Covenant: Difference between revisions

|techlevel=[[Technological Achievement Tiers#Tier 2: Interstellar|Tier 2]]

Following the Covenant Empire's end at the [[Battle of the Citadel]],{{Ref/Reuse|Destroyed1}}{{Ref/Reuse|Destroyed4}} a small remnant of surviving [[Covenant loyalists|loyalists]] would reemerge years later,{{Ref/Reuse|Sacrifice}}{{Ref/Reuse|DW}} and a number of [[Covenant remnants|new factions]] were created by the fallen empire's former subject species after the conclusion of the war.<ref name="h4guide">[http://www.halowaypoint.com/en-US/halo4guide ''Halo 4 Interactive Guide'']</ref> Some of the [[Covenant separatists|separatists]] sought to recreate the Covenant entirely under Sangheili rule, free from San'Shyuum influence.<ref>'''[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-lore-of-the-rings Halo Waypoint: 'Canon Fodder' - Lore of the Rings]''' - "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."</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]], being one of several factions which maintain some tenets of the fallen Covenant's [[Covenant religion|religion]].<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]].  

The Covenant created its own means of connoting time, comprised of "Ages." The Covenant's history is broken up into multiple occurrences of [[seven]] types of Age, each representing the predominant theme that occurred during those periods of time. These ages do not necessarily follow one another in order, nor are they equal in quantity. As an example, there were significantly more Ages of Conflict and Doubt than Reclamation. Each Age is further broken into what is called [[cycle]]s. A cycle is the Covenant version of a day and it represents one artificial day on [[High Charity]]. A cycle contains approximately 265 [[unit]]s, which if translated into human time is roughly one hour of time on Earth.<ref name="ency31">'''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]''' ''page 31''</ref>{{clear}}

 

{{Quote|Most of those we encountered in our search were compelled to join our Union. To take part in a movement that promised freedom for allegiance, salvation for service!|The [[Prophet of Regret]]<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Regret (Halo 2 level)|Regret]]''</ref>}}

[[File:H2A Terminals - First Hunters.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Arbiter [[Jeht 'Lcmutee]] faces the [[Mgalekgolo]] during the [[Taming of the Lekgolo]], prior to their successful incorporation into the Covenant.]]

The conclusion of the conflict marked the First Age of Reconciliation, followed by the First Age of Discovery, and later the First Age of Conversion. These periods were exemplified by the Covenant's expansion throughout the galaxy. In [[784 BCE]], the [[Lekgolo]] were encountered by the Covenant on [[Rentus]], a [[natural satellite]] of the Lekgolo homeworld of [[Te]].<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/db05ce78845f4120b062c50816008e5d/topics/catalog-interaction/4c3e1c6f-6519-4ee0-83a4-4bac13bf07a3/posts?page=74#post732 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Catalog Interaction'' (post 2988575)]</ref> Upon the discovery that many of the Lekgolo worm colonies had literally devoured Forerunner artifacts and installations, [[Taming of the Lekgolo|a large-scale military conflict]] began. The Lekgolo initially proved difficult to defeat because of their ability to combine into the powerful [[Mgalekgolo]], however due in part to their superior spaceship technology the Covenant was able to ally with the useful Lekgolo and the species was indoctrinated into the hegemony.<ref>'''Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe''', ''page 114''</ref><ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''pages 269-271''</ref> In the year [[1112]], the Covenant discovered the [[Yanme'e]], an insectoid race with an interplanetary civilization. First contact was violent as both sides took heavy casualties. However, it was the Covenant who fared worse in these battles. Ultimately, the San'Shyuum discovered a way to communicate with the Yanme'e, and subsequently incorporated them into the Covenant by way of a treaty.<ref>'''Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe''', ''pages 148-149''</ref>

In [[1342]], the Covenant arrived in the [[Y'Deio system]] and encountered the [[Kig-Yar]]. Both Kig-Yar [[piracy|pirate]]s and [[Eayn]]'s militia joined forces in an attempt to fend off the Covenant military juggernaut. The war between the Covenant and Kig-Yar forces culminated in sieges of redoubts on the [[asteroid]]s surrounding their world,<ref>'''Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe''', ''page 155''</ref> however the asteroids proved to be beneficial to the Kig-Yar. It was difficult for the larger Covenant ships to maneuver through Y'Deio's abnormally dense asteroid belt, while Kig-Yar forces could use the asteroids for hiding.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 157''</ref> Eventually, peace was reached between the Kig-Yar and Covenant. The Kig-Yar joined the Covenant, essentially as mercenaries, and earned commissions from the [[Ministry of Tranquility]] to engage in the services of the Covenant.<ref>'''Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe''', ''page 121''</ref> The [[Unggoy]] were easily inducted into the Covenant as a labourer race in [[2142]]. In [[2462]], the [[Unggoy Rebellion]] began after the [[Ministry of Concert]] refused to punish Kig-Yar [[shipmaster]]s that were rendering Unggoy populations infertile as petty revenge for the displacement of Kig-Yar nests. The Unggoy proved to be vicious, determined and competent fighters and an Arbiter was ultimately needed to quell the rebellion. This Arbiter ordered the glassing of [[Balaho]], and in response the rebellion ended before much damage could be done, leaving the planet's surface intact for the most part. The Sangheili integrated the Unggoy into formerly Sangheili-only units and armed them with Covenant weaponry.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''pages 150-152''</ref> The [[Jiralhanae]] were fighting a civil war on [[Doisac|their homeworld]] when they were discovered in [[2492]]. While some gladly joined the Covenant, others were unwilling at first. Nonetheless, they were quickly defeated and absorbed into the Covenant.<ref>'''Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe''', ''page 115''</ref> In between the Ages of Conversion and Ages of Doubt, members of the Covenant grappled with internecine conflict.{{Ref/Reuse|ency31}}

===War with humanity===

[[File:HR EliteExecution Concept.png|left|thumb|250px|A battle between Sangheili and Spartans.]]

[[File:Origins ii Human-CovenantWar.jpg|thumb|250px|An invading Covenant fleet prepares its assault of a human colony.]]

The Covenant began a genocidal campaign against humanity, seeking out their worlds one by one and wiping them clean of all life. If the colony was especially important, they would scorch the planet's entire surface and mark it with a glyph of their religion, in a process known as [[glassing]]. The [[United Nations Space Command]] was able to slow the Covenant's progress through the [[Cole Protocol]], and by launching major offensive strikes at key military locations, as such with [[Operation: TORPEDO]], albeit with great sacrifices. With the execution of the Cole Protocol, the UNSC also managed to prevent the Covenant from locating the human homeworld, Earth, and other important [[Inner Colonies]] for over twenty years.

After decades of struggle, some Sangheili within the Covenant began to question why humanity was not offered a chance to join the Covenant as other races had.<ref name="convo">'''Halo 2''', ''[[Conversations from the Universe]]''</ref> Despite their losses, humanity proved a determined and brave enemy. They were especially troubled by their soldiers called [[Spartan]]s, who were more than a match for them in battles and often killed thousands of Covenant by themselves.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 349''</ref> While these idle heresies did not halt the Covenant's military progress, doubt began to surface as to the wisdom of the Prophets' ultimate goals; a doubt that was carefully observed by the spies of the Hierarchs.{{Ref/Reuse|convo}} Notably, a major break-off faction known as the [[Banished]] was created by [[Jiralhanae Stalker]] [[Atriox]] as a result of his disgruntlement with the Prophets' rule, and proceeded to persistently raid Covenant supplies for years while the Human-Covenant War raged on.<ref>'''Halo Wars 2''', campaign level ''[[A New Enemy]]''</ref>

After the massive, one month-long battle with heavy casualties for both sides, the Covenant delivered a serious blow to the UNSC as they suffered crippling military losses in a campaign known as the [[Fall of Reach]], and also, the [[Battle of Tribute]].<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 320'' (2001 edition)</ref><ref>'''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''', ''Dutch's biography''</ref> After the UNSC stronghold [[Reach]] fell to the Covenant, they made a discovery of tremendous significance: a single UNSC vessel, the [[UNSC Pillar of Autumn|''Pillar of Autumn'']], had made a supposedly blind jump away from the battle, inadvertently leading the [[Fleet of Particular Justice|pursuing Covenant fleet]] to the location of [[Installation 04|one]] of the seven Halo rings.<ref>'''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''', campaign level ''[[The Pillar of Autumn (Halo: Combat Evolved level)|The Pillar of Autumn]]''</ref> The Covenant's celebration following the discovery of this prized relic was short-lived, however, as after landing on the ring Covenant soldiers accidentally released the dormant [[Flood]]. A small group of UNSC forces—among them the fearsome, enigmatic soldier known to Covenant forces as "[[John-117|the Demon]]"—managed to destroy the ring by detonating the ''Pillar of Autumn'''s [[fusion drive|fusion engines]].<ref>'''Halo: Combat Evolved''', campaign level ''[[The Maw]]''</ref> [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee, the [[Supreme Commander]] of the fleet present at Halo, was branded a heretic for his failure to save the ring,<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[The Heretic]]''</ref> although he was subsequently appointed an [[Arbiter]].<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[The Arbiter]]''</ref>

Shortly after the destruction of the first Halo ring, the High Prophet of Regret accidentally stumbled upon the human homeworld, [[Earth]], while looking for evidence of Forerunner artifacts. Ill-equipped for a full-scale invasion, Regret managed to launch a brief assault on the [[Africa]]n city of [[New Mombasa]] before [[Solemn Penance|his assault carrier]] escaped by making an in-atmosphere slipspace jump. Whether blind or intentional, this jump led the Prophet of Regret and the pursuing UNSC frigate [[UNSC In Amber Clad|''In Amber Clad'']] to a [[Installation 05|second Halo ring]].<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Delta Halo]]''</ref> A [[Battle of Installation 05|brief military conflict]] between UNSC and Covenant forces ensued, during which time Regret met his end at the hands of the Demon. The ring itself was nearly activated, but was stopped by UNSC forces.<ref name="h2journey">'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[The Great Journey]]''</ref>

===Civil war===

{{Main|Great Schism}}

Following the death of the Prophet of Regret, the Prophet of Truth gave the Jiralhanae command over the Covenant's fleets. Once there were enough Jiralhanae in positions of power, Truth secretly ordered them to purge the Sangheili from the Covenant. The [[Sangheili Councilor]]s, who had been summoned to the [[Control Room (Installation 05)|Control Room]] of Installation 05 to witness the commencement of the Great Journey, were either assassinated or imprisoned by Tartarus and his Jiralhanae. The rest of the Sangheili revolted, enlisting the help of some of the Mgalekgolo and Unggoy.<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Uprising]]''</ref> While Truth had orchestrated to remove the Sangheili from power with the more easily manipulated Jiralhanae, the Prophet underestimated the speed with which his former protectors would recover from this initial attack.

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 holy city and its millions of inhabitants were completely overrun by the infestation, becoming a massive [[Flood hive]]. The loss of High Charity, the Covenant's united homeworld and capital, came at the worst possible moment in their campaign against humanity, crippling their already exhausted and now divided forces.<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Gravemind (level)|Gravemind]]''</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>

A few [[Covenant loyalists|surviving remnants]] of Truth's former fleet held out in the ''[[Anodyne Spirit]]'' for years after the war ended, miraculously surviving the faulty firing of [[Installation 08]] from inside of the Forerunner ship.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Sacrifice|SoR|Detail= Adjunct - [[Sacrifice]]}} Led by [[Prelate]] [[Dhas Bhasvod]], these were soldiers who had been left behind to guard the [[keyship]] during the [[Battle of Installation 00]], half of whom had tried to draw the UNSC away from their leader's position in the Citadel and had thus died in the firing of the Halo ring.{{Ref/Reuse|DW}} This remnant's survival was discovered when the Banished [[Raid on Anodyne Spirit|raided the keyship]].{{Ref/Reuse|Sacrifice}} Subsequently, they became active participants in the [[Second Ark Conflict]], allying themselves with a detachment of the [[Keepers of the One Freedom]] led by [[Dokab]] [[Castor]] in an effort to fire the [[Halo Array]] and cleanse the galaxy. Bhasvod's intention was to clear the galaxy of enemies so that the San'Shyuum could emerge from hiding. However, the attempt failed, leading to the destruction of Castor's detachment of Keepers and the retreat of Bhasvod to plan his next move.{{Ref/Reuse|DW}}

[[File:Covie Lance1.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Kig-Yar and Unggoy listening to the sermons of a Prophet.]]

[[File:HW Covenant render logoles.png|thumb|300px|[[Sangheili]], the initial leaders of the Covenant military.]]

Though rarer, the Covenant occasionally use projectile weapons, the most common of these being unconventional crystal-based weapons such as the [[Type-33 Needler]] and the {{Pattern|Gadulo|needle rifle}}. These weapons appear to use some type of chemical that forms a hard, razor-sharp crystal on contact with the atmosphere; [[Blamite|the material]] is mined on [[Suban]], one of [[Sanghelios]]' moons. Certain medium- to long-range weapons fire these crystals at high speeds, allowing them to strike targets accurately at long distance. Other mid-range weapons fire them at very slow speeds, and through unknown means "steer" them towards enemy targets. Needles fired in either of these ways will penetrate the flesh or armor of a target, and several seconds after coming to rest will explode into thousands of tiny, sharp fragments that can maim or cripple a target. When a certain number of needles have penetrated the same target, they will detonate simultaneously, producing a much larger explosion that kills the target instantly.

***[[Buwan]] – Small Covenant outpost colony

 

*[[Ealen system]]

**[[Ealen IV]] – Industrial world; [[terraforming|terraformed]] to produce [[plasma]]

 

*[[Korfo system]]

**''[[Station of Constant Sustenance]]'' – Resupply station; decommissioned following the Covenant's collapse, stripped for valuable components since

 

*[[Malurok]] (Decided Heart) – Sangheili base planet

*[[K7-49]] – Major shipyard. [[Operation: PROMETHEUS|Sabotaged]] by [[SPARTAN-III Alpha Company]] in [[2537]]

*[[Heian]] – A world with a significant logistics base

*[[Oth Lodon]] – Gas giant located near the Jiralhanae home system

*[[Hesduros]] – Remote Sangheili colony

*[[Rahnelo]] – A Sangheili frontier colony

{{notcanon|category=no}}

The '''Covenant''' is a zealous organization of humans mutated by radiation at war with the United Nations Security Confederation.{{Ref/Site|Id=TLSM1|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/story-shard-the-last-sky-marshal#part-1|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=STORY SHARD: THE LAST SKY MARSHAL|D=15|M=6|Y=2022}}

File:HTV-Contact-Sangheili.jpg|Covenant Sangheili in ''[[Halo: The Television Series]]''.

*''[[Halo: The Television Series]]''

*''[[Winter Contention]]''