Penumbra Of Castigation

Penumbra Of Castigation

"Naval Intelligence is now certain of the presence of a Covenant super weapon, something capable of annihilating a planet in a single attack, a weapon intended to break our will to fight. Three planets have now been shattered by it. Indentification and desctruction of this vessel is our top priority."

- Admiral of the Navy William Castle during a top secret Security Council meeting

Originally designed at the request of the Prophet of Truth, the is a monstrous weapon of mass destruction. Originally intended to expedite the genocide of mankind, and be turned upon the Sangheili, the Penumbra never saw action. Instead, it was found, and finished by The Demiurge. Deployed less as a weapon of mass destruction, and more of an overt threat, it was intended to break the will of their enemies.

The ship is built around a Forerunner tool. Originally a tool used by the Miner caste of the Forerunner Ecumene, it uses a massive gravitation tractor beam to move stellar objects. Originally used to push and pull planets and other stellar bodies into position, in the hands of the Covenant this delicate tool became a blunt weapon, capable of shattering planets with gravitational waves. Teamed with the frame of an unfinished frame of a CSO-class Supercarrier, it became a mobile, if ponderous weapon.

Despite this power, it fared poorly in fleet actions. With only defensive weapons and a near-impenetrable shield, there was little it could do to shift those outcomes. It carried a number of defensive fighters, and a large complement of troops to protect against boarding action. During its time, it accounted for three planets, and a moon, but caused more to surrender simply by threat.