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UNSC Pillar of Autumn: Difference between revisions
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|complement =*[[Longsword Interceptor]]s (1 Squadron) | |complement =*[[Longsword Interceptor]]s (1 Squadron) | ||
*[[Pelican Dropships]] (15) | *[[Pelican Dropships]] (15) | ||
*[[Scorpion Tanks]] (8+) <ref>''[[Halo: The Flood]]'', page 136</ref> | *[[Scorpion Tanks]] (8+) <ref>'''[[Halo: The Flood]]''', page 136</ref> | ||
*[[Warthogs]] (40+) | *[[Warthogs]] (40+) | ||
*[[Rhinos]][Previously] (9 minimum) | *[[Rhinos]][Previously] (9 minimum) | ||
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{{Quote|Yes. [[UNSC|They]] called it the Pillar of Autumn.|[[Thel 'Vadamee]]}} | {{Quote|Yes. [[UNSC|They]] called it the Pillar of Autumn.|[[Thel 'Vadamee]]}} | ||
The '''UNSC ''Pillar of Autumn''''' (UNSC Cruiser C709)<ref> Sybex | The '''UNSC ''Pillar of Autumn''''' (UNSC Cruiser C709)<ref>'''[[Halo: Combat Evolved: Sybex Official Strategies & Secrets]]''', page 60</ref> was a {{Class|Halcyon|Cruiser}} serving in the [[UNSC Navy]]. Informally, she was simply referred to as the ''Autumn'' or abbreviated as the "PoA". The ''Autumn'' was retrofitted with advanced weaponry and technology in preparation for a special operation to seize a [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] warship and subsequently capture the Covenant leadership. Prior to the launch of this mission, the Covenant fleet attacked [[Reach]], during which battle the ''Autumn'' was a major participant. | ||
Following the battle of Reach, the ''Pillar of Autumn'' jumped to the [[Threshold]] system, where she encountered a pursuing Covenant fleet and [[Installation 04]]. Her captain, [[Jacob Keyes]], landed the ship on the [[Halo Array|Halo]] installation, where her surviving complement mounted a resistance against the Covenant and later the [[Flood]]. Following the release of the Flood, the [[Master Chief]] detonated the ''Autumn'''s fusion reactors in order to destroy Installation 04. | Following the battle of Reach, the ''Pillar of Autumn'' jumped to the [[Threshold]] system, where she encountered a pursuing Covenant fleet and [[Installation 04]]. Her captain, [[Jacob Keyes]], landed the ship on the [[Halo Array|Halo]] installation, where her surviving complement mounted a resistance against the Covenant and later the [[Flood]]. Following the release of the Flood, the [[Master Chief]] detonated the ''Autumn'''s fusion reactors in order to destroy Installation 04. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
The ship was constructed over Mars in [[2509]].<ref | The ship was constructed over Mars in [[2509]].<ref name="page238"/> Early on in the [[Human-Covenant War]], the ''Pillar of Autumn'' participated in the [[First Battle of Arcadia]] in [[2531|February 2531]].<ref>'''[[Halo Wars]]''', level ''[[Arcadia City (Level)|Arcadia City]]'' </ref> She along with three other ships, managed to fire on a Covenant [[CCS-U321|ship]] that was still recharging its shields. Though she was heavily damaged, the ''Autumn'' delivered experimental [[Rhino]] units to Arcadia to penetrate Covenant shield defenses on the colony world's surface. | ||
Mothballed and due to be scrapped like the remainder of the ''[[Halcyon]]''-class cruisers, the ''Autumn'' was again brought in to active duty. She had undergone a refit in [[2550]] to serve in the [[Zeta Doradus|Zeta Doradus System]]. She was then relocated to the UNSC stronghold Reach in preparation for her role as a launch pad for a covert operation under the command of Captain [[Jacob Keyes]]. The initial plan of the mission was to have the ''Autumn'', retrofitted with state-of-the-art technology, disable a Covenant warship intact. [[SPARTAN-II]]s assigned to the ''Autumn'' would then board the ship, locate the Covenant [[High Charity|homeworld]], and capture the Covenant leadership to force a truce. Dr. Halsey asked which ship Cortana chose for the original mission. Cortana chose the Pillar of Autumn for the skeletal structure, designed by [[Dr. Robert McLees]]. "...At the time, deemed unnecessarily over massed and costly due to series of cross-bracing and interstitial honeycombs... Halcyon-class ships, however, have a reputation for being virtually indestructible. Reports indicate these ships being operational even after sustaining breaches to all compartments and losing ninety percent of their armor." This, obviously, implies that the Pillar of Autumn can take an immense beating, therefore being a good choice on Cortana's part. | Mothballed and due to be scrapped like the remainder of the ''[[Halcyon]]''-class cruisers, the ''Autumn'' was again brought in to active duty. She had undergone a refit in [[2550]] to serve in the [[Zeta Doradus|Zeta Doradus System]]. She was then relocated to the UNSC stronghold Reach in preparation for her role as a launch pad for a covert operation under the command of Captain [[Jacob Keyes]]. The initial plan of the mission was to have the ''Autumn'', retrofitted with state-of-the-art technology, disable a Covenant warship intact. [[SPARTAN-II]]s assigned to the ''Autumn'' would then board the ship, locate the Covenant [[High Charity|homeworld]], and capture the Covenant leadership to force a truce. Dr. Halsey asked which ship Cortana chose for the original mission. Cortana chose the Pillar of Autumn for the skeletal structure, designed by [[Dr. Robert McLees]]. "...At the time, deemed unnecessarily over massed and costly due to series of cross-bracing and interstitial honeycombs... Halcyon-class ships, however, have a reputation for being virtually indestructible. Reports indicate these ships being operational even after sustaining breaches to all compartments and losing ninety percent of their armor." This, obviously, implies that the Pillar of Autumn can take an immense beating, therefore being a good choice on Cortana's part. | ||
[[Image: | [[Image:Autumn Legends.jpg|220px|thumb|left|The ''Pillar of Autumn'' in an asteroid field near Reach, moments before a Covenant ships exits Slipspace and attacks.]] | ||
[[Image: | [[Image:Battle of Reach.jpg|220px|left|thumb| The ''Pillar of Autumn'' pushes through the Covenant blockade and escapes Reach.]] | ||
Before the ''Pillar of Autumn'' could embark on this operation, a Covenant armada [[Battle of Reach|attacked and subsequently destroyed Reach]]. The SPARTANs aboard the ''Autumn'' were either sent to Reach's surface or accompanied John-117 to destroy the navigation data of a ship that failed to enact the Cole Protocol; the former were presumed KIA when the Covenant [[glassing|glassed]] the planet while only 117 survived the latter. Meanwhile, the ''Autumn'' managed to severely damage several enemy ships over Reach before enacting the [[Cole Protocol]], attempting to lead the Covenant fleet away from Earth. Instead of using a random vector, the AI [[Cortana]] guided the ship to the Threshold system based on coordinates obtained from a [[Forerunner]] artifact on [[Sigma Octanus IV]].<ref>'' | |||
Before the ''Pillar of Autumn'' could embark on this operation, a Covenant armada [[Battle of Reach|attacked and subsequently destroyed Reach]]. The SPARTANs aboard the ''Autumn'' were either sent to Reach's surface or accompanied John-117 to destroy the navigation data of a ship that failed to enact the Cole Protocol; the former were presumed KIA when the Covenant [[glassing|glassed]] the planet while only 117 survived the latter. Meanwhile, the ''Autumn'' managed to severely damage several enemy ships over Reach before enacting the [[Cole Protocol]], attempting to lead the Covenant fleet away from Earth. Instead of using a random vector, the AI [[Cortana]] guided the ship to the Threshold system based on coordinates obtained from a [[Forerunner]] artifact on [[Sigma Octanus IV]].<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', Epilogue, page 336</ref> The result was the human discovery of a [[Halo Array|Halo]] ringworld, Installation 04. | |||
Upon arrival in-system, the ''Autumn'' encountered a large battle group of Covenant {{Class|CCS|Battlecruiser}}s that had followed her vector from Reach. The Covenant High Command, reluctant to use [[plasma torpedo]]es near Halo, instead send boarding parties to disable the warship. The ''Autumn'' destroyed four enemy vessels over Installation 04 before Covenant soldiers disarmed her [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|MAC]], rendering the ship defenseless. Keyes then gave the order to abandon ship, sending [[John-117]], the only active SPARTAN left aboard, on a lifeboat to Halo's surface with Cortana to prevent her capture. The ''Autumn'' then jettisoned its [[cryo-chamber|cryo pods]] before Keyes crash-landed the ship on the ringworld's surface. | Upon arrival in-system, the ''Autumn'' encountered a large battle group of Covenant {{Class|CCS|Battlecruiser}}s that had followed her vector from Reach. The Covenant High Command, reluctant to use [[plasma torpedo]]es near Halo, instead send boarding parties to disable the warship. The ''Autumn'' destroyed four enemy vessels over Installation 04 before Covenant soldiers disarmed her [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|MAC]], rendering the ship defenseless. Keyes then gave the order to abandon ship, sending [[John-117]], the only active SPARTAN left aboard, on a lifeboat to Halo's surface with Cortana to prevent her capture. The ''Autumn'' then jettisoned its [[cryo-chamber|cryo pods]] before Keyes crash-landed the ship on the ringworld's surface. | ||
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==Specifications== | ==Specifications== | ||
The ''Pillar of Autumn'' was roughly 43 years old at the time of her escape from Reach and later destruction on Installation 04. She was a cruiser of the ''Halcyon''-class, the smallest cruisers in the UNSC Fleet.<ref>''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', page 238, paragraph 4: ''The ''Pillar of Autumn'' is forty-three years old," Cortana said. "''Halcyon''-class ships were the smallest vessel ever to receive the cruiser designation. It is approximately one-third the tonnage of the ''[[Marathon]]''-class cruiser currently in service."</ref> Like other ''Halycon'' ships, the ''Autumn'' was equipped with a honeycombed internal bracing structure that allowed it to function even after sustaining critical levels of damage. | The ''Pillar of Autumn'' was roughly 43 years old at the time of her escape from Reach and later destruction on Installation 04. She was a cruiser of the ''Halcyon''-class, the smallest cruisers in the UNSC Fleet.<ref name="page238">'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''', page 238, paragraph 4: ''The ''Pillar of Autumn'' is forty-three years old," Cortana said. "''Halcyon''-class ships were the smallest vessel ever to receive the cruiser designation. It is approximately one-third the tonnage of the ''[[Marathon]]''-class cruiser currently in service."</ref> Like other ''Halycon'' ships, the ''Autumn'' was equipped with a honeycombed internal bracing structure that allowed it to function even after sustaining critical levels of damage. | ||
===Power Plant=== | ===Power Plant=== | ||
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Fusion reactors generate extreme heat which must be removed in order for them to remain active without overheating. The Autumn's overhauled reactors were an especially severe case of this. Usually, the excess heat was conducted to a chemical agent which would then vent into space. However, the ''Autumn'''s upgraded specifications also included an upgraded cooling system, which featured a "laser-induced optical slurry of ions chilled to near-absolute zero", which is far more efficient than the typical method and removed the reliance on expendable chemical temperature-control substances. In essence, the amount of excess heat removed by the new system increased as the reactors' output did. This self-regulating and self-cooling power plant was critical in combat since it virtually eliminated a commander's concerns about overheating and slagging a ship's engines. | Fusion reactors generate extreme heat which must be removed in order for them to remain active without overheating. The Autumn's overhauled reactors were an especially severe case of this. Usually, the excess heat was conducted to a chemical agent which would then vent into space. However, the ''Autumn'''s upgraded specifications also included an upgraded cooling system, which featured a "laser-induced optical slurry of ions chilled to near-absolute zero", which is far more efficient than the typical method and removed the reliance on expendable chemical temperature-control substances. In essence, the amount of excess heat removed by the new system increased as the reactors' output did. This self-regulating and self-cooling power plant was critical in combat since it virtually eliminated a commander's concerns about overheating and slagging a ship's engines. | ||
The Pillar of Autumn's reactor was able to be overloaded by explosives, either grenades or rockets, destroying the vulnerable vent cores. Once these were destroyed, the reactor began to go critical, resulting in temperatures of over 100,000,000 degrees and a thermonuclear explosion that tore apart a Halo Installation.<ref>''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', [[The Maw (Level)]]</ref> | The Pillar of Autumn's reactor was able to be overloaded by explosives, either grenades or rockets, destroying the vulnerable vent cores. Once these were destroyed, the reactor began to go critical, resulting in temperatures of over 100,000,000 degrees and a thermonuclear explosion that tore apart a Halo Installation.<ref>'''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''', level ''[[The Maw (Level)|The Maw]]''</ref> | ||
===Armament=== | ===Armament=== | ||
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*With extra power capacitors and power recycling systems, the ''Pillar of Autumn'' could fire three consecutive shots per charge. | *With extra power capacitors and power recycling systems, the ''Pillar of Autumn'' could fire three consecutive shots per charge. | ||
*The MAC gun fired lighter projectiles compared to most ship grade MACs, but these rounds worked much like [[Shredder Rounds]]. Each charge was able to fire 3 rounds. | *The MAC gun fired lighter projectiles compared to most ship grade MACs, but these rounds worked much like [[Shredder Rounds]]. Each charge was able to fire 3 rounds. | ||
*300 [[Archer Missile|'''Archer Missile Pods''']] which were arranged in thirty columns and ten rows. Each pod contained 26 individual devices, equaling 7800 missiles<ref>'' | *300 [[Archer Missile|'''Archer Missile Pods''']] which were arranged in thirty columns and ten rows. Each pod contained 26 individual devices, equaling 7800 missiles<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', pages 274-275: [[Captain Keyes]] mentions performing a fly-by inspection of the starboard shuttle bay and counting Archer Missile Pods thirty across and ten down, making for 300 [[Archer Missile]] Pods. The next sentence then reads "''Each pod held dozens of missiles.''" The count of 128 Archer Missile Pods with 30 missiles each must be a severe under-estimation of the ship's missile payload.</ref>. | ||
*Four [[Shiva-class Nuclear Missile|'''''Shiva''-class Nuclear Missile''']], one loaded onto a remote-controlled [[Longsword]] interceptor, and three ship-launched.<ref>'' | *Four [[Shiva-class Nuclear Missile|'''''Shiva''-class Nuclear Missile''']], one loaded onto a remote-controlled [[Longsword]] interceptor, and three ship-launched.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', Chapter 29, page 275: In response to [[Captain Keyes]]' question about the small single ships in the launch bay, [[Lieutenant]] [[Aki Hikowa|Hikowa]] states,''"Yes Sir. One of the'' [[Longsword]]s ''is equipped with a'' [[Shiva Nuclear-tipped missile|Shiva Nuclear Warhead]]; ''it can be remote piloted. We also have three HAVOC Warheads on board"''.</ref>. | ||
*Forty '''50mm MLA Auto-cannons''' with overlapping fields of fire for point defense against single ships. These cannons were later scavenged by the surviving humans on [[Installation 04]] for [[Alpha Base]]. | *Forty '''50mm MLA Auto-cannons''' with overlapping fields of fire for point defense against single ships. These cannons were later scavenged by the surviving humans on [[Installation 04]] for [[Alpha Base]]. | ||
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{{col-2}} | {{col-2}} | ||
=== ''Pillar of Autumn'' Command Crew === | === ''Pillar of Autumn'' Command Crew === | ||
[[Image:Pistola.jpg|Crew members in the ''Autumn''.|thumb|200px|right]] | |||
*[[Captain]] [[Jacob Keyes]] -- Ship Captain | *[[Captain]] [[Jacob Keyes]] -- Ship Captain | ||
*[[Cortana]] -- Temporary ship AI | *[[Cortana]] -- Temporary ship AI | ||
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*[[Jonesy]] (Unknown crew member's cat) | *[[Jonesy]] (Unknown crew member's cat) | ||
{{col-end}} | {{col-end}} | ||
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*The ''[[Marathon (Video Game Series)|Marathon]]'' logo is prominently displayed on the ''Pillar of Autumn''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s starboard and port sides. The ship's official [[Ship Emblem|emblem]] has the ''Marathon'' logo as well. The marathon logo was also visible in the window of the ship in the opening cut scene of the level [[The Maw]]. | *The ''[[Marathon (Video Game Series)|Marathon]]'' logo is prominently displayed on the ''Pillar of Autumn''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s starboard and port sides. The ship's official [[Ship Emblem|emblem]] has the ''Marathon'' logo as well. The marathon logo was also visible in the window of the ship in the opening cut scene of the level [[The Maw]]. | ||
*The bulletin board just outside the bridge of the ship contains a number of amusing clips, some throwbacks to ''[[Marathon (Video Game Series)|Marathon]]''. These can be examined on the first level of ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''. The board has a flier for a missing cat called [[Jonesy]]. This is a reference to the ''Alien'' movies, where the cat's name was Jonesy. | *The bulletin board just outside the bridge of the ship contains a number of amusing clips, some throwbacks to ''[[Marathon (Video Game Series)|Marathon]]''. These can be examined on the first level of ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''. The board has a flier for a missing cat called [[Jonesy]]. This is a reference to the ''Alien'' movies, where the cat's name was Jonesy. | ||
*Prior to being refit for the Spartan mission, the ''Pillar of Autumn ''was equipped with Mark II fusion engines (which supplied only 10% the power of modern reactors), had only light armor, and had just one regular MAC gun and six Archer missile pods.<ref | *Prior to being refit for the Spartan mission, the ''Pillar of Autumn ''was equipped with Mark II fusion engines (which supplied only 10% the power of modern reactors), had only light armor, and had just one regular MAC gun and six Archer missile pods.<ref name="page238"/> | ||
*The ''Pillar of Autumn'' mess-hall offered a choice between turkey, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, meatloaf, and a dish named Chef's Special. Beverages included cola, water, lemon/lime, lemonade, root beer, coffee, orange juice, hot tea, hot chocolate, iced tea, and Chef's Surprise. These are served in what appear to be vending machines, and are visible in the opening level in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''. | *The ''Pillar of Autumn'' mess-hall offered a choice between turkey, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, meatloaf, and a dish named Chef's Special. Beverages included cola, water, lemon/lime, lemonade, root beer, coffee, orange juice, hot tea, hot chocolate, iced tea, and Chef's Surprise. These are served in what appear to be vending machines, and are visible in the opening level in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''. | ||
*In cut scenes, the ''Pillar of Autumn'' never moves, it is just a piece of BSP geometry. However, the cameras and the background moved in such a way that it gave the illusion of movement. | *In cut scenes, the ''Pillar of Autumn'' never moves, it is just a piece of BSP geometry. However, the cameras and the background moved in such a way that it gave the illusion of movement. | ||