Unggoy (Earth-5875)

"When in doubt, flee!"

- - Unggoy philosophy

The unggoy (Latin Monachus frigus, meaning "cold monk"), known as Grunts to humans, are a sapient species of bipedal arthropods from the cold world of Balaho. They were part of the fragmented Covenant, occupying the lowest ranks, either for labor or as cannon fodder in the battlefield, where they were mistreated by other species such as the sangheili, jiralhanae and kig-Yar.

Unggoy were used as disposable cannon fodder by the Covenant, which used their huge numbers and ability to overwhelm other forces to great efficiency during the First Contact War. Weaker and smaller than the other species of the Covenant, they performed most of the labor of the hegemony. After the end of the war, most of them stood at the side of the Swords of Sanghelios and sought peace with the sangheili and humanity in the volatile post-war period.

The Ark and reseeding
The unggoy evolved from small land-thriving arthropods on Balaho. The Librarian and her Lifeworkers visited Balaho during the Forerunner-Xenomorph War as a part of the Conservation Measure to save unggoy specimens by the Ecumene, and index them in the Ark so they could survive the activation of the Halo Array. After the rings were lighted and all life extinct, the unggoy, alongside all remaining living species in the galaxy, were returned to their homeworld via Keyships, where they started rebuilding their culture.

Contact with the Covenant
"The unggoy have a tendency to pick up anything that is not tied down, but remember, they are basically afraid of their own shadows."

- - Zo Resken As they continued developing, the unggoy were able to achieve a Tier 4-based society. However, the planet became devastated after a biosphere collapse because of industrialization, leading the unggoy back to Tier 6.

The unggoy were discovered in 1112 by the Covenant on their homeworld. Even though most of the Covenant's species were indoctrinated on the Covenant because of faith or benefits, in the case of the kig-Yar, the unggoy, who surrendered immediately, were forcibly thrown into the hegemony under the lowest positions. Despite this, they became one of the most devout followers of the Path, with theologists such as Ang'nap the Enlightened, rising to popularity thanks to the popular notion that the forerunner's appearance before their ascension were much like that of their own.

As they were the lowest ranking Covenant species, the unggoy became bitter enemies of the kig-yar, who shared a similar spot in the hegemony's hierarchy. Despite the progression of the strife, the san'shyuum and the sangheili ignored it, as the growing population of unggoy on High Charity forced the local kig-yar to relocate their houses. This caused stress on female kig-yar, leading to infant mortality on the kig-yar population, all the while some unggoy were forced to live alongside kig-yar who inadvertently trampled in their nests. After a group of kig-yar poisoned the unggoy's methane supply, killing many in the process, the tensions sparked the Unggoy Rebellion in 1262. Even though the rebellion ended with the intervention of an Arbiter who partially glassed Balaho, the unggoy showcased their ferocity and numbers and their capability as soldiers, leading the sangheili to forgive the surviving unggoy and allowing them to be a part of the Covenant Armada.

Biology
The unggoy were believed to be arthropods to the UNSC because of their exoskeleton, but they are in fact vertebrate. More accurately, the unggoy are classified xeno-arthropodal vertebrates by the Office of Naval Intelligence, which have substantial genetic influences from primate-like amphibians which lived on Balaho millions of years in the past.

Like primates, unggoy walk bipedally, with the aid of their oversized foreams, although they can easily walk quadrupedally. Their bodies feature an armored exoskeleton, a natural protection from their homeworld's vicious predators, while their mouth have a set of small, pointed teeth. They are about four to five feet tall, being relatively weak compared to other sapient species. They have flat, three-toed feet, with another toe on their feet's back. The unggoy's large arms aid them during combat situations, or scaling heights. Unggoy have a thick, luminescent light-blue blood.

Unggoy are able to bear children prodigiously, with large egg clutches during short childhood periods. Adulthood if reached with 8 years, which led to the Covenant using this to their favor. They used unggoy as disposable cannon fodder, which played an important role during the First Contact War.

Culture
"But they are among the Covenant's most devoted seekers after the Great Journey, sacrificing themselves in great numbers on the battlefield, so prolific that more always seem ready to throw themselves under the altar of war."

- - Prophet of Clarity on his Record of Punished Deeds Despite most of the unggoy cultures having been wiped out duo to their forceful indoctrination into the Covenant and its religion, they were able to keep some of their cultural identities hidden from sight. They live in small, tribal societies, led by matriarchs. Their family structure is polyamorous, with several males and females living and working together. Because of Balaho's harsh climate, unggoy were forced to produce their food to survive during winter. To stop any kind of collateral damage, the unggoy who died during the winter seasons were burned - problems that were solved with their discovery by the Covenant. Many unggoy agree that their species have three defining traits - ruggedness, agility, and lethality, with individuals such as Ang'nap the Enlightened being hailed as legendary heroes.