Council of Enduring Spirit

The Council of Enduring Spirit was a meeting of Covenant leadership in early 2553, and was the first council held after the Fall of High Charity in late 2552. Widely considered one of the most important councils in Covenant history, the meeting at Enduring Spirit secured the survival of the Covenant Empire in any form, preventing its complete dissolution. Initially suggested by the Prophet of Reliance in December 2552, the council formally began on January 24, 2553. 
The council comprised forty San'Shyuum, thirty Sangheili, and for the first time, thirty Jiralhanae, a total of one hundred councilors. Twenty-five were former members of the Covenant High Council; they had survived the Schism and escaped High Charity before it fell. 
==Background==
The Covenant Empire abruptly fell into chaos with the beginning of the "Great Schism", a conflict amounting to a battle for supremacy between the Jiralhanae and the Sangheili. Initially focused on and around the Covenant capital of High Charity, the first hours of the Schism decimated Covenant civil and military leadership: two-thirds of the High Council perished, as did several ministers and administrators; the High Prophet of Truth departed High Charity in the Keyship Transcendence, depriving the capital of both his leadership and its primary power source; and in the midst of battle, the parasitic Flood assaulted the city and killed any who remained. Following the departure of Truth, the Arbiter led a select few in pursuit, dispatching the others to spread word of Truth's machinations; the remaining ships of Homogenous Clarity and other fleets defending High Charity fought amongst themselves, with the eventual survivors fleeing the system. 
As word of the Schism spread, an ambitious Imperial Admiral, the Sangheili Xytan 'Jar Wattinree, made a bid for power and was supported by the vast Combined Fleet of Righteous Purpose; intending to ambush the main body of Truth's supporters, Wattinree invited them to Joyous Exultation for the purpose of mediation. Before this could be accomplished, however, a human weapon aboard Wattinree's flagship was accidentally triggered, killing the Imperial Admiral and practically his entire faction. Any who survived the catastrophe or departed prior to it were subsequently lost in the Zeta Doradus system, victims of the unmaking of the planet Onyx. Finding Joyous Exultation razed, Alpha Chieftain Gargantum ordered much of his fleet to Earth, intending to reinforce Truth; Gargantum himself led the remainder first to Zeta Doradus and finally to the Jiralhanae world of Byzae. 
==Tasks==
#Election of new High Prophets.
#Selection of a new Covenant capital.
#Restoration of Covenant ministries and selection of staff.
#Reestablishment of the Guard.
#Selection of a suitable reaction to the Separatists
#Selection of new officers and military officials 
#Reorganization of field armies, fleets, and various commands
#Administrative review of loyal worlds and systems; determination of potentially disloyal forces and known breakaway factions. 
#Lastly, discussion of what perspective and actions should be taken regarding Humanity.