Skirmisher

The Skirmishers are a sub-species of Kig-Yar that reside on Eayn. They, like their Jackal brothers, have also joined the Covenant and served as stealth infantry. They were only seen in combat during the Fall of Reach and have not fought in the Human-Covenant War since. They later created the Anti-Kig-Yar Freedom Movement but their intentions behind it's creation are somewhat unknown.

Description

Skirmishers are of the same species as the more common, lightly built Jackals, but they are much faster, stronger and more agile than ordinary Kig-Yar. In addition they sport manes of feathers rather than quills. A Skirmisher's voice is more raspy and guttural - this is because they have an expanding voice chamber on their throat. Skirmishers serve as Covenant shock troops, while the more lightly built Jackals see deployment as dedicated ranger or sniper units. In engagements prior to 2530, mixed units were more common; however, this changed toward the end of the Human-Covenant war.

The Covenant uses Skirmishers as close-range combatants, attacking in packs and using flanking tactics (as opposed to Jackals, who are often used as defensive and long range combatants and assassins). Physically, they seem to be similar to regular Jackals, 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. Their head shape appears to be more avian than their cousins; their skin tone is noticeably darker and not yellowish. They also run much faster than Jackals and can jump incredible heights. Their eyes are also yellow with slitted pupils, as opposed to bulbous and pale. They also seem to have a hybrid mouth that seems to be like a beak at the end.

They saw extensive action during the Fall of Reach, and as a result of the catastrophically high casualties, the Skirmisher ranks were utterly exhausted and the Skirmishers themselves were nearly wiped out.

It is also known that Skirmishers have reached speeds of up to 150 miles per hour when running.