Kmiro'sish-pattern Lich: Difference between revisions

The '''Deployment Platform T-56 Ground Support/Ultra Heavy''', colloquially known as the '''Lich''', is a [[Covenant]] matériel deployment vessel manufactured by [[Achoem Weapons]].<ref name="Guide">[http://www.halowaypoint.com/en-US/halo4guide '''Halo Waypoint''' ''Halo 4 Guide'']</ref> In keeping with the naming scheme of most Covenant vehicles, the Lich is named after a [[Wikipedia:Lich|supernatural being]].

The Covenant's largest airborne deployment platform, the Lich boasts heavy armament and is capable of mass deployments of up to forty soldiers. Because of this, [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] encounters with Liches have almost always resulted in total destruction of the UNSC ground forces, resulting in a lack of available information on the craft.<ref name="Guide"/> Like smaller Covenant dropships, the Lich is spaceworthy. It is also capable of traveling through [[Slipstream space|slipspace]], though presumably it cannot do so under its own power.<ref name="Shutdown">'''Halo 4''', campaign level ''[[Shutdown]]''</ref>

Similar to the [[Type-44 Troop Carrier|Type-44]] and [[Type-52 Troop Carrier|Type-52 Phantom]] dropships, the Lich sports a [[gravity lift]] on its ventral surface. It likewise has a large bay door on either side of the hull. Two [[Type-52 Directed Energy Support Weapon|Type-52 plasma cannons]] are  stationed at each doorway. The Lich's main gun seems to be an ultra-heavy [[focus cannon]] like that of the [[Type-47 Ultra Heavy Assault Platform|Scarab]]. Part of the craft's power core is exposed on an aft pylon.<ref name="Reclaimer">'''Halo 4''', campaign level ''[[Reclaimer (level)|Reclaimer]]''</ref>

The [[Covenant remnant]] deployed multiple Liches during their initial foray on the [[Forerunner]] [[shield world]] [[Requiem]] in [[2557]]. After the {{UNSCship|Infinity}}'s [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marine]] and [[SPARTAN-IV Program|SPARTAN-IV]] complement disabled an array of Forerunner [[particle cannon]]s, they were attacked by a then-unidentified deployment platform. [[SPARTAN-II Program|Spartan]] [[John-117]] and a team of SPARTAN-IVs boarded the craft and destroyed it.<ref name="Reclaimer"/> The "Lich" moniker may have been applied after this attack.<ref group="note">The first time the T-56 is seen in gameplay, (during the level ''Reclaimer''), [[Thomas Lasky|Commander Lasky]] notes the vessel as unidentified. The second time it is seen, (during the level ''Shutdown'', which occurs no more than a few hours later), John-117 casually refers to them as "Liches". This may suggest that the "Lich" reporting name was not given until the after attack, despite the craft's proper designation having been given in 2556. However, it is more likely that Lasky was simply unfamiliar with the platform and that "Lich" moniker was already in use.</ref>

Later, when the [[Didact]] set course for [[Halo Array|Halo]] [[Installation 03]], several Liches followed [[Mantle's Approach|his vessel]] through slipspace. One of them was commandeered by SPARTAN-117 and his AI companion [[Cortana]].<ref name="Shutdown"/> Due to a [[Rampancy|rampant]] episode, Cortana allowed this Lich to crash into [[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI's]] ''[[Ivanoff Station]]''<ref>'''Halo 4''', campaign level ''[[Composer (level)|Composer]]''</ref>

File:Halo4-T56-Lich-GSDPUH-Screen.jpg|A Lich flying through space toward ''Ivanoff Station''.