Editing Ministry of Tranquility

{{Status|Canon}}

{{disambig header|the Covenant Ministry|the former Vice-Minister of Tranquility|Prophet of Regret}}

The '''Ministry of Tranquility''' was a [[Covenant]] [[ministry]] charged with the acquisition and deciphering of [[Forerunner]] artifacts, as well as exploring the borders of Covenant-controlled space and missionary affairs.<ref name="ch50">'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', ''pages 50-51''</ref> The ministry was responsible for managing the Covenant's vast fleet of relic-hunting scout vessels and [[missionary ship]]s, primarily crewed by [[Sangheili]] and [[Kig-Yar]].<ref name="ch155">'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 155''</ref>

In [[2525]], ''[[Minor Transgression]]'', a [[missionary ship]] serving the Ministry of Tranquility, discovered the [[human]] [[Outer Colony]] of [[Harvest]] in the [[Epsilon Indi system]], a planet home to numerous [[Forerunner]] artifacts. ''Minor Transgression''{{'}}s [[Piracy|piratical]] [[Kig-Yar]] crew intended to steal some of the artifacts on Harvest for themselves before reporting the discovery to the ministry, though their plan was foiled when [[Dadab|the Unggoy]] [[deacon]] and [[Lighter Than Some|the Huragok]] aboard the ship sent the reports of the artifacts to the [[Prophet of Regret|Vice Minister of Tranquility]] moments before they escaped the ship's [[Skirmish on Minor Transgression|destruction]] at the hands of human [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]].<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''pages 133-135''</ref> Upon receiving the reports, the Vice Minister of Tranquility sought to use this important discovery to secure himself a seat as [[Hierarch]].<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/prophet-of-regret '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Prophet of Regret'']</ref> The Vice Minister plotted with the [[Prophet of Truth|Minister of Fortitude]] and the [[Prophet of Mercy|Philologist]], and soon the three San'Shyuum used the ministry's discovery to ascend to the Hierarchs of the Covenant and declared war on humanity, beginning the [[Human-Covenant War]].<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 381''</ref>

During the Covenant War, Kig-Yar missionary ships serving the Ministry of Tranquility were responsible for the discovery of numerous [[human colonies]], including [[Madrigal]] in the [[23 Librae system]]; the ministry charged the Kig-Yar with finding human worlds with Forerunner artifacts on their surface to allow the Covenant to destroy the "defilers".<ref name="cp155">'''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''', ''page 155''</ref> During the war, the Ministry of Tranquility's ambitions had far exceeded its reach. The ministry's forces rarely ever participated in major [[Covenant fleet|fleet]] action during the Human-Covenant War. Instead, the ministry's vessels often descended into the chaotic aftermath of engagements to steal artifacts from [[human]] and Covenant forces alike.{{Ref/Book|Id=fb|Halo: Fleet Battles core rulebook|Page=7}} The Ministry of Tranquility was likely dissolved alongside the rest of the Covenant in late [[2552]].

The ministry was headed by the [[San'Shyuum]] [[Minister (title)|Minister]] of Tranquility and seconded by the [[Vice Minister]] of Tranquility. In the event of the Minister's absence, the Vice Minister would substitute in for them during [[Covenant]] [[High Council]] sessions.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 154''</ref> The ministry worked to extend the Covenant's influence and power by acquiring [[Forerunner]] artifacts and attempting to bring new species into the Covenant; the ministry did not particularly care how these goals were accomplished.{{Ref/Reuse|fb}} The Ministry of Tranquility commissioned and maintained a large and sizeable [[fleet]] of [[missionary ship]]s, such as ''[[Minor Transgression]]'', to search the outer edges of Covenant territory for Forerunner relics. They are known for keeping an extensive library of [[Forerunner symbols|Forerunner glyphs]], though the ministry's staffers overtly had little understanding of the Forerunners' language.<ref name="interview">[http://halosm.bungie.org/story/staten083106.html '''Bungie.org''': ''Joe Staten Interview'']</ref> The Minister of Tranquility employed [[Huragok]] for use as librarians. Huragok were also employed by the ministry to keep ships of the Ministry of Tranquility in good working order.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 55''</ref> With its vast fleet of battle-ready privateer and missionary ships, the Ministry of Tranquility was considered to be one of the primary Covenant ministries that made up the [[Covenant military]].{{Ref/Reuse|fb}}

The Ministry of Tranquility contracted [[Kig-Yar]] [[shipmaster]]s and paid them commissions for their work as privateers for the ministry.{{Ref/Reuse|cp155}}{{Ref/Reuse|interview}} However, the more [[Piracy|piratical]] Kig-Yar sometimes joined the ministry to carry out their crimes under the guise of a privateer or missionary; some members of the ministry were often little more than slavers and raiders. Many of the ministry's privateers cared little for the opinions of the [[Hierarchs]] and were occasionally found preying on Covenant artifact depositories.{{Ref/Reuse|fb}} Numerous [[Sangheili]] worked in the ministry, serving in various missionary and expeditionary affairs and as shipmasters. The Vice Minister of Tranquility often worked closely with the ministry's Sangheili.{{Ref/Reuse|cp155}}<ref>'''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]''', ''page 126'' (2011)</ref> The Ministry of Tranquility was the only ministry that employed [[Unggoy]]; Unggoy [[deacon]]s were assigned to Kig-Yar missionary ships to ensure that the typically agnostic Kig-Yar obeyed ministry laws and regulations, a task at which they rarely succeed. Deacon was the lowest position within the ministry and only the most intelligent Unggoy were able to qualify for deaconship.{{Ref/Reuse|ch50}} The Ministry of Tranquility was based in a tower on ''[[High Charity]]''. On the lowest level of the tower, a seminary was hosted to train future Unggoy deacons. The Unggoy recruits lived in a crowded dormitory and shared [[food nipple]]s, while being taught to memorize glyphs and scriptures relating to Forerunner relics.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 304''</ref>

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{{Covenant government}}