Covenant remnants: Difference between revisions

Upon arriving on the Ark, the Keepers allied themselves with [[Prelate]] [[Dhas Bhasvod]]'s faction of surviving [[Covenant loyalists]], opposed by both the Banished and forces from the ''Spirit of Fire'' spearheaded by Veta Lopis and the [[Ferret]]s. Events were complicated by the Forerunner [[archeon-class ancilla]] [[Intrepid Eye]] who was believed to have been destroyed by Blue Team along with ''[[Argent Moon]]''. Intrepid Eye sought to fire the Halo Array in order to destroy the [[Domain]] and make Cortana vulnerable to destruction so that she could continue with her own plans to prepare humanity to accept the [[Mantle of Responsibility]]. The two allied Covenant remnants were able to reach [[Epsilon Clarion]], a facility on the Ark where the Halo Array could be fired, but both suffered heavy casualties as a result of [[Battle of Epsilon Clarion|attacks]] from both the Banished and the UNSC. However, Intrepid Eye's efforts to take control of the facility revealed the truth about the Halos and broke [[Dokab]] Castor's faith in the [[Covenant religion]], causing him to abandon the ancilla and the mission. Once Intrepid Eye was in Epsilon Clarion's systems, Lopis had the ''Spirit of Fire'' launch an [[orbital bombardment]] of [[EMP]] [[MAC]] rounds on the facility, destroying it, Intrepid Eye and the Ark's ability to fire the Halo Array.{{Ref/Reuse|DW}} The entirety of Castor's small detachment of Keepers was decimated, leaving the vengeful Castor and Sangheili [[Blademaster]] [[Inslaan 'Gadogai]] as the only survivors. Due to the revelation of Halo's true purpose, Castor was forced to withdraw from the Keepers' numbers.{{Ref/Reuse|DW}}{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22P247|Enc22|Page=247}} The Banished's [[Clan of the Long Shields]] were also decimated by the conflict while the Covenant forces sent to aid in the mission were wiped out aside from Bhasvod himself, whose true intention was to set the stage for the [[San'Shyuum]] to return to reclaim the galaxy from their supposed hiding place on the shield world [[Cloister]]. After killing [[Mark-G313]], the undaunted Prelate returned to his forces to plan his next move.{{Ref/Reuse|DW}}

The Keepers of the One Freedom are a militant religious cult devoted to the worship of the Forerunners based on [[Venezia]]. The Keepers are unusual among post-Covenant factions in that they welcome human followers to their ranks, provided they swear to oppose the "heretic tyranny" of the [[Unified Earth Government]]. Because of this, the Keepers quickly gained popularity within the [[Outer Colonies]] after the Covenant War. As of July 2553, they were also supported by separatist elements within [[Gao]]'s planetary government, namely minister [[Arlo Casille]], who covertly supplied them with money and weapons.{{Ref/Novel|LL|Page=62 (Google Play edition)}} Later that year, they became victims of a plot by [[Dark Moon Enterprises]] to frame the assassination of Admiral [[Graselyn Tuwa]] and the kidnapping of her family on the Keepers. This led to [[Operation: RETRIBUTION]] in which [[Blue Team]] and the [[Ferret]]s foiled a [[bioweapon]] plot. During the operation, the Keepers' [[Salvation Base]] was destroyed through the detonation of six [[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon]]s and it was estimated that ninety percent of the Keepers forces in that sector were eliminated in the blast.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Retribution|Ret}} In [[2557]], the Keepers suffered tremendous losses in a [[Keepers Eradication Campaign|massive eradication campaign]] conducted by ONI using intelligence gathered over the course of eight months the [[Ferret]]s, working undercover in the faction. Around 15,000 Keepers are killed, leaving the faction decimated and with extremely low numbers.{{Ref/Novel|Id=DW1|DW|Chapter=11}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=DW11|DW|Chapter=11}} As a result, Castor was forced to abandon or sacrifice most of his followers.{{Ref/Novel|DW|Chapter=15}} By [[2559#October|October 2559]], they had joined forces with the [[Banished]]. After activating a [[slipspace portal]] to the Ark, the Castor's detachment of Keepers forces abandoned the Banished and traveled through the portal in a [[Eklon'Dal Workshop Lich|Lich]] in order to begin the Great Journey.{{Ref/Reuse|SoR}} On the Ark, Castor and the Keepers were manipulated by both the [[Covenant loyalists]] led by [[Prelate]] [[Dhas Bhasvod]] and [[Intrepid Eye]], the Forerunner [[archeon-class ancilla]] who had long been posing as their holy Oracle. Both sought to use the Keepers to fire the Halo rings for their own purposes, but the Keepers were forced to contend with both the Banished and the UNSC. The battle resulted in the total destruction of Castor's forces apart from himself and [[Sangheili]] [[Blademaster]] [[Inslaan 'Gadogai]]. Their mission failed due to the intervention of the Ferrets and the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} who finally succeeded in destroying Intrepid Eye. Having learned the truth about their faith, Castor and 'Gadogai sought to exact vengeance upon their enemies,{{Ref/Novel|Id=DW|DW}} withdrawing from the Keepers' numbers. Despite the defeat of those led by Castor and ONI's eradication campaign, the Keepers of the One Freedom maintain a presence on several worlds and Forerunner installations, with their largest foothold still on Venezia.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P247}}

The Banished are a mercenary group led by the Jiralhanae warlord [[Atriox]]. They fought against the Covenant long before the Great Schism since the late 2540s,<ref name="log outpost">''Halo Wars 2'', ''[[Phoenix Logs]]'' - ''Outpost'' - "The Banished have perfected their strip—mining and rapid assault and extraction efforts over a decade of raiding Covenant and other targets."</ref> and have consolidated a significant number of military assets in the wake of the Human-Covenant War. Similar to the Keepers of the One Freedom, the Banished are open to recruiting humans.{{Ref/Book|Id=H:OSFM1|OSFM|Page=161|Quote=In theory, all who can aid Atriox's ambition and will bend the knee are welcome, from human to hunter, but their violence and conditions of service limit recruitment opportunities.}} In [[2559]], they had a major presence on [[Installation 00]] and [[Second Ark Conflict|clashed]] with the UNSC forces from the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} when the long-lost support vessel mysteriously stumbled upon the Ark.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/games/halo-wars-2 ''Halo Waypoint'': ''Halo Wars 2'']</ref> Despite having an advantage, the Banished suffered massive losses to the ''Spirit of Fire's'' forces including their flagship the {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}} ''[[Enduring Conviction]]'' and their second-in-command [[Decimus]].{{Ref/Reuse|HW2}} The Banished later successfully contained [[Outbreak on Installation 00|a renewed]] [[Flood]] outbreak on the Ark caused by [[Pavium]] and [[Voridus]]' attempts to salvage [[High Charity]].{{Ref/Reuse|Nightmare}} By October 2559, the Banished still in the Milky Way had joined forces with the Keepers and two other Jiralhanae [[Legion#Banished|legions]].{{Ref/Reuse|SoR}} After Banished forces [[Raid on Anodyne Spirit|raided]] ''[[Anodyne Spirit]]'' for the [[Menachite Forerunner crystal]],{{Ref/Reuse|Sacrifice}} the Banished forces on the Ark and on [[Reach]] managed to open a [[slipspace portal]] that allowed Atriox to return to the Milky Way. Departing on a more urgent mission, Atriox left behind thousands of Banished forces to hold the Ark.{{Ref/Reuse|SoR}} The Banished on the Ark opposed the efforts of the Keepers of the One Freedom and the Covenant loyalists to fire the Halo Array, resulting in the destruction of both the Keepers and the [[Clan of the Long Shields]], but ultimately a defeat to the Keepers' plan at the hands of the UNSC.{{Ref/Reuse|DW}} In December, the Banished [[Battle over Installation 07|engaged]] the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} over [[Installation 07]], defeating the supercarrier and the UNSC, leaving the [[John-117|Master Chief]] believed to be dead by the Banished after losing a battle with Atriox and being thrown off of the Infinity during the attack. Six months later, after being recovered by [[Fernando Esparza|Echo 216]] from where he'd been left floating in space, the Master Chief [[Battle for Zeta Halo|engaged the Banished]] across the Halo ring's surface, killing [[Escharum]] and many of the Banished's other top warriors and lieutenants, while Atriox was attacked and believed to have been killed by [[Cortana]] during the aftermath of the [[Battle over Installation 07]]. However, with the help of [[the Harbinger]], Atriox succeeded in locating the [[Xalanyn|Endless]].{{Ref/Game|Id=Hi|Hi}}

The Shields of Requiem are a Sangheili-led mercenary group. Little is known about them, though their name suggests a reverence and/ or that they took part in the Requiem Campaign.<ref name="Megabloks">[https://www.megaconstrux.com/en-us/worlds/halo/playsets/shields-requiem-lance-fmm88 ''Mega Construx'' ''- Shields of Requiem Lance'']</ref>

After the end of the [[Human-Covenant war|war]], several former Covenant members that were loyal to the Covenant during the [[Great Schism]] sought revenge against the Sangheili.{{Ref/Novel|SoI|Page=133|Quote=And I promise the Sangheili will pay for everything they have done}} Predominantly composed of Jiralhanae, this faction was led by [[San'Shyuum]] [[Tem'Bhetek]] and [[Boru'a'Neem]]. It is one of the few post-war factions to contain San'Shyuum, and to resume hostility against the [[Sangheili]] but not [[humanity]]. After discovering the truth that he was being used by Boru, Tem sacrificed himself to destroy the [[Prototype Halo installation]] and end the threat it posed as well as Boru's plan. In the process, [[Rtas 'Vadum]] discovered that many more San'Shyuum had survived than was previously believed and resolved to track them down and determine who deserved punishment for their actions and who deserved forgiveness.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Shadow of Intent|SoI}}

===Nizat 'Kvarosee's faction===

{{Main|Nizat 'Kvarosee's faction}}

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