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  • Subject: Covenant Plasma Torpedo Theories
Subject: Covenant Plasma Torpedo Theories
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Ok, this probably isn't as hot an issue as "Forerunner = human" or "where did Halsey go?" theories but here's my theory on how, exactly, the Covenant plasma torpedos work. Before I begin, I must mention that although they are called "plasma torpedoes," they neither resemble 'plasma' nor 'torpedoes' (in most cases, at least):

- Frigates have 1 plasma turret
- Destroyers have 3 plasma turrets
- Cruisers have 5 plasma turrets (I believe carriers have five as well - I know they have 2 or more at least)
- Flagships have 7 plasma turrets
- From what we've seen in the books, the Covenants plasma is observed as 'collecting along their lateral lines'.
- Also from what we know, the Covenant has a tendency to waste some of the plasma from this supposed process.
- I'm guessing the lateral lines are where their turrets are located, probably on the fore of the ship. It is also my theory that the plasma collects from all the turrets and is then collected into one plasma torp...and then discharged. This is exempt, of course, when one or two of the turrets are damaged.
- There are a few times we have seen ships capable of firing multiple plasma torps at once (the Ascendant Justice and also the carrier during the battle with the PoA).
- We have also read about two different sizes of plasma torps; we've read one plasma torp as being a measly 5 meters in diameter and then on Reach, we saw plasma torps with a diameter of 100 meters.
- We know also how Cortana was able to completely change the very nature of their plasma.
- We also know that the plasma is contained in an electro-magnetic bubble which is then herded by subsequent pulse charges to its target - there is an example when a plasma torp was even able to make a 180 degree turn and continue to pursue the Iroquois.
- We know as well that the Covenants plasma torps can accelerate to c-fractional velocities.

The ease with which cortana is able to completely change the very nature of the plasma as well as the variable sizes and destruction would lead us to believe that it is possible that the Covenant have multiple options when it comes to the creation of their plasma. It's my theory that the Covenant can control how many torps they want to fire or if they want to fire just one or using all of their turrets. I also believe that they can control the amount of plasma in those turrets as well. This leads to my theory that the Covenant has control of the yield of their plasma torps.

Here are two examples concerning the nature of Covenant plasma that leads me to my next theory:

1. Now, there are a couple of examples given where a plasma torps EM bubble was disrupted by the destruction of its ship. When this occurs, the plasma then somehow loses its volatile nature and dissipates into a relatively harmless cloud.

2. Coversely, there are a couple of examples where the Covenants plasma torpedo has stayed its course even after the destruction of its home ship.

The difference between these two examples?
- in example number 1, the loss of the EM stability occurred in ship-to-ship battles.
- in example number 2, the maintained stability of the plasma torpedo, even after its ships destruction, was when targetting a stationary target such as the planetary bombardment of Reach.
- concerning example 1: even though plasma torps are usually able to completely destroy most UNSC ships, there are examples of the Covenants plasma disabling a ship (Commonwealth) or completely melting 7 whole decks of a UNSC ship (Iroquois).
- concerning example 2: during the battle of Reach, a Covenant plasma torp was able to completely melt a SMAC which is much larger than any UNSC ship.

These examples lead me to my theory that the smaller a plasma torp, the lesser its yield (this one is a no-brainer, really). Also, the lesser the yield, the greater control, velocity, or all around manueverability. However, with this extra manueverability comes the risk of losing the plasma torps cohesion once its ship is destroyed.
Coversely, the larger plasma torp gives the Covenant greater yield, EM integrity even after ships destruction but a loss of manueverability and control.

What do you think?

I neglect to mention exact quotes or pg numbers - though if you have a question, I can provide evidence or ammendments.

Edit (already!) - It should also be mentioned that when firing on a stationary target, Covenant ships have only discharged one torpedo at a time.

[Edited on 7/14/2004 11:48:08 AM]

  • 07.14.2004 11:45 AM PDT
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i think i blanked out at the word frigate. too much for me to read

  • 07.14.2004 11:46 AM PDT
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I guess it is kind of long-winded...oh well.

  • 07.14.2004 12:00 PM PDT
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In First Strike it's mentioned by Cortana that the direction of a plasma discharge is controlled by only using the fraction of individual particles that are travelling in the desired vector (how these particles are selected is as far as I know unknown). That would explain the the direction of a straight beam, but not the wierd acrobatics of a plasma torpedo. Does anyone have any idea what mechanism a Covenant ship uses to steer and contain the plasma once it's left the turret? "Pulse charges" are mentioned, but how exactly does that work?

  • 07.14.2004 12:02 PM PDT
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to cool

  • 07.14.2004 12:02 PM PDT
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Posted by: Fnord
In First Strike it's mentioned by Cortana that the direction of a plasma discharge is controlled by only using the fraction of individual particles that are travelling in the desired vector (how these particles are selected is as far as I know unknown). That would explain the the direction of a straight beam, but not the wierd acrobatics of a plasma torpedo. Does anyone have any idea what mechanism a Covenant ship uses to steer and contain the plasma once it's left the turret? "Pulse charges" are mentioned, but how exactly does that work?

Hmmm...I don't remember any mention of any exacting descriptions of the 'pulse charges'. There might be some theory offered by Halsey on her trip aboard the Commonwealth...I'll have to check.

  • 07.14.2004 12:10 PM PDT
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The idea of pulse charges effecting plasma torpedos leads to another question... how do Covenant ships keep the fields of force they apply to their torpedos from effecting the torpedos of another ship? Unless these pulse changes are highly focused, a dozen ships firing at once would be a catastrophic mess (but highly pyrotechnic and fun to watch).

  • 07.14.2004 12:24 PM PDT
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The only info I could find concerning Halseys observation was this:
The Fall of Reach, pg 110
"Plasma," Dr. Halsey replied. "But not any plasma we know...they can actually guide its trajectory through space, without any detectable mechanism. Amazing."

Though I must admit, I don't quite know exactly what she means by '...without any detectable mechanism'?
Does this mean they don't know how its guided? as in, 'we can't detect their mechanism of guidance.'

  • 07.14.2004 1:10 PM PDT
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It could be that the author is saying "I have no idea" through one of his characters. That's what I'd do if I was writing, just make it mysterious rather than try to stretch physics to cover it.

From a 'stretching physics' standpoint; have any personal ideas how the mechanism might work? I'm thinking that it is perhaps a derivation of their gravity manipulating technology... perhaps they use an highly focused gravity field to make a 'gravity lens' and steer the torpedo after it's fired?

[Edited on 7/14/2004 1:35:51 PM]

  • 07.14.2004 1:21 PM PDT
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yes, but even though that is really good grammar, it is wierd that you have to mutilate it to figure out what it means. ( no offense)

  • 07.14.2004 1:24 PM PDT
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Posted by: Fnord
It could be that the author is saying "I have no idea" through one of his characters. That's what I'd do if I was writing, just make it mysterious rather than try to stretch physics to cover it.

From a 'stretching physics' standpoint; have any personal ideas how the mechanism might work? I'm thinking that's perhaps a derivation of their gravity manipulating technology... perhaps they use an highly focused gravity field to make a 'gravity lens' and steer the torpedo after it's fired?

sounds good. they can manipulate gravity, so that is probably how it works

  • 07.14.2004 1:25 PM PDT
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plasma is really rediculously hot matter, my theory is that its magnetically charged plasma of a metal so that its simply being attracted by magnetic force (which explains why they could not shoot it through vaporized metal in "fall of reach")

  • 07.14.2004 1:33 PM PDT
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I checked it out and apparently, in 'First Strike, pg 207-208' Cortana describes the method of control as EM pulses - she even states that if the Ascendant Justice had a better electromagnetic system, they could guide their plasma much better. She goes on to state that their knowledge of Maxwells equations were inferior to human tech.
It could be that the author is saying "I have no idea" through one of his characters. That's what I'd do if I was writing, just make it mysterious rather than try to stretch physics to cover it.
You know what's another 'mystery' I've always wondered about? How is it that Cortana was able to shut down the weapons and jam the communications of the Ascendant Justice simply by entering its 'intrasystem battlenet' (whatever that is - I'm assuming it has something to do with their communications accoding to the game) all the way from another ship (FS pg 53&55)?

I can't remember if its ever described as to exactly how she can do this but I know this an excellent tactical edge that is never fully utilized - it suggests the ability to completely infiltrate a system simply by 'riding' communication waves.

  • 07.15.2004 8:26 AM PDT
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I'd had a thought regarding that myself. Why not stop the Covenant attacking Earth by making a copy of Cortana for every enemy ship, have the copies invade the weapon systems of the Covenant vessels... and then have them all fire at each other?

  • 07.15.2004 8:33 AM PDT
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Basically, that would be one of the most effective viruses ever - I should bold ever - here, ever.

  • 07.15.2004 8:43 AM PDT
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To make it even more fun, they could have every airlock, pressure door and forcefield drop as well... it's hard to combat a virus when your ship is depressurizing.

  • 07.15.2004 8:53 AM PDT
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well heading in that direction I would take it one step further and say this:

Cortana still has the code of the Covenant AI stored away, and as we know successfully jammed up the covie battlenet in the vacinity of the unyielding heirophant.

now it is mentioned that the covenant use a local ' email system' of when a covenant ship enters or vacates an area of covenant control that they are sending these messages to their communication boueys in slipspace.

so why doesn't cortana just duplicate herself and send it away like an email virus.

please excuse my loose vanacular and analogies, as i am pretty tired. 8 )

  • 07.15.2004 9:01 AM PDT
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That would be fun, especially if the mayhem was unleashed at a predetermined time in the future, and every single Covenant ship either depressurizes, dives into the local sun, dives into a planet or roasts its neighbours with plasma fire. Would make for a fairly short game unfortunately.

It would be interesting to see a 'Cortana-virus' used in conjunction with human warships as they defend Earth from the Covenant... the human defenders might have a hope in hell if they can disrupt the Covenant weapon systems while staying highly mobile.

  • 07.15.2004 9:11 AM PDT
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maybe it could be cortana's last stand;

she has aged increadibly from the burden the Halo data has put on her.

and if she had to go out with style, that would be a sick way to do it.

  • 07.15.2004 9:17 AM PDT
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So, what do you guys think about my plasma torp theory? Are there any holes in it? Are there any theories that might be a little too 'loose'? Any arguments against it?

  • 07.16.2004 6:04 AM PDT
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well for one, the cortana disruption trick is just like hacking into a system wirelessly(exactly what she did), its quite simple the first time because you can find all sorts of holes into the system, but repeating it is entirely another matter,the covenant have probably realized how cortana did this and have altered many things to prevent it in the future, sure it possible but its going to be much more difficult the next time and so on.

Another thing, for the plasma torpedos,hmmmmm, I would like more information on their specs but since I dont have any I guess its time to speculate. well for planetary firings/bombardment by NO means should the plasma torps be able to move(I dont know if they do or dont). But for spacing use is another matter. Maybe the plasma inside of the torpedo itself is rotating rapidly(since its extremely hot and molocules of it are literally on fire,therefore moving very rapidly) and depending on the motion of its rotation thats the direction the torpedo itself moves, I wish I knew how they controlled the rotation of the plasma(if my theory is correct,most likely but still possible), maybe their is a tiny microscopic chip of sorts placed on/in it somehwhere and its the thing that emit the pulses(and the pulses are what makes the plamsa go in the direction it wants, simple manipulation. but then again this is just a theory with very little evidence and lots of holes, dont call me a dum@$$ for throwing this out there.

  • 07.16.2004 6:22 AM PDT
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Posted by: johnconstantine
So, what do you guys think about my plasma torp theory? Are there any holes in it? Are there any theories that might be a little too 'loose'? Any arguments against it?


I like it for the most part, the inverse relationship between yield and manuverability is nice and intuitive. I'd still like a greater degree of detail regarding the 'post-discharge' steering of the blast... but unless there's something written in the novels that everyone has missed, any further detail would just be speculation.

  • 07.16.2004 10:32 AM PDT