Ages of Reclamation

The Age (or Ages) of Reclamation is a subject about which not much is known. The only reference is the beginning cutscene of Halo 2, where the Arbiter is on trial during the 9th Age of Reclamation. This could mean either that this is the ninth age, which happens to be the Age of Reclamation, or that there are several Ages of Reclamation, and this is the ninth, but no one knows which it is.

It is likely that they would be involved with the Covenant's annihilation of many species that were considered an "affront" to the gods, or their reclamation of Forerunner artifacts.

The events of Halo and Halo 2 take place 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 into a civil war that could very well scar the entire Galaxy for an eternity. It is possible that the eight other Ages of Reclamation came directly before the 9th, 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
The 9th Age of Reclamation takes place in the events of Halo: Combat Evolved, and Halo 2. This age possibly began in the year 2525, the year that the Covenant came into contact with humanity for the first time at the colony world of Harvest. The Covenant immediently attacked and decimated the world without warning. Spartan-II supersoliders were deployed in the Battle of Chi Ceti, boarding a Covenant Cruiser, planting explosives on the ship, and destroying it. Then in 2530, the Covenant war machine attacked and glassed Eridanus II. The Battle of Harvest then took place in 2531, the first major space engagment between the UNSC and the Covenant. The Covenant are outnumbered, and the UNSC stood victorious, barely. In 2535, the Covenant destorys Jericho VII in the Battle of Jericho VII, and by this year, the Covenant are hammering and constantly winning decisive victories against the UNSC, crushing the Outer Colonies. By 2536 Covenant militants are swarming into the Inner Colonies, for several years, human lives are spent in huge numbers winning ground operations, only to be wasted after the Covenant win the battle in space and glass the Inner Colonies, one after another. Then, in 2537, Spartan-III's are trained and deployed in the battles of New Harmony, New Constantinople, and the Siege of the Atlas Moons. Then, in Operation: PROMETHEUS, Spartan-III Alpha Company is slaughtered by Covenant forces. In 2544, the minor Battle of Miridem takes place. In 2545, Operation: TORPEDO results in the massacre of Spartan-III Beta Company at Pegasi Delta. In 2552, the Battle of Sigma Octanus IV takes place, leading to a major UNSC victory, but at a cost, the Covenant learning the location of Reach and Installation 04. The Battle of Reach, the largest naval battle between the UNSC and the Covenant, Covenant forces win a decisive victory, destorying 152 UNSC ships and 20 Super MAC gun platforms. This is a major blow the UNSC, who lost their last great stronghold. A single UNSC ship, the UNSC Pillar of Autumn escapes to Installation 04. After four days of hard fighting in the Battle of Installation 04, the Covenant discover the Flood organism and Forerunner constructs, hampering their efforts to control the installation. The melee ends with Installation 04 destroyed with only a handful of survivors. The Commander tasked with defending Installation 04 is trialed and is later named the Arbiter, embarking on missions to quell a Heretic, and to retrieve the Index and the 343 Guilty Spark. Then, in Operation: FIRST STRIKE, Six SPARTAN-II supersoldiers are able to rout and destroy all but a dozen or so of a fleet of 500 Covenant starships in orbit around Unyielding Hierophant, through the sacrific of Admiral Whitcomb and Lieutenant Haverson on board Ascendant Justice. The survivors on board the UNSC Gettysburg surveyed the damage and jumped to Earth, scoring a major UNSC victory. The First Battle of Earth then occurs, though a relatively small and lopsided battle; 15 Covenant ships fighting 75 UNSC vessels and 300 MAC platforms, this event is significant in that the Covenant discovered the location of Earth. The UNSC wins the fight with the help of the Master Chief. However, a single Covenant ship survives the battle of Earth and retreats to Installation 05, known as Delta Halo. The Covenant ship is pursued by a single UNSC ship, the UNSC In Amber Clad. This results in the Battle of Installation 05. Again, a massive fight ensues between the UNSC, Covenant, Flood, and Forerunner Constructs. The Flood appear to win control of the Installation. The Covenant Civil War then begins, ending the 9th Age of Reclamation.