Emp'seam-pattern Antlion: Difference between revisions

|image= [[File:HW Antlion Crop.png|300px]]

|series=[[Antlion]]

|weight={{Convert|222.7|MT}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}

The '''''Emp'seam''-pattern Sky Striker''', more commonly known as the '''Antlion'''{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=305}} or '''mega turret''' is a giant ground stationary weapon built by the [[Covenant]]. It is essentially a long-range, heavy [[Plasma mortar#Siege plasma mortar|siege plasma mortar]].

==Overview==

===Design details===

The Antlion is a massive stationary [[plasma]] turret of [[Sangheili]] origin. It consists of an independently-constructed base mounting a large turret with a full 360 degrees of rotation. Due to their heavy and stationary nature, mega turrets are rarely employed in the field on expeditionary campaigns; they require assembly at the point of deployment and are totally immobile. They can be crewed by two operators, or completely crewed via a remote link.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}

The primary armament of the system is a single [[Plasma mortar#Siege plasma mortar|siege plasma mortar]], which has massive range. When firing, the ''Emp'seam'' charges for a short time before firing a volley of three plasma rounds, similar in nature to the {{Pattern|Ra'aam|burst cannon}}. The siege mortar is capable of levelling enemy fortifications and leaving [[Glassing|glass]] at the bottom of a crater.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}

 

*'''[[Eklon'Dal Workshop Antlion]]''' - a variant of the Antlion created for use by the [[Banished]] and widely adopted across the various [[clan]]s - only second to the [[Kywasky Workshop Gorespike cannon]].{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22p481|Enc22|Page=481}}

File:HW2-BlitzMegaturret.jpg|A Banished Antlion turret.

 

Antlion mega turrets were originally designed by the Sangheili as emplacements for use in inter-[[keep]] conflicts as opposed to more general [[Covenant military]] service.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} During the height of the empire, the turret was used by the Covenant to protect Covenant military and religious installations such as [[Covenant citadel|citadels]], though they were also used at remote colonies and outposts guarding nothing of obvious value.{{Ref/Game|Id=PL|HW2|Phoenix Logs|Mega Turret}}{{Ref/Site|Id=HWBack|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/back-mentality|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Back Mentality|D=30|M=07|Y=2021}} They were rarely deployed in offensive actions due to their static nature, and only saw service in niche situations in which [[Orbital bombardment|orbital fire support]] from [[glassing]] or a [[plasma bombardment mortar]] was unavailable, or the Covenant were unwilling to risk damaging a [[Forerunner]] artifact in the vicinity of the strike.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}

 

During the [[Battle for Arcadia]], the Covenant deployed an Antlion near one of [[Arcadia City (location)|Arcadia City's]] spaceports shortly before [[Banta-class transport|the evacuation ships]] were due to launch. The turret failed to stop the launch and two of the ships escaped.{{Ref/Level|HW|Arcadia City}} Another Antlion was deployed in the outskirts of Arcadia City, but was destroyed by the UNSC forces from the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}}.{{Ref/Level|HW|Arcadia Outskirts}} During the [[Battle of Trove]], the Covenant forces abandoned one of their Antlions near the exit that led to the surface of the [[shield world]].{{Ref/Level|HW|Escape (Halo Wars level)|Escape}}

Several Antlions were deployed by [[Merg Vol's Covenant]] during the [[Battle of Draetheus V]] in order to secure a series of [[Bridge (structure)|bridges]] at the [[Epsilon Expanse]].{{Ref/Level|HSA|Mission 9: Battle for Epsilon Expanse}} At least five Antlions were deployed during contemporaneous operations on Draetheus V's artificial moon, [[X50]].{{Ref/Level|HSA|Mission 27: Breach of the Bulwark}} During the [[Second Ark Conflict]] the [[Banished]] would make use of their own [[Eklon'Dal Workshop Antlion|version]] of the Antlion.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22p481}}