Editing Covenant

{{Era|Covenant|Human|UNSC|HCW|Post}}
{{Title|The Covenant}}
{{Center|For more articles of the same name, see [[Covenant (disambiguation)]].}}
{{Affiliation infobox
|name=The Covenant
|anthem= 
|image=[[File:Halo1 - Covenant Symbol.png|300px]] 
|body-title= Type
|body= Theocratic [[Wikipedia:Cultural hegemony|cultural hegemony]]
|bodyfigure-title=Founding documents
|bodyfigure= [[Writ of Union]], [[Ratification Parley]]
|branch= [[High Council]], [[:Category:Covenant organizations|Ministerial bodies]]
|main= ''[[High Charity]]''
|language= Sangheili language serves as ''lingua franca''; [[Covenant languages|various languages]] spoken by different races.<ref>'''''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'''''</ref>
|script= [[Forerunner symbols|Forerunner glyphs]]
|religion= [[Covenant religion]]; Worship of the [[Forerunner]]s and their technology interpreted through the Prophets, achieving the "Great Journey"
|notable= 
|formed-title= Formation
|formed=
*Founded at the end of the Sangheili-San'Shyuum war
;Establishment
*[[852 BCE]]: First [[Ages of Reconciliation|Age of Reconciliation]]<ref name="Enyc1">'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''', ''page 30''</ref>
|dissolved-title=Fragmentation
|dissolved= [[2552]]: [[Great Schism]]
|affiliation= 
}}
{{quote|Creatures of the Covenant: the path is broad, and we shall walk it side by side!|The [[Prophet of Truth]]}}<ref>'''[[Halo 2]]''' ''level [[Gravemind (level)|Gravemind]]''</ref>

The '''Covenant''', also referred to as the '''Covenant Empire'''<ref name="xytan">'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 239''</ref> or '''Covenant Hegemony''',<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 338''</ref> was a religious hegemony of multiple alien species that controlled a large portion of the [[Orion Arm]] in the [[Milky Way|Milky Way Galaxy]]. Originally a mutual alliance between the [[San 'Shyuum]] and the [[Sangheili]], the Covenant expanded to include at least six other races united in the worship of the [[Forerunner]]s and the [[Halo Array]]. They waged a [[Human-Covenant War|genocidal campaign]] against [[human|humanity]] until they were defeated in [[2552#December|December of 2552]]. Despite being ostensibly the most powerful military force 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. While the Covenant's original leadership was lost either during the [[Flood]] infection of ''[[High Charity]]'' or during the [[Battle of Installation 00]], a prominent [[Covenant remnant|remnant faction]] which maintains many of the ideals of the Covenant's religion as well as many of its former subject species, continues to exist after the conclusion of the war.<ref name="h4guide">[http://www.halowaypoint.com/en-US/halo4guide ''Halo 4 Interactive Guide'']</ref><ref name="H3 Assem">'''[[Halo 3]]''', ''[[Assembly (level)|Assembly]] description''</ref>

==History==
{{Main|History of the Covenant}}
{{quote|The First Age: Ignorance and Fear.''<br>
::''The Second Age: Rivalry and Bloodshed.''
:::''The Third Age: Humility and Brotherhood.''
::::''The Fourth Age: Wonder and Understanding.''
:::::''The Fifth Age: Obedience and Freedom.''
::::::''The Sixth Age: Faith and Patience.''
:::::::''The Seventh Age: Journey and Salvation.''|Maccabeus and the Jiralhanae of the ''Rapid Conversion''.<ref>'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''' ''page 196-197''</ref>}}
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 one hour of time on Earth.<ref name="enyc31">'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''' '' page 31''</ref>

===Foundation===
In [[938 BCE]],<ref name="Enyc1"/> the San'Shyuum [[Reformists]] entered a Sangheili-occupied system that lead to first contact between the San'Shyuum and the Sangheili. The San'Shyuum, who came to Sanghelios in order to claim and study the rich abundance of Forerunner artifacts left behind,<ref name="Enyc114">'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''' ''page 114''</ref> 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.<ref name="harv146">'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''' ''page 146''</ref> The highly-militarized Sangheili attacked the San 'Shyuum almost as soon as their differences became apparent,<ref name="contact">'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''' ''page 147''</ref> and a war between the two species raged for eighty six years.<ref name="Enyc1"/>

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.<ref name="contact"/>

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.<ref name="contact"/> The long and brutal war caused the Sangheili to violate their religious beliefs, studying and incorporating Forerunner technology in order to avoid defeat<ref name="contact"/> — This incorporation of Forerunner technology eventually caused a stalemate in the war against the San'Shyuum,<ref name="contact"/> however their Dreadnought remained unstoppable. Faced with this bitter reality, the Sangheili surrendered.<ref name="Enyc114"/>

With a proud tradition as warriors, the Sangheili held great respect for a worthy adversary, and after their surrender the San'Shyuum sought to seek a burgeoning Covenant of the two races. The alliance or "Covenant," between the two species was formed in 852 BCE with the signing of the [[Writ of Union]], a treaty that ended the conflict and brought about peace between the two factions.<ref name="Enyc1"/>

===Contact and Conversion=== 
The conclusion of the conflict marked the First Age of Reconciliation, followed by the First Age of Conversion. This period was exemplified by the Covenant's expansion throughout the galaxy. In this age, the Lekgolo were encountered by the Covenant, and following a military conflict with the Sangheili and San'Shyuum, the species was indoctrinated into the hegemony. Throughout the ages that followed, new races were incorporated into the Covenant, including the [[Unggoy]], [[Kig-Yar]], [[Yanme'e]] and [[Jiralhanae]]. In between the ages of Conversion the Ages of Doubt, members of the Covenant grappled with internecine conflict.<ref name="enyc31"/>

===War with humanity===
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 Covenant - Truth, Mercy and Regret - had 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. 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. 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.<ref>'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''' ''page 143''</ref> 

The Covenant began a genocidal campaign against humanity, seeking out their worlds one by one and wiping them clean of all life. The United Nations Space Command was able to do little to halt the Covenant's advance, with a single Covenant ship often being a match for an entire UNSC [[battle group]]. However, the UNSC did manage to prevent the Covenant from locating the human homeworld, Earth, and other important [[Inner Colonies]] for over thirty years through the execution of the [[United Nations Space Command Emergency Priority Order 098831A-1|Cole Protocol]].

After decades of struggle, a select few Sangheili within the Covenant began to question why humanity was not offered a chance to join the Covenant as other defeated races had. Despite their losses, humanity proved a determined and brave enemy. While these idle heresies did not halt the Covenant's military progress, doubt began to surface as to the wisdom of the Prophet's ultimate goals; a doubt that was carefully observed by the spies of the Hierarchs. 

After the UNSC stronghold [[Reach]] [[Fall of 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. The Covenant's celebration following the discovery of this prized relic was short-lived, however. After landing on the ring, Covenant soldiers accidentally released the dormant [[Flood]], and a small group of UNSC forces - among 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]]. [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee, the [[Supreme Commander]] of the fleet present at Halo, was branded a heretic for his failure to save the ring, although he was subsequently appointed an Arbiter.

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 [[Africa]]n 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]]. 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. 

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 Sangheilis' 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.

===Great Schism===
[[File:War.jpg|thumb|250px|Covenant loyalist and separatist ships engage each other around High Charity at the onset of the Great Schism.]]
{{Main|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 commit genocide on the Sangheili. The [[Sangheili Councilor]]s, 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 Elites revolted, enlisting the help of some of the Mgalekgolo and Unggoy. While Truth had orchestrated to remove the Sangheili from power with the more easily manipulated Brutes, the Prophet underestimated the speed with which his former protectors would recover from this initial attack. 

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 city and its millions of inhabitants were completely overrun by the infestation, becoming a massive [[Flood hive]]. This loss came at the worst possible moment in the Covenant's campaign against humanity. Despite [[Battle of Onyx|initial conflicts]] over the Forerunner world of [[Onyx]], the [[Covenant separatists|Sangheili separatists]] would ultimately unite with the remnants of the UNSC. This united force was directed at the main body of Covenant loyalist forces in orbit and on the surface of Earth.

Truth successfully escaped in the [[Forerunner Dreadnought]] that used to provide power to the entire 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.

===Final push===
[[File:TruthDeath-large.jpg|thumb|250px|The Arbiter executes the Prophet of Truth, bringing an end to the Covenant.]]
{{Main|Battle of Voi|Battle of Installation 00}}
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]] 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. 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. 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.

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. 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.
{{Clear}}
===Post-dissolution===
With the Prophet of Truth killed, and most of the loyalists' known fleet destroyed by the Sangheili fleet above the Ark, the Covenant as an entity was all but destroyed. Following Truth's death at the hands of the Arbiter, the remaining San'Shyuum, their population reduced to near extinction,<ref>'''[[Bestiarum]]''' ''San'Shyuum section''</ref> went into hiding and have not been sighted by the Sangheili since.<ref name="return">'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe|Halo: Evolutions]]''' '''[[The Return]]''' ''page 506''</ref> The rest of the former member races scattered. The Sangheili, lacking centralized leadership, began to fight amongst their own ranks over the particulars of their faith, some forming their own splinter factions.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 20''</ref> Most of the Jiralhanae continued to oppose the Sangheili until at least [[2559]],<ref name="return"/> although some Jiralhanae chose to serve under their former masters.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 136''</ref> Many Kig-Yar returned to their ancient ways as raiders and traders,<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 247''</ref> and most Huragok were thought to have fled, though no one knew where.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 256''</ref>

===Resurgence===
{{Main|Covenant remnant}}
In the wake of the dissolution of the Covenant, many former members of the hegemony continued to adhere to the core tenets of their former religion, namely the worship of the Forerunners as gods. A prominent figure in this faction is Sangheili [[Jul 'Mdama]], who seeks revenge on the humans who supported the Arbiter during the [[Sangheili civil war]] - an event during which his wife [[Raia]] was killed. In [[2553]], 'Mdama, along with several other Sangheili from a planet called [[Hesduros]], planned to go to the [[shield world]] [[Requiem]] and wake the "living god" known as the [[Didact]] to assist them in killing all humanity.<ref name="Thursday War">'''[[Halo: The Thursday War]]'''</ref> The newly-formed remnant faction discovered Requiem shortly afterward and managed to gain access to the world in [[2557|July 2557]]. Defying the tenuous peace between humanity and the majority of the Sangheili, these Covenant engaged the UNSC personnel who were stranded on Requiem. Six months later, the Covenant still maintained a presence on the installation.<ref>[http://venturebeat.com/2012/06/10/interview-frank-oconnor-on-why-343-industries-changed-halo/ '''VentureBeat''': ''Interview: Frank O’Connor on why 343 Industries changed Halo'']</ref>

==Government==
For the majority of its existence, the two ruling classes of the Covenant were the San'Shyuum and the Sangheili, though the San'Shyuum held greater sway over the Covenant due to their status as "the voice of the gods".<ref name="Enyc112"/> 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 200 members of Sangheili and San'Shyuum,<ref>'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''' ''page 345''</ref><ref name="Harvest">'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''' ''page 271''</ref> 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.<ref name="enyc119">'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''' ''page 119''</ref><ref name="Harvest"/> 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]].<ref name="enyc119"/><ref>'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''' ''page 274''</ref>

The High Council consisted of San'Shyuum Councilors and Sangheili Councilors, who are 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 [[Council of Concordance]], the [[Council of Deed and Doctrine]] and the [[Council of Masters]]. Below that numerous Ministries exist within the Covenant government, each of which dictates a single, but important role within the Governmental body of the Covenant.

In truth, however, the San'Shyuum and Sangheili had an uneasy coexistence, and political infighting was very common behind the scenes. This became an all-out war during the Great Schism.
{{Covenant Government}}

==Religion and culture==
{{Main|Covenant religion}}
Covenant society had a distinct caste-based societal system which has a strong theocratic underpinning.<ref name="Enyc112">'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''' ''page 112''</ref><ref name="BungieCovy">[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=697 '''Bungie.net''': ''Covenant Primer: The Best of the Bestiary'']</ref> 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 Dreadnaught, thanks to the Forerunners' robust translation systems. However, even then they were unable to fully comprehend the subtle meanings of many Forerunner glyphs.<ref name="Enyc112"/> 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.<ref name="Enyc112"/> 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,<ref name="flood">'''[[Halo: The Flood]]''' ''page 95''</ref> although many conflicts in the Covenant's past have been sparked by vendettas.<ref>'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''' ''page 150''</ref>

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<ref name="harv146"/> 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.<ref name="regret">[[Media:Humans hunted.ogg|''Halo 2'' dialogue]], [[Prophet of Regret]]</ref> 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,<ref>'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''' ''page 51''</ref> so long as they pledged allegiance to the San'Shyuum as their supreme leaders and the Great Journey as their religion.<ref>'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''' ''page 50''</ref> Client races were in all essence 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.

==Military==
{{Main|Covenant military}}
Like other civilizations, the Covenant maintained a permanent armed forces branch, which it used to enforce order, conduct atmospheric and space combat operations, and generally carry out the Covenant's will throughout space. The Covenant military was originally led by the Sangheili, who were replaced by the Jiralhanae during the Great Schism. The military was heavily naval-oriented, with the [[Covenant fleet|fleets]] of the [[Covenant Navy]], ranging from small [[battle group]]s to entire armadas, practically serving as the basic unit of organization. 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]]. Most of the military fell under the authority of the [[Ministry of Resolution]].

Most of the Covenant arsenal consists of [[plasma weaponry|plasma-based]] [[directed energy weapon]]s, but the Covenant are known to also utilize pulse [[laser]]s, [[particle beam weapon]]s, [[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 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.<ref>'''[[Halo: Reach]]''', ''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'' [[:File:Journal Needler.png]]</ref>

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 up and discharge excess heat and plasma when they overheat, although they render weapons 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 Covenant are also known to employ projectile weapons, the most common of these being unconventional crystal-based weapons, such as the [[Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher|Needler]] or the [[Type-31 Rifle|Needle Rifle]]. These weapons appear to use some type of chemical that forms a hard, razor-sharp crystal on contact with the atmosphere.<ref>'''[[Halo: Reach]]''' ''Type-31 "Needle" Rifle''</ref> These crystals can be used in one of two ways. Certain medium to long-range weapons fire them 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 limited to widespread use. Utilizing crude projectile-like metal spikes in place of plasma, explosive grenade-like launchers, and sharp blades, they are more primitive, yet brutal-fitting, considering the nature of their creators.

The Covenant were also known to employ melee weapons in addition to their already fearsome arsenal. The most well-known is the [[Type-1 Energy Weapon/Sword|Energy Sword]], used solely by the [[Sangheili]]. Creating a double blade of superheated plasma, it has both ceremonial and martial value to the Sangheili warriors, and its possession is closely monitored. Another is the [[Type-2 Energy Weapon/Hammer|Gravity Hammer]], used by Jiralhanae, which seems to be the cultural equivalent to the sword, However, rather than using a blade of plasma, it can generate a gravitational field, doing devastating damage, even knocking vehicles over.

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 [[United Nations Space Command|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 [[Type-47 Ultra Heavy Assault Platform|Scarabs]] and [[Locust]]s. 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.

==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.<ref>'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''' ''page 14''</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="border:1; padding:1; background:#F0F8FF;" width="auto" valign="top"
|-
| valign="top" |[[File:Halo Reach Sangheili.png|140px|right|link=Sangheili]]
===Sangheili (pre-Great Schism)===
{{main|Sangheili}} 
The Sangheili 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.<ref>'''Sybex Halo PC Guide''' ''page 48''</ref> Sangheili are separated into ranks based on skill and experience. To advance in rank, Sangheili must honorably earn such advancements on the battlefield.<ref>'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''' ''page 126''</ref>
| valign="top" |[[File:H2 - Regret.png|140px|right|link=San 'Shyuum]]
===San 'Shyuum===
{{main|San 'Shyuum}}
The highest caste in the Covenant Empire, the San 'Shyuum 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.
|-
| valign="top" |[[File:HReach - Minor Jiralhanae.png|140px|right|link=Jiralhanae]]
===Jiralhanae===
{{main|Jiralhanae}}
The Jiralhanae 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.
| valign="top" |[[File:HReach - Mgalekgolo.png|140px|right|link=Mgalekgolo]]
===Lekgolo/Mgalekgolo===
{{main|Lekgolo|Mgalekgolo}}
The Lekgolo are a race of worm-like creatures that can combine to form large, intelligent assemblages called Mgalekgolo. 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.
|-
| valign="top" |[[File:HReach - Unggoy.png|140px|right|link=Unggoy]]
===Unggoy===
{{main|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.
| valign="top" |[[File:HaloReach - Jackal.png|140px|right|link=Kig-Yar]]
===Kig-Yar===
{{main|Kig-Yar|Skirmisher}}
The Kig-Yar, or Jackals or Skirmishers as they are known by humans,<ref name="flood"/> 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.
|-
| valign="top" |[[File:HaloReach - Drone.png|140px|right|link=Yanme'e]]
===Yanme'e===
{{main|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. They became the second Covenant species with the ability to fly.
| valign="top" |[[File:Engineer renderized.png|140px|right|link=Huragok]]
===Huragok===
{{main|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.<ref>'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', ''page 55''</ref> The Huragok performed the physical labor of excavating and gathering data on Forerunner artifacts. In military terms, they were generally a non-militant race. However, at times in the [[Human-Covenant War]], they were placed on the battlefield either as repair workers or suicide bombers. Many of the Huragok joined the Sangheili during the Great Schism.
|}

===Creatures inhabiting Covenant worlds===
*"[[Scrub Grub]]s" are small creatures the equivalent of the rats found on [[Earth]]. They were first mentioned in ''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]'', while inhabiting a Jackal ship.
*"[[Zap-Jelly|Zap-Jellies]]" are sea creatures that live on the Grunt homeworld, [[Balaho]]. They are possibly the equivalent to large jellyfish on Earth.
*"[[Thorn Beast]]s" are a food source for the Covenant, though only observed being eaten by Brutes. The only reference to the Thorn Beasts is in ''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]'', when the Brutes are first mentioned, and in [[Halo Wars]], in at least one of the timeline periods. They were also included in the original Halo game being developed for Mac.
*"[[Mud Wasp]]s" are insects found on the Grunt home world of Balaho.
*"[[Shade Crab]]s" are crustaceans found on the Grunt home world of Balaho.
*"[[Helioskrill]]s" are predators found on Sanghelios that imitate rocks to catch their prey.
*"[[Doarmir]]s" are furry animals found on Sanghelios, their pelts were used by early seafaring Sangheili as cloaks, the tradition is continued by modern Sangheili Shipmasters.

== Technology ==
Covenant technology has been often referred to as more imitative rather than innovative,<ref name="copyme">'''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''</ref><ref name="copymetwo">'''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 exaggeration, propaganda to bolster human morale."'')</ref> 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 navigation, near-instantaneous interstellar communication and man-portable application of energy manipulation.<ref name="techtier">'''[[Bestiarum]]''': ''[[Technological Achievement Tiers]]''</ref>

Although innovation is not one of the Covenant's strong suit, 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 its language from salvaging human computer and network components from destroyed human ships.<ref name="copyme"/> This knowledge benefited the Covenant greatly in understanding the human's military operation, to the extent that the UNSC enacted the [[Cole Protocol]] to deter the Covenant from finding human 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 [[Covenant spire|teleportation spires]] to deploy its forces without having to face directly with the planet's orbital defences.<ref name="Reachgame">'''[[Halo: Reach]]''''</ref>

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 faster than light. However, the Covenant equivalent of the Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine is far more efficient and reliable. Covenant vessels do not suffer the "temporal fluidity" of the slipstream to such a degree as human vessels. 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.<ref name="enyc224"/>

Covenant starships use [[repulsor engine]]s for propulsion in space, rather than traditional reaction drives.<ref>'''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''', ''page 331''</ref> 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.<ref name="enyc224"/> 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.

In Covenant culture, there are religious taboos that prevent them from fully exploring what the Forerunners employed to create that technology.<ref name="enyc224">'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''' ''page 224''</ref> For example, the Covenant 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 an [[Ascendant Justice's AI|an AI]] that was stationed aboard the ''[[Ascendant Justice]]'' and destroyed by [[Cortana]],<ref>'''[[Halo: First Strike]]''' ''''page 170''</ref> [[Truth and Reconciliation's AI|one]] based on the ''[[Truth and Reconciliation]]'', as well as [[Seeker|The Seeker]], sent to infiltrate UNSC systems and alert the Covenant to the location of Earth. Cortana's copy also referenced several AI's being present in the ''[[Unyielding Hierophant]]'' system when the Spartans infiltrated the base.<ref>'''[[Halo: First Strike]]''' ''page 320''</ref>

Covenant architecture is known for its curved, organic and sophisticated looking style, likely for the aesthetic tastes of the higher-ranked castes. Constructed of distinctive purple or white metal, these colors are the main focus of Covenant design and distributed throughout their starships, vehicles, and weapons. The metal they use is unknown to the UNSC but is very strong and resilient.


==Known Covenant worlds==
{{col-begin}}
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'''[[51 Pegasi system|51 Pegasi System]]'''
*[[Pegasi Delta]]

'''[[K7-49]]'''

'''[[Salia system|Salia System]]'''
*[[Joyous Exultation]]
*[[Malhiem]] (Satellite)

'''[[Urs]] System (with stars [[Fied]] and [[Joori]] as secondary stars)'''
*[[Sanghelios]] ([[Sangheili]] Homeworld)
**[[Yermo]] (Continent)
***[[Iruiru]]
*[[Qikost]] (Satellite)
*[[Suban]] (Satellite)

'''[[Tala]] System'''
*[[Balaho]] ([[Unggoy]] homeworld)
**[[Buwan]] (Satellite)
**[[Padpad]] (Satellite)
{{col-2}}
'''[[Oth Sonin]] System'''
*[[Doisac]] ([[Jiralhanae]] homeworld)
**[[Warial]] (Satellite)
**[[Solrapt]] (Satellite)
**[[Teash]] (Satellite)

'''[[Svir]] System'''
*[[Te]] ([[Mgalekgolo]] homeworld)
**[[Rantu]]
**[[Uhtua]]
**23 smaller satellites

'''[[Napret]] System'''
*[[Palamok]] ([[Yanme'e]] homeworld)
**[[Naxook]] (Satellite)
**[[Oquiu]] (Satellite)
**[[Ka'amoti]] (Satellite)
**[[Kami]] (Satellite)

'''[[Y'Deio]] System (HD 69830)'''
*[[Chu'ot]]
**[[Eayn]] (Satellite) ([[Kig-Yar]] homeworld)

'''[[Decided Heart]]'''- Sangheili base planet

'''[[Weeping Shadows of Sorrow]]'''- Covenant penitentiary world

'''[[Heian]]''' - A world with a significant logistics base.

'''[[Janjur Qom]]''' ([[San 'Shyuum]] homeworld)
{{col-end}}

==Trivia==
*[http://myth.bungie.org/legends/encyclopedia/where.html#covenant Covenant] 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."''<ref>'''Halo 3''' ''Legendary Edition'' special features disk</ref>
*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.
*The Covenant were named #26 on IGN's Top 100 Video Game Villains list.<ref>[http://au.ign.com/videogame-villains/26.html '''IGN''': ''Covenant is number 26'']</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Covenant Symbol-HaloWars.png|The identifying symbol or emblem of the Covenant faction, as seen in ''Halo Wars''. Note this is not the official, dominant emblem for the Covenant.
</gallery> 

==List of appearances==
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-3}}
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''
*''[[Halo 2]]''
*''[[Halo 3]]''
*''[[Halo Wars]]''
*''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''
*''[[Halo: Reach]]''
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: The Flood]]''
*''[[Halo: First Strike]]''
*''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]
*''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''
*''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''
*''[[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 (short story)|Palace Hotel]]''
**''[[Human Weakness]]''
**''[[The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole]]''
**''[[The Return]]''

{{Col-3}}
*''[[Halo Graphic Novel]]''
*''[[Halo: Uprising]]''
*''[[Halo: Helljumper]]''
*''[[Halo: Blood Line]]''
*''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]]''
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
**''[[Origins]]''
**''[[The Duel]]''
**''[[Homecoming]]''
**''[[Odd One Out]]'' {{C|Non-canon appearance}}
**''[[Prototype]]''
**''[[The Babysitter]]''
**''[[The Package]]''
*''[[Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn]]''
{{Col-end}}

==Sources==
{{Reflist|2}}

===External===
*[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=697 A Covenant Primer: The Best of the Bestiary]

{{Major Factions}}
[[Category:The Covenant| ]]
[[Category:Factions]]