- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
The following is from a theory I posted in Avignon.
"Why haven't the humans been offered the absolution of the Covenant?"
The above question has always nagged at me. But now I believe that I have got an answer.
The Covenant are imitative not inovative. All of their technology comes from the Forerunner. Humans are able to make their own technology without Forerunner technology as an archetype.
Quote from Mattski, Subject Theory: The Covenant.
The Covenant then took to space after mastering the available Forerunner technology. Appearing from the heavens upon primitive races like the Grunts, Jackals, Engineers (who may or may not have also lived on the Prophets and Elites homeworld), Drones, Hunters, and finally the Brutes, the Covenant religion was either accepted, or the ultimate price was paid.
The Covenant like their members to be ignorant. All their conscripted races were taken into the Covenant when they were primitive. It all started with the Elites.The Elites are somewhat intelligent but not as inteligent as the Prophets. The Prophets were inteligent enough to use Forerunner technology to broker a truce with the physicaly superior Elites. The Prophets knew that they were not the decsendants of the Forerunner, they knew that they were smarter than the Elites, so the lie worked and the Elites became their protecters. This became the Covenant standard; find a weaker or less inteligent race, land on their homeworld, show them their miraculous technology, and then be proclaimed their saviors. If the Covenant found humanity while we were in the dark ages, we would almost certainly proclaim them our gods. So the Covenant is reliant on ignorance.
Humanity evolved on a planet unmolested by the Covenant. We were able to develop our own unique cultures and technologies, without Forerunner artifacts. We conquered space and the atom, without the Covenant or their gods to guide us. We have something the Prophets fear; knowledge.
Humanity's very existence is a blasphemy to the Covenant. The Prophets said that they were descendants of the Forerunner; that they were all the sons of gods. The Prophets told the Elites that their ability to work Forerunner technology proved this. The Forerunners are supposed to be the givers of absolute truth. All Covenant technology is based on that "truth" and humanity's ability to achieve a level of technology near to that of the Covenant is heresy. We were threating enough just with our knowledge, to have advanced technology is even more threating to them. Now figure in the fact that humanity achieved this all without the truth giving Forernner artifacts. We are a very big threat to the Covenant. Our technology and civilization suggest that there is no need for the Forerunner, and if there is no need for the Forerunner than there is no need for their followers the Covenant.
>>> EXTRACT OF SANCTIONED SANGHEILI EAVESDROP// FOR THE ATTENTION OF JIRALHANAE MILITARY ADJUNCT AMBASSADOR >>>
The Humans are weak, but they are tenacious. Even the smallest ones hurl themselves against our defenses with honor. If only the Unggoy were as committed.
>>> I wonder about the Humans, Commander. Their technology is limited, but some of it is useful and their battle techniques are impressive. They are excellent strategists. But what I ask is this: Why have we not offered them the absolution of the Covenant? From the beginning of this war, the Prophets have made no attempt to absorb them or even offer the option of honorable submission. Why?
Perhaps they fear them? We do not know where their homeworld is. Their pattern of retreat is either hopelessly random, or brilliantly conceived. What if the Humans have more power, more numbers than we suspect? What if they lead us to a trap?
>>> No. I do not think that is the reasoning. They continue to lose territory, and pattern or no pattern, these defenses must be part of a perimeter. I suspect we are forcing them into a tighter arena than they care to fight in-soon we may be able to use the Sharquoi. And their victories, however few, always rely on the same thing-strategy, brute force, or luck. No. The only secret they hold is the location of their homeworld.
What about the atrocity at Halo? That was not luck, nor brute force. The Demon is a mystery. He outwitted and outfought entire legions on Halo. Perhaps there are more like him?
>>> I do not believe that. We have seen their kind before and destroyed them. Their numbers have dwindled and there have been no reported sightings since our victory at Reach.
Then why do we continue to hunt them? When surely they merit consideration to accept and embrace the Covenant?
>>> Let us discuss this at a more prudent moment. A Jiralhanae approaches.
The above is a conversation between two Elites. One Elite asks:
From the beginning of this war, the Prophets have made no attempt to absorb them or even offer the option of honorable submission. Why?
The other Elite responds:
Perhaps they fear them?
Why would the Prophets fear humans? Aren't humans vermin to the Covenant?
Here are two more interesting quotes:
I wonder about the Humans, Commander. Their technology is limited, but some of it is useful and their battle techniques are impressive. They are excellent strategists. But what I ask is this: Why have we not offered them the absolution of the Covenant?
And;
Then why do we continue to hunt them? When surely they merit consideration to accept and embrace the Covenant?
That sounds like the Elites are questioning the word of the Prophets. That would be bordering on heresy.
The Elites know that we would be acceptable members of the Covenant, and they are puzzled at why such a seemingly worthy race is sentenced to death by the Prophets. Once again you ask why? Why aren't we worthy? What do we have that makes them fear us?
Once again I say look at our technology. Look at our development. We didn't need the Covenant or their gods. We were doing fine on our own, all the other races were ignorant and undevelped when they were found. They needed the Covenant. They could be convinced that the Prophets were the descendants of gods. We would not be so easily convinced. Being the educated beings that we are we would ask questions about how they
performed their miracles. We would see that what they were doing had scientific explainations.
Yes,I know Im harping on this point but I think it is important. The Covenant owe everything they have to the Forerunners, that is why they worship them. The Covenant believe that the Forerunners are the only constant truth in the universe. The Forerunners in a way are the saviors of the Covenant. Humanity doesn't owe anybody anything. All we have acomplished was by our own hands. We advanced our culture and civilization through blood, sweat and tears. It was harder but we did it alone, without outside influence. In a way our acomplishments suggest that there is a alternate route on the Great Journey to salvation. That is humanity's heresy.
[Edited on 5/15/2006]