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- "If this Cabal unit has their way, stone will not be the only thing that breaks but entire worlds."
- — Lord Shaxx
| Stone Breakers | |
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| Overview | |
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Type: |
Detachment |
The Stone Breakers are a Cabal forward heavy infantry force used as a last resort in an attempt to turn the tide of battle whenever any Cabal detachment is in need of reinforcements. They are the most dangerous Cabal detachment yet, as of the time Primus Tho'urgh came into power.
History
The Stone Breakers Legion is one of the most dangerous units the Cabal have and for that reason the Emperor kept them in reserve as a last-resort. It is said that before becoming a reserve unit, the Stone Breakers crushed more worlds than any other cabal legion but their loyalty was once in question. Under a previous Primus, they nearly usurped the Emperor until Tho'urgh, a Valus at the time, killed the current Primus in front of the Stone Breakers and took command, ordering them to stand down. Though the emperor allowed Tho'urgh to keep the rank, he decreed that the Stone Breakers be kept in reserve to keep them in check. Only during desperate times will the Stone Breakers be deployed.
The day of their deployment came when a distress signal reached the Emperor, informing him of the loss of leadership and so many of their troops to the Guardians and other various forces, namely the Hive and Vex. With little choice, the Emperor ordered the Stone Breakers be deployed to reinforce what forces the Cabal have left in the Solar System and destroy the Guardians.
Gameplay
This detachment is mostly made up of Centurions and Colossi, but it offers a few new units to reinforce their purpose of being a last-resort military group. They are aggressive, durable soldiers that often flush the player into cover. In the game they appear in every single area on Mars, including formerly only Vex-control ones, aggressively battling the machines. The Cabal Legion ratio is typically sixty to seventy percent Stone Breakers and forty to thirty percent other Cabal Legions. They act as reinforcers for the weary Cabal, replenishing the numbers Oryx depleted in the Taken War.
They appear in large numbers whenever a special World Event called "Deployment" begins. On patrol a message will appear in the corner of the screen saying, "The Stone Breakers are marshalling an offensive". This event starts off with the Cabal version of a Fallen Glimmer Drill mining event. A Cabal warship appears in the sky and flies low overhead, offing a profile view and size comparison of the warship; Harvesters and Cabal fightercraft flank it, with several breaking away and deploying troops. This event lasts for ten minutes of endless waves of Cabal soldiers, and concludes when a high ranking Ultra Valus (divided between three named variants) comes out to personally challenge the Guardians.
Unique Ground Units
This Cabal Legion features more specialized units often found during Deployment Events and certain Patrol missions, but also appear during the Story missions and Quests of the game. They are as follows:
Ballistarius
A Legionary that is capable of planting down turrets and landmines. Armed with a poison Slug Rifle.
Lancer
A heavy hitting Phalanx variant, the Lancer possesses far more agile jump jets and comes equipped with a potent energy deflecting staff for close quarters engagements. Lancers prefer to slam shield first into enemy units before unleashing a flurry of melee attacks.
Flamer
A Legionary that has a flamethrower attachment to their Projection Rifle and can throw a napalm grenade.
Hypaspist
A Centurion equipped with jump jets, a Cabal Shield, Solar shield and Projection Rifle. Replaces the Phalanx entirely.
Master Gunnery Sergeant
A Centurion capable of operating heavy artillery, even on Goliath Tanks. Armed with dual Projection Rifles and miniature built-in slug thrower.
Pulsar
An elite Psion, the Pulsar supplants the role of a sniper in the Stone Breakers. They utilize Induction Rifles to pick off enemies at long range, before closing the distance with flutter packs. These are often in Kill the Target Patrol missions, and most Story missions.
Pulsar Subtypes
- Pulsar Aggressor—used to maintain order amongst more rebellious troops, Aggressors use their psychic abilities to control and coordinate field legionnaires. Should they be killed, the psychic backlash sends all nearby Cabal into a blind rage.
- Pulsar Defender—employed alongside major Bracci or Vals, a Defender projects a shield of Void energy to its commanding officer, supplementing alongside their Solar defense.
Gladiator
A Colossus equipped with an arm-mounted blade instead of a Heavy Slug Thrower and has jump jets.
Draconarius
A Colossus equipped with a nuclear rocket launcher and is able to throw targets around when they get too close.
Unique Aerial Units
Lightning Psion
A special aerial unit characterized by its large angel-like wings and rapid movement. These are armed with special weapons called Lasrifles, quick-firing, terrifyingly accurate rifles which can harry Guardians. Due to their moving around the field, and sometimes completely flying high beyond weapons' range, they're difficult to contain and destroy.
Marauder Lancer
At first glance, a Phalanx unit equipped with wings seemed counterintuitive. However, these units specialize in flying into enemy targets with their overshields, smashing them apart. They are protected by the overshield, a special variant which protects their entire front from enemy fire, even Guardian Supers. Armed with a missile launcher and arm-mounted blades, they are a devastating attack foe.
Thunderbolt Colossus
The last and most dangerous of the Cabal's aerial forces is the Thunderbolt Colossus. These are nothing short of mobile tanks. They armed with twin Ultra-Heavy Slug Throwers, has a propensity to disperse missile swarms like their land-based counterpart, and have a chest-mounted Phaser Cannon capable of melting Guardian shields.