Covenant starship
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Covenant starships are the ships used by the species of the Covenant through its various ministries.
Overview[edit]
Organization and identification[edit]
- "I do wish they’d learn to use proper ships’ names like Victory and Bellepheron, don’t you? Theirs sound like color swatches from an ecclesiastical paint catalog."
- — Black Box commenting on the name of Covenant ships.[1]
- Main article: Covenant fleet
The starships of the Covenant were commanded under different ministries. The Ministry of Resolution commanded ships, and was responsible for directing offensive actions by the Covenant.[2] The Ministry of Tranquility managed the fleet of relic hunting and missionary ships.[3]
Covenant ship classes can be identified by the Covenant ship classification system.[4]
Tactical groupings[edit]
- Main article: Fleet
Covenant Starships have been known to be grouped in multiple ways. These include Fleets, Battle Groups, and Flotillas.
Design and specifications[edit]
Different species have different design philosophies for starships. The Sangheili preferred starships that echoed the aggressive nature of various animals from Sanghelios and other Sangheili colonies. The San'Shyuum preferred more ornate designs, something that carried into the Covenant, as well as preferring multi-role vessels.[4]
Covenant starships, like most Covenant technology, were constructed using the Design pattern method.[5] Some manufacturers of Covenant starships include Forgemasters of Tanus, Gorgon Assembly Vault[6] and Lathe of the Enlightened.[7]
Propulsion, movement, and docking[edit]
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Power[edit]
Covenant starships were powered by Pinch fusion reactors.[8]
Armor & Defense[edit]
The hull of Covenant starships is composed of the durable and heat resistant Nanolaminate.[9] Most Covenant ships also make use of Energy shielding to prevent damage from affecting the hull.
Energy Projector[edit]
- Main article: Energy Projector
Covenant warships often had Energy Projectors. An energy projector is a large beam of plasma which can be used to devastating effect in either ship-to-ship combat or in ground operations.
In ship-to-ship scenarios, they are known to slice through UNSC ships. The UNSC Herodotus[10] and the UNSC Feeling Lucky[11] were two ships to fall prey to its destructive power.
Often during ground campaigns, it was used in a method called glassing, whereby a Covenant starship burns the surface of a planet in order to render it lifeless.
Turrets[edit]
Covenant warships also used a variety of turret emplacements. This includes the Plasma turret and the Pulse laser turret.
Torpedos[edit]
Covenant starships also make use of the Plasma Torpedo.
Complement[edit]
- Main articles: Dropship, Space fighter
Several types of space fighters were used in conjunction with larger ships. These include the Tarasque-class heavy fighter and the Gigas-class fighter-bomber, it's replacement, the Type-31 Exoatmospheric Multi-role Fighter, and the Elsedda-pattern Banshee.
Dropships were also in use acting as troop, vehicle and supply transport. These include the Dextro Xur-pattern Spirit, the Ru'swum-pattern Phantom and the Ru'swum-pattern Phantom. As well, the R'sisho-pattern Tick helped the Covenant board enemy ships.
History[edit]
Pre-Writ of Union[edit]
Prior to joining the Covenant, in a time known as "The Former Age", the Sangheili had developed their own spaceships.[12] This included the Hekar Taa-pattern blockade runner, the Rwaru-pattern carrack, R'sikosh-pattern man o' war, and the Lursu-pattern brigantine.[4] In the case of the R'sikosh-pattern man o' war specifically, it was built using information Forerunner artifacts far before the War of Beginnings.[12]
The San'Shyuum also piloted their own types of aerospace craft.[13]
Early Covenant[edit]
A number of starships were designed following the signing of the Writ of Union. The Useumru-pattern voidpiercer was one of the first spacecraft developed by the Covenant empire between 852 and 850 BCE.[14] The Varric-pattern heavy cruiser was designed during the earliest Age of Conflict and Age of Doubt.[15] Another ancient ship was the Maugen-pattern armored cruiser.[16]
Human-Covenant War[edit]
- Main article: Human-Covenant War
One of the first engagements prior to the outbreak of the war was the Skirmish on Minor Transgression.
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Great Schism[edit]
- Main article: Great Schism
The Great Schism would see the destruction of a number of ships including most vessels of the A'uzr-pattern sword frigate.[17]
Legacy[edit]
- "Every vessel counts. We can't yet replace what we lose, so the war against the Arbiter and the other blasphemers may be won or lost on a single hull."
- — Shipmaster Avu Med 'Telcam of the Servants of the Abiding Truth[18]
- Main article: Post-Covenant War conflicts
With the Covenant war over, and the Schism breaking into a multitude of conflicts, Covenant ships began finding themselves in the hands of a number of remnant factions, like Jul 'Mdama's Covenant, Merg Vol's Covenant, Rojka 'Kasaan's faction, Servants of the Abiding Truth, Swords of Sanghelios, and the Banished.
In addition, some of these factions began to diverge their ship building from the Covenant. In 2553, the Banished began to build a unique dreadnought design.[19] The Swords of Sanghelios would build and modify their own A'uzr-pattern sword frigates beyond that which former Covenant bureaucrats had planned for.[17]
Types[edit]
Support ships[edit]
- Main article: Support ship
The Covenant have operated a number of support starships. These include the Akton-pattern escorts and the food providing Mjern-pattern agricultural support ship.
Ships of the type[edit]
| Class | Ship Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mjern-pattern agricultural support ship | Infinite Succor | Destroyed, sent into a star to prevent the Flood from escaping by Rtas 'Vadum. |
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Warship[edit]
- Main article: Warship
The Covenant operated a number of lighter capital warships. These include some of the smaller Covenant cruisers, like the Ket-pattern battlecruisers and the Zanar-pattern light cruisers. As well as the various corvette, frigate, and destroyer classes the Covenant operated.
The Covenant were known for their larger capital ships including the Maugen-pattern armored cruiser, the Varric-pattern heavy cruiser and the Kewu-pattern battleship. On top of this, they operated various large carrier classes, as well as heavily armed battleships.
Ships of the type[edit]
- Main article: Covenant Carrier
- Main article: Covenant cruiser
- Main article: Covenant destroyer
| Class | Ship Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sinaris-pattern heavy destroyer | Bloodied Spirit | Destroyed during the Onyx Conflict. |
| Esteem | ||
| Reverence | ||
| Radiant Perception | Destroyed during the Battle for Arcadia. | |
| Proclamation's Tithe | ||
| Fighter's Blood | ||
| Hammerstrike | ||
| Unknown class | Absolution | Destroyed during the Onyx Conflict |
| Defender of Faith | Destroyed by UNSC Infinity during the assault on Vadam keep in 2553. | |
| Far Sight Lost | Destroyed during the Onyx Conflict | |
| Rapturous Arc | Captured by the Flood and subsequently destroyed by combined Sangheili and Jiralhanae forces at the beginning of the Great Schism | |
| Retribution's Thunder | Scuttled by its Sangheili crew during Battle of the Rubble after being betrayed by their Kig-Yar escort. |
- Main article: Covenant frigate
| Class | Ship Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ester-pattern armored frigate | Contrition | Unknown status |
| Penance | Unknown status | |
| Unknown | Radiant Arrow | Scuttled by its commander after being boarded by a team of Spartans over Netherop in 2526. |
| Reprisal's Fire | ||
| Retribution's Promise | ||
| Revenant | Destroyed by the Incorruptible during the Onyx conflict. | |
| Steadfast Strike | Status unknown; last seen during the Battle of Netherop in 2526. | |
| Tenebrous | Destroyed by the Incorruptible during the Battle of Installation 05. | |
| Transforming Splendor | ||
| Twilight Compunction | Destroyed during the Battle of Installation 00. | |
| Pure Resolve | ||
| Unflinching Resolve | Decommissioned, later reinstated by Servants of the Abiding Truth and destroyed in March 2553. | |
| Vengeful Deed |
- Main article: Covenant Corvette
| Class | Ship Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ceudar-pattern heavy corvette | Ardent Prayer | Captured by the UNSC, used as transportation for a Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine makeshift bomb and destroyed in Operation: UPPER CUT by Spartan Jorge-052. |
| Elegy's Lament | Stolen by the Banished. | |
| Quester of Glory | Fell into Sangheili control during the Great Schism; renamed Mayhem. Crippled and salvaged by UNSC Witness in Operation: FAR STORM. | |
| Supplication of Purity | Destroyed in the Battle for Tribute in 2552, later salvaged and displayed at Outpost Discovery. | |
| Makar-pattern light corvette | Infinite Fire | Fell into Sangheili control during the Great Schism; renamed The Lookout |
| Intrusion corvette | Divine Whisper | |
| Quiet Faith | ||
| Sacred Whisper | ||
| Silent Truth | ||
| Still Devotion | ||
| Worthy Silence | ||
| Unknown | Adherent | Crew massacred by the Silent Shadow. |
| Sacred Whisper | ||
| Vengeful Vitality | A stealth corvette used by Mken 'Scre'ah'ben. |
| Class | Ship Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mutan Et-pattern storm cutter | Mark of Prophecy | |
| Divine Breath | ||
| Heresy's Sorrow | ||
| Hekar Taa-pattern blockade runner | Joori's Light | |
| Barque | Song of Wrath | |
| Unknown | Almighty Persuasion | Tasked with carrying a Luminal Beacon and destroyed during Operation: SILENT STORM |
| A Psalm Every Day | ||
| Burgeoning Fealty | Discovered the Dazreme species and their homeworld, Reme. | |
| Commitment and Patience | ||
| Dedication | Renamed to Rampant Perdition. | |
| Devotion | ||
| Doctrine's Command | ||
| Havoc | ||
| Infinite Spoils | ||
| Joyous Discovery | Renamed to Paragon. | |
| Perpetual Devotion | ||
| Pitiless | ||
| Purifying Flame | ||
| Onslaught | ||
| Revolution | ||
| Serene Certainty | ||
| Valorous Salvation |
Other[edit]
Covenant ships were not exclusively designed for war and often operated in a number of non-warfare based situations. This can include the Missionary ship, operated by the Ministry of Tranquility.[20] The Covenant also operated a number of tithe fleets, which were often filled with Sangheili Lursu-pattern brigantines.[4]
Ships of the type[edit]
| Class | Ship Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Forgeship | Boundless Artifice | |
| Hudal-class auxiliary vessel | Piety | Active, all crew killed in capture of a Huragok. |
| Missionary ship | Minor Transgression | Destroyed prior to the beginning of the Human-Covenant War. |
| Supply ship | Journey's Sustenance |
Production notes[edit]
During the development of Halo 2, a level was planned to take place on board a Covenant ship.
Gallery[edit]
Concept art[edit]
Concept art for a cancelled Halo Wars 3 idea.
Concept art for a cancelled Halo Wars 3 idea.
Overview[edit]
The Covenant ship line up for Halo: Fleet Battles.
Covenant ships waiting at Installation 04.
The Second Fleet of Solemn Accord staring down a UNSC frigate.
A Fleet of Covenant starships over Reach.
Sources[edit]
- ^ Halo: The Thursday War, chapter 13
- ^ Halo: Fleet Battles core rulebook, page 7
- ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 155
- ^ a b c d Halo Waypoint, Canon Fodder - Holiday Shipping (Retrieved on Jun 1, 2020) [archive]
- ^ Halo: Warfleet – An Illustrated Guide to the Spacecraft of Halo, chapter Glossary, page 90
- ^ Halo: Warfleet, page 76-77
- ^ Halo: Warfleet, Shadow of Intent - p. 70-71
- ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx
- ^ Halo Waypoint, Catalog Interaction - Page 14 (Retrieved on Jun 1, 2020) [archive]
- ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, page 298 & 320
- ^ Halo 2, campaign level Cairo Station
- ^ a b Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 270-271
- ^ Halo Mythos
- ^ Halo Waypoint, Canon Fodder - Eklund's Ensemble (Retrieved on Jul 20, 2022) [archive]
- ^ Halo: Warfleet – An Illustrated Guide to the Spacecraft of Halo, page 64 & 65
- ^ Halo Waypoint, Canon Fodder - Armory Amore (Retrieved on Jun 1, 2020) [archive]
- ^ a b Halo Waypoint, Canon Fodder - Concert of Worlds (Retrieved on Sep 25, 2023) [archive]
- ^ Halo: Mortal Dictata, chapter 2
- ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 462
- ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 50
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