Editing Proselytization network

{{Status|Canon}}
{{Disambig header|the Covenant communications network|other uses|Bnet}}
[[File:Gallery_pic_3447_0_30025.jpg|thumb|300px|The proselytization network communications centre on the {{Pattern|Ceudar|heavy corvette}}, ''[[Ardent Prayer]]''.{{Ref/Book|HWF|Page=77}}]]
{{Quote|I've hacked into the Covenant battlenet. They're actually broadcasting tactical data on unencrypted channels. We should show them who they're dealing with.|[[Cortana]] to [[John-117]] on [[Installation 04]].}}
The '''proselytization network''',{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} informally termed the '''Covenant battle network''',{{Ref/Novel|TF|Page=38}} or '''Covenant battle net''',{{Ref/Level|Id=halo|CE|Halo (Halo: Combat Evolved level)|Halo}} or simply the '''battlenet''',{{Ref/Novel|FS|Page=55}} is the term for [[Covenant]] communication systems maintained to allow instantaneous contact between units, vessels and planets. It is the equivalent to the [[human]] [[COM]] systems. Following the defeat of the Covenant, various [[Covenant remnants]] have been shown to use the battle net or modifications of it for their own purposes.

==Overview==
[[File:H2A High Charity Comm Node.png|150px|thumb|Covenant communications nodes were used to receive information from the proselytization network.]]
In contrast to its [[UNSC]] [[UNSC battle network|counterpart]], proselytization network was used by the Covenant for domestic, religious and military functions - as opposed to the humans' purely military use cases. The system was designed as a top-down tool for use by the [[San'Shyuum]] and [[Sangheili]] leadership on [[High Charity]] to transmit orders down the chain, but not to receive updates from subordinate nodes. Various methods were used across the network to spread its messages, depending on the importance of the message in question. Central leadership on High Charity could use [[superluminal communications]] links to broadcast orders via [[FLEETCOM (Covenant)|FLEETCOM]] to tithe-worlds and [[Covenant fleet|fleets]] directly, with these imperatives modified by local satraps and commanders spread via the use of less sophisticated [[Covenant comm node|comm nodes]].{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=217}}{{Ref/Book|HWF|Page=69}} All star systems inhabited by the Covenant are fitted with regional [[coordination platform]]s - space stations managed by the [[Ministry of Concert]] to serve a variety of functions involved with the managing of the Covenant's day-to-day affairs with their ancillary functions including serving as nodes in the proselytization network.{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=224}} The battlenet is standard equipment aboard all Covenant vessels, which have both intra- and inter-ship battlenets.{{Ref/Novel|FS|Page=63}} In the field, [[Scarab]] excavator platforms may occasionally forgo their heavy weaponry systems to instead fit proselytization arrays.{{Ref/Site|Id=WPScarab|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/vehicles/scarab|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Scarab|D=30|M=06|Y=2021}} The {{Pattern|R'ea'kuk|command shuttle}} is equipped with [[capital ship]]-scale proselytization arrays for field command functions.{{Ref/Site|Id=CFLore|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/canon-fodder-cutting-room-lore|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Cutting Room Lore|D=26|M=7|Y=2022}}

As a consequence of their generally lax computer security and its use in civil and military affairs, the proselytization network was often broadcast entirely on unencrypted channels - something able to be employed against the Covenant via the use of human [[artificial intelligence]] systems. These networks could be accessed by even the communications equipment inside a suit of [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark V|Mark V MJOLNIR]] armor, with the AI [[Cortana]] able to access and gain information on Covenant force deployments several times throughout the [[Battle of Installation 04|campaign]] on [[installation 04]].{{Ref/Reuse|halo}}{{Ref/Level|CE|The Truth and Reconciliation}} The chaos introduced into the ranks of the [[Fleet of Particular Justice]] by the [[Flood]] outbreak was sufficient to overload the fleet's network, making it near-impossible to access information through it.{{Ref/Level|CE|Two Betrayals}}

Near the end of the Human-Covenant War, during the [[Battle for Earth]], a [[Quick to Adjust|defected Huragok]] was captured by [[Alpha-Nine|a squad of ODSTs]], and the Huragok agreed to share information in the Covenant battlenet after interrogated by [[Sergeant Major]] [[Avery Junior Johnson]].{{Ref/Level|ODST|Coastal Highway}} Two days later, the battlenet fell into disarray again, this time following the [[Prophet of Truth]]'s departure through the [[Excession]] at the close of the [[Battle of Voi]].<ref name="loot2">''[[Halo Legendary Crate]]'', ''[[Halo Legendary Crate/Data Drops|Data Drop #2]]''</ref>

===Sesa 'Refumee's heretic faction===
[[Sesa 'Refumee]] [[Sesa 'Refumee's heretic faction|heretic faction]] had its own battlenet, but the storm approaching the [[Threshold gas mine]] masked the arrival of [[Thel 'Vadam|the Arbiter's]] team and put the Heretics' battlenet into disarray.{{Ref/Level|H2|The Arbiter}}

===Jul 'Mdama's Covenant===
During the [[Battle of Requiem]] in [[2557#July|July 2557]], Cortana monitored a new battlenet used by [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]] to learn more about the situation.{{Ref/Level|H4|Requiem (level)|Requiem}} During the early stages of the battle, Cortana detected reports of [[Promethean]] resistance on the battlenet while [[John-117]] fought through [[Core of Requiem|Requiem's core]].{{Ref/Level|H4|Forerunner (level)|Forerunner}}

During the [[Requiem Campaign]] in [[2558]], Jul 'Mdama's Covenant mainly used one of the [[shield world]]'s Forerunner subnets to communicate rather than their battlenet.{{Ref/SpOps|Didact's Hand|Hairy Call}} Later, Dr. [[Catherine Halsey]]'s comm signal was discovered to have bounced off into 'Mdama's battlenet after being traced to "[[Lockup]]."{{Ref/SpOps|Key|The Hammer}}

In [[2558#October|October 2558]], while [[Blue Team]] was [[Operation: BIRD IN HAND|on]] ''[[Argent Moon]]'', Jul 'Mdama's battlenet suddenly lit up as a [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|Covenant remnant]] fleet arrived at the station, causing the team to change their plan to [[self-destruct|scuttling]] ''Argent Moon''. As the team made their way through the station, they picked up chatter on the battlenet about [[Jul 'Mdama]]'s death in the [[Battle of Kamchatka]].{{Ref/Level|H5|Blue Team (level)|Blue Team}}

===Banished===
The [[Banished]] use a modified version of the Covenant battlenet, typically created from a network of [[communication tower]]s deployed across their occupied territory. While versatile, the communication towers form the battlenet, so destruction of even one tower could impair all local communications.{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=441}} During the [[Battle for Zeta Halo]], the Banished battlenet was connected to different [[FOB]]s and important Banished facilities, such as [[Outpost Tremonius (location)|Outpost Tremonius]]. When the Master Chief took control of Outpost Tremonius, he inserted [[the Weapon]] into a terminal where she easily removed the location from the Banished system, reclaiming it for the UNSC.{{Ref/Quest|HI|Ringfall|Outpost Tremonius}} After the Master Chief secured each of the UNSC FOBs in the area, the Weapon removed them from the system as well. Each time an FOB was liberated, the Weapon also secured data on Banished operations from the battlenet, including major outposts and high-value Banished targets.{{Ref/Game|HI|campaign open world}}

== Covenant battle network frequencies ==
These frequencies are most commonly used by the Covenant, but it seems that they occasionally utilize the UNSC D- and E- Bands.
*'''Covenant F-Band'''{{Ref/Novel|Id=ping|FS|Page=297}}
*'''Covenant G-Band'''{{Ref/Reuse|ping}}
*'''Covenant H-Band'''{{Ref/Reuse|ping}}
*'''Covenant I-Band'''{{Ref/Reuse|ping}}
*'''Covenant J-Band'''{{Ref/Reuse|ping}}
*'''Covenant K-Band'''{{Ref/Reuse|ping}}

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' {{Fm}}
*''[[Halo: The Flood]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: First Strike]]''
*''[[Halo 2]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''
*''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo 4]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Spartan Ops]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
*''[[Halo: New Blood]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo Infinite]]'' {{Mo}}

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}
[[Category:Covenant technology]]
[[Category:Communications technology]]