Yokai

The Dakhagona-pattern attack strider, known to the UNSC by the call sign Yokai, is a Covenant medium combat walker. It is categorized by ONI as the Type-37 Infantry Support Platform.

Design details
The vehicle is controlled by a a single pilot and its armament includes two heavy plasma cannons, a chin-mounted light plasma cannon, and a semi-autonomous point defense laser. Bearing some resemblance to the older Atkhebela- and Utobandas-pattern biped walkers as well as the Wunulekgolo war-forms used in the early ages of the Covenant, the design is attributed to the famed pattern-weaver Tsuuka 'Beronmu. However, it is widely suspected that one of his apprentices, Ghimu 'Okkogarus, did most of the technical work.

History
Manufactured by the Andosimu Manufactories of Belarakos in the 18th Age of Discovery (c. the 1880s), the Dakhagona-pattern was created at a time of tumult in its home domain. It is said in the annals of that world that "In those days the lords of that realm vied for control, and took up arms against one another, and their weaponsmiths made many things terrible and fair to look upon, and the skill of their craft was very great. And machines they made, in the likeness of the Wunulekgolo war-forms of old, and the war-striders of Kiiskhosa; and they stood tall and had great cannons. The Dakhagona they were, and Tsuuka 'Beronmu of Andosimu Noodzamai was he who made them; and even Daza 'Kasdulom of Sujubannai rode one ere he fell at the hill of Ngauraas."

It was hoped by the weaponsmiths at Andosimu that they may secure a contract with the Ministry of Preservation (whose direct intervention role was at that time becoming more prominent), which at that time was engaged in quelling civil wars in the further coreward domains.

While mostly employed in the civil wars of some of the Covenant's central worlds, the Dakhagona-pattern has also seen use in the Ministries of Preservation and Resolution. Its deployments in the Human-Covenant War were scant; though it was encountered sporadically, it was never deployed in large numbers or with any regularity.

Variants
The vehicle has spawned several variant patterns and imitators across the ages.

Yuurama-pattern
The Yuurama-pattern is a sub-pattern of the Dakhagona designed for command use. Aside from a number of improvements to communications, electronics and pilot comfort (including a cockpit with furnishings of ko'eqkhi wood), it adds an energy shield generator. Due to the additional power draw for the shields, the pulse laser is replaced by a fuel rod gun and the plasma cannons have a longer cooldown time. It has not been adopted by any of the ministries and is mostly purchased by wealthy warrior-aristocrats as a personal combat vehicle.

Dzumujaani-pattern
The Dzumujaani-pattern, created by Forgemaster Ngeru 'Itagandoyu of the War-artisans' Guild of Niremaatu upon Ranwawui, is technically different enough from the Dakhagona to qualify as its own vehicle, but its inner workings make it clear it is built on a Dakhagona-derived chassis, even more so than the Dakhagona took inspiration from earlier biped walkers. The Dzumujaani-pattern is up-armed with a focus cannon on an articulated frontal mount similar to that of a Scarab. However, its power requirements mean that the heavy plasma cannons had to be replaced with lighter armament, and the pulse laser with an anti-air fuel rod cannon.