The Forgotten Crusade

was an attempt by the Covenant to bring the Belcoth race into the Hegemony. Initially funded as a large scale campaign, changes to the Covenant government, and a changing focus to the war against Humanity left the Crusade as a shadow of its former self. All but forgotten by the Covenant at large, the Crusade eventually ended during the battle of Hierarch's Gate, when the surviving Covenant forces fled, or surrendered. The war united the disparate Khandiith and Vayriag factions of the Belcoth under a single banner, creating a unified race that would move themselves to the galactic stage several years later.

Background
first contact - 2492

Campaign
arrival of crusade fleet, set up forward base - 2502

Vayriag assault - 2504

probing attacks 2504-6

outer colony attack 2507-2516

attempt to box vayriag and khandiith in to force civil war - 2517

mid-stage conquests, formation of a capital - 2521

construction of Hierarch's Gate space port - 2523

alliance of Vay and Khand results in renewed attacks, though little headway

fleet master is killed in suicide attack - 2524

surge in rebellions on conquered worlds - 2525-2526

world is glassed, in order to bring others to heel. This back fires, and rebellions increase. Khand attacks become focused

Covenant begins a slow down on supplies, and diverts forces away from the conflict to face the human war 2528

Covenant forces in retreat as massed Khand forces attack 2529

large force is encircled on 2531, and suffer heavy casualties, eventual surrender

heavy losses 2531-2535

Fall of Heirarch's Gate - 2536 last of Covenant forces surrender or flee