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{{Title|''Moncton''-class orbital weapon platform}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{Cleanup}}
{{Infobox/Ships
{{Quote|That MAC gun could put a hole clean through a Covenant capital ship. Coordinated fire from the Athens and the Malta, nothing's getting through this battle cluster in one piece.|Avery J. Johnson}}
|name            = ''Moncton''-class
{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Moncton''-class orbital weapon platform}}
|image          = [[File:H2A CairoStation Loadscreen.png|300px]]
{{Ship class infobox
|caption        = ''Cairo Station'' (OWP-142) and its battle cluster over [[Earth]] on October 20, 2552.{{Ref/Reuse|H2CS}}
|name=''Moncton''-class orbital weapon platform
|modules        = <!--/Individual or /Class sub-modules should be placed here-->
|image=[[File:H2A CairoStation Loadscreen.png|300px]]
{{Infobox/Ships/Class
|manufacturer=[[Vosper Engineering]]
|hide-class           =
|class=[[Orbital defense platform]]
|class identification = [[Hull classification symbol]]: '''OWP'''{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
|role=Planetary defense
|class operator      = [[UNSC Air Force]]{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}{{Ref/Reuse|OSFM}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22AF}}
|length={{Convert|536|m|ft|sigfig=3}}<ref name="Warfleet">''[[Halo Warfleet]]'', ''p. 30-31''</ref>
|class manufacturer   = [[Vosper Engineering]]{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
|width={{Convert|2580|ft|m|sp=us|sigfig=3|disp=flip}}<ref name="Model">'''[[Halo 2]]''' 3D model file</ref>
|class architect      =  
|height={{Convert|1336|m|ft|sigfig=3}}{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
|class built          = 300+{{Ref/Level|Id=H2CS|H2|Cairo Station}}
|mass=2.9 million metric tons{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
|class in service    = Prior to or circa [[2517]]-present{{Ref/Reuse|HTFORBC}}
|power=*Reactor{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
}}
|hide-characteristics=
|nocollapse      = yes
|type            = [[Orbital defense platform]]
|length         = {{Convert|536|m|ft|sigfig=3}}{{Ref/Book|Id=Warfleet|HWF|Page=30-31}}
|width           = {{Convert|2580|ft|m|sp=us|sigfig=3|disp=flip}}
|height         = {{Convert|1336|m|ft|sigfig=3}}{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
|mass           = 2.9 million metric tons{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
|power           =  
*Reactor{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
*Liquid-metal capacitance cells{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
*Liquid-metal capacitance cells{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
|engine=Station-keeping thrusters{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
|maneuver drive  = Station-keeping thrusters{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
|slipspace drive=
|slipspace drive =  
|navigation=
|crew            = 152 [[UNSC Air Force|Air Force]] and [[UNSC Navy|Navy]] personnel.{{Ref/Book|Id=OSFM|OSFM|Page=136}}{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22AF|Enc22|Page=60}}
|hull=[[Durasteel]] armor{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
|complement     =  
|shielding=None
*16+ [[SKT-9 Bumblebee]]s{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
|armament=*1 [[MAC#"Super" Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|14D4A1 Magnetic Accelerator Cannon]]{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
*7 [[M606 Goalkeeper point defense gun]]s{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
|complement=*136 [[UNSC Marine Corps|UNSC Marines]]{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
*[[SKT-9 Bumblebee]]s{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
*Various aircraft:
*Various aircraft:
**10 [[D77-TC Pelican]]s or [[F-41 Broadsword#F-41D|F-41D Broadswords]]{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
**10 [[Pelican]] dropships or [[F-41 Broadsword#F-41D|Broadsword A/X strikecraft]]{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
**[[GA-TL1 Longsword]]s{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
**[[GA-TL1 Longsword]]s{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
**[[D82-EST Darter]]s{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
**[[D82-EST Darter]]s{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
|crew=152 [[UNSC Air Force|Air Force]] and [[UNSC Navy|Navy]] personnel.<ref name="OSFM">''[[Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual]]'', p. 136</ref>
|troops          = *136 [[UNSC Marine Corps|UNSC Marines]]{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
|passengers=*136 [[UNSC Marine Corps|UNSC Marines]]{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
|hull            = [[Durasteel]] armor{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
|othersystems=
|shielding      =  
|era=*[[Human-Covenant War]]
|sensors        =  
*[[Post-Covenant War conflicts]]
|ew              =
|introduced=[[2517]] or earlier
|armaments      =
|affiliation=[[UNSC]]
*1 [[MAC#"Super" Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|14D4A1 Magnetic Accelerator Cannon]]{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
*7 [[M606 Goalkeeper point defense gun]]s{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
|aircraft        =
|air facilities  =
*2 [[UNSC frigate|light warship]] docks{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
*Multiple [[hangar bay]]s (varies){{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
}}
}}
The '''''Moncton''-class orbital weapon platform''' ([[hull classification symbol]]: '''OWP''') is a line of [[orbital defense platform]]s utilized by the [[UNSC]] during the [[Insurrection]], the [[Human-Covenant War]], and [[Post-Covenant War conflicts|in the years beyond]].
{{Quote|That MAC gun could put a hole clean through a Covenant capital ship. Coordinated fire from the Athens and the Malta, nothing's getting through this battle cluster in one piece.|Avery J. Johnson}}
The '''''Moncton''-class orbital weapon platform''' ([[hull classification symbol]]: '''OWP''') is a line of [[orbital defense platform]]s in the service of the [[United Nations Space Command]].{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} They have been a staple of the UNSC's planetary defence strategy for decades, seeing service in the [[Insurrection]], the [[Human-Covenant War]] and [[Post-Covenant War conflicts|post-war era]].


== Specifications ==
==Overview==
=== Powerplant ===
=== Powerplant ===
The ''Moncton''-class, unlike other models of defense platforms, was built with an on-board power source. As well as a [[fusion reactor]], the lower stalk of the station was composed of stacked liquid-metal capacitors, which allowed for the rapid firing of its MAC so long as there is charge in their cells. If the reactor is damaged, the docking umbilicals could parasitically leach charge off a docked UNSC warship to power its weapon.{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
The ''Moncton''-class, unlike its cousin in the {{Class|Erőd|orbital weapon platform|}}, was built with an on-board power source. As well as a [[fusion reactor]], the lower stalk of the station was composed of stacked liquid-metal capacitors, which allowed for the rapid firing of its MAC so long as there is charge in their cells. If the reactor is damaged, the docking umbilicals could parasitically leach charge off a docked UNSC warship to power its weapon.{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}


=== Armament ===
===Armaments===
''Moncton''-class platforms are equipped with a 14D4A1 [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon]], a power-hungry 802.2 meter (2,632 ft) long coilgun that fires a ferric-[[tungsten]] round traveling at several kilometers per second, which carries enough energy to punch clean through a Covenant [[capital ship]]. The shell is accelerated by hundreds of asynchronous linear induction motors, which all line the barrel of the weapon. They were also equipped with seven [[M606 Goalkeeper point defense gun]]s to protect them from enemy fighters, bombers and boarding craft.{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
''Moncton''-class platforms are equipped with a 14D4A1 [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon]], a power-hungry 802.2 meter (2,632&nbsp;ft) long coilgun that fires a ferric-[[tungsten]] round traveling at several kilometers per second, which carries enough energy to punch clean through a Covenant [[capital ship]]. The shell is accelerated by hundreds of asynchronous linear induction motors, which all line the barrel of the weapon. They were also equipped with seven [[M606 Goalkeeper point defense gun]]s to protect them from enemy fighters, bombers and boarding craft.{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}


=== Crew and Complement ===
===Crew and complement===
152 [[UNSC Air Force|UNSC Air Force]] and [[UNSC Navy|Navy]] personnel man ''Moncton''-class platforms, all living within the cramped crew quarters on the station's ring section. This crew can include a number of senior officers who reside in an exposed command center, which can be modified with the equipment and facilities needed to coordinate entire defensive efforts around the planet at which they are stationed. For security, 136 [[UNSC Marine Corps|UNSC Marines]] are stationed within security wings. These could be overwhelmed by Covenant boarding teams, provided enough of them are able to reach the station. For emergency evacuation, at least sixteen [[SKT-9 Bumblebee]]s are stowed away in launch bays around the docking section.{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
152 [[UNSC Air Force]] and [[UNSC Navy|Navy]] personnel man ''Moncton''-class platforms, all living within the cramped crew quarters on the station's ring section. This crew can include a number of senior officers who reside in an exposed command center, which can be modified with the equipment and facilities needed to coordinate entire defensive efforts around the planet at which they are stationed. 136 [[UNSC Marine Corps|UNSC Marines]] are stationed within security wings. These could be overwhelmed by Covenant boarding teams, provided enough of them are able to reach the station. For emergency evacuation, at least sixteen [[SKT-9 Bumblebee]]s are stowed away in launch bays around the docking section.{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}


To temporarily supplement their on-board complement, two purpose-built docking ports can be fitted on each side of the station, both of which can accept a [[UNSC frigate]]. Eight horizontally-articulated corridors can connect to airlocks to allow for the exchange of personnel.{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
To temporarily supplement their on-board complement, two purpose-built docking ports can be fitted on each side of the station, both of which can accept a [[UNSC frigate]]. Eight horizontally-articulated corridors can connect to airlocks to allow for the exchange of personnel.{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
Line 52: Line 64:
In addition, multiple [[hangar bay]]s can be fitted. During the [[Human-Covenant War]], each individual station in a given battle cluster was optimized to accept a specific type of aircraft. One would be equipped to service light [[space fighter]]s and utility craft, carrying up to ten [[F-41 Broadsword#Variants|F-41D Broadswords]] and [[D77-TC Pelican]]s. Another would carry interceptors such as [[GA-TL1 Longsword]]s. The third is specialized towards [[D82-EST Darter]]s and maintenance drones.{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
In addition, multiple [[hangar bay]]s can be fitted. During the [[Human-Covenant War]], each individual station in a given battle cluster was optimized to accept a specific type of aircraft. One would be equipped to service light [[space fighter]]s and utility craft, carrying up to ten [[F-41 Broadsword#Variants|F-41D Broadswords]] and [[D77-TC Pelican]]s. Another would carry interceptors such as [[GA-TL1 Longsword]]s. The third is specialized towards [[D82-EST Darter]]s and maintenance drones.{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}


== History ==
==Stations of the line==
[[File:HW cairo station.jpg|250px|thumb|Cross-sectional view of Cairo Station.{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}]]
*''[[Athens Station]]'' (OWP-144)
*''[[Cairo Station (station)|Cairo Station]]'' (OWP-142)
*''[[Malta Station]]'' (OWP-143)
*''[[Nassau Station]]''
*''[[Oaxaca Station]]''
 
==Operational history==
===Insurrection===
By around [[2493]], the orbital defence grid of [[Earth]], consisting of over 300 ''Moncton''-class OWPs,{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=37}} was in the planning stages - later derisively referred to by Sergeant [[Avery Johnson]] as "''all theory and politics''".{{Ref/Reuse|H2CS}}{{Ref/Note|In ''Halo 2''{{'}}s Cairo Station level, Sgt. Johnson mentions the orbital defence network around Earth as being "theory and politics" when he shipped out for basic training. ''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]'' clarifies that he enlisted in the military at the age of nineteen, meaning that he would have been undergoing basic training around the year of 2493, given his birth year of 2474.}} By [[2517]], at least one such platform was operational in orbit of [[Reach]].{{Ref/Comic|Id=HTFORBC|HFoRBC|Issue=1}}
 
===Human-Covenant War===
===Human-Covenant War===
Introduced by at least [[2517]], several ''Moncton''-class orbital weapon platforms along with the [[Erőd-class orbital weapon platform|''Erőd''-class]] were utilized at [[Reach]],<ref>''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Boot Camp]]''</ref> where they were later [[Fall of Reach|destroyed]] along with its [[Epsilon Eridani Fleet|defending fleet]] in summer [[2552]] by combined Covenant naval forces under command of [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee[[Fleet of Particular Justice|'s Fleet of ''Particular Justice'']].<ref>''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion]]''</ref>
Alongside its sister classes, the ''Moncton''-classification of OWP played an instrumental role in the defence of numerous [[human colonies]] during the [[Human-Covenant War]]. Multiple were present around [[Camber]] during the planet's [[Battle of Camber|invasion]] in [[2542]].{{Ref/Game|H2A|Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminal 2}} They continued to see service into the war's final weeks, taking part in the [[Fall of Reach|defence]] of [[Reach]] (albeit, having mostly been supplanted by the more powerful {{Class|Erőd|orbital weapon platform|OWPs}} there),{{Ref/Comic|HFoRInv}}
 
''Moncton''-class orbital weapon platforms made the entrirety of the three hundred orbital defense platforms that formed [[Earth]]'s orbital defense grid{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=37}} under the authority of [[Unified Ground Command]] by the [[UNSC Air Force]] and the [[UNSC Home Fleet|Home Fleet]].{{Ref/Level|Id=H2TA|Game=Halo 2|Level=The Armory}} It was a key part of Earth's orbital defense grid, an ambitious plan that combined ground-based aerospace fighters, low-orbit satellites, and warship squadrons into a multi-layered integrated system. During the [[Battle for Earth]], when the [[Prophet of Regret]]'s [[Fleet of Sacred Consecration|Fleet of ''Sacred Consecration'']] stumbled into Earth's defenses, ''Moncton''-class platforms engaged the Covenant fleet at range, with [[Cairo Station (station)|''Cairo'']] serving as [[Terrence Hood|Lord Hood's]] command center to coordinate the defense of Earth, devastating the unusually small force despite the Covenant being able to board and destroy the [[Athens Station|''Athens'']] and [[Malta Station|''Malta'']] stations and slipping [[Solemn Penance|a single]] {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}} through the defense grid to [[Battle of Mombasa|deploy]] forces throughout [[Mombasa]] after exiting [[slipstream space|slipspace]] over the city.{{Ref/Level|Id=H2CS|Game=Halo 2|Level=Cairo Station}}{{Ref/Level|Id=H2Out|Game=Halo 2|Level=Outskirts}}{{Ref/Game|Id=sscirc1arc2|ODST|Detail=Sadie's Story, Circle 1, Arc 2}}


The ''Moncton'' platforms would continue to defend Earth even as more additional [[Covenant fleet]]s began to be dispatched to the [[Sol system]] and later when [[Prophet of Truth]][[Truth's fleet|-commanded final overwhelming armada]] finally arrived in November.{{Ref/Reuse|Id=TGJ}} Despite particularly strong defenses, the final Covenant invading fleet overrun much of the orbital defense grid and the Home Fleet, thus presumably disabled or destroyed the mass of remaining orbital defense platforms as it was weakened by the previous Covenant fleets.{{Ref/Level|Id=H3CN|Game=Halo 3|Level=Crow's Nest}} However, it is likely that the orbital defense platforms destroyed the majority of the Covenant invading fleet in return.{{Ref/Level|Id=TGJ|Game=Halo 2|Level=[[The Great Journey (level)|The Great Journey]]}}{{Ref/Reuse|Id=H2TA}} The ''Cairo'' remained intact, but left damaged after the final space battle.{{Ref/Reuse|Id=TGJ}} When the [[Forerunner]] [[keyship]] ''[[Anodyne Spirit]]'' jumped to Earth on November 17, [[Nassau Station|''Nassau'' Station]] tracked the [[Tykos 30]] in [[Ruwan Ackerson]]'s bloodstream to identify ''[[Harbinger of Piety]]'' as a priority target and destroy it, killing the [[Minister of Inquisition]].<ref>''[[Halo: Uprising]]'', ''[[Halo: Uprising Issue 4|Issue #4]]'' </ref>
''Moncton''-class orbital weapon platforms made the entirety of the three hundred orbital defense platforms that formed [[Earth]]'s orbital defense grid in October [[2552]].{{Ref/Level|Id=H2TA|H2|The Armory}} These installations formed a key part of Earth's orbital defense grid, an ambitious plan that combined ground-based aerospace fighters, low-orbit satellites, and warship squadrons into a multi-layered integrated system. During the [[Battle for Earth]], when the [[Prophet of Regret]]'s [[Fleet of Sacred Consecration]] stumbled into Earth's defenses, ''Moncton''-class platforms engaged the Covenant fleet at range, with [[Cairo Station (station)|Cairo]] serving as [[Terrence Hood|Lord Hood's]] command center to coordinate the defense of Earth, devastating the unusually small force despite the Covenant being able to board and destroy the [[Athens Station|Athens]] and [[Malta Station|Malta]] stations and slipping [[Solemn Penance|a single]] {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}} through the defense grid to [[Battle of Mombasa|deploy]] forces throughout [[Mombasa]] after exiting [[slipstream space|slipspace]] over the city.{{Ref/Reuse|H2CS}}{{Ref/Level|Id=H2Out|H2|Outskirts}}{{Ref/Game|Id=sscirc1arc2|ODST|Sadie's Story|Detail=Circle 1, Arc 2}}
[[File:Cairo Mac firing.jpg|thumb|250px|Cairo Station firing its MAC.{{Ref/Reuse|H2CS}}]]
The ''Moncton'' platforms would continue to defend Earth even as more additional [[Covenant fleet]]s began to be dispatched to the [[Sol system]] and later when a final [[Truth's fleet|overwhelming armada]] led by the [[Prophet of Truth]] finally arrived in November. Despite particularly strong defenses, the final Covenant invading fleet overrun much of the orbital defense grid and the Home Fleet, disabling or destroying the mass of remaining orbital defense platforms as it was weakened by the previous Covenant fleets.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}{{Ref/Level|Id=H3CN|H3|Crow's Nest}}{{Ref/Reuse|Id=H2TA}} Cairo Station remained intact, but was left damaged after the final space battle.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} When the [[Forerunner]] [[keyship]] ''[[Anodyne Spirit]]'' jumped to Earth on November 17, [[Nassau Station]] tracked the [[Tykos 30]] in [[Ruwan Ackerson]]'s bloodstream to identify ''[[Harbinger of Piety]]'' as a priority target and destroy it, killing the [[Minister of Inquisition]].{{Ref/Comic|HU|Issue=4}}


===Post-war===
===Post-war===
An unknown number of platforms survived the end of the war, and continued to serve in Earth's defense grid until their powers were knocked out by [[Cortana]] during her [[subjugation of Earth]].<ref>''[[Halo: Escalation]]'', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 7|Issue #7]]''</ref><ref name="guardians">''Halo 5: Guardians'', campaign level, "[[Guardians]]"</ref>
By the war's end, Cairo Station was one of the very few ''Moncton''-class OWPs to survive the month-long orbital [[space warfare]] campaign in late 2552. It remains a key part of of Earth's orbital grid, alongside newly-constructed replacements for the Athens and Malta platforms.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}


== Known stations ==
An unknown number of platforms continued to serve in Earth's defense grid until they were targeted and disabled by [[Cortana]] during her [[subjugation of Earth]].{{Ref/Comic|HEsc|Issue=7}}{{Ref/Level|H5G|Guardians}}
*''[[Athens Station]]''
*''[[Cairo Station (station)|Cairo Station]]''
*''[[Malta Station]]''
*''[[Nassau Station]]''
*''[[Oaxaca Station]]''


== List of appearances ==
== List of appearances ==
{{Linkbox|gallery=yes}}
*''[[Halo 2]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo 2]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Uprising]]''
*''[[Halo: Uprising]]''
Line 80: Line 99:
*''[[Halo Mythos]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos]]''
*''[[Halo: Lone Wolf]]''
*''[[Halo: Lone Wolf]]''
==Notes==
{{Ref/Notes}}


== Sources ==
== Sources ==

Latest revision as of 19:20, January 31, 2024

Moncton-class
H2A CairoStation Loadscreen.png
Cairo Station (OWP-142) and its battle cluster over Earth on October 20, 2552.[1]
Class attributes

Identification:

Hull classification symbol: OWP[2]

Operators:

UNSC Air Force[2][3][4]

Manufacturer:

Vosper Engineering[2]

Built:

300+[1]

In service:

Prior to or circa 2517-present[5]

General characteristics

Type:

Orbital defense platform

Length:

536 metres (1,760 ft)[2]

Width:

786 meters (2,580 ft)

Height:

1,336 metres (4,380 ft)[2]

Mass:

2.9 million metric tons[2]

Power plant:

  • Reactor[2]
  • Liquid-metal capacitance cells[2]

Maneuver drive:

Station-keeping thrusters[2]

Crew:

152 Air Force and Navy personnel.[3][4]

Complement:

Troops:

Hull:

Durasteel armor[2]

Armaments:

Air facilities:

 

"That MAC gun could put a hole clean through a Covenant capital ship. Coordinated fire from the Athens and the Malta, nothing's getting through this battle cluster in one piece."
— Avery J. Johnson

The Moncton-class orbital weapon platform (hull classification symbol: OWP) is a line of orbital defense platforms in the service of the United Nations Space Command.[2][6] They have been a staple of the UNSC's planetary defence strategy for decades, seeing service in the Insurrection, the Human-Covenant War and post-war era.

Overview[edit]

Powerplant[edit]

The Moncton-class, unlike its cousin in the Erőd-class, was built with an on-board power source. As well as a fusion reactor, the lower stalk of the station was composed of stacked liquid-metal capacitors, which allowed for the rapid firing of its MAC so long as there is charge in their cells. If the reactor is damaged, the docking umbilicals could parasitically leach charge off a docked UNSC warship to power its weapon.[2]

Armaments[edit]

Moncton-class platforms are equipped with a 14D4A1 Magnetic Accelerator Cannon, a power-hungry 802.2 meter (2,632 ft) long coilgun that fires a ferric-tungsten round traveling at several kilometers per second, which carries enough energy to punch clean through a Covenant capital ship. The shell is accelerated by hundreds of asynchronous linear induction motors, which all line the barrel of the weapon. They were also equipped with seven M606 Goalkeeper point defense guns to protect them from enemy fighters, bombers and boarding craft.[2]

Crew and complement[edit]

152 UNSC Air Force and Navy personnel man Moncton-class platforms, all living within the cramped crew quarters on the station's ring section. This crew can include a number of senior officers who reside in an exposed command center, which can be modified with the equipment and facilities needed to coordinate entire defensive efforts around the planet at which they are stationed. 136 UNSC Marines are stationed within security wings. These could be overwhelmed by Covenant boarding teams, provided enough of them are able to reach the station. For emergency evacuation, at least sixteen SKT-9 Bumblebees are stowed away in launch bays around the docking section.[2]

To temporarily supplement their on-board complement, two purpose-built docking ports can be fitted on each side of the station, both of which can accept a UNSC frigate. Eight horizontally-articulated corridors can connect to airlocks to allow for the exchange of personnel.[2]

In addition, multiple hangar bays can be fitted. During the Human-Covenant War, each individual station in a given battle cluster was optimized to accept a specific type of aircraft. One would be equipped to service light space fighters and utility craft, carrying up to ten F-41D Broadswords and D77-TC Pelicans. Another would carry interceptors such as GA-TL1 Longswords. The third is specialized towards D82-EST Darters and maintenance drones.[2]

Stations of the line[edit]

Cross-sectional view of Cairo Station.[2]

Operational history[edit]

Insurrection[edit]

By around 2493, the orbital defence grid of Earth, consisting of over 300 Moncton-class OWPs,[6] was in the planning stages - later derisively referred to by Sergeant Avery Johnson as "all theory and politics".[1][Note 1] By 2517, at least one such platform was operational in orbit of Reach.[5]

Human-Covenant War[edit]

Alongside its sister classes, the Moncton-classification of OWP played an instrumental role in the defence of numerous human colonies during the Human-Covenant War. Multiple were present around Camber during the planet's invasion in 2542.[7] They continued to see service into the war's final weeks, taking part in the defence of Reach (albeit, having mostly been supplanted by the more powerful Erőd-class OWPs there),[8]

Moncton-class orbital weapon platforms made the entirety of the three hundred orbital defense platforms that formed Earth's orbital defense grid in October 2552.[9] These installations formed a key part of Earth's orbital defense grid, an ambitious plan that combined ground-based aerospace fighters, low-orbit satellites, and warship squadrons into a multi-layered integrated system. During the Battle for Earth, when the Prophet of Regret's Fleet of Sacred Consecration stumbled into Earth's defenses, Moncton-class platforms engaged the Covenant fleet at range, with Cairo serving as Lord Hood's command center to coordinate the defense of Earth, devastating the unusually small force despite the Covenant being able to board and destroy the Athens and Malta stations and slipping a single CAS-class assault carrier through the defense grid to deploy forces throughout Mombasa after exiting slipspace over the city.[1][10][11]

Cairo Station's MAC gun firing a round.
Cairo Station firing its MAC.[1]

The Moncton platforms would continue to defend Earth even as more additional Covenant fleets began to be dispatched to the Sol system and later when a final overwhelming armada led by the Prophet of Truth finally arrived in November. Despite particularly strong defenses, the final Covenant invading fleet overrun much of the orbital defense grid and the Home Fleet, disabling or destroying the mass of remaining orbital defense platforms as it was weakened by the previous Covenant fleets.[6][12][9] Cairo Station remained intact, but was left damaged after the final space battle.[6] When the Forerunner keyship Anodyne Spirit jumped to Earth on November 17, Nassau Station tracked the Tykos 30 in Ruwan Ackerson's bloodstream to identify Harbinger of Piety as a priority target and destroy it, killing the Minister of Inquisition.[13]

Post-war[edit]

By the war's end, Cairo Station was one of the very few Moncton-class OWPs to survive the month-long orbital space warfare campaign in late 2552. It remains a key part of of Earth's orbital grid, alongside newly-constructed replacements for the Athens and Malta platforms.[6]

An unknown number of platforms continued to serve in Earth's defense grid until they were targeted and disabled by Cortana during her subjugation of Earth.[14][15]

List of appearances[edit]

Main-Superintendent.png Browse more images in this article's gallery page.

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ In Halo 2's Cairo Station level, Sgt. Johnson mentions the orbital defence network around Earth as being "theory and politics" when he shipped out for basic training. Halo: Contact Harvest clarifies that he enlisted in the military at the age of nineteen, meaning that he would have been undergoing basic training around the year of 2493, given his birth year of 2474.

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Halo 2, campaign level Cairo Station
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z Halo: Warfleet, page 30-31
  3. ^ a b Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual, page 136
  4. ^ a b Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 60
  5. ^ a b Halo: Fall of Reach - Boot Camp, issue 1
  6. ^ a b c d e Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 37
  7. ^ Halo 2: Anniversary, Terminal 2
  8. ^ Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion
  9. ^ a b Halo 2, campaign level The Armory
  10. ^ Halo 2, campaign level Outskirts
  11. ^ Halo 3: ODST, Sadie's Story: Circle 1, Arc 2
  12. ^ Halo 3, campaign level Crow's Nest
  13. ^ Halo: Uprising, issue 4
  14. ^ Halo: Escalation, issue 7
  15. ^ Halo 5: Guardians, campaign level Guardians

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Human ship classifications
Stealth craft
Heavy frigates Paris-class • Strident-class
Light frigates Anlace-class • Charon-class • Mulsanne-class • Stalwart-class
Heavy destroyers Able-class • Hillsborough-class
Light destroyers Diligence-class • Halberd-class • Unidentified
Heavy cruisers Autumn-class • Marathon-class • Valiant-class
Light cruisers Halcyon-class
Unclassified
By human faction: UEG (UNSC • CAA) • Insurrectionist
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