Covenant (disambiguation)

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The Covenant is a religiously zealous collection of alien races, controlling a large portion of the Orion Arm of the Milky Way galaxy. They waged a genocidal campaign of extermination against humanity until they were defeated due to many complications, one of which were internal conflicts. The Covenant was presumably disbanded after its defeat by the UNSC and Covenant Separatist forces. The Covenant Separatists were cast out by the Brutes and other Covenant Loyalists.

Background
The Covenant was formed by two alien species, the Elites and the Prophets, the Prophets being the leaders. The name "Covenant" was taken from the binding pact that forged the peace between the Elites and the Prophets. Their war which had devastated their respective races for years, was fought over the few remaining Forerunner artifacts on their home worlds, with the Elites wishing to preserve them, and the Prophets wishing to use the artifacts to explore the galaxy. The Elites held a distinct strategic upper hand, as their fighter society was ready for a war, but the Prophets had one massive advantage; an immensely powerful Forerunner construct known as the Dreadnought. After the Prophets decided to use the Forerunner Dreadnought against the Elites, the Prophets destroyed the Sangheili forces, while the wise and prudent Elite Commanders, realizing their peril, laid their arms aside and likewise cast their hatred away from the war. When the Prophets found evidence of the Forerunners and their "Great Journey", hoping to create a peace between them, told the Elites of their discovery and promised to find the means of the Forerunners' transcendence. The Prophets would share this knowledge with the Elites who in turn would protect the Prophets from harm as they searched for transcendent Forerunner artifacts to activate all the Halo Installations. These ideas would be put into the Covenant's founding document, the Writ of Union.

At first, the Covenant were only a loose non-aggression pact of two races held together by a common need to avoid mutually assured destruction ; but, as their society advanced, so did their technology, culture, and religion. By the time of the Halo games, the Covenant control a large part of the Orion Arm of the Milky Way galaxy. Their society had evolved into a complicated caste system, with the Prophets governing the Covenant, and the Elites left in charge of the military. The Covenant was a theocracy, based on prophecies about the Sacred rings and The Great Journey. The primary belief of the Covenant was that the Halos will allow them passage into the "Divine Beyond", where they might join the Forerunners as gods, those who did not believe in the Great Journey would be left behind to die by the power of the halo rings.

The Government
The Covenant is governed by the High Council, which is led by the trio of the Hierarchs and consists of lesser Prophets, Legates and very high ranking Elites. However, near the start of the Covenant Civil War, the Prophets began to replace the Elites with Brutes, in various positions in Covenant society, including the protection of the Hierarchs and command of the Covenant Fleets. The Prophets of Truth and Mercy used Regret's assassination at the hands of the Master Chief as an excuse to replace the Elite guard with Brutes. Truth and Mercy decided that the Elites were unable to protect the Prophets and replaced them with the Brutes. The Prophets then secretly ordered the Brutes to instigate a genocide of the Elites leading to the beginning of the Civil War.

In addition to the High Council, there are three other Councils: the Council of Concordance, the Council of Doctrine and Deed and the Council of Masters.

Numerous Ministries exist within the Covenant government as well, each of which possesses a single role. The Ministry of Tranquility is charged with hiring Jackals as mercenaries, while the Ministry of Concert represents the lower caste races such as Jackals and Grunts.

Species
For a list of all the species of Covenant, please follow this link.

Religion and Culture
The Covenant society and culture is based only on worshiping the Forerunners and recovering their sacred artifacts. Because of this, they often have to turn to war to achieve their ends, and so the Elites, and later the Brutes, have a very high place in their culture as they are a big help to the Prophets when in war. In Covenant society, personal vendettas are not tolerated.

Because of the Prophets' links to the Forerunners, they possess superior technology, and this, combined with the unique abilities of the client races, help to push the ever-growing war machine of the Covenant. The client races are nearly enslaved by the Covenant, forced to live a completely different way of life. Their past cultures are all but erased, and the only practical way for them to relive their former cultures is through dreams. Most races are only kept for their varying skills to be exploited, rather than to be a part of a flourishing empire. Hunters, for example, are indomitable ground forces, and so they were conquered by way of orbital bombardment to help the Covenant in close-range combat, rather than from star ships.

The Forerunners, a long-since vanished and utterly mysterious civilization, are revered as Gods by the Covenant, although their original nature was most likely not divine. The Covenant belief system is underpinned by the existence of numerous abandoned Forerunner artifacts, objects and installations. Of these, the most notable are the seven Halo rings, said to be the locations at which the transcendent Great Journey may be begun. The evident technological perfection of Forerunner objects, and the awesome and unknown purpose for which these artifacts exist, has powered the Covenant theology for millennia.

It appears that the Covenant's faith is solely qualified by finding the Forerunners' abandoned technology scattered throughout the galaxy. However, much of this Forerunner technology is as obtuse as it is arcane. It can only be guessed at what its true purpose and origin might be. That said, they have been able to incorporate some Forerunner advancements into their weapon and transport technology. The Covenant, then, are mainly driven by their fanatical devotion to religion. The client races are held together by a common belief; the slave races are driven by the religion which they have been forced to accept.

The History Of The Covenant
The Covenant divided their history into eons called Ages. There are at least eight ages, although their exact order is uncertain. The Ages are named according to things that have happened or are happening in them. This also means that the lengths of the Ages vary, with some longer than other. Halo 1 and Halo 2 take place during the 9th Age of Reclamation, which began during the events in Contact Harvest.

"The First Age: Ignorance and Fear.''
 * The Second Age: Rivalry and Bloodshed.
 * The Third Age: Humility and Brotherhood.
 * The Fourth Age: Wonder and Understanding.
 * The Fifth Age: Obedience and freedom.
 * The Sixth Age: Faith and Patience.
 * The Seventh Age: Journey and Salvation."

- Maccabeus and the Jiralhanae of the Rapid Conversion.

Technology
The Covenant, as is repeatedly stated, are more imitative rather than innovative, unlike their human enemies. Some may say that their technology is far more advanced than that of the humans. Their technology is based largely on mimicry of the leftover Forerunner artifacts they have discovered; their weaponry is mostly plasma based and most of their vehicles are capable of hovering. Most of the Covenant's hand-held weapons (except the fuel rod cannon, needler, carbine, brute shot and later the mauler, and spiker) use magnetic coils to direct the usually unstable plasma energy.

While Covenant technology is (on the whole) far more advanced than humanity's, the Covenant seem to be ignorant of how precise or powerful their technology can be. Covenant engines, for example, are more precise and faster than a human engine, but the Covenant use their engines slower and less precisely than they can be used. Cortana used this to her advantage on the captured Covenant Flagship Ascendant Justice by reconfiguring the electromagnetic shaping coils to shape the plasma into a thin, sustained beam that, while very effective, consumes plasma at an astonishing rate. These Plasma Torpedoes are said to be a much more powerful torpedo, breaching a larger Covenant ship's shields and hull in one shot. These were seen in the book Halo: First Strike. As found in Halo: Contact Harvest it seems that the Covenant have a reasonable understanding of herbs.

Only 2 Covenant AI have ever been found. One was a rampant AI that was destroyed by Cortana, the other was The Seeker. Even though only 2 have been found there are more, but they are destroyed before they can be found.

Covenant architecture is known for its curved and sophisticated style, likely for the aesthetic tastes of the higher-ranked castes. Constructed of distinctive purple or white metal, these colors are the main focus of Covenant design and distributed throughout their starships, vehicles, and weapons. The metal they use is unknown to the UNSC but is very strong and resilient.

Military
Like other civilizations, the Covenant maintains a permanent armed forces branch, used to enforce order, conduct atmospheric and space combat operations, and generally project the Covenant's power onto others. Formerly led by the Elites prior to the Covenant Civil War, the Loyalist branches are now led by the Brutes. The military comprises of the Covenant Navy, the Covenant Army and the Covenant Special Operations Division (SpecOps).

Weaponry
The Covenant boast a large arsenal of Plasma based weapons. Most of the Covenant's weaponry uses a form of magnetic channeling that humans can only match with the MAC gun aboard starships and the Warthog mounted M68 Gauss Cannon.

The Covenant have a wide arsenal of weaponry to choose from. But, to the benefit of humanity they tend to adopt new weapons from the various races they encounter,and instead of researching it so they could use it to its full potential. This allowed the human race to use Plasma weaponry more effectively.

Plasma-based weaponry is extremely effective against the Covenant's own energy shielding. The amount of shots that can be fired tends to be very high, but power cannot be recharged without a recharge station nearby, and firing many shots in a short duration can cause the weapon to overheat, which reduces energy efficiency as well as forcing a temporary cooling period in which the weapon cannot be fired. Once the Plasma reserves are used up, the weapon is useless. As is evidenced in some of the game files, recharging is possible, although this technology cannot be used by the Master Chief or the Arbiter in Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2 or Halo 3.

With the introduction of the Brutes as the major military caste within the Covenant, their weaponry has found widespread use. Utilizing crude projectile-like metal spikes in place of plasma, human-based hand held Shotguns, explosive grenade-like launchers, and sharp blades, they are more primitize, yet brutal - fitting, considering the nature of their creators, the Brutes.

There are three known types of dedicated melee weaponry used by the Covenant. The first, and certainly most well known, is the Energy Sword, used solely by the Sangheili. Creating a solid blade of superheated plasma, it has both ceremonial and martial value to the Sangheili warriors, and its possession is closely monitored. Secondly is the Gravity Hammer, used by Jiralhanae, which seems to be the cultural equivalent to the sword – rather than using a blade of plasma, it can generate a gravitational field, doing devastating damage. The third has not yet been seen in a game, but is used by Unggoy and Kig-Yar – an Energy Cutlass, a crystal similar to those fired by the Needler, used in melee combat, capable of embedding in a target and exploding. The Jiralhanae Brute Shot, while extremely capable in melee combat, is not exclusively used as such.

Vehicles
Covenant Vehicles use advanced anti-gravity technology for propulsion, as well as utilising Plasma Cannons as offensive weaponry and being constructed out of a high-strength purple metal. Though often faster than their UNSC counterparts, Covenant vehicles are more unstable over uneven terrain where the sudden changes affects its handling. Recently, brute vehicles and technology have been incorporated into the Covenant's arsenal. Though more primitive, they serve the Brutes' need for power. All covenant vehicles are made from a purple or dark blue type of metal, except for brute choppers and brute prowlers.

Worlds of The Covenant
Please follow this link for a list of Covenant controlled worlds.

Covenant Starships
Also see the List of Starships article for further information

Fleets

 * Combined Fleet of Righteous Purpose
 * Fleet of Particular Justice
 * Second Fleet of Homogenous Clarity

Space Stations

 * High Charity - Infested with Flood, then destroyed by Master Chief on Installation 04 (II).
 * Unyielding Hierophant - Destroyed by Master Chief and the Spartans of Blue Team

Assault Carrier

 * Shadow of Intent

Supercarrier

 * Sublime Transcendence - destroyed

Carrier

 * Lawgiver - unknown status, possibly destroyed

Flagships

 * Ascendant Justice - destroyed in the battle for the Unyielding Hierophant
 * Seeker of Truth - unknown status, possibly destroyed

s

 * Incorruptible - destroyed at the battle for Onyx

s

 * Purity of Spirit - unknown status
 * Sacred Promise (hypothesized) - unknown status, probably destroyed
 * Truth and Reconciliation - destroyed in the Battle of Installation 04

Other Types

 * Contrition - unknown status
 * Penance - unknown status

CPV-class Destroyers

 * Esteem - unknown status
 * Reverence - destroyed

Other Types

 * Absolution - destroyed
 * Bloodied Spirit - destroyed, Onyx
 * Far Sight Lost - destroyed
 * Rapturous Arc - destroyed

Frigates

 * Tenebrous - destroyed
 * Twilight Compunction - unknown status
 * Revenant - destroyed

Support Ships

 * Infinite Succor - destroyed, sent into a star to prevent the Flood from escaping.

Unknown Type

 * Begotten Angel - unknown status
 * Commitment and Patience - unknown status
 * Devotion - unknown status
 * Pious Inquisitor - unknown status, most likely destroyed

Important Covenant Events

 * Taming of the Hunters
 * Grunt Rebellion
 * Human-Covenant War
 * Civil War of the Covenant
 * The Great Journey

Known Legions

 * Dn'end Legion
 * E'Toro Warrior Crèche
 * R'Lan Warrior Crèche
 * N'Noro Warrior Crèche

Sympathy for the Covenant
Despite the fact that in-game the Covenant are all seemingly unlike Humans in their thoughts, feelings, and actions, but in several of the books of the series, the Grunts and Elites are revealed to have sympathy and regret for their acts, and are generally almost likable to Humans. In the books the Grunts are portrayed as unwilling under dogs, and only wish to be back on their own planet of Bahalo, and often they are almost comical in their actions. The Elites, however, are proud warriors fighting for honor and what they believe is righteous and good. These are both traits portrayed by Human soldiers in the book series.

Food/Food Devices In The Covenant
Food Nipple - A Device thats feeds unggoy.

Hookah Tobacco - Prophet stimulate smoked via pipe.

Thorn Beasts - A Giant creature eaten by Jiralhanae.

Shade Crabs - Crustaceans hunted/eaten by Unggoy.

Mud Wasps - Insects hunted/eaten by Unggoy.

Scrub Grubs - Ratlike creatures eaten by Unggoy.

Zap-Jellies - Jellyfish-like creatures eaten by Unggoy.

A Jiralhanae revealed that if they could, they would literaly eat a Sangheili. This is heard in Halo 2. Also the Jiralhanae's partner suggested to toss him in with a cage full of hungry Jackals saying they could use the meat.

Trivia

 * A Covenant is a relationship with God or an agreement with others.
 * The naming scheme for most Covenant vehicles have to do with paranormal beings or entities, the words Wraith, Ghost, Spectre, Phantom, Banshee, and Spirit are all synonyms.
 * More specifically, the Covenant's government system is a hierarchical theological oligarchy, having a caste system and being ruled by a group of specific individuals.
 * In a biblical reference, with the Ark of the Covenant, it represented the will of God, in connection with the quote: "Your destruction is the will of the Gods... and we are their instrument." The Covenant claim to be the instrument that carries through the gods' will, similar to the Ark of the Covenant.
 * Brute vehicles go against the naming scheme of the other Covenant vehicles, using names that seem to fit their homeworld's ecosystem, like Chopper and Prowler.
 * The Covenant apparently have a strange fascination for purple; most, if not all, the vehicles are in some form of purple (you can debate the Wraith is semi-purple), the Arbiter has purple system (his motion tracker, etc) and the highest of the Covenant Elites wear purple clothing (Supreme Commander of the Fleet).
 * The Covenant's political system is a homogeny.
 * The Grunts joined the Covenant out of fear from invasion.
 * The Unyielding Hierophant seems to be the only station of its type.
 * They have glassed in total 76 worlds.
 * The Covenant split during the great Schism.
 * Grunts, Hunters, Jackals, and Drones are the Covenant species who do not become a Combat Form from a infection form. This is becasue the Grunts, Drones and Jackals are too small to have enough calcium for the Flood. And the Hunters are a hive of worm like creatures, also too small individually to be assimilated.
 * The first Covenant species you fight in Halo: Combat Evolved is a threesome of Grunts.
 * In Halo 2 the first Covenant species you encounter is a Grunt or an Elite.
 * In Halo 3 the first Covenant species you encounter are Grunts and a Brute.
 * Halo 2 is the only game in the Halo trilogy with Honor Guards.
 * 343 Guilty Spark often refers to Covenant species as "meddlers" due to their constant disregard for Containment protocols, and misinterpretation of Forerunner technology. Since the Separatists learned the truth of about the Forerunners they are no longer referred to as meddlers.
 * The Covenant has acuired the nickname "Covie" or "Covies" by the UNSC Marines.
 * Elite's armor usually signifies what rank they are.
 * When you shine your flashlight at any covenant creature's blood in halo 2, about 70% of it will dissappear, upon turning off your flashlight the blood reappears.
 * Excluding Huragoks, 7 Covenant species appear in the game series (Elites, Grunts, Brutes, Prophets, Jackals, Hunters, and Drones), this could be another 7 obbsesion.
 * The Covenant is a mixture of several races blended together to form one almighty race. The technology is most likely back engineered from the Forerunners.

Internal

 * Governors of Contrition
 * Writ of Union
 * Mark of Shame
 * Great Journey
 * True Sayings
 * Ratification Parley
 * Covenant Weapons

External

 * A Covenant Primer: The Best of the Bestiary

Les covenants Covenant コブナント