Silent Shadow

"We are the Silent Shadow. Once our charge was varied—assassination, extraction—direct and thorough acts of violence. Our goals, strategic—pointed and precise. Our ends, religious, verging on Godly. Those days are over. Or, at best, on hold. Now we have but one aim… the slaughter of beasts."

- Resa 'Azavayl

The Silent Shadow was a unit of special operations Sangheili within the Covenant's Special Operations branch, led by First Blade Resa 'Azavayl. The Silent Shadow undertook numerous missions during the Covenant War. During the Great Schism, the Silent Shadow took it upon themselves to wipe out every Jiralhanae they encountered. However, Atriox was ultimately able to convince the rest of the Silent Shadow to betray 'Azavayl and join the Banished.

History
"I see you for what you are and what you could be. We can do great things together. Not as master and slaves, but as the warriors you truly are—free to continue your crusade without the shackles of outdated faith."

- Atriox, offering the Silent Shadow a place within the Banished

Led by First Blade Resa 'Azavayl, the Silent Shadow served the Covenant in the empire's holy war against humanity, carrying out various missions from assassinations to extractions. After the Covenant's betrayal of the Sangheili and the outbreak of the Great Schism, the Silent Shadow became dedicated to eliminating all Jiralhanae, as well as any forces under their control, that they encountered. Notably, the Silent Shadow wiped out a Jiralhanae pack in an armory on the fourth moon of Victors' Truth, runaway Jiralhanae forces aboard the stolen Covenant corvette Adherent, "butchers" encamped in a resource enclave in the northern highlands of Thalia, Covenant holdouts aboard a derelict colonial substation in the low orbit of Sansar, and the last remaining members of Chieftain Tartarus' crew aboard the Covenant cruiser Rapid Conversion.

At some point, the Silent Shadow embarked on a mission to eliminate Jiralhanae aboard the Elegy's Lament. Unbeknownst to the Silent Shadow, Elegy's Lament was crewed by the Banished and commanded by the faction's chief, Atriox. Infiltrating the corvette, the Silent Shadow eliminated several Jiralhanae before entering the ship's bridge. Despite being cloaked, the Banished detected the Sangheili's infiltration and Atriox noticed the assassins' arrival when they entered the bridge. Atriox offered the members of the Silent Shadow a place within the Banished, where they would serve as warriors and fight under their own free will. While the other members of the Silent Shadow were greatly tempted by Atriox's offer, 'Azavayl refused, citing that Atriox and the Banished deserved death for their "sins". However, as 'Azavayl moved to attack, he was slain by the rest of the Silent Shadow, who desired to join the Banished. Afterwards, Atriox allowed the remaining members of the Silent Shadow to join the Banished, offering to reward them with "blood and sport and spoils".

Gallery
 File:SSconfronts.png|The Silent Shadow confronts Atriox. File:Resabetrayed.png|Resa 'Azavayl is betrayed by his subordinates. File:lastson.png|The aftermath of the betrayal. 

List of appearances

 * Halo: Tales from Slipspace
 * Hunting Party