MQ-66 Wadjet UCAV

MQ-66 Wadjet UCAV

The impact of the Insurrection cannot be ignored when looking at the Human-Covenant War. On the one hand, the steadfast refusal of so many organisations and colonies to recognise UEG authority or accept UNSC assistance would ultimately lead to the fall of the Outer Colonies perhaps a decade earlier than the UNSC could have held them for. On the other hand, however, if the Insurrection had not occurred at all the UNSC would still be largely a peacekeeping force, woefully unprepared to deal with any enemy at all, nevermind of such technological sophistication and numbers as the Covenant. So many innovations were made during the Insurrection that would prove crucial during the Human-Covenant War.

The MQ-66 Wadjet UCAV was one of many weapons introduced into service during the Insurrection that would prove successful during the conflict against the Covenant. Developed by Sierra Space Systems, the Wadjet was originally intended for security forces, supplementing human personnel. Equipped with a variety of sensors and cameras, and armed with two gible-mounted AIE-486H heavy machineguns, the Wadjet was adopted by a number of private security contractors, but its biggest buyer would become the Colonial Military Administration, which purchased Wadjets in significant numbers to improve its base security capabilities in the face of growing rebel sympathies. When the CMA was disbanded in 2525, the drones were appropriated by the UNSC and modified for reconnaissance and air-to-ground attack roles, serving throughout the Human-Covenant War.

Remarks

 * "The damn thing looks scary, doesn't it? Very mean looking - but if it started as a security drone, then I guess that makes sense. Better to scare away potential intruders than end up shooting holes in them - less paperwork and mess."
 * "My platoon had a couple of these on Minorca - we nicknamed them Huginn and Muninn, and some joker had managed to scavenge some "stealth material" - AKA black paint. Very useful for target acquisition and designation, especially with the artillery. A pity they got left behind."
 * "Have the humans no honour? They send pilot-less machines to fight us, rather than face us in honourable combat!"
 * "The number of roles these things have taken on is astounding. Reconnaissance, target designation, close-air-support, medivac - the range is astonishing!"