Editing Vata 'Gajat's mercenary group

{{Status|Canon}}
{{Conjectural title|1}}
{{Affiliation infobox
|name=Vata 'Gajat's mercenary group
|image=[[File:Gajats mercenaries.png|300px]]
|type=Mercenary organization
|founder=[[Vata 'Gajat]] 
|documents=
|head= *[[Shipmaster]] Vata 'Gajat {{C|Formerly}}
*[[Tek]] {{C|Currently}}
|executive=
|legislative=
|judicial=
|branch=
|main=
|anthem=
|language=[[Sangheili (language)|Sangheili]] serves as ''lingua franca''; various languages spoken by different races.<ref>'''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'''</ref>
|script=[[Forerunner symbols|Forerunner glyph]]-based system
|religion=
|techlevel=
|notable=
|formed=After [[2552#December|December 11, 2552]]: [[Battle of the Citadel|Dissolution of the Covenant]]
|dissolved=
|affiliation=*[[New Colonial Alliance]] {{C|2558–}}
*[[Banished]] {{C|2559–}}
}}

This '''mercenary organization''' was an offshoot of [[Jul 'Mdama]]'s [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|reformed Covenant]], led by [[Sangheili]] [[Shipmaster]] [[Vata 'Gajat]]. As of [[2558|March 2558]] the group was employed by the [[New Colonial Alliance]], a [[human]] [[Insurrectionist]] faction. 

==History==
===Formation===
At some point after the [[Human-Covenant War]], Vata 'Gajat was part of Jul 'Mdama's Covenant. Eventually, 'Gajat left 'Mdama's Covenant and started working as a mercenary, along with numerous other former members of the Covenant. By 2558 he was employed by the New Colonial Alliance and worked closely with [[Daniel Clayton|Captain Daniel Clayton]].

===Battle of Ealen IV===
{{Main|Battle of Ealen IV}}
In [[2558|March 2558]], following an escalation in [[Jiralhanae]] raiding attacks along the joint-occupation zones, [[Ealen IV]] was chosen as a place for peace negotiations between the Sangheili and Jiralhanae. As [[Fleet Admiral]] [[Terrence Hood]] was meeting with [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]] and [[Jiralhanae Chieftain]] [[Lydus]], they were attacked by 'Gajat's mercenaries sent on a bounty. [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Thomas Lasky]] and the delegation's SPARTAN-IV security detail, consisting of Fireteams [[Fireteam Jackknife|Jackknife]] and [[Fireteam Bailey|Bailey]], were forced to defend and evacuate the ambassadors. With their communications to their orbiting fleets having been blocked, the delegation were left without reinforcements.<ref name="HE1">'''[[Halo: Escalation]]''', ''Issue #1''</ref> 

The mercenary forces were led by [[Shipmaster]] [[Vata 'Gajat]] and [[Skirmisher Champion|Champion]] [[Tek]].<ref name="HE2">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''Issue #2''</ref> Meanwhile, the peace between the Jiralhanae and Sangheili ships in orbit became worse, as they blamed each other for the lack of communication and were on the verge of attacking. Captain Lasky and [[Naiya Ray|Spartan Ray]] managed to disable the communications jammer on the surface, enabling them to alert the Jiralhanae and Sangheili fleets of the true culprits behind the attack. With his position exposed, Vata 'Gajat ordered a retreat. Back on the surface, the Spartans managed to evacuate the delegates, though it came at the cost of many Spartans, including [[Paul DeMarco]].  

The events revealed a significant security breach in the UNSC, with Spartan [[Vladimir Scruggs]] exposed as a [[Treason|traitor,]] along with the implicit presence of a higher-ranking leak within the organization. The mercenary attack itself was a major setback to Thel 'Vadam's efforts to make peace with the Jiralhanae.<ref name="HE3">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''Issue #3''</ref> Captain Lasky later discovered that the attack on Ealen IV had not been orchestrated by the Covenant remnants, but by the [[New Colonial Alliance]] which had hired Vata 'Gajat and his troops to stage the attack.<ref name="HE5">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''Issue #5''</ref>

===Ambushing ''Infinity''===
{{Main|Ambush at Oth Lodon}}
Sometime after the Battle of Ealen IV, 'Gajat and Captain Clayton lured Admiral Hood and the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} into a trap, using assault craft supposedly recovered from the long-lost {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} to draw ''Infinity'' into Covenant remnant-controlled territory near [[Oth Lodon]]. Once ''Infinity'' arrived, 'Gajat and Clayton opened fire on the ship with the massive [[energy projector|glassing cannon]] of their [[Station at Oth Lodon|hidden station]].{{Ref/Reuse|HE5}}

When the cannon overheated, Clayton ordered 'Gajat to keep the ''Infinity'' busy while they brought the cannon back online. However, 'Gajat saw that an even greater profit could be made by personally destroying the ''Infinity''. When the station was boarded by Spartans, Clayton requested help from 'Gajat. He decided to ignore the call for help and pursue the ''Infinity''. When his ship targeted the ''Infinity'' he ordered a channel to be opened, so Clayton could watch.  Instead, he discovered that the Spartans had seized control of the station. The Spartans opened fire with the cannon and destroyed 'Gajat's ship, killing 'Gajat.<ref>'''Halo: Escalation''', ''Issue #6''</ref>

===Ilsa Zane and the Banished===
Following 'Gajat's death, what remained of the mercenary group was led by Tek and remained affiliated with the New Colonial Alliance. On [[2559#May|May 8, 2559]], as Tek and his fleet were present in the [[Edolas System]] alongside a New Colonial Alliance fleet docked at a former Covenant station, Ilsa Zane infiltrated the [[NCA D’artagnan]] and executed [[Mattius Drake]], before the rogue Spartan pledged the allegiance of both the New Colonial Alliance and the mercenary group under the [[Banished]] banner.{{Ref/Book|Halo: The Third Life}}

==Military structure==
Vata Gajat's mercenary group employed numerous members of the former client species of the [[Covenant]], including [[Sangheili]], [[Kig-Yar]], [[Unggoy]], [[Mgalekgolo]], and at least one [[T'vaoan]]. The ranking organization was similar to that of 'Mdama's faction. Additionally, the group was seen working with several [[Jiralhanae]] and [[human]]s.{{Ref/Reuse|HE3}}

{| class="wikitable" style="width:640px; margin:5px auto; font-size:smaller; text-align:center;"
|-
!Classes
![[Sangheili]]
![[Unggoy]]
![[Kig-Yar]]
![[Lekgolo]]
![[Jiralhanae]]{{Ref/Reuse|HE3}}
![[Human]]{{Ref/Reuse|HE3}}
![[T'vaoan]]
|-
|colspan="8" | Ranks and type classes
|-
|Standard ranks
|[[Sangheili Storm|Storm]]
|[[Unggoy Storm|Storm]]
|[[Kig-Yar Storm|Storm]]
|[[Mgalekgolo|Hunter]]
|
|
|
|-
|Specialized troops
|[[Sangheili Ranger|Ranger]]
|
|[[Kig-Yar Sniper|Sniper]]
|
|
|
|
|-
|Veterans
|
|[[Unggoy Imperial|Imperial]]<br>[[Unggoy Heavy|Heavy]]
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|Leaders
|[[Sangheili Zealot|Zealot]]<br>[[Sangheili Warrior|Warrior]]
|
|
|
|
|
|[[Skirmisher Champion|Champion]]
|-
|colspan="9" | Titles
|-
|Ratings
|[[Shipmaster]]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|}

===Notable individuals===
*[[Vata 'Gajat]] - Leader of the faction; killed during the [[Ambush at Oth Lodon]].
*[[Tek]] - 'Gajat's second-in-command until 'Gajat's death, inherited the remains of 'Gajat's mercenary band as the faction's leader.

==Military assets==
The group had similar resources to both the original [[Covenant]] and [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|'Mdama's faction]], though most of the group's assets seem to originate from the latter. The faction's fleet was mostly composed of [[Covenant cruiser]]s and {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}s. The fleet's [[flagship]] is Vata 'Gajat's {{Pattern|Ceudar|heavy corvette}}.{{Ref/Reuse|HE3}} The [[Type-26 Banshee]], models [[Oghal-pattern Banshee|A]], [[Is'belox-pattern Banshee|B]] and [[Irdnekt-pattern Banshee|C]], were the faction's primary ground support aircraft, as well as the {{Pattern|Elsedda|Banshee}}. The {{Pattern|Dextro Xur|Spirit}} and the {{Pattern|Ru'swum|Phantom}} were used as troop transports, as well as at least one {{Pattern|Kmiro'sish|Lich}}.{{Ref/Reuse|HE2}} 

Most members of the faction wore the standard armor of 'Mdama's faction, which saw limited use during the [[Human-Covenant War]]; however, other members wore armor types that were more prevalent during the war. The group continued using the {{Pattern|Sulok|beam rifle}} as their primary [[sniper rifle]], despite the relative scarcity of the model in comparison to the [[Zubo-pattern beam rifle|Type-27]].{{Ref/Reuse|HE2}}

==Trivia==
In the first issue of ''[[Halo: Escalation]]'', a Sangheili warrior of the group refers to himself and his allies as "Guardians of the Righteous". Whether this is the proper name of the group in question or merely religious rhetoric has not been specified. As the Covenant attackers are revealed to be a mercenary force in Issue 3, this may instead have been an attempt to obscure the group's motives.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Gajat.PNG|[[Vata 'Gajat]], leader of the group.
File:Tekissue3.PNG|[[Tek]], second-in-command to 'Gajat.
File:HE Battle of Ealen IV.jpg|{{Pattern|Oghal|Banshee}}s destroy a UNSC [[diplomatic shuttle]].
File:Vata Gajat's fleet.jpg|Vata's fleet during the Battle of Ealen IV.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: Escalation]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: The Third Life]]'' {{Mo}}

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

{{Organizations}}

[[Category:Mercenary groups]]
[[Category:Covenant remnants]]
[[Category:Unidentified content]]