Those are essentially the words of Frank O’Conner in his A to Z video. However, I feel those aren’t the right words. The Covenant is finished, it no longer exists. While he may be referring to the former Covenant client species, they aren’t Covenant either. Nothing really remains of the Covenant anyway.
The Prophets’ numbers have been decimated and they as a species have mysteriously vanished. They were the leadership and deciphered Forerunner technology. And now they are gone.
The Elites have made it a clear point that they want nothing to do with the Covenant. They may remain in contact with the other races, but they only do so grudgingly at least until they get back on their feet. Thousands of years in the Covenant made them weak and reliant on others. Now they must rebuild without the Covenant.
The Brutes are perhaps the only ones who would try to keep the Covenant alive. However, with the war they wage with the Elites and amongst themselves, nobody can keep that dream alive. All they can do now is fight or, as a few do, attempt to remain subservient to the Elites or hide at Venezia. Not much of a Covenant.
The Jackals never really cared for the Covenant. They were always opportunistic merchants or pirates looking to get rich. The mere fact they’ve so quickly started to trade with humanity and even co-existed with rebels at The Rubble in Cole Protocol show they are simply moving on to the next big score.
The Grunts, Hunters and Drones present a bigger problem. The Drones largely allied with the Brutes and Prophets, who eventually ended up losing the war. After that, they may have either stuck with what little Brutes ships remained or went back to their hives. A small amount of Grunts have popped up on Sanghelios and Venezia, probably trying to make a meager existance like the “tamer” Brutes. As for the Hunters, their fate hasn’t been touched on too much. However, since they were conscripted under harsh circumstances with the Taming of the Hunters, who can say.
While I think I understand Frankie’s intent, I still think what he said was incorrect. The story of the Covenant is over. Now it’s about the species who were once part of the Covenant attempting to rebuild and move on without the Covenant.
> Glasslands spoilers
>
> Those are essentially the words of Frank O’Conner in his A to Z video. However, I feel those aren’t the right words. The Covenant is finished, it no longer exists. While he may be referring to the former Covenant client species, they aren’t Covenant either. Nothing really remains of the Covenant anyway.
>
> The Prophets’ numbers have been decimated and they as a species have mysteriously vanished. They were the leadership and deciphered Forerunner technology. And now they are gone.
>
> The Elites have made it a clear point that they want nothing to do with the Covenant. They may remain in contact with the other races, but they only do so grudgingly at least until they get back on their feet. Thousands of years in the Covenant made them weak and reliant on others. Now they must rebuild without the Covenant.
>
> The Brutes are perhaps the only ones who would try to keep the Covenant alive. However, with the war they wage with the Elites and amongst themselves, nobody can keep that dream alive. All they can do now is fight or, as a few do, attempt to remain subservient to the Elites or hide at Venezia. Not much of a Covenant.
>
> The Jackals never really cared for the Covenant. They were always opportunistic merchants or pirates looking to get rich. The mere fact they’ve so quickly started to trade with humanity and even co-existed with rebels at The Rubble in Cole Protocol show they are simply moving on to the next big score.
>
> The Grunts, Hunters and Drones present a bigger problem. The Drones largely allied with the Brutes and Prophets, who eventually ended up losing the war. After that, they may have either stuck with what little Brutes ships remained or went back to their hives. A small amount of Grunts have popped up on Sanghelios and Venezia, probably trying to make a meager existance like the “tamer” Brutes. As for the Hunters, their fate hasn’t been touched on too much. However, since they were conscripted under harsh circumstances with the Taming of the Hunters, who can say.
>
> While I think I understand Frankie’s intent, I still think what he said was incorrect. The story of the Covenant is over. Now it’s about the species who were once part of the Covenant attempting to rebuild and move on without the Covenant.
Or theres a plot twist, maybe another species takes control, and there might still be scattered groups of Covenant that put up a small resistance, sort of like the Human Insurrection. It could honestly go either way.
Perhaps. Honestly I think the Prophets are up to something. But for a new species to rally some downtrodden former Covenant species into a new Covenant…eh that’s pushing it. The new human insurrection makes sense, the UNSC left a lot of people behind and to those already distrustful of the UNSC, the war was the perfect excuse.
> I think as long as the radical prophets and their religion still exists, the Covenant will also live on.
There are very few Prophets left and not all of them can be fiery demagogues. I can imagine some Brutes may have stuck along, but by 2559 it’s all for naught. Honestly, it can only be Covenant in name only and in essence not the true Covenant.
> > I think as long as the radical prophets and their religion still exists, the Covenant will also live on.
>
> There are very few Prophets left and not all of them can be fiery demagogues. I can imagine some Brutes may have stuck along, but by 2559 it’s all for naught. Honestly, it can only be Covenant in name only and in essence not the true Covenant.
I agree, but the essence of the Covenant is what he might of meant theyre not done with.
I do not think that we can assume that the attitudes of the races that we have seen in previous canon will remain true. As you saw with Glasslands the attitude of the Elites changed quite a bit, so nothing is really certain now when details do not matter and the canon is essentially in flux. It is possible for the Covenant to rise again simply because 343 does not pay attention to details and is invariably driven by the fiscal motives of Microsoft gaming Studios rather than Bungie’s “We make the game’s we want to”. He practically implied it when he said that the Elites were the most likely to regain their former power. Them bringing the Covenant back together - forcibly or not - for round 2 is one possibility that I now cannot handwave as preposterous.
I do believe the prophets are up to something as well and will eventually pose a threat.
Here’s an interesting thought, what if along with the insurrectionist some members of former covenant species created a new alliance welcome to all species. this would of course not happen for a few more decades allowing some of the bad blood to dilute. I shall call it the U.S.A(haha), United Species Alliance. if this was real it would have my vote.
> I do believe the prophets are up to something as well and will eventually pose a threat.
>
> Here’s an interesting thought, what if along with the insurrectionist some members of former covenant species created a new alliance welcome to all species. this would of course not happen for a few more decades allowing some of the bad blood to dilute. I shall call it the U.S.A(haha), United Species Alliance. if this was real it would have my vote.
Sadly, they would probably have to not use that name unless they “offend somebody”
>_____>
I think the Covenant will reform to an extent. The remaining Prophets are definitely up to something and I think we’ll see what it is in Halo 5, 6 or a later novel.
> > I do believe the prophets are up to something as well and will eventually pose a threat.
> >
> > Here’s an interesting thought, what if along with the insurrectionist some members of former covenant species created a new alliance welcome to all species. this would of course not happen for a few more decades allowing some of the bad blood to dilute. I shall call it the U.S.A(haha), United Species Alliance. if this was real it would have my vote.
>
> Sadly, they would probably have to not use that name unless they “offend somebody”
> >_____>
If they wanted to their would be nothing stopping them it’s just they probably wouldn’t want to
I could see a “New Covenant” being formed between many of the prior client races of the old, after working together so long they may feel it convenient to do so again. However I can’t see it as actually being the same organization as before, or even working the same way. It would probably have new ideals, beliefs, laws and hierarchies quite distinct from the old.
Whatever the case I certainly want some attention going towards the ex-Arbiter Thel’Vadam, as we haven’t really gotten any of his perspective chronologically later then Halo 2.
> I do believe the prophets are up to something as well and will eventually pose a threat.
>
> Here’s an interesting thought, what if along with the insurrectionist some members of former covenant species created a new alliance welcome to all species. this would of course not happen for a few more decades allowing some of the bad blood to dilute. I shall call it the U.S.A(haha), United Species Alliance. if this was real it would have my vote.
It’s is already happening.
Were clearly seeing trade between Innie Humans, Jackals, and Brutes on Veneiza.
I wouldn’t be surprised that in a few years a type of “Alliance” will form between theses races to fight both the Elites and U.N.S.C.