Editing Covenant remnants

{{Status|Canon}}
{{disambig header|the collection of new factions after the Covenant's destruction|the collection of Sangheili-led groups during the Great Schism|Covenant separatists}}
[[File:H4 SO Jul'Mdama with Elites.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]], formerly one of the largest Covenant remnants.]]
{{Quote|What does it mean to be 'Covenant' today? A hundred warlords claim they rule the Covenant, but each of them leads only a small faction.|[[Zef 'Trahl]]{{Ref/Comic|Id=escalation5|HE|Issue=5}}}}

'''Covenant remnants''' are splinter factions originating from the former [[Covenant]] body and remain active after the dissolution of the Covenant,{{Ref/Comic|HE|Issue=3}} though no single group uses the specific term "Covenant remnant" to refer to themselves.{{Ref/Site|Id=CFPuzzled|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-puzzled-expression|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Puzzled Expression|D=16|M=07|Y=2019}} These factions vary greatly in ethos and motives; while some consider themselves as upholding the legacy of the Covenant as it used to be,{{Ref/Reuse|escalation5}} others have been shown to pursue more extensive reforms or their own specific agendas. Although many former Covenant members discarded the [[Covenant religion|Prophets' religion]] and the belief in the "Great Journey" altogether in the wake of the revelation of the truth about the [[Halo Array|Halos]],<ref name="waypoint cov">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/factions/covenant ''Halo Waypoint - Universe'': ''Covenant'']</ref> many [[Sangheili]] in particular have reverted to their species' ancient ways of worshiping the Forerunners and their technology,{{Ref/Novel|Id=Thursday War|TTW}} while others continue to maintain their belief in the "Great Journey" while simultaneously renouncing the [[Hierarchs|Prophets]] as false.{{Ref/Novel|Id=DW3|DW|Chapter=3|Quote=Though Castor and his Keepers had long ago renounced their loyalty to the Covenant's San'Shyuum "prophets," they remained devoted to the doctrine of the Great Journey}} Thus, the various Covenant remnant factions range from pragmatic mercenaries to fanatical religious cultists.{{Ref/Reuse|escalation5}}

Unlike the Covenant at its height, the general scarcity of resources has forced many of the remnant factions to use whatever materials they can find. Intact [[capital ship|capital warships]] are considered coveted assets among the splinter factions, as many ships were destroyed in both the [[Great Schism]] and the [[Human-Covenant War]] as well as a significant portion of the Covenant's infrastructure and shipyards remaining inactive following the wars.<ref>[https://blogs.halowaypoint.com/en-us/blogs/headlines/posts/the-halo-bulletin-4-16-14 ''Halo Waypoint'': ''The Halo Bulletin: 4.16.14'']</ref> Additionally, with the majority of the [[Huragok]] mysteriously disappearing, many former Covenant no longer possess the capacity to repair and maintain most of their equipment.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Gla11|Gla|Chapter=11}} Still, select Sangheili armories have taken over the production of matériel formerly manufactured within [[High Charity]] and have even developed new assets such as the [[Kelos'vaarda-pattern storm rifle|T-55 storm rifle]].<ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/halo4#!an-epic-universe/ordnance-armor/cbbca9b3-5108-41aa-aa21-9b523de68266 ''Halo 4 Official Site:'' ''ORDNANCE + ARMOR''] (defunct)</ref>{{Ref/Book|Halo 4: Official Game Guide|Page=263}} Despite this, many remnant groups are forced to employ obsolete or second-hand military equipment and weaponry in the absence of the Covenant's extensive supply chain. On the other hand, [[black market]]s—many of them operated by [[Kig-Yar]] profiteering from the Covenant's end, and others by [[Yonhet]]—were flooded with former Covenant matériel after the war.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Gla10|Gla|Chapter=10}} Because of their limited resources, some Covenant groups have resorted to [[terrorism]] to achieve their ends following the war.{{Ref/Book|Id=VIS|H4EVG|Page=29}} While previously considered a major taboo among the Sangheili, some groups are also known to utilize [[human]] weaponry, namely [[nuclear weapon]]s,{{Ref/SpOps|Id=Departure|Departure}} and have even recruited humans into their ranks.{{Ref/Novel|Id=LL62|LL|Page=62 (Google Play edition)}}

== History ==
=== The Great Schism and dissolution of the Covenant ===
{{main|Covenant separatists}}
While select remnant factions, such as the [[Ussans]] or the [[Banished]], were already active before the Covenant's fall, many of the Covenant remnants can trace their origins to the aftermath of the [[Great Schism]] and [[Battle of the Citadel|the defeat of the Covenant]]. After the [[Hierarchs]] replaced the [[Sangheili]] with the [[Jiralhanae]] and ordered the genocide of the former, the Sangheili became [[Covenant separatists|separatists]] and rebelled against the [[San'Shyuum]]-led main body of the Covenant. Many of the Sangheili-led groups within the separatists that emerged from the conflict would continue to regard themselves as the "true" Covenant, some noting that the Sangheili had "kicked out" the [[San'Shyuum]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=Gla2|Gla|Chapter=2}} Amidst the turmoil of the Great Schism, all groups of Sangheili were called to their base world [[Joyous Exultation]] under the leadership of [[Imperial Admiral]] [[Xytan 'Jar Wattinree]], who announced the treachery of the Prophets and proposed the creation of a [[Joyous Exultation Covenant|new, Sangheili-led Covenant]]. After Wattinree and the forces gathered at Joyous Exultation were [[NOVA bombing of Joyous Exultation|killed]] by a [[NOVA bomb]],{{Ref/Novel|Id=goo27|GoO|Chapter=27}} the bulk of the Sangheili rallied behind [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]] and [[Shipmaster]] [[Rtas 'Vadum]]. This group, initially centered around the [[Fleet of Retribution]], would later come to call themselves the [[Swords of Sanghelios]].{{Ref/Game|Id=h3|H3}}

Many [[Unggoy]], [[Mgalekgolo]], [[Yanme'e]] and [[Kig-Yar]] remained within either the Jiralhanae's or the Sangheili's respective command hierarchies and continued to serve their masters throughout the Great Schism.{{Ref/Level|Id=uprising|H2|H2:Uprising|Uprising}}{{Ref/Level|Id=gj|H2|H2:The Great Journey|The Great Journey}}

=== Post-war period and new factions===
After the death of the [[High Prophet of Truth]] and many of the Prophets at the hands of the Sangheili, the remaining San'Shyuum went into hiding, leaving a power vacuum within the remains of the Covenant.{{Ref/Anthology|Id=return|Evo|Story=The Return|Page=506}} With their enemies defeated, the Sangheili-led separatists no longer had a common goal to unify them. Various high-ranked members of the fallen hegemony seized control of as many military assets as they could; many split off and became independent warlords commanding their own factions, some of them claiming to be legitimate successors to the Covenant.{{Ref/Reuse|escalation5}} Others, including many Sangheili [[kaidon]]s, hoarded ships and weapons for their own purposes while avoiding involvement in larger conflicts.{{Ref/Novel|TTW|Page=295-296}}

[[Human]]ity was also entangled in the Covenant remnants' post-war power dynamics. Conducting its own operations unknown to the rest of the UNSC, the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] armed Sangheili dissidents of the [[Servants of the Abiding Truth]] and even covertly attacked their allied Sangheili, the [[Swords of Sanghelios]], to maintain the balance of power between the two factions. ONI was also indirectly responsible for the formation of one of the most prominent post-war factions self proclaiming to be a new "Covenant", led by the Sangheili [[Jul 'Mdama]]. After escaping ONI detainment on the [[shield world]]-based ONI research facility [[Trevelyan]], 'Mdama learned of [[Raia|his wife]]'s death during the [[Blooding Years]] and vowed revenge on the humans due to their involvement in his species' affairs. 'Mdama, assisted by Sangheili from a remote colony planet called [[Hesduros]], formed [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|a new "Covenant"]] and eventually traveled to the Forerunner world [[Requiem]] and wake the "living god" known as [[Ur-Didact|the Didact]] to assist their smaller faction in their ambitious goal of eradicating humanity.{{Ref/Reuse|Thursday War}}

Covenant remnants hostile to humanity have been informally referred to as "Covies" by the [[United Nations Space Command]],{{Ref/SpOps|Departure|Quote=The Covies… they believe this is the home of one of their gods.}}{{Ref/Comic|TFS|Story=On the Brink|Quote=If we hadn't jumped in, Covies would have blown this place sky high!}} despite the various remnants existing as entirely different organizations than the original Covenant empire.

=== New conflicts ===
{{Summarize|section}}
{{Main|Post-Covenant War conflicts}}
The greater [[Sangheili-Jiralhanae war|Sangheili-Jiralhanae feud]] continued in the background for years in the wake of the [[Great Schism]], taking its toll on both species.{{Ref/Reuse|return}} In [[2553]], [[Tem'Bhetek's faction|a faction]] led by [[Prelate]] [[Tem'Bhetek]] and Minister of Preparation [[Boru'a'Neem]] and their Jiralhanae forces sought to destroy Sanghelios and all life in its system using a [[Prototype Halo installation]]. This plan was foiled by the crew of the {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}} ''[[Shadow of Intent]]'', resulting in the dissolution of the faction. After discovering that he had been fooled by Preparation, the Prelate sacrificed himself to destroy the installation, ensuring the end of the threat it posed.{{Ref/Reuse|SoI}} The conflict between the Sangheili and Jiralhanae began to intensify as the years passed and the later's resources began to dwindle. This prompted the Jiralhanae to raid Sangheili-held territories for foodstuffs and other supplies, as they were unable of obtaining the resources themselves due to their disorganized and barbaric nature.{{Ref/Comic|Id=escalation1|HE|Issue=1}}

Defying the tenuous [[Treaty of 2552|peace]] between humanity and the [[Swords of Sanghelios]], representing the majority of the Sangheili, a few newly formed Sangheili-led factions—mainly religious cultists—began to oppose the UNSC after the end of the war in smaller skirmishes. In [[2554]], the planet of [[Draetheus V]] was [[Battle of Draetheus V|attacked]] by [[Merg Vol's Covenant]]. This group was eventually stopped by UNSC forces and Merg Vol was executed by [[Spartan Operations|Spartan]] [[Sarah Palmer]].{{Ref/Game|Sa}} In [[2557]], [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]] [[Battle of Requiem|engaged UNSC forces]], including their flagship {{UNSCShip|Infinity|Infinity}}, at [[Requiem]]. During these events, [[Ur-Didact|the Didact]] was awakened and soon joined forces with Jul 'Mdama's Covenant, although he was eventually [[New Phoenix Incident|defeated]] by [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan]] [[John-117]] over [[Earth]], and shortly after in the [[Composer's Forge]].{{Ref/Game|H4}} After the Didact's apparent death, control over his mechanical [[Promethean]] armies passed on to 'Mdama. Six months later, the UNSC again contested the occupying Covenant forces in the [[Requiem Campaign]], ending in the shield world's destruction at the hands of 'Mdama.{{Ref/Reuse|Departure}}

Only weeks after the destruction of Requiem, [[Vata 'Gajat's mercenary group|a mercanary organization]] that splintered off of 'Mdama's Covenant was hired by the human [[insurrectionist]] group [[New Colonial Alliance]] to [[Battle of Ealen IV|disrupt]] peace negotiations between the Arbiter and the [[Jiralhanae Chieftain]] [[Lydus]] on [[Ealen IV]].{{Ref/Reuse|escalation5}}{{Ref/Reuse|escalation1}} During July 2558, [[Sali 'Nyon's Covenant|another splinter group]] of 'Mdama's Covenant attempted to rebel against the main faction, but 'Mdama's forces managed to capture its leader, [[Sali 'Nyon]], and eliminate all his followers.{{Ref/Comic|Id=escalation16|HE|Issue=16}} Eventually, 'Nyon would escape captivity and lead a mutiny aboard the assault carrier ''[[Breath of Annihilation]]'', successfully breaking away and gathering more followers.{{Ref/Comic|Id=escalation24|HE|Issue=24}}

A few of the more fanatical new factions have resumed the practice of [[glassing]] [[human colonies]] after the end of the Covenant War. The colony of [[Cleyell]] fell victim to such an attack in [[2556]].{{Ref/Comic|Id=HE17|HE|Issue=17}} However due to the lack of resources and size, these factions typically resorted to terrorist attacks. In early 2556, the human colony of [[Sedra]] suffered a [[bioweapon]] [[Terrorist attack on Sedra City|attack]] from a Sangheili insurgent belonging to an unidentified faction, utilizing a new element native to [[Alpha Shard|a fragment]] of [[Installation 04]]. A subsequent [[Mission to Alpha Shard|mission]] to the shard destroyed the deposits of the element, preventing its future use, but the perpetrators behind the attack were left unknown. Part of the mission was to capture the smugglers mining the element to prove that the Sangheili had broken the treaty which forbade either side from returning to Installation 04. However, both smugglers perished during the mission and the survivors were unable to retrieve any proof.{{Ref/Film|Id=Nightfall|HN}}

In [[2557]], some of Jul 'Mdama's Covenant led by [[Gek 'Lhar]] discovered the remnants of the [[Forerunner]] [[shield world]] known as [[Trove]] which had [[Battle of the Trove|been destroyed]] in [[2531]] by the long-lost {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}}. Following a brief skirmish with the crew of the ''[[Ace of Spades]]'', his Covenant forces retreated.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Smoke and Shadow|SaS}} [[ONI]] subsequently found the debris field by forcing the ''Ace of Spades'' crew to give up their data. However, [[Mission to the Korinth Prior system|a subsequent mission]] encountered Gek 'Lhar's forces who had returned to plunder the debris field for themselves. Though the {{UNSCShip|Taurokado}} retreated from the system, the UNSC returned again with a massive UNSC fleet which launched a huge nuclear bombardment against the shield world remnants, destroying it and keeping any surviving Forerunner technology out of the hands of Gek 'Lhar and thus Jul 'Mdama.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Renegades|Ren}}

In [[2558]], tensions continued to rise between the Sangheili and Jiralhanae, but also between two Sangheili factions on the planet [[Carrow]] in one of the [[Joint Occupation Zone]]s. In September, it turned into [[Carrow Conflict|an all-out conflict]] after the more extreme [[Thars 'Sarov]] called in a [[Jiralhanae]] faction led by [[Hekabe]] to aid him in an uneasy alliance. Thars was planing to backstab the Jiralhanae once they had served their use, while Hekabe had ulterior plans of his own intending to unleash hundreds of thousands of [[Sharquoi]] from their hive beneath the planet's surface to gain galactic dominance for himself and his Jiralhanae. The conflict led to the decimation of all three factions, but the aid of [[Spartan-II]] [[Gray Team]] and the [[Surakan Militia Volunteers]] ensured the destruction of the Sharquoi hive and the death of Hekabe and the end of his plans as well as the death of Thars. The consequences of the conflict led the new Sangheili leader on the planet, [[Kaidon]] [[Akato 'Dakaj]], to recognize the need for the humans and Sangheili to have a closer relationship if they were to survive. Though [[Rojka 'Kasaan]], the leader of the more friendly of the three factions survived, he agreed to act as an envoy between the Sangheili and the humans rather than trying to take up a leadership position again.{{Ref/Reuse|Env}}

In October [[2558]], 'Mdama's Covenant suffered a disastrous setback when its leader was killed by [[Fireteam Osiris]] while [[Battle of Kamchatka|engaging Promethean forces]]. 'Mdama's forces would continue in his name, including an attempt to [[Operation: BIRD IN HAND|secure]] the ONI research vessel ''[[Argent Moon]]'' and [[Battle of Nuusra|an attack]] on Arbiter [[Thel 'Vadam]]'s keep, but were ultimately destroyed in a [[Battle of Sunaion|a counterattack]] by the Swords of Sanghelios and [[Fireteam Osiris]] against their last major stronghold on Sanghelios, [[Sunaion]]. After learning of the destruction of 'Mdama's Covenant, the [[Servants of the Abiding Truth]] considered the Covenant to be completely gone and believed that only they and the Swords of Sanghelios were left of the factions that developed after the Covenant fell. The Servants instigated the [[Second Onyx conflict]] around the time that the [[Created conflict]] was beginning.{{Ref/Reuse|loo}}

Following the closure of the [[Excession]] due to the Created conflict, forces from the [[Jiralhanae]]-led mercenary organization known as the [[Banished]] [[Attack on Installation 00|attacked]] [[Installation 00|the Ark]] in [[intergalactic space]] and took over the installation from the UNSC. In [[2559#March|March 2559]], the long-lost {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} was pulled to the Ark through a [[slipspace portal]] under mysterious circumstances and [[Second Ark Conflict|engaged the Banished]] for control of the Ark. The ''Spirit of Fire'' managed to destroy the Banished [[flagship]], the {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}} ''[[Enduring Conviction]]'', stranding both forces on the Ark and later launched [[Installation 09|a new Halo ring]] in an attempt to get a [[distress beacon]] back to UNSC space.{{Ref/Game|Id=HW2|HW2}} A disastrous mission to the ruins of [[High Charity]] resulted in [[Outbreak on Installation 00|a brief Flood outbreak]] on the Ark, but it was quickly contained by the Banished.{{Ref/Game|Id=Nightmare|Halo Wars 2: Awakening the Nightmare}}

By [[2559#October|October 2559]], the [[Keepers of the One Freedom]] and two other Jiralhanae legions had joined forces with the Banished. On the Ark, Atriox had ''[[Anodyne Spirit]]'' [[Raid on Anodyne Spirit|raided]] for the fragments of [[Menachite Forerunner crystal]] that were once collected by [[Tartarus]] and given to the [[Prophet of Truth]].{{Ref/Reuse|Sacrifice}} A message was sent to [[War Chief]] [[Escharum]] to locate the [[Menachite portal complex|Portal Under the Mountain]] on [[Reach]] in order for Atriox to return to the Milky Way, ostensibly to bring Banished reinforcements back to the Ark. During this time, Blue Team launched [[Operation: WOLFE|an operation]] to recover important objects from the ruins of [[CASTLE Base]] for Dr. [[Catherine Halsey]]. Blue Team inadvertently led the Banished forces to the portal complex where a human acolyte of the Keepers activated a slipspace portal to the Ark. Atriox and some of his forces returned in a [[Eklon'Dal Workshop Lich|Lich]], but he departed for a more important mission, leaving behind thousands of Banished troops to hold the Ark. Determined to begin the Great Journey, [[Castor]]'s detachment of Keepers used the Lich to travel through the portal before it closed. During an encounter with [[Fred-104]] in the tunnels, [[Veta Lopis]] was able to pass him a message warning ONI of the Keepers and Atriox's plans.{{Ref/Novel|Id=SoR|SoR}}

Upon arriving on the Ark, the Keepers allied themselves with [[Prelate]] [[Dhas Bhasvod]]'s faction of surviving [[Dhas Bhasvod's Covenant]], opposed by both the Banished and forces from the ''Spirit of Fire'' spearheaded by Veta Lopis and the [[Ferret]]s. Events were complicated by the Forerunner [[archeon-class ancilla]] [[Intrepid Eye]] who was believed to have been destroyed by Blue Team along with ''[[Argent Moon]]''. Intrepid Eye sought to fire the Halo Array in order to destroy the [[Domain]] and make Cortana vulnerable to destruction so that she could continue with her own plans to prepare humanity to accept the [[Mantle of Responsibility]]. The two allied Covenant remnants were able to reach [[Epsilon Clarion]], a facility on the Ark where the Halo Array could be fired, but both suffered heavy casualties35F as a result of [[Battle of Epsilon Clarion|attacks]] from both the Banished and the UNSC. However, Intrepid Eye's efforts to take control of the facility revealed the truth about the Halos and broke [[Dokab]] Castor's faith in the [[Covenant religion]], causing him to abandon the ancilla and the mission. Once Intrepid Eye was in Epsilon Clarion's systems, Lopis had the ''Spirit of Fire'' launch an [[orbital bombardment]] of [[EMP]] [[MAC]] rounds on the facility, destroying it, Intrepid Eye and the Ark's ability to fire the Halo Array.{{Ref/Reuse|DW}} The entirety of Castor's small detachment of Keepers was decimated, leaving the vengeful Castor and Sangheili [[Blademaster]] [[Inslaan 'Gadogai]] as the only survivors. Due to the revelation of Halo's true purpose, Castor was forced to withdraw from the Keepers' numbers.{{Ref/Reuse|DW}}{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22P247|Enc22|Page=247}} The Banished's [[Clan of the Long Shields]] were also decimated by the conflict while the Covenant forces sent to aid in the mission were wiped out aside from Bhasvod himself, whose true intention was to set the stage for the [[San'Shyuum]] to return to reclaim the galaxy from their supposed hiding place on the shield world [[Cloister]]. After killing [[Mark-G313]], the undaunted Prelate returned to his forces to plan his next move.{{Ref/Reuse|DW}}

In the midst of all of this, the [[Order of Restoration]] reemerged under the leadership of [[High Lord]] [[Dovo Nesto]] who consolidated whatever remained of the [[San'Shyuum]]'s influence into the Order of Restoration, carefully making preparations for the Covenant to rise again. Although many attempted to unite the empire's former species under one banner, all had failed.{{Ref/Reuse|ET12}} Unlike everyone else, Nesto had the strategic acumen, connections and the history to make it happen.{{Ref/Reuse|ET11}} Nesto made alliances with both [[Severan]], the son of [[Tartarus]] and a Banished War Chief who was left in charge when Atriox traveled to Zeta Halo{{Ref/Reuse|ET12}} and Sali 'Nyon with 'Nyon pledging all of his forces to Nesto's cause.{{Ref/Reuse|ET10}}{{Ref/Reuse|ET16}} In exchange for their help, Nesto promised 'Nyon and Severan the same thing: a position of authority in the resurrected Covenant, and a place at the head of the Covenant's military.{{Ref/Novel|Id=ET32|ET|Chapter=32}} With their help, Nesto sought to secure the [[Lithos]], a gateway into the Domain.{{Ref/Novel|Id=ET10|ET|Chapter=10}} However, during the [[Battle of Boundary]], Nesto's schemes came to light, causing Severan to turn on him.{{Ref/Reuse|ET32}} The Lithos was ultimately destroyed by the {{UNSCShip|Victory of Samothrace}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=ET35|ET|Chapter=35}} and 'Nyon was killed by Severan, although Nesto managed to escape with the help of [[Blademaster]] [[Vul 'Soran]].{{Ref/Reuse|ET40}} With 'Nyon dead, Nesto took control of his Covenant and all of its resources for his continuing mission to restore the Covenant empire, assimilating them into the Order of Restoration{{Ref/Reuse|ET47}} which [[Ayit 'Sevi]] warned the UNSC about.{{Ref/Novel|Id=ET48|ET|Chapter=48}}

== Presently known groups ==
=== Asylum seekers ===
{{Main|Asylum seeker}}
In the years immediately after the [[Human-Covenant War]], refugees from the former [[Covenant]] member and client races sought asylum on [[Earth]], leading to the South American city of [[Rio de Janeiro]] becoming a hotspot for migration. This trend began when the [[Unified Earth Government]] permitted alien residency on Earth. Under their authorization, stranded [[Sangheili]] and [[Unggoy]] soldiers from the ''[[Day of Jubilation]]'', marooned following the {{Pattern|Syfon|assault carrier}}'s destruction by [[John-117]] during the initial stages of the [[Battle for Earth]], were granted clemency and sanctuary in exchange for their surrender and subsequent intelligence cooperation.

To house these ex-Covenant asylum seekers, a refugee compound was established in Rio de Janeiro, eventually becoming a Sangheili settlement within the [[Sekibo district]]. The district features numerous historic human buildings that were converted to house roughly 1,500 refugees; however, because the architecture largely retains its original human design, it does not completely accommodate the physical proportions of the Sangheili.{{Ref/Novel|Id=RWR|Halo: Rendezvous With Ramen}}

However, a failed attempt by a Sangheili [[terrorism|terrorist]] to detonate a [[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon]]{{Ref/Reuse|Departure}} further fueled resentment toward Sangheili asylum seekers among human extremist groups like [[Sapien Sunrise]], who desired revenge against the aliens living on Earth. In [[2558]], UEG ambassador [[Richard Sekibo]] was set to negotiate with a Sangheili [[kaidon]] to relocate the alien population on Earth to another suitable world, but he was killed on [[Biko]] by Sapien Sunrise terrorists. His efforts were ultimately undermined by a campaign of misinformation that spread fears that Earth would admit more alien refugees. The Sekibo district was then named in honor of the deceased ambassador. Since the settlement's inception, the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] has worked to shield Rio's asylum seekers from wrathful individuals and violent groups.{{Ref/Reuse|RWR}}

=== Swords of Sanghelios ===
{{Main|Swords of Sanghelios}}
[[Thel 'Vadam|Arbiter Thel 'Vadam]] and then-[[Special Operations Commander]] [[Rtas 'Vadum]] of the [[Fleet of Retribution]] successfully rebelled against the San'Shyuum-led Covenant during the Great Schism, assassinating its remaining political leadership alongside the UNSC.{{Ref/Level|Id=cove|H3|H3:The Covenant|The Covenant}}<ref name="waypoint-thel">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/arbiter-thel-vadam ''Halo Waypoint'': ''Arbiter Thel 'Vadam'']</ref> Following the conclusion of the [[Human-Covenant War]], 'Vadam and his allies formally established the Swords of Sanghelios and sought to make peace with the [[human]]s. The Swords are the most prominent post-Covenant faction to abandon not only the [[Covenant religion]] but also question the Sangheili's traditional worship of the Forerunners as well, which has been a point of controversy among some of the more conservative Sangheili.{{Ref/Reuse|Gla2}}{{Ref/Novel|Gla|Chapter=5}} The Servants of the Abiding Truth, in particular, consider 'Vadam and his allies blasphemers.{{Ref/Reuse|Thursday War}}

===Servants of the Abiding Trut