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| {{Era|Forerunner|Covenant|Human|UNSC|HCW|Post|FA}}
| | #Redirect [[Kig-Yar]] |
| {{Ratings}}
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| {{Cleanup}}
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| {{Covenant Species Infobox
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| |name= Kig-Yar<br/> (Latin ''Perosus latrunculus'')
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| |image= [[File:JackalSniper.png|250px]]
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| |homeworld= [[Eayn]]
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| |height= {{Convert|6.8|ft|cm}}<ref name="ENC">'''''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''''': ''page 147''</ref>
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| |weight= {{Convert|195|lb|kg}}<ref name="ENC"/>
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| |skincolor= Varying shades of brown/tan
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| |distinctions= Sinewy and slender; avian features, large pale eyes, beaked head with teeth, clawed hands and feet.
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| |weapons= [[Type-25 Directed Energy Pistol|Plasma Pistol]], [[Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher|Needler]]
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| |equipment=[[Kig-yar point defense gauntlet]], [[Armor Abilities#Hologram|Holographic decoy]]
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| |types=*[[Kig-yar Ranger|Ranger]]
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| *[[Kig-yar Sniper|Sniper]]
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| *[[Kig-yar Zealot|Zealot]]
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| *[[Kig-yar Major|Major]]
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| *[[kig-yar Minor|Minor]]
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| *[[Skirmisher]]
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| |affiliation= [[Covenant Empire]], later [[Covenant Loyalist]]s
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| |notable= *[[Bok]]
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| *[[Chur 'R-Mut]]
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| *[[Chur'R-Yar]]
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| *[[Jak]]
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| *[[Kig-Yar Pirate Prince|"Pirate Prince"]]
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| *[[Reth]]
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| *[[Yeg]]
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| *[[Zhar (Kig-yar)|Zhar]]
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| |othernames=
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| *Buzzard
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| *Chicken
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| *Jackal
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| *Turkey
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| *Tree-Turkey
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| *Vulture
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| }}
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| {{Quote|Jackals may be superior marksmen and they're very sneaky, but that doesn't make them excellent snipers — they’re a little too bloodthirsty for that.|Anonymous [[UNSC]] serviceman}}
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| The '''Kig-yar''' ([[Forerunner]] designation, translated into Latin: ''perosus latrunculus'', or "hateful bandit"<ref>[http://carnage.bungie.org/haloforum/halo.forum.pl?read=865756 '''HBO Forums''']</ref>, [[human]] designation: ''Covenant secundarium carnivora prœdonis'', or "Covenant secondary carnivorous combatant"<ref>'''''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'''''</ref>, are a saurian species<ref name="B.net">[http://www.bungie.net/projects/odst/guide.aspx '''Bungie.net''': ODST Guide]</ref> which serve the [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]], as mercenaries and privateers. There are two distinct races of Kig-yar, which [[Human]]s have termed '''Jackals''' and '''Skirmishers'''. In combat, Kig-yar typically serve as snipers and scouts within the Covenant due to their excellent senses of sight, smell, and hearing.
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| ==History==
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| {{SectStub}}
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| ===The Ark and reseeding===
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| The Kig-yar were one of many species indexed by the [[Librarian]] and preserved on [[Installation 00]] from the firing of the [[Halo Array]]. They were subsequently returned to their homeworld, where they began re-building their culture.
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| ===Pre-Covenant history===
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| During their early history, Kig-yar society was divided into clans that sailed across [[Eayn]]'s seas as pirates, raiding the encampments and settlements of rival clans. Eventually, the clans united, and the Kig-yar species worked together in developing space-travel technology. Shortly afterward, they established colonies on many small asteroids around [[Chu'ot]]. Some Kig-yar continued their ancient ways of life and became [[Space Piracy|pirates]] once more, preying upon merchant starships. These groups of pirates were the Kig-yar's only effective response to the overwhelming [[Covenant Military|Covenant military]] juggernaut that arrived in the Kig-Yar home system in [[1342]].
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| ===The Covenant===
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| The war between the Covenant and Kig-yar forces culminated in sieges of redoubts on the asteroids surrounding their world. Eventually, in order to survive, they accepted Letters of Marque: commissions from the [[Ministry of Tranquility]] to engage in the services of the Covenant, though often this was merely used as an excuse to continue their plundering lifestyle. The Kig-yar would spend much of their time preying on the ships of the Covenant's enemies, such as [[Humanity]].
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| Kig-yar are around the same level as the [[Unggoy]] in the Covenant hierarchy, although the Kig-yar despise the Unggoy and believe themselves to be superior. This reached a boiling point in [[2462]], when some Kig-yar in High Charity attempted to poison [[Infusion]]s, recreational narcotics the Unggoy enjoyed, which would have left the Unggoy sterile, in retaliation for the Unggoy encroaching on their habitats and displacing Kig-yar nests. Although a [[Prophet of Truth|junior staffer]] in the [[Ministry of Concert]] found evidence of this, the [[High Council]] failed to properly investigate the incident, culminating in the [[Unggoy Rebellion]].
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| A Kig-yar [[missionary ship]], the ''[[Minor Transgression]]'', was the first Covenant vessel to make contact with Humanity. The ship raided a [[Horn of Plenty|commercial freighter]] leaving the planet [[Harvest]], and the events that followed would later lead to full-scale military action on the part of [[Humanity]] and the Covenant.
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| Following the outbreak of the [[Human-Covenant War]], a group of Kig-yar under [[Reth]] made contact with [[the Rubble]], a community of human survivors of the [[glassing]] of [[Madrigal]]. The Kig-yar agreed to trade Covenant weaponry in exchange for [[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine|slipspace drives]]. Although the humans believed the Kig-yar were defying Covenant authority, they were in fact secretly proceeding with the blessing of the [[Prophet of Truth|High Prophet of Truth]] to use the weapons to map [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] space and learn the location of [[Earth]]. The plan fell apart during due to the [[Prophet of Regret|High Prophet of Regret]] sending [[Sangheili]] warriors to investigate the weapons, believing the Kig-yar to be heretics.
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| During the [[Great Schism]], the Kig-yar sided with the Loyalists against the [[Covenant Separatist]]s.
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| ==Description==
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| ===Anatomy and physiology===
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| [[File:JackalCloseup.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A closeup on a Kig-yar Jackal's face. Notice the razor-sharp teeth and scaly skin.]]
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| [[File:Jackal_by_Halsey.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Kig-yar physiology and skeletal structure as drawn by [[Catherine Elizabeth Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]] in [[2536]].]]
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| Kig-yar have features similar to birds of prey as well as reptiles. Their legs are sinewy and muscular, and are reverse-jointed in a similar fashion to birds. They have sharp claws on both hands and feet. Being carnivores, their sharp beaks are lined with rows of razor-sharp teeth; some have far more numerous teeth which bear a passing resemblance to [[wikipedia:Baleen|baleen]].<ref>'''Halo: Combat Evolved'''</ref> Kig-yar have been known to eat the flesh of fallen enemies, as well as live prisoners. Kig-yar have extraordinary senses of sight, hearing, and smell. Male Kig-yar possess plumages of spiny quills at the back of the head and on the elbows; the color of this plumage indicates the Kig-yar's mood.<ref name="Contact">'''''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''''', pages 56/58</ref> Females lack these quill plumages, instead having calloused plates at the forearms and the rear of the head. This thick skin helps protect the female during courtship: when mating, the male will often bite, chew, and tear on the back of the female's head, neck, and arms. Kig-yar reproduce by laying eggs which the female incubates, similar to birds. When mating, the male can choose to fertilize the egg, in which a male is produced, whereas, if the eggs are not fertilized, a female is produced. This may imply that Kig-yar have the ability to reproduce without mating.
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| While Kig-yar have hollow avian-like bones and are physically frail, they are capable of moving quickly to evade harm. Their blood is bright purple in color, similar to that of the [[Sangheili]], possibly showing a similar chemical makeup. They lack high amounts of calcium in their skeletons, which makes them a poor source of biomass for the [[Flood]]. Thus, Kig-yar that are infected by the Flood are typically turned into [[Flood Carrier Form|carrier forms]] rather than [[Flood Combat Form|combat forms]]. However, they have been utilized as combat forms during at least one [[Battle of the Flood-controlled Shield World|engagement]].<ref>''[[Halo Wars]]''</ref>
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| The Kig-yar species is divided into at least two subspecies: the lighter "Jackals" and the more muscular "Skirmishers". Each subspecies exhibits distinct variations in appearance and physiology. Jackals typically exhibit light brown or tan skin tones, though some individuals feature gray-green or red skin;<ref name="Combat Evolved">'''Halo: Combat Evolved'''</ref> flexible quills on the head and forearms among males, with calloused plates among females; and elongated, beaked heads with bulbous eyes, though some Jackals have heads akin to those of the Skirmishers.<ref name="Combat Evolved"/> Skirmishers are darker in color, with true feathers on their heads and arms, and have shorter, squared heads with small yellow eyes; they also have more beak like mouths, and sharp ''talons'' on their hands and feet, though these features may be enhanced by armor. While both subspecies are quite agile, Skirmishers are capable of sprinting at great speeds and leaping incredible distances.
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| The reason behind the differing subspecies is unknown, though it may be a result of the Kig-yar adapting to different colony worlds over millenia. Since Eayn is naturally a lower-gravity planet then [[Earth]] or [[Reach]], it is possible that Jackals may be from Eayn while the more heavily built Skirmishers may be from higher-g colonies that Kig-Yar have settled.<ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us#/intel/theuniverse/characters/video/the-jackals/24dc0ecc-8cf0-473a-aae3-266fe6019d61?filter=all '''Halo Waypoint:''' ''Kig-yar'']</ref> Alternatively, they may simply be variations that arose naturally on Eayn, much as early humanity was once divided into many species and subspecies.
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| ==Culture==
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| [[File:Ancient KigYar.png|thumb|200px|Ancient Kig-Yar on Eayn.]]
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| The Kig-yar are unique among [[Covenant races]]: rather than being faithful followers of the [[San 'Shyuum|Prophets']] religion, they serve the Covenant due to the monetary rewards the Prophets pay them. However, due to the long time they have been in the Covenant, a large number of them have accepted the [[Covenant religion|Covenant religion]]. Kig-yar have been known to coexist relatively peacefully with humans, as evidenced by the relationship between [[the Rubble]] and [[Reth]]'s forces on [[Metisette]]. When the Kig-yar were finally ordered by the Prophets to attack and destroy the humans of the Rubble, many of them even regretted the order. This is likely due to the pragmatic, mercantile culture of their race: As long as it benefits them economically, Kig-yar will co-operate with nearly any group, even declared enemies of the Covenant.
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| ===Role within the Covenant===
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| Kig-yar serve primarily as light infantry, police forces and overseers. Kig-yar privateers also commonly crew Covenant missionary ships, such as the ''Minor Transgression''. Originally, they were intended to replace the Unggoy as the foot soldiers of the Covenant, but their temperament made this impractical. Instead, they were assigned roles that were better suited to their natural abilities, such as scouts and snipers.
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| Within Covenant society, Kig-yar have little status and are subservient to all but the Unggoy. Because of this, Kig-yar frequently harass Unggoy to assert what little authority they have. In some cases, Sangheili or Jiralhanae dispose of criminals or prisoners by feeding them to Kig-yar convicts, who eat the victim alive.
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| Due to their unique position in the Covenant, the Kig-yar often utilize starships of their own making instead of Covenant-made ones. In addition, they are forbidden to build their own slipspace drives, and have to rely on heavily regulated, unmodifiable drives engineered by the San 'Shyuum instead.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 222''</ref>
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| The Kig-yar are not represented on the [[High Council]] but are instead vetted by the [[Ministry of Concert]]. The Kig-yar do not vocally complain about their position but instead have selected to siphon off resources to their brethren. Whether the Covenant leadership was aware of this is currently unknown.
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| ===Government===
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| The Kig-yar government on Eayn is a post-industrial [[Capitalism|capitalist system]], with a population of 978 million.<ref>'''''[[Bestiarum]]'''''</ref> It is also described as an [[wikipedia:ochlocracy|ochlocracy]], a system of government best described as a government by mob, or the intimidation of constitutional authorities. Presumably, this implies that whatever form of local government the Kig-yar possess is ineffective and ignored.
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| {{SectStub}}
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| ===Naming===
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| Kig-yar names usually consist of a single syllable, with two consonants and one vowel, such as [[Yeg]], [[Jak]] and [[Bok]]. However, [[Chur'R-Yar]] and [[Chur'R-Mut]], who were both [[Shipmaster|Shipmistresses]], have multiple syllables in their names. It is speculated that the Kig-yar naming system is at least partially based on sex, rank, or both. However, their naming system might not be the one of their own culture; it has been stated that Sangheili do not allow the Kig-yar to have more than one name. Alternatively, it may be that the Kig-yar language consists of single syllable words (their name for themselves, Kig-yar, actually is two single syllable words combined).
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| The prefix "Chur'R-" is believed to indicate the title of Shipmistress, as both Chur'R-Yar and Chur'R-Mut were female Kig-yar in command of a vessel.
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| ==Homeworld==
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| {{Main|Eayn}}
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| Eayn is the homeworld of the Kig-yar species and is the primary satellite of the planet [[Chu'ot]]. It is characterized by its single equatorial ocean, sparse volcanism, and almost total lack of glaciation. Only about one-third of all Kig-yar who still reside in the Y'deio system call Eayn their home; many have chosen to live among the minor planets within the asteroid belt since their initial contact with the Covenant. However, it is theorized that the Kig-yar have colonized many other planets, due to their physiological diversity.
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| ==Rank Structure==
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| <!-- Please provide a summarized description of each rank. Follow the Sangheili article Rank Structure format. -->
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| {{Col-begin}}
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| {{Col-1-of-2}}
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| ==="Jackal" ranks===
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| {| cellpadding="5" border="1" style="clear: both;"
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| ! '''Rank'''
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| ! '''Image'''
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| ! '''Description'''
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| |-
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| ! colspan="3"|'''Jackal Leaders'''
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| |-
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| |'''[[Kig-yar Zealot|Jackal zealot]]'''
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| | Little is known of the Kig-yar Zealot's role. The only known Kig-yar Zealot is [[Zhar (Kig-yar)|Zhar]]<ref name="Contact"/>. As with [[Sangheili]] Zealots, they are presumably tasked with missions of religious importance to the Covenant, such as artifact retrieval.
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| |-
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| ! colspan="3"|'''Jackal Specialists'''
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| |-
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| |'''[[Kig-yar Ranger|Jackal Ranger]]'''
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| |[[File:Jackal Rangers.jpg|100px]]
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| | Jackal Rangers are trained for zero-G [[Extra-vehicular activity|EVA]] combat, and are equipped with [[vacuum suit]]s and magnetic boots.
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| |'''[[Jackal Sniper]]'''
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| |[[File:JackalSniper.png|100px]]
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| | Sniper Jackals are the Covenant's foremost long-range combatants. They are known to carry weapons such as [[Type-31 Rifle|needle rifles]] and [[Type-50 Sniper Rifle System|beam rifles]], but do not use point-defense gauntlets as to better wield their weapon.
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| |-
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| ! colspan="3"|'''Jackal Infantry'''
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| |'''[[Jackal Major]]'''
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| |[[File:JackalMajor.png|100px]]
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| | Major Jackals are more experienced than Minors and are issued stronger point-defense gauntlets that emit a violet-colored shield post Great Schism and an orange or red colored shield pre Great Schism. They typically carry plasma pistols and needlers.
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| |'''[[Jackal Minor]]'''
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| |[[File:JackalMinor.png|100px]]
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| | The rank of Minor is the lowest field rank a Jackal can attain. They are armed with standard-strength, light blue [[Kig-yar Point Defense Gauntlet|point defense gauntlets]] and small arms such as the [[Type-25 Directed Energy Pistol|plasma pistol]] or [[Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher|needler]].
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| |}
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| {{col-2-of-2}}
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| ==="Skirmisher" ranks===
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| {| cellpadding="5" border="1" style="clear: both;"
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| ! '''Rank'''
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| ! '''Image'''
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| ! '''Description'''
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| |-
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| ! colspan="3"|'''[[Skirmisher]] Leaders'''
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| |-
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| |'''[[Skirmisher Champion]]'''
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| |[[File:HReach - Skirmisher.png|100px]]
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| | The Champion is the highest rank of the Skirmishers, a specialized group of shock troops comprising of more heavily built Kig-yar, deployed on the ground for their viciousness and fierce tactics. Members of this rank have bright orange armor, a helmet, and arm shields. They appear to be the leading rank of Skirmishers, being neither infantry nor specialists.
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| |-
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| ! colspan="3"|'''Skirmisher Specialists'''
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| |'''[[Skirmisher Commando]]'''
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| |[[File:Skrimisher.png|100px]]
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| | Members of this rank have bright green armor and a helmet, and will occasionally use [[Armor Abilities|holograms]] to deceive the enemy.
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| |'''[[Skirmisher Murmillo]]'''
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| |[[File:Murmillo.png|75px]]
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| | Members of this rank have gold armor and helmets.
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| |-
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| ! colspan="3"|'''Skirmisher Infantry'''
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| |'''[[Skirmisher Major]]'''
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| |[[File:Skirmisher_Major.png|100px]]
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| | Members of this rank have red feathers and red-gray armor.
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| |-
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| |'''[[Skirmisher Minor]]'''
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| |[[File:Halo Reach - Skirmisher.png|100px]]
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| | The lowest rank of Skirmisher; members of this rank have black feathers and gray armor.
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| |}
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| {{Col-end}}
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| ==Trivia==
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| {{Gameplay link}}
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| *The Kig-yar were the first Covenant species fought by human beings. [[Staff Sergeant]]s [[Avery Junior Johnson|Avery Johnson]] and [[Nolan Byrne]] fought and killed two of them in the [[Skirmish on Minor Transgression|skirmish]] on ''[[Minor Transgression]]'' over [[Harvest]], shortly before the [[First Battle of Harvest]]. Later, they became the first Covenant species encountered by the SPARTAN-IIs aboard ''[[Unrelenting]]'' at [[Chi Ceti IV]].<ref name="FoR">'''''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''''', pages 125/126</ref>
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| *The name "Jackal" comes from a wild dog that is similar to the coyote, and is a reference to their scavenger appearance and nature.
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| *"Kig-yar" is Breton for "chicken" and Phonetic Welsh for "chicken meat".{{Citation needed}}
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| *Chur'R-Yar and Chur'R-Mut are the only known female Kig-yar, and were also the first two female Covenant characters to appear in ''Halo'' canon.
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| *Although Jackals carry grenades in ''[[Halo 2]]'' , they are never seen using them. This is possibly because of the fact that, in terms of game mechanics, they '[[Dual-wielding|dual-wield]]' their energy shield with whatever other weapon they are carrying.
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| *In all games prior to ''Halo: Reach'', all Jackals shoot left-handed and are the only Covenant species to do so. However, in ''Halo: Reach'' Jackals shoot with their right hands and carry their shields with their left hands.
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| *Kig-yar possess a strong salty, occasionally acrid stench.<ref name="B.net"/>
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| *Occasionally, Jackals can be seen without their usual bright spines on their heads. Canonically, these would likely be females, this appearance is probably the result of a glitch.
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| ===Mistakes===
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| *In ''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]],'' Kig-yar blood is said to be blue, despite its actual purple coloration.<ref>'''[[The Fall of Reach]]''', page 327</ref>
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| *The first time Jackals are encountered in-game is in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' on the level ''[[Halo (Halo: Combat Evolved Level)|Halo]]''. They do not appear in the first level, ''[[Pillar of Autumn (Level)|Pillar of Autumn]]'', due to the Covenant's mistrust of them being on enemy vessels because of their pirating ways. However, in ''[[Halo: The Flood]]'', they are mentioned as boarding the {{UNSCship|Pillar of Autumn}} during their initial attack.
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| ==Gallery==
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| <gallery widths="150" orientation="landscape">
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| File:Jackal sculpt.jpeg|The prototype of McFarlane Toys' Jackal figure.
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| File:JackalWHelm2.jpg|The helmet worn by Jackals in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.
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| File:Behindyou.jpg|Jackal in the level ''[[Assault on the Control Room]]'' in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.
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| File:Jackal Lakeside.jpg|A Kig-yar sniper from ''Halo 2'' wields a [[Type-50 Sniper Rifle System|particle beam rifle]].
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| File:Jackal.jpg|A Kig-yar Minor with an overcharged plasma pistol in ''Halo 2''.
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| File:1215645880 Jackal Blood.jpg|A Jackal's blood stain.
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| File:19317669-Full.jpg|A Kig-yar Minor on patrol on [[Installation 00|The Ark]] in ''Halo 3''.
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| File:Halo3 Jackal.jpg|A Kig-yar sniper from ''Halo 3''.
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| File:SHARPSHOOTER!.jpg|A Kig-yar sniper with a beam rifle in ''Halo 3: ODST''.
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| File:Kig-Yar_Variants.jpg|A Kig-yar sniper and a Kig-yar infantryman seen in ''Halo 3: ODST''.
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| File:Kig-Yar_Phalanx_Halo_3-_ODST.jpg|A Kig-Yar lance armed with plasma pistols and point defense gauntlets in ''Halo 3: ODST''.
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| File:Jackals.jpg|Two Jackals in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.
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| File:Cov jackalfinal.jpg|Concept art of the Kig-yar for ''Halo Wars''.
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| File:Jackal warrior.jpg|Concept art of a "Wild Jackal" for ''Halo Wars.''
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| File:Web_jackal.jpg|Kig-Yar, as they appear in ''Halo Wars''.
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| File:HaloReach - Jackal.png|Jackals in ''Halo: Reach''.
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| File:Kig-yar Major III.jpg|A Kig-yar Major in ''[[Halo: Reach]]''.
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| </gallery>
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| ==Sources==
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| {{reflist}}
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| ==Related pages==
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| *[[Kig-yar/Gameplay|Kig-yar in gameplay]]
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| *[[Kig-yar Point Defense Gauntlet]]
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| {{Covenant}}
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| [[Category:Living Organisms]]
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| [[Category:Covenant Species]]
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| [[Category:Kig-yar]]
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