Leader power armor

Leader power armor is a variant of the Jiralhanae power armor employed by Jiralhanae Captains, Captain Majors, Captain Ultras and Bodyguards of the Covenant military, and several remnant factions.

Design specifications
Like other Jiralhanae power armor variants, the armor employed by Jiralhanae leadership does not amplify the strength or speed of the wearer, but does provide energy shielding and protection in the form of composite armor plates. The leader power armor features a large enclosed helmet with a single slit for vision and heavy armor plating covering the body and extremitie, and the helmets could withstand multiple headshots and the heavy armor is more resistant to attack than that of the standard Jiralhanae warrior. Underneath the armor appears to be a padded cloth undersuit of some variety. The headdress on the helmet bears resemblance to the un-powered armor worn by Jiralhanae Captains during the Fall of Reach. The left shoulder pad of the armor, is more intricate, somewhat resembling that worn by Tartarus, albeit smaller. Captains also wear plating on their forearms, and have heavier thigh armor than regular Jiralhanae.

Jiralhanae Captains serving within the Banished are equipped with a red energy field, along with a helmet and full body armor in the Banished colors. Banished Captains are also equipped with a jump pack that helps them maneuver around the battlefield.

Variants
The leader variant of power armor has several looks, depending on the rank of the individual Brute wearing the armor. Standard Jiralhanae Captains employ the armor in a violet coloration. Jiralhanae Captain Majors don a more distinctive gold coloration, while Jiralhanae Captain Ultras sport armor colored in a deep turquoise. Jiralhanae Bodyguards employ armor colored in a dark blue color. Outside of standard Jiralhanae officer roles, the shipmaster Lepidus employed a variant of the leader power armor in a deep red coloration, though it is unknown is this coloring extended to other Brute shipmasters.

Usage
Leader power armor is employed by Brute infantry forces for general combat roles. It was employed by the Brutes rarely until 2552. By October 20, brute infantry assigned to the Prophet of Regret's fleet and the remnants of Truth's fleet employed Minor power armor, with it seeing use during the Battle for Earth. Following the onset of the Great Schism, the Covenant saw a wide proliferation of Jiralhanae arms and matériel, and powered armor systems became more widespread, becoming heavily used in the later stages of the Battle for Earth and the Battle of Installation 00.

Following the end of the war, Jiralhanae infantry continued to wear power armor in the Post-Covenant War conflicts.

Production notes
In the early development of Halo 3, some Jiralhanae were to wear red-colored leader armor. For reasons unknown, this was changed to the colors seen in the final game. A render of a red-colored Brute leader can be found in the Halo 3 Instruction Manual and the Bestiarum, and the design later used in the form of Lepidus in Halo: Uprising.

List of appearances

 * Starry Night
 * Halo 3
 * Halo 3: ODST
 * Halo: Escalation
 * Halo: Rise of Atriox
 * Halo Infinite