Covenant: Difference between revisions

From Halopedia, the Halo wiki

(→‎History: this image looks really bad here)
No edit summary
Line 41: Line 41:
Ruled by the [[High Prophet of Truth]] along with [[Hierarch|High Prophets]] [[Prophet of Mercy|Mercy]] and [[Prophet of Regret|Regret]] in [[2525]], the Covenant waged a [[Human-Covenant War|genocidal campaign]] against [[human]]ity until they were defeated in [[2552#December|December 2552]]. Despite being one of the most powerful military forces in the known Milky Way galaxy at the time, [[Great Schism|internal conflict]] combined with stubborn human resistance were formidable enough to shatter the bonds that held the empire together. This internal conflict broke the Covenant in two, [[Covenant separatists|forcing out]] the Sangheili species.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/species/jiralhanae&#x20; Canon Fodder] - "The resulting conflict would be called the Great Schism, and it would divide the Covenant into two, ultimately forcing the Sangheili out."</ref>
Ruled by the [[High Prophet of Truth]] along with [[Hierarch|High Prophets]] [[Prophet of Mercy|Mercy]] and [[Prophet of Regret|Regret]] in [[2525]], the Covenant waged a [[Human-Covenant War|genocidal campaign]] against [[human]]ity until they were defeated in [[2552#December|December 2552]]. Despite being one of the most powerful military forces in the known Milky Way galaxy at the time, [[Great Schism|internal conflict]] combined with stubborn human resistance were formidable enough to shatter the bonds that held the empire together. This internal conflict broke the Covenant in two, [[Covenant separatists|forcing out]] the Sangheili species.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/species/jiralhanae&#x20; Canon Fodder] - "The resulting conflict would be called the Great Schism, and it would divide the Covenant into two, ultimately forcing the Sangheili out."</ref>


Following the Covenant Empire's end at the [[Battle of the Citadel]], a number of new [[Covenant remnants|remnant factions]] were created by its former subject species after the conclusion of the war; some of which maintain many tenets of the Covenant's [[Covenant religion|religion]].<ref name="h4guide">[http://www.halowaypoint.com/en-US/halo4guide ''Halo 4 Interactive Guide'']</ref> Some of the former separatists sought to recreate the Covenant entirely under Sangheili rule, free of the Hierarchs' influence.<ref>'''[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-lore-of-the-rings Halo Waypoint: 'Canon Fodder' - Lore of the Rings]''' - "Like the rest of the Sangheili, the surviving Councilors were not completely unified in their opinions on how to proceed following the Great Schism. While some did take up the Arbiter’s cause, many others had become enamored with the idea of bringing the Covenant empire under complete Sangheili rule, quickly scrambling to grab power wherever they could. Some of these eventually served under Jul ‘Mdama, while others consolidated small pockets of reclaimed Covenant assets under more independent factions."</ref><ref>'''[[Halo: Glasslands]]''', ''page 20''</ref>  One notable splinter faction of Sangheili self-proclaimed to be a [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|new "Covenant"]] was created by [[Jul 'Mdama]].<ref name="escalation5">''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 5]]'' "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."</ref> Other hostile factions that utilize assets from the former Covenant Empire include [[Merg Vol's Covenant|Merg Vol's faction]], [[Sali 'Nyon's Covenant|Sali 'Nyon's faction]], [[Vata 'Gajat's mercenary group|Vata 'Gajat's faction]] and the [[Banished]].
Following the Covenant Empire's end at the [[Battle of the Citadel]],<ref name="Destroyed1" /><ref name="Destroyed4" /> a number of new [[Covenant remnants|remnant factions]] were created by its former subject species after the conclusion of the war; some of which maintain many tenets of the Covenant's [[Covenant religion|religion]].<ref name="h4guide">[http://www.halowaypoint.com/en-US/halo4guide ''Halo 4 Interactive Guide'']</ref> Some of the former separatists sought to recreate the Covenant entirely under Sangheili rule, free of the Hierarchs' influence.<ref>'''[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-lore-of-the-rings Halo Waypoint: 'Canon Fodder' - Lore of the Rings]''' - "Like the rest of the Sangheili, the surviving Councilors were not completely unified in their opinions on how to proceed following the Great Schism. While some did take up the Arbiter’s cause, many others had become enamored with the idea of bringing the Covenant empire under complete Sangheili rule, quickly scrambling to grab power wherever they could. Some of these eventually served under Jul ‘Mdama, while others consolidated small pockets of reclaimed Covenant assets under more independent factions."</ref><ref>'''[[Halo: Glasslands]]''', ''page 20''</ref>  One notable splinter faction of Sangheili self-proclaimed to be a [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|new "Covenant"]] was created by [[Jul 'Mdama]].<ref name="escalation5">''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 5]]'' "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."</ref> Other hostile factions that utilize assets from the former Covenant Empire include [[Merg Vol's Covenant|Merg Vol's faction]], [[Sali 'Nyon's Covenant|Sali 'Nyon's faction]], [[Vata 'Gajat's mercenary group|Vata 'Gajat's faction]] and the [[Banished]].


==History==
==History==
Line 102: Line 102:
A massive battle ensued within High Charity and the surrounding space, beginning a civil war known as the Great Schism. While High Charity was consumed by internal conflict, another crisis struck that sealed the doom of the Covenant's holy city. The Flood-controlled UNSC frigate [[UNSC In Amber Clad|''In Amber Clad'']] made an unexpected slipspace jump inside the dome and crashed into one of the towers, initiating a full-scale infestation of the city. The Prophet of Mercy was killed during the Flood attack, with Truth leaving him to die while he made his own escape. The city and its millions of inhabitants were completely overrun by the infestation, becoming a massive [[Flood hive]]. This loss came at the worst possible moment in the Covenant's campaign against humanity, crippling their already exhausted and now divided forces.<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Gravemind (level)|Gravemind]]''</ref>
A massive battle ensued within High Charity and the surrounding space, beginning a civil war known as the Great Schism. While High Charity was consumed by internal conflict, another crisis struck that sealed the doom of the Covenant's holy city. The Flood-controlled UNSC frigate [[UNSC In Amber Clad|''In Amber Clad'']] made an unexpected slipspace jump inside the dome and crashed into one of the towers, initiating a full-scale infestation of the city. The Prophet of Mercy was killed during the Flood attack, with Truth leaving him to die while he made his own escape. The city and its millions of inhabitants were completely overrun by the infestation, becoming a massive [[Flood hive]]. This loss came at the worst possible moment in the Covenant's campaign against humanity, crippling their already exhausted and now divided forces.<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Gravemind (level)|Gravemind]]''</ref>


[[File:Chiefarbiter.jpg|thumb|left|250px|An alliance was made with the seceding Sangheili and humanity.]]
[[File:H3 Cortana Concept 6.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The Covenant government and capital falls to the Flood.]]
However, these losses, among another factors, helped to form a tentative alliance with the Sangheili and humanity. The Arbiter Thel 'Vadam had discovered the truth about the Halo rings, and with the help of several of ''In Amber Clad'''s human crew members managed to prevent the second ring from firing and defeat the Jiralhanae forces defending it.<ref name="h2journey"/> While [[Joyous Exultation Covenant|one group]] had [[Onyx Conflict|initial conflicts]] over the Forerunner world of [[Onyx]],<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 378''</ref> the [[Fleet of Retribution|Sangheili]] under the command of Rtas 'Vadum joined with the UNSC in order to mutually defeat the Jiralhanae, Truth, and the Flood. This alliance was initially uneasy, but the two species gradually learned to cooperate as their reliance in battle increased.
However, these losses, among another factors, helped to form a tentative alliance with the Sangheili and humanity. The Arbiter Thel 'Vadam had discovered the truth about the Halo rings, and with the help of several of ''In Amber Clad'''s human crew members managed to prevent the second ring from firing and defeat the Jiralhanae forces defending it.<ref name="h2journey"/> While [[Joyous Exultation Covenant|one group]] had [[Onyx Conflict|initial conflicts]] over the Forerunner world of [[Onyx]],<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 378''</ref> the [[Fleet of Retribution|Sangheili]] under the command of Rtas 'Vadum joined with the UNSC in order to mutually defeat the Jiralhanae, Truth, and the Flood. This alliance was initially uneasy, but the two species gradually learned to cooperate as their reliance in battle increased.


Truth escaped in the Forerunner Dreadnought, then used to provide power to High Charity. However, [[John-117|SPARTAN-117]], the infamous Demon, managed to fight his way aboard the Dreadnought right before it took off. While the Covenant fleet orbiting the holy city began to do battle with each other, the Dreadnought managed to enter slipspace and retreated to Earth.<ref name="h2journey"/>
Truth escaped in the Forerunner Dreadnought, then used to provide power to High Charity. However, [[John-117|SPARTAN-117]], the infamous Demon, managed to fight his way aboard the Dreadnought right before it took off. While the Covenant fleet orbiting the holy city began to do battle with each other, the Dreadnought managed to enter slipspace and retreated to Earth.<ref name="h2journey"/>{{clear}}


===Final push===
===Final push===
{{Main|Battle of Kenya|Battle of Installation 00}}
{{Main|Battle of Kenya|Battle of Installation 00}}
[[File:TruthDeath-large.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The Arbiter executes the Prophet of Truth, bringing an end to the Covenant.]]
[[File:H3 CitadelBattle.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The seceding Sangheili allied with humanity to finish off the Covenant.]]
Despite the loss of High Charity, the Prophet of Truth and his loyal Jiralhanae-led forces continued their pursuit of the Great Journey. They concentrated all of their available forces on Earth, near the former site of [[New Mombasa]], [[Kenya]], in order to claim the Forerunner artifact that the Prophet of Regret was originally looking for: the [[Portal at Voi]] to [[Installation 00|the Ark]]. Truth arrived in his Dreadnought and landed in the middle of the portal that his ships had uncovered, preparing for the moment of ascension to the next step.<ref>'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[Tsavo highway (location)|Tsavo Highway]]''</ref> While the UNSC managed to inflict casualties upon Truth's fleet and the Covenant forces on the ground, it was not long until the UNSC forces on Earth were almost completely exhausted. Despite the UNSC's attempts to stop him, Truth successfully activated the portal and the Dreadnought retreated through, accompanied by the remaining loyalist fleet.<ref>'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[The Storm]]''</ref> Momentarily delayed by a small-scale Flood infestation on Earth, the UNSC and their defected Sangheili allies followed Truth's fleet through the portal to the Ark, intent on stopping Truth from activating the Halo Array.<ref>'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[Floodgate]]''</ref>
Despite the loss of High Charity, the Prophet of Truth and his loyal Jiralhanae-led forces continued their pursuit of the Great Journey. They concentrated all of their available forces on Earth, near the former site of [[New Mombasa]], [[Kenya]], in order to claim the Forerunner artifact that the Prophet of Regret was originally looking for: the [[Portal at Voi]] to [[Installation 00|the Ark]]. Truth arrived in his Dreadnought and landed in the middle of the portal that his ships had uncovered, preparing for the moment of ascension to the next step.<ref>'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[Tsavo highway (location)|Tsavo Highway]]''</ref> While the UNSC managed to inflict casualties upon Truth's fleet and the Covenant forces on the ground, it was not long until the UNSC forces on Earth were almost completely exhausted. Despite the UNSC's attempts to stop him, Truth successfully activated the portal and the Dreadnought retreated through, accompanied by the remaining loyalist fleet.<ref>'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[The Storm]]''</ref> Momentarily delayed by a small-scale Flood infestation on Earth, the UNSC and their defected Sangheili allies followed Truth's fleet through the portal to the Ark, intent on stopping Truth from activating the Halo Array.<ref>'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[Floodgate]]''</ref>


Upon arrival at the Ark, Truth barricaded himself inside the [[Installation 00 Citadel|Citadel]], the control center for the Halo rings, and prepared to initiate the Great Journey. However, the UNSC and Sangheili forces eventually broke through the defenses around the Citadel despite heavy resistance from the Covenant loyalist forces.<ref>'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[The Ark (level)|The Ark]]''</ref> Ignoring the arrival of the Flood-infected High Charity which immediately began a widespread infestation of the Ark's surface, the UNSC-Sangheili alliance launched an immediate last-ditch assault on the Citadel. Although Truth's forces mobilized all of their available assets to prevent their enemies from reaching the Citadel, they were defeated after a [[Battle of the Citadel|swift battle]]. SPARTAN-117 and Arbiter Thel 'Vadam formed a temporary alliance with the Flood and forced their way to Truth. In his final moments, the Prophet of Truth managed to initiate the Halo rings' activation sequence, although his victory was short-lived as John-117 and the Arbiter soon made their way to his location. The Spartan canceled the activation before the rings could fire and the Arbiter killed Truth in vengeance, finally stopping the Covenant once and for all.<ref>'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[The Covenant (level)|The Covenant]]''</ref>
[[File:TruthDeath-large.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The Arbiter executes the Prophet of Truth, bringing an end to the Covenant.]]
Upon arrival at the Ark, Truth barricaded himself inside the [[Installation 00 Citadel|Citadel]], the control center for the Halo rings, and prepared to initiate the Great Journey. However, the UNSC and Sangheili forces eventually broke through the defenses around the Citadel despite heavy resistance from the Covenant loyalist forces.<ref>'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[The Ark (level)|The Ark]]''</ref> Ignoring the arrival of the Flood-infected High Charity which immediately began a widespread infestation of the Ark's surface, the UNSC-Sangheili alliance launched an immediate last-ditch assault on the Citadel. Although Truth's forces mobilized all of their available assets to prevent their enemies from reaching the Citadel, they were defeated after a [[Battle of the Citadel|swift battle]]. SPARTAN-117 and Arbiter Thel 'Vadam formed a temporary alliance with the Flood and forced their way to Truth. In his final moments, the Prophet of Truth managed to initiate the Halo rings' activation sequence, although his victory was short-lived as John-117 and the Arbiter soon made their way to his location. The Spartan canceled the activation before the rings could fire and the Arbiter killed Truth in vengeance, finally stopping the Covenant once and for all.<ref>'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[The Covenant (level)|The Covenant]]''</ref>{{clear}}


===Post-dissolution===
===Post-dissolution===