Orbital defense platform: Difference between revisions

An '''Orbital Defense Platform''' was a small [[UNSC]] space station used to defend locations of great importance. Many stations were placed in a [[wikipedia:Geosynchronous orbit|geosynchronous orbit]] over planets. Primary armament was a Mk. V "Super" [[MAC]] gun, capable of causing severe damage to even a shielded [[Covenant]] warship with a single hit<ref>Halo 2, [[The Armory (Level)]], cutscene</ref>.

Internally, the stations were remarkably spacious, complete with high ceilinged common areas and a monorail system to move personnel and equipment. In addition to numerous small craft bays there were two docks for larger ships, such as freighters or even [[UNSC Frigate|frigates]]. The design incorporated many features against potential hostile boarding action, including security stations and small arms racks situated at strategic locations<ref>Halo 2, [[The Armory (Level)]], cutscene</ref>.

By August [[2552]], [[Reach]] was protected by twenty Super MAC platforms powered by [[Orbital Defense Generator| planetside generators]]. During the [[Battle of Reach]], marines and [[SPARTAN-II|Spartans]] were deployed to protect these powerplants but were ultimately unable to do so against determined enemy assaults. The disabling of the defense platforms was a major factor on the battles outcome<ref>[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]], page reference needed</ref>.

The outbreak of the [[Human-Covenant War]] prompted a massive expansion of [[Earth]]'s defenses. Even as late as the [[Battle of Reach]] preparations had not yet been completed<ref>''Source needed. Where does Ackerson deny permission to send a search and rescue group to Epsilon Eridani citing that every ship is needed at Earth?</ref>. By October 2552, some 300 ODPs were operational<ref>Halo 2, [[The Armory (Level)]], cutscene</ref>. Many of Earth's ODPs were named after points of interest that they roughly kept station over.

A portion of the 300 platforms saw action at the [[First Battle of Earth]]. ''[[Athens Station]]'' and ''[[Malta Station]]'' were each destroyed by an [[Anti-Matter Bomb]] placed by [[Covenant]] boarding parties, with ''[[Cairo Station]]'' narrowly avoiding the same fate<ref>Halo 2, [[Cairo Station (Level)]]</ref>.