Editing Blooding Years

{{Status|Canon}}
{{Cleanup}}
{{Battle infobox
|prev=[[Human-Covenant War]]
|conc=*[[Post-Covenant War conflicts]]
**[[Sangheili-Jiralhanae war]]
**[[Created uprising]]
|next=
|name=Blooding Years
|image=[[File:HM-BloodingYears.jpg|350px]]
|conflict=[[Post-Covenant War conflicts]]
|date=[[2553#March|March 2553]]{{Ref/Novel|TTW|Page=28}}-present
|place=*[[Sanghelios]], [[Urs system]]
*[[Sangheili colonies]]
*[[Sarcophagus]]
|result=*'''Ongoing as of [[2558]]'''
**[[Jul 'Mdama]] and [[Avu Med 'Telcam]] are killed
**[[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]] is destroyed
**[[Servants of the Abiding Truth]] continue [[Second Onyx conflict|fighting]] the [[Swords of Sanghelios]] inside of the [[Sarcophagus]] [[shield world]]
|side1=*{{Icon|Mdama}} [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]] {{C|until [[2558#October|October 28, 2558]]}}<br>
**Worlds
***[[Hesduros]] {{C|formerly}}
***[[Sephune III]] {{C|unknown status}}
''Supported by'' <br>
*[[Mdama keep]]{{Ref/Reuse|alliance}}
|side2=*[[Servants of the Abiding Truth]]
**[[Ontom]]
**[[Curo keep]]
**[[Nuan keep]]
**[[Rtova keep]]
**Worlds
***[[New Llanelli]]
***[[Mackintosh]]
----
''Supported by'' <br>
*[[Bekan keep]] {{C|formerly}}
*{{Icon|ONI}} [[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI]] {{C|formerly}}
|side3=*{{Icon|SoS}} [[Swords of Sanghelios]]
**[[Vadam]]
**[[Chaura]]
**[[Hilot]]
**[[Acroli]] {{C|except for [[Nes'alun keep]]}}
**Worlds
***[[Sanghelios]]
***[[Onyx]]
*{{Icon|UEG}} [[Unified Earth Government|UEG]]
**{{Icon|UNSC Post}} [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]]
''Supported by'' <br>
*[[Om'a'Varo]]{{Ref/Novel|Out|Chapter=4}}
|commanders1=*[[Supreme Commander]] [[Jul 'Mdama]]†
*[[Sangheili General|General]] [[Kitun 'Arach]]†
|commanders2=*[[Field Master]] [[Avu Med 'Telcam]]†
*[[Dural 'Mdama]]
----
*[[Vice Admiral|VADM]] [[Margaret Parangosky]] {{C|formerly}}
*[[Captain|CAPT]] [[Serin Osman]] {{C|formerly}}
|commanders3=*[[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]]
*[[Shipmaster]] [[Rtas 'Vadum]]
*[[Fleet Admiral|FADM]] [[Terrence Hood]]
*[[Captain|CAPT]] [[Andrew Del Rio]]
*[[Captain|CAPT]] [[Thomas Lasky]]
*[[Spartan-IV|Spartan]] [[Jameson Locke]]
|forces1=*Several dozen ships
*1 [[Shuul'se-pattern Kraken|Kraken]]
*Numerous ground forces
|forces2=*9 Covenant ships
**''[[Unflinching Resolve]]'' 
*Sangheili ground forces
*ONI [[prowler]]
**{{UNSCShip|Port Stanley}} {{C|formerly}}
|forces3=*Numerous Sangheili ships
**Multiple [[Hekar Taa-pattern blockade runner|Blockade runners]]
**Multiple {{Pattern|R'sikosh|man o' war}}s
**Several {{Pattern|Rwaru|carrack}}s
**At least one [[Kmiro'sish-pattern Lich|Lich]]
*Sangheili ground forces
*1 {{Class|Infinity|supercarrier}}
**{{UNSCShip|Infinity}}
*1 [[Spartan-IV|Spartan]] fireteam (2558)
**[[Fireteam Osiris]]
|casual1=*Total
**[[Jul 'Mdama]]
|casual2=*Heavy
**[[Avu Med 'Telcam]]
|casual3=*Heavy
}}

The '''Blooding Years''' are a series of civil conflicts fought between the [[Swords of Sanghelios]] and various [[Covenant remnants|Sangheili factions]] since [[2553]].<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/locations/sanghelios '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Sanghelios'']</ref> The conflict has also been referred to as the '''Sangheili civil war'''.{{Ref/Reuse|mythos144}}

==Background==
In the aftermath of the [[Battle of the Citadel|collapse]] of the [[Covenant]], the [[Sangheili]] found themselves in political, military, and religious turmoil. Having long depended on the [[San'Shyuum]] for political leadership, the Sangheili found that they lacked any form of political organization beyond their traditional feudal states. While [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]] began the process of forming a new government to lead Sanghelios and its various [[Sangheili colonies|colonies]], many [[kaidon]]s began hoarding ships and weapons for their own agendas.{{Ref/Novel|Halo: Glasslands|Page=130}}

Additionally, while the Sangheili renounced the [[Hierarch|Prophet's]] deception, many did not wholly abandon worship of the [[Forerunner]]s. As a result of this, the [[Servants of the Abiding Truth]], an ancient order of monks, began preaching a return to the Sangheili's ancient ways of worshiping Forerunner artifacts. Consequently, they felt that Thel 'Vadam and those loyal to him were committing blasphemy by saying otherwise.{{Ref/Novel|Halo: Glasslands|Page=20}} [[Avu Med 'Telcam]], a former [[Field Master]], began recruiting dissident Sangheili into a force to rise up against the Arbiter's followers.

[[Margaret Parangosky|Admiral Margaret Parangosky]], of the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]], believed that keeping the Sangheili mired in internal dissent would leave them unable to threaten the weakened UNSC. This opinion contrasted with that of most of the [[Unified Earth Government]], which believed a peace treaty was desirable.{{Ref/Novel|Halo: Glasslands|Page=66}} ONI took advantage of the Sangheili's unstable political situation, attempting to keep the Sangheili splintered and disorganized by inciting the Servants of the Abiding Truth to rebel against 'Vadam. ONI's aid allowed the Servants of the Abiding Truth to amass enough weapons to begin an all-out insurrection against 'Vadam and his allies in early 2553.{{Ref/Novel|Halo: Glasslands|Page=23}}

[[Jul 'Mdama]], a former member of the Servants of the Abiding Truth, eventually formed his own [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|new Covenant]], with the Sangheili serving as its leadership caste after learning of ONI's alliance with the Servants of the Abiding Truth.{{Ref/Novel|TTW|Page=441}}

==Civil war==
===Opening of hostilities===
{{quote|The assault on Vadam must begin now.|Avu Med 'Telcam signaling the start of uprising}}
{{Main|Siege at Kolaar}}
Following the [[Voi Memorial|end]] of the [[Human-Covenant War]] in [[2553#March|March 2553]], an attempted [[Jiralhanae]] insurrection in [[Ontom]] led [[Avu Med 'Telcam]], leader of the Servants of the Abiding Truth, to the decision for an immediate assault on the state of [[Vadam]] against the newly formed [[Swords of Sanghelios]]. Along with nine ships and forces from [[Nuan keep]] and [[Rtova keep]], 'Telcam commanded the assault from the [[Covenant frigate|frigate]] ''[[Unflinching Resolve]]''.{{Ref/Novel|TTW|Page=114}} Eventually, however, the ''Unflinching Resolve'' suffered a direct hit and crash landed. Despite being caught off-guard it appeared as though the Arbiter would be victorious, however, news spread that he allowed humans to land on Sanghelios; this caused many keeps to ally with the Servants of Abiding Truth and the tide turned in their favor. The Arbiter was caught off guard and when his own reinforcements couldn't arrive on time, he reluctantly accepted [[Admiral]] [[Terrence Hood]]'s offer for help in fending off the attackers.{{Ref/Novel|TTW|Page=238}} The tide turned when the UNSC's new flagship, ''[[UNSC Infinity|Infinity]]'', arrived over Sanghelios and destroyed the rebel destroyer ''[[Defender of Faith]]'' before finishing off the rebel ground forces with a [[MAC]] round.{{Ref/Novel|TTW|Page=302}} The {{UNSCShip|Port Stanley}}, posed as a [[Kig-Yar]] pirate ship, destroyed a few of 'Vadam's ships in order to maintain the stalemate between the two factions, granting the Arbiter a pyrrhic victory, although he was able to destroy one of 'Telcam's four fleeing frigates as well.{{Ref/Novel|TTW|Page=330}}

After the battle 'Vadam entered talks to board ''Infinity''.{{Ref/Novel|TTW|Page=405}} The remnants of the Servants of the Abiding Truth escaped to [[New Llanelli]] to regroup. One month later 'Telcam said he would remain on New Llanelli until he convinced more keeps to join his cause or obtained enough ships to destroy those who refuse.{{Ref/Novel|MorDi|Page=122}}

The conflicts in Vadam led to other localized engagements across Sanghelios as well as a wave of revolts by [[Jiralhanae]] serfs.{{Ref/Reuse|mythos144}}

====Massacre at Nes'alun keep====
Unlike the majority of keeps in [[Acroli]], [[Nes'alun keep]] was against the Arbiter. While the keep's males left to fight Vadam's forces, the keep females and children were left behind. The elder of [[Lacalu keep]] took advantage of this and attempted to seize the keep and its land. The keep's lady, [[Elar 'Nas]], defended the other females and children in a small farmhouse for an unknown length of time. Soon the keep's [[Unggoy]] laborers [[Dengo]] and [[Gikak]] returned along with [[Evan Phillips]], who had been [[slipspace translocation|teleported]] to the nearby [[Forerunner]] ruins. Elar allowed Phillips to come inside, armed him, and prepared themselves for another wave of attackers.{{Ref/Novel|TTW|Page=209}}
 
Soon afterwards [[Kilo-Five]] arrived at the keep to retrieve Phillips. Their extraction was stalled when the ''[[Tart-Cart]]'', piloted by [[Lian Devereaux]], was attacked by several [[Type-26 Banshee]]s. After holding off more Lacalu warriors, [[Vasily Beloi]], [[Malcolm Geffen]], and [[Naomi-010]] extracted Phillips in the midst of battle, leaving the women and children to fend for themselves.{{Ref/Novel|TTW|Page=245}} Elar and her clan were later killed which unsettled Phillips.{{Ref/Novel|TTW|Page=368}}

===Other fighting===
Over the next few months, unrest on Sanghelios was put down, while a rogue [[Covenant corvette]] crashed into the [[Tower of Ghalod'n]] at some point during the civil war.{{Ref/Book|Id=mythos144|HM|Page=144}} The [[Iruiru]] war college would be destroyed in fighting sometime between 2553 and [[2555]].{{Ref/Novel|HitD|Chapter=5}}

Fighting would continue for years and include a number of Sangheili worlds{{Ref/Reuse|mythos144}} such as [[Malurok]],{{Ref/Book|Id=en22pg233|Enc22|Page=233}} [[Feldokra]], {{Ref/Novel|Out|Chapter=4}} and [[Khael'mothka]]. A group of keeps also began laying the foundations for colonial independence of [[Qikost]].{{Ref/Book|Id=enc22-230|Enc22|Page=230-231}} In the midst of the Blooding Years though, [[Suban]] would act as a safe harbor.{{Ref/Reuse|enc22-230}}

In [[2555]], in attempt to take revenge against the Arbiter for the death of his lover, [[Otar 'Bemet]] planned to raid a weapons manufacturer near [[Qish'tani]], [[Tolvuus]] with six other like minded individuals. These other individuals were killed or spared but divulged the plans to the Swords of Sanghelios. [[Usze 'Taham]] was then sent and succeeded in killing 'Bemet before he could enact anything.{{Ref/Novel|HitD|Chapter=3}}

By the time of the [[Battle of Requiem]], the Servants of the Abiding Truth had refused to join [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]] even after suffering great losses at the hands of the [[Swords of Sanghelios]]. 'Mdama himself was unaware that his son [[Dural 'Mdama]], now known only as the Pale Blade, had risen to become a leading member of the Servants, working directly under 'Telcam.<ref name="Mythos">'''[[Halo Mythos]]''', ''page 178''</ref>

Following the death of [[Gek 'Lhar]] during the [[Requiem Campaign]], his presence on Sanghelios collapsed while also being ravaged by the civil conflict taking place on [[Kaepra]], [[Sanghelios]].{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=257}}

At some point in late 2558, the [[Swords of Sanghelios]] launched an assault on Hesduros with the intent of killing 'Mdama and destroying his Covenant for good. The offensive devastated multiple redoubts, including Panom Keep, but Jul was able to escape. The defeat did force his faction to abandon Hesduros entirely, however. {{Ref/Novel|Id=LoO5|LoO|Chapter=5}}

[[File:G0593.png|250px|thumb|[[SPARTAN-G059]] assassinating 'Telcam.]]

===Assassination of Avu Med 'Telcam===
{{Quote|WORT.|Avu Med 'Telcam's final words.<ref name="tfs">'''[[Halo: Tales from Slipspace]]''', ''[[Knight Takes Bishop]]''</ref>}}
{{Main|Assassination of Avu Med 'Telcam}}
On [[2558#January|January 21, 2558]], [[SPARTAN-G059]] was sent by ONI to assassinate [[Avu Med 'Telcam]], the leader of the [[Servants of the Abiding Truth]], who had outlived his usefulness to them. Making her way through the Servants' forces in a ruined city, SPARTAN-G059 faced off against 'Telcam and killed his two subcommanders. Finally, she succeeded in overpowering 'Telcam and killed him with a [[M6 series|pistol]] shot to the head. However, her secondary target was not present at the time{{Ref/Reuse|tfs}} and as a result, [[Dural 'Mdama]] rose to power as the new leader of the Servants of the Abiding Truth.{{Ref/Reuse|LoO5}}

===Crisis at Rakoi===
{{Main|Carrow Conflict}}
In [[2558#September|September 2558]], conflict erupted on the former [[Outer Colony]] of [[Carrow]] where humans had resettled as well as Sangheili survivors of the [[Operation: SUNSPEAR|destroyed]] [[Sangheili colony]] of [[Glyke]]. [[Kaidon]] [[Thars 'Sarov]] rebelled against his cousin [[Fleetmaster]] [[Rojka 'Kasaan]] who had previously been the leader of the Sangheili forces on the planet. To make matters worse, Thars made a deal with the [[Jiralhanae Chieftain]] [[Hekabe]] to aid him against Rojka, unaware that Hekabe had his own sinister intentions for the planet. The resulting civil war devastated both Sangheili factions while Hekabe was able to uncover the [[Sharquoi]] hive hidden beneath the human city of [[Suraka]], intending to unleash the creatures upon the galaxy in order to consolidate his own power. With the help of [[Spartan-II]] [[Gray Team]] - the very team that had destroyed Glyke in the first place - Rojka and his few remaining forces managed to defeat Thars, but Thars refuses to listen to reason until it was too late, allowing Hekabe to take control of Thars' remaining ships. Rojka executed Thars for his actions and teamed up with Gray Team and the [[Surakan Militia Volunteers]] to stop Hekabe once and for all.

Following the destruction of Hekabe and the Sharquoi, Rojka returned to [[Rak]] where he discovered that [[Kaidon]] [[Akato 'Dakaj]] had taken control of the city in his and Thars' absence and presumably executed the kaidons who had supported Thars. With their entire fleet destroyed in the conflict and Rak heavily damaged, Akato sought closer relations with the Surakans rather than continuing hostilities with them and Rojka agreed to act as an envoy to help build peace between the two species inhabiting Carrow.{{Ref/Novel|Env}}

===End of Jul 'Mdama's Covenant===
{{Quote|Kill them!|Jul 'Mdama's final words as he orders his soldiers to attack [[Fireteam Osiris]], prior to being stabbed multiple times by Spartan [[Jameson Locke]].{{Ref/Level|Id=Osiris|H5G|[[Osiris (level)|Osiris]]}}}}
{{Main|Battle of Kamchatka}}
In [[2558#October|October 2558]], the increasing threat of the rogue AI [[Cortana]] caused Doctor [[Catherine Halsey]], who was working with [[Jul 'Mdama]], to secretly reveal his location on the remote [[Forerunner]] world of [[Kamchatka]] to the UNSC. As [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]] battled against his rebelling [[Promethean]] forces, [[Fireteam Osiris]] made their way to the location where 'Mdama and Halsey were attempting to access the Forerunner [[Domain]]. In the battle that followed, 'Mdama was killed by Spartan [[Jameson Locke]] with his [[combat knife]] after a brief fight between the two.{{Ref/Reuse|Osiris}}

====Global conflict on Sanghelios====
{{Main|Sanghelios global war}}

=====Failed assassination attempt on 'Vadam=====
On [[2558#October|October 27, 2558]], the remnants of [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]] [[Battle of Nuusra|attacked]] the [[Elder Council Chamber]] in [[Nuusra]] on Sanghelios in an attempt to kill [[Thel 'Vadam]]. At the same time, due to the need to find [[Blue Team]], [[Fireteam Osiris]] was sent to [[Sanghelios]] to enlist Thel's help to use the [[Forerunner]] [[Guardian]] on the planet to follow Blue Team. Arriving as the attack was underway, Osiris aided the [[Swords of Sanghelios]] in repelling the attack and rescued Thel.{{Ref/Level|H5G|[[Swords of Sanghelios (level)|Swords of Sanghelios]]}}

In order to access the Guardian, Doctor [[Catherine Halsey]] came up with a plan to retrieve a Forerunner [[Constructor]] from a support facility nearby.{{Ref/Level|Id=alliance|H5G|[[Alliance]]}} As Osiris fought to reach the facility, the Swords of Sanghelios battled against the remaining Covenant forces in the area, including a [[Shuul'se-pattern Kraken|Kraken walker]]. Osiris destroyed the Kraken, ending the battle with 'Mdama's Covenant forces in Nuusra and leaving [[Sunaion]] as their last stronghold.{{Ref/Level|H5G|[[Enemy Lines]]}}

=====Battle of Sunaion=====
[[File:HM-Battle of Sunaion.jpg|200px|thumb|Spartan Locke helping the Swords of Sanghelios kill the last of Jul 'Mdama's Covenant.]]

After Halsey succeeded in programming the [[Constructor]],{{Ref/Level|H5G|[[Before the Storm]]}} the [[Swords of Sanghelios]], aided by [[Fireteam Osiris]], launched [[Battle of Sunaion|an attack]] on [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]]'s final stronghold in the city of [[Sunaion]]. Osiris aided Thel's forces in clearing out the anti-air defenses so that Thel's ships could move in and fought their way through the city to reach the [[Guardian]] before it could launch. With the help of Halsey and [[Sarah Palmer]], Osiris succeeded in boarding the Guardian before it launched into [[slipspace]] though they had to face [[Promethean]]s and the [[Warden Eternal]] first.{{Ref/Level|Id=Sunaion|H5G|[[Battle of Sunaion (level)|Battle of Sunaion]]}} Having previously witnessed the launch of a Guardian,{{Ref/Level|H5G|[[Evacuation]]}} Locke warned Thel to move his ships back as the construct would release a series of concussive blasts before making the jump. As a result, 'Mdama's Covenant would take the brunt of the blasts instead which could be used by the Swords to their advantage. This tactic succeeded with much of 'Mdama's Covenant's ships knocked out by the final blast as the Guardian jumped to [[Genesis]].

With the Prometheans and Guardian gone and 'Mdama's forces devastated, Thel had his warriors hunt the survivors to the last, bringing a final end to Jul 'Mdama's Covenant.{{Ref/Reuse|Sunaion}}

===Second Onyx conflict===
{{Main|Second Onyx conflict}}
However, even though [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]] was destroyed, it was not the end of the Blooding Years. The [[Servants of the Abiding Truth]], now under the leadership of [[Dural 'Mdama]] following the [[Assassination of Avu Med 'Telcam|assassination]] of [[Avu Med 'Telcam]], traveled to Jul's former base of [[Hesduros]] and used the [[slipspace portal]] there to access the [[Sarcophagus]] [[shield world]] in an effort to take it from the UNSC and the Swords of Sanghelios who shared the world together and explored its secrets side-by-side. The Servants' invasion was complicated by the start of the [[The Reclamation]] and the rising of a [[Guardian]] on Sarcophagus. The shield world was returned to its [[slipspace bubble]] for protection and the [[Huragok]] [[Prone to Drift]] managed to destroy the Guardian.{{Ref/Novel|LoO}} However, despite all three factions suffering heavy casualties in the conflict, the Servants were far from defeated. Having learned of the death of his father and the destruction of Jul's Covenant, Dural announced to his people that only the Servants of the Abiding Truth stood between the Arbiter and utter victory over the Sangheili factions. Dural intended to rebuild his forces in a Forerunner warship docked on [[Mackintosh]] and take the shield world from the humans and the Swords of Sanghelios before using the technology that they recovered there to take the fight back to Sanghelios and take it back from the Arbiter.{{Ref/Novel|LoO|Chapter=Epilogue}}

===Created intervention===
{{Main|Created uprising}}
With the [[subjugation of Sanghelios]] in 2558, the planet was placed under a Created administrator. 'Vadam himself seemed to believe the Blooding Years were over by [[2559]].{{Ref/Novel|Out|Chapter=1}}{{Ref/Novel|Out|Chapter=2}} At least on Malurok, keeps had fallen into a form of detente while also under the Created.{{Ref/Reuse|en22pg233}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:H5G-SOSrally.png|Thel 'Vadam leading the Swords of Sanghelios.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: The Thursday War]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Mortal Dictata]]''
*''[[Halo: New Blood]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]''
*''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos: A Guide to the Story of Halo]]''
*''[[Halo: Fractures]]''
**''[[Lessons Learned]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Envoy]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Legacy of Onyx]]'' 
*''[[Halo: Bad Blood]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo Infinite]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Outcasts]]'' {{Mo}}

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

{{Post-Covenant War conflicts}}

[[Category:Wars]]
[[Category:History of the UNSC]]
[[Category:Swords of Sanghelios]]