Covenant remnants

"What does it mean to be 'Covenant' today? A hundred warlords claim they rule the Covenant, but each of them leads only a small faction."

- Zef 'Trahl

The fall of the Covenant at the end of the Human-Covenant War led to the formation of numerous factions sometimes collectively referred to as Covenant remnants, many of them claiming to be the Covenant.

The Great Schism and dissolution of the Covenant
The remnant factions can trace their origins back to the outbreak of the Great Schism in November 2552. The first faction formed during this conflict was Thel 'Vadam's separatist movement. With much support from the Sangheili, assisted by Unggoy and Mgalekgolo loyal to them, the separatist movement rebelled against the San 'Shyuum-led main body of the Covenant which was supported with Jiralhanae, Yanme'e, Kig-Yar and some Unggoy and Mgalekgolo loyalists.

Formation of other remnants of the Covenant
The dissolution of the Covenant did not end with the formation of one remnant faction. Following the end of the Human-Covenant War, various former client species of the Covenant began forming their own factions, with each claiming to be the Covenant. One prominent post-Covenant revival faction was formed by the Sangheili Jul 'Mdama, seeking revenge on the humans who supported the Arbiter during the Sangheili civil war - an event during which his wife Raia was killed. Defying the tenuous peace between humanity and the majority of the Sangheili, these Covenant began a new conflict with the UNSC. In 2553, 'Mdama, along with several other Sangheili from a planet called Hesduros, planned to go to the shield world Requiem and wake the "living god" known as the Didact to assist them in killing all humanity. The newly-formed remnant faction discovered Requiem shortly afterward and managed to gain access to the world in July 2557. Six months later, the UNSC again contested the occupying Covenant forces in the Second Battle of Requiem, ending in the shield world's destruction.

'Vadam's faction
The original Covenant remnant group, this faction was formed by Arbiter Thel 'Vadam during the Great Schism and successfully rebelled against the San 'Shyuum-led Covenant, assassinating its remaining political leadership alongside the UNSC. Following the conclusion of the Human-Covenant War, 'Vadam sought to make peace with the humans. It is the most prominent post-Covenant faction to abandon not only the Covenant religion but the Sangheili's traditional worship of the Forerunners as well, which has been a point of controversy among some of the more conservative Sangheili. The Abiding Truth, in particular, consider 'Vadam and his allies blasphemers.

Servants of the Abiding Truth
The Servants of the Abiding Truth is an insurgent group led by Sangheili religious extremist and former Field Master, Avu Med 'Telcam. Outspoken in their opposition of the Arbiter and his abandonment of the worship of the Forerunners, the Abiding Truth launched an armed insurgency against 'Vadam in March 2553, assisted by elements of the human Office of Naval Intelligence.

'Mdama's faction
This faction was founded on Hesduros by Jul 'Mdama, who initially started as a member of the Servants of the Abiding Truth but grew disillusioned with their religious zeal and willingness to collaborate with humanity even temporarily. Since the events of the first Requiem campaign, Jul 'Mdama's faction is considered by the UNSC to be the biggest threat among the many Covenant remnant factions, and has absorbed elements of one large faction and spun off another smaller group.

Vol's faction
Led by Zealot Merg Vol, the faction initiated one of the first engagements in the Reclamation conflict. The faction attacked the human research world of Draetheus V to access the Forerunner artifacts on its moon. Ultimately, the UNSC defeated the group and Vol was executed by Spartan Sarah Palmer, leading to the faction's dissolution. Parg Vol, a former member of this group, joined the faction led by 'Mdama following the battle.

'Gajat's group
Vata 'Gajat was a former member of Jul 'Mdama's faction, until he saw the benefit of human capitalism and turned mercenary. The faction's equipment and resources are a mixture from both the Covenant and 'Mdama. By March 2558, 'Gajat and the group were employed by the New Colonial Alliance. The group was responsible for the disruption of Sangheili and Jiralhanae peace meetings on Ealen IV.

List of appearances

 * Halo 2
 * Halo: Ghosts of Onyx
 * Halo 3
 * Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe
 * The Return
 * Halo: Glasslands
 * Halo: The Thursday War
 * Halo 4
 * Terminals
 * Spartan Ops
 * Halo: Spartan Assault
 * Halo: Escalation
 * Halo: Mortal Dictata