I was just watching a WWII documentary and this occurred to me, why, if in all wars fought by humanity between eachother, there were spies, agents and double agents, did they not employ these tactics against the covenant?
It may be easier to say in hindsight but why, at the rebellion during Halo 2, did the Elites not simply have some of there forces “remain” loyal to the covenant and supply them with information on deployment and targets?
This could be said of most of the species within the covenant as there must have been some sympathisers or doubters of the absolute power of the Prophets and their mass war verging on genocide. (I’m thinking Schindler’s List type stuff, keeping humans as “slaves” and “losing” them in the next battle against the UNSC)
If your rebuttal involves the propaganda efforts of the Prophets (Holy War, Ascent to Godhood) than think again of WWII and the few, small rebellious groups within the “Third Reich”, most notably the Free French Army and the White Rose Group, the former for the active sabotage, which would be much easier in space with all that plasma fuel lying around. The latter for the fact that they actively tried to dissuade people from believing said propaganda, they may have been found, tried and executed (even though they were only young adults), but this makes the story more potent, making them possible martyrs instead of only people stirring unrest.
This could easily be transferred to Halo, having small groups of Covenant meet in sercret to try and stop the madness of the prophets, being found out and the small-scale hunters becoming the hunted.
Something along this level could make a good novel or side story in my opinion.
Although I understand what your saying. Its should be noted that your referring to a way of fighting that the Covenant was not used to, they did not have a WWII to look back on like humans did. A war where everyone was on the same playing field. The Species with the superior tech won the battles then absorbed the defeated species. One of the reasons humanity lasted so long against the Cov was that fact that we had knowledge to hit below the belt. While the Cov did as they had done for hundreds of years domination through brute strength.
> Although I understand what your saying. Its should be noted that your referring to a way of fighting that the Covenant was not used to, they did not have a WWII to look back on like humans did. A war where everyone was on the same playing field. The Species with the superior tech won the battles then absorbed the defeated species. One of the reasons humanity lasted so long against the Cov was that fact that we had knowledge to hit below the belt. While the Cov did as they had done for hundreds of years domination through brute strength.
What I was thinking was maybe a sort of suble defection, so they still fight the humans, but at the same time just giving them information, with tactics given to them by the UNSC, as they have sent out some desperate communicae to try and stop the war. Could be some grunts, who would suspect them?
The only problem with this for the Elites is that there was an extermination order placed on them. Even if any had wanted to stay in the Covenant, they couldn’t have because Truth and Mercy had had the whole race ordered killed…that’s the whole reason for the initial rebellion, because the Covenant had made them subjects of genocide. So a whole spy thing would have really worked in this situation It’s an interesting idea though, even if it doesn’t really work…
Well the thing about humans is that we don’t have a mind set to counter that.
Elites are honorable and probably don’t like hiding in the shadows. Their pride causes to openly declare what side they were on.
The Brutes aren’t really too smart. Being ever so loyal to the Prophets for various reasons, I doubt they would turn their backs on them. That and Brutes like to be loud and agreesive, not sneaky and silent.
Jackals are in it for pure profit. They see the Covenant are winning and wouldn’t risk betraying them. Yes they had business dealings with Insurrectionists, but when the Prophets said “no more” they stopped.
Grunts are simple cannon fodder and are kept in submission. They are too scared to do much on their own. They rebelled once, and failed.
Hunters followed Elites out of respect but there is no way to really communicate with them.
Drones view the Prophets as “Queens” and therefore will not question them. It’s a thing insects do.
Engineers are the only ones to give us intel as seen with Virgil in ODST.
It’s an interesting idea though, even if it doesn’t really work…