Editing Covenant separatists

{{Status|Canon}}

{{disambig header|the collection of Sangheili-led groups during the Great Schism|the collection of new factions after the Covenant's destruction|Covenant remnants}}

{{Conjectural title}}

[[File:H3-Sangheili.jpg|300px|thumb|The Covenant separatists, all Sangheili (along with followers from other species) cast out from the Covenant during the Great Schism.]]

'''Covenant separatists''',{{Ref/Book|Enc09|Page=128}}{{Ref/Site|Id=BountyHunters|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/bounty-hunters|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Bounty Hunters|D=09|M=07|Y=2021|Detail=Seen in an older revision of the article preserved in [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhJLEt-Rxg8&t=134s this] video}} colloquially referred to by their predominant species' epithet: '''the Elites''',{{Ref/Level|H3|The Covenant (level)|The Covenant}} were the various forces composed of all [[Sangheili]] and their followers, who rebelled against the new [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] leadership during the [[Great Schism]]. When the Great Schism broke out on November 3, [[2552]], the entirety of the Sangheili species were forced out of the Covenant.{{Ref/Site|Id=Elites|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/species/jiralhanae|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Jiralhanae|D=30|M=07|Y=2021}}{{Ref/Book|Id=TEVG|EVG|Page=25}}{{Ref/Level|H2|The Great Journey}}{{Ref/Novel|GoO|Page=208}} The [[Prophet of Truth|High Prophet of Truth]] had ordered the reformed Covenant military, now led by the [[Jiralhanae]], to massacre the Sangheili. This caused a massive civil war to erupt across Covenant-controlled space.

Though only the Sangheili were forced out, many of their former allies sided with them instead of siding with the [[Hierarch|High Prophet]] and his Jiralhanae-led Covenant. Many [[Unggoy]], [[Mgalekgolo]] and even [[Zo Resken|one]] [[San'Shyuum]], joined the separatist effort.<ref>[[Halo: Broken Circle]]</ref>

All Sangheili-led groups were against the Covenant led by the High Prophet of Truth and the Jiralhanae, although only the [[Fleet of Retribution]] was known to extend their allegiance to the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]].{{Ref/Reuse|Elites}}{{Ref/Marketing|Id=LongRoad|Halo Waypoint|The Long Road Home}}

 

 

In response to the betrayal, the Sangheili started a rebellion composed of groups colloquially known as the ''Covenant separatists'', supported by both many [[Unggoy]] and [[Mgalekgolo]]. During the early hours of the conflict, the movement lacked centralized leadership, but several leaders would soon emerge. The [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]] rescued several of the few surviving [[Sangheili High Councilor]]s from Jiralhanae captivity and met up with [[Shipmaster]] [[Rtas 'Vadum]]ee on [[Installation 05]], forming the [[Fleet of Retribution]]. Concurrently, [[Imperial Admiral]] [[Xytan 'Jar Wattinree]] took command of a large fleet of surviving Sangheili ships, including most of the [[Combined Fleet of Righteous Purpose]].

An initial Sangheili-led [[Joyous Exultation Covenant|separatist group]] was formed by the Sangheili [[Imperial Admiral]] [[Xytan 'Jar Wattinree]] on the Sangheili fortress world [[Joyous Exultation]] shortly after the Prophets' betrayal on November 3, 2552. Wattinree's faction remained hostile to humanity as well, dispatching a task force to [[Onyx]] to prevent Forerunner technology from falling into human hands. However, this fledgling alliance came to an abrupt end with the detonation of a [[NOVA bomb]] above Joyous Exultation and the deaths of the majority of the Sangheili leaders gathered there, including Wattinree.{{Ref/Reuse|goo}} This left Thel 'Vadam and Rtas 'Vadum as the remaining figureheads of the rebellion. Though not easily persuaded, the Arbiter was able to convince the rest of the Sangheili to join with Humanity. While the two factions experienced some initial friction, they learned to work with one another for mutual survival.

[[File:H3 - Retribution - Ark.png|left|thumb|250px|The Fleet of Retribution, the bulk of the separatist war effort.]]

{{Quote|There was honor in our [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] once, and there shall be again!|[[Thel 'Vadam]]}}

The shaky-to-steady alliance between the ''Fleet of Retribution'' and their former foes, the [[Human]]s, was forged entirely out of necessity and revenge against the Covenant.<ref>'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[The Covenant (level)|The Covenant]]'' "I will have my revenge on a Prophet, not a plague!"</ref> The [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] forces were on the defensive, and both factions had two common enemies that wished for their extinction: the Covenant and the [[Flood]]. The alliance of circumstance began in the [[Control Room (Installation 05)|control room]] of [[Installation 05|Delta Halo]], when [[UNSC]] [[Sergeant Major]] [[Avery Johnson|A. J. Johnson]] and 'Vadam were forced to unite in order to prevent [[Tartarus]], [[Chieftain of the Jiralhanae]], from activating Installation 05. After that, 'Vadam persuaded the rest of the Sangheili on the Installation to join humanity. While the two factions experienced some friction, they learned to work with one another for their mutual survival. During the final days of the [[Human-Covenant War]], the Sangheili under 'Vadam and 'Vadum's command fought alongside humans in battle. Thus, the UNSC and Sangheili forces saved each other from destruction.<ref name="floodgate">'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[Floodgate]]''</ref><ref>'''Halo 3''', campaign level, ''[[The Ark (level)|The Ark]]''</ref><ref name="cove">'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[The Covenant (level)|The Covenant]]''</ref>  

After various separatist groups were victorious in destroying the Covenant that had betrayed them, many Sangheili split off to form and join [[Covenant remnants|several remnant factions]]. The Sangheili who were in the [[Fleet of Retribution]] would later form a faction known as the [[Swords of Sanghelios]], which would become the official government of Sanghelios and the new organization representing their species.

This Sangheili-led faction broke away from the Covenant prior to the [[Great Schism]] after learning that the Great Journey was a lie. [[Monitor]] [[Guilty Spark]] had informed [[Sesa 'Refumee]] the true purpose of the [[Halo Array]], resulting in 'Refumee ordering his forces to cut communications with the Covenant and break away.<ref>[[Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)]]</ref> The faction posed a threat to the Covenant's religious stability, and was destroyed by a [[Covenant Special Operations|Covenant Special Operations unit]] and [[Thel 'Vadam|the new Arbiter]]. After the Great Schism occurred, many of the later Sangheili remnant groups such the [[Combined Fleet of Righteous Purpose]] and the [[Fleet of Retribution]] would continue the legacy of Sesa 'Refumee's faction by destroying the Covenant with many abandoning its religion. One of the leaders in this effort was Thel 'Vadam, the Arbiter responsible for the destruction of the faction.<ref>[[Halo 2]]-[[The Great Journey]]-"There are things about Halo even the Hierarchs do not understand."</ref>

==Known groups==

The Fleet of Retribution led by Rtas 'Vadum and Thel 'Vadam joined forces with the UNSC. Together they destroyed the Covenant led by the High Prophet of Truth on the Ark and brought an end to the war.<ref>[[Halo 3]] - [[The Covenant (level)]]</ref>

=== Fleet of Recalcitrant Ire ===

 

 

=== Other Sangheili-led forces ===

With the exception of [[Hesduros]], which had been cut off from Covenant communications,<ref>[[Halo: The Thursday War]]</ref> the rest of the Sangheili received a video message displaying the Covenant's betrayal of their species.<ref>[[Halo: Evolutions]] [[The Return]] (Motion Comic) - "We were scouting for humans when the message came in. I could not comprehend what I was seeing. Our betrayal by the Prophets. The Slaughter of our leaders."</ref> They witnessed Jiralhanae slaughtering their brethren, some considered it to be "the death of the Covenant".<ref>[[Halo: Evolutions]] [[The Return]] (Motion Comic) - "The death of the Covenant."</ref> Either during the massacres around [[High Charity]], or witnessing the massacre broadcasts, all Sangheili were ultimately forced out of the Covenant Empire.{{Ref/Reuse|Elites}}

Trident11.jpg|UNSC Pelicans fighting alongside the Fleet of Retribution Phantoms.

File:H3 BarrierTowerBattle.png|Sangheili separatists fighting alongside John-117 during the [[Battle of Installation 00]].

Shipmaster02.jpg|[[Rtas 'Vadum]], one of the leaders of the Fleet of Retribution.

HRoA4_Volir_Great Schism.png|The Sangheili fighting against the Jiralhanae at the onset of the Great Schism.

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