Energy projector: Difference between revisions

{{Era|HCW|Post}}

The '''energy projector''', also known as the '''cleansing beam''',<ref>'''Halo Wars'''</ref><ref name="EVG">'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page ???''</ref> or '''ventral beam''' due to its most common placement on warships,<ref>'''Halo: Mortal Dictata'''</ref> is a [[Covenant]] weapon used exclusively by large [[capital ship]]s. It fires a thin beam of energized matter, capable of destroying ships effortlessly at long range and "[[Glassing|glassing]]" planets, systematically rendering them sterile and incapable of sustaining life.

The energy projector was first encountered by the [[UNSC]] 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 fell prey to the energy projectors during the engagement.<ref>'''Halo: Reach''', campaign level ''[[Tip of the Spear]]''</ref>

In a bid to kill [[John-117]], the ''[[Solemn Penance]]'' used an energy projector to destroy the [[Prophet of Regret]]'s temple after his assassination by the SPARTAN 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 [[Flood]] infestation.<ref>'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[Floodgate]]''</ref> According to Lord Hood, half of the African continent was glassed shortly after, though it was almost certainly an exaggeration given the lack of damage when Voi is later seen<ref>'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[Halo (Halo 3 level)|Halo]]''</ref> and his distaste for Elites.

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>

According to [[Frederic-104]], "Only the big ships have them." {{Class|ORS|heavy cruiser}}, [[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. Assault 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 on the underside of the gravity lift platform.

Covenant [[CRS-class light cruiser]]s carry their own ventral beam weapons - most likely smaller, less powerful versions of the energy projectors used by their larger cousins. This weapon charges up like an energy projector, but glows green. In 2557, a Covenant light cruiser orbiting [[Requiem]] attempted to destroy the ''[[Forward Unto Dawn]]'' using its ventral energy weapon, but was stopped when John-117 destroyed the cruiser with a Hyperion-class nuclear missile.

Some classes of Covenant [[space station]]s also carry energy projects as their main defensive capability; one of the few known instances of this was when the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} encountered a [[Oth Lodon station|Covenant battlestation]] orbiting the gas giant [[Oth Lodon]] in [[2558]]. In this engagement the station, commandeered by [[Insurrectionist]]s of the [[New Colonial Alliance]] fired the station's main energy projector upon the UNSC flagship, severely damaging it with a single shot. This particular projector was mounted upon the station's central "tower", allowing for maximum range and effect against approaching targets.<ref name="HE5">'''Halo: Escalation''' — ''Issue #5''</ref>

*The color of the energy projector's beam is not the same in every game. In ''[[Halo 2]]'', it is purple. In ''[[Halo 3]]'' and ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'', it is blue. In ''[[Halo: Reach]]'', it is red. In ''[[Halo Wars]]'', it changes depending on what the team color is. This may be indicative of different power settings, as the energy projectors of [[CCS-class battlecruiser]]s have been seen in all three colors.

*The time an energy projector takes to charge also varies. The CCS-class battlecruiser fought at the end of ''Halo: Reach'' takes 20 seconds to charge its energy projector, while ships of the same class in [[New Alexandria]] are shown charging theirs in only two, then sustaining fire for [[seven]] seconds. Likewise, a CAS-class assault carrier in ''ODST'' is shown charging its projector in thirty-six seconds, but an earlier one charges its own indefinitely until the player passes through a gate. This could be explained by a difference in operation, such as the cruisers at New Alexandria needing to expend less energy to destroy some buildings at New Alexandria while needing more to cut through the heavily armored ''[[UNSC Pillar of Autumn|Pillar of Autumn]]''.

File:Glassing Upclose.jpg|A close-up to the energy projector used by a CCS-class battlecruiser.

File:HaloReach - Glassing.jpg|A CCS-class battlecruiser glassing [[New Alexandria]].

File:Energy_Projector.jpg|The [[Covenant supercarrier]] ''[[Long Night of Solace]]'' using its energy projector on the {{UNSCShip|Grafton}} during the [[Battle at Szurdok Ridge|Battle of Viery]].