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| {{era|H1|H2|H3|HW|FOR|TF|FS|GOO|CH|UP|HGN|ILB}}
| | '''Covenant''' may refer to the following: |
| {{Ratings}}
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| {{Affiliation infobox
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| |BG1=
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| |BG2=
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| |image=[[Image:High Charity wallpaper.jpg|300px]]
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| |name=The Covenant
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| |type= Theocratic Hierarchy
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| |founding=[[Writ of Union]]
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| |constitution=[[Ratification Parley]]
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| |headofstate=[[Hierarchs]]
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| |headofgov=Hierarchs
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| |commander=[[High Prophet of Truth]]
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| |defacto=[[High Prophet of Truth]]
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| |executive=[[High Council]]
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| |legislative=[[High Council]]
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| |judicial=[[High Council]]
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| |capital=Formerly [[High Charity]]
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| |language=[[Covenant Language]] (Various languages are spoken by the different races)
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| |currency=Unknown
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| |religious=Worship of the [[Forerunners]]
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| |holiday=Unknown
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| |anthem=Unknown
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| |formed= Started at the end of the [[Sangheili]]-[[San'Shyuum]] War
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| |established=First [[Age of Reconciliation]]
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| |fragmented=[[2552]]: [[Covenant Civil War]]
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| |reorganized=2552 ([[Great Schism]])
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| |dissolved=[[2553]]
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| |restored=N/A
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| }}
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| <center>''Looking for [[The Covenant (Level)|The Covenant]], the [[Halo 3]] level?''</center>
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| The '''Covenant''' is a religiously zealous collection of alien races, controlling a large portion of the [[Orion Arm]] of the [[Milky Way]] galaxy. They waged a [[Human-Covenant War|genocidal campaign]] of extermination against [[humanity]] until they were defeated due to many complications, one of which were internal [[Great Schism|conflicts]]. The Covenant was presumably disbanded after its defeat by the [[UNSC]] and [[Covenant Separatist]] forces. The Covenant Separatists were cast out by the [[Brutes]] and other [[Covenant Loyalists]], however, the [[Covenant Separatist|Separatists]] soon [[Battle of Installation 00|destroyed]] the [[Covenant Loyalists|Loyalists]] at the [[The Ark|Ark]].
| | ==''Halo'' universe== |
| | *'''[[Covenant]]''' - A massive empire and theocratic hegemony of multiple alien species residing in the [[Milky Way]]. |
| | **[[Covenant High Council]] |
| | **[[Covenant military]] |
| | **[[Covenant fleet]] |
| | *'''[[Covenant remnants]]''' - A series of smaller divided splinter factions born in the wake of the Covenant hegemony's collapse, some of which self-proclaim to be “the Covenant”.<ref name="escalation5">'''[[Halo: Escalation]]''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 5|Issue #5]]''</ref> |
| | **[[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]] |
| | **[[Merg Vol's Covenant]] |
| | **[[Sali 'Nyon's Covenant]] |
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| ==Background== | | ==Real-world== |
| '''The Covenant''' was first formed by two alien species, the [[Elites]] and the [[Prophets]], the Prophets being the leaders. The name "Covenant" was taken from the binding pact that forged the peace between the Elites and the Prophets. The war which had devastated their respective races for years, was fought over the few remaining [[Forerunners]] artifacts on their home worlds, with the Elites wishing to preserve them, and the Prophets wishing to use the artifacts to explore the galaxy. The Elites held a distinct strategic upper hand, as their militaristic society was ready for a war, but the Prophets had one massive advantage; an immensely powerful Forerunner construct known as the Dreadnought. After the Prophets decided to use the [[Forerunner Dreadnought]] against the Elites, the Prophets destroyed the Sangheili forces, while the wise and prudent Elite Commanders, realizing their peril, laid their arms aside and likewise cast their hatred away from the war. When the Prophets found evidence of the Forerunners and their [[The Great Journey|"Great Journey"]], hoping to create a peace between them, told the Elites of their discovery and promised to find the means of the Forerunners' transcendence. The Prophets would share this knowledge with the Elites who in turn would protect the Prophets from harm as they searched for transcendent Forerunner artifacts to activate all the [[Halo Array|Halo Installations]]. These ideas would be put into the Covenant's founding document, the [[Writ of Union]]. | | *'''[[The Covenant (level)|The Covenant]]''' - The eighth level of ''[[Halo 3]]''. |
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| | *'''''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Covenant]]''''' - The second story arc in the [[Halo: Fall of Reach|comic book adaptation]] of ''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''. |
| At first, the Covenant were only a loose non-aggression pact of two races held together by a common need to avoid mutually assured destruction<ref name="best"/>; but, as their society advanced, so did their technology, culture, and religion. By the [[2552|time]] of the [[Halo Series|Halo games]], the Covenant control a large part of the [[Orion Arm]] of the [[Milky Way galaxy]]. Their society had evolved into a complicated caste system, with the Prophets governing the Covenant, and the Elites left in charge of the military. The Covenant was a theocracy, based on prophecies about the Sacred rings and The Great Journey. The primary belief of the Covenant was that the Halos will allow them passage into the "Divine Beyond", where they might join the Forerunners as gods, while those who did not believe in the Great Journey would be left behind to die by the power of the Halo rings.
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| ==Society==
| | {{disambig}} |
| ===The Government===
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| The Covenant is governed by the [[High Council]], which is led by the trio of the [[Hierarchs]] and consists of lesser Prophets, [[Legate]]s and very high ranking Elites. However, near the start of the [[Covenant Civil War]], the Prophets began to replace the Elites with Brutes, in various positions in Covenant society, including the protection of the Hierarchs and command of the [[Covenant Fleet|Covenant Fleets]]. The Prophets of [[Truth]] and [[Mercy]] used [[Regret]]'s assassination at the hands of the [[Master Chief]] as an excuse to replace the Elite guard with Brutes. Truth and Mercy decided that the Elites were unable to protect the Prophets and replaced them with the Brutes. The Prophets then secretly ordered the Brutes to instigate a genocide of the Elites leading to the beginning of the Civil War.
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| In addition to the High Council, there are three other Councils: the [[Council of Concordance]], the [[Council of Doctrine and Deed]] and the [[Council of Masters]].
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| Numerous Ministries exist within the Covenant government as well, each of which possesses a single role. The [[Ministry of Tranquility]] is charged with hiring [[Jackals]] as mercenaries, while the [[Ministry of Concert]] represents the lower caste races such as Jackals and [[Grunt|Grunts]].
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| {{Covenant Government}} | |
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| === Species ===
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| [[Image:Scale.GIF|left|450px]]
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| Covenant society is based around a caste system of the species below. Many of the alien species conquered by the Covenant are conscripted into, or gradually become part of the alliance.<ref>[[Media:Humans hunted.ogg|''Halo 2'' dialogue]], [[Prophet of Regret]]</ref> However, during first contact with the Humans, [[Mendicant Bias|The Oracle]] on board the [[Forerunner Dreadnought]] revealed to [[Truth]] and [[Regret]] that Humans are "My Makers", as shown by its luminary. Since the entire Covenant was based on the belief that the Forerunners had transcended, or evolved, Truth and Regret knew if any of the other races found out what the Oracle told them, the Covenant would break apart.
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| [[Image:1207642645 Prophet.jpg|thumb|100 px|A Prophet]]
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| ====[[San'Shyuum|Prophets]]====
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| As the highest caste, it is the Prophets who lead the Covenant and exert complete control over religious and political affairs. Physically weak, Prophets wield power through absolute command of the Covenant and through scavenged Forerunner technology, leaving the task of conquest to the Elites and the other races. Their higher understanding of the Forerunners gives them great egos and religious powers over the Covenant. The fact that the Covenant are religious zealots makes it all the more easy to control them.<ref name="best"/> They are addressed as '[[Hierarchs]]' or 'Holy Ones' by the other races of the Covenant. Prophets enforce a misguided theology based on the belief that firing the Halo array will herald some kind of sublimation event called the [[Great Journey]]. They are called '''San 'Shyuum''' in the Covenant language. The most recent [[Hierarchs]] were [[Regret]], [[Mercy]] and, [[Truth]].
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| [[Image:Brutecaptain.jpg|thumb|75px|A Brute Major Captain]]
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| ====[[Jiralhanae|Brutes]]====
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| Brutes are one of the new species to the Covenant and is the only race that has obtained equal status to that of one of the founding "clients" of the Covenant pact, the Elites. They have an incredible natural resilience to damage that makes up for their lack of [[Energy Shields]] (be it noted that later in ''[[Halo 3]]'' they get power armor), and use a number of [[Brute Sandbox|weapons and vehicles]] based upon their pre-Covenant technology. As opposed to standard Brute combat, Brutes sometimes will go "berserk," and will kill anyone or anything in its path. The said Brute will charge mindlessly in the event of its armor being shot off or its companions being killed. Brutes have their own ranks going up to [[War Chieftain]]s who usually wield [[Type-52 Directed Energy Support Weapon|Plasma Cannons]], [[Type-33 Light Anti-Armor Weapon|Fuel Rod Guns]], or [[Chieftain]]s who usually wield [[Type-2 Energy Weapon/Hammer|Gravity Hammers]]. The [[Brute]]s always work in packs of 3-8 when possible. Brutes are unlike Elites in that they do not have an aversion to using Human weapons, as shown in the books and ''[[Halo 2]]''. After the Elites were replaced for failing to protect the High Prophet of [[Regret]] from the '[[John-117|Demon]]', they took over their role as personal [[Brute Bodyguard|bodyguards]] of the Prophets and also now make up most of the Covenant army. They have a hairy, ape-like appearance with rough, rhino-like skin and have a helmet-like head. They are called '''Jiralhanae''' in the Covenant language. In Halo 2 it is harder to kill a brute by melee than it is than in Halo 3
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| [[Image:Profile small.jpg|thumb|100px|A [[Minor]] Elite]]
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| ====[[Sangheili|Elites]]====
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| Elites served as the military leaders for the Covenant. While Prophets often had the last say, it was the Elites who organized military campaigns and naval engagements. [[Ship Master]]s commanded ships, Fleet Masters commanded mighty Fleets, and [[Field Masters]] commanded the vast armies. Elites maintained the military structure of the Covenant and ensured the Prophets' orders, as well as their own, were carried out. They also had a diverse [[rank]] structure which is based of how many foes an Elite had killed. Elites were a major component of the Covenant and were the only caste able to maintain the military hierarchy as well as having a voice within the [[High Council]]. As the Prophets and Brutes attempted genocide of the Elites, they [[Covenant Separatists|left the Covenant]], sparking a [[Great Schism|civil war]] within the Covenant and allied themselves with the [[UNSC]]. They are called '''Sangheili''' in the Covenant language.
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| [[Image:1207643231 Www the-junkyard net images characters halo hunter large jpg SPLASH.jpg|thumb|90px|A [[Hunter]].]]
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| ====[[Mgalekgolo|Hunters]]====
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| Hunters are an assemblage of worm-like entities called [[Lekgolo]] that create a communal, armor-plated form. They work hard in their role as Covenant muscle, and never disobey orders. Hunters are dismissive and contemptuous of their foes, and in fact, they will only associate with Elites, recognizing and respecting the similar warrior thoughts. Hunters always fight in pairs and are deployed almost like heavy equipment of the Covenant fighting units. The bonded pairs, more commonly known as bond brothers (i. e. two Hunters) are actually a colony of worms (called Lekgolo worms) that has grown too large for a single piece of armor. In [[Halo: Contact Harvest]] single Hunters guard the [[Dreadnought]]. Due to their 12 foot height, extremely strong armor and strength, and their arm mounted [[Assault Cannon]], other Covenant will often clear the area of deployment, since [[Hunters]] are unconcerned with collateral damage, they may even purposely kill the lesser castes, (i.e. Jackals) simply for getting in their way. They are called '''Mgalekgolo''' in the Covenant Language. The Hunters were forced to join the Covenant out of fear that their planet would be glassed. Hunters were unstoppable on the ground but the Elites and Prophets had the advantage in space, leading to the successful [[Taming of the Hunters]]. Later in the Covenant Civil War, some Hunters joined with the Elites, while some joined the Loyalists. Although it appears Hunters have two "arms" the Hunter could in fact have as many appendages as they have liked, as explained in ''Halo: Contact Harvest''. In ''Halo 3'' Lekgolo worms are seen driving the Scarabs (on the back of the scarab just before destroying them it will show four red slimy things thought to be Lekgolos). As described in the ''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx'' a Hunter speaking is the individual Lekgolo worms moving in unison to create words that are more felt then heard.
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| [[Image:Palamok.jpg|thumb|100px|A [[Drone]].]]
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| ====[[Yanme'e|Drones]]====
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| These flying, insect like warriors called Drones serve almost exclusively as professional soldiers rather than conforming to Covenant societal norms and are extremely dangerous, though they are the weakest of the Covenant military species, and quite a few weapons from both the Covenant and UNSC are powerful enough to deal and instant kill such as the Battle Rifle. Also, throwing a [[plasma grenade]] into their midst will kill a large number, although sticking one with a plasma grenade can be difficult due to their erratic movement. Their ability to fight on the wing makes them an excellent strategic weapon against ground-based opponents. Unlike most other Covenant race, the Drones do not require an oxygen-nitrogen atmosphere or a methane environment, as [[Grunts]] do, to survive. They are called '''Yanme'e''' in the Covenant language. Some people believe that Drones had joined the Covenant some time in between ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' and ''Halo 2''. This can be proved false, as they appear in the novel ''Halo: Contact Harvest'', which was the first Human-Covenant contact. Some will also say the reason they stop in flight on the ground or wall is because they have to rest after flying.
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| [[Image:Eayn.jpg|thumb|100px|A [[Jackal Minor]].]]
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| ====[[Kig-yar|Jackals]]====
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| Due to their superior senses, Jackals are the scouts and marksmen of the Covenant military. They are about 5'8" tall and due to their lack of physical durability, they carry a portable [[Jackal Personal Arm Shield|energy shield]] generator during combat. The types of weapons they carry are [[Type-25 Directed Energy Pistol|Plasma Pistol]]s, [[Type-51 Carbine|Covenant Carbine]]s, a single [[Type-50 Sniper Rifle System|Beam Rifle]], and occasionally [[Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher|Needler]]s. Their appearance is bird-like, earning them the nickname "Tree Turkeys". Jackals are employed mainly as sharpshooters with their excellent vision and dexterity. When a jackal is under fire, it will cover its head with its hands and trot away to another position from which to fire from. The first [[Human]] contact was between [[Staff Sergeant]]s [[Johnson]] and [[Byrne]] on a Human Freighter as Jackal pirates tried to board the ship. Jackals have never been seen throwing grenades. They are called '''Kig-yar''' in Covenant language.
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| [[Image:H3 Grunt Major.jpg|thumb|100px|A [[Grunt Major]].]]
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| ====[[Unggoy|Grunts]]====
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| Grunts are the workhorses of the Covenant, as the name implies. Despite their obvious cowardice and ineptitude, they excel dangerously in large numbers, which may have been why an [[Arbiter (Character)|Arbiter]] was needed to quell the [[Grunt Rebellion]]. They breathe a methane mixture and thus must wear a large tank on their backs full of the methane to live. In ''[[Halo 3]]'' if you knock off their backs the methane will come out. However, they can briefly survive after it is shot off. They fight well in [[Shade|Plasma Turrets]] and use the [[Type-25 Directed Energy Pistol|Plasma Pistol]] and [[Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher|Needler]], sometimes wielding the [[Type-33 Light Anti-Armor Weapon|Fuel Rod Gun]] as well. If their leader is killed, Grunts will run away or they may go Kamikaze by activating two [[Plasma Grenades]] (one on each hand) while charging at you. On the other hand, [[Heretic Grunt]]s will fearlessly charge the enemy when their leader is dead. Their discipline is dependent upon strong leadership and strength of numbers; however leaderless, they will significantly present less resistance, often cowering. Grunts are exceeding easy to kill, in ''[[Halo 2]]'' Grunts can be kill with a single burst from a Battle Rifle to the head. Unggoy have a considerable amount of physical strength, enabling them to wield large weapons in the Covenant arsenal. They had learned many Human languages from intercepting transmissions between Human vessels. One theory about the Unggoy's ability to learn languages rather quickly is that there isn't much else to focus on when the are stuck intercepting transmissions for the Covenant. They are called '''Unggoy''' in the Covenant language. During the [[Covenant Civil War]] they, as well as the [[Hunters]] did not fully support either side.
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| [[Image:1207643494 Engineer front.gif|thumb|90px| An [[Engineer]].]]
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| ====[[Huragok|Engineers]]====
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| Engineers don't really fit in with the Covenant caste system. In military terms, they are the lowest as they are a non-militant race. They are needed to maintain the Covenant war machines and will only converse with the Prophets (also Grunts who learn their language). This, however, indicates Engineers are very high in the caste system, probably because The Covenant are aware of how much they are needed and that the Engineer's grasp on Covenant '''''and''''' foreign technology (observed in the novel ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'' to be disassembling a Human car and quickly repairing it) ( they are also known for fixing something that doesnt work as well as something that works perfectly fine), is profound. Engineers are actually an artificial species created by the Forerunners, which could contribute to their high status. They are called '''Huragok''' in the [[Forerunner]] and Covenant language. These were removed from the final version of ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', but are in some of the novels.
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| ====Deleted Races====
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| *''[[Drinol]]s'' are bosses that did not make it into the ''Halo'' games. They are thought to have been remade into the [[Flood Juggernaut]] boss flood type, which itself is a deleted [[Flood]] form.
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| *''[[Stalker]]s'' are a Covenant race that did not make it into ''[[Halo 2]]'', seen in the ''Halo 2 Collector's Edition Disc''. They were taken from original idea sketches of the Elites in the first ''Halo'' game and were supposed to be very wiry and skeletal, with massive amounts of teeth, similar to sharks.
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| *''[[Keelbug]]s'' are a deleted Covenant race seen in the ''Halo 2 Collector's Edition Disc''. They were a cross between Drones and Brutes, more like Drones but without the insect-like look to them. They were supposed to fly into the battlefield, cut dead bodies into sections, and fly off with them.
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| *''[[Alien Trooper]]s'' are a deleted Covenant race seen in the ''Halo 2 Collector's Edition Disc''. It is understood to be a deleted form of soldier that would complement the Elites. The only known data is that it was supposed to carry its weapon under its belly.
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| *''[[Special Purpose Sniper]]s'' are a deleted Covenant race seen in the ''Halo 2 Collector's Edition Disc''. Their arms were used like a tripod, so they could flip from side to side, without having to switch weapons. They would also be able to hang from trees.
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| *''[[Sharquoi]]'' were mentioned in the ''Halo 2 Collectors' Edition [[Conversations from the Universe|Booklet]]'', detailing conversations among Human and Covenant individuals. Nothing seen in any ''Halo'' product outside of that mentioning can be called a Sharquoi with any certainty.
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| ====Creatures Inhabiting Covenant Worlds====
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| *''[[Scrub Grub]]s'' are small creatures the equivalent of the rats found on Humanity's homeworld, [[Earth]]. They were first mentioned in ''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]'', while inhabiting a Jackal ship.
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| *''[[Zap-Jellie]]s'' are sea creatures that live on the Grunt home world, [[Balaho]]. Possibly the equivalent of large jellyfish on Earth.
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| *''[[Thorn Beast]]s'' are a food source for the Covenant. The only reference to the Thorn Beasts is in ''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]'', when the Brutes are first mentioned.
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| *''[[Mud Wasp]]s'' are insects found on the Grunt home world, Balaho.
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| *''[[Shade Crab]]s'' are crustaceans found on the Grunt home world, Balaho.
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| ===Religion and Culture===
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| [[Image:CFsymbols.jpg|250px|thumb|Forerunner symbols.]]
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| The Covenant society and culture is based only on worshiping the Forerunners and recovering their sacred artifacts. Because of this, they often have to turn to war to achieve their ends, and so the Elites, and later the Brutes, have a very high place in their culture as they are a big help to the Prophets when in war. In Covenant society, personal vendettas are not tolerated.<ref>[[Halo: The Flood]] page 95</ref>
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| Because of the Prophets' links to the Forerunners, they possess superior technology, and this, combined with the unique abilities of the client races, help to push the ever-growing war machine of the Covenant. The client races are nearly enslaved by the Covenant, forced to live a completely different way of life. Their past cultures are all but erased, and the only practical way for them to relive their former cultures is through dreams. Most races are only kept for their varying skills to be exploited, rather than to be a part of a flourishing empire. Hunters, for example, are indomitable ground forces, and so they were conquered by way of orbital bombardment to help the Covenant in close-range combat, rather than from star ships.
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| The Forerunners, a long-since vanished and utterly mysterious civilization, are revered as Gods by the Covenant, although their original nature was most likely not divine. The Covenant belief system is underpinned by the existence of numerous abandoned Forerunner artifacts, objects and installations. Of these, the most notable are the seven [[Halo rings]], said to be the locations at which the transcendent [[Great Journey]] may be begun. The evident technological perfection of Forerunner objects, and the awesome and unknown purpose for which these artifacts exist, has powered the Covenant theology for millennia.<ref name="best"/>
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| It appears that the Covenant's faith is solely qualified by finding the Forerunners' abandoned technology scattered throughout the galaxy. However, much of this Forerunner technology is as obtuse as it is arcane. It can only be guessed at what its true purpose and origin might be. That said, they have been able to incorporate some Forerunner advancements into their weapon and transport technology.<ref name="best"/> The Covenant, then, are mainly driven by their fanatical devotion to religion. The client races are held together by a common belief; the slave races are driven by the religion which they have been forced to accept.
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| ==The History Of The Covenant==
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| {{Main|History of the Covenant}}{{Ages}}
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| The Covenant divided their history into eons called Ages. There are ''at least'' eight ages, although their exact order is uncertain. The Ages are named according to things that have happened or are happening in them. This also means that the lengths of the Ages vary, with some longer than other. ''Halo 1'' and ''[[Halo 2]]'' take place during the 9th [[Ages of Reclamation|Age of Reclamation]], which began during the events in ''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''.
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| {{quote|The First Age: Ignorance and Fear.''<br>
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| ::''The Second Age: Rivalry and Bloodshed.''<br>
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| :::''The Third Age: Humility and Brotherhood.''<br>
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| ::::''The Fourth Age: Wonder and Understanding.''<br>
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| :::::''The Fifth Age: Obedience and freedom.''<br>
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| ::::::''The Sixth Age: Faith and Patience.''<br>
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| :::::::''The Seventh Age: Journey and Salvation.''|Maccabeus and the Jiralhanae of the Rapid Conversion. <ref>''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''</ref>}}
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| ==Technology==
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| {{main|Technology}}
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| Covenant technology is repeatedly referred to as more imitation rather than innovation, unlike their [[human]] enemies. Some may say that their technology is far more advanced than that of the humans.<ref>[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]], page 241</ref> Their technology is based largely on mimicry of the leftover Forerunner artifacts they have discovered; their weaponry is mostly plasma based and most of their vehicles are capable of hovering. Most of the Covenant's hand-held weapons (except the [[fuel rod cannon]], [[needler]], [[carbine]], [[brute shot]] and later the [[mauler]], and [[spiker]]) use magnetic coils to direct the usually unstable plasma.
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| While Covenant technology is (on the whole) far more advanced than humanity's, the Covenant seem to be ignorant of how precise or powerful their technology can be. Covenant engines, for example, are more precise and faster than a [[human]] engine, but the Covenant use their engines slower and less precisely than they can be used. This is because the Covenant don't bother to learn the principles behind the technology they use. [[Cortana]] used this to her advantage on the captured Covenant Flagship [[Ascendant Justice]] by reconfiguring the electromagnetic shaping coils to shape the plasma into a thin, sustained beam that, while very effective, consumes plasma at an astonishing rate. These Plasma Torpedoes are said to be a much more powerful torpedo, breaching a larger Covenant ship's shields and hull in one shot. These were seen in the book [[Halo: First Strike]]. As found in [[Halo: Contact Harvest]] it seems that the Covenant have a reasonable understanding of herbs.
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| Only 2 [[Covenant AI]] have ever been found. One was a [[rampant]] AI that was destroyed by Cortana, the other was The [[Seeker]]. Even though only 2 have been found there are more, but they are destroyed before they can be found.
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| Covenant architecture is known for its curved and sophisticated style, likely for the aesthetic tastes of the higher-ranked castes. Constructed of distinctive purple or white metal, these colors are the main focus of Covenant design and distributed throughout their starships, vehicles, and weapons. The metal they use is unknown to the [[UNSC]] but is very strong and resilient.
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| ==[[Covenant Military|Military]]==
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| {{Main|Covenant Military}}
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| Like other civilizations, the Covenant maintains a permanent armed forces branch, used to enforce order, conduct atmospheric and space combat operations, and generally project the Covenant's power onto others. Formerly led by the Elites prior to the [[Covenant Civil War]], the Loyalist branches are now led by the Brutes. The military comprises of the [[Covenant Navy (Service)|Covenant Navy]], the [[Covenant Army]] and the [[Covenant Special Operations]] Division (SpecOps).
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| ==Weaponry==
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| {{main|Covenant Weapons}}
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| The Covenant boast a large arsenal of Plasma based weapons. Most of the Covenant's weaponry uses a form of magnetic channeling that humans can only match with the [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|MAC gun]] aboard starships and the [[Warthog]] mounted [[M68 Gauss Cannon]].
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| The Covenant have a wide arsenal of [[weaponry]] to choose from. But, to the benefit of humanity they tend to adopt new weapons from the various races they encounter, and instead of researching it so they could use it to its full potential. This allowed the [[human]] race to use Plasma weaponry more effectively.
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| Plasma-based weaponry is ''extremely'' effective against the Covenant's own [[energy shielding]]. The amount of shots that can be fired tends to be very high, but power cannot be recharged without a recharge station nearby, and firing many shots in a short duration can cause the weapon to overheat, which reduces energy efficiency as well as forcing a temporary cooling period in which the weapon cannot be fired. Once the [[Plasma]] reserves are used up, the weapon is useless. As is evidenced in some of the game files, recharging is possible, although this technology cannot be used by the [[Master Chief]] or the Arbiter in [[Halo: Combat Evolved]], [[Halo 2]] or [[Halo 3]].
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| With the introduction of the Brutes as the major military caste within the Covenant, their weaponry has found widespread use. Utilizing crude projectile-like metal spikes in place of plasma, human-based hand held [[Shotguns]] "maulers", explosive grenade-like launchers, and sharp blades, they are more primitive, yet brutal - fitting, considering the nature of their creators, the Brutes.
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| There are three known types of dedicated melee weaponry used by the Covenant. The first, and certainly most well known, is the [[Energy Sword]], used solely by the [[Sangheili]]. Creating a solid blade of superheated plasma, it has both ceremonial and martial value to the Sangheili warriors, and its possession is closely monitored. Secondly is the [[Gravity Hammer]], used by Jiralhanae, which seems to be the cultural equivalent to the sword – rather than using a blade of plasma, it can generate a gravitational field, doing devastating damage. The third has not yet been seen in a game, but is used by [[Unggoy]] and [[Kig-Yar]] – an [[Energy Cutlass]], a crystal similar to those fired by the [[Needler]], used in melee combat, capable of embedding in a target and exploding. The [[Jiralhanae]] [[Brute Shot]], while extremely capable in melee combat, is not exclusively used as such.
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| ==Vehicles==
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| Covenant [[Vehicles]] use advanced anti-gravity technology for propulsion, as well as utilizing [[Plasma Cannons]] as offensive weaponry and are mainly being constructed out of a high-strength purple metal. Though often faster than their [[UNSC]] counterparts, Covenant vehicles are more unstable over uneven terrain where the sudden changes affects its handling. Recently, brute vehicles and technology have been incorporated into the Covenant's arsenal. Though more primitive, they serve the Brutes' need for power. All Covenant vehicles are made from a purple or dark blue type of metal, except for [[Brute]] [[Chopper|Choppers]] and Brute [[Prowler|Prowlers]], and all Covenant vehicles are nicknamed some kind of apparition by the UNSC, except for [[Scarabs]], [[Choppers]], and [[Prowlers]].
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| {{Covenant Vehicles}}
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| ==Covenant Worlds==
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| '''[[51 Pegasi-B System]]'''
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| *[[Pegasi Delta]]
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| '''[[Reliquary System]]'''
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| '''[[K7-49]]'''
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| '''[[Salia System]]'''
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| *[[Joyous Exultation]]
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| *[[Malhiem]] (Satellite)
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| '''[[Urs]] System (with stars [[Fied]] and [[Joori]] as secondary stars)'''
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| *[[Sanghelios]] ([[Elite]] Homeworld)
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| **[[Yermo]]
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| ***[[Iruiru]]
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| '''[[Tala]] System'''
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| *[[Balaho|Balaho]] ([[Grunt]] Homeworld)
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| **[[Buwan]] (Satellite)
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| **[[Padpad]] (Satellite)
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| '''[[Oth Sonin]] System'''
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| *[[Doisac]] ([[Brute]] Homeworld)
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| **[[Warial]] (Satellite)
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| **[[Solrapt]] (Satellite)
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| **[[Teash]] (Satellite)
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| '''Prophet Homeworld'''- Currently Unknown
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| '''[[Svir]] System'''
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| *[[Te]] ([[Hunter]] Homeworld)
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| **[[Rantu]]
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| **[[Uhtua]]
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| **23 smaller satellites
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| '''[[Napret]] System'''
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| *[[Palamok]] ([[Drone]] Homeworld)
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| **[[Naxook]] (Satellite)
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| **[[Oquiu]] (Satellite)
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| **[[Ka'amoti]] (Satellite)
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| **[[Kami]] (Satellite)
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| '''[[Y'Deio]] System (HD 69830)'''
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| *[[Chu'ot]]
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| **[[Eayn]] (Satellite) ([[Jackal]] homeworld)
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| ==Covenant Starships==
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| <center>''Also see the [[List of Starships]] article for further information''</center>
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| {|style="margin: 0 2em 0em 0em;font-size:85%;" align=center> id=toc
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| !align=center bgcolor=#6699CC colspan=2|'''<font color="white">Covenant Starship Length Comparison</font><br/>'''
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| |-
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| |[[Covenant Assault Carrier]]||5346 meters
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| |-
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| |{{Class|Reverence|Cruiser}}|| 3000 meters
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| |-
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| |{{Class|CCS|Battlecruiser}}||1782.2 meters
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| |-
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| |[[Covenant Destroyer]]|| 1500 meters
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| |-
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| |[[Covenant Carrier]] || 1455 meters
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| |-
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| |[[Covenant Frigate]] || 1000 meters
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| |-
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| |[[Covenant Stealth Corvette]] || Less than 485 meters
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| |-
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| |{{Class|Seraph|Starfighter}}|| 24.8 meters
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| |}
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| ===Fleets===
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| [[Image:High Charity wallpaper.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[High Charity]]]]
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| *[[Combined Fleet of Righteous Purpose]]
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| *[[Fleet of Particular Justice]]
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| *[[Second Fleet of Homogenous Clarity]]
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| *[[Fleet of Retribution]]- [[Separatist]] Fleet
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| ===Space Stations===
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| *''[[High Charity]]'' - Infested with Flood, then [[Second Battle of High Charity|destroyed]] by Master Chief on the [[Ark]].
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| *''[[Unyielding Hierophant]]'' - Destroyed by Master Chief and the Spartans of Blue Team
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| ===[[Carrier]]s===
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| ====[[Covenant Assault Carrier|Assault Carrier]]====
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| *''[[Shadow of Intent]]''
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| [[Image:Shadow of Intent.jpg|thumb|right|175px|The [[Assault Carrier]], ''[[Shadow of Intent]]'']]
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| ====[[Covenant Supercarrier|Supercarrier]]====
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| *''[[Sublime Transcendence]]'' - destroyed
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| ====[[Covenant Carrier|Carrier]]====
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| *''[[Lawgiver]]'' - unknown status, possibly destroyed
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| ===[[Cruiser]]s===
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| ====[[Flagship]]s====
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| *''[[Ascendant Justice]]'' - destroyed in the battle for the Unyielding Hierophant
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| *''[[Seeker of Truth]]'' - unknown status, possibly destroyed
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| ===={{Class|Reverence|Cruiser}}s====
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| *''[[Incorruptible]]'' - destroyed at the battle for [[Onyx]]
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| ===={{Class|CCS|Battlecruiser}}s====
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| [[Image:CCS-Battlecruiser.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A [[CCS-class_Battlecruiser|CCS-class Battlecruiser]]]]
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| *''[[Purity of Spirit]]'' - unknown status
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| *''[[Sacred Promise]]'' <small>(hypothesized)</small> - unknown status, probably destroyed
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| *''[[Truth and Reconciliation]]'' - destroyed in the [[Battle of Installation 04]]
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| ====[[Covenant Cruiser|Other Types]]====
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| *''[[Contrition]]'' - unknown status
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| *''[[Penance]]'' - unknown status
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| *''[[Rapid Conversion]]'' - likely active
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| ===Destroyers===
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| ====[[Covenant CPV-class|''CPV''-class Destroyer]]s====
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| *''[[Esteem]]'' - unknown status
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| *''[[Reverence]]'' - destroyed
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| ====[[Covenant Destroyer|Other Types]]====
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| *''[[Absolution]]'' - destroyed
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| *''[[Bloodied Spirit]]'' - destroyed, [[Onyx]]
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| *''[[Far Sight Lost]]'' - destroyed
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| *''[[Rapturous Arc]]'' - destroyed
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| ===[[Covenant Frigate|Frigate]]s===
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| *''[[Tenebrous]]'' - destroyed
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| *''[[Twilight Compunction]]'' - unknown status
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| *''[[Revenant]]'' - destroyed
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| ===Support Ships===
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| [[Image:InfinateSuccor.JPG|thumb|right|200px|[[Infinite Succor]]]]
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| *''[[Infinite Succor]]'' - destroyed, sent into a star [[The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor|to prevent the Flood from escaping.]]
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| ===Unknown Type===
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| *''[[Begotten Angel]]'' - unknown status
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| *''[[Commitment and Patience]]'' - unknown status
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| *''[[Devotion]]'' - unknown status
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| *''[[Pious Inquisitor]]'' - unknown status, most likely destroyed
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| {{CovenantShips}}
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| ==Important Covenant Events==
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| *[[Taming of the Hunters]]
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| *[[Grunt Rebellion]]
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| *[[Human-Covenant War]]
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| *[[Civil War of the Covenant]]
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| *[[The Great Journey]]
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| ==Known Legions==
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| *[[Dn'end Legion]]
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| *[[E'Toro Warrior Crèche]]
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| *[[R'Lan Warrior Crèche]]
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| *[[N'Noro Warrior Crèche]]
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| ==Sympathy for the Covenant==
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| Despite the fact that in-game the Covenant are all seemingly unlike Humans in their thoughts, feelings, and actions in the books of the series the Grunts and Elites are revealed to have sympathy and regret for their acts, and are generally almost comparable to Humans. In the books the Grunts are portrayed as unwilling laborers who only wish to be back on their own planet of Balaho, and often they are almost comical in their actions. The Elites are presented as proud warriors fighting for honour and what they believe is righteous and good. These are both traits portrayed by Human soldiers in the book series.
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| ==Food/Food Devices In The Covenant==
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| [[Food Nipple]] - A Device that feeds [[Unggoy]].
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| [[Hookah Tobacco]] - [[Prophet]] stimulate smoked via pipe.
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| [[Thorn Beast]]s - A Giant creature eaten by [[Jiralhanae]].
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| [[Shade Crab]]s - Crustaceans hunted/eaten by [[Unggoy]].
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| [[Mud Wasp]]s - Insects hunted/eaten by [[Unggoy]].
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| [[Scrub Grub]]s - Ratlike creatures living on Covenant ships.
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| [[Zap-Jellie]]s - Jellyfish-like creatures eaten by [[Unggoy]].
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| *A [[Jiralhanae]] revealed that if they could, they would literally eat a [[Sangheili]], this is heard in ''[[Halo 2]]''. Also the [[Jiralhanae]]'s partner suggested to toss him in with a cage full of hungry [[Jackals]] saying "they could use the meat".
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| ==Trivia==
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| *It is unknown whether the deleted Blind Wolf (a roadrunner-type creature that could have carried the [[Master Chief]]) was a nonsentient member of the Covenant that the Chief could have commandeered.
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| *A Covenant is a relationship with God or an agreement with others.
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| *The naming scheme for most Covenant vehicles have to do with paranormal beings or entities, the words [[Wraith]], [[Ghost]], [[Spectre]], [[Phantom]], [[Banshee]], and [[Spirit]] are all synonyms.
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| *More specifically, the Covenant's government system is a hierarchical theological oligarchy, having a caste system and being ruled by a group of specific individuals.
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| *In a biblical reference, [[the Ark]] of the Covenant represented the will of God, in connection with the quote: "Your destruction is the will of the Gods... and we are their instrument." This references the Covenant's belief they carry though the will of their gods, the Forerunner.
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| *The Covenant apparently have a strange fascination for purple; most, if not all, the vehicles are in some form of purple (you can debate the [[Wraith]] is semi-purple), the Arbiter has purple system (his motion tracker, etc) and the highest of the Covenant Elites wear purple clothing ([[Supreme Commander]] of the Fleet).
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| *Throughout the Human-Covenant War, 76 worlds in total have been glassed.
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| *The first Covenant species you encounter are Elites, while the first species you can actually fight in [[Halo: Combat Evolved]] is a trio of [[Unngoy]]. You first see the Elites when you look up to the control room in the first room and see the engineer being killed.
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| *In [[Halo 2]], the first Covenant species you encounter is a Grunt or an Elite.
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| *In [[Halo 3]] the first Covenant species you encounter are Grunts and a Brute.
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| *[[343 Guilty Spark (Monitor)|343 Guilty Spark]] often refers to Covenant species as "meddlers" due to their constant disregard for Containment protocols, and misinterpretation of [[Forerunner]] technology. Since the Separatists learned the truth about the Forerunners they are no longer referred to as meddlers.
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| *The Covenant has acquired the nickname "Covie" or "Covies" by the [[UNSC]] Marines.
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| *Excluding [[Huragok]], [[7]] Covenant species appear in the game series ([[Elite|Elites]], [[Grunt|Grunts]], [[Brute|Brutes]], [[Prophet|Prophets]], [[Jackal|Jackals]], [[Hunter|Hunters]], and [[Drone|Drones]]). This could be another 7 reference.
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| *There are [[7]] ''Ages'' in the Covenant history. Another possible [[7]] reference.
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| * The Covenant have some similarities with the Hierarchy of the video game universe at war some examples are that wraiths and phase tanks are nearly the same, the shape of the architecture, the use of plasma and radiation, the affinity of destroying the humans and a like of a certain color (covenant purple/blue and the Hierarchy red blue).
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| ==Sources==
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| <references/>
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| ==Related Links==
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| ===Internal===
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| *[[Governors of Contrition]]
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| *[[Writ of Union]]
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| *[[Mark of Shame]]
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| *[[Great Journey]]
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| *[[True Sayings]]
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| *[[Ratification Parley]]
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| *[[Covenant Weapons]]
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| ===External===
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| *[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=697 A Covenant Primer: The Best of the Bestiary]
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| [[Category:The Covenant]]
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| [[Category:Factions]]
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| [[fr:Les covenants]]
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| [[it:Covenant]]
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| [[ja:コブナント]]
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