User:TheLostJedi
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Welcome to my userpage. You can find me about the site mostly contributing to talk pages or uploading images, but ocasionally I do edit articles.
Favourite Video Games
- (Mario series) Super Mario World
- (Bond series) 007: Agent Under Fire
- (Sonic series) Sonic Adventure 2: Battle
- (Star Wars series) Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
- (Halo series) Halo 2
- (Shock series) BioShock
The Great Sangheili Reformation: An Analysis of Elite Ranks
Stand First
Editing is often like the principle of learning mathematics; you slowly build and build upon what you have already accomplished. Sometimes though, we've just gotta start all over again. This is the case with our current archiving of Sangheili ranks. For those who don't want a long read, a summary of my analysis exists in the image tables that I've uploaded (I've used a posterized, white Elite for instances where a good quality, cropped image wasn't available). Otherwise, read on, because I intend to reference every rank and title and my subsequent categorizing of them with full sourcing. And if I can't find a source for something, then I will make a point of it.
Terminology of Lower-Echelon Ranks
I'll start with the basics of Minor, Major and Ultra by addressing what I'm certain is basic, in-universe nomenclature for the ranks. I'm not sure how this fad of "Major Officers" as a sub-class came about, but in both Bungie's Halo: Reach and 343 Industries' Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, it is clear that Elite Majors and Officers are one and the same. This conclusion can be drawn by the apparent lack of regular Majors in the former, in tandem with the visual substitution of 2001 model Majors with 2011 model Majors in the latter video game.
It is my speculation that the usage of the word Officer was only favoured due to the simple nature of marketing. As the armour of the Elite Majors in Halo: Reach was being offered as a video game exclusive, a logically appealing name was required in order to generate interest for it and ultimately boost sales. Therefore the nomenclature of Officer, borrowed from Special Operations Officer as seen in Halo: The Flood, was used.
Another noteworthy instance of Elite Majors, which strengthens the connection between Majors and Officers as a singular intermediate-echelon of enemy, exists in Halo 3. Whenever Sangheili Majors are present, they are depicted in various shades of red, yet it would be ludicrous to argue that they are different ranks. A similar relationship can be identified in regard to the "regular-class of Majors" seen prior to Halo: Reach and the "Officer sub-class" observed thereafter.
The Halo trilogy has even shown that across games, exact colour of armour associated with particular ranks can change. In Halo: Reach, Bungie gave the Elites a new plethora of armour styles to identify them. As it happened, the Elite Major's red armour was given an orange tint. Possibly to make it easier to distinguish the new Zealots, which are of a similar red hue to that of previous Combat Evolved era Majors.
If the term Officer is synonymous to the term Major, then Trooper can likewise be synonymous to Minor. Which is supported by the usage of the word Trooper as a term for lower-echelon infantry in both Stealth Sangheili and Spec Ops ranks. What's interesting now if we look back to Spec Ops ranks and their present terminology of Trooper and Officer, is that in essence, they are the Elite Minor and Elite Major of the Special Operations. Although not the most confounding notion, it adds to the concept of interchangeability between Minor with Trooper and Major with Officer.
I must digress though, because unless the word Trooper came from a game, strategy guide, novel, an online field guide, Halo Waypoint or any other creditable source, it would appear that Trooper was a term created by Halopedians. In militaristic terms it is of course very befitting, but at the same time unfortunately, it is not at all official. If anyone can source usage of the word Trooper for lower-echelon infantry, please message me. I presume we use the term Trooper on the wikia for a good reason, but I'd feel better if there was proper citation for it.
Now for some actual speculation; I'd like to consider the possible connection between the term Commander and Elite Ultras. The only example of a Commander which I'm aware of in the Halo series, is the Special Operations Commander Rtas 'Vadumee, of Halo 2 and Halo 3 fame. The obvious link is the colour of the two ranks' armour. Both are white. Due to this similarity and the fact that both Elite Ultra and the Spec Ops Commander are upper-echelon ranks in their respective orders, it may be possible that the nomenclature of Commander can be used as another term for white armoured Elites in-universe, in the same way that the word Ultra is used across orders to describe the typical Sangheili Ultra and the Lights of Sanghelios Honour Guardsman.
This is not to suggest that their authority is the same however. Special Operations Commanders typically command all Special Operations forces within a Covenant fleet, as sourced by Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, the Halo 2: The Official Strategy Guide and Halo 3 Essentials content, the Making of Halo 3. The same level of command could not be said about Elite Ultras and all of the conventional military forces within a Covenant fleet. Yet it should be noted that common rank diction doesn't bare the same authority across all military ranks. Major is but one example. In Halo 2 campaign gameplay, Stealth Majors do not command lances of Grunts and Jackals like a regular Elite Major would. The monkier is the same, but the roles are different. So as I suggested, Commander as a term for Ultras is a possibility, though undoubtably conjecture unless an example can be proven.
Standard Military Ranks
But to get anywhere it's time to lay terminology and conjecture aside and focus on which ranks we know are actually certain within the series. Let me begin with standard military ranks.
At the bottom of the table is the Elite Minor. Whilst they may command other Covenant races, they are the lowest of the Sangheili ranks. Minor armour has consistently been blue, whilst they regularly don the standard Sangheili combat harness. Above them exists the Elite Major, whom are some of the most skilled and experienced warriors in the field. They typically command lances of fewer than a dozen soldiers, including Elite Minors, verified by the Halo: CEA Library. Like the colour of the Minor Sangheili harness, Major armour has also been consistent with the colour of red. Although recently they have been shown to sport the Officer armour, as opposed to the reglar combat harness, witnessed within Halo: Reach and Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary.
The Elite Ultra and what I will call for now, the golden Elites, wore standard combat harnesses like their other brethren before Halo: Reach. Since then Ultras have been given more menacing and concealing armour, with subtle crimson markings and a moderate headdress. But their role has remained the same; commanding specific operations and leading others in the field during Covenant engagements, being ranked above both Sangheili Minors and Majors. For the purpose of analysing the golden Elite Zealot in a later section, I'm going to solely identify the golden Elite General from Halo: Reach for now. Generals wear ornate golden armour with a large curved helmet, an angular combat harness and bulky shoulder pauldrons, all featuring ornamental, glowing patterns. They have been seen to command large groups of infantry and vehicles during ground engagements, but have also been in command of space faring ships, such as the Ardent Prayer in the Long Night of Solace campaign level.
Finally, the Imperial Admiral is the last rank in the standard Sangheilian military which we know for certain is an actual rank. Xytan 'Jar Wattinree is the only Elite known to have occupied this rank, as a result it is likely that the position is very unique and rare. In Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, the novel in which he appears, the Imperial Admiral is revealed to control incredibly large fleets of warships. They are requested to be tactically excellent and hold great influence over the troops they command. Armour of the Imperial Admiral is silver and covered with golden Forerunner glyphs of Sacred Mystery, much like the Arbiter's. They wear a bold headdress much alike other high ranking members of the Covenant.
Military Titles
Now this is where things get interesting. Based on numerous sources which I will list with due dilligence, there are military positions which have been observed across several different ranks. The most common of these is the Ship Master; also seen as one word Shipmaster. In Halo: Ghosts of Onyx Voro 'Mantakree is seen to become a Ship Master of the Incorruptible as low a rank as a Sangheili Major. Special Operations Commander, Rtas 'Vadum served as the Ship Master of the Shadow of Intent in Halo 3, and gave this role to Arbiter Thel 'Vadam by the end of the video game. During his previous command of the Fleet of Particular Justice, Thel 'Vadumee, then an Elite Zealot, served as the Ship Master of the Seeker of Truth, shown in the Halo Graphic Novel. Lat 'Ravamee, another Elite Zealot was the Ship Master of the Truth and Reconciliation from Halo: Combat Evolved. Ardo 'Moretumee, an Elite General, was the Ship Master of the Ardent Prayer. And Xytan 'Jar Wattinree was the Ship Master of the Sublime Transcendence from Halo: Ghosts of Onyx.
This proves that the position of Ship Master can not only be held between different echelons of ranks, but that it can also be shared between different orders, considering that both a Major and Special Operations Commander have been depicted in the role. Not only this, but due to the existence of Elite Zealots such as Thel 'Vadamee and Lat 'Ravamee as Ship Masters, the position is also shared between Covenant ministries; the Ministry of Resolution and the Ministry of Fervent Intercession. What really adds credence to the concept of Ship Master as a title rather than a rank though, is that other Covenant races have been seen in the role. Such as Brute Captain, Lepidus of the CCS-class battlecruiser Triumphant Declaration in Halo: Uprising, and the Jackal Ship Mistress of the Minor Transgression, Chur'R-Yar, shown in Halo: Contact Harvest.
Fleet Master is another position held by various Elite ranks. Rtas 'Vadum, a Spec Ops Commander and Thel 'Vadam, an Arbiter, served the Fleet Master of the Fleet of Retribution respectively in Halo 3. An Unidentified Sangheili Shipmaster whom was either an Elite Ultra or another Special Operations Commander had lead the Fleet of Righteous Vigilance in the Halo: Evolutions story The Return. Whether Voro Nar 'Mantakree remained a Major after he was granted the title of Fleet Master by Xytan 'Jar Wattinree in Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, or whether his actual rank consequently became higher, 'Mantakree is yet another example of a Sangheili who is from a different order of promotion than Rtas 'Vadum. So it can be concluded that like Ship Master, the Fleet Master is not a title or position specific to a certain rank.
The Supreme Commander has been observed far less predominantly due to its higher purpose within the Covenant Navy. Therefore only Thel 'Vadamee of the Fleet of Particular Justice and Luro 'Taralumee of Third Fleet of Glorious Consequence from the Halo Legends episode, The Package have been identified in the role. Both appear to be golden Elite Zealots, and because golden Elite Zealots have been shown to hold what is certaintly a title; Ship Master, then it's quite logical that Supreme Commander is also a title. Since Supreme Commander is in essence, an elevated form of the Fleet Master however, and because of the fact that a number of different ranks, as listed above have been shown to hold the titles of Ship Master and Fleet Master, it is my presumption that other high-end Sangheili ranks, such the Elite General, could also be granted the title of Supreme Commander.
Excusing Avu Med 'Telcam from Halo: Glasslands, whose armour specifics are not certain, the only official Field Masters, Noga 'Putumee from Halo: The Flood and Re'gish Wamik from Halo Wars appear to have been golden Elite Zealots. This may mean that Field Master is a title which can only be granted to such golden Zealots. However the nature of the description of Field Master itself as a commander of large forces of battalion strength, is heavily suggestive that Elite Generals would also assume the role.
(much more to come).
Completed Campaigns
Solo
- Halo: CE on Legendary
- Halo 2 on Legendary
- Halo 3: ODST on Legendary
- Halo 3 on Legendary
- Floodgate on Mythic
- Halo on Mythic
- Halo: Reach on Legendary
Cooperative
- Halo: CE on Legendary
- Halo 2 on Legendary
- Halo 3: ODST on Legendary
- Halo 3 on Legendary
- Halo: Reach on Legendary
- Winter Contingency on Mythic
- ONI: Sword Base on Mythic
- Tip of the Spear on Mythic
- Long Night of Solace on Mythic
- Exodus on Mythic
- New Alexandria on Mythic
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