Covenant separatists: Difference between revisions

'''Covenant separatists''',<ref>Halo Encyclopedia, page 128</ref> colloquially referred to by their predominant species' epithet: '''the Elites''',<ref name="ONI lore" /><ref>[[Halo 3]], campaign level [[The Covenant (level)]] "The Elites will punch right down the middle."</ref> 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.<ref name="Elites">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/species/jiralhanae  Canon Fodder] - "The resulting conflict would be called the Great Schism, and it would divide the Covenant into two, ultimately forcing the Sangheili out."</ref> 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.

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]].<ref name="Elites"/><ref>[https://youtu.be/8K3hG76Ctmo?t=164 '''YouTube''': ''Halo 101: Long Road Home'']</ref>

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.<ref name="goo"/> 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.

With the exception of [[Hesduros]], which had been cut off from Covenant communications,<ref>[[Halo: The Thursday War]]</ref> the rest of the Sangheili received a video message displaying the Covenant's betrayal of their species.<ref>[[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."]]</ref> They witnessed Jiralhanae slaughtering their brethren, some considered it to be "the death of the Covenant".<ref>[[Halo: Evolutions]] [[The Return]] (Motion Comic) - "The death of the Covenant."</ref> Either during the massacres around [[High Charity]], or witnessing the massacre broadcasts, all Sangheili were ultimately forced out of the Covenant Empire.<ref name="Elites"/>