Great Schism: Difference between revisions

The '''Great Schism''',{{Ref/Book|Id=GoO|Halo: Ghosts of Onyx|Page=240}} also known as the '''Covenant Schism''',{{Ref/Book|Id=GoO245|Halo: Ghosts of Onyx|Page=245}} was a major civil war between the forces loyal to the [[Covenant]] (led by the [[San'Shyuum]] and the [[Jiralhanae]]) against the [[Covenant separatists]] (the [[Sangheili]] and their followers), which split apart on [[2552#November|November 3, 2552]]. The [[High Prophet of Truth]] ordered the extermination of the entire Sangheili species,{{Ref/Reuse|Id=TEVG}}{{Ref/Game|Halo 2|Quote=A bloody fate awaits you and the rest of your incompetent race, and I, Tartarus, Chieftain of the Brutes will send you to it! ...When they learn? Ha ha. Fool! They ordered me to do it!}} forcing them out of the Covenant.{{Ref/Reuse|Elites}} Battles during the Schism took place all throughout Covenant space, most prominently on [[High Charity]], the heart of the alien empire. The [[Flood]] additionally played a tertiary role, when they took over the holy city in an effort to assimilate the other warring factions. The deciding battles were fought between the Sangheili [[Fleet of Retribution]] allied with the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] against the [[High Prophet of Truth]] and his remnants of the Covenant on the [[Installation 00|Ark]]. The Schism marked both the end of the Covenant and the partition of its client species for a thousand years.{{Ref/Reuse|GoO245}} For the UNSC, it served as a major turning point that led to the [[Battle of Installation 00|end of the war]] after their [[Fall of Reach|disastrous defeat on Reach]].

The High Prophet of Truth plotted to eventually replace the Sangheili with the [[Jiralhanae]], as he saw the latter as more willing and unquestioning pawns. Ever since the Jiralhanae's integration in [[2492]], their dominating physicality and aggressive behavior was perceived as a threat by the Sangheili to their superior status in the Covenant hierarchy.<ref name="Conversations">[[Conversations from the Universe]]: [[Conversations from the Universe#Grunt Conversation|Grunt Conversation]] "And you have ears, you've heard the disrespect the Jiralhanae show the Sangheili. They hate each other. The Sangheili have lived too long under the shelter of the Covenant as the strongest of us. The Jiralhanae come stomping along and suddenly it's not so simple as it was."</ref> In turn, the Sangheili treated the Jiralhanae poorly and oppressed them, to keep them in line.<ref>[http://www.gamespot.com/articles/halo-wars-2-new-character-images-and-details-revea/1100-6442098/?ftag=GSS-05-10aaa0b '''Gamestop''': ''Halo Wars 2: New Character Images and Details Revealed''] - "Decimus still harbors some resentment against the Elites under Atriox's banner due to how Elites treated the Brutes during the time of the Covenant"</ref> Competition for dominance in the Covenant military and hatred festered between the two species,{{Ref/Reuse|Conversations}} though the Sangheili maintained their authority and power as a founding race.<ref>[[Bestiarum]] "The Sangheili are, simply put, technological and societal equals of the Prophets yet, for a significant period, found themselves as the dominant military muscle for the entire Covenant structure"</ref> Feeding off of their societal rivalry, Truth knew that the Jiralhanae would be more than happy to replace the Sangheili as the Covenant's military leaders. He had appointed [[Tartarus]], a loyal Jiralhanae, to the position of [[Chieftain of the Jiralhanae]] who would help him execute his plan. Truth kept these schemes to himself and waited until the time was right to implement them.{{clear}}

After the High Prophet of Regret was killed by the [[John-117|Demon]] on [[2552#November|November 2, 2552]], the two remaining [[Hierarchs]] reorganized Covenant society. Claiming that the Sangheili could no longer protect the Prophets due to Regret's death, the High Prophet of Truth publicly replaced the Sangheili with the Jiralhanae as the Prophets' [[Honor Guard|protectors]]. Much to their dismay, all [[Sangheili Honor Guardsman|Sangheili Honor Guardsmen]] were ordered to give away their armor and weapons to the new [[Jiralhanae Honor Guardsman|Jiralhanae Honor Guardsmen]]. The Sangheili viewed this as a violation of the principle that the Covenant had been founded upon and threatened to resign from the Covenant.<ref name="icon">'''[[Halo 2]]''', campaign level ''[[Sacred Icon]]''</ref> [[Special Operations Commander]] [[Rtas 'Vadumee]] relayed this warning from the [[Sangheili High Councilor]]s to Truth, who attempted to comfort the situation by calling it a mere "exchange of hats". Several Unggoy and Kig-Yar would join in protest against this change as well.<ref>[[Halo 2]], campaign level [[Gravemind (level)]]</ref>

Conflict occurred all across Covenant space, including from within ships themselves. Notably, one [[Unidentified Shipmaster (Righteous Vigilance)|Sangheili Shipmaster]] grabbed the [[Prophet of Conviction|Prophet]] aboard his ship, having barged into his cabin, and executed him before the rest of the crew. [[Chol Von]], a [[T'vaoan]] [[Shipmaster|shipmistress]], captured a [[Phantom]], killing two [[Sangheili]] in the process.<ref>'''Halo: Mortal Dictata''', ''page 73''</ref>  She renamed her [[missionary ship]] ''[[Paragon|Joyous Discovery]]'' as ''Paragon''.<ref name="md141">'''[[Halo: Mortal Dictata]]''', ''page 141''</ref>  

On [[Installation 05]], [[Avery Johnson|Sergeant Major Avery Johnson's]] [[Marine]]s met [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam|Thel 'Vadam's]] forces and united to prevent the [[Chieftain of the Jiralhanae]], [[Tartarus]], from activating Delta Halo and firing the Halo Array.<ref name="journey">'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[The Great Journey]]''</ref> The Arbiter fought Tartarus face to face, while Johnson picked away at the Jiralhanae's shields with a [[beam rifle]] from afar. After killing Tartarus, the Arbiter solidified this alliance of circumstance by bringing in all local Sangheili forces to side with Commander [[Miranda Keyes]] and the UNSC. A shaky alliance between these Sangheili and their former foes, the [[human]]s, was forged out of necessity and revenge against the Covenant to some extent.<ref>'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[The Covenant (level)|The Covenant]]'' "I will have my revenge on a Prophet, not a plague!"</ref> Both sides had two common enemies that wished for their extinction: the Covenant and the Flood. Meanwhile, [[Rtas 'Vadum]] led a strike team of Sangheili to capture the ''[[Shadow of Intent]]'' from the Jiralhanae as a flagship for their local forces, forming the [[Fleet of Retribution]].