Order of Restoration
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
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Clandestine order[1] |
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| Historical overview | |
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c.2200 BCE |
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The Order of Restoration is a fanatical sect of San'Shyuum. Formed long before the formation of the Covenant, the organization seeks to reestablish the empire following the Great Schism. The Order is led by High Lord Dovo Nesto.[1]
History[edit]
Origin[edit]
The Order of Restoration was established as a clandestine group following the end of the War of Wills, when the Reformists lived within the Forerunner Dreadnought. They secretly plotted to restore ancient San'Shyuum traditions originating from their homeworld of Janjur Qom.[1]
During the time of the Covenant, the Order remained shrouded in secrecy for many ages. For centuries, their members pulled the strings of the empire’s politicians and nobility. While their leader, High Lord Dovo Nesto, never laid claim to the position of Hierarch, he was in many ways a shadow master of the Covenant, governing the purposes of the High Council and even exploiting many former Prophets through countless divinatory maneuverings. Nesto claimed to have done so since the very dawn of the empire thousands of years before and that he was the oldest living being in the galaxy. Nesto's will was never denied and he never failed to accomplish his purpose, leaving him in many respects without rival as Nesto operated silently from within the Forerunner Dreadnought.[1][2]
The Fall[edit]
When the Great Schism occurred, the Covenant was divided in two. The majority of the San'Shyuum and Jiralhanae remained loyal to the Covenant while the Sangheili led the forces abandoning the empire.
In the years following the fall of the Covenant, Nesto consolidated whatever remained of the San'Shyuum's influence into the Order, along with the majority of the empire’s other species. Unlike the warlords of the Covenant remnants, Nesto had the strategic acumen, connections and the history to make it possible.[1][3]
Vendetta[edit]
Following the end of the War of Annihilation, two members of the Order of Restoration, Prelate Tem'Bhetek and Minister Boru'a'Neem, sought revenge against the Sangheili. Unlike Boru'a'Neem, Tem'Bhetek had a smaller scale, more personal vendetta against Rtas 'Vadum and the Shadow of Intent, as he viewed them responsible for the death of his family during the Fall of High Charity. Unknown to Tem'Bhetek, the Minister planned to use a prototype Halo installation to commit genocide against the Sangheili species by activating it near Sanghelios.[4]
Their first target was the Sangheili colony of Rahnelo. Using the Zanar-pattern light cruiser Spear of Light, Tem leads Jiralhanae forces to attack the civilians on the planet's surface. The Sangheili civilians defended themselves to some extent taking several Jiralhanae with them but ultimately lost the battle. Tem had successfully kidnapped Kaidon Tulum 'Juranai and his two sons, and later executed them as test subjects for the activation of the prototype Halo installation. The attack on Rahnelo served as the first part of the faction's plan to lure in the Shadow of Intent.
Following the massacre, the Prelate proceeded to attack another Sangheili colony, Duraan. The Shadow of Intent engaged the Spear of Light but failed to destroy it due to the interference of the planet's sun. The crew of the Spear of Light then boarded the Shadow of Intent attempting to take over the ship. A firefight ensued throughout the hanger bay and several decks of the ship. All the Jiralhanae forces were killed and Tem was taken prisoner.
Rtas 'Vadum located their headquarters from the Spear of Light’s database and took the Shadow of Intent to the prototype Halo installation to destroy it. Tem had managed to escape and return to Boru'a'Neem inside the installation where he learned the truth about what happened to his family. When High Charity fell, Boru had told Tem that his family was dead in order to escape. Realizing that his family was still alive for some time and that he could have potentially saved them, Tem felt betrayed by Boru. Now taking full control of the Prelate’s forces, Boru ordered several Yanme'e to open fire on Tem, wounding him further. Rtas and his soldiers fought the last of the faction's forces at the installation. Realizing who his true enemies were, Tem destroyed the installation ultimately helping Rtas and his soldiers escape.
Rebuilding the Covenant[edit]
Years after the Covenant’s fall, Dovo Nesto held a citadel on the Sangheili colony of Feldokra and maintained it while its power reserves still functioned. After they had been exhausted, Nesto set himself up on the human colony world of Venezia which no one paid any regard, including the humans who lived there. This allowed his enemies to remain in the dark until everything was in order. The choice of location proved to be advantageous as all those under Nesto's command came and went as they pleased and any humans who were suspicious could be easily bought off. While Nesto's forces amassed starships and weapons on outer worlds, they could coordinate everything on Venezia, right under the nose of their greatest enemies.[2]
As a part of his plans, Nesto contacted Severan, the son of Tartarus, Chieftain of the Jiralhanae. He promised the Jiralhanae a place at his right hand, appointed as an instrumental part in the Covenant's restoration. First, Severan was to build up the Vanguard of Zaladon, drawing in both his rivals and allies, something that he accomplished with little difficulty. Through his cousin Choros, Severan attained a position as a War Chief in the Banished, something that he and Nesto would use to their advantage when the time came.[2]
By late 2559, Nesto formed an alliance with Sali 'Nyon and his Covenant with 'Nyon pledging all of his forces to the Order of Restoration.[5][6] 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.[7]
Vigilance with Piety[edit]
In November 2559, the Chel Tor-pattern storm cutter Vigilance with Piety, captained by former Minister Kafo Dein traveled to the artificial moon orbiting the gas giant Kus'kah and begun raiding the site’s long-abandoned Forerunner ports and armories, relieving it of countless treasures, including five war sphinxes. The crew of the Shadow of Intent attempted to capture him. Dein activated the storm cutter's self-destruct and attempted to flee to Kus'kah's artificial moon. However, he was stopped by Tul 'Juran who destroyed Dein's Ren with a war sphinx, killing him.[1]
Search for the Lithos[edit]
Nesto and the Order of Restoration sought to secure the Lithos, a gateway into the Domain. During the Fall of Reach, while serving under the command of Tulum 'Juranai, 'Nyon had recovered a record of a living clone of Dr. Catherine Halsey that held the key