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Blooding Years

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Previous:

Human-Covenant War

Concurrent:

Blooding Years
Artwork for the Blooding Years

Conflict:

Post-Covenant War conflicts

Date:

March 2553[4]-October 2558[5]

Location:

Outcome:

Details
Belligerents

Supported by

Supported by

  • Various independent rebel keeps and groups on Sangheilios[11]

Supported by

Commanders

Thars 'Sarov†

Strength
  • Several Sangheili[24]
  • Numerous Jiralhanae[1]
Casualties
  • Heavy
 

The Blooding Years are a series of civil conflicts fought between the Swords of Sanghelios and various Sangheili factions since 2553.[42] The conflict has also been referred to as the Sangheili civil war.[1]

Background

In the aftermath of the collapse of the Covenant, the Sangheili found themselves in political, military, and religious turmoil. Having long depended on the San'Shyuum for political leadership, the Sangheili found that they lacked any form of political organization beyond their traditional feudal states. While Arbiter Thel 'Vadam began the process of forming a new government to lead Sanghelios and its various colonies, many kaidons began hoarding ships and weapons for their own agendas.[43]

Additionally, while the Sangheili renounced the Prophet's deception, many did not wholly abandon worship of the Forerunners. As a result of this, the Servants of the Abiding Truth, an ancient order of monks, began preaching a return to the Sangheili's ancient ways of worshiping Forerunner artifacts. Consequently, they felt that Thel 'Vadam and those loyal to him were committing blasphemy by saying otherwise.[44] Avu Med 'Telcam, a former Field Master, began recruiting dissident Sangheili into a force to rise up against the Arbiter's followers.

Admiral Margaret Parangosky, of the Office of Naval Intelligence, believed that keeping the Sangheili mired in internal dissent would leave them unable to threaten the weakened UNSC. This opinion contrasted with that of most of the Unified Earth Government, which believed a peace treaty was desirable.[45] ONI took advantage of the Sangheili's unstable political situation, attempting to keep the Sangheili splintered and disorganized by inciting the Servants of the Abiding Truth to rebel against 'Vadam. ONI's aid allowed the Servants of the Abiding Truth to amass enough weapons to begin an all-out insurrection against 'Vadam and his allies in early 2553.[46]

Jul 'Mdama, a former member of the Servants of the Abiding Truth, eventually formed his own new Covenant, with the Sangheili serving as its leadership caste after learning of ONI's alliance with the Servants of the Abiding Truth.[47]

Civil war

Opening of hostilities

"The assault on Vadam must begin now."
— Avu Med 'Telcam signaling the start of uprising
Main article: Siege at Kolaar

Following the end of the Human-Covenant War in March 2553, an attempted Jiralhanae insurrection in Ontom led Avu Med 'Telcam, leader of the Servants of the Abiding Truth, to the decision for an immediate assault on the state of Vadam against the newly formed Swords of Sanghelios. Along with nine ships and forces from Nuan keep and Rtova keep, 'Telcam commanded the assault from the frigate Unflinching Resolve.[48] Eventually, however, the Unflinching Resolve suffered a direct hit and crash landed. Despite being caught off-guard it appeared as though the Arbiter would be victorious, however, news spread that he allowed humans to land on Sanghelios; this caused many keeps to ally with the Servants of Abiding Truth and the tide turned in their favor.[49] The Arbiter was caught off guard and when his own reinforcements couldn't arrive on time, he reluctantly accepted Admiral Terrence Hood's offer for help in fending off the attackers.[50] The tide turned when the UNSC's new flagship, Infinity, arrived over Sanghelios and destroyed the rebel destroyer Defender of Faith before finishing off the rebel ground forces with a MAC round.[51] The UNSC Port Stanley, posed as a Kig-Yar pirate ship, destroyed a few of 'Vadam's ships in order to maintain the stalemate between the two factions, granting the Arbiter a pyrrhic victory, although he was able to destroy one of 'Telcam's four fleeing frigates as well.[52]

After the battle 'Vadam entered talks to board Infinity.[53] The remnants of the Servants of the Abiding Truth escaped to New Llanelli to regroup. One month later 'Telcam said he would remain on New Llanelli until he convinced more keeps to join his cause or obtained enough ships to destroy those who refuse.[54]

The conflicts in Vadam led to other localized engagements across Sanghelios as well as a wave of revolts by Jiralhanae serfs.[1]

Massacre at Nes'alun keep

Unlike the majority of keeps in Acroli, Nes'alun keep was against the Arbiter. While the keep's males left to fight Vadam's forces, the keep females and children were left behind. The elder of Lacalu keep took advantage of this and attempted to seize the keep and its land. The keep's lady, Elar 'Nas, defended the other females and children in a small farmhouse for an unknown length of time. Soon the keep's Unggoy laborers Dengo and Gikak returned along with Evan Phillips, who had been teleported to the nearby Forerunner ruins. Elar allowed Phillips to come inside, armed him, and prepared themselves for another wave of attackers.[55]

Soon afterwards Kilo-Five arrived at the keep to retrieve Phillips. Their extraction was stalled when the Tart-Cart, piloted by Lian Devereaux, was attacked by several Type-26 Banshees. After holding off more Lacalu warriors, Vasily Beloi, Malcolm Geffen, and Naomi-010 extracted Phillips in the midst of battle, leaving the women and children to fend for themselves.[56] Elar and her clan were later killed which unsettled Phillips.[57]

Concept art used for the Preying Mantis achievement.

Other fighting

Over the next few months of 2553, conflict between the Swords of Sanghelios and the Servants of Abiding Truth began shifting into a war of attrition, with the Servants launching a campaign of hit and run attacks and covert operations against the Swords, while Telcam continued his attempts to sway neutral keeps to join his side.[58] Conflict between The Swords and Jul Mdama’s Covenant Faction also raged on with the Shadow of Intent being rendered combat-ineffective after a battle with Jul 'Mdama's forces on April 22, 2554.[28]

As unrest across the planet was continuously put down, devastating events such as an instance of a rogue Covenant corvette crashing into the Tower of Ghalod'n continued to encourage exodus from the Sanghelios.[1] The Iruiru war college would be destroyed in fighting sometime between 2553 and 2555.[59]

Fighting would continue for years and include a number of Sangheili worlds[1] such as Malurok,[60] Feldokra, [61] and Khael'mothka. A group of keeps also began laying the foundations for colonial independence of Qikost.[62] In the midst of the Blooding Years though, Suban would act as a safe harbor.[62]

In 2555, in attempt to take revenge against the Arbiter for the death of his lover, Otar 'Bemet planned to raid a weapons manufacturer near Qish'tani, Tolvuus with six other like minded individuals. These other individuals were killed or spared but divulged the plans to the Swords of Sanghelios. Usze 'Taham was then sent and succeeded in killing 'Bemet before he could enact anything.[63]

By the time of the Battle of Requiem, the Servants of the Abiding Truth had refused to join Jul 'Mdama's Covenant even after suffering great losses at the hands of the Swords of Sanghelios. 'Mdama himself was unaware that his son Dural 'Mdama, now known only as the Pale Blade, had risen to become a leading member of the Servants, working directly under 'Telcam.[64]

SPARTAN-G059 assassinating 'Telcam.

Assassination of Avu Med 'Telcam

"WORT."
— Avu Med 'Telcam's final words.[65]
Main article: Assassination of Avu Med 'Telcam

On January 21, 2558, SPARTAN-G059 was sent by ONI to assassinate Avu Med 'Telcam, the leader of the Servants of the Abiding Truth, who had outlived his usefulness to them. Making her way through the Servants' forces in a ruined city, SPARTAN-G059 faced off against 'Telcam and killed his two subcommanders. Finally, she succeeded in overpowering 'Telcam and killed him with a pistol shot to the head. However, her secondary target was not present at the time[65] and as a result, Dural 'Mdama rose to power as the new leader of the Servants of the Abiding Truth.[66]

The Beginning of the End

Some time after the death of Avu Med 'Telcam, the Servants of Abiding Truth's dwindling presence on Sanghelios collapsed beneath the might of the Swords of Sanghelios, forcing the Servants to abandon the planet entirely in hopes of finding another way to retake the planet.[67]

Following the death of Gek 'Lhar during the Requiem Campaign, his Keep was thrown into chaos while simultaneously being ravaged by the civil conflict taking place on Kaepra, Sanghelios.[68]

By early March 2558, Sanghelios was in a steady enough state for the Arbiter to take an impressive fleet to Ealen IV for a peace conference with a powerful Jiralhanae master pack.[69]

At some point in late 2558, the Swords of Sanghelios launched an assault on Hesduros with the intent of killing 'Mdama and destroying his Covenant for good. The offensive devastated multiple redoubts, including Panom keep, but Jul was able to escape. The defeat did force his faction to completely abandon Hesduros, however.[66]

Some time in October 2558, Covenant forces would take control of the Argent Moon and scour it in hopes of finding any materiel to aid them in their preparation for an attack on Sanghelios.[70]

Crisis at Rakoi

Main article: Carrow Conflict

In September 2558, conflict erupted on the former Outer Colony of Carrow where humans had resettled as well as Sangheili survivors of the destroyed Sangheili colony of Glyke. Kaidon Thars 'Sarov rebelled against his cousin Fleetmaster Rojka 'Kasaan who had previously been the leader of the Sangheili forces on the planet. To make matters worse, Thars made a deal with the Jiralhanae Chieftain Hekabe to aid him against Rojka, unaware that Hekabe had his own sinister intentions for the planet. The resulting civil war devastated both Sangheili factions while Hekabe was able to uncover the Sharquoi hive hidden beneath the human city of Suraka, intending to unleash the creatures upon the galaxy in order to consolidate his own power. With the help of Spartan-II Gray Team - the very team that had destroyed Glyke in the first place - Rojka and his few remaining forces managed to defeat Thars, but Thars refuses to listen to reason until it was too late, allowing Hekabe to take control of Thars' remaining ships. Rojka executed Thars for his actions and teamed up with Gray Team and the Surakan Militia Volunteers to stop Hekabe once and for all.

Following the destruction of Hekabe and the Sharquoi, Rojka returned to Rak where he discovered that Kaidon Akato 'Dakaj had taken control of the city in his and Thars' absence and presumably executed the kaidons who had supported Thars. With their entire fleet destroyed in the conflict and Rak heavily damaged, Akato sought closer relations with the Surakans rather than continuing hostilities with them and Rojka agreed to act as an envoy to help build peace between the two species inhabiting Carrow.[71]

End of Jul 'Mdama's Covenant

"Kill them!"
— Jul 'Mdama's final words as he orders his soldiers to attack Fireteam Osiris, prior to being stabbed multiple times by Spartan Jameson Locke.[72]
Main article: Battle of Kamchatka

In October 2558, the increasing threat of the rogue AI Cortana caused Doctor Catherine Halsey, who was working with Jul 'Mdama, to secretly reveal his location on the remote Forerunner world of Kamchatka to the UNSC. As Jul 'Mdama's Covenant battled against his rebelling Promethean forces, Fireteam Osiris made their way to the location where 'Mdama and Halsey were attempting to access the Forerunner Domain. In the battle that followed, 'Mdama was killed by Spartan Jameson Locke with his combat knife after a brief fight between the two.[72]

Global conflict on Sanghelios

Main article: Sanghelios global war

Around October 17, 2558, the Covenant besieged Sanghelios, leading to a planet-wide conflict with the Swords of Sanghelios.[73] Covenant aligned assets on Sanghelios rose up to support their offensive, leading to most of the planet's city-states experiencing heavy fighting.[74] During the attack, Jul 'Mdama's Covenant gained control of the city of Sunaion on Sanghelios and began formulating plans for an assault on Vadam. After becoming aware of this, the Swords of Sanghelios established a forward operating base in the ruins of Nuusra in hopes of striking the Covenant at Sunaion. [75]

Failed assassination attempt on 'Vadam
Main article: Battle of Nuusra

On October 27, 2558, the Covenant attacked the Elder Council Chamber in Nuusra in an attempt to kill Thel 'Vadam after receiving intelligence on his exact location from Murok 'Vadam.[76] At the same time, due to the need to find Blue Team, Fireteam Osiris was sent to Sanghelios to enlist Thel's help to use the Forerunner Guardian on the planet to follow Blue Team. Arriving as the attack was underway, Osiris aided the Swords of Sanghelios in repelling the attack and rescued Thel.[77]

In order to access the Guardian, Doctor Catherine Halsey came up with a plan to retrieve a Forerunner Constructor from a support facility nearby.[9] As Osiris fought to reach the facility, the Swords of Sanghelios battled against the remaining Covenant forces in the area, including a Kraken walker. Osiris destroyed the Kraken, ending the battle with 'Mdama's Covenant forces in Nuusra and leaving Sunaion as their last stronghold.[78]

Battle of Sunaion
Main article: Battle of Sunaion
Battle of Sunaion.
Spartan Locke helping the Swords of Sanghelios kill the last of Jul 'Mdama's Covenant.

After Halsey succeeded in programming the Constructor,[79] the Swords of Sanghelios, aided by Fireteam Osiris, launched an assault on Jul 'Mdama's Covenant's final stronghold in the city of Sunaion. Osiris aided Thel's forces in clearing out the anti-air defenses so that Thel's ships could move in and fought their way through the city to reach the Guardian before it could launch. With the help of Halsey and Sarah Palmer, Osiris succeeded in boarding the Guardian before it launched into slipspace though they had to face Prometheans and the Warden Eternal first.[20] Having previously witnessed the launch of a Guardian,[80] Locke warned Thel to move his ships back as the construct would release a series of concussive blasts before making the jump. As a result, 'Mdama's Covenant would take the brunt of the blasts instead which could be used by the Swords to their advantage. This tactic succeeded with much of 'Mdama's Covenant's ships knocked out by the final blast as the Guardian jumped to Genesis.

With the Prometheans and Guardian gone and 'Mdama's forces devastated, Thel had his warriors hunt the survivors to the last, bringing a final end to Jul 'Mdama's Covenant.[20]

Second Onyx conflict

Main article: Second Onyx conflict

However, even though Jul 'Mdama's Covenant was destroyed, it was not the end of the Blooding Years. The Servants of the Abiding Truth, now under the leadership of Dural 'Mdama following the assassination of Avu Med 'Telcam, traveled to Jul's former base of Hesduros and used the slipspace portal there to access the Sarcophagus shield world in an effort to take it from the UNSC and the Swords of Sanghelios who shared the world together and explored its secrets side-by-side. The Servants' invasion was complicated by the start of the The Reclamation and the rising of a Guardian on Sarcophagus. The shield world was returned to its slipspace bubble for protection and the Huragok Prone to Drift managed to destroy the Guardian.[81] However, despite all three factions suffering heavy casualties in the conflict, the Servants were far from defeated. Having learned of the death of his father and the destruction of Jul's Covenant, Dural announced to his people that only the Servants of the Abiding Truth stood between the Arbiter and utter victory over the Sangheili factions. Dural intended to rebuild his forces in a Forerunner warship docked on Mackintosh and take the shield world from the humans and the Swords of Sanghelios before using the technology that they recovered there to take the fight back to Sanghelios and take it back from the Arbiter.[82]

Created intervention

Main article: Created uprising

With the subjugation of Sanghelios in 2558, the planet was placed under a Created administrator. 'Vadam himself seemed to believe the Blooding Years were over by 2559.[5][83] At least on Malurok, keeps had fallen into a form of detente while also under the Created.[60]

Gallery

  • Thel 'Vadam leading the Swords of Sanghelios.

    Thel 'Vadam leading the Swords of Sanghelios.

List of appearances

Sources

  1. ^ a b c d e f Halo Mythos, page 144
  2. ^ Halo: Envoy
  3. ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 255
  4. ^ Halo: The Thursday War, page 28
  5. ^ a b Halo: Outcasts, chapter 1
  6. ^ Halo: Legacy of Onyx, chapter 5
  7. ^ Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual
  8. ^ Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual
  9. ^ a b Halo 5: Guardians, campaign level Alliance
  10. ^ Halo: The Thursday War, page 166
  11. ^ Halo: Mortal Dictata, page 122
  12. ^ Halo: Envoy
  13. ^ Halo: Envoy
  14. ^ Halo 5: Guardians, campaign level Swords of Sanghelios
  15. ^ Halo: Outcasts, chapter 4
  16. ^ Halo: Envoy
  17. ^ Halo: Envoy
  18. ^ Halo: Envoy
  19. ^ Halo: Envoy
  20. ^ a b c d e Halo 5: Guardians, campaign level Battle of Sunaion
  21. ^ Halo: The Thursday War, page 114
  22. ^ Halo: The Thursday War, page 114
  23. ^ Halo: The Thursday War, page 114
  24. ^ Halo: Hunters in the Dark, chapter 3
  25. ^ Halo: Envoy
  26. ^ Halo: Envoy
  27. ^ Halo: Escalation, issue 1
  28. ^ a b Halo Waypoint Forums, Catalog Interaction (Retrieved on Oct 13, 2014) [local archive] [external archive]
  29. ^ Halo: The Thursday War, page 167
  30. ^ Halo: Escalation, issue 1
  31. ^ Halo: Hunters in the Dark, pages 64-68 (Google Play edition)
  32. ^ Halo: Outcasts, chapter 4
  33. ^ Halo: Envoy
  34. ^ Halo: Envoy
  35. ^ Halo: Envoy
  36. ^ Halo: Envoy
  37. ^ Halo: Hunters in the Dark, chapter 3
  38. ^ Halo: Envoy
  39. ^ Halo: Envoy
  40. ^ Halo: The Thursday War, page 112
  41. ^ Halo: Envoy
  42. ^ Halo Waypoint: Sanghelios
  43. ^ Halo: Glasslands, page 130
  44. ^ Halo: Glasslands, page 20
  45. ^ Halo: Glasslands, page 66
  46. ^ Halo: Glasslands, page 23
  47. ^ Halo: The Thursday War, page 441
  48. ^ Halo: The Thursday War, page 114
  49. ^ Halo: The Thursday War, page 166
  50. ^ Halo: The Thursday War, page 238
  51. ^ Halo: The Thursday War, page 302
  52. ^ Halo: The Thursday War, page 330
  53. ^ Halo: The Thursday War, page 405
  54. ^ Halo: Mortal Dictata, page 122
  55. ^ Halo: The Thursday War, page 209
  56. ^ Halo: The Thursday War, page 245
  57. ^ Halo: The Thursday War, page 368
  58. ^ Halo: Mortal Dictata, pages 118-124
  59. ^ Halo: Hunters in the Dark, chapter 5
  60. ^ a b Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 233
  61. ^ Halo: Outcasts, chapter 4
  62. ^ a b Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 230-231
  63. ^ Halo: Hunters in the Dark, chapter 3
  64. ^ Halo Mythos, page 178
  65. ^ a b Halo: Tales from Slipspace, Knight Takes Bishop
  66. ^ a b Halo: Legacy of Onyx, chapter 5
  67. ^ Halo: Legacy of Onyx, chapter 5
  68. ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 257
  69. ^ Halo: Escalation, issue 1
  70. ^ Halo Mythos, page 185
  71. ^ Halo: Envoy
  72. ^ a b Halo 5: Guardians, campaign level Osiris
  73. ^ Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual, page 95
  74. ^ Halo: Legacy of Onyx
  75. ^ Halo Waypoint - Universe, Locations, Sunaion (Retrieved on Apr 13, 2016) [local archive] [external archive]
  76. ^ Halo 5: Guardians: Mission Intel - Before the Storm - Sangheili Security Officer's Log
  77. ^ Halo 5: Guardians, campaign level Swords of Sanghelios
  78. ^ Halo 5: Guardians, campaign level Enemy Lines
  79. ^ Halo 5: Guardians, campaign level Before the Storm
  80. ^ Halo 5: Guardians, campaign level Evacuation
  81. ^ Halo: Legacy of Onyx
  82. ^ Halo: Legacy of Onyx, Epilogue
  83. ^ Halo: Outcasts, chapter 2

v • d • e
 
⇦ Post-Covenant War conflicts ⇨
Unknown date
Venezia (2553-2557) • Charion VI (2554-2555) • Gaenir Beta (2554-2555) • New Caracas (2554-2555) • Joint occupation zone (2553-2555) • Operation: BELLINGHAM (Pre-2555) • Operation: LATE TAXI (Pre-2555) • Operation: OCEAN RAPTOR (2555-2558) • Salia III (2555-2558) • Tribute negotiation (2555-2558) • Cascade (pre-2557) • Terceira (pre-2557) • Thales Expedition (pre-2557) • Operation: COUGAR REDEMPTION (pre-2557) • Hat Yai (2556-2558) • Boundless Artifice (2556-2558) • Arcadia (2556-2558) • Operation: DAWN ECLIPSE (2556-2558) • Operation: POLECAT (pre-2558) • Palghanar • Harrow • THRONE • STONEBREAK
Conflicts
Netherop conflict (2526-2559) Sangheili-Jiralhanae war (2552-ongoing) • Insurrection (post-war resurgence) (2553-ongoing) • Blooding Years (2553-ongoing) • Keepers Eradication Campaign (2557-2558) • Created uprising (Engagements) (2558-2559)
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