Kig-Yar (Earth-4001)/T'vaoans

The T'vaoans, referred to by humans as Skirmishers, are a subspecies of the Kig-Yar hailing from asteroid colony of T'vao. They served the Covenant as a specialized group in the military.

History
The history of the T'vaoan Kig-Yar is the same as their mainstream counterparts up until the end of the Human-Covenant War in 2553.

Culture
T'vaoans have a culture largely similar to most Kig-Yar, although most T'vaoans believe themselves to be superior over the rest of the Kig-Yar. Among T'vaoans, it is often considered "bad form" to treat a T'vaoan like an average Kig-Yar. Like other types of Kig-Yar, T'vaoan society is described as matriarchal. T'vaoans are attracted to shiny, glittery and glamorous objects. Males often squabble amongst each other and display their quills for females.

Role in the Covenant
The Covenant used Skirmishers as close-range combatants, attacking in packs and using lightning-fast flanking tactics, as opposed to the mainline Kig-Yar troops, who were often used as defensive and long-range combatants and assassins. Anatomically, they possess a profile similar to regular Kig-Yar, though in combat they do not wield large rounded energy shields like the Jackals. High-ranking Skirmishers do wear point defense gauntlets or wrist shields, medium sized ovular shields strapped on to their wrists, to help them deflect bullet and light plasma fire. Apart from combat roles, and like the common Kig-Yar, the T'vaoans could hold commanding roles such as the title of shipmaster in the Covenant military.

Covenant Rank Structure
Fresh T'vaoans started as Skirmisher Minors (marked with black feathers and grey armor) and were promoted to Major (marked with red feathers and greyish-red armor) once they accumulated sufficient combat experience.

There were several specialist ranks for the Skirmishers. These specialists were equipped with their own variation of combat armor and given equipments to fulfill their specific, respective roles. The Murmillones, for example, in their orange armor, were equipped point defense gauntlets on each arm. The Commandos, on the other hand, would be seen in green armor and were equipped with a holographic projector.

Leading the Skirmishers in combat was the Champion, outfitted with heavier gold armor and sometimes employing holograms to confuse their enemies.

Trivia

 * Skirmishers bear a notable physical resemblance to dromaeosaurs such as Deinonychus and the smaller, better-known Velociraptor. Like the Skirmishers, the dromaeosaurs were reptiles with prominent avian features including feathers and lightweight bones. Dromaeosaurs are considered to be one of the main taxonomic links between dinosaurs and modern-day birds, perhaps suggesting a similar evolutionary progression among the Kig-Yar.