Shipmaster

Ship Master is a Covenant Sangheili (Elite) rank.

Rank
A Ship Master is a Covenant title for a high ranking Covenant Elite who is in command of a single starship. This rank is the Covenant analog to the UNSC naval "Captain" or "Commander".

While Ship Masters hold their individual commands, they still fall under the command of their fleet's commanding Fleet Master, Supreme Commander, or Imperial Admiral.

Furthermore, it should be noted that the rank "Ship Master" is a subclassification of the rank Zealot, which refers to high-ranking Elites clad in golden armor. Other subclassifications include Fleet Master (which ranks higher than Ship Master) and Field Master (the ground equivalent of Ship Masters).

Appearance
Ship Masters wear the golden combat armor of a Zealot, but there may possibly be a few Ultra Elites as Ship Masters (see below), which would then wear the white traditional armor of an Ultra Elite.

Conjecturalization
It is highly probable, and implied, that Ultra Elites are also given the title of Ship Master. However, since "Ship Master" is believed to the equivalent of the UNSC naval captain, Ultra Elites, in analogy, may be equivalent to UNSC naval commanders. While an Ultra would probably not be the Ship Master of a capital ship such as a gargantuan Assault Carrier, an Ultra may be given command of a lighter starship, such as a Stealth Ship or a Covenant Frigate.

Further evidence of this might be when the character Rtas 'Vadumee in Halo 2, The Great Journey, remarks - "I'm going to take the cruiser back.", referring to a CCS-class Cruiser in the distance. If he intended to take and then hold the ship from the Covenant Loyalists, then one could argue that he most likely already had the authority of rank to command such a ship.

However, one could refute this, saying that Rtas 'Vadumee merely intended to assault the security forces of the battlecruiser, and would allow a naval crew to crew the warship. This is entirely possible, as there is no evidence that Rtas 'Vadumee had cross-training to command starships.

Related Links

 * Zealot
 * Elite