[quote][b]Posted by:[/b] the real Janaka Yeah, noticed this too, and it didn't click with my preconceptions of them. I know the Prophets handled the core bulk of the politics and technology, but the Elites still had a high position within the Covenant, they still had a lot of responsibilities. So they were brilliant military strategists with a ruthless special operations cell, and now--apparently--they're completely lost without the Prophests guidence? It's one thing that they're struggling with restructuring their society and figuring out what to do when now that they're suddenly resposible for their own fate, but this new order doesn't mean that they've suddenly lost every ounce of intelligence they once had, or does it? Had they really become no more than mindless puppets after their time as second highest? [/quote] The Return did a very good job of depicting it, the Elites were having a lot of difficulties, but they weren't helpless, they could still repair for the most part the technology they had and maybe create more of it...but they were still in a fairly bad position at that time. They were having difficulties but they weren't helpless and utterly retarded being unable to even tie their shoes without someone showing them how and doing it for them. Glasslands Trilogy went totally over-board with it, like it did with everything else...like I'm fine with there being a faction or two like the Servants of Abiding Truth or the Storm Faction, or small groups that start banding together that still want to continue the war with humans, but Traviss acting like [i][b]all[/b][/i] of the Elites are that way when it's clearly been established to not be the case aggravates me to no end and is taking things way too far. Anyways, I liked what the Return had done and was hinting at with the Elites...though personally I think even that took a little bit too far as well, but it was more in line with reality and what we know about the Elites than Glasslands Trilogy. In answer to your questions, nah, I don't think so...and if 343i does, I'm really going to have to question their knowledge/intelligence on such issues and their story-telling capabilities >_> I'm hoping they don't think that though, because that would just be stupid and silly.