Editing Sali 'Nyon's Covenant

{{Status|Canon}}
{{Conjectural title|1}}
{{Affiliation infobox
|name=Sali 'Nyon's Covenant faction
|image=[[File:HE24 Nyon secures the vault.png|300px]]
|type=*[[terrorism|Terrorist]] organization
*Religious cult
|founder=[[Sali 'Nyon]]
|documents=
|head=The "Didact's Hand"
|executive=
|legislative=
|judicial=
|branch=
|main=[[Okal'supen]]
|anthem=
|language=[[Sangheili language]]
|script=Syllabary and logograms
|religion=
|techlevel=
|notable=
|formed=[[2558#July|July 2558]]
|dissolved=
|affiliation=
}}
{{Quote|Once the great fraud 'Mdama's sins are exposed, his own armies will rise against him and all will join as one.|Sali 'Nyon after seceding from Jul 'Mdama's faction{{Ref/Reuse|HE14}}}}
This '''Covenant faction''' is a [[Covenant remnants|splinter group]] formed from [[Jul 'Mdama]]'s [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant faction|Covenant splinter group]] by members who believed [[Sali 'Nyon]] to be the true "Hand of the [[Ur-Didact|Didact]]".{{Ref/Comic|Id=HE14|HEsc|Issue=14}}

==History==
===Formation===
{{Main|Battle of Aktis IV}}
The [[Sangheili]] who would go onto form the backbone of Sali 'Nyon's support base were formed from defectors originally a part of the remnant faction led by Jul 'Mdama. These troops became disillusioned with [[Jul 'Mdama]] after [[Requiem Campaign|his destruction]] of [[Requiem]], which they considered the holiest site, and his subsequent alliance with a [[human]], Doctor [[Catherine Halsey]]. [[Zealot]] [[Sali 'Nyon]] started preaching that he was the true "Hand of the Didact", whereas 'Mdama was a false prophet due to his actions. 'Mdama had heard of 'Nyon's views, but he chose to dismiss the dissident as "''a delusional pig possessed by demons''". However 'Nyon managed to attract followers who in turn began recruiting others into their cause.{{Ref/Reuse|HE14}}

After arriving on [[Aktis IV]], 'Mdama's forces discovered the circle of [[Treason|traitors]] and a fight ensued. Some of 'Nyon's followers were killed while others escaped, but a traitor was captured and brought before 'Mdama. Rather than ask for pardon, he chose to maintain his sect's views and accused 'Mdama of heresy. The latter executed him with his energy sword. Meanwhile, 'Nyon's group seceded from the rest of Jul 'Mdama's Covenant forces. When the [[UNSC]] sent a [[D79 Pelican|Pelican]] and [[F-41 Broadsword|Broadsword]] to the surface of Aktis IV, the rogue faction, led by Sali 'Nyon himself, shot down the ships and scavenged them to retrieve the UNSC's piece of the [[Janus Key]]. This action prompted the rest of 'Mdama's Covenant to abandon their leader's original plan and also attack the UNSC. Meanwhile, 'Mdama swore to humiliate and eliminate the traitors.{{Ref/Reuse|HE14}} While 'Mdama and his [[Promethean]] forces began to eliminate the traitors, 'Nyon broadcasted a message across Jul's entire fleet to incite them to join him in rebellion.{{Ref/Comic|Id=HE15|HEsc|Issue=15}}

'Nyon later returned to his hideout in a jungle on the planet. Some followers began to grow disillusioned with 'Nyon and started to question the feasibility of continuing the rebellion. 'Nyon responded by reassuring his followers that the Forerunners had blessed them, citing his recovery of half of the Janus Key as proof. One [[Unidentified Sangheili Minor (Aktis IV)|Sangheili Minor]] in particular stated that the [[Promethean]]s' allegiance to Jul 'Mdama is evidence to the contrary, but 'Nyon insists that the answers to their questions would all be revealed in time. While 'Nyon left to help aid the wounded, the Minor betrayed 'Nyon and his followers, and stole their half of the Janus Key and departed on a {{Pattern|Karo'etba|Ghost}}. The Minor contacted a Zealot serving under 'Mdama, and promised to provide the stolen Janus Key half and the faction's hideout. The Zealot reluctantly agreed and prepared to establish a rendezvous point.{{Ref/Reuse|HE15}} However, Jul's forces had already discovered the location of the hideout and had begun assaulting the base. The Zealots that met with the Minor took his half of the Janus Key and promptly executed him for his disloyalty. Meanwhile, 'Nyon's forces had been completely destroyed and 'Nyon himself was imprisoned. 'Mdama decided that 'Nyon would be kept alive for the time being. With both halves of the Janus Key, Jul's forces fled the system shortly after.{{Ref/Comic|Id=HE16|HEsc|Issue=16}}

Until [[2558|September 17th, 2558]], Sali was kept by Jul aboard the ''Song of Retribution'' as he journeyed to a planet that would lead to the Absolute Record. With the fleet damaged by slipspace ruptures, Jul decided to transfer Sali to the damaged ''[[Breath of Annihilation]]'', setting down for repairs on a nearby moon, while he took the ''Song of Retribution'' alone through the portal.{{Ref/Comic|Id=HE20|HEsc|Issue=20}} Needing a distraction to keep Spartan [[Gabriel Thorne]] alive, ONI agent [[Ayit 'Sevi]] arranged for Sali's escape, convincing the former leader that he could rally those loyal to him.{{Ref/Comic|Id=HE22|HEsc|Issue=22}} 'Nyon would lead a revolt aboard the ship, killing those loyal to 'Mdama and seizing control of 'Mdama's collection of Forerunner artifacts taken from Requiem, using them to further cement his support.{{Ref/Comic|Id=HE23|HEsc|Issue=23}} 'Nyon took the ''Breath of Annihilation'' back into Sangheili space to rally further support among their people, not noticing 'Sevi's absence, and was shortly after engaged by the ''Song of Retribution'', a battle that ended in stalemate with 'Mdama unable to retake the ship.{{Ref/Comic|Id=HE24|HEsc|Issue=24}}

After the death of 'Mdama on [[Kamchatka]], 'Nyon emerged as the clear frontrunner for leader of religious Covenant remnants. Some [[Sangheili]], even one in the [[Swords of Sanghelios]], viewed him as a true leader compared to the Arbiter and Jul, and the next best chance for a Covenant revival.{{Ref/Level|H5G|Alliance}}

===Securing a power base===
Having gathered the necessary support to sustain operations, the Covenant remnant established themselves on the former-Covenant fortress world of [[Okal'supen]] - considered a stronghold with enough [[Assembly Forges|manufacturing facilities]] and feedstock to sustain an empire.{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=257}}

==Military structure==
Sali 'Nyon's Covenant employs mainly [[Sangheili]], in particular those of the [[Sangheili Zealot|Zealot]] rank, although lower ranks such as [[Sangheili Minor|Minors]] and [[Sangheili Storm|Storms]] have been seen.{{Ref/Reuse|HE15}}

{| class="wikitable" style="width:640px; margin:5px auto; font-size:smaller; text-align:center;"
|-
!Classes
![[Sangheili]]
|-
|colspan="5" | Ranks and type classes
|-
|Standard ranks
|[[Sangheili Minor|Minor]]<br>[[Sangheili Storm|Storm]]
|-
|Leaders
|[[Sangheili Zealot|Zealot]]
|}

==Military assets==
The faction's Zealots are known to use {{Pattern|Domotos|energy sword}}s in combat.{{Ref/Reuse|HE15}} The group also had access to a number of {{Pattern|Karo'etba|Ghost}}s and at least one {{Pattern|Zurdo|Wraith}}.{{Ref/Reuse|HE15}}

After his successful revolt aboard the ''Breath of Annihilation'', 'Nyon added the assault carrier to his fledgling splinter group, along with its Wraiths, [[Type-26 Banshee|Banshees]] and [[Kmiro'sish-pattern Lich|Liches]].{{Ref/Reuse|HE24}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:HE14 Traitor 1.jpg|A sympathizer of 'Nyon's cause is accused of treason by 'Mdama's forces.
File:HE14 Traitor 2.jpg|The traitor accusing 'Mdama.
File:HE14 Traitor 4.jpg|'Mdama executing the traitor.
File:HE14 Sali Faction.jpg|'Nyon and his troops secure ''Infinity''{{'}}s cargo.
File:HE14 Sali 'Nyon Full.jpg|Sali 'Nyon with the UNSC's half of the Janus Key.
File:HE15 Found.jpg|One of Sali 'Nyon's zealots getting caught by Promethean forces.
File:HE15 Sali Hideout.jpg|Sali 'Nyon's faction's hideout during the Battle of Aktis IV.
File:HE15 Sali Throne.jpg|Sali 'Nyon's throne in the hideout.
File:HE22 Nyon restored.png|Sali 'Nyon is freed by Ayit 'Sevi.
File:HE23 Nyon attacks the vaults.png|'Nyon leads his troops to secure 'Mdama's vault to give his troops the edge in their insurgency against 'Mdama.
File:HE24 Breath of Annihilation.png|Sali 'Nyon's new flagship returns to Sangheili space.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: Escalation]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo Mythos]]'' {{Im}}
*''[[Halo: The Machine Breaks]]''

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

{{Organizations}}
[[Category:Covenant remnants]]