders were repelled, the cruiser was captured and its navigation database led the Sangheili to the [[prototype Halo installation]]. Though most of the ship's systems were damaged beyond repair in the battle, the ''Spear of Light's'' database later revealed that more of the [[San'Shyuum]] had survived then was previously believed and was used by 'Vadum to begin a search for them.<ref>'''[[Halo: Shadow of Intent]]'''</ref>

In the wake of the [[Human-Covenant War]], the ''CRS'' class forms the backbone of [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]]'s fleet, which deployed numerous ''CRS''-class cruisers to [[Requiem]] prior to and during the [[Battle of Requiem]].<ref name="H4">'''[[Halo 4]]'''</ref> After finding the {{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}}, one approached the ship with its shields down, not expecting a threat, intending to open fire on the ''Dawn''. However, [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan]] [[John-117]] destroyed the cruiser with one of the ''Forward Unto Dawn's'' [[M4093 Hyperion nuclear delivery system|''Hyperion'' nuclear missiles]] before it could fire. Several were destroyed moments later when the [[gravity well]] of Requiem pulled them in.<ref name="Dawn">'''Halo 4''', campaign level, ''[[Dawn]]''</ref> Three cruisers made a slipspace jump into [[Core of Requiem|Requiem's core]] to deploy troops around the satellite containing the Didact's [[Cryptum]]. At least one of these cruisers, possibly more, was sucked into the [[gravity well]] created by the Didact's Cryptum entering slipspace and was destroyed.<ref>'''[[Halo 4]]''', campaign level, ''[[Forerunner (level)|Forerunner]]''</ref> Numerous light cruisers were later sent to attack the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} after it crashed into Requiem, but at least two were destroyed by ''Infinity''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s defensive turrets and surface-to-air-missile launchers after John-117 reactivated ''Infinity's'' defenses.<ref>'''Halo 4''', campaign level, ''[[Infinity (Halo 4 level)|Infinity]]''</ref> During the Didact's [[Raid on Ivanoff Station]], at least three cruisers were present, deploying Phantoms to stop the evacuation as John and [[Cortana]] reprogrammed [[Ivanoff Station]]'s defense turrets to cover the evacuation. As their Phantoms continued to be shot down by [[Mark 2551 Onager|Onagers]], the three cruisers moved into position over the station, remaining in close proximity to each other.<ref>'''[[Halo 4]]''', campaign level, ''[[Composer (level)|Composer]]''</ref>

In [[2558#July|July 2558]], multiple light cruisers were present on [[Aktis IV]] when Jul 'Mdama and Doctor [[Catherine Halsey]] set a trap to get the UNSC's half of the [[Janus Key]]. Hidden undetected under the planet's ocean, the ships rose to [[Battle of Aktis IV|attack]] the ''Infinity'' and her sub-vessels, blocking the UNSC [[flagship]] off in low orbit for over seven hours.<ref name="HE15">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 15|Issue #15]]''</ref>

==Ships of the line==