Joyous Exultation

Joyous Exultation is, to date, the only known Covenant colony. It was located in the fringe of the massive Covenant empire in the Salia System. It had a small moon, Malhiem.

During the Civil War of the Covenant, the world was a rallying point for the Elites, under the leadership of Imperial Admiral Xytan 'Jar Wattinree. The Combined Fleet of Righteous Purpose met here, along with ships from the Second Fleet of Homogenous Clarity as well as many other Elite controlled vessels. They planned to set up a meeting with the Covenant Loyalists on this planet, where they would massacre the Brute and Prophet leadership.

Unfortunately, the plan was averted in 2552 when a NOVA taken from Reach by the supercarrier Sublime Transcendence exploded, vaporizing a quarter of the world, shattering the planet's moon and causing massive shock waves that leveled many cities on other parts of the planet. In addition, the explosion resulted in 300mph winds that destroyed most remaining cities, and spawned massive tidal waves that destroyed much of the coastline.

The current allegiance of the planet, the state of its inhabitants and the status of Imperial Admiral Xytan 'Jar Wattinree is still unknown although its safer to say they are dead.

Sources

1. Nylund, Eric. Halo: Ghosts of Onyx. New York: Tor, 2006. pg. 236-245.