Covenant remnants

Jul 'Mdama's Covenant, formerly the most prominent attempted re-creation of the Covenant Empire.

"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."

— Zef 'Trahl

Covenant remnants are splinter factions originating from the former Covenant body and remain active after the dissolution of the Covenant, though no single group uses the specific term "Covenant remnant" to refer to themselves. These factions vary greatly in ethos and motives; while some consider themselves as upholding the legacy of the Covenant as it used to be, others have been shown to pursue more extensive reforms or their own specific agendas. Although many former Covenant members discarded the Prophets' religion and the belief in the "Great Journey" altogether in the wake of the revelation of the truth about the Halos, many Sangheili in particular have reverted to their species' ancient ways of worshiping the Forerunners and their technology, while others continue to maintain their belief in the "Great Journey" free from the influence of the Prophets. Thus, the various Covenant remnant factions range from pragmatic mercenaries to fanatical religious cultists.

Unlike the Covenant at its height, the general scarcity of resources has forced many of the remnant factions to use whatever materials they can find. Intact capital warships are considered coveted assets among the splinter factions, as many ships were destroyed in both the Great Schism and the Human-Covenant War as well as a significant portion of the Covenant's infrastructure and shipyards remaining inactive following the wars. Additionally, with the majority of the Huragok mysteriously disappearing, many former Covenant no longer possess the capacity to repair and maintain most of their equipment. Still, select Sangheili armories have taken over the production of matériel formerly manufactured within High Charity and have even developed new assets such as the T-55 storm rifle. Despite this, many remnant groups are forced to employ obsolete or second-hand military equipment and weaponry in the absence of the Covenant's extensive supply chain. On the other hand, black markets—many of them operated by Kig-Yar profiteering from the Covenant's end, and others by Yonhet—were flooded with former Covenant matériel after the war. Because of their limited resources, some Covenant groups have resorted to terrorism to achieve their ends following the war. While previously considered a major taboo among the Sangheili, some groups are also known to utilize human weaponry, namely nuclear weapons.

History

The Great Schism and dissolution of the Covenant

While select remnant factions, such as the Ussans or the Banished, were already active before the Covenant's fall, many of the Covenant remnants can trace their origins to the aftermath of the Great Schism and the defeat of the Covenant. After the Hierarchs replaced the Sangheili with the Jiralhanae and ordered the genocide of the former, the Sangheili rebelled against the San'Shyuum-led main body of the Covenant. Many of the Sangheili-led factions that emerged from the conflict would continue to regard themselves as the "true" Covenant, some noting that the Sangheili had "kicked out" the San'Shyuum. Amidst the turmoil of the Great Schism, all groups of Sangheili were called to their base world Joyous Exultation under the leadership of Imperial Admiral Xytan 'Jar Wattinree, who announced the treachery of the Prophets and proposed the creation of a new, Sangheili-led Covenant. After Wattinree and the forces gathered at Joyous Exultation were killed by a NOVA bomb, the bulk of the Sangheili rallied behind Arbiter Thel 'Vadam and Shipmaster Rtas 'Vadum. This group, initially centered around the Fleet of Retribution, would later come to call themselves the Swords of Sanghelios.

Many Unggoy, Mgalekgolo, Yanme'e and Kig-Yar remained within either the Jiralhanae's or the Sangheili's respective command hierarchies and continued to serve their masters throughout the Great Schism.

Post-war period

After the death of the Prophet of Truth and many of the Prophets at the hands of the Sangheili, the remaining San'Shyuum went into hiding, leaving a power vacuum within the remains of the Covenant. Various high-ranked members of the fallen hegemony seized control of as many military assets as they could; many became independent warlords commanding their own factions, some of them claiming to be legitimate successors to the Covenant. Others, including many Sangheili kaidons, hoarded ships and weapons for their own purposes while avoiding involvement in larger conflicts.

Humanity was also entangled in the Covenant remnants' post-war power dynamics. Conducting its own operations unknown to the rest of the UNSC, the Office of Naval Intelligence armed Sangheili dissidents of the Servants of the Abiding Truth and even covertly attacked the Arbiter's forces to maintain the balance of power between the two factions. ONI was also indirectly responsible for the formation of one of the most prominent post-Covenant revival factions, led by the Sangheili Jul 'Mdama. After escaping ONI detainment on the shield world-based ONI research facility Trevelyan, 'Mdama learned of his wife's death during the Blooding Years and vowed revenge on the humans due to their involvement in his species' affairs. 'Mdama, assisted by Sangheili from a remote colony planet called Hesduros, formed a new Covenant and proceeded to go to the Forerunner world Requiem and wake the "living god" known as the Didact to assist them in eradicating all humanity.

New conflicts

Main article: Post-Covenant War conflicts

The greater Sangheili-Jiralhanae feud continued in the background for years in the wake of the Great Schism, taking its toll on both species. While seemingly more subdued in the first months after the Schism's beginning, the conflict began to intensify again as the years passed and the Jiralhanae's resources began to dwindle. This prompted them to raid Sangheili-held territories for foodstuffs and other supplies, as they were unable of obtaining the resources themselves due to their disorganized and barbaric nature.

Defying the tenuous peace between humanity and the majority of the Sangheili, aligned with the Arbiter, several Sangheili-led factions—mainly religious cultists—once again rose to oppose humanity soon after the end of the war. In 2554, the planet of Draetheus V was attacked by Covenant cultists led by Zealot Merg Vol. This group was eventually stopped by UNSC forces and Merg Vol was executed by Spartan Sarah Palmer. In 2557, Jul 'Mdama's Covenant engaged UNSC forces, including their flagship Infinity, at Requiem. During these events, the Didact was awakened and soon joined forces with the Covenant, although he was eventually defeated by Spartan John-117 over Earth, and shortly after in the Composer's Forge. After the Didact's apparent death, control over his mechanical Promethean armies passed on to 'Mdama. Six months later, the UNSC again contested the occupying Covenant forces in the Requiem Campaign, ending in the shield world's destruction at the hands of 'Mdama.

Only weeks after the destruction of Requiem, an offshoot of 'Mdama's Covenant was hired by the human insurgent group New Colonial Alliance to disrupt peace negotiations between the Arbiter and the Jiralhanae Chieftain Lydus on Ealen IV. During July 2558, another offshoot of 'Mdama's Covenant attempted to rebel against the main faction, but 'Mdama's forces managed to capture its leader, Sali 'Nyon, and eliminate all his followers. Eventually, however, 'Nyon would escape captivity and lead a mutiny aboard the Assault Carrier Breath of Annihilation, successfully breaking away and gathering followers.

Several of the more fanatical splinter factions have resumed the practice of glassing human colonies after the end of the Covenant War. The colony of Cleyell fell victim to such an attack in 2556.

In October of 2558, 'Mdama's Covenant suffered a disastrous setback when its leader was killed by Fireteam Osiris while engaging Promethean forces. 'Mdama's forces would continue in his name, including an attempt to secure the ONI research vessel Argent Moon and an attack on Arbiter Thel 'Vadam's keep, but were ultimately destroyed by a counter-attack by the Swords of Sanghelios against their last major stronghold on Sanghelios, Sunaion. While it is likely that other Covenant factions remained, 'Mdama's faction was the largest, and Created Guardians were deployed across the galaxy almost immediately afterward, rendering their status unknown. The Servants of the Abiding Truth continued to survive, instigating the Second Onyx conflict around the time that the Created conflict was beginning. After learning of the destruction of 'Mdama's Covenant, the Servants considered the Covenant to be completely gone and believed that only the Servants and the Swords of Sanghelios were left of the factions that developed after the Covenant fell.

Presently known groups

Swords of Sanghelios

Main article: Swords of Sanghelios

Arbiter Thel 'Vadam and then-Special Operations Commander Rtas 'Vadum of the Fleet of Retribution successfully rebelled against the San'Shyuum-led Covenant during the Great Schism, assassinating its remaining political leadership alongside the UNSC. Following the conclusion of the Human-Covenant War, 'Vadam and his allies formally established the Swords of Sanghelios and sought to make peace with the humans. The Swords are the most prominent post-Covenant faction to abandon not only the Covenant religion but also question the Sangheili's traditional worship of the Forerunners as well, which has been a point of controversy among some of the more conservative Sangheili. The Abiding Truth, in particular, consider 'Vadam and his allies blasphemers.

Servants of the Abiding Truth

Main article: Servants of the Abiding Truth

The Servants of the Abiding Truth is an insurgent group formerly led by Sangheili religious extremist and former Field Master, Avu Med 'Telcam. Unlike most of the post-Covenant factions, the Servants have their roots in an ancient order, mostly suppressed by the Prophets during the Covenant's reign and revived after the San'Shyuum were overthrown. Outspoken in their opposition of the Arbiter and his abandonment of the worship of the Forerunners, the Abiding Truth launched an armed insurgency against 'Vadam in March 2553, assisted by elements of the human Office of Naval Intelligence. 'Telcam was assassinated by SPARTAN-G059 in January 2558. However, they remain active in the Sarcophagus shield world after the onset of the Created conflict, now led by Dural 'Mdama, son of Jul 'Mdama.

Keepers of the One Freedom

Main article: Keepers of the One Freedom

The Keepers of the One Freedom are a militant religious cult devoted to the worship of the Forerunners based on Venezia. The Keepers are unusual among post-Covenant factions in that they welcome human followers to their ranks, provided they swear to oppose the "heretic tyranny" of the Unified Earth Government. Because of this, the Keepers quickly gained popularity within the Outer Colonies after the Covenant War. As of July 2553, they were also supported by separatist elements within Gao's planetary government, namely minister Arlo Casille, who covertly supplied them with money and weapons.

The Banished

Main article: Banished

The Banished are a mercenary group led by the Jiralhanae warlord Atriox. They fought against the Covenant long before the Great Schism in the early 2540s, and have consolidated a significant number of military assets in the wake of the Human-Covenant War. In 2559, they had a major presence on Installation 00 and clashed with the UNSC forces from the UNSC Spirit of Fire when the long-lost support vessel mysteriously stumbled upon the Ark. Similar to the Keepers of the One Freedom, the Banished are opening to recruiting humans.

Yapyap's rebellion

Main article: Yapyap's rebellion

This rebellion group led by the Unggoy Yapyap splintered off from the Banished during their campaign on the Ark in 2559.

'Taralumee's faction

After the events of the Great war, Luro 'Taralumee used his previous station within the Covenant in an attempt to consolidate power for unknown reasons and is considered dangerous by the UNSC due to his zealous devotion to the Great Journey and adherence to Covenant ideals.

Lydus' Master-pack

Main article: Lydus' clan

Lydus is a Jiralhanae Chieftain leading a master-pack which emerged in a position of power among the Jiralhanae after the fall of the Covenant. In 2558, Lydus and the pack agreed to enter peace negotiations with the Swords of Sanghelios to exchange Jiralhanae resources for food, overseen by the UNSC. However, the subsequent attack by 'Gajat's forces left these peace negotiations in doubt.

'Nyon's Covenant

Main article: Sali 'Nyon's Covenant

Sali 'Nyon was a former member of Jul 'Mdama's faction, until he decided that he was the true "Didact's Hand". After gaining followers from within 'Mdama's faction, he betrayed Jul and stole the UNSC's half of the Janus Key. Despite this, one of his followers had a change of mind and stole his half of the Janus Key, delivering it to Dr. Halsey. Shortly after this, Jul's Covenant captured Sali 'Nyon and destroyed all of Nyon's hideouts, killing all his followers and ending his rebellion temporarily. Months later during Operation: ATHENA Ayit 'Sevi released Sali from custody, allowing Sali and his new followers to take over the Breath of Annihilation and escape from Jul 'Mdama's forces. 'Nyon remained as the de facto "Hand of the Didact" after 'Mdama's assassination and the collapse of his Covenant at Sunaion.

Kig-Yar pirates

Since the collapse of the Covenant, Kig-Yar society has shown little to no change. It is still overwhelmingly matriarchal in nature and is prone to piracy. Significant Kig-Yar activities have been recorded on planets such as Venezia and Ven III. Kig-Yar scavengers have also continued to occupy glassed human colonies, as in the case of Cleyell.

Ussans

Main article: Ussans

This ancient group was the very first Covenant splinter faction, created by Ussa 'Xellus and other Sangheili who opposed the Writ of Union. During the time of the Covenant's creation, the Sangheili and Reformist San'Shyuum had united to create the empire. Ussa and like-minded Sangheili who opposed this union, fled their homeworld as it was occupied by the newly formed Covenant empire. They had arrived at the shield world known as the Refuge and continued to practise pre-Covenant Sangheili traditions for many generations since. However, many fell victim to the Blood Sickness over the centuries since. In 2553, the Refuge was rediscovered by the crew of the supply ship Journey's Sustenance led by San'Shyuum Zo Resken, descendant of the Prophet of Inner Conviction who had pursued the Ussans to the Refuge in the first place and chose to leave them be even though he suspected the Ussans not to be gone when they had the shield world's Disassembler process initiated. With the help of Huragok Sluggish Drifter, the Refuge's monitor Enduring Bias was repaired and he helped to put down a rebellion and cure the Blood Sickness. Enduring Bias reassembled the Refuge into a circular structure similar to a Halo ring and those Ussans who wished to return to Sanghelios were allowed to do so while many remained on the Refuge.

Shields of Requiem

Main article: Shields of Requiem

The Shields of Requiem are a Sangheili-led mercenary group. Little is known about them, though their name suggests a reverence and/ or that they took part in the Requiem Campaign.

Former groups

'Bhetek's faction

Main article: Tem'Bhetek's faction

After the end of the war, several former Covenant members that were loyal to the Covenant during the Great Schism sought revenge against the Sangheili. Predominantly composed of Jiralhanae, this faction was led by San'Shyuum Tem'Bhetek and Boru'a'Neem. It is one of the few post-war factions to contain San'Shyuum, and to resume hostility against the Sangheili but not humanity. After discovering the truth that he was being used by Boru, Tem sacrificed himself to destroy the prototype Halo installation and end the threat it posed as well as Boru's plan. In the process, Rtas 'Vadum discovered that many more San'Shyuum had survived than was previously believed and resolved to track them down and determine who deserved punishment for their actions and who deserved forgiveness.

Vol's Covenant

Main article: Merg Vol's Covenant

Led by Zealot Merg Vol, the faction initiated one of the first post-Covenant War conflicts, attacking the human research world of Draetheus V to access the Forerunner artifacts on its moon. Ultimately, the UNSC defeated the group and Vol was executed by Spartan Sarah Palmer, leading to the faction's dissolution. Parg Vol, a former member of this group, joined the faction led by 'Mdama following the battle.

'Mdama's Covenant

Main article: Jul 'Mdama's Covenant

This faction was founded on Hesduros by Jul 'Mdama, who initially started as a member of the Servants of the Abiding Truth but grew disillusioned with their religious zeal and willingness to collaborate with humanity even temporarily. Despite the ostensibly religious trappings of the group and the genuine zeal of many of its members, 'Mdama himself does not view the Forerunners as gods, only projecting the façade of a religious leader to motivate his followers. Since the events of the first Requiem campaign, Jul 'Mdama's faction was considered by the UNSC to be the biggest threat among the many Covenant remnant factions, and absorbed elements of one large faction, spun off two smaller groups, and allied themselves with the Ur-Didact's Promethean constructs, and with the greatest mind of the UNSC: Dr. Catherine Halsey. During the Battle of Kamchatka in October 2558, this Covenant faction received three fatal blows: Halsey was rescued by Fireteam Osiris, the Prometheans betrayed their Covenant allies, and the leader Jul 'Mdama was assassinated. After this devastating event, the Covenant—temporarily led by Kitun 'Arach and other high ranking Sangheili—launched a final, desperate assault to Sanghelios, but it failed and the faction was destroyed by the Swords of Sanghelios. After the destruction of 'Mdama's Covenant, the Servants of the Abiding Truth considered the Covenant to be truly gone.

'Gajat's mercenary group

Main article: Vata 'Gajat's mercenary group

Vata 'Gajat was a former member of Jul 'Mdama's faction, until he saw the benefit of human capitalism and turned mercenary. The faction's equipment and resources are a mixture from both the original Covenant and 'Mdama's group. By March 2558, 'Gajat and the group were employed by the New Colonial Alliance. The group was responsible for the disruption of a Sangheili and Jiralhanae peace meeting on Ealen IV. They later assisted the New Colonial Alliance in their attempt to assassinate Lord Hood and destroy the UNSC Infinity. During the Ambush at Oth Lodon many of its forces, including 'Gajat himself, were killed, leaving the group's future uncertain.

'Sarov's faction

Main article: Thars 'Sarov's faction

On the former human outer colony of Carrow, now jointly-held between humans and Sangheili, a sea change in governance has come to Rak, the foremost Sangheili habitation on the planet. In 2558, a Sangheili known as Thars 'Sarov took power. Thars is utterly opposed to peace with humans and believes that sharing Carrow with them is impossible. Those loyal to him began to attack humans here and there, but it wasn't until July of 2558 that the first one was killed and hostilities between his group and the Surakan Militia Volunteers erupted. Things escalated into all-out war between Thars and his cousin Rojka 'Kasaan, escalated when Thars brought in Jiralhanae Chieftain Hekabe and his forces to help. In truth, Hekabe sought a Sharquoi hive located on the planet and betrayed Thars. Thars' faction was almost entirely wiped out by the civil war and Hekabe's betrayal and the rest of his forces fell when Sharquoi took over his surviving ships to escape the planet. In a final confrontation with Rojka, Thars' remaining warriors fell to Spartan-II Gray Team and a few surviving Sangeheili of Rojka's faction and Thars was executed by Rojka for his actions. During this time, Akato 'Dakaj took control of Rak and executed the kaidons who had lent their support to Thars.

'Kasaan's faction

Main article: Rojka 'Kasaan's faction

After his cousin Thars 'Sarov betrayed him to take control of Rak on the planet Carrow, Rak's leader Rojka 'Kasaan formed a faction loyal to him to oppose Thars' forces. However, in the ensuing conflict, Thars called upon the help of a Jiralhanae faction led by Jiralhanae Chieftain Hekabe which gave him the edge over Rojka in a space battle. Rojka's fleet was destroyed while his ORS-class heavy cruiser Unwavering Discipline crashed on Carrow. Rojka gave chase to Gray Team, the Spartans responsible for the destruction of his homeworld Glyke while Thars relentlessly pursued Rojka even with Hekabe betraying him. Thars succeeded in slaughtering the entire faction aside from Rojka and three Sangheili he sent back to Rak. With Hekabe taking control of the Sharquoi, Rojka and his remaining warriors, who unexpectedly traveled to Suraka to help their leader, allied themselves with Gray Team to defeat Thars and stop Hekabe from using Thars' surviving ships. With one Sangheili piloting a Banshee and the other two cloaked, the were able to catch Thars and his warriors by surprise and defeat them with the help of Gray Team. However, at least one if not all three of the surviving warriors were killed in the process. Rojka subsequently aided in the defeat of Hekabe and survived to return to Rak where the kaidons who had supported Thars had been executed by Akato 'Dakaj and his forces. Despite having won his conflict with Thars, Rojka did not retain power as the leader of Rak which instead went to Akato. Instead, Rojka agreed to act as the envoy between Rak and the human population of Suraka, the conflict having created the need for both species to come closer together.

Hekabe's faction

Main article: Hekabe's faction

Hekabe's faction was a powerful force made up of several Jiralhanae war packs led by the Jiralhanae Chieftain Hekabe. During the Battle of Installation 00, Hekabe led a force into the depths of the Ark where he retrieved the vertex, a Forerunner device that allowed the user to control the Sharquoi. This faction was known to ONI along with the threat they posed, especially if it discovered the location of a Sharquoi hive on Carrow containing hundreds of thousands of the creatures. During the erupting conflict on Carrow in 2557, Thars 'Sarov brought Hekabe and his forces to the planet as mercenaries to aid in his fight with his cousin Rojka 'Kasaan. Having learned the location of the Sharquoi hive, Hekabe ultimately betrayed Thars and unleashed the creatures, planning to use them to gain dominance over the galaxy and refusing to be beholden to anyone else for help, even the Banished. Hekabe and his forces were narrowly defeated by a small force made up of Surakan Militia Volunteers, Governor Ellis Gass, Melody Azikiwe, Spartan-II Gray Team and Rojka 'Kasaan. Hekabe himself was killed by Sharquoi under Gass' control and his surviving Jiralhanae were slaughtered by the Sharquoi as well. The Sharquoi hive and all of the creatures were subsequently destroyed with a HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon, ending the faction and their plans.

Other

These groups dissolved before the Covenant dissolved, thus they are not genuine remnants. However, these were significant splinter groups and held the same or similar ideologies as later remnant factions.

Sesa 'Refumee's heretic faction

Main article: Sesa 'Refumee's heretic faction

This Sangheili-led faction broke away from the Covenant prior to the Great Schism after learning that the Great Journey was a lie. Monitor Guilty Spark had informed Sesa 'Refumee the true purpose of the Halo Array, resulting in 'Refumee ordering his forces to cut communications with the Covenant and break away. The faction posed a threat to the Covenant's religious stability, and was destroyed by a Covenant Special Operations unit and the new Arbiter. After the Great Schism occurred, many of the later Sangheili remnant groups such the Combined Fleet of Righteous Purpose and the Fleet of Retribution would continue the legacy of Sesa 'Refumee's faction by destroying the Covenant with many abandoning its religion. One of the leaders in this effort was Thel 'Vadam, the Arbiter responsible for the destruction of the faction.

Summit at Joyous Exultation

Main article: Joyous Exultation Covenant

This assembly of Sangheili forces was a short-lived predecessor to the more prominent faction led by Rtas 'Vadum. At the onset of the Great Schism, Imperial Admiral Xytan 'Jar Wattinree summoned all Sangheili to the base world Joyous Exultation for an emergency meeting. 'Wattinree revealed the Prophets' treachery to his comrades and issued a fleet-wide missive of an alliance among the Sangheili to destroy both the Prophets and their Jiralhanae allies. With the exception of Voro Nar 'Mantakree's fleet, the entirety of this force was destroyed by a UNSC NOVA bomb during the summit. Meanwhile, the survivors were wiped out at Onyx by the Forerunner world's automated defenses.

List of appearances

• Halo 2 (First appearance)
• Halo: Ghosts of Onyx
• Halo 3
• Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe
  • The Return
• Halo: Glasslands
• Halo: The Thursday War
• Halo 4
  • Terminals
  • Spartan Ops
• Halo: Spartan Assault
• Halo: Initiation (Mentioned only)
• Halo: Escalation
• Halo: Mortal Dictata
• Halo 2: Anniversary
  • Terminals
• Halo: New Blood (Mentioned only)
• Halo: Spartan Strike
• Halo: Hunters in the Dark
• Halo: Fleet Battles
• Halo: Last Light
• Halo 5: Guardians
  • Limited Edition (Mentioned only)
• Halo: Shadow of Intent
• Halo Mythos
• Halo Fractures
  • Lessons Learned (Mentioned only)
  • Breaking Strain
  • Into the Fire (Mentioned only)
  • Oasis
• Halo: Tales from Slipspace
  • Knight Takes Bishop
  • On the Brink
• Halo: Smoke and Shadow
• Halo Wars 2
• Halo: Envoy
• Halo: Retribution
• Halo: Legacy of Onyx