Editing Vanguard of Zaladon

{{Status|Canon}}
{{Affiliation infobox
|name=Vanguard of Zaladon
|image=
|type=Mercenary clan
|founder=
|documents=
|head-title=Leader
|head=[[Severan]]
|executive=
|legislative=
|judicial=
|branch=
|main=[[Zaladon]], [[Zaladon Sea]], [[Warial]] {{C|Pre-[[2559#November|November 8, 2559]]}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=ET8|ET|Chapter=8}}
|anthem=
|language=
|script=
|religion=
|techlevel=
|notable=
|formed=
|dissolved=
|affiliation=[[Banished]]
}}

The '''Vanguard of Zaladon''' are a [[clan]] of [[Jiralhanae]] part of the [[Banished]] alliance, led by [[War Chief]] [[Severan]].{{Ref/Novel|ET|Chapter=4}}

==History==
===Origins===
Following the Covenant’s [[Battle of the Citadel|defeat on the Ark]], [[Severan]], the last surviving son of [[Tartarus]], gathered a formidable military presence and established the Vanguard of Zaladon on [[Warial]], one of two colonized moons that orbited the [[Jiralhanae]] homeworld of [[Doisac]]. During the intervening years, the Vanguard established an effective defense against the widespread chaos and infighting that embroiled the species in the wake of the empire’s demise. Within their ocean-citadel of [[Zaladon]], the Vanguard withstood against both assaults of rival chieftains as well as the brutal weather that often dominated the [[Zaladon Sea]].{{Ref/Reuse|ET4}}

Around [[2553]], the Vanguard were offered a place among the [[Banished]] by their [[warmaster]] [[Atriox]], at the suggestion of Severan’s cousin [[Choros]]. Within a year after joining the faction, Severan was given the title of [[War Chief]] once the Vanguard of Zaladon had proven themselves to be a great asset to the Banished.{{Ref/Reuse|ET4}}

===Discovery at Saepon'kal===
In late [[2559]], a Vanguard salvage detachment was sent to pillage the remains of the [[Sangheili colony]] of [[Saepon'kal]]. They were able to loot its storehouses, war factories, and anything that remained intact.{{Ref/Reuse|ET4}}

However, they also encountered a [[UNSC carrier]] along the farthest point of the dead world's shadow, salvaging the remains of an [[Assembly Forges|Assembly Forge]]. A detachment of Zaladon forces disabled and captured the ship, along with its weapons, [[Slipspace drive]], navigational logs, and anything else of use. They killed most of the crewmen, but interrogated the command crew through the Jiralhanae game of [[Tossers]]. Not long after, an agent of the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] revealed that the [[UNSC Infinity]] is preparing to launch [[Battle over Installation 07|an attack]] on Installation 07 to destroy [[Cortana]].{{Ref/Reuse|ET4}}

Two day-cycles later, Severan and his two lead [[Jiralhanae Captain|Captains]], [[Othmald]] and [[Kaevus]], report their findings to the Warmaster aboard his personal [[Banished dreadnought|Dreadnought]] [[Ghost of Helotry]]. In response, Atriox gives the War Chief sole command of the Banished home fleets remaining in the galaxy, while the Warmaster and [[Escharum]] take their fleets to [[Installation 07|Zeta Halo]].{{Ref/Reuse|ET4}}

===Razing of Doisac===
On [[2559#November|November 8, 2559]], Severan rallied his Zaladon forces on Warial alongside Kaevus and Othmald. The War Chief intended to leave some at their ocean-citadel in order to protect it from rival Chieftains. However, the [[Cortana|Apparition]] [[Razing of Oth Sonin|destroyed]] Doisac with several [[Guardian Custode|Guardian Custodes]]. During the evacuations of Warial and her sister-moon [[Teash]], Severan received orders from Escharum with instructions to destroy the homeworld of [[Humanity]]: [[Earth]].{{Ref/Reuse|ET8}}

===Search for the Lithos===
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==Known Members==
*[[Severan]] - [[War Chief]] and leader of the Vanguard of Zaladon.
*[[Othmald]] - One of Severan's strongest lead [[Jiralhanae Captain|Captains]] within the Vanguard. Killed by [[Adriana-111]] during the [[Battle of Venezia]].
*[[Kaevus]] - Severan's longtime friend and one of his strongest lead Captains.
*[[Arxus]] - The ''Champion of Zaladon''. Killed by [[James-005]] during the [[Battle of Boundary]].
*[[Vodus]] - Ship commander for Severan's flagship, ''[[Heart of Malice]]''.
*[[Erutaun]] - Communications Officer for the ''[[Heart of Malice]]''.
*[[Sabaco]] - A member of the [[Surdkar]].
*[[Aculeo]] - A member of the [[Surdkar]].
*[[Hoktar]] - Pilot of a [[Qavardu Workshop Gravemaker]] during the [[Battle of Boundary]].
*[[Suvitas]] - Pilot of a [[Barug'qel Workshop Trespasser]] during the [[Battle of Venezia]].

==Military assets==
Prior to the [[Razing of Oth Sonin]], the Vanguard of Zaladon had several thousand members within their clan, including hundreds of children. They had at their disposal nine hundred warriors within their ocean-citadel of [[Zaladon]]. They wear [[Jiralhanae power armor|power armor]] that resembled those worn during the time of the Covenant.{{Ref/Novel|ET|Chapter=8}}

Following the Razing of Oth Sonin, the Vanguard fleet was comprised of nearly a hundred vessels, with  [[Karve|Karves]] and [[Banished dreadnought|Dreadnoughts]] amongst the fleet's number.{{Ref/Novel|ET|Chapter=16}} Their flagship was the ''[[Heart of Malice]]'', a warship of unknown specification but bore a resemblence to the UNSC's {{Class|Halcyon|light cruiser}}.{{Ref/Novel|Id=ET4|ET|Chapter=4}} {{Ref/Novel|ET|Chapter=15}}

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: Empty Throne]]'' {{1st}}

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}
[[Category:Banished military units]]