Sali 'Nyon's Covenant
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| This article is based on canon information, but the article's title is conjectural and/or uses descriptions as the title, as there is currently no official name for the subject. |
| Sali 'Nyon's Covenant | |
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The "Didact's Hand" Sali 'Nyon † |
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Order of Restoration (2559-) |
- "Once the great fraud 'Mdama's sins are exposed, his own armies will rise against him and all will join as one."
- — Sali 'Nyon after seceding from Jul 'Mdama's faction[1]
This Covenant faction is a splinter group formed from Jul 'Mdama's Covenant splinter group by members who believed Sali 'Nyon to be the true "Hand of the Didact".[1] Following 'Nyon's death, it was assimilated into the Order of Restoration, under the leadership of the San'Shyuum High Lord Dovo Nesto.[2][3]
History[edit]
Formation[edit]
- Main article: Battle of Aktis IV
The Sangheili who would go onto form the backbone of Sali 'Nyon's support base were formed from defectors originally a part of the remnant faction led by Jul 'Mdama. These troops became disillusioned with Jul 'Mdama after his destruction of Requiem, which they considered the holiest site, and his subsequent alliance with a human, Doctor Catherine Halsey. Zealot Sali 'Nyon started preaching that he was the true "Hand of the Didact", whereas 'Mdama was a false prophet due to his actions. 'Mdama had heard of 'Nyon's views, but he chose to dismiss the dissident as "a delusional pig possessed by demons". However 'Nyon managed to attract followers who in turn began recruiting others into their cause.[1]
After arriving on Aktis IV, 'Mdama's forces discovered the circle of traitors and a fight ensued. Some of 'Nyon's followers were killed while others escaped, but a traitor was captured and brought before 'Mdama. Rather than ask for pardon, he chose to maintain his sect's views and accused 'Mdama of heresy. The latter executed him with his energy sword. Meanwhile, 'Nyon's group seceded from the rest of Jul 'Mdama's Covenant forces. When the UNSC sent a Pelican and Broadsword to the surface of Aktis IV, the rogue faction, led by Sali 'Nyon himself, shot down the ships and scavenged them to retrieve the UNSC's piece of the Janus Key. This action prompted the rest of 'Mdama's Covenant to abandon their leader's original plan and also attack the UNSC. Meanwhile, 'Mdama swore to humiliate and eliminate the traitors.[1] While 'Mdama and his Promethean forces began to eliminate the traitors, 'Nyon broadcasted a message across Jul's entire fleet to incite them to join him in rebellion.[4]
'Nyon later returned to his hideout in a jungle on the planet. Some followers began to grow disillusioned with 'Nyon and started to question the feasibility of continuing the rebellion. 'Nyon responded by reassuring his followers that the Forerunners had blessed them, citing his recovery of half of the Janus Key as proof. One Sangheili Minor in particular stated that the Prometheans' allegiance to Jul 'Mdama is evidence to the contrary, but 'Nyon insists that the answers to their questions would all be revealed in time. While 'Nyon left to help aid the wounded, the Minor betrayed 'Nyon and his followers, and stole their half of the Janus Key and departed on a Karo'etba-pattern Ghost. The Minor contacted a Zealot serving under 'Mdama, and promised to provide the stolen Janus Key half and the faction's hideout. The Zealot reluctantly agreed and prepared to establish a rendezvous point.[4] However, Jul's forces had already discovered the location of the hideout and had begun assaulting the base. The Zealots that met with the Minor took his half of the Janus Key and promptly executed him for his disloyalty. Meanwhile, 'Nyon's forces had been completely destroyed and 'Nyon himself was imprisoned. 'Mdama decided that 'Nyon would be kept alive for the time being. With both halves of the Janus Key, Jul's forces fled the system shortly after.[5]
Until September 17th, 2558, Sali was kept by Jul aboard the Song of Retribution as he journeyed to a planet that would lead to the Absolute Record. With the fleet damaged by slipspace ruptures, Jul decided to transfer Sali to the damaged Breath of Annihilation, setting down for repairs on a nearby moon, while he took the Song of Retribution alone through the portal.[6] Needing a distraction to keep Spartan Gabriel Thorne alive, ONI agent Ayit 'Sevi arranged for Sali's escape, convincing the former leader that he could rally those loyal to him.[7] 'Nyon would lead a revolt aboard the ship, killing those loyal to 'Mdama and seizing control of 'Mdama's collection of Forerunner artifacts taken from Requiem, using them to further cement his support.[8] 'Nyon took the Breath of Annihilation back into Sangheili space to rally further support among their people, not noticing 'Sevi's absence, and was shortly after engaged by the Song of Retribution, a battle that ended in stalemate with 'Mdama unable to retake the ship.[9]
After the death of 'Mdama on Kamchatka, 'Nyon emerged as the clear frontrunner for leader of religious Covenant remnants. Some Sangheili, even one in the Swords of Sanghelios, viewed him as a true leader compared to the Arbiter and Jul, and the next best chance for a Covenant revival.[10]
Securing a power base[edit]
Having gathered the necessary support to sustain operations, the Covenant remnant established themselves on the former-Covenant fortress world of Okal'supen - considered a stronghold with enough manufacturing facilities and feedstock to sustain an empire.[11] However, a lack of organization kept the Covenant's remnant's activities contained.[12]
Alliance with Dovo Nesto[edit]
By November 2559, Sali 'Nyon's Covenant had formed an alliance with San'Shyuum High Lord Dovo Nesto, the leader of the Order of Restoration whose goal was to restore the original Covenant empire.[12] A Covenant battlegroup consisting of two assault carriers, eight battlecruisers and four corvettes -- one of which was possibly the Breath of Annihilation -- came to Nesto's aid when the UNSC Victory of Samothrace and the Shadow of Intent were attempting to stop him from escaping Venezia with the Banished. Unaware of Nesto's alliance with the Covenant, War Chief Severan chose to flee at the arrival of the battlegroup which also forced the Victory and the Shadow of Intent to retreat, only learning that the Covenant ships were actually allies afterwards.[13][14]
Search for the Lithos[edit]
During the Battle of Boundary, a fleet from Sali 'Nyon's Covenant arrived as well[15] and helped to push the UNSC forces back. The Covenant forces were let through the defensive shell because they had Severan's own fleet's clearance codes. The number of Covenant ships was great enough and they were everywhere once they got through the defensive shell that the Banished were unable to stop 'Nyon from sending out detachments to claim the key to the Lithos for himself. The collusion between Nesto and 'Nyon caused Severan to realize that Nesto had promised the Sangheili what he had already promised Severan.[16] 'Nyon himself made his way to the Banished encampment where Nesto revealed himself, surprising the members of the Eight who were on the ground as they were unaware of Severan working with a San'Shyuum and leading to a standoff that 'Nyon tried to defuse. Covenant dropships unloaded several waves of soldiers which converged on the group of leaders, creating a tense situation where the Banished now appeared to be outnumbered. The UNSC and Swords of Sanghelios team attempted to assassinate Nesto and 'Nyon, but they were betrayed by Blademaster Vul 'Soran and Spartan Merrick who injured Jai-006 and Adriana-111 and killed Spartan Stefan Vidalin.[17]
With this development and with the Banished only minutes away from reaching the Lithos, the UNSC Victory of Samothrace was ordered to destroy the Lithos from orbit with a MAC strike in order to deny it to both the Banished and the Covenant. Captain Abigail Cole had the Shadow of Intent attempt to warn the surface team of the incoming strike while ordering the remaining UNSC ships to provide Victory with cover to make the shot against the combined Banished and Covenant forces.[18]
The Banished and Covenant leaders were able to reach an uneasy peace, but Severan realized that he had been lied to and manipulated by Nesto due to not only his alliance with 'Nyon, but Nesto's utter disregard for Severan's ability to accomplish their shared goals despite all he'd pledged and was willing to jeopardize the War Chief's standing with Atriox to undermine it. Nesto's reaction to Severan's lack of respect confirmed that he saw the War Chief only as a pawn and Severan deduced that Nesto had promised 'Nyon the same thing that he had promised Severan: a position of authority in the resurrected Covenant, and a place at the head of the Covenant's military which 'Nyon's surprised reaction confirmed. When Severan refused to bow before the San'Shyuum's right to divinity despite the Banished forces being completely surrounded, Nesto attacked him with 'Nyon's energy sword, but the War Chief cut Nesto's arm off with one of his arm blades, causing battle to break out between the Banished and the Covenant,[19] both on the planet's surface and in orbit.[20]
On the last of the escalating platforms of the Lithos, Nesto, 'Nyon and Severan took cover behind a series of vertical barriers, firing unrelentingly into each other's position. Phantoms from each side moved in and extracted the leaders, leaving the Banished and Covenant ground troops fighting each other without any sort of coordination or cohesion. The UNSC and Swords of Sanghelios team received contact from Rtas 'Vadum ordering them to evacuate before the site was destroyed by the Victory.[21]
In orbit, the Victory was nearly able to get into position to fire before the Banished flagship Heart of Malice joined the fight, ramming the Victory off target and damaging the drive control system, rending Victory unable to maneuver in any way. However, Victory's speed and trajectory still put it in position to fire upon the Lithos. The remaining ships of Omega held off the Banished flagship long enough for Victory to get into position to fire. Victory's MAC successfully fired into the Lithos just before the UNSC flagship was rammed by the Heart of Malice again.[22] Thousands of Banished and Covenant were killed in the strike while the Lithos burst into a pillar of light that tore into the sky. Several dozen ships were vaporized by the Lithos' destruction while others were severely damaged, either cast adrift or sent on a collision course with the planet's surface.[23] The attack sent Victory plummeting to the planet's surface, but the ship's drive actuators unexpectedly came back online, allowing the bridge crew to level the ship out as much as possible before Victory crash landed on Boundary.[24]
The shockwave from the strike caused both Severan's Phantom and 'Nyon's to crash. With the Lithos destroyed, Severan contacted the Heart of Malice and ordered the retreat of all of the remaining Banished ships. Taking an overturned Covenant Ghost, Severan chased down 'Nyon and Nesto as they escaped in a Abatyar-pattern Revenant[25] to a parked Phantom.[26] Severan caught up with the two at the Phantom, killing the Revenant's driver and two guards. Severan dueled 'Nyon, ultimately decapitating and killing the Covenant leader. Before Severan could kill Nesto, he was stabbed through the back by 'Soran who left Severan to die as 'Soran and Nesto escaped in the dropship. However, Severan was rescued by Kaevus in a Trespasser.[27]
A group of five Covenant Sangheili, three Kig-Yar, eight Unggoy and a Mgalekgolo pair surrounded the pile of rubble where Unggoy Ranger Stolt and Spartan David McEndon were trapped, the latter of whom had sacrificed himself to help Stolt escape from where he was stuck. Stolt suggested that the Covenant soldiers possibly wanted the Spartan's armor as a trophy, the energy signature of which Stolt suspected they were tracking. Gray Team arrived to help in Condor Zulu Seven Nine, killing a third of the Covenant soldiers with the Condor's initial salvo before the Spartans jumped out to engage the Covenant directly. Joined by Tul 'Juran, Gray Team eliminated the Covenant soldiers, rescued Stolt and recovered McEndon's body.[28]
'Nyon's Covenant suffered significant losses in the battle, losing thousands of personnel and assets in the MAC strike alone. The UNSC was able to recover 'Nyon's body in the aftermath.[29]
New Leadership[edit]
With Sali 'Nyon dead, his Covenant all of its resources were absorbed into Dovo Nesto's Order of Restoration for his continuing mission to restore the Covenant empire. Nesto told Vul 'Soran that with the loss of the Lithos, they would be forced to achieve their goals another way and asked what he knew of Cloister. 'Soran knew that it was what Rtas 'Vadum and the Shadow of Intent had been searching for, the final destination of the San'Shyuum flotilla. However, neither he nor 'Vadum knew any more than that about it. Nesto explained that Cloister lay at the very heart of the San'Shyuum's designs, holding many ancient secrets within going back to a time when the race was possessed of great youth and vitality. It was also the source of Nesto's knowledge about the Lithos.[30] Having infiltrated the Covenant remnant, Ayit 'Sevi sent a message to Admiral Jilan al-Cygni warning her of this development.[31]
Military structure[edit]
Sali 'Nyon's Covenant employs mainly Sangheili, in particular those of the Zealot rank, although lower ranks such as Minors and Storms have been seen.[4]
| Classes | Sangheili | |||
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| Ranks and type classes | ||||
| Standard ranks | Minor Storm | |||
| Leaders | Zealot | |||
Military assets[edit]
The faction's Zealots are known to use Domotos-pattern energy swords in combat.[4] The group also had access to a number of Karo'etba-pattern Ghosts and at least one Zurdo-pattern Wraith.[4]
After his successful revolt aboard the Breath of Annihilation, 'Nyon added the assault carrier to his fledgling splinter group, along with its Wraiths, Banshees and Liches.[9] By November 2559, the faction was able to field a battlegroup of two assault carriers, eight battlecruisers, and four corvettes to help Dovo Nesto on Venezia.[13] 'Nyon was later able to lead a fleet ten times the size of the one on Venezia to Boundary.[15]
Gallery[edit]
A sympathizer of 'Nyon's cause is accused of treason by 'Mdama's forces.
The traitor accusing 'Mdama.
'Mdama executing the traitor.
'Nyon and his troops secure Infinity's cargo.
Sali 'Nyon with the UNSC's half of the Janus Key.
One of Sali 'Nyon's zealots getting caught by Promethean forces.
Sali 'Nyon's faction's hideout during the Battle of Aktis IV.
Sali 'Nyon's throne in the hideout.
Sali 'Nyon is freed by Ayit 'Sevi.
'Nyon leads his troops to secure 'Mdama's vault to give his troops the edge in their insurgency against 'Mdama.
Sali 'Nyon's new flagship returns to Sangheili space.
List of appearances[edit]
- Halo: Escalation (First appearance)
- Halo Mythos (Indirect mention)
- Halo: The Machine Breaks
- Halo: Empty Throne
Sources[edit]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Halo: Escalation, issue 14
- ^ Halo: Empty Throne, chapter 40
- ^ Halo: Empty Throne, chapter 47
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Halo: Escalation, issue 15
- ^ Halo: Escalation, issue 16
- ^ Halo: Escalation, issue 20
- ^ Halo: Escalation, issue 22
- ^ Halo: Escalation, issue 23
- ^ Jump up to: a b Halo: Escalation, issue 24
- ^ Halo 5: Guardians, campaign level Alliance
- ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 257
- ^ Jump up to: a b Halo: Empty Throne, chapter 11
- ^ Jump up to: a b Halo: Empty Throne, chapter 15
- ^ Halo: Empty Throne, chapter 16
- ^ Jump up to: a b Halo: Empty Throne, chapter 27
- ^ Halo: Empty Throne, chapter 28
- ^ Halo: Empty Throne, chapter 30
- ^ Halo: Empty Throne, chapter 31
- ^ Halo: Empty Throne, chapter 32
- ^ Halo: Empty Throne, chapter 33
- ^ Halo: Empty Throne, chapter 34
- ^ Halo: Empty Throne, chapter 35
- ^ Halo: Empty Throne: Adjunct
- ^ Halo: Empty Throne, chapter 39
- ^ Halo: Empty Throne, chapter 36
- ^ Halo: Empty Throne, chapter 38
- ^ Halo: Empty Throne, chapter 40
- ^ Halo: Empty Throne, chapter 44
- ^ Halo: Empty Throne, chapter 44
- ^ Halo: Empty Throne, chapter 47
- ^ Halo: Empty Throne, chapter 48
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