9th Dragoon Legion

The Ninth Dragoon Legion was a Jiralhanae-led Covenant legion that was commanded by Captain-Major Alcyonius. With the exception of the Third Maniple, all the brutes came from the same Great Tribe, the Ushar-Kho Confederacy.

History
The Ninth Dragoon Legion was jointly-founded by Alcyonius and Beringus. At some point during the Human-Covenant War, the Third Maniple was incorporated into it after their original legion was wiped out by nuclear artillery.

Fall of High Charity
In the morning of November 3, 2552, all Jiralhanae forces were ordered to eradicate Sangheili troops. The Ninth Dragoon Legion quickly advanced from the center to the Nape of the Unbreakable Spine, advancing through the streets in troop carriers as they were in short supply of dropships. They effortlessly pushed back the Swords of the Third Sun legion back to the Temple of Hope and Vindication, where the Sangheili legion was wiped out in a last land. At some point, the Third Maniple of the legion attempted to pursue retreating Sangheili forces into the nearby market district, but was ordered to return back to support the Second Maniple, who were pinning down the 17th Air Defense Legion in the nearby terraces.

Immediately afterwards, the Ninth Legion and all other Jiralhanae forces were ordered by Warmaster Anotatus to cease firing on Sangheili troops, as news of the Flood's presence spread throughout the station. They were sent to the edge of a firebreak around the nape, with orders to establish defensive lines and coordinate with the Sangheili Seventeenth Air Defense Legion to prevent the parasite from crossing the quarantine zone. They were to do this until Tartarus activated Installation 05. This alliance proved extremely uneasy, with both sides almost opening fire on each other on several occasions. However, they did jointly implement countermeasures to prevent Flood interfering with their communications, such as the implementation of codewords and orders to Kig-Yar mercenaries to execute radio operators at risk of infection.

Morale plunged when news emerged of Tartarus' failure at the hands of Arbiter Thel 'Vadamee, but fighting between the Ninth Dragoon and Seventeenth legions was avoided. By midday, the Flood managed to break through the firebreak and in a massive attack overwhelm them. Communications were rendered useless by the war of faith that was waged between the Gravemind and Covenant devotees, as well as a precision attack on the legion's headquarters. The Ninth Dragoon was forced to retreat down the Unbreakable Spine, but with the exception of scattered deserters, the vast majority of the legion fell to the Flood.

Legacy
Around 2566, the Unggoy Leleb wrote a retelling of the Ninth Dragoon Legion's history in his Annuals of the Moesian Legion.

Known members

 * Captain-Major Alcyonius Aristróchyr Magni: Commanding officer of the legion, deserted.
 * Major Beringus: Second-in-command of the legion, killed by Alcyonius after he was infected by the Flood.
 * Captain-Minor Titopicus: Commander of the First Maniple.
 * Captain-Minor Pheristus: Commander of the Second Maniple.
 * Captain-Minor Lanthasmus: Commander of the Third Maniple, killed when something crashed into his troop transport.
 * Captain-Minor Gognatisus: Commander of the Fourth Maniple.
 * Major Gruccius: Officer of the Second Maniple.
 * Captain Brochus: Officer of the legion.
 * Major Jhetus: Commander of the legion's jumpjet complement. Killed by Alcyonius after an attempted coup.
 * Minor Kravgazus: Part of the First Maniple.
 * Minor Pethainneus: Youngest member of the First Maniple, killed while charging a temple.
 * Leleb: Personal scribe to Alcyonius, ordered to leave High Charity.

List of appearances

 * Not All Who Wander