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Courier Squad is a squad of UNSC Marines who fought in the Battle for Zeta Halo.
History Around the time Master Chief Petty Officer|Master Chief John-117 arrived on the fragmented section of Zeta Halo, Banished forces attacked Courier Squad. At some point after the Chief The Tower|stormed the Tower and killed Chak 'Lok, the SPARTAN-II program|Spartan's Artificial intelligence|AI companion, The Weapon, picked up Courier's distress beacon|distress call, prompting the Chief to rescue the marines.
In-game information In ''Halo Infinite'', Courier Squad is found in the "Connections" section of the campaign. Answering their distress call earns the player 30 Valor points. This valor is awarded even if all members of Courier Squad are killed.
List of appearances
''Halo Infinite''
Category:UNSC Marine Corps squads
|
|role=Cyberwarfare
|weight=
|features=
}}
COURIER-class Mjolnir is a variant of the MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor.
Overview
The Courier helmet has been designed for secure data storage and physical relay of data archives in signal-compromised environments.
In-game information
The Courier helmet and its attachments are available for multiplayer Spartan Armor customization (Halo Infinite)|armor customization on the MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark VII|Mark VII armor core in ''Halo Infinite''.
{| class"width: 75%;"
! scope"width: 15%" |Helmet
! scope"width: 15%" |Manufacturer
! scope"width: 45%" |Lore
! scope"width: 10%" |Rarity
! scope"width: 15%" |Unlock Requirements
| |align="center"|File:HINF COURIER Helmet Icon.png|75pxCourier
|Watershed Division
|Purpose-built for secure data storage and physical relay of data archives in signal-compromised environments.
|Legendary
|Purchase "Courier" Bundle from the Shop for 1,600 cR
|}
Gallery
File:HINF-S4HazmatHavenShop.jpg|Courier in the Shop.
List of appearances
''Halo Infinite''
*''Season 04: Infection''
Sources
Category:MJOLNIR armor Category:Halo Infinite multiplayer armor permutations
|
Couriers are a type of Human starship|starship heavily employed by humanity, primarily for the purpose of superluminal communications. Prior to the mid-26th century, human faster-than-light communications relied courier vessels to manually move between the stars and Human colonies|colony worlds of human space to link together the Unified Earth Government's domain. Most courier ships take the form of small shuttles; fast, versatile, reliable, and requiring only a minimal crew for their journeys. However, the role can be performed by essentially any ship with a memory bank within which to store data, such as freighters like DCS light freighter|those used by the UNSC Department of Commercial Shipping. Couriers carry large communications arrays that let them upload and download large masses of data when entering a given star system, communicating with the system's developed network of satellites and laser communications infrastructure.
Couriers maintain a strong presence in the more Inner Colonies|developed worlds of humanity, and have been likened to the 26th century equivalent of the Wikipedia:Pony Express|Pony Express. They are used in both civilian, Unified Earth Government|governmental, and United Nations Space Command|military roles, and may also be used as diplomatic shuttles. The command refits often serviced couriers for wartime use.
Courier classes The following represent some of the most commonly-used couriers in human space. However, many other kinds of human ship such as freighters may serve in the role.
File:Enc22 Vancouver.png|The ''Han'', a in Office of Naval Intelligence service. File:HTV EndymionII.png|''Endymion II'', a .
List of appearances
''Halo: The Fall of Reach''
''Halo: Contact Harvest''
''Dr. Halsey's personal journal''
''Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series''
''Halo Infinite: Memory Agent''
''Halo: The Television Series''
Sources
Category:Ship classifications
|
A court-martial (plural courts-martial) is a military court or legal body that are convened to determine the guilt or innocence or accused military service members. These courts can determine punishments (in some extreme cases including death) for members of the military personnel subject to military law who are found guilty or may dismiss the charges based on the evidence and the case presented to them.
The United Nations Space Command|UNSC maintains a court-martial system.Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, ''page 188'' Those who have narrowly avoided courts-martial over the years include Ysionris Jeromi,Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, ''page 104''Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition), ''page 73'' (2011 edition) Preston Cole,Halo: Evolutions, "The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole", ''page 455'' and Jacob Keyes.Halo: The Cole Protocol, ''page 352''
List of appearances
''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''
''Halo: The Cole Protocol''
''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''
*''The Mona Lisa''
*''The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole''
''Halo: Mortal Dictata''
''Halo 5: Guardians''
''Halo: Tales from Slipspace''
*''Undefeated''
''Halo Infinite: Memory Agent''
Sources
Category:UNSC Armed Forces
|
Courtyard is a Firefight map in ''Halo: Reach''. Courtyard is set in an open courtyard and a loading area outside of Sword Base near the Babd Catha Ice Shelf and is based on the campaign level ''ONI: Sword Base''.
Overview Courtyard is a small sized Firefight map. The map consists of two main areas divided by a bridge in the center. The left side has numerous boxes and containers and features two enemy spawn rooms. The right side is larger and more open. The spawn room is situated in the Sword Base|ONI building and has two exits, one that leads on the upper deck of an outside terrace and one that leads down, under the main bridge. The outside terrace is quite large, with ramps linking the left part, the right part and another one in the middle close to the bridge. The bridge is a small structure in the center which connects the ONI building terrace to another smaller terrace on the other side. That terrace also has two ramps leading to the left and right sides, and an upper thinner terrace on the outskirts of the left part, which can be used to attract enemies in groups for easy multi-kills.
Locations The following are locations on the map that was seen from the player's Heads-up display. Landing Bend Depot Bridge Terrace Bay Base Walkway
Tactics Stay on the ends of the Bridge on the second floor and use long range weapons such as the M392 Designated Marksman Rifle|DMR to take down the enemies. Alternatively, a good camping spot would be the elevated area of Terrace, since it is close to an ammunition crate, has a good view of the area Landing, and has only two ways into it. The only disadvantage is that players would be quite far away from health packs, but this can be compensated by using the Armor abilities|armor ability Drop shield. When the enemies converge on one side, use the H-165 FOM|Target Locator and target on a moving troop, so the orbital rounds would hit the crowd.
Trivia Courtyard was one of the playable maps on Gamescom 2010. So far Courtyard is the only ''Halo: Reach'' Firefight level to include the S-2 Traxus Cargo Transporter|Forklift, or any civilian vehicle for that matter. The layout of the map is similar to ''Windward'' in ''Halo 3: ODST'', having two open areas separated by a central indoor field.
Gallery
File:HMCC_HR_Courtyard_Map.png|Courtyard Map. File:HR-AssaultRifle-Gameplay.jpg|The Courtyard during gameplay. File:Reach FF Courtyard02.jpg|Overhead view of the Courtyard. File:Reach FF Courtyard03.jpg|A Kez'katu-pattern Phantom|Phantom under heavy fire from Orbital bombardment. File:Reach FF Courtyard04.jpg|A Jiralhanae leading Unggoy into battle. File:Reach FF Courtyard05.jpg|A Firefight match in progress. File:Reach FF Courtyard06.jpg|A Sangheili player in Firefight Versus. File:Heatmapctyard.jpg|A heatmap of Courtyard.
Sources
Category:Halo: Reach Firefight maps
|
Covenant automated plasma turret may refer to the following:
- Seen in the multiplayer map Snowbound to prevent players from exiting the combat area.
- the defense structure used to protect the Covenant Empire|Covenant Covenant citadel|Citadel as seen in ''Halo Wars''.
|
The Covenant Battle Calendar was the standardized timekeeping calendar employed by the Covenant Covenant military|military, intended to assist in chronological coordination between ships, units, and planets in different systems with different measures of time. It is the Covenant equivalent of the military calendar employed by the United Nations Space Command.''Halo: The Flood'', p. 7
The calendar is measured in cycles and then broken down further into units. The calendar had been implemented and utilized by the San'Shyuum Reformists by 876 BCE.''Halo: Broken Circle'', p. 7 After the fall of the Covenant Empire in 2552, the calendar was still used by the Sangheili.''Halo: Hunters in the Dark'', p. 30 (Google Play edition) The calendar also remained in use by the Ussans by 2552.''Halo: Broken Circle'', p. 204
Terms used in the calendar
A unit was a standard unit of time, comparable to an hour on Earth.''Halo: The Flood'', p. 177 However, the meaning of the term is dependent on the context in which it is used. A unit was a Covenant term referring to either a standard unit of measurement, which is comparable to a foot in the human Wikipedia:Imperial units|imperial system. Indeed, one meter is approximately equivalent to 3.3 units.''Halo: Oblivion'', Chapter 14 notes that 10 kilometers is approximately 33 thousand units. Simple math indicates one meter equals 3.3 units. A unit is also a measurement of temperature.''Halo: Hunters in the Dark'', p. 128 (Google Play edition)
A cental is another unit of measurement, measured as one hundredth of a unit - and roughly equivalent to thirty six seconds. Five centals is roughly equivalent to three minutes.
A cycle was a Covenant unit of time based on the Forerunner temporal unit of the same name.''Halo: Blood Line'', Halo: Blood Line Issue 5|Issue #5 Containing 265 units, one daily cycle is equal to a single artificial day on the Covenant's holy city of High Charity.''Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)'', p. 31''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx'', p. 349 A solar cycle, or an annual cycle, was the Covenant equivalent of a year.''Halo: Broken Circle'', p. 266 Other forms of units of time included a weekly cycle''Halo: Hunters in the Dark'', p. 54 (Google Play edition) and a monthly cycle,''Halo: Hunters in the Dark'', p. 55 (Google Play edition) with the former being similar in length to a standard human week. This however seems rather odd, as a standard day cycle is equal to 265 hours or 11.0417 human days.
List of appearances
''Halo: The Flood''
''Halo: First Strike''
''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''
''Halo: Contact Harvest''
''Halo: The Cole Protocol
''Halo: Broken Circle''
''Halo: Hunters in the Dark''
''Halo: Silent Storm''
''Halo: Oblivion''
''Halo: Divine Wind''
Sources
Category:Time Category:The Covenant
|
The Covenant Battle Calendar was the standardized timekeeping calendar employed by the Covenant Covenant military|military, intended to assist in chronological coordination between ships, units, and planets in different systems with different measures of time. It is the Covenant equivalent of the military calendar employed by the United Nations Space Command.''Halo: The Flood'', p. 7
The calendar is measured in cycles and then broken down further into units. The calendar had been implemented and utilized by the San'Shyuum Reformists by 876 BCE.''Halo: Broken Circle'', p. 7 After the fall of the Covenant Empire in 2552, the calendar was still used by the Sangheili.''Halo: Hunters in the Dark'', p. 30 (Google Play edition) The calendar also remained in use by the Ussans by 2552.''Halo: Broken Circle'', p. 204
Terms used in the calendar
A unit was a standard unit of time, comparable to an hour on Earth.''Halo: The Flood'', p. 177 However, the meaning of the term is dependent on the context in which it is used. A unit was a Covenant term referring to either a standard unit of measurement, which is comparable to a foot in the human Wikipedia:Imperial units|imperial system. Indeed, one meter is approximately equivalent to 3.3 units.''Halo: Oblivion'', Chapter 14 notes that 10 kilometers is approximately 33 thousand units. Simple math indicates one meter equals 3.3 units. A unit is also a measurement of temperature.''Halo: Hunters in the Dark'', p. 128 (Google Play edition)
A cental is another unit of measurement, measured as one hundredth of a unit - and roughly equivalent to thirty six seconds. Five centals is roughly equivalent to three minutes.
A cycle was a Covenant unit of time based on the Forerunner temporal unit of the same name.''Halo: Blood Line'', Halo: Blood Line Issue 5|Issue #5 Containing 265 units, one daily cycle is equal to a single artificial day on the Covenant's holy city of High Charity.''Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)'', p. 31''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx'', p. 349 A solar cycle, or an annual cycle, was the Covenant equivalent of a year.''Halo: Broken Circle'', p. 266 Other forms of units of time included a weekly cycle''Halo: Hunters in the Dark'', p. 54 (Google Play edition) and a monthly cycle,''Halo: Hunters in the Dark'', p. 55 (Google Play edition) with the former being similar in length to a standard human week. This however seems rather odd, as a standard day cycle is equal to 265 hours or 11.0417 human days.
List of appearances
''Halo: The Flood''
''Halo: First Strike''
''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''
''Halo: Contact Harvest''
''Halo: The Cole Protocol
''Halo: Broken Circle''
''Halo: Hunters in the Dark''
''Halo: Silent Storm''
''Halo: Oblivion''
''Halo: Divine Wind''
Sources
Category:Time Category:The Covenant
|
File:H3-BatteryCore.png|thumb|250px|A Covenant Camping Stool. The Covenant camping stool is a sitting apparatus for the Covenant Empire|Covenant use. They are a base and seat connected by a single gravity beam.
Appearances These stools can be found in ''Halo 3'' and ''Halo: Reachs campaign, in Forge, on multiplayer maps such as Snowbound and on some Firefight maps such as Overlook.Halo 3Halo: Reach''' When destroyed they do not cause any harm to the player but make a small explosion that can send objects hurtling, especially if the "Cowbell" skull is on.
They are only known as "stools" by their Forge name. Covenant camping stools take up $2 in the player's Forge budget, and prove to be helpful for creating a scenery in a custom map.
Trivia No Covenant have ever been seen sitting on them in the games.
Gallery
File:Battery Core Small.jpg|A screenshot of a Covenant camping stool.
List of appearances
''Halo 3''
''Halo: Reach''
Sources
See also Camping stool
Category:Forge objects Category:Covenant technology
|
|class=
|role=Tug, transport
|length=Likely the same size as a Ruwaa-pattern Shadow|T-29 Shadow
|width=
|height=
|mass=
|power=
|engine=
|slipspace drive=
|navigation=
|hull=
|armament=1 plasma cannon
|complement=
|crew=At least one pilot
|passengers=
|othersystems=
|era=*Human-Covenant War Post-Covenant War conflicts
|introduced=
|affiliation=Covenant
}}
The cargo tug is a light transport craft of Covenant design.
Design details Virtually identical in outward appearance to the , it is nonetheless a distinct vehicle, most conspicuously distinguished by its flight capability and featuring enclosed cockpits across the vehicle, unlike the standard Shadow. It has a small cargo capacity and has been described as "about as dangerous as a toothpick". It seemingly appears to share the same size as the Shadow, and as well as equipped with at least one heavy plasma cannon at its summit. As such, the cargo tug may be likely considered an aircraft configuration and variant for the Type-29 Shadow.
Operational history
A cargo tug left in the Covenant industrial facilities on Ealen IV was used to transport the human, Sangheili and Jiralhanae delegation to in orbit during Shipmaster Vata 'Gajat's Battle of Ealen IV|attack to thwart the negotiations in early 2558.
Gallery
File:HE CargoTugIV.png|SPARTAN-IV Program|Spartan-IVs next to a cargo tug. File:HE BansheeAttacksCargoTug.png|A Vata 'Gajat's mercenary group|mercenary harass and fire upon the Covenant cargo tug fleeing to .
List of appearances
''Halo: Escalation''
Sources
|
File:H3 Heretic FleetOfRetribution.jpg|350px|thumb|A pair of Covenant assault carriers with a number of battlecruisers. Covenant carriers are a broad type of Covenant starship|ship classification of the Covenant Covenant fleet|fleet and its Covenant remnants|remnants. Often grand and illustrious, they serve as hubs for administrative and religious activities within their assigned fleets.
Overview Carriers held a Covenant fleet's clerical authority for religious ceremonies, contained small Assembly Forges|assembly forges for repairs, and the bulk of the food supply. They were often used to clear operating areas of space fighters allowing other vessels in a fleet to focus on other targets.
Types of carrier Within the Covenant
Assault carriers are the Covenant carrier type most commonly encountered by Covenant forces, classed as Examiner (ship type)|examiners in the Covenant ship classification system. They are generally the ones tasked with leading fleets of smaller warships and acting as primary combatants in space warfare. The three-letter ship classification system developed by the United Nations Space Command designates most of these vessels as CAS-class assault carriers, with the Office of Naval Intelligence considering the Class-5 flagship carrier. Due to their enormous size, assault carriers may be informally termed as "supercarriers".
A number of design pattern variations of assault carrier exist:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Class !! Image !! Length !! Tonnage !! Source
| | || File:H3-ShadowOfIntent-Side.png|300px || || 2.7 billion tonnes ||
| | || File:HFB-CAS&CCS&SDV.jpg|300px || || 2.7 billion tonnes ||
| |Unidentified Covenant assault carrier class|Unidentified pattern || File:HR_LNoS_AssaultCarrier_Screenshot_1.png|300px || N/A || N/A ||
|}
Only one known classification of light carrier has been encountered in Covenant service, dubbed the . These vessels are rarely encountered far from harborages and ports, and serve as troop transports, Space fighter|strikecraft tenders and flagships for reserve fleets in the Covenant's rear lines. These vessels are given the three-letter code DDS-class light carrier in UNSC classification schemes. Despite their official designation as light carriers, ''Ruma''-pattern ships are nonetheless enormous vessels and a breed apart from a variety of undefined "light carrier" vessels, such that they may be informally termed as supercarriers in their own right.
One such unidentified model of light carrier measures 1,455 meters (4,790 ft) in length - just under half of the ''Ruma''s length. It boasts 13 launch bays that contain a total of 300 Seraph fighters, 200 Banshees, and 34 dropships, and is crewed by more than 4,000 Covenant troops. It is armed with multiple plasma torpedo silos and pulse laser turrets. As it is less common and more powerful than a Covenant cruiser, it is most likely designed to act as a command ship and provide fighter support during engagements. Vessels of this class, such as the ''Lawgiver'', are considered a breed apart from the larger and more heavily-equipped ''Ruma''-pattern vessels.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Class !! Image !! Length !! Tonnage !! Source
| | || N/A || || 272 million tonnes ||
| |Unidentified pattern || N/A || || N/A ||
|}
The largest warships in the Covenant armada were sometimes referred to as "supercarriers" to distinguish them from lighter carrier vessels that filled support roles. They are extremely large warships bordering on overlap with harborages such as Unyielding Hierophant, or the Exarch class of vessels in Covenant service. In UNSC three-letter classification, the ''Sh'wada''-pattern supercarrier is dubbed the CSO-class supercarrier, and is considered a Class-5 flagship carrier similarly to the smaller assault carriers.
Alongside the ''Sh'wada''-pattern, an unidentified model of supercarrier even larger in scope also exists in service with the Covenant fleet, rarely documented by the UNSC. Like other models of supercarrier they are often used as flagships for Covenant fleets, and may be used by Prophets as their personal command ships. One example, ''Sublime Transcendence'', led the Combined Fleet of Righteous Purpose, while another commanded the Second Fleet of Homogeneous Clarity.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Class !! Image !! Length !! Tonnage !! Source
| | || File:HReach-CovenantSupercarrier-LNoS.png|300px || || 152 billion tonnes ||
| |Unidentified pattern || N/A || || N/A ||
|}
Operational history Covenant forces have long made use of various carrier classes within their fleets.
For a number of years leading up to the Human-Covenant War, several Covenant carriers were served as support ships and some along with "supercarriers" were assigned in the Second Fleet of Homogeneous Clarity of the High Charity defense fleet|defense fleet of ''High Charity''. By 2526#April|April 15, 2526, a Covenant supercarrier ''Hammer of Faith'' was under construction at the Ring of Mighty Abundance and above Zhoist, a Covenant-controlled world, and remained incomplete, it was destroyed by two HAVOK tactical nuclear weapons by John-117 and Kelly-087 during the Attack on Zhoist, along with its surrounding fabrication barns. On 2552#July|July 17, 2552, a carrier, escorted by a pair of Covenant frigates and a Wik-pattern light destroyer|destroyer, attempted to Battle of Sigma Octanus IV|seize control of the human human colonies|colony world Sigma Octanus IV. When the destroyer and the two frigates were destroyed by Captain Jacob Keyes, the carrier retreated until reinforcements arrived. However, the carrier did succeed in deploying 34 dropships to the surface of the planet to initiate an invasion while hailing the rest of the Second Fleet of Solemn Accord|Covenant fleet.
During the Battle of Installation 05 and the Great Schism, the light carrier ''Lawgiver'' assisted ''Incorruptible'' during the battle against the Jiralhanae and the Flood. A carrier would also go on assist Joyous Exultation Covenant|Covenant forces in the Onyx Conflict later that month.
By 2559#October|October 2559, a former Covenant supercarrier was used as part of the Banished occupation fleet on Reach under War Chief Escharum's command, presumably used as a flagship for the formidable armada. It also carried the War Chief's personal intrusion corvette.
Gallery
File:HINF Concept AssaultCarrier.jpg|Early concept art for ''Halo Infinite'' of an assault carrier. File:Overview - Covenant Assault Carrier.png|Overview of a ''Kerel''-pattern assault carrier. File:HO CovenantShip Concept.jpg|''Halo Online'' concept art for a Cut Halo Online levels|cut map set on a carrier.
List of appearances
''Halo: The Fall of Reach''
''Halo: First Strike''
''Halo 2''
''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''
''Halo: Uprising''
''Halo 3''
''Halo 3: ODST''
''Halo Legends''
*''Origins''
*''The Package (animated short)|The Package''
''Halo: Evolutions''
*''Palace Hotel''
*''The Return''
''Halo: Blood Line''
''Halo: Reach''
''Halo: Fall of Reach''
''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary''
*''Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)|Terminals''
''Halo 4''
*''Terminal (Halo 4)|Terminals''
*''Spartan Ops''
''Halo: Spartan Assault''
''Halo: Initiation''
''Halo: Escalation''
''Halo 2: Anniversary''
*''Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminals''
''Halo: Spartan Strike''
''Halo: Fleet Battles''
''Halo: Shadow of Intent''
''Halo Wars 2''
''Halo: Rise of Atriox''
''Halo: Silent Storm''
''Halo: Shadows of Reach''
''Halo: The Television Series''
Notes
Sources
Category:Carrier classes|
Category:Covenant ship classes|
|
File:H3 Heretic FleetOfRetribution.jpg|350px|thumb|A pair of Covenant assault carriers with a number of battlecruisers. Covenant carriers are a broad type of Covenant starship|ship classification of the Covenant Covenant fleet|fleet and its Covenant remnants|remnants. Often grand and illustrious, they serve as hubs for administrative and religious activities within their assigned fleets.
Overview Carriers held a Covenant fleet's clerical authority for religious ceremonies, contained small Assembly Forges|assembly forges for repairs, and the bulk of the food supply. They were often used to clear operating areas of space fighters allowing other vessels in a fleet to focus on other targets.
Types of carrier Within the Covenant
Assault carriers are the Covenant carrier type most commonly encountered by Covenant forces, classed as Examiner (ship type)|examiners in the Covenant ship classification system. They are generally the ones tasked with leading fleets of smaller warships and acting as primary combatants in space warfare. The three-letter ship classification system developed by the United Nations Space Command designates most of these vessels as CAS-class assault carriers, with the Office of Naval Intelligence considering the Class-5 flagship carrier. Due to their enormous size, assault carriers may be informally termed as "supercarriers".
A number of design pattern variations of assault carrier exist:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Class !! Image !! Length !! Tonnage !! Source
| | || File:H3-ShadowOfIntent-Side.png|300px || || 2.7 billion tonnes ||
| | || File:HFB-CAS&CCS&SDV.jpg|300px || || 2.7 billion tonnes ||
| |Unidentified Covenant assault carrier class|Unidentified pattern || File:HR_LNoS_AssaultCarrier_Screenshot_1.png|300px || N/A || N/A ||
|}
Only one known classification of light carrier has been encountered in Covenant service, dubbed the . These vessels are rarely encountered far from harborages and ports, and serve as troop transports, Space fighter|strikecraft tenders and flagships for reserve fleets in the Covenant's rear lines. These vessels are given the three-letter code DDS-class light carrier in UNSC classification schemes. Despite their official designation as light carriers, ''Ruma''-pattern ships are nonetheless enormous vessels and a breed apart from a variety of undefined "light carrier" vessels, such that they may be informally termed as supercarriers in their own right.
One such unidentified model of light carrier measures 1,455 meters (4,790 ft) in length - just under half of the ''Ruma''s length. It boasts 13 launch bays that contain a total of 300 Seraph fighters, 200 Banshees, and 34 dropships, and is crewed by more than 4,000 Covenant troops. It is armed with multiple plasma torpedo silos and pulse laser turrets. As it is less common and more powerful than a Covenant cruiser, it is most likely designed to act as a command ship and provide fighter support during engagements. Vessels of this class, such as the ''Lawgiver'', are considered a breed apart from the larger and more heavily-equipped ''Ruma''-pattern vessels.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Class !! Image !! Length !! Tonnage !! Source
| | || N/A || || 272 million tonnes ||
| |Unidentified pattern || N/A || || N/A ||
|}
The largest warships in the Covenant armada were sometimes referred to as "supercarriers" to distinguish them from lighter carrier vessels that filled support roles. They are extremely large warships bordering on overlap with harborages such as Unyielding Hierophant, or the Exarch class of vessels in Covenant service. In UNSC three-letter classification, the ''Sh'wada''-pattern supercarrier is dubbed the CSO-class supercarrier, and is considered a Class-5 flagship carrier similarly to the smaller assault carriers.
Alongside the ''Sh'wada''-pattern, an unidentified model of supercarrier even larger in scope also exists in service with the Covenant fleet, rarely documented by the UNSC. Like other models of supercarrier they are often used as flagships for Covenant fleets, and may be used by Prophets as their personal command ships. One example, ''Sublime Transcendence'', led the Combined Fleet of Righteous Purpose, while another commanded the Second Fleet of Homogeneous Clarity.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Class !! Image !! Length !! Tonnage !! Source
| | || File:HReach-CovenantSupercarrier-LNoS.png|300px || || 152 billion tonnes ||
| |Unidentified pattern || N/A || || N/A ||
|}
Operational history Covenant forces have long made use of various carrier classes within their fleets.
For a number of years leading up to the Human-Covenant War, several Covenant carriers were served as support ships and some along with "supercarriers" were assigned in the Second Fleet of Homogeneous Clarity of the High Charity defense fleet|defense fleet of ''High Charity''. By 2526#April|April 15, 2526, a Covenant supercarrier ''Hammer of Faith'' was under construction at the Ring of Mighty Abundance and above Zhoist, a Covenant-controlled world, and remained incomplete, it was destroyed by two HAVOK tactical nuclear weapons by John-117 and Kelly-087 during the Attack on Zhoist, along with its surrounding fabrication barns. On 2552#July|July 17, 2552, a carrier, escorted by a pair of Covenant frigates and a Wik-pattern light destroyer|destroyer, attempted to Battle of Sigma Octanus IV|seize control of the human human colonies|colony world Sigma Octanus IV. When the destroyer and the two frigates were destroyed by Captain Jacob Keyes, the carrier retreated until reinforcements arrived. However, the carrier did succeed in deploying 34 dropships to the surface of the planet to initiate an invasion while hailing the rest of the Second Fleet of Solemn Accord|Covenant fleet.
During the Battle of Installation 05 and the Great Schism, the light carrier ''Lawgiver'' assisted ''Incorruptible'' during the battle against the Jiralhanae and the Flood. A carrier would also go on assist Joyous Exultation Covenant|Covenant forces in the Onyx Conflict later that month.
By 2559#October|October 2559, a former Covenant supercarrier was used as part of the Banished occupation fleet on Reach under War Chief Escharum's command, presumably used as a flagship for the formidable armada. It also carried the War Chief's personal intrusion corvette.
Gallery
File:HINF Concept AssaultCarrier.jpg|Early concept art for ''Halo Infinite'' of an assault carrier. File:Overview - Covenant Assault Carrier.png|Overview of a ''Kerel''-pattern assault carrier. File:HO CovenantShip Concept.jpg|''Halo Online'' concept art for a Cut Halo Online levels|cut map set on a carrier.
List of appearances
''Halo: The Fall of Reach''
''Halo: First Strike''
''Halo 2''
''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''
''Halo: Uprising''
''Halo 3''
''Halo 3: ODST''
''Halo Legends''
*''Origins''
*''The Package (animated short)|The Package''
''Halo: Evolutions''
*''Palace Hotel''
*''The Return''
''Halo: Blood Line''
''Halo: Reach''
''Halo: Fall of Reach''
''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary''
*''Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)|Terminals''
''Halo 4''
*''Terminal (Halo 4)|Terminals''
*''Spartan Ops''
''Halo: Spartan Assault''
''Halo: Initiation''
''Halo: Escalation''
''Halo 2: Anniversary''
*''Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminals''
''Halo: Spartan Strike''
''Halo: Fleet Battles''
''Halo: Shadow of Intent''
''Halo Wars 2''
''Halo: Rise of Atriox''
''Halo: Silent Storm''
''Halo: Shadows of Reach''
''Halo: The Television Series''
Notes
Sources
Category:Carrier classes|
Category:Covenant ship classes|
|
File:H3 Heretic FleetOfRetribution.jpg|350px|thumb|A pair of Covenant assault carriers with a number of battlecruisers. Covenant carriers are a broad type of Covenant starship|ship classification of the Covenant Covenant fleet|fleet and its Covenant remnants|remnants. Often grand and illustrious, they serve as hubs for administrative and religious activities within their assigned fleets.
Overview Carriers held a Covenant fleet's clerical authority for religious ceremonies, contained small Assembly Forges|assembly forges for repairs, and the bulk of the food supply. They were often used to clear operating areas of space fighters allowing other vessels in a fleet to focus on other targets.
Types of carrier Within the Covenant
Assault carriers are the Covenant carrier type most commonly encountered by Covenant forces, classed as Examiner (ship type)|examiners in the Covenant ship classification system. They are generally the ones tasked with leading fleets of smaller warships and acting as primary combatants in space warfare. The three-letter ship classification system developed by the United Nations Space Command designates most of these vessels as CAS-class assault carriers, with the Office of Naval Intelligence considering the Class-5 flagship carrier. Due to their enormous size, assault carriers may be informally termed as "supercarriers".
A number of design pattern variations of assault carrier exist:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Class !! Image !! Length !! Tonnage !! Source
| | || File:H3-ShadowOfIntent-Side.png|300px || || 2.7 billion tonnes ||
| | || File:HFB-CAS&CCS&SDV.jpg|300px || || 2.7 billion tonnes ||
| |Unidentified Covenant assault carrier class|Unidentified pattern || File:HR_LNoS_AssaultCarrier_Screenshot_1.png|300px || N/A || N/A ||
|}
Only one known classification of light carrier has been encountered in Covenant service, dubbed the . These vessels are rarely encountered far from harborages and ports, and serve as troop transports, Space fighter|strikecraft tenders and flagships for reserve fleets in the Covenant's rear lines. These vessels are given the three-letter code DDS-class light carrier in UNSC classification schemes. Despite their official designation as light carriers, ''Ruma''-pattern ships are nonetheless enormous vessels and a breed apart from a variety of undefined "light carrier" vessels, such that they may be informally termed as supercarriers in their own right.
One such unidentified model of light carrier measures 1,455 meters (4,790 ft) in length - just under half of the ''Ruma''s length. It boasts 13 launch bays that contain a total of 300 Seraph fighters, 200 Banshees, and 34 dropships, and is crewed by more than 4,000 Covenant troops. It is armed with multiple plasma torpedo silos and pulse laser turrets. As it is less common and more powerful than a Covenant cruiser, it is most likely designed to act as a command ship and provide fighter support during engagements. Vessels of this class, such as the ''Lawgiver'', are considered a breed apart from the larger and more heavily-equipped ''Ruma''-pattern vessels.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Class !! Image !! Length !! Tonnage !! Source
| | || N/A || || 272 million tonnes ||
| |Unidentified pattern || N/A || || N/A ||
|}
The largest warships in the Covenant armada were sometimes referred to as "supercarriers" to distinguish them from lighter carrier vessels that filled support roles. They are extremely large warships bordering on overlap with harborages such as Unyielding Hierophant, or the Exarch class of vessels in Covenant service. In UNSC three-letter classification, the ''Sh'wada''-pattern supercarrier is dubbed the CSO-class supercarrier, and is considered a Class-5 flagship carrier similarly to the smaller assault carriers.
Alongside the ''Sh'wada''-pattern, an unidentified model of supercarrier even larger in scope also exists in service with the Covenant fleet, rarely documented by the UNSC. Like other models of supercarrier they are often used as flagships for Covenant fleets, and may be used by Prophets as their personal command ships. One example, ''Sublime Transcendence'', led the Combined Fleet of Righteous Purpose, while another commanded the Second Fleet of Homogeneous Clarity.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Class !! Image !! Length !! Tonnage !! Source
| | || File:HReach-CovenantSupercarrier-LNoS.png|300px || || 152 billion tonnes ||
| |Unidentified pattern || N/A || || N/A ||
|}
Operational history Covenant forces have long made use of various carrier classes within their fleets.
For a number of years leading up to the Human-Covenant War, several Covenant carriers were served as support ships and some along with "supercarriers" were assigned in the Second Fleet of Homogeneous Clarity of the High Charity defense fleet|defense fleet of ''High Charity''. By 2526#April|April 15, 2526, a Covenant supercarrier ''Hammer of Faith'' was under construction at the Ring of Mighty Abundance and above Zhoist, a Covenant-controlled world, and remained incomplete, it was destroyed by two HAVOK tactical nuclear weapons by John-117 and Kelly-087 during the Attack on Zhoist, along with its surrounding fabrication barns. On 2552#July|July 17, 2552, a carrier, escorted by a pair of Covenant frigates and a Wik-pattern light destroyer|destroyer, attempted to Battle of Sigma Octanus IV|seize control of the human human colonies|colony world Sigma Octanus IV. When the destroyer and the two frigates were destroyed by Captain Jacob Keyes, the carrier retreated until reinforcements arrived. However, the carrier did succeed in deploying 34 dropships to the surface of the planet to initiate an invasion while hailing the rest of the Second Fleet of Solemn Accord|Covenant fleet.
During the Battle of Installation 05 and the Great Schism, the light carrier ''Lawgiver'' assisted ''Incorruptible'' during the battle against the Jiralhanae and the Flood. A carrier would also go on assist Joyous Exultation Covenant|Covenant forces in the Onyx Conflict later that month.
By 2559#October|October 2559, a former Covenant supercarrier was used as part of the Banished occupation fleet on Reach under War Chief Escharum's command, presumably used as a flagship for the formidable armada. It also carried the War Chief's personal intrusion corvette.
Gallery
File:HINF Concept AssaultCarrier.jpg|Early concept art for ''Halo Infinite'' of an assault carrier. File:Overview - Covenant Assault Carrier.png|Overview of a ''Kerel''-pattern assault carrier. File:HO CovenantShip Concept.jpg|''Halo Online'' concept art for a Cut Halo Online levels|cut map set on a carrier.
List of appearances
''Halo: The Fall of Reach''
''Halo: First Strike''
''Halo 2''
''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''
''Halo: Uprising''
''Halo 3''
''Halo 3: ODST''
''Halo Legends''
*''Origins''
*''The Package (animated short)|The Package''
''Halo: Evolutions''
*''Palace Hotel''
*''The Return''
''Halo: Blood Line''
''Halo: Reach''
''Halo: Fall of Reach''
''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary''
*''Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)|Terminals''
''Halo 4''
*''Terminal (Halo 4)|Terminals''
*''Spartan Ops''
''Halo: Spartan Assault''
''Halo: Initiation''
''Halo: Escalation''
''Halo 2: Anniversary''
*''Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminals''
''Halo: Spartan Strike''
''Halo: Fleet Battles''
''Halo: Shadow of Intent''
''Halo Wars 2''
''Halo: Rise of Atriox''
''Halo: Silent Storm''
''Halo: Shadows of Reach''
''Halo: The Television Series''
Notes
Sources
Category:Carrier classes|
Category:Covenant ship classes|
|
File:H3 Heretic FleetOfRetribution.jpg|350px|thumb|A pair of Covenant assault carriers with a number of battlecruisers. Covenant carriers are a broad type of Covenant starship|ship classification of the Covenant Covenant fleet|fleet and its Covenant remnants|remnants. Often grand and illustrious, they serve as hubs for administrative and religious activities within their assigned fleets.
Overview Carriers held a Covenant fleet's clerical authority for religious ceremonies, contained small Assembly Forges|assembly forges for repairs, and the bulk of the food supply. They were often used to clear operating areas of space fighters allowing other vessels in a fleet to focus on other targets.
Types of carrier Within the Covenant
Assault carriers are the Covenant carrier type most commonly encountered by Covenant forces, classed as Examiner (ship type)|examiners in the Covenant ship classification system. They are generally the ones tasked with leading fleets of smaller warships and acting as primary combatants in space warfare. The three-letter ship classification system developed by the United Nations Space Command designates most of these vessels as CAS-class assault carriers, with the Office of Naval Intelligence considering the Class-5 flagship carrier. Due to their enormous size, assault carriers may be informally termed as "supercarriers".
A number of design pattern variations of assault carrier exist:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Class !! Image !! Length !! Tonnage !! Source
| | || File:H3-ShadowOfIntent-Side.png|300px || || 2.7 billion tonnes ||
| | || File:HFB-CAS&CCS&SDV.jpg|300px || || 2.7 billion tonnes ||
| |Unidentified Covenant assault carrier class|Unidentified pattern || File:HR_LNoS_AssaultCarrier_Screenshot_1.png|300px || N/A || N/A ||
|}
Only one known classification of light carrier has been encountered in Covenant service, dubbed the . These vessels are rarely encountered far from harborages and ports, and serve as troop transports, Space fighter|strikecraft tenders and flagships for reserve fleets in the Covenant's rear lines. These vessels are given the three-letter code DDS-class light carrier in UNSC classification schemes. Despite their official designation as light carriers, ''Ruma''-pattern ships are nonetheless enormous vessels and a breed apart from a variety of undefined "light carrier" vessels, such that they may be informally termed as supercarriers in their own right.
One such unidentified model of light carrier measures 1,455 meters (4,790 ft) in length - just under half of the ''Ruma''s length. It boasts 13 launch bays that contain a total of 300 Seraph fighters, 200 Banshees, and 34 dropships, and is crewed by more than 4,000 Covenant troops. It is armed with multiple plasma torpedo silos and pulse laser turrets. As it is less common and more powerful than a Covenant cruiser, it is most likely designed to act as a command ship and provide fighter support during engagements. Vessels of this class, such as the ''Lawgiver'', are considered a breed apart from the larger and more heavily-equipped ''Ruma''-pattern vessels.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Class !! Image !! Length !! Tonnage !! Source
| | || N/A || || 272 million tonnes ||
| |Unidentified pattern || N/A || || N/A ||
|}
The largest warships in the Covenant armada were sometimes referred to as "supercarriers" to distinguish them from lighter carrier vessels that filled support roles. They are extremely large warships bordering on overlap with harborages such as Unyielding Hierophant, or the Exarch class of vessels in Covenant service. In UNSC three-letter classification, the ''Sh'wada''-pattern supercarrier is dubbed the CSO-class supercarrier, and is considered a Class-5 flagship carrier similarly to the smaller assault carriers.
Alongside the ''Sh'wada''-pattern, an unidentified model of supercarrier even larger in scope also exists in service with the Covenant fleet, rarely documented by the UNSC. Like other models of supercarrier they are often used as flagships for Covenant fleets, and may be used by Prophets as their personal command ships. One example, ''Sublime Transcendence'', led the Combined Fleet of Righteous Purpose, while another commanded the Second Fleet of Homogeneous Clarity.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Class !! Image !! Length !! Tonnage !! Source
| | || File:HReach-CovenantSupercarrier-LNoS.png|300px || || 152 billion tonnes ||
| |Unidentified pattern || N/A || || N/A ||
|}
Operational history Covenant forces have long made use of various carrier classes within their fleets.
For a number of years leading up to the Human-Covenant War, several Covenant carriers were served as support ships and some along with "supercarriers" were assigned in the Second Fleet of Homogeneous Clarity of the High Charity defense fleet|defense fleet of ''High Charity''. By 2526#April|April 15, 2526, a Covenant supercarrier ''Hammer of Faith'' was under construction at the Ring of Mighty Abundance and above Zhoist, a Covenant-controlled world, and remained incomplete, it was destroyed by two HAVOK tactical nuclear weapons by John-117 and Kelly-087 during the Attack on Zhoist, along with its surrounding fabrication barns. On 2552#July|July 17, 2552, a carrier, escorted by a pair of Covenant frigates and a Wik-pattern light destroyer|destroyer, attempted to Battle of Sigma Octanus IV|seize control of the human human colonies|colony world Sigma Octanus IV. When the destroyer and the two frigates were destroyed by Captain Jacob Keyes, the carrier retreated until reinforcements arrived. However, the carrier did succeed in deploying 34 dropships to the surface of the planet to initiate an invasion while hailing the rest of the Second Fleet of Solemn Accord|Covenant fleet.
During the Battle of Installation 05 and the Great Schism, the light carrier ''Lawgiver'' assisted ''Incorruptible'' during the battle against the Jiralhanae and the Flood. A carrier would also go on assist Joyous Exultation Covenant|Covenant forces in the Onyx Conflict later that month.
By 2559#October|October 2559, a former Covenant supercarrier was used as part of the Banished occupation fleet on Reach under War Chief Escharum's command, presumably used as a flagship for the formidable armada. It also carried the War Chief's personal intrusion corvette.
Gallery
File:HINF Concept AssaultCarrier.jpg|Early concept art for ''Halo Infinite'' of an assault carrier. File:Overview - Covenant Assault Carrier.png|Overview of a ''Kerel''-pattern assault carrier. File:HO CovenantShip Concept.jpg|''Halo Online'' concept art for a Cut Halo Online levels|cut map set on a carrier.
List of appearances
''Halo: The Fall of Reach''
''Halo: First Strike''
''Halo 2''
''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''
''Halo: Uprising''
''Halo 3''
''Halo 3: ODST''
''Halo Legends''
*''Origins''
*''The Package (animated short)|The Package''
''Halo: Evolutions''
*''Palace Hotel''
*''The Return''
''Halo: Blood Line''
''Halo: Reach''
''Halo: Fall of Reach''
''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary''
*''Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)|Terminals''
''Halo 4''
*''Terminal (Halo 4)|Terminals''
*''Spartan Ops''
''Halo: Spartan Assault''
''Halo: Initiation''
''Halo: Escalation''
''Halo 2: Anniversary''
*''Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminals''
''Halo: Spartan Strike''
''Halo: Fleet Battles''
''Halo: Shadow of Intent''
''Halo Wars 2''
''Halo: Rise of Atriox''
''Halo: Silent Storm''
''Halo: Shadows of Reach''
''Halo: The Television Series''
Notes
Sources
Category:Carrier classes|
Category:Covenant ship classes|
|
File:Halo-wars-Covenant-base.jpg|thumb|300px|A Covenant citadel. The citadel is a Covenant Socket Base|base structure, and the Covenant equivalent of the Firebase|UNSC Firebase in ''Halo Wars''. (defunct, Archive:Halowars.com/Covenant|Archived) It contains a Command Center, seven building sites, and four turret foundations.
When a new base has been claimed in standard Skirmish or multiplayer mode, the beginning base facility is called the ''Outpost'' (not to be confused with the Banished structure of the Banished outpost|same name). It includes a Command Center and three building sites, but no foundations. Outpost can be upgraded to a ''Keep'', which includes a Command Center, five building sites and four turret foundations, and can be upgraded to a citadel.
Summary File:HW CovenantMinibase.png|thumb|A Covenant Minibase on Arcadia. The citadel is a basic command structure with defenses such as Zurdo-pattern Wraith|Wraiths, Karo'etba-pattern Ghost|Ghosts, and Type-26 Banshee|Banshees, and can also be defended by base turrets. It also has a similar underground garage to the UNSC's Firebase. These provide field command facilities for invading or defending Covenant Armies. Much like its United Nations Space Command|UNSC equivalent, it possesses seven expansion "sockets" for more structures for research, unit production and defense.
Where UNSC Firebases and Banished Outposts are prefabricated and airlifted into the battlefield large transport craft such as the D20 Heron, D81-LRT Condor or Lich, Covenant citadels and their supporting sub-structures are Teleporter|teleported into the battlefield whole. From here, supplies are driven into the base via gravity lift and stored in the Warehouses. Once established, a large Teleportation pad is established in the front of the base, which can be used to move troops and vehicles to the front lines of the battle. The citadel does not appear to have any physical openings for which to enter or exit the base - troops simply use teleporters to enter and exit the base. When threatened, the base can lock down, which will establish a shield around the teleporter into the base to prevent unauthorised entry or exit into or out of the base.
The Covenant also made use of Minibases, smaller outposts only capable of supporting one additional structure. They were notably employed during the Battle of the Etran Harborage, where they were used as forward airbases with which to construct Banshees and Bkowe'nei-pattern Vampire|Vampires.''Halo Wars'', campaign level Beachhead (Halo Wars level)|Beachhead Unlike their UNSC Firebase#Minibase|counterpart, there is no structure for the building of the Covenant minibase to attach to; simply a teleporter pad on the ground for troops and supplies to use to enter the lone building.
History File:Hroa4 raid.png|thumb|A citadel is attacked by the Banished. Covenant citadels were employed by the Covenant during several battles in 2531. One was employed during the Harvest campaign, in which it was used to defend the Relic (location)|relic.Halo Wars campaign level: ''Relic Approach'' Several were later used in the Battle for Arcadia; one was deployed in Pirth City to defend a that was shelling the city,Halo Wars campaign level: ''Arcadia City'' while another was deployed in the city's outskirts.Halo Wars campaign level: ''Arcadia Outskirts'' Several citadels and minibases were deployed under the protection of a massive Covenant Energy shielding|dome, though they would eventually be destroyed by an Orbital bombardment.Halo Wars campaign level: ''Dome of Light''
The Covenant would make extensive use of citadels during the Battle of Trove.
Shortly following the end of the Human-Covenant War, a citadel being used as an airbase on the swamp-moon of Kostroda by shipmaster Let 'Volir would be attacked by Atriox and his Banished forces.''Halo: Rise of Atriox Issue 4''
Expansions File:COVENANT Citadel 1.jpg|thumb|The citadel with no buildings or fortifications. The citadel is capable of hosting up to seven fortifications, alongside up to four turret slots. Covenant temple|Temple Covenant warehouse|Warehouse Covenant hall|Hall Factory Summit (building)|Summit Covenant shield generator|Shield generator
Units produced and available upgrades Deutoros-pattern Scarab|Scarabs Sangheili Honor Guardsman|Honor Guard Elites (Prophet of Regret only)
*Cloaking Ability
*Personal Shield Jiralhanae|Brutes (Avitus|Brute Army Commander only)
*Jump Pack
*Electric Shot Suicide Unggoy|Suicide Grunts (Ripa 'Moramee|Arbiter only)
*Zeal
*Defile
Gallery
File:HW-CovenantBuilding_Concept.jpg|Concept art of a building for the Citadel. File:HW-Concept-CovenantTeleporterPad.jpg|Concept art of the Teleporter pad on the front of the citadel. File:HW Citadel_Concept.jpg|Concept art of the Covenant citadel. File:COVENANT Equipment.jpg|The citadel's turrets, building and teleporter pads. File:HW Citadel Render 1.jpg|A render of the citadel model in ''Halo Wars'', with poly and texture information. File:HW_CovenantMinibase_Render.jpg|A render of the Covenant minibase with no attached buildings. File:HW ShieldedCitadel Screenshot.jpg|A shielded Covenant citadel. File:HW Screenshots E3 7.jpg File:HW Screenshots E3 6.jpg File:HaloWars-CovBase01-Screenshot.jpg|A Citadel and a Covenant army supporting it. File:HROA Citadel 3D.jpg|An early 3D placement pass on a Citadel in ''Halo: Rise of Atriox''. File:HROA Citadel Sketch.jpg|Early sketch of the Citadel in ''Halo: Rise of Atriox''.
List of appearances
''Halo Wars''
''Halo: Blood Line''
''Halo Wars 2''
''Halo: Rise of Atriox''
Sources
Category:Covenant buildings Category:Fortifications
|
File:HR Tempest Comm Node.png|300px|thumb|A Spike of Obeisance on Tempest. Covenant comm nodes, also known as Covenant comm relays or ''Spikes of Obeisance'', are mobile communication devices employed by the Covenant for strategic ground command and control.
Overview
The comm nodes come in several different variants, with the most common Spikes of Obeisance depicted as tall devices, consisting of a stalk protruding from a round central structure, supported by a trio of 'legs'. They are primarily magenta, black, and silver in color. Some comm nodes feature a tall antenna, but with a single large base structure, while others are similar in appearance to the Covenant supply case, bearing three equilateral antennas and a keyboard extending from within the base.
Comm nodes are primarily deployed on ground in areas requiring tactical communication between separate Covenant operators. They were used by the Covenant as a means to interlink their proselytization network|battle network and functioned as a combination of proselytism, network up-links, communication hubs, and sensor relay nodes.
Operational history Covenant comm relays were used extensively during the Covenant's vicious Fall of Reach|assault on the planet Reach, and the follow-up Battle of Installation 04 as well as during the Battle for Earth the Battle of Installation 05, and the Battle of Installation 00.
Trivia The comm will remain active if one of its legs has been broken off, and can still be picked up in Forge. To completely destroy it, one must break the tower from the base. On the main body of the node, something resembling the List of Marathon references in the Halo series|Marathon symbol can clearly be seen.
Gallery
File:HCE CovenantCommNode.jpg|The ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' comm node. File:HCE CovenantCommNode Closeup.jpg|A closeup of the ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' comm node, bearing more resemblance to the Covenant supply case. File:HCE-CovenantComNode.png|Cutout of the ''Combat Evolved'' comm node. File:HCEA SilentCartographer CommNode.jpg|The Covenant comm node as depicted in ''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary''. File:HCEA Comm Node Keyboard.jpg|Closeup view of the comm node control pads. File:H2 Communications Module.png|A comm node in ''Halo 2''. File:H3 Communications Module.jpeg|A comm node in ''Halo 3''. File:H3 CovenantCommNode.jpg|A comm node next to a Covenant supply case on Installation 00.
File:HReach Communications Module.jpg|A comm node in ''Halo: Reach''
File:HR TipOfTheSpear Comm Node.png|A Comm Node on the mission Tip of the Spear. File:HR CovenantCommAntenna Concept.jpg|Concept art of a Covenant communication antenna in ''Halo: Reach''. File:HR-CovenantComNode.png|A communications antenna in ''Reach''. File:H4-Concept-Covenant-Uplink.jpg|Concept art of a comm node in ''Halo 4''. File:H2A_CovenantCommNode.png|The ''Halo 2: Anniversary'' comm node on High Charity. File:H2A_CovenantCommNode_Side.png|A comm node beside several Covenant supply cases.
List of appearances
''Halo: Combat Evolved
''Halo 2''
''Halo 3''
''Halo: Reach''
''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary''
''Halo: Spartan Assault''
''Halo 2: Anniversary''
''Halo: Spartan Strike''
''Halo: Ground Command''
''Halo: Oblivion''
Notes
Sources
Category:Covenant technology Category:Communications technology
|
File:HR_CovenantCommJammer.png|thumb|250px|A Covenant communications jammer. Communications jammers are a piece of Electronic countermeasures|electronic warfare technology used by the Covenant. As their name suggests, they are used for the purpose of disrupting enemy COM frequencies, preventing long-ranged communications in the regions they are placed. However, they do permit short-ranged communications within their vicinity even at close-range, suggesting them to be more of a strategic tool for cutting off larger deployments from command authorities and UNSC battle network|battle network uplinks than disrupting tactical-level communications.
While active, the emitters emit a steady pulse of light and a mild electromagnetic pulse, capable of disrupting electronics such as Visual Intelligence System, Reconnaissance|helmet VISR displays - though not to such an extent as to completely disable it. The sides of the jammers contain a control pad with an option to self-destruct - enabling this option retracts the three central pillars into the base before self-destructing. The Banished make use of a disruption emitter with broad visual and operational similarities to the communications jammer.
On 2552#August|August 23, 2552, during the Fall of Reach, SPARTAN-B312 assisted in destroying several of the jammers in New Alexandria (location)|New Alexandria that were blocking a signal to United Nations Space Command command. Three such jammers were placed in the New Alexandria Hospital, SinoViet Center, and Club Errera - alongside a handful placed on the exterior roofs of some of the city's many skyscrapers.
Gallery
File:HR MobileJammer.jpg|A jammer deployed on the roof of a building in New Alexandria.
List of appearances
''Halo: Reach''
Notes
Sources
Category:Electronic warfare technology Category:Covenant technology
|
File:HR-SDVHeavyCorvette-ArdentPrayer.png|300px|thumb|An ''SDV''-class heavy corvette. Corvette is a warship classification that was used by the Covenant, before the empire's collapse in 2552. The Covenant employed corvettes for a wide array of functions. They are used for stealth, intelligence gathering, and escort. Historically, they were often responsible for surveying Forerunner artifact sites and for the deployment of small artifact-retrieval teams to elude any local defensive measures.
During the Human-Covenant War, corvettes were utilized by the Covenant in front-line combat roles as well as long-range reconnaissance of potential Covenant fleet|naval staging areas and colonies. The relatively small size of Covenant corvettes, as well as their maneuverability and low sensor signature, allow them to remain undetected except at close range.
Classes Three known classes of corvettes were used by the Covenant throughout the Human-Covenant War:
The is a smaller class of corvette, commonly assigned in stealth operations and intelligence gathering. Vessels of this class were also tasked with the deployment and retrieval of Ranger teams. The is a relatively larger corvette class, often given reconnaissance and ground support roles.Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, ''page 13'' They rarely engaged hostile warships directly, and instead deployed space fighters and served as escorts for capital ships. The Intrusion corvette is a stealth vessel employed by the Covenant.
List of appearances
''Halo: The Fall of Reach''
''Halo: Reach''
''Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn''
''Halo 4''
''Halo: Escalation''
''Halo: Mortal Dictata''
''Halo: Broken Circle''
''Halo: Hunters in the Dark''
''Halo: Fleet Battles''
''Halo Mythos: A Guide to the Story of Halo''
''Halo: Fractures''
*''Breaking Strain''
''Halo: Tales from Slipspace''
*''Hunting Party''
''Halo: Envoy''
''Halo: Silent Storm''
''Halo: Oblivion''
''Halo: Shadows of Reach''
''Halo: The Television Series''
*''Emergence''
*''Reckoning''
Sources
Category:Corvette classes|
Category:Covenant ship classes|
|
s Sangheili Mgalekgolo Kig-Yar Unggoy
|destroyed=2552#August|August 30, 2552
|crew=
|skeleton=
|passengers=
|capacity=
|consumables=
|othersystems=
|firstuse=
|role=Support
|era=
|affiliation=Covenant
}}
This Covenant cruiser was a warship in the Covenant Covenant fleet|fleet which took part in the Fall of Reach.
Operational use
After entering the Epsilon Eridani system, and after the initial attack against the UNSC forces in orbit, the cruiser was one of many that entered Reach's atmosphere, coming to rest over Longhorn Valley in the Highland Mountains, where it landed tens of thousands of troops on the planet surface. Hovering thirty meters above the ground, it was protected by legions of ground forces, dozens of Zurdo-pattern Wraith|Wraiths, anti-air emplacements, and three squadrons of Type-26 Ground Support Aircraft|Banshees conducting air patrols.Halo: First Strike, ''page 21''
A team of three SPARTAN-II Program|Spartan-IIs, designated Red Team#Fall of Reach splinter arrangement|Alpha Team, used captured Covenant Banshee fighters to fly past the patrols and anti-air emplacements.Halo: First Strike, ''page 24-25'' At least one Unggoy, Zawaz, detected the Banshees on a scanner, but did not bother to report them, fearing punishment from his Sangheili superior officers.Halo: First Strike, ''page 26-27'' As the Covenant grew suspicious of these new Banshees, they demanded proper codeword clearance - the Spartans, unable to translate the messages and not knowing the codewords, ignored them.Halo: First Strike, ''page 28'' One Spartan, Joshua-029, was shot down while the other two, Frederic-104 and Kelly-087, reached the cruiser's gravity lift, throwing a Fury tactical nuclear weapon into the ship and retreating behind a nearby mountain ridge.Halo: First Strike, ''page 29''
The ship was destroyed, its own shields absorbing the electromagnetic pulse from the weapon, preventing it from damaging the nearby orbital defense generators. It also leveled the nearby forest and mountain, vaporizing the ground forces. However, its loss did little to save the reactors - another three cruisers descended from orbit to replace it.Halo: First Strike, ''page 31''
List of appearances
''Halo: First Strike''
Sources
Category:Cruisers Category:Covenant ships
Category:Unidentified content
|
File:Halo Legends - Reach Assault.png|350px|thumb|A massive armada of numerous Covenant cruisers over the human Inner Colony of Reach. Covenant cruisers are a classification of Covenant starships that span numerous sizes, shapes, and functions. They are ubiquitous and possess weapon capabilities that can bring extinction or submission. Typically, Covenant cruisers are mid-sized vessels capable of conducting independent naval operations.
Overview Cruisers were the most prominent vessels used by the Covenant during an invasion. Since the beginning of History of the Covenant|Covenant history, cruisers served as the empire's primary mode of galactic transportation and method of enforcing the authority of the Hierarchs. The Covenant manufactured cruisers in vast quantities, easily surpassing the numbers of any other known Covenant starship class. The role of a Covenant cruiser can be for attack, interdiction, occupation, patrol, surveying or command.
File:HR CCS Pro.png|300px|thumb|The distinctive shape of most Covenant cruiser classes (in this case a ''Ket''-pattern battlecruiser, mainstay of the Covenant fleet)
Each cruiser class has specific shapes and functions, but they often share an overall similar design. The different classes also have similar equipment and armament, such as energy shielding|energy shields, Energy projector|ventral cleansing beams, Plasma turret|anterior plasma cannons and Pulse laser turret|point laser defense.
Like most starships of the Covenant, cruisers follow a typical structural designa smooth hull with wide, extensive contours and near-perfect symmetry. The design of a cruiser is reminiscent of large marine animals that are native to the Sangheili colonies|colonies of the Sangheili. Two to four hangar bays are found on the undercarriage of each cruiser, aft of a large gravity lift that can be detached and lowered onto a world's surface. A vertical gravity beam can then be generated for the transportation of infantry, supplies, and other assets. Modular bays scattered around a cruiser can be configured as engineering, medical, armory, barracks, or Covenant religion|religious facilities. All of these facilities are interconnected by a network of narrow corridors and lifts.
The Bridge|command deck is located within the center of each cruiser. This deck is a large room with a centralized bridge platform occupied by only the highest-ranking officers aboard the vessel.
Classes There are many cruiser classes used by the Covenant, each with different roles. All classes are identified according to the standard Covenant Covenant fleet#Ship classification codes|starship classification code. Four primary classes of the Covenant cruiser existed: ''CRS'', ''CCS'', ''RCS'' and ''ORS''. Though there are other kinds of cruisers, their differences are minimal and they easily fall within one of the main classes.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Class !! Image !! Length !! Tonnage !! Details
| | || File:H4-CovenantCRSLightCruiser.png|300px || || 190,000 tonnes || Smaller than the average Covenant cruiser, but it still performs well during attack and interference operations. Light cruisers are prominently used by Jul 'Mdama's Covenant.
| | || File:DH CCS Ket.png|300px || || 90.7 million tonnes || Easily the most prominent warship used by the Covenant during the Human-Covenant War. It performs exceptionally during the invasion and occupation of a world. The class was ideal during ship-to-ship engagements and during vehicle and infantry ground deployments.
| | || || || || One of the mainstay battlecruiser designs employed by the Covenant, alongside ''Ket''-pattern.
| | || File:H4-RCSArmoredCruiser-SideFull.png|300px || || 122 million tonnes || A class of cruiser mainly used for patrol and planetary occupation. Developed when energy shielding technology was more limited, the class was not as heavily armed or robust as the ''CCS'' class.
| | || File:Enc22 Varric-pattern heavy cruiser.png|300px || || 200 million tonnes || Significantly larger than most Covenant cruisers and is used for planetary occupation and naval command. The heavy cruiser is often used as a support for Covenant flagships.
|}
An unidentified cruiser was crewed more than 10,000 Covenant troops and contains 3 Banshee squadrons and dozens of Wraiths. Covenant cruiser at Longhorn Valley|One such vessel was deployed over Longhorn Valley during the Fall of Reach following the Space engagements over Reach|decimation of the Epsilon Eridani Fleet.
Known vessels
Gallery
File:H4 TerminalCovFleet Concept.jpg|A ''Halo 4'' concept art for Jul 'Mdama's Covenant fleet of numerous Covenant cruisers and CAS-class assault carrier|assault carriers, including ''Song of Retribution''.
List of appearances
''Halo: Combat Evolved''
''Halo: First Strike''
''Halo: The Flood''
''Halo 2''
''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''
''Halo: Uprising''
''Halo 3''
''Halo: Contact Harvest''
''Halo: The Cole Protocol''
''Halo Wars''
''Halo 3: ODST Pre-mission Evaluation''
''Halo 3: ODST''
''Halo Legends''
*''The Duel''
*''Origins''
*''The Package (animated short)|The Package''
''Halo: Evolutions''
*''Midnight in the Heart of Midlothian''
*''The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole''
*''The Return''
''Remember Reach''
*''Deliver Hope''
''Halo: Reach''
*''Data pads''
''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary''
*''Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)|Terminals''
''Halo: The Thursday War''
''Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn''
''Halo 4''
*''Terminal (Halo 4)|Terminals''
*''Spartan Ops''
''Halo: Spartan Assault''
''Halo: Initiation''
''Halo: Escalation''
''Halo: Mortal Dictata''
''Halo 2: Anniversary''
''Halo: Fleet Battles''
''Halo 5: Guardians''
''Halo Mythos: A Guide to the Story of Halo''
''Halo: Tales from Slipspace''
*''On the Brink''
*''Hunting Party''
''Halo: Rise of Atriox''
''Halo: Fireteam Raven''
''Halo: Silent Storm''
''Halo: Oblivion''
Sources
Category:Cruiser classes|
Category:Covenant ship classes|
|
Covenant Dance is the fourteenth track in ''Halo: Original Soundtrack''.
Overview As its name implies, the piece is carried by a strong dance beat. At 00:16, the beat becomes underlaid to a more dominant snare-drum beat. Starting at 00:30, a variation of the Halo theme, followed by long ascending notes, which consists of the monkish chorus in time to the beat. At 00:52, the beat and chant grind to a halt and are replaced by a less regular synth beat, still following a tempo matching the drum beat. At 01:08, a higher synth melody arises to follow the new synth beat. At 01:15, the drumbeat starts up again. At 01:31, the chant returns, but shortly disappears again. Soon after, the drum and synth follow it, allowing the song to smoothly conclude.
Appearances It can be heard:
In the level ''The Truth and Reconciliation'', when John-117 and Fire Team Charlie are ambushed after boarding the ''Truth and Reconciliation''. In the level ''Assault on the Control Room'', when John-117 opens the first blast door to the Control Room (Installation 04)|control room of Installation 04
In the level ''Two Betrayals'', when John-117 encounters the first battle between the Covenant and the Flood. In the opening cutscene of the level ''Keyes''.
The opening percussion plays in the ''Halo 2'' level ''The Great Journey'', when Arbiter Thel 'Vadam enters the cavern area in the Bastion of the Brutes.
Arrangements The piece was arranged into ''Choreographite'' in ''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary: Original Soundtrack''.
Production notes This track is a partial remake of Alexander Seropian's heard in the first Marathon game. The percussion in this track is reminiscent of a motif from the soundtracks for wikipedia:Myth_The_Fallen_Lords|''Myth'' and wikipedia:Myth_II_Soulblighter|''Myth II'', including ' and '. The track uses the following instruments and patches/samples:
*E-MU Procussion:
**082 Sarengeti (Main rhythmic percussion)
*E-MU Proteus 2000:
**Protozoa ROM - 082-0 GulaGula (Synth bass)
**Protozoa ROM - 067-3 Miya Daiko (Kick drum and low rumble)
**Protozoa ROM - 058-2 Percussion 1 (Drum that plays with Sarengeti)
**Composer ROM - 041-3 Snares 1 (Left channel snare)
**Composer ROM - 042-3 Snares 2 (Right channel snare)
*Kurzweil K2500X:
**Orchestral ROM - 975 Timpani
*Roland XV-5080:
**PR-D 102 Soundtraque (Synth pad)
Sources
|
File:Covenant barrier.png|thumb|200px|A standard Guardian Triptych. The Covenant and its Covenant remnants|splinter factions deploy defense barriers as linear obstacles, Roadblock|vehicle blockers, and firing positions at fortified Covenant landing zones.
One notable type of defense barrier is the Guardian Triptych, comprising a set of three armored panels. The panels of the Triptychs are effective at not only these basic functions, but also contain systems which broadcast subsonic signals that deter local wildlife from approaching and have a soothing effect on any nearby Yanme'e.
Gallery
File:AV Barrier 2.jpg|A Guardian Triptych in front of an anti-vehicle barrier. File:H5G-Covenant roadblock.png|A type of defense barrier deployed by Jul 'Mdama's Covenant on Sanghelios. File:FH4 - More Covenant Props.png|Three Guardian Triptychs in ''The Halo Experience Showcase'' in ''wikipedia:Forza Horizon 4|Forza Horizon 4''.
List of appearances
''Halo 3''
''Halo 3: ODST''
''Halo: Reach''
''Halo 2: Anniversary''
''Halo 5: Guardians''
''Halo: Ground Command''
Sources
Category:Fortifications Category:Covenant technology
|
File:HFB-CPV&SDV.jpg|350px|thumb|A flotilla of one Covenant heavy destroyer escorted by s over Reach. DestroyerHalo: The Fall of Reach is a warship classification that was used by the Covenant, before the empire's collapse in 2552.
Background There are three known classes of destroyers: the , the , and an unidentified classification of which only one example is known, represented by the ''Defender of Faith''. An additional so-called "super-destroyer" has been referenced by United Nations Space Command personnel in naval warfare, though this is an informal term used to describe the . ''CPV''-class destroyers were seen in various battles early in the Human-Covenant War,''Halo Wars'Halo Wars: Genesis'' while a slightly smaller ''RPV''-class destroyer was present during the Battle of Sigma Octanus IV in 2552#July|July 2552.
In general, Covenant destroyers are very well-armed, boasting multiple point-defense pulse laser turrets, plasma turrets, energy projectors, and a full complement of Seraph fighters. The destroyer's weapons are so potent that UNSC Navy Captain (NAVCOM)|Captain Jacob Keyes remarked that they turned UNSC ships into "Swiss cheese" in many engagements.''Halo: The Fall of Reach''''', ''page 145''
This warship classification features the distinctive three-section design of most heavier Covenant warships, mirroring the deadliness of its larger counterparts. Destroyers are often used as escorts for Covenant fleet|fleets or Battle group|task forces and are able to hold their own in combat, while protecting more valuable ships from enemy threats.
Classes
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Class !! Image !! Length !! Tonnage !! Source
| | || File:Enc22 SoTP CPV.png|x150px || || 115 million metric tons ||
| | || || || 99.7 million tonnes ||
| |Unidentified class (''Defender of Faith'') || || || N/A ||
|}
Gallery
File:Covenant Destroyers Glass Harvest.jpg|A pair of Covenant destroyers glassing the planet Harvest. File:ApexBattleImage.png|A Covenant destroyer colliding with the . File:HW Genesis back cover.jpg|Three Covenant destroyers glassing Harvest on the back cover of ''Halo Wars: Genesis''. File:CovDestroyer.jpg|Concept art of the Covenant destroyer for ''Halo Wars''. File:Origins ii Human-CovenantWar.jpg|A Covenant destroyer, as seen in ''Origins''.
List of appearances
''Halo: The Fall of Reach''
''Halo: First Strike''
''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''
''Halo: The Cole Protocol''
''Halo Wars: Genesis''
''Halo Wars''
''Halo: Evolutions''
*''The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole''
''Halo Legends''
*''Origins''
''Halo: Fall of Reach''
*''Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion|Invasion''
''Halo: The Thursday War''
''Halo: Escalation''
''Halo: Fleet Battles''
''Halo: Shadow of Intent''
''Halo Mythos: A Guide to the Story of Halo''
''Halo: Envoy''
''Halo: Rise of Atriox''
''Halo: Oblivion''
''Halo: Shadows of Reach''
''Halo: Point of Light''
Sources
Category:Destroyer classes|
Category:Covenant ship classes|
|
The Covenant and its Covenant remnants|splinter factions make use of various types of drop pods for high-altitude troop deployment.Halo 2, campaign level, ''Outskirts'' Much like the United Nations Space Command|UNSC's Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle|Human Entry Vehicle, the Covenant's orbital insertion pods are used to drop infantry to the planet's surface as shock troops much faster and more efficiently than by means of a dropship. Drop pods may also be used as a fast and efficient means of Naval boarding|boarding enemy spacecraft in lieu of a dedicated R'sisho-pattern Tickboarding craft.
Types File:HR OrbitalInsertionPod Views.png|thumb|left|150px|Frontal and rear views of a single occupant pod.
The drop pods may be the most varied of the transportation methods used by the Covenant, with the types encountered by humanity representing only a fraction of the gamut of models in Covenant service. On the most basic level, they can be divided into two main categories: small, single-occupant pods used mainly by Sangheili, and a number of types which allow the simultaneous deployment of multiple Covenant troops.
These vaguely coffin-shaped, five to six-meter tall pods are small and cramped, with barely enough room for one Sangheili and his weapon. The frontal hatch is equipped with a control panel, which may be used by the occupant to steer the pod. Upon impact with the ground, the pod's hatch blasts open, revealing the interior and allowing the occupant to exit.Halo: Reach, campaign level ''Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace''
There are several variants of the insertion pod; one is cylindrical, with two tapered, slightly angular ends, while the other is bulkier and ovoid-shaped. It is made of burnished cyan-purple metal, but has an opulent, white interior with a contour that conforms to the physique of a Sangheili.
File:HR OrbitalDeploymentPod.jpg|thumb|left|150px|A type of multiple-troop drop pod used during the Fall of Reach. Significantly larger than the single-occupant model, the multiple occupant drop pod has the capacity to deploy at least four Covenant warriors into battle. The pod is released from a ship, and freefalls through the atmosphere the same way the single-occupant version. When the pod is nearing the ground, it fires a series of downward-facing engines to slow it down. The hatches on the sides of the pod open some distance above the ground, allowing the infantry inside to exit the craft. Some models of multiple occupant pod remain on the ground like the single-occupant version after the combatants within have been deployed, while others rocket back to orbit, allowing them to be reused. Iterations of this type of pod were in use among Reformist San'Shyuum as early as the San'Shyuum-Sangheili War. These pods likewise had the capability to return to orbit and were equipped with force fields to hold their occupants in place during acceleration.Halo: Broken Circle, ''page 7''
The most common type of mass-deployment pod in use during the Fall of Reach is shaped like a smoothly rounded tetrahedron, with a large hatch on each of the three sides. The pod is equipped with three engines in the corners of the bottom of the pod, which slow down its descent until it reaches the ground. There are several glowing emitters on the floor of the pod; it is possible that these produce a stasis field to protect its occupants.
Jul 'Mdama's Jul 'Mdama's Covenant faction|new Covenant, active following the end of the Human-Covenant War, makes use of at least three different varieties of multiple-troop insertion pod:
The : developed by Lodam Armory, the T-51 IBC is the modern Covenant's most prominent model of drop pod. It can carry up to five occupants and is similar in size to the variant used by the original Covenant but sleeker and more elongated in design. The (SBC): slightly different shaped but similar in function and general size to the T-51, the T-53 SBC is likewise used by the new Covenant order to deploy small numbers of troops. The (MDC): developed by Lodam Armory, the T-54 MDC is a much larger, reusable variant which drops numerous troops from low altitude before flying back to the host vessel. The pod is equipped with capital ship-grade armor and uses a low-range gravity dampening pulse to allow the infantry within to safely drop to the ground.Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide, ''page 122''
The (IBC): developed by Lodam Armory, the T-55 IBC is emblematic of the classic Sangheili design. Aerodynamically streamlined for speed and maneuverability, this variant has seen frequent use in the Blooding Years|protracted feud between Sangheili clans, primarily due to the conflict's wildly territorial nature. The (SBC): The T-55 SBC has four bays and is capable of deploying up to the same number of Covenant personnel. The SBC deploys personnel standing upright, locking them into place with gravity-based floor anchors. Upon impact, the carapace's doors slide open and the anchors are released, immediately deploying the troops.
Gameplay File:H3 CovenantDropPod Exiting.jpg|thumb|250px|A Special Operations Sangheili|SpecOps Elite about to emerge out of his drop pod in ''Halo 3''. The single-occupant pods were the sole variety of Covenant drop pod featured in the games until ''Halo: Reach'', which introduced the multiple-troop version. The pods made their first appearance in the Halo 2 E3 Demo, where the Elites came down and openly challenged John-117 with their energy swords. In the games, they first appear in the ''Halo 2s campaign level Outskirts and subsequently are present around Mombasa. They also appear in the campaign levels Sacred Icon (level)|Sacred Icon, Quarantine Zone(level)|Quarantine Zone, and Uprising, occupied by allies of the Thel 'Vadam|Arbiter.
They also appear in the ''Halo 3s campaign level Floodgate, sent by the ''Shadow of Intent'' to aid John-117 and Thel 'Vadam against the Flood infestation in Voi. The impact is hard enough to break the occupying Elite's energy shield once it hits the ground. In ''Halo 3'', Drop pod glitch|one may enter the pods on the level Floodgate when playing on cooperative play as the second, third, or fourth player (an Elite), provided the pods are not shot at all. If the player approaches one and holds the Right Bumper, he can jump into the pod, as if it were a vehicle.
The Covenant drop pods make a return in ''Halo: Reach'', in which they appear more rounded and bulky than the previous versions. The appearance of the drop pod changed dramatically from the Halo: Reach E3 Campaign Demo|E3 2010 demo to its launch version. In the E3 demo it appeared to be more boxy and angular, while the launch version is smoother, more detailed and is more like a wider version of the one from ''Halo 2''.
In the campaign level ''Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace'', the Covenant ''Ardent Prayer'' launches dozens of drop pods, which are destructible if the player can reach them in time. Destroying the pods, however, does not award kills or points. The daily Challenges/Halo: Reach|challenge "Pod Kettle Black" is completed by destroying ten drop pods on the level ''Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace''. Interestingly, colliding with or ramming an insertion pod will destroy a fully-shielded FSS-1000 Sabre|Sabre and kill the player, despite the fact that the Sabre will typically survive a similar collision with a Elsedda-pattern Banshee|Banshee or Morsam-pattern Seraph|Seraph. The death will register as "Collision Damage" and the player will receive a "Collision Damage" kill, but will not receive a Splatter Medal. Additonally near the beginning of the level, drop pods are used to drop Covenant troops near the Sabre base.
The multiple-troop variant of the pod is introduced in ''Reach''; along with appearances in the campaign, these pods are frequently used by the Covenant in the game's Firefight mode. The multiple-occupant pod is referred to as a "teleportation drop pod" in the ''Halo: Reach Official Strategy Guide'', although it does demonstrate teleportation abilities in-game. In ''Halo: Reach'', it is possible to be killed by the multiple-occupant drop pod. It is also possible to get stuck at the top of the pod as the doors open. One can also get Trapped in drop pod glitch|trapped inside the pod through a glitch.
During ''Spartan Ops'', Covenant drop pods are often used by Jul 'Mdama's Covenant to send reinforcements to the battlefield during the Requiem Campaign.
Gallery
File:HR_CovenantDropPod_Concept.jpg|Concept art of the drop pod for ''Halo: Reach''. File:H2-CovDropPod-Screen.png|A screenshot of a Covenant drop pod in ''Halo 2''. File:H2-CovDropPod-Extraction.png|A drop pod from ''Halo 2''. File:H2E3_CovenantDropPod.jpg|A group of pods land in New Mombasa in the Halo 2 E3 demo|''Halo 2'' E3 demo. File:H2_CovenantDropPod_Exiting.jpg|A Sangheili about to exit a pod in ''Halo 2''. File:H3_ArbiterDropPod.jpg|The Arbiter sitting in a drop pod. File:HRE3_CovenantDropPod.jpg|An orbital insertion pod in the ''Halo: Reach'' E3 2010 demo. File:HR_CovenantDropPod_Overview.png|An overview design of a drop pod from ''Halo: Reach''. File:HR_OrbitalInsertionPod_Main.png|The single-occupant drop pod design featured in ''Halo: Reach''. File:HR_OrbitalInsertionPod_Interior.png|The interior of a drop pod. File:HR_OrbitalInsertionPod_Hatch.png|The interior of the hatch of a pod. File:HR_CovenantDropPod_Impact.jpg|An orbital insertion pod impacts the ground. File:HR_CovenantDropPod_Exiting.jpg|A Sangheili stepping out of a drop pod. File:HR_CovenantDropPod_Corvette.jpg|Pods being dropped from a Ceudar-pattern heavy corvette|Covenant corvette. File:HR_CovenantDropPod_Launch.jpg|Another view of drop pods being dropped from a Covenant corvette. File:HR_CovenantDropPod_Attacked.jpg|A FSS-1000 Sabre attacks Covenant drop pods during Operation: UPPER CUT. File:H4-T51CovDropPod-ScanRender.png|The Type-51 Individual Breaching Carapace (IBC) drop pod in ''Halo 4''. File:H2A_CovenantDropPod_Closed.png|thumb|A front view of the Halo 2: Anniversary Covenant drop pod. File:H2A_CovenantDropPod_Open.png|thumb|An inside view of the Halo 2: Anniversary Covenant drop pod. File:H2A_CovenantDropPod_Back.png|thumb|A back view of the Halo 2: Anniversary Covenant drop pod. File:H2A_CovenantDropPod_Top.png|thumb|An overhead view of the Halo 2: Anniversary Covenant drop pod. File:H5G - T-55 IBC.png|The Type-55 Individual Breaching Carapace (IBC) in ''Halo 5: Guardians''.
File:HR-CovHeavyDropPod.png|A Covenant heavy drop pod in ''Halo: Reach''. File:HReach-HOIP-DropPod-01.jpg|A multiple troop pod touching down. File:HReach-HOIP-DropPod-02.jpg|Unggoy inside a multi-occupant drop pod. File:HReach-HOIP-DropPod-03.jpg|An empty drop pod. File:HR CovenantDropPod Trapped.jpg|A player trapped inside the multiple-occupant pod. File:H4-T53CovDropPod-ScanScreen.jpg|The Type-53 Squad Breaching Carapace (SBC) in ''Halo 4''. File:H4-T54CovDropPod-ScanRender.png|The Type-54 Mass Deployment Carapace (MDC) in ''Halo 4''. File:H5G - T-55 SBC.png|The Type-55 Squad Breaching Carapace (SBC) in ''Halo 5: Guardians''. File:FH4 - More Covenant Props.png|A ''Halo: Reach''-derived Covenant drop pod in ''The Halo Experience Showcase'' in ''wikipedia:Forza Horizon 4|Forza Horizon 4''.
List of appearances
''Halo 2''
''Halo 3''
''Halo: Reach''
''Halo: Fall of Reach''
* ''Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion|Invasion''
''Halo 4''
* ''Spartan Ops''
''Halo: Spartan Assault''
''Halo: Escalation''
''Halo: Broken Circle''
''Halo 2: Anniversary''
* ''Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminals''
''Halo 5: Guardians''
''Halo: Ground Command''
''Halo: The Television Series''
*''Reckoning''
Sources
Category:Covenant vehicles
|
The Covenant and its Covenant remnants|splinter factions make use of various types of drop pods for high-altitude troop deployment.Halo 2, campaign level, ''Outskirts'' Much like the United Nations Space Command|UNSC's Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle|Human Entry Vehicle, the Covenant's orbital insertion pods are used to drop infantry to the planet's surface as shock troops much faster and more efficiently than by means of a dropship. Drop pods may also be used as a fast and efficient means of Naval boarding|boarding enemy spacecraft in lieu of a dedicated R'sisho-pattern Tickboarding craft.
Types File:HR OrbitalInsertionPod Views.png|thumb|left|150px|Frontal and rear views of a single occupant pod.
The drop pods may be the most varied of the transportation methods used by the Covenant, with the types encountered by humanity representing only a fraction of the gamut of models in Covenant service. On the most basic level, they can be divided into two main categories: small, single-occupant pods used mainly by Sangheili, and a number of types which allow the simultaneous deployment of multiple Covenant troops.
These vaguely coffin-shaped, five to six-meter tall pods are small and cramped, with barely enough room for one Sangheili and his weapon. The frontal hatch is equipped with a control panel, which may be used by the occupant to steer the pod. Upon impact with the ground, the pod's hatch blasts open, revealing the interior and allowing the occupant to exit.Halo: Reach, campaign level ''Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace''
There are several variants of the insertion pod; one is cylindrical, with two tapered, slightly angular ends, while the other is bulkier and ovoid-shaped. It is made of burnished cyan-purple metal, but has an opulent, white interior with a contour that conforms to the physique of a Sangheili.
File:HR OrbitalDeploymentPod.jpg|thumb|left|150px|A type of multiple-troop drop pod used during the Fall of Reach. Significantly larger than the single-occupant model, the multiple occupant drop pod has the capacity to deploy at least four Covenant warriors into battle. The pod is released from a ship, and freefalls through the atmosphere the same way the single-occupant version. When the pod is nearing the ground, it fires a series of downward-facing engines to slow it down. The hatches on the sides of the pod open some distance above the ground, allowing the infantry inside to exit the craft. Some models of multiple occupant pod remain on the ground like the single-occupant version after the combatants within have been deployed, while others rocket back to orbit, allowing them to be reused. Iterations of this type of pod were in use among Reformist San'Shyuum as early as the San'Shyuum-Sangheili War. These pods likewise had the capability to return to orbit and were equipped with force fields to hold their occupants in place during acceleration.Halo: Broken Circle, ''page 7''
The most common type of mass-deployment pod in use during the Fall of Reach is shaped like a smoothly rounded tetrahedron, with a large hatch on each of the three sides. The pod is equipped with three engines in the corners of the bottom of the pod, which slow down its descent until it reaches the ground. There are several glowing emitters on the floor of the pod; it is possible that these produce a stasis field to protect its occupants.
Jul 'Mdama's Jul 'Mdama's Covenant faction|new Covenant, active following the end of the Human-Covenant War, makes use of at least three different varieties of multiple-troop insertion pod:
The : developed by Lodam Armory, the T-51 IBC is the modern Covenant's most prominent model of drop pod. It can carry up to five occupants and is similar in size to the variant used by the original Covenant but sleeker and more elongated in design. The (SBC): slightly different shaped but similar in function and general size to the T-51, the T-53 SBC is likewise used by the new Covenant order to deploy small numbers of troops. The (MDC): developed by Lodam Armory, the T-54 MDC is a much larger, reusable variant which drops numerous troops from low altitude before flying back to the host vessel. The pod is equipped with capital ship-grade armor and uses a low-range gravity dampening pulse to allow the infantry within to safely drop to the ground.Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide, ''page 122''
The (IBC): developed by Lodam Armory, the T-55 IBC is emblematic of the classic Sangheili design. Aerodynamically streamlined for speed and maneuverability, this variant has seen frequent use in the Blooding Years|protracted feud between Sangheili clans, primarily due to the conflict's wildly territorial nature. The (SBC): The T-55 SBC has four bays and is capable of deploying up to the same number of Covenant personnel. The SBC deploys personnel standing upright, locking them into place with gravity-based floor anchors. Upon impact, the carapace's doors slide open and the anchors are released, immediately deploying the troops.
Gameplay File:H3 CovenantDropPod Exiting.jpg|thumb|250px|A Special Operations Sangheili|SpecOps Elite about to emerge out of his drop pod in ''Halo 3''. The single-occupant pods were the sole variety of Covenant drop pod featured in the games until ''Halo: Reach'', which introduced the multiple-troop version. The pods made their first appearance in the Halo 2 E3 Demo, where the Elites came down and openly challenged John-117 with their energy swords. In the games, they first appear in the ''Halo 2s campaign level Outskirts and subsequently are present around Mombasa. They also appear in the campaign levels Sacred Icon (level)|Sacred Icon, Quarantine Zone(level)|Quarantine Zone, and Uprising, occupied by allies of the Thel 'Vadam|Arbiter.
They also appear in the ''Halo 3s campaign level Floodgate, sent by the ''Shadow of Intent'' to aid John-117 and Thel 'Vadam against the Flood infestation in Voi. The impact is hard enough to break the occupying Elite's energy shield once it hits the ground. In ''Halo 3'', Drop pod glitch|one may enter the pods on the level Floodgate when playing on cooperative play as the second, third, or fourth player (an Elite), provided the pods are not shot at all. If the player approaches one and holds the Right Bumper, he can jump into the pod, as if it were a vehicle.
The Covenant drop pods make a return in ''Halo: Reach'', in which they appear more rounded and bulky than the previous versions. The appearance of the drop pod changed dramatically from the Halo: Reach E3 Campaign Demo|E3 2010 demo to its launch version. In the E3 demo it appeared to be more boxy and angular, while the launch version is smoother, more detailed and is more like a wider version of the one from ''Halo 2''.
In the campaign level ''Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace'', the Covenant ''Ardent Prayer'' launches dozens of drop pods, which are destructible if the player can reach them in time. Destroying the pods, however, does not award kills or points. The daily Challenges/Halo: Reach|challenge "Pod Kettle Black" is completed by destroying ten drop pods on the level ''Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace''. Interestingly, colliding with or ramming an insertion pod will destroy a fully-shielded FSS-1000 Sabre|Sabre and kill the player, despite the fact that the Sabre will typically survive a similar collision with a Elsedda-pattern Banshee|Banshee or Morsam-pattern Seraph|Seraph. The death will register as "Collision Damage" and the player will receive a "Collision Damage" kill, but will not receive a Splatter Medal. Additonally near the beginning of the level, drop pods are used to drop Covenant troops near the Sabre base.
The multiple-troop variant of the pod is introduced in ''Reach''; along with appearances in the campaign, these pods are frequently used by the Covenant in the game's Firefight mode. The multiple-occupant pod is referred to as a "teleportation drop pod" in the ''Halo: Reach Official Strategy Guide'', although it does demonstrate teleportation abilities in-game. In ''Halo: Reach'', it is possible to be killed by the multiple-occupant drop pod. It is also possible to get stuck at the top of the pod as the doors open. One can also get Trapped in drop pod glitch|trapped inside the pod through a glitch.
During ''Spartan Ops'', Covenant drop pods are often used by Jul 'Mdama's Covenant to send reinforcements to the battlefield during the Requiem Campaign.
Gallery
File:HR_CovenantDropPod_Concept.jpg|Concept art of the drop pod for ''Halo: Reach''. File:H2-CovDropPod-Screen.png|A screenshot of a Covenant drop pod in ''Halo 2''. File:H2-CovDropPod-Extraction.png|A drop pod from ''Halo 2''. File:H2E3_CovenantDropPod.jpg|A group of pods land in New Mombasa in the Halo 2 E3 demo|''Halo 2'' E3 demo. File:H2_CovenantDropPod_Exiting.jpg|A Sangheili about to exit a pod in ''Halo 2''. File:H3_ArbiterDropPod.jpg|The Arbiter sitting in a drop pod. File:HRE3_CovenantDropPod.jpg|An orbital insertion pod in the ''Halo: Reach'' E3 2010 demo. File:HR_CovenantDropPod_Overview.png|An overview design of a drop pod from ''Halo: Reach''. File:HR_OrbitalInsertionPod_Main.png|The single-occupant drop pod design featured in ''Halo: Reach''. File:HR_OrbitalInsertionPod_Interior.png|The interior of a drop pod. File:HR_OrbitalInsertionPod_Hatch.png|The interior of the hatch of a pod. File:HR_CovenantDropPod_Impact.jpg|An orbital insertion pod impacts the ground. File:HR_CovenantDropPod_Exiting.jpg|A Sangheili stepping out of a drop pod. File:HR_CovenantDropPod_Corvette.jpg|Pods being dropped from a Ceudar-pattern heavy corvette|Covenant corvette. File:HR_CovenantDropPod_Launch.jpg|Another view of drop pods being dropped from a Covenant corvette. File:HR_CovenantDropPod_Attacked.jpg|A FSS-1000 Sabre attacks Covenant drop pods during Operation: UPPER CUT. File:H4-T51CovDropPod-ScanRender.png|The Type-51 Individual Breaching Carapace (IBC) drop pod in ''Halo 4''. File:H2A_CovenantDropPod_Closed.png|thumb|A front view of the Halo 2: Anniversary Covenant drop pod. File:H2A_CovenantDropPod_Open.png|thumb|An inside view of the Halo 2: Anniversary Covenant drop pod. File:H2A_CovenantDropPod_Back.png|thumb|A back view of the Halo 2: Anniversary Covenant drop pod. File:H2A_CovenantDropPod_Top.png|thumb|An overhead view of the Halo 2: Anniversary Covenant drop pod. File:H5G - T-55 IBC.png|The Type-55 Individual Breaching Carapace (IBC) in ''Halo 5: Guardians''.
File:HR-CovHeavyDropPod.png|A Covenant heavy drop pod in ''Halo: Reach''. File:HReach-HOIP-DropPod-01.jpg|A multiple troop pod touching down. File:HReach-HOIP-DropPod-02.jpg|Unggoy inside a multi-occupant drop pod. File:HReach-HOIP-DropPod-03.jpg|An empty drop pod. File:HR CovenantDropPod Trapped.jpg|A player trapped inside the multiple-occupant pod. File:H4-T53CovDropPod-ScanScreen.jpg|The Type-53 Squad Breaching Carapace (SBC) in ''Halo 4''. File:H4-T54CovDropPod-ScanRender.png|The Type-54 Mass Deployment Carapace (MDC) in ''Halo 4''. File:H5G - T-55 SBC.png|The Type-55 Squad Breaching Carapace (SBC) in ''Halo 5: Guardians''. File:FH4 - More Covenant Props.png|A ''Halo: Reach''-derived Covenant drop pod in ''The Halo Experience Showcase'' in ''wikipedia:Forza Horizon 4|Forza Horizon 4''.
List of appearances
''Halo 2''
''Halo 3''
''Halo: Reach''
''Halo: Fall of Reach''
* ''Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion|Invasion''
''Halo 4''
* ''Spartan Ops''
''Halo: Spartan Assault''
''Halo: Escalation''
''Halo: Broken Circle''
''Halo 2: Anniversary''
* ''Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminals''
''Halo 5: Guardians''
''Halo: Ground Command''
''Halo: The Television Series''
*''Reckoning''
Sources
Category:Covenant vehicles
|
Covenant escape pods are compact, cylinder-shaped evacuation craft utilized by the Covenant Empire|Covenant.Halo: Contact Harvest, ''page 135''
Operational history These craft are standard aboard all Covenant vessels. One was present aboard the missionary ship ''Minor Transgression'' and another was present aboard the bridge compartment of the ''Ascendant Justice'', into which John-117 forced a Special Operations Sangheili and ejected the pod.Halo: First Strike ''page 75'' On the ''Radiant Arrow'' in 2526, John used a Covenant escape pod to flee the ship after the Shipmaster activated the self-destruct. He was then picked up by a UNSC Prowler.Halo: Silent Storm
Features Inside the escape pod, there are numerous control panels and ordinances to regulate and monitor the escape pod's status. These include the atmosphere regulator, power controls, communications and navigation. Although equipped with sufficient fuel, the main concern is the shortage of air circulation within the confines of the pod. An escape pod is capable of generating an atmosphere for its occupants, including methane for any Unggoy escapees. However, some Kig-Yar Shipmasters and Shipmaster|Shipmistresses have been known to disable the methane generators, planning instead to simply leave the Unggoy behind.Halo: Contact Harvest, ''page 187''
In addition to sublight thruster systems, Covenant escape pods are equipped with slipspace drives, though with fuel reserves sufficient only for a single short jump.Halo: Contact Harvest, ''page 190'' The escape pod also use a stasis field, which holds the occupants of the pod immobile as the pod experiences rapid acceleration or movements. The pod also possesses a sensor suite for detecting other craft.Halo: Contact Harvest, ''pages 136'', ''191-192''
List of appearances
''Halo: First Strike''
''Halo: Contact Harvest''
''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''
''Halo: Shadow of Intent''
''Halo: Silent Storm''
Sources
|
File:HOD Icon Covenant Escape.png|thumb|Covenant Escape
The Covenant Escape is an Experience at ''Halo: Outpost Discovery''.
Summary
''Explore a reclaimed section of a Covenant ship in this escape-room-style experience. Here, attendees aim to familiarize themselves on various high-risk boarding maneuvers and strategies commonly undertaken by the UNSC. As the challenges intensify, guests must work together to disable the Covenant technology as quickly as possible in order to set themselves free!''
Detailed overview
When attendees are waiting near the experience, a video plays going over the experience itself. Below is a transcript of the video.
''The instructor video starts off by showing Narain|Major Narain introducing himself and giving a basic overview of the experience. Throughout the video the video several clips of the a are shown.''
Narain|Major Narain: "Recruits! Welcome. This is Major Narain. Glad you could be here. We've got one heck of an operation waiting for you inside. Your mission today will take place inside an actual Covenant ship. That's right! In just a few minutes, you will have the rare opportunity to interface with genuine Covenant environments and technology. But first, here's a bit of history to set the stage... In 2552, near the end of the war, a Covenant corvette crashed on the planet Tribute. The corvette, named 'Supplication of Purity', was found to be mostly intact a lucky break for us. As a result, several key ship compartments were salvaged by the 'lovely' operatives down at ONI. Now, this remarkable asset has been assigned to Outpost Discovery, where Recruits like you can learn more about this top-secret technology. Alien vessels like these played host to some of the UNSC's most perilous operations. The following brief exercise inside the ship will highlight the rigors and challenges of infiltrating a Covenant vessel. It will also serve to communicate the necessary tactics of a UNSC boarding action in a hostile enemy ship. Simply put, to understand the strategy, you need to understand the terrain and the mindset. Navigating a ship like this was no walk in the park. Once a boarding party was detected inside a Covenant vessel, the enemy crew would immediately engage in a sweeping lockdown protocol. And then, they would deploy seek-and-destroy units to neutralize the boarding action. But don't worry, our own asset has been carefully transformed into a controlled learning environment. Our analysts have combed this machine extensively and removed anything deemed to be 'dangerous.' So, you can rest assured, there'll be no searching or destroying today... hahahaha. RIght now, the corridor ahead is sealed off. When the lights turn green, your Training Instructor will open the doors for you and let you board the Covenant structure. From there, your guide though the ship's interior will be Outpost AI Gabriela, to whom now I'll turn things over."
Gabriela: "Thanks, Major. Recruits, I'll be walking you through the tactical stages of a hostile boarding protocol. Our exercise will begin in a standard maintenance corridor one of many woven through the interior of nearly all Covenant ships. You may note its compact dimensions this section of the ship was primarily meant for smaller Covenant species."
Major Narain: "Gabby brings up a good point. Per UNSC regulations, do not participate in this exercise if you suffer from any head, neck, or back injuries or if you suffer from dizziness, if you experience seizures, or if you suffer from cardiac issues, including high blood pressure. This also applies to anyone who may be claustrophobic or pregnant. It's worth mentioning... it can get a bit spooky in there. This is still a real piece of alien technology, after all, and this training exercise might not be suitable for everyone."
Gabriela: "Please see one of the training instructors if you have any questions but beyond that, I think we'll be ready to go in just a few minutes."
Major Narain: "Excellent! Well, that's all I got for you, Recruits. You may enter the ship when so instructed. Good luck and have a great day!"
Gallery
File:HOD SupplicationofPurity Interior 1.jpg|The interior of the maintenance causeway of ''Supplication of Purity'' in the Covenant Escape event. File:HOD SupplicationofPurity Interior 2.jpg|The interior of the maintenance causeway of ''Supplication of Purity'' in the Covenant escape event. File:HOD_SupplicationofPurity_Interior_3.jpg|The interior of the maintenance causeway of ''Supplication of Purity'' in the Covenant escape event.
Sources
Category:Halo: Outpost Discovery
|
The Covenant fleet used tactical formations within fleets to arrange the deployment of their naval forces in engagements. Covenant naval formations generally consisted of standard and specialist formations that divided warships within a fleet into battle groups, with standard formations occasionally being used to support specialist formations.Halo: Fleet Battles, ''Core Rulebook - pages 120-121'' As the Human-Covenant War|war against humanity continued through the 26th century, the Covenant fleet was, despite its vast size and overwhelming power, forced to adapt to the stalwart defenses of the United Nations Space Command and its UNSC fleet|fleet. (defunct, )
Standard formations
Line formation was a standard Covenant tactical formation that consisted of two warships parallel to each other when in combat. Although the formation was not effective defensively, ships in the formation were able to support each other and unleash a greater amount of weaponry upon their opponents. Line formations of smaller warships, such as s, were effectively used to support large warships, such as an .Halo: Fleet Battles, ''Core Rulebook - pages 122-123''
Oblique formation was a standard tactical formation that consisted of two warships remaining in close proximity of each other while in combat. This formation was considered to be more defensive than the standard line formation and allowed ships of the formation to bolster each other's armaments. Oblique formations were often made of SDV-Class heavy corvettes
This was a formation used by the Jiralhanae.Halo 3 - The Ark (level)|The Ark
Tri-formation was a standard tactical formation that consisted of three warships in a V-like shape while in combat. Tri-formations were often made of ''SDV''-class heavy corvettes.
Specialist formations
The Golden Path Battle Group specialist formation consisted of two groups of reinforced by two s each. Sangheili Fleet Master Kantar 'Utaralee was the first to deploy the idea of a Golden Path Battle Group. A firm believer in the prowess of the ''Ket''-pattern battlecruiser, 'Utaralee moved to reinforce the medium-sized vessel with two ''SDV''-class heavy corvettes, resulting in a devastating formation with each vessel in the formation providing large fire support, especially when firing plasma torpedo ordnance.
This specialist formation provided an important fire bastion for Covenant fleets. Two groups of a single battlecruiser and paired heavy corvettes working in close formation, the Golden Path Battle Group utilizes various armaments of the three vessels to debilitate its targets before delivering the kill-shot with a devastating brace of plasma torpedoes.
The Harbinger Battle Group was a Covenant specialist formation with a primarily offensive purpose. The formation consisted of two s, supported by four ''SDV''-class heavy corvettes arranged in two separate line formations. Although cruisers of the ''ORS'' class often served as flagships of fleets, the Harbinger Battle Group incorporated the heavy cruisers as circumstances occasionally required a fleet to use the large ships saturate combat zones with heavy weapons fire and space fighters.
The Oathsworn Battle Group was a specialist tactical formation used by the Covenant that consisted of two ''Ket''-pattern battlecruisers and four ''SDV''-class heavy corvettes, with the four heavy corvettes in two separate line formations. With the corvettes and cruisers supporting each other, the tactical formation was noted to provide an effective mix of firepower and utility. The Oathsworn Battle Group proved too difficult for the UNSC Navy to counter until later in the Human-Covenant War.
The Penitent Battle Group was a specialist formation consisting of two ''Ket''-pattern battlecruisers. The Penitent Battle Group was rarely employed by Covenant naval forces since most shipmasters could not tolerate cooperating with each other in naval arrangements for long. However, when Covenant shipmasters were able to put aside their greed for glory, this battle group formation proved to be highly effective.
When overwhelming firepower was called for, the Covenant sought to pair ''Ket''-pattern battlecruisers to form the terrifying first-strike battle group. Though, due to the drain of fleet resources and potential for infighting this battle group caused, only a handful of Penitent Battle Groups were ever formed, and only when in dire need.
The Sacred Pledge Battle Group was a Covenant specialist formation that consisted entirely of ''SDV''-class heavy corvettes. Noted to be of a flexible design that could be modified for specialized roles, corvettes of the ''SDV'' class were often deployed by Covenant fleet commanders in support roles. The Sacred Pledge Battle Group formation generally consisted of eight heavy corvettes, with four in two sets of line formations and the other four in two sets of oblique formations. Some Covenant fleets were entirely composed of ''SDV''-class heavy corvettes in Sacred Pledge Battle Group formation.
The Solemn Vow Battle Group was a specialist tactical formation that consisted of two large warships paired together to form a "hunting pack". These battle group formations often consisted of one ''Ket''-pattern battlecruiser and one ''ORS''-class heavy cruiser. In addition, the cruisers were supported by smaller warships, such as ''SDV''-class heavy corvettes. Solemn Vow Battle Groups were often charged with scouting the outsides of engagements during the Human-Covenant War to threaten UNSC carriers and other support vessels.
The Supplicant Battle Group was a specialist formation that gave a solid core of three groups of ''SDV''-class heavy corvettes arranged in the tri-formation to provide fire support for the main fleet. This type of battle group formation commonly held back until its opponent had been suitably damaged, before rushing in to finish off and destroy surviving vessels.
Covenant fleet commanders often sought to engage their opponents ''en masse'' with ''SDV''-class heavy corvettes within their fleets, attempting to overwhelm their enemy with a combination of speed and withering short range weapons fire from the corvettes' plasma weaponry. The Tri-formation of the battle group allowed the formation to increase its ability to engage considerably.
Gallery
File:FB Covie Line formation.png|Line formation. File:FB_Covie_Oblique_Formation.png|Oblique formation. File:SDV-TRI-Formation.jpg|Tri-formation.
List of appearances
''Halo: Fleet Battles''
Sources
See also UNSC Navy tactical formations
Category:Military tactics
|
File:HC defensive fleet.png|thumb|300px|The High Charity defense fleet, the Covenant's central fleet. The Covenant fleet is a general term for the vast space-borne naval components of the Covenant's Covenant military|military forces.''Halo: Contact Harvest'', p. 226''Halo: The Great Journey: The Art of Building Worlds'', p. 72 Their roles included ship-to-ship combat, Glassing|orbital bombardment, the deployment of fighters and bombers and the method of delivery for the Covenant's occupational ground forces. At its height, the Covenant fielded thousands of warships, most being able to carry fighters, dropships, ground troops and vehicles. Each Covenant fleet unit is essentially a fully-rounded armada, and is given a unique name with religious connotations similar to how Covenant vessels and colony worlds are named by their beliefs.
Although the Covenant's collective naval forces are referenced in some contexts as the Covenant Navy, the Covenant did not maintain distinct service branches in the same manner as the United Nations Space Command and traditional human militaries; instead, the Covenant fleets fell under the authority of various Ministry|ministerial organisations.''See Covenant military#Organization''
After the Covenant's defeat at the end of the Human-Covenant War, most of these scattered assets fell under the control of the various Covenant remnants.
Organization File:H2A - Arrival of High Charity.jpg|thumb|250px|The High Charity defense fleet|''High Charity'' defense fleet exiting slipspace over Installation 05. Despite the seemingly monolithic nature of its armed forces, the Covenant does not maintain a single standing navy. Instead, its fleets are partitioned between several martial and Ministry|ministerial organisations, expanding and contracting as their parent ministry's influence waxes and wanes in prestige and influence. Fleets could be broadly split into two major groupings:
High Fleets
High Fleets were those fleets assembled by direct order of the Covenant's High Council, for a wide range of responsibilities including the location of Forerunner artefact sites and pursuing clues related to the search for the Halo Array - and were thus typically deployed on the outermost peripheries of Covenant space. Assignment to these fleets were officially positions of great honour, but in practice were often used to discretely exile powerful, charismatic and influential Sangheili into positions far from the political centre of power. Custodians of High Fleets were granted numerous ceremonial titles and names, but in practice their legacies were little more than treasure hunters on the empire's borders. Ministerial fleets Ministry fleets were those fleets distributed under the control of the various Covenant ministries - of which the most notable were the Ministry of Resolution, the Ministry of Fervent Intercession, and the Ministry of Tranquility.''Halo: Fleet Battles'', Core Rule Book, p. 7 Ministry fleets consisted of vast armadas commanded by a single Supreme Commander, the foremost among numerous Fleetmasters each tasked with command of their own subordinate fleets. A Supreme Commander's word was law, and could only be overruled by the parent ministry, the High Council or the Hierarchs themselves - though could be challenged by a fleet's assigned Minor Prophet.
Fleets under the Ministry of Resolution were originally tasked with patrolling Covenant space, protecting shipping and eradicating pirates, but was vastly expanded during the early stages of the Human-Covenant War to serve as deep-space exploration units beyond the fringe, protection for Ministry of Tranquility missionary ships, and front-line units in the conquest and destruction of humanity.''Halo: The Essential Visual Guide'', p. 10, 11, 175 As the war with humanity wore on, the Covenant were forced to transfer patrol units to front-line fleets to replace combat losses, hoping to hide the damage humanity was managing to inflict from Sangheili leaders. Being posted to a fleet under the Ministry of Resolution was considered honorable, due to being removed from normal society for extended periods.
Fleets under the Ministry of Fervent Intercession were tasked with locating and securing Forerunner worlds and artifacts, and possessed enough zealots that it was considered a semi-monastic order. Fervent Intercession fleets tended to be smaller, but acted largely independently of any external chain of command except where it served their purposes, but were able to call upon the resources of other fleets, and even directly from the colonies, due to ancient writs that dated back to the formation of the Covenant. Fleets under the Ministry of Fervent Intercession had a formidable reputation even among the Covenant, and were largely used to seize and defend Forerunner sites on human colonies during the war.
Fleets under the Ministry of Tranquility were, ostensibly, tasked with finding Forerunner artifacts and bringing new species into the Covenant fold. In practice, however, they functioned as little more than pirates, frequently picking off relics held by other Covenant fleets, and their so-called missionary ships were often merely slavers and raiders crewed largely by Kig-Yar. Not beholden even to the High Prophets, of whom the Prophet of Regret himself was the former Vice-Minister of Tranquility, these units rarely served as combat units during the Covenant conquest of human colonies, but would arrive to steal whatever relics had been secured from human defenders or their Covenant "allies" in the chaotic aftermath.
File:HM-UnyieldingHierophant.jpg|300px|thumb|left|A Truth's fleet|fleet surrounding ''Unyielding Hierophant'', one of the largest fleets next to the ''High Charity'' defense fleet. Other Covenant ministries are known to have their own forces, though not in such great numbers. In 850 BCE the Ministry of Anticipatory Security sent forces to secure Forerunner relics on Janjur Qom, and escort female San'Shyuum volunteers to High Charity. The Mission to Janjur Qom|disastrous mission led to the ministry's total dissolution, and the punishment of the Minister involved. In 2525, The Ministry of Conversion was technically the only body authorized to send ships to make contact with possible convertees, though this was routinely ignored by the Ministry of Tranquility. The Ministry of Preservation was specifically mandated with putting down local uprisings and secession attempts by the client races, and its forces were led by future Arbiter Ripa 'Moramee before 2531.''Halo: The Essential Visual Guide'', p. 10 In 2552, Thon 'Talamee, shipmaster of the ''Clarity of Faith'', escorted Covenant supply convoys under the Ministry of Fortitude, a ministry ostensibly tasked with ensuring the proper distribution of Forerunner relics across the Covenant.''Halo: Blood Line'', Halo: Blood Line Issue 1|Issue #1 The Ministry of Abnegation held authority over the Sangheili Ascetics|Ascetic orders,''Halo: The Essential Visual Guide'', p. 56 and the Ministers of Ministry of Inquisition|Inquisition and Ministry of Etiology|Etiology both served in Covenant fleets with some considerable authority.''Halo: Uprising'', Halo: Uprising Issue 4|Issue #4''Halo Graphic Novel'', The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor
The largest known fleets have been known to consist of around one hundred starships of all types and variations,''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx'', p. 195 and are led by a prominent flagship, which is often an CAS-class assault carrier|assault carrier or in rare cases a Sh'wada-pattern supercarrier|supercarrier. Capital ships, such as the iconic s, as well as numerous Covenant frigate|frigates and Covenant destroyer|destroyers, usually serve as escorts to the flagship. Fleets are sustained by numerous logistics vessels, such as Mjern-pattern agricultural support ship|agricultural support ships, which are organizationally attached to warship fleets, providing food and supplies.''Halo Graphic Novel'', The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor Covenant fleets were Covenant fleet tactical formations|divided into tactical battle group formations that were used in specialized roles.''Halo: Fleet Battles'', Core Rulebook, p. 120-121
A number of combat legions are often attached to a given Covenant fleet, stationed aboard the various warships available.''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx'', p. 350
The title of a Covenant fleet's commander varies depending on the size and extension of the fleet itself. While smaller fleets or temporary task forces are led by Fleet Masters, larger fleets are commanded by Supreme Commanders. There are also cases where an individual with the title of Shipmaster has had command of a fleet.''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe'', The Return''Halo 3'' A fleet's highest-ranking individuals convene in a group known as Council of Masters.''Halo: The Flood'', p. 150 In some cases, a Minor Prophet or a San'Shyuum High Councilor is attached to a fleet as a representative of the High Council.''Halo: Evolutions'', The Return, p. 497
A combined fleet, as its name implies, is comprised of multiple smaller fleets and is led by a Supreme Commander. Though typically well beneath the command of an Imperial Admiral, they can be relegated to commanding a Combined Fleet as demonstrated by Xytan 'Jar Wattinree during his exile to the borders of Covenant space under the direct orders of the High Prophets.''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx'', p. 239 Combined fleets have larger duties, such as safeguarding and policing entire regions of Covenant-controlled space on their own. These fleets can have several hundred ships. ''High Charity'' was guarded by a combined fleet at all times. Some combined fleets are formed on a strictly temporary, task-oriented basis, such as a major invasion of a key enemy system.
Fleets By the time of the Fall of Reach, the Office of Naval Intelligence knew of at least four Covenant fleets of similar size to the Fleet of Particular Justice prowling the human sphere, though the specific names and organisation of these elements is unknown.
Vessels File:HFB-ClassicCovenant.jpg|thumb|250px|Covenant ships in ''Halo: Fleet Battles''.
Space stations
''High Charity'' - The Covenant holy city and site of government; absorbed by the Flood, crashed onto Installation 00 and reactor Raid on High Charity|destroyed by SPARTAN-II program|Spartan John-117. Its ruins are contained by Sentinels.
''Unyielding Hierophant'' - Destroyed by Blue Team, led by John-117.
Personnel
Imperial Admiral Xytan 'Jar Wattinree Supreme Commander Thel 'Vadamee (current Arbiter)
Supreme Commander Luro 'Taralumee Supreme Commander Rho 'Barutamee Fleet Master Voro Nar 'Mantakree Shipmaster Rtas 'Vadum Shipmaster Orna 'Fulsamee Shipmaster Jul 'Mdamaee Shipmaster Lat 'Ravamee Shipmaster Ardo 'Moretumee Unidentified Sangheili Shipmaster (Righteous Vigilance)|Unidentified Shipmaster (Righteous Vigilance)
Shipmaster Maccabeus Shipmaster Lepidus Shipmaster Gargantum Shipmaster Parabum
Shipmistress Chur'R-Yar Shipmistress Chur'R-Mut
List of appearances
''Halo: The Fall of Reach''
*''Halo: The Fall of Reach#2010 bonus content|Adjunct''
''Halo: Combat Evolved''
''Halo: The Flood''
''Halo: First Strike''
''Halo 2''
''Halo Graphic Novel''
*''The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor''
''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''
''Halo: Uprising''
''Halo 3''
''Halo: Contact Harvest''
''Halo: The Cole Protocol''
''Halo Wars: Genesis''
''Halo Wars''
''Halo 3: ODST''
*''Sadie's Story''
''Halo Legends''
*''Origins''
*''The Duel''
*''The Package (animated short)|The Package''
''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''
*''Dirt''
*''Midnight in the Heart of Midlothian
*''Stomping on the Heels of a Fuss''
*''The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole''
*''The Mona Lisa''
*''The Return''
''Halo: Blood Line''
''Remember Reach''
*''Deliver Hope''
''Halo: Reach''
''Halo: Fall of Reach''
*''Halo: Fall of Reach - Boot Camp|Boot Camp''
*''Halo: Fall of Reach - Covenant|Covenant''
*''Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion|Invasion''
''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary''
*''Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)|Terminals''
''Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn''
''Halo 4'' (Prologue Only)
''Halo: Initiation''
''Halo: Escalation''
''Halo 2: Anniversary''
*''Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminals''
''Hunt the Truth''
''Halo: Hunters in the Dark''
''Halo: Fleet Battles''
''Halo 5: Guardians''
*''Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition dossiers|Limited Edition dossiers''
''Halo: Shadow of Intent''
''Halo: Legacy of Onyx''
''Halo: Retribution''
''Halo: Fireteam Raven''
''Halo: Silent Storm''
''Halo: Battle Born''
''Halo: Renegades''
''Halo: Oblivion''
''Halo: Outcasts''
Sources
Category:Covenant fleets|
Category:Covenant military units
|
File:HC defensive fleet.png|thumb|300px|The High Charity defense fleet, the Covenant's central fleet. The Covenant fleet is a general term for the vast space-borne naval components of the Covenant's Covenant military|military forces.''Halo: Contact Harvest'', p. 226''Halo: The Great Journey: The Art of Building Worlds'', p. 72 Their roles included ship-to-ship combat, Glassing|orbital bombardment, the deployment of fighters and bombers and the method of delivery for the Covenant's occupational ground forces. At its height, the Covenant fielded thousands of warships, most being able to carry fighters, dropships, ground troops and vehicles. Each Covenant fleet unit is essentially a fully-rounded armada, and is given a unique name with religious connotations similar to how Covenant vessels and colony worlds are named by their beliefs.
Although the Covenant's collective naval forces are referenced in some contexts as the Covenant Navy, the Covenant did not maintain distinct service branches in the same manner as the United Nations Space Command and traditional human militaries; instead, the Covenant fleets fell under the authority of various Ministry|ministerial organisations.''See Covenant military#Organization''
After the Covenant's defeat at the end of the Human-Covenant War, most of these scattered assets fell under the control of the various Covenant remnants.
Organization File:H2A - Arrival of High Charity.jpg|thumb|250px|The High Charity defense fleet|''High Charity'' defense fleet exiting slipspace over Installation 05. Despite the seemingly monolithic nature of its armed forces, the Covenant does not maintain a single standing navy. Instead, its fleets are partitioned between several martial and Ministry|ministerial organisations, expanding and contracting as their parent ministry's influence waxes and wanes in prestige and influence. Fleets could be broadly split into two major groupings:
High Fleets
High Fleets were those fleets assembled by direct order of the Covenant's High Council, for a wide range of responsibilities including the location of Forerunner artefact sites and pursuing clues related to the search for the Halo Array - and were thus typically deployed on the outermost peripheries of Covenant space. Assignment to these fleets were officially positions of great honour, but in practice were often used to discretely exile powerful, charismatic and influential Sangheili into positions far from the political centre of power. Custodians of High Fleets were granted numerous ceremonial titles and names, but in practice their legacies were little more than treasure hunters on the empire's borders. Ministerial fleets Ministry fleets were those fleets distributed under the control of the various Covenant ministries - of which the most notable were the Ministry of Resolution, the Ministry of Fervent Intercession, and the Ministry of Tranquility.''Halo: Fleet Battles'', Core Rule Book, p. 7 Ministry fleets consisted of vast armadas commanded by a single Supreme Commander, the foremost among numerous Fleetmasters each tasked with command of their own subordinate fleets. A Supreme Commander's word was law, and could only be overruled by the parent ministry, the High Council or the Hierarchs themselves - though could be challenged by a fleet's assigned Minor Prophet.
Fleets under the Ministry of Resolution were originally tasked with patrolling Covenant space, protecting shipping and eradicating pirates, but was vastly expanded during the early stages of the Human-Covenant War to serve as deep-space exploration units beyond the fringe, protection for Ministry of Tranquility missionary ships, and front-line units in the conquest and destruction of humanity.''Halo: The Essential Visual Guide'', p. 10, 11, 175 As the war with humanity wore on, the Covenant were forced to transfer patrol units to front-line fleets to replace combat losses, hoping to hide the damage humanity was managing to inflict from Sangheili leaders. Being posted to a fleet under the Ministry of Resolution was considered honorable, due to being removed from normal society for extended periods.
Fleets under the Ministry of Fervent Intercession were tasked with locating and securing Forerunner worlds and artifacts, and possessed enough zealots that it was considered a semi-monastic order. Fervent Intercession fleets tended to be smaller, but acted largely independently of any external chain of command except where it served their purposes, but were able to call upon the resources of other fleets, and even directly from the colonies, due to ancient writs that dated back to the formation of the Covenant. Fleets under the Ministry of Fervent Intercession had a formidable reputation even among the Covenant, and were largely used to seize and defend Forerunner sites on human colonies during the war.
Fleets under the Ministry of Tranquility were, ostensibly, tasked with finding Forerunner artifacts and bringing new species into the Covenant fold. In practice, however, they functioned as little more than pirates, frequently picking off relics held by other Covenant fleets, and their so-called missionary ships were often merely slavers and raiders crewed largely by Kig-Yar. Not beholden even to the High Prophets, of whom the Prophet of Regret himself was the former Vice-Minister of Tranquility, these units rarely served as combat units during the Covenant conquest of human colonies, but would arrive to steal whatever relics had been secured from human defenders or their Covenant "allies" in the chaotic aftermath.
File:HM-UnyieldingHierophant.jpg|300px|thumb|left|A Truth's fleet|fleet surrounding ''Unyielding Hierophant'', one of the largest fleets next to the ''High Charity'' defense fleet. Other Covenant ministries are known to have their own forces, though not in such great numbers. In 850 BCE the Ministry of Anticipatory Security sent forces to secure Forerunner relics on Janjur Qom, and escort female San'Shyuum volunteers to High Charity. The Mission to Janjur Qom|disastrous mission led to the ministry's total dissolution, and the punishment of the Minister involved. In 2525, The Ministry of Conversion was technically the only body authorized to send ships to make contact with possible convertees, though this was routinely ignored by the Ministry of Tranquility. The Ministry of Preservation was specifically mandated with putting down local uprisings and secession attempts by the client races, and its forces were led by future Arbiter Ripa 'Moramee before 2531.''Halo: The Essential Visual Guide'', p. 10 In 2552, Thon 'Talamee, shipmaster of the ''Clarity of Faith'', escorted Covenant supply convoys under the Ministry of Fortitude, a ministry ostensibly tasked with ensuring the proper distribution of Forerunner relics across the Covenant.''Halo: Blood Line'', Halo: Blood Line Issue 1|Issue #1 The Ministry of Abnegation held authority over the Sangheili Ascetics|Ascetic orders,''Halo: The Essential Visual Guide'', p. 56 and the Ministers of Ministry of Inquisition|Inquisition and Ministry of Etiology|Etiology both served in Covenant fleets with some considerable authority.''Halo: Uprising'', Halo: Uprising Issue 4|Issue #4''Halo Graphic Novel'', The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor
The largest known fleets have been known to consist of around one hundred starships of all types and variations,''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx'', p. 195 and are led by a prominent flagship, which is often an CAS-class assault carrier|assault carrier or in rare cases a Sh'wada-pattern supercarrier|supercarrier. Capital ships, such as the iconic s, as well as numerous Covenant frigate|frigates and Covenant destroyer|destroyers, usually serve as escorts to the flagship. Fleets are sustained by numerous logistics vessels, such as Mjern-pattern agricultural support ship|agricultural support ships, which are organizationally attached to warship fleets, providing food and supplies.''Halo Graphic Novel'', The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor Covenant fleets were Covenant fleet tactical formations|divided into tactical battle group formations that were used in specialized roles.''Halo: Fleet Battles'', Core Rulebook, p. 120-121
A number of combat legions are often attached to a given Covenant fleet, stationed aboard the various warships available.''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx'', p. 350
The title of a Covenant fleet's commander varies depending on the size and extension of the fleet itself. While smaller fleets or temporary task forces are led by Fleet Masters, larger fleets are commanded by Supreme Commanders. There are also cases where an individual with the title of Shipmaster has had command of a fleet.''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe'', The Return''Halo 3'' A fleet's highest-ranking individuals convene in a group known as Council of Masters.''Halo: The Flood'', p. 150 In some cases, a Minor Prophet or a San'Shyuum High Councilor is attached to a fleet as a representative of the High Council.''Halo: Evolutions'', The Return, p. 497
A combined fleet, as its name implies, is comprised of multiple smaller fleets and is led by a Supreme Commander. Though typically well beneath the command of an Imperial Admiral, they can be relegated to commanding a Combined Fleet as demonstrated by Xytan 'Jar Wattinree during his exile to the borders of Covenant space under the direct orders of the High Prophets.''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx'', p. 239 Combined fleets have larger duties, such as safeguarding and policing entire regions of Covenant-controlled space on their own. These fleets can have several hundred ships. ''High Charity'' was guarded by a combined fleet at all times. Some combined fleets are formed on a strictly temporary, task-oriented basis, such as a major invasion of a key enemy system.
Fleets By the time of the Fall of Reach, the Office of Naval Intelligence knew of at least four Covenant fleets of similar size to the Fleet of Particular Justice prowling the human sphere, though the specific names and organisation of these elements is unknown.
Vessels File:HFB-ClassicCovenant.jpg|thumb|250px|Covenant ships in ''Halo: Fleet Battles''.
Space stations
''High Charity'' - The Covenant holy city and site of government; absorbed by the Flood, crashed onto Installation 00 and reactor Raid on High Charity|destroyed by SPARTAN-II program|Spartan John-117. Its ruins are contained by Sentinels.
''Unyielding Hierophant'' - Destroyed by Blue Team, led by John-117.
Personnel
Imperial Admiral Xytan 'Jar Wattinree Supreme Commander Thel 'Vadamee (current Arbiter)
Supreme Commander Luro 'Taralumee Supreme Commander Rho 'Barutamee Fleet Master Voro Nar 'Mantakree Shipmaster Rtas 'Vadum Shipmaster Orna 'Fulsamee Shipmaster Jul 'Mdamaee Shipmaster Lat 'Ravamee Shipmaster Ardo 'Moretumee Unidentified Sangheili Shipmaster (Righteous Vigilance)|Unidentified Shipmaster (Righteous Vigilance)
Shipmaster Maccabeus Shipmaster Lepidus Shipmaster Gargantum Shipmaster Parabum
Shipmistress Chur'R-Yar Shipmistress Chur'R-Mut
List of appearances
''Halo: The Fall of Reach''
*''Halo: The Fall of Reach#2010 bonus content|Adjunct''
''Halo: Combat Evolved''
''Halo: The Flood''
''Halo: First Strike''
''Halo 2''
''Halo Graphic Novel''
*''The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor''
''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''
''Halo: Uprising''
''Halo 3''
''Halo: Contact Harvest''
''Halo: The Cole Protocol''
''Halo Wars: Genesis''
''Halo Wars''
''Halo 3: ODST''
*''Sadie's Story''
''Halo Legends''
*''Origins''
*''The Duel''
*''The Package (animated short)|The Package''
''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''
*''Dirt''
*''Midnight in the Heart of Midlothian
*''Stomping on the Heels of a Fuss''
*''The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole''
*''The Mona Lisa''
*''The Return''
''Halo: Blood Line''
''Remember Reach''
*''Deliver Hope''
''Halo: Reach''
''Halo: Fall of Reach''
*''Halo: Fall of Reach - Boot Camp|Boot Camp''
*''Halo: Fall of Reach - Covenant|Covenant''
*''Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion|Invasion''
''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary''
*''Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)|Terminals''
''Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn''
''Halo 4'' (Prologue Only)
''Halo: Initiation''
''Halo: Escalation''
''Halo 2: Anniversary''
*''Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminals''
''Hunt the Truth''
''Halo: Hunters in the Dark''
''Halo: Fleet Battles''
''Halo 5: Guardians''
*''Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition dossiers|Limited Edition dossiers''
''Halo: Shadow of Intent''
''Halo: Legacy of Onyx''
''Halo: Retribution''
''Halo: Fireteam Raven''
''Halo: Silent Storm''
''Halo: Battle Born''
''Halo: Renegades''
''Halo: Oblivion''
''Halo: Outcasts''
Sources
Category:Covenant fleets|
Category:Covenant military units
|
File:Enc22 SoTP CAR.png|300px|thumb|An ''Ester''-pattern armored frigate. Frigates are a type of small-medium tonnage warship utilised by the now-defunct Covenant fleet|navy of the Covenant empire, and its many Covenant remnants|remnants.
Classes
{| class="wikitable"
! width"text-align:left" |Class
! width"text-align:left" |Image
! width"text-align:left" |Size
! width"text-align:left"|Details
| ||| File:SwordOfHarmony.png|250px || || Alternatively referred to as "command frigates", the ''A'uzr''-pattern is a class of warship used by the Covenant to command flotillas of smaller warships. They have much in common with the s of the empire, and have been prominently used by the Swords of Sanghelios. They have a stacked hull, and are one of several design pattern variants under the SCC-class heading.
| ||| File:Enc22 SoTP CAR.png|250px || || The ''Ester''-pattern is a class of warship used by the Covenant to patrol territory and mop-up operations of devastated worlds after the main force has moved on.
| |Unidentified class (''Radiant Arrow'') || || || This unidentified vessel is much smaller than the aforementioned frigate examples. It has a teardrop-shaped profile, with a long, tapering tail that curls up into an open hook. It has at least one hangar bay, which is mounted on the frigate's belly, which was built in an oblong shape that was twenty metres wide and thirty metres deep. It can accommodate at least five s. One such example, ''Radiant Arrow'', served as part of the Fleet of Inexorable Obedience in 2526.
| |Unidentified class (''Steadfast Strike'') || || Width less than (the width of 's salvage bay) || This unidentified vessel is shaped like a "long-necked disk", with a dovetail stern. It carried multiple weapon systems including secondary pulse laser turrets and a primary unknown weapon system. The frigate also carried a self-destruct system. One such vessel, ''Steadfast Strike'', was part of the Flotilla of Unsung Piety.
| |Unidentified heavy frigate (''Great Light'') || || || An unspecified heavy frigate classification, with the only known example ''Great Light'' used by the Keepers of the One Freedom as their flagship during the Operation: WOLFE|operation on Reach in 2559. Given the lack of described characteristics, this heavy frigate may correspond with one of the unspecified frigate examples listed above.
|}
Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition), ''page 268'' Like most other Covenant warships, frigates have a curving, bulbous shape and are equipped with energy shields. Furthermore, the Sangheili equipped their warships with anti-plasma turret|plasma torpedo "counter guiding signal" systems. It is also equipped with energy shielding, resistant to 1 or 1 energy projector shot, and its hull is resistant to 1 Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|MAC round and 225 Archer missiles or 1 plasma torpedo. The Jiralhanae stole this technology during the Great Schism and equipped some of their frigates, such as the ''Revenant (ship)|Revenant'', ''Twilight Compunction'' and ''Tenebrous'', with such devices. However, they did not understand the full intricacies of the system, thus limiting their effectiveness.Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, ''Chapter 22''-->
Known frigates
*''Sword of Harmony''
*''Contrition''
*''Penance (ship)|Penance''
*''Revenant (ship)|Revenant''
*''Tenebrous''
*''Twilight Compunction''
Heavy frigate
*''Great Light''
The following frigates have no confirmation on what classes they are:
*''Certain Prophecy''
*''Cleansing Truth''
*''Dagger of Mercy''
*''Promised Revelation''
*''Pure Resolve''
*''Radiant Arrow''
*''Reprisal's Fire''
*''Retribution's Promise''
*''Steadfast Strike''
*''Transforming Splendor''
*''Unflinching Resolve''
*''Vengeful Deed''
List of appearances
''Halo: The Fall of Reach''
''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''
''Halo: Glasslands''
''Halo: The Thursday War''
''Halo: Mortal Dictata''
''Halo: Silent Storm''
''Halo: Envoy''
''Halo: Oblivion''
''Halo: Shadows of Reach''
''Halo Infinite''
''Halo: Outcasts''
Sources
Category:Frigate classes|
Category:Covenant ship classes|
__NOTOC__
|
File:HN Axl.jpg|thumb|250px|The Yonhet are a part of the Covenant fringe The Covenant fringe was a collection of Sentience|sapient species and civilisations scattered throughout the Orion Arm that were never fully integrated into the Covenant empire. Members of the Covenant fringe provided various strategic and infrastructure-related advantages to the Covenant, but posed no martial threat to the empireinstead held at arms-length and exploited for their unique strategic or infrastructural advantages.
Overview The Fringe entities of the Covenant sat at the lowest tiers of the Covenant's species-based caste system. They were generally restricted to residing only on their respective homeworlds or in select remote locations, and were not afforded the same liberties as other citizens of the empire, even below the lowest caste species such as the Unggoy and Kig-Yar. In practice, these worlds were generally overseen by a local San'Shyuum executor or a contingent of Kig-Yar enforcers, with members of the Fringe used as forced labour or in undignified utilitarian roles as they were not considered worthy of trading service for Covenant religion|salvation in the Covenant military forces.
Due to their lack of frontline military service, and the general Sangheili lack of civil affairs record-keeping, the existence of the Fringe and its various civilisations remained nearly a total mystery to humanity throughout the Human-Covenant War. Following the end of the war in 2552, the United Nations Space Command and Office of Naval Intelligence have begun to gather the first pieces of intelligence on the exact nature and size of the Covenant fringe. However, most of these species have yet to be contacted by humanity, and many still remain a mystery entirely.
Following the collapse of the Covenant, the fate of the various fringe species' remains uncertainthough some believe they will simply pick up where they left off prior to the Covenant contact. Some member species of the fringe have a fragile status in the post-war years and some are subjected to persecution and Slavery|enslavement by Covenant remnants|remnants of the former Covenant.
List of known fringe species The Dazreme are a species in the fringe; their existence was kept secret from the other species by the San'Shyuum, who leveraged their unique knowledge of Forerunner technology to means unknown. The Sharquoi are a species of hulking beasts so destructive that they were only rarely used by the Covenant military; their deployments were just as likely to leave Covenant forces in ruin as their enemies. Unbeknownst to the Covenant, the Sharquoi were also once used by the Forerunners as one of many attempts to create a solution to fight the Flood during the Forerunner-Flood war. The Yonhet from the small moon of Yonhe were a part of the Covenant fringe. When the species first came into contact with the Covenant, they were deemed militarily insignificant due to their small population and there was little value in considering the Yonhet as full signatories to the Covenant Empire. However, their talents and adherence to the Great Journey granted the Yonhet a high degree of tolerance within the Covenant. Thanks to the Covenant focusing on fighting humanity, the Yonhet were able to hide during much of the war and disperse, only to reemerge following the empire's collapse.
File:Enc22-Dazreme.jpg|Dazreme File:Enc22_Sharquoi.jpg|Sharquoi File:Enc22_Yonhet_Full.jpg|Yonhet
Production notes In reference to regular questions about the Covenant fringe on the Halo Waypoint forums, 343 Industries' 2015 April Fool's Day|April Fools included the full list of species that made up the fringe: the Yonhet, killerinstinct:glacius|Glacius (''Killer Instinct''), the gearsofwar:locust|Locust (''Gears of War''), and the :Wikipedia:Viva Pinata|Pinata (''Viva Pinata'').
List of appearances
''Halo 2''
*''Conversations from the Universe''
''Halo: Escalation''
''Halo: Nightfall''
''Halo: Envoy''
''Halo Mythos''
''Halo: Smoke and Shadow''
''Halo Infinite''
Sources
Category:The Covenant
|
The Covenant guard tower is a mobile ten meter tower equipped with a single plasma cannonHalo: First Strike, ''page 28'' (''"The nearest guard tower tracked her; its plasma cannon flared and fired."'') used to defend the perimeter of an encampment. Unlike the similar deployable lookout tower, the guard tower apparently does not make use of a gravity lift, instead spiraling upward from a treaded base.Halo: First Strike, ''page 27'' (''"Guard towers punctuated the valley; they spiraled up from mobile treaded bases, ten meters tall and topped with plasma turrets."'')
List of appearances
''Halo: First Strike''
Sources
Category:Fortifications Category:Covenant buildings
|
Covenant Gun Tower may refer to the following:
Covenant anti-aircraft battery - An anti-air emplacement featured in ''Halo 3'' and ''Halo: Reach''.
- A ground-based Plasma mortar|plasma artillery gun. Deployable lookout tower|Deployable Lookout Tower - An elevated platform used by Kig-yar Sniper|Kig-yar snipers and Unggoy Heavy|Unggoy gunners. Covenant guard tower - A mobile tower from ''Halo: First Strike''.
- A large artillery platfom featured in ''Halo Wars''.
|
File:Covenant barracks 01.jpg|300px|thumb|The Covenant Hall.
The hall is a Covenant structure featured in ''Halo Wars'' that can be built on a Covenant citadel. It costs 150 resources and no tech level.
The Covenant barracks is home to the well-trained and numerous infantry of the Covenant Forces. Unggoy lances, Kig-Yar and Mgalekgolo are trained here. The different races are housed separately according to their status in the caste system. Unggoy, the lowest of the caste system, performs many of the more demeaning tasks. The Kig-Yar tend to only socialize amongst themselves, while the Mgalekgolo communicate with each other via their collective consciousness.
The hall is built onto the Covenant citadel|citadel, and is where Covenant infantry are trained and upgraded, such as Unggoy lances (four Unggoy led by a single Sangheili or a single Jiralhanae, depending on the leader chosen), Mgalekgolo pairs and Kig-Yar Kig-Yar Sniper|Sniper pairs. This is also where most Covenant infantry upgrades are researched, such as increased troop power and weapons. The Hall forms the core of the Covenant ground-attack forces, especially early in the game, when vehicles are sparse.
This is also where unit upgrades can be found.
Units produced and available upgrades File:HW Hall Concept 1.jpg|thumb|250px|Concept art of the structure. These are some units upgrades that can be found in the Hall. Grunt - Main Covenant infantry unit. Slow and short-ranged. Starts with Type-25 plasma pistol|Plasma Pistol. 100 resources and a tech level of 0. Takes up one population.
*Starting special attack - Anskum-pattern plasma grenade|Plasma Grenade
*1. Peons - Adds one Grunt to each squad. 200 resources and a tech level of 1.
*2. Type-33 needler|Needler - Upgrades Plasma Pistol to Needler for more damage. 400 resources and a tech level of 2.
*3. Deacon - Adds a Grunt Deacon to squad to boost combat values through spirituality. 700 resources and a tech level of 3. Jackal - Counter-infantry unit. Starts with medium-range carbine. 100 resources and a tech level of 0. Takes up one population.
*1. Kig-Yar point defense gauntlet|Defense Gauntlet - Adds energy shield to deflect incoming projectiles (collapses after taking too much damage). 200 resources and a tech level of 1.
*2. Type-50 particle beam rifle|Beam Rifle - Upgrades weapon to particle-beam rifle for increased damage. 400 resources and a tech level of 2.
*3. Supreme Gauntlet - Shield no longer collapses when taking damage. 700 resources and a tech level of 3. Hunter - Counter-vehicle unit. Uses Fuel rod cannon|Fuel Rod Cannon. 250 resources and a tech level of 1. Takes up two population.
*1. Bonded Shield - Adds the iconic Hunter Shield, which deflects projectiles. 200 resources and a tech level of 1.
*2. Spirit Bond - Increases damage output while Hunters in a bonded pair are alive. 400 resources and a tech level of 2.
*3. Assault Beam - Fuel Rod Cannon upgrades to Assault cannon|Fuel Rod Beam for mega damage. 700 resources and a tech level of 3.
Gallery
File:HW-Hall Concept.jpg|Early concept art of the Hall. File:HW Hall HiPoly.jpg|A hi-poly sculpt of the Hall. File:HW Screenshots E3 6.jpg|A Hall and several other buildings attached to a Citadel. File:Halo-wars-Covenant-base.jpg|A Hall and a Hall under construction.
List of appearances
''Halo Wars''
Sources
Category:Covenant buildings
|
The Covenant Honor GuardHalo: The Essential Visual Guide, ''page 95'' were a special unit of Covenant warriors tasked with providing security for the High Council. They were traditionally composed of Sangheili Honor Guardsman|Sangheili members, but were replaced by Jiralhanae Honor Guardsman|Jiralhanae during the Great Schism.Halo 2, campaign level ''Gravemind (level)|Gravemind''
History
After the War of Beginnings, the two sides formed the Covenant. The San'Shyuum were to be the governmental leaders and scientists, with the Sangheili as their protectors and main military force. The Covenant Honor Guards were established to protect the Covenant High Council and Hierarchs.Halo: Contact Harvest, ''page 47''Halo 3, ''Bestiarum'' The Honor Guard was formed as early as 851 BCE.Halo: Broken Circle, ''page 21''
Between 2542 and 2552, the Honor Guard were charged with defending a Unidentified Prophet (Heian)|Lesser Prophet on a Heian|Covenant-controlled planet that served as a major logistics base. Unfortunately for them, a team of Orbital Drop Shock Troopers infiltrated the planet and assassinated the Prophet from a distance of two miles before the Honor Guard could intervene.Halo Legends, ''The Babysitter''
File:H2A - HonorGuard.jpg|thumb|250px|John-117 engaging an Honor Guardsman on Installation 05. On 2552|October 20, 2552, Covenant military and Covenant fleet|naval forces invaded Earth.Halo 2, campaign level ''Cairo Station'' The Prophet of Regret|High Prophet of Regret and Fleet of Sacred Consecration|his fleet came to Earth to find Installation 00|the Ark,Halo Graphic Novel, ''Second Sunrise Over New Mombasa'', ''page 95'' a Forerunner installation where they could fire all of the Halo Array|Halo installations and complete the Covenant religion|Great Journey. Being pursued by United Nations Space Command forces, ''Solemn Penance'' escaped by going into slipstream space|slipspace in New Mombasa, Kenya with Regret aboard.Halo 2, campaign level ''Metropolis''
When they arrived on Installation 05, Regret and his Sangheili Honor Guardsman|Sangheili Honor Guardsmen stationed themselves at a Temple (Installation 05)|temple in the middle of a lake near the Quarantine Zone of the Library.Halo 2, campaign level ''Delta Halo'' Much to the Prophet's surprise, the human vessel followed him to the installation. The UNSC forces aboard, led by Miranda Keyes|Commander Miranda Keyes, initiated an Assassination of the Prophet of Regret|assault on the temple with the intent of capturing or killing the Prophet. SPARTAN-II program|SPARTAN-II John-117 led the attack, infiltrating the temple and entering the Prophet's chamber. The Sangheili Honor Guardsmen fought furiously to protect the Hierarch, but ultimately could not prevent John-117 from killing the Prophet of Regret.Halo 2, campaign level ''Regret (Halo 2 level)|Regret''
Changing of the Guard
File:H2A - Changing of the Guard.jpg|thumb|250px|Jiralhanae take the Honor Guard armor of the Sangheili. Following the catastrophic failure of Sangheili forces in safeguarding Installation 04, the Hierarchs' confidence in the abilities of the Sangheili wavered. Their willingness to trust the Sangheili as their personal protectors declined even further when the Prophet of Regret's bodyguards failed to save him from death at the hands of the "Demon"John-117. As a result, the Prophet of Truth|High Prophets of Truth and Prophet of Mercy|Mercy ordered the Sangheili to step down as the protectors of the Prophets.Halo 2, campaign level ''Sacred Icon'' This event was not approved of by the High Council and some Sangheili Councilor|Sangheili High Councilors threatened to resign from the Council.Halo: Broken Circle, ''page 217'' Truth had forged an alliance to rid the Covenant of the Sangheili with Tartarus and the Jiralhanae, and so Truth had the Jiralhanae fill in the void left by the disgraced Sangheili.
File:H2A - Tartarus smashing Flood.jpg|thumb|250px|The Jiralhanae Honor Guard, led by Tartarus defend the Prophets from a swarm of Flood on ''High Charity''. At the Battle of the Quarantine Zone in 2552|November 3, 2552, Chieftain of the Jiralhanae|Chieftain Tartarus retrieved the activation index from Arbiter Thel 'Vadamee, and moments attempted to kill the Arbiter by sending him falling to his presumed death.Halo 2, campaign level ''Quarantine Zone'' Meanwhile, the Hierarchs had a majority of the Sangheili High Councilors and former Sangheili Honor Guardsmen met in the Control Room (Installation 05)|Control Room of Installation 05 to begin the preparations for the Great Journey. However, Jiralhanae Captain Melchus led a large contingent of Jiralhanae into the Control Room and massacred the Councilors and former Honor Guards.Halo: Broken Circle, ''pages 219-222'' These actions, charged to Tartarus and Melchus by the High Prophets, started the Great Schism, that would last for several years.Halo: Evolutions, "The Return"
During the Fall of High Charity, the Jiralhanae Honor Guardsman|Jiralhanae Honor Guardsmen were put into more of an infantry role fighting the Covenant remnants|Sangheili still on the capital world and on ships in orbit. Later during the battle on ''High Charity'', the Prophets of Truth and Mercy along with their personal Jiralhanae Honor Guards fled towards a landing pad where they would leave on the Forerunner Dreadnought in the middle of the city. During this, the Flood, led by the Gravemind, begin their invasion of ''High Charity''. A lone Pod infector that slipped past the Jiralhanae guards, grasped onto Mercy's chest and began his assimilation into a proto-Gravemind. Truth, not wanting any potential threat to his ultimate supremacy, prevented the Guards from saving Mercy and allowed the old Prophet to die.Halo 2, campaign level ''High Charity (level)|High Charity''
The Jiralhanae Honor Guard continued to defend the Prophet through the final days of the Human-Covenant War, though by the time of the Covenant's Battle of Installation 00|final stand on Installation 00|The Ark, their ranks had been drastically depleted. With Truth's death, the fragmentation of the Covenant and the rise of the Swords of Sanghelios as the main governing body of the title's former bearers, it's highly likely that the Honor Guard has ceased to exist.
Organization
File:HW3.jpg|thumb|250px|A group of Honor Guardsmen at Trove's Apex Site. The members of the Honor Guard served as personal protection for the San'Shyuum and Sangheili Councilor|Sangheili High Councilors of the Covenant High Council. They were the most skilled of warriors and were hand-picked for the duty of protecting the Hierarchs|High Prophets, as well as members of the High Council, from any danger. In accordance with their duties, they were unwaveringly loyal to the individuals they protected and would defend them to the death.Halo: Contact Harvest, ''page 154'' Honor Guardsmen were expected to kill anyone who drew a weapon in the presence of a Hierarch.Halo: The Cole Protocol, ''page 341'' Honor Guardsmen were also found in the Ministry towers on ''High Charity'', protecting the Ministry workers from any possible threats. Following the Changing of the Guard, the Sangheili High Councilors were unwilling to trust the new Jiralhanae Jiralhanae Honor Guardsman|Honor Guardsmen and employed Sangheili serving in the Covenant military instead.Halo: Broken Circle, ''page 217''
The highly ornate armor of the Honor Guard consisted of a red-and-black combat harness adorned with glowing orange panels. Honor Guards were typically equipped with standard Covenant weaponry such as s, s, and s. When they were not in combat, Honor Guardsmen would wield bladed energy staves. However, the staves were largely ceremonial and Honor Guardsmen would prefer to arm themselves with Type-1 energy swords.Halo Encyclopedia, ''page 349'' The armor was designed to indicate that serving in the position of an Honor Guardsman was a great privilege.
Although Guard service was a great honor, it was seen by some Sangheili and Jiralhanae as a merely ceremonial duty and its members were unlikely to experience combat first hand.Halo Encyclopedia, ''page 137'' Though moved to a specialist rank, the Honor Guardsmen retain their old armors, indicating that most Honor Guards are formerly Sangheili Majors, Sangheili Ultras, or Jiralhanae Captains. Wherever a Hierarchs|High Prophet was located, an Honor Guardsman would always be by their side. There could be as many as three hundred Honor Guardsmen for each Prophet, as a chamber within the Sanctum of the Hierarchs seemed designed to hold three hundred Honor Guards.Halo: First Strike, ''page 339''
The Lights of Sanghelios was a subgroup of the Covenant Honor Guard that represented the most adept and highest-ranking combat units within the Guard. These soldiers were typically charged with the protection of a San'Shyuum or a Ministry tower. The Sangheili within the unit often oversaw standard Honor Guardsmen in numerous battles and engagements. Sangheili Guardsmen serving in the Lights of Sanghelios were identified from other Honor Guardsmen by the bright-white armor coloring.
Gallery
File:H2A-HighCouncilSession.jpg|Sangheili Honor Guards during a High Council session. File:Sangheili HG 01.png|A standard Sangheili Honor Guard. File:H2_Honor_Guard_Ultra.png|An Honor Guard Ultra without a helmet. File:Honor Guard Councilor.jpg|The Honor Guard Councilor. File:Brutehonorguardsmanedit.png|The newer Jiralhanae Honor Guards.
List of appearances
''Halo: First Strike''
''Halo 2''
''Halo: Uprising''
''Halo: Contact Harvest''
''Halo: The Cole Protocol''
''Halo Wars''
''Halo Legends''
*''Origins''
*''The Babysitter''
''Halo: Evolutions''
*''The Return''
''Halo: Broken Circle''
''Halo 2: Anniversary''
*''Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminals''
''Halo: Hunters in the Dark''
''Halo: Shadow of Intent''
''Halo: Envoy''
''Halo: Oblivion''
Sources
Category:Covenant military units
|
File:H2A Gravemind Fish.png|300px|thumb|The fish in one Valley of Tears Koi are a species of List of animals|fish similar to Earth koi and goldfish.''Halo 2'', campaign level Gravemind (level)|Gravemind
Description The fish have a teal tints, with green spots on its body.
History The Covenant Empire|Covenant apparently make similar use of them as humans do of their counterparts, namely that of a decorative pond fish. A school of fish was kept in one of the Valleys of Tears in ''High Charity''.
Gameplay
These fish only appear in the Gravemind (level)|Gravemind level, and can not be killed and are confined to the pool they are spawned in. The fish when hit by an explosion will be flung within the confines of the pool. When the fish get near one another they may start to follow one another, and when the player gets near the fish will attempt to evade the player.
Trivia In ''Halo 2'', the fish had 4 eyes and had a orange tint, these fish changed designs in ''Halo 2: Anniversary'' to having 2 eyes and a teal color scheme.
Gallery
File:H2 Gravemind Fish.png|The old design of the fish from ''Halo 2''.
List of appearances
''Halo 2''
''Halo: Broken Circle''
''Halo 2: Anniversary''
Sources
Category:Marine species Category:Animals
|
A strong legal system was used to keep the client species of the Covenant in line. Many strictures were established by the Hierarchs to underpin civil obedience, politics, economics and society.
Certain laws can technically be changed or overruled by the Hierarchs, as evident of the Great Schism stripping the Sangheili of all their rights despite many deeming it as unconstitutional as it violated the very Writ of Union.
Known laws Failure to protect a Forerunner artifact is punishable by death.''Halo: First Strike'', Epilogue Hierarchs must rule following the ''Book of Hierarchs''. The modifying of Covenant and Forerunner technology without permission from the Hierarchs is heresy and the persons responsible shall be executed publicly;''Halo: Contact Harvest'', Chapter 9''Halo: The Cole Protocol'', Chapter 19 this may lead to genocidal war when such heresy is conducted by a species on a large scale. Wielding an unsecured weapon near a Hierarch is punishable by death, with the exception of Honor Guards protecting them. Sangheili and San'Shyuum are first class citizens above all other species,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" as per the Writ of Union.
*Failure to obey an order, thus causing the endangerment of a San'Shyuum|Prophet, is punishable by death.''Halo: The Flood'', Chapter 7
*Murder of a Sangheili near a holy site is punishable by death.''Conversations from the Universe#Grunt Conversation|Conversations from the Universe''
All San'Shyuum must follow the Roll of Celibates. A Kig-Yar not reporting non-violent contact with the enemy can result in castration.''Halo: The Cole Protocol'', Chapter 24
Ages of Reconciliation|First Age of Reconciliation
Ages of Doubt|Twenty-Ninth Age of Doubt
Ninth Age of Reclamation
Changing of the Guard/Great Schism
List of appearances
''Halo: The Flood''
''Halo 2''
''Halo: The Cole Protocol''
''Halo: Contact Harvest''
Sources
Category:The Covenant
|
File:Light staff.jpg|thumb|A light staff lights a tunnel on Installation 04.
The Covenant light staff is a type of light amplifying device used by the Covenant and other Covenant remnants|related factions to increase visibility in low light environments and locations which feature dense terrain. They have been encountered by United Nations Space Command|UNSC troops when assaulting Covenant encampments and sometimes ships. These devices are portable enough for Covenant troops to move them from camp to camp, or camp to ship.
Description They are rod shaped, with the top holding a sphere, which is essentially the bulb. It has a handle and can be activated by a switch near the top on the side of the handle opposite the bulb. It can be found on the first Halo game dotted all around the level Assault on the Control Room. They have been in use since ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', but have had slight differences in appearance. They operate by emitting a blue plasma glow whenever they detect motion nearby, conserving energy by automatically shutting off once the motion leaves the immediate area.
There are minor differences between the versions; in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', they emitted an actual plasma flame, while in ''Halo 3'' they extend slightly and then emit a soft blue light.
Trivia Covenant light staffs bear slight resemblance to the staffs carried by the Pfhor in Bungie's earlier game ''Marathon''. Though the light staff is utilized by Covenant troops, when any UNSC forces penetrate the staff's radius it will prop itself up and "light" the way for them.
Gallery
File:Light Staff-H3.jpg|A light staff lights a tunnel on Installation 00. File:Plasma Torch Lit.jpg|A lit light staff. File:Plasma Torch Unlit.jpg|An unlit light staff waiting for movement. File:HSA-SpiritEscape.jpg|A light staff (right) in ''Halo: Spartan Assault''. File:HSS-Gameplay-Jungle.jpg|Lights used by the Covenant on Installation 03. File:Phil-liu-phil-liu-covnant-lightstaff.jpg|Covenant light staff renders. File:Phil-liu-light-staff.jpg|A Sangheili Storm holding a light staff. File:H5G - Covenant light amplifier.png|A light in the Vadam clan burial grounds in ''Halo 5: Guardians''.
List of appearances
''Halo: Combat Evolved''
''Halo 3''
''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary''
''Halo 4''
*''Spartan Ops''
''Halo: Spartan Assault''
''Halo: Spartan Strike''
''Halo 5: Guardians''
See also Covenant work light Category:Lighting
|
*Ministry of Anticipatory Security
*Ministry of Relic Safety
*Ministry of Inquisition
*Ministry of Conversion
*Ministry of Tranquility
*Ministry of Fervent Intercession
*Ministry of Preservation
*Ministry of Abnegation
*Ministry of Preparation
*Various others
|type=Armed forces
|role=Defense of the Covenant, Exploration and retrieval of Forerunner artifacts, Execute the will of the Hierarchs.
|size= Covenant fleet
|nicknames=Covenant forces
|battles=*Unggoy Rebellion Human-Covenant War Great Schism
|commanders=*Imperial Admiral Xytan 'Jar Wattinree Chieftain of the Jiralhanae Tartarus
}}
Since its inception, the Covenant maintained a pervasive military force which it used to carry out the Hierarchs' will throughout the Covenant's vast empire. Rather than being a singular organization, the Covenant's military forces were a collection of organizations under the oversight of various political bodies, which in turn carried out the edicts of the High Council.Halo: Fleet Battles, ''Core Rulebook - page 7'' The Sangheili originally served as the leadership caste for the Covenant's various armed forces, until they were replaced by the Jiralhanae during the Great Schism. The Covenant military fell alongside its empire at the Battle of the Citadel.
The defunct Covenant's various newly formed Covenant remnants|remnant factions have scavenged assets of the fallen military to utilize, as well as recruitment of its former soldiers.
History File:Staging area.png|250px|thumb|left|A Covenant staging area in the Viery Territory during the Fall of Reach being observed by Spartans of Noble Team. In the early centuries of the Covenant, the Writ of Union established the armed forces of the Sangheili as the hegemony's sole military force, with the San'Shyuum having little part in its day-to-day operation. The military's original purpose was to allow the Covenant to establish dominance in the Milky Way by force, but its primary goal was to acquire Forerunner technology and to bring forth the Covenant religion|Great Journey. The fact that the Covenant military, the empire's largest and most powerful entity, was completely under the control of Sangheili led to some San'Shyuum distrusting the species. One of the Covenant military's earliest engagements was during the Rending, an insurrection led by Ussa 'Xellus which was seemingly quelled by Mken 'Scre'ah'ben and his Ministry of Relic Safety.Halo: Broken Circle, ''pages 178-181'' (Google Play edition) As the Covenant conquered and assimilated various species for its cause, members of each race were incorporated into the Covenant military to perform different roles, adding their own unique advantages and disadvantages. The Unggoy Rebellion in 2462 ushered in a major restructuring of the military: because they had proven themselves in combat in the eyes of the Sangheili, the Unggoy were allowed into formerly Sangheili-only units and were given better weaponry, giving rise to the Unggoy as a proper infantry class.Halo: Contact Harvest, ''page 151''
During the Great Schism, the Covenant military was violently torn between those who continued to follow the Hierarchs|High Prophets, and the Sangheili who had been cast out of the Covenant along with those loyal to them.Halo 2, campaign level ''Uprising'' As the battle raged, the Prophet of Truth|High Prophet of Truth formally transferred command of the military to the Jiralhanae, a position once exclusively held by the Sangheili. Following the Schism, the Fall of High Charity|Flood outbreak on ''High Charity'' and the eventual destruction of the remaining Covenant leadership in the Battle of Installation 00,Halo 3 the Covenant military ceased to exist as a functioning force due to the absence of a structured Covenant government.
Covenant remnants|A number of splinter factions formed in the wake of the Covenant's destruction. Members of the former Covenant who followed Arbiter Thel 'Vadam banded together to form the Swords of Sanghelios. However, several other groups Blooding Years|took up arms against the Swords, including the Servants of the Abiding Truth and later a Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|new Covenant led by Jul 'Mdama. These groups have marshaled significant amounts of the Covenant's former materiel and troops while maintaining the practices and traditions of the former Covenant's military forces to varying degrees.Halo 4
Organization
The Covenant did not posses a single standing military force like that of the UNSC. Rather, it possessed a number of martial organisations under the control of one or more governmental ministries, each competing with one another in bloody internal wars for prestige and promotion of their orthodoxy.Halo: Warfleet An Illustrated Guide to the Spacecraft of Halo|Halo: Warfleet, ''p.60-61'' The power of these ministries waxed and waned over the years, though only three of any significance to humanity during the war.
Politically, most of the military fell under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Resolution,.Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, ''pages 10, 11, 175'' The Ministry of Resolution originally started as one dedicated to anti-piracy operations, but soon grew in scope and power at the start of the war with humanity, as its postings that regularly involved extended periods of removal from Covenant society gave perfect cover to send Covenant fleets beyond the borders to fight humanity, while hiding the losses of troops to stall inconvenient questions by the Sangheili military leaders.
Some ministries, however, maintained much more specialised military forces with different objectives, such as the Ministry of Fervent Intercession in the Sangheili Zealot|Zealots' case.Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, ''page 60'' The Ministry of Fervent Intercession was primarily tasked with discovery and control of Forerunner sites, and would be able to call upon resources and volunters directly from the colonies and even other ministries. Their fanaticism made them useful during the war, though they would pay little heed to orders not directly concerned with the safety of Forerunner artifacts.
The Ministry of Tranquility was granted military assets to aid in the ministry's function: the acquisition of Forerunner relics. However, ships of the Ministry of Tranquility rarely participated in fleet action. The Ministry of Preservation had some oversight in the military, as the ministry was tasked with quelling internal rebellions and uprisings.Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, ''page 10'' The Ministry of Abnegation likely had some authority in the military, as the ministry absorbed the Ascetics' guard.Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, ''page 56'' Like the rest of the Covenant, the Covenant military was under the ultimate jurisdiction of the High Council,Halo: The Flood, ''page ??'' formerly composed of Sangheili High Councilors who oversaw the operation of the military.
The Council of Deed and Doctrine was a command organization within the Covenant military and aided the Hierarchs with military tactics and strategy. During major conflicts, the Council of Deed and Doctrine created a Council of Masters to directly oversee operations. The San'Shyuum and Sangheili members of the Council of Masters sent Sangheili soldiers into battle and dictated war needs. Because San'Shyuum did not hold military ranks, no San'Shyuum was truly a "member" of the military. Instead, they were responsible for strategic decision-making, but also traveled with Covenant military units as religious or political overseers.Halo: The FloodHalo: The Cole Protocol, ''page 144''
File:HW Covenant render logoles.png|300px|thumb|The Sangheili were originally the commanders of the Covenant military. The Covenant military was heavily naval-oriented, with Covenant fleet|fleets ranging from small battle groups to entire armadas serving as the basic unit of organization. These fleets appeared to be under the direct authority of a given ministry, and there was seemingly no meaningful distinction between service branches, such as the human notions of a dedicated "navy" and "army"; for example, field officers, including Sangheili Generals, could command ground operations as well as starships,Halo: Reach, campaign level ''Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace'' while Sangheili pilots would often see their starfighters as tools to acclaim enough personal glory to be permitted to join those chosen warriors on the ground.Halo: Warfleet, ''p.58-59'' Individual fleets operated a number of task-based groups, including the ground-oriented Occupational ForcesHalo: The Essential Visual Guide, ''page 57'' and the Special Warfare Group, which contained the Special Operations|Special Operations Division.
Although the naval arm was the backbone of the Covenant, fleets would be called upon to conduct trade and transport missions as often as they would be called upon to to convert and ensure compliance. As such, the Covenant maintained very few dedicated warship classes, named "Executors", with those that did exist - such as the - considered distasteful reminders that the Great Journey could not be attained without bloodshed. As such, the Covenant had few dedicated warships on hand at the outbreak of war with humanity, and had to recall ships from the outer reaches of the empire to serve, though these vessels and their crews would gain little honour for their work. The crews assigned to these ships were often those who were deemed unfit for service in regular ministry fleets, with reputations damaged by disloyalty or disobedience.
Despite the power of the Covenant ministries, extraordinarily powerful warships such as the required hierarchical approval for construction, crew and deployment, and as such these extremely powerful warships were only commissioned in times of need. Vessels such as these were classed as "Examiners", and their crews were often hand-picked to serve alongside the accumulated ancient honour the ship's previous deeds.
The Covenant's military leaders, however, class any ship not dedicated enough to be deserving of a shipmaster's chair as an attack ship - an ambiguous role rarely considered in the plans of a supreme commander.Halo: Warfleet, ''p. 72-73'' Attack ships like the would often be assigned to escort duties for executors, examiners,Halo: Warfleet, ''p. 64-65'' and convoys of pilgrims passing to and from High Charity, though would complete their mission without fervor and could not be counted upon for more than the most basic tasks. However, these crews would make almost any sacrifice necessary to serve on the crew of the main ship when escorting "Examiner"-type vessels. As such, these vessels were typically staffed by Jirlahanae and Kig-Yar, who were less concerned with the acquisition of honour and glory. Attack ships would also serve in roles analagous to a UEG police cutter, patrolling systems to conduct inspections and enforce travel laws. Some ships were also tasked with chartering dangerous routes through slipspace and fighting civilisations who resisted the prophets, though such matters were considered beneath the attention of true warriors.Halo: Warfleet, ''p. 76-77'' Smaller deployment craft such as the Lich would also be utilised in civilian and security roles alongside their military applications.Halo: Warfleet, ''p. 78-79''
The Covenant military was organized based on the Covenant's caste system. The officer corps was primarily staffed by Sangheili, though the Great Schism saw the Sangheili removed from this position and largely replaced with the Jiralhanae. while the Unggoy and Kig-Yar generally filled menial or infantry roles. Ranks were denoted by the color, type of armor and accessories worn for Sangheili, Jiralhanae and Unggoy; different ranks of Kig-Yar would also be distinguished by the color of their Kig-Yar point defense gauntlet|shield gauntlets.
The smallest organizational unit of the Covenant military was file, typically consisting of cannon fodder Unggoy. A lance was a small unit of Unggoy commanded by a low-ranked Sangheili (later Jiralhanae), a rough equivalent to a UNSC fireteam. Jiralhanae were also organized into the tribal packs traditional of their society. Large numbers of these units comprised legions, which were organized into task-based groups within their respective naval fleets. Legions encompassed all Covenant warriors and vehicles in a specific region. Cruisers typically held two or more legions on board. A subset of legions led by young warriors were called warrior creches and carried within fleets as well.
Despite the diversity of their weapons and forces, Covenant troops are heavily segregated. Unggoy are deployed as cannon fodder, Kig-Yar are used as support and snipers, and Sangheili are commanders and fight in warrior lances. Weapons and technology are restricted by species and rank; only Sangheili receive Sangheili personal energy shield|personal energy shields and energy swords, only Kig-Yar receive Kig-Yar point defense gauntlet|point defense gauntlets, and Unggoy only receive basic weapons and Unggoy combat harness|armor, depending by rank.
The reasons for these restrictions are often cultural; for instance, Sangheili view wielding shield gauntlets as dishonorable and that "lesser species" do not deserve their privileged weapons. The Covenant's interspecies politics also played a large part in this segregation: while Sangheili-led mixed units existed, the Sangheili and the Jiralhanae often maintained their own individual command hierarchies largely segregated from one another to prevent conflict and authority issues from arising between the two. It was originally rare for the Jiralhanae to receive their own ships to begin with, and the ones given to them by the Sangheili were smaller and less powerful such as the lowly attack ship classifications, while the Sangheili maintained the bulk of the Covenant's fleet.Halo: Contact Harvest, ''pages 195, 199'' When the Jiralhanae were made the Covenant's main military caste, their indigenous weaponry and vehiclesequally brutal in design and functionbecame a staple on the battlefield alongside the Covenant's more refined technologies.
At the start of the Human-Covenant War, units of Kig-Yar would often be mixed-species units of Ruuhtian and T'vaoan Kig-Yar, though after 2530 this was seemingly replaced with the various sub-species being divided into segregated units. The Ruuhtians would be employed in scout-sniper roles, while the T'vaoans would be employed more in shock troop roles.
This discrimination among the Covenant military is centuries old, but the dynamic is occasionally changed by violent rebellion. The Unggoy Rebellion caused Elites to mix their units with Grunts and give them better training. Likewise, the Great Schism put Jiralhanae in command of former Sangheili units, gave them Jiralhanae power armor|personal shielded armor, and made Jiralhanae packs a prevalent unit within the military in addition to the mixed-species lance.
Sangheili - dominant military caste prior to the Covenant Schism; field commanders and elite warriors Jiralhanae - dominant military caste following the Covenant Schism; previously shock troops Mgalekgolo - shock infantry, heavy-weapons platforms Yanme'e - airborne infantry, combat engineers Kig-Yar - scouts/snipers, police force
*T'vaoan|Skirmishers - shock infantry Unggoy - majority of infantry, cannon-fodder Huragok - combat engineers, medics, suicide bombers
High Council
*Covenant Honor Guard
*Ministry of Resolution oversight of most military operations and Covenant fleet|fleets
**Covenant fleet|Fleet basic organizational unit
***Occupational Forces land-based troop contingents
***Legion
****Lance formation of Unggoy led by a Sangheili and later low-ranked Jiralhanae
****File (unit)|File small military formation
****Levy small formation of Unggoy
****Pack Jiralhanae tribal group; led by high-ranked Jiralhanae
***Special Warfare Group
****Covenant Special Operations
****Fleet Security
*****Ossoona
*Ministry of Fervent Intercession oversight of the Sangheili Zealot corps
**Sangheili Zealots
*Ministry of Preservation dealt with internal dissent and rebellions
*Ministry of Abnegation
**Ascetics
Rank structure
{| class"width:1000px; margin:4px auto; text-align:center;"
| !Classes
!Sangheili
!Unggoy
!Huragok
!Lekgolo
!Jiralhanae
!Kig-Yar
!T'vaoan
!Yanme'e
!San'Shyuum
| |colspan="10" | Ranks and type classes
| |Standard ranks
|Sangheili Minor|Minor
|Unggoy Minor|Minor
|
|Mgalekgolo
|Jiralhanae Minor|Minor
|Kig-Yar Minor|Minor
|Skirmisher Minor|Minor
|Yanme'e Minor|Minor
|
| |Specialized troops
|Sangheili Ranger|Ranger
--- Special Operations Sangheili|Spec Ops
--- Stealth Sangheili|Stealth
--- Ossoona
--- Sangheili Honor Guardsman|Honor Guardsman
|Unggoy Heavy|Heavy
--- Special Operations Unggoy|Spec Ops
|
|Deutoros-pattern Scarab|Scarab
|Jiralhanae Stalker|Stalker
--- Jiralhanae Jumper|Jumper
----Jiralhanae Bodyguard|Bodyguard
--- Jiralhanae Honor Guardsman|Honor Guardsman
|Kig-Yar Sniper|Sniper
--- Kig-Yar Ranger|Ranger
|Skirmisher Commando|Commando
|
|
| |Veterans
|Sangheili Major|Major
--- Special Operations Officer|Spec Ops Officer
|Unggoy Major|Major
|
|
|Jiralhanae Major|Major
|Kig-Yar Major|Major
|Skirmisher Major|Major
--- Skirmisher Murmillo|Murmillo
|Yanme'e Major|Major
|
| |Leaders
|Sangheili Ultra|Ultra
--- Lights of Sanghelios
--- Sangheili Field Commander|Field Commander
--- Sangheili General|General
--- Sangheili Zealot|Zealot
|Unggoy Ultra|Ultra
|
|
|Jiralhanae Ultra|Ultra
--- Jiralhanae Captain|Captain
--- Jiralhanae Captain Major|Captain Major
--- Jiralhanae Captain Ultra|Captain Ultra
|Kig-Yar Zealot|Zealot
|Skirmisher Champion|Champion
|Yanme'e Ultra|Ultra
--- Yanme'e Leader|Leader
|
| |colspan="10" | Titles
| |Ratings
|Field Master
--- Sangheili Field Marshal|Field Marshal
--- Special Operations Commander|Spec Ops Commander
--- Shipmaster
--- Fleet Master
--- Supreme Commander
--- Imperial Admiral
|
|
|
|Shipmaster
--- Fleet Master
--- Jiralhanae Chieftain|Chieftain
--- Jiralhanae War Chieftain|War Chieftain
--- Chieftain of the Jiralhanae
|Shipmaster
|Shipmaster
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|Arbiter
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Known units
Dn'end Legion E'Toro Warrior Creche R'Lan Warrior Creche N'Noro Warrior Creche
Military assets File:DeliverHope - CCSHangar.png|300px|thumb|Phantoms, Banshees, and infantry gathered in the hangar bay of a . The Covenant military maintained a vast array of military equipment, :Category:Covenant vehicles|vehicles and Covenant#Weaponry|weaponry, most of which fell into the hands of its Covenant remnants|remnant factions after the hegemony's fragmentation.
The Type-25 plasma pistol was generally issued to the smaller species, such as the Unggoy, Kig-Yar and Yanme'e, although Sangheili and Jiralhanae occasionally used them as sidearms. Type-33 needlers were issued to many of the species within the Covenant military; it was most commonly used by Unggoy and Yanme'e, although Kig-Yar, Sangheili and Jiralhanae sometimes used them. The was the primary weapon of the Covenant's officer corps. Generally wielded by Sangheili, the plasma rifle was infrequently used by higher ranks of the lower caste species. s were also used by many Sangheili, as well as Jiralhanae shock troops. Mgalekgolo troops used assault cannons built directly into their armor.
Marksmen within the Covenant military were most often issued s, although s also saw some use. Higher ranking Sangheili in the military were often equipped with explosive weaponry such as s and s. The was employed as an anti-armor weapon, although it also saw use against infantry. Covenant snipers were normally equipped with s and later, s. Many opted to use s for ranged suppression. The standard grenade of the Covenant military was the .
The Covenant military fielded a wide array of melee-based weaponry. In contrast to UNSC soldiers, who generally used melee weapons as a last resort, the Covenant used melee weapons far more readily. The Sangheili and Jiralhanae in particular preferred to get in close to enemies, using their superior physical strength and impressive melee armaments to their advantage. The Type-1 energy sword was commonly seen in the hands of higher-ranking Sangheili. Jiralhanae often employed their Gravity hammer (fiction)|gravity hammers for close quarters combat. In addition, soldiers of the Covenant also used energy-based Energy cutlass|cutlasses, Energy lance|lances and Energy garrote|garrotes.
The Covenant military also employed a vast range of stationary plasma cannons. The was used for suppression fire for much of the Human-Covenant War, before being phased out in favor of the which performed in much the same way. The Shade stationary guns were used for static defence and heavy suppression. The was the most commonly used model, although the Eeo'Pimu-pattern Shade|Type-27 and Mamua'uda-pattern Shade|Type-29 variant also saw prodigious use.
The Jiralhanae also had their own array of fearsome weaponry. These became far more frequently used once the Jiralhanae were made the leading members of the Covenant military. The Paegaas Workshop Spiker was the standard weapon of the lower ranking Jiralhanae, along with their Kewu R'shi'k-pattern plasma rifle|own version of the Type-25 plasma rifle. Higher ranked Jiralhanae were most often equipped with Type-25 Brute Shots. Type-52 Maulers were often used by Jiralhanae Jiralhanae Stalker|stealth operatives. The Jiralhanae also fielded their own types of grenades - the Type-2 spike grenades and Orgudam Workshop firebomb saw widespread usage towards the end of the Human-Covenant War. Jiralhanae officers sometimes carried their own Jiralhanae combat knife|combat knives.
The Covenant military also boasted an impressive number of vehicles. s were used for reconnaissance and rapid attack roles. The was the standard tank - used as the standard armored ground vehicle, it was very effective in anti-armor and anti-infanty roles. The Covenant military used the against hostile aircraft. The was used as mobile artillery support for infantry, while the was used more for mobile suppression fire and troop transportation. Infrequently used, the provided troop and light vehicle transportation in areas inaccessible to dropships. Jiralhanae vehicles included the Barukaza Workshop Chopper and the Qavardu Workshop Prowler.
A range of excavation platforms were repurposed by the Covenant military during the war against humanity. The and the far larger Scarab platforms were used in combative roles against enemies of the Covenant. Many varieties of the Scarab were employed, with the most common being the . The larger Protos model of the T-47 was used less frequently than the more combat-ready Deutoros model.
Type-26 Banshees were used as standard ground support aircraft while s, s and s were used as troop dropships. Rarely seen by human combatants, the saw use as the heaviest of airborne deployment platforms. An anti-aircraft fighter, the was seldom used by the military.
The military also used many different types of drop pods to rapidly deploy infantry units to any battlefield from an orbital ship. Variants that carried individual troops were most often seen, although some types of drop pod allowed for the transportation of multiple Covenant soldiers.
Gallery
File:HR_CovenantArmy_Concept.jpg|Concept art of a Covenant army for ''Halo: Reach''. File:HR CovenantArmy_Concept 2.jpg|A Covenant army in ''Halo: Reach'' concept art. File:HR Draugr SiegeEngine Concept.jpg|''Halo: Reach'' concept art for the Zashk-pattern Draugr|Draugr, a Covenant "siege engine". File:HO CovenantHangar Menu Concept.jpg|Concept art of a Covenant hangar bay. File:Covenant_Starfighters_Art.jpg|Covenant aircraft.
List of appearances
''Halo: Fall of Reach''
''Halo: Combat Evolved''
''Halo: The Flood''
''Halo: First Strike''
''i love bees''
''Halo 2''
*''Conversations from the Universe''
''Halo Graphic Novel''
*''Second Sunrise Over New Mombasa''
*''The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor''
''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''
''Halo: Landfall''
*''Halo: Combat''
*''Halo: Last One Standing''
''Halo: Uprising''
''Halo 3''
''Halo: Contact Harvest''
''Halo: The Cole Protocol''
''Halo Wars: Genesis''
''Halo Wars''
''Halo: Helljumper''
''The Life''
''Halo 3: ODST''
*''Sadie's Story''
''Halo Legends''
*''Homecoming''
*''Odd One Out''
*''Origins''
*''Prototype''
*''The Babysitter''
*''The Duel''
*''The Package (animated short)|The Package''
''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''
*''Blunt Instruments''
*''Dirt''
*''Headhunters (short story)|Headhunters''
*''Midnight in the Heart of Midlothian
*''Palace Hotel''
*''Stomping on the Heels of a Fuss''
*''The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole''
*''The Mona Lisa''
*''The Return''
''Halo: Blood Line''
''Remember Reach''
*''Deliver Hope''
''Halo: Reach''
''Halo: Fall of Reach''
*''Halo: Fall of Reach - Boot Camp|Boot Camp''
*''Halo: Fall of Reach - Covenant|Covenant''
*''Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion|Invasion''
''Halo: Glasslands''
''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary''
*''Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)|Terminals''
''Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn''
''Halo 4''
''Halo: Initiation''
''Halo: Escalation''
''Halo: Broken Circle''
''Halo 2: Anniversary''
*''Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminals''
''Halo: New Blood''
''Hunt the Truth''
''Halo: Spartan Strike''
''Halo: Shadow of Intent''
''Halo: Ground Command''
''Halo Mythos''
''Halo Wars''
''Halo Wars 2''
''Halo: Fireteam Raven''
Sources
Category:Covenant military Category:The Covenant
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The Covenant kept a series of murals in High Charity which depicted important social, cultural, and Covenant religion|religious events that occurred in the hegemony's History of the Covenant|thousands-year history. The murals would have been likely destroyed after the fall of High Charity in 2552. Sometime after the Human-Covenant War, a Sangheili Shipmaster seeking Asylum seeker|asylum provided useful intel to the UNSC and replicated the murals for them in hand-drawn sketches.
Production notes
In the deleted scenes on the Halo 2 Limited Collector's Edition|''Halo 2'' Limited Collector's Edition DVD, Joseph Staten displays an unfinished cut :Category:Cinematics|cinematic of the Covenant murals which depict the seven different types of "ages" of Covenant history.
File:Seven Murals.jpg|300pxFile:Seven Murals2.jpg|300px
{| style"5" cellspacing"center"
|+Murals
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| |style="border:1px solid black"|File:1_mural.jpg|center|200px|thumb|
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This mural depicts the War of Beginnings and the Ages of Conflict|First Age of Conflict.
| |style="border:1px solid black"|File:2_mural.jpg|200px|thumb|center|
|style="border:1px solid black"|The second mural depicts the Taming of the Lekgolo, when the Lekgolo were forced to join the Covenant as the first species after the truce between the Sangheili and the San'Shyuum.
| |style="border:1px solid black"|File:3_mural.jpg|center|200px|thumb|
|style="border:1px solid black"|This mural clearly shows the San'Shyuum and Sangheili having power over the other species as the new species of the Covenant are bowing to them. It depicts the Ages of Conversion, during which the Sangheili and San'Shyuum incorporated the other races into the Covenant, either through conquest or religious conversion.
| |style="border:1px solid black"|File:4_mural.jpg|center|200px|thumb|
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This mural is hard to understand, yet it is speculated that it represents the Ages of Discovery|Age of Discovery, and that the mural stands for the Sangheili and San'Shyuum either finding, or understanding the technology left by the Forerunners. The picture depicts a hidden Type-1 energy sword|sword, which could symbolize hidden technologies. Both the Sangheili and San'Shyuum are reaching for it together in harmony.
Notice the Sangheili's weapon in this mural, as well as in the previous murals, is a simple, almost crude, spear. In all the other murals after this point, the weapon of the Sangheili is replaced by the more complex energy sword, likely due to the discovery of new Forerunner technology, as depicted in this mural.
| |style="border:1px solid black"|File:5_mural.jpg|center|200px|thumb|
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This mural is believed to show the locations of each of the seven Halo Array|Halos. This symbolizes the Covenant's search for the Halo Array or the "Sacred Rings" which form the basis of the religious doctrine of the "Great Journey" (i.e. devout believers being transformed into gods when activating the Halos).
| |style="border:1px solid black"|File:6_mural.jpg|center|200px|thumb|
|style="border:1px solid black"|This mural depicts the races of the Covenant (in the form of Forerunner glyphs) under a glowing, activated Halo ring with an eye in the middle. This symbol may reflect the Covenant belief that the Forerunners were watching their actions, and that by activating the Halos the Covenant could achieve godlike status, following the Forerunners' footsteps. Ironically, activation of the Halo rings would have made the Covenant much like the Forerunners; dead by their own hand.
| |style="border:1px solid black"|File:7_mural.jpg|center|200px|thumb|
|style="border:1px solid black"|The last mural shows the Sangheili and San'Shyuum embarking on the Great Journey. Note the glyph of the eye and the glowing (activated) Halo ring similar to the one on the mural seen above, and the stylized energy sword held by the Sangheili.
|}
Trivia There are seven murals; this is probably yet another one of Bungie's seven references. Se7en created re-renders of the murals on the Bungie forums, and Bungie acknowledges them as correct. They may be viewed . Sangheili (language)#Mural type|Reimaginings of the iconography used in the cut ''Halo 2'' murals can be found in the ancient Sangheili ruins in Nuusra in the Sanghelios levels of ''Halo 5: Guardians''.
List of appearances
''Halo: Broken Circle''
''Halo: Envoy''
Sources
Category:Deleted material
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File:Covenant_Pest.png|250px|thumb There are pests that can be found in the Covenant holy city ''High Charity''.
On the three floors of the city's detention center there are what looks like small, yellow insects crawling around the place. The pests seem to slide on the floor and on the walls, and once anyone approaches one, it slides away.Halo 2, campaign level ''Gravemind (level)|Gravemind'' The origin of the pests is unknown, but they may be Scrub Grubs that live onboard Covenant ships and feed on machinery, as they are as abundant as they were said to be.Halo: Contact Harvest, ''pages 89-90''
Gallery
File:Covenantpests.jpg|A number of the pests, as seen in ''Halo 2''.
List of appearances
''Halo 2''
''Halo 2: Anniversary''
Sources
Category:Arthropods
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File:HReach-StationaryShieldGenerator.png|thumb|250px|An active stationary shield generator The Covenant portable shield,Halo 5: Guardians, ''Forge'' formally known as the Pavise of the Worthy and otherwise termed as the Covenant emplaced shield, or the stationary shield generator,Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, ''page 354'' is a type of energy shielding device used by Covenant and its Covenant remnants|splinter factions for the protection of ground troops during military operations.Halo: Combat EvolvedHalo 5: Guardians, campaign level, ''Enemy Lines''
Overview Portable shields, which come in a number of models, utilize a dissipative shield generator powered by compact power storage cells to project an ovoid-shaped protective energy shield. Using gravitic anchors, the device can be robustly positioned in a desired position. Essentially a larger version of the Kig-Yar point defense gauntlet|point defense gauntlet used by Kig-Yar, the shield is used as protection by Covenant soldiers in both offensive operationsHalo 2, campaign level, ''Cairo Station'' and in the defense of strategic locations. When shot at, the shield transitions from blue to red in color before finally dissipating and eventually restoring. The shields are effective at deflecting small-arms projectiles, but struggle against explosives or plasma fire.Halo 2, campaign level, ''Delta Halo''
History File:Reach 25734113 Full.jpg|thumb|250px|Several emplaced shields used for defense of a Covenant-occupied zone in the Viery Territory of Reach The stationary shield generator was ubiquitous in Covenant service and was used extensively throughout their Human-Covenant War|war with humanity.Halo: ReachHalo 2
After the conclusion of the Human-Covenant War, Jul 'Mdama's Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|recently formed Covenant splinter faction frequently utilized portable shields in battle.Halo 4Halo 5: Guardians Used extensively throughout the Battle of Requiem, the Requiem Campaign,Halo 4, ''Spartan Ops'' and the Blooding Years, the shield provided essential cover for the Covenant's soldiers.
During the Battle for Zeta Halo, the Banished utilized similar portable shields.
Gameplay In ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', if one of these shields is hit by a vehicle, it will be permanently disabled. In ''Halo 2'', vehicles cannot collapse them on impact. In ''Halo Infinite'', the player can manually activate and deactivate these shields.
Trivia An AI won't see past shield generators since it acts as a solid, opaque object to them. If a player has a shotgun, or other long barreled weapon, and they walk right up against a stationary shield, the barrel goes through the shield and one can shoot through it at opposing enemies. Similarly, it is possible to snipe enemies while never having to expose oneself and take cover again. The length of the weapon which is exposed should be disregarded, since the shot from most weapons come from the camera. In ''Halo 2'' on the level Delta Halo, one can use the stationary shield generators placed at the entrance to one of the Covenant-held temple complexes to propel their vehicle away at a high speed by first disabling the shields, placing the vehicle on the generator and waiting until the device activates. This can also happen in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', though if the player is in a human vehicle, it is likely to fall out and die from fall damage. In ''Halo 2'', if one melees a Grunt body into a stationary shield generator with the Sputnik Skull on, the body will hit the shield generator hard enough to disable it. In ''Halo 2'', if one stands on top of a deployed generator and shoots it with a , the generator will overload and you will be floating on top of an invisible shield.
Gallery
File:HCE-StationaryShieldGenerator.png|A stationary shield generator in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''. File:Mawjunction.jpg|John-117 passing through one of many areas in which the Covenant set up shields during their attack on the . File:H2 StationaryShieldGenerator.png|A stationary shield generator in ''Halo 2''. File:H2_covshieldsteps_t.jpg|The three stages of a stationary shield generator, as seen in ''Halo 2''. When shot at, the shield generator overloads and temporarily deactivates. A few seconds later it reactivates, returning to the initial stage. File:HReach-CovShieldSteps.jpg|The three stages of a stationary shield generator, as seen in ''Halo: Reach''. File:H4-Render-StationaryShieldGenerator.jpg|Render of a Stationary Shield Generator in ''Halo: Reach''. File:HSA-Palmer-Versus-PlasmaTurret.jpg|Stationary shield generators in ''Halo: Spartan Assault''. File:H4-Concept-StationaryShield.jpg|Concept art of the portable shield for ''Halo 4''. File:H4-StationaryShieldGenerators.jpg|Portable shields used on Requiem. File:H4-SO-S1E6-T51CovCarbine-01.jpg|Portable shields in ''Halo 4'''s ''Spartan Ops''. File:H5G-Stationary shield generators.png|Active Covenant portable shields used during the Battle of Nuusra. File:FH4 - Covenant Props.png|A ''Halo: Reach''-derived stationary shield generator near three Covenant supply cases in ''The Halo Experience Showcase''. File:HINF Banished portable shield.png|A Banished portable shield on Installation 07. File:HINF Banished portable shield 2.png|A Banished portable shield at Outpost Tremonius (location)|Outpost Tremonius. File:HINF Elite Brute Banished Shield.png|Banished portable shields at the Silent Auditorium (location)|Silent Auditorium File:HINF Banished portable shield base.png|An inactive Banished portable shield. File:HINF Banished Portable Shield partly disabled.png|A Banished portable shield with its central section missing after being struck by a Chopper.
List of appearances
''Halo: Combat Evolved''
''Halo 2''
''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''
''Halo: Reach''
''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary''
''Halo 4''
''Halo: Spartan Assault''
''Halo 2: Anniversary''
''Halo: Spartan Strike''
''Halo 5: Guardians''
''Halo: Ground Command''
''Halo Infinite''
''Halo: The Rubicon Protocol''
Sources
Category:Fortifications Category:Shield technology Category:Covenant technology
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File:HReach-CovenantPowerModule.png|thumb|300px|A Covenant power module in ''Halo: Reach''.
A Covenant power module, also known as a Covenant core, is a piece of Covenant Empire|Covenant technology.Halo: Reach, multiplayer level, ''Spire (map)| (map)|Spire''
Overview These modules are used to provide power within any major Covenant structure or possibly even ships. Some of these modules are known to be stored in Deployment spires. Should the UNSC obtain a power module, it would allow them to reverse-engineer the Covenant technology and provide them the necessary information to improve their own technology.
These modules are strikingly similar to plasma battery|plasma batteries in style. The shape itself is much like a thick dumbbell. There are small bars for holding when a module needs to be transported on foot. Although similar to plasma batteries, these modules do not explode when shot.
Trivia The power module is an example of a Wikipedia:MacGuffin|MacGuffin, as it drives the actions of all the characters regardless of its actual function. In the Invasion gametype of ''Halo: Reach'', the UNSC navigation core serves as the human equivalent to the power module.
Gallery
File:HR_CovenantPowerModule_Concept.jpg|Concept art of the Covenant power module. File:HR_CovenantPowerModule_Spire.jpg|Covenant power module on pedestal in Spire (map)|Spire.
List of appearances
''Halo: Reach''
Sources
Category:Power generation Category:Covenant technology
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Covenant prayers is the twenty first track of the ''Halo 5: Guardians Original Soundtrack''. The song can be heard playing multiple times throughout the Sanghelios missions. In addition the first verse of the song can be heard sung by Unggoy around a holographic projection of a Guardian during Battle of Sunaion (level)|Battle of Sunaion. The lyrics of the song talk about how Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|Jul's Covenant wants the Guardian to rest in peace and not be awakened. Since the lyrics are in Sangheili (language)|Sangheili no translation of the entire part has been given. Only a rough translation of an unspecified portion of the song is available through the audio logs in Halo 5.
Rough Translation of unknown excerpt Oh Guardian, may this prayer keep him asleep forever. He keeps our world safe and protects the Covenant. The Domain cannot be opened so long as he stays sleeping. Oh Guardian, magnificent sleeper!Halo 5: Guardians Mission Intel, Mission Intel#Prayer of the Guardian|Prayer of the Guardian
Official Lyrics Gaa-dee-enn nou meh-kah day-teh-chee sah-woo-foo ro-h-nah. Doh-may-inn wu-doh-ja-doh.
Noh ee-say nn-ba-h ee-woo-roh ee-koh-woh roh-ghee-sah-sah.
Nay-koh-koh neh-nn-eay ray-moh-nay ray-moh-nay.
Gaa-dee-enn neh-kah-yoh rah-keh-yoh eh-mah-taa ra-e-mah. Doh-may-inn wu-doh-ja-doh.
Noh ee-say nn-ba-h ee-woo-roh ee-koh-woh roh-ghee-sah-sah.
Nay-koh-koh neh-nn-eay ray-moh-nay ray-moh-nay.
Gaa-dee-enn noh-koh-chee nn-teh-woe eh-mah-taa chee-mee. Doh-may-inn wu-doh-ja-doh.
Noh ee-say nn-ba-h ee-woo-roh ee-koh-woh roh-ghee-sah-sah.
Nay-koh-koh neh-nn-eay ray-moh-nay ray-moh-nay.
Gaa-dee-enn beh-kuh-yah noh-ran-kah shah-oh-yoh ta-y shee. Doh-may-inn wu-doh-ja-doh.
Noh ee-say nn-ba-h ee-woo-roh ee-koh-woh roh-ghee-sah-sah.
Nay-koh-koh neh-nn-eay ray-moh-nay ray-moh-nay.''The Sprint'', The Sprint: Composer|Composer
Sources
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The proximity mine is a Covenant Mine|landmine. The grenade has a similar appearance to a Covenant antimatter charge.Halo: Helljumper, ''Halo: Helljumper Issue 5|Issue 5''Halo 2, campaign level, ''Cairo Station'' After being set off, the mine fires a series of Blamite|needler projectiles in all directions.''Halo: Spartan Strike''
Overview During Operation: FIRESIDE, Taylor Miles and Kojo Agu threw one of these explosives at a group of Unggoy. The Unggoy, not realizing the device wasn't armed, panicked and fled into a corridor rigged with laser traps which sliced them to pieces.
Gameplay The Covenant proximity mine appears as an armor ability in ''Halo: Spartan Strike''. When deployed by the player, three mines are released at a time, while enemies drop one mine. It is the default armor ability of Brute Chieftains.
Gallery
File:Grounded_Mine.png|A Mine set on the ground waiting to be activated. File:Set_mine.png|A Mine tripped ready to blow up.
List of appearances
''Halo: Helljumper''
''Halo: Glasslands''
''Halo: Spartan Strike''
Sources
Category:Covenant weapons Category:Mines
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File:H2A Recharge Station Thumbnail.jpg|thumb|300px|A recharge station alongside two cells. Covenant recharge stations are a piece of battlefield logistics equipment utilized by Covenant Covenant military|ground forces. They serve as generators capable of recharging the Covenant's various Plasma battery|plasma batteries, which are used to power almost anything smaller than the full-scale pinch fusion reactors found inside Covenant starship|spacecraft and citadels.
Overview
The stations are cruciform, bilaterally symmetrical and covered at the center of the base by a maroon or magenta-colored cowling.
Covenant recharge stations are typically used to recharge a specific type of large, cylindrical cell, which is placed on top of the station for the duration of the process. One or more such cells, along with other Covenant field equipment such as plasma batteries, are also commonly found amongst recharge stations.
Gallery
File:H2-Recharge station in Old Mombasa.png|A recharge station in Old Mombasa in ''Halo 2''. File:H2 Recharge Station and Battery.jpg|A recharge station and a plasma battery in New Mombasa's New Mombasa industrial zone|industrial zone in ''Halo 2''. File:H2 General Recharge Station.png|A recharge station on Installation 05 in ''Halo 2''. File:H2 Recharge Station and Elites.jpg|Two Sangheili Minor|Sangheili Minors next to a recharge station in ''Halo 2''. File:H2A_CovenantRechargeStation_Concept.jpg|Concept art for a redesigned recharge station in ''Halo 2: Anniversary''. File:H2A Recharge Station and Shadow.jpg|A Ruwaa-pattern Shadow beside a recharge station on New Mombasa 105 East in ''Halo 2: Anniversary''. File:H2A Recharge Station and Battery.jpeg|Front-facing view of a recharge station and plasma battery in ''Halo 2: Anniversary''. File:H2A Recharge Station.jpg|A recharge station on Installation 05 in ''Halo 2: Anniversary''. File:H2A Recharge Station and Elites.jpg|A recharge station alongside two Sangheili on Installation 05 in ''Halo 2: Anniversary''. File:H2A Recharge Station Cutout.png|Cutout of the Covenant recharge station in ''Halo 2: Anniversary''.
List of appearances
''Halo 2''
''Halo 2: Anniversary''
Sources
Category:Covenant technology
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File:H3 Truth rings.jpg|thumb|370px|The High Prophet of Truth activates the Halo Rings from Installation 00|the Ark.
The Covenant religion, based upon the worship of the ancient race of beings known as the Forerunners. The Covenant commonly referred to the religion and its teachings as the Path.Halo: Broken Circle, ''page 304''
Background File:H5Concept -The Path.jpg|thumb|150px|A symbol associated with the Path to the Great Journey. According to the Covenant religion, the Forerunners, a race of enlightened beings regarded as nearly omniscient and all-powerful, discovered a way to transcend the physical world and became divine gods by activating the Halo Array|Halos, or "Sacred Rings" as referred to by members of the Covenant.''Halo 2'', cinematics The Halos supposedly uplifted the Forerunners into Technological Achievement Tiers|transsentience, but left all lesser, unworthy races behind. The Covenant believed themselves to be the chosen inheritors of the Forerunners, and sought to reclaim the "gifts" they left behind, in most cases lost technology. Their ultimate goal was to locate and activate the Halo installations. In doing so, it was believed that all faithful adherents to the Covenant religion would be uplifted as the Forerunners were, following them on a Great Journey resulting in godhood. This belief was shared, with varying degrees of sincerity, amongst all the Covenant's client races.
History
What would eventually become the Covenant religion was first practiced on Janjur Qom, the San'Shyuum homeworld. Janjur Qom was home to two influential factions, the Stoics and the Reformists. Although both factions believed in the prophecy of ascendancy and the holiness of artifacts left behind by their gods, they held different views on how the religion should be practiced; the Reformists believed that the religion could spread throughout the galaxy through travel in their lords' Forerunner Dreadnought|shipa Forerunner Keyship that had reseeded Janjur Qom with San'Shyuum millennia earlier, unbeknownst to the populacebut the Stoics viewed their actions as desecrating the memory of the Forerunners. This initiated the San'Shyuum Schism, a conflict which resulted in the defeat of the Stoics. The Reformists used the Keyship to leave Janjur Qom, traveling through the stars in search of more Forerunner Relics.
While the exact date remains unrecorded, the Ages of Conflict spanned thousands of years and were a significant period in the spreading of what started out as solely the San'Shyuum's Faith (and by extension, their empire). In the First Age of Conflict, the San'Shyuum Reformists eventually encountered a saurian species known as the Sangheili. This alien race had developed a religion based on the worship of Forerunner deities independently of the San'Shyuum. However, while the two species shared similar religious beliefs, the Sangheili believed that tampering with the artifacts of their gods was an unforgivable offense. Their first contact soon led to the San'Shyuum-Sangheili War. The war ended with the submission of the Sangheili and the formation of a new empire through the Writ of Union. The Sangheili would take the role as the warriors, with the San'Shyuum acting as their superiors in matters of technology and faith, advising their allies on how best to achieve the Great Journey.
File:H2Aterm-Sesa and GS 3.jpg|thumb|200px|Sesa 'Refumee, the leader of the Heretics with 343 Guilty Spark at his side.
The development of the Covenant religion took place across seven ages; the Age of Abandonment, Ages of Conflict, Ages of Reconciliation|Age of Reconciliation, Ages of Discovery|Age of Discovery, Ages of Conversion|Age of Conversion, Ages of Doubt and the Ages of Reclamation. These ages saw the expansion of the Empire's power and the belief in the Great Journey throughout its new vassal races. In 1342, the Kig-Yar became the first race to be converted as a whole to the Covenant religion (though most were influenced by monetary rewards granted by the San'Shyuum). Next, in 2142, came the Unggoy. The Jiralhanae, in 2492, were the last species to be fully integrated into the Covenant Empire, and thus their religion.
The Covenant religion was not without internal conflicts and heretical movements, as evidenced by several conflicts throughout Covenant history such as the Struggle for Ideological Purity. In the final years of the Covenant Empire's rule, an irreligious splinter group known as the Banished split off from the Covenant out of a lack of commitment to the hegemony's cause. Later, a Heretics|heretic uprising on Threshold gas mine|Threshold, near Installation 04|Alpha Halo, was born as a result of 343 Guilty Spark revealing the truth about the Halos to the artifact retrieval group commander Sesa 'Refumee. An Arbiter, Thel 'Vadamee, was appointed and sent with a strike force to deal with the threat.
The Covenant religion reached its zenith when the Fleet of Particular Justice discovered Installation 04 by accident, chasing the UNSC Pillar of Autumn|UNSC ''Pillar of Autumn'' from Fall of Reach|their victory at Reach. This unexpected discovery led to the immediate presence of the holy city High Charity and its accompanying fleet. However, efforts to ignite the ring were prevented by John-117, who destroyed the ring in order to stop the release of the Flood. This perceived sacrilege ignited widespread anger and grief among the ranks of the Covenant, having come so close to the fulfillment of their Great Journey.
Only a month later, Installation 05 was discovered when the Prophet of Regret|High Prophet of Regret made a slipspace journey to the Coelest system. However, the Covenant was once again denied in their efforts. The Master Chief and a small force of humans from the UNSC In Amber Clad|UNSC ''In Amber Clad'' made their way onto the ring and killed the Prophet in order to stop him from activating it. In response, the fleet glassed the temple from where Regret had been giving a sermon, though the Master Chief escaped. Prophet of Truth|The Prophet of Truth used Regret's death as an excuse to initiate the Changing of the Guard, the first step in his plot to remove the Sangheili from the Covenant. This, and the subsequent orders for the Sangheili to be exterminated, culminated in the Great Schism. The humans from ''In Amber Clad'', in conjunction with a force of Sangheili led by Thel 'Vadamee and Rtas 'Vadumee|Rtas 'Vadum, were also successful in stopping Tartarus in his efforts to activate the ring while the battles of the Schism raged around them. Though Installation 05 was not destroyed in its emergency shutdown, the entire Halo Array was automatically moved to standby status in preparation for firing from Installation 00|The Ark.
The High Prophet of Truth was aware of this fact and left High Charity early, before the UNSC intervened in Installation 05's firing. During the Covenant invasion of Earth, Truth had his fleet excavate The Portal, which would enable him and his fleet to journey towards the Ark. The UNSC along with its newfound allies, the Fleet of Retribution|Sangheili, traveled to the Ark to do battle with the Prophet-allied forces. The humans were successful, destroying the path to the Ark and removing the threat of the Halo Array.
Following the Great Schism and the death of the Prophet of Truth, the Covenantand the organisation of their religioneffectively dissolved. For more than six years, many members of the former Covenant were involved in brutal civil wars and power struggles. Immediately following Truth's death, the San'Shyuum sought to save themselves from the rage of the Sangheili, and so provided the Jiralhanae with new weapons, ships and other tools to aid in their protection. During this period the Prophets, who already had been few in number, largely disappeared, leading to rumors that they had actually finally achieved the Great Journey.Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe, "The Return", ''pages 506-507''
Even amongst the Covenant remnants their belief in the Forerunners as gods was not completely abandoned, but rather the Schism marked a return to more ancient systems of belief. As one Unidentified Sangheili Shipmaster (The Return)|Sangheili Shipmaster believed, "he knew his gods were out there, but he had no idea what they wanted." Members of the Covenant had relied on the Prophets to lead them in spiritual matters. The devout Sangheili, in particular, had not had any need for their own religious leaders for centuries, and now found that few among them had the knowledge or the ability to comprehend the will of the gods. For a people whose sole purpose had been enforcing their gods' will, this was a terrifying prospect.
While the Covenant religion itself was more or less defunct as an institution, worship of the Forerunners persisted into the post-war era in various forms. The Servants of the Abiding Truth, a group of Sangheili fundamentalists, continued to uphold their species' pre-Covenant religious beliefs and took aggressive action against the secular regime spearheaded by Thel 'Vadam. Meanwhile, the Keepers of the One Freedom are a Jiralhanae-led militant cult that continue to seek transcendence through the Great Journey. The Keepers are notable in accepting human converts to their religion, many of whom had already joined the faction by mid-2553.''Halo: Last Light'' Another group, one of many to be self-entitled as Jul 'Mdama's Covenant faction|"the Covenant", led by former Covenant shipmaster Jul 'Mdama, also continued to revere the Forerunners as gods, and sought out the Ur-Didact|Didact on the Shield World Requiem in order to ask for his aid in destroying humanity. His efforts were successful, and the Didact awoke with the goal of Composer|composing humanity. John-117 and the UNSC Infinity|UNSC ''Infinity'' had both arrived at Requiem, however, and managed to stop him. 'Mdama's Covenant was finally defeated on Sanghelios in 2558.
Articles of faith File:H2A Cutscene SanctumHaloView.png|thumb|300px|Alongside the Prophet of Truth and Thel 'Vadamee, the Prophet of Mercy gazes upon Installation 05 while preaching about the Great Journey.
The Forerunners were known to the Covenant as "Great Ones" or "Divine Ones".
The "Great Journey" is the central goal of the Covenant religion. According to the Covenant, the Forerunners initiated the first Great Journey through the use of the seven Halos, or sacred rings, which unleashed a "divine wind" that swept through the galaxy and elevated the Forerunners to godhood. The Covenant seeks to do the same by finding and activating the sacred rings, which would transcend those worthy to the divine beyond, a heavenly paradise they will share with the Forerunners. The non-believers and those unworthy of the journey would be left behind, as punishment for their heresy.
In addition to being their overall goal, the Covenant also employ the term "Great Journey" in a broader sense; as an expression of the path to transcendence, both collectively and individually. For example, a Sangheili warrior's individual "Great Journey" is said to start when they first begin their training.Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe, "The Return", ''page 489''
File:RegretTruthH2A.jpg|thumb|250px|The Prophets of Truth and Regret, with Mercy on the other side, rebuking the future Arbiter over his failure to save the first sacred ring.
The Halo Array|Halos, otherwise referred to as "Sacred Rings" or "Holy Rings"Halo: The Flood, "Priority Broadcast Log/Eleventh Cycle, Third Unit", ''page 365'' (2010 edition) by members of the Covenant, were seven holy artifacts that, when activated, would propel all "worthy" individuals in the galaxy into a heavenly paradise, where they would exist as divine beings. This could only be achieved by the retrieval of the "Activation Index|Sacred Icon", a holy artifact that would activate the rings.
From the inception of the Covenant religion, the Covenant Empire scoured all known star systems within their reach, relentless in finding at least one of these Sacred Rings. The search for the rings spanned over History of the Covenant|seven Ages; the Age of Reclamation was the age in which the Covenant finally came into contact of two Sacred Rings. The first contact was short-lived, as the first Halo was destroyed by a John-117|demon, while the firing of the second was stopped due to Sangheili defectors who teamed up with the UNSC.
In the event that a Holy Ring was to be discovered, a reclamation procedure had to be followed under San'Shyuum leadership. This was known as the "Consecration".Halo: The Flood, "Priority Broadcast Log/Eleventh Cycle, Third Unit", ''pages 366-368'' (2010 edition) The only individual who oversaw such a procedure was the Prophet of Stewardship, though he was unsuccessful due to the first Ring's destruction.
Other components of the Halo Array are referred to by the Covenant:
"Repository of Fate" - Library
"Chamber of Consecration" - Control room
"Silent Cartographer"
There were a few afterlives for the Covenant. The Faithful would proceed to the "One Freedom" while infidels and unbelievers were to be condemned to "Oblivion". Alive unbelievers were considered to be on the "Path to Oblivion". Another known afterlife was the "Circle of Deliverance".
The Covenant are aware of the Forerunner concept of the Mantle, although they appear to misunderstand its true meaning.Halo Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe volume II, ''page 299'' Whereas the Forerunners' Mantle was their responsibility to protect and watch over all life in the galaxy, the Covenant regard the Mantle as their divine right to inherit dominion over the galaxy, namely through following in the footsteps of their gods.
The Flood, or "The Parasite" as referred to by members of the Covenant, are an unholy, virulent species regarded as one of many tests and obstacles that the believers of the Covenant must conquer in order to achieve the Great Journey. According to the Covenant, the Flood were vanquished by the Forerunners long ago, and were purged from existence when the Great Journey commenced. The latter was later revealed to be false when the Flood reappeared on one of the Sacred Rings.
The Governors of Contrition, a radical sect within the Covenant religion, believed the Flood to be Forerunner creations and therefore sacred. Their views were not widely accepted, however.
Some of the Banished believe the Parasite was propaganda and lies made by the Prophets, but Atriox was aware that the parasite may exist in the Ark. Voridus, one of the Jiralhanae High Commanders who did not believe in the Parasite's existence, was responsible for starting the second Flood outbreak on the Ark after breaking through the containment shield around the ruins of High Charity.
The Covenant refer to all Forerunner AIs as "Oracles". They believe these constructs to hold holy knowledge regarding the Great Journey, and hold their words as sacred truths. Mendicant Bias and the Monitors are all regarded as oracles by the Covenant.
The "Order of Devotion" was a concept surrounding the species of the Covenant and their roles. The San'Shyuum were to "shepherd" while the Jiralhanae were to fight.
File:H2A terminal TH Arbiter 1.jpg|thumb|250px|An Arbiter being blessed by a Hierarchs|Prophet.
Arbiter is a traditional and religious title held by a Sangheili in times of great distress and pressure. An Arbiter would only be required to undertake tasks given out by the High Prophets and would be expected to sacrifice their life for the advancement of the Covenant and achievement of the Great Journey. The title of Arbiter was once given to the commander of the Sangheili military, and was regarded as a great honor; after the heresy of Arbiter Fal 'Chavamee, however, the title was appointed to those had disgraced themselves and would only be redeemed through death.
File:H2A Terminals - Jai vs Thel.jpg|thumb|250px|Thel 'Vadamee in combat with Jai-006|a demon. The Covenant refer to the UNSC's SPARTANs as "demons," and regard them with a mixture of contempt and superstitious fear.Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, ''page 243'' ("Voro strained to isolate the human word for demons from their objectionable speech... ''Spartans''".)Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, ''page 349'' ("They would take no chances with these human demons, these 'Spartans' ".)Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, ''page 372'' ("The Fleet Master Elite snarled at Kurt, and the translation filtered through his helmet's speaker: 'One last fight, demon' ".) Low-ranking client races such as the Unggoy and Kig-Yar would frequently panic upon engaging Spartans, their numbers and advanced technology providing little benefit in a protracted fight. The same would prove true of the San'Shyuum Hierarchs, despising demons for their blasphemous defiance of the Great Journey, yet fearful of their lives in the presence of one. Mgalekgolo and Yanme'e were unaffected by the presence of a SPARTAN, as their drastically different nervous systems left them incapable of feeling fear. Sangheili held a more spiteful, begrudging opinion of demons, incredulous that unworthy "vermin" could be the cause of so much havoc. Often, Sangheili or Jiralhanae would disregard tactics and hurl themselves at demons, fighting for the honor of the kill. However such impromptu duels usually resulted in the deaths of the challengers, not the demons. However, after the Great Schism a few Sangheili came to admire the prowess and courage of these warriors, though such views remained rare. Orbital Drop Shock Troopers have been referred to as "imps" in much the same way. The term has also been applied to the renegade Arbiter Fal 'Chavamee.Halo Legends, ''The Duel'', (Unnamed Unggoy: ''"He's the Demon!"'')
It is a common superstition among the Sangheili that SPARTANs are reanimated soldiers killed in battle, brought back to life through artificial means to fight again.Halo: Glasslands
Amongst the Covenant, John-117, otherwise known as the Master Chief, the SPARTANs' ''de facto'' commander gained the title of ''The'' Demon from the Covenant, setting him aside from the rest of the SPARTANs. This came from his destruction of Installation 04. According to Arbiter Thel 'Vadam, this was done as an insult but also with a modicum of respect, showing that even the Covenant, while fearing and insulting their most hated enemy, also had a level of respect for him and his skills as well.
Even after the Covenant War's conclusion, the nickname "demon" remains emblazoned on the SPARTAN operatives, spoken by even those who don't believe in religion. Atriox, leader of the Banished, condescendingly referred to the members of Red Team as "little demons" after he single-handedly defeated Douglas-042, forcing Alice-130 and Jerome-092 to retreat, though without the religious undertone.Halo Wars 2, campaign level, ''The Signal'' Irreligious Sangheili Mercenary|Sangheili mercenaries in the Banished also use the term "demon" in a colloquial way to describe them.
The "Heresy of the Chosen" is a subversive belief within the Covenant that Humanity were the true successors to the Forerunners, explaining why humanity had a special relationship with Forerunner technology. Veta Lopis theorized that this belief came about due to the seemingly paradoxical fact that humanity had access to Forerunner technology that the Covenant lacked, including and especially for the most powerful of Forerunner technology.
Known Scriptures The San'Shyuum kept written Psalms which expressed the Covenant's faith on the Forerunners and the Great Journey. Only the Psalms listed by the Minister of Discovery are known.Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe, ''Wages of Sin''
Psalm of the Journey Psalm of Primacy Psalm of Teaching Psalm of Sorrow
Members of the religion
The Sangheili were once the most devout believers in the San'Shyuum's vision. However, the events at Installation 05 and the Sangheili's replacement by the Jiralhanae muddied the former's belief in the San'Shyuum and in the Great Journey. After the betrayal of the Sangheili was made known, the Sangheili became enraged and opposed the leadership of the Hierarchs|High Prophets, subsequently leading to the Great Schism. By 2559, some Sangheili continue to revere the Forerunners as gods, though they do not consider the San'Shyuum to be the gods' messengers.Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe, ''The Return'' The Servants of Abiding Truth, an ancient Sangheili fundamentalist order, continues to engage in worship of the Forerunners.
The latest addition to the Covenant Hegemony, the Jiralhanae at the time of their inception were largely disorganized and were essentially barbarians without any known belief system. The San'Shyuum sought to improve the species by associating them closely with the hierarchy figures, enabling them to embrace the Covenant religion with ease. For the most part, the Jiralhanae were blindly loyal to the San'Shyuum, obeying every command.
Many Unggoy care little for religion, as they were forced into the Covenant, but those that do stayed loyal to the San'Shyuum during the Great Schism.
As a species, their opinions may be split; while many of the Unggoy that Dadab attempts to sermon to are too unintelligent to give any thought to religious matters, the fact that at least some Unggoy are shown to hold mass prayer sessions lasting up to an hour or more as well as Dadab's adopted role of a preacher in itself is testament to the fact that a large number of Unggoy are active believers.
The Kig-Yar served more as hired mercenaries than true believers, but still remained with the San'Shyuum during the Great Schism. Their religious beliefs are unknown, but their loyalty to the San'Shyuum is unquestionable, though this is more likely because they wished to be on the side of the more powerful faction. This choice later proved to be an unwise decision.
Likewise, Yanme'e and Lekgolo seem to feel no need for religion in their societies, but continued to follow the Prophets. As a result of their hive-minded lifestyle, the Yanme'e obeyed the San'Shyuum without thought or question. Individual beliefs may have played a part in the Lekgolo's decision, but they may have sided with the Prophets for the same reason as the Kig-Yar, if not for beliefs. At least some Lekgolo have sided with the Sangheili in their opposition, however.
As artificial sentient nanomechanical organisms, Huragok were created by the Forerunners. They have no interest in religion, preferring to focus their attentions onto the technology they are responsible for. Even prior to the Great Schism, Huragok seemed to remain neutral in any fights, one even going as far as to create a gift symbolizing peace for the humans and helping the humans escape. Some Yonhet such as Axl have continued to display strong devotion to the Great Journey even after the fall of the Covenant Empire.
Trivia On Installation 00, a Terminal (Halo 3)|Terminal left behind by the Forerunners uses "Great Journey" as a translation for the exile undertaken by the surviving Forerunners after the firing of the Halo Array.Halo 3, ''Terminal (Halo 3)|Terminal 7 Through similar records on other Forerunner installations, the Covenant may have learned of the name and used it to apply to their religion in yet another case of misinterpretation. Another possible explanation for the beginning of the Covenant belief in the Great Journey is that, as seen in ''Promises to Keep'', the Forerunners kept the San'Shyuum on Installation 00|the Ark for a few years before reintroducing them to their homeworld. During this time, some San'Shyuum were curious enough to approach the Forerunners who were aware that their discussions might be overheard, but did not care enough to stop it. A major topic of discussion was their planned Great Journey wherein the Forerunners would leave the galaxy forever. The fall of the Covenant period can perhaps be understood as somewhat being akin the wikipedia:Protestant Reformation|Protestant Reformation in Western Christianity. A loss of faith in a society's religious leaders did not lead to a complete abandonment of said religion's deities. Rather it led to a period of intense conflict as various factions began to develop their own new interpretations of ancient beliefs. Although the Sangheili no longer believed in the Prophets as the messengers of the gods or in the Great Journey as they had described it, many still believed in their gods. The superstition that "Demons" are actually dead soldiers reanimated by artificial means is reminiscent of the marathongame:Battleroid|battleroids, including the marathongame:Mjolnir Recon number 54|player character from the ''Marathon'' trilogy. Battleroids are brought back from the dead to serve as physically and technologically augmented supersoldiers.
Gallery
File:H5G-Forerunner worship mural.png|A mural inside the Elder Council Chamber on Sanghelios representing the Covenant's worship of the Forerunners. File:H5G-Dreadnought worship mural.png|Another mural representing the Covenant's worship of the Forerunner Dreadnought. File:H5G-Dreadnoght mural 2.png|Another mural featuring the Dreadnought.
Sources
Category:The Covenant Category:Ideology Category:Religion
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File:H3 Truth rings.jpg|thumb|370px|The High Prophet of Truth activates the Halo Rings from Installation 00|the Ark.
The Covenant religion, based upon the worship of the ancient race of beings known as the Forerunners. The Covenant commonly referred to the religion and its teachings as the Path.Halo: Broken Circle, ''page 304''
Background File:H5Concept -The Path.jpg|thumb|150px|A symbol associated with the Path to the Great Journey. According to the Covenant religion, the Forerunners, a race of enlightened beings regarded as nearly omniscient and all-powerful, discovered a way to transcend the physical world and became divine gods by activating the Halo Array|Halos, or "Sacred Rings" as referred to by members of the Covenant.''Halo 2'', cinematics The Halos supposedly uplifted the Forerunners into Technological Achievement Tiers|transsentience, but left all lesser, unworthy races behind. The Covenant believed themselves to be the chosen inheritors of the Forerunners, and sought to reclaim the "gifts" they left behind, in most cases lost technology. Their ultimate goal was to locate and activate the Halo installations. In doing so, it was believed that all faithful adherents to the Covenant religion would be uplifted as the Forerunners were, following them on a Great Journey resulting in godhood. This belief was shared, with varying degrees of sincerity, amongst all the Covenant's client races.
History
What would eventually become the Covenant religion was first practiced on Janjur Qom, the San'Shyuum homeworld. Janjur Qom was home to two influential factions, the Stoics and the Reformists. Although both factions believed in the prophecy of ascendancy and the holiness of artifacts left behind by their gods, they held different views on how the religion should be practiced; the Reformists believed that the religion could spread throughout the galaxy through travel in their lords' Forerunner Dreadnought|shipa Forerunner Keyship that had reseeded Janjur Qom with San'Shyuum millennia earlier, unbeknownst to the populacebut the Stoics viewed their actions as desecrating the memory of the Forerunners. This initiated the San'Shyuum Schism, a conflict which resulted in the defeat of the Stoics. The Reformists used the Keyship to leave Janjur Qom, traveling through the stars in search of more Forerunner Relics.
While the exact date remains unrecorded, the Ages of Conflict spanned thousands of years and were a significant period in the spreading of what started out as solely the San'Shyuum's Faith (and by extension, their empire). In the First Age of Conflict, the San'Shyuum Reformists eventually encountered a saurian species known as the Sangheili. This alien race had developed a religion based on the worship of Forerunner deities independently of the San'Shyuum. However, while the two species shared similar religious beliefs, the Sangheili believed that tampering with the artifacts of their gods was an unforgivable offense. Their first contact soon led to the San'Shyuum-Sangheili War. The war ended with the submission of the Sangheili and the formation of a new empire through the Writ of Union. The Sangheili would take the role as the warriors, with the San'Shyuum acting as their superiors in matters of technology and faith, advising their allies on how best to achieve the Great Journey.
File:H2Aterm-Sesa and GS 3.jpg|thumb|200px|Sesa 'Refumee, the leader of the Heretics with 343 Guilty Spark at his side.
The development of the Covenant religion took place across seven ages; the Age of Abandonment, Ages of Conflict, Ages of Reconciliation|Age of Reconciliation, Ages of Discovery|Age of Discovery, Ages of Conversion|Age of Conversion, Ages of Doubt and the Ages of Reclamation. These ages saw the expansion of the Empire's power and the belief in the Great Journey throughout its new vassal races. In 1342, the Kig-Yar became the first race to be converted as a whole to the Covenant religion (though most were influenced by monetary rewards granted by the San'Shyuum). Next, in 2142, came the Unggoy. The Jiralhanae, in 2492, were the last species to be fully integrated into the Covenant Empire, and thus their religion.
The Covenant religion was not without internal conflicts and heretical movements, as evidenced by several conflicts throughout Covenant history such as the Struggle for Ideological Purity. In the final years of the Covenant Empire's rule, an irreligious splinter group known as the Banished split off from the Covenant out of a lack of commitment to the hegemony's cause. Later, a Heretics|heretic uprising on Threshold gas mine|Threshold, near Installation 04|Alpha Halo, was born as a result of 343 Guilty Spark revealing the truth about the Halos to the artifact retrieval group commander Sesa 'Refumee. An Arbiter, Thel 'Vadamee, was appointed and sent with a strike force to deal with the threat.
The Covenant religion reached its zenith when the Fleet of Particular Justice discovered Installation 04 by accident, chasing the UNSC Pillar of Autumn|UNSC ''Pillar of Autumn'' from Fall of Reach|their victory at Reach. This unexpected discovery led to the immediate presence of the holy city High Charity and its accompanying fleet. However, efforts to ignite the ring were prevented by John-117, who destroyed the ring in order to stop the release of the Flood. This perceived sacrilege ignited widespread anger and grief among the ranks of the Covenant, having come so close to the fulfillment of their Great Journey.
Only a month later, Installation 05 was discovered when the Prophet of Regret|High Prophet of Regret made a slipspace journey to the Coelest system. However, the Covenant was once again denied in their efforts. The Master Chief and a small force of humans from the UNSC In Amber Clad|UNSC ''In Amber Clad'' made their way onto the ring and killed the Prophet in order to stop him from activating it. In response, the fleet glassed the temple from where Regret had been giving a sermon, though the Master Chief escaped. Prophet of Truth|The Prophet of Truth used Regret's death as an excuse to initiate the Changing of the Guard, the first step in his plot to remove the Sangheili from the Covenant. This, and the subsequent orders for the Sangheili to be exterminated, culminated in the Great Schism. The humans from ''In Amber Clad'', in conjunction with a force of Sangheili led by Thel 'Vadamee and Rtas 'Vadumee|Rtas 'Vadum, were also successful in stopping Tartarus in his efforts to activate the ring while the battles of the Schism raged around them. Though Installation 05 was not destroyed in its emergency shutdown, the entire Halo Array was automatically moved to standby status in preparation for firing from Installation 00|The Ark.
The High Prophet of Truth was aware of this fact and left High Charity early, before the UNSC intervened in Installation 05's firing. During the Covenant invasion of Earth, Truth had his fleet excavate The Portal, which would enable him and his fleet to journey towards the Ark. The UNSC along with its newfound allies, the Fleet of Retribution|Sangheili, traveled to the Ark to do battle with the Prophet-allied forces. The humans were successful, destroying the path to the Ark and removing the threat of the Halo Array.
Following the Great Schism and the death of the Prophet of Truth, the Covenantand the organisation of their religioneffectively dissolved. For more than six years, many members of the former Covenant were involved in brutal civil wars and power struggles. Immediately following Truth's death, the San'Shyuum sought to save themselves from the rage of the Sangheili, and so provided the Jiralhanae with new weapons, ships and other tools to aid in their protection. During this period the Prophets, who already had been few in number, largely disappeared, leading to rumors that they had actually finally achieved the Great Journey.Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe, "The Return", ''pages 506-507''
Even amongst the Covenant remnants their belief in the Forerunners as gods was not completely abandoned, but rather the Schism marked a return to more ancient systems of belief. As one Unidentified Sangheili Shipmaster (The Return)|Sangheili Shipmaster believed, "he knew his gods were out there, but he had no idea what they wanted." Members of the Covenant had relied on the Prophets to lead them in spiritual matters. The devout Sangheili, in particular, had not had any need for their own religious leaders for centuries, and now found that few among them had the knowledge or the ability to comprehend the will of the gods. For a people whose sole purpose had been enforcing their gods' will, this was a terrifying prospect.
While the Covenant religion itself was more or less defunct as an institution, worship of the Forerunners persisted into the post-war era in various forms. The Servants of the Abiding Truth, a group of Sangheili fundamentalists, continued to uphold their species' pre-Covenant religious beliefs and took aggressive action against the secular regime spearheaded by Thel 'Vadam. Meanwhile, the Keepers of the One Freedom are a Jiralhanae-led militant cult that continue to seek transcendence through the Great Journey. The Keepers are notable in accepting human converts to their religion, many of whom had already joined the faction by mid-2553.''Halo: Last Light'' Another group, one of many to be self-entitled as Jul 'Mdama's Covenant faction|"the Covenant", led by former Covenant shipmaster Jul 'Mdama, also continued to revere the Forerunners as gods, and sought out the Ur-Didact|Didact on the Shield World Requiem in order to ask for his aid in destroying humanity. His efforts were successful, and the Didact awoke with the goal of Composer|composing humanity. John-117 and the UNSC Infinity|UNSC ''Infinity'' had both arrived at Requiem, however, and managed to stop him. 'Mdama's Covenant was finally defeated on Sanghelios in 2558.
Articles of faith File:H2A Cutscene SanctumHaloView.png|thumb|300px|Alongside the Prophet of Truth and Thel 'Vadamee, the Prophet of Mercy gazes upon Installation 05 while preaching about the Great Journey.
The Forerunners were known to the Covenant as "Great Ones" or "Divine Ones".
The "Great Journey" is the central goal of the Covenant religion. According to the Covenant, the Forerunners initiated the first Great Journey through the use of the seven Halos, or sacred rings, which unleashed a "divine wind" that swept through the galaxy and elevated the Forerunners to godhood. The Covenant seeks to do the same by finding and activating the sacred rings, which would transcend those worthy to the divine beyond, a heavenly paradise they will share with the Forerunners. The non-believers and those unworthy of the journey would be left behind, as punishment for their heresy.
In addition to being their overall goal, the Covenant also employ the term "Great Journey" in a broader sense; as an expression of the path to transcendence, both collectively and individually. For example, a Sangheili warrior's individual "Great Journey" is said to start when they first begin their training.Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe, "The Return", ''page 489''
File:RegretTruthH2A.jpg|thumb|250px|The Prophets of Truth and Regret, with Mercy on the other side, rebuking the future Arbiter over his failure to save the first sacred ring.
The Halo Array|Halos, otherwise referred to as "Sacred Rings" or "Holy Rings"Halo: The Flood, "Priority Broadcast Log/Eleventh Cycle, Third Unit", ''page 365'' (2010 edition) by members of the Covenant, were seven holy artifacts that, when activated, would propel all "worthy" individuals in the galaxy into a heavenly paradise, where they would exist as divine beings. This could only be achieved by the retrieval of the "Activation Index|Sacred Icon", a holy artifact that would activate the rings.
From the inception of the Covenant religion, the Covenant Empire scoured all known star systems within their reach, relentless in finding at least one of these Sacred Rings. The search for the rings spanned over History of the Covenant|seven Ages; the Age of Reclamation was the age in which the Covenant finally came into contact of two Sacred Rings. The first contact was short-lived, as the first Halo was destroyed by a John-117|demon, while the firing of the second was stopped due to Sangheili defectors who teamed up with the UNSC.
In the event that a Holy Ring was to be discovered, a reclamation procedure had to be followed under San'Shyuum leadership. This was known as the "Consecration".Halo: The Flood, "Priority Broadcast Log/Eleventh Cycle, Third Unit", ''pages 366-368'' (2010 edition) The only individual who oversaw such a procedure was the Prophet of Stewardship, though he was unsuccessful due to the first Ring's destruction.
Other components of the Halo Array are referred to by the Covenant:
"Repository of Fate" - Library
"Chamber of Consecration" - Control room
"Silent Cartographer"
There were a few afterlives for the Covenant. The Faithful would proceed to the "One Freedom" while infidels and unbelievers were to be condemned to "Oblivion". Alive unbelievers were considered to be on the "Path to Oblivion". Another known afterlife was the "Circle of Deliverance".
The Covenant are aware of the Forerunner concept of the Mantle, although they appear to misunderstand its true meaning.Halo Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe volume II, ''page 299'' Whereas the Forerunners' Mantle was their responsibility to protect and watch over all life in the galaxy, the Covenant regard the Mantle as their divine right to inherit dominion over the galaxy, namely through following in the footsteps of their gods.
The Flood, or "The Parasite" as referred to by members of the Covenant, are an unholy, virulent species regarded as one of many tests and obstacles that the believers of the Covenant must conquer in order to achieve the Great Journey. According to the Covenant, the Flood were vanquished by the Forerunners long ago, and were purged from existence when the Great Journey commenced. The latter was later revealed to be false when the Flood reappeared on one of the Sacred Rings.
The Governors of Contrition, a radical sect within the Covenant religion, believed the Flood to be Forerunner creations and therefore sacred. Their views were not widely accepted, however.
Some of the Banished believe the Parasite was propaganda and lies made by the Prophets, but Atriox was aware that the parasite may exist in the Ark. Voridus, one of the Jiralhanae High Commanders who did not believe in the Parasite's existence, was responsible for starting the second Flood outbreak on the Ark after breaking through the containment shield around the ruins of High Charity.
The Covenant refer to all Forerunner AIs as "Oracles". They believe these constructs to hold holy knowledge regarding the Great Journey, and hold their words as sacred truths. Mendicant Bias and the Monitors are all regarded as oracles by the Covenant.
The "Order of Devotion" was a concept surrounding the species of the Covenant and their roles. The San'Shyuum were to "shepherd" while the Jiralhanae were to fight.
File:H2A terminal TH Arbiter 1.jpg|thumb|250px|An Arbiter being blessed by a Hierarchs|Prophet.
Arbiter is a traditional and religious title held by a Sangheili in times of great distress and pressure. An Arbiter would only be required to undertake tasks given out by the High Prophets and would be expected to sacrifice their life for the advancement of the Covenant and achievement of the Great Journey. The title of Arbiter was once given to the commander of the Sangheili military, and was regarded as a great honor; after the heresy of Arbiter Fal 'Chavamee, however, the title was appointed to those had disgraced themselves and would only be redeemed through death.
File:H2A Terminals - Jai vs Thel.jpg|thumb|250px|Thel 'Vadamee in combat with Jai-006|a demon. The Covenant refer to the UNSC's SPARTANs as "demons," and regard them with a mixture of contempt and superstitious fear.Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, ''page 243'' ("Voro strained to isolate the human word for demons from their objectionable speech... ''Spartans''".)Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, ''page 349'' ("They would take no chances with these human demons, these 'Spartans' ".)Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, ''page 372'' ("The Fleet Master Elite snarled at Kurt, and the translation filtered through his helmet's speaker: 'One last fight, demon' ".) Low-ranking client races such as the Unggoy and Kig-Yar would frequently panic upon engaging Spartans, their numbers and advanced technology providing little benefit in a protracted fight. The same would prove true of the San'Shyuum Hierarchs, despising demons for their blasphemous defiance of the Great Journey, yet fearful of their lives in the presence of one. Mgalekgolo and Yanme'e were unaffected by the presence of a SPARTAN, as their drastically different nervous systems left them incapable of feeling fear. Sangheili held a more spiteful, begrudging opinion of demons, incredulous that unworthy "vermin" could be the cause of so much havoc. Often, Sangheili or Jiralhanae would disregard tactics and hurl themselves at demons, fighting for the honor of the kill. However such impromptu duels usually resulted in the deaths of the challengers, not the demons. However, after the Great Schism a few Sangheili came to admire the prowess and courage of these warriors, though such views remained rare. Orbital Drop Shock Troopers have been referred to as "imps" in much the same way. The term has also been applied to the renegade Arbiter Fal 'Chavamee.Halo Legends, ''The Duel'', (Unnamed Unggoy: ''"He's the Demon!"'')
It is a common superstition among the Sangheili that SPARTANs are reanimated soldiers killed in battle, brought back to life through artificial means to fight again.Halo: Glasslands
Amongst the Covenant, John-117, otherwise known as the Master Chief, the SPARTANs' ''de facto'' commander gained the title of ''The'' Demon from the Covenant, setting him aside from the rest of the SPARTANs. This came from his destruction of Installation 04. According to Arbiter Thel 'Vadam, this was done as an insult but also with a modicum of respect, showing that even the Covenant, while fearing and insulting their most hated enemy, also had a level of respect for him and his skills as well.
Even after the Covenant War's conclusion, the nickname "demon" remains emblazoned on the SPARTAN operatives, spoken by even those who don't believe in religion. Atriox, leader of the Banished, condescendingly referred to the members of Red Team as "little demons" after he single-handedly defeated Douglas-042, forcing Alice-130 and Jerome-092 to retreat, though without the religious undertone.Halo Wars 2, campaign level, ''The Signal'' Irreligious Sangheili Mercenary|Sangheili mercenaries in the Banished also use the term "demon" in a colloquial way to describe them.
The "Heresy of the Chosen" is a subversive belief within the Covenant that Humanity were the true successors to the Forerunners, explaining why humanity had a special relationship with Forerunner technology. Veta Lopis theorized that this belief came about due to the seemingly paradoxical fact that humanity had access to Forerunner technology that the Covenant lacked, including and especially for the most powerful of Forerunner technology.
Known Scriptures The San'Shyuum kept written Psalms which expressed the Covenant's faith on the Forerunners and the Great Journey. Only the Psalms listed by the Minister of Discovery are known.Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe, ''Wages of Sin''
Psalm of the Journey Psalm of Primacy Psalm of Teaching Psalm of Sorrow
Members of the religion
The Sangheili were once the most devout believers in the San'Shyuum's vision. However, the events at Installation 05 and the Sangheili's replacement by the Jiralhanae muddied the former's belief in the San'Shyuum and in the Great Journey. After the betrayal of the Sangheili was made known, the Sangheili became enraged and opposed the leadership of the Hierarchs|High Prophets, subsequently leading to the Great Schism. By 2559, some Sangheili continue to revere the Forerunners as gods, though they do not consider the San'Shyuum to be the gods' messengers.Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe, ''The Return'' The Servants of Abiding Truth, an ancient Sangheili fundamentalist order, continues to engage in worship of the Forerunners.
The latest addition to the Covenant Hegemony, the Jiralhanae at the time of their inception were largely disorganized and were essentially barbarians without any known belief system. The San'Shyuum sought to improve the species by associating them closely with the hierarchy figures, enabling them to embrace the Covenant religion with ease. For the most part, the Jiralhanae were blindly loyal to the San'Shyuum, obeying every command.
Many Unggoy care little for religion, as they were forced into the Covenant, but those that do stayed loyal to the San'Shyuum during the Great Schism.
As a species, their opinions may be split; while many of the Unggoy that Dadab attempts to sermon to are too unintelligent to give any thought to religious matters, the fact that at least some Unggoy are shown to hold mass prayer sessions lasting up to an hour or more as well as Dadab's adopted role of a preacher in itself is testament to the fact that a large number of Unggoy are active believers.
The Kig-Yar served more as hired mercenaries than true believers, but still remained with the San'Shyuum during the Great Schism. Their religious beliefs are unknown, but their loyalty to the San'Shyuum is unquestionable, though this is more likely because they wished to be on the side of the more powerful faction. This choice later proved to be an unwise decision.
Likewise, Yanme'e and Lekgolo seem to feel no need for religion in their societies, but continued to follow the Prophets. As a result of their hive-minded lifestyle, the Yanme'e obeyed the San'Shyuum without thought or question. Individual beliefs may have played a part in the Lekgolo's decision, but they may have sided with the Prophets for the same reason as the Kig-Yar, if not for beliefs. At least some Lekgolo have sided with the Sangheili in their opposition, however.
As artificial sentient nanomechanical organisms, Huragok were created by the Forerunners. They have no interest in religion, preferring to focus their attentions onto the technology they are responsible for. Even prior to the Great Schism, Huragok seemed to remain neutral in any fights, one even going as far as to create a gift symbolizing peace for the humans and helping the humans escape. Some Yonhet such as Axl have continued to display strong devotion to the Great Journey even after the fall of the Covenant Empire.
Trivia On Installation 00, a Terminal (Halo 3)|Terminal left behind by the Forerunners uses "Great Journey" as a translation for the exile undertaken by the surviving Forerunners after the firing of the Halo Array.Halo 3, ''Terminal (Halo 3)|Terminal 7 Through similar records on other Forerunner installations, the Covenant may have learned of the name and used it to apply to their religion in yet another case of misinterpretation. Another possible explanation for the beginning of the Covenant belief in the Great Journey is that, as seen in ''Promises to Keep'', the Forerunners kept the San'Shyuum on Installation 00|the Ark for a few years before reintroducing them to their homeworld. During this time, some San'Shyuum were curious enough to approach the Forerunners who were aware that their discussions might be overheard, but did not care enough to stop it. A major topic of discussion was their planned Great Journey wherein the Forerunners would leave the galaxy forever. The fall of the Covenant period can perhaps be understood as somewhat being akin the wikipedia:Protestant Reformation|Protestant Reformation in Western Christianity. A loss of faith in a society's religious leaders did not lead to a complete abandonment of said religion's deities. Rather it led to a period of intense conflict as various factions began to develop their own new interpretations of ancient beliefs. Although the Sangheili no longer believed in the Prophets as the messengers of the gods or in the Great Journey as they had described it, many still believed in their gods. The superstition that "Demons" are actually dead soldiers reanimated by artificial means is reminiscent of the marathongame:Battleroid|battleroids, including the marathongame:Mjolnir Recon number 54|player character from the ''Marathon'' trilogy. Battleroids are brought back from the dead to serve as physically and technologically augmented supersoldiers.
Gallery
File:H5G-Forerunner worship mural.png|A mural inside the Elder Council Chamber on Sanghelios representing the Covenant's worship of the Forerunners. File:H5G-Dreadnought worship mural.png|Another mural representing the Covenant's worship of the Forerunner Dreadnought. File:H5G-Dreadnoght mural 2.png|Another mural featuring the Dreadnought.
Sources
Category:The Covenant Category:Ideology Category:Religion
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File:H4 SO Jul'Mdama with Elites.jpg|thumb|300px|Jul 'Mdama's Covenant, formerly one of the largest Covenant remnants.
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Covenant remnants are splinter factions originating from the former Covenant body and remain active after the dissolution of the Covenant, though no single group uses the specific term "Covenant remnant" to refer to themselves. These factions vary greatly in ethos and motives; while some consider themselves as upholding the legacy of the Covenant as it used to be, others have been shown to pursue more extensive reforms or their own specific agendas. Although many former Covenant members discarded the Covenant religion|Prophets' religion and the belief in the "Great Journey" altogether in the wake of the revelation of the truth about the Halo Array|Halos, many Sangheili in particular have reverted to their species' ancient ways of worshiping the Forerunners and their technology, while others continue to maintain their belief in the "Great Journey" while simultaneously renouncing the Hierarchs|Prophets as false. Thus, the various Covenant remnant factions range from pragmatic mercenaries to fanatical religious cultists.
Unlike the Covenant at its height, the general scarcity of resources has forced many of the remnant factions to use whatever materials they can find. Intact capital ship|capital warships are considered coveted assets among the splinter factions, as many ships were destroyed in both the Great Schism and the Human-Covenant War as well as a significant portion of the Covenant's infrastructure and shipyards remaining inactive following the wars. Additionally, with the majority of the Huragok mysteriously disappearing, many former Covenant no longer possess the capacity to repair and maintain most of their equipment. Still, select Sangheili armories have taken over the production of materiel formerly manufactured within High Charity and have even developed new assets such as the Kelos'vaarda-pattern storm rifle|T-55 storm rifle. (defunct)''Halo 4: Official Game Guide (Collector's Edition)'', ''page 263'' Despite this, many remnant groups are forced to employ obsolete or second-hand military equipment and weaponry in the absence of the Covenant's extensive supply chain. On the other hand, black marketsmany of them operated by Kig-Yar profiteering from the Covenant's end, and others by Yonhetwere flooded with former Covenant materiel after the war. Because of their limited resources, some Covenant groups have resorted to terrorism to achieve their ends following the war. While previously considered a major taboo among the Sangheili, some groups are also known to utilize human weaponry, namely nuclear weapons,''Spartan Ops'', S1/Departure|S1E1 ''Departure'' and have even recruited humans into their ranks.
History
While select remnant factions, such as the Ussans or the Banished, were already active before the Covenant's fall, many of the Covenant remnants can trace their origins to the aftermath of the Great Schism and Battle of the Citadel|the defeat of the Covenant. After the Hierarchs replaced the Sangheili with the Jiralhanae and ordered the genocide of the former, the Sangheili became Covenant separatists|separatists and rebelled against the San'Shyuum-led main body of the Covenant. Many of the Sangheili-led groups within the separatists that emerged from the conflict would continue to regard themselves as the "true" Covenant, some noting that the Sangheili had "kicked out" the San'Shyuum. Amidst the turmoil of the Great Schism, all groups of Sangheili were called to their base world Joyous Exultation under the leadership of Imperial Admiral Xytan 'Jar Wattinree, who announced the treachery of the Prophets and proposed the creation of a Joyous Exultation Covenant|new, Sangheili-led Covenant. After Wattinree and the forces gathered at Joyous Exultation were killed by a NOVA bomb, the bulk of the Sangheili rallied behind Arbiter Thel 'Vadam and Shipmaster Rtas 'Vadum. This group, initially centered around the Fleet of Retribution, would later come to call themselves the Swords of Sanghelios.
Many Unggoy, Mgalekgolo, Yanme'e and Kig-Yar remained within either the Jiralhanae's or the Sangheili's respective command hierarchies and continued to serve their masters throughout the Great Schism.
After the death of the High Prophet of Truth and many of the Prophets at the hands of the Sangheili, the remaining San'Shyuum went into hiding, leaving a power vacuum within the remains of the Covenant. With their enemies defeated, the Sangheili-led separatists no longer had a common goal to unify them. Various high-ranked members of the fallen hegemony seized control of as many military assets as they could; many split off and became independent warlords commanding their own factions, some of them claiming to be legitimate successors to the Covenant. Others, including many Sangheili kaidons, hoarded ships and weapons for their own purposes while avoiding involvement in larger conflicts.
Humanity was also entangled in the Covenant remnants' post-war power dynamics. Conducting its own operations unknown to the rest of the UNSC, the Office of Naval Intelligence armed Sangheili dissidents of the Servants of the Abiding Truth and even covertly attacked their allied Sangheili, the Swords of Sanghelios, to maintain the balance of power between the two factions. ONI was also indirectly responsible for the formation of one of the most prominent post-war factions self proclaiming to be a new "Covenant", led by the Sangheili Jul 'Mdama. After escaping ONI detainment on the shield world-based ONI research facility Trevelyan, 'Mdama learned of Raia|his wife's death during the Blooding Years and vowed revenge on the humans due to their involvement in his species' affairs. 'Mdama, assisted by Sangheili from a remote colony planet called Hesduros, formed Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|a new "Covenant" and eventually traveled to the Forerunner world Requiem and wake the "living god" known as Ur-Didact|the Didact to assist their smaller faction in their ambitious goal of eradicating humanity.
Covenant remnants hostile to humanity have been informally referred to as "Covies" by the United Nations Space Command,''Spartan Ops'' S1/Departure|S1E1 ''Departure'' "The Covies...they believe this is the home of one of their gods." despite the various remnants existing as entirely different organizations than the original Covenant empire.
The greater Sangheili-Jiralhanae war|Sangheili-Jiralhanae feud continued in the background for years in the wake of the Great Schism, taking its toll on both species. In 2553, Tem'Bhetek's faction|a faction led by Prelate Tem'Bhetek and Minister of Preparation Boru'a'Neem and their Jiralhanae forces sought to destroy Sanghelios and all life in its system using a Prototype Halo installation. This plan was foiled by the crew of the ''Shadow of Intent'', resulting in the dissolution of the faction. After discovering that he had been fooled by Preparation, the Prelate sacrificed himself to destroy the installation, ensuring the end of the threat it posed. The conflict between the Sangheili and Jiralhanae began to intensify as the years passed and the later's resources began to dwindle. This prompted the Jiralhanae to raid Sangheili-held territories for foodstuffs and other supplies, as they were unable of obtaining the resources themselves due to their disorganized and barbaric nature.
Defying the tenuous Treaty of 2552|peace between humanity and the Swords of Sanghelios, representing the majority of the Sangheili, a few newly formed Sangheili-led factionsmainly religious cultistsbegan to oppose the UNSC after the end of the war in smaller skirmishes. In 2554, the planet of Draetheus V was Battle of Draetheus V|attacked by Merg Vol's Covenant. This group was eventually stopped by UNSC forces and Merg Vol was executed by Spartan Operations|Spartan Sarah Palmer. In 2557, Jul 'Mdama's Covenant Battle of Requiem|engaged UNSC forces, including their flagship , at Requiem. During these events, Ur-Didact|the Didact was awakened and soon joined forces with Jul 'Mdama's Covenant, although he was eventually New Phoenix Incident|defeated by SPARTAN-II program|Spartan John-117 over Earth, and shortly after in the Composer's Forge. After the Didact's apparent death, control over his mechanical Promethean armies passed on to 'Mdama. Six months later, the UNSC again contested the occupying Covenant forces in the Requiem Campaign, ending in the shield world's destruction at the hands of 'Mdama.
Only weeks after the destruction of Requiem, Vata 'Gajat's mercenary group|a mercanary organization that splintered off of 'Mdama's Covenant was hired by the human insurrectionist group New Colonial Alliance to Battle of Ealen IV|disrupt peace negotiations between the Arbiter and the Jiralhanae Chieftain Lydus on Ealen IV. During July 2558, Sali 'Nyon's Covenant|another splinter group of 'Mdama's Covenant attempted to rebel against the main faction, but 'Mdama's forces managed to capture its leader, Sali 'Nyon, and eliminate all his followers. Eventually, 'Nyon would escape captivity and lead a mutiny aboard the assault carrier ''Breath of Annihilation'', successfully breaking away and gathering more followers.
A few of the more fanatical new factions have resumed the practice of glassing human colonies after the end of the Covenant War. The colony of Cleyell fell victim to such an attack in 2556. However due to the lack of resources and size, these factions typically resorted to terrorist attacks. In early 2556, the human colony of Sedra suffered a bioweapon Terrorist attack on Sedra City|attack from a Sangheili insurgent belonging to an unidentified faction, utilizing a new element native to Alpha Shard|a fragment of Installation 04. A subsequent Mission to Alpha Shard|mission to the shard destroyed the deposits of the element, preventing its future use, but the perpetrators behind the attack were left unknown. Part of the mission was to capture the smugglers mining the element to prove that the Sangheili had broken the treaty which forbade either side from returning to Installation 04. However, both smugglers perished during the mission and the survivors were unable to retrieve any proof.
In 2557, some of Jul 'Mdama's Covenant led by Gek 'Lhar discovered the remnants of the Forerunner shield world known as Trove which had Battle of the Trove|been destroyed in 2531 by the long-lost . Following a brief skirmish with the crew of the ''Ace of Spades'', his Covenant forces retreated. ONI subsequently found the debris field by forcing the ''Ace of Spades'' crew to give up their data. However, Mission to the Korinth Prior system|a subsequent mission encountered Gek 'Lhar's forces who had returned to plunder the debris field for themselves. Though the retreated from the system, the UNSC returned again with a massive UNSC fleet which launched a huge nuclear bombardment against the shield world remnants, destroying it and keeping any surviving Forerunner technology out of the hands of Gek 'Lhar and thus Jul 'Mdama.
In 2558, tensions continued to rise between the Sangheili and Jiralhanae, but also between two Sangheili factions on the planet Carrow in one of the Joint Occupation Zones. In September, it turned into Carrow Conflict|an all-out conflict after the more extreme Thars 'Sarov called in a Jiralhanae faction led by Hekabe to aid him in an uneasy alliance. Thars was planing to backstab the Jiralhanae once they had served their use, while Hekabe had ulterior plans of his own intending to unleash hundreds of thousands of Sharquoi from their hive beneath the planet's surface to gain galactic dominance for himself and his Jiralhanae. The conflict led to the decimation of all three factions, but the aid of Spartan-II Gray Team and the Surakan Militia Volunteers ensured the destruction of the Sharquoi hive and the death of Hekabe and the end of his plans as well as the death of Thars. The consequences of the conflict led the new Sangheili leader on the planet, Kaidon Akato 'Dakaj, to recognize the need for the humans and Sangheili to have a closer relationship if they were to survive. Though Rojka 'Kasaan, the leader of the more friendly of the three factions survived, he agreed to act as an envoy between the Sangheili and the humans rather than trying to take up a leadership position again.
In October 2558, 'Mdama's Covenant suffered a disastrous setback when its leader was killed by Fireteam Osiris while Battle of Kamchatka|engaging Promethean forces. 'Mdama's forces would continue in his name, including an attempt to Operation: BIRD IN HAND|secure the ONI research vessel ''Argent Moon'' and Battle of Nuusra|an attack on Arbiter Thel 'Vadam's keep, but were ultimately destroyed in a Battle of Sunaion|a counterattack by the Swords of Sanghelios and Fireteam Osiris against their last major stronghold on Sanghelios, Sunaion. After learning of the destruction of 'Mdama's Covenant, the Servants of the Abiding Truth considered the Covenant to be completely gone and believed that only they and the Swords of Sanghelios were left of the factions that developed after the Covenant fell. The Servants instigated the Second Onyx conflict around the time that the Created conflict was beginning.
Following the closure of the Portal at Voi due to the Created conflict, forces from the Jiralhanae-led mercenary organization known as the Banished Attack on Installation 00|attacked Installation 00|the Ark in intergalactic space and took over the installation from the UNSC. In 2559#March|March 2559, the long-lost was pulled to the Ark through a slipspace portal under mysterious circumstances and Second Ark Conflict|engaged the Banished for control of the Ark. The ''Spirit of Fire'' managed to destroy the Banished flagship, the ''Enduring Conviction'', stranding both forces on the Ark and later launched Installation 09|a new Halo ring in an attempt to get a distress beacon back to UNSC space. A disastrous mission to the ruins of High Charity resulted in Outbreak on Installation 00|a brief Flood outbreak on the Ark, but it was quickly contained by the Banished.
By 2559#October|October 2559, the Keepers of the One Freedom and two other Jiralhanae legions had joined forces with the Banished. On the Ark, Atriox had ''Anodyne Spirit'' Raid on Anodyne Spirit|raided for the fragments of Menachite Forerunner crystal that were once collected by Tartarus and given to the Prophet of Truth. A message was sent to War Chief Escharum to locate the Menachite portal complex|Portal Under the Mountain on Reach in order for Atriox to return to the Milky Way, ostensibly to bring Banished reinforcements back to the Ark. During this time, Blue Team launched Operation: WOLFE|an operation to recover important objects from the ruins of CASTLE Base for Dr. Catherine Halsey. Blue Team inadvertently led the Banished forces to the portal complex where a human acolyte of the Keepers activated a slipspace portal to the Ark. Atriox and some of his forces returned in a Eklon'Dal Workshop Lich|Lich, but he departed for a more important mission, leaving behind thousands of Banished troops to hold the Ark. Determined to begin the Great Journey, Castor's detachment of Keepers used the Lich to travel through the portal before it closed. During an encounter with Fred-104 in the tunnels, Veta Lopis was able to pass him a message warning ONI of the Keepers and Atriox's plans.
Upon arriving on the Ark, the Keepers allied themselves with Prelate Dhas Bhasvod's faction of surviving Dhas Bhasvod's Covenant, opposed by both the Banished and forces from the ''Spirit of Fire'' spearheaded by Veta Lopis and the Ferrets. 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. 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. 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.
Presently known groups
Thel 'Vadam|Arbiter Thel 'Vadam and then-Special Operations Commander Rtas 'Vadum of the Fleet of Retribution successfully rebelled against the San'Shyuum-led Covenant during the Great Schism, assassinating its remaining political leadership alongside the UNSC. Following the conclusion of the Human-Covenant War, 'Vadam and his allies formally established the Swords of Sanghelios and sought to make peace with the humans. The Swords are the most prominent post-Covenant faction to abandon not only the Covenant religion but also question the Sangheili's traditional worship of the Forerunners as well, which has been a point of controversy among some of the more conservative Sangheili. The Servants of the Abiding Truth, in particular, consider 'Vadam and his allies blasphemers.
The Servants of the Abiding Truth is an insurgent group formerly led by Sangheili religious extremist and former Field Master, Avu Med 'Telcam. Unlike most of the post-Covenant factions, the Servants have their roots in an ancient order, mostly suppressed by the Prophets during the Covenant's reign and revived after the San'Shyuum were overthrown. Outspoken in their opposition of the Arbiter and his abandonment of the worship of the Forerunners, the Abiding Truth launched an Blooding Years|armed insurgency against 'Vadam in 2553#March|March 2553, assisted by elements of the human Office of Naval Intelligence. 'Telcam was Assassination of Avu Med 'Telcam|assassinated by SPARTAN-G059 in 2558#January|January 2558. However, they remain active in the Sarcophagus shield world after the onset of the Created conflict, now led by Dural 'Mdama, son of Jul 'Mdama.
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. 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 Ferrets foiled a bioweapon plot. During the operation, the Keepers' Salvation Base was destroyed through the detonation of six HAVOK tactical nuclear weapons and it was estimated that ninety percent of the Keepers forces in that sector were eliminated in the blast. 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 Ferrets, working undercover in the faction. Around 15,000 Keepers are killed, leaving the faction decimated and with extremely low numbers. As a result, Castor was forced to abandon or sacrifice most of his followers. 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. On the Ark, Castor and the Keepers were manipulated by both the Dhas Bhasvod's Covenant 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 who finally succeeded in destroying Intrepid Eye. Having learned the truth about their faith, Castor and 'Gadogai sought to exact vengeance upon their enemies, 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.
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,''Halo Wars 2'', ''Phoenix Logs'' - ''Outpost'' - "The Banished have perfected their stripmining and rapid assault and extraction efforts over a decade of raiding Covenant and other targets." 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. In 2559, they had a major presence on Installation 00 and Second Ark Conflict|clashed with the UNSC forces from the when the long-lost support vessel mysteriously stumbled upon the Ark. Despite having an advantage, the Banished suffered massive losses to the ''Spirit of Fire's'' forces including their flagship the ''Enduring Conviction'' and their second-in-command Decimus. 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. By October 2559, the Banished still in the Milky Way had joined forces with the Keepers and two other Jiralhanae Legion#Banished|legions. After Banished forces Raid on Anodyne Spirit|raided ''Anodyne Spirit'' for the Menachite Forerunner crystal, 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. 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. In December, the Banished Battle over Installation 07|engaged the 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.
Yapyap's rebellion
This rebellion group led by the Unggoy Yapyap splintered off from the Banished during their Second Ark Conflict|campaign on the Ark in 2559.
After the events of the Great war, Luro 'Taralumee used his previous station within the Covenant in an attempt to consolidate power for unknown reasons. His zealous devotion to the Great Journey while also renouncing the traitorous San'Shyuum allowed him to fill the vacuum in their absence, this zeal along with adherence to Covenant ideals has made his power consolidation considered dangerous by the UNSC.
Lydus is a Jiralhanae Chieftain leading a master-pack called the Children of Oth Sonin which emerged in a position of power among the Jiralhanae after the fall of the Covenant. In 2558, Lydus and the pack agreed to enter peace negotiations with the Swords of Sanghelios to exchange Jiralhanae resources for food, overseen by the UNSC. However, the subsequent attack by 'Gajat's forces left these peace negotiations in doubt. Following the compromised peace talks on Ealyn IV, Lydus secretly hired the Banished as a mercenary military to take out his rivals, in exchange for using his shipyards and land. After the razing of Oth Sonin and the destruction of Doisac by the hand of the Created, Lydus and his clan survived by escaping to an abandoned human colony world.
Sali 'Nyon was a former member of Jul 'Mdama's faction, until he decided that he was the true "Didact's Hand". After gaining followers from within 'Mdama's faction, he betrayed Jul and stole the UNSC's half of the Janus Key. Despite this, one of his followers had a change of mind and stole his half of the Janus Key, delivering it to Dr. Halsey. Shortly after this, Jul's Covenant captured Sali 'Nyon and destroyed all of Nyon's hideouts, killing all his followers and ending his rebellion temporarily. Months later during Operation: ATHENA, Ayit 'Sevi released Sali from custody, allowing Sali and his new followers to take over the ''Breath of Annihilation'' and escape from Jul 'Mdama's forces. 'Nyon remained as the de facto "Hand of the Didact" after 'Mdama's assassination and the collapse of his Covenant at Sunaion.
Since the collapse of the Covenant, Kig-Yar society has shown little to no change. It is still overwhelmingly matriarchal in nature and is prone to piracy. Significant Kig-Yar activities have been recorded on planets such as Venezia and Ven III. Kig-Yar scavengers have also continued to occupy glassed human colonies, as in the case of Cleyell.
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.
Prelate Dhas Bhasvod's Covenant loyalists are a faction of Covenant troops that survived the firing of Installation 08 aboard the ''Anodyne Spirit''. They remained behind to guard the keyship while the Prophet of Truth left to fire the Halo Array and remained onboard the ship for nearly eight years afterwards, completely undetected by the other residents of Installation 00|the Ark. Unlike the other Covenant remnants, this particular faction remains completely loyal to the fallen Covenant Empire and were equipped with several Phantoms. In 2559, following the Outbreak on Installation 00, the Banished Raid on Anodyne Spirit|raided ''Anodyne Spirit'' for the shards of the Menachite Forerunner crystal that Tartarus had collected years earlier and came into conflict with the Covenant loyalists. Most of the invading Banished forces were wiped out, but Minas and other survivors managed to escape with the shards of the crystal. The loyalists remained in control of the keyship after the attack. In October, the loyalists engaged in a three-way battle with both the Banished and the UNSC for control of the slipspace portal that Atriox had opened using the crystal shards. When the Keepers of the One Freedom arrived in a Eklon'Dal Workshop Lich, they formed an alliance with the Covenant to fire the Halo Array and begin the Great Journey, utilizing the Covenant's knowledge of the Ark to their advantage. However, due to the intervention of both the Banished and the 's forces, the Keepers and the Covenant suffered heavy losses that left the Keepers decimated. During the Battle of Epsilon Clarion, the two surviving Keepers abandoned their mission after learning of the truth about the Halo Array while both Intrepid Eye and Epsilon Clarion were destroyed by the ''Spirit of Fire''. Bhasvod was left disappointed that his true plan had failed: to wipe out all life in the galaxy so that if the San'Shyuum flotilla|hiding San'Shyuum made it to the Cloister shield world for protection, they could take complete control of the Milky Way in the aftermath. With the shards of the Forerunner crystal still in the hands of the Banished, Bhasvod and his forces were left for the time being unable to open a slipspace portal to Cloister and communicate their failure.
Led by Colonel Ke 'Nzahz, this order of evocati warriors are active in the post-war era and known as a threat to the UNSC.
Former groups
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. 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.
Led by Zealot Merg Vol, the faction initiated one of the first post-Covenant War conflicts, attacking the human research world of Draetheus V to access the Forerunner artifacts on X50|its moon. Ultimately, the UNSC defeated the group and Vol was executed by Spartan Sarah Palmer, leading to the faction's dissolution. Parg Vol, a former member of this group, joined the faction led by 'Mdama following the battle, but was Assassination of Parg Vol|killed by Fireteam Crimson during the Requiem Campaign.''Spartan Ops'', Catherine/Hunting Trip|S1E03 ''Hunting Trip''
This faction was created to be a brand new Sangheili-led "Covenant" and was founded on Hesduros by Jul 'Mdama, who initially started as a member of the Servants of the Abiding Truth but grew disillusioned with their religious zeal and willingness to collaborate with humanity even temporarily. Despite the ostensibly religious trappings of the group and the genuine zeal of many of its members, 'Mdama himself secretly did not view the Forerunners as gods, only projecting the facade of a religious leader to motivate his followers. Since the Battle of Requiem|events of the first Requiem campaign, Jul 'Mdama's faction was considered by the UNSC to be the biggest threat among the many Covenant remnant factions, and absorbed elements of Merg Vol's Covenant faction,''Spartan Ops'', S1/Catherine/The VIP|S1E3 - ''The VIP'' spun off Vata 'Gajat's mercenary group|two Sali 'Nyon's Covenant faction|smaller groups, and allied themselves with the Ur-Didact's Promethean constructs, and with the greatest mind of the UNSC: Dr. Catherine Halsey. During the Battle of Kamchatka in October 2558, this Covenant faction received three fatal blows: Halsey was rescued by Fireteam Osiris, the Prometheans betrayed their Covenant allies, and the leader Jul 'Mdama was assassinated. After this devastating event, his Covenanttemporarily led by Kitun 'Arach and other high ranking Sangheililaunched a final, desperate assault to Sanghelios, but it failed and the faction was Battle of Sunaion|destroyed by the Swords of Sanghelios. After the destruction of 'Mdama's Covenant, the Servants of the Abiding Truth considered the Covenant to be truly gone.
Vata 'Gajat was a former member of Jul 'Mdama's faction, until he saw the benefit of human Wikipedia:Capitalism|capitalism and turned mercenary. The faction's equipment and resources are a mixture from both the original Covenant and 'Mdama's group. By 2558|March 2558, 'Gajat and the group were employed by the New Colonial Alliance. The group was responsible for the Battle of Ealen IV|disruption of a Sangheili and Jiralhanae peace meeting on Ealen IV. They later assisted the New Colonial Alliance in their attempt to assassinate Lord Hood and destroy the . During the Ambush at Oth Lodon many of its forces, including 'Gajat himself, were killed, leaving the group's future uncertain.
On the former human outer colony of Carrow, now Joint Occupation Zone|jointly-held between humans and Sangheili, a sea change in governance has come to Rak, the foremost Sangheili habitation on the planet. In 2558, a Sangheili known as Thars 'Sarov took power. Thars is utterly opposed to peace with humans and believes that sharing Carrow with them is impossible. Those loyal to him began to attack humans here and there, but it wasn't until July of 2558 that the first one was killed and hostilities between his group and the Surakan Militia Volunteers erupted. Things escalated into Carrow Conflict|all-out war between Thars and his cousin Rojka 'Kasaan, escalated when Thars brought in Jiralhanae Chieftain Hekabe and his forces to help. In truth, Hekabe sought a Sharquoi hive located on the planet and betrayed Thars. Thars' faction was almost entirely wiped out by the civil war and Hekabe's betrayal and the rest of his forces fell when Sharquoi took over his surviving ships to escape the planet. In a final confrontation with Rojka, Thars' remaining warriors fell to Spartan-II Gray Team and a few surviving Sangeheili of Rojka's faction and Thars was execution|executed by Rojka for his actions. During this time, Akato 'Dakaj took control of Rak and executed the kaidons who had lent their support to Thars.
After his cousin Thars 'Sarov betrayed him to take control of Rak on the planet Carrow, Rak's leader Rojka 'Kasaan formed a faction loyal to him to oppose Thars' forces. However, in Carrow Conflict|the ensuing conflict, Thars called upon the help of Hekabe's faction|a Jiralhanae faction led by Jiralhanae Chieftain Hekabe which gave him the edge over Rojka in a space battle. Rojka's fleet was destroyed while his ''Unwavering Discipline'' crashed on Carrow. Rojka gave chase to Gray Team, the Spartans Operation: SUNSPEAR|responsible for the destruction of his homeworld Glyke while Thars relentlessly pursued Rojka even with Hekabe betraying him. Thars succeeded in slaughtering the entire faction aside from Rojka and three Sangheili he sent back to Rak. With Hekabe taking control of the Sharquoi, Rojka and his remaining warriors, who unexpectedly traveled to Suraka to help their leader, allied themselves with Gray Team to defeat Thars and stop Hekabe from using Thars' surviving ships. With one Sangheili piloting a Banshee and the other two cloaked, the were able to catch Thars and his warriors by surprise and defeat them with the help of Gray Team. However, at least one if not all three of the surviving warriors were killed in the process. Rojka subsequently aided in the defeat of Hekabe and survived to return to Rak where the kaidons who had supported Thars had been executed by Akato 'Dakaj and his forces. Despite having won his conflict with Thars, Rojka did not retain power as the leader of Rak which instead went to Akato. Instead, Rojka agreed to act as the envoy between Rak and the human population of Suraka, the conflict having created the need for both species to come closer together.
The Voice of Maardoth was a powerful force made up of several Jiralhanae war packs led by the Jiralhanae Chieftain Hekabe. During the Battle of Installation 00, Hekabe led a force into the depths of Installation 00|the Ark where he retrieved the ''vertex'', a Forerunner device that allowed the user to control the Sharquoi. This faction was known to ONI along with the threat they posed, especially if it discovered the location of a Sharquoi hive on Carrow containing hundreds of thousands of the creatures. During Carrow Conflict|the erupting conflict on Carrow in 2557, Thars 'Sarov brought Hekabe and his forces to the planet as mercenaries to aid in his fight with his cousin Rojka 'Kasaan. Having learned the location of the Sharquoi hive, Hekabe ultimately betrayed Thars and unleashed the creatures, planning to use them to gain dominance over the galaxy and refusing to be beholden to anyone else for help, even the Banished. Hekabe and his forces were narrowly defeated by a small force made up of Surakan Militia Volunteers, Governor Ellis Gass, Melody Azikiwe, Spartan-II Gray Team and Rojka 'Kasaan. Hekabe himself was killed by Sharquoi under Gass' control and his surviving Jiralhanae were slaughtered by the Sharquoi as well. The Sharquoi hive and all of the creatures were subsequently destroyed with a HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon, ending the faction and their plans.
A rogue faction of Covenant soldiers led by Nizat 'Kvarosee who, in 2526, sought to destroy ONI following Operation: SILENT STORM, seeing it as the biggest threat to the Covenant. While they succeeded in getting one of the Luminal Beacons into ONI's custody during the Battle of Netherop, the Covenant retaliated for Nizat's rogue actions, destroying most of the Flotilla of Unyielding Piety and forcing the survivors to retreat. Nizat and his ground forces were then exiled on Netherop's surface with a mine shell being placed in orbit of the planet to prevent anyone from coming back for him. In addition, Lieutenant Commander Amalea Petrov and some of her forces were left stranded on Netherop as well. Over the next thirty-three years, the UNSC and Covenant survivors fought each other, resulting in the death of most of Nizat's forces, leaving only Nizat himself and six others while the humans numbers continued to grow as the stranded survivors had children and families.
In 2559, the Defenders of the Sanctum were encountered by the UNSC and the Swords of Sanghelios when they visited the planet in search of the Precursor weapon dubbed the Divine Hand. During the Battle of Netherop (2559)|battle that followed, three of the surviving Sangheili were killed by SPARTAN-IV program|Spartan Olympia Vale, one was killed by Oath Warden Crei 'Ayomuu, Blademaster Meduz 'Ra'ashi defected to the Swords of Sanghelios and Nizat and Tam 'Lakosee were captured with Nizat suffering severe injuries. Unable to get the two to give up their zealotry, Arbiter Thel 'Vadam stranded Nizat and Tam, the last members of this faction, on Netherop. Facing imminent death by infection, starvation and dehydration, Tam chose to mercy kill Nizat so as to spare him that fate.
Other
This ancient group was the very first Covenant splinter faction, created by Ussa 'Xellus and other Sangheili who opposed the Writ of Union. During the time of the Covenant's creation, the Council of City States|Sangheili and Reformists|Reformist San'Shyuum had united to create the empire. Ussa and like-minded Sangheili who opposed this union, fled their homeworld as it was occupied by the newly formed Covenant empire. They had arrived at the shield world known as the Refuge and continued to practise pre-Covenant Sangheili traditions for many generations since. However, many fell victim to the Blood Sickness over the centuries since. In 2553, the Refuge was rediscovered by the crew of the supply ship ''Journey's Sustenance'' led by San'Shyuum Zo Resken, descendant of the Prophet of Inner Conviction who had pursued the Ussans to the Refuge in the first place and chose to leave them be even though he suspected the Ussans not to be gone when they had the shield world's Disassembler process initiated. With the help of Huragok Sluggish Drifter, the Refuge's monitor Enduring Bias was repaired and he helped to put down a rebellion and cure the Blood Sickness. Enduring Bias reassembled the Refuge into a circular structure similar to a Halo Array|Halo ring and those Ussans who wished to return to Sanghelios were allowed to do so while many remained on the Refuge.
Way of 'Greftus
This splinter group splinter off from the Ussan's splinter group. Like most groups, without a common enemy the Ussans began to fight amongst themselves. A Sangheili named 'Greftus started this group.
List of appearances
''Halo 2''
''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''
''Halo 3''
''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''
*''The Return''
''Halo: Glasslands''
''Halo: The Thursday War''
''Halo 4''
*''Terminal (Halo 4)|Terminals''
*''Spartan Ops''
''Halo: Spartan Assault''
''Halo: Initiation''
''Halo: Escalation''
''Halo: Mortal Dictata''
''Halo 2: Anniversary''
*''Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminals''
''Halo: New Blood''
''Halo: Spartan Strike''
''Halo: Hunters in the Dark''
''Halo: Fleet Battles''
''Halo: Last Light''
''Halo 5: Guardians''
*''Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition dossiers|Limited Edition dossiers''
''Halo: Shadow of Intent''
''Halo Mythos''
''Halo Fractures''
*''Lessons Learned''
*''Breaking Strain''
*''Into the Fire''
*''Oasis''
''Halo: Tales from Slipspace''
*''Knight Takes Bishop''
*''On the Brink''
''Halo: Smoke and Shadow''
''Halo Wars 2''
''Halo: Envoy''
''Halo: Retribution''
''Halo: Legacy of Onyx''
''Halo: Bad Blood''
''Halo: Lone Wolf''
''Halo: Renegades''
''Halo: Shadows of Reach''
''Halo: Point of Light''
''Halo: Divine Wind''
''Halo Infinite''
''Halo: The Rubicon Protocol''
''Halo: Outcasts''
Sources
Category:Covenant remnants|
Category:The Covenant
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The Covenant use a type of rope to rapidly descend from high places. These tethers are described as "slithering, plasticine ropes which glow ghostly blue". In 2552, during the Raid of Reach, teams of Sangheili used them to rappel down on the floor of the central room of the Menachite portal complex below Reach, to recover the Forerunner crystal from Catherine Halsey|Dr. Halsey and the SPARTAN-II Program|Spartans.
List of appearances
''Halo: First Strike''
Sources
Category:Covenant technology
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The scavenger craft is a Covenant Empire|Covenant vessel that salvages debris with tentacle-like manipulators.''Halo: First Strike'', Chapter 19
Summary
The scavenger craft utilizes tentacle-like manipulators that can be used to drag debris and metal in the upper-atmosphere of planets.
After the Fall of Reach, 217 scavenger craft were used to push spaceborne detritus to a concentrated area over Reach.''Halo: First Strike'', Chapter 18
List of appearances
''Halo: First Strike''
Sources
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File:H3-Sangheili.jpg|300px|thumb|The Covenant separatists, all Sangheili (along with followers from other species) cast out from the Covenant during the Great Schism. Covenant separatists, colloquially referred to by their predominant species' epithet: the Elites, were the various forces composed of all Sangheili and their followers, who rebelled against the new Covenant Empire|Covenant leadership during the Great Schism. When the Great Schism broke out on November 3, 2552, the entirety of the Sangheili species were forced out of the Covenant. The Prophet of Truth|High Prophet of Truth had ordered the reformed Covenant military, now led by the Jiralhanae, to massacre the Sangheili. This caused a massive civil war to erupt across Covenant-controlled space.
Though only the Sangheili were forced out, many of their former allies sided with them instead of siding with the Hierarch|High Prophet and his Jiralhanae-led Covenant. Many Unggoy, Mgalekgolo and even Zo Resken|one San'Shyuum, joined the separatist effort.Halo: Broken Circle
All Sangheili-led groups were against the Covenant led by the High Prophet of Truth and the Jiralhanae, although only the Fleet of Retribution was known to extend their allegiance to the United Nations Space Command|UNSC.
History
File:H2A - Great Schism.jpg|thumb|250px|Sangheili-controlled and Jiralhanae-controlled ships engage each other over ''High Charity''.
The various groups of Covenant separatists formed as a result of the Great Schism. The Prophet of Regret|High Prophet of Regret led a badly planned mission to "Erde-Tyrene" as he did not know that the planet was the human homeworld, Earth, which is against the wishes of the Prophet of Truth|High Prophet of Truth, and inadvertently began the Battle of Earth. He escaped to Installation 05, where he was Assassination of the Prophet of Regret|assassinated by John-117. Using Regret's death as a justification, the High Prophet of Truth set in action his plan to Changing of the Guard|replace the Sangheili with Jiralhanae as their Covenant Honor Guard|protectors. However, this move resulted in great turmoil within the Covenant, with the Sangheili threatening to resign from the High Council. Truth then gave command of the Covenant fleets to the Jiralhanae, a post previously held by the Sangheili. Once there were enough of them in place, Truth secretly ordered them to commit a vicious genocide of the Sangheili (disguised as a retaliation to a Sangheili revolt against the other Covenant factions) so they may replace them in society. Soon, all-out war had broken out.
In response to the betrayal, the Sangheili started a rebellion composed of groups colloquially known as the ''Covenant separatists'', supported by both many Unggoy and Mgalekgolo. During the early hours of the conflict, the movement lacked centralized leadership, but several leaders would soon emerge. The Arbiter Thel 'Vadam rescued several of the few surviving Sangheili High Councilors from Jiralhanae captivity and met up with Shipmaster Rtas 'Vadumee on Installation 05, forming the Fleet of Retribution. Concurrently, Imperial Admiral Xytan 'Jar Wattinree took command of a large fleet of surviving Sangheili ships, including most of the Combined Fleet of Righteous Purpose.
An initial Sangheili-led Joyous Exultation Covenant|separatist group was formed by the Sangheili Imperial Admiral Xytan 'Jar Wattinree on the Sangheili fortress world Joyous Exultation shortly after the Prophets' betrayal on November 3, 2552. Wattinree's faction remained hostile to humanity as well, dispatching a task force to Onyx to prevent Forerunner technology from falling into human hands. However, this fledgling alliance came to an abrupt end with the detonation of a NOVA bomb above Joyous Exultation and the deaths of the majority of the Sangheili leaders gathered there, including Wattinree. This left Thel 'Vadam and Rtas 'Vadum as the remaining figureheads of the rebellion. Though not easily persuaded, the Arbiter was able to convince the rest of the Sangheili to join with Humanity. While the two factions experienced some initial friction, they learned to work with one another for mutual survival.
File:H3 - Retribution - Ark.png|left|thumb|250px|The Fleet of Retribution, the bulk of the separatist war effort.
Within the Covenant separatists, only the Fleet of Retribution was known to be allied with humanity during the final battles of the war. The shaky-to-steady alliance between the ''Fleet of Retribution'' and their former foes, the Humans, was forged entirely out of necessity and revenge against the Covenant.Halo 3, campaign level ''The Covenant (level)|The Covenant'' "I will have my revenge on a Prophet, not a plague!" The United Nations Space Command|UNSC forces were on the defensive, and both factions had two common enemies that wished for their extinction: the Covenant and the Flood. The alliance of circumstance began in the Control Room (Installation 05)|control room of Installation 05|Delta Halo, when UNSC Sergeant Major Avery Johnson|A. J. Johnson and 'Vadam were forced to unite in order to prevent Tartarus, Chieftain of the Jiralhanae, from activating Installation 05. After that, 'Vadam persuaded the rest of the Sangheili on the Installation to join humanity. While the two factions experienced some friction, they learned to work with one another for their mutual survival. During the final days of the Human-Covenant War, the Sangheili under 'Vadam and 'Vadum's command fought alongside humans in battle. Thus, the UNSC and Sangheili forces saved each other from destruction.Halo 3, campaign level ''Floodgate''Halo 3, campaign level, ''The Ark (level)|The Ark''Halo 3, campaign level ''The Covenant (level)|The Covenant''
File:Floodgate - Cutscene.jpg|thumb|250px|Humans and Sangheili on board the ''Shadow of Intents bridge. The devastated United Nations Space Command|UNSC Home Fleet in Earth's space gladly accepted the help of the superior ''Fleet of Retribution'' warships. The Sangheili understanding of Covenant Empire|Covenant combat equipment and tactics proved invaluable in the Battle of Installation 00. The battle's recurring heroes, Thel 'Vadam and John-117, fought alongside one another many times in the desperate and long conflict.
After various separatist groups were victorious in destroying the Covenant that had betrayed them, many Sangheili split off to form and join Covenant remnants|several remnant factions. The Sangheili who were in the Fleet of Retribution would later form a faction known as the Swords of Sanghelios, which would become the official government of Sanghelios and the new organization representing their species.
Predecessor groups
This Sangheili-led faction broke away from the Covenant prior to the Great Schism after learning that the Great Journey was a lie. Monitor Guilty Spark had informed Sesa 'Refumee the true purpose of the Halo Array, resulting in 'Refumee ordering his forces to cut communications with the Covenant and break away.Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary) The faction posed a threat to the Covenant's religious stability, and was destroyed by a Covenant Special Operations|Covenant Special Operations unit and Thel 'Vadam|the new Arbiter. After the Great Schism occurred, many of the later Sangheili remnant groups such the Combined Fleet of Righteous Purpose and the Fleet of Retribution would continue the legacy of Sesa 'Refumee's faction by destroying the Covenant with many abandoning its religion. One of the leaders in this effort was Thel 'Vadam, the Arbiter responsible for the destruction of the faction.Halo 2-The Great Journey-"There are things about Halo even the Hierarchs do not understand."
Known groups Once the Great Schism had begun, the entirety of the Sangheili species had been exiled from the Covenant, with several members of other species siding with them (notably Unggoy and Mgalekgolo). The Covenant separatists were not one unified faction, however, they shared the same goal in their fight against the Covenant leadership that had betrayed them.
This assembly of Sangheili forces was a short-lived predecessor to the Fleet of Retribution|more prominent assembly led by Rtas 'Vadum. At the onset of the Great Schism, Imperial Admiral Xytan 'Jar Wattinree summoned all Sangheili to the base world Joyous Exultation for an emergency meeting. 'Wattinree revealed the Prophets' treachery to his comrades and issued a fleet-wide missive of an alliance among the Sangheili to destroy both the Prophets and their Jiralhanae allies. With the exception of Voro Nar 'Mantakree's Second Fleet of Homogeneous Clarity, the entirety of this force was destroyed by a UNSC NOVA bomb during the summit.Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''pages 239-245'' Meanwhile, the survivors were wiped out at Onyx by the Forerunner world's automated defenses.
The Fleet of Retribution led by Rtas 'Vadum and Thel 'Vadam joined forces with the UNSC. Together they destroyed the Covenant led by the High Prophet of Truth on the Ark and brought an end to the war.Halo 3 - The Covenant (level)
This fleet was led by a Unidentified Sangheili Shipmaster (Righteous Vigilance)|certain shipmaster. Once this fleet learned of the Prophets' treachery, they killed the Prophet of Conviction on board their flagship. They went on to hunt down Jiralhanae that had betrayed them.Halo: Evolutions The Return
Fleetmaster Arkad Nar 'Kulul and his fleet of Sangheili fought against the Jiralhanae when the Great Schism began.Halo: Rise of Atriox Issue 4 The crew of the Enduring Conviction captained by Shipmaster Let 'Volir were a part of 'Kulul's fleet, and also participated in ground battles against the Jiralhanae.
With the exception of Hesduros, which had been cut off from Covenant communications,Halo: The Thursday War the rest of the Sangheili received a video message displaying the Covenant's betrayal of their species.Halo: Evolutions The Return (Motion Comic) - "We were scouting for humans when the message came in. I could not comprehend what I was seeing. Our betrayal by the Prophets. The Slaughter of our leaders." They witnessed Jiralhanae slaughtering their brethren, some considered it to be "the death of the Covenant".Halo: Evolutions The Return (Motion Comic) - "The death of the Covenant." Either during the massacres around High Charity, or witnessing the massacre broadcasts, all Sangheili were ultimately forced out of the Covenant Empire.
Gallery
File:H2A SeparatistsDefendMausoleum.png|Covenant separatists defending the entrance to High Charity's Mausoleum of the Arbiter. Trident11.jpg|UNSC Pelicans fighting alongside the Fleet of Retribution Phantoms. File:H3 BarrierTowerBattle.png|Sangheili separatists fighting alongside John-117 during the Battle of Installation 00. Shipmaster02.jpg|Rtas 'Vadum, one of the leaders of the Fleet of Retribution. HRoA4_Volir_Great Schism.png|The Sangheili fighting against the Jiralhanae at the onset of the Great Schism.
List of appearances
''Halo 2''
''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''
''Halo 3''
''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''
*''The Return''
''Halo 4''
''Halo: Rise of Atriox''
Sources
Category:The Covenant Category:Factions
|
File:HW Covenant ShieldGenerator Render.jpg|250px|thumb|The Covenant Shield Generator. The shield generator is a structure utilized by the Covenant in ''Halo Wars'', which provides shield protection for a whole Covenant citadel|citadel.
Summary The shield technology used by the shield generator is repurposed Forerunner technology and requires vast amounts of power to use. Once the shield is drained, the buildings underneath the shield begin to take structural damage. Over time, the shield will begin to regenerate back up to full strength.
Expensive, and taking up a build slot, commanders who wish to use the Shield generator must choose between a strong defense and other options. It is powerful enough to withstand a direct hit from the Magnetic Accelerator Cannon. Better to get it either early or after you have quite a strong army.
If multiple shield generators are built onto one Citadel, the shields become much more durable. It is a good idea to place the shield generator to the rear of your base, in order to protect it from enemy fire once the shields are down. The shield generator has no United Nations Space Command|UNSC counterpart.
However, there is a glitch where after a Shield generator is made, all structures in the base that have already been made lose life points.
Gallery
File:HW ShieldedCitadel Screenshot.jpg|thumb|250px|A base protected by a shield generator. File:HW ShieldGenerator HiPoly.jpg|A hi-poly render of the Shield Generator.
List of appearances
''Halo Wars''
Sources
Category:Covenant buildings Category:Shield technology
|
The Covenant ship classification system is an organizational method that is used by the Covenant to categorize their warships. The Covenant's spacecraft classifications do not follow the standards typically used by humanity.
Major categories Analogous to the UNSC Navy's formalised starship classifications, the Covenant fleet is divided into several major groupings, each which fulfil a particular niche required by their navy. These terms may be occasionally referred to as a "class" name - for example, a ''Varric''-pattern heavy cruiser may sometimes be referred to as an examiner-class cruiser to distinguish it from the empire's other heavy cruiser classes.
Advocates served as the core of most Covenant fleets, and consist of frontline warships with crews eager for honour and victory. They carried out the orders of their superiors without question or delay.
While no presently-confirmed vessels yet fall into the advocate role, the and s and their predecessor, the , match the given description almost perfectly.
Attack ships were the most common warships available to the Covenant, but were considered beneath the notice of most Fleetmasters except for use as diversions to distract enemies from more valuable targets, generally being pawned off to Kig-Yar or Jiralhanae and other profit-focused crews. They were usually assigned to patrol Covenant space, inspecting and escorting shipping that carried the tithes of Covenant worlds or pilgrims to High Charity. Sangheili crews that found themselves assigned to such vessels tended to regard them as inglorious assignments, eager to prove themselves worthy of transfer to more prestigious assignments in battle, such as examiner type ships, but were unenthusiastic about protecting executioner ships when assigned as escorts.
Coadjutators served as special-purpose vessels originally built for the Covenant ecclesiarchy, and as such their initial role was obscured in record. Many of them wound up serving exclusively as escorts and occupational security roles.
Conservators are conventional warships in the Covenant, elevated with a greater purpose and degree of prestige. They were usually found operating as squires for pilgrim ships, missionaries and emissaries from High Charity.
Examiners were valuable and rare ships usually crewed by experienced crews, with personnel considered judicious and bold. They frequently employed Forerunner technology in their construction, and Ministries that wished to crew and deploy one needed direct approval from a Hierarch. However, they were easily reassigned. Examiners were generally commissioned during times of great need, and allocated to only those who had proven themselves.
Exarchs were the largest and most powerful warships within their respective domains, and even the Covenant as a whole. Their crews saw the opportunity to serve on these vessels as an unimpeachable honour.
The size and role of the may suggest it to be of exarch status.
Executioners were unusual in Covenant ship standards, as they represented some of the only warships built with no other goal in mind except for warfare. Due to this, they were typically regarded as a distasteful reminder by the Prophets that the Great Journey depended on the use of violence, and were assigned far from High Charity during times of peace, across the Covenant's expansive border. This made them difficult to bring to bear when the Covenant mobilized for war with humanity, delaying their assignment to the frontlines by years. Their sheer destructive potential meant their construction was rationed.
Procurators were far more common, but were independent of military chains of command or system governors, though usually complied to requests, and needed Hierarch approval to attach to fleets in order to curb the power of the Sangheili. They were also commanded by San'Shyuum Shipmasters, rather than Sangheili, further forcing Sangheili fleets and colonies to depend on the Prophets for their supply lines. When High Charity Fall of High Charity|fell to the Flood and the Prophet of Truth was killed, many of these ships departed Covenant space with their Prophet commanders and loyal escorts, joining the San'Shyuum flotilla|rest of the San'Shyuum fleeing Sangheili retribution, making them a rare sight in the post-war era. Procurators often housed Assembly Forges, food reserves and the Huragok personnel needed to maintain Forerunner equipment.
Procurator ships include the following;
Vestiges were old warships that served during the War of Beginnings, when the Sangheili were united against the overwhelming power of the San'Shyuum's Keyship. Fleets of Vestiges were sent off to drift in space or buried in caverns beneath airless worlds, with any records of their history or battle-honors deleted from all data archives by clans that wished to overturn the Writ of Union. Forgotten by all but a few dedicated lineages, these vessels were reclaimed by Sangheili Covenant remnants after the Great Schism to be pitted against other Sangheili forces and burn what they were built to protect.
Vestige ship classes are generally named after sailing ships from the Age of Sail.
Vestige warships include the following;
Barque
The , constructed in the first two years of the Covenant's existence, may also count as a Vestige warship.
Three-letter classification codes
During the war, the United Nations Space Command and Office of Naval Intelligence attempted to classify Covenant ships based on observation and limited intelligence about the Covenant's own ship codes. This allowed UNSC analysts to create a schema for identifying Covenant vessel types roughly synonymous with human naval Hull classification symbol|hull codes - though these classifications do not map perfectly to human standards. These codes take the form of three letters forming the Covenant ship's "class" name (ie CCS-class), with each of the three letter codes derived from the Covenant's internal mission codes. Following the end of the war with the Covenant, cooperation with the Swords of Sanghelios revealed the true complex extent of Covenant naval organisation to human analysts, and a shift away from the three-letter codes.
The three-letter codes are transliterations of a given ship's primary, secondary and tertiary classification codes used in the Covenant fleet, with the letters' ordering determining the importance of that feature, role or ability in the ship's mission. For example, the ORS-class heavy cruiser would be broken down as follows;
O - Ordained: This is not a mission type but instead denotes that the ship is enhanced with Forerunner technology such as a relic core. R - Reverence: Reverence mission codes mean that a ship is capable of conducting reconnaissance missions and excavating Forerunner artefacts. S - Salvation: Salvation mission codes refer to a dedicated warship capable of cleansing their enemies with "holy fire". As such, the ORS' primary characteristic is that it is a Forerunner-enhanced ship, primarily intended for reconnaissance and excavation missions - with pure combat only a tertiary focus. As such, Covenant ships (such as in the case of ''Incorruptible'') may sometimes be referred to off-hand as "''Reverence''"-class ships, though in reality any ship bearing the R in its letter code (such as the ORS and CRS-class cruisers, CAR-class frigate, etc) could be described as a ''Reverence''-class.
The known letters used in the classification system include A, C, D, O, P, R, S, and V. Of these known letters, only the O, R, and S designations are known (listed above), though it should be noted that the letter classification codes do not have any correspondence with the class designations used by the Covenant (detailed at the top of this article). Equally, it is unknown what significance repetition of the letters in a class name (such as the CCS-class) signifies. Due to the limited understanding of Covenant ship organisation and manufacture, some human-ascribed three-letter codes correspond to multiple individually-recognised design pattern variations, similarly to the errors present in their type classification system for ground equipment. For example, both the and s of assault carrier maintain the CAS hull code.
Carriers CSO-class supercarrier CAS-class assault carrier DDS-class carrier
Cruisers ORS-class heavy cruiser RCS-class armored cruiser CCS-class battlecruiser CRS-class light cruiser
Destroyers CPV-class heavy destroyer RPV-class light destroyer
Frigates CAR-class frigate SCC-class sword frigate
Corvettes and light warships SDV-class heavy corvette DAV-class light corvette DAS-class storm cutter
Support ships ADP-class escort DSC-class support ship
Sources
Category:Covenant ship classes|
|
The Covenant ship classification system is an organizational method that is used by the Covenant to categorize their warships. The Covenant's spacecraft classifications do not follow the standards typically used by humanity.
Major categories Analogous to the UNSC Navy's formalised starship classifications, the Covenant fleet is divided into several major groupings, each which fulfil a particular niche required by their navy. These terms may be occasionally referred to as a "class" name - for example, a ''Varric''-pattern heavy cruiser may sometimes be referred to as an examiner-class cruiser to distinguish it from the empire's other heavy cruiser classes.
Advocates served as the core of most Covenant fleets, and consist of frontline warships with crews eager for honour and victory. They carried out the orders of their superiors without question or delay.
While no presently-confirmed vessels yet fall into the advocate role, the and s and their predecessor, the , match the given description almost perfectly.
Attack ships were the most common warships available to the Covenant, but were considered beneath the notice of most Fleetmasters except for use as diversions to distract enemies from more valuable targets, generally being pawned off to Kig-Yar or Jiralhanae and other profit-focused crews. They were usually assigned to patrol Covenant space, inspecting and escorting shipping that carried the tithes of Covenant worlds or pilgrims to High Charity. Sangheili crews that found themselves assigned to such vessels tended to regard them as inglorious assignments, eager to prove themselves worthy of transfer to more prestigious assignments in battle, such as examiner type ships, but were unenthusiastic about protecting executioner ships when assigned as escorts.
Coadjutators served as special-purpose vessels originally built for the Covenant ecclesiarchy, and as such their initial role was obscured in record. Many of them wound up serving exclusively as escorts and occupational security roles.
Conservators are conventional warships in the Covenant, elevated with a greater purpose and degree of prestige. They were usually found operating as squires for pilgrim ships, missionaries and emissaries from High Charity.
Examiners were valuable and rare ships usually crewed by experienced crews, with personnel considered judicious and bold. They frequently employed Forerunner technology in their construction, and Ministries that wished to crew and deploy one needed direct approval from a Hierarch. However, they were easily reassigned. Examiners were generally commissioned during times of great need, and allocated to only those who had proven themselves.
Exarchs were the largest and most powerful warships within their respective domains, and even the Covenant as a whole. Their crews saw the opportunity to serve on these vessels as an unimpeachable honour.
The size and role of the may suggest it to be of exarch status.
Executioners were unusual in Covenant ship standards, as they represented some of the only warships built with no other goal in mind except for warfare. Due to this, they were typically regarded as a distasteful reminder by the Prophets that the Great Journey depended on the use of violence, and were assigned far from High Charity during times of peace, across the Covenant's expansive border. This made them difficult to bring to bear when the Covenant mobilized for war with humanity, delaying their assignment to the frontlines by years. Their sheer destructive potential meant their construction was rationed.
Procurators were far more common, but were independent of military chains of command or system governors, though usually complied to requests, and needed Hierarch approval to attach to fleets in order to curb the power of the Sangheili. They were also commanded by San'Shyuum Shipmasters, rather than Sangheili, further forcing Sangheili fleets and colonies to depend on the Prophets for their supply lines. When High Charity Fall of High Charity|fell to the Flood and the Prophet of Truth was killed, many of these ships departed Covenant space with their Prophet commanders and loyal escorts, joining the San'Shyuum flotilla|rest of the San'Shyuum fleeing Sangheili retribution, making them a rare sight in the post-war era. Procurators often housed Assembly Forges, food reserves and the Huragok personnel needed to maintain Forerunner equipment.
Procurator ships include the following;
Vestiges were old warships that served during the War of Beginnings, when the Sangheili were united against the overwhelming power of the San'Shyuum's Keyship. Fleets of Vestiges were sent off to drift in space or buried in caverns beneath airless worlds, with any records of their history or battle-honors deleted from all data archives by clans that wished to overturn the Writ of Union. Forgotten by all but a few dedicated lineages, these vessels were reclaimed by Sangheili Covenant remnants after the Great Schism to be pitted against other Sangheili forces and burn what they were built to protect.
Vestige ship classes are generally named after sailing ships from the Age of Sail.
Vestige warships include the following;
Barque
The , constructed in the first two years of the Covenant's existence, may also count as a Vestige warship.
Three-letter classification codes
During the war, the United Nations Space Command and Office of Naval Intelligence attempted to classify Covenant ships based on observation and limited intelligence about the Covenant's own ship codes. This allowed UNSC analysts to create a schema for identifying Covenant vessel types roughly synonymous with human naval Hull classification symbol|hull codes - though these classifications do not map perfectly to human standards. These codes take the form of three letters forming the Covenant ship's "class" name (ie CCS-class), with each of the three letter codes derived from the Covenant's internal mission codes. Following the end of the war with the Covenant, cooperation with the Swords of Sanghelios revealed the true complex extent of Covenant naval organisation to human analysts, and a shift away from the three-letter codes.
The three-letter codes are transliterations of a given ship's primary, secondary and tertiary classification codes used in the Covenant fleet, with the letters' ordering determining the importance of that feature, role or ability in the ship's mission. For example, the ORS-class heavy cruiser would be broken down as follows;
O - Ordained: This is not a mission type but instead denotes that the ship is enhanced with Forerunner technology such as a relic core. R - Reverence: Reverence mission codes mean that a ship is capable of conducting reconnaissance missions and excavating Forerunner artefacts. S - Salvation: Salvation mission codes refer to a dedicated warship capable of cleansing their enemies with "holy fire". As such, the ORS' primary characteristic is that it is a Forerunner-enhanced ship, primarily intended for reconnaissance and excavation missions - with pure combat only a tertiary focus. As such, Covenant ships (such as in the case of ''Incorruptible'') may sometimes be referred to off-hand as "''Reverence''"-class ships, though in reality any ship bearing the R in its letter code (such as the ORS and CRS-class cruisers, CAR-class frigate, etc) could be described as a ''Reverence''-class.
The known letters used in the classification system include A, C, D, O, P, R, S, and V. Of these known letters, only the O, R, and S designations are known (listed above), though it should be noted that the letter classification codes do not have any correspondence with the class designations used by the Covenant (detailed at the top of this article). Equally, it is unknown what significance repetition of the letters in a class name (such as the CCS-class) signifies. Due to the limited understanding of Covenant ship organisation and manufacture, some human-ascribed three-letter codes correspond to multiple individually-recognised design pattern variations, similarly to the errors present in their type classification system for ground equipment. For example, both the and s of assault carrier maintain the CAS hull code.
Carriers CSO-class supercarrier CAS-class assault carrier DDS-class carrier
Cruisers ORS-class heavy cruiser RCS-class armored cruiser CCS-class battlecruiser CRS-class light cruiser
Destroyers CPV-class heavy destroyer RPV-class light destroyer
Frigates CAR-class frigate SCC-class sword frigate
Corvettes and light warships SDV-class heavy corvette DAV-class light corvette DAS-class storm cutter
Support ships ADP-class escort DSC-class support ship
Sources
Category:Covenant ship classes|
|
The Covenant ship classification system is an organizational method that is used by the Covenant to categorize their warships. The Covenant's spacecraft classifications do not follow the standards typically used by humanity.
Major categories Analogous to the UNSC Navy's formalised starship classifications, the Covenant fleet is divided into several major groupings, each which fulfil a particular niche required by their navy. These terms may be occasionally referred to as a "class" name - for example, a ''Varric''-pattern heavy cruiser may sometimes be referred to as an examiner-class cruiser to distinguish it from the empire's other heavy cruiser classes.
Advocates served as the core of most Covenant fleets, and consist of frontline warships with crews eager for honour and victory. They carried out the orders of their superiors without question or delay.
While no presently-confirmed vessels yet fall into the advocate role, the and s and their predecessor, the , match the given description almost perfectly.
Attack ships were the most common warships available to the Covenant, but were considered beneath the notice of most Fleetmasters except for use as diversions to distract enemies from more valuable targets, generally being pawned off to Kig-Yar or Jiralhanae and other profit-focused crews. They were usually assigned to patrol Covenant space, inspecting and escorting shipping that carried the tithes of Covenant worlds or pilgrims to High Charity. Sangheili crews that found themselves assigned to such vessels tended to regard them as inglorious assignments, eager to prove themselves worthy of transfer to more prestigious assignments in battle, such as examiner type ships, but were unenthusiastic about protecting executioner ships when assigned as escorts.
Coadjutators served as special-purpose vessels originally built for the Covenant ecclesiarchy, and as such their initial role was obscured in record. Many of them wound up serving exclusively as escorts and occupational security roles.
Conservators are conventional warships in the Covenant, elevated with a greater purpose and degree of prestige. They were usually found operating as squires for pilgrim ships, missionaries and emissaries from High Charity.
Examiners were valuable and rare ships usually crewed by experienced crews, with personnel considered judicious and bold. They frequently employed Forerunner technology in their construction, and Ministries that wished to crew and deploy one needed direct approval from a Hierarch. However, they were easily reassigned. Examiners were generally commissioned during times of great need, and allocated to only those who had proven themselves.
Exarchs were the largest and most powerful warships within their respective domains, and even the Covenant as a whole. Their crews saw the opportunity to serve on these vessels as an unimpeachable honour.
The size and role of the may suggest it to be of exarch status.
Executioners were unusual in Covenant ship standards, as they represented some of the only warships built with no other goal in mind except for warfare. Due to this, they were typically regarded as a distasteful reminder by the Prophets that the Great Journey depended on the use of violence, and were assigned far from High Charity during times of peace, across the Covenant's expansive border. This made them difficult to bring to bear when the Covenant mobilized for war with humanity, delaying their assignment to the frontlines by years. Their sheer destructive potential meant their construction was rationed.
Procurators were far more common, but were independent of military chains of command or system governors, though usually complied to requests, and needed Hierarch approval to attach to fleets in order to curb the power of the Sangheili. They were also commanded by San'Shyuum Shipmasters, rather than Sangheili, further forcing Sangheili fleets and colonies to depend on the Prophets for their supply lines. When High Charity Fall of High Charity|fell to the Flood and the Prophet of Truth was killed, many of these ships departed Covenant space with their Prophet commanders and loyal escorts, joining the San'Shyuum flotilla|rest of the San'Shyuum fleeing Sangheili retribution, making them a rare sight in the post-war era. Procurators often housed Assembly Forges, food reserves and the Huragok personnel needed to maintain Forerunner equipment.
Procurator ships include the following;
Vestiges were old warships that served during the War of Beginnings, when the Sangheili were united against the overwhelming power of the San'Shyuum's Keyship. Fleets of Vestiges were sent off to drift in space or buried in caverns beneath airless worlds, with any records of their history or battle-honors deleted from all data archives by clans that wished to overturn the Writ of Union. Forgotten by all but a few dedicated lineages, these vessels were reclaimed by Sangheili Covenant remnants after the Great Schism to be pitted against other Sangheili forces and burn what they were built to protect.
Vestige ship classes are generally named after sailing ships from the Age of Sail.
Vestige warships include the following;
Barque
The , constructed in the first two years of the Covenant's existence, may also count as a Vestige warship.
Three-letter classification codes
During the war, the United Nations Space Command and Office of Naval Intelligence attempted to classify Covenant ships based on observation and limited intelligence about the Covenant's own ship codes. This allowed UNSC analysts to create a schema for identifying Covenant vessel types roughly synonymous with human naval Hull classification symbol|hull codes - though these classifications do not map perfectly to human standards. These codes take the form of three letters forming the Covenant ship's "class" name (ie CCS-class), with each of the three letter codes derived from the Covenant's internal mission codes. Following the end of the war with the Covenant, cooperation with the Swords of Sanghelios revealed the true complex extent of Covenant naval organisation to human analysts, and a shift away from the three-letter codes.
The three-letter codes are transliterations of a given ship's primary, secondary and tertiary classification codes used in the Covenant fleet, with the letters' ordering determining the importance of that feature, role or ability in the ship's mission. For example, the ORS-class heavy cruiser would be broken down as follows;
O - Ordained: This is not a mission type but instead denotes that the ship is enhanced with Forerunner technology such as a relic core. R - Reverence: Reverence mission codes mean that a ship is capable of conducting reconnaissance missions and excavating Forerunner artefacts. S - Salvation: Salvation mission codes refer to a dedicated warship capable of cleansing their enemies with "holy fire". As such, the ORS' primary characteristic is that it is a Forerunner-enhanced ship, primarily intended for reconnaissance and excavation missions - with pure combat only a tertiary focus. As such, Covenant ships (such as in the case of ''Incorruptible'') may sometimes be referred to off-hand as "''Reverence''"-class ships, though in reality any ship bearing the R in its letter code (such as the ORS and CRS-class cruisers, CAR-class frigate, etc) could be described as a ''Reverence''-class.
The known letters used in the classification system include A, C, D, O, P, R, S, and V. Of these known letters, only the O, R, and S designations are known (listed above), though it should be noted that the letter classification codes do not have any correspondence with the class designations used by the Covenant (detailed at the top of this article). Equally, it is unknown what significance repetition of the letters in a class name (such as the CCS-class) signifies. Due to the limited understanding of Covenant ship organisation and manufacture, some human-ascribed three-letter codes correspond to multiple individually-recognised design pattern variations, similarly to the errors present in their type classification system for ground equipment. For example, both the and s of assault carrier maintain the CAS hull code.
Carriers CSO-class supercarrier CAS-class assault carrier DDS-class carrier
Cruisers ORS-class heavy cruiser RCS-class armored cruiser CCS-class battlecruiser CRS-class light cruiser
Destroyers CPV-class heavy destroyer RPV-class light destroyer
Frigates CAR-class frigate SCC-class sword frigate
Corvettes and light warships SDV-class heavy corvette DAV-class light corvette DAS-class storm cutter
Support ships ADP-class escort DSC-class support ship
Sources
Category:Covenant ship classes|
|
The Covenant ship classification system is an organizational method that is used by the Covenant to categorize their warships. The Covenant's spacecraft classifications do not follow the standards typically used by humanity.
Major categories Analogous to the UNSC Navy's formalised starship classifications, the Covenant fleet is divided into several major groupings, each which fulfil a particular niche required by their navy. These terms may be occasionally referred to as a "class" name - for example, a ''Varric''-pattern heavy cruiser may sometimes be referred to as an examiner-class cruiser to distinguish it from the empire's other heavy cruiser classes.
Advocates served as the core of most Covenant fleets, and consist of frontline warships with crews eager for honour and victory. They carried out the orders of their superiors without question or delay.
While no presently-confirmed vessels yet fall into the advocate role, the and s and their predecessor, the , match the given description almost perfectly.
Attack ships were the most common warships available to the Covenant, but were considered beneath the notice of most Fleetmasters except for use as diversions to distract enemies from more valuable targets, generally being pawned off to Kig-Yar or Jiralhanae and other profit-focused crews. They were usually assigned to patrol Covenant space, inspecting and escorting shipping that carried the tithes of Covenant worlds or pilgrims to High Charity. Sangheili crews that found themselves assigned to such vessels tended to regard them as inglorious assignments, eager to prove themselves worthy of transfer to more prestigious assignments in battle, such as examiner type ships, but were unenthusiastic about protecting executioner ships when assigned as escorts.
Coadjutators served as special-purpose vessels originally built for the Covenant ecclesiarchy, and as such their initial role was obscured in record. Many of them wound up serving exclusively as escorts and occupational security roles.
Conservators are conventional warships in the Covenant, elevated with a greater purpose and degree of prestige. They were usually found operating as squires for pilgrim ships, missionaries and emissaries from High Charity.
Examiners were valuable and rare ships usually crewed by experienced crews, with personnel considered judicious and bold. They frequently employed Forerunner technology in their construction, and Ministries that wished to crew and deploy one needed direct approval from a Hierarch. However, they were easily reassigned. Examiners were generally commissioned during times of great need, and allocated to only those who had proven themselves.
Exarchs were the largest and most powerful warships within their respective domains, and even the Covenant as a whole. Their crews saw the opportunity to serve on these vessels as an unimpeachable honour.
The size and role of the may suggest it to be of exarch status.
Executioners were unusual in Covenant ship standards, as they represented some of the only warships built with no other goal in mind except for warfare. Due to this, they were typically regarded as a distasteful reminder by the Prophets that the Great Journey depended on the use of violence, and were assigned far from High Charity during times of peace, across the Covenant's expansive border. This made them difficult to bring to bear when the Covenant mobilized for war with humanity, delaying their assignment to the frontlines by years. Their sheer destructive potential meant their construction was rationed.
Procurators were far more common, but were independent of military chains of command or system governors, though usually complied to requests, and needed Hierarch approval to attach to fleets in order to curb the power of the Sangheili. They were also commanded by San'Shyuum Shipmasters, rather than Sangheili, further forcing Sangheili fleets and colonies to depend on the Prophets for their supply lines. When High Charity Fall of High Charity|fell to the Flood and the Prophet of Truth was killed, many of these ships departed Covenant space with their Prophet commanders and loyal escorts, joining the San'Shyuum flotilla|rest of the San'Shyuum fleeing Sangheili retribution, making them a rare sight in the post-war era. Procurators often housed Assembly Forges, food reserves and the Huragok personnel needed to maintain Forerunner equipment.
Procurator ships include the following;
Vestiges were old warships that served during the War of Beginnings, when the Sangheili were united against the overwhelming power of the San'Shyuum's Keyship. Fleets of Vestiges were sent off to drift in space or buried in caverns beneath airless worlds, with any records of their history or battle-honors deleted from all data archives by clans that wished to overturn the Writ of Union. Forgotten by all but a few dedicated lineages, these vessels were reclaimed by Sangheili Covenant remnants after the Great Schism to be pitted against other Sangheili forces and burn what they were built to protect.
Vestige ship classes are generally named after sailing ships from the Age of Sail.
Vestige warships include the following;
Barque
The , constructed in the first two years of the Covenant's existence, may also count as a Vestige warship.
Three-letter classification codes
During the war, the United Nations Space Command and Office of Naval Intelligence attempted to classify Covenant ships based on observation and limited intelligence about the Covenant's own ship codes. This allowed UNSC analysts to create a schema for identifying Covenant vessel types roughly synonymous with human naval Hull classification symbol|hull codes - though these classifications do not map perfectly to human standards. These codes take the form of three letters forming the Covenant ship's "class" name (ie CCS-class), with each of the three letter codes derived from the Covenant's internal mission codes. Following the end of the war with the Covenant, cooperation with the Swords of Sanghelios revealed the true complex extent of Covenant naval organisation to human analysts, and a shift away from the three-letter codes.
The three-letter codes are transliterations of a given ship's primary, secondary and tertiary classification codes used in the Covenant fleet, with the letters' ordering determining the importance of that feature, role or ability in the ship's mission. For example, the ORS-class heavy cruiser would be broken down as follows;
O - Ordained: This is not a mission type but instead denotes that the ship is enhanced with Forerunner technology such as a relic core. R - Reverence: Reverence mission codes mean that a ship is capable of conducting reconnaissance missions and excavating Forerunner artefacts. S - Salvation: Salvation mission codes refer to a dedicated warship capable of cleansing their enemies with "holy fire". As such, the ORS' primary characteristic is that it is a Forerunner-enhanced ship, primarily intended for reconnaissance and excavation missions - with pure combat only a tertiary focus. As such, Covenant ships (such as in the case of ''Incorruptible'') may sometimes be referred to off-hand as "''Reverence''"-class ships, though in reality any ship bearing the R in its letter code (such as the ORS and CRS-class cruisers, CAR-class frigate, etc) could be described as a ''Reverence''-class.
The known letters used in the classification system include A, C, D, O, P, R, S, and V. Of these known letters, only the O, R, and S designations are known (listed above), though it should be noted that the letter classification codes do not have any correspondence with the class designations used by the Covenant (detailed at the top of this article). Equally, it is unknown what significance repetition of the letters in a class name (such as the CCS-class) signifies. Due to the limited understanding of Covenant ship organisation and manufacture, some human-ascribed three-letter codes correspond to multiple individually-recognised design pattern variations, similarly to the errors present in their type classification system for ground equipment. For example, both the and s of assault carrier maintain the CAS hull code.
Carriers CSO-class supercarrier CAS-class assault carrier DDS-class carrier
Cruisers ORS-class heavy cruiser RCS-class armored cruiser CCS-class battlecruiser CRS-class light cruiser
Destroyers CPV-class heavy destroyer RPV-class light destroyer
Frigates CAR-class frigate SCC-class sword frigate
Corvettes and light warships SDV-class heavy corvette DAV-class light corvette DAS-class storm cutter
Support ships ADP-class escort DSC-class support ship
Sources
Category:Covenant ship classes|
|
The Covenant ship classification system is an organizational method that is used by the Covenant to categorize their warships. The Covenant's spacecraft classifications do not follow the standards typically used by humanity.
Major categories Analogous to the UNSC Navy's formalised starship classifications, the Covenant fleet is divided into several major groupings, each which fulfil a particular niche required by their navy. These terms may be occasionally referred to as a "class" name - for example, a ''Varric''-pattern heavy cruiser may sometimes be referred to as an examiner-class cruiser to distinguish it from the empire's other heavy cruiser classes.
Advocates served as the core of most Covenant fleets, and consist of frontline warships with crews eager for honour and victory. They carried out the orders of their superiors without question or delay.
While no presently-confirmed vessels yet fall into the advocate role, the and s and their predecessor, the , match the given description almost perfectly.
Attack ships were the most common warships available to the Covenant, but were considered beneath the notice of most Fleetmasters except for use as diversions to distract enemies from more valuable targets, generally being pawned off to Kig-Yar or Jiralhanae and other profit-focused crews. They were usually assigned to patrol Covenant space, inspecting and escorting shipping that carried the tithes of Covenant worlds or pilgrims to High Charity. Sangheili crews that found themselves assigned to such vessels tended to regard them as inglorious assignments, eager to prove themselves worthy of transfer to more prestigious assignments in battle, such as examiner type ships, but were unenthusiastic about protecting executioner ships when assigned as escorts.
Coadjutators served as special-purpose vessels originally built for the Covenant ecclesiarchy, and as such their initial role was obscured in record. Many of them wound up serving exclusively as escorts and occupational security roles.
Conservators are conventional warships in the Covenant, elevated with a greater purpose and degree of prestige. They were usually found operating as squires for pilgrim ships, missionaries and emissaries from High Charity.
Examiners were valuable and rare ships usually crewed by experienced crews, with personnel considered judicious and bold. They frequently employed Forerunner technology in their construction, and Ministries that wished to crew and deploy one needed direct approval from a Hierarch. However, they were easily reassigned. Examiners were generally commissioned during times of great need, and allocated to only those who had proven themselves.
Exarchs were the largest and most powerful warships within their respective domains, and even the Covenant as a whole. Their crews saw the opportunity to serve on these vessels as an unimpeachable honour.
The size and role of the may suggest it to be of exarch status.
Executioners were unusual in Covenant ship standards, as they represented some of the only warships built with no other goal in mind except for warfare. Due to this, they were typically regarded as a distasteful reminder by the Prophets that the Great Journey depended on the use of violence, and were assigned far from High Charity during times of peace, across the Covenant's expansive border. This made them difficult to bring to bear when the Covenant mobilized for war with humanity, delaying their assignment to the frontlines by years. Their sheer destructive potential meant their construction was rationed.
Procurators were far more common, but were independent of military chains of command or system governors, though usually complied to requests, and needed Hierarch approval to attach to fleets in order to curb the power of the Sangheili. They were also commanded by San'Shyuum Shipmasters, rather than Sangheili, further forcing Sangheili fleets and colonies to depend on the Prophets for their supply lines. When High Charity Fall of High Charity|fell to the Flood and the Prophet of Truth was killed, many of these ships departed Covenant space with their Prophet commanders and loyal escorts, joining the San'Shyuum flotilla|rest of the San'Shyuum fleeing Sangheili retribution, making them a rare sight in the post-war era. Procurators often housed Assembly Forges, food reserves and the Huragok personnel needed to maintain Forerunner equipment.
Procurator ships include the following;
Vestiges were old warships that served during the War of Beginnings, when the Sangheili were united against the overwhelming power of the San'Shyuum's Keyship. Fleets of Vestiges were sent off to drift in space or buried in caverns beneath airless worlds, with any records of their history or battle-honors deleted from all data archives by clans that wished to overturn the Writ of Union. Forgotten by all but a few dedicated lineages, these vessels were reclaimed by Sangheili Covenant remnants after the Great Schism to be pitted against other Sangheili forces and burn what they were built to protect.
Vestige ship classes are generally named after sailing ships from the Age of Sail.
Vestige warships include the following;
Barque
The , constructed in the first two years of the Covenant's existence, may also count as a Vestige warship.
Three-letter classification codes
During the war, the United Nations Space Command and Office of Naval Intelligence attempted to classify Covenant ships based on observation and limited intelligence about the Covenant's own ship codes. This allowed UNSC analysts to create a schema for identifying Covenant vessel types roughly synonymous with human naval Hull classification symbol|hull codes - though these classifications do not map perfectly to human standards. These codes take the form of three letters forming the Covenant ship's "class" name (ie CCS-class), with each of the three letter codes derived from the Covenant's internal mission codes. Following the end of the war with the Covenant, cooperation with the Swords of Sanghelios revealed the true complex extent of Covenant naval organisation to human analysts, and a shift away from the three-letter codes.
The three-letter codes are transliterations of a given ship's primary, secondary and tertiary classification codes used in the Covenant fleet, with the letters' ordering determining the importance of that feature, role or ability in the ship's mission. For example, the ORS-class heavy cruiser would be broken down as follows;
O - Ordained: This is not a mission type but instead denotes that the ship is enhanced with Forerunner technology such as a relic core. R - Reverence: Reverence mission codes mean that a ship is capable of conducting reconnaissance missions and excavating Forerunner artefacts. S - Salvation: Salvation mission codes refer to a dedicated warship capable of cleansing their enemies with "holy fire". As such, the ORS' primary characteristic is that it is a Forerunner-enhanced ship, primarily intended for reconnaissance and excavation missions - with pure combat only a tertiary focus. As such, Covenant ships (such as in the case of ''Incorruptible'') may sometimes be referred to off-hand as "''Reverence''"-class ships, though in reality any ship bearing the R in its letter code (such as the ORS and CRS-class cruisers, CAR-class frigate, etc) could be described as a ''Reverence''-class.
The known letters used in the classification system include A, C, D, O, P, R, S, and V. Of these known letters, only the O, R, and S designations are known (listed above), though it should be noted that the letter classification codes do not have any correspondence with the class designations used by the Covenant (detailed at the top of this article). Equally, it is unknown what significance repetition of the letters in a class name (such as the CCS-class) signifies. Due to the limited understanding of Covenant ship organisation and manufacture, some human-ascribed three-letter codes correspond to multiple individually-recognised design pattern variations, similarly to the errors present in their type classification system for ground equipment. For example, both the and s of assault carrier maintain the CAS hull code.
Carriers CSO-class supercarrier CAS-class assault carrier DDS-class carrier
Cruisers ORS-class heavy cruiser RCS-class armored cruiser CCS-class battlecruiser CRS-class light cruiser
Destroyers CPV-class heavy destroyer RPV-class light destroyer
Frigates CAR-class frigate SCC-class sword frigate
Corvettes and light warships SDV-class heavy corvette DAV-class light corvette DAS-class storm cutter
Support ships ADP-class escort DSC-class support ship
Sources
Category:Covenant ship classes|
|
The Covenant ship classification system is an organizational method that is used by the Covenant to categorize their warships. The Covenant's spacecraft classifications do not follow the standards typically used by humanity.
Major categories Analogous to the UNSC Navy's formalised starship classifications, the Covenant fleet is divided into several major groupings, each which fulfil a particular niche required by their navy. These terms may be occasionally referred to as a "class" name - for example, a ''Varric''-pattern heavy cruiser may sometimes be referred to as an examiner-class cruiser to distinguish it from the empire's other heavy cruiser classes.
Advocates served as the core of most Covenant fleets, and consist of frontline warships with crews eager for honour and victory. They carried out the orders of their superiors without question or delay.
While no presently-confirmed vessels yet fall into the advocate role, the and s and their predecessor, the , match the given description almost perfectly.
Attack ships were the most common warships available to the Covenant, but were considered beneath the notice of most Fleetmasters except for use as diversions to distract enemies from more valuable targets, generally being pawned off to Kig-Yar or Jiralhanae and other profit-focused crews. They were usually assigned to patrol Covenant space, inspecting and escorting shipping that carried the tithes of Covenant worlds or pilgrims to High Charity. Sangheili crews that found themselves assigned to such vessels tended to regard them as inglorious assignments, eager to prove themselves worthy of transfer to more prestigious assignments in battle, such as examiner type ships, but were unenthusiastic about protecting executioner ships when assigned as escorts.
Coadjutators served as special-purpose vessels originally built for the Covenant ecclesiarchy, and as such their initial role was obscured in record. Many of them wound up serving exclusively as escorts and occupational security roles.
Conservators are conventional warships in the Covenant, elevated with a greater purpose and degree of prestige. They were usually found operating as squires for pilgrim ships, missionaries and emissaries from High Charity.
Examiners were valuable and rare ships usually crewed by experienced crews, with personnel considered judicious and bold. They frequently employed Forerunner technology in their construction, and Ministries that wished to crew and deploy one needed direct approval from a Hierarch. However, they were easily reassigned. Examiners were generally commissioned during times of great need, and allocated to only those who had proven themselves.
Exarchs were the largest and most powerful warships within their respective domains, and even the Covenant as a whole. Their crews saw the opportunity to serve on these vessels as an unimpeachable honour.
The size and role of the may suggest it to be of exarch status.
Executioners were unusual in Covenant ship standards, as they represented some of the only warships built with no other goal in mind except for warfare. Due to this, they were typically regarded as a distasteful reminder by the Prophets that the Great Journey depended on the use of violence, and were assigned far from High Charity during times of peace, across the Covenant's expansive border. This made them difficult to bring to bear when the Covenant mobilized for war with humanity, delaying their assignment to the frontlines by years. Their sheer destructive potential meant their construction was rationed.
Procurators were far more common, but were independent of military chains of command or system governors, though usually complied to requests, and needed Hierarch approval to attach to fleets in order to curb the power of the Sangheili. They were also commanded by San'Shyuum Shipmasters, rather than Sangheili, further forcing Sangheili fleets and colonies to depend on the Prophets for their supply lines. When High Charity Fall of High Charity|fell to the Flood and the Prophet of Truth was killed, many of these ships departed Covenant space with their Prophet commanders and loyal escorts, joining the San'Shyuum flotilla|rest of the San'Shyuum fleeing Sangheili retribution, making them a rare sight in the post-war era. Procurators often housed Assembly Forges, food reserves and the Huragok personnel needed to maintain Forerunner equipment.
Procurator ships include the following;
Vestiges were old warships that served during the War of Beginnings, when the Sangheili were united against the overwhelming power of the San'Shyuum's Keyship. Fleets of Vestiges were sent off to drift in space or buried in caverns beneath airless worlds, with any records of their history or battle-honors deleted from all data archives by clans that wished to overturn the Writ of Union. Forgotten by all but a few dedicated lineages, these vessels were reclaimed by Sangheili Covenant remnants after the Great Schism to be pitted against other Sangheili forces and burn what they were built to protect.
Vestige ship classes are generally named after sailing ships from the Age of Sail.
Vestige warships include the following;
Barque
The , constructed in the first two years of the Covenant's existence, may also count as a Vestige warship.
Three-letter classification codes
During the war, the United Nations Space Command and Office of Naval Intelligence attempted to classify Covenant ships based on observation and limited intelligence about the Covenant's own ship codes. This allowed UNSC analysts to create a schema for identifying Covenant vessel types roughly synonymous with human naval Hull classification symbol|hull codes - though these classifications do not map perfectly to human standards. These codes take the form of three letters forming the Covenant ship's "class" name (ie CCS-class), with each of the three letter codes derived from the Covenant's internal mission codes. Following the end of the war with the Covenant, cooperation with the Swords of Sanghelios revealed the true complex extent of Covenant naval organisation to human analysts, and a shift away from the three-letter codes.
The three-letter codes are transliterations of a given ship's primary, secondary and tertiary classification codes used in the Covenant fleet, with the letters' ordering determining the importance of that feature, role or ability in the ship's mission. For example, the ORS-class heavy cruiser would be broken down as follows;
O - Ordained: This is not a mission type but instead denotes that the ship is enhanced with Forerunner technology such as a relic core. R - Reverence: Reverence mission codes mean that a ship is capable of conducting reconnaissance missions and excavating Forerunner artefacts. S - Salvation: Salvation mission codes refer to a dedicated warship capable of cleansing their enemies with "holy fire". As such, the ORS' primary characteristic is that it is a Forerunner-enhanced ship, primarily intended for reconnaissance and excavation missions - with pure combat only a tertiary focus. As such, Covenant ships (such as in the case of ''Incorruptible'') may sometimes be referred to off-hand as "''Reverence''"-class ships, though in reality any ship bearing the R in its letter code (such as the ORS and CRS-class cruisers, CAR-class frigate, etc) could be described as a ''Reverence''-class.
The known letters used in the classification system include A, C, D, O, P, R, S, and V. Of these known letters, only the O, R, and S designations are known (listed above), though it should be noted that the letter classification codes do not have any correspondence with the class designations used by the Covenant (detailed at the top of this article). Equally, it is unknown what significance repetition of the letters in a class name (such as the CCS-class) signifies. Due to the limited understanding of Covenant ship organisation and manufacture, some human-ascribed three-letter codes correspond to multiple individually-recognised design pattern variations, similarly to the errors present in their type classification system for ground equipment. For example, both the and s of assault carrier maintain the CAS hull code.
Carriers CSO-class supercarrier CAS-class assault carrier DDS-class carrier
Cruisers ORS-class heavy cruiser RCS-class armored cruiser CCS-class battlecruiser CRS-class light cruiser
Destroyers CPV-class heavy destroyer RPV-class light destroyer
Frigates CAR-class frigate SCC-class sword frigate
Corvettes and light warships SDV-class heavy corvette DAV-class light corvette DAS-class storm cutter
Support ships ADP-class escort DSC-class support ship
Sources
Category:Covenant ship classes|
|
The Covenant ship classification system is an organizational method that is used by the Covenant to categorize their warships. The Covenant's spacecraft classifications do not follow the standards typically used by humanity.
Major categories Analogous to the UNSC Navy's formalised starship classifications, the Covenant fleet is divided into several major groupings, each which fulfil a particular niche required by their navy. These terms may be occasionally referred to as a "class" name - for example, a ''Varric''-pattern heavy cruiser may sometimes be referred to as an examiner-class cruiser to distinguish it from the empire's other heavy cruiser classes.
Advocates served as the core of most Covenant fleets, and consist of frontline warships with crews eager for honour and victory. They carried out the orders of their superiors without question or delay.
While no presently-confirmed vessels yet fall into the advocate role, the and s and their predecessor, the , match the given description almost perfectly.
Attack ships were the most common warships available to the Covenant, but were considered beneath the notice of most Fleetmasters except for use as diversions to distract enemies from more valuable targets, generally being pawned off to Kig-Yar or Jiralhanae and other profit-focused crews. They were usually assigned to patrol Covenant space, inspecting and escorting shipping that carried the tithes of Covenant worlds or pilgrims to High Charity. Sangheili crews that found themselves assigned to such vessels tended to regard them as inglorious assignments, eager to prove themselves worthy of transfer to more prestigious assignments in battle, such as examiner type ships, but were unenthusiastic about protecting executioner ships when assigned as escorts.
Coadjutators served as special-purpose vessels originally built for the Covenant ecclesiarchy, and as such their initial role was obscured in record. Many of them wound up serving exclusively as escorts and occupational security roles.
Conservators are conventional warships in the Covenant, elevated with a greater purpose and degree of prestige. They were usually found operating as squires for pilgrim ships, missionaries and emissaries from High Charity.
Examiners were valuable and rare ships usually crewed by experienced crews, with personnel considered judicious and bold. They frequently employed Forerunner technology in their construction, and Ministries that wished to crew and deploy one needed direct approval from a Hierarch. However, they were easily reassigned. Examiners were generally commissioned during times of great need, and allocated to only those who had proven themselves.
Exarchs were the largest and most powerful warships within their respective domains, and even the Covenant as a whole. Their crews saw the opportunity to serve on these vessels as an unimpeachable honour.
The size and role of the may suggest it to be of exarch status.
Executioners were unusual in Covenant ship standards, as they represented some of the only warships built with no other goal in mind except for warfare. Due to this, they were typically regarded as a distasteful reminder by the Prophets that the Great Journey depended on the use of violence, and were assigned far from High Charity during times of peace, across the Covenant's expansive border. This made them difficult to bring to bear when the Covenant mobilized for war with humanity, delaying their assignment to the frontlines by years. Their sheer destructive potential meant their construction was rationed.
Procurators were far more common, but were independent of military chains of command or system governors, though usually complied to requests, and needed Hierarch approval to attach to fleets in order to curb the power of the Sangheili. They were also commanded by San'Shyuum Shipmasters, rather than Sangheili, further forcing Sangheili fleets and colonies to depend on the Prophets for their supply lines. When High Charity Fall of High Charity|fell to the Flood and the Prophet of Truth was killed, many of these ships departed Covenant space with their Prophet commanders and loyal escorts, joining the San'Shyuum flotilla|rest of the San'Shyuum fleeing Sangheili retribution, making them a rare sight in the post-war era. Procurators often housed Assembly Forges, food reserves and the Huragok personnel needed to maintain Forerunner equipment.
Procurator ships include the following;
Vestiges were old warships that served during the War of Beginnings, when the Sangheili were united against the overwhelming power of the San'Shyuum's Keyship. Fleets of Vestiges were sent off to drift in space or buried in caverns beneath airless worlds, with any records of their history or battle-honors deleted from all data archives by clans that wished to overturn the Writ of Union. Forgotten by all but a few dedicated lineages, these vessels were reclaimed by Sangheili Covenant remnants after the Great Schism to be pitted against other Sangheili forces and burn what they were built to protect.
Vestige ship classes are generally named after sailing ships from the Age of Sail.
Vestige warships include the following;
Barque
The , constructed in the first two years of the Covenant's existence, may also count as a Vestige warship.
Three-letter classification codes
During the war, the United Nations Space Command and Office of Naval Intelligence attempted to classify Covenant ships based on observation and limited intelligence about the Covenant's own ship codes. This allowed UNSC analysts to create a schema for identifying Covenant vessel types roughly synonymous with human naval Hull classification symbol|hull codes - though these classifications do not map perfectly to human standards. These codes take the form of three letters forming the Covenant ship's "class" name (ie CCS-class), with each of the three letter codes derived from the Covenant's internal mission codes. Following the end of the war with the Covenant, cooperation with the Swords of Sanghelios revealed the true complex extent of Covenant naval organisation to human analysts, and a shift away from the three-letter codes.
The three-letter codes are transliterations of a given ship's primary, secondary and tertiary classification codes used in the Covenant fleet, with the letters' ordering determining the importance of that feature, role or ability in the ship's mission. For example, the ORS-class heavy cruiser would be broken down as follows;
O - Ordained: This is not a mission type but instead denotes that the ship is enhanced with Forerunner technology such as a relic core. R - Reverence: Reverence mission codes mean that a ship is capable of conducting reconnaissance missions and excavating Forerunner artefacts. S - Salvation: Salvation mission codes refer to a dedicated warship capable of cleansing their enemies with "holy fire". As such, the ORS' primary characteristic is that it is a Forerunner-enhanced ship, primarily intended for reconnaissance and excavation missions - with pure combat only a tertiary focus. As such, Covenant ships (such as in the case of ''Incorruptible'') may sometimes be referred to off-hand as "''Reverence''"-class ships, though in reality any ship bearing the R in its letter code (such as the ORS and CRS-class cruisers, CAR-class frigate, etc) could be described as a ''Reverence''-class.
The known letters used in the classification system include A, C, D, O, P, R, S, and V. Of these known letters, only the O, R, and S designations are known (listed above), though it should be noted that the letter classification codes do not have any correspondence with the class designations used by the Covenant (detailed at the top of this article). Equally, it is unknown what significance repetition of the letters in a class name (such as the CCS-class) signifies. Due to the limited understanding of Covenant ship organisation and manufacture, some human-ascribed three-letter codes correspond to multiple individually-recognised design pattern variations, similarly to the errors present in their type classification system for ground equipment. For example, both the and s of assault carrier maintain the CAS hull code.
Carriers CSO-class supercarrier CAS-class assault carrier DDS-class carrier
Cruisers ORS-class heavy cruiser RCS-class armored cruiser CCS-class battlecruiser CRS-class light cruiser
Destroyers CPV-class heavy destroyer RPV-class light destroyer
Frigates CAR-class frigate SCC-class sword frigate
Corvettes and light warships SDV-class heavy corvette DAV-class light corvette DAS-class storm cutter
Support ships ADP-class escort DSC-class support ship
Sources
Category:Covenant ship classes|
|
The Covenant ship classification system is an organizational method that is used by the Covenant to categorize their warships. The Covenant's spacecraft classifications do not follow the standards typically used by humanity.
Major categories Analogous to the UNSC Navy's formalised starship classifications, the Covenant fleet is divided into several major groupings, each which fulfil a particular niche required by their navy. These terms may be occasionally referred to as a "class" name - for example, a ''Varric''-pattern heavy cruiser may sometimes be referred to as an examiner-class cruiser to distinguish it from the empire's other heavy cruiser classes.
Advocates served as the core of most Covenant fleets, and consist of frontline warships with crews eager for honour and victory. They carried out the orders of their superiors without question or delay.
While no presently-confirmed vessels yet fall into the advocate role, the and s and their predecessor, the , match the given description almost perfectly.
Attack ships were the most common warships available to the Covenant, but were considered beneath the notice of most Fleetmasters except for use as diversions to distract enemies from more valuable targets, generally being pawned off to Kig-Yar or Jiralhanae and other profit-focused crews. They were usually assigned to patrol Covenant space, inspecting and escorting shipping that carried the tithes of Covenant worlds or pilgrims to High Charity. Sangheili crews that found themselves assigned to such vessels tended to regard them as inglorious assignments, eager to prove themselves worthy of transfer to more prestigious assignments in battle, such as examiner type ships, but were unenthusiastic about protecting executioner ships when assigned as escorts.
Coadjutators served as special-purpose vessels originally built for the Covenant ecclesiarchy, and as such their initial role was obscured in record. Many of them wound up serving exclusively as escorts and occupational security roles.
Conservators are conventional warships in the Covenant, elevated with a greater purpose and degree of prestige. They were usually found operating as squires for pilgrim ships, missionaries and emissaries from High Charity.
Examiners were valuable and rare ships usually crewed by experienced crews, with personnel considered judicious and bold. They frequently employed Forerunner technology in their construction, and Ministries that wished to crew and deploy one needed direct approval from a Hierarch. However, they were easily reassigned. Examiners were generally commissioned during times of great need, and allocated to only those who had proven themselves.
Exarchs were the largest and most powerful warships within their respective domains, and even the Covenant as a whole. Their crews saw the opportunity to serve on these vessels as an unimpeachable honour.
The size and role of the may suggest it to be of exarch status.
Executioners were unusual in Covenant ship standards, as they represented some of the only warships built with no other goal in mind except for warfare. Due to this, they were typically regarded as a distasteful reminder by the Prophets that the Great Journey depended on the use of violence, and were assigned far from High Charity during times of peace, across the Covenant's expansive border. This made them difficult to bring to bear when the Covenant mobilized for war with humanity, delaying their assignment to the frontlines by years. Their sheer destructive potential meant their construction was rationed.
Procurators were far more common, but were independent of military chains of command or system governors, though usually complied to requests, and needed Hierarch approval to attach to fleets in order to curb the power of the Sangheili. They were also commanded by San'Shyuum Shipmasters, rather than Sangheili, further forcing Sangheili fleets and colonies to depend on the Prophets for their supply lines. When High Charity Fall of High Charity|fell to the Flood and the Prophet of Truth was killed, many of these ships departed Covenant space with their Prophet commanders and loyal escorts, joining the San'Shyuum flotilla|rest of the San'Shyuum fleeing Sangheili retribution, making them a rare sight in the post-war era. Procurators often housed Assembly Forges, food reserves and the Huragok personnel needed to maintain Forerunner equipment.
Procurator ships include the following;
Vestiges were old warships that served during the War of Beginnings, when the Sangheili were united against the overwhelming power of the San'Shyuum's Keyship. Fleets of Vestiges were sent off to drift in space or buried in caverns beneath airless worlds, with any records of their history or battle-honors deleted from all data archives by clans that wished to overturn the Writ of Union. Forgotten by all but a few dedicated lineages, these vessels were reclaimed by Sangheili Covenant remnants after the Great Schism to be pitted against other Sangheili forces and burn what they were built to protect.
Vestige ship classes are generally named after sailing ships from the Age of Sail.
Vestige warships include the following;
Barque
The , constructed in the first two years of the Covenant's existence, may also count as a Vestige warship.
Three-letter classification codes
During the war, the United Nations Space Command and Office of Naval Intelligence attempted to classify Covenant ships based on observation and limited intelligence about the Covenant's own ship codes. This allowed UNSC analysts to create a schema for identifying Covenant vessel types roughly synonymous with human naval Hull classification symbol|hull codes - though these classifications do not map perfectly to human standards. These codes take the form of three letters forming the Covenant ship's "class" name (ie CCS-class), with each of the three letter codes derived from the Covenant's internal mission codes. Following the end of the war with the Covenant, cooperation with the Swords of Sanghelios revealed the true complex extent of Covenant naval organisation to human analysts, and a shift away from the three-letter codes.
The three-letter codes are transliterations of a given ship's primary, secondary and tertiary classification codes used in the Covenant fleet, with the letters' ordering determining the importance of that feature, role or ability in the ship's mission. For example, the ORS-class heavy cruiser would be broken down as follows;
O - Ordained: This is not a mission type but instead denotes that the ship is enhanced with Forerunner technology such as a relic core. R - Reverence: Reverence mission codes mean that a ship is capable of conducting reconnaissance missions and excavating Forerunner artefacts. S - Salvation: Salvation mission codes refer to a dedicated warship capable of cleansing their enemies with "holy fire". As such, the ORS' primary characteristic is that it is a Forerunner-enhanced ship, primarily intended for reconnaissance and excavation missions - with pure combat only a tertiary focus. As such, Covenant ships (such as in the case of ''Incorruptible'') may sometimes be referred to off-hand as "''Reverence''"-class ships, though in reality any ship bearing the R in its letter code (such as the ORS and CRS-class cruisers, CAR-class frigate, etc) could be described as a ''Reverence''-class.
The known letters used in the classification system include A, C, D, O, P, R, S, and V. Of these known letters, only the O, R, and S designations are known (listed above), though it should be noted that the letter classification codes do not have any correspondence with the class designations used by the Covenant (detailed at the top of this article). Equally, it is unknown what significance repetition of the letters in a class name (such as the CCS-class) signifies. Due to the limited understanding of Covenant ship organisation and manufacture, some human-ascribed three-letter codes correspond to multiple individually-recognised design pattern variations, similarly to the errors present in their type classification system for ground equipment. For example, both the and s of assault carrier maintain the CAS hull code.
Carriers CSO-class supercarrier CAS-class assault carrier DDS-class carrier
Cruisers ORS-class heavy cruiser RCS-class armored cruiser CCS-class battlecruiser CRS-class light cruiser
Destroyers CPV-class heavy destroyer RPV-class light destroyer
Frigates CAR-class frigate SCC-class sword frigate
Corvettes and light warships SDV-class heavy corvette DAV-class light corvette DAS-class storm cutter
Support ships ADP-class escort DSC-class support ship
Sources
Category:Covenant ship classes|
|
The Covenant ship classification system is an organizational method that is used by the Covenant to categorize their warships. The Covenant's spacecraft classifications do not follow the standards typically used by humanity.
Major categories Analogous to the UNSC Navy's formalised starship classifications, the Covenant fleet is divided into several major groupings, each which fulfil a particular niche required by their navy. These terms may be occasionally referred to as a "class" name - for example, a ''Varric''-pattern heavy cruiser may sometimes be referred to as an examiner-class cruiser to distinguish it from the empire's other heavy cruiser classes.
Advocates served as the core of most Covenant fleets, and consist of frontline warships with crews eager for honour and victory. They carried out the orders of their superiors without question or delay.
While no presently-confirmed vessels yet fall into the advocate role, the and s and their predecessor, the , match the given description almost perfectly.
Attack ships were the most common warships available to the Covenant, but were considered beneath the notice of most Fleetmasters except for use as diversions to distract enemies from more valuable targets, generally being pawned off to Kig-Yar or Jiralhanae and other profit-focused crews. They were usually assigned to patrol Covenant space, inspecting and escorting shipping that carried the tithes of Covenant worlds or pilgrims to High Charity. Sangheili crews that found themselves assigned to such vessels tended to regard them as inglorious assignments, eager to prove themselves worthy of transfer to more prestigious assignments in battle, such as examiner type ships, but were unenthusiastic about protecting executioner ships when assigned as escorts.
Coadjutators served as special-purpose vessels originally built for the Covenant ecclesiarchy, and as such their initial role was obscured in record. Many of them wound up serving exclusively as escorts and occupational security roles.
Conservators are conventional warships in the Covenant, elevated with a greater purpose and degree of prestige. They were usually found operating as squires for pilgrim ships, missionaries and emissaries from High Charity.
Examiners were valuable and rare ships usually crewed by experienced crews, with personnel considered judicious and bold. They frequently employed Forerunner technology in their construction, and Ministries that wished to crew and deploy one needed direct approval from a Hierarch. However, they were easily reassigned. Examiners were generally commissioned during times of great need, and allocated to only those who had proven themselves.
Exarchs were the largest and most powerful warships within their respective domains, and even the Covenant as a whole. Their crews saw the opportunity to serve on these vessels as an unimpeachable honour.
The size and role of the may suggest it to be of exarch status.
Executioners were unusual in Covenant ship standards, as they represented some of the only warships built with no other goal in mind except for warfare. Due to this, they were typically regarded as a distasteful reminder by the Prophets that the Great Journey depended on the use of violence, and were assigned far from High Charity during times of peace, across the Covenant's expansive border. This made them difficult to bring to bear when the Covenant mobilized for war with humanity, delaying their assignment to the frontlines by years. Their sheer destructive potential meant their construction was rationed.
Procurators were far more common, but were independent of military chains of command or system governors, though usually complied to requests, and needed Hierarch approval to attach to fleets in order to curb the power of the Sangheili. They were also commanded by San'Shyuum Shipmasters, rather than Sangheili, further forcing Sangheili fleets and colonies to depend on the Prophets for their supply lines. When High Charity Fall of High Charity|fell to the Flood and the Prophet of Truth was killed, many of these ships departed Covenant space with their Prophet commanders and loyal escorts, joining the San'Shyuum flotilla|rest of the San'Shyuum fleeing Sangheili retribution, making them a rare sight in the post-war era. Procurators often housed Assembly Forges, food reserves and the Huragok personnel needed to maintain Forerunner equipment.
Procurator ships include the following;
Vestiges were old warships that served during the War of Beginnings, when the Sangheili were united against the overwhelming power of the San'Shyuum's Keyship. Fleets of Vestiges were sent off to drift in space or buried in caverns beneath airless worlds, with any records of their history or battle-honors deleted from all data archives by clans that wished to overturn the Writ of Union. Forgotten by all but a few dedicated lineages, these vessels were reclaimed by Sangheili Covenant remnants after the Great Schism to be pitted against other Sangheili forces and burn what they were built to protect.
Vestige ship classes are generally named after sailing ships from the Age of Sail.
Vestige warships include the following;
Barque
The , constructed in the first two years of the Covenant's existence, may also count as a Vestige warship.
Three-letter classification codes
During the war, the United Nations Space Command and Office of Naval Intelligence attempted to classify Covenant ships based on observation and limited intelligence about the Covenant's own ship codes. This allowed UNSC analysts to create a schema for identifying Covenant vessel types roughly synonymous with human naval Hull classification symbol|hull codes - though these classifications do not map perfectly to human standards. These codes take the form of three letters forming the Covenant ship's "class" name (ie CCS-class), with each of the three letter codes derived from the Covenant's internal mission codes. Following the end of the war with the Covenant, cooperation with the Swords of Sanghelios revealed the true complex extent of Covenant naval organisation to human analysts, and a shift away from the three-letter codes.
The three-letter codes are transliterations of a given ship's primary, secondary and tertiary classification codes used in the Covenant fleet, with the letters' ordering determining the importance of that feature, role or ability in the ship's mission. For example, the ORS-class heavy cruiser would be broken down as follows;
O - Ordained: This is not a mission type but instead denotes that the ship is enhanced with Forerunner technology such as a relic core. R - Reverence: Reverence mission codes mean that a ship is capable of conducting reconnaissance missions and excavating Forerunner artefacts. S - Salvation: Salvation mission codes refer to a dedicated warship capable of cleansing their enemies with "holy fire". As such, the ORS' primary characteristic is that it is a Forerunner-enhanced ship, primarily intended for reconnaissance and excavation missions - with pure combat only a tertiary focus. As such, Covenant ships (such as in the case of ''Incorruptible'') may sometimes be referred to off-hand as "''Reverence''"-class ships, though in reality any ship bearing the R in its letter code (such as the ORS and CRS-class cruisers, CAR-class frigate, etc) could be described as a ''Reverence''-class.
The known letters used in the classification system include A, C, D, O, P, R, S, and V. Of these known letters, only the O, R, and S designations are known (listed above), though it should be noted that the letter classification codes do not have any correspondence with the class designations used by the Covenant (detailed at the top of this article). Equally, it is unknown what significance repetition of the letters in a class name (such as the CCS-class) signifies. Due to the limited understanding of Covenant ship organisation and manufacture, some human-ascribed three-letter codes correspond to multiple individually-recognised design pattern variations, similarly to the errors present in their type classification system for ground equipment. For example, both the and s of assault carrier maintain the CAS hull code.
Carriers CSO-class supercarrier CAS-class assault carrier DDS-class carrier
Cruisers ORS-class heavy cruiser RCS-class armored cruiser CCS-class battlecruiser CRS-class light cruiser
Destroyers CPV-class heavy destroyer RPV-class light destroyer
Frigates CAR-class frigate SCC-class sword frigate
Corvettes and light warships SDV-class heavy corvette DAV-class light corvette DAS-class storm cutter
Support ships ADP-class escort DSC-class support ship
Sources
Category:Covenant ship classes|
|
The Covenant ship classification system is an organizational method that is used by the Covenant to categorize their warships. The Covenant's spacecraft classifications do not follow the standards typically used by humanity.
Major categories Analogous to the UNSC Navy's formalised starship classifications, the Covenant fleet is divided into several major groupings, each which fulfil a particular niche required by their navy. These terms may be occasionally referred to as a "class" name - for example, a ''Varric''-pattern heavy cruiser may sometimes be referred to as an examiner-class cruiser to distinguish it from the empire's other heavy cruiser classes.
Advocates served as the core of most Covenant fleets, and consist of frontline warships with crews eager for honour and victory. They carried out the orders of their superiors without question or delay.
While no presently-confirmed vessels yet fall into the advocate role, the and s and their predecessor, the , match the given description almost perfectly.
Attack ships were the most common warships available to the Covenant, but were considered beneath the notice of most Fleetmasters except for use as diversions to distract enemies from more valuable targets, generally being pawned off to Kig-Yar or Jiralhanae and other profit-focused crews. They were usually assigned to patrol Covenant space, inspecting and escorting shipping that carried the tithes of Covenant worlds or pilgrims to High Charity. Sangheili crews that found themselves assigned to such vessels tended to regard them as inglorious assignments, eager to prove themselves worthy of transfer to more prestigious assignments in battle, such as examiner type ships, but were unenthusiastic about protecting executioner ships when assigned as escorts.
Coadjutators served as special-purpose vessels originally built for the Covenant ecclesiarchy, and as such their initial role was obscured in record. Many of them wound up serving exclusively as escorts and occupational security roles.
Conservators are conventional warships in the Covenant, elevated with a greater purpose and degree of prestige. They were usually found operating as squires for pilgrim ships, missionaries and emissaries from High Charity.
Examiners were valuable and rare ships usually crewed by experienced crews, with personnel considered judicious and bold. They frequently employed Forerunner technology in their construction, and Ministries that wished to crew and deploy one needed direct approval from a Hierarch. However, they were easily reassigned. Examiners were generally commissioned during times of great need, and allocated to only those who had proven themselves.
Exarchs were the largest and most powerful warships within their respective domains, and even the Covenant as a whole. Their crews saw the opportunity to serve on these vessels as an unimpeachable honour.
The size and role of the may suggest it to be of exarch status.
Executioners were unusual in Covenant ship standards, as they represented some of the only warships built with no other goal in mind except for warfare. Due to this, they were typically regarded as a distasteful reminder by the Prophets that the Great Journey depended on the use of violence, and were assigned far from High Charity during times of peace, across the Covenant's expansive border. This made them difficult to bring to bear when the Covenant mobilized for war with humanity, delaying their assignment to the frontlines by years. Their sheer destructive potential meant their construction was rationed.
Procurators were far more common, but were independent of military chains of command or system governors, though usually complied to requests, and needed Hierarch approval to attach to fleets in order to curb the power of the Sangheili. They were also commanded by San'Shyuum Shipmasters, rather than Sangheili, further forcing Sangheili fleets and colonies to depend on the Prophets for their supply lines. When High Charity Fall of High Charity|fell to the Flood and the Prophet of Truth was killed, many of these ships departed Covenant space with their Prophet commanders and loyal escorts, joining the San'Shyuum flotilla|rest of the San'Shyuum fleeing Sangheili retribution, making them a rare sight in the post-war era. Procurators often housed Assembly Forges, food reserves and the Huragok personnel needed to maintain Forerunner equipment.
Procurator ships include the following;
Vestiges were old warships that served during the War of Beginnings, when the Sangheili were united against the overwhelming power of the San'Shyuum's Keyship. Fleets of Vestiges were sent off to drift in space or buried in caverns beneath airless worlds, with any records of their history or battle-honors deleted from all data archives by clans that wished to overturn the Writ of Union. Forgotten by all but a few dedicated lineages, these vessels were reclaimed by Sangheili Covenant remnants after the Great Schism to be pitted against other Sangheili forces and burn what they were built to protect.
Vestige ship classes are generally named after sailing ships from the Age of Sail.
Vestige warships include the following;
Barque
The , constructed in the first two years of the Covenant's existence, may also count as a Vestige warship.
Three-letter classification codes
During the war, the United Nations Space Command and Office of Naval Intelligence attempted to classify Covenant ships based on observation and limited intelligence about the Covenant's own ship codes. This allowed UNSC analysts to create a schema for identifying Covenant vessel types roughly synonymous with human naval Hull classification symbol|hull codes - though these classifications do not map perfectly to human standards. These codes take the form of three letters forming the Covenant ship's "class" name (ie CCS-class), with each of the three letter codes derived from the Covenant's internal mission codes. Following the end of the war with the Covenant, cooperation with the Swords of Sanghelios revealed the true complex extent of Covenant naval organisation to human analysts, and a shift away from the three-letter codes.
The three-letter codes are transliterations of a given ship's primary, secondary and tertiary classification codes used in the Covenant fleet, with the letters' ordering determining the importance of that feature, role or ability in the ship's mission. For example, the ORS-class heavy cruiser would be broken down as follows;
O - Ordained: This is not a mission type but instead denotes that the ship is enhanced with Forerunner technology such as a relic core. R - Reverence: Reverence mission codes mean that a ship is capable of conducting reconnaissance missions and excavating Forerunner artefacts. S - Salvation: Salvation mission codes refer to a dedicated warship capable of cleansing their enemies with "holy fire". As such, the ORS' primary characteristic is that it is a Forerunner-enhanced ship, primarily intended for reconnaissance and excavation missions - with pure combat only a tertiary focus. As such, Covenant ships (such as in the case of ''Incorruptible'') may sometimes be referred to off-hand as "''Reverence''"-class ships, though in reality any ship bearing the R in its letter code (such as the ORS and CRS-class cruisers, CAR-class frigate, etc) could be described as a ''Reverence''-class.
The known letters used in the classification system include A, C, D, O, P, R, S, and V. Of these known letters, only the O, R, and S designations are known (listed above), though it should be noted that the letter classification codes do not have any correspondence with the class designations used by the Covenant (detailed at the top of this article). Equally, it is unknown what significance repetition of the letters in a class name (such as the CCS-class) signifies. Due to the limited understanding of Covenant ship organisation and manufacture, some human-ascribed three-letter codes correspond to multiple individually-recognised design pattern variations, similarly to the errors present in their type classification system for ground equipment. For example, both the and s of assault carrier maintain the CAS hull code.
Carriers CSO-class supercarrier CAS-class assault carrier DDS-class carrier
Cruisers ORS-class heavy cruiser RCS-class armored cruiser CCS-class battlecruiser CRS-class light cruiser
Destroyers CPV-class heavy destroyer RPV-class light destroyer
Frigates CAR-class frigate SCC-class sword frigate
Corvettes and light warships SDV-class heavy corvette DAV-class light corvette DAS-class storm cutter
Support ships ADP-class escort DSC-class support ship
Sources
Category:Covenant ship classes|
|
The Covenant ship classification system is an organizational method that is used by the Covenant to categorize their warships. The Covenant's spacecraft classifications do not follow the standards typically used by humanity.
Major categories Analogous to the UNSC Navy's formalised starship classifications, the Covenant fleet is divided into several major groupings, each which fulfil a particular niche required by their navy. These terms may be occasionally referred to as a "class" name - for example, a ''Varric''-pattern heavy cruiser may sometimes be referred to as an examiner-class cruiser to distinguish it from the empire's other heavy cruiser classes.
Advocates served as the core of most Covenant fleets, and consist of frontline warships with crews eager for honour and victory. They carried out the orders of their superiors without question or delay.
While no presently-confirmed vessels yet fall into the advocate role, the and s and their predecessor, the , match the given description almost perfectly.
Attack ships were the most common warships available to the Covenant, but were considered beneath the notice of most Fleetmasters except for use as diversions to distract enemies from more valuable targets, generally being pawned off to Kig-Yar or Jiralhanae and other profit-focused crews. They were usually assigned to patrol Covenant space, inspecting and escorting shipping that carried the tithes of Covenant worlds or pilgrims to High Charity. Sangheili crews that found themselves assigned to such vessels tended to regard them as inglorious assignments, eager to prove themselves worthy of transfer to more prestigious assignments in battle, such as examiner type ships, but were unenthusiastic about protecting executioner ships when assigned as escorts.
Coadjutators served as special-purpose vessels originally built for the Covenant ecclesiarchy, and as such their initial role was obscured in record. Many of them wound up serving exclusively as escorts and occupational security roles.
Conservators are conventional warships in the Covenant, elevated with a greater purpose and degree of prestige. They were usually found operating as squires for pilgrim ships, missionaries and emissaries from High Charity.
Examiners were valuable and rare ships usually crewed by experienced crews, with personnel considered judicious and bold. They frequently employed Forerunner technology in their construction, and Ministries that wished to crew and deploy one needed direct approval from a Hierarch. However, they were easily reassigned. Examiners were generally commissioned during times of great need, and allocated to only those who had proven themselves.
Exarchs were the largest and most powerful warships within their respective domains, and even the Covenant as a whole. Their crews saw the opportunity to serve on these vessels as an unimpeachable honour.
The size and role of the may suggest it to be of exarch status.
Executioners were unusual in Covenant ship standards, as they represented some of the only warships built with no other goal in mind except for warfare. Due to this, they were typically regarded as a distasteful reminder by the Prophets that the Great Journey depended on the use of violence, and were assigned far from High Charity during times of peace, across the Covenant's expansive border. This made them difficult to bring to bear when the Covenant mobilized for war with humanity, delaying their assignment to the frontlines by years. Their sheer destructive potential meant their construction was rationed.
Procurators were far more common, but were independent of military chains of command or system governors, though usually complied to requests, and needed Hierarch approval to attach to fleets in order to curb the power of the Sangheili. They were also commanded by San'Shyuum Shipmasters, rather than Sangheili, further forcing Sangheili fleets and colonies to depend on the Prophets for their supply lines. When High Charity Fall of High Charity|fell to the Flood and the Prophet of Truth was killed, many of these ships departed Covenant space with their Prophet commanders and loyal escorts, joining the San'Shyuum flotilla|rest of the San'Shyuum fleeing Sangheili retribution, making them a rare sight in the post-war era. Procurators often housed Assembly Forges, food reserves and the Huragok personnel needed to maintain Forerunner equipment.
Procurator ships include the following;
Vestiges were old warships that served during the War of Beginnings, when the Sangheili were united against the overwhelming power of the San'Shyuum's Keyship. Fleets of Vestiges were sent off to drift in space or buried in caverns beneath airless worlds, with any records of their history or battle-honors deleted from all data archives by clans that wished to overturn the Writ of Union. Forgotten by all but a few dedicated lineages, these vessels were reclaimed by Sangheili Covenant remnants after the Great Schism to be pitted against other Sangheili forces and burn what they were built to protect.
Vestige ship classes are generally named after sailing ships from the Age of Sail.
Vestige warships include the following;
Barque
The , constructed in the first two years of the Covenant's existence, may also count as a Vestige warship.
Three-letter classification codes
During the war, the United Nations Space Command and Office of Naval Intelligence attempted to classify Covenant ships based on observation and limited intelligence about the Covenant's own ship codes. This allowed UNSC analysts to create a schema for identifying Covenant vessel types roughly synonymous with human naval Hull classification symbol|hull codes - though these classifications do not map perfectly to human standards. These codes take the form of three letters forming the Covenant ship's "class" name (ie CCS-class), with each of the three letter codes derived from the Covenant's internal mission codes. Following the end of the war with the Covenant, cooperation with the Swords of Sanghelios revealed the true complex extent of Covenant naval organisation to human analysts, and a shift away from the three-letter codes.
The three-letter codes are transliterations of a given ship's primary, secondary and tertiary classification codes used in the Covenant fleet, with the letters' ordering determining the importance of that feature, role or ability in the ship's mission. For example, the ORS-class heavy cruiser would be broken down as follows;
O - Ordained: This is not a mission type but instead denotes that the ship is enhanced with Forerunner technology such as a relic core. R - Reverence: Reverence mission codes mean that a ship is capable of conducting reconnaissance missions and excavating Forerunner artefacts. S - Salvation: Salvation mission codes refer to a dedicated warship capable of cleansing their enemies with "holy fire". As such, the ORS' primary characteristic is that it is a Forerunner-enhanced ship, primarily intended for reconnaissance and excavation missions - with pure combat only a tertiary focus. As such, Covenant ships (such as in the case of ''Incorruptible'') may sometimes be referred to off-hand as "''Reverence''"-class ships, though in reality any ship bearing the R in its letter code (such as the ORS and CRS-class cruisers, CAR-class frigate, etc) could be described as a ''Reverence''-class.
The known letters used in the classification system include A, C, D, O, P, R, S, and V. Of these known letters, only the O, R, and S designations are known (listed above), though it should be noted that the letter classification codes do not have any correspondence with the class designations used by the Covenant (detailed at the top of this article). Equally, it is unknown what significance repetition of the letters in a class name (such as the CCS-class) signifies. Due to the limited understanding of Covenant ship organisation and manufacture, some human-ascribed three-letter codes correspond to multiple individually-recognised design pattern variations, similarly to the errors present in their type classification system for ground equipment. For example, both the and s of assault carrier maintain the CAS hull code.
Carriers CSO-class supercarrier CAS-class assault carrier DDS-class carrier
Cruisers ORS-class heavy cruiser RCS-class armored cruiser CCS-class battlecruiser CRS-class light cruiser
Destroyers CPV-class heavy destroyer RPV-class light destroyer
Frigates CAR-class frigate SCC-class sword frigate
Corvettes and light warships SDV-class heavy corvette DAV-class light corvette DAS-class storm cutter
Support ships ADP-class escort DSC-class support ship
Sources
Category:Covenant ship classes|
|
File:H2A - SpecOps deployed.jpg|thumb|300px|Covenant Special Operations soldiers deployed at the Threshold gas mine. Special Operations (SpecOps) was the primary division of the Covenant Special Warfare Group (SWG). They served in Special operations|specialized operations roles, and were generally tasked with unconventional warfare alongside stealth infiltration and classified missions personally comissioned by a San'Shyuum official.
Overview File:H3 CovenantDropPod Exiting.jpg|300px|thumb|Separatist SpecOps Officers deploying during the Battle of Voi.
Special Operations worked within SWG to conduct unconventional warfare initiatives, by way of stealth and infiltration. Their units typically worked alongside conventional Covenant military forces to infiltrate enemy fortifications and conduct advance reconnaissance, with their primary goals being to prevent an enemy force from responding to attack in as discreet and efficient a manner possible. However, SpecOps units may also work in the field in total isolation for long periods of time; these missions are often done via the direct orders of a Hierarchs|Hierarch and are extremely classified. When necessary, SpecOps forces may also be used to conduct guerilla warfare behind enemy lines or even conduct assassinations on high-value targets.
Although Special Operations serve in a broadly similar capacity to Stealth Sangheili|Stealth units, they are not one and the same. Stealth Sangheili units work as an offshoot of the SpecOps concept, and are instead organised under Covenant Fleet Security, with units spread throughout the mainline Covenant military to carry out standard battlefield deployments. By comparison, SpecOps units are independent strike teams sent on missions with acute and specific objects, without wider application for the rest of the military. Nonetheless, SpecOps deployments often worked closely alongside both Fleet Security and Home Security.
Even as of 2558, information about Special Operations was in scarce supply to the Office of Naval Intelligence, beyond the knowledge that they were considered the most proficient tactical units within the Covenant military forces. As such, United Nations Space Command directives dictate that all encounters with them by human military forces should be logged with UNSC High Command.
Covenant Special Operations were, much akin to the rest of the military, traditionally dominated by Sangheili - who served as the division's sole commanders. However, while the Sangheili did dominate role they were not the exclusive personnel of the unit; other species of the Covenant were permitted to serve in the SpecOps group, though always in subordinate roles under Sangheili commanders. The Unggoy were rarely able to join SpecOps detachments at the discretion of individual commanders. However, it was more common for Unggoy to be promoted to SpecOps roles not of their own volition; when a Sangheili warrior was promoted into the ranks of SpecOps their cadre of Unggoy underlings would typically join them too.
Organization Sangheili serving in SpecOps served under the title of Special Operations Officer. For placement in SpecOps strike teams, these warriors must have proven themselves in both close-quarters combat and in skills of Sniper|marksmanship. SpecOps strike teams would be commanded by a Commander (Covenant)|commander, with a sub-commander serving as their aide.
Within Special Operations, a number of specialised sub-units existed. These units would generally be deployed as a ''kai'd'' - a small unit or group organised by a variety of circumstantial attributes. Such units employed in such a manner included the Silent Shadow, an all-Sangheili order who worked as elite assassins. More notoriously within SpecOps circles were the Bloodstars; a particular order led by Jiralhanae who gained influence within the Covenant in the opening years of the Human-Covenant War due to their singular mission focus - the elimination of humanity's SPARTAN-II program|SPARTAN-II supersoldiers. The Bloodstars often employed a variety of specialists including members of the Silent Shadow. Select highly skilled Silent Shadow personnel took on the title of First Blade.
Special Operations Commander Rtas 'Vadumee Special Operations Sub-Commander Bero 'Kusovai Special Operations Officer Zuka 'Zamamee Special Operations Officer Huki 'Umamee Special Operations Officer Usze 'Taham Special Operations Officer N'tho 'Sraom Special Operations Unggoy Yayap First Blade Resa 'Azavayl First Blade Tel 'Szatulai
Gallery
File:HCE - CovSpecOps.jpg|A Special Operations lance in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''. File:Spec Ops Lance2.jpg|A Special Operations Lance in ''Halo 2''. File:Spec Ops deployment.jpg|Special Operations soldiers being deployed at the Threshold gas mine|Gas Mine above Threshold. File:HEvol - Elite SpecOps Sword.png|Members of the Silent Shadow in active camouflage capture a SPARTAN-III, Jonah-B283. File:File-BOB - SpecOps.jpg|A Special Operations Sangheili in ''Halo: Reach''. File:H2A-Rtas&Co.jpg|Rtas 'Vadum, a Covenant Commander (Covenant)|Commander in the Fleet of Particular Justice, encouraging his warriors before battle. File:H2A-SpecOpsBros.png|A Special Operations Unggoy with a Special Operations Sangheili. File:SSconfronts.png|The Silent Shadow confronts Atriox.
List of appearances
''Halo: Combat Evolved''
''Halo: The Flood''
''Halo: First Strike''
''Halo 2''
''Halo Graphic Novel''
*''The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor''
''Halo 3''
''Halo 3: ODST''
''Halo Legends''
*''Prototype''
''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''
*''Headhunters (short story)|Headhunters''
*''Midnight in the Heart of Midlothian
''Halo: Reach''
''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary''
''Halo 2: Anniversary''
*''Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminals''
''Halo: Ground Command''
''Halo: Tales from Slipspace''
*''Hunting Party''
''Halo: The Rubicon Protocol''
Sources
Category:Covenant military
|
File:Covenant Spy probe.jpg|250px|thumb|A spy probe depicted in the comic book adaptation of ''Halo: The Fall of Reach''. Covenant spy probes are small, softball or baseball-sized automaton machines used by the Covenant for reconnaissance and intelligence roles.
Overview These machines have a single photo eye for data collection. Over a number of days, it slowly builds up a charge as it collects data and information. Once it reaches critical energy, a tiny sliver of thallium nitride memory crystal is ejected at the speed of light, surrounded by a miniature slipspace field. The sliver is directed toward precise Slipspace coordinates where a waiting Covenant entity will recover it and the data it contains.
During the Human-Covenant War, probes were colored dark gray, so they can blend into the hull of UNSC vessels, instead of the standard lavender color of Covenant alloys.Halo: The Fall of Reach, ''pages 215-216''
Operational use An example use of the probe was at the Battle of Sigma Octanus IV where a probe attached to the and revealed the human presence at Reach. This culminated in the Fall of Reach.
Trivia The spy probe is similar in function to the UNSC's telemetry probe.
List of appearances
''Halo: The Fall of Reach''
''Halo: Fall of Reach''
*''Halo: Fall of Reach - Covenant|Covenant''
''Halo: Escalation''
Sources
See also Malakost tracker Telemetry probe Category:Covenant technology Category:Sensors
|
File:HM-UnyieldingHierophant.jpg|thumb|250px|Many different classes of Covenant starships in front of the ''Unyielding Hierophant''.
Covenant starships are the ships used by the species of the Covenant through its various ministry|ministries.
Overview
}}
The starships of the Covenant were commanded under different ministries. The Ministry of Resolution commanded ships, and was responsible for directing offensive actions by the Covenant.''Halo: Fleet Battles'', Core Rulebook - page 7 The Ministry of Tranquility managed the fleet of relic hunting and missionary ships.
Covenant ship classes can be identified by the Covenant ship classification system.
Tactical groupings
Covenant Starships have been known to be grouped in multiple ways. These include Fleets, Battle Groups, and Flotillas.
Different species have different design philosophies for starships. The Sangheili preferred starships that echoed the aggressive nature of various animals from Sanghelios and other Sangheili colonies. The San'Shyuum preferred more ornate designs, something that carried into the Covenant, as well as preferring multi-role vessels.
Covenant starships, like most Covenant technology, were constructed using the Design pattern method. Some manufacturers of Covenant starships include Forgemasters of Tanus, Gorgon Assembly Vault and Lathe of the Enlightened.''Halo: Warfleet'', Shadow of Intent - p. 70-71
Propulsion, movement, and docking
Power Covenant starships were powered by Pinch fusion reactors.
Armor & Defense The hull of Covenant starships is composed of the durable and heat resistant Nanolaminate. Most Covenant ships also make use of Energy shielding to prevent damage from affecting the hull. File:H2A Cutscene EnergyProjectorPiercing.png|thumb|200px|An energy projector slicing through the ''Feeling Lucky''.
Covenant warships often had Energy Projectors. An energy projector is a large beam of plasma which can be used to devastating effect in either ship-to-ship combat or in ground operations.
In ship-to-ship scenarios, they are known to slice through UNSC ships. The and the were two ships to fall prey to its destructive power.
Often during ground campaigns, it was used in a method called glassing, whereby a Covenant starship burns the surface of a planet in order to render it lifeless. File:Reach 468930 Full.jpg|thumb|200px|Plasma turrets on the side of the ''Ardent Prayer''.
Covenant warships also used a variety of turret emplacements. This includes the Plasma turret (starship)|Plasma turret and the Pulse laser turret.
Covenant starships also make use of the Plasma Torpedo. File:DeliverHope - CCSHangar.png|thumb|200px|Type-52 "Phantoms" picking up troops in a hangar bay.
Several types of space fighters were used in conjunction with larger ships. These include the Keljiric-pattern Tarasque|''Tarasque''-class heavy fighter and the N'weo-pattern Gigas|''Gigas''-class fighter-bomber, it's replacement, the Type-31 Exoatmospheric Multi-role Fighter, and the .
Dropships were also in use acting as troop, vehicle and supply transport. These include the , the and the . As well, the helped the Covenant board enemy ships.
History
Prior to joining the Covenant, in a time known as "The Former Age", the Sangheili had developed their own spaceships. This included the , the , , and the . In the case of the ''R'sikosh''-pattern man o' war specifically, it was built using information Forerunner artifacts far before the War of Beginnings.
The San'Shyuum also piloted their own types of aerospace craft.
A number of starships were designed following the signing of the Writ of Union. The was one of the first spacecraft developed by the Covenant empire between 852 BCE|852 and 850 BCE. The was designed during the earliest Ages of Conflict|Age of Conflict and Ages of Doubt|Age of Doubt. Another ancient ship was the .
File:HFB-CAS&CCS&SDV.jpg|thumb|200px|Several different classes of Covenant starships during the Human-Covenant war. One of the first engagements prior to the outbreak of the war was the Skirmish on Minor Transgression|Skirmish on ''Minor Transgression''.
The Great Schism would see the destruction of a number of ships including most vessels of the . File:HINF PrismSkybox.png|thumb|left|200px|A mixture of pre-Covenant era, Covenant era, and post-Covenant era vessels in combat over Suban in 2560.
}}
With the Covenant war over, and the Schism breaking into a multitude of conflicts, Covenant ships began finding themselves in the hands of a number of Covenant remnants|remnant factions, like Jul 'Mdama's Covenant, Merg Vol's Covenant, Rojka 'Kasaan's faction, Servants of the Abiding Truth, Swords of Sanghelios, and the Banished.
As well, some of these factions began to diverge their ship building from the Covenant. In 2553, the Banished began to build a unique Banished dreadnought|dreadnought design. The Swords of Sanghelios would build and modify their own s beyond what former Covenant bureaucrats had planned for.
Types
The Covenant have operated a number of support starships. These include the s and the food providing .
Ships of the type
{| class"width: 50%;" cellspacing"1" border="0"
| !scope="col"|Class
!scope="col"|Ship Name
!scope="col"|Notes
| |
|''Infinite Succor''
|Destroyed, sent into a star The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor|to prevent the Flood from escaping by Rtas 'Vadum.
|}
File:Covenant Capital Vessels (Spartan Games).jpeg|thumb|200px|A comparison of different ship classes and their sizes.
The Covenant operated a number of lighter capital warships. These include some of the smaller Covenant cruisers, like the s and the s. As well as the various Covenant corvette|corvette, Covenant frigate|frigate, and Covenant destroyer|destroyer classes the Covenant operated.
The Covenant were known for their larger capital ships including the , the and the . On top of this, they operated various large Covenant carrier|carrier classes, as well as heavily armed Rasus-pattern interdictor|battleships.
Ships of the type
Carriers
{| class"width: 50%;" cellspacing"1" border="0"
| !scope="col"|Class
!scope="col"|Ship Name
!scope="col"|Notes
| |rowspan="1"|
|''Ascendant Justice''
|
| |rowspan="12"|
|''Breath of Annihilation''
|
| |''Clarity of Faith''
|Crash-landed on an unidentified moon (Sub-sector 35)|unidentified moon in 2552#August|August 2552.
| |''Day of Jubilation''
|Destroyed at the beginning of Battle for Earth by an antimatter charge delivered by SPARTAN-II program|Spartan John-117.
| |''Enduring Conviction''
|Severed in half over Installation 00 by Aggressor Sentinels in 2559.
| |''Eternal Reward''
|Destroyed in the beginning of Great Schism by the Jiralhanae fleet.
| |''Purveyor of Virtue''
|
| |''Resplendent Fervor''
|
| |''Seeker of Truth''
|
| |''Shadow of Intent''
|Returned to Sanghelios after ceasefire in 2553#March|March 2553
| |''Solemn Penance''
|
| |''Song of Retribution''
|
| |''Pious Rampage''
|Unknown Status after the battle of Zhoist.
| |
|''Long Night of Solace''
|Destroyed by a slipspace bomb during Operation: UPPER CUT.
| |rowspan="2"|Supercarrier
|''Hammer of Faith''
|Destroyed while under construction by a pair of HAVOK tactical nuclear weapons during Operation: SILENT STORM above Zhoist.
| |''Sublime Transcendence''
|
| |rowspan="3"|Unknown
|''Lawgiver''
|
| |''Pledge of Holiness''
|A carrier commanded by the Prophet of Inner Conviction which participated in the Rending in 850 BCE.
| |''Splendid Intention''
|Crash landed on Beta Gabriel
|}
Cruisers
{| class"width: 50%;" cellspacing"1" border="0"
| !scope="col"|Class
!scope="col"|Ship Name
!scope="col"|Notes
| |rowspan="4"|
|''Blight of the Profane''
|
| |''Foebane|Gathering of Praise''
|Destroyed over the planet Carrow in 2558
| |''Incorruptible''
|Destroyed in the Onyx Conflict
| |''Unwavering Discipline''
|Crashed on the planet Carrow in 2558
| |rowspan="12"|
|''Harbinger of Piety''
|Destroyed by a Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|MAC shot from Nassau Station.
| |''Indulgence of Conviction''
|Commandeered by Flood, destroyed in the Battle of Voi by Fleet of Retribution for Flood containment.
| |''Pious Inquisitor''
|Destroyed in the Skirmish on Pious Inquisitor|Skirmish on ''Pious Inquisitor''
| |''Purity of Spirit''
|
| |''Purveyor of Serenity''
|
| |''Sacred Promise''
|
| |''Sanctity of Purification''
|
| |''Triumphant Declaration''
|
| |''Truth and Reconciliation''
|Destroyed during the Battle of Installation 04 in its Battle for the Truth and Reconciliation|third raid by Lieutenant McKay.
| |''Undiminished Entelechy''
|Infested by Flood during the Battle of Installation 04, shot down by order of Supreme Commander Thel 'Vadamee.
| |''CCS-U624''
|
| |''CCS-U321''
|
| |rowspan="3"|
|''Panom's Canticle''
|Destroyed in the Requiem Campaign
| |''Spear of Light''
|Captured by the Swords of Sanghelios from Tem'Bhetek.
| |''Unrelenting''
|Destroyed in the Battle of Chi Ceti
| |rowspan="5"|Unknown
|''Axiom''
|
| |''Far Vision''
|
| |''Infinite Sacrifice''
|
| |''Rapid Conversion''
|
| |''Unidentified cruiser (Particular Justice)''
|Destroyed in the Fall of Reach by the Alpha division of Red Team.
|}
Destroyers
{| class"width: 50%;" cellspacing"1" border="0"
| !scope="col"|Class
!scope="col"|Ship Name
!scope="col"|Notes
| |rowspan="7"|
|''Bloodied Spirit''
|Destroyed during the Onyx Conflict.
| |''Esteem''
|
| |''Reverence''
|
| |''Radiant Perception''
|Destroyed during the Battle for Arcadia.
| |''Proclamation's Tithe''
|
| |''Fighter's Blood''
|
| |''Hammerstrike''
|
| |rowspan="5"|Unknown class
|''Absolution''
|Destroyed during the Onyx Conflict
| |''Defender of Faith''
|Destroyed by UNSC Infinity during the assault on Vadam keep in 2553.
| |''Far Sight Lost''
|Destroyed during the Onyx Conflict
| |''Rapturous Arc''
|Captured by the Flood and subsequently destroyed by combined Sangheili and Jiralhanae forces at the beginning of the Great Schism
| |''Retribution's Thunder''
|Scuttled by its Sangheili crew during Battle of the Rubble after being betrayed by their Kig-Yar escort.
|}
Frigates
{| class"width: 50%;" cellspacing"1" border="0"
| !scope="col"|Class
!scope="col"|Ship Name
!scope="col"|Notes
| |rowspan="2"|
|''Contrition''
|Unknown status
| |''Penance (ship)|Penance''
|Unknown status
| |rowspan="11"|Unknown
|''Radiant Arrow''
|Scuttled by its commander after being boarded by a team of Spartans over Netherop in 2526.
| |''Reprisal's Fire''
|
| |''Retribution's Promise''
|
| |''Revenant (ship)|Revenant''
|Destroyed by the ''Incorruptible'' during the Onyx conflict.
| |''Steadfast Strike''
|Status unknown; last seen during the Battle of Netherop in 2526.
| |''Tenebrous''
|Destroyed by the ''Incorruptible'' during the Battle of Installation 05.
| |''Transforming Splendor''
|
| |''Twilight Compunction''
|Destroyed during the Battle of Installation 00.
| |''Pure Resolve''
|
| |''Unflinching Resolve''
|Decommissioned, later reinstated by Servants of the Abiding Truth and destroyed in March 2553.
| |''Vengeful Deed''
|
|}
Corvettes
{| class"width: 50%;" cellspacing"1" border="0"
| !scope="col"|Class
!scope="col"|Ship Name
!scope="col"|Notes
| |rowspan="4"|
|''Ardent Prayer''
|Captured by the UNSC, used as transportation for a Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine makeshift bomb and destroyed in Operation: UPPER CUT by SPARTAN-II program|Spartan Jorge-052.
| |''Elegy's Lament''
|Stolen by the Banished.
| |''Mayhem|Quester of Glory''
|Fell into Sangheili control during the Great Schism; renamed ''Mayhem''. Crippled and salvaged by in Operation: FAR STORM.
| |''Supplication of Purity''
|Destroyed in the Battle for Tribute in 2552, later salvaged and displayed at Outpost Discovery.
| |
|''The Lookout|Infinite Fire''
|Fell into Sangheili control during the Great Schism; renamed ''The Lookout''
| |rowspan="6"|Intrusion corvette
|''Divine Whisper''
|
| |''Quiet Faith''
|
| |''Sacred Whisper''
|
| |''Silent Truth''
|
| |''Still Devotion''
|
| |''Worthy Silence''
|
| |rowspan="3"|Unknown
|''Adherent''
|Crew massacred by the Silent Shadow.
| |''Sacred Whisper''
|
| |''Vengeful Vitality''
|A stealth corvette used by Mken 'Scre'ah'ben.
|}
Other
{| class"width: 50%;" cellspacing"1" border="0"
| !scope="col"|Class
!scope="col"|Ship Name
!scope="col"|Notes
| |rowspan="3"|
|''Mark of Prophecy''
|
| |''Divine Breath''
|
| |''Heresy's Sorrow''
|
| |Hekar Taa-pattern blockade runner|''Hekar Taa''-pattern blockade runner
|''Joori's Light''
|
| |Barque
|''Song of Wrath''
| |rowspan="18"|Unknown
|''Almighty Persuasion''
|Tasked with carrying a Luminal Beacon and destroyed during Operation: SILENT STORM
| |''A Psalm Every Day''
|
| |''Burgeoning Fealty''
|Discovered the Dazreme species and their homeworld, Reme.
| |''Commitment and Patience''
|
| |''Rampant Perdition|Dedication''
|Renamed to ''Rampant Perdition''.
| |''Devotion''
|
| |''Doctrine's Command''
|
| |''Havoc''
|
| |''Infinite Spoils''
|
| |''Paragon|Joyous Discovery''
|Renamed to ''Paragon''.
| |''Perpetual Devotion''
|
| |''Pitiless''
|
| |''Purifying Flame''
|
| |''Onslaught (ship)|Onslaught''
|
| |''Revolution (ship)|Revolution''
|
| |''Serene Certainty''
|
| |''Valorous Salvation''
|
|}
Covenant ships were not exclusively designed for war and often operated in a number of non-warfare based situations. This can include the Missionary ship, operated by the Ministry of Tranquility. The Covenant also operated a number of tithe fleets, which were often filled with Sangheili s.
Ships of the type
{| class"width: 50%;" cellspacing"1" border="0"
| !scope="col"|Class
!scope="col"|Ship Name
!scope="col"|Notes
| |Forgeship
|''Boundless Artifice''
|
| |
|''Piety''
|Active, all crew killed in capture of a Requires Adjustment|Huragok.
| |Missionary ship
|''Minor Transgression''
|Skirmish on Minor Transgression|Destroyed prior to the beginning of the Human-Covenant war.
| |Supply ship
|''Journey's Sustenance''
|
|}
Production notes During the Development of Halo 2|development of ''Halo 2'', a Cut Halo 2 levels|level was planned to take place on board a Covenant ship.
Gallery
File:HW3 Space Concept 9.jpg|Concept art for a cancelled ''Halo Wars 3 (rejected pitch)|Halo Wars 3'' idea. File:HW3 Space Concept 7.jpg|Concept art for a cancelled ''Halo Wars 3 (rejected pitch)|Halo Wars 3'' idea.
File:HFB-ClassicCovenant.jpg|The Covenant ship line up for ''Halo: Fleet Battles''. File:H2A Terminals - Fleet waiting for Autumn.jpg|Covenant ships waiting at Installation 04. File:SO-HM.png|The Second Fleet of Solemn Accord staring down a UNSC frigate. File:Reach AssaultCarriers.jpg|A Fleet of Covenant starships over Reach.
Sources
Category:Covenant ship classes|
|
Halo: The Fall of Reach, ''page ???'' (2010 edition)
|width=
|height=
|mass=
|power=
|engine=Repulsor engines
|slipspace drive=
|navigation=
|hull=Nanolaminate hull plating
|complement=
|crew=
|passengers=
|othersystems=*Laser guided transceiver Stealth system Electronic countermeasures|Guidance-control jammersHalo: The Fall of Reach, ''page 197'', ''page 226'' (2010 edition)
|era=Human-Covenant War
|introduced-title=Last sighted
|introduced=2552
|affiliation=Covenant
}}
This stealth ship is a type of small intelligence-gathering starship used by the Covenant.Halo: The Fall of Reach, ''page 195 and 196'', ''page 225'' (2010 edition)
Overview The stealth ship is used to infiltrate a planet's defenses for reconnaissance, making way for larger invasion forces. Despite its limited weaponry and defenses, the craft uses active camouflage systems to render it imperceptible to United Nations Space Command|UNSC sensors, and visually invisible. It also possesses electronic countermeasures, which are able to interfere with the guidance systems of Archer missiles.
Operational history Planetside forces transmitted data from Sigma Octanus IV artifact|a Forerunner artifact to a stealth craft of this type during the Battle of Sigma Octanus IV, but the ship was eventually rammed and destroyed by the .
Production notes The ''Halo Encyclopedia'' erroneously identified this stealth ship as a ,Halo Encyclopedia, ''page 280'' (2011 edition) an error which was carried on to ''Halo: Fall of Reach - Covenant'', in which the stealth ship's size closely matches that of the light corvette, making it the same length as the ''Iroquois''. This is in stark contrast to the craft's original description in the novel ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'' as being tiny in comparison to the ''Iroquois'', allowing the destroyer to ram it with ease.
The stealth ship's description is broadly similar to the Intrusion corvette. However, it is presently unknown if the two are one and the same.
List of appearances
''Halo: The Fall of Reach''
''Halo: Fall of Reach''
*''Halo: Fall of Reach - Covenant|Covenant''
Gallery
File:Iroquois collision.jpg|A stealth ship being rammed by the over Sigma Octanus IV. HTFORC-StealthShip.png|The Covenant stealth ship falls to Sigma Octanus.
Sources
Category:Covenant ship classes|Stealth ship
|
File:H3-CortanaBeacon.png|thumb|250px|A Covenant storage device. The Covenant storage device, also known as the memory block, is a type of data storage module used by the Covenant. One type of memory block consists of a vaguely brick-shaped chunk of a superdense material unknown to humans as of 2552.Halo: The Flood, ''page 189'' (2003)
Though humans do not fully understand the technology, they (or their Artificial intelligence|AI constructs) are still capable of retrieving the data from these devices.
While being held captive by the Gravemind in High Charity, Cortana used a Covenant storage device to store a message aboard the Flood-controlled ''Indulgence of Conviction'' headed for Earth. Based on their cursory analysis, the Sangheili forces of the Fleet of Retribution thought the storage device held Cortana herself, but after John-117 retrieved the device it turned out to only contain a recorded message.Halo 3, campaign level ''Floodgate''
Trivia In ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', these devices can be seen on the sides of some Covenant supply cases.
Gallery
File:Cortana Holder.jpg|The Covenant storage device on the damaged Flood-controlled battlecruiser.
List of appearances
''Halo: Combat Evolved''
''Halo: The Flood''
''Halo 3''
Sources
See also Data crystal chip UNSC navigation core
Category:Covenant technology
__NOTOC__
|
File:H2A Covenant Supply Case.jpg|thumb|300px|An ''Almar''-pattern repository. The Covenant supply case, also known as an ''Almar''-pattern repository, or informally known as a space crate by United Nations Space Command|UNSC forces, is a device used to store weapons and supplies for Covenant Empire|Covenant encampments.
Overview
Covenant supply cases encompass a variety of designs and functions, with the most common being ''Almar''-pattern repositories; tall rounded boxes with two front and back storage compartments. They come in various colors, ranging from magenta, maroon, and blue.
Supply cases are easily accessible and commonly used to store and transport Covenant munitions. Small arms, rifles, heavy weapons, explosives and other handheld devices are typically found in repositories deployed on the field and areas of Covenant occupation.
A variant of the supply case resembling the ''Almar''-pattern repository is also used as a Covenant comm node, with control pads and screens extending from both front and back compartments.
Operational history
''Almar''-pattern repositories were employed extensively by the Covenant during the Fall of Reach and the subsequent campaigns including the Battle of Installation 04, the Battle for Earth, the Battle of Installation 05, and the Battle of Installation 00.
Gallery
File:HCE CovenantCommNode.jpg|A Comm node variant of the supply case. File:HCE Covenant Cargo Pod.png|A Covenant supply case in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''. File:Cargomod 2.jpg|A single supply case in a Flood containment facility on Installation 04. File:Cargomod.jpg|A group of supply cases on Installation 04. File:H2 Covenant Cargo Pod.png|A Covenant supply case in ''Halo 2''. File:H2 Covenant Supply Case Trio.jpg|Three differently colored supply cases with a pair of Vostu-pattern carbine|''Vostu''-pattern carbines. File:H2 covweaponcache.jpg|A Covenant supply case containing two Sulok-pattern beam rifle|''Sulok''-pattern beam rifles. File:H3 Spiker Crate.jpg|A supply case in ''Halo 3'', with a pair of Type-25 Spike rifles inside. File:Space_crate_3.jpg|An early model of a supply case for ''Halo: Reach'', used in the Halo: Reach Multiplayer Beta|multiplayer beta. File:Space_crate_new_2.jpg|Turnaround reference of the ''Almar''-pattern File:HReach Covenant Cargo Pod.jpg|A closed ''Almar''-pattern crate. File:Covenant_Box_patterns.png|Patterns on the ''Almar''-pattern case. File:Reach 16187964 Full.jpg|Closeup view of an ''Almar''-pattern case's contents, a pair of plasma pistols. HTMCC-HR_PlasmaRifleSupplyCase.png|Closeup view of an ''Almar''-pattern case's contents, four plasma rifles. File:Covenant crate Reach.png|Cutout of ''Almar''-pattern repository. File:H4-Reference-Covenant-MunitionsCrate.jpg|Reference model sheet for a Covenant munitions supply case in ''Halo 4''. File:HSA-Palmer-Versus-PlasmaTurret.jpg|An ''Almar''-pattern case in ''Halo: Spartan Assault''. File:HSS-Gameplay-Jungle.jpg|An ''Almar''-pattern case in ''Halo: Spartan Strike''. File:H5G CovenantProps Concept.jpg|Concept art for Covenant supply cases in ''Halo 5: Guardians''. File:H5G - Covenant supply case open.png|A Covenant supply case in ''Halo 5: Guardians''. File:H5G - Covenant supply case closed.png|A closed Covenant supply case in ''Halo 5: Guardians''. File:FH4 - Covenant Props.png|''Almar''-pattern supply cases in ''The Halo Experience Showcase''.
Sources
See also Forerunner weapon rack
Category:Covenant technology
|
File:HW CovenantTemple Upgrades Render.jpg|thumb|Three Covenant temples, each in their respective Age.|300px
The temple is a cultural and scientific Covenant structure featured in ''Halo Wars''. This is where the San'Shyuum|Prophets meditate and study Forerunner artifacts and make battle plans against humans. It also houses other characters of importance including the Ripa 'Moramee|Arbiter and the Avitus|Brute Army Commander.
Summary In the temple, the player can upgrade units and buildings. These upgrades are very expensive, but very effective and powerful. All s surrounding the Covenant citadel|Citadel can be upgraded from ''small'' to ''medium'' or ''large''. Max population of the player's army can be increased by 10. All Covenant Energy shielding|Shields can be upgraded to make them recharge faster. You may also upgrade your leaders. The Temple could be said to be equal to a UNSC reactor|UNSC Reactor and UNSC Field Armory|Field Armory.
Covenant hero units can be retrained if they are killed, and their abilities can be enhanced inside the temple as well.
The most important function of a temple is its ability to advance the player's "Age", which means increasing the player's technology. The first Age is the one the player starts with after the Temple has been built, the second Age is the Ages of Doubt|Age of Doubt, and the Third Age is the Ages of Reclamation|Age of Reclamation. Some units, such as Deutoros-pattern Scarab|Scarabs, are only available during the Age of Reclamation. Since the Temple is so important, the player should place it at the rear of the Citadel, surrounded by turrets.Halo Wars
If the temple is destroyed, the technology level returns to zero, however, it can be restored to its previous level if another Temple is built. Once a temple is built, a Leader unit appears on the battlefield. Players are allowed to have only one temple at a time.
Trivia The name is a probable reference to Ensemble Studios|Ensemble's previous game installment: Age of Mythology, where a Temple can be built to train Myth Units. As seen in the temple image, the temple changes its appearance with each Age.
Gallery
HW-Temple_Concept.jpg|Concept art. HW-Temple_Concept_Progression.jpg|Concepts for how the temple would upgrade. HW-Temple_Render_1.jpg|Hi-poly render of the temple. HW-Temple_Render_2.jpg|More renders. HW-Temple_Render_3.jpg|More renders.
List of appearances
''Halo Wars''
Sources
Category:Covenant buildings
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File:HR CovenantThrusterPack 1.png|thumb|An active (left) and inactive (right) thruster pack. The thruster pack is a propulsion unit used by Sangheili Sangheili Ranger|Rangers to maneuver in zero- to low-gravity environments.Halo: ReachHalo 4: ''Interactive Guide'' Unlike the antigravity pack, the thruster pack appears to use chemical-based thrusters for propulsion similar to the human's Series 8 jetpack.
Gallery
File:HR_CovenantThrusterPack_Concept_1.jpg|Concept art for the Covenant thruster pack. File:HR_CovenantThrusterPack_Concept_2.jpg|Concept art for the Covenant thruster pack. File:HR CovenantThrusterPack 2.png|A thruster pack in ''Halo: Reach''. File:HR CovenantThrusterPack Symbols.png|Thruster pack patterns in ''Halo Reach''.
List of appearances
''Halo: Reach''
''Halo 4''
''Halo 5: Guardians''
''Halo: Shadow of Intent''
Sources
Category:Jetpacks Category:Armor abilities Category:Covenant technology
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The tug is a spacecraft used by the Covenant. It features two U-shaped hulls that separate and clamp onto another vehicle. One hull connects to the stern while the other connects to the bow of the damaged ship. Both sections then tow the disabled vehicle to the nearest repair center.Halo: First Strike, Chapter 32, ''page 300'' (2003 paperback); ''page 360'' (2010 paperback)
During Operation: FIRST STRIKE, SPARTAN-II program|SPARTAN Blue Team was towed aboard the ''Unyielding Hierophant'' by such a vessel.
List of appearances
''Halo: First Strike''
Sources
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File:HW CovenantWarehouse Renders.jpg|thumb|Two warehouses; the normal warehouse variant and the Blessed warehouse variant.|250px The warehouse is a Covenant structure featured in ''Halo Wars''.
The warehouse is a Covenant structure used for collecting/processing resources. It can be built onto any unused Covenant or Neutral plot for 100 resources. It brings down supplies from orbit to Covenant bases via gravity lift. Workers move the supplies to the proper area for further use by the Covenant commander. At tech level 1 it can be upgraded to a Blessed warehouse for 225 resources to allow for faster collection of resources. It is the Covenant equivalent of the UNSC UNSC Supply Pad|Supply Pad.
In order for a warehouse to be upgraded, a Covenant temple|Temple must be built. The warehouse's resources are used to train units, construct buildings and research technology upgrades. It is ideal for the most efficient bases to be equipped with six warehouses to boost available resources. Of course, the number of warehouses you can build is limited to the number of base pads you have available. The best combinations of warehouses are five to seven normal warehouses, or three blessed and two normal warehouses.
The difference between the normal and "blessed" variant seems to be that the blessed variant is more advanced than the normal one, and looks more intricate, it has a larger sliding section and four more storage tanks. Obviously, this contributes to the increase of the resource gathering rate from 240 resources per minute (or 4 per second) to 330 resources per minute (or 5.5 per second). Gallery
File:HW Warehouse_Concept.jpg|Concept art of the warehouse. File:COVENANT Warehouse.jpg|3D model of the warehouse. File:COVENANT Blessed Warehouse.jpg|3D models of the blessed warehouse.
List of appearances
''Halo Wars''
Sources
Category:Covenant buildings
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File:H2A T25DER.png|250px|thumb|The design of the Okarda'phaa-pattern plasma rifle|plasma rifle exemplifies the alien qualities Covenant weapons are known for, notably the hexagonal honeycomb pattern on the surface. The Covenant and its Covenant remnants|splinter factions use a wide variety of weapons. Like most :Category:Covenant technology|Covenant technology, their weapons are highly exotic in both operation and design, especially in comparison to the human arsenal. Covenant weapons exist effectively for every usage niche, ranging from close-quarters combat weapons such as the Sangheili's emblematic energy sword to space warfare armaments capable of striking across thousands of kilometers, such as plasma torpedoes and energy projectors. Many examples of the Covenant arsenal are directed-energy weapons, typically utilizing either plasma weaponry|plasma or particle beam weapon|particle beams, and run off a battery charge. However, some Covenant weapons also use physical projectiles, such as the or the ; additionally, most weapons of native Jiralhanae design fire projectiles rather than energy.
List of Covenant weapons
Sources
Category:Covenant weapons|
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File:HCE-CovieWorkLight-Blue.jpg|thumb|200px|A blue Covenant work marker Covenant work lights are small, blue or red-colored lights used by the Covenant|Covenant to mark out areas of ground. They are often placed along walls, and point upward. Like Covenant light amplifiers, they are usually placed along routes that Covenant troops regularly use.
Gallery
File:HCE-CovieWorkLight-Red.png|A red work light. File:H5G - Covenant work light.png|A Covenant light in the Vadam clan burial grounds.
List of appearances
''Halo: Combat Evolved''
''Halo: The Flood''
''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary''
''Halo 5: Guardians''
Sources
Category:Lighting
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The Covenant World Registry is a piece of documentation previously used and maintained by the Covenant, to record the empire's vast swaths of territory and its many recorded worldsboth Covenant colonies|colonial and barren in nature. As of 2559, a copy of the registry has been translated into Human languages|English, making it accessible for use by humanityespecially for cross-referencing with the Military Survey of Uninhabited Planets or Earth Survey Catalog.
While comprehensive in nature, the Covenant did not necessarily have a perfect index of their own territory, with several worlds missing and unrecorded in the various star charts and navigational databases (which may or may not include the World Registry). These include the Lekgolo homeworld Te, which was of little value to most Covenant spacefarers and thus had its location only particularly kept in the now-Fall of High Charity|fallen High Charity, and the Dazreme homeworld Remewhose location was deliberately kept hidden by the San'Shyuum due to its strategic value.
Planets listed in the registry commonly have two names. This may be for any number of reasons, with some of the more common including the world having a Sangheili and a San'Shyuum-assigned name (i.e. Malurok being alternatively referred to as Decided Heart). However, a world having two names is also commonly a sign that the planet was additionally named by the Forerunners; the planet Netherop|N'ba was assigned multiple names in this manner: N'ba and Neska. N'ba is a Sangheili (language)|Sangheili word roughly translating to "''world of death''", while Neska is a Forerunner word that translates to "''Planet of Ghost Makers''". In 2559, this note was picked up by Xenoarchaeology|xenoarchaelogist Keely Iyuska, who had been provided a careful and accurate transcription of the Forerunner name for the world by Eto 'Saljhooand used it to infer the presence of a Divine Hand|potential superweapon on the planet to be used to fight against the Guardian Custodes of the Created.
The registry was later consulted by the Arbiter, Thel 'Vadam, who also investigated the N'ba entry and noted that the planet had been declared off-limits by the Prophet of Truth in 2526 due to the loss of two Covenant frigates over the planetin reality a cover for the banishment of Nizat 'Kvarosee and Defenders of the Sanctum|his crew on the world.
List of appearances
''Halo: Outcasts''
Sources
Category:The Covenant Category:Covenant worlds|Covenant worlds
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Covenant may refer to the following:
''Halo'' universe Covenant - A massive empire and theocratic hegemony of multiple alien species residing in the Milky Way.
*Covenant High Council
*Covenant military
*Covenant fleet Covenant remnants - A series of smaller divided splinter factions born in the wake of the Covenant hegemony's collapse, some of which self-proclaim to be "the Covenant".Halo: Escalation, ''Halo: Escalation Issue 5|Issue #5''
*Jul 'Mdama's Covenant
*Merg Vol's Covenant
*Sali 'Nyon's Covenant
Real-world The Covenant (level)|The Covenant - The eighth level of ''Halo 3''.
''Halo: Fall of Reach - Covenant'' - The second story arc in the Halo: Fall of Reach|comic book adaptation of ''Halo: The Fall of Reach''.
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Covenant "Hot Drop" is an Achievement in ''Halo Wars'' that is unlocked when the player kills 5 Covenant Empire|Covenant units by deactivating the bridge on Relic Interior.
It is worth 5 Gamerscore.
Tips Once you rescue John Forge|Forge and Ellen Anders|Anders, cross the bridge to the east. After all your units have crossed the bridge, wait until the Covenant Empire|Covenant Units are crossing the bridge.
Then use the console below the bridge to deactivate it. Repeat until you have made 5 covenant units fall to their death.
Sources
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Symbols associated with the Covenant File:HLC Crate12 Poster.png|300pxA number of Covenant species side-by-side on a Forerunner world
|type=*Interstellar empire Theocratic Wikipedia:Cultural hegemony|cultural hegemony
|founder=*Breaking Shadow of the Reformists|San'Shyuum Reformists Pelahsar the Strident of the Council of City States|Sangheili
|documents=*Writ of Union Ratification Parley
|head=Hierarchs
|executive=High Council
|legislative=*High Council
*Covenant laws
|judicial=
|branch=*Ministries|Ministerial bodies
*Covenant military
*Covenant fleet
|main=*Sanghelios High Charity
|anthem=
|language=Sangheili (language)|Sangheili
|script=Syllabary and logograms
|religion=Covenant religion
|techlevel=
|notable=History of the Covenant
|formed=852 BCE: Ages of Reconciliation|First Age of ReconciliationHalo Encyclopedia (2009 edition), ''page 30''
|reorganized=2552#November|November 3, 2552: Great Schism
|dissolved=2552#December|December 11, 2552: Battle of the Citadel''Halo 3'' ''Halo (Halo 3 level)|Epilogue'' ''"But you did it. Truth and the Covenant. The Flood. It's Finished." Cortana'' ''"The Covenant are dead"'' ''"Dissolution: 2552 CE"''
|affiliation=
}}
The Covenant, also referred to as the Covenant EmpireHalo: Ghosts of Onyx, ''page 239''Halo: First Strike, ''page 269'' (2003 edition); ''page 323'' (2010 edition) or Covenant Hegemony,Halo: First Strike, ''page 338'' (2003 edition); ''page 405'' (2010 edition) was a massive religious hegemony of multiple alien species that completely controlled a large portion of the Orion Arm in the Milky Way|Milky Way Galaxy for thousands of years.Halo 2: The Official Strategy Guide '' page 40''Planetary Operations Manual ''Covenant - Overview'' Originally a mutual alliance between the Reformists|San'Shyuum and the Council of City States|Sangheili, the Covenant expanded to include six other species (Huragok, Mgalekgolo, Unggoy, Kig-Yar, Yanme'e, and Jiralhanae) united in the worship of the mythified Forerunners and the Halo Array.
Ruled by the High Prophet of Truth along with Hierarch|High Prophets Prophet of Mercy|Mercy and Prophet of Regret|Regret in 2525, the Covenant waged a Human-Covenant War|genocidal campaign against humanity until they were defeated in 2552#December|December 2552. Despite being one of the most powerful military forces in the known Milky Way galaxy at the time, Great Schism|internal conflict combined with stubborn human resistance were formidable enough to shatter the bonds that held the empire together. This internal conflict broke the Covenant in two, Covenant separatists|forcing out the Sangheili species. - "The resulting conflict would be called the Great Schism, and it would divide the Covenant into two, ultimately forcing the Sangheili out."
Following the Covenant Empire's end at the Battle of the Citadel, a small remnant of surviving Dhas Bhasvod's Covenant|loyalists would reemerge years later, and a number of Covenant remnants|new factions were created by the fallen empire's former subject species after the conclusion of the war. Some of the Covenant separatists|separatists sought to recreate the Covenant entirely under Sangheili rule, free from San'Shyuum influence. - "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."Halo: Glasslands, ''page 20'' 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.''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." 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. History
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 cycles. A cycle is the Covenant version of a day and it represents one artificial day on High Charity. A cycle contains approximately 265 units, which if translated into human time is roughly one hour of time on Earth.Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition) ''page 31''
File:HM-HighCharityBC.png|300px|thumb|The construction of ''High Charity''. At some point before the San'Shyuum encountered the Sangheili, the Huragok were found by the San'Shyuum in various M-series facility|M-series facilities.Halo 3, ''Bestiarum'' In 938 BCE, the San'Shyuum Reformists, aboard the Forerunner Dreadnought and the planetoid that would come to be known as High Charity, entered a Sangheili-occupied system that led to first contact between the two alien species. The San'Shyuum, who came to Sanghelios in order to claim and study the rich abundance of Forerunner artifacts left behind,Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition) ''page 114'' soon found themselves sharing different ideologies of how such relics should be treated, which quickly devolved into conflict between the San'Shyuum and the Sangheili.
The Sangheili believed that Forerunner relics were sacred and should not be touched, while the San'Shyuum Reformists believed that they should be studied and use them to make practical objects of their own design.Halo: Contact Harvest ''page 146'' The highly militarized Sangheili attacked the San'Shyuum almost as soon as their differences became apparent,Halo: Contact Harvest ''page 147'' and a war between the two species raged for eighty six years.
At the start of the war, the Sangheili had a numerical advantage in terms of ships and soldiers. Their strength and military tactics were without peer. However the San'Shyuum's technology, gleaned from years of travel and study of their Forerunner Dreadnought, gave them the advantage in ship-to-ship combat. This proved to be the most common type of combat witnessed during the war.
Eventually both species came to fear a very real threat: annihilation. The Sangheili feared it through the San'Shyuum's use of their unstoppable Dreadnought; and the San'Shyuum came to admit that if the Sangheili were this dangerous, there might be other forms of sentient life far more threatening to their race. The long and brutal war caused the Sangheili to violate their religious beliefs, studying and incorporating Forerunner technology in order to avoid defeat. This incorporation of Forerunner technology eventually caused a stalemate in the war against the San'Shyuum, however their Dreadnought remained unstoppable. Faced with this bitter reality, the Sangheili surrendered.
With a proud tradition as warriors, the Sangheili held great respect for a worthy adversary, and after their surrender, the San'Shyuum sought a burgeoning Covenant of the two races. In 852 BCE a tentative truce was worked out between the two species through the Sangheili leader, Pelahsar the Strident, and the San'Shyuum Breaking Shadow. The two agreed to forgive the past crimes of their species and began efforts towards an alliance.Halo Mythos, ''page 39'' This eventually came about with the signing of the Writ of Union, a treaty that ended the conflict and brought about peace between the two factions.
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. 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.Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe, ''page 114''Halo: Contact Harvest, ''pages 269-271'' 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.Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe, ''pages 148-149''
File:H2A Terminals - Unggoy join Covenant.jpg|thumb|250px|Unggoy join the Covenant. In 1342, the Covenant arrived in the Y'Deio system and encountered the Kig-Yar. Both Kig-Yar piracy|pirates and Eayn's military 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 asteroids surrounding their world,Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe, ''page 155'' 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.Halo: The Cole Protocol, ''page 157'' 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.Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe, ''page 121'' 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 shipmasters 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.Halo: Contact Harvest, ''pages 150-152'' 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.Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe, ''page 115'' In between the Ages of Conversion and Ages of Doubt, members of the Covenant grappled with internecine conflict.
File:HR EliteExecution Concept.png|left|thumb|250px|A battle between Sangheili and Spartans. During the 23rd Age of Doubt, the Covenant First Battle of Harvest|encountered humanity for the first time on the planet Harvest. While many within the Covenant's leadership felt that this new race would make a welcome addition to the hegemony, the newly-appointed Hierarchs of the CovenantProphet of Truth|Truth, Prophet of Mercy|Mercy, and Prophet of Regret|Regrethad other plans. The Hierarchs were aware of humanity's status as the Forerunners' chosen inheritors, and knew that revealing this information to the Covenant would lead to the Covenant falling into chaos.Halo: Contact Harvest, ''page 275'' Greater than the cultural significance of the invalidation of the Great Journey, the leading San'Shyuum knew the truth about the Forerunners would lead to the loss of their personal power.Halo: Contact Harvest, ''page 385'' As a result, spurred on by a violent incident following the first human-Covenant contact, the Hierarchs declared humanity an affront to the gods and demanded that their entire species was to be exterminated. This decision would spark a war that ultimately would crumble the very foundation of the Covenant's religious and political alliances.Halo: Contact Harvest ''page 143''
File:Origins ii Human-CovenantWar.jpg|thumb|250px|An invading Covenant fleet prepares its assault of a human colony. 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.Halo 2, ''Conversations from the Universe'' Despite their losses, humanity proved a determined and brave enemy. They were especially troubled by their soldiers called Spartans, who were more than a match for them in battles and often killed thousands of Covenant by themselves.Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, ''page 349'' 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. 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.Halo Wars 2, campaign level ''A New Enemy''
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.Halo: The Fall of Reach, ''page 320'' (2001 edition)Halo 3: ODST, ''Dutch's biography'' 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.Halo: Combat Evolved, campaign level ''The Pillar of Autumn (Halo: Combat Evolved level)|The Pillar of Autumn'' 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 forcesamong 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.Halo: Combat Evolved, campaign level ''The Maw'' Thel 'Vadamee, the Supreme Commander of the fleet present at Halo, was branded a heretic for his failure to save the ring,Halo 2, campaign level ''The Heretic'' although he was subsequently appointed an Arbiter.Halo 2, campaign level ''The Arbiter''
File:H2A - Autumn.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The UNSC ''Pillar of Autumn'' flees as Reach is orbitally bombarded.
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 African 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.Halo 2, campaign level ''Delta Halo'' 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.Halo 2, campaign level ''The Great Journey''
During the events on the second Halo, the two remaining Hierarchs used the Sangheili's failure to safeguard Regret as an opportunity to replace the Sangheili with Jiralhanae as their protectors and military leaders. The two Prophets had doubts about the Sangheili's loyalty to the Covenant cause, and used the opportunity to ensure that there would be no future dissidence in the Covenant. However, this move greatly angered the Sangheili, who threatened to resign from the High Council.Halo 2, campaign level ''Sacred Icon''
File:Schism 2.png|thumb|250px|Covenant Sangheili and Jiralhanae battle each other upon the onset of the 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 Councilors, 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.Halo 2, campaign level ''Uprising''
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.Halo 2, campaign level ''Gravemind (level)|Gravemind''
File:H3 Cortana Concept 6.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The Covenant government and capital falls to the Flood. Truth escaped in the Forerunner Dreadnought, then used to provide power to High Charity. However, John-117|SPARTAN-117, the infamous Demon, managed to fight his way aboard the Dreadnought right before it took off. While the Covenant fleet orbiting the holy city began to do battle with each other, the Dreadnought managed to enter slipspace and retreated to Earth. Secretly, during the launch of the Dreadnought, Prelate Dhas Bhasvod successfully undertook to launch San'Shyuum flotilla|a flotilla containing many of the surviving San'Shyuum. Using the launch of ''Anodyne Spirit'' as a cover, a course was to the shield world Cloister, although it is unknown if they ever reached it or not.
These losses, among another factors, helped to form a tentative alliance with the Sangheili and humanity. The Arbiter Thel 'Vadam had discovered the truth about the Halo rings, and with the help of several of ''In Amber Clad's'' human crew members managed to prevent the second ring from firing and defeat the Jiralhanae forces defending it. While Joyous Exultation Covenant|one group had Onyx Conflict|initial conflicts over the Forerunner world of Onyx,Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, ''page 378'' the Fleet of Retribution|Sangheili under the command of Rtas 'Vadum joined with the UNSC in order to mutually defeat the Jiralhanae, Truth, and the Flood. This alliance was initially uneasy, but the two species gradually learned to cooperate as their reliance in battle increased.
File:H3 CitadelBattle.jpg|thumb|250px|Humanity, allied with the seceding Sangheili, finish off the Covenant. 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.Halo 3, campaign level ''Tsavo highway (location)|Tsavo Highway'' 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.Halo 3, campaign level ''The Storm'' 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.Halo 3, campaign level ''Floodgate''
File:TruthDeath-large.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The Arbiter executes the Prophet of Truth, bringing an end to the Covenant. Upon arrival at the Ark, Truth barricaded himself inside the Installation 00 Citadel|Citadel, the control center for the Halo rings, and prepared to initiate the Great Journey. However, the UNSC and Sangheili forces eventually broke through the defenses around the Citadel despite heavy resistance from the Covenant loyalist forces.Halo 3, campaign level ''The Ark (level)|The Ark'' Ignoring the arrival of the Flood-infected High Charity which immediately began a widespread infestation of the Ark's surface, the UNSC-Sangheili alliance launched an immediate last-ditch assault on the Citadel. Although Truth's forces mobilized all of their available assets to prevent their enemies from reaching the Citadel, they were defeated after a Battle of the Citadel|swift battle. SPARTAN-117 and Arbiter Thel 'Vadam formed a temporary alliance with the Flood and forced their way to Truth. In his final moments, the Prophet of Truth managed to initiate the Halo rings' activation sequence, although his victory was short-lived as John-117 and the Arbiter soon made their way to his location. The Spartan canceled the activation before the rings could fire and the Arbiter killed Truth in vengeance, finally stopping the Covenant once and for all.Halo 3, campaign level ''The Covenant (level)|The Covenant''
File:Handshake-large.jpg|thumb|250px|Thel 'Vadam and Terrence Hood|Lord Hood shake hands, marking the end of the war and an alliance of humans with Sangheili.
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With their High Council|government and High Charity|capital annihilated, the High Prophet of Truth killed, and most of the Truth's fleet|loyalists' fleet destroyed by the Fleet of Retribution|Sangheili fleet above the Ark, the Covenant as an entity was completely destroyed.
Following Truth's death at the hands of the Arbiter, the remaining San'Shyuum, their population reduced to near extinction,Bestiarum ''San'Shyuum section'' went into hiding and few have been sighted by the Sangheili since.Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe|Halo: Evolutions The Return ''page 506'' Boru'a'Neem|Two Tem'Bhetek|Prophets in particular departed from the San'Shyuum flotilla and Tem'Bhetek's faction|organized Jiralhanae forces to strike against the Sangheili on Rahnelo and Duraan. However, this faction was wiped out during their Battle of the Prototype Halo installation|failed attempt to use a prototype Halo installation against Sanghelios.
Most of the Jiralhanae continued to Sangheili-Jiralhanae war|oppose the Sangheili until at least 2559, although a few Jiralhanae chose to serve as laborers under their former masters.Halo: Glasslands, ''page 136'' The Banished, a Jiralhanae-led mercenary organization, amassed a considerable degree of power in the aftermath of the Covenant's destruction.
While Thel 'Vadam succeeded in restoring an ancient pre-Covenant government known as the Swords of Sanghelios based on Sanghelios|their homeworld, the Sangheili, having renounced the Great Journey, began to Blooding Years|fight amongst their own ranks over the particulars of their faith. The Servants of the Abiding Truth, which had also existed before the Covenant, opposed the Swords while others formed their own splinter factions.Halo: Glasslands, ''page 20'' Many Sangheili separatist commanders sought to seize control of the hegemony's former military assets for themselves, many of them forming disparate fiefdoms self proclaiming to be a new "Covenant".Halo: Escalation, ''Halo: Escalation Issue 5|Issue #5'' Others retreated from active involvement in interstellar affairs, maintaining the ships and weaponry for defense of their own lands. With large portions of the former Covenant's infrastructure in shambles, intact ships in particular were considered a valuable commodity among the Sangheili. While many former members of the hegemony discarded the Covenant's religion in favor of more pragmatic pursuits, others continued to adhere to the core tenets of their former religion, namely the worship of the Forerunners as gods.Halo: The Thursday War One notable Sangheili-led splinter group that formed was Jul 'Mdama's Covenant, which was later bolstered by the addition of Ur-Didact|the Didact's Promethean#Mechanical Prometheans|Prometheans.Halo 4Halo: Escalation Jul 'Mdama was eventually killed during the Battle of Kamchatka and the remainder of his new Covenant fell to the Swords with the help of Fireteam Osiris during the Battle of Sunaion in 2558.''Halo 5: Guardians'', campaign level Battle of Sunaion (level)|Battle of Sunaion In 2559#November|November 2559, the UNSC and the Swords of Sangheilios encountered Nizat 'Kvarosee|Nizat 'Kvarosee's Defenders of the Sanctum, a rogue group of ex-Covenant soldiers who had been exiled on Netherop in 2526. Trapped by an orbital mine shell and unaware of the war's end, they continued their fight with stranded UNSC forces led by Lieutenant Commander Amalea Petrov. The Swords of Sangheilios dismantled the mine shell and restored outside access to the planet, but Nizat had become too fanatical to accept Thel 'Vadam's offer of returning to Sangheilios. Aside from a Defenders of the Sanctum Silent Shadow Blademaster that defected to the Arbiter's side, Nizat and his forces were all wiped out.
The rest of the former member races scattered and returned to their homeworlds. Many Kig-Yar returned to their ancient ways as raiders and traders,Halo: Glasslands, ''page 247'' and most Huragok were thought to have fled, though no one knew where.Halo: Glasslands, ''page 256'' Many members of the former Covenant also asylum seeker|sought asylum on Earth, most notably in the city of Rio de Janeiro.Spartan Ops, S1E1 ''Departure''
A few Dhas Bhasvod's Covenant|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. 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. This remnant's survival was discovered when the Banished Raid on Anodyne Spirit|raided the keyship. 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.
Government and politics
File:H2A-ThelBeforeCouncil.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Thel 'Vadam on trial at the High Council Chamber. For the majority of its existence, the two ruling classes of the Covenant were the San'Shyuum and the Sangheili, though the former held greater sway over the Covenant due to their status as "the voice of the gods". On the outbreak of the Great Schism, the Sangheili were cast out and the Jiralhanae replaced the Sangheili as the secondary ruling class. The Covenant had ten echelons of government, the highest echelon being the High Council, which was responsible for making all important decisions. Prior to the Great Schism, it was made up of over two hundred members of Sangheili commanders and San'Shyuum ministers,Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe ''page 345''Halo: Contact Harvest ''page 271'' and was ruled by the three San'Shyuum Hierarchs. These Hierarchs were the highest political and religious authority in the Covenant. For each new Age, three new Hierarchs were appointed; in order for them to usher in a new age and assume power, they must receive a blessing from the Oracle of High Charity.Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe ''page 119'' This Oracle was a Forerunner artificial intelligence found within the Dreadnought which sat at the center of the capital. Until the events that led to the war against humanity, the Oracle had not spoken for over a millennia, so the ascension of the Hierarchs was steeped with political bribes, blackmail and manipulation of the San'Shyuum Philologist.Halo: Contact Harvest ''page 274''
The High Council consisted of San'Shyuum High Councilor|San'Shyuum and Sangheili High Councilors, who were extremely important to the Covenant society. The High Council served as the central theocratic and decision-making body of the Covenant. In addition to the High Council, there are three other Councils: the High Council of Concordance, the Council of Deed and Doctrine, and the Council of Masters. The High Council of Concordance was responsible for the creation of the Ratification Parley and Writ of Union.Halo 2: Original Soundtrack, ''Volume 1'' The Council of Masters was a controlling group within a Covenant fleet that dictated the needs of fleet and military forces.Halo: The Cole Protocol, ''page 144'' Below the councils, numerous ministries exist within the Covenant government, each of which dictates a single, but important role within the governmental body of the Covenant. Each ministry was led by a Minister (title)#Covenant ministers|San'Shyuum minister. A ministry's Vice Minister|vice minister served as an aid for the minister,Halo: Contact Harvest, ''page 154'' while numerous senior staffer|senior and junior staffers served under both individuals.Halo: Contact Harvest, ''page 149''
In truth, however, the San'Shyuum and Sangheili had an uneasy coexistence, and political infighting was very common behind the scenes. This stemmed from as far back as the Writ of Union, when the Sangheili begrudgingly accepted the alliance with the San'Shyuum, despite many Sangheili innately knowing the treaty technically meant their species' surrender to the Prophets.Halo: Broken Circle, ''page 48'' Over the Covenant's history, high-ranked San'Shyuum manipulated the Sangheili and sought to keep them without strong leaders of their own in order to keep them subservient to the Prophets' rule. The most prominent example of this is the San'Shyuum's perversion of the traditional Sangheili title of Arbiter from a position of great power and honor into a badge of shame, and a means by which to silence those they felt might challenge the Hierarchs' power.Halo 2: Anniversary - ''Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminals'' In other cases where appointing an Arbiter may have been inconvenient, Sangheili commanders deemed to wield too much influence with their kind were quietly exiled to the fringe worlds of the Covenant empire; an example of this was the fate of Imperial Admiral Xytan 'Jar Wattinree. The hidden distrust between the two species became an all-out war during the Great Schism.
Religion and culture
File:H2A - Battle of Delta Halo.jpg|thumb|250px|The Great Journey's objective was to find and activate the Halo rings, and so ascend to godhood. Covenant society had a distinct caste-based societal system with a strong theocratic underpinning.Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition) ''page 112'' In the Covenant caste system, one's position in the hierarchy was dictated largely by their species. With the San'Shyuum and Sangheili leading the Covenant's religiopolitical and military affairs, respectively, most of the other species served either as warriors or manual labor.
The Covenant's culture and religion was based solely on the worship and reverence of the Forerunners. Long ago, the San'Shyuum managed to decipher some of the data stored on terminals aboard the Forerunner Dreadnought, thanks to the Forerunners' robust translation systems. However, even then they were unable to fully comprehend the subtle meanings of many Forerunner glyphs. The San'Shyuum incorrectly interpreted the activation of the Halo Array as a means of transcending mortality, a process they came to call the "Great Journey". They did not understand that the Array had been designed to eradicate the Flood, specifically by triggering a galactic holocaust and killing all sentient life within the galaxy. They arrived at the conclusion that the Forerunners had ascended to godhood and left other species of the galaxy to their fates. Because of this, the Covenant devoted itself to searching for and recovering of Forerunner artifacts. At several points in the Covenant's history, this desire to reclaim Forerunner technology has resulted in the hegemony declaring war against non-compliant species, the most recent instance being their war against humanity. In Covenant society, personal vendettas are not tolerated,Halo: The Flood ''page 95'' although many conflicts in the Covenant's past have been sparked by vendettas.Halo: Contact Harvest ''page 150''
File:Covie Lance1.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Kig-Yar and Unggoy listening to the sermons of a Prophet. The Covenant used commerce as a form of economy. As the Covenant's cohesion was grounded in its belief of working to obtain and sharing Forerunner technology, every member of the Covenant was given a form of employment or a service to fulfill in exchange for goods and necessities. In the Covenant's culture, service for salvation was the moral motivation for the entire population.Media:Humans hunted.ogg|''Halo 2'' dialogue, Prophet of Regret Despite this, there was discrimination within the Covenant: The lesser species were treated as second-class citizens with little political or representative voice or power.
The Covenant were always eager to add new species to the faith,Halo: Contact Harvest ''page 51'' so long as they pledged allegiance to the San'Shyuum as their supreme leaders and the Great Journey as their religion.Halo: Contact Harvest ''page 50'' Client races were in all essence Slavery|enslaved by the Covenant, forced to live a completely different way of life, and if unlucky enough, had their entire culture and history erased. The client races were held together by a common belief; the slave races were driven by the religion which they had been forced to accept. Most races were only kept for their varying skills to be exploited, rather than to be a part of a flourishing empire. However, some races such as the Sangheili and Jiralhanae benefited significantly from the new technology that the Covenant brought, and weren't simply enslaved like the Unggoy.
Species The Covenant is made up of a variety of alien species from different parts of the galaxy. Organized into a caste system by the San'Shyuum, the different species of the Covenant are united by their blind faith in the promise of the Great Journey.Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition) ''page 14'' In addition to the core member species listed below, there are a number of peripheral client speciesknown collectively as the Covenant fringethat were never fully integrated into the Covenant, though some provided various advantages to the hegemony.
However, not every species encountered by the Covenant was deemed worthy of even providing them with conversion in exchange for services, though their worlds still fell under Covenant control. These species were poorly documented by the Sangheili and have not been contacted nor cataloged by the Unified Earth Government, even after the Covenant's fall.
File:Regret render.png|100px|right|link=San'Shyuum The highest political caste in the Covenant, the San'Shyuum, or "Prophets" as they are known by humans, led the Covenant and exerted complete control over all religious and political affairs. Though physically weak, Prophets wielded power through absolute command of the Covenant and through scavenged Forerunner technology, leaving the task of conquest to the Sangheili and the other races. Along with the Sangheili, the San'Shyuum had members on the Covenant High Council.
File:Halo 2 Anniversary Zealot.png|140px|right|link=Sangheili The Sangheili, or "Elites" as they are known by humans, served as the military leaders of the Covenant before the Great Schism. Along with the San'Shyuum, the Sangheili were one of the two founding races of the Covenant, and were the only race other than the San'Shyuum to have members on the High Council. The Sangheili are the only race within the Covenant permitted to build and command starships within the Covenant, though the crews are always composed of a mix of races.Sybex Halo PC Guide ''page 48''
File:Reach - Chieftain.png|140px|right|link=Jiralhanae The Jiralhanae, or "Brutes" as they are known by humans, were the most recent addition to the Covenant, and served as soldiers and bodyguards within the Covenant military until their promotion during the Great Schism. Although initially of low status within the hierarchy, the Jiralhanae gained greater prominence within the Covenant prior to the Great Schism, with the Chieftain of the Jiralhanae, Tartarus, answering to the Hierarchs themselves. After the Sangheili were deposed, the Jiralhanae were given command of the Covenant military.
File:HReach - Mgalekgolo.png|140px|right|link=Mgalekgolo The Lekgolo are a race of worm-like creatures that can combine to form large, intelligent assemblages called Mgalekgolo, known by humans as "Hunters". Clad in nearly impenetrable armor and armed with their trademark Assault Cannon, they served as the Covenant's heaviest ground troops. Many of these creatures joined the Sangheili during the Great Schism.
File:HReach - Unggoy.png|140px|right|link=Unggoy Hailing from Balaho, the Unggoy, or "Grunts" as they are known by humans, were the most common and low-ranking caste of the Covenant. They breathe methane gas, and thus must wear a large tank on their back full of methane to survive on other planets. Relations between the Unggoy and the Kig-Yar are strained in the best of times. Many of these creatures joined the Sangheili and the Jiralhanae during the Great Schism.
File:JackalMinor.png|140px|right|link=Kig-Yar The Kig-Yar, or "Jackals" or "Skirmishers" as they are known by humans, were the scouts and marksmen of the Covenant military due to their superior senses. They were among the lower Covenant castes and are about 6'2" tall.
File:Yanmee H2A.png|140px|right|link=Yanme'e The Yanme'e, or "Drones" as they are known by humans, are flying, insectoid species that served almost exclusively as engineers in the Covenant Empire. They were eventually replaced by the Huragok, and were used as aerial combatants against the UNSC, who are inexperienced at fighting airborne infantry.
File:Engineer renderized.png|140px|right|link=Huragok The Huragok, or "Engineers" as they are known by the humans, are an artificial species created by the Forerunners. They only conversed with the San'Shyuum or individuals who learn their language.Halo: Contact Harvest, ''page 55'' The Huragok performed the physical labor of excavating and gathering data on Forerunner artifacts. In military terms, they were generally a non-militant race. Many of the Huragok joined the Sangheili during the Great Schism.
Military
File:HW Covenant render logoles.png|thumb|300px|Sangheili, the initial leaders of the Covenant military. The Covenant maintained pervasive armed forces to enforce order, conduct atmospheric and space combat operations, and generally carry out the Covenant's will throughout space. Unlike the UNSC, however, the Covenant lacked a single unified military arm, and its armed forces were instead comprised of several organizations overseen by various ministerial bodies.Halo: Fleet Battles, ''Core Rulebook - page 7'' The Covenant's military capability was most overtly embodied in its spaceborne Covenant fleet|fleets, ranging from small battle groups to entire armadas. Various task-based groups served under these fleets, including the occupational ground forces and the Special Warfare Group, which contained the Special Operations|Special Operations Division.
Covenant troops were heavily segregated by species, with the Sangheili originally serving as their leadership caste. In the field, Unggoy were deployed as cannon fodder files, Kig-Yar were used as support and snipers, and Sangheili were commanders and fought in warrior lances. Weapons and technology were restricted by species and rank; only Sangheili received Sangheili personal energy shield|personal energy shields and energy swords, only Kig-Yar received Kig-Yar point defense gauntlet|point defense gauntlets, and Unggoy only received basic weapons and Unggoy combat harness|armor depending by rank. The reasons for these restrictions were often cultural; for instance, Sangheili viewed wielding shield gauntlets as dishonorable and that "lesser species" did not deserve their privileged weapons. This discrimination among the Covenant military was centuries old, but the dynamic was occasionally changed by violent rebellion. The Unggoy Rebellion caused Sangheili to mix their units with Unggoy and give them better training. Likewise, the Great Schism put Jiralhanae in command of former Sangheili units, gave them Jiralhanae power armor|personal shielded armor, and made their tribal packs a prominent military unit.
Technology File:Charging Zealot.png|thumb|250px|Energy shielding and active camouflage were reverse-engineered from Forerunner technology. Covenant technology has been often described as more imitative rather than innovative,Halo: The Fall of Reach, ''page 241'' (''"The Covenant's science is imitative rather then innovative, a by-product of this societal 'absorption,'"'' Dr. Halsey continued. ''"This is not to say that they are lacking intelligence, however. During our first encounter, they gathered computer and network components from our destroyed ships... and they learned at an astonishing pace."''); 2010 edition, ''page 275''Halo: First Strike, ''page 87'' (Cortana: ''"The Covenant were imitative, not innovative; at least, that's what all the ONI intelligence gathered on the collection of alien races had reported. She had thought this was an exaggeration, propaganda to bolster human morale."'') as they are based largely on mimicry and reverse-engineering of the leftover Forerunner artifacts they have discovered. Such examples are their exceedingly accurate slipspace astrogation|navigation, near-instantaneous Slipstream space#Communications|interstellar communication, the manipulation of extremely high volumes of plasma energy from sublight travel, short-range translocation of matter, a great influence over gravity and repulsor-based technologies, and man-portable application of energy manipulation.Bestiarum: ''Technological Achievement Tiers'' Much of the Covenant's rapid technological advancement was made by stripping Forerunner Shield world#Conservation sphere|shield worlds of useful material early in the hegemony's existence.Halo Wars, Halo Wars Timeline Events|Excerpt from ''The Punished Deeds, Vol. III'' The Covenant also gained many improvements in weapons and spacecraft technology thanks to the technologies found in the Ten Cities of Edification on Zhoist.''Halo: Silent Storm'', Chapter 26 In the Covenant, ecclesiastical authorities ultimately oversee even the most trivial modifications to existing designs. Improvements or alterations require layers of bureaucracy to navigate and often take decades to gain approval from the Prophets.Halo Wars 2 - ''Phoenix Logs - Wraith Invader'' As a result, some designs, technology and vessels have remained in service for many centuries with little alteration to their base design.
Although innovation is not one of the Covenant's strong suits, the Covenant has shown considerable advancement in bridging the technological gap with newly-encountered species. For example, in the first encounter of the Human-Covenant War, the Covenant learned of the humans' computer systems and of their language from salvaging human-computer and network components from destroyed human ships. This knowledge benefited the Covenant greatly in understanding the humans' military operation, to the extent that the UNSC enacted the Cole Protocol to deter the Covenant from finding human Human colonies|colony worlds and Earth. In another scenario, during the preliminary of the Fall of Reach, the Covenant crippled Reach's telecommunication network to prevent the colony world from contacting reinforcements and placed numerous Deployment spire|teleportation spires to deploy its forces without having to face directly with the planet's orbital defenses.''Halo: Reach''
The Covenant culture has religious taboos that prevent them from fully exploring what the Forerunners employed to create that technology.Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition) ''page 224'' In some cases, Covenant technology imitates the effects of the Forerunner technology it is based on while the underlying science remains largely beyond their grasp. An example of this is the Covenant's predominant use of plasma in their weapons rather than the more exotic hard light and particle streams utilized by the Forerunners,Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide, ''page 103'' or the Covenant's pinch fusion reactors in contrast to the Forerunners' ability to harness vacuum energy. The Covenant also never developed advanced Artificial intelligence|AI technology due to their religious doctrine; they believed that a Associated intelligence|powerful AI had once betrayed the Forerunners, and as such they had a ban on actually sapient machine intelligences. The few Covenant AIs that have been encountered include Ascendant Justice's AI|an AI that was stationed aboard the ''Ascendant Justice'' and destroyed by Cortana,Halo: First Strike 'page 170'' Truth and Reconciliation's AI|one based on the ''Truth and Reconciliation'', as well as the Seeker (AI)|Seeker, sent to infiltrate UNSC systems and alert the Covenant to the location of Earth. Cortana's copy also referenced several AIs being present in the ''Unyielding Hierophants systems when the Spartans infiltrated the station.Halo: First Strike ''page 320''
The Forerunners' ubiquitous hard light technology was never completely understood by the Covenant,Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe Volume II, ''"Wages of Sin"'', ''page 291'' although they managed to develop at least one hard light-based device in the Prelates' shield gauntlets.Halo: Shadow of Intent, ''page ??'' However, they did possess advanced energy field shaping and complex holography. This technology was advanced enough to produce realistic and tangible simulacra of physical objects. The holo-drone, for example, generates an independent decoy of the operator capable of inflicting physical harm on the enemy despite its incorporeal nature;Halo 2, campaign level ''The Oracle'' the Type-27 hologram|T-27 holographic decoy is a more basic variation of this concept. The Covenant applied forcefield technology in a broad range of roles, from the San'Shyuum's spherical stasis fields to contain beverages such as tea to the enormous Energy barrier|fields used to hold in ''High Charitys atmosphere while the holy city's exterior dome was still under construction.Halo: Broken Circle, ''page 20''Halo 2: Anniversary, ''Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminal 8''
Covenant architecture is known for its curved, organic and sophisticated looking style, primarily based on the aesthetic tastes of the San'Shyuum with loose connections with Sangheili designs. Even military vehicles were fashioned after San'Shyuum aesthetics early on, incorporating many of the Sangheili designs over the Covenant's history. Constructed of distinctive purple, blue or white metal, these colors are the main focus of Covenant design and distributed throughout their starships, vehicles, and weapons. The materials they use are unknown to the UNSC but are very strong and resilient.
The Covenant possess a variety of medical technologies, including the life-extension treatments the San'Shyuum have used for some time. The San'Shyuum Prelates were also know to have used a form of biological augmentation to greatly enhance their normally frail bodies. As an idiosyncrasy of their warrior culture, the Sangheili view the notion of doctors as dishonorable.Halo: The Cole Protocol, ''page 143'' However, as injuries are an inevitable byproduct of combat, the Covenant military still employs a number of medical amenities. Among these are automated surgery suites, featured on Covenant ships to treat wounds received in combat,Halo: Contact Harvest, ''page 259'' and magnetic splints which are used to hold broken bones in place. The Huragok (both the common Builder kind and the Lifeworker variation) also provided medical aid in addition to their primary role of maintaining Covenant technology.Halo: Hunters in the Dark, ''page 152'' It was known that even after suffering major injuries, after only minutes of treatment the patient would feel back to normal without as much as a scar to show for it.Halo: Hunters in the Dark, ''page 349''
File:1771441-gallery.png|thumb|250px|The ''Resplendent Fervor'' Modular Dispersal Technology|separates its aft section while the bow enters slipstream space. For the Covenant species, interstellar travel was made easy due to the reverse-engineered technology. Like humans, Covenant vessels can enter Slipstream space and travel significantly faster than light. However, the Covenant equivalent of the Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine is far more efficient and reliable, relying on a series of "micro-jumps" to maneuver through the slipstream. Covenant vessels do not suffer the "temporal fluidity" of faster-than-light to such a degree as human vessels, arriving at the precise time and location that they intend. However, after a slipspace jump Covenant vessels generally experience a temporary power outage, leaving the vessel vulnerable to attack. As a result, Covenant battlegroups are much more efficient when acting as a coordinated group, and can strike more quickly and decisively.
Covenant starships use repulsor engines for propulsion in space, rather than the more traditional fusion engines utilized by humanity or the advanced reaction drives used by Forerunners.Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, ''page 331'' Covenant drive systems seem to be propelled by an unusual combination of gravity "waves" and some form of highly reactive plasma displacement, but the actual means and method of propulsion is currently beyond human understanding. Both starships and ground vehicles are equipped with various forms of anti-gravity technology, allowing ships to hover easily inside an atmosphere and allowing frictionless movement of vehicles across terrain. The Covenant are also able to manipulate exceedingly large amounts of plasma energy by recycling detritus from sublight travel.
Covenant manufacturing plants, such as the Assembly Forges, employ highly sophisticated manufacturing methods which allow them considerable freedom in the design of individual ships. While all Covenant vessels fall into one of several universal design patterns, every ship can be custom-made to fit the preferences of individual shipbuilders and fleet masters.
Most of the Covenant arsenal consists of plasma weaponry|plasma-based directed energy weapons, but the Covenant are known to also utilize Pulse laser turret|pulse lasers, particle beam weapons, antimatter explosives and even chemical crystal-based weapons. Interestingly, Covenant weapon designs seem to defy known laws of mechanics; there is typically no form of Wikipedia:Radiative transfer|radiative, physical, or electrical contact between the firing mechanism and "trigger" of a weapon. For these and other reasons, the workings of Covenant weaponry is generally beyond the comprehension of UNSC scientists.''Dr. Halsey's personal journal'', :File:Journal Needler.png|Needler analysis
File:Tyrant Plasma.png|thumb|left|250px|The Covenant favor plasma weapons, used for both their starships and ground forces. Plasma weapons typically use a rechargeable power cell to provide power to their internal components. Covenant plasma weapons are effective but crude, and most automatic-fire plasma weapons are prone to overheating. To compensate, most weapons have vents that open to discharge excess heat and plasma when they overheat, although such weapons are rendered inoperable as the excess heat is dissipated. Once the energy of the plasma weapon is depleted, it must be recharged or discarded. To date, the means by which plasma weapons can be recharged is still unknown to UNSC forces. The most remarkable handheld plasma projectile weapons are a variety of Type-25 plasma pistol|plasma pistol (by far the most widely used small arm) and the Okarda'phaa-pattern plasma rifle|plasma rifle. Notable vehicular plasma weapons include various plasma cannon|cannons and plasma mortar|mortars, while warships are armed primarily with Plasma turret|plasma torpedo turrets.
Though rarer, the Covenant occasionally use projectile weapons, the most common of these being Needle-based weaponry|unconventional crystal-based weapons such as the Type-33 Needler and the . 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.
With the introduction of the Jiralhanae as a major military caste within the Covenant, their weapons found widespread use among their own kind. Utilizing crude, spike-like metal projectiles in place of plasma; conventional explosives and incendiaries; and sharp blades, they are more primitive, yet in many cases more dangerous -fitting, considering the nature of their creators. Brute weapons include the Paegaas Workshop Spiker|Spiker carbine, the Type-52 Mauler|Mauler shotgun-pistol, and the Type-25 Brute Shot|Brute Shot grenade launcher.
The Covenant employ melee weapons in addition to their already fearsome arsenal. The best known is the Type-1 energy sword|energy sword, used solely by the Sangheili. Creating a double blade of superheated plasma, it has both ceremonial and martial value to Sangheili warriors and its possession is closely monitored. Another is the Jiralhanae Gravity hammer (fiction)|gravity hammer, which seems to be the Brutes' cultural equivalent to the energy sword. However, rather than using a blade of plasma, it generates a gravitational field which can cause tremendous damage within a several-meter radius.
Covenant vehicles use Boosted gravity propulsion drive|advanced anti-gravity technology for propulsion, and are armed with directed-energy weaponry of varying potency. Though often faster than their UNSC counterparts, Covenant vehicles are more unstable over uneven terrain where the sudden changes affect handling. All Covenant vehicles (except for Jiralhanae vehicles) and structures are made from a purple or dark blue type of metal, said to be much more advanced than any alloy known to humans, and all Covenant vehicles are nicknamed after some kind of supernatural entity by the UNSC, except for Excavators. Recently, Jiralhanae vehicles and technology have been incorporated into the Covenant's arsenal. Though more primitive, they serve the Jiralhanae's need for power. Jiralhanae vehicles are not named after spiritual entities, and rather than being a series of Covenant vehicles are regarded as native Jiralhanae technology.
Sphere of influence The Covenant's expansive interstellar empire was based within the Orion Arm of the Milky Way galaxy,''Halo: Warfleet'', p. 12-13 with the mobile holy city High Charity as their capital. At the height of its power, the Covenant encompassed thousands of systems. Befitting its vastness, the governance of the Covenant's interstellar dominion was highly complex; occasionally worlds or entire sub-domains vanished from the records maintained at High Charity, only for contact to be re-established decades later. The High Council was responsible for the administration of these interstellar territories, assigning tithes and levies, and allocating resources across the numerous member worlds.''Halo: Warfleet'', p. 52 San'Shyuum governors handled administrative duties on a local scale; most of them joined the rest of the species on their mass exodus during the Great Schism.''Halo: Warfleet'', p. 54
Some species, such as the Kig-Yar and Lekgolo, had created colonies of their own before their incorporation into the Covenant. These worlds would be absorbed into the empire after the species joined the Covenant. Covenant space would grow to include new worlds as the hegemony expanded throughout the spiral arm, and even Forerunner installations were settled by the Covenant. Despite the massive size of the empire, the Covenant would generally leave a newly discovered world untouched, unless the world held religious or practical significance. Base worlds established by the Sangheili were considered the Covenant's primary worlds. Since the incorporation of the Jiralhanae, the San'Shyuum settled them on resource-rich worlds to guard them from anyone seeking to claim them for themselves, although the Jiralhanae lacked the ability to mine the resources themselves.Halo: Escalation, ''Halo: Escalation Issue 1|Issue #1''
After the dissolution of the Covenant and the exodus of the local San'Shyuum governors, many of the Covenant's colonies fell under the control of the hegemony's various Covenant remnants|splinter factions, while others were claimed by unaffiliated members of the Covenant client species, especially the Sangheili or Kig-Yar. Some worlds were contested between species and governments, while Joint Occupation Zones were established between the Unified Earth Government and the Swords of Sanghelios to allow colonies to be administrated by multiple species.Halo: Fractures, ''"Oasis"''
Urs system
*Sanghelios Sangheili homeworld
**Qikost Sangheili colony
**Suban Sangheili colony Qom Yaekesh system
*Janjur Qom San'Shyuum homeworld
**Plaon - San 'Shyuum colony Oth Sonin system
*Doisac Jiralhanae homeworld
**Warial Jiralhanae colony
**Teash Jiralhanae colony Tala system
*Balaho Unggoy homeworld
**Buwan Small Covenant outpost colony Y'Deio system
*Ap'ot Orbital port city
*Chu'ot
**Eayn Kig-Yar homeworld
*Dal'koth Kig-Yar asteroid colony
*T'vao T'vaoan asteroid homeworld Napret system
*Palamok Yanme'e homeworld
**Ka'amoti Yanme'e colony
**Oquiu Yanme'e colony Sephune System
*Sephune III Svir system
*Te Lekgolo homeworld
**Rantu Lekgolo colony
**Rentus Lekgolo colony
51 Pegasi system
*51 Pegasi B
**Pegasi Delta Home to a starship fuel refinery and staging area
Buta system
*Zhoist - A revered Covenant world home to the Ten Cities of Edification and Ring of Mighty Abundance, a massive Covenant fleet resupply base. Destroyed by UNSC forces in Operation: SILENT STORM in 2526.
Salia system
*Saepon'kal Sangheili fortress world. Devastated by orbital NOVA bomb detonation in 2552
*Salia III
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
Ven system
*Ven III
Worlds in unknown systems 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 Duraan A sparsely populated Sangheili frontier colony Oth Lodon Gas giant located near the Jiralhanae home system Hesduros Remote Sangheili colony Karava Backwater Sangheili colony in contested space Rahnelo A Sangheili frontier colony Ulgethon Ancient Sangheili colony Yonhe Yonhet homeworld Unidentified moon (Headhunters)|Unidentified moon home to a Forerunner excavation site attacked by SPARTAN-III Headhunters Glyke - Sangheili colony and major shipyard. Operation: SUNSPEAR|Destroyed by Gray Team just after the end of the Human-Covenant War
Non-canon and dubious canon appearances
The Covenant is an empire consisting of at least the San'Shyuum and Jiralhanae at war with humanity.
The Covenant hordes are enemies of humanity. File:HTV-Contact-Sangheili.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Covenant Sangheili in the ''Silver Timeline.
The Covenant is a mutispecies religious hegemony attempting to eradicate humanity and locate Halo.
The Covenant is a zealous organization of humans mutated by radiation at war with the United Nations Security Confederation.
Trivia
in most media.
in most media.
in ''Halo Legends''.
|de=
|es= in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' and ''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary''.
}}
is a major city in Bungie's ''Myth'' series; it is home to the ''Total Codex'', a magical book that lists the fate of every being that will ever be born. Bungie later considered ''Covenant'' as a potential title for ''Halo: Combat Evolved''. Paul Russel joked that it ''"... sound[ed] like a bad 80's hair band."''Halo 3 ''Legendary Edition'' special features disk The List of references to religion in Halo|Biblical Ark of the Covenant represented the will of God, in connection with the quote: ''"Your destruction is the will of the Gods...and we are their instrument."'' This references the Covenant's belief they carry through the will of their gods, the Forerunners.
Gallery
File:Halo1 - Covenant Symbol.png|A symbol used on some of the Covenant's vehicles. File:HaloWars-CovenantSymbol.png|The emblem used to identify the Covenant faction in ''Halo Wars'', fashioned after a Hierarch's headdress. File:HCE_CovenantSpecies_Concept.jpg|Concept art of the various Covenant species created early in the development of ''Halo: Combat Evolved''. File:HW LECover-Wide.jpg|Ripa 'Moramee leads a Covenant force comprising of Sangheili and Unggoy infantry and a Banshee squadron. File:HFOR-Covenant.png|A hologram of multiple Covenant species in ''Halo: Fall of Reach''. File:Covenant LogoHD.png|The Sangheili scripture for the word Covenant. First seen in a ''Halo: Fleet Battles'' promo and later in Sunaion. The image is a Photoshop recreation. File:H5Covenant Logo.png|The Sangheili scripture for the word Covenant. First seen in Sunaion. Notice that it is a mirrored version of the previous image. The image is a Photoshop recreation. File:Spartan Games Covie ships.jpg|A representation of a Covenant Fleet, created by Spartan Games. File:TruthAndReconciliation replica.jpg|The Sangheili sigils for the Covenant on a replica of the ''Truth and Reconciliation''. File:Covenant SymbolHorizontal.png|Horizontal version of the Symbol of the Covenant.
List of appearances
''Halo: The Fall of Reach''
''Halo: Combat Evolved''
''Halo: The Flood''
''Halo: First Strike''
''i love bees''
''Halo 2''
''Halo Graphic Novel''
*''The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor
*''Second Sunrise Over New Mombasa''
''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx
''Halo: Uprising''
''Halo 3''
''Halo: Contact Harvest''
''Halo: The Cole Protocol''
''Halo Wars: Genesis''
''Halo Wars''
''Halo: Helljumper''
''Halo 3: ODST''
''Halo Legends''
*''Origins''
*''The Duel''
*''Homecoming''
*''Prototype''
*''The Babysitter''
*''The Package (animated short)|The Package''
''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''
*''Stomping on the Heels of a Fuss''
*''Midnight in the Heart of Midlothian''
*''Dirt''
*''Headhunters''
*''Blunt Instruments''
*''The Mona Lisa''
*''Palace Hotel''
*''Human Weakness''
*''The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole''
*''The Return''
''Halo: Blood Line''
''Halo: Reach''
*''Data pads''
''Halo: Fall of Reach''
*''Halo: Fall of Reach - Boot Camp|Boot Camp''
*''Halo: Fall of Reach - Covenant|Covenant''
*''Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion|Invasion''
''Halo: Glasslands''
''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary''
*''Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)|Terminals''
''Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn''
''Halo 4'' (Prologue Only)
*''Infinity Briefing Packet''
''Halo: Initiation''
''Halo: Escalation''
''Halo: Mortal Dictata''
''Halo: Broken Circle''
''Halo: Nightfall''
''Halo 2: Anniversary''
*''Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminals''
''Halo: New Blood''
''Hunt the Truth''
''Halo: Spartan Strike''
''Halo: Hunters in the Dark''
''Halo: Fleet Battles''
''Halo: Last Light''
''Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series''
''Halo 5: Guardians''
*''Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition dossiers|Limited Edition dossiers''
''Halo: Ground Command''
''Halo Mythos''
''Halo Fractures''
*''Lessons Learned''
*''What Remains''
''Halo: Smoke and Shadow''
''Halo Wars 2''
''Halo: Envoy''
''Halo: Retribution''
''Halo: Rise of Atriox''
''Halo: Legacy of Onyx''
''Halo: Collateral Damage''
''Halo: Bad Blood''
''Halo: Fireteam Raven''
''Halo: Silent Storm''
''Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual''
''Halo: Battle Born''
''Halo: Renegades''
''Halo: Oblivion''
''Halo: Meridian Divide''
''Halo: Shadows of Reach''
*''Sacrifice''
''Halo: Point of Light''
''Halo: Divine Wind''
''Halo Infinite: Memory Agent''
''Halo Infinite''
''Halo: The Television Series''
*''Contact''
*''Unbound''
*''Emergence''
*''Homecoming (TV Series)|Homecoming''
*''Reckoning''
*''Solace (TV Series)|Solace''
*''Inheritance''
*''Allegiance''
*''Transcendence''
''Halo: The Rubicon Protocol''
''Winter Contention''
''Sunrise on Sanghelios''
''Saturn Devouring His Son''
''Battle for the Blood-Moon''
Notes
Sources
External links Wikipedia:Covenant (Halo)|The Covenant''' on Wikipedia
Category:The Covenant|
Category:Factions
|
|devname=
|name=Covenantship
|image=File:H2AnnounceTrailer FreeFall.jpg|300px
|player=
John-117
|date=
|place=Interior of ''Day of Jubilation'', above Earth
|objective=
|parscore=
|partime=
|nowalk=yes
}}
Covenantship was the working title for a level intended to be featured in ''Halo 2''. The level would have taken place immediately after Cairo Station, and involve the John-117|Master Chief's efforts at blowing up the ''Day of Jubilation'' from the inside via Naval boarding|boarding. The level was ultimately replaced in the final game with the famous cutscene in which the Chief launches through space with a Antimatter charge|Covenant bomb to blow up the carrier instead.
Overview File:H2 CovenantShip Whiteboard.png|250px|thumb|A layout whiteboard for covenantship. Covenantship was cut fairly early on in development, and replaced with a cutscene that created "''just as much work''" for the development team. The level was to involve the Master Chief boarding the eponymous Covenant spacecraft and lead a boarding action alongside a group of Orbital Drop Shock Troopers|ODSTs and Miranda Keyes. The level would end with the Master Chief using a Wraith tank to blow up the ship's pinch fusion reactor - notably serving as the first introduction to the ability to drive the Wraith in the series. The level would have also served as the main introduction for Miranda, who would spend a significant chunk of the level fighting alongside the player. Alternative commentary by Joseph Staten has suggested the player would have been free to use a Wraith, a Ghost, or a Banshee to destroy the core. File:H2 TestGeo.png|thumb|250px|Test geometry created by Michael Wu c.2002, which seems to match the Covenant spacecraft themeing. A layout whiteboard briefly featured in the ''Designing the Levels'' featurette bundled on the ''Halo 2 Limited Collector's Edition'' disc seems to match up with many of these details, and illuminates more about the level's intended structure. The whiteboard shows a backdrop appearing to look like the upper hull of a or against a backdrop of stars, and features Master Chief and mentions of ODSTs jumping between alternating "trains", alongside fighting Unggoy|Grunts. Mid-way through the mission a note about "skybox dialogue" is mentioned, possibly indicating the ongoing space warfare|space battle around Earth. The players would eventually be blocked from proceeding further by a blockade, leading to a lighting change. Other details on the board are too obscured in the shot to make out fully, though seem to reference the aforementioned Wraith near the end of the level and curiously, a Protos-pattern Scarab|Scarab walker. The context surrounding the Scarab is unknown. File:H2_CovShip_Geo.png|thumb|250px|Another look at the covenantship 3D geometry from 2002. A final detail on the whiteboard on the right-hand side mentions ''Ghosts from behind'' - indicating at a certain point the player and their team may have been intercepted by Ghost attack craft - a detail which lines up well with several of the storyboards featured below.
Storyboard breakdown A number of Halo 2 storyboards|storyboards intended for this mission were posted online by Lee Wilson in 2020. The storyboards showcase two alternating takes on the mission's opening cutscene, both different to that featured in the final game.
These early sketches were done by Joseph Staten.
File:H2 CovenantShip Storyboard Sketch 1.jpg File:H2 CovenantShip Storyboard Sketch 2.jpg
In the cutscene's intro, the Chief largely falls down away from the camera in the same way he does in the announcement trailer and Cairo Station cutscene. Notably at this time, the idea of the assault carrier didn't exist yet, so the ship is represented by a standard ''Ket''-pattern cruiser. The Master Chief lands on the ship's hull and climbs inside a trench inbetween sections of armour plating, ultimately coming up to a maintenance airlock and opening it to find a group of Yanme'e|Drones - who rush the Chief and gameplay begins.
File:H2 CovenantShip V1 Storyboard Intro 1.jpg File:H2 CovenantShip V1 Storyboard Intro 2.jpg File:H2 CovenantShip V1 Storyboard Intro 3.jpg File:H2 CovenantShip V1 Storyboard Intro 4.jpg File:H2 CovenantShip V1 Storyboard Intro 5.jpg
The next set of storyboards then showcase the Master Chief's escape from the carrier by flying out of the ship on a Ghost, before jumping out of the Ghost and falling into Avery Johnson|Sgt. Johnson's Pelican drophsip. The destroyed carrier falls to Earth and crashes into the city below.
File:H2 CovenantShip V1 Storyboard Outro 1.jpg File:H2 CovenantShip V1 Storyboard Outro 2.jpg File:H2 CovenantShip V1 Storyboard Outro 3.jpg File:H2 CovenantShip V1 Storyboard Outro 4.jpg File:H2 CovenantShip V1 Storyboard Outro 5.jpg File:H2 CovenantShip V1 Storyboard Outro 6.jpg File:H2 CovenantShip V1 Storyboard Outro 7.jpg File:H2 CovenantShip V1 Storyboard Outro 8.jpg File:H2 CovenantShip V1 Storyboard Outro 9.jpg File:H2 CovenantShip V1 Storyboard Outro 10.jpg File:H2 CovenantShip V1 Storyboard Outro 11.jpg
These second iterations of the covenantship cinematic more closely resemble that found in the final game - the primary differences come from the fact that there is still no antimatter bomb. Additionally, after the is blown up by the carrier, the bombing run sequence is altered; rather than the Longsword fighters used in the final game, this sequence features a wing of Cut Halo 2 vehicles#Strike fighter|strike fighters (a Cut Halo 2 vehicles|cut vehicle) supporting the Chief and bombing the Covenant point-defence turrets (represented by the large anti-air gun first seen in the Halo 2 E3 demo|''Halo 2'' E3 demo and later reused for the artillery in the final game). The Chief lands on the ship at the reactor. The storyboards cut off here, so what was intended at this stage of development is unknown.
File:H2 CovenantShip V2 Storyboard Intro 1.jpg File:H2 CovenantShip V2 Storyboard Intro 2.jpg File:H2 CovenantShip V2 Storyboard Intro 3.jpg File:H2 CovenantShip V2 Storyboard Intro 4.jpg File:H2 CovenantShip V2 Storyboard Intro 5.jpg File:H2 CovenantShip V2 Storyboard Intro 6.jpg File:H2 CovenantShip V2 Storyboard Intro 7.jpg File:H2 CovenantShip V2 Storyboard Intro 8.jpg File:H2 CovenantShip V2 Storyboard Intro 9.jpg File:H2 CovenantShip V2 Storyboard Intro 10.jpg File:H2 CovenantShip V2 Storyboard Intro 11.jpg File:H2 CovenantShip V2 Storyboard Intro 12.jpg
Sources
|
File:H3 Truth rings.jpg|thumb|370px|The High Prophet of Truth activates the Halo Rings from Installation 00|the Ark.
The Covenant religion, based upon the worship of the ancient race of beings known as the Forerunners. The Covenant commonly referred to the religion and its teachings as the Path.Halo: Broken Circle, ''page 304''
Background File:H5Concept -The Path.jpg|thumb|150px|A symbol associated with the Path to the Great Journey. According to the Covenant religion, the Forerunners, a race of enlightened beings regarded as nearly omniscient and all-powerful, discovered a way to transcend the physical world and became divine gods by activating the Halo Array|Halos, or "Sacred Rings" as referred to by members of the Covenant.''Halo 2'', cinematics The Halos supposedly uplifted the Forerunners into Technological Achievement Tiers|transsentience, but left all lesser, unworthy races behind. The Covenant believed themselves to be the chosen inheritors of the Forerunners, and sought to reclaim the "gifts" they left behind, in most cases lost technology. Their ultimate goal was to locate and activate the Halo installations. In doing so, it was believed that all faithful adherents to the Covenant religion would be uplifted as the Forerunners were, following them on a Great Journey resulting in godhood. This belief was shared, with varying degrees of sincerity, amongst all the Covenant's client races.
History
What would eventually become the Covenant religion was first practiced on Janjur Qom, the San'Shyuum homeworld. Janjur Qom was home to two influential factions, the Stoics and the Reformists. Although both factions believed in the prophecy of ascendancy and the holiness of artifacts left behind by their gods, they held different views on how the religion should be practiced; the Reformists believed that the religion could spread throughout the galaxy through travel in their lords' Forerunner Dreadnought|shipa Forerunner Keyship that had reseeded Janjur Qom with San'Shyuum millennia earlier, unbeknownst to the populacebut the Stoics viewed their actions as desecrating the memory of the Forerunners. This initiated the San'Shyuum Schism, a conflict which resulted in the defeat of the Stoics. The Reformists used the Keyship to leave Janjur Qom, traveling through the stars in search of more Forerunner Relics.
While the exact date remains unrecorded, the Ages of Conflict spanned thousands of years and were a significant period in the spreading of what started out as solely the San'Shyuum's Faith (and by extension, their empire). In the First Age of Conflict, the San'Shyuum Reformists eventually encountered a saurian species known as the Sangheili. This alien race had developed a religion based on the worship of Forerunner deities independently of the San'Shyuum. However, while the two species shared similar religious beliefs, the Sangheili believed that tampering with the artifacts of their gods was an unforgivable offense. Their first contact soon led to the San'Shyuum-Sangheili War. The war ended with the submission of the Sangheili and the formation of a new empire through the Writ of Union. The Sangheili would take the role as the warriors, with the San'Shyuum acting as their superiors in matters of technology and faith, advising their allies on how best to achieve the Great Journey.
File:H2Aterm-Sesa and GS 3.jpg|thumb|200px|Sesa 'Refumee, the leader of the Heretics with 343 Guilty Spark at his side.
The development of the Covenant religion took place across seven ages; the Age of Abandonment, Ages of Conflict, Ages of Reconciliation|Age of Reconciliation, Ages of Discovery|Age of Discovery, Ages of Conversion|Age of Conversion, Ages of Doubt and the Ages of Reclamation. These ages saw the expansion of the Empire's power and the belief in the Great Journey throughout its new vassal races. In 1342, the Kig-Yar became the first race to be converted as a whole to the Covenant religion (though most were influenced by monetary rewards granted by the San'Shyuum). Next, in 2142, came the Unggoy. The Jiralhanae, in 2492, were the last species to be fully integrated into the Covenant Empire, and thus their religion.
The Covenant religion was not without internal conflicts and heretical movements, as evidenced by several conflicts throughout Covenant history such as the Struggle for Ideological Purity. In the final years of the Covenant Empire's rule, an irreligious splinter group known as the Banished split off from the Covenant out of a lack of commitment to the hegemony's cause. Later, a Heretics|heretic uprising on Threshold gas mine|Threshold, near Installation 04|Alpha Halo, was born as a result of 343 Guilty Spark revealing the truth about the Halos to the artifact retrieval group commander Sesa 'Refumee. An Arbiter, Thel 'Vadamee, was appointed and sent with a strike force to deal with the threat.
The Covenant religion reached its zenith when the Fleet of Particular Justice discovered Installation 04 by accident, chasing the UNSC Pillar of Autumn|UNSC ''Pillar of Autumn'' from Fall of Reach|their victory at Reach. This unexpected discovery led to the immediate presence of the holy city High Charity and its accompanying fleet. However, efforts to ignite the ring were prevented by John-117, who destroyed the ring in order to stop the release of the Flood. This perceived sacrilege ignited widespread anger and grief among the ranks of the Covenant, having come so close to the fulfillment of their Great Journey.
Only a month later, Installation 05 was discovered when the Prophet of Regret|High Prophet of Regret made a slipspace journey to the Coelest system. However, the Covenant was once again denied in their efforts. The Master Chief and a small force of humans from the UNSC In Amber Clad|UNSC ''In Amber Clad'' made their way onto the ring and killed the Prophet in order to stop him from activating it. In response, the fleet glassed the temple from where Regret had been giving a sermon, though the Master Chief escaped. Prophet of Truth|The Prophet of Truth used Regret's death as an excuse to initiate the Changing of the Guard, the first step in his plot to remove the Sangheili from the Covenant. This, and the subsequent orders for the Sangheili to be exterminated, culminated in the Great Schism. The humans from ''In Amber Clad'', in conjunction with a force of Sangheili led by Thel 'Vadamee and Rtas 'Vadumee|Rtas 'Vadum, were also successful in stopping Tartarus in his efforts to activate the ring while the battles of the Schism raged around them. Though Installation 05 was not destroyed in its emergency shutdown, the entire Halo Array was automatically moved to standby status in preparation for firing from Installation 00|The Ark.
The High Prophet of Truth was aware of this fact and left High Charity early, before the UNSC intervened in Installation 05's firing. During the Covenant invasion of Earth, Truth had his fleet excavate The Portal, which would enable him and his fleet to journey towards the Ark. The UNSC along with its newfound allies, the Fleet of Retribution|Sangheili, traveled to the Ark to do battle with the Prophet-allied forces. The humans were successful, destroying the path to the Ark and removing the threat of the Halo Array.
Following the Great Schism and the death of the Prophet of Truth, the Covenantand the organisation of their religioneffectively dissolved. For more than six years, many members of the former Covenant were involved in brutal civil wars and power struggles. Immediately following Truth's death, the San'Shyuum sought to save themselves from the rage of the Sangheili, and so provided the Jiralhanae with new weapons, ships and other tools to aid in their protection. During this period the Prophets, who already had been few in number, largely disappeared, leading to rumors that they had actually finally achieved the Great Journey.Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe, "The Return", ''pages 506-507''
Even amongst the Covenant remnants their belief in the Forerunners as gods was not completely abandoned, but rather the Schism marked a return to more ancient systems of belief. As one Unidentified Sangheili Shipmaster (The Return)|Sangheili Shipmaster believed, "he knew his gods were out there, but he had no idea what they wanted." Members of the Covenant had relied on the Prophets to lead them in spiritual matters. The devout Sangheili, in particular, had not had any need for their own religious leaders for centuries, and now found that few among them had the knowledge or the ability to comprehend the will of the gods. For a people whose sole purpose had been enforcing their gods' will, this was a terrifying prospect.
While the Covenant religion itself was more or less defunct as an institution, worship of the Forerunners persisted into the post-war era in various forms. The Servants of the Abiding Truth, a group of Sangheili fundamentalists, continued to uphold their species' pre-Covenant religious beliefs and took aggressive action against the secular regime spearheaded by Thel 'Vadam. Meanwhile, the Keepers of the One Freedom are a Jiralhanae-led militant cult that continue to seek transcendence through the Great Journey. The Keepers are notable in accepting human converts to their religion, many of whom had already joined the faction by mid-2553.''Halo: Last Light'' Another group, one of many to be self-entitled as Jul 'Mdama's Covenant faction|"the Covenant", led by former Covenant shipmaster Jul 'Mdama, also continued to revere the Forerunners as gods, and sought out the Ur-Didact|Didact on the Shield World Requiem in order to ask for his aid in destroying humanity. His efforts were successful, and the Didact awoke with the goal of Composer|composing humanity. John-117 and the UNSC Infinity|UNSC ''Infinity'' had both arrived at Requiem, however, and managed to stop him. 'Mdama's Covenant was finally defeated on Sanghelios in 2558.
Articles of faith File:H2A Cutscene SanctumHaloView.png|thumb|300px|Alongside the Prophet of Truth and Thel 'Vadamee, the Prophet of Mercy gazes upon Installation 05 while preaching about the Great Journey.
The Forerunners were known to the Covenant as "Great Ones" or "Divine Ones".
The "Great Journey" is the central goal of the Covenant religion. According to the Covenant, the Forerunners initiated the first Great Journey through the use of the seven Halos, or sacred rings, which unleashed a "divine wind" that swept through the galaxy and elevated the Forerunners to godhood. The Covenant seeks to do the same by finding and activating the sacred rings, which would transcend those worthy to the divine beyond, a heavenly paradise they will share with the Forerunners. The non-believers and those unworthy of the journey would be left behind, as punishment for their heresy.
In addition to being their overall goal, the Covenant also employ the term "Great Journey" in a broader sense; as an expression of the path to transcendence, both collectively and individually. For example, a Sangheili warrior's individual "Great Journey" is said to start when they first begin their training.Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe, "The Return", ''page 489''
File:RegretTruthH2A.jpg|thumb|250px|The Prophets of Truth and Regret, with Mercy on the other side, rebuking the future Arbiter over his failure to save the first sacred ring.
The Halo Array|Halos, otherwise referred to as "Sacred Rings" or "Holy Rings"Halo: The Flood, "Priority Broadcast Log/Eleventh Cycle, Third Unit", ''page 365'' (2010 edition) by members of the Covenant, were seven holy artifacts that, when activated, would propel all "worthy" individuals in the galaxy into a heavenly paradise, where they would exist as divine beings. This could only be achieved by the retrieval of the "Activation Index|Sacred Icon", a holy artifact that would activate the rings.
From the inception of the Covenant religion, the Covenant Empire scoured all known star systems within their reach, relentless in finding at least one of these Sacred Rings. The search for the rings spanned over History of the Covenant|seven Ages; the Age of Reclamation was the age in which the Covenant finally came into contact of two Sacred Rings. The first contact was short-lived, as the first Halo was destroyed by a John-117|demon, while the firing of the second was stopped due to Sangheili defectors who teamed up with the UNSC.
In the event that a Holy Ring was to be discovered, a reclamation procedure had to be followed under San'Shyuum leadership. This was known as the "Consecration".Halo: The Flood, "Priority Broadcast Log/Eleventh Cycle, Third Unit", ''pages 366-368'' (2010 edition) The only individual who oversaw such a procedure was the Prophet of Stewardship, though he was unsuccessful due to the first Ring's destruction.
Other components of the Halo Array are referred to by the Covenant:
"Repository of Fate" - Library
"Chamber of Consecration" - Control room
"Silent Cartographer"
There were a few afterlives for the Covenant. The Faithful would proceed to the "One Freedom" while infidels and unbelievers were to be condemned to "Oblivion". Alive unbelievers were considered to be on the "Path to Oblivion". Another known afterlife was the "Circle of Deliverance".
The Covenant are aware of the Forerunner concept of the Mantle, although they appear to misunderstand its true meaning.Halo Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe volume II, ''page 299'' Whereas the Forerunners' Mantle was their responsibility to protect and watch over all life in the galaxy, the Covenant regard the Mantle as their divine right to inherit dominion over the galaxy, namely through following in the footsteps of their gods.
The Flood, or "The Parasite" as referred to by members of the Covenant, are an unholy, virulent species regarded as one of many tests and obstacles that the believers of the Covenant must conquer in order to achieve the Great Journey. According to the Covenant, the Flood were vanquished by the Forerunners long ago, and were purged from existence when the Great Journey commenced. The latter was later revealed to be false when the Flood reappeared on one of the Sacred Rings.
The Governors of Contrition, a radical sect within the Covenant religion, believed the Flood to be Forerunner creations and therefore sacred. Their views were not widely accepted, however.
Some of the Banished believe the Parasite was propaganda and lies made by the Prophets, but Atriox was aware that the parasite may exist in the Ark. Voridus, one of the Jiralhanae High Commanders who did not believe in the Parasite's existence, was responsible for starting the second Flood outbreak on the Ark after breaking through the containment shield around the ruins of High Charity.
The Covenant refer to all Forerunner AIs as "Oracles". They believe these constructs to hold holy knowledge regarding the Great Journey, and hold their words as sacred truths. Mendicant Bias and the Monitors are all regarded as oracles by the Covenant.
The "Order of Devotion" was a concept surrounding the species of the Covenant and their roles. The San'Shyuum were to "shepherd" while the Jiralhanae were to fight.
File:H2A terminal TH Arbiter 1.jpg|thumb|250px|An Arbiter being blessed by a Hierarchs|Prophet.
Arbiter is a traditional and religious title held by a Sangheili in times of great distress and pressure. An Arbiter would only be required to undertake tasks given out by the High Prophets and would be expected to sacrifice their life for the advancement of the Covenant and achievement of the Great Journey. The title of Arbiter was once given to the commander of the Sangheili military, and was regarded as a great honor; after the heresy of Arbiter Fal 'Chavamee, however, the title was appointed to those had disgraced themselves and would only be redeemed through death.
File:H2A Terminals - Jai vs Thel.jpg|thumb|250px|Thel 'Vadamee in combat with Jai-006|a demon. The Covenant refer to the UNSC's SPARTANs as "demons," and regard them with a mixture of contempt and superstitious fear.Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, ''page 243'' ("Voro strained to isolate the human word for demons from their objectionable speech... ''Spartans''".)Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, ''page 349'' ("They would take no chances with these human demons, these 'Spartans' ".)Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, ''page 372'' ("The Fleet Master Elite snarled at Kurt, and the translation filtered through his helmet's speaker: 'One last fight, demon' ".) Low-ranking client races such as the Unggoy and Kig-Yar would frequently panic upon engaging Spartans, their numbers and advanced technology providing little benefit in a protracted fight. The same would prove true of the San'Shyuum Hierarchs, despising demons for their blasphemous defiance of the Great Journey, yet fearful of their lives in the presence of one. Mgalekgolo and Yanme'e were unaffected by the presence of a SPARTAN, as their drastically different nervous systems left them incapable of feeling fear. Sangheili held a more spiteful, begrudging opinion of demons, incredulous that unworthy "vermin" could be the cause of so much havoc. Often, Sangheili or Jiralhanae would disregard tactics and hurl themselves at demons, fighting for the honor of the kill. However such impromptu duels usually resulted in the deaths of the challengers, not the demons. However, after the Great Schism a few Sangheili came to admire the prowess and courage of these warriors, though such views remained rare. Orbital Drop Shock Troopers have been referred to as "imps" in much the same way. The term has also been applied to the renegade Arbiter Fal 'Chavamee.Halo Legends, ''The Duel'', (Unnamed Unggoy: ''"He's the Demon!"'')
It is a common superstition among the Sangheili that SPARTANs are reanimated soldiers killed in battle, brought back to life through artificial means to fight again.Halo: Glasslands
Amongst the Covenant, John-117, otherwise known as the Master Chief, the SPARTANs' ''de facto'' commander gained the title of ''The'' Demon from the Covenant, setting him aside from the rest of the SPARTANs. This came from his destruction of Installation 04. According to Arbiter Thel 'Vadam, this was done as an insult but also with a modicum of respect, showing that even the Covenant, while fearing and insulting their most hated enemy, also had a level of respect for him and his skills as well.
Even after the Covenant War's conclusion, the nickname "demon" remains emblazoned on the SPARTAN operatives, spoken by even those who don't believe in religion. Atriox, leader of the Banished, condescendingly referred to the members of Red Team as "little demons" after he single-handedly defeated Douglas-042, forcing Alice-130 and Jerome-092 to retreat, though without the religious undertone.Halo Wars 2, campaign level, ''The Signal'' Irreligious Sangheili Mercenary|Sangheili mercenaries in the Banished also use the term "demon" in a colloquial way to describe them.
The "Heresy of the Chosen" is a subversive belief within the Covenant that Humanity were the true successors to the Forerunners, explaining why humanity had a special relationship with Forerunner technology. Veta Lopis theorized that this belief came about due to the seemingly paradoxical fact that humanity had access to Forerunner technology that the Covenant lacked, including and especially for the most powerful of Forerunner technology.
Known Scriptures The San'Shyuum kept written Psalms which expressed the Covenant's faith on the Forerunners and the Great Journey. Only the Psalms listed by the Minister of Discovery are known.Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe, ''Wages of Sin''
Psalm of the Journey Psalm of Primacy Psalm of Teaching Psalm of Sorrow
Members of the religion
The Sangheili were once the most devout believers in the San'Shyuum's vision. However, the events at Installation 05 and the Sangheili's replacement by the Jiralhanae muddied the former's belief in the San'Shyuum and in the Great Journey. After the betrayal of the Sangheili was made known, the Sangheili became enraged and opposed the leadership of the Hierarchs|High Prophets, subsequently leading to the Great Schism. By 2559, some Sangheili continue to revere the Forerunners as gods, though they do not consider the San'Shyuum to be the gods' messengers.Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe, ''The Return'' The Servants of Abiding Truth, an ancient Sangheili fundamentalist order, continues to engage in worship of the Forerunners.
The latest addition to the Covenant Hegemony, the Jiralhanae at the time of their inception were largely disorganized and were essentially barbarians without any known belief system. The San'Shyuum sought to improve the species by associating them closely with the hierarchy figures, enabling them to embrace the Covenant religion with ease. For the most part, the Jiralhanae were blindly loyal to the San'Shyuum, obeying every command.
Many Unggoy care little for religion, as they were forced into the Covenant, but those that do stayed loyal to the San'Shyuum during the Great Schism.
As a species, their opinions may be split; while many of the Unggoy that Dadab attempts to sermon to are too unintelligent to give any thought to religious matters, the fact that at least some Unggoy are shown to hold mass prayer sessions lasting up to an hour or more as well as Dadab's adopted role of a preacher in itself is testament to the fact that a large number of Unggoy are active believers.
The Kig-Yar served more as hired mercenaries than true believers, but still remained with the San'Shyuum during the Great Schism. Their religious beliefs are unknown, but their loyalty to the San'Shyuum is unquestionable, though this is more likely because they wished to be on the side of the more powerful faction. This choice later proved to be an unwise decision.
Likewise, Yanme'e and Lekgolo seem to feel no need for religion in their societies, but continued to follow the Prophets. As a result of their hive-minded lifestyle, the Yanme'e obeyed the San'Shyuum without thought or question. Individual beliefs may have played a part in the Lekgolo's decision, but they may have sided with the Prophets for the same reason as the Kig-Yar, if not for beliefs. At least some Lekgolo have sided with the Sangheili in their opposition, however.
As artificial sentient nanomechanical organisms, Huragok were created by the Forerunners. They have no interest in religion, preferring to focus their attentions onto the technology they are responsible for. Even prior to the Great Schism, Huragok seemed to remain neutral in any fights, one even going as far as to create a gift symbolizing peace for the humans and helping the humans escape. Some Yonhet such as Axl have continued to display strong devotion to the Great Journey even after the fall of the Covenant Empire.
Trivia On Installation 00, a Terminal (Halo 3)|Terminal left behind by the Forerunners uses "Great Journey" as a translation for the exile undertaken by the surviving Forerunners after the firing of the Halo Array.Halo 3, ''Terminal (Halo 3)|Terminal 7 Through similar records on other Forerunner installations, the Covenant may have learned of the name and used it to apply to their religion in yet another case of misinterpretation. Another possible explanation for the beginning of the Covenant belief in the Great Journey is that, as seen in ''Promises to Keep'', the Forerunners kept the San'Shyuum on Installation 00|the Ark for a few years before reintroducing them to their homeworld. During this time, some San'Shyuum were curious enough to approach the Forerunners who were aware that their discussions might be overheard, but did not care enough to stop it. A major topic of discussion was their planned Great Journey wherein the Forerunners would leave the galaxy forever. The fall of the Covenant period can perhaps be understood as somewhat being akin the wikipedia:Protestant Reformation|Protestant Reformation in Western Christianity. A loss of faith in a society's religious leaders did not lead to a complete abandonment of said religion's deities. Rather it led to a period of intense conflict as various factions began to develop their own new interpretations of ancient beliefs. Although the Sangheili no longer believed in the Prophets as the messengers of the gods or in the Great Journey as they had described it, many still believed in their gods. The superstition that "Demons" are actually dead soldiers reanimated by artificial means is reminiscent of the marathongame:Battleroid|battleroids, including the marathongame:Mjolnir Recon number 54|player character from the ''Marathon'' trilogy. Battleroids are brought back from the dead to serve as physically and technologically augmented supersoldiers.
Gallery
File:H5G-Forerunner worship mural.png|A mural inside the Elder Council Chamber on Sanghelios representing the Covenant's worship of the Forerunners. File:H5G-Dreadnought worship mural.png|Another mural representing the Covenant's worship of the Forerunner Dreadnought. File:H5G-Dreadnoght mural 2.png|Another mural featuring the Dreadnought.
Sources
Category:The Covenant Category:Ideology Category:Religion
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Symbols associated with the Covenant File:HLC Crate12 Poster.png|300pxA number of Covenant species side-by-side on a Forerunner world
|type=*Interstellar empire Theocratic Wikipedia:Cultural hegemony|cultural hegemony
|founder=*Breaking Shadow of the Reformists|San'Shyuum Reformists Pelahsar the Strident of the Council of City States|Sangheili
|documents=*Writ of Union Ratification Parley
|head=Hierarchs
|executive=High Council
|legislative=*High Council
*Covenant laws
|judicial=
|branch=*Ministries|Ministerial bodies
*Covenant military
*Covenant fleet
|main=*Sanghelios High Charity
|anthem=
|language=Sangheili (language)|Sangheili
|script=Syllabary and logograms
|religion=Covenant religion
|techlevel=
|notable=History of the Covenant
|formed=852 BCE: Ages of Reconciliation|First Age of ReconciliationHalo Encyclopedia (2009 edition), ''page 30''
|reorganized=2552#November|November 3, 2552: Great Schism
|dissolved=2552#December|December 11, 2552: Battle of the Citadel''Halo 3'' ''Halo (Halo 3 level)|Epilogue'' ''"But you did it. Truth and the Covenant. The Flood. It's Finished." Cortana'' ''"The Covenant are dead"'' ''"Dissolution: 2552 CE"''
|affiliation=
}}
The Covenant, also referred to as the Covenant EmpireHalo: Ghosts of Onyx, ''page 239''Halo: First Strike, ''page 269'' (2003 edition); ''page 323'' (2010 edition) or Covenant Hegemony,Halo: First Strike, ''page 338'' (2003 edition); ''page 405'' (2010 edition) was a massive religious hegemony of multiple alien species that completely controlled a large portion of the Orion Arm in the Milky Way|Milky Way Galaxy for thousands of years.Halo 2: The Official Strategy Guide '' page 40''Planetary Operations Manual ''Covenant - Overview'' Originally a mutual alliance between the Reformists|San'Shyuum and the Council of City States|Sangheili, the Covenant expanded to include six other species (Huragok, Mgalekgolo, Unggoy, Kig-Yar, Yanme'e, and Jiralhanae) united in the worship of the mythified Forerunners and the Halo Array.
Ruled by the High Prophet of Truth along with Hierarch|High Prophets Prophet of Mercy|Mercy and Prophet of Regret|Regret in 2525, the Covenant waged a Human-Covenant War|genocidal campaign against humanity until they were defeated in 2552#December|December 2552. Despite being one of the most powerful military forces in the known Milky Way galaxy at the time, Great Schism|internal conflict combined with stubborn human resistance were formidable enough to shatter the bonds that held the empire together. This internal conflict broke the Covenant in two, Covenant separatists|forcing out the Sangheili species. - "The resulting conflict would be called the Great Schism, and it would divide the Covenant into two, ultimately forcing the Sangheili out."
Following the Covenant Empire's end at the Battle of the Citadel, a small remnant of surviving Dhas Bhasvod's Covenant|loyalists would reemerge years later, and a number of Covenant remnants|new factions were created by the fallen empire's former subject species after the conclusion of the war. Some of the Covenant separatists|separatists sought to recreate the Covenant entirely under Sangheili rule, free from San'Shyuum influence. - "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."Halo: Glasslands, ''page 20'' 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.''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." 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. History
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 cycles. A cycle is the Covenant version of a day and it represents one artificial day on High Charity. A cycle contains approximately 265 units, which if translated into human time is roughly one hour of time on Earth.Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition) ''page 31''
File:HM-HighCharityBC.png|300px|thumb|The construction of ''High Charity''. At some point before the San'Shyuum encountered the Sangheili, the Huragok were found by the San'Shyuum in various M-series facility|M-series facilities.Halo 3, ''Bestiarum'' In 938 BCE, the San'Shyuum Reformists, aboard the Forerunner Dreadnought and the planetoid that would come to be known as High Charity, entered a Sangheili-occupied system that led to first contact between the two alien species. The San'Shyuum, who came to Sanghelios in order to claim and study the rich abundance of Forerunner artifacts left behind,Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition) ''page 114'' soon found themselves sharing different ideologies of how such relics should be treated, which quickly devolved into conflict between the San'Shyuum and the Sangheili.
The Sangheili believed that Forerunner relics were sacred and should not be touched, while the San'Shyuum Reformists believed that they should be studied and use them to make practical objects of their own design.Halo: Contact Harvest ''page 146'' The highly militarized Sangheili attacked the San'Shyuum almost as soon as their differences became apparent,Halo: Contact Harvest ''page 147'' and a war between the two species raged for eighty six years.
At the start of the war, the Sangheili had a numerical advantage in terms of ships and soldiers. Their strength and military tactics were without peer. However the San'Shyuum's technology, gleaned from years of travel and study of their Forerunner Dreadnought, gave them the advantage in ship-to-ship combat. This proved to be the most common type of combat witnessed during the war.
Eventually both species came to fear a very real threat: annihilation. The Sangheili feared it through the San'Shyuum's use of their unstoppable Dreadnought; and the San'Shyuum came to admit that if the Sangheili were this dangerous, there might be other forms of sentient life far more threatening to their race. The long and brutal war caused the Sangheili to violate their religious beliefs, studying and incorporating Forerunner technology in order to avoid defeat. This incorporation of Forerunner technology eventually caused a stalemate in the war against the San'Shyuum, however their Dreadnought remained unstoppable. Faced with this bitter reality, the Sangheili surrendered.
With a proud tradition as warriors, the Sangheili held great respect for a worthy adversary, and after their surrender, the San'Shyuum sought a burgeoning Covenant of the two races. In 852 BCE a tentative truce was worked out between the two species through the Sangheili leader, Pelahsar the Strident, and the San'Shyuum Breaking Shadow. The two agreed to forgive the past crimes of their species and began efforts towards an alliance.Halo Mythos, ''page 39'' This eventually came about with the signing of the Writ of Union, a treaty that ended the conflict and brought about peace between the two factions.
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. 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.Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe, ''page 114''Halo: Contact Harvest, ''pages 269-271'' 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.Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe, ''pages 148-149''
File:H2A Terminals - Unggoy join Covenant.jpg|thumb|250px|Unggoy join the Covenant. In 1342, the Covenant arrived in the Y'Deio system and encountered the Kig-Yar. Both Kig-Yar piracy|pirates and Eayn's military 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 asteroids surrounding their world,Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe, ''page 155'' 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.Halo: The Cole Protocol, ''page 157'' 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.Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe, ''page 121'' 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 shipmasters 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.Halo: Contact Harvest, ''pages 150-152'' 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.Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe, ''page 115'' In between the Ages of Conversion and Ages of Doubt, members of the Covenant grappled with internecine conflict.
File:HR EliteExecution Concept.png|left|thumb|250px|A battle between Sangheili and Spartans. During the 23rd Age of Doubt, the Covenant First Battle of Harvest|encountered humanity for the first time on the planet Harvest. While many within the Covenant's leadership felt that this new race would make a welcome addition to the hegemony, the newly-appointed Hierarchs of the CovenantProphet of Truth|Truth, Prophet of Mercy|Mercy, and Prophet of Regret|Regrethad other plans. The Hierarchs were aware of humanity's status as the Forerunners' chosen inheritors, and knew that revealing this information to the Covenant would lead to the Covenant falling into chaos.Halo: Contact Harvest, ''page 275'' Greater than the cultural significance of the invalidation of the Great Journey, the leading San'Shyuum knew the truth about the Forerunners would lead to the loss of their personal power.Halo: Contact Harvest, ''page 385'' As a result, spurred on by a violent incident following the first human-Covenant contact, the Hierarchs declared humanity an affront to the gods and demanded that their entire species was to be exterminated. This decision would spark a war that ultimately would crumble the very foundation of the Covenant's religious and political alliances.Halo: Contact Harvest ''page 143''
File:Origins ii Human-CovenantWar.jpg|thumb|250px|An invading Covenant fleet prepares its assault of a human colony. 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.Halo 2, ''Conversations from the Universe'' Despite their losses, humanity proved a determined and brave enemy. They were especially troubled by their soldiers called Spartans, who were more than a match for them in battles and often killed thousands of Covenant by themselves.Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, ''page 349'' 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. 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.Halo Wars 2, campaign level ''A New Enemy''
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.Halo: The Fall of Reach, ''page 320'' (2001 edition)Halo 3: ODST, ''Dutch's biography'' 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.Halo: Combat Evolved, campaign level ''The Pillar of Autumn (Halo: Combat Evolved level)|The Pillar of Autumn'' 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 forcesamong 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.Halo: Combat Evolved, campaign level ''The Maw'' Thel 'Vadamee, the Supreme Commander of the fleet present at Halo, was branded a heretic for his failure to save the ring,Halo 2, campaign level ''The Heretic'' although he was subsequently appointed an Arbiter.Halo 2, campaign level ''The Arbiter''
File:H2A - Autumn.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The UNSC ''Pillar of Autumn'' flees as Reach is orbitally bombarded.
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 African 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.Halo 2, campaign level ''Delta Halo'' 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.Halo 2, campaign level ''The Great Journey''
During the events on the second Halo, the two remaining Hierarchs used the Sangheili's failure to safeguard Regret as an opportunity to replace the Sangheili with Jiralhanae as their protectors and military leaders. The two Prophets had doubts about the Sangheili's loyalty to the Covenant cause, and used the opportunity to ensure that there would be no future dissidence in the Covenant. However, this move greatly angered the Sangheili, who threatened to resign from the High Council.Halo 2, campaign level ''Sacred Icon''
File:Schism 2.png|thumb|250px|Covenant Sangheili and Jiralhanae battle each other upon the onset of the 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 Councilors, 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.Halo 2, campaign level ''Uprising''
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.Halo 2, campaign level ''Gravemind (level)|Gravemind''
File:H3 Cortana Concept 6.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The Covenant government and capital falls to the Flood. Truth escaped in the Forerunner Dreadnought, then used to provide power to High Charity. However, John-117|SPARTAN-117, the infamous Demon, managed to fight his way aboard the Dreadnought right before it took off. While the Covenant fleet orbiting the holy city began to do battle with each other, the Dreadnought managed to enter slipspace and retreated to Earth. Secretly, during the launch of the Dreadnought, Prelate Dhas Bhasvod successfully undertook to launch San'Shyuum flotilla|a flotilla containing many of the surviving San'Shyuum. Using the launch of ''Anodyne Spirit'' as a cover, a course was to the shield world Cloister, although it is unknown if they ever reached it or not.
These losses, among another factors, helped to form a tentative alliance with the Sangheili and humanity. The Arbiter Thel 'Vadam had discovered the truth about the Halo rings, and with the help of several of ''In Amber Clad's'' human crew members managed to prevent the second ring from firing and defeat the Jiralhanae forces defending it. While Joyous Exultation Covenant|one group had Onyx Conflict|initial conflicts over the Forerunner world of Onyx,Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, ''page 378'' the Fleet of Retribution|Sangheili under the command of Rtas 'Vadum joined with the UNSC in order to mutually defeat the Jiralhanae, Truth, and the Flood. This alliance was initially uneasy, but the two species gradually learned to cooperate as their reliance in battle increased.
File:H3 CitadelBattle.jpg|thumb|250px|Humanity, allied with the seceding Sangheili, finish off the Covenant. 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.Halo 3, campaign level ''Tsavo highway (location)|Tsavo Highway'' 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.Halo 3, campaign level ''The Storm'' 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.Halo 3, campaign level ''Floodgate''
File:TruthDeath-large.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The Arbiter executes the Prophet of Truth, bringing an end to the Covenant. Upon arrival at the Ark, Truth barricaded himself inside the Installation 00 Citadel|Citadel, the control center for the Halo rings, and prepared to initiate the Great Journey. However, the UNSC and Sangheili forces eventually broke through the defenses around the Citadel despite heavy resistance from the Covenant loyalist forces.Halo 3, campaign level ''The Ark (level)|The Ark'' Ignoring the arrival of the Flood-infected High Charity which immediately began a widespread infestation of the Ark's surface, the UNSC-Sangheili alliance launched an immediate last-ditch assault on the Citadel. Although Truth's forces mobilized all of their available assets to prevent their enemies from reaching the Citadel, they were defeated after a Battle of the Citadel|swift battle. SPARTAN-117 and Arbiter Thel 'Vadam formed a temporary alliance with the Flood and forced their way to Truth. In his final moments, the Prophet of Truth managed to initiate the Halo rings' activation sequence, although his victory was short-lived as John-117 and the Arbiter soon made their way to his location. The Spartan canceled the activation before the rings could fire and the Arbiter killed Truth in vengeance, finally stopping the Covenant once and for all.Halo 3, campaign level ''The Covenant (level)|The Covenant''
File:Handshake-large.jpg|thumb|250px|Thel 'Vadam and Terrence Hood|Lord Hood shake hands, marking the end of the war and an alliance of humans with Sangheili.
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With their High Council|government and High Charity|capital annihilated, the High Prophet of Truth killed, and most of the Truth's fleet|loyalists' fleet destroyed by the Fleet of Retribution|Sangheili fleet above the Ark, the Covenant as an entity was completely destroyed.
Following Truth's death at the hands of the Arbiter, the remaining San'Shyuum, their population reduced to near extinction,Bestiarum ''San'Shyuum section'' went into hiding and few have been sighted by the Sangheili since.Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe|Halo: Evolutions The Return ''page 506'' Boru'a'Neem|Two Tem'Bhetek|Prophets in particular departed from the San'Shyuum flotilla and Tem'Bhetek's faction|organized Jiralhanae forces to strike against the Sangheili on Rahnelo and Duraan. However, this faction was wiped out during their Battle of the Prototype Halo installation|failed attempt to use a prototype Halo installation against Sanghelios.
Most of the Jiralhanae continued to Sangheili-Jiralhanae war|oppose the Sangheili until at least 2559, although a few Jiralhanae chose to serve as laborers under their former masters.Halo: Glasslands, ''page 136'' The Banished, a Jiralhanae-led mercenary organization, amassed a considerable degree of power in the aftermath of the Covenant's destruction.
While Thel 'Vadam succeeded in restoring an ancient pre-Covenant government known as the Swords of Sanghelios based on Sanghelios|their homeworld, the Sangheili, having renounced the Great Journey, began to Blooding Years|fight amongst their own ranks over the particulars of their faith. The Servants of the Abiding Truth, which had also existed before the Covenant, opposed the Swords while others formed their own splinter factions.Halo: Glasslands, ''page 20'' Many Sangheili separatist commanders sought to seize control of the hegemony's former military assets for themselves, many of them forming disparate fiefdoms self proclaiming to be a new "Covenant".Halo: Escalation, ''Halo: Escalation Issue 5|Issue #5'' Others retreated from active involvement in interstellar affairs, maintaining the ships and weaponry for defense of their own lands. With large portions of the former Covenant's infrastructure in shambles, intact ships in particular were considered a valuable commodity among the Sangheili. While many former members of the hegemony discarded the Covenant's religion in favor of more pragmatic pursuits, others continued to adhere to the core tenets of their former religion, namely the worship of the Forerunners as gods.Halo: The Thursday War One notable Sangheili-led splinter group that formed was Jul 'Mdama's Covenant, which was later bolstered by the addition of Ur-Didact|the Didact's Promethean#Mechanical Prometheans|Prometheans.Halo 4Halo: Escalation Jul 'Mdama was eventually killed during the Battle of Kamchatka and the remainder of his new Covenant fell to the Swords with the help of Fireteam Osiris during the Battle of Sunaion in 2558.''Halo 5: Guardians'', campaign level Battle of Sunaion (level)|Battle of Sunaion In 2559#November|November 2559, the UNSC and the Swords of Sangheilios encountered Nizat 'Kvarosee|Nizat 'Kvarosee's Defenders of the Sanctum, a rogue group of ex-Covenant soldiers who had been exiled on Netherop in 2526. Trapped by an orbital mine shell and unaware of the war's end, they continued their fight with stranded UNSC forces led by Lieutenant Commander Amalea Petrov. The Swords of Sangheilios dismantled the mine shell and restored outside access to the planet, but Nizat had become too fanatical to accept Thel 'Vadam's offer of returning to Sangheilios. Aside from a Defenders of the Sanctum Silent Shadow Blademaster that defected to the Arbiter's side, Nizat and his forces were all wiped out.
The rest of the former member races scattered and returned to their homeworlds. Many Kig-Yar returned to their ancient ways as raiders and traders,Halo: Glasslands, ''page 247'' and most Huragok were thought to have fled, though no one knew where.Halo: Glasslands, ''page 256'' Many members of the former Covenant also asylum seeker|sought asylum on Earth, most notably in the city of Rio de Janeiro.Spartan Ops, S1E1 ''Departure''
A few Dhas Bhasvod's Covenant|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. 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. This remnant's survival was discovered when the Banished Raid on Anodyne Spirit|raided the keyship. 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.
Government and politics
File:H2A-ThelBeforeCouncil.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Thel 'Vadam on trial at the High Council Chamber. For the majority of its existence, the two ruling classes of the Covenant were the San'Shyuum and the Sangheili, though the former held greater sway over the Covenant due to their status as "the voice of the gods". On the outbreak of the Great Schism, the Sangheili were cast out and the Jiralhanae replaced the Sangheili as the secondary ruling class. The Covenant had ten echelons of government, the highest echelon being the High Council, which was responsible for making all important decisions. Prior to the Great Schism, it was made up of over two hundred members of Sangheili commanders and San'Shyuum ministers,Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe ''page 345''Halo: Contact Harvest ''page 271'' and was ruled by the three San'Shyuum Hierarchs. These Hierarchs were the highest political and religious authority in the Covenant. For each new Age, three new Hierarchs were appointed; in order for them to usher in a new age and assume power, they must receive a blessing from the Oracle of High Charity.Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe ''page 119'' This Oracle was a Forerunner artificial intelligence found within the Dreadnought which sat at the center of the capital. Until the events that led to the war against humanity, the Oracle had not spoken for over a millennia, so the ascension of the Hierarchs was steeped with political bribes, blackmail and manipulation of the San'Shyuum Philologist.Halo: Contact Harvest ''page 274''
The High Council consisted of San'Shyuum High Councilor|San'Shyuum and Sangheili High Councilors, who were extremely important to the Covenant society. The High Council served as the central theocratic and decision-making body of the Covenant. In addition to the High Council, there are three other Councils: the High Council of Concordance, the Council of Deed and Doctrine, and the Council of Masters. The High Council of Concordance was responsible for the creation of the Ratification Parley and Writ of Union.Halo 2: Original Soundtrack, ''Volume 1'' The Council of Masters was a controlling group within a Covenant fleet that dictated the needs of fleet and military forces.Halo: The Cole Protocol, ''page 144'' Below the councils, numerous ministries exist within the Covenant government, each of which dictates a single, but important role within the governmental body of the Covenant. Each ministry was led by a Minister (title)#Covenant ministers|San'Shyuum minister. A ministry's Vice Minister|vice minister served as an aid for the minister,Halo: Contact Harvest, ''page 154'' while numerous senior staffer|senior and junior staffers served under both individuals.Halo: Contact Harvest, ''page 149''
In truth, however, the San'Shyuum and Sangheili had an uneasy coexistence, and political infighting was very common behind the scenes. This stemmed from as far back as the Writ of Union, when the Sangheili begrudgingly accepted the alliance with the San'Shyuum, despite many Sangheili innately knowing the treaty technically meant their species' surrender to the Prophets.Halo: Broken Circle, ''page 48'' Over the Covenant's history, high-ranked San'Shyuum manipulated the Sangheili and sought to keep them without strong leaders of their own in order to keep them subservient to the Prophets' rule. The most prominent example of this is the San'Shyuum's perversion of the traditional Sangheili title of Arbiter from a position of great power and honor into a badge of shame, and a means by which to silence those they felt might challenge the Hierarchs' power.Halo 2: Anniversary - ''Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminals'' In other cases where appointing an Arbiter may have been inconvenient, Sangheili commanders deemed to wield too much influence with their kind were quietly exiled to the fringe worlds of the Covenant empire; an example of this was the fate of Imperial Admiral Xytan 'Jar Wattinree. The hidden distrust between the two species became an all-out war during the Great Schism.
Religion and culture
File:H2A - Battle of Delta Halo.jpg|thumb|250px|The Great Journey's objective was to find and activate the Halo rings, and so ascend to godhood. Covenant society had a distinct caste-based societal system with a strong theocratic underpinning.Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition) ''page 112'' In the Covenant caste system, one's position in the hierarchy was dictated largely by their species. With the San'Shyuum and Sangheili leading the Covenant's religiopolitical and military affairs, respectively, most of the other species served either as warriors or manual labor.
The Covenant's culture and religion was based solely on the worship and reverence of the Forerunners. Long ago, the San'Shyuum managed to decipher some of the data stored on terminals aboard the Forerunner Dreadnought, thanks to the Forerunners' robust translation systems. However, even then they were unable to fully comprehend the subtle meanings of many Forerunner glyphs. The San'Shyuum incorrectly interpreted the activation of the Halo Array as a means of transcending mortality, a process they came to call the "Great Journey". They did not understand that the Array had been designed to eradicate the Flood, specifically by triggering a galactic holocaust and killing all sentient life within the galaxy. They arrived at the conclusion that the Forerunners had ascended to godhood and left other species of the galaxy to their fates. Because of this, the Covenant devoted itself to searching for and recovering of Forerunner artifacts. At several points in the Covenant's history, this desire to reclaim Forerunner technology has resulted in the hegemony declaring war against non-compliant species, the most recent instance being their war against humanity. In Covenant society, personal vendettas are not tolerated,Halo: The Flood ''page 95'' although many conflicts in the Covenant's past have been sparked by vendettas.Halo: Contact Harvest ''page 150''
File:Covie Lance1.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Kig-Yar and Unggoy listening to the sermons of a Prophet. The Covenant used commerce as a form of economy. As the Covenant's cohesion was grounded in its belief of working to obtain and sharing Forerunner technology, every member of the Covenant was given a form of employment or a service to fulfill in exchange for goods and necessities. In the Covenant's culture, service for salvation was the moral motivation for the entire population.Media:Humans hunted.ogg|''Halo 2'' dialogue, Prophet of Regret Despite this, there was discrimination within the Covenant: The lesser species were treated as second-class citizens with little political or representative voice or power.
The Covenant were always eager to add new species to the faith,Halo: Contact Harvest ''page 51'' so long as they pledged allegiance to the San'Shyuum as their supreme leaders and the Great Journey as their religion.Halo: Contact Harvest ''page 50'' Client races were in all essence Slavery|enslaved by the Covenant, forced to live a completely different way of life, and if unlucky enough, had their entire culture and history erased. The client races were held together by a common belief; the slave races were driven by the religion which they had been forced to accept. Most races were only kept for their varying skills to be exploited, rather than to be a part of a flourishing empire. However, some races such as the Sangheili and Jiralhanae benefited significantly from the new technology that the Covenant brought, and weren't simply enslaved like the Unggoy.
Species The Covenant is made up of a variety of alien species from different parts of the galaxy. Organized into a caste system by the San'Shyuum, the different species of the Covenant are united by their blind faith in the promise of the Great Journey.Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition) ''page 14'' In addition to the core member species listed below, there are a number of peripheral client speciesknown collectively as the Covenant fringethat were never fully integrated into the Covenant, though some provided various advantages to the hegemony.
However, not every species encountered by the Covenant was deemed worthy of even providing them with conversion in exchange for services, though their worlds still fell under Covenant control. These species were poorly documented by the Sangheili and have not been contacted nor cataloged by the Unified Earth Government, even after the Covenant's fall.
File:Regret render.png|100px|right|link=San'Shyuum The highest political caste in the Covenant, the San'Shyuum, or "Prophets" as they are known by humans, led the Covenant and exerted complete control over all religious and political affairs. Though physically weak, Prophets wielded power through absolute command of the Covenant and through scavenged Forerunner technology, leaving the task of conquest to the Sangheili and the other races. Along with the Sangheili, the San'Shyuum had members on the Covenant High Council.
File:Halo 2 Anniversary Zealot.png|140px|right|link=Sangheili The Sangheili, or "Elites" as they are known by humans, served as the military leaders of the Covenant before the Great Schism. Along with the San'Shyuum, the Sangheili were one of the two founding races of the Covenant, and were the only race other than the San'Shyuum to have members on the High Council. The Sangheili are the only race within the Covenant permitted to build and command starships within the Covenant, though the crews are always composed of a mix of races.Sybex Halo PC Guide ''page 48''
File:Reach - Chieftain.png|140px|right|link=Jiralhanae The Jiralhanae, or "Brutes" as they are known by humans, were the most recent addition to the Covenant, and served as soldiers and bodyguards within the Covenant military until their promotion during the Great Schism. Although initially of low status within the hierarchy, the Jiralhanae gained greater prominence within the Covenant prior to the Great Schism, with the Chieftain of the Jiralhanae, Tartarus, answering to the Hierarchs themselves. After the Sangheili were deposed, the Jiralhanae were given command of the Covenant military.
File:HReach - Mgalekgolo.png|140px|right|link=Mgalekgolo The Lekgolo are a race of worm-like creatures that can combine to form large, intelligent assemblages called Mgalekgolo, known by humans as "Hunters". Clad in nearly impenetrable armor and armed with their trademark Assault Cannon, they served as the Covenant's heaviest ground troops. Many of these creatures joined the Sangheili during the Great Schism.
File:HReach - Unggoy.png|140px|right|link=Unggoy Hailing from Balaho, the Unggoy, or "Grunts" as they are known by humans, were the most common and low-ranking caste of the Covenant. They breathe methane gas, and thus must wear a large tank on their back full of methane to survive on other planets. Relations between the Unggoy and the Kig-Yar are strained in the best of times. Many of these creatures joined the Sangheili and the Jiralhanae during the Great Schism.
File:JackalMinor.png|140px|right|link=Kig-Yar The Kig-Yar, or "Jackals" or "Skirmishers" as they are known by humans, were the scouts and marksmen of the Covenant military due to their superior senses. They were among the lower Covenant castes and are about 6'2" tall.
File:Yanmee H2A.png|140px|right|link=Yanme'e The Yanme'e, or "Drones" as they are known by humans, are flying, insectoid species that served almost exclusively as engineers in the Covenant Empire. They were eventually replaced by the Huragok, and were used as aerial combatants against the UNSC, who are inexperienced at fighting airborne infantry.
File:Engineer renderized.png|140px|right|link=Huragok The Huragok, or "Engineers" as they are known by the humans, are an artificial species created by the Forerunners. They only conversed with the San'Shyuum or individuals who learn their language.Halo: Contact Harvest, ''page 55'' The Huragok performed the physical labor of excavating and gathering data on Forerunner artifacts. In military terms, they were generally a non-militant race. Many of the Huragok joined the Sangheili during the Great Schism.
Military
File:HW Covenant render logoles.png|thumb|300px|Sangheili, the initial leaders of the Covenant military. The Covenant maintained pervasive armed forces to enforce order, conduct atmospheric and space combat operations, and generally carry out the Covenant's will throughout space. Unlike the UNSC, however, the Covenant lacked a single unified military arm, and its armed forces were instead comprised of several organizations overseen by various ministerial bodies.Halo: Fleet Battles, ''Core Rulebook - page 7'' The Covenant's military capability was most overtly embodied in its spaceborne Covenant fleet|fleets, ranging from small battle groups to entire armadas. Various task-based groups served under these fleets, including the occupational ground forces and the Special Warfare Group, which contained the Special Operations|Special Operations Division.
Covenant troops were heavily segregated by species, with the Sangheili originally serving as their leadership caste. In the field, Unggoy were deployed as cannon fodder files, Kig-Yar were used as support and snipers, and Sangheili were commanders and fought in warrior lances. Weapons and technology were restricted by species and rank; only Sangheili received Sangheili personal energy shield|personal energy shields and energy swords, only Kig-Yar received Kig-Yar point defense gauntlet|point defense gauntlets, and Unggoy only received basic weapons and Unggoy combat harness|armor depending by rank. The reasons for these restrictions were often cultural; for instance, Sangheili viewed wielding shield gauntlets as dishonorable and that "lesser species" did not deserve their privileged weapons. This discrimination among the Covenant military was centuries old, but the dynamic was occasionally changed by violent rebellion. The Unggoy Rebellion caused Sangheili to mix their units with Unggoy and give them better training. Likewise, the Great Schism put Jiralhanae in command of former Sangheili units, gave them Jiralhanae power armor|personal shielded armor, and made their tribal packs a prominent military unit.
Technology File:Charging Zealot.png|thumb|250px|Energy shielding and active camouflage were reverse-engineered from Forerunner technology. Covenant technology has been often described as more imitative rather than innovative,Halo: The Fall of Reach, ''page 241'' (''"The Covenant's science is imitative rather then innovative, a by-product of this societal 'absorption,'"'' Dr. Halsey continued. ''"This is not to say that they are lacking intelligence, however. During our first encounter, they gathered computer and network components from our destroyed ships... and they learned at an astonishing pace."''); 2010 edition, ''page 275''Halo: First Strike, ''page 87'' (Cortana: ''"The Covenant were imitative, not innovative; at least, that's what all the ONI intelligence gathered on the collection of alien races had reported. She had thought this was an exaggeration, propaganda to bolster human morale."'') as they are based largely on mimicry and reverse-engineering of the leftover Forerunner artifacts they have discovered. Such examples are their exceedingly accurate slipspace astrogation|navigation, near-instantaneous Slipstream space#Communications|interstellar communication, the manipulation of extremely high volumes of plasma energy from sublight travel, short-range translocation of matter, a great influence over gravity and repulsor-based technologies, and man-portable application of energy manipulation.Bestiarum: ''Technological Achievement Tiers'' Much of the Covenant's rapid technological advancement was made by stripping Forerunner Shield world#Conservation sphere|shield worlds of useful material early in the hegemony's existence.Halo Wars, Halo Wars Timeline Events|Excerpt from ''The Punished Deeds, Vol. III'' The Covenant also gained many improvements in weapons and spacecraft technology thanks to the technologies found in the Ten Cities of Edification on Zhoist.''Halo: Silent Storm'', Chapter 26 In the Covenant, ecclesiastical authorities ultimately oversee even the most trivial modifications to existing designs. Improvements or alterations require layers of bureaucracy to navigate and often take decades to gain approval from the Prophets.Halo Wars 2 - ''Phoenix Logs - Wraith Invader'' As a result, some designs, technology and vessels have remained in service for many centuries with little alteration to their base design.
Although innovation is not one of the Covenant's strong suits, the Covenant has shown considerable advancement in bridging the technological gap with newly-encountered species. For example, in the first encounter of the Human-Covenant War, the Covenant learned of the humans' computer systems and of their language from salvaging human-computer and network components from destroyed human ships. This knowledge benefited the Covenant greatly in understanding the humans' military operation, to the extent that the UNSC enacted the Cole Protocol to deter the Covenant from finding human Human colonies|colony worlds and Earth. In another scenario, during the preliminary of the Fall of Reach, the Covenant crippled Reach's telecommunication network to prevent the colony world from contacting reinforcements and placed numerous Deployment spire|teleportation spires to deploy its forces without having to face directly with the planet's orbital defenses.''Halo: Reach''
The Covenant culture has religious taboos that prevent them from fully exploring what the Forerunners employed to create that technology.Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition) ''page 224'' In some cases, Covenant technology imitates the effects of the Forerunner technology it is based on while the underlying science remains largely beyond their grasp. An example of this is the Covenant's predominant use of plasma in their weapons rather than the more exotic hard light and particle streams utilized by the Forerunners,Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide, ''page 103'' or the Covenant's pinch fusion reactors in contrast to the Forerunners' ability to harness vacuum energy. The Covenant also never developed advanced Artificial intelligence|AI technology due to their religious doctrine; they believed that a Associated intelligence|powerful AI had once betrayed the Forerunners, and as such they had a ban on actually sapient machine intelligences. The few Covenant AIs that have been encountered include Ascendant Justice's AI|an AI that was stationed aboard the ''Ascendant Justice'' and destroyed by Cortana,Halo: First Strike 'page 170'' Truth and Reconciliation's AI|one based on the ''Truth and Reconciliation'', as well as the Seeker (AI)|Seeker, sent to infiltrate UNSC systems and alert the Covenant to the location of Earth. Cortana's copy also referenced several AIs being present in the ''Unyielding Hierophants systems when the Spartans infiltrated the station.Halo: First Strike ''page 320''
The Forerunners' ubiquitous hard light technology was never completely understood by the Covenant,Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe Volume II, ''"Wages of Sin"'', ''page 291'' although they managed to develop at least one hard light-based device in the Prelates' shield gauntlets.Halo: Shadow of Intent, ''page ??'' However, they did possess advanced energy field shaping and complex holography. This technology was advanced enough to produce realistic and tangible simulacra of physical objects. The holo-drone, for example, generates an independent decoy of the operator capable of inflicting physical harm on the enemy despite its incorporeal nature;Halo 2, campaign level ''The Oracle'' the Type-27 hologram|T-27 holographic decoy is a more basic variation of this concept. The Covenant applied forcefield technology in a broad range of roles, from the San'Shyuum's spherical stasis fields to contain beverages such as tea to the enormous Energy barrier|fields used to hold in ''High Charitys atmosphere while the holy city's exterior dome was still under construction.Halo: Broken Circle, ''page 20''Halo 2: Anniversary, ''Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminal 8''
Covenant architecture is known for its curved, organic and sophisticated looking style, primarily based on the aesthetic tastes of the San'Shyuum with loose connections with Sangheili designs. Even military vehicles were fashioned after San'Shyuum aesthetics early on, incorporating many of the Sangheili designs over the Covenant's history. Constructed of distinctive purple, blue or white metal, these colors are the main focus of Covenant design and distributed throughout their starships, vehicles, and weapons. The materials they use are unknown to the UNSC but are very strong and resilient.
The Covenant possess a variety of medical technologies, including the life-extension treatments the San'Shyuum have used for some time. The San'Shyuum Prelates were also know to have used a form of biological augmentation to greatly enhance their normally frail bodies. As an idiosyncrasy of their warrior culture, the Sangheili view the notion of doctors as dishonorable.Halo: The Cole Protocol, ''page 143'' However, as injuries are an inevitable byproduct of combat, the Covenant military still employs a number of medical amenities. Among these are automated surgery suites, featured on Covenant ships to treat wounds received in combat,Halo: Contact Harvest, ''page 259'' and magnetic splints which are used to hold broken bones in place. The Huragok (both the common Builder kind and the Lifeworker variation) also provided medical aid in addition to their primary role of maintaining Covenant technology.Halo: Hunters in the Dark, ''page 152'' It was known that even after suffering major injuries, after only minutes of treatment the patient would feel back to normal without as much as a scar to show for it.Halo: Hunters in the Dark, ''page 349''
File:1771441-gallery.png|thumb|250px|The ''Resplendent Fervor'' Modular Dispersal Technology|separates its aft section while the bow enters slipstream space. For the Covenant species, interstellar travel was made easy due to the reverse-engineered technology. Like humans, Covenant vessels can enter Slipstream space and travel significantly faster than light. However, the Covenant equivalent of the Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine is far more efficient and reliable, relying on a series of "micro-jumps" to maneuver through the slipstream. Covenant vessels do not suffer the "temporal fluidity" of faster-than-light to such a degree as human vessels, arriving at the precise time and location that they intend. However, after a slipspace jump Covenant vessels generally experience a temporary power outage, leaving the vessel vulnerable to attack. As a result, Covenant battlegroups are much more efficient when acting as a coordinated group, and can strike more quickly and decisively.
Covenant starships use repulsor engines for propulsion in space, rather than the more traditional fusion engines utilized by humanity or the advanced reaction drives used by Forerunners.Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, ''page 331'' Covenant drive systems seem to be propelled by an unusual combination of gravity "waves" and some form of highly reactive plasma displacement, but the actual means and method of propulsion is currently beyond human understanding. Both starships and ground vehicles are equipped with various forms of anti-gravity technology, allowing ships to hover easily inside an atmosphere and allowing frictionless movement of vehicles across terrain. The Covenant are also able to manipulate exceedingly large amounts of plasma energy by recycling detritus from sublight travel.
Covenant manufacturing plants, such as the Assembly Forges, employ highly sophisticated manufacturing methods which allow them considerable freedom in the design of individual ships. While all Covenant vessels fall into one of several universal design patterns, every ship can be custom-made to fit the preferences of individual shipbuilders and fleet masters.
Most of the Covenant arsenal consists of plasma weaponry|plasma-based directed energy weapons, but the Covenant are known to also utilize Pulse laser turret|pulse lasers, particle beam weapons, antimatter explosives and even chemical crystal-based weapons. Interestingly, Covenant weapon designs seem to defy known laws of mechanics; there is typically no form of Wikipedia:Radiative transfer|radiative, physical, or electrical contact between the firing mechanism and "trigger" of a weapon. For these and other reasons, the workings of Covenant weaponry is generally beyond the comprehension of UNSC scientists.''Dr. Halsey's personal journal'', :File:Journal Needler.png|Needler analysis
File:Tyrant Plasma.png|thumb|left|250px|The Covenant favor plasma weapons, used for both their starships and ground forces. Plasma weapons typically use a rechargeable power cell to provide power to their internal components. Covenant plasma weapons are effective but crude, and most automatic-fire plasma weapons are prone to overheating. To compensate, most weapons have vents that open to discharge excess heat and plasma when they overheat, although such weapons are rendered inoperable as the excess heat is dissipated. Once the energy of the plasma weapon is depleted, it must be recharged or discarded. To date, the means by which plasma weapons can be recharged is still unknown to UNSC forces. The most remarkable handheld plasma projectile weapons are a variety of Type-25 plasma pistol|plasma pistol (by far the most widely used small arm) and the Okarda'phaa-pattern plasma rifle|plasma rifle. Notable vehicular plasma weapons include various plasma cannon|cannons and plasma mortar|mortars, while warships are armed primarily with Plasma turret|plasma torpedo turrets.
Though rarer, the Covenant occasionally use projectile weapons, the most common of these being Needle-based weaponry|unconventional crystal-based weapons such as the Type-33 Needler and the . 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.
With the introduction of the Jiralhanae as a major military caste within the Covenant, their weapons found widespread use among their own kind. Utilizing crude, spike-like metal projectiles in place of plasma; conventional explosives and incendiaries; and sharp blades, they are more primitive, yet in many cases more dangerous -fitting, considering the nature of their creators. Brute weapons include the Paegaas Workshop Spiker|Spiker carbine, the Type-52 Mauler|Mauler shotgun-pistol, and the Type-25 Brute Shot|Brute Shot grenade launcher.
The Covenant employ melee weapons in addition to their already fearsome arsenal. The best known is the Type-1 energy sword|energy sword, used solely by the Sangheili. Creating a double blade of superheated plasma, it has both ceremonial and martial value to Sangheili warriors and its possession is closely monitored. Another is the Jiralhanae Gravity hammer (fiction)|gravity hammer, which seems to be the Brutes' cultural equivalent to the energy sword. However, rather than using a blade of plasma, it generates a gravitational field which can cause tremendous damage within a several-meter radius.
Covenant vehicles use Boosted gravity propulsion drive|advanced anti-gravity technology for propulsion, and are armed with directed-energy weaponry of varying potency. Though often faster than their UNSC counterparts, Covenant vehicles are more unstable over uneven terrain where the sudden changes affect handling. All Covenant vehicles (except for Jiralhanae vehicles) and structures are made from a purple or dark blue type of metal, said to be much more advanced than any alloy known to humans, and all Covenant vehicles are nicknamed after some kind of supernatural entity by the UNSC, except for Excavators. Recently, Jiralhanae vehicles and technology have been incorporated into the Covenant's arsenal. Though more primitive, they serve the Jiralhanae's need for power. Jiralhanae vehicles are not named after spiritual entities, and rather than being a series of Covenant vehicles are regarded as native Jiralhanae technology.
Sphere of influence The Covenant's expansive interstellar empire was based within the Orion Arm of the Milky Way galaxy,''Halo: Warfleet'', p. 12-13 with the mobile holy city High Charity as their capital. At the height of its power, the Covenant encompassed thousands of systems. Befitting its vastness, the governance of the Covenant's interstellar dominion was highly complex; occasionally worlds or entire sub-domains vanished from the records maintained at High Charity, only for contact to be re-established decades later. The High Council was responsible for the administration of these interstellar territories, assigning tithes and levies, and allocating resources across the numerous member worlds.''Halo: Warfleet'', p. 52 San'Shyuum governors handled administrative duties on a local scale; most of them joined the rest of the species on their mass exodus during the Great Schism.''Halo: Warfleet'', p. 54
Some species, such as the Kig-Yar and Lekgolo, had created colonies of their own before their incorporation into the Covenant. These worlds would be absorbed into the empire after the species joined the Covenant. Covenant space would grow to include new worlds as the hegemony expanded throughout the spiral arm, and even Forerunner installations were settled by the Covenant. Despite the massive size of the empire, the Covenant would generally leave a newly discovered world untouched, unless the world held religious or practical significance. Base worlds established by the Sangheili were considered the Covenant's primary worlds. Since the incorporation of the Jiralhanae, the San'Shyuum settled them on resource-rich worlds to guard them from anyone seeking to claim them for themselves, although the Jiralhanae lacked the ability to mine the resources themselves.Halo: Escalation, ''Halo: Escalation Issue 1|Issue #1''
After the dissolution of the Covenant and the exodus of the local San'Shyuum governors, many of the Covenant's colonies fell under the control of the hegemony's various Covenant remnants|splinter factions, while others were claimed by unaffiliated members of the Covenant client species, especially the Sangheili or Kig-Yar. Some worlds were contested between species and governments, while Joint Occupation Zones were established between the Unified Earth Government and the Swords of Sanghelios to allow colonies to be administrated by multiple species.Halo: Fractures, ''"Oasis"''
Urs system
*Sanghelios Sangheili homeworld
**Qikost Sangheili colony
**Suban Sangheili colony Qom Yaekesh system
*Janjur Qom San'Shyuum homeworld
**Plaon - San 'Shyuum colony Oth Sonin system
*Doisac Jiralhanae homeworld
**Warial Jiralhanae colony
**Teash Jiralhanae colony Tala system
*Balaho Unggoy homeworld
**Buwan Small Covenant outpost colony Y'Deio system
*Ap'ot Orbital port city
*Chu'ot
**Eayn Kig-Yar homeworld
*Dal'koth Kig-Yar asteroid colony
*T'vao T'vaoan asteroid homeworld Napret system
*Palamok Yanme'e homeworld
**Ka'amoti Yanme'e colony
**Oquiu Yanme'e colony Sephune System
*Sephune III Svir system
*Te Lekgolo homeworld
**Rantu Lekgolo colony
**Rentus Lekgolo colony
51 Pegasi system
*51 Pegasi B
**Pegasi Delta Home to a starship fuel refinery and staging area
Buta system
*Zhoist - A revered Covenant world home to the Ten Cities of Edification and Ring of Mighty Abundance, a massive Covenant fleet resupply base. Destroyed by UNSC forces in Operation: SILENT STORM in 2526.
Salia system
*Saepon'kal Sangheili fortress world. Devastated by orbital NOVA bomb detonation in 2552
*Salia III
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
Ven system
*Ven III
Worlds in unknown systems 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 Duraan A sparsely populated Sangheili frontier colony Oth Lodon Gas giant located near the Jiralhanae home system Hesduros Remote Sangheili colony Karava Backwater Sangheili colony in contested space Rahnelo A Sangheili frontier colony Ulgethon Ancient Sangheili colony Yonhe Yonhet homeworld Unidentified moon (Headhunters)|Unidentified moon home to a Forerunner excavation site attacked by SPARTAN-III Headhunters Glyke - Sangheili colony and major shipyard. Operation: SUNSPEAR|Destroyed by Gray Team just after the end of the Human-Covenant War
Non-canon and dubious canon appearances
The Covenant is an empire consisting of at least the San'Shyuum and Jiralhanae at war with humanity.
The Covenant hordes are enemies of humanity. File:HTV-Contact-Sangheili.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Covenant Sangheili in the ''Silver Timeline.
The Covenant is a mutispecies religious hegemony attempting to eradicate humanity and locate Halo.
The Covenant is a zealous organization of humans mutated by radiation at war with the United Nations Security Confederation.
Trivia
in most media.
in most media.
in ''Halo Legends''.
|de=
|es= in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' and ''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary''.
}}
is a major city in Bungie's ''Myth'' series; it is home to the ''Total Codex'', a magical book that lists the fate of every being that will ever be born. Bungie later considered ''Covenant'' as a potential title for ''Halo: Combat Evolved''. Paul Russel joked that it ''"... sound[ed] like a bad 80's hair band."''Halo 3 ''Legendary Edition'' special features disk The List of references to religion in Halo|Biblical Ark of the Covenant represented the will of God, in connection with the quote: ''"Your destruction is the will of the Gods...and we are their instrument."'' This references the Covenant's belief they carry through the will of their gods, the Forerunners.
Gallery
File:Halo1 - Covenant Symbol.png|A symbol used on some of the Covenant's vehicles. File:HaloWars-CovenantSymbol.png|The emblem used to identify the Covenant faction in ''Halo Wars'', fashioned after a Hierarch's headdress. File:HCE_CovenantSpecies_Concept.jpg|Concept art of the various Covenant species created early in the development of ''Halo: Combat Evolved''. File:HW LECover-Wide.jpg|Ripa 'Moramee leads a Covenant force comprising of Sangheili and Unggoy infantry and a Banshee squadron. File:HFOR-Covenant.png|A hologram of multiple Covenant species in ''Halo: Fall of Reach''. File:Covenant LogoHD.png|The Sangheili scripture for the word Covenant. First seen in a ''Halo: Fleet Battles'' promo and later in Sunaion. The image is a Photoshop recreation. File:H5Covenant Logo.png|The Sangheili scripture for the word Covenant. First seen in Sunaion. Notice that it is a mirrored version of the previous image. The image is a Photoshop recreation. File:Spartan Games Covie ships.jpg|A representation of a Covenant Fleet, created by Spartan Games. File:TruthAndReconciliation replica.jpg|The Sangheili sigils for the Covenant on a replica of the ''Truth and Reconciliation''. File:Covenant SymbolHorizontal.png|Horizontal version of the Symbol of the Covenant.
List of appearances
''Halo: The Fall of Reach''
''Halo: Combat Evolved''
''Halo: The Flood''
''Halo: First Strike''
''i love bees''
''Halo 2''
''Halo Graphic Novel''
*''The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor
*''Second Sunrise Over New Mombasa''
''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx
''Halo: Uprising''
''Halo 3''
''Halo: Contact Harvest''
''Halo: The Cole Protocol''
''Halo Wars: Genesis''
''Halo Wars''
''Halo: Helljumper''
''Halo 3: ODST''
''Halo Legends''
*''Origins''
*''The Duel''
*''Homecoming''
*''Prototype''
*''The Babysitter''
*''The Package (animated short)|The Package''
''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''
*''Stomping on the Heels of a Fuss''
*''Midnight in the Heart of Midlothian''
*''Dirt''
*''Headhunters''
*''Blunt Instruments''
*''The Mona Lisa''
*''Palace Hotel''
*''Human Weakness''
*''The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole''
*''The Return''
''Halo: Blood Line''
''Halo: Reach''
*''Data pads''
''Halo: Fall of Reach''
*''Halo: Fall of Reach - Boot Camp|Boot Camp''
*''Halo: Fall of Reach - Covenant|Covenant''
*''Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion|Invasion''
''Halo: Glasslands''
''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary''
*''Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)|Terminals''
''Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn''
''Halo 4'' (Prologue Only)
*''Infinity Briefing Packet''
''Halo: Initiation''
''Halo: Escalation''
''Halo: Mortal Dictata''
''Halo: Broken Circle''
''Halo: Nightfall''
''Halo 2: Anniversary''
*''Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminals''
''Halo: New Blood''
''Hunt the Truth''
''Halo: Spartan Strike''
''Halo: Hunters in the Dark''
''Halo: Fleet Battles''
''Halo: Last Light''
''Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series''
''Halo 5: Guardians''
*''Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition dossiers|Limited Edition dossiers''
''Halo: Ground Command''
''Halo Mythos''
''Halo Fractures''
*''Lessons Learned''
*''What Remains''
''Halo: Smoke and Shadow''
''Halo Wars 2''
''Halo: Envoy''
''Halo: Retribution''
''Halo: Rise of Atriox''
''Halo: Legacy of Onyx''
''Halo: Collateral Damage''
''Halo: Bad Blood''
''Halo: Fireteam Raven''
''Halo: Silent Storm''
''Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual''
''Halo: Battle Born''
''Halo: Renegades''
''Halo: Oblivion''
''Halo: Meridian Divide''
''Halo: Shadows of Reach''
*''Sacrifice''
''Halo: Point of Light''
''Halo: Divine Wind''
''Halo Infinite: Memory Agent''
''Halo Infinite''
''Halo: The Television Series''
*''Contact''
*''Unbound''
*''Emergence''
*''Homecoming (TV Series)|Homecoming''
*''Reckoning''
*''Solace (TV Series)|Solace''
*''Inheritance''
*''Allegiance''
*''Transcendence''
''Halo: The Rubicon Protocol''
''Winter Contention''
''Sunrise on Sanghelios''
''Saturn Devouring His Son''
''Battle for the Blood-Moon''
Notes
Sources
External links Wikipedia:Covenant (Halo)|The Covenant''' on Wikipedia
Category:The Covenant|
Category:Factions
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Covert One Flag is a gamemode for Halo Infinite which was included in the Winter Update.
Overview Covert One Flag is a 1 Flag CTF gametype. The teams play asymmetrical roles, with the attackers aiming to capture a flag in the defender's base and return it to their own, while the defenders need to thwart them. In Covert One Flag, the attackers have unlimited access to Active camouflage, while the defenders have unlimited use of the Threat Sensor, creating a cat and mouse dynamic inspired by stealth games.
Supported maps Covert One Flag supports all the maps supported by ''1 Flag CTF''.
Unlocks and rewards
Sources
Category:Multiplayer gametypes Category:Halo Infinite gametypes
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|partof=
|branches=
|headquarters=
|formed=
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|notable=
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Covert Services is a UNSC Special Forces|special operations branch of the United Nations Space Command.''Halo: Retribution'', Chapter 17
Overview Covert services is involved with covert operations undertaken by UNSC operatives. The branch consists of a wide range of personnel, including technicians, analysts, pilots, and surgeons.''Halo: Retribution'', Chapter 18 The work uniforms worn by those in Covert Services are colored royal blue. Covert Services personnel are not included in the UNSC Genetic Database.
History During Operation: RETRIBUTION in December of 2553, Covert Services personnel were stationed onboard the , . They assisted with the planning and execution of certain facets of the operation as its objectives and goals changed in response to new intelligence.
List of appearances
''Halo: Retribution''
Sources
Category:Organizations
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Covert Support Base 4276, also known as Jat-Krula Support Base 4276, was a Forerunner support facility of the Jat-Krula on the planet Gao in the Cordoba system. The facility provided support for Line Installation 444-447 on the nearby planet Shaps III in the Shaps system. In 2553, it was destroyed by Blue Team with a HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon in order to keep the base out of the hands of the Gao Republic.
History
Description
Trivia The Covert Support Base is incorrectly referred to as a line installation in ''Halo Mythos''.
List of appearances
''Halo: Last Light''
''Halo Mythos''
''Halo: Divine Wind''
Sources
Category:Gao locations Category:Forerunner installations
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Cow Catcher is an achievement in ''Halo Infinite''. It is unlocked by killing 50 enemies with a splatter while in a vehicle with another player. This achievement awards the player 10 Gamerscore.
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Cowardly Grunt is an achievement in ''Halo: The Master Chief Collection''. It is unlocked by finding and listening to the Cowardly Grunt Easter egg on Uprising. The achievement is worth 5 Gamerscore and can be unlocked on any difficulty.
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File:Cowardly Grunt.jpg|thumb|250px|The cowardly Grunt.
The cowardly Grunt is a Special dialogue Grunt|special dialogue Grunt that can be found in ''Halo 2'''s level Uprising. The Unggoy|Grunt is hiding in the corner of the first room after the cavern, with two dead Grunts. It will not follow the player and will not fight enemies even when forced by the player. All Jiralhanae|Brutes in the room must be killed for the Easter egg to work.
See also Thirsty Grunt Final Grunt Dreaming Grunt
Category:Halo 2 Easter eggs Category:Unggoy characters
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Cox was a member of ONI Security stationed onboard Ivanoff Station during the Raid on Ivanoff Station.Halo 4, campaign level, ''Composer (level)|Composer''
Biography Soon after Jul 'Mdama's Covenant faction began attacking Ivanoff Station, John-117 decided to destroy the Composer with a HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon|Havok nuke. The troops in the area were ordered to guard the Composer while the nukes were prepared. Cox's sergeant ordered him and Edwards to take the flanks.
Trivia He is likely named after Halo 4 credits|Greg Cox, an environment art designer in ''Halo 4''.
List of appearances
''Halo 4''
Sources
Category:Human characters Category:Office of Naval Intelligence personnel
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Cozumel is an island off the eastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico on Earth. It is known for its beaches.Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe, ''The Mona Lisa''
History During the Skirmish on Mona Lisa|mission to the Soell system and the debris field of Installation 04, the UNSC UNSC Marine Corps|Marine force led by UNSC rank structure/UNICOM|Sergeant Zhao Heng Lopez became separated while searching the Prison ship|prison ship ''Mona Lisa''. The squad led by Hospital corpsman|Hospital Corpsman Ngoc Benti was having trouble reaching the ship's Engineering|engineering section. Unsure of her leadership capabilities, Benti wished that her sergeant was with them, but since they had split up to explore the large vessel she might as well have been on a beach in Cozumel.
List of appearances
''Halo Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''
*''The Mona Lisa''
Sources
Category:Earth
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File:Halo 5 CQB sight.png|thumb|250px|CQB sight
A CQB sight is a Telescopic sight|scoped weapon attachment, that is best suited for close-quarters battle while leveraging Smart-Link.Halo 5: Guardians
Known Applicable weapons The following weapons have been seen to utilize this attachment:
M20 SMG
Gallery
File:H5G-M20zoom.png|Smart scope with the CQB sight on an M20 SMG.
List of appearances
''Halo 5: Guardians''
Sources
Category:Weapon attachments
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|manufacturer=Beweglichkeitsrustungsysteme
|testsite=Special Warfare Center Essen, Unified German Republic|Deutschland (developed)
Special Warfare Center Seongnam, Korea|Hanguk (tested)
|type=MJOLNIR (GEN1)
MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark V|Mark V MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark VI|Mark VI MJOLNIR (GEN2)
MJOLNIR (GEN3)
|role=Close quarters combat
}}
The MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/C variant, colloquially known as the Close Quarters Battle (CQB) armor, is a variant of the MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor manufactured by Beweglichkeitsrustungsysteme.
GEN1 overview
The CQB variant specializes in the improvement of survivability in close quarters engagements, this was done in the dispersal of kinetic energy, by looking at alternate methods to disperse the kinetic energy versus momentum transferred by a Spartan during combat. In addition the CQB's armor components are designed to optimize joint mobility in close quarters, and have an improved field of view.
Although CQB surpasses CQC-class Mjolnir|CQC in overall integration, the variant's ability to allow ''ad hoc'' modifications is limited in comparison. The helmet is compatible with the AN/PCK-221 FARNDALE Command Network Module, the AN/PZY-990T STARLIGHT and PZY-955SSA WILLOW remote sensors and the UA/Type C1|Type C1 UA module.
File:HR CQB armor ref.jpg|Turnaround reference of the CQB helmet on the Mark V armor. File:HR CQB Hel Ref.jpg|Turnaround reference of the Mark V CQB helmet. File:HR CQB Attach Ref.jpg|Mark V CQB helmet with HU/RS/CNM and UA/HUL attachments. File:H3 CQB ref.jpg|Overview of the Mark VI CQB variant. File:H3 CQB Armor close up.png|Close-up of the Mark VI CQB variant.
As early as 2525 developmental Mjolnir permutations utilized physical architecture that would eventually be used for CQB. Samuel-034 used such a variant during the Battle of Chi Ceti and Daisy-023 used a similar variant.
When evaluating different opportunities to improve MJOLNIR across an assortment of engagement types, German-based Beweglichkeitsrustungsysteme proposed two distinctive variants CQC and CQB with one focus. Using data gathered from the UNSC's Battle of Jericho VII|campaign on Jericho VII, that focus was to further improve the survivability in close quarter engagements.
Field-tested at the Special Warfare Center Essen, in Germany|Deutschland, and integrating feedback gathered from the Special Warfare Center Seongnam, in Korea, CQB was ultimately launched as a successor to CQC on the MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark V|Mark V platform. Its advances were eventually incorporated into the MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark VI|Mark VI series.
By 2558, the GEN1 CQB helmet could be requisitioned by Spartan Operations|Spartans for use with their GEN2 Mjolnir suits. As late as 2560, the GEN1 CQB helmet could still be requisitioned by Spartans, upgraded to be roughly equivalent to GEN3.
File:HTFORTAS-Blue.jpg|Samuel-034 wearing CQB-like Mjolnir Mark IV during the Battle of Chi Ceti. File:HTFORTAS Mark IV CQB-like Mjolnir.png|Close up of the CQB-like Mark IV armor worn by Samuel-034. File:HL Homecoming CQB-like variant.jpg|Daisy-023 in her CQB-like armor during the Human-Covenant War. File:H5G CQB Helmet Icon.png|GEN2 compatible CQB helmet circa October 2558.
The CQB armor was used successfully throughout 2552.
In-game information
The CQB Armor customization (Halo 3)|armor permutation is one of the default unlocked armor sets available in ''Halo 3''. In the ''Halo: The Master Chief Collection'' edition of ''Halo 3'', the CQB armor (like all ''Halo 3'' permutations) is unlocked by default.
{| class"width: 75%;"
! style="width: 15%"|Armor
! style="width: 55%"|Description
! style="width: 15%"|Unlock requirements(''Halo 3'')
! style="width: 15%"|Unlock requirements(''Halo: MCC'')
|- align="center"
|rowspan=4|File:HTMCC H3 CQB Menu Render.png|100pxCQB
|align="left"|Helmet: The Mjolnir/C variant was developed and tested at UNSC facilities in Essen, Deutschland, and Songnam, Hanguk, respectively, integrating feedback gathered from the Jericho VII Theater.
|rowspan=4|Unlocked by default.
|rowspan=4|Unlocked by default.
|- align="center"
|align="left"|Shoulder: Developed at Beweglichrustungsysteme of Essen and tested at the Special Warfare Center in Songnam, the Mjolnir/C variant focuses on improving combat survivability and mobility.
|- align="center"
|align="left"|Chest: The intent with the Mjolnir Mark VI Powered Assault Armor/C variant was to improve survivability in close combat, specifically by looking at alternative methods of K dispersal and improving joint mobility.
|- align="center"
|align="left"|MCC: CQB variants of the Mjolnir Mark VI have enhanced kinetic dispersal layers and improved joint mobility.
|}
The CQB helmet is available as an unlockable helmet Armor customization (Halo: Reach)|armor permutation in ''Halo: Reach''. Alongside the MP-class Mjolnir|Military Police helmet and Armor accessories/UA|UA/Base Security [W] chest, it cannot be unlocked in ''Halo: Reach'' through regular in-game means. Instead, it is unlocked by completing achievements for ''Halo 3'' and ''Halo 3: ODST'' and career milestones on ''Halo Waypoint''. Following the shutdown of Xbox 360 ''Halo'' online services in December 2021, this achievement will no longer be attainable.
The helmet is unlockable as part of Season 1: Noble in ''Halo: The Master Chief Collection''.
{| class"width: 75%;"
! style="width: 15%"|Helmet
! style="width: 40%"|Description
! style="width: 30%"|Unlock requirements(''Halo: Reach'')
! style="width: 15%"|Unlock requirements(''Halo: MCC'')
|- align="center"
|File:HR CQB Helmet Icon.png|75pxCQB
|align="left"|The MJOLNIR/C variant was developed and tested at UNSC facilities in Esson and Songnam, respectively.Developed at Beweglichrustungsysteme and tested at the UNSC's Special Warfare Center.
|Reach ''Halo Waypoint'' Career milestones|Career Milestone 20 and Folks Need Heroes... achievement.
|Series 1: Noble|Series 1, Tier 1 ()
|- align="center"
|File:HR CQB HURS Helmet Icon.png|75pxCQB (Hardened uplink/remote sensor package|HU/RS/Command Network Module|CNM)
|align="left"|Hardened uplink/remote sensor package with command network module.
|Reach ''Halo Waypoint'' Career Milestone 25 and complete the Campaign Complete: Heroic (Halo 3: ODST achievement)|Campaign Complete: Heroic achievement in ''Halo 3: ODST''. CQB must already be unlocked.
|Series 1: Noble|Series 1, Tier 6 ()
|- align="center"
|File:HR CQB UAHUL Helmet Icon.png|75pxCQB (Armor accessories/UA|UA/Hardened Uplink|HUL)
|align="left"|Up-armored variant with hardened uplink module for MILINT acquisition.
|Reach ''Halo Waypoint'' Career Milestone 30 and complete the Campaign Complete: Legendary (Halo 3 achievement)|Campaign Complete: Legendary achievement in ''Halo 3'' and Gods Must Be Strong achievement in ''Halo: Reach''. CQB HU/RS/CNM must already be unlocked.
|Series 1: Noble|Series 1, Tier 10 ()
|}
The CQB helmet was one of a number of ''Reach''-themed helmets and armors added into ''Halo 5: Guardians'' via the List of REQ cards/REQ Packs|Classic Helmet REQ Pack.
{| class"width: 75%;"
! style="width: 15%"|Helmet
! style="width: 70%"|Description
! style="width: 15%"|Unlock requirements(''Halo 5: Guardians'')
|- align="center"
|File:H5G REQ Helmets CQB Rare.png|100px
|align="left"|Beweglichrustungsysteme houses the results of its decades-long work with reaction enhancers and predictive movement algorithms in the protective armored shell of battle-tested CQB helmets.
|align="left"|
Rare List of REQ cards|REQ card Unlock the List of REQ cards/REQ Packs|Classic Helmet REQ Pack for
|}
The CQB helmet and its attachments are available for multiplayer Spartan Armor customization (Halo Infinite)|armor customization in ''Halo Infinite''. The CQB knee pads are available on the B-class Mjolnir|Mark V [B] armor core.
{| class"width: 75%;"
! scope"width: 15%" |Helmet
! scope"width: 15%" |Manufacturer
! scope"width: 45%" |Lore
! scope"width: 10%" |Rarity
! scope"width: 15%" |Unlock Requirements
| |align="center"|File:HINF CQB Helmet Icon 01.png|75pxCQB
|Beweglichkeitsrustungsysteme
|Beweglichkeitsrustungsysteme did not design the original CQB pattern, but their improvements and upgrades following the Jericho VII campaign made the connection inseparable.
|Rare
|Winter Update Battle Pass level 10 (Free)
| |align="center"|File:HINF UA Type CQB Knee Icon.png|75pxUA attachments|UA/Type CQB
|Beweglichkeitsrustungsysteme
|Supplemental leg armor.
|Epic
|Noble Intention Event Pass level 3 (Free)
|}
Trivia According to a survey taken by Bungie around 14 March 2008, the CQB chest was the most used Spartan chestpiece in ''Halo 3'', and the helmet was the fourth most used.
Gallery
File:H3 Concept CQB Armor.png|Concept art for the CQB variant for ''Halo 3''. File:H3B - CQB armor.png|CQB in the ''Halo 3 Beta''. File:H3 CQB.png|The CQB armor in the final build of ''Halo 3''. File:H3 CQB holding a rocket launcher.png|Render of CQB holding a M41 SPNKR. File:H3 CQB Spartan holding smgs.jpg|Render of a Spartan-II in orange Mark VI CQB armor. File:H3 CQB overview.jpg|Close-up of the CQB Mark VI variant. File:HTMCC-H3 CQB Closeup.jpg|A Spartan-II clad in full CQB armor. File:HTMCC-H3 CQB Closeup2.jpg|A Spartan-II clad in full CQB armor.
File:HR Concept CQB helmet.jpg|Concept art of the CQB helmet for ''Halo: Reach''. File:HR CQB.png|The CQB helmet on the Mark V armor. File:HR CQB Helmet.jpg|Mark V CQB helmet in ''Halo: The Master Chief Collection''. File:HR CQB HU RS CNM.jpg|Mark V CQB helmet with HU, RS and CNM attachments in ''Halo: The Master Chief Collection''. File:HR CQB UA HUL.jpg|An up-armored CQB helmet with HUL attachment in ''Halo: The Master Chief Collection''.
File:H5G-CQBhelmetmodels.jpg|Models of the CQB helmet. File:H5G-CQB.jpg|A Spartan-IV wearing CQB. File:H5G-CQBvsDynast.png|CQB in comparison to DYNAST-class Mjolnir, its post-war replacement.
File:HINF_Multiplayer Reveal 2021-4.png|A CQB-clad Spartan alongside LUMU in the A New Generation trailer. File:HINF CQB.png|A Spartan wearing the CQB helmet. File:HINF Spartan CQB 01.jpg|A Spartan with the CQB helmet and UA/Type CQB knee pads. File:HINF Spartan CQB 02.jpg|A CQB-clad Spartan on Behemoth. File:HINF - Winter Update - CQB promo.jpg|Promotional image featuring CQB.
List of appearances
''Halo 3''
''Halo: Reach''
''Halo Legends''
*''Homecoming''
''Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series''
''Halo 5: Guardians''
''Halo Infinite''
Sources
Category:MJOLNIR armor Category:Halo Infinite multiplayer armor permutations Category:Halo 5: Guardians multiplayer armor permutations Category:Halo: Reach multiplayer armor permutations Category:Halo 3 multiplayer armor permutations
|
|testsite=Special Warfare Center Essen|SWC Essen, Unified German Republic|Deutschland (developed)
Special Warfare Center Seongnam|SWC Seongnam, Wikipedia:Hanguk|Hanguk (tested)
|type=MJOLNIR (GEN1)
MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark IV|Mark IV MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark V|Mark V MJOLNIR (GEN3)
|role=Close quarters combat
}}
The MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/CQC variant, also known as the Close Quarters Combat (CQC) armor, is a variant of the MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor manufactured by Beweglichkeitsrustungsysteme.
Overview
The MJOLNIR CQC variant was the first of its kind to aid and improve the Spartans' effectiveness in close quarters combat. The armor is designed for tactical, short range battles in urban areas, and as such the CQC variant offers an improved field of visibility and heavy ballistic protection. In addition, numerous sections of the helmet supports open-port conversion - this allows the user to add any type of compatible module to the helmet to further improve functionality, allowing a Spartan to adapt to changing mission conditions on the fly. The CQC's heavy pauldrons allow a soldier to swiftly and lethally close the gap between an enemy combatant despite being under fire. The CQC can be utilized for both military operations on urban terrain (MOUT) and boarding operations aboard ships which are comprised of tight, enclosed spaces.
File:HR CQC Armor ref.jpg|Overview of the CQC variant. File:HR CQC hel ref.jpg|Turnaround reference of the CQC helmet. File:HR CQC pau ref.jpg|CQC pauldron turnaround reference. File:HR CQC hel attch.jpg|CQC helmet with CBRN and UA/HUL attachments.
The CQC helmet is known to be compatible with the MK55 CBRN module, the UA/Type C1|Type C1 UA module and the AN/PCK-221 FARNDALE Command Network Module.
The CQC variant was developed alongside the CQB-class Mjolnir|CQB variant by German-based Beweglichkeitsrustungsysteme with a central focus on improving the wearer's survivability in close-quarter engagements.''Halo: The Fall of Reach'' - Page 1 (2001 and definitive editions); page 15 (2010 edition)
By the early 2540's, it was field-tested at the Special Warfare Center Essen, in Unified German Republic|Deutschland, and integrating feedback gathered from the Special Warfare Center Seongnam, in Wikipedia:Korea|Korea. The CQC's MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark IV|Mark IV variant entered service in 2548 and saw use among SPARTAN-II and SPARTAN-III soldiers. The CQC variant was further upgraded for use with the MJOLNIR MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark V|Mark V in 2551.
As late as 2560, the GEN1 CQC helmet could still be requisitioned by Spartan Operations|Spartans, upgraded to be roughly equivalent to GEN3.
Despite being surpassed by the CQB in overall integration, the CQC variant still retained popularity well after its production ceased. Many still prefer CQC's less traditional open-port conversion system to allow ad-hoc modification. Some Spartans continue to use CQC instead of the newer CQB because of the versatility and mobility the CQC provides. Spartan Rosenda A344 of NOBLE Team wore the CQC helmet during the Defense of Concord in 2551.
In-game information
Similar to the CQB in ''Halo 3'', the CQC helmet is unlocked by default in the Armor customization (Halo: Reach)|Armory. The other armor types are unlockable in the game's purchase system via the use of Credits|cR. In ''Halo: The Master Chief Collection'', the CQC set is attainable in the Season 1: Noble progression system.
The helmet's design bears similar resemblance to the Mark VI helmet and the limited production helmet on the Mark IV. Two attachments are available for the helmet: the first adds a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Module for operations in hazard zones. The second adds an Up-Armor plate with a Hardened Uplink Module on the right side (UA/HUL) for MILINT acquisition. The CQC pauldrons are rectangular and flat in shape, and have two smaller "squares" on the top and bottom. These shoulders go down to about the elbow. They can be seen at the rank of Major, but require the rank of Lt. Colonel to be bought.
{| class"width: 75%;"
! style="width: 15%"|Armor
! style="width: 55%"|Description
! style="width: 15%"|Unlock requirements (''Halo: Reach'')
! style="width: 15%"|Unlock requirements (''Halo: MCC'')
|- align="center"
|File:HR CQC Helmet Icon.png|75pxCQC
|align="left"|Entered service in 2548; standard equipment for boarding actions and MOUT.
|Unlocked by default
|Series 1: Noble|Series 1, Tier 1 ()
|- align="center"
|File:HR CQC CBRN Helmet Icon.png|75pxCQC (CBRN module|CBRN)
|align="left"|For operations in hazard zones.
|, 750 cR
|Series 1: Noble|Series 1, Tier 5 ()
|- align="center"
|File:HR CQC UAHUL Helmet Icon.png|75pxCQC (Armor accessories/UA|UA/Hardened Uplink|HUL)
|align="left"|Up-armored variant with hardened uplink module for MILINT acquisition.
|, 1,500 cR
|Series 1: Noble|Series 1, Tier 16 ()
|- align="center"
|File:HR CQC LShoulder Icon.png|75pxFile:HR CQC RShoulder Icon.png|75pxCQC shoulders
|align="left"|Developed and tested at UNSC facilities in Essen and Songnam, respectively.
|, 20,000 cR
|Series 1: Noble|Series 1, Tier 61 ()
|}
The CQC helmet and its attachments are available for multiplayer Spartan Armor customization (Halo Infinite)|armor customization in ''Halo Infinite''. The CQC shoulders are available under the SAP attachments|SAP series of shoulder pads on the B-class Mjolnir|Mark V [B] armor core.
{| class"width: 75%;"
! scope"width: 15%" |Helmet
! scope"width: 15%" |Manufacturer
! scope"width: 40%" |Lore
! scope"width: 10%" |Rarity
! scope"width: 20%" |Unlock Requirements
| |align="center"|File:HINF CQC Helmet Icon.png|75pxCQC
|Beweglichkeitsrustungsysteme
|CQC helmets are rated for use in extremely hazardous thermal, chemical, and atmospheric environments, such as those encountered during boarding actions and operations in Covenant-occupied urban areas.
|Rare
|Winter Update Battle Pass level 20 (Free)
| |align="center"|File:HINF SAP CQC LShoulder Icon.png|75pxFile:HINF SAP CQC RShoulder Icon.png|75pxSAP attachments|SAP/CQC
|Beweglichkeitsrustungsysteme
|The unrealized goal of Special Warfare Center Essen was to create pauldron that could stop an energy sword.
|Rare
|
Left: Winter Update Battle Pass level 18 (Free)
Right: Winter Update Battle Pass level 19 (Free)
|}
Production notes File:CQC HUL.jpg|thumb|200px|The CQC helmet using a different HUL design in ''Halo: Reach Beta''. In the ''Halo: Reach Multiplayer Beta'', there were two upgrades available for the CQC helmet. An up-armored (UA) variant (2,000 cR), and an Hardened Uplink (HUL) variant which also includes the UA upgrade (5,000 cR).''Halo: Reach Multiplayer Beta'' - Armory: CQC Helmet Variants In the final game, the first variant features the CBRN module, which was not seen in the ''Beta'', while the UA and HUL attachments as seen in the ''Beta'' were merged into a single variant: the HUL upgrade. Additionally, the HUL variant now employs the "Camera" variant of the attachment on the left side of the helmet, rather than the "Box" variant in the ''Beta''. In the ''Halo: Reach Multiplayer Beta'', the now-CQC shoulder pauldrons were designated as SCOUT-class Mjolnir, and did not feature the arrow decal on the pauldron surface. In the final game, the shoulder pauldrons became the CQC shoulder pauldrons, and there were no replacements for Scout shoulder pauldrons. Similarly, the now-Armor accessories/Assault|Assault/Commando chest piece was designated as Assault/CQC in the ''Beta'', and after its move to Assault/Commando, there were no replacements for a CQC chest piece .
Gallery
File:HR_CQCHelmet_Concept.jpg|Concept art of the Mark V CQC helmet, initially envisioned as the Spartan-III commando Rosenda-A344's helmet, for ''Halo: Reach''. File:HR_Rosenda-A344_Concept.png|Concept of Rosenda-A344 wearing the CQC helmet. File:HR_NightfallCQC_Concept.jpg|Concept art of the level ''Nightfall'' with Noble Six wearing the CQC helmet. File:HRMPB SwordbaseBoom.jpg|A Spartan-III wearing the full CQC set in ''Halo: Reach Multiplayer Beta''. File:HR CQC Glor.png|A front view of the CQC variant in ''Halo: Reach''. File:HR_CQC.png|A full set of CQC armor in ''Halo: Reach'' Armory. File:HR CQC Helmet.jpg|CQC helmet in ''Halo: The Master Chief Collection''. File:HR CQC CBRN.jpg|CQC helmet with CBRN attachment. File:HR CQC UA HUL.jpg|An up-armored CQC helmet with HUL attachment. File:HR CQC Shoulder.jpg|The CQC shoulder armor.
File:HINF-CQC.png|A Spartan-IV wearing CQC in ''Halo Infinite''. File:HINF Spartan CQC 1.jpg|A CQC-clad Spartan sprinting with an MA40 assault rifle. File:HINF Spartan CQC 2.jpg|A CQC-clad Spartan wielding an M41D SPNKr on Deadlock (Halo Infinite)|Deadlock. File:HINF Spartan CQC 3.jpg|A CQC-clad Spartan wielding an CQS48 Bulldog on Deadlock. File:HINF - Winter Update - CQC promo.jpg|Promotional image featuring CQC.
List of appearances
''Halo: Reach''
''Halo 5: Guardians''
''Halo: Infinite''
''Winter Contention''
Sources
Category:MJOLNIR armor Category:Halo: Reach multiplayer armor permutations Category:Halo Infinite multiplayer armor permutations
|
|series=
|type=Shotgun
|cost=
|variant=
|service=Human-Covenant WarPost-Covenant War conflicts
|length=
|width=
|height=
|weight=
|ammotype=M301 12-gauge magnum
|capacity=
|feed=7-round rotating drum
|operation=Pump-action
|rate=Semi-automatic
|velocity=
|optics=
|range=
}}
}}
The CQS48 Bulldog, otherwise known as the CQS-48 Combat Shotgun, is a type of human shotgun manufactured by Misriah Armory in Eos Chasma. It is in service with the UNSC, being employed by UNSC forces as early as 2551. During the Battle for Zeta Halo in 2560, many CQS48 were seemingly scavenged and employed by Banished-affiliated Jiralhanae.
Overview
File:HINF Bulldog Reload.png|thumb|left|200px|A Spartan reloading the a CQS48 Bulldog. The CQS48 Bulldog is a pump-action combat shotgun which fires 12-gauge shells from an 7-round rotating drum. After every shot, the foregrip must be retracted and pushed forward again to work the weapon's action and rotate the cylindrical magazine into the next position. The rotary magazine allows the CQS48 to replenish its supply of loaded ammunition substantially faster than the non-detachable magazines of the M45 shotgun|M45 and M90 shotguns. However, the 12-gauge ammunition it fires is substantially smaller. The Bulldog integrates iron sights and multiple attachment rail segments on its body. The CQS48 used in 2560 features a matte black and dark grey finish.
The weapon's side contains various decals including barcode which translates to details of the weapon's manufacturer, the Misriah Armory facility at Eos Chasma, Mars and the weapon's name, CQS48 Combat Shotgun. The sides of the weapon just above the magazine contain a indicating the weapon's year of manufacture and a certification that the weapon is safe to fire with nitrocellulose-based gunpowder. In the case of the Bulldogs supplied to forces in 2560, the weapons have the proof code FK, which translates to a manufacture year of 2559. The side of the weapon additionally displays a decal for SolCore.
Spartan-III Thom-A293 used a CQS48 Bulldog during the Defense of Concord in 2551. CQS48 Bulldogs originating from the , were used during the Battle for Zeta Halo in 2560.
CQS48 MODE MS: A modified variant of the Bulldog for extremely aggressive decontamination regimes. The chassis is treated with the latest polymer and nanomaterial coatings to inhibit biological growths and spore attachment. An orange container was integrated in the stock, and the weapon is equipped with a different muzzle. Convergence Bulldog: A modified variant of the Bulldog, with drum capacity increased from 7 to 12. The weapon also has an even tighter spread, allowing for greater range and accuracy.
File:HINF CQS48 Mode MS Weapon Model Icon.png|CQS48 MODE MS File:HINF Bulldog Convergence Crop.png|Convergence Bulldog
In-game information
}}
The CQS48 has a ready ammo count of 7. The pickup prompt indicates that the CQS48 is a "shotgun", with "kinetic" and "spread" properties. The weapon can be fired rapidly, with a much higher rate of fire than previous shotguns in the franchise, at the expense of heavier vertical recoil during rapid fire. Unlike shotguns in the previous games, the CQS48 Bulldog is not a one-shot-kill weapon when fighting multiplayer Spartans at close range, instead requiring at least two shots to kill. However, some enemies like Unggoy can still be killed with one shot.
Gallery
File:HINF Concept BulldogExploration.jpg|Initial concept exploration of the CQS48 Bulldog for ''Halo Infinite''. File:HINF Concept Bulldog.jpg|Finalized concept art of the Bulldog. File:HINF CQS48 Decals.png|A study of the decals on the Bulldog. File:HINF-CQS48Bulldog.png|Pre-release image of the Bulldog. File:HINF CQS48Bulldog Crop.png|An early render of the Bulldog. File:HINF XGS 2020 CQS48 Heads Up Display.png|First person view of the CQS48 Bulldog in ''Halo Infinite''. File:HI Screenshot Gameplay-Bulldog1.png|A Jiralhanae Warrior wielding the weapon in a pre-release build of ''Halo Infinite''. File:HINF CGP Bulldog Firing.png|First-person view of a Bulldog being discharged. File:HINF CGP Bulldog Reload Empty.png|First-person view of a Bulldog being reloaded, with the magazine entirely removed from the slot. File:HINF CGP Bulldog Reload Magazine In.png|First-person view of a Bulldog being reloaded, with the magazine inserted into the receptacle. File:HINF CGP Bulldog Pump Action.png|First-person view of the Bulldog immediately after firing, with the forend grip retracted towards the stock in the first phase of the pump action. File:HINF XGS 2020 CQS48 model.png|The Bulldog lying on the ground. File:HINF Concept BulldogKits.jpg|Concept art of various Bulldog kits, including the Defiled Bulldog. File:HINF Concept DefiledBulldog.jpg|Concept art of the Defiled Bulldog.
File:HINF Pre-Release Bulldog Render.png|A render of the Bulldog. File:HInf HUD Cqs48 bulldog.png|HUD icon of the Bulldog. File:HINF MarineBreacher.png|A Marine wielding CQS48 Bulldog. File:HINF-CQS48ready.jpg|A Spartan-IV wielding the Bulldog. File:HINF-CQS48openport.jpg|A Spartan-IV pumping the Bulldogs action - note the dust cover accurately flipped down, exposing the open action. File:HINF Bulldog Firing.png|A Spartan-IV firing a Bulldog on Highpower. File:HINF Bulldog Operation.png|Close-up view of a Bulldog. File:HINF Spartan CDO 1.jpg|Another close-up view of a Bulldog. File:HINF Bulldog Drum.png|View of the drum magazine. File:HINF Conservatory Berserkers.png|First-person view of a Bulldog shooting off a Jiralhanae Berserker's wrist blades. File:HINF MarkVICBRN.jpg|A Spartan wearing a Mark VI CBRN helmet and wielding a Bulldog. HINF Zvezda&CQS48MODEMS.png|A Zvezda-clad Spartan with the CQS48 MODE MS. File:HINF-DefiledBulldog.jpg|A Defiled CQS48 Bulldog. File:HINF-FloodSpartan1.jpg|A Defiler-clad Spartan using a Defiled Bulldog.
File:NERF CQS48.png|Nerf version of the CQS48 Bulldog.
List of appearances
''Halo Infinite''
''Winter Contention''
Sources
Category:Shotguns
|
Cracked Legend is the sixteenth track included in the second disc of the ''Halo 2 Anniversary Original Soundtrack''. It is the remastered version of ''Flawed Legacy'' from the ''Halo 2: Original Soundtrack''. Its name is a reference to ''Flawed Legacy'', as it carries similar meaning.
|
Crackin' Skulls is an achievement for ''Halo: Reach'' multiplayer matchmaking added with the Defiant Map Pack. The achievement was unlocked by killing 3 players with the Oddball during an Oddball match. It is represented by a red flaming skull with the number "3" on top of it and an eight-pointed star behind it as a background. The achievement could be earned on any multiplayer map.
Following the shutdown of Xbox 360 ''Halo'' online services on January 13, 2022, this achievement is no longer attainable.
The achievement is worth 45 Gamerscore.
Trivia As with Candy from a Baby and Return to Sender, this achievement did not actually require the player to be playing matchmaking at all to earn it; it was possible to unlock the achievement while playing custom games, as long as the gametype being played was electronically signed by Bungie. (That is, if the gametype was the same one used in matchmaking.) However, this method required downloading the specific gametype file; with those services shut down, unlocking the achievement in a custom game is now functionally impossible.
Sources
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Craig Mullins is an artist and painter. He worked on ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' as a matte and concept artist,Halo: Combat Evolved credits having previously worked on art for Bungie's ''Marathon'' game series. He worked closely with other artists, such as Shi Kai Wang, to produce the concept art for the landscapes of Installation 04|Halo, the architecture of the and the ''Truth and Reconciliation'', and he helped design the appearance and culture of the creatures of the Covenant Empire|Covenant, and even some of the weapons.
He also created the cover artwork of the ''Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)''.Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe, ''Acknowledgments''
Sources
Category:Artists|Mullins, Craig
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File:HINF-CRAIG.jpg|thumb|300px|Craig in the ''Halo Infinite Campaign Gameplay Premiere''. Craig is an internet meme originated from an infamous screenshot of a Jiralhanae Berserker from the ''Halo Infinite Campaign Gameplay Premiere''. A series of Easter eggs that reference Craig can be found in ''Halo Infinite''.
Overview
Following the release of the ''Halo Infinite Campaign Gameplay Premiere'' on July 23, 2020, a screenshot from the trailer, depicting a Jiralhanae with a deadpan expression moments before being meleed by John-117, began circulating on Twitter. Users started calling the Jiralhanae in the screenshot "Craig", with 343 Industries Community Director Brian Jarrard endorsing the meme on the next day. Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox, jokingly called Craig the "new official Xbox mascot" on Twitter.
File:CraigifyWrapped.jpg|thumb|200px|The "Craigify" parody of Spotify Wrapped, featuring some of his music. After 343 Industries announced that the release of ''Halo Infinite'' would be delayed from 2020 to 2021, Craig was again brought up in the October 2021 issue of ''Inside Infinite'' on Halo Waypoint. Character & Combat Director Steve Dyck cited "Craig" as representative of "some content and systems that were not ready" for the showcase, and noted that the delayed release allowed the Character Team at 343 Industries to make improvements to the facial design. In the same post, Character Art Lead Bryan Repka mentioned that Craig has "picked up a new hobby and has done well for himself", alluding to the Easter egg at the top of Tower, which shows a poster of Craig as a musician touring the Banished outposts and bases. The comparison between the original screenshot and an updated face of a Jiralhanae from the ''Inside Infinite'' issue was later posted on the official Xbox Twitter account as a "How It Started vs. How It's Going" meme.
Following the release of ''Halo Infinite'', Craig was among the characters featured on the official ''Halo''-themed Valentine Day cards released on February 14, 2022. On November 25, 2022, the ''Halo'' Twitter account revealed a T-shirt featuring the logo of Craig's band and his touring schedule. On December 2, 2022, the ''Halo'' Twitter account posted an image in a parody of Wikipedia:Spotify Wrapped|Spotify Wrapped, Wikipedia:Spotify|Spotify's feature that gives users a summary of their listening habits throughout the previous year. This logo, supposedly from a company called "Craigify," features the logo of Craig's band, lists several of Craig's songs, and also lists Craig as the user's top four artists through the year, with the fifth being Glibnub. It also states that the user had listed for 343,117 minutes and that their top genre was "Craig Rock."
In-game references
File:HINF CraigPoster.png|thumb|250px|The music stage at the top of the Tower. The easter egg can be found on top of Chak 'Lok's Tower. Players can reach the top with a Grappleshot (likely with Quickshot upgrade, which grants 40% cooldown reduction), an AV-49 Wasp, or a Kaelum Workshop Banshee|Banshee. There is a stage with a guitar, a microphone, and speakers. If the player melees the guitar, it plays a sound of a guitar strum. There is also a music album and a poster. The music album has a picture of "Craig" on it along with the text "Greatest Hits". If the player interacts with the album, it flips over, revealing the back cover, which lists the names of the songs in the album, some of which are references to jokes made about ''Halo Infinite'' and Craig's deadpan expression. The songs are titled:
I SMILE INSIDE FOR THE CRAIG I WAS ALONE I GOT TEARS LAST SUMMER I'M THE CRAIG IN YOUR HEART MY MOM USED TO LOVE ME POPPED IN THE CHIN BY MY FRIEND Rodent|SPACE GOPHERS, WHERE'D THE Brontothere|RHINOS GO?
THE SMELL OF FLOWERS MAKES ME HAPPY YOUR WORDS HURT BUT I LOVE IT THE DAY YOU BECOME A MEME GRUNT! GRUNT! GRUNT!
I CAN'T GROW BEARD I AM SO FAMOUS
A poster listing tour dates can also be found Banished base locations. The poster reads:
CRAIG ZETA HALO TOUR 2560
24th OCT-------Outpost Tremonius (location)|OUTPOST TREMONIUS
25th OCT-------Armory of Reckoning (location)|ARMORY OF RECKONING
28th OCT-------Horn of Abolition (location)|HORN OF ABOLITION
30th OCT-------Forge of Teash (location)|FORGE OF TEASH
3th NOV-------Ransom Keep (location)|RANSOM KEEP
6th NOV-------Redoubt of Sundering (location)|REDOUBT OF SUNDERING
8th NOV-------Annex Ridge (location)|ANNEX RIDGE
11th NOV-------Riven Gate (location)|RIVEN GATE
15th NOV-------House of Reckoning (location)|HOUSE OF RECKONING
"3th November" uses the wrong suffix for "third"; the correct suffix is "3rd November". This may be a reference to the now-removed "1th" scoreboard text in Halo 2: Anniversary.
Craig is referenced by various characters in the game:
A marine's idle dialogue: "I saw this one Brute''weeeird'' look in his eyes, ''(Chuckling)'' like, really deadpan. You could tell, he'd seen some stuff in his day, man. Umm, I wonder if he had a name. I almost want to call him, like, y'know, like Greg or something. Yeah, Greg. Yeah."
One of the Glibnub's dialogue from the propaganda towers: "Hey, we got a Craig out there? I keep hearing about some loser named Craig. Why the heck do you get all the attention? We're just as cool, if not way cooler!"
An Unggoy's idle dialogue: "Hey, who's this Craig guy they keep talking about? He sounds like a cool guy. Is it me? Am I Craig?"
Upon the player's death, an Unggoy may taunt them: "Who's Craig, now?"
Craig was mentioned in the description of the Flash Fjord Armor coatings (Halo Infinite)|armor and Vehicle customization|vehicle coatings. With the "Craig Cover Band" stance unlocked from Cyber Showdown II's event pass, the Spartan poses with a Sicatt Workshop shock rifle|shock rifle by holding it like a guitar as a reference to Craig and the Tower easter egg. Craig also appears in the Armor Hall menu.
Gallery
File:CraigShirts.jpg|Two people wearing official Craig-themed T-shirts. File:CraigLogo.png|The logo of Craig's band, consisting of stylized versions of the word "Craig" surrounding a Jiralhanae hand making the Wikipedia:Sign of the horns|"rock on" hand sign. File:HINF - Stance icon - Craig Cover Band.png|"Craig Cover Band" Stance, named after Craig. File:HINF - Craig Armor Hall.png|Craig in ''Halo Infinite'''s Armor Hall menu.
Sources
Category:Halo Infinite Easter eggs
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