T'vaoan

The Skirmishers, or T'vaoans, are a specialized group of Kig-Yar in the Covenant military, comprised of the less common race of Kig-Yar.

Description
Skirmishers are a subset of the Kig-Yar species hailing from the isolated environment of T'vao. They are much faster and stronger than the more lightly-built common Kig-Yar, known to humans as Jackals. In addition, they sport manes of feathers rather than quills. A Skirmisher's voice is more raspy and guttural - this is because they have an expanding voice chamber on their throat. Skirmishers serve as Covenant shock troops, while the more lightly built Jackals see deployment as dedicated ranger or sniper units. In engagements prior to 2530, mixed units were more common; however, this changed toward the end of the Human-Covenant War.

The Covenant use Skirmishers as close-range combatants, attacking in packs and using lightning-fast flanking tactics, as opposed to Jackals, who are often used as defensive and long range combatants and assassins. Physically, they seem to be similar to regular Jackals, though in combat they do not wield large rounded energy shields like the Jackals. High-ranking Skirmishers do wear point defense gauntlets or wrist shields, medium sized ovular shields strapped on to their wrists, to help them deflect bullet and light plasma fire. Their head shape appears to be more avian than their cousins; their skin tone is noticeably darker and not yellowish. They also run much faster than Jackals and can jump incredible heights. Their eyes are also yellow with slitted pupils, as opposed to bulbous and pale.

Several Skirmisher squads saw action during the Battle of Hat Yai and Battle of Actium, among other engagements. During these engagements UNSC forces managed to capture the hologram technology used by the Skirmishers.

They saw extensive action during the Fall of Reach, and as a result of catastrophically high casualties, the Skirmisher ranks were utterly exhausted and the Skirmishers themselves nearly wiped out, though the sub-species on a whole did survive.

Tactics
Skirmishers play an intermediate role between the cannon fodder Grunts and the powerful Elites and Brutes. They most often play a harassing role in combat, supporting heavier units with fast attacks in multiple directions. Skirmishers are dangerous both in long range and short range combat. They tend to be very accurate shots. Their most distinguishing feature is their speed; they can outrun any other Covenant species, and even Spartans. They also make great use of their jumping abilities, which are comparable to those of the Flood. They can leap up into buildings to escape enemy fire or to assault their occupants, and rush to capture strategic locations on the battlefield. Their armor can withstand some small-arms fire, making head shots the most effective means of killing them.

The Murmillo rank of Skirmishers uses elbow-mounted point-defense gauntlets for additional protection, and the Commando will use hologram equipment to misdirect their foes. Their tactics utilized include constantly strafing targets, and often alternating use of their two point-defence gauntlets to let the other recharge. These gauntlets, while not nearly as large as those that Jackals wield, are used very effectively by Skirmishers to protect themselves.

Skirmishers do have their weaknesses. They are not issued with grenades and cannot board, making them relatively helpless against vehicles. They can only rely on their agility to avoid being splattered. A Skirmisher is also no match for a Spartan's strength in hand-to-hand combat, and in game they have no melee ability, making them just as vulnerable to being beaten down as their lesser Jackal cousins.

In addition, Skirmishers are the third and final Covenant race in Halo: Reach that use armor abilities. Notable uses are Hologram and Evade.

Trivia
Skirmishers bear a notable physical resemblance to dromaeosaurs such as deinonychus and the smaller, better-known velociraptor. Like the Skirmishers, the dromaeosaurs were reptiles with prominent avian features including feathers and lightweight bones. Dromaeosaurs are considered to be one of the main taxonomic links between dinosaurs and birds, perhaps suggesting a similar evolutionary progression among the Kig-Yar.

List of appearances

 * Halo: Reach
 * Halo: The Thursday War
 * Halo: Escalation
 * Halo: Mortal Dictata