Editing Covenant military

{{Status|Canon}}

|formed=[[852 BCE]]-[[2552#December|Dec 11, 2552]]<ref name="Ency1">'''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]''', ''page 30''</ref><ref>''[[Halo 3]]'' - ''[[Halo (Halo 3 level)|Epilogue]]'' - ''"But you did it. Truth and the Covenant. The Flood. It's Finished.", [[Cortana]]''</ref>

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]].{{Ref/Book|Id=fb|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]].<ref name="wp cov">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/factions/covenant '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Covenant'']</ref> The Covenant military fell alongside its empire at the [[Battle of the Citadel]].

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.{{Ref/Reuse|wp cov}} 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]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Broken Circle]]''', ''pages 178-181'' (Google Play edition)</ref> 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.<ref>'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', ''page 151''</ref>

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,{{Ref/Reuse|fb}} each competing with one another in bloody internal wars for prestige and promotion of their orthodoxy.<ref name="executioners">'''[[Halo: Warfleet – An Illustrated Guide to the Spacecraft of Halo|Halo: Warfleet]]''', ''p.60-61''</ref> The power of these ministries waxed and waned over the years, though only three of any significance to humanity during the war.{{Ref/Reuse|fb}}

Politically, most of the military fell under the jurisdiction of the [[Ministry of Resolution]],.<ref name="evg1">'''Halo: The Essential Visual Guide''', ''pages 10, 11, 175''</ref> 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.{{Ref/Reuse|fb}}

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.<ref>'''Halo: The Essential Visual Guide''', ''page 60''</ref> 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.{{Ref/Reuse|fb}}

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.{{Ref/Reuse|fb}} The [[Ministry of Preservation]] had some oversight in the military, as the ministry was tasked with quelling internal rebellions and uprisings.<ref>'''Halo: The Essential Visual Guide''', ''page 10''</ref> The [[Ministry of Abnegation]] likely had some authority in the military, as the ministry absorbed the [[Ascetics]]' guard.<ref>'''Halo: The Essential Visual Guide''', ''page 56''</ref> Like the rest of the Covenant, the Covenant military was under the ultimate jurisdiction of the [[High Council]],<ref name="theflood">'''[[Halo: The Flood]]''', ''page ??''</ref> formerly composed of [[Sangheili High Councilor]]s who oversaw the operation of the military.  

[[File:HW X06Covenant.jpg|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 group]]s to entire armadas serving as the basic unit of organization. These fleets appeared to be under the direct authority of a given ministry,{{Ref/Reuse|evg1}} 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 General]]s, could command ground operations as well as starships,<ref>'''Halo: Reach''', campaign level ''[[Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace]]''</ref> while Sangheili pilots would often see their [[starfighter]]s as tools to acclaim enough personal glory to be permitted to join those chosen warriors on the ground.<ref name="strikecraft">'''Halo: Warfleet''', ''p.58-59''</ref> Individual fleets operated a number of task-based groups, including the ground-oriented Occupational Forces<ref name="evg57">'''Halo: The Essential Visual Guide''', ''page 57''</ref> and the [[Special Warfare Group]], which contained the [[Special Operations|Special Operations Division]].{{Ref/Reuse|evg1}}

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 {{Pattern|Sinaris|heavy destroyer}} - 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.{{Ref/Reuse|executioners}}

Despite the power of the Covenant ministries, extraordinarily powerful warships such as the {{Pattern|Varric|heavy cruiser}} 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.{{Ref/Reuse|examiners}}

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.<ref name="attackships">'''Halo: Warfleet''', ''p. 72-73''</ref> Attack ships like the {{Pattern|Zanar|light cruiser}} would often be assigned to escort duties for executors,{{Ref/Reuse|executioners}} examiners,<ref name="examiners">'''Halo: Warfleet''', ''p. 64-65''</ref> and convoys of pilgrims passing to and from High Charity,{{Ref/Reuse|attackships}} though would complete their mission without fervor and could not be counted upon for more than the most basic tasks.{{Ref/Reuse|executioners}} However, these crews would make almost any sacrifice necessary to serve on the crew of the main ship when escorting "Examiner"-type vessels.{{Ref/Reuse|examiners}} As such, these vessels were typically staffed by Jirlahanae and Kig-Yar, who were less concerned with the acquisition of honour and glory.{{Ref/Reuse|attackships}} Attack ships would also serve in roles analagous to a UEG police cutter, patrolling systems to conduct inspections and enforce travel laws.{{Ref/Reuse|attackships}} 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.<ref name="ardent">'''Halo: Warfleet''', ''p. 76-77''</ref> Smaller deployment craft such as the [[Lich]] would also be utilised in civilian and security roles alongside their military applications.<ref name="vestiges">'''Halo: Warfleet''', ''p. 78-79''</ref>

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 [[pack]]s traditional of their society. Large numbers of these units comprised [[legion]]s, 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.{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22p239|Enc22|Page=239}} A subset of legions led by young warriors were called warrior crèches and carried within fleets as well.{{Ref/Novel|GoO|Chapter=38}}

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,{{Ref/Reuse|attackships}} while the Sangheili maintained the bulk of the Covenant's fleet.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''pages 195, 199''</ref> When the Jiralhanae were made the Covenant's main military caste, their indigenous weaponry and vehicles—equally brutal in design and function—became a staple on the battlefield alongside the Covenant's more refined technologies.{{Ref/Reuse|h3}}

****Occupational Forces — land-based troop contingents{{Ref/Reuse|evg57}}

|[[Deutoros-pattern Scarab|Scarab]]

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[[Imperial Admiral]] {{c|highest rank}}

[[File:DeliverHope - CCSHangar.png|300px|thumb|[[Phantom]]s, [[Banshee]]s, and infantry gathered in the [[hangar bay]] of a {{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}}.]]

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 needler]]s 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 {{Pattern|Okarda'phaa|plasma rifle}} 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. {{Pattern|Nakata'vho|plasma repeater}}s were also used by many Sangheili, as well as Jiralhanae shock troops. [[Mgalekgolo]] troops used [[assault cannon]]s built directly into their armor.  

Marksmen within the Covenant military were most often issued {{Pattern|Vostu|carbine}}s, although {{Pattern|Gadulo|needle rifle}}s also saw some use. Higher ranking Sangheili in the military were often equipped with explosive weaponry such as {{Pattern|Elo'Nakada|concussion rifle}}s and {{Pattern|Kopasa'mada|plasma launcher}}s. The {{Pattern|Pez'tk|fuel rod gun}} was employed as an anti-armor weapon, although it also saw use against infantry. Covenant snipers were normally equipped with {{Pattern|Zubo|beam rifle}}s and later, {{Pattern|Sulok|beam rifle}}s. Many opted to use {{Pattern|M'tara|focus rifle}}s for ranged suppression. The standard grenade of the Covenant military was the {{Pattern|Anskum|plasma grenade}}.

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 hammer]]s 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 {{Pattern|Shepsu|plasma cannon}} was used for suppression fire for much of the [[Human-Covenant War]], before being phased out in favor of the {{Pattern|Pek|plasma cannon}} which performed in much the same way. The [[Shade]] stationary guns were used for static defence and heavy suppression. The {{Pattern|Rizsheda|Shade}} 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 Shot]]s. [[Type-52 Mauler]]s were often used by Jiralhanae [[Jiralhanae Stalker|stealth operatives]]. The Jiralhanae also fielded their own types of grenades - the [[Type-2 spike grenade]]s 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. {{Pattern|Karo'etba|Ghost}}s were used for reconnaissance and rapid attack roles. The {{Pattern|Zurdo|Wraith}} 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 {{Pattern|Ogab'd|anti-aircraft Wraith}} against hostile aircraft. The {{Pattern|Rizvum|Revenant}} was used as mobile artillery support for infantry, while the {{Pattern|Wuzum|Spectre}} was used more for mobile suppression fire and troop transportation. Infrequently used, the {{Pattern|Ruwaa|Shadow}} 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 {{Pattern|Shua'ee|Locust}} 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 {{Pattern|Deutoros|Scarab}}. The larger Protos model of the T-47 was used less frequently than the more combat-ready Deutoros model.

[[Type-26 Banshee]]s were used as standard ground support aircraft while {{Pattern|Dextro Xur|Spirit}}s, {{Pattern|Ru'swum|Phantom}}s and {{Pattern|Ru'swum|Phantom}}s were used as troop dropships. Rarely seen by human combatants, the {{Pattern|Kmiro'sish|Lich}} saw use as the heaviest of airborne deployment platforms. An anti-aircraft fighter, the {{Pattern|Bkowe'nei|Vampire}} was seldom used by the military.  

File:HR Draugr SiegeEngine Concept.jpg|''Halo: Reach'' concept art for the [[Zashk-pattern Draugr|Draugr]], a Covenant "siege engine".{{Ref/Twitter|Isaac_Hannaford|1375859860202430465|Isaac Hannaford|Quote=Covenant siege engine painted over a beautiful piece by Jamie Jones.|D=28|M=3|Y=2021}}