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{{Era|H3|UP}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{Ratings}}
{{Military infobox
|variant=Cov
|image=[[File:H3 - Retribution - Ark.png|300px]]
|formed=[[2552#November|November 3, 2552]]{{Ref/Marketing|Id=LongRoad|Halo Waypoint|The Long Road Home}}
|affiliation=*[[Covenant separatists]] {{c|formerly}}
*[[Swords of Sanghelios]] {{c|Post-[[2553#March|March 2553]]}}
|branch=
|type=
|role=
|size=*Hundreds of ships{{Ref/Reuse|floodgate}}{{Ref/Reuse|LongRoad}}{{Ref/Note|Id=composition|During Thel 'Vadam's conference with a Sangheili Major in the ''Halo 3'' level [[Floodgate]], 'Vadam stated that the Sangheili fleet quarantining [[Installation 05]] was composed of hundreds of vessels although it is unknown if he was referring to the total number of ships in the Fleet of Retribution. However, [[The Long Road Home]] documentary established that the ships chasing the Flood-infested ''Indulgence of Conviction'' to Earth was only part of a portion of Rtas 'Vadum's fleet that was glassing the Halo, hence a battle group, which could indicate that the hundreds of ships was referring to the entire size of 'Vadum's fleet.}} {{c|originally}}
**''Intent''{{'}}s [[battle group]] {{c|during the [[Battle of Voi]] and [[Battle of Installation 00]]}}
***At least 14 ships {{C|after the [[Fall of High Charity]]}}<ref name=heretic/>
***At least 10 ships {{C|at the [[Battle of Installation 00]]}}{{Ref/Reuse|ark}}{{Ref/Note|Id=fleetnumber|Text=See [[Truth's fleet#Notes|Truth's fleet's Notes section]] regarding the size of The Fleet of Retribution at Installation 00.}}
|nicknames-title=Flagship
|nicknames=''[[Shadow of Intent]]''
|battles= [[Human-Covenant War]]/[[Great Schism]]
*[[Battle of Installation 05]]
**[[Fall of High Charity]]
*[[Battle for Earth]]
**[[Battle of Voi]]
*[[Battle of Installation 00]]
**[[Battle of the Citadel]]
|commanders=*[[Fleetmaster]] [[Rtas 'Vadum]]
*[[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]] {{C|field commander}}
}}
{{Quote|multi=yes|q1=[[Truth's fleet|Brute ships]]! Staggered line! Shipmaster, they outnumber us, three to one!|Sangheili Major|q2=Then it is an even fight... All cruisers, fire at will! Burn their mongrel hides!|Rtas 'Vadum|A [[Sangheili Major]] navigator advising [[Shipmaster]] [[Rtas 'Vadum]]}}
The '''Fleet of Retribution'''<ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=thesoundofsack '''Bungie.net:''' ''The Tru7h About Co-Op In Halo 3'']</ref> was a [[Covenant fleet|naval formation]] composed of ships under [[Sangheili]] command that broke off from the [[High Charity defense fleet]], including the [[Second Fleet of Homogeneous Clarity]], when the [[Great Schism]] began. The fleet was led by former [[Special Operations Commander]] of the [[Fleet of Particular Justice]] [[Rtas 'Vadum]], with ''[[Shadow of Intent]]'' serving as the flagship. The Fleet of Retribution was the only known group within the [[Covenant separatists]] to ally with the [[UNSC]] during the Great Schism. The fleet briefly took in forces from the devastated [[UNSC Home Fleet]] during the final days of the [[Human-Covenant War]]. During the [[Battle of Installation 00|joint assault]] on the [[Forerunner]] [[Installation 00]], the fleet played an instrumental role in bringing about the Covenant's defeat. After the war, the fleet's personnel and naval components would be incorporated into the reformed [[Swords of Sanghelios]].
 
[[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]], future leader of [[Sanghelios]], served as a field commander in the fleet. Other notable figures serving with Retribution include [[Miranda Keyes|Commander Miranda Keyes]], Spartan and [[Master Chief Petty Officer]] [[John-117]], and [[Sergeant Major]] [[Avery Johnson]].
 
==History==
===Formation and Great Schism===
{{Main|Great Schism|Fall of High Charity}}
[[File:H3 Heretic FleetOfRetribution.jpg|left|thumb|250px|A portion of the Fleet of Retribution pursues the ''[[Indulgence of Conviction]]'' to Earth.]]
When the [[Great Schism]] erupted across the Covenant-controlled space during the [[Battle of Installation 05]], the [[High Charity Defense Fleet]] was split in two. Sangheili-controlled ships and those under [[Jiralhanae]] leadership began to open fire on each other over [[High Charity]]. Many Covenant species in proximity to the Sangheili remained loyal to them during the conflict, notably the [[Unggoy]] and the [[Mgalekgolo]].<ref name="Uprising">'''[[Halo 2]]''', campaign level ''[[Uprising]]''</ref>
 
On Installation 05, [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]] had formed an uneasy alliance with [[Sergeant Major]] [[Avery Johnson]] in order to stop the [[Chieftain of the Jiralhanae]] [[Tartarus]] from activating it. While the conflict for the Delta Halo was raging, [[Rtas 'Vadum]] and his strikeforce managed to recapture the ''[[Shadow of Intent]]'' from the Jiralhanae and seized control of the carrier.<ref name="universe">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/vehicles/shadow-of-intent ''Halo Waypoint'': Shadow of Intent]</ref>{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}} The damage taken during the hand-to-hand combat of these boarding actions was hastily sealed off and much left without full repair.<ref name="Warfleet">''[[Halo: Warfleet]]'', Shadow of Intent - p.70-71</ref> With the carrier now served as the flagship of the newly-formed Fleet of Retribution coming under the command of [[Fleetmaster]] Rtas 'Vadum, the ''Shadow of Intent'' along with the ''[[Eternal Reward]]'', were the two only Sangheili-crewed [[CAS-class assault carrier|assault carriers]] to partake the space fight against the Jiralhanae-led vessels loyal to the [[San'Shyuum]] over the High Charity at the time. During the battle, ''Eternal Reward'' was attacked by a loyalist fleet of eight [[Covenant destroyer|destroyers]] and [[Covenant cruiser|cruisers]] at close range led by [[Prelate]] [[Tem'Bhetek]]'s modified {{Pattern|Zanar|light cruiser}} ''[[Spear of Light]]''. The carrier was able to destroy its attackers save for the ''Spear of Light'' before being destroyed by the light cruiser after its crew were forced to abandon the ship.{{Ref/Reuse|soi}}
 
The ''Shadow of Intent'' led the blockade of High Charity and traded plasma torpedoes with San'Shyuum-controlled vessels to prevent any ships from escaping the quarantine of the station. No loyalist vessels was capable of matching ''Shadow of Intent'' in firepower and therefore intended to overwhelm the warship with a multitude of cruisers once its support ships had been destroyed. However, this plan went awry following the emergence of the Flood. During the blockade, ''Shadow of Intent'' used its [[ventral beam]] to partially [[glass]] High Charity in an attempt to combat the Flood aboard it.{{Ref/Reuse|soi}}  The Sangheili-controlled remnants of the [[High Charity defense fleet]], which stayed behind during [[Imperial Admiral]] [[Xytan 'Jar Wattinree]]'s [[Joyous Exultation Covenant|summons]] at [[Joyous Exultation]], were reformed into the Fleet of Retribution.
 
After Tartarus was ultimately killed at the hands of Thel 'Vadam and the firing of the Installation 05 was averted, the new alliance formed between the Sangheili and UNSC shortly carried over to the rest of the Fleet of Retribution. The Arbiter, [[Miranda Keyes]] and [[Avery Johnson]] would rendezvous with 'Vadumee. Together, they formulated a plan to get to Earth and also for sterilization and quarantine of the spreading Flood on the Halo Installation 05. [[343 Guilty Spark]], the former [[monitor]] of the [[Installation 04]], remained with the fleet to coordinate containment efforts while the Arbiter, [[Usze 'Taham]], [[N'tho 'Sraom]], Keyes and Johnson, and the surviving UNSC forces raced back to Earth aboard one of the fleet's vessels to warn humanity and to locate the Ark before November 15, 2552.{{Ref/Reuse|LongRoad}}<ref name="lootcrate2">'''[[Halo Legendary Crate]]''', ''[[Halo Legendary Crate/Data Drops|Data Drop #2]]''</ref>
 
Following the [[Prophet of Truth]]'s escape to [[Earth]] aboard the [[Anodyne Spirit|Forerunner Dreadnought]] along with the remaining loyalist ships of the High Charity defense fleet, most of the fleet Thel 'Vadam and Rtas 'Vadum, hence hundreds of ships, remained near [[Halo Array|Halo]] [[Installation 05]] to quarantine the local [[Flood]] threat by [[glassing]] the surface and also blockaded the ringworld to prevent the [[Flood]] from escaping after the Sangheili forces eventually triumphed at the Halo installation.{{Ref/Reuse|floodgate}}<ref>[[Eleventh Hour reports]]</ref> However, a Flood-controlled vessel, ''[[Indulgence of Conviction]]'', evaded the blockade and headed for [[Earth]]. A [[battle group]] of the fleet consisting of at least 12 {{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}}s, including the ''[[Pious Inquisitor]]'', and at least 2 {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}s, including the flagship ''Shadow of Intent'' herself, chased after that ship including near a ringed gas giant planet.<ref name=heretic/><ref name="EVG">'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 124''</ref>
 
It is unknown what happened to the rest of the fleet following the Rtas 'Vadum's battle group's departure to Earth and after High Charity, under the power of the [[Gravemind]], forced its way out of quarantine and made its way to Earth as well but later to the Ark instead to stop the [[Prophet of Truth]]'s attempt to activate the [[Halo Array]] at the massive Forerunner installation.
 
===Action on Earth and Installation 00===
{{Quote|no=three|Sangheili Major|Thel 'Vadam|Sangheili Major|q1=A single ship broke through our line, and we gave chase.|q2=But we had a fleet of hundreds!|q3=Alas brother, the Flood... It has evolved!|A [[Sangheili Major]] discussing with the [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]] about quarantine being broken by the [[Flood]]}}
{{Main|Battle of Voi|Battle of Installation 00}}
[[File:2973083-Medium.jpg|thumb|250px|Infantry from the Fleet of Retribution during the [[Battle of the Citadel]].]]
The battle group of the Fleet of Retribution arrived on Earth during the closing stages of the [[Battle of Voi]], soon after the ''Indulgence of Conviction'' when the Flood on Earth has begun to spread from the Flood-controlled battlecruiser. The fleet deployed several Sangheili forces against the Flood and allow the [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan]] [[John-117]], the infamous "[[demons|demon]]" to the Covenant, to recover a pre-recorded message from [[Cortana]] aboard the crashed ''Indulgence of Conviction''.<ref name=floodgate>'''[[Halo 3]]''', campaign level ''[[Floodgate]]''</ref>
 
After recovering the message, the Shipmaster 'Vadum ordered the fleet to [[glassing|glass]] the area  immediately surrounding Voi to prevent the parasite from spreading further. Thel 'Vadam convinced Rtas 'Vadum to exercise restraint when glassing. Thus, only an area of Africa was glassed instead of a much wider area. The fleet would have glassed the entire planet if it was not for the Arbiter's counsel. The glassing of Voi by the Sangheili was much to the dismay of [[Fleet Admiral]] [[Terrence Hood]] who exaggeratedly accused them for glassing "half of the [[Africa|continent]]" most likely due to his continious distaste for his former foes for leading the Covenant forces against the humanity throughtout the [[Human-Covenant War]] and being responsible for the losses of many [[human colonies]] [[Fall of Reach|such as]] [[Reach]].{{Ref/Reuse|floodgate}}
 
'Vadum then attended an assembly on his flagship's bridge, wherein it was decided that a joint human-Sangheili force would pursue the [[Prophet of Truth]]'s [[Truth's fleet|massive fleet]] through the [[slipspace]] [[The Portal|portal]] that had recently been opened. Subsequently, the Fleet of Retribution, along with UNSC forces from [[Battle Group Victory]] of the [[Seventh Fleet]], including the [[Charon-class light frigate|UNSC frigate]] ''[[UNSC Forward Unto Dawn|Forward Unto Dawn]]'', [[Battle of Installation 00|engaged]] the Prophet of Truth's forces at [[Installation 00]]. Confronted with an enemy which outnumbered them three to one, the Fleet of Retribution nevertheless succeeded in destroying the Covenant's orbital forces, assisting the UNSC on the surface of the Ark.{{Ref/Reuse|ark}} The surviving members of the Fleet of Retribution and human forces evacuated Installation 00, leaving Truth's remaining forces to their doom. Only ''Shadow of Intent'' and ''Pious Inquisitor'' are known to have survived the Battle of Installation 00, though it is possible that other vessels remained intact.<ref name=cortana>'''[[Halo 3]]''', campaign level ''[[Cortana (level)|Cortana]]''</ref>
 
===Post-war===
{{Main|Swords of Sanghelios}}
After the Sangheili were victorious in destroying the Covenant, they split off into [[Covenant remnants|several different factions]]. While numerous of surviving Sangheili from the [[Great Schism]], including the majority of the Fleet of Retribution, joined the Arbiter's emerging and renewed [[Swords of Sanghelios]], which would become the official government of [[Sanghelios]], many have chosen to take control over what was left of the former Covenant that they had destroyed; some joined [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]] while others consolidated into smaller independent factions.<ref name=lotr>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-lore-of-the-rings '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Canon Fodder - Lore of the Rings''] ''"Like the rest of the Sangheili, the surviving Councilors were not completely unified in their opinions on how to proceed following the Great Schism. While some did take up the Arbiter’s cause, many others had become enamored with the idea of bringing the Covenant empire under complete Sangheili rule, quickly scrambling to grab power wherever they could. Some of these eventually served under Jul ‘Mdama, while others consolidated small pockets of reclaimed Covenant assets under more independent factions."''</ref>
 
Due to the increasing of the Sangheili civil war known as the [[Blooding Years]], the ''Shadow of Intent'' and its crew was taken far away from Sanghelios and sent to the frontiers of the former-Covenant territory in an attempt to find rest and recuperation following the Human-Covenant War. At this point, ''Shadow of Intent'' was ordered by Thel 'Vadam to be out of reach of allies whose loyalties were not as certain as Rtas 'Vadum's.{{Ref/Reuse|soi}} Between [[2553#March|March 6]] and [[2553#August|August 24,]] [[2553]], the carrier was believed to be retrieving former Covenant long-range exploratory fleets.<ref name="Catalog">[https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postsm2969315_Catalog-Interaction.aspx#post2969315 ''Halo Waypoint'': Catalog Interaction - Page 14] (defunct, [[Catalog/Archive/2014#Post .236|Archived]])</ref>  At this time, ''Shadow of Intent'' was the only operational ''CAS''-class assault carrier within the Swords of Sanghelios fleet.{{Ref/Reuse|soi}}
 
The ''Shadow of Intent'' was involved in [[Attack on Rahnelo|a battle]] on the Sangheili colony of [[Rahnelo]]. The [[San'Shyuum]] [[Prelate]] [[Tem'Bhetek]] set a trap for Rtas 'Vadum and the ''Shadow of Intent''. Many lives were lost and the Kaidon and two of his sons were taken hostage. The plot, which involved using a [[Prototype Halo installation]] to destroy [[Sanghelios]] was ultimately [[Battle of the Prototype Halo installation|thwarted]] by the crew of the ''Shadow of Intent'' with help from Tem after he realized he was being manipulated by the Minister of Preparation [[Boru'a'Neem]]. Having learned from the ''[[Spear of Light]]''{{'}}s navigation database that there was a fleet of thousands of San'Shyuum still out there, Shipmaster [[Rtas 'Vadum]] decided to seek them out and try to determine who should be pardoned as innocents and who should be persecuted as [[war criminal]]s.<ref name=soi>'''[[Halo: Shadow of Intent]]'''</ref>


{{Fleet
==Composition==
|image=[[Image:Sepratist Slipspace.JPG|300px]]
The Fleet of Retribution was composed of hundreds of warships during the glassing of [[Installation 05]], mostly composed of what it remains within the [[High Charity defense fleet]] when these ships did not join the [[Imperial Admiral]] [[Xytan 'Jar Wattinree]]'s [[Joyous Exultation|summons]] and its [[Combined Fleet of Righteous Purpose]]. At least one [[battle group]] of at least 14 warships of the fleet, including the flagship ''Shadow of Intent'', was known to be present during the [[Battle for Earth]].{{Ref/NoteReuse|composition}}<ref name=heretic>'''[[Halo 3]]''', multiplayer level ''[[Heretic]]''</ref> At least 10 warships of the Fleet of Retribution later participated in the [[Battle of Installation 00]].{{Ref/Reuse|ark}}{{Ref/NoteReuse|fleetnumber}}
|name=''Fleet of Retribution''
|capacity=9 [[CCS-class Battlecruiser]]s, 1 [[Assault Carrier]]
|commander=[[Rtas 'Vadum]]
|battles=[[Second Battle of Installation 00]]
|firstuse=November 4th, [[2552]]
|era=[[Covenant Civil War]]  
|affiliation=[[Covenant]] (later [[Covenant Separatists]])
}}


The [[Special Warfare Group|Fleet of Retribution Special Warfare Group]] includes [[Rtas 'Vadum]], [[Thel 'Vadam]], [[Usze 'Taham]], [[N'tho 'Sraom]] and a number of [[Sangheili Minor]]s, [[Sangheili Major|Majors]], and [[Special Operations Sangheili|Special Operations]], and [[Sangheili High Councilor|High Councilors]], and also [[Unggoy Minor]]s, [[Special Operations Unggoy|Special Operations]], [[Unggoy Major|Majors]], and [[Mgalekgolo]].{{Ref/Reuse|Uprising}}


The '''''Fleet of Retribution'''''<ref>http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=thesoundofsack</ref>  was a former fleet serving under the [[Covenant]]. When the [[Great Schism]] began, this fleet was under [[Sangheili]] control. <ref>''[[Halo 3]]'', levels ''[[Floodgate]]'', ''[[The Ark (Level)|The Ark]]'', ''[[The Covenant (Level)|The Covenant]]'' and ''[[Halo (Halo 3 Level)|Halo]]''</ref> It is a smaller organization of the [[Sangheilian Armed Forces]].
Other forces serving with Retribution include allied UNSC forces, such as [[S4/BRT/1/7]], [[S4/BLCE/1/7]], [[11th Marine Force Reconnaissance/ODST]], and [[Battle Group Victory]] of the [[UNSC]] [[Seventh Fleet]], including the {{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}}.<ref name=ark>'''[[Halo 3]]''', campaign level ''[[The Ark (level)|The Ark]]''</ref><ref name=thecovenant>'''[[Halo 3]]''', campaign level ''[[The Covenant (level)|The Covenant]]''</ref>
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-3}}
===''CAS''-class assault carriers===
*At least 3 {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}s
**''[[Shadow of Intent]]'' – [[Flagship]], active as of [[2559]]
**''[[Eternal Reward]]'' – Destroyed by the ''[[Spear of Light]]'' during the [[Great Schism]]
{{Col-3}}
===''CCS''-class battlecruisers===
*At least 12 {{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}}s
**''[[Pious Inquisitor]]''<ref>'''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]''', ''page 275''</ref> – Stolen by the [[Servants of the Abiding Truth]] and later [[Kig-Yar]] and [[Insurrectionist]]s. Destroyed during the [[Skirmish on Pious Inquisitor]].
{{Col-3}}


Notable members of the Fleet of Retribution's [[Special Warfare Group]] were the Elites [[N’tho ‘Sraom]] and [[Usze ‘Taham]].
===Allied vessels===
*[[Seventh Fleet]]
**At least 1 {{Class|Charon|light frigate}}
***{{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}} – Destroyed when trying to escape the [[Installation 08]] at the end of the [[Raid on Installation 08]].
{{Col-end}}


==Background==
==Gallery==
This unit, commanded and directed by [[Ship Master]] [[Rtas 'Vadum]] fought during the latter part of the [[Second Battle of Earth]], as well as the smaller engagement, the [[Battle of Voi]]. Following the battle but prior to their engagement at Installation 00, Shipmaster 'Vadum ordered the ships under his command to glass the immediate area surrounding Voi following a brief exposure to The Flood in which a Flood-commandeered Covenant ship crash landed on Earth and the Flood began to spread. Much to the dismay of [[Lord Hood]] and the rest of the Humans, the glassing was the only option if the Flood were to be completely stopped from overwhelming Earth.[[Image:Halo3-1213288431-22.jpg|thumb|200px|The fleet over the Ark]]
<gallery>
[[Image:Starry Night by the Ark.PNG|thumb|200px|The Fleet over the Portal to the Ark.]]
File:Three Elites.jpg|'Vadam with the Special Warfare Group.
Subsequently, they confronted [[Truth's Fleet]] at [[Installation 00]] during the [[Battle of the Ark]]. Most of the ships survived due to the superior skill and equipment of the Elites. This Fleet was likely a collection of ships that survived the battle around ''[[High Charity]]'' that subsequently overcame both Covenant Loyalist and Flood forces in the skirmish. It is unknown how many ships survived the space battle against [[Truth's fleet]], because later in the game you only see the ''[[Shadow of Intent]]''. It could be possible that no others survived,  though Rtas Vadum may have sent all the other ships back to Sanghelios following the destruction of the Brutes.
File:Halo3 E3 TRAILER 2007 720p30 ST 6300Kbps 002 0001.jpg|Preventing a further Flood outbreak, battlecruisers glassed Voi.
File:H3 - Chasing Truth.png|''Retribution'' traversing through the Portal to the Ark. Lord Hood's Pelican is in the foreground.
File:Helljumper Squad.jpg|Force Recon Marines assault an [[Type-27 Anti-Aircraft Cannon|anti-aircraft]] emplacement.
File:Trident11.jpg|Two sections of ''Retribution'' dropships.
</gallery>


==Ships==
==List of appearances==
* ''[[Shadow of Intent]]'' - Flagship
*''[[Halo 3]]'' {{1st}}
* {{Class|CCS|Battlecruiser}}s - At least nine
*''[[Halo: Mortal Dictata]]'' {{Mo}}
* Later, at least 2 [[UNSC]] [[Frigates]] ''[[Forward Unto Dawn]]'' and ''[[Aegis Fate]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos]]'' {{Mo}}


== Trivia ==
==Notes==
*A possible note is that this fleet used modified [[plasma]] weaponry that was improved by the [[Humans]], like what [[Cortana]] did in [[Operation: First Strike]] on the ship ''[[Ascendant Justice]]''.
{{Ref/Notes}}
*Once this minor fleet was surely one of many naval units compounding the ''[[Second Fleet of Homogenous Clarity]]''.


==Sources==
==Sources==
<references/>
{{Ref/Sources}}


{{Covenant Fleet Units}}
{{Covenant Fleet Units}}
 
[[Category:Covenant fleets|Retribution]]
[[Category:The Covenant]]
[[Category:Swords of Sanghelios military units]]
[[Category:Covenant Military Units]]
[[Category:Fleets]]

Latest revision as of 16:16, August 11, 2024

Fleet of Retribution
A portion of the Fleet of Retribution shortly after exiting slipspace over Installation 00

Active:

November 3, 2552[1]

Affiliation:

Size:

Flagship:

Shadow of Intent

Engagements:

Human-Covenant War/Great Schism

Commanders:

 

Sangheili Major: "Brute ships! Staggered line! Shipmaster, they outnumber us, three to one!"
Rtas 'Vadum: "Then it is an even fight... All cruisers, fire at will! Burn their mongrel hides!"
— A Sangheili Major navigator advising Shipmaster Rtas 'Vadum

The Fleet of Retribution[5] was a naval formation composed of ships under Sangheili command that broke off from the High Charity defense fleet, including the Second Fleet of Homogeneous Clarity, when the Great Schism began. The fleet was led by former Special Operations Commander of the Fleet of Particular Justice Rtas 'Vadum, with Shadow of Intent serving as the flagship. The Fleet of Retribution was the only known group within the Covenant separatists to ally with the UNSC during the Great Schism. The fleet briefly took in forces from the devastated UNSC Home Fleet during the final days of the Human-Covenant War. During the joint assault on the Forerunner Installation 00, the fleet played an instrumental role in bringing about the Covenant's defeat. After the war, the fleet's personnel and naval components would be incorporated into the reformed Swords of Sanghelios.

Arbiter Thel 'Vadam, future leader of Sanghelios, served as a field commander in the fleet. Other notable figures serving with Retribution include Commander Miranda Keyes, Spartan and Master Chief Petty Officer John-117, and Sergeant Major Avery Johnson.

History[edit]

Formation and Great Schism[edit]

Main articles: Great Schism, Fall of High Charity
A portion of the Fleet of Retribution pursues the Indulgence of Conviction to Earth.

When the Great Schism erupted across the Covenant-controlled space during the Battle of Installation 05, the High Charity Defense Fleet was split in two. Sangheili-controlled ships and those under Jiralhanae leadership began to open fire on each other over High Charity. Many Covenant species in proximity to the Sangheili remained loyal to them during the conflict, notably the Unggoy and the Mgalekgolo.[6]

On Installation 05, Arbiter Thel 'Vadam had formed an uneasy alliance with Sergeant Major Avery Johnson in order to stop the Chieftain of the Jiralhanae Tartarus from activating it. While the conflict for the Delta Halo was raging, Rtas 'Vadum and his strikeforce managed to recapture the Shadow of Intent from the Jiralhanae and seized control of the carrier.[7][8] The damage taken during the hand-to-hand combat of these boarding actions was hastily sealed off and much left without full repair.[9] With the carrier now served as the flagship of the newly-formed Fleet of Retribution coming under the command of Fleetmaster Rtas 'Vadum, the Shadow of Intent along with the Eternal Reward, were the two only Sangheili-crewed assault carriers to partake the space fight against the Jiralhanae-led vessels loyal to the San'Shyuum over the High Charity at the time. During the battle, Eternal Reward was attacked by a loyalist fleet of eight destroyers and cruisers at close range led by Prelate Tem'Bhetek's modified Zanar-pattern light cruiser Spear of Light. The carrier was able to destroy its attackers save for the Spear of Light before being destroyed by the light cruiser after its crew were forced to abandon the ship.[10]

The Shadow of Intent led the blockade of High Charity and traded plasma torpedoes with San'Shyuum-controlled vessels to prevent any ships from escaping the quarantine of the station. No loyalist vessels was capable of matching Shadow of Intent in firepower and therefore intended to overwhelm the warship with a multitude of cruisers once its support ships had been destroyed. However, this plan went awry following the emergence of the Flood. During the blockade, Shadow of Intent used its ventral beam to partially glass High Charity in an attempt to combat the Flood aboard it.[10] The Sangheili-controlled remnants of the High Charity defense fleet, which stayed behind during Imperial Admiral Xytan 'Jar Wattinree's summons at Joyous Exultation, were reformed into the Fleet of Retribution.

After Tartarus was ultimately killed at the hands of Thel 'Vadam and the firing of the Installation 05 was averted, the new alliance formed between the Sangheili and UNSC shortly carried over to the rest of the Fleet of Retribution. The Arbiter, Miranda Keyes and Avery Johnson would rendezvous with 'Vadumee. Together, they formulated a plan to get to Earth and also for sterilization and quarantine of the spreading Flood on the Halo Installation 05. 343 Guilty Spark, the former monitor of the Installation 04, remained with the fleet to coordinate containment efforts while the Arbiter, Usze 'Taham, N'tho 'Sraom, Keyes and Johnson, and the surviving UNSC forces raced back to Earth aboard one of the fleet's vessels to warn humanity and to locate the Ark before November 15, 2552.[1][11]

Following the Prophet of Truth's escape to Earth aboard the Forerunner Dreadnought along with the remaining loyalist ships of the High Charity defense fleet, most of the fleet Thel 'Vadam and Rtas 'Vadum, hence hundreds of ships, remained near Halo Installation 05 to quarantine the local Flood threat by glassing the surface and also blockaded the ringworld to prevent the Flood from escaping after the Sangheili forces eventually triumphed at the Halo installation.[2][12] However, a Flood-controlled vessel, Indulgence of Conviction, evaded the blockade and headed for Earth. A battle group of the fleet consisting of at least 12 Ket-pattern battlecruisers, including the Pious Inquisitor, and at least 2 CAS-class assault carriers, including the flagship Shadow of Intent herself, chased after that ship including near a ringed gas giant planet.[3][8]

It is unknown what happened to the rest of the fleet following the Rtas 'Vadum's battle group's departure to Earth and after High Charity, under the power of the Gravemind, forced its way out of quarantine and made its way to Earth as well but later to the Ark instead to stop the Prophet of Truth's attempt to activate the Halo Array at the massive Forerunner installation.

Action on Earth and Installation 00[edit]

Sangheili Major: "A single ship broke through our line, and we gave chase."
Thel 'Vadam: "But we had a fleet of hundreds!"
Sangheili Major: "Alas brother, the Flood... It has evolved!"
— A Sangheili Major discussing with the Arbiter Thel 'Vadam about quarantine being broken by the Flood
Main articles: Battle of Voi, Battle of Installation 00
Infantry from the Fleet of Retribution during the Battle of the Citadel.

The battle group of the Fleet of Retribution arrived on Earth during the closing stages of the Battle of Voi, soon after the Indulgence of Conviction when the Flood on Earth has begun to spread from the Flood-controlled battlecruiser. The fleet deployed several Sangheili forces against the Flood and allow the Spartan John-117, the infamous "demon" to the Covenant, to recover a pre-recorded message from Cortana aboard the crashed Indulgence of Conviction.[2]

After recovering the message, the Shipmaster 'Vadum ordered the fleet to glass the area immediately surrounding Voi to prevent the parasite from spreading further. Thel 'Vadam convinced Rtas 'Vadum to exercise restraint when glassing. Thus, only an area of Africa was glassed instead of a much wider area. The fleet would have glassed the entire planet if it was not for the Arbiter's counsel. The glassing of Voi by the Sangheili was much to the dismay of Fleet Admiral Terrence Hood who exaggeratedly accused them for glassing "half of the continent" most likely due to his continious distaste for his former foes for leading the Covenant forces against the humanity throughtout the Human-Covenant War and being responsible for the losses of many human colonies such as Reach.[2]

'Vadum then attended an assembly on his flagship's bridge, wherein it was decided that a joint human-Sangheili force would pursue the Prophet of Truth's massive fleet through the slipspace portal that had recently been opened. Subsequently, the Fleet of Retribution, along with UNSC forces from Battle Group Victory of the Seventh Fleet, including the UNSC frigate Forward Unto Dawn, engaged the Prophet of Truth's forces at Installation 00. Confronted with an enemy which outnumbered them three to one, the Fleet of Retribution nevertheless succeeded in destroying the Covenant's orbital forces, assisting the UNSC on the surface of the Ark.[4] The surviving members of the Fleet of Retribution and human forces evacuated Installation 00, leaving Truth's remaining forces to their doom. Only Shadow of Intent and Pious Inquisitor are known to have survived the Battle of Installation 00, though it is possible that other vessels remained intact.[13]

Post-war[edit]

Main article: Swords of Sanghelios

After the Sangheili were victorious in destroying the Covenant, they split off into several different factions. While numerous of surviving Sangheili from the Great Schism, including the majority of the Fleet of Retribution, joined the Arbiter's emerging and renewed Swords of Sanghelios, which would become the official government of Sanghelios, many have chosen to take control over what was left of the former Covenant that they had destroyed; some joined Jul 'Mdama's Covenant while others consolidated into smaller independent factions.[14]

Due to the increasing of the Sangheili civil war known as the Blooding Years, the Shadow of Intent and its crew was taken far away from Sanghelios and sent to the frontiers of the former-Covenant territory in an attempt to find rest and recuperation following the Human-Covenant War. At this point, Shadow of Intent was ordered by Thel 'Vadam to be out of reach of allies whose loyalties were not as certain as Rtas 'Vadum's.[10] Between March 6 and August 24, 2553, the carrier was believed to be retrieving former Covenant long-range exploratory fleets.[15] At this time, Shadow of Intent was the only operational CAS-class assault carrier within the Swords of Sanghelios fleet.[10]

The Shadow of Intent was involved in a battle on the Sangheili colony of Rahnelo. The San'Shyuum Prelate Tem'Bhetek set a trap for Rtas 'Vadum and the Shadow of Intent. Many lives were lost and the Kaidon and two of his sons were taken hostage. The plot, which involved using a Prototype Halo installation to destroy Sanghelios was ultimately thwarted by the crew of the Shadow of Intent with help from Tem after he realized he was being manipulated by the Minister of Preparation Boru'a'Neem. Having learned from the Spear of Light's navigation database that there was a fleet of thousands of San'Shyuum still out there, Shipmaster Rtas 'Vadum decided to seek them out and try to determine who should be pardoned as innocents and who should be persecuted as war criminals.[10]

Composition[edit]

The Fleet of Retribution was composed of hundreds of warships during the glassing of Installation 05, mostly composed of what it remains within the High Charity defense fleet when these ships did not join the Imperial Admiral Xytan 'Jar Wattinree's summons and its Combined Fleet of Righteous Purpose. At least one battle group of at least 14 warships of the fleet, including the flagship Shadow of Intent, was known to be present during the Battle for Earth.[Note 1][3] At least 10 warships of the Fleet of Retribution later participated in the Battle of Installation 00.[4][Note 2]

The Fleet of Retribution Special Warfare Group includes Rtas 'Vadum, Thel 'Vadam, Usze 'Taham, N'tho 'Sraom and a number of Sangheili Minors, Majors, and Special Operations, and High Councilors, and also Unggoy Minors, Special Operations, Majors, and Mgalekgolo.[6]

Other forces serving with Retribution include allied UNSC forces, such as S4/BRT/1/7, S4/BLCE/1/7, 11th Marine Force Reconnaissance/ODST, and Battle Group Victory of the UNSC Seventh Fleet, including the UNSC Forward Unto Dawn.[4][16]

CAS-class assault carriers[edit]

CCS-class battlecruisers[edit]

Allied vessels[edit]

Gallery[edit]

  • 'Vadam with the Special Warfare Group.

    'Vadam with the Special Warfare Group.

  • Preventing a further Flood outbreak, battlecruisers glassed Voi.

    Preventing a further Flood outbreak, battlecruisers glassed Voi.

  • Retribution traversing through the Portal to the Ark. Lord Hood's Pelican is in the foreground.

    Retribution traversing through the Portal to the Ark. Lord Hood's Pelican is in the foreground.

  • Force Recon Marines assault an anti-aircraft emplacement.

    Force Recon Marines assault an anti-aircraft emplacement.

  • Two sections of Retribution dropships.

    Two sections of Retribution dropships.

List of appearances[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ a b During Thel 'Vadam's conference with a Sangheili Major in the Halo 3 level Floodgate, 'Vadam stated that the Sangheili fleet quarantining Installation 05 was composed of hundreds of vessels although it is unknown if he was referring to the total number of ships in the Fleet of Retribution. However, The Long Road Home documentary established that the ships chasing the Flood-infested Indulgence of Conviction to Earth was only part of a portion of Rtas 'Vadum's fleet that was glassing the Halo, hence a battle group, which could indicate that the hundreds of ships was referring to the entire size of 'Vadum's fleet.
  2. ^ a b See Truth's fleet's Notes section regarding the size of The Fleet of Retribution at Installation 00.

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Halo Waypoint marketing, The Long Road Home
  2. ^ a b c d Halo 3, campaign level Floodgate
  3. ^ a b c Halo 3, multiplayer level Heretic
  4. ^ a b c d Halo 3, campaign level The Ark
  5. ^ Bungie.net: The Tru7h About Co-Op In Halo 3
  6. ^ a b Halo 2, campaign level Uprising
  7. ^ Halo Waypoint: Shadow of Intent
  8. ^ a b Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 124
  9. ^ Halo: Warfleet, Shadow of Intent - p.70-71
  10. ^ a b c d e Halo: Shadow of Intent
  11. ^ Halo Legendary Crate, Data Drop #2
  12. ^ Eleventh Hour reports
  13. ^ Halo 3, campaign level Cortana
  14. ^ Halo Waypoint: Canon Fodder - Lore of the Rings "Like the rest of the Sangheili, the surviving Councilors were not completely unified in their opinions on how to proceed following the Great Schism. While some did take up the Arbiter’s cause, many others had become enamored with the idea of bringing the Covenant empire under complete Sangheili rule, quickly scrambling to grab power wherever they could. Some of these eventually served under Jul ‘Mdama, while others consolidated small pockets of reclaimed Covenant assets under more independent factions."
  15. ^ Halo Waypoint: Catalog Interaction - Page 14 (defunct, Archived)
  16. ^ Halo 3, campaign level The Covenant
  17. ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition), page 275

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Fleets of the Covenant and its remnants
Fleets
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