Ages of Reclamation

It is likely that these ages would be involved with, the Covenant annhilation of many Species, that were considered an 'affront' to the gods.

During the 9th age of Reclamation which existed from around the 3rd of February of 2525 to around the 21st of October of 2552, when the Covenant split up in a civil war that could very well scar the entire Galaxy for an eternity. These are some of the least understood Ages. It is possible that the eight other Ages of Reclamation came directly before it, during which the Covenant were expanding their empire in their search for the Halos. The eight other Ages of Reclamation may have been created upon some new development in their search, though this is only speculation.

The 9th Age of Reclamation
At the time of Halo and Halo 2 the Covenant are in the 9th Age of Reclamation. It is possible that it began in 2525, when the Covenant first came into contact with humans. So far, the Age has contained a 27 year long war with the humans, the discovery and destruction of Installation 04, the threat of Heresy, the creation of a new Arbiter, the location of Installation 05, the threat of the Flood and the start of the Covenant Civil War.