Covenant military

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Covenant ground forces engage UNSC infantry for control of a Forerunner building.

The Covenant military refers to the armed forces branch of the Covenant and was considered the largest military force in the Milky Way before the outbreak of the Great Schism.

[edit] History

In the early centuries of the Covenant, the Writ of Union established the Sangheilian armed forces as their own as the sole military force, with the San 'Shyuum having little part in its day-to-day operation. As the Covenant conquered and assimilated various species for its cause, members of each race were incorporated into the Covenant military to perform different roles, adding their own unique advantages and disadvantages.

The Covenant military was under the jurisdiction of the High Council,^[1] formerly composed of Sangheili Councilors who oversaw the operation of the military. Following the Great Schism, the Flood outbreak on High Charity and the eventual destruction of the remaining Covenant leadership in the Battle of Installation 00, the Covenant military ceased to exist as a functioning force due to the absence of a structured Covenant government. However, a number of splinter factions formed in the wake of the Covenant's fragmentation, including the Servants of the Abiding Truth and later the more powerful revived Covenant led by Jul 'Mdama, have marshaled significant amounts of the Covenant's former matériel and troops.^[2]

[edit] Organization

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The Council of Deed and Doctrine was the highest command organization within the Covenant military and aided the Hierarchs with military tactics and strategy. During major conflicts, the Council of Deed and Doctrine created a Council of Masters to directly oversee operations. Because San 'Shyuum did not hold military ranks, no San 'Shyuum was truly a "member" of the military. Instead, they were responsible for strategic decision-making, but also traveled with Covenant military units as religious or political overseers.^[3]^[4] Politically, most of the military fell under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Resolution,^[5] while some of the more specialized military forces were overseen by different ministries, such as the Ministry of Fervent Intercession in the Zealots' case.^[6]

The Covenant military was heavily naval-oriented, with fleets ranging from small battle groups to entire armadas, practically serving as the basic unit of organization. Various task-based groups served within these fleets, including the Covenant's occupational ground forces and the Special Warfare Group, which contained the Special Operations Division.

The Covenant military was organized based on the Covenant's caste system. The officer corps was primarily staffed by Jiralhanae (and formerly by Sangheili), while the Unggoy and Kig-Yar generally filled menial or infantry roles. Ranks were denoted by the color, type of armor and accessories worn for Sangheili, Jiralhanae and Unggoy; different ranks of Kig-yar would also be distinguished by the color of their shield gauntlets.

[edit] Member races

Sangheili - dominant military caste prior to the Covenant Schism
Jiralhanae - dominant military caste following the Covenant Schism
Mgalekgolo - shock-infantry, heavy-weapons platforms
Yanme'e - airborne infantry, combat engineers
Kig-Yar - scouts/snipers, police force
Unggoy - majority of infantry, "cannon-fodder"
Huragok - combat engineers, medics, suicide bombers

[edit] Subdivisions

Navy - responsible for the coordination of the Covenant's numerous fleets and naval personnel. Primarily staffed by Sangheili with Unggoy, Yanme'e, and Huragok maintenance staff.^[7] After the Great Schism, the Hierarchs have taken direct control over Covenant military operations.
Army - responsible for most ground-based combat operations, incorporating most of the Covenant's client races. Mostly comprised of Unggoy, Yanme'e, and Kig-yar infantry, with Sangheili or Jiralhanae officers.
Special Warfare Group - responsible for small-scale, high-priority high-risk operations against specific points of interest, mostly comprised of Sangheili and Unggoy commandoes.