Jul 'Mdama's Covenant: Difference between revisions
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==History== | ==History== | ||
=== | ===Origins=== | ||
[[File:H4-Terminal-JulMdama.jpg|thumb|220px|left|Jul 'Mdama, the leader of his new Covenant]] | [[File:H4-Terminal-JulMdama.jpg|thumb|220px|left|Jul 'Mdama, the leader of his new Covenant]] | ||
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Following the Covenant's [[Battle of the Citadel|destruction]] on the [[Ark]], its former member races returned to their home systems. Many [[Sangheili]] and [[Jiralhanae]] continued to [[Sangheili-Jiralhanae war|fight]] each other, steadily dwindling both sides' military resources.{{Ref/Novel|Gla|Page=225}} After the revelation of the Prophets being false, some Sangheili began to forsake their [[Covenant religion|religion]] altogether while others reverted back to pre-Covenant worship of the Forerunners. With the Covenant that had betrayed the Sangheili now dissolved, there was no longer a common goal to keep the [[Covenant separatists|separatists]] united. | Following the Covenant's [[Battle of the Citadel|destruction]] on the [[Ark]], its former member races returned to their home systems. Many [[Sangheili]] and [[Jiralhanae]] continued to [[Sangheili-Jiralhanae war|fight]] each other, steadily dwindling both sides' military resources.{{Ref/Novel|Gla|Page=225}} After the revelation of the Prophets being false, some Sangheili began to forsake their [[Covenant religion|religion]] altogether while others reverted back to pre-Covenant worship of the Forerunners. With the Covenant that had betrayed the Sangheili now dissolved, there was no longer a common goal to keep the [[Covenant separatists|separatists]] united. | ||
===Formation=== | |||
The Sangheili soon fell into [[Blooding Years|civil war]], sparked by opposition to [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]]'s emerging secular government, the [[Swords of Sanghelios]]. Among the first religious Sangheili factions to oppose the Arbiter was the [[Servants of the Abiding Truth]] led by [[Avu Med 'Telcam]] who adhered to a pre-Covenant worship of the Forerunners and feared human retaliation. [[Jul 'Mdama]] and [[Raia 'Mdama]] had become affiliates of the Servants of the Abiding Truth, though Jul was quickly disillusioned with the faction after being arrested by the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] during an arms deal. In [[2553#March|March 2553]], the Servants and their loose coalition of [[keep]]s opposed the Swords of Sanghelios' ratified [[Treaty of 2552|treaty]] with the [[Unified Earth Government]] by launching [[Siege at Kolaar|an assault]] on the state of [[Vadam]]. The timely intervention of the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} turned the battle in the Arbiter's favor and Raia 'Mdama was killed in the conflict.{{Ref/Novel|TTW|Page=361}} | The Sangheili soon fell into [[Blooding Years|civil war]], sparked by opposition to [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]]'s emerging secular government, the [[Swords of Sanghelios]]. Among the first religious Sangheili factions to oppose the Arbiter was the [[Servants of the Abiding Truth]] led by [[Avu Med 'Telcam]] who adhered to a pre-Covenant worship of the Forerunners and feared human retaliation. [[Jul 'Mdama]] and [[Raia 'Mdama]] had become affiliates of the Servants of the Abiding Truth, though Jul was quickly disillusioned with the faction after being arrested by the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] during an arms deal. In [[2553#March|March 2553]], the Servants and their loose coalition of [[keep]]s opposed the Swords of Sanghelios' ratified [[Treaty of 2552|treaty]] with the [[Unified Earth Government]] by launching [[Siege at Kolaar|an assault]] on the state of [[Vadam]]. The timely intervention of the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} turned the battle in the Arbiter's favor and Raia 'Mdama was killed in the conflict.{{Ref/Novel|TTW|Page=361}} | ||
Jul 'Mdama was held in ONI custody on the [[shield world]] [[Trevelyan]] during the battle, yet managed to escape via a Forerunner [[Slipspace portal|portal]] to the Sangheili colony world [[Hesduros]]. His hatred for humanity was strengthened when learned that his wife, Raia, was killed in the civil conflict.{{Ref/Novel|TTW|Page=442}} Jul gained a small following on the planet, the populace of which was unaware of the Great Schism and the war's end.{{Ref/Novel|TTW|Page=441}} Jul informed them of the [[San'Shyuum|Prophet]]'s treachery as well as how the Arbiter had made an alliance with humanity.{{Ref/Reuse|Id=ttwchapt16}} Feigning religious devotion to the Forerunners, he resolved to recover Forerunner technology from the shield world [[Requiem]] to the Sangheili residents, much as the humans had done on Trevelyan. Though Jul believed it unlikely that any Forerunners still lived, he also planned to find the [[Ur-Didact|Didact]], the leader of the [[Warrior-Servant|Forerunner military]] who also shared disdain for humanity.{{Ref/Novel|TTW|Page=436}} It was here where Jul 'Mdama would establish a new faction with the residents of Hesduros, self-proclaimed to be ''“the Covenant”''.{{Ref/Comic|Id=escalation5|HE| | Jul 'Mdama was held in ONI custody on the [[shield world]] [[Trevelyan]] during the battle, yet managed to escape via a Forerunner [[Slipspace portal|portal]] to the Sangheili colony world [[Hesduros]]. His hatred for humanity was strengthened when learned that his wife, Raia, was killed in the civil conflict.{{Ref/Novel|TTW|Page=442}} Jul gained a small following on the planet, the populace of which was unaware of the Great Schism and the war's end.{{Ref/Novel|TTW|Page=441}} Jul informed them of the [[San'Shyuum|Prophet]]'s treachery as well as how the Arbiter had made an alliance with humanity.{{Ref/Reuse|Id=ttwchapt16}} Feigning religious devotion to the Forerunners, he resolved to recover Forerunner technology from the shield world [[Requiem]] to the Sangheili residents, much as the humans had done on Trevelyan. Though Jul believed it unlikely that any Forerunners still lived, he also planned to find the [[Ur-Didact|Didact]], the leader of the [[Warrior-Servant|Forerunner military]] who also shared disdain for humanity.{{Ref/Novel|TTW|Page=436}} It was here where Jul 'Mdama would establish a new faction with the residents of Hesduros, self-proclaimed to be ''“the Covenant”''.{{Ref/Comic|Id=escalation5|HE|Issue=5|Quote=What does it mean to be 'Covenant' today? A hundred warlords claim they rule the Covenant, but each of them leads only a small faction.}} | ||
One of the earliest actions of this Covenant in late 2553 was to begin gathering resources on [[Sephune III]].{{Ref/Comic|HLW|Issue=2}} | |||
===Requiem and the Didact=== | ===Requiem and the Didact=== | ||
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{{Quote|Jul 'Mdama's Covenant was no longer a meager collection of ships housed on Hesduros, but had now become a powerful military force, a faint but ominous echo of the old alliance.|[[Curator]] on the rise of 'Mdama's Covenant{{Ref/Book|Id=Mythos179|HM|Page=179}}}} | {{Quote|Jul 'Mdama's Covenant was no longer a meager collection of ships housed on Hesduros, but had now become a powerful military force, a faint but ominous echo of the old alliance.|[[Curator]] on the rise of 'Mdama's Covenant{{Ref/Book|Id=Mythos179|HM|Page=179}}}} | ||
On [[2554|April 22, 2554]], Jul 'Mdama's forces fought against the [[Swords of Sanghelios]]' ''[[Shadow of Intent]]'' and managed to leave the ship combat ineffective.<ref name="Catalog">[https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postsm2969315_Catalog-Interaction.aspx#post2969315 ''Halo Waypoint'': ''Catalog Interaction - Page 14'']</ref> Later that year, 'Mdama's fleet arrived at Requiem but were not able gain access.{{Ref/Reuse|terminal}} The fleet subsequently took up position around the shield world. For the next three years, Jul 'Mdama's Covenant frequently dispatched raiding parties to [[Piracy|steal supplies]],{{Ref/Game|Id=H4TerminalP| | On [[2554|April 22, 2554]], Jul 'Mdama's forces fought against the [[Swords of Sanghelios]]' ''[[Shadow of Intent]]'' and managed to leave the ship combat ineffective.<ref name="Catalog">[https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postsm2969315_Catalog-Interaction.aspx#post2969315 ''Halo Waypoint'': ''Catalog Interaction - Page 14'']</ref> Later that year, 'Mdama's fleet arrived at Requiem but were not able gain access.{{Ref/Reuse|terminal}} The fleet subsequently took up position around the shield world. For the next three years, Jul 'Mdama's Covenant frequently dispatched raiding parties to [[Piracy|steal supplies]],{{Ref/Game|Id=H4TerminalP|H4|[[Terminal (Halo 4)]]: [[Terminal (Halo 4)/One|Prologue]]|Quote=Shipmaster 'Mdama! The raiding parties have returned. They bring supplies and news of a human ship!}} while continuing their attempts to awaken the Didact by broadcasting his name from orbit in thirty minute intervals,{{Ref/Level|Id=Requiem|H4|[[Requiem (level)|Requiem]]}} though their calls received no response. Due to many of the former Covenant's infrastructure and shipyards falling inactive,{{Ref/Site|Id=Bulliten|URL=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013072843/https://blogs.halowaypoint.com/en-us/blogs/headlines/posts/the-halo-bulletin-4-16-14|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=''The Halo Bulletin: 4.16.14''|Quote=While a handful of their local shipyards still exist, most are inactive, forcing many Sangheili to fight over what remained at the close of the war.}} Jul 'Mdama's faction had to scavenge for most of their resources and salvage what they could find.{{Ref/Reuse|Id=H4TerminalP}} They were not outfitted like standard military,{{Ref/Level|Id=Dawn2|H4|[[Dawn]]|Quote=The good news is these Covenant aren't outfitted like standard military}} with most of their infantry [[Storm harness|lacking sleeves]] compared to more affluent factions like the [[Swords of Sanghelios]].{{Ref/Level|Id=Alliance|H5|[[Alliance]]}} | ||
By [[2557#July|July 2557]], the group had gathered a sizable [[fleet]], consisting of at least fifteen {{Pattern|Zanar|light cruiser}}s and a single {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}, the ''[[Song of Retribution]]'', as their [[flagship]]. At this time one of the returning raiding parties noticed a human ship, {{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}}, drifting toward the planet. 'Mdama ordered the fleet to stop it from entering.{{Ref/Reuse|terminal}} Multiple boarding parties attempted to take the crippled ship, but were fought off by [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan]] [[John-117]], who had been awoken from cryo-sleep and was bewildered by the existence of their faction. A cruiser then attempted to destroy the ''Forward Unto Dawn'', but the Master Chief manually launched a [[M4093 Hyperion nuclear delivery system|Hyperion nuclear missile]] and destroyed the cruiser before it could open fire.{{Ref/Reuse|dawn}} At that moment, the installation detected the presence of a [[Reclaimer]], causing an entrance portal to open; both the ''Dawn'' and several Covenant ships were pulled crash landing into the shield world by the gravity well emitted by the portal. | By [[2557#July|July 2557]], the group had gathered a sizable [[fleet]], consisting of at least fifteen {{Pattern|Zanar|light cruiser}}s and a single {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}, the ''[[Song of Retribution]]'', as their [[flagship]]. At this time one of the returning raiding parties noticed a human ship, {{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}}, drifting toward the planet. 'Mdama ordered the fleet to stop it from entering.{{Ref/Reuse|terminal}} Multiple boarding parties attempted to take the crippled ship, but were fought off by [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan]] [[John-117]], who had been awoken from cryo-sleep and was bewildered by the existence of their faction. A cruiser then attempted to destroy the ''Forward Unto Dawn'', but the Master Chief manually launched a [[M4093 Hyperion nuclear delivery system|Hyperion nuclear missile]] and destroyed the cruiser before it could open fire.{{Ref/Reuse|dawn}} At that moment, the installation detected the presence of a [[Reclaimer]], causing an entrance portal to open; both the ''Dawn'' and several Covenant ships were pulled crash landing into the shield world by the gravity well emitted by the portal. | ||
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Despite losing many ships, the surviving Covenant forces immediately began establishing positions all over the shield world, engaging John-117, who had arrived in the wreckage of the ''Forward Unto Dawn''. Jul 'Mdama's forces were also engaged by local Forerunner [[Aggressor Sentinel|Sentinels]] who were hostile only to them.{{Ref/Reuse|Requiem}} A trio of light cruisers eventually reached [[Core of Requiem|Requiem's core]], where the Didact was imprisoned. By this point the forces of Jul 'Mdama's Covenant had come under attack by the [[Promethean]]s, who tried to prevent them from reaching the Didact. Despite the mutual hostility of 'Mdama's Covenant and the Prometheans, John-117 soon reached the Didact's [[Cryptum]] and accidentally released him. Upon the Didact's release, 'Mdama's Covenant forces in the area (including 'Mdama himself)<ref>[http://blogs.halowaypoint.com/Headlines/post/2013/01/16/The-Halo-Bulletin-11613.aspx ''Halo Waypoint'': ''The Halo Bulletin - 1/16/2013'']</ref> bowed down in worship.{{Ref/Level|Id=Forerunner|H4|[[Forerunner (level)|Forerunner]]}} | Despite losing many ships, the surviving Covenant forces immediately began establishing positions all over the shield world, engaging John-117, who had arrived in the wreckage of the ''Forward Unto Dawn''. Jul 'Mdama's forces were also engaged by local Forerunner [[Aggressor Sentinel|Sentinels]] who were hostile only to them.{{Ref/Reuse|Requiem}} A trio of light cruisers eventually reached [[Core of Requiem|Requiem's core]], where the Didact was imprisoned. By this point the forces of Jul 'Mdama's Covenant had come under attack by the [[Promethean]]s, who tried to prevent them from reaching the Didact. Despite the mutual hostility of 'Mdama's Covenant and the Prometheans, John-117 soon reached the Didact's [[Cryptum]] and accidentally released him. Upon the Didact's release, 'Mdama's Covenant forces in the area (including 'Mdama himself)<ref>[http://blogs.halowaypoint.com/Headlines/post/2013/01/16/The-Halo-Bulletin-11613.aspx ''Halo Waypoint'': ''The Halo Bulletin - 1/16/2013'']</ref> bowed down in worship.{{Ref/Level|Id=Forerunner|H4|[[Forerunner (level)|Forerunner]]}} | ||
The Didact would transport the Covenant forces still in the core to [[The Refuge (Requiem location)|The Refuge]] and would recognize the Sangheili, telling them they were "loyal and strong" and they would serve well.{{Ref/Novel|Id=vertical|Vertical Umbrage}} This is despite the Didact seeing 'Mdama's Covenant as little more than "beasts" and "primitives."{{Ref/Reuse|Forerunner}} It would be here at the Refuge that 'Mdama would formally take the name ''Hand of the Didact''.{{Ref/Reuse|vertical}} | |||
'Mdama's Covenant aided the Didact's forces in their attack on the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}, though the ship's point defenses disabled two cruisers and forced the Didact to retreat.{{Ref/Level|H4|[[Infinity (Halo 4 level)|Infinity]]}} Later, they defended a network of [[particle cannon]]s which protected the shield world's gravity well generator, preventing ''Infinity'' from escaping; they were again unsuccessful.{{Ref/Level|H4|[[Reclaimer (level)|Reclaimer]]}} 'Mdama's Covenant later dispatched a flight of [[Ru'swum-pattern Phantom|Phantom]] and [[Kmiro'sish-pattern Lich|Lich dropships]] to accompany the Didact's [[Mantle's Approach|flagship]] to [[Ivanoff Station]], an [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] facility.{{Ref/Level|H4|[[Shutdown]]}} 'Mdama's Covenant spearheaded an [[Raid on Ivanoff Station|attack on the station]] in order to acquire the [[Composer]], a Forerunner superweapon. The attack caught the defenders off-guard and despite John-117's efforts the Didact acquired the Composer.{{Ref/Level|Id=Composer|H4|[[Composer (level)|Composer]]}} The Didact then [[New Phoenix Incident|attacked Earth]] and tried to digitize its population, though he was defeated by the Master Chief. However, the millions-strong population of [[New Phoenix]], [[Unified Republic of North America|URNA]], was composed{{Ref/Level|H4|[[Midnight]]}} and the victims' essences were transported to Requiem and converted into new [[Promethean Knight]]s; there they would fall under the command of Jul 'Mdama himself and would fight alongside his Covenant in the battles that followed.<ref name="memento">''Spartan Ops'', ''[[Memento Mori]]''</ref> | |||
===Installation 03 and New Phoenix=== | ===Installation 03 and New Phoenix=== | ||
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[[File:HE15 Infinity Attacked.jpg|thumb|200px|'Mdama's forces attack ''Infinity'']] | [[File:HE15 Infinity Attacked.jpg|thumb|200px|'Mdama's forces attack ''Infinity'']] | ||
{{Quote|'Mdama's forces fought a relentless campaign against the UNSC ''Infinity'', testing its defenses with everything from ambushes to all-out assaults.|Curator on the fight for the Janus Key{{Ref/Book|Id=Mythos182|HM|Page=182}}}} | {{Quote|'Mdama's forces fought a relentless campaign against the UNSC ''Infinity'', testing its defenses with everything from ambushes to all-out assaults.|Curator on the fight for the Janus Key{{Ref/Book|Id=Mythos182|HM|Page=182}}}} | ||
In a plot to acquire the other half of the Janus Key onboard the UNSC ''Infinity'', Doctor Catherine Halsey and Jul 'Mdama launched an offensive against the human colony of [[Oban]] solely in order to draw ''Infinity'' out into a vulnerable position. This allowed Halsey to use [[Requiem communication artifact|an artifact]] capable of contacting ''Infinity'' | In a plot to acquire the other half of the Janus Key onboard the UNSC ''Infinity'', Doctor Catherine Halsey and Jul 'Mdama launched an offensive against the human colony of [[Oban]] solely in order to draw ''Infinity'' out into a vulnerable position. This allowed Halsey to use [[Requiem communication artifact|an artifact]] capable of contacting ''Infinity''{{'}}s Forerunner components to deny this ship access into slipspace. The following day, when the ''Infinity'' jumped into slipspace, its slipspace drive experienced an anomaly which trapped them in an [[Aktis system|uncharted system]].{{Ref/Comic|Id=HE13|HE|Detail=''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 13|Issue 13]]''}} Furthermore, 'Mdama's Covenant had created a faux Forerunner artifact that appeared to require the Janus Key to be functional and planted it on one of the system's planets, [[Aktis IV]], in order to prompt the UNSC to take their half of the Key to the planet.{{Ref/Comic|Id=HE14|HE|Detail=''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 14|Issue 14]]''}} | ||
At the same time, Jul began to face other problems within his Covenant. Some of his followers began questioning his decisions, especially for allowing Requiem to be destroyed and letting Dr. Halsey work with them. Soon after, the Sangheili [[Sali 'Nyon]] began to recruit [[Sali 'Nyon's Covenant|followers]] and plot against 'Mdama. Nonetheless, his Covenant succeeded in deceiving the crew of ''Infinity'' to bring the red half of the Janus Key to the surface of Aktis IV. While the UNSC's half of the Janus Key was en route, the convoy carrying it was attacked and shot down by Sali 'Nyon's rebel forces. In the confusion, the shipmaster of ''[[Breath of Annihilation]]'' believed the attack on ''Infinity'' had begun earlier than expected, and Jul's entire fleet engaged the human ship. While 'Mdama traveled to the crash site to reclaim the red Janus Key half himself, Sali 'Nyon managed to retrieve it first and he brought it back to his hidden base.{{Ref/Reuse|HE14}} | At the same time, Jul began to face other problems within his Covenant. Some of his followers began questioning his decisions, especially for allowing Requiem to be destroyed and letting Dr. Halsey work with them. Soon after, the Sangheili [[Sali 'Nyon]] began to recruit [[Sali 'Nyon's Covenant|followers]] and plot against 'Mdama. Nonetheless, his Covenant succeeded in deceiving the crew of ''Infinity'' to bring the red half of the Janus Key to the surface of Aktis IV. While the UNSC's half of the Janus Key was en route, the convoy carrying it was attacked and shot down by Sali 'Nyon's rebel forces. In the confusion, the shipmaster of ''[[Breath of Annihilation]]'' believed the attack on ''Infinity'' had begun earlier than expected, and Jul's entire fleet engaged the human ship. While 'Mdama traveled to the crash site to reclaim the red Janus Key half himself, Sali 'Nyon managed to retrieve it first and he brought it back to his hidden base.{{Ref/Reuse|HE14}} | ||
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*''[[Halo: Shadows of Reach]]'' {{Mo}} | *''[[Halo: Shadows of Reach]]'' {{Mo}} | ||
*''[[Halo: Point of Light]]'' {{Mo}} | *''[[Halo: Point of Light]]'' {{Mo}} | ||
*''[[Vertical Umbrage]]'' | |||
==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||
