Grunts

Summary
The Unggoy, or Grunts, are the cannon fodder of the Covenant military. They are the most common enemy in the games, and as such will be encountered almost everywhere.

Physiology
Around 4-5' tall and relatively weak, Grunts tend to travel in packs and stick close to more powerful allies. If a more powerful creature(usually an Elite) nearby dies, Grunts will panic and flee. Individually they are easy to defeat, but in groups they can overwhelm careless Marines. Their armor seems to house some sort of life-support mechanism. They are known to use a variety of weapons including the plasma pistol, plasma rifle, needler, plasma grenades, and even fuel rod guns.

Culture
Grunt culture has largely been erased by their incorporation into the Covenant. They are essentially a slave race. Their home world is a cold, swampy planet with a methane atmosphere and naturally occurring pillars of fire.

Grunts obey the other Covenant races out of fear, because they have no political power in Covenant society. However, within the Grunt community there is a strong hatred of other species, and a belief that someday a dynamic Grunt leader will lead them to freedom on a methane-rich paradise world.

Due to their low status, Grunts are not permitted by the Elites to possess family names. They do value their ties to their offspring, but are usually separated from their families at an early age by the requirements of their service to the Covenant. The Grunts resent this greatly, but are unable to muster any response. Examples of Grunt names include Yayap, Linglin, Gagaw, Zawaz, and Mehmep.

Rank Structure
Grunts have several classes:


 * Orange armored Grunts are Grunt minors and are basically used as cannon fodder. They are armed with plasma grenades, and either a plasma pistol or needler.


 * Red armored Grunts are veteran Grunts that are sometimes seen commanding a few other lesser Orange Grunts.


 * Black armored Grunts are Spec-Op Grunts who are commanded by the SpecOp Elites, and have been known to wield Fuel Rod Guns more frequently than the other Grunt types.


 * Green armored Grunts are Gunners, and their main purpose seems to be to set up and use mounted plasma cannons and fixed turret emplacements.


 * White Grunts have been seen performing a number of tasks, from being used in combat to cleaning starships. It is unknown exactly what position this seems to be.

Other Information
Grunts have certain characteristics that make them difficult to classify scientifically. They have behavior similar to that of simians, but this does not reflect their appearance. They have hooves on their four-toed feet, their skin is leathery and purple-gray, and they have thick, light-blue blood (possibly because of the chemicals they breath and the chemical reaction within their bodies). Even though they are small and not very agile, they are surprisingly strong--they can carry and fire a Fuel Rod Gun on their shoulder without toppling over. They also have to carry tanks of methane in their armor to breathe, and without it they will suffocate to death.

Reports have been received about Grunts communications, and that have high-pitched tones in their voices (possibly due to the methane they breathe). Also, there are several Grunts referring to something called a "food-nipple". At this time it is not known what this device does. Since they breathe methane, they are mostly seen wearing rebreather apparatuses on their backs, but they have been seen habitating in large environment domes that have airlocks and methane filters for them to breathe while not in armor.

Related Links

 * Food-Nipple Grunt
 * Cowardly Grunt