The Covenant is a fictional interstellar, militaristic, theocraticimperial alliance of alien races from the Halo video game series.
Society
The Covenant are extremely religious and governed by the theocratic Prophet Hierarchs and advised by a High Council of high ranking Elites and low ranking Prophets. In addition, there are three other known councils and a known ministry mentioned: the Council of Concordance, the Council of Doctrine and Deed, the Council of Masters, and the Ministry of Tranquility. The Council of Doctrine and Deeds is the elite section of the caste and offers advice on military tactics and strategy. The Council of Concordance's job is to advise on how to keep harmony and peace within the Covenant. The Council of Masters is apparently established during major battles and military operations, and directly oversees battle. The exact nature of the Ministry of Tranquility is unclear, as it seems to serve as a library, yet grants commissions to mercenary and privateer ships, according to an interview with Joe Staten. [1]
The species are united in worshiping the Forerunners, an ancient and supposedly extinct alien race who have left behind many artifacts and technologies. According to Halo: The Flood, the Prophet species actually evolved on a planet once home to a Forerunner colony. The Covenant have a tendency to conquer, coerce, or hire alien races and force them into the alliance, adding to their ranks. This use of "conditioned ranks" is an idea taken from Marathon.
The Covenant headquarters/holy city is the colossal, mobile city of High Charity, which was overrun and largely infected by The Flood at the end of Halo 2.
Human-Covenant War
Humanity and the Covenant first came into direct contact in 2525, (twenty-seven years before the events of Halo: Combat Evolved), when the Covenant attacked the UNSC Outer Colony world Harvest. The Covenant had been covertly studying the human race for some time prior to that, as they had knowledge of the English language as well as the location of at least some human worlds. The Prophets declared humanity to be an affront to their gods (supposedly because humans inhabited and 'defiled' areas which were once Forerunner), and called for a crusade against the Human species. They used their capital ships' plasma weaponry to vaporize the surface of the planet, turning the crust into molten glass, a process which would become known as "glassing."
From that point on, the Covenant continued to attack and destroy the humans wherever they were found. Though the UNSC forces fought bravely, their inferior technology and numbers meant that even a close victory was far from guaranteed. The Covenant also had an advantage in that they didn't need to fight planet-side to destroy the enemy; their ships simply needed to destroy the humans' space-borne defenses and any other threats planet-side, and then reduce the planet's surface to glass with orbital plasma bombardments. The few victories achieved by the UNSC were due to special tactical maneuvers, as human missile, nuclear, and magnetic acceleration weapons were unable to compete with Covenant energy shields and plasma torpedoes. Over twenty-seven years, the Covenant whittled down the UNSC planet by planet until they destroyed the last major military installation outside of Earth, the world known as Reach.
Their first truly costly defeat was on and around the Forerunner ringworld of Halo. Here, the human survivors from the cruiser the Pillar of Autumn managed to form an effective resistance. Unwilling to risk damaging the sacred ring, the Covenant was forced to fight the humans on Halo's surface rather than using its usual bombardment tactics. The Covenant found the Humans uncannily adapted to Halo's environment and very adept at fighting on the surface, with Human firearms and vehicles proving effective despite their technological inferiority. Unable to counter the guerilla tactics employed by the humans and the unexpected emergence of The Flood, the Covenant was soundly defeated in numerous raids, including one instance when the humans boarded one of their grounded cruisers and successfully escaped with a group of captives, including the captain of the Pillar of Autumn, Captain Jacob Keyes. During the course of the battle, the human known as the Master Chief discovered the true nature of Halo and proceeded to destroy the ring, much to the Covenant's horrified dismay.
According to the novel Halo: First Strike, shortly after the defeat at Halo, the Covenant had amassed a large fleet that appeared to be intended to assault Earth. It is explained in the audio drama, ilovebees, that the Covenant discovery of Earth was an accident after the Pious Flea had been intercepted by the UNSC stealth ship Apocalypso. After retrieving a Forerunner artifact, the Apocalypso made a Slipspace jump directly to Earth. When the ship tumbled into real space and crashed on the moon, the Pious Flea sent a message to the heart of the Covenant military, containing recon data, photos, starmaps, and the coordinates to the Forerunner Artifact, which is now on Earth. The events of Halo 2 apparently contradict the novel in explicitly stating that the Covenant had not identified Earth as the Human homeworld. However, the Unyielding Hierophant's fleet was never expressly identified to be intending to assault Earth; this is merely a reasonable assumption made by the human forces upon discovery of the fleet's destination of Sol. This leaves the exact nature of the fleet's mission uncertain, as there is no definitive proof that the Covenant were intending to attack a human homeworld. The surviving humans, however, believed this fleet to be a direct threat to Earth, and, using a captured Covenant flagship, lured the fleet into a trap and destroyed it.
A few weeks after this defeat, the High Prophet of Regret led a small fleet of fifteen ships to Earth, supposedly in order to locate a Forerunner artifact known as the "Ark." Though hopelessly outgunned by the UNSC's new orbital defense grid, the Prophet of Regret's flagship managed to break through the human defenses to New Mombasa. The Covenant ground troops quickly spread through the city, destroying both military and civilian resistance, but a counterattack by the Marines and the Master Chief drove them back. His fleet having been destroyed in orbit when he landed, Regret was forced to retreat. His carrier jumped into Slipspace from within the city, destroying it and clearing the area for a later Covenant excavation of the Ark.
Unfortunately for Regret, a single Human ship, the In Amber Clad, had followed them through their own Slipspace rupture to Delta Halo. With the orders "Find out why he came to Earth; why he came here," the Master Chief was hard-dropped with a compliment of Orbital Drop Shock Troopers to Delta Halo's surface. Led by the Chief, the Humans forced their way through Regret's forces until they had reached the Prophet himself. At that moment, High Charity, having learned of Delta Halo, arrived and launched multiple waves of Phantom dropships to aid Regret, but they were too late. The Chief assaulted and killed Regret, and the Covenant fleet recalled the Phantoms in favor of bombarding the area. It would seem they succeeded in "killing" Master Chief by burning away the building, as he came inches away from getting incinerated by the massive plasma beam glassing the area, plummeting down into the lake below.
Meanwhile, the majority of the human forces on In Amber Clad had travelled to Delta Halo's Library to obtain the Index, the key to firing Halo. Originally, the Covenant had been unaware of the Index's importance, but luckily for them, the Arbiter had obtained the Monitor of the first Halo while destroying a heretical sect. The Monitor, known to the Covenant as an Oracle, told the Prophets of the Index and the Arbiter was sent to retrieve it. The mission was complicated though by the unexpected release of the Flood. Despite this, the Arbiter successfully reached the Library and prevented the humans from claiming the Index. Just as Miranda Keyes claimed the index, the Arbiter stole it from her, kidnapping her and Sgt. Johnson. However, then Index was stolen from the Arbiter by the Brute Chieftain Tartarus, who under the Prophets' orders then attempted to kill the Arbiter. With the Index secure, the Prophets then ordered the Brutes to begin eradicating the Elites, thus starting the Covenant Civil War (see below).
Following the Flood infestation of High Charity at the end of Halo 2, the High Prophet of Truth led the remaining loyalist fleet to Earth to complete what the previous mission to Earth had not. Little did he know that Spartan 117, Master Chief, had stowed away with him. By the time Truth arrived at Earth, a full-scale war in space and on the ground was underway between UNSC and Covenant fleets, and in Halo 3 it is indicated that the Covenant are in the process of conquering the planet and occupying the world.
The Covenant Civil War (The Great Schism)
In 2552, part of the Ninth Age of Reclamation in the Covenant calendar, the Covenant splintered in a civil war after the High Prophets replaced the Elites with Brutes in most military positions after the assassination of the High Prophet of Regret at the hands of the Master Chief. The remaining Hierarchs claimed the Elites could no longer guarantee their safety, and the increased strength of the Brutes could, yet this undermined the foundation of the Covenant and rendered the Elites in many ways redundant - something they couldn't handle. Currently the "loyalist" forces include the Prophet Hierarchs, Brutes, Jackals, Drones, and some Grunts, which are commanded by the Prophet of Truth. The "separatists" are led by the Arbiter and include the Elites, Hunters and most of the Grunts, and at the end of Halo 2 it appears that they have formed an uneasy truce with the United Nations Space Command troops on Delta Halo. Engineers (not seen in either of the games) are not part of either side, but are used extensively by the Covenant, as they are content to just fix things.
Despite the uneasy truce between the Arbiter's troops and the UNSC forces on Delta Halo, there is still extensive conflict between the remainder of the UNSC and all members of the Covenant, particularly on and around Earth and at the Forerunner world of Onyx.
Although the civil war is the largest revolt to date, there have always been groups that disagreed with the Prophet-dictated Covenant doctrine. A heretical group led by an Elite known as Sesa 'Refumee briefly controlled a Forerunner station in the atmosphere of the gas giant planet of Threshold, the planet around which the first Halo (Installation 04) in Halo: Combat Evolved orbits. The new Arbiter killed the Heretics as one of his first duties in 2552. The Grunts have also rebelled at one point in the Covenant's history.
Covenant Military
The Covenant maintains the largest military force in the known galaxy. Their technology is far more advanced than that of the United Nations Space Command, due to their adoption of Forerunner technology. The Council of Deed and Doctrine is the governing force behind the Covenant military and aids the Hierarchs with military tactics and strategy. During major engagements the Council of Deed and Doctrine creates a Council of Masters to directly oversee the operation. The majority of the Covenant utilizes a caste type ranking system based on the color of their armor and type of armor (Grunts & Elites), shield color (Jackals), and accessories (Brutes). There are only three species within the Covenant that have no known ranking system: Hunters, Drones, and Engineers. The Prophets are part of the Covenant’s religious caste and have their own ranking system. The strength of all Covenant soldiers differ by rank: high-ranking soldiers are stronger than lower-ranking soldiers due to experience, training, and equipment. The Covenant ranking system is as follows:
Grunts - Unggoy
Orange Armor - Minor
Red Armor – Major
Green Armor – Heavy Weapons Specialist
Black Armor – Special Operations
White Armor – Engineer/Special Operations
Drones - Yanme'e
No Known Ranking System
Jackals - Kig-Yar
Blue/Green Shield – Minor
Yellow/Orange Shield – Major
No Shield – Sniper
Hunters - Lekgolo
No Known Ranking System
Engineers - Huragok
No Known Ranking System
Brutes - Jiralhanae
Brute without Helmet – Minor
Brute with Helmet – Major
Brute with Helmet and Flag – Captain
Brute with Honor Guard Helmet – Honor Guard
Brute with Honor Guard Helmet and Flag – Honor Guard Captain
Silver Armor with gold Forerunner glyphs and Cloak - Imperial Admiral [3]
White Armor with Large White Headpiece – Councilor
Gray Ornate Armor – Arbiter
Prophets
Minor Prophet/Legate - Minor Prophets command ships and conduct research on Forerunner technology and artifacts. It is presumed that they command the Engineers.
Prophet Councilor - Prophet Councilors sit on the Council of Concordance and speak on behalf of the Prophets and the religious interests of the Covenant.
Prophet Hierarch - Three Prophet Hierarchs assume total control over the Covenant.
Prophet of Truth - Hierarch of the Covenant
Prophet of Mercy - Hierarch of the Covenant
Prophet of Regret - Hierarch of the Covenant
Technology
It has been noted that the Covenant are imitative rather than innovative. Their technology is largely reverse engineered from Forerunner artifacts. While Covenant technology is mostly superior to humanity's, the Covenant seem to be ignorant of the full potential of their technology. Covenant engines, for example, are more precise and faster than a human engine, but the manner in which the Covenant utilizes them falls far short of their full efficiency and potential.
This is due to the fact that they refuse to "defile" their ancient technologies, which were largely copied from the Forerunners. For example, in Halo: First Strike, Cortana uses the Covenant's slipspace drives to jump in-atmosphere, which the Covenant did not realize they could do, and a Covenant AI which witnessed this event claimed it to be "heresy." In some cases Covenant understanding is actually less advanced than Humans; it was noted by Cortana that their comprehension of such simple concepts as Maxwell's equations was far behind that of Humans.
Simply put, they have a working knowledge of much of their technology but not the prerequisite knowledge to understand it, largely due to the savant-like abilities of the engineer caste.
Weaponry
The Covenant boast an arsenal of plasma and energy-based projectile weapons. Most of the Covenant's weaponry uses a magnetic channeling that the human race has only learned to apply in the MAC gun aboard starships. The book "First Strike" reveals that the weapons that the Covenant use are based on Forerunner technology.
Plasma-based weaponry is very effective against energy shielding and body armor generally having a very high armor penetration. The rate of fire tends to be very high, but power cannot be recharged by either Human forces or the Covenant, and firing many shots in a short duration can cause the weapon to overheat, which reduces energy use efficiency as well as forcing a temporary cooling period in which the weapon cannot be fired.
Once uploaded into the weapons system of the Covenant Flagship Ascendant Justice, Cortana found a method of using the plasma turret's magnetic coils to focus the weapon's plasma generators, cutting the charge time and targeting time of the weapons. Instead of the ball-shaped blast of plasma the Covenant regularly employ, she was able to focus the shots into a beam configuration that was far more efficient, and capable of creating hair-thin lines of plasma that sheared through armor with ease. The Covenant do not utilize methods such as this because it is an affront to "improve" upon what they view as already "perfect" Forerunner technology. The Covenant apparently do not comprehend the nature of their technology and their understanding of it is comparatively limited.
Additional weapons utilized by the Covenant are projectile weapons such as the Needler, Fuel Rod Cannon, and Carbine. The Needler fires glassy purple shards of an unidentified crystal that home in on a target and explode, resulting in blast damage and a severe fragmentation effect (especially when the projectile is inside the target) that cause large explosions when tightly grouped. The Fuel Rod Cannon and Carbine fire radioactive ammunition, though the larger fuel rods are much more powerful, while the Carbine's ammunition and shots are much smaller and more precise. It is believed that the two weapons are based on the same technology, but this is unconfirmed.
Additional weapons utilized by the Brute species within the Covenant include heavy, bladed grenade launchers known as "Brute Shots" and bladed spike-firing pistols known as "Spikers." Unlike traditional Covenant technology, however, these weapons have a more crude and mechanical appearance and fire normal projectiles; whether these are Brute-engineered weapons, a crude mimicry of unknown Forerunner technology, or imitations of human weapons is unknown, although it is unlikely that they are reverse-engineered human weapons as the novel Halo: The Fall of Reach states that much of the Covenant seems zealously uninterested in human technology. However the Brutes seem to an exception to this aversion and will collect and use human technology freely. The Brutes do make some use of common Covenant plasma technology though often modified to suit the Brute's particular combat tastes. For example, plasma rifles used by Brutes have been modified to have a higher rate of fire than plasma rifles used by others in the Covenant. This increases the weapon's immediate stopping power, but also causes it to overheat more quickly and automatically safety to cool down. These modified plasma rifles are given a different color to distinguish them from the more common plasma rifle varient.
Recent indications from Frankie on the Halo.bungie.org message boards indicate that there may, in fact, be something more to the "plasma" weaponry that the Covenant use. He is quoted as saying that "the actual technology is not plasma as we know it, but something far more dangerous, arcane, and destructive." [2]
Vehicles
Most Covenant vehicles are capable of hovering, less prone to uneven terrain, and appear to use a "boosted gravity propulsion drive." The boost function is only present in the second game, and only four of the listed vehicles appear in the first game. These are the Ghost, Banshee, Wraith, and Spirit. All Covenant vehicles (except for vehicles with mounted turrets that require a separate gunner, which in this class include the Spectre and the Shadow) sacrifice the weapons' energy when boosting. Noticeable improvements are made to vehicles in the second game. All Covenant vehicles (like most Covenant structures) have a signature purple sheen, except the Covenant walking tank known as the "Scarab." All vehicles can be modded to be drivable.
Ghost: A Ghost is a relatively small one unit vehicle, usually piloted by an Elite or Brute, although Grunts have been seen piloting them on occasion. It is the Covenant equivalent to a motorcycle. It is a lightly armed hovercraft, with only two plasma cannons as armament, but compensates for lack of firepower with extreme maneuverability and speed. The Ghost rarely flips, and is capable of handling rough terrain, maintaining a constant distance between itself and the ground below it. The vehicle will drop and rise noticeably when crossing uneven terrain, and descending ditches or trenches rapidly often results in the vehicle crashing into the rise on the opposite side. Perhaps the most obvious flaw in the Ghost's design is the pilot's exposure to enemy fire. This is less important for Elite pilots, as they carry personal energy shields which can withstand small arms fire on a scale one would expect the Ghost to encounter. The Ghost can boost to a higher speed, but at the expense of maneuverability. Also, the weapons cannot be fired while boosting. The most likely theory for this is that the Ghost withdraws the power from its weapon systems and diverts it into the engines. The name probably stems from its ability to enter combat at high speed and evade many attacks ghost-like.
Spectre: A light, rapid assault vehicle equipped with a rapid-fire plasma turret. Similar in function to the UNSC Warthog, this vehicle can ferry up to two passengers into battle, as well as carry a gunner and pilot. The passengers, however, are very vulnerable on the sides of the Spectre, due to a lack of cover. The Spectre is equipped with a powerful rapid-fire plasma cannon, much like a plasma rifle without overheating. Its function is also similar to the Warthog, which also sports a rapid-fire weapon in the form of a three-barrelled chain gun. The Spectre is the only Covenant vehicle a player can pilot that can be boosted without sacrificing significant maneuverability or the weapon.
Wraith: The Wraith tank is the primary Covenant heavy armor, often deployed, but only in small numbers, and piloted by Elites and Brutes. The nose of the tank is extremely well armored, able to withstand multiple dead-on rockets. The Wraith fires a large ball of plasma in a parabolic path, and is capable of firing at a medium rate of fire without overheating. The rear of the Wraith is less well armored, and seems to have a rear exit to the cockpit, which is normally primarily accessed by double-doors on the top of the nose. The Wraith runs on the same hovering technology of the Ghost, and retains the boosting ability, albeit only for limited spurts of speed. Newer versions also come mounted with a pair of light rapid-fire plasma turrets along the front of the tank to deal with infantry and airborne threats. The Wraith is so called by human Marines because you usually only get one look at the tank before you become one.
Shadow: The Covenant equivalent of an APC, the Shadow transports multiple Covenant soldiers, and can also carry light vehicles and cargo such as Ghosts. A rapid fire shade plasma turret is mounted high on the front end, but the operator is vulnerable to enemy fire. The transport itself is heavily armored, but offers no protection for the vehicles it carries into combat. So far, it is never seen carrying Covenant infantry. However, modded content within the game reveals that the Shadow was originally designed to include the ability to carry troops, and that both Grunts and Elites have unique sitting and driving animations and dialogue for the Shadow. The player cannot pilot this vehicle, although the plasma turret may be used and a person can mod the Shadow to make it pilotable (it's name was originally the "Creep" and the Spectre was Shadow).
Banshee: The Banshee is the primary personal aerial assault vehicle of the Covenant, seen only piloted by Elites and Brutes. The Banshee is a small jet with a hood that opens upward from the rear, and is equipped with two stubby "wings", which are basically frames that terminate in the propulsion jets and anti-gravity pods that leave behind a signature exhaust trail. The Banshee is quite maneuverable, and is capable of performing loop-de-loops and barrel rolls to avoid incoming fire with the help of the boosting engines, which in common with most Covenant vehicles, results in the sacrifice of the weaponry for the duration of the maneuver. Banshees come equipped with two plasma cannons and a fuel rod cannon. In the games, they can only hold one person, but in Halo: First Strike, a Banshee carried Master Chief and a second Spartan named Linda. Its name likely stems from the screaming noise made during tight turns and aerial maneuvers, like the scream of the paranormal creature Banshee, which heralds the death of a family member in Irish mythology. The link is clearly shown here - the scream is the prediction of the player's death as the Banshee approaches. Ironically, this highly-audible sound often serves as an early warning, allowing the player to prepare for engagement and source an appropriate weapon.
Spirit: A light Covenant dropship, this U-shaped vehicle is the primary means of transport for Covenant troops in Halo: Combat Evolved. Armed only with a single plasma cannon, this vehicle deploys Covenant troops swiftly to various locations and provides covering fire for the troops within during landing and withdrawal. Troops are transported in the compartments on either side of the transport, while the single pilot and gunner sits in the cockpit at the front of the ship. While in-game the Spirit only deploys up to eight troops at a time, in Halo: The Flood it is revealed that they can carry up to thirty soldiers. The underside of the transport can carry Ghosts or supply crates as well. In-game, the Spirit cannot be shot down, though the troops inside are vulnerable to ground fire when the side doors open. However, in both Halo: The Flood and Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, Spirits are shot down by ground missile fire. The name of this dropship was not revealed until Halo: Ghosts of Onyx. Prior to this, various fansites and mods have called it different names, such as "Harbinger" and "Apparition." Although the vehicle can be modded to be pilotable, it takes extra mods to keep the gun on the dropship and operatable.
Phantom: A heavy Covenant dropship, the Phantom is armed with three plasma turrets mounted on its underside that deliver devastating firepower to any ground or air based target, but are vulnerable to rockets or other explosive charges. In the center of the belly is a miniature grav-lift much like the one used in the Covenant ships, but not requiring a ground-based platform to operate. The Phantom is capable of transporting any variety of Covenant troops, supplies, and weaponry. The Phantom has the unique ability of carrying vehicles as heavy as a Wraith tank, but it also can carry smaller vehicles like Ghosts or Spectres, which it drops from low alitudes into combat zones. These vehicles are fast and indestructible, (although in the E3 preview, a billboard fell on a Phantom and destroyed it) and may be piloted by either Elites or Brutes (this can only be discerned by radio communications between characters since the pilots are never seen). Also, a Brute is seen piloting a phantom in the second cutscene before the "Sacred Icon".
Scarab: A massive walking attack platform seen in three levels in Halo 2, used to clear the way for assaults against human bases and cities. The Scarab towers above the landscape on four hydraulic legs, each ending in a sharp point. Its body is unpainted metal that resists most weapons - a female Marine remarks that it withstood 50-calibre rounds and rockets with no noticeable damage. The machine is armed with a massive plasma cannon on the front of the main body, which is capable of obliterating human Pelicans and Scorpion tanks with a single shot, after a significant power-up time. A secondary rapid-fire turret is mounted above this, but is rarely used. It is also the only thing on the Scarab that can be destroyed by small arms. The control room, adorned with the Covenant purple color, is located inside the main body, and manned by two or more Elites. Since the craft can be boarded, additional Covenant such as Grunts and other Elites usually crew the machine to fight off boarders. The ability to walk allows the vehicle to negotiate human cities and most areas where even hovercraft would not be able to reach. As far as the player is concerned, the Scarab itself is indestructible, but can be disabled. It is also used as part of the background for the multiplayer map Turf.
Prophet's Chair: Prophets use these portable hovering thrones as personal vehicles. It has a beam cannon similar to that of a Hunter's fuel rod cannon and has a bulletproof shield that protects the operator from all but high-powered explosives and melee attacks.
Seraph: A Seraph fighter is the Covenant rapid attack air/spacecraft. It is the Covenant equivalent to the UNSC Longsword fighter and can be first seen docked in the hangar on the level "The Arbiter". The Spec Ops commander Rtas 'Vadumee first mentioned its name when the Heretic Leader was attempting to reach it to escape. Another Seraph can also be seen during the end cinematic of the level Cairo Station, where a Seraph flies past the hangar door while being pursued by two UNSC Longsword fighters. It is shaped like a teardrop and but the entrance has not been identified, though one may infer that is on the top because the Heretic leader was last seen climbing the top of Seraph as though to enter the ship. Its weapons include plasma cannons and plasma torpedos, which were used against the SPARTAN-III Beta Company at the beginning of Halo: Ghosts of Onyx.
Vessels
Unyielding Hierophant: Space station used as a rendezvous point for Covenant invasion forces headed towards Earth. Destroyed by the Master Chief and his group of surviving Spartan forces.
Truth and Reconciliation: one of the CCS-class battle cruisers of the Fleet of Particular Justice and Captain Jacob Keyes's prison. Infested by the Flood and destroyed by UNSC forces to prevent the Flood from escaping Installation 04.File:Truth reconciliation CCS Cruiser.jpgThe Truth and Reconciliation holding position over Installation 04
Infinite Succor: CHS-class supply ship.
Purity of Spirit: CCS-class battle cruiser.
Penance: CPV-class destroyer.
Esteem: CPV-class destroyer.
Sacred Promise: CCS-class battle cruiser.
Pious Inquisitor: CCS-class battle cruiser used to torture and interrogate enemies. This is also the fastest ship in the Covenant fleet.
Begotten Angel: CCS-class battle cruiser.
Devotion: CCS-class battle cruiser.
Seeker of Truth: CCS-class capital ship (unconfirmed as being a capital ship at this time). Flagship of the Fleet of Particular Justice.
Commitment and Patience
Ascendant Justice: Flagship, captured by UNSC forces and destroyed.
Incorruptible: Reverence-class cruiser, destroyed at the Forerunner world of Onyx
Unnamed Forerunner Ship: This ships engines have been adapted by the Covenant and are used to power High Charity. The Prophet of Truth used this ship to escape from High Charity when the Flood invaded it during the Covenant Civil War. The Prophet then traveled to Earth with the Master Chief aboard.
Unnamed flagship involved in the Fall of Reach
High Charity: Mobile Planetoid, High Charity is the Covenant Holy City. The city is mobile, can jump through slipspace, and was powered by the unnamed Forerunner ship. It apears to be half of a moon, with only the outercrust left. It was taken over by the Flood at the end of Halo 2. High Charity is the "Home Planet" of the Covenant, in the sense that it is the planet where the High Council, Mausoleum of the Arbiter, residence of the ruling Prophet Hierarchs, and other fixtures of Covenant government are located. It is believed that all battle (or otherwise purpose oriented) Covenant members reside within. However, every race in the Covenant has its own homeworld, and it is to be emphasized that High Charity is only an administrative homeworld. High Charity is at all times protected by a fleet of hundreds of Covenant capital ships (each carrying an unknown amount of fighter craft, not to mention the ships that may be docked within High Charity itself). Any vessel entering High Charity's "zones" must broadcast a security code (changed every so often, specifically at an unknown time between one hour and one week) without hesitation when prompted or the vessel will be immediately destroyed. This fleet surrounding the city is noted to be larger than even the fleet surrounding the Unyielding Hierophant, well over five hundred ships.
Structure Designs
Covenant architectural design has been greatly recognized by many game players and game observers. The design of their buildings generally consists of many glowing objects and odd shapes and figures. The structures also tend to consist of large pillars and holographic structures (such as the holographic bridge in a campaign level featured in the first Halo). Purple seems to be a favorite color of the covenant as seen by the ghost and banshee vehicles.
Species
Covenant society is a caste system composed of many races, some of which were forcibly incorporated. The races are identified by their common UNSC designation.
Prophets, are the highest-ranking Covenant, fulfilling the role of religious and political leader. The three highest-ranking Prophets are the Prophets of Truth, Mercy, and Regret, and they travel in floating thrones equipped with an impenetrable shield and a powerful particle beam gun. There are also many "lower" Prophets, with titles similarly modeled after those of the three Hierarchs. The Prophets covertly lead the loyalist forces in the civil war, and have only the Brutes, Drones and Jackals to protect them. They wear gold and red robes, a golden crown with gems and a holographic image of Halo on the front of their crown. The Prophets have gray skin and seem very frail and weak. They maintain power through their position as high priests and, in a sense, Prophets of the Covenant religion. It has recently come to light that the Prophets evolved on a planet with remains of a Forerunner colony on it, which they came to revere. At the start of Halo 2 there are 3 supreme Prophets, but during the game, the Master Chief assassinates the Prophet of Regret and the Prophet of Mercy is infected and killed by the Flood, leaving only one supreme Prophet, the Prophet of Truth.
Whatever mutual respect the Prophets held for the Elites, by the events of Halo 2, there is a growing feeling of contempt for the Elites among the Hierarchs, particularly Truth. Whether this extends to the lesser Prophets and those not on the Council, and others if they exist is unknown. It is possible that the wizened look of the Prophets developed as a result of a lack of rigorous activity after the Prophet-Elite war. The only weapon a Prophet is ever seen wielding is a knife or dagger-type weapon, on the tablet depicting the Covenant Age of Abandonment, presumably when the Prophet-Elite war occurred. However, during the fight with the Master Chief, the Prophet of Regret revealed his hovering platform had a few special features, such as large energy beam and a short-range teleportation device.
Brutes, called Jiralhanae by the Covenant, have a hairy gorilla-like appearance and possess immense strength. Brutes often travel in packs which can cause a prolonged engagement. Standing 9' tall they are organized tribally and are led by their chieftain, Tartarus, who was killed by the Arbiter at the end of Halo 2. Brutes are the newest addition to the Covenant and the most willing fighters. Brutes appear in a few different fur colors. White colored Brutes are usually in higher ranks, as evidenced by the Brute captains, the Honor Guard Brutes and their chieftain, Tartarus.
They had a long-standing rivalry with the Elites for unknown reasons, which eventually bubbled up into the main thread of the hatred and killing that began the Covenant Civil War. While Brutes do have superior strength and speed, as well as being unquestioningly loyal to the Prophets, Elites hold superior intelligence and discipline and possess superior leadership and management ability.
When all but one Brute in a group is killed, the remaining Brute will drop his weapon and charge like a bull at the person (or allies) who killed the other Brutes while shouting unintelligibly. While "berserking" in this manner, a Brute becomes stronger and faster. However, doing so it also seems to be more susceptible to gunfire.
After the assassination of the High Prophet of Regret, the Brutes replaced the Elites as the personal bodyguards of the Prophets and commanders of the Covenant military, largely because their blind faith in the "Great Journey," made them more easily controlled and far less questioning of the Prophets than the Elites. They remained loyal to the Prophets and were used by them to be the primary instigators of the Covenant Civil War which began prior to the activation and attempted firing of the Delta Halo.
The Brutes seem to prefer projectile weaponry to plasma weaponry. This can be seen when they use their Brute-developed Brute Shots. These blade-edged grenade launchers, when used to melee, do almost as much damage as the energy sword. The Brutes also have their own version of the Plasma Rifle. Colored red, it has a faster firing rate and is significantly more accurate than its blue counterpart, but overheats at an accelerated pace. Brutes also use human shotguns—trophies they have gathered—to great effect, and a Brute cache of weapons included captured rocket launchers and fragmentation grenades as well. This would seem to reflect their personalities, favoring high-power weapons with little care for efficiency or subtlety. It is also worth noting that in The Fall of Reach it is stated that some Covenant forces seem to despise human weapons and would rather go hand to hand than pick up a human rifle. In the Halo 2 level "Uprising", upon discovering a Brute cache of human weapons, an Elite remarks, "What vulgar taste! Even as trophies, these weapons are worthless!". The reason behind the Brutes' indifference to a weapon's origin is unclear, though it has been speculated that they prefer the raw power and noise of ballistic firearms. In the Halo 2 instruction manual, the Covenant review of human weapon statistics states that if a soldier is faced with the option of wielding of a weapon or no weapon, he should grab the nearest at hand, even if it is human.
Hunters, called Lekgolo in the Covenant language, are incredibly dangerous foes, deployed more like equipment than soldiers. Standing 12' tall or 8' while contracted They are brought in for demolition or heavy defense, and always work in pairs, calling each other "bond brothers." Rather than being built similarly to the other Covenant species with an endoskeleton and central nervous system, Hunters are actually sentient beings made up of a conglomerate colony of orange symbiotic worms. Their impenetrable armor is actually what holds them together. This has led to speculation that they were created or engineered by the Forerunners. This is also probably the reason that no one has seen Flood Hunter Forms as their lack of a central nervous system makes it impossible for a Flood Infection Form to gain control of their brain. It is consistent that if engineered by the Forerunners, Hunters may be one of the tactical scenarios explored to defeat the Flood before the Halo system was devised, 343 Guilty Spark mentioned to the Master Chief that after exploring every tactical scenario the Halo system was devised. Hunters usually show nothing but opprobrium towards the lesser Covenant races (even purposefully killing them just if they become an obstruction during battles) and rarely even communicate with any other race (including the Prophets) apart from the Elites. They are believed to have a religion of their own and their language appears to sound distorted when they speak but are nonetheless an intelligent species. It has also been noted that some Hunters even cite poetry in battle.
When encountered in combat they can be as difficult as walking tanks, with their massive size, near impenetrable armor, large shields, and arm-mounted fuel-rod cannons. They are almost always seen fighting in pairs which makes them even more difficult in combat. This idea of fighting in pairs is similar to that of the "Sacred Band" employed by the ancient Thebans. They are easily the toughest infantry unit in the Covenant military, but a single high velocity shot targeting the fleshy orange skin between the armor plating will succeed in bringing the Hunter down. Thus, Hunters can become an easy kill for the agile, seasoned veteran. They will never purposely show their weak spots to an enemy. A well-placed shot from a rocket launcher (or several from a fuel-rod cannon) will take this hulking soldier down. A plasma grenade latched onto them makes them blind, and they appear to walk around in random directions when so impaired.
In Halo: Combat Evolved, Hunters were outfitted with a parabolically firing Fuel Rod Gun on their right arm, but in Halo 2, hunters used a powerful beam cannon that fired in a straight line constantly for about a second. Their armor is highly resistant to any sort of melee combat from enemies but they can be killed in melee combat by berserking Brutes or a skilled player; however, in Halo 2 Hunters are immune to melee attacks from the player. Hunter shields are known to deflect bullets and plasma from smaller weapons. Their fuel rod guns are only used at a distance, so if an enemy comes too near, a Hunter will attempt a clumsy, yet devastating, charging attack with their shield (although in canon, they use the razor-sharp, blade-like spines along their back as well). In Halo 2, they have developed a new attack by which they deliver a combination backhand and overhanded smash to anyone unfortunate to still be in range if someone manages to get behind them. When one in a bonded pair is killed, the other Hunter will mourn over the body of his bond brother if left alone. If provoked, the lone Hunter will only seek vengeance through melee combat.
The Hunters have been part of the Covenant for quite a long time. They were forced to join the Covenant after being subdued by an Elite-led military force. Because of previous defeats, an Arbiter was ordained to aid in Taming of the Hunters. They were however found to be impossible to subjugate in land combat, and presumably the Arbiter was killed. So they were forced to surrender after the threat of extinction through orbital bombardment by the "Glassing" tactic. As a result, Hunters are deeply respectful of the Elites and this is likely why they choose to side with the Elites in the Covenant civil war.
Recent information from Bungie indicates that the Hunters encountered thus far are merely the deployed "combat form" of the species. This might be a hint that other forms of the Hunter are yet to come in future Halo games.
The Elites, called Sangheili in the Covenant language, are the core of the Covenant military.They stand 8`6" and are excellent soldiers, brilliant tacticians, and disciplined, aggressive fighters, they are the primary strength of the Covenant force. Faster, stronger, and tougher than any Human, they fight in relatively small numbers but often lead squads of Grunts. They were the first to join the Covenant when the Prophets discovered evidence of the Forerunners' "Great Journey," and called for a truce. Armor color seems to indicate rank, and it is believed Elites are promoted based on the numbers of casualties they inflict. In the beginning of Halo 2, the highest rank seemed to be the "Honor Guard," who protected the Prophet of Regret and his broadcasting stations on Delta Halo. However, this rank was supposedly given to the Brutes after Regret's assassination at the hands of the Master Chief. White Elites, "Special Ops", have a similar action to the Brutes. When an enemy approaches to melee range with a Spec Op Ultra Elite, the Elite drops the weapon he's carrying and draws an Energy Sword and attacks the person, or persons, that were attacking. However, unlike the Brutes, Elites will not use this tactic as a last resort and are not provoked by fallen allies to do so.
Elites are typically armed with plasma rifles, energy swords, needlers, or carbines and carry plasma grenades, though they have been noted to wield any Covenant weapon. Certain Elites are specially trained or experienced and may wield human weapons, and two single-handed weapons as well, and in the Halo Graphic Novel, Elites are even shown utilizing a two energy blade fighting style. As seen in Halo 2, some special ops Elites have the capability to remain invisible for prolonged periods of time. In space, Elites are armed with vacuum suits and jetpacks for zero-G combat.
Currently, Elites are fighting a civil war against the Prophets and Brutes after the Prophets initiated a genocide of their species for unknown reasons. The Grunts and Hunters aligned themselves with the Elites. An uneasy alliance between them and humans also seems to be forming as seen near the end of Halo 2.
Jackals
Jackals, called Kig-Yar in the Covenant language, have superior senses and often serve as scouts, snipers and assassins. Excellent shots, the Jackals seem to be higher in status - if not necessarily rank - than the Grunts. They are 5'8" tall and typically carry a wrist-mounted energy shield that deflects bullets and needler shots but is weak against plasma and physical (melee) strikes. They often will be found in defensive positions, fighting from behind their distinctive energy shields. A well used shield makes a Jackal a difficult target, but the notch they use to return fire provides a weak spot that can be exploited, specifically by a sniper's weapon. Jackals sometimes abandon the shields in favor of carrying the Particle Beam Rifle in their capacity as snipers. When these snipers are face to face with a stronger opponent, they will drop any heavy weaponry they may have and cower like a Grunt, but if given a chance will pull out a plasma pistol and continue fighting. Their appearance is thin and bird-like, and their bodies are quite frail. Jackals appear to be predominantly left-handed (as opposed to the other Covenant species or to humans). Their rank is shown by the color of their body and of their shield.
They are often cruel to the Grunts, considering themselves better than they are and to ensure their own superiority though other Covenant caste members just simply believe the Grunts are lower than they are. Jackals hold themselves above Grunts socially, even though they are in the same "worker" caste. They often refer to Grunts with derogatory monikers such as "gas suckers," due to the Grunts' need to breathe methane gas. The Grunts in turn seem to dislike the Jackals as a Grunt is heard saying "Stupid Jackal, say thank you!" after the Arbiter has destroyed the Sentinel which was attacking them. In Halo 2 a Grunt also tells the Arbiter "If hungry, eat Jackal!" Jackals can be heard or identified even before they are seen by their unique hiss/screech/yell sound. This cry is usually heard when the player has been spotted.
The Jackals have chosen to side with the Prophets and Brutes in the Covenant civil war for unknown reasons, though it may be due to the fact that they are mercenaries paid by the Prophets. According to the action figure released by Joyride Studios, Jackals have been described as paying only the merest lip service to the cause of the Covenant, and are more or less mercenaries working for the alliance. They have been known for privateering, but the Covenant at large either condones or turns a blind eye to this practice.
Jackal skin color may vary from black to orange and darkish yellow color as described in Halo: The Fall of Reach. The darker Jackals are not seen in Halo 2, but may be seen in Halo: Combat Evolved as holding blue plasma sheilds. Another note of difference between the two versions of Jackals is their glowing pink eyes and a lesser amount of armor in Halo 2. Jackals in Halo 2 do not roll or flee as often as their Halo counterparts, making it more difficult to exploit gaps in their defenses. All of the Jackals seen in Halo 2 have mohawks, while those seen in Halo are not always seen with mohawks.
Engineers
Engineers are the scientific engineering backbone of the Covenant and its economy. They float via air sacs and their many tentacles are able to split into many fine cilia, with which they are able to manipulate machinery. Engineers are capable of quickly learning the functionality of new technology. On one occasion an Engineer was observed (by Master Chief) dismantling a vehicle's engine, reassembling it into varying different working configurations, and then reassembling it the way it was, all in a matter of seconds. They are called Huragok in the Forerunner language, and sometimes referred to as 'savants' by the Humans.
Their motivations are unknown, but they appear to draw no distinction between friend and foe, preferring to spend their time inspecting or repairing technology, although they will utter a high pitched keening sound when a Forerunner artifact is under any sort of threat. They are extremely apathetic to any sort of combat, and will just float along with their one desire: to fix things. In one encounter, an Engineer repaired the Master Chief's damaged shield generator and then floated away. This Engineer was later shot due to the risk of it giving the Master Chief's superior shield technology to the Covenant.
It is unknown which side, if any, the Engineers have taken in the civil war. It is possible they have not even noticed the outbreak of the civil war, as they rarely even interact with the other Covenant castes (with the exception of the Prophets), content to fiddle with machinery and keep it running smoothly. Vice Admiral Whitcomb takes advantage of that "fiddling" by leaving a partially-assembled Nova nuke for the Covenant to find. The Engineers repair the bomb, which activates it. A Grunt hears a recorded message by Whitcomb telling him to "pray to [his] heathen gods" before a large part of the Elite fleet is wiped out.
Another interesting note is that the Engineers are the only Covenant race so far to have a specific Forerunner name, as stated as a footnote on p.237 of Ghosts of Onyx.
Grunts
The basic infantry unit of the Covenant, Grunts are the lowest beings in the Covenant hierarchy. They present little threat individually, but are dangerous in large numbers. Grunts, known as Unggoy (which means "monkey" in Tagalog[3]) in the Covenant language, are the workhorses of the Covenant. They serve as common laborers across Covenant controlled space. Short, stocky, and relatively slow because of their rebreathers, they will often panic when faced with superior forces. However, if they are being led by an Elite, they will stand and fight. It should be noted, that Heretic Grunts do not show fear and continually attack the enemy, even if the lead Elite dies. Despite their obvious cowardice, they are extremely large in numbers and breed rapidly, and - when cornered - can attack with suicidal desperation. They often mutter or shout out hilarious dialogue in-game. Grunts are usually armed with single handed weapons, like plasma pistols, needlers, and plasma grenades (which they regularly and accurately throw), although the Arbiter can give his Grunt allies a Plasma Rifle and Brute Plasma Rifle, Magnum, Fuel Rod Cannon, and even Rocket Launcher even though they never typically use one. Grunts are also encountered carrying, mounting, and using plasma cannons, operating Ghosts, and operating Shade plasma turrets.
Their homeworld is a frozen, swampy planet with a methane atmosphere and naturally occurring pillars of fire. Because they breathe methane they are forced to rely on a large, bulky SCUBA-like "rebreather" system in order to survive in oxygen atmosphere areas - which, unfortunately for the Grunts, are almost everywhere in Covenant society, since no other Covenant race breathes methane. In the Halo novels, Grunts being shot by human assault rifles would catch on fire and eventually explode due to the methane in their tanks being set alight. This feature has not been seen in the games, for obvious reasons as Grunts are one of the most numerous enemies.
The Grunts are approximately 4' tall, which does not give them any confidence when facing humans, though they lose most of their fear when using a plasma turret or a vehicle. In spite of their low rank in the caste, some Grunts have been trained with the bulky fuel rod guns and have been seen wearing black or silver reinforced armor, implying that they are Special Ops. This does not hold with classic Covenant operation, but it seems to be the case. Because of their aforementioned tendency towards panic, disarray, and dying, the Grunts are usually herded as cannon fodder and directed by one or more of the higher caste, normally an Elite. If the higher-ranking Covenant member leading the group is killed, the Grunts will usually scatter. They will also run away when an enemy wields a superior weapon, such as an Energy Sword, (also known as the Plasma Sword) in the grunt's view.
Somewhere in the history of the Covenant, the Grunt Rebellion took place; possibly in the Age of Doubt. An Arbiter was created to deal with the threat.
Grunt culture has largely been erased by their incorporation into the Covenant, and they obey most of the other Covenant races out of fear because they have no political power in the Covenant. However, within the Grunt community, there is a strong hatred of most other species, particularly Jackals, (as evidenced at one point in Halo 2 during the Sacred Icon level) and it has been stated that the Grunts have hopes for a particularly heroic, strong, tall Grunt to one day become the savior of their kind and set them on the path to freedom by another Rebellion and the return to their homeworld. They are still used by the Covenant as cannon fodder as evidenced in the Halo 2 level, Gravemind, but they have also sided with the Elite-led separatist faction for unknown reasons, possibly their beliefs of an afterlife, or their hatred and rivalry for Jackals, or the Elites simply commanded and Grunts obeyed. Some examples of Grunt names are Yayap, Linglin, Gagaw, Zawaz, and Mehmep.
Drones are an insectoid race which are called Yanme'e in the Covenant language. They talk in a chirpy, clicking noise but it is not certain if this is a hive communication or individual conversation. Their exoskeleton is pale green and thick in texture. Because of their mobility, they can sometimes be difficult to kill.
In the instruction manual for Halo 2, it is stated they are suited to flight and combat in areas like Earth's atmosphere which suggests their home world is much like our own (but with much less gravity, limiting their flight span). They prefer to stay at a distance and use long range tactics. However, they are skilled close-range combatants as well if the need arises, utilizing their climbing claws in close-quarters. Drones have been noted to land on vehicles and use their claws for vicious and surprisingly powerful attacks against the occupants.
Drones are insectoid in nature and seem to be covered in natural chitinous armor (and small gold and blue pieces of machinery), although it doesn't provide much protection (except from vacuum as Drones are described as primarily workers repairing and constructing starship exteriors). They wield light-weight weapons such as needlers and plasma pistols. They are never seen wielding any other weapons but the reason is not known. It could be because it would too heavy or inconvenient for them to fly.
During the Covenant civil war, the Drones remained loyal to the Prophets for unknown reasons.
Drones are referred to by Sergeant Major Avery Johnson as "buggers". This stems from the Drones' insectoid nature, which causes the Marines to think of them as large bugs. In addition this could be a reference to the novel "Ender's Game'" by Orson Scott Card, in which humanity is at war with an insectiod alien race known only as the "Buggers", although since they are never described in detail, how much resemblance they bear to the Drones of Halo is unknown.
Sharquoi
Mentioned in the Halo 2 Limited Edition "Conversations from the Universe" pamphlet; as of this point the exact nature of the Sharquoi is unknown. The only clue given is that it is apparently used on an enemy that is surrounded or hemmed in. Speculation abounds as to whether it is a weapon, unknown Covenant race, or unidentified Covenant rank or unit.
Great Journey
The Covenant believe that when the Halos are activated the Covenant will embark on a "Great Journey" similar to that undertaken by their gods, the Forerunners. Finding and activating the Halos is a prime goal of the Covenant.
However, few if any members in the Covenant are aware that the Halos, when activated, destroy all sentient life in the galaxy. Whether the Prophets do know the true effects of activating a Halo is uncertain, but the very fabric of the Covenant is built on accomplishing it, believing this will propel them into the "Divine Beyond", a heavenly paradise they will share with the Forerunners.
As the Master Chief and UNSC discovered, the Halos were not built as religious icons; they are galactic weapons of mass sterilization built by the Forerunners to contain a parasitic race known as The Flood.
The currently living Arbiter, who is either leading or an important member of the separatist movement, knows the true function of the Halos after speaking with Gravemind. Following this, he helped some UNSC troops stop Tartarus from activating Installation 05, and hence the entire remaining Halo network. The loyalists still seem to believe in the Great Journey, and will most likely continue to try to activate the Halos.
History
The current events in Halo 2 occur during the Ninth Age of Reclamation. UNSC researchers are unsure how the Covenant record time, but seven distinct ages have been collected. It's uncertain if these names are reused or if, for instance, there have been eight other ages of reclamation in the past. (Note: the arrangement and meaning of the ages is only speculation)
Age of Abandonment
Age of Conflict
Age of Discovery
Age of Reconciliation
Age of Conversion
Age of Doubt
Age of Reclamation
The Ages of the Covenant
Little is known about their history except that the ancestors of the Prophets and Elites waged war on each other, but they formed the Covenant after finding evidence of the Forerunners and their “Great Journey”.
One of the leading theories is that the Age of Abandonment was the time when the Forerunners left the Prophets and Elites to embark on the "Great Journey".
Elites and the Prophets began fighting each other in the Age of Conflict. It is not yet known why this war started.
In the Age of Discovery, the Prophets discovered the remains of the Forerunner technology, maybe with the help of the Engineers.
During the first Age of Reconciliation, the Prophets shared the information learnt about the forerunners with the Elites. The Elites and the Prophets made a truce to unite to form the Covenant with the Elites being promised salvation in exchange for their military services and protection. Presumably, this is when the Covenant Writ of Union was created.
The Age of Conversion was when the Elites and the Prophets started to conscript other races (such as when they "tamed" Hunters) into the Covenant through religious conversion or force.
The Covenant began to doubt the word of the Prophets during the Age of Doubt, due to their fruitlessness of their search for the rings (such as Alpha (04) and Delta (05) Halo) or any other means to begin The Great Journey. The Grunt Rebellion probably occurred during this span of time.
Halo and Halo 2 take place during the 9th Age of Reclamation. It is often speculated that this is a reference to the name that the Monitors give to humans: “reclaimers”. Others, especially the Elites, wonder why the humans, worthy opponents that have proven themselves in battle many times, were not given the opportunity to join the Covenant.[4] Some within the Covenant even wonder what bad thing the humans have done to be an "affront" to the gods. This fact might be linked with humans presumably being the reclaimers, and not any of the Covenant races. It seems that the Prophets are particularly unhappy with this fact, given their liberal use of the word "Demon" in reference to the Master Chief. The Prophets may also have other motives, as evidenced by the sermons that Regret speaks during the "Delta Halo" and "Regret" levels in Halo 2, which involve hunting down humans for impeding Covenant progress and damaging "holy relics."
Early Ages
The Covenant recruited other races around them. Extraordinary crises, such as the Taming of the Hunters, and the Grunt Rebellion almost destroyed the Covenant but were resolved by the first Arbiters.
The Prophets, aided by the Engineers, discovered more about the Forerunners including a myth about the Halo Installations and used Forerunner technology to launch their industrial revolution in which their militant, technologically superior civilization developed.
Taming of the Hunters
The Taming of the Hunters is mentioned in the game Halo 2 as one of the crises that required the creation of an Arbiter. The Arbiter no doubt died during this task. The ground troops of the Covenant were not able to defeat the Hunters on the planet surface, and the Hunters were only convinced to join the Covenant after being threatened with a bombing (glassing) by the Covenant which would have totally destroyed the planet. Though they joined the Covenant, they only communicate with and respect the Elites. They are scornful of the other races, even the Prophets themselves.
Grunt Rebellion
The Grunt Rebellion was an event dangerous enough to the Covenant that an Arbiter had to be created to combat it. Like all the other Arbiters, it is assumed that the Arbiter at the time died in the course of the Rebellion. It involved the smallest and most common form of the Covenant, the Grunts, rebelling against the rest of the Covenant. It is unknown as to why the rebellion took place but it is likely because of the abuse the Grunts face from the rest of the Covenant.
Ninth Age of Reclamation
The Ninth Age occurred between the Earth years 2525 and the current year, 2552. Thus far, this age has been tumultuous for the Covenant, and has featured a war with humanity, the unleashings of the Flood, and a civil war simultaneously.
When the Covenant first came into contact with Humanity at the planet Harvest, they waged a twenty-five year religious war that destroyed almost every world colonized by humans. Even the battles won by the UNSC's advanced Spartan soldiers were unable to slow the advance of the
Covenant.
Earth remained undiscovered in part because of the Cole Protocol, a standing order by UNSC Admiral Cole, that directed retreating UNSC ships not chart a direct course back to Earth or other population centers in case the Covenant were able to follow. In fact, ships were required to self-destruct rather than lead the Covenant to Earth. This decision was apparently successful and the Covenant did not discover Earth until the events of Halo: First Strike, but apparently happened upon it by chance and were unaware that it was populated by the majority of humanity.
When the Prophet of Regret and his fleet arrive at Earth, they appear to be surprised that humanity is on Earth. This gives us a clue that, perhaps, they came to Earth for other reasons.
The war with humanity, combined with the subsequent and simultaneous civil war, the threat of Covenant Heretic forces, and the Master Chief's infiltration and Flood invasion of High Charity splintered the Covenant into seperatist and loyalist forces. The High Prophets of Mercy and Regret, Tartarus, and many of the Councilors were killed, leaving the Covenant in a precarious position.
The Prophet of Truth is speculated to have traveled to Earth in search of the Ark, a structure built by the Foreruners to activate installations 01-07. The Ark is located near New Mombasa, as observed in the Halo 3 trailer and confirmed by the Halo Graphic Novel.
References
^Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 349: Voro nodded to the Major Domo Sangheili in their glistening red armor.
^Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 239: The Sangheili stood over three and a half meters tall and wore silver armor covered with the gold Forerunner glyphs of Sacred Mystery.
^Conversations from the Universe, Extraction from Sanctioned Sanghieli Eavesdrop
