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Covenant military: Difference between revisions

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{{Era|Covenant|Human|UNSC|HCW}}
{{Era|Covenant|Human|UNSC|HCW}}
{{references}}
{{References}}
[[File:Scarab and wraiths.jpg|350px|thumb|Covenant ground forces engage UNSC infantry for control of a [[Relic|Forerunner building]].]]
[[File:Scarab and wraiths.jpg|300px|thumb|Covenant ground forces engage UNSC infantry for control of a [[Relic|Forerunner building]].]]
The [[Covenant]] maintained a pervasive '''military force''' which it used to carry out the [[Hierarchs]]' will throughout the Covenant's vast empire. Under the political oversight of various ministries and the [[High Council]], the military was by far the largest singular organization within the Covenant hegemony.<ref name="wp cov">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/factions/covenant '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Covenant'']</ref> It was originally led by the [[Sangheili]], who were replaced by the [[Jiralhanae]] during the [[Great Schism]].
The [[Covenant]] maintained a pervasive '''military force''' which it used to carry out the [[Hierarchs]]' will throughout the Covenant's vast empire. Under the political oversight of various ministries and the [[High Council]], the military was by far the largest singular organization within the Covenant hegemony.<ref name="wp cov">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/factions/covenant '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Covenant'']</ref> It was originally led by the [[Sangheili]], who were replaced by the [[Jiralhanae]] during the [[Great Schism]].


== History ==
==History==
[[File:Staging area.png|250px|thumb|right|A Covenant staging area in the [[Viery Territory]] during the [[Fall of Reach]] being observed by [[Spartan]]s of [[Noble Team]].]]
[[File:Staging area.png|250px|thumb|right|A Covenant staging area in the [[Viery Territory]] during the [[Fall of Reach]] being observed by [[Spartan]]s of [[Noble Team]]]]
In the early centuries of the Covenant, the [[Writ of Union]] established the armed forces of the Sangheili as the hegemony's sole military force, with the [[San'Shyuum]] having little part in its day-to-day operation. As the Covenant conquered and assimilated various species for its cause, members of each race were incorporated into the Covenant military to perform different roles, adding their own unique advantages and disadvantages. The [[Unggoy Rebellion]] in [[2462]] ushered in a major restructuring of the military: because they had proven themselves in combat in the eyes of the [[Sangheili]], the [[Unggoy]] were allowed into formerly Sangheili-only units and were given better weaponry, giving rise to the Unggoy as a proper infantry class.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 151''</ref>
In the early centuries of the Covenant, the [[Writ of Union]] established the armed forces of the Sangheili as the hegemony's sole military force, with the [[San'Shyuum]] having little part in its day-to-day operation. The military's original purpose was to allow the Covenant to establish dominance in the [[Milky Way]] by force, but its primary goal was to acquire [[Forerunner]] technology and to bring forth the [[Covenant religion|Great Journey]]. The fact that the Covenant military, the empire's largest and most powerful entity, was completely under the control of Sangheili led to some San'Shyuum distrusting the species.<ref name="wp cov"/> One of the Covenant military's earliest engagements was during the [[Rending]], an insurrection led by [[Ussa 'Xellus]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Broken Circle]]''', ''pages 178-181'' (Google Play edition)</ref> As the Covenant conquered and assimilated various species for its cause, members of each race were incorporated into the Covenant military to perform different roles, adding their own unique advantages and disadvantages. The [[Unggoy Rebellion]] in [[2462]] ushered in a major restructuring of the military: because they had proven themselves in combat in the eyes of the Sangheili, the [[Unggoy]] were allowed into formerly Sangheili-only units and were given better weaponry, giving rise to the Unggoy as a proper infantry class.<ref>'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', ''page 151''</ref>


During the Great Schism, the Covenant military was violently torn between those loyal to the [[Covenant]], who continued to follow the [[Hierarchs|High Prophets]], and the [[Swords of Sanghelios]], the independent, Sangheili-led faction who followed [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]] against them.<ref name="uprising">'''[[Halo 2]]''', campaign level ''[[Uprising]]''</ref> As the battle raged, the [[Prophet of Truth|High Prophet of Truth]] formally transferred command of the military to the [[Jiralhanae]], a position once exclusively held by the [[Sangheili]]. Following the Schism, the [[Battle of High Charity|Flood outbreak on ''High Charity'']] and the eventual destruction of the remaining Covenant leadership in the [[Battle of Installation 00]],<ref name="h3">'''Halo 3'''</ref> the Covenant military ceased to exist as a functioning force due to the absence of a structured Covenant government.
During the Great Schism, the Covenant military was violently torn between those loyal to the [[Covenant]], who continued to follow the [[Hierarchs|High Prophets]], and the [[Swords of Sanghelios]], the independent, Sangheili-led faction who followed [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]] against them.<ref name="uprising">'''[[Halo 2]]''', campaign level ''[[Uprising]]''</ref> As the battle raged, the [[Prophet of Truth|High Prophet of Truth]] formally transferred command of the military to the [[Jiralhanae]], a position once exclusively held by the [[Sangheili]]. Following the Schism, the [[Battle of High Charity|Flood outbreak on ''High Charity'']] and the eventual destruction of the remaining Covenant leadership in the [[Battle of Installation 00]],<ref name="h3">'''Halo 3'''</ref> the Covenant military ceased to exist as a functioning force due to the absence of a structured Covenant government.
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Politically, most of the military fell under the jurisdiction of the [[Ministry of Resolution]],<ref name="evg1">'''Halo: The Essential Visual Guide''', ''pages 10, 11, 175''</ref> while some of the more specialized military forces were overseen by different ministries, such as the [[Ministry of Fervent Intercession]] in the [[Sangheili Zealot|Zealots]]' case.<ref>'''Halo: The Essential Visual Guide''', ''page 60''</ref> Like the rest of the Covenant, the Covenant military was under the ultimate jurisdiction of the [[High Council]],<ref name="theflood">'''[[Halo: The Flood]]''', ''page ??''</ref> formerly composed of [[Sangheili Councilor]]s who oversaw the operation of the military.  
Politically, most of the military fell under the jurisdiction of the [[Ministry of Resolution]],<ref name="evg1">'''Halo: The Essential Visual Guide''', ''pages 10, 11, 175''</ref> while some of the more specialized military forces were overseen by different ministries, such as the [[Ministry of Fervent Intercession]] in the [[Sangheili Zealot|Zealots]]' case.<ref>'''Halo: The Essential Visual Guide''', ''page 60''</ref> Like the rest of the Covenant, the Covenant military was under the ultimate jurisdiction of the [[High Council]],<ref name="theflood">'''[[Halo: The Flood]]''', ''page ??''</ref> formerly composed of [[Sangheili Councilor]]s who oversaw the operation of the military.  


The [[Council of Deed and Doctrine]] was a command organization within the Covenant military and aided the [[Hierarchs]] with military tactics and strategy. During major conflicts, the Council of Deed and Doctrine created a [[Council of Masters]] to directly oversee operations. Because [[San'Shyuum]] did not hold military ranks, no San'Shyuum was truly a "member" of the military. Instead, they were responsible for strategic decision-making, but also traveled with Covenant military units as religious or political overseers.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Flood]]'''</ref><ref>'''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]'''</ref>
The [[Council of Deed and Doctrine]] was a command organization within the Covenant military and aided the [[Hierarchs]] with military tactics and strategy. During major conflicts, the Council of Deed and Doctrine created a [[Council of Masters]] to directly oversee operations. The San'Shyuum and Sangheili members of the Council of Masters sent Sangheili soldiers into battle and dictated war needs. Because San'Shyuum did not hold military ranks, no San'Shyuum was truly a "member" of the military. Instead, they were responsible for strategic decision-making, but also traveled with Covenant military units as religious or political overseers.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Flood]]'''</ref><ref>'''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''', ''page 144''</ref>


=== Military organization ===
=== Military organization ===
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===Species===
===Species===
Despite the diversity of their weapons and forces, Covenant troops are heavily segregated. Unggoy are deployed as cannon fodder, Kig-Yar are used as support and snipers, and Sangheili are commanders and fight in warrior lances. Weapons and technology are restricted by species and rank; only Elites receive [[Sangheili personal energy shield|personal energy shields]] and [[energy sword]]s, only Jackals receive [[Kig-Yar point defense gauntlet|point defense gauntlets]], and Grunts only receive basic weapons and [[Unggoy combat harness|armor]], depending by rank.
Despite the diversity of their weapons and forces, Covenant troops are heavily segregated. Unggoy are deployed as cannon fodder, Kig-Yar are used as support and snipers, and Sangheili are commanders and fight in warrior lances. Weapons and technology are restricted by species and rank; only Sangheili receive [[Sangheili personal energy shield|personal energy shields]] and [[energy sword]]s, only Kig-Yar receive [[Kig-Yar point defense gauntlet|point defense gauntlets]], and Unggoy only receive basic weapons and [[Unggoy combat harness|armor]], depending by rank.


The reasons for these restrictions are often cultural; for instance, Elites view wielding shield gauntlets as dishonorable and that "lesser species" do not deserve their privileged weapons. The Covenant's interspecies politics also played a large part in this segregation: while Sangheili-led mixed units existed, the Sangheili and the Jiralhanae often maintained their own individual command hierarchies largely segregated from one another to prevent conflict and authority issues from arising between the two. It was originally rare for the Jiralhanae to receive their own ships to begin with, and the ones given to them by the Sangheili were smaller and less powerful while the Sangheili maintained the bulk of the Covenant's fleet.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''pages 195, 199''</ref> When the Jiralhanae were made the Covenant's main military caste, their indigenous weaponry and vehicles — equally brutal in design and function — became a staple on the battlefield alongside the Covenant's more refined technologies.<ref name="h3"/>
The reasons for these restrictions are often cultural; for instance, Sangheili view wielding shield gauntlets as dishonorable and that "lesser species" do not deserve their privileged weapons. The Covenant's interspecies politics also played a large part in this segregation: while Sangheili-led mixed units existed, the Sangheili and the Jiralhanae often maintained their own individual command hierarchies largely segregated from one another to prevent conflict and authority issues from arising between the two. It was originally rare for the Jiralhanae to receive their own ships to begin with, and the ones given to them by the Sangheili were smaller and less powerful while the Sangheili maintained the bulk of the Covenant's fleet.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''pages 195, 199''</ref> When the Jiralhanae were made the Covenant's main military caste, their indigenous weaponry and vehicles—equally brutal in design and function—became a staple on the battlefield alongside the Covenant's more refined technologies.<ref name="h3"/>


This discrimination among the Covenant military is centuries old, but the dynamic is occasionally changed by violent rebellion. The [[Unggoy Rebellion]] caused Elites to mix their units with Grunts and give them better training. Likewise, the Great Schism put Jiralhanae in command of former Sangheili units, gave them [[Jiralhanae power armor|personal shielded armor]], and made Jiralhanae [[pack]]s a prevalent unit within the military in addition to the mixed-species lance.
This discrimination among the Covenant military is centuries old, but the dynamic is occasionally changed by violent rebellion. The [[Unggoy Rebellion]] caused Elites to mix their units with Grunts and give them better training. Likewise, the Great Schism put Jiralhanae in command of former Sangheili units, gave them [[Jiralhanae power armor|personal shielded armor]], and made Jiralhanae [[pack]]s a prevalent unit within the military in addition to the mixed-species lance.
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**''[[Terminal/Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary|Terminals]]''
**''[[Terminal/Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary|Terminals]]''
*''[[Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn]]''
*''[[Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn]]''
*''[[Halo 4]]'' <small>([[Prologue]] Only)</small>
*''[[Halo 4]]'' {{C|[[Prologue]] only}}
*''[[Halo: Initiation]]''
*''[[Halo: Initiation]]''
*''[[Halo: Escalation]]''
*''[[Halo: Escalation]]''
*''[[Halo: Broken Circle]]''
*''[[Halo 2 Anniversary]]''
*''[[Halo 2 Anniversary]]''
*''[[Halo: New Blood]]''
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{{col-end}}


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<references/>
<references/>


==See also==
*[[:Category:Covenant Weapons|Covenant weapons]]
[[Category:Covenant military| ]]
[[Category:Covenant military| ]]
[[Category:The Covenant]]
[[Category:The Covenant]]

Revision as of 16:13, March 21, 2015

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Marketing image depicting a large battle inside the level geometry for the mission Relic Interior.
Covenant ground forces engage UNSC infantry for control of a Forerunner building.

The Covenant maintained a pervasive military force which it used to carry out the Hierarchs' will throughout the Covenant's vast empire. Under the political oversight of various ministries and the High Council, the military was by far the largest singular organization within the Covenant hegemony.[1] It was originally led by the Sangheili, who were replaced by the Jiralhanae during the Great Schism.

History

A Covenant staging area in the Viery Territory during the Fall of Reach being observed by Spartans of Noble Team

In the early centuries of the Covenant, the Writ of Union established the armed forces of the Sangheili as the hegemony's sole military force, with the San'Shyuum having little part in its day-to-day operation. The military's original purpose was to allow the Covenant to establish dominance in the Milky Way by force, but its primary goal was to acquire Forerunner technology and to bring forth the Great Journey. The fact that the Covenant military, the empire's largest and most powerful entity, was completely under the control of Sangheili led to some San'Shyuum distrusting the species.[1] One of the Covenant military's earliest engagements was during the Rending, an insurrection led by Ussa 'Xellus.[2] As the Covenant conquered and assimilated various species for its cause, members of each race were incorporated into the Covenant military to perform different roles, adding their own unique advantages and disadvantages. The Unggoy Rebellion in 2462 ushered in a major restructuring of the military: because they had proven themselves in combat in the eyes of the Sangheili, the Unggoy were allowed into formerly Sangheili-only units and were given better weaponry, giving rise to the Unggoy as a proper infantry class.[3]

During the Great Schism, the Covenant military was violently torn between those loyal to the Covenant, who continued to follow the High Prophets, and the Swords of Sanghelios, the independent, Sangheili-led faction who followed Arbiter Thel 'Vadam against them.[4] As the battle raged, the High Prophet of Truth formally transferred command of the military to the Jiralhanae, a position once exclusively held by the Sangheili. Following the Schism, the Flood outbreak on High Charity and the eventual destruction of the remaining Covenant leadership in the Battle of Installation 00,[5] the Covenant military ceased to exist as a functioning force due to the absence of a structured Covenant government.

A number of splinter factions formed in the wake of the Covenant's fragmentation, including the Servants of the Abiding Truth and later the more powerful revived Covenant led by Jul 'Mdama. These groups have marshaled significant amounts of the Covenant's former matériel and troops while maintaining the practices and traditions of the former Covenant's military forces to varying degrees.[6]

Organization

Political oversight

Politically, most of the military fell under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Resolution,[7] while some of the more specialized military forces were overseen by different ministries, such as the Ministry of Fervent Intercession in the Zealots' case.[8] Like the rest of the Covenant, the Covenant military was under the ultimate jurisdiction of the High Council,[9] formerly composed of Sangheili Councilors who oversaw the operation of the military.

The Council of Deed and Doctrine was a command organization within the Covenant military and aided the Hierarchs with military tactics and strategy. During major conflicts, the Council of Deed and Doctrine created a Council of Masters to directly oversee operations. The San'Shyuum and Sangheili members of the Council of Masters sent Sangheili soldiers into battle and dictated war needs. Because San'Shyuum did not hold military ranks, no San'Shyuum was truly a "member" of the military. Instead, they were responsible for strategic decision-making, but also traveled with Covenant military units as religious or political overseers.[10][11]

Military organization

File:Ntho.jpg
The Sangheili were originally the commanders of the Covenant military.

The Covenant military was heavily naval-oriented, with fleets ranging from small battle groups to entire armadas serving as the basic unit of organization. These fleets appeared to be under the direct authority of a given ministry,[7] and there was seemingly no meaningful distinction between service branches, such as the human notions of a dedicated "navy" and "army"; for example, field officers, including Sangheili Generals, could command ground operations as well as starships.[12] Individual fleets operated a number of task-based groups, including the ground-oriented Occupational Forces[13] and the Special Warfare Group, which contained the Special Operations Division.[7]

The Covenant military was organized based on the Covenant's caste system. The officer corps was primarily staffed by Jiralhanae (and formerly by Sangheili),[14] while the Unggoy and Kig-Yar generally filled menial or infantry roles. Ranks were denoted by the color, type of armor and accessories worn for Sangheili, Jiralhanae and Unggoy; different ranks of Kig-Yar would also be distinguished by the color of their shield gauntlets.

The smallest organizational unit of the Covenant military was file, typically consisting of cannon fodder Unggoy. A lance was a small unit of Unggoy commanded by a low-ranked Sangheili (later Jiralhanae), a rough equivalent to a UNSC fireteam. Jiralhanae were also organized into the tribal packs traditional of their society. Large numbers of these units comprised legions, which were organized into task-based groups within their respective naval fleets.

Species

Despite the diversity of their weapons and forces, Covenant troops are heavily segregated. Unggoy are deployed as cannon fodder, Kig-Yar are used as support and snipers, and Sangheili are commanders and fight in warrior lances. Weapons and technology are restricted by species and rank; only Sangheili receive personal energy shields and energy swords, only Kig-Yar receive point defense gauntlets, and Unggoy only receive basic weapons and armor, depending by rank.

The reasons for these restrictions are often cultural; for instance, Sangheili view wielding shield gauntlets as dishonorable and that "lesser species" do not deserve their privileged weapons. The Covenant's interspecies politics also played a large part in this segregation: while Sangheili-led mixed units existed, the Sangheili and the Jiralhanae often maintained their own individual command hierarchies largely segregated from one another to prevent conflict and authority issues from arising between the two. It was originally rare for the Jiralhanae to receive their own ships to begin with, and the ones given to them by the Sangheili were smaller and less powerful while the Sangheili maintained the bulk of the Covenant's fleet.[15] When the Jiralhanae were made the Covenant's main military caste, their indigenous weaponry and vehicles—equally brutal in design and function—became a staple on the battlefield alongside the Covenant's more refined technologies.[5]

This discrimination among the Covenant military is centuries old, but the dynamic is occasionally changed by violent rebellion. The Unggoy Rebellion caused Elites to mix their units with Grunts and give them better training. Likewise, the Great Schism put Jiralhanae in command of former Sangheili units, gave them personal shielded armor, and made Jiralhanae packs a prevalent unit within the military in addition to the mixed-species lance.

  • Sangheili - dominant military caste prior to the Covenant Schism; field commanders and elite warriors
  • Jiralhanae - dominant military caste following the Covenant Schism; previously shock troops
  • Mgalekgolo - shock infantry, heavy-weapons platforms
  • Yanme'e - airborne infantry, combat engineers
  • Kig-Yar - scouts/snipers, police force
  • Unggoy - majority of infantry, cannon-fodder
  • Huragok - combat engineers, medics, suicide bombers

Structure

Rank structure

Classes Sangheili Unggoy Huragok Lekgolo Jiralhanae Kig-Yar T'vaoan Yanme'e
Ranks and type classes
Standard ranks Minor Minor Mgalekgolo Minor Minor Minor Minor
Specialized troops Ranger
Spec Ops
Stealth
Ossoona
Honor Guardsman 		Heavy
Spec Ops 		Scarab Stalker
Jumper
Bodyguard
Honor Guardsman 		Sniper
Ranger 		Commando
Veterans Major
Spec Ops Officer 		Major Major Major Major
Murmillo 		Major
Leaders Ultra
Lights of Sanghelios
Field Commander
General
Zealot 		Ultra Ultra
Captain
Captain Major
Captain Ultra 		Zealot Champion Ultra
Leader
Titles
Ratings Shipmaster
Spec Ops Commander
Fleet Master
Field Master
Field Marshal
Supreme Commander
Imperial Admiral
Councilor
Arbiter 		Shipmaster
Chieftain
War Chieftain
Chieftain of the Jiralhanae 		Shipmaster Shipmaster

Known units

Fleets

Main article: Covenant fleet

v • d • e
 
Fleets of the Covenant and its remnants
Fleets
Flotillas

Legions

Main article: Legion

Military assets

The Covenant military maintained a vast array of military equipment, vehicles and weaponry, most of which fell into the hands of its remnant factions after the hegemony's fragmentation. Troops were delivered from ships into the battlefield via Type-25 Spirit or Type-52 Phantom dropships and various types of drop pod. The Type-32 Ghost serves as a common scouting vehicle, the mainstay battle tank is known as the Type-26 Wraith, with air support provided by the ubiquitous Type-26 Banshee. Most of the Covenant's vehicles employ anti-gravity technology in some form.

Help.png This section needs expansion. You can help Halopedia by expanding it.

List of appearances

Sources

  1. ^ a b Halo Waypoint: Covenant
  2. ^ Halo: Broken Circle, pages 178-181 (Google Play edition)
  3. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 151
  4. ^ Halo 2, campaign level Uprising
  5. ^ a b Halo 3
  6. ^ Halo 4
  7. ^ a b c Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, pages 10, 11, 175
  8. ^ Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 60
  9. ^ Halo: The Flood, page ??
  10. ^ Halo: The Flood
  11. ^ Halo: The Cole Protocol, page 144
  12. ^ Halo: Reach, campaign level Long Night of Solace
  13. ^ a b Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 57
  14. ^ Bungie.net: Type-25 Directed Energy Rifle
  15. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, pages 195, 199
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