Editing Covenant Honor Guard

{{Status|Canon}}
{{Outdated}}
{{Disambig header|the Covenant special unit|the rank used by the Covenant and later the Banished|Honor Guard}}
{{Military infobox
|image=[[File:H2A - Covenant Honor Guard.jpg|300px]]
|formed=
|affiliation=[[Covenant]] [[High Council]]
|branch=
|type=Protection services
|role=Protection of the [[Hierarchs]], [[High Council]], and [[Ministry|ministries]]
|size=
|nicknames=
|battles=[[Human-Covenant War]] <br>
[[Great Schism]] <br>
[[Second Ark Conflict]]
|commanders=
}}

{{Quote|Thou, in faith, will keep us safe,<br>Whilst we find the path.|[[Covenant]] [[Writ of Union]]{{Ref/Novel|CH|Chapter=9}}}}

The '''Covenant Honor Guard'''{{Ref/Book|EVG|Page=95}} was a special unit of [[Covenant]] warriors tasked with providing security for the [[High Council]]. The unit was composed of [[Honor Guard|Honor Guardsmen]], who were traditionally [[Sangheili]] but were replaced by [[Jiralhanae]] shortly before the [[Great Schism]].{{Ref/Level|Id=icon|H2|Sacred Icon}}{{Ref/Level|Id=gravemind|H2|Gravemind (level)|Gravemind}}

==Operational history==
===Early history===
After the [[War of Beginnings]], the [[Sangheili]] and the [[San'Shyuum]] made peace and formed the [[Covenant]]. The San'Shyuum were to be the governmental leaders and scientists, with the Sangheili as their protectors and main military force. The Honor Guard was established to protect the Covenant [[High Council]] and [[Hierarchs]]<ref>'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', ''page 47''</ref>{{Ref/Game|H3|Bestiarum|Detail=Sangheili}} as early as [[851 BCE]].{{Ref/Novel|BC|Chapter=1}}

===Human-Covenant War===
{{Main|Human-Covenant War}}
During the [[Prophet of Regret|High Prophet of Regret]]'s stay on the [[shield world]] of [[Trove]] in [[2531]], he was protected by the Honor Guard, who stationed themselves in the [[Apex Site]].

At some time between [[2542]] and [[2552]], the Honor Guard were charged with defending a [[Unidentified Prophet (Heian)|Lesser Prophet]] on the Covenant-controlled planet of [[Heian]] that served as a major logistics base. Despite this, a team of [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]] alongside [[Cal-141]] infiltrated the planet and assassinated the Prophet from a distance of two miles before the Honor Guard could intervene.{{Ref/Film|Film=Halo Legends|Story=The Babysitter}}

[[File:H2A - HonorGuard.jpg|thumb|250px|John-117 engaging an Honor Guardsman on Installation 05.]] 
On [[2552|October 20, 2552]],{{Ref/Level|H2|Cairo Station}} the Prophet of Regret and [[Fleet of Sacred Consecration|his fleet]] invaded [[Earth]] to find the portal to [[Installation 00|the Ark]],{{Ref/Anthology|Halo Graphic Novel|Story=Second Sunrise Over New Mombasa}} a [[Forerunner]] installation where they could fire all of the [[Halo Array|Halo installations]] and complete the [[Covenant religion|Great Journey]]. However, the fleet suffered catastrophic losses; being pursued by [[United Nations Space Command]] forces, the flagship ''[[Solemn Penance]]'' escaped by going into [[slipstream space|slipspace]] in [[New Mombasa]], [[Kenya]] with Regret aboard.{{Ref/Level|H2|Metropolis}}

When they arrived on [[Installation 05]], Regret and his [[Honor Guard|Sangheili Honor Guardsmen]] stayed at a [[Temple (Installation 05)|temple]] in the middle of a lake near the [[Quarantine Zone]] around the [[Library]].{{Ref/Level|H2|Delta Halo}} Much to Regret's surprise, the human vessel {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}} followed him to the installation. The UNSC forces aboard, led by [[Miranda Keyes|Commander Miranda Keyes]], initiated an [[Assassination of the Prophet of Regret|assault]] on the temple with the intent of capturing or killing the Prophet. [[SPARTAN-II program|SPARTAN-II]] [[John-117]] led the attack, infiltrating the temple and entering the Prophet's chamber. The Sangheili Honor Guardsmen fought furiously to protect the Hierarch, but ultimately could not prevent John-117 from killing the Prophet of Regret.{{Ref/Level|Id=regret|H2|Regret (Halo 2 level)|Regret}}

====Changing of the Guard====
{{Main|Changing of the Guard}}
[[File:H2A - Changing of the Guard.jpg|thumb|250px|Jiralhanae take the Honor Guard armor from the Sangheili.]]
Following the catastrophic failure of Sangheili forces in safeguarding [[Installation 04]], the confidence of the San'Shyuum in the abilities of the Sangheili wavered. Their willingness to trust the Sangheili as their personal protectors declined even further when the Prophet of Regret's bodyguards failed to save him from death at the hands of the "Demon" [[John-117]].{{Ref/Reuse|regret}} As a result the two remaining Hierarchs, the [[Prophet of Truth|High Prophets of Truth]] and [[Prophet of Mercy|Mercy]], ordered the Sangheili to step down as the protectors of the Prophets.{{Ref/Reuse|icon}} In secret, Truth had forged an alliance to rid the Covenant of the Sangheili with [[Tartarus]] and the [[Jiralhanae]], and so he had the Jiralhanae fill in the void left by the disgraced Sangheili.{{Ref/Reuse|icon}}{{Ref/Site|Id=Universe|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/factions/covenant-honor-guard|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Covenant Honor Guard|D=27|M=10|Y=2015}}

The Changing of the Guard was not approved of by the High Council. Amidst widespread outrage among the Sangheili that their ancestral role was being taken over by their hated Jiralhanae rivals, some [[Sangheili Councilor|Sangheili High Councilors]] threatened to resign from the Council.{{Ref/Novel|Id=BC16|BC|Chapter=16}}  Others, unwilling to trust the new Jiralhanae Honor Guardsmen, employed Sangheili serving in the [[Covenant military]] instead.{{Ref/Reuse|BC16}}

===The Great Schism===
{{Main|Great Schism}}
[[File:H2A - Tartarus smashing Flood.jpg|thumb|250px|The Jiralhanae Honor Guard, led by Tartarus defend the Prophets from a swarm of Flood on ''High Charity''.]]
At the [[Battle of the Quarantine Zone]] in [[2552|November 3, 2552]], [[Chieftain of the Jiralhanae|Chieftain]] [[Tartarus]] betrayed [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee, sending him falling to his presumed death and taking the [[activation index]].{{Ref/Level|H2|Quarantine Zone}} Meanwhile, the Hierarchs instructed the majority of the Sangheili High Councilors and former Sangheili Honor Guardsmen to assemble at the [[Control Room (Installation 05)|Control Room]] of Installation 05 and begin the preparations for the Great Journey. [[Jiralhanae Captain]] [[Melchus]] then led a large contingent of Jiralhanae — including those under the command of [[Jiralhanae Chieftain|Chieftain]] [[Avitus]] — into the Control Room and massacred the Councilors and former Honor Guards.{{Ref/Reuse|BC16}}{{Ref/Novel|Halo: Age of Retribution}} These actions, charged to Tartarus and Melchus by the High Prophets, started the [[Great Schism]].{{Ref/Reuse|gravemind}}

During the [[Fall of High Charity]], the [[Jiralhanae Honor Guardsman|Jiralhanae Honor Guardsmen]] fought the Sangheili still on the capital world and on ships in orbit.{{Ref/Reuse|gravemind}} Later during the battle on ''[[High Charity]]'', the Prophets of Truth and Mercy along with Tartarus and their personal Jiralhanae Honor Guards fled towards a landing pad where they would leave on the [[keyship]] ''[[Anodyne Spirit]]'' in the middle of the city. During this, the [[Flood]], commanded by the [[Gravemind]], begin their invasion of ''High Charity''. A single [[pod infector]] form slipped past the Honor Guardsmen, grasped onto Mercy's chest, and began to infect him. While Tartarus wanted to save Mercy, Truth, not wanting any potential threat to his ultimate supremacy, ordered him to allow the old Prophet to die.{{Ref/Level|H2|High Charity (level)|High Charity}}

The Jiralhanae Honor Guard continued to defend the Prophet of Truth through the final days of the Human-Covenant War, including against John-117 during the [[Scramble onboard Forerunner Dreadnought]].{{Ref/Comic|HU|Issue=3}} By the time of the Covenant's [[Battle of Installation 00|final stand]] on [[Installation 00]], their ranks had been drastically depleted. However, a significant number of Honor Guardsmen still survived on board the ''[[Anodyne Spirit]]'', subsiding on the keyship's abundant supply reserves, until [[Prelate]] [[Dhas Bhasvod]] led them to reemerge during the [[Second Ark Conflict]] in [[2559]].{{Ref/Novel|HSoR|Section=Adjunct|Detail=[[Sacrifice]]}}{{Ref/Novel|DW|Chapter=4}}

Other [[Covenant remnants|Covenant remnant]] factions such as the [[Banished]]{{Ref/Game|HW2|Phoenix Logs|Detail=Honor Guard}} and the [[Governors of Contrition]]{{Ref/Novel|Halo: Ascension on Atropos}} still make use of Honor Guardsmen, but they do not form a cohesive unit as in the days of the Covenant Empire.

==Organization==
===Role===
[[File:HW3.jpg|thumb|250px|A group of Honor Guardsmen at [[Trove]]'s [[Apex Site]].]]
The [[Honor Guard]] served as personal protection for the [[San'Shyuum]] and [[Sangheili Councilor|Sangheili High Councilors]] of the Covenant [[High Council]]. They were the most skilled of warriors and were hand-picked for the duty of protecting the [[Hierarchs|High Prophets]], as well as members of the High Council, from any danger. In accordance with their duties, they were unwaveringly loyal to the individuals they protected and would defend them to the death.<ref name="ch154">'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 154''</ref> Honor Guardsmen were expected to kill anyone who drew a weapon in the presence of a Hierarch,<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 341''</ref> though an Arbiter doing so may be enough to cause them to hesitate.{{Ref/Level|Id=Scarab|HW|Scarab (level)|Scarab}} Wherever a [[Hierarchs|High Prophet]] was located, an Honor Guardsman would always be by their side; a chamber within the [[Sanctum of the Hierarchs]] was designed to hold three hundred Honor Guardsmen.<ref>'''[[Halo: First Strike]]''', ''page 339''</ref> Honor Guardsmen were also found in the Ministry towers on ''[[High Charity]]'', protecting the Ministry workers from any possible threats.{{Ref/Reuse|ch154}}

Although Honor Guard service was a great honor, it was seen by some Sangheili as a merely ceremonial duty and its members were unlikely to experience combat first-hand.{{Ref/Book|Enc09|Page=137}} This led to some, such as [[Usze 'Taham]], declining the position, even though doing so could be viewed as an act of apostasy.{{Ref/Site|URL=http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=thesoundofsack|Site=Bungie.net|Page=The Tru7h About Co-Op in Halo 3|D=30|M=01|Y=2021}}

===Equipment===
The highly ornate armor of the Honor Guard was primarily red in colour, with glowing orange crests and panels, designed to indicate that serving in the position of an Honor Guardsman was a great privilege.{{Ref/Reuse|Universe}} The [[energy stave]] served as the weapon of choice for ceremonial purposes;{{Ref/Book|Enc09|Page=349}} however, Honor Guardsmen also wield standard Covenant weaponry such as {{Pattern|Okarda'phaa|plasma rifle}}s, {{Pattern|Kewu R'shi'k|plasma rifle}}s, {{Pattern|Vostu|carbine}}s, {{Pattern|Mosa|carbine}}s, and [[energy sword]]s.

When the use of armored vehicles was required, the Honor Guard was known to deploy [[Honor Guard Wraith]]s, which were [[Type-25 Wraith]]s with a distinctive red and orange color scheme in line with the Honor Guardsmen's armor.

===Ranks===
The [[Lights of Sanghelios]] — simply referred to as 'Helios' by some Covenant members — was a subgroup of the Covenant Honor Guard that consisted of the most adept and highest-ranking Sangheili within the Guard. These soldiers were typically charged with the protection of a San'Shyuum or an entire Ministry tower, and often oversaw standard Honor Guardsmen. Sangheili Guardsmen serving in the Lights of Sanghelios were identified from other Honor Guardsmen by their bright-white armor coloring.{{Ref/Reuse|ch154}}{{Ref/Reuse|Universe}}

==Non-canon and dubious canon appearances==
===Silver Timeline===
{{Main|Silver Timeline}}
The Sangheili Honor Guard protected the Hierarchs on High Charity.{{Ref/Film|Id=Contact|TV|Episode=Contact}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:H2A-HighCouncilSession.jpg|Sangheili Honor Guards during a High Council session.
File:ReturnScreencap18.png|Honor Guardsmen aboard the flagship of the [[Fleet of Righteous Vigilance]] in ''[[The Return]]''.
File:Sangheili HG 01.png|A standard Sangheili Honor Guardsman.
File:H2_Honor_Guard_Ultra.png|A Light of Sanghelios without a helmet.
File:Honor Guard Councilor.jpg|One potential iteration of the [[Honor Guard Councilor]].
File:H2AG.png|Jiralhanae Honor Guards stand guard for the High Prophets of [[Prophet of Truth|Truth]] and [[Prophet of Mercy|Mercy]].
File:Brutehonorguardsmanedit.png|A Jiralhanae Honor Guardsman.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: First Strike]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo 2]]''
*''[[Halo: Uprising]]''
*''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''
*''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''
*''[[Halo Wars]]''
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
**''[[Origins]]''
**''[[The Babysitter]]''
*''[[Halo: Evolutions]]''
**''[[The Return]]''
*''[[Halo: The Return]]''
*''[[Halo: Broken Circle]]''
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]'' 
**''[[Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminals]]''
*''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Shadow of Intent]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Envoy]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Oblivion]]''
*''[[Halo: Divine Wind]]
*''[[Halo: The Television Series Season One]]''
**''[[Contact]]''
**''[[Transcendence]]''
*''[[Halo: Age of Retribution]]''
*''[[Halo: Empty Throne]]'' {{Mo}}

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources|2}}

[[Category:Covenant military units]]