Storm or Covenant Remnant? Name?

Games Halo 5: Guardians
1

DISCLAIMER: The Didact’s Hand reformed Covenant is not named the ‘Storm’, this is merely a ‘nickname’ in place of ‘Covenant Remnant’.

The Covenant Remnant fought in Halo 4, and Halo 4: Spartan Ops, is a splinter faction of the original Covenant Empire Loyalists. It is made of Sangheili, Unggoy, Ibie’sh Kig-Yar and Mgalekgolo… who all follow the Didact’s Hand, Supreme Commander Jul 'Mdama. This faction is considered a cult, or the fanatical, which were left over from the spurring of the Covenant Great Schism, between the Separatist Elites and the Covenant Loyalists. They have thus reformed their Covenant, and beliefs in the Forerunners, not necessarily in the promise of a Great Journey, to which would be their Eden, or haven, but rather to enact power through knowledge and technology. Since beginning their holy crusade, the ‘Storm’ have witnessed first-hand the re-emergence of the Forerunner, the Ur-Didact, Shadow-Of-Sundered-Star, and Librairan, First-Light-Weaves-Living-Song. This had thus confirmed that the Foreruners were real; that they were in-fact gods… to these primitives… and that their beliefs were true… This enacted a loyalty, or respect, for the Forerunners to which the Ur-Didact offered his allegiance. And so the Storm-Promethean Alliance was born.

So to better signify this faction rather than call them the Covenant… to which means ‘an agreement which brings about a relationship of commitment between God and his people’… integrate them into the Promethean Ecumene. This way they would be considered as the new faction, to which would better justify and separate them from other Covenant factions. We have seen a lot of interaction and alliances between factions to which no sides are specifically this, or that… but rather split everywhere. Plus canonically, and logically, the most fervor of the Covenant Empire, is now in the Covenant Remnant… and so would not rightly leave their beliefs behind… like the heretical Arbiter’s Forces… this would justify them staying and dying for the Ur-Didact, their self-appointed god. Plus after seeing how easily the Ur-Didact dealt with John-117, their daemon… he would rightly justify his strength, nobility and power… heck a new prophecy, or biblical indication, could be written by the monks of the Servants of Abiding Truth.

“Salvation will come when the world rips open, beyond all but for a single soul… it was whence forth he had come… to battle a god… the god will overturn this daemon, and bring forth an age of unification and paradise.” ~ About John-117, Requiem and the Ur-Didact.

Promethean Ecumene

Leaders

  • Ur-Didact, Warrior-Servant Shadow-Of-Sundered-Star
  • Didact’s Hand, Supreme Commader Jul 'Mdama

Species/Forms/Types

  • Promethean Knights
  • Hesduros Sangheili
  • Ibie’sh Kig-Yar
  • Mgalekgolo
  • Promethean Watchers
  • Promethean Crawlers
  • Unggoy
  • Forerunner Ancilla

New Colonial Alliance

Leaders

  • Admiral Mattius Drake
  • Shipmaster Vata 'Gajat… currently MIA, probably KIA.

Species/Forms/Types

  • Insurrectionist Human
  • Insurrectionist Spartan-IV
  • Sangheili
  • Jiralhanae
  • T’vaoan Kig-Yar
  • Ibie’sh Kig-Yar
  • Mgalekgolo
  • Unggoy
  • Human Artificial Intelligence
  • Covenant Construct

United Nations Space Command

Leaders

  • Admiral Serin Osman
  • Lord, Fleet Admiral Terrance Hood

Species/Forms/Types

  • Humans
  • Spartans
  • Human Artificial Intelligence
  • Forerunner Huragok

Covenant Empire

Leaders

  • Arbiter, Kaidon Thel 'Vadam (Leader)
  • Chieftain Of The Jiralhanae, Chieftain Lydus (Leader)

Species/Forms/Types

  • Sanghelios Sangheili
  • Doisac Jiralhanae
  • Eayn Kig-Yar
  • Yanme’e
  • Mgalekgolo
  • Unggoy
  • Covenant Construct
  • Covenant Huragok

Flood Legion

Leaders

  • Primordial Intellect… present unto all Flood Graveminds and Keyminds.

Species/Forms/Types

  • Flood Precursor
  • Flood Keymind
  • Flood Gravemind
  • Flood Proto-Gravemind
  • Flood Pure Form
  • Flood Combat Form
  • Flood Carrier Form
  • Flood Infection Form

Forerunner Legacy

Leaders

  • Iso-Didact, Builder-Warrior-Servant Bornstellar-Makes-Eternal-Lasting
  • Lifeshaper, Lifeworker Chant-To-Green

Species/Forms/Types

  • Forerunners
  • Sentinels
  • Monitors
  • Forerunner Ancillas
  • Forerunner Huragok

Unclassified

  • San’Shyuum
2

“Storm” is faster and easier to say, and not only does it sound better than “Jul 'Mdada’s Covenant remnant,” but it helps mark the Storm as a seperate entity from the Covenant entirely.

3

Good post OP. I definitely think that, story-wise, there needs to be more opposing factions. There’s no point in introducing a whole new side to the fight if they are just going to unite for a two-way battle (Halo 4 - Storm and Didact/Prometheans).

Halo 3 was awesome. UNSC vs Covenant vs Flood. With the partial alliance with the flood and UNSC to stop the prophet.

The section about the covenant confused me. I’ve not read much beyond the games so correct me if im wrong, but the (majority of) elites rebelled against the prophets which included Thel Vadam so why would he be the leader of a group he rejected? Also the elites and brutes are not on the best of terms are they?

The majority of the factions seem good, I just think that the remnant and the ‘new alliance’ needs a bit of reworking.

Perhaps those two factions could be divided into 3? The covy remnant (no need to explain) - rebels and terrorists to sanghelios.
The new alliance, a more peaceful/defensive group working on interstellar relations eg sanghelios. and the militant other unnamed group which could consists of brutes (being enemies of elites), insurrectionists (being humans despised by the covys) and perhaps Kig yar (since they are pirates and willing to do anything for money).

Even after that, I feel dissatisfied since there’s no logical reason for insurrectionists and brutes teaming up. Perhaps the lines should be more blurred rather than distinct groups.

4

The latest Escalation showed that this isn’t just one faction. There are supposedly many other factions besides just Jul Mdama, most likely led by other Sangheili. “What does it mean to be ‘Covenant’ today? A hundred warlords claim they rule the Covenant, but each of them leads only a small faction.”

5

> Good post OP. I definitely think that, story-wise, there needs to be more opposing factions. There’s no point in introducing a whole new side to the fight if they are just going to unite for a two-way battle (Halo 4 - Storm and Didact/Prometheans).
>
> Halo 3 was awesome. UNSC vs Covenant vs Flood. With the partial alliance with the flood and UNSC to stop the prophet.
>
> The section about the covenant confused me. I’ve not read much beyond the games so correct me if im wrong, but the (majority of) elites rebelled against the prophets which included Thel Vadam so why would he be the leader of a group he rejected? Also the elites and brutes are not on the best of terms are they?
>
> The majority of the factions seem good, I just think that the remnant and the ‘new alliance’ needs a bit of reworking.
>
> Perhaps those two factions could be divided into 3? The covy remnant (no need to explain) - rebels and terrorists to sanghelios.
> The new alliance, a more peaceful/defensive group working on interstellar relations eg sanghelios. and the militant other unnamed group which could consists of brutes (being enemies of elites), insurrectionists (being humans despised by the covys) and perhaps Kig yar (since they are pirates and willing to do anything for money).
>
> Even after that, I feel dissatisfied since there’s no logical reason for insurrectionists and brutes teaming up. Perhaps the lines should be more blurred rather than distinct groups.

Not strictly true. Among UNSC seperatists, particularly on Venezia, it’s not uncommon for humans to do deals with Kig-Yar (Eayn, T’vao, and Ible’sh variants), Grunts, and sometimes, Brutes. A militia composed of those species isn’t an entirely unrealistic expectation.

6

> “Storm” is faster and easier to say, and not only does it sound better than “Jul 'Mdada’s Covenant remnant,” but it helps mark the Storm as a seperate entity from the Covenant entirely.

In the immortal words of Sarge: “Because M12 LRV is too hard to say in conversation, son.”

But, really. Good post, OP. I like the organization here. :slight_smile:

7

Phenomenal job with this classification. Long read, but worth it.

8

> The latest Escalation showed that this isn’t just one faction. There are supposedly many other factions besides just Jul Mdama, most likely led by other Sangheili. “What does it mean to be ‘Covenant’ today? A hundred warlords claim they rule the Covenant, but each of them leads only a small faction.”

I imagine that most of the other remnant factions will unite under Jul 'Mdama sooner or later given that he now has control over the Prometheans and has/had contact with the Didact.

9

I’ll continue calling them the Storm because it really is easier and everyone knows what you’re referring to. But as for the post as a whole good job, I can see you put a lot of work into it

10

> In the immortal words of Sarge: “Because M12 LRV is too hard to say in conversation, son.”

Ha.

11

Great post OP, and great classfication. I do think that we need simple enough names for every faction though.

Promethean Ecumene - Storm/Prometheans

UNSC - UNSC (Duh.)

New Colonial Alliance - Could be NCA or refered to as the Insurrectionist.

Flood Legion - Flood

Covenant Empire - Empire or Covenant (Being that the Storm would stand as a name of it’s own. But being the Covenant has been recognized as a type of species by this point it is probably better to say Empire.)

Forerunner Legacy - Forerunners or Ancient Forunners (Although that is not that too specific)

12

While others would say great post… I’ll say otherwise…

Sorry but no. You’re grossly undiversifying the number of factions in halo, specially post war halo where things are way more fracturesd. You’re also over-simplifying motives and leadership.

There are several major categorizations and sometimes factions in halo.
Here is some of the broad:

United Earth Government
Insurrectionists
The Covenant
Covenant remnants
Flood (precursors?)
Forerunner ecumene
Prehistoric human civilization

Now take the insurrectionists. Umbrella term for several factions.
United rebel front
Secessionist union
Freedom and liberation party
People’s occupation
Venezia’s movement
Bandusa insurrectionists group
New Colonial Alliance

And likely more.
Also, during the great covenant empire, there were Refume’s heretics. During it’s collapse one of the samgheili groups that formed was the Joyous Exultation one.
The covenant factions from post war include

'Vdam’s
'Mdama’s
Abiding truth
Vol
'Gajat

3 of those groups are known to be present during the second battle of Requiem. 'Mdama’s, Vol’s and 'Gajat’s. 'Vol’s leaders, Merg Vol and Parg Vol were killed. Vol’s attacked Draetheus V and X50. 'Gajat and his ship blew up.

As for the UEG, the president is Doctor Ruth Charet.

“What does it mean to be Covenant today?
A hundred warlords claim they rule the Covenant. But each of them leads only a small faction.”
-Zef Trahl.

13

> While others would say great post… I’ll say otherwise…
>
> Sorry but no. You’re grossly undiversifying the number of factions in halo, specially post war halo where things are way more fracturesd. You’re also over-simplifying motives and leadership.
>
> There are several major categorizations and sometimes factions in halo.
> Here is some of the broad:
>
> United Earth Government
> Insurrectionists
> The Covenant
> Covenant remnants
> Flood (precursors?)
> Forerunner ecumene
> Prehistoric human civilization
>
> Now take the insurrectionists. Umbrella term for several factions.
> United rebel front
> Secessionist union
> Freedom and liberation party
> People’s occupation
> Venezia’s movement
> Bandusa insurrectionists group
> New Colonial Alliance
>
> And likely more.
> Also, during the great covenant empire, there were Refume’s heretics. During it’s collapse one of the samgheili groups that formed was the Joyous Exultation one.
> The covenant factions from post war include
>
> 'Vdam’s
> 'Mdama’s
> Abiding truth
> Vol
> 'Gajat
>
> 3 of those groups are known to be present during the second battle of Requiem. 'Mdama’s, Vol’s and 'Gajat’s. 'Vol’s leaders, Merg Vol and Parg Vol were killed. Vol’s attacked Draetheus V and X50. 'Gajat and his ship blew up.
>
> As for the UEG, the president is Doctor Ruth Charet.
>
> “What does it mean to be Covenant today?
> A hundred warlords claim they rule the Covenant. But each of them leads only a small faction.”
> -Zef Trahl.

As much as this is true… I have stated in other threads that there could be up to 13 factions…

Drone Hives, San’Shyuum Reformists-Stoics Alliance, Forerunner Exile, Sentinel Faction, Promethean Ecumene, Covenant Remnant(Vol, Mdama, Gajat), Separatist Elites (Vadam), ONI and UNSC (UEG), Insurrectionist, Flood, Precursor…

The fact being the Covenant remnant is yes split into splinter factions but ultimately Jul 'Mdama’s is the largest known one we have seen… with probably Thel 'Vadam’s Forces coming in close second.

Also to other posters, Thel 'Vadam is not rejoining the Covenant Empire… he is making his own or rather re-creating it… without the corrupt leadership of the Prophets and the promise of a Great Journey. It is being reformed for the purpose of survival as each Covenant species had a purpose and boasted the others weaknesses… rather than Separatist Elites they are called the Covenant Empire… a union of species… but perhaps a new name as the Covenant means an agreement between a god and his subjects? Hmm… The Republic Federation… with each species have a few representative custodians… using diplomacy to solve their issues.

14

> While others would say great post… I’ll say otherwise…
>
> Sorry but no. You’re grossly undiversifying the number of factions in halo, specially post war halo where things are way more fracturesd. You’re also over-simplifying motives and leadership.
>
> There are several major categorizations and sometimes factions in halo.
> Here is some of the broad:
>
> United Earth Government
> Insurrectionists
> The Covenant
> Covenant remnants
> Flood (precursors?)
> Forerunner ecumene
> Prehistoric human civilization
>
> Now take the insurrectionists. Umbrella term for several factions.
> United rebel front
> Secessionist union
> Freedom and liberation party
> People’s occupation
> Venezia’s movement
> Bandusa insurrectionists group
> New Colonial Alliance
>
> And likely more.
> Also, during the great covenant empire, there were Refume’s heretics. During it’s collapse one of the samgheili groups that formed was the Joyous Exultation one.
> The covenant factions from post war include
>
> 'Vdam’s
> 'Mdama’s
> Abiding truth
> Vol
> 'Gajat
>
> 3 of those groups are known to be present during the second battle of Requiem. 'Mdama’s, Vol’s and 'Gajat’s. 'Vol’s leaders, Merg Vol and Parg Vol were killed. Vol’s attacked Draetheus V and X50. 'Gajat and his ship blew up.
>
> As for the UEG, the president is Doctor Ruth Charet.
>
> “What does it mean to be Covenant today?
> A hundred warlords claim they rule the Covenant. But each of them leads only a small faction.”
> -Zef Trahl.

To put it simply, you cannot have this many factions in one main title game. Although with a novel you could easily keep straight who is who, it becomes very confusing in a campaign mission. Keeping names simple and factions easy to identify helps main story movement. No one wants to playing through a mission trying to keep track of which of the 30 factions you are fighting against. But if we keep it to 4 or 5 that you actually fight then it become much simpler and easier to understand.

15

> To put it simply, you cannot have this many factions in one main title game. Although with a novel you could easily keep straight who is who, it becomes very confusing in a campaign mission. Keeping names simple and factions easy to identify helps main story movement. No one wants to playing through a mission trying to keep track of which of the 30 factions you are fighting against. But if we keep it to 4 or 5 that you actually fight then it become much simpler and easier to understand.

This is a good point… however I was talking about the whole of Halo’s mediums… novels, comics, animations, film-adaptions, games… but as you said the confusion of players would not be good to drive the story where you want…