Great Schism: Difference between revisions

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{{Ratings}}
{{Ratings}}


{{Template:Infobox Military Conflicts
{{Template:Infobox Military Conflicts  
|name        = Covenant Civil War
|previous=
|image       = [[Image:War.jpg|300px]]
|conc=Human-Covenant War
|begin       = October [[2552]]
|next=
|end         = Unknown/Ongoing ([[2559]]?)<ref name=Evolutions>''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''</ref>
|name=Great Schism
|place       = [[Milky Way|Milky Way Galaxy]]
|image=[[Image:War.jpg|300px]]
|result      = *UNSC/Separatist victory <ref>''[[Halo 3]]'', level [[The Covenant (Level)|The Covenant]]''</ref>
|begin=October [[2552]]
**Eventual destruction of the Covenant
|end=Still ongoing by 2559<ref name=Evolutions>''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''</ref>
**Peace between the Humans and Separatist Members Established
|place=[[Milky Way|Milky Way Galaxy]]
|side1       = *[[Covenant Loyalists]]
|Cause=Genocide
|side2       = *[[Covenant Separatists]]
|result*Eventual destruction of the Covenant
*Peace between the Humans and Separatist Members Established
|side1=*[[Covenant Loyalists]]
|side2=*[[Covenant Separatists]]
* [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]]
* [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]]
|commanders1 = *[[High Prophet of Truth]]†
|commanders1=*[[High Prophet of Truth]]†
*[[High Prophet of Mercy]]†
*[[High Prophet of Mercy]]†
*[[High Prophet of Regret]]†
*[[High Prophet of Regret]]†
*[[Jiralhanae Chieftain|Chieftain of the Jiralhanae]] [[Tartarus]]†
*[[Jiralhanae Chieftain|Chieftain of the Jiralhanae]] [[Tartarus]]†
|commanders2 = *[[Arbiter (Rank)|Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadamee]]
|commanders2= *[[Arbiter (Rank)|Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadamee]]
*[[Shipmaster]] [[Rtas 'Vadum]]
*[[Shipmaster]] [[Rtas 'Vadum]]
*[[Fleet Master]] [[Voro Nar 'Mantakree]]†
*[[Fleet Master]] [[Voro Nar 'Mantakree]]†
Line 26: Line 29:
*[[Master Chief Petty Officer|MCPO]] [[John-117]]
*[[Master Chief Petty Officer|MCPO]] [[John-117]]
*[[Sergeant Major]] [[Avery Johnson]]†
*[[Sergeant Major]] [[Avery Johnson]]†
|forces1     = *[[Covenant Army|Covenant Loyalist Army]]
|forces1=*[[Covenant Army|Covenant Loyalist Army]]
*[[Covenant Navy|Covenant Loyalist Navy]]
*[[Covenant Navy|Covenant Loyalist Navy]]
**[[Truth's Fleet]]
**[[Truth's Fleet]]
|forces2     = *[[Covenant Army|Covenant Separatist Army]]
|forces2=*[[Sangheilian Armed Forces]]<ref>http://www.bungie.net/projects/halo3/content.aspx?link=h3plasmarifle</ref>
*[[Covenant Navy|Covenant Separatist Navy]]
**[[Fleet of Retribution]]
**[[Fleet of Retribution]]
*[[UNSC Defense Force]]
*[[UNSC Defense Force]]
|casual1     = *[[High Council]]
|casual1=*[[High Council]]
*Large amounts of [[Jiralhanae]], [[Mgalekgolo]], [[Unggoy]], [[Kig-yar]] and [[Yanme'e]] soldiers
*Large numbers of [[Jiralhanae]], [[Mgalekgolo]], [[Unggoy]], [[Kig-yar]] and [[Yanme'e]] soldiers
|casual2     = *[[Fleet Master|Fleetmaster]] [[Voro Nar 'Mantakree]]
|casual2=*[[Fleet Master|Fleetmaster]] [[Voro Nar 'Mantakree]]
*[[Lieutenant Commander|LCDR]] [[Miranda Keyes]]
*[[Lieutenant Commander|LCDR]] [[Miranda Keyes]]
*[[Sergeant Major|SgtMaj]] [[Avery Johnson]]
*[[Sergeant Major|SgtMaj]] [[Avery Johnson]]
*Large amounts of [[Sangheili]], [[Human]], [[Unggoy]] and [[Mgalekgolo]] soldiers.
*Large numbers of [[Sangheili]], [[Human]], [[Unggoy]] and [[Mgalekgolo]] soldiers.  
}}
}}


The '''Great Schism''', also known as the '''Covenant Civil War''', was a major conflict between two factions, the [[Covenant Loyalists]] and the [[Covenant Separatists|Separatists]], which split apart in [[2552|October 2552]]. During the Covenant Civil War, three major factions fought for victory: [[Humans]] and their [[Covenant Separatists|Separatist]] allies, [[Covenant Loyalists]], led by the [[San 'Shyuum]] and the [[Jiralhanae]], and Gravemind with the [[Flood]], which took over the Covenant [[List of Starships|Holy City]] of [[High Charity]] in an effort to assimilate the other warring factions.
The '''Great Schism'''<ref name=GoO>''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''</ref>, also known as the '''Covenant Civil War''', was a major conflict between two factions, the [[Covenant Loyalists]] and the [[Covenant Separatists|Separatists]], which split apart in [[2552|October 2552]]. During the Covenant Civil War, three major factions fought for victory: [[Humans]] and their [[Covenant Separatists|Separatist]] allies, [[Covenant Loyalists]], led by the [[San 'Shyuum]] and the [[Jiralhanae]], and the [[Flood]], which took over the Covenant [[List of Starships|Holy City]] of [[High Charity]] in an effort to assimilate the other warring factions.


==Conflict Erupts==
==Conflict Erupts==
Line 48: Line 50:
However, Truth further demoted the Elites by giving command of their [[Covenant Fleet]]s to the Brutes. Once enough Brutes were in place, Truth instigated the war by secretly ordering the assassination of many [[Councilors|ruling]] Elites. Truth also freed all of the Brute prisoners and pardoned them after release (Seen on the Halo Timeline Edict of the High Prophet of Truth). This was disguised as a Brute insurrection against the Covenant to the Elites, the [[Hunters (Lekgolo)|Hunters]] and most [[Unggoy|Grunts]]. Loyalist factions were led to believe it was an Elite revolt. After the killing of the Elite Council members, war broke out on [[High Charity]], the two sides polarizing quickly. However, this was at first a debate over orthodoxy and leadership. The true split occurred when the Elites learned the truth about the [[Halos]] and the [[The Great Journey|Great Journey]]. Their disillusionment changed their goal from reforming the purity of the Covenant to actively fighting against it.  
However, Truth further demoted the Elites by giving command of their [[Covenant Fleet]]s to the Brutes. Once enough Brutes were in place, Truth instigated the war by secretly ordering the assassination of many [[Councilors|ruling]] Elites. Truth also freed all of the Brute prisoners and pardoned them after release (Seen on the Halo Timeline Edict of the High Prophet of Truth). This was disguised as a Brute insurrection against the Covenant to the Elites, the [[Hunters (Lekgolo)|Hunters]] and most [[Unggoy|Grunts]]. Loyalist factions were led to believe it was an Elite revolt. After the killing of the Elite Council members, war broke out on [[High Charity]], the two sides polarizing quickly. However, this was at first a debate over orthodoxy and leadership. The true split occurred when the Elites learned the truth about the [[Halos]] and the [[The Great Journey|Great Journey]]. Their disillusionment changed their goal from reforming the purity of the Covenant to actively fighting against it.  


The split was not cleanly divided by either race or faction. [[Covenant Loyalists|Loyalists]] followed the Prophets and included Brutes, [[Jackals]], [[Drones]], a small number of [[Grunts]] and some Hunters. [[Covenant Separatists|Separatists]] included Elites, with most Hunters and the majority of Grunts also breaking away initially. The Great Schism seemed to be more associated with intellect. The Elites' reasoning, logic and good intentions allowed them to see through the abuse of religious authority enforced by the Prophets.
The split was not cleanly divided by either race or faction. [[Covenant Loyalists|Loyalists]] followed the Prophets and included Brutes, [[Jackals]], [[Drones]], [[Grunts]] and some Hunters. [[Covenant Separatists|Separatists]] included Elites, with most Hunters and an unknown number of Grunts also breaking away initially. The only Grunts who actually remained loyal to the Prophets were the most devout followers of the Covenant religion (ex. Deacons). This might also suggest that the Grunts' "new found courage" in ''[[Halo 3]]'' might have been the result of fanaticism rather than cowardice. There is some evidence to support this since there are a number of Grunts who commit acts that are anything but cowardly (ex. Kamikaze Grunts).
 
The only Grunts who actually remained loyal to the Prophets were the most devout followers of the Covenant religion (ex. Deacons). This might also suggest that the Grunts' "new found courage" in ''[[Halo 3]]'' might have been the result of fanaticism rather than cowardice. There is some evidence to support this since there are a number of Grunts who commit acts that are anything but cowardly (ex. Kamikaze Grunts). It's also possible that the reason Separatist Grunts are never seen in ''Halo 3'' is that shortly after the Great Schism, they returned to [[Balaho]] to lead a rebellion against the Deacons and other Loyalist forces. The Separatist Hunters might have done the same on [[Te]], but it is still unknown.


==Sangheili-Human Alliance==
==Sangheili-Human Alliance==
The shaky-to-steady alliance between the [[Covenant Separatists|Separatists]] and their former foes, the [[Humans]], was forged entirely out of necessity. The UNSC forces were big but on the defensive, and they had two common enemies that wished for their extinction: the Covenant and the Flood. The alliance of circumstance was forged in the control room of [[Delta Halo]], when Johnson and the Arbiter were coerced to unite in order to prevent Tartarus activating Delta Halo and firing the Halo Array, which would have killed every sentient being in the galaxy, including himself and the rest of his race, while he, and the rest of the Covenant Loyalist's, still believed the array would only start the Great Journey.<ref>''[[Halo 2]]'', [[The Great Journey (level)]] Final Cutscene</ref>However, the Arbiter persuaded the rest of the Sangheili to join the humans. While the two factions experience some friction because their alliance is based on the ''the enemies of my enemies are my friends'' concept instead of good political relationships they learn to work with one another for their mutual survival. During the events of ''Halo 3'', the [[Elites]] fight alongside humans in battle. The Elites decided to save the humans from destruction.
The shaky alliance between the [[Covenant Separatists|Separatists]] and their former foes, the [[Humans]], was forged entirely out of necessity. The UNSC forces were on the defensive, and they had two common enemies that wished for their extinction: the Covenant and the Flood. The alliance of circumstance was forged in the control room of [[Delta Halo]], when Johnson and the Arbiter were coerced to unite in order to prevent Tartarus activating Delta Halo and firing the Halo Array, which would have killed every sentient being in the galaxy, including himself and the rest of his race, while he, and the rest of the Covenant Loyalist's, still believed the array would only start the Great Journey.<ref>''[[Halo 2]]'', [[The Great Journey (level)]] Final Cutscene</ref>However, the Arbiter persuaded the rest of the Sangheili to join the humans. While the two factions experience some friction because their alliance is based on the ''the enemies of my enemies are my friends'' concept instead of good political relationships they learn to work with one another for their mutual survival. During the events of ''Halo 3'', the [[Elites]] fight alongside humans in battle.


The devastated [[UNSC]] [[Fleet]] in [[Earth]]'s space were glad to accept the help of the superior [[Separatist]] Warships. The [[Elites]]' understanding of enemy equipment and [[Covenant]]'s combat tactics proved invaluable in the [[Battle of Installation 00]]. Recurrently the heroes of battle, the Arbiter and [[Master Chief]] fought alongside one another many times in the desperate and long conflict. The Arbiter's presence at memorial services for the [[Master Chief]] indicated that in the wake of victory, [[Separatist]]s and humans remained friendly to one another as they both had made tremendous sacrifices in order to stop Truth and the Loyalist forces, as well as the Gravemind and the Flood. The Elites and humans will probably continue to be allies and will benefit greatly from this alliance in the future.
The devastated [[UNSC]] [[Fleet]] in [[Earth]]'s space were glad to accept the help of the superior [[Separatist]] Warships. The [[Elites]]' understanding of enemy equipment and [[Covenant]]'s combat tactics proved invaluable in the [[Battle of Installation 00]], where a fleet three times larger than that sent by the Elites was completely destroyed by the smaller force. Recurrently the heroes of battle, the Arbiter and [[Master Chief]] fought alongside one another many times in the desperate and long conflict. The Arbiter's presence at memorial services for the [[Master Chief]] indicated that in the wake of victory, [[Separatist]]s and humans remained friendly to one another as they both had made tremendous sacrifices in order to stop Truth and the Loyalist forces, as well as the Gravemind and the Flood.


With [[Truth]] dead, [[High Charity]] destroyed, and the [[Ark]] essentially lost to the reborn [[Installation 04 (II)|Installation 04]]'s firing, it is unknown what exactly the remaining [[Loyalist]] forces did.  
With [[Truth]] dead, [[High Charity]] destroyed, and the [[Ark]] essentially lost to the reborn [[Installation 04 (II)|Installation 04]]'s firing, it is unknown what exactly became of the remaining [[Loyalist]] forces did. It seems that they remain active in at least some form, rebuilding their tattered strength to continue their war of conquest.<ref>''[[Halo 3]]'', [[Assembly (Level)]]</ref>
According to the [[Bestiarum]] in [[Halo 3]]'s Limited Edition, the [[Grunts]] were too indecisive to continue the rebellion and the true political motivation of the [[Hunters]], if any, remained a mystery. [[Ship Master]] [[Rtas 'Vadum]] stated that [[Truth]]'s Fleet was destroyed. Had any of the [[Covenant]] survived on the [[Ark]] or in the ruins of their Fleet, they were either taken by the [[Flood]] or killed when the unfinished Installation 04 (II) fired and destroyed itself and heavily damaged the Ark. At the end cutscene of ''[[Halo 3]]'', victorious Elites depart for their homeworld.


== The Continuing Conflict ==
According to the [[Bestiarum]] in [[Halo 3]]'s Limited Edition, the [[Grunts]] were too indecisive to continue the rebellion and the true political motivation of the [[Hunters]], if any, remained a mystery. [[Ship Master]] [[Rtas 'Vadum]] stated that [[Truth]]'s Fleet was destroyed. Had any of the [[Covenant]] survived on the [[Ark]] or in the ruins of their Fleet, they were either taken by the [[Flood]] or killed when the unfinished Installation 04 (II) fired and destroyed itself and heavily damaged the Ark.


== Timeline ==
== Timeline ==
Line 103: Line 102:
*[[Rtas 'Vadum]] evacuates all humans and Sangheili via the [[Shadow of Intent]], back to Earth.
*[[Rtas 'Vadum]] evacuates all humans and Sangheili via the [[Shadow of Intent]], back to Earth.
*The Battle of [[Installation 04 (II)]]. Thel 'Vadam, [[Master Chief]] and Johnson battle to the control room of [[Installation 04 (II)]]. Guilty Spark runs [[rampant]], killing Johnson before being subsequently destroyed by John-117. Installation 04(II)'s Sentinels turned on the Master Chief, Thel 'Vadam, and the Elites. The unfinished Installation 04 is activated, damaging the Ark and destroying the entire local Flood infestation including the [[Gravemind]]. These final events ended The Human-Covenant War.
*The Battle of [[Installation 04 (II)]]. Thel 'Vadam, [[Master Chief]] and Johnson battle to the control room of [[Installation 04 (II)]]. Guilty Spark runs [[rampant]], killing Johnson before being subsequently destroyed by John-117. Installation 04(II)'s Sentinels turned on the Master Chief, Thel 'Vadam, and the Elites. The unfinished Installation 04 is activated, damaging the Ark and destroying the entire local Flood infestation including the [[Gravemind]]. These final events ended The Human-Covenant War.
*The Master Chief, Cortana, and Thel 'Vadam escape but only Thel 'Vadam gets back to Earth. The Master Chief and Cortana are drifting in between Earth and The Ark due to the portal closing. They are inside the back half of [[Forward Unto Dawn]], and no one on Earth knows what happened to them.
*The Master Chief, Cortana, and Thel 'Vadam escape but only Thel 'Vadam gets back to Earth. The Master Chief and Cortana are drifting in space due to the portal closing. They are inside the back half of [[Forward Unto Dawn]], and while technically MIA, are presumed KIA by the UNSC.<ref name=Memorial>''[[Halo 3]]'', [[Halo_(Halo_3_Level)#The_Storm_Has_Passed_.28March_3.2C_2553.29 Halo (Level)]] </ref>


===2553===
===2553===
'''March 3''':
'''March 3''':
*The [[Humans]] and the [[Elites]] make a memorial out of a pelican wing near Mt. Kilimanjaro on planet Earth to commemorate those who were lost in the Battle of the [[Ark]], while also serving as a small memorial for those lost in the Human-Covenant war. The memorial has the number 117 engraved on it in the corner.
*The [[Humans]] and the [[Elites]] make a memorial near Mt. Kilimanjaro on planet Earth to commemorate those who were lost in the Battle of the [[Ark]], while also serving as a small memorial for those lost in the Human-Covenant war. The memorial has the number 117 engraved on it in the corner.


===2559===
===2559===
*The Great Schism rages on. While the Jiralhanae wage their own internecine wars, the Sangheili themselves are gradually losing their fleets in a war of attrition with the Loyalists, having lost the technical expertise kept exclusively by the Prophets.<ref name=Evolutions>''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''</ref>
*The Great Schism rages on. While the Jiralhanae wage their own internecine wars, the Sangheili themselves are gradually losing their fleets in a war of attrition, having lost the technical expertise kept exclusively by the Prophets.<ref name=Evolutions>''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''</ref>
*A [[Sangheili]] shipmaster returns to the glassed human colony of [[Kholo]].<ref name=Evolutions>
*A [[Sangheili]] shipmaster returns to the glassed human colony of [[Kholo]].<ref name=Evolutions>''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''</ref>


==Trivia==
==Trivia==
*The term "Great Schism" is taken from [[wikipedia:Schism_(religion)|human religious debates]] over orthodoxy and power, most notably the [[wikipedia:East-West_Schism|East-West Schism]], the [[wikipedia:Western_Schism|Western Schism]], and the [[wikipedia:Old_Believers Old|Believers Schism]]. The [[wikipedia:Sunni-Shia_relations|Sunni-Shia split]] is also often called a Schism.
*The term "Great Schism" is taken from [[wikipedia:Schism_(religion)|human religious debates]] over orthodoxy and power, most notably the [[wikipedia:East-West_Schism|East-West Schism]], the [[wikipedia:Western_Schism|Western Schism]], and the [[wikipedia:Old_Believers Old|Believers Schism]]. The [[wikipedia:Sunni-Shia_relations|Sunni-Shia split]] is also often called a Schism.
*In Contact Harvest the [[Prophet of Truth]] foreshadows the Schism, noting that if the [[Elite]]s ever separated from the Covenant that the entire government would collapse.
*In Contact Harvest the [[Prophet of Truth]] foreshadows the Schism, noting that if the [[Elite]]s ever separated from the Covenant that the entire government would collapse.
*Throughout the [[Halo 3: ODST]] Mombasa Streets levels, you can find dead [[Sanghelli]] bodies in various corners of the map. In particular, during the first [[Eddie Buck|Buck]] flashback mission, he comes across some dead Sanghelli and comments to [[Veronica Dare|Dare]] about it. Oddly enough, seeing as how the game begins just six hours after the [[Prophet of Regret]] slipspace-jumps away, this would mean that either the entirety of sans-Earth [[Halo 2]] took place in the period of six hours, or that [[Jiralhanae]] had started killing Sanghelli before the Schism took place.&nbsp; However, [[Buck]]'s story takes place only minutes after the drop.
*Throughout the [[Halo 3: ODST]] Mombasa Streets levels, you can find dead [[Sanghelli]] bodies in various corners of the map. In particular, during the first [[Eddie Buck|Buck]] flashback mission, he comes across some dead Sanghelli and comments to [[Veronica Dare|Dare]] about it. Oddly enough, seeing as how the game begins just six hours after the [[Prophet of Regret]] slipspace-jumps away, this would mean that either the entirety of sans-Earth [[Halo 2]] took place in the period of six hours, or that [[Jiralhanae]] had started killing Sanghelli before the Schism took place. However, [[Buck]]'s story takes place only minutes after the drop.


== Sources ==
== Sources ==
Line 127: Line 126:
*[[Brutes]]
*[[Brutes]]
*[[Prophets]]
*[[Prophets]]
===External Links===




{{Covenantwars}}
{{Covenantwars}}
[[Category:The Covenant]]
[[Category:The Covenant]]
[[Category:Wars]]</ref>
[[Category:Wars]]

Revision as of 23:48, November 29, 2009

Template:Ratings

Template:Infobox Military Conflicts

The Great Schism[1], also known as the Covenant Civil War, was a major conflict between two factions, the Covenant Loyalists and the Separatists, which split apart in October 2552. During the Covenant Civil War, three major factions fought for victory: Humans and their Separatist allies, Covenant Loyalists, led by the San 'Shyuum and the Jiralhanae, and the Flood, which took over the Covenant Holy City of High Charity in an effort to assimilate the other warring factions.

Conflict Erupts

After the Prophet of Regret was killed by Master Chief, the two remaining Prophets, most notably the High Prophet of Truth, reorganized Covenant society, seeing that the Elites could no longer protect the Prophets due to Regret's death, they replaced the Elites with the Brutes as the Prophets' protectors. The Elites viewed this as a violation of the principle that the Covenant had been founded upon and threatened to resign from the High Council. They also argued that if Truth had not withdrawn the Phantoms that had been en route to Regret's location, the Prophet's death would have been prevented and the Demon would have been killed instead.

However, Truth further demoted the Elites by giving command of their Covenant Fleets to the Brutes. Once enough Brutes were in place, Truth instigated the war by secretly ordering the assassination of many ruling Elites. Truth also freed all of the Brute prisoners and pardoned them after release (Seen on the Halo Timeline Edict of the High Prophet of Truth). This was disguised as a Brute insurrection against the Covenant to the Elites, the Hunters and most Grunts. Loyalist factions were led to believe it was an Elite revolt. After the killing of the Elite Council members, war broke out on High Charity, the two sides polarizing quickly. However, this was at first a debate over orthodoxy and leadership. The true split occurred when the Elites learned the truth about the Halos and the Great Journey. Their disillusionment changed their goal from reforming the purity of the Covenant to actively fighting against it.

The split was not cleanly divided by either race or faction. Loyalists followed the Prophets and included Brutes, Jackals, Drones, Grunts and some Hunters. Separatists included Elites, with most Hunters and an unknown number of Grunts also breaking away initially. The only Grunts who actually remained loyal to the Prophets were the most devout followers of the Covenant religion (ex. Deacons). This might also suggest that the Grunts' "new found courage" in Halo 3 might have been the result of fanaticism rather than cowardice. There is some evidence to support this since there are a number of Grunts who commit acts that are anything but cowardly (ex. Kamikaze Grunts).

Sangheili-Human Alliance

The shaky alliance between the Separatists and their former foes, the Humans, was forged entirely out of necessity. The UNSC forces were on the defensive, and they had two common enemies that wished for their extinction: the Covenant and the Flood. The alliance of circumstance was forged in the control room of Delta Halo, when Johnson and the Arbiter were coerced to unite in order to prevent Tartarus activating Delta Halo and firing the Halo Array, which would have killed every sentient being in the galaxy, including himself and the rest of his race, while he, and the rest of the Covenant Loyalist's, still believed the array would only start the Great Journey.[2]However, the Arbiter persuaded the rest of the Sangheili to join the humans. While the two factions experience some friction because their alliance is based on the the enemies of my enemies are my friends concept instead of good political relationships they learn to work with one another for their mutual survival. During the events of Halo 3, the Elites fight alongside humans in battle.

The devastated UNSC Fleet in Earth's space were glad to accept the help of the superior Separatist Warships. The Elites' understanding of enemy equipment and Covenant's combat tactics proved invaluable in the Battle of Installation 00, where a fleet three times larger than that sent by the Elites was completely destroyed by the smaller force. Recurrently the heroes of battle, the Arbiter and Master Chief fought alongside one another many times in the desperate and long conflict. The Arbiter's presence at memorial services for the Master Chief indicated that in the wake of victory, Separatists and humans remained friendly to one another as they both had made tremendous sacrifices in order to stop Truth and the Loyalist forces, as well as the Gravemind and the Flood.

With Truth dead, High Charity destroyed, and the Ark essentially lost to the reborn Installation 04's firing, it is unknown what exactly became of the remaining Loyalist forces did. It seems that they remain active in at least some form, rebuilding their tattered strength to continue their war of conquest.[3]

According to the Bestiarum in Halo 3's Limited Edition, the Grunts were too indecisive to continue the rebellion and the true political motivation of the Hunters, if any, remained a mystery. Ship Master Rtas 'Vadum stated that Truth's Fleet was destroyed. Had any of the Covenant survived on the Ark or in the ruins of their Fleet, they were either taken by the Flood or killed when the unfinished Installation 04 (II) fired and destroyed itself and heavily damaged the Ark.

Timeline

2552

September 22:

October 20:

November:

November 3:

November 8, 2552:

November 17, 2552:

  • The Forerunner Dreadnought enters Earth's atmosphere, and John-117 bails out, landing in the Kenyan jungles.[7]

Late 2552 to Early 2553

  • Battle of Voi
  • The Flood infest Voi, only to be contained by the Fleet of Retribution
  • Battle of Installation 00.
  • All Loyalist vessels destroyed over the Ark by the Separatist Fleet.
  • The final Covenant religious leader, the Prophet of Truth, is executed by Thel 'Vadam with help from the Flood. The Master Chief stops the Ark from firing the Halo Rings.
  • High Charity is destroyed by the Master Chief after he overloads the city's main reactors causing them to detonate.
  • Rtas 'Vadum evacuates all humans and Sangheili via the Shadow of Intent, back to Earth.
  • The Battle of Installation 04 (II). Thel 'Vadam, Master Chief and Johnson battle to the control room of Installation 04 (II). Guilty Spark runs rampant, killing Johnson before being subsequently destroyed by John-117. Installation 04(II)'s Sentinels turned on the Master Chief, Thel 'Vadam, and the Elites. The unfinished Installation 04 is activated, damaging the Ark and destroying the entire local Flood infestation including the Gravemind. These final events ended The Human-Covenant War.
  • The Master Chief, Cortana, and Thel 'Vadam escape but only Thel 'Vadam gets back to Earth. The Master Chief and Cortana are drifting in space due to the portal closing. They are inside the back half of Forward Unto Dawn, and while technically MIA, are presumed KIA by the UNSC.[8]

2553

March 3:

  • The Humans and the Elites make a memorial near Mt. Kilimanjaro on planet Earth to commemorate those who were lost in the Battle of the Ark, while also serving as a small memorial for those lost in the Human-Covenant war. The memorial has the number 117 engraved on it in the corner.

2559

  • The Great Schism rages on. While the Jiralhanae wage their own internecine wars, the Sangheili themselves are gradually losing their fleets in a war of attrition, having lost the technical expertise kept exclusively by the Prophets.[9]
  • A Sangheili shipmaster returns to the glassed human colony of Kholo.[9]

Trivia

  • The term "Great Schism" is taken from human religious debates over orthodoxy and power, most notably the East-West Schism, the Western Schism, and the Believers Schism. The Sunni-Shia split is also often called a Schism.
  • In Contact Harvest the Prophet of Truth foreshadows the Schism, noting that if the Elites ever separated from the Covenant that the entire government would collapse.
  • Throughout the Halo 3: ODST Mombasa Streets levels, you can find dead Sanghelli bodies in various corners of the map. In particular, during the first Buck flashback mission, he comes across some dead Sanghelli and comments to Dare about it. Oddly enough, seeing as how the game begins just six hours after the Prophet of Regret slipspace-jumps away, this would mean that either the entirety of sans-Earth Halo 2 took place in the period of six hours, or that Jiralhanae had started killing Sanghelli before the Schism took place. However, Buck's story takes place only minutes after the drop.

Sources

Related Links

Internal Links