Energy shield test station

Description

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John-117 in a Shield Tester on the Pillar of Autumn.

The Shield Tester is a piece of machinery used by UNSC engineers to bring online inactive MJOLNIR armor shields. It appears in Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2, in the levels Pillar of Autumn and The Armory, respectively. Both times, it is used to bring online the MJOLNIR energy shields , although its primary purpose seems to be testing the shields in Halo 2.

Function

First mentioned in the Halo: The Fall of Reach novel, during the MJOLNIR Mark Vs first mission, this device charged the armor's shield before they were activated by John-117, like a battery. In Halo: Combat Evolved, the tester makes the same noise as a Plasma Pistol overcharge impact, possibly hinting that they were made using scavenged Covenant technology.

It is unknown why the shields need an initial charging. Cryostasis may be a logical explanation to Halo: CE, but the MJOLNIR Mark VI in Halo 2 had no such explanation. It is possible that the fusion power cell needed to reach a certain internal temperature to begin it's reaction and the initial charging gives it the energy to do so.

Trivia

• The UNSC Pillar of Autumn's tester has the same noise as an overcharged Plasma Pistol. This could be due to time constraints and a lack of a custom sound for the tester.
• It is possible to be standing out of the shield tester area in Halo: Combat Evolved and in Halo 2. However, you won't be able to move while the shield tester is active.