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{{Status|Canon}}
{{Era|HCW}}
[[File:H2A - SpecOps deployed.jpg|thumb|300px|Covenant Special Operations soldiers deployed at the [[Threshold gas mine]].]]
[[File:H2A - SpecOps deployed.jpg|thumb|300px|Covenant Special Operations soldiers deployed at the [[Threshold gas mine]].]]
'''Special Operations''' ('''SpecOps''') was the primary division of the [[Covenant]] [[Special Warfare Group]] (SWG).{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=242}} They served in [[Special operations|specialized operations]] roles, and were generally tasked with unconventional warfare{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}{{Ref/Book|Id=EVG59|EVG|Page=59}} alongside stealth infiltration and classified missions personally comissioned by a [[San'Shyuum]] official.{{Ref/Game|Id=LibraryElite|CEA|Library (feature)|Library|Detail=Spec Ops Elite}}
'''Special Operations''' ('''SpecOps''') was the [[Special operations|specialized operations]] division of the [[Covenant]]'s [[Special Warfare Group]].<ref name="EVG59">'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 59''</ref>


==Overview==
==Roles and operations==
[[File:H3 CovenantDropPod Exiting.jpg|300px|thumb|Separatist SpecOps Officers deploying during the [[Battle of Voi]].]]
The Covenant's Special Operations was established by the [[Special Warfare Group]] for the execution of [[Special operations|specialized operations]].<ref name="EVG59"/> Special Operation units were typically sent on missions with acute and specific objectives and were not associated with any broader [[Covenant military]] application.<ref>'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''', ''page 133'' (2011)</ref> The division's objectives covered the sabotage of enemy installations and supply lines, assassinations, stealth infiltration, and retrieval of [[Forerunner]] artifacts, although it was an extremely versatile group of performing low-risk sentry or defense missions.<ref name="library">'''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''', ''[[Library (feature)|Library]]''</ref><ref name="H2-gravemind">'''[[Halo 2]]''', campaign level, ''[[Gravemind (level)|Gravemind]]''</ref> Special Operation units also participated in classified missions that were personally commissioned by a [[Hierarch]] of the Covenant.<ref name="library"/>
===Mission===
Special Operations worked within SWG to conduct unconventional warfare initiatives, by way of stealth and infiltration. Their units typically worked alongside conventional [[Covenant military]] forces to infiltrate enemy fortifications and conduct advance reconnaissance, with their primary goals being to prevent an enemy force from responding to attack in as discreet and efficient a manner possible.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}{{Ref/Reuse|EVG59}} However, SpecOps units may also work in the field in total isolation for long periods of time; these missions are often done via the direct orders of a [[Hierarchs|Hierarch]]{{Ref/Reuse|LibraryElite}} and are extremely classified.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}{{Ref/Reuse|EVG59}} When necessary, SpecOps forces may also be used to conduct guerilla warfare behind enemy lines or even conduct assassinations on high-value targets.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}{{Ref/Reuse|EVG59}}{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc11|Enc11|Page=133}}


Although Special Operations serve in a broadly similar capacity to [[Stealth Sangheili|Stealth]] units, they are not one and the same. Stealth Sangheili units work as an offshoot of the SpecOps concept, and are instead organised under Covenant [[Fleet Security]], with units spread throughout the mainline Covenant military to carry out standard battlefield deployments. By comparison, SpecOps units are independent strike teams sent on missions with acute and specific objects, without wider application for the rest of the military.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}} Nonetheless, SpecOps deployments often worked closely alongside both [[Fleet Security]] and [[Home Security]].{{Ref/Reuse|EVG59}}
Personnel within this group were regarded as skilled warriors of the Covenant military, deployed to perform unconventional, high-risk operations.<ref name="H2-heretic">'''Halo 2''', campaign level, ''[[The Heretic]]''</ref><ref name="H2-sacred">'''Halo 2''', campaign level, ''[[Sacred Icon]]''</ref> Members of the Special Operations had proved themselves on the battlefield in both martial combat and in their marksmen abilities.<ref name="library"/>


Even as of [[2558]], information about Special Operations was in scarce supply to the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]], beyond the knowledge that they were considered the most proficient tactical units within the Covenant military forces. As such, [[United Nations Space Command]] directives dictate that all encounters with them by [[human]] military forces should be logged with [[UNSC High Command]].{{Ref/Book|OSFM|Page=152}}
==Silent Shadow==
 
[[File:Headhunters - SS doom.png|thumb|300px|Silent Shadow in action.]]
===Personnel===
The [[Silent Shadow]] was a division of special operations Sangheili made up of several individual squads, each of them led by a First Blade officer. These Sangheili are nearly always recognizable through their use of a unique and [[Infiltration harness|advanced combat harness]] that often incorporated experimental technology and weaponry.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/brute-force '''Halo Waypoint''' ''- Community Update: Brute Force'']</ref> The Silent Shadow undertook numerous missions during the Covenant War, including assassinations and extractions. During a [[Mission to an unidentified moon|UNSC-Covenant struggle on unidentified moon]] one of the Silent Shadow squads slew two [[SPARTAN-III]] [[Headhunter]] teams.<ref>'''Halo Evolutions''', ''Headhunters pages 188-192''</ref> After the Covenant's betrayal of the Sangheili and the outbreak of the [[Great Schism]], the squad led by 1st Blade officer [[Resa 'Azavayl]] became dedicated to eliminating all [[Jiralhanae]], as well as any forces under their control, that they encountered. Their most recent target was ex-Covenant military leader [[Atriox]], now commander of the [[Banished]] and one of most prominent enemies of the Covenant.<ref name="tfs">'''[[Halo: Tales from Slipspace]]''', ''[[Hunting Party]]''</ref>
Covenant Special Operations were, much akin to the rest of the military, traditionally dominated by [[Sangheili]]{{Ref/Reuse|LibraryElite}} - who served as the division's sole commanders.{{Ref/Reuse|EVG59}} However, while the Sangheili did dominate role they were not the exclusive personnel of the unit; other species of the Covenant were permitted to serve in the SpecOps group, though always in subordinate roles under Sangheili commanders.{{Ref/Reuse|EVG59}} The [[Unggoy]] were rarely able to join SpecOps detachments at the discretion of individual commanders. However, it was more common for Unggoy to be promoted to SpecOps roles not of their own volition; when a Sangheili warrior was promoted into the ranks of SpecOps their cadre of Unggoy underlings would typically join them too.{{Ref/Game|Id=LibraryGrunt|CEA|Library (feature)|Library|Detail=Spec Ops Grunt}}


==Organization==
==Organization==
Sangheili serving in SpecOps served under the title of [[Special Operations Officer]].{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}}{{Ref/Novel|HTF|Chapter=8}} For placement in SpecOps strike teams, these warriors must have proven themselves in both close-quarters combat and in skills of [[Sniper|marksmanship]].{{Ref/Reuse|LibraryElite}} SpecOps strike teams would be commanded by a [[Commander (Covenant)|commander]], with a [[sub-commander]] serving as their aide.{{Ref/Comic|HGN|Story=The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor}}
The Covenant's Special Operations was dominated by the [[Sangheili]], though there were some [[Unggoy]] members.<ref name="library"/> The Special Operations division is placed under the control of the [[Special Operations Commander]], who would command operations in the field or remotely from [[High Charity]].<ref>'''[[Halo Graphic Novel]]''', ''[[The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor]]''</ref><ref>'''Halo Encyclopedia''', ''page 136'' (2011)</ref> A typical [[lance]] under the Special Operations consisted of two [[Special Operations Sangheili]] and two to four [[Special Operations Unggoy]]. In some occasion, a lance would be led by a [[Special Operations Officer]].
 
Within Special Operations, a number of specialised sub-units existed. These units would generally be deployed as a ''[[kai'd]]'' - a small unit or group organised by a variety of circumstantial attributes. Such units employed in such a manner included the [[Silent Shadow]], an all-Sangheili order who worked as elite assassins. More notoriously within SpecOps circles were the [[Bloodstars]]; a particular order led by [[Jiralhanae]] who gained influence within the Covenant in the opening years of the [[Human-Covenant War]] due to their singular mission focus - the elimination of [[human]]ity's [[SPARTAN-II program|SPARTAN-II]] supersoldiers. The Bloodstars often employed a variety of specialists including members of the Silent Shadow.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} Select highly skilled Silent Shadow personnel took on the title of [[First Blade]].{{Ref/Novel|HSS|Chapter=9}}{{Ref/Comic|HTfS|Story=Hunting Party}}


===Notable members===
===Notable members===
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*Special Operations Officer [[Zuka 'Zamamee]]
*Special Operations Officer [[Zuka 'Zamamee]]
*Special Operations Officer [[Huki 'Umamee]]
*Special Operations Officer [[Huki 'Umamee]]
*Special Operations Officer [[Usze 'Taham]]
*Special Operations Sangheili [[Usze 'Taham]]
*Special Operations Officer [[N'tho 'Sraom]]
*Special Operations Sangheili [[N'tho 'Sraom]]
*Special Operations Unggoy [[Yayap]]
*Special Operations Unggoy [[Yayap]]
*First Blade [[Resa 'Azavayl]]
*1st Blade officer [[Resa 'Azavayl]]
*First Blade [[Tel 'Szatulai]]


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
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File:HEvol - Elite SpecOps Sword.png|Members of the Silent Shadow in active camouflage capture a SPARTAN-III, [[Jonah-B283]].
File:HEvol - Elite SpecOps Sword.png|Members of the Silent Shadow in active camouflage capture a SPARTAN-III, [[Jonah-B283]].
File:File-BOB - SpecOps.jpg|A Special Operations Sangheili in ''[[Halo: Reach]]''.
File:File-BOB - SpecOps.jpg|A Special Operations Sangheili in ''[[Halo: Reach]]''.
File:H2A-Rtas&Co.jpg|[[Rtas 'Vadum]], a Covenant [[Commander (Covenant)|Commander]] in the [[Fleet of Particular Justice]], encouraging his warriors before battle.
File:H2A-Rtas&Co.jpg|[[Rtas 'Vadum]], a Covenant [[Special Operations Commander]] in the [[Fleet of Particular Justice]], encouraging his warriors before battle.
File:H2A-SpecOpsBros.png|A Special Operations Unggoy with a Special Operations Sangheili.
File:H2A-SpecOpsBros.png|A Special Operations Unggoy with a Special Operations Sangheili.
File:SSconfronts.png|The Silent Shadow confronts Atriox.
File:SSconfronts.png|The Silent Shadow confronts Atriox.
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*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
**''[[Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminals]]''
**''[[Terminal/Halo 2: Anniversary|Terminals]]''
*''[[Halo: Ground Command]]''
*''[[Halo: Ground Command]]''
*''[[Halo: Tales from Slipspace]]''
*''[[Halo: Tales from Slipspace]]''
**''[[Hunting Party]]''
**''[[Hunting Party]]''
*''[[Halo: The Rubicon Protocol]]'' {{Mo}}


== Sources ==
== Sources ==
{{Ref/Sources}}
<references/>
 
== See also ==
*[[Fleet Security]]


[[Category:Covenant military]]
[[Category:Covenant military]]

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