Unggoy: Difference between revisions

*[[Swords of Sanghelios]]

The '''Unggoy'''<ref>'''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''', page 191 - ''"Unggoy: the Elite name for the Grunt race."''</ref> (Latin, ''Monachus frigus'', meaning "cold monk") are a species of squat bipedal vertebrates, (commonly misidentified as arthropods),<ref name="THB 5.9.12">[http://halo.bungie.org/halobulletins/49 ''The Halo Bulletin - 5.9.12'']</ref> in the unified races of the [[Covenant]]. They are the lowest-ranking species in the hierarchy, and are frequently mistreated by almost every higher-ranking race ([[Sangheili]], [[Jiralhanae]], [[Kig-Yar]]). Unggoy are primarily used as laborers or, in combat situations, cannon fodder. They are one of the later races to be introduced into the Covenant, and were either the second or third Covenant species to be encountered by [[human]]s. They are referred to as '''Grunts''' by humans, mainly because they are considered weak compared to their superiors and also because they perform the majority of the labor required by the Covenant.

The Unggoy were one of many species indexed by the [[Librarian]] for [[Conservation Measure|preservation]] on [[Installation 00]] from the firing of the Halo Array. They were subsequently returned to their homeworld Balaho, where they began re-building their culture.<ref name="origins">'''Halo Legends''': ''[[Origins]]''</ref>

After the Human-Covenant War, at least some of the Unggoy continued working for the Sangheili as farmers on Sanghelios, while others continued to work in the military under either their Sangheili or Jiralhanae commanders.<ref> '''Halo: Glasslands''' ''page 90''</ref> A number of Unggoy joined—or were drafted into—the various [[Covenant remnants|splinter groups]] that upheld the Covenant's religious beliefs after the war, most notably [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant faction]]. [[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI]] surveys record no off-planet transport from Balaho since "Solipsis"<!--Presumably this was an ONI operation. However, the report does not specify what Solipsis was.--> and seem to indicate that Buwan has been abandoned, though both remain under observation. Moderate Unggoy populations have been observed in Sangheili systems at various intervals.<ref>[[Codename: SURGEON's post-war analysis]]</ref> The Office of Naval Intelligence speculates that several independent vessels and colonial facilities are under the control of Unggoy factions, yet no significant populations of unaffiliated Unggoy are known to exist among the [[human colonies]].<ref>[https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postsm2969315_Catalog-Interaction.aspx#post2969315 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Catalog Interaction - Page 14'']</ref>

[[File:H2A Terminals - Sad Grunt.jpg|thumb|250px|The face of an Unggoy.]]

Some Unggoy, commonly seen among bands of Covenant remnant forces in the mid 2550s, have exoskeletons that cover only patches on their bodies, leaving most of their skin exposed; the paucity of chitin means that the elbow and knee spikes of these individuals are less pronounced.<ref name="THB 5.9.12"/> Unlike other Unggoy, which have a chitinous protrusion that covers the groin and posterior, these Unggoy are unarmored in this area, exposing their primate-like buttocks.<ref>[http://mcfarlane.com/toys/media.aspx?product_id=4573&type=photo&file=halo4s1_stormgrunt_photo_03_dp.jpg '''McFarlane Toys''' - ''Halo 4 Storm Grunt'']</ref> Their necks are also several times longer than normal, (Unggoy typically have almost nonexistent necks), and their heads are set farther forward; folds of loose skin hang down from their necks and chins, likely due to the relative lack of chitin.  Their eyes are reddish orange and feature black, cross-shaped pupils, unlike the solid red or yellow eyes of their kin. Their mouths are set farther inward and house larger, more pointed teeth. These specimens have much stouter legs and have longer and thinner fingernails than the rest of the species, and they possess claws meant for climbing and digging<ref>'''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 39''</ref> on their feet instead of the more common hoof-like digits. What sets these Unggoy apart, (morphologically speaking) is that they are sourced from specific breeding zones. This indicates either prolonged genetic drift in [[Wikipedia:Refugium (population biology)|refugia populations]] or induced selection.<ref>[https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postst248247p37_Catalog-Interaction.aspx '''Halo Waypoint Forums''': ''Catalog Interaction'' (post 248247)]</ref> In any case, such morphological variation can be likened to the differences among Earth's dog breeds.<ref name="THB 5.9.12"/>

|These Unggoy are experienced and specially-chosen, usually commanded by the [[Special Operations Sangheili|special operations Sangheili]], and are given distinctive jet-black armor. They are part of the [[Covenant Special Operations]] division of the [[Special Warfare Group]]. Just like the special operations Sangheili, they are able to use [[active camouflage]]. They are extremely skilled in warfare compared to their lower-ranked counterparts, and won't panic too often in combat situations, if they do at all. They usually can be seen wielding fuel rod guns, and throw plasma grenades with great accuracy. Many of them chose to side with [[Thel 'Vadam]] and [[Swords of Sanghelios|his followers]] during the Great Schism. However, many remained within the Jiralhanae-led units loyal to the Prophets, wearing white armor similar to the Unggoy Ultra. Some loyalist Unggoy were seen during the [[Battle of Installation 00]].

==See also==