Editing Blooding Years

{{Era|Post}}

{{Cleanup}}

**[[Created conflict]]

|date=[[2553#March|March 2553]]<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 28''</ref>-present

|result=*'''Ongoing as of [[2558]]'''

**[[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=*'''[[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]]''' and allied keeps/worlds (Until [[2558#October|October 28, 2558]])<br>

**[[Hesduros]]

**[[Mdama|Mdama State]]

***[[Mdama keep]]<ref>[https://youtu.be/IxrO0oUa714?t=60 '''Halo 5: Guardians''', mission ''Alliance'']</ref>

|side2=*'''[[Servants of the Abiding Truth]]''' and allied [[keep]]s/worlds <br>

**[[Ontom]]

''supported by'' <br>

*[[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI]]  

|side3=*'''[[Swords of Sanghelios]]''' and allied keeps

**[[Vadam]]

**[[Chaura]]

**[[Acroli]] {{C|except for [[Nes'alun keep]]}}

*'''[[Unified Earth Government]]'''

**[[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]]

|commanders1=*[[Supreme Leader]] [[Jul 'Mdama]]†

*[[Vice Admiral]] [[Margaret Parangosky]]

*[[Captain]] [[Serin Osman]]

*[[Captain|CAPT]] [[Andrew Del Rio]]

|forces1=*Several dozen ships

*1 [[Type-55 Kraken|Kraken]]

*Numerous ground forces

|forces2=*9 Covenant ships

**''[[Unflinching Resolve]]''  

*Sangheili ground forces

**{{UNSCShip|Port Stanley}}

|forces3=*Numerous Sangheili ships

**Multiple [[Hekar Taa-pattern Blockade Runner|Blockade runners]]

**Multiple [[Man O' War]]s

**Several [[Carrack]]s

**At least one [[Type-56 Lich|Lich]]

*Sangheili ground forces

The '''Blooding Years''' is 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>

==Causes==

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>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 130''</ref>

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>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 20''</ref> [[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>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 66''</ref> 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>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 23''</ref>

[[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>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 441''</ref>

==The war==

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>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 114''</ref> 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>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 238''</ref> 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>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 302''</ref> 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.<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 330''</ref>

After the battle 'Vadam entered talks to board ''Infinity''.<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 405''</ref> 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>'''Halo: Mortal Dictata''', ''page 122''</ref>

However, the conflicts in Vadam led to other engagements throughout Sanghelios.{{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>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 209''</ref>

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 defend for themselves.<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 245''</ref> Elar and her clan were later killed which unsettled Phillips.<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 368''</ref>

Over the next few months, unrest on Sanghelios was put down though off and on fighting would continue for years and include a number of Sangheili worlds.{{Ref/Reuse|mythos144}}

At an unknown point of the Blooding Years, a rogue [[Covenant corvette]] crashed into the [[Tower of Ghalod'n]].<ref name="mythos144">''[[Halo Mythos]]'', p. 144</ref>

===Attack on Hesduros===

At some point in 2557, the [[Swords of Sanghelios]] launched an assault on Hesduros with the intent of killing 'Mdama and destroying his Covenant for good.{{Ref/Novel|Id=LoO5|LoO|Chapter=5}} 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/Reuse|LoO5}}

==='Telcam's assassination===

{{Quote|WORT.|Avu Med 'Telcam's final words.<ref name="tfs">'''[[Halo: Tales from Slipspace]]''', ''[[Knight Takes Bishop]]''</ref>}}

After fighting through Kig-Yar scouts, [[SPARTAN-G059]] assassinated [[Avu Med 'Telcam]] was on [[2558#January|January 21, 2558]] on New Llaneli in an abandoned [[city]].{{Ref/Reuse|tfs}}

{{Expand-section}}

==='Mdama's assassination===

{{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 name="Osiris">'''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''', campaign level ''[[Osiris (level)|Osiris]]''</ref>}}

===Global conflict on Sanghelios===

====='Vadam's failed assassination attempt=====

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>'''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''' campaign level ''[[Swords of Sanghelios (level)|Swords of Sanghelios]]''</ref>

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>'''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''' campaign level ''[[Alliance]]''</ref> As Osiris fought to reach the facility, the Swords of Sanghelios battled against the remaining Covenant forces in the area, including a [[Type-55 Kraken|Kraken walker]]. Osiris destroyed the Kraken, ending the battle with the Covenant forces in Nuusra and leaving [[Sunaion]] as their last stronghold.<ref>'''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''' campaign level ''[[Enemy Lines]]''</ref>

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

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

{{expand-section}}

{{clear}}

*''[[Halo Mythos]]''

*''[[Halo Fractures]]''