For a ship that was called “the pinnacle of human achievement,” the UNSC Infinity sure does have an awful lot of alien tech in it.
The USNC Infinity was a supercarrier developed in secret in the aftermath of the Human-Covenant war. It was the first of two ships in the new Infinity-class designation of “supercarriers” designed for large-scale deployment. Alone, this ship is capable of deploying enough forces to turn the tide of any battle. Unless, of course, it isn’t carrying the Master Chief, and then it’s anyone’s guess.
But the Infinity was more than just a supercarrier used for military operations. Thanks to the integration of advanced technology from both the Covenant and the Forerunners, the ship was also useful for exploratory and diplomatic missions. And when those missions inevitably go awry, the thousands of troops, tanks, and HAVOK tactical nuclear weapons are ready as backup.
UNSC Infinity – Design And Capability
The UNSC Infinity was developed in secret at the end of the Human-Covenant war. Using recovered technology from both the Covenant and the ancient Forerunners, the Infinity represented a fusion of the major galactic powers (aside from the Flood). Assembled in a facility hidden within the Oort cloud, the ship was kept from most of the public – and all but the most senior of UNSC’s High Command.
With Forerunner technology used to enhance the slipspace drive, and neural lace technology from the Covenant, the Infinity boasted many enhancements over typical UNSC vessels. Starting with the XR2 Boglin Fields S81/X-DFR fusion drives. This engine module functioned differently from most deuterium fusion drives, operating more like a repulsor engine, allowing the Infinity much greater maneuverability. Especially for a vessel of its size.
In addition to the advanced fusion drive, the UNSC Infinity carried armament enough to take on a whole fleet all on its own. Its primary weapons were an array of CR-03 Series-8 Magnetic Accelerator Cannons (MAC), capable of breaching even the heaviest of ship armor, with a 27 meter projectile accelerated rapidly. Though with limited range (considering how big space is). These were powerful enough to serve as ship killers, assuming they could breach the energy shields.
But those were a single potent weapon in its expansive arsenal. As well as the Series-8 MAC array, the Infinity also carried a battery of all manner of missiles, including M42 Archers, M75 Rapiers, M96 Howlers, and the M97 Guided Missile Weapon System network. Backing those up were 10 smaller Mark 2551 MAC network batteries, a bank of 830 M965 Fortress 70mm guns, and “several” HAVOK tactical nukes. And of course, at least for a while, the Master Chief.
Diplomacy, Exploration, And The Battle For Survival
The UNSC officially commissioned the Infinity into service with a focus on peace and exploration on February 21, 2557. Its first “official” mission was to locate the rest of the Halo Array. Though its actual first mission was to repel an attack by a group of Insurrectionists led by former Spartan-IV, Ilsa Zane. And its second mission was conducting “aggressive diplomacy” at Sanghelios, successfully repelling alien insurgent forces and saving the Arbiter Thel ‘Vadam.
But its first official mission was perhaps the most important one it ever undertook. After launching on an expedition to locate the rest of the Halo Array, the ship investigatedthe disappearance of an ONI team from Ivanoff station. While investigating the shield world of Requiem, the Infinity responded to a distress call from none other than the Master Chief, but in the ensuing rescue, the Infinity and Master Chief were pulled into the world of Requiem.
From the surface of Requiem, the Forerunner known as the Didact took control of the Infinity’s systems. And in the ensuing conflict, many Forerunner forces reactivated, fighting both Covenant and UNSC forces while the Didact looked for an artifact the Infinity had been transporting, known as the Composer. Though he was ultimately defeated by the Master Chief and Cortana, the Didact set off a series of events that led to Cortana betraying humanity.
When Cortana assumed control of the Domain and the power of the Mantle of Responsibility, the Infinity engaged in combat with Cortana’s Created and the Banished. And ultimately disappeared in a battle over Zeta Halo.
Its current fate remains unknown!
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