Sali 'Nyon's Covenant

This article is based on canon information, but the article's title is conjectural and/or uses descriptions as the title, as there is currently no official name for the subject.

Sali 'Nyon's Covenant
Government overview
Type:	Terrorist organization Religious cult
Founder(s):	Sali 'Nyon
Head of state:	The "Didact's Hand" Sali 'Nyon †
Societal overview
Capital:	Okal'supen
Official language(s):	Sangheili language
Official script(s):	Syllabary and logograms
Notable event(s):	Battle of Aktis IV Operation: ATHENA Battle of Venezia Battle of Boundary
Historical overview
Formation:	July 2558
Amalgamated:	December 15, 2559
Affiliation:	Order of Restoration (2559-)

"Once the great fraud 'Mdama's sins are exposed, his own armies will rise against him and all will join as one."

— Sali 'Nyon after seceding from Jul 'Mdama's faction

This Covenant faction is a splinter group formed from Jul 'Mdama's Covenant splinter group by members who believed Sali 'Nyon to be the true "Hand of the Didact". Following 'Nyon's death, it was assimilated into the Order of Restoration, under the leadership of the San'Shyuum High Lord Dovo Nesto.

History

Formation

Main article: Battle of Aktis IV

The Sangheili who would go onto form the backbone of Sali 'Nyon's support base were formed from defectors originally a part of the remnant faction led by Jul 'Mdama. These troops became disillusioned with Jul 'Mdama after his destruction of Requiem, which they considered the holiest site, and his subsequent alliance with a human, Doctor Catherine Halsey. Zealot Sali 'Nyon started preaching that he was the true "Hand of the Didact", whereas 'Mdama was a false prophet due to his actions. 'Mdama had heard of 'Nyon's views, but he chose to dismiss the dissident as "a delusional pig possessed by demons". However 'Nyon managed to attract followers who in turn began recruiting others into their cause.

After arriving on Aktis IV, 'Mdama's forces discovered the circle of traitors and a fight ensued. Some of 'Nyon's followers were killed while others escaped, but a traitor was captured and brought before 'Mdama. Rather than ask for pardon, he chose to maintain his sect's views and accused 'Mdama of heresy. The latter executed him with his energy sword. Meanwhile, 'Nyon's group seceded from the rest of Jul 'Mdama's Covenant forces. When the UNSC sent a Pelican and Broadsword to the surface of Aktis IV, the rogue faction, led by Sali 'Nyon himself, shot down the ships and scavenged them to retrieve the UNSC's piece of the Janus Key. This action prompted the rest of 'Mdama's Covenant to abandon their leader's original plan and also attack the UNSC. Meanwhile, 'Mdama swore to humiliate and eliminate the traitors. While 'Mdama and his Promethean forces began to eliminate the traitors, 'Nyon broadcasted a message across Jul's entire fleet to incite them to join him in rebellion.

'Nyon later returned to his hideout in a jungle on the planet. Some followers began to grow disillusioned with 'Nyon and started to question the feasibility of continuing the rebellion. 'Nyon responded by reassuring his followers that the Forerunners had blessed them, citing his recovery of half of the Janus Key as proof. One Sangheili Minor in particular stated that the Prometheans' allegiance to Jul 'Mdama is evidence to the contrary, but 'Nyon insists that the answers to their questions would all be revealed in time. While 'Nyon left to help aid the wounded, the Minor betrayed 'Nyon and his followers, and stole their half of the Janus Key and departed on a Karo'etba-pattern Ghost. The Minor contacted a Zealot serving under 'Mdama, and promised to provide the stolen Janus Key half and the faction's hideout. The Zealot reluctantly agreed and prepared to establish a rendezvous point. However, Jul's forces had already discovered the location of the hideout and had begun assaulting the base. The Zealots that met with the Minor took his half of the Janus Key and promptly executed him for his disloyalty. Meanwhile, 'Nyon's forces had been completely destroyed and 'Nyon himself was imprisoned. 'Mdama decided that 'Nyon would be kept alive for the time being. With both halves of the Janus Key, Jul's forces fled the system shortly after.

Until September 17th, 2558, Sali was kept by Jul aboard the Song of Retribution as he journeyed to a planet that would lead to the Absolute Record. With the fleet damaged by slipspace ruptures, Jul decided to transfer Sali to the damaged Breath of Annihilation, setting down for repairs on a nearby moon, while he took the Song of Retribution alone through the portal. Needing a distraction to keep Spartan Gabriel Thorne alive, ONI agent Ayit 'Sevi arranged for Sali's escape, convincing the former leader that he could rally those loyal to him. 'Nyon would lead a revolt aboard the ship, killing those loyal to 'Mdama and seizing control of 'Mdama's collection of Forerunner artifacts taken from Requiem, using them to further cement his support. 'Nyon took the Breath of Annihilation back into Sangheili space to rally further support among their people, not noticing 'Sevi's absence, and was shortly after engaged by the Song of Retribution, a battle that ended in stalemate with 'Mdama unable to retake the ship.

After the death of 'Mdama on Kamchatka, 'Nyon emerged as the clear frontrunner for leader of religious Covenant remnants. Some Sangheili, even one in the Swords of Sanghelios, viewed him as a true leader compared to the Arbiter and Jul, and the next best chance for a Covenant revival.

Securing a power base

Having gathered the necessary support to sustain operations, the Covenant remnant established themselves on the former-Covenant fortress world of Okal'supen - considered a stronghold with enough manufacturing facilities and feedstock to sustain an empire. However, a lack of organization kept the Covenant's remnant's activities contained.

Alliance with Dovo Nesto

By November 2559, Sali 'Nyon's Covenant had formed an alliance with San'Shyuum High Lord Dovo Nesto, the leader of the Order of Restoration whose goal was to restore the original Covenant empire. A Covenant battlegroup consisting of two assault carriers, eight battlecruisers and four corvettes -- one of which was possibly the Breath of Annihilation -- came to Nesto's aid when the UNSC Victory of Samothrace and the Shadow of Intent were attempting to stop him from escaping Venezia with the Banished. Unaware of Nesto's alliance with the Covenant, War Chief Severan chose to flee at the arrival of the battlegroup which also forced the Victory and the Shadow of Intent to retreat, only learning that the Covenant ships were actually allies afterwards.

Search for the Lithos

Main article: Battle of Boundary

During the Battle of Boundary, a fleet from Sali 'Nyon's Covenant arrived as well and helped to push the UNSC forces back. The Covenant forces were let through the defensive shell because they had Severan's own fleet's clearance codes. The number of Covenant ships was great enough and they were everywhere once they got through the defensive shell that the Banished were unable to stop 'Nyon from sending out detachments to claim the key to the Lithos for himself. The collusion between Nesto and 'Nyon caused Severan to realize that Nesto had promised the Sangheili what he had already promised Severan. 'Nyon himself made his way to the Banished encampment where Nesto revealed himself, surprising the members of the Eight who were on the ground as they were unaware of Severan working with a San'Shyuum and leading to a standoff that 'Nyon tried to defuse. Cov