Rtas 'Vadum

"Though you leave this world, you will come on the Great Journey when the time comes. Die with honor."

- Rtas 'Vadumee, Halo Graphic Novel

Special Operations Commander Rtas 'Vadumee, or "Half-Jaw", as he is known unofficially, for his name is not mentioned in Halo 2 at all, is a Sangheili with white or "Ultra" armor, as Cortana calls those of his rank. He is a Commander of Covenant Special Operations forces. He is mostly recognizible because he is missing his left mandibles, hence the fan-name, "Half-Jaw". He, like the Arbiter, has distinctly colored eyes. While most Elites have dark brown eyes, 'Vadumee's are green.

Biography
'Vadumee was present during the campaign against the Pillar of Autumn at Halo. He escaped before the ring was destroyed.

The Infinite Succor
When the Agriculture Ship Infinite Succor was boarded by an unknown threat, Rtas 'Vadumee lead a team there to investigate, along with securing a Legate known as the Minister of Etiology. They encountered the Flood for the first time there. In an attempt to kill the Flood, 'Vadumee used the Engineering station to set a Slipspace course to the sun. During that time, it was revealed that the Legate had become infected, and Rtas had to battle an infected Kusovai. It was there that an Energy sword cut off his left mandibles. He managed to escape two minutes before the Slipspace Jump occured. He is believed to be the only survivor of the Infinite Succor mission.

The Heretics


'Vadumee was assigned to hunt down the Heretic leader, Sesa 'Refumee, on a gas mining platform over Threshold. Joining him was the Arbiter, recently sentenced by the High Council. Aboard a Phantom, he provided reinforcements to the Arbiter as he progressed through the facility. Eventually finding 'Refumee, they chased him into another part of the platform. 'Vadumee joined the Arbiter in his search on foot.

He was reminded of his past with the Flood by a familiar "stench", moments before running into a battle between the Heretics and the Flood. After clearing out the area of parasites, he split up with the Arbiter to gain reinforcements. A short time later they further pursued 'Refumee until he locked himself behind an unbreakable energy barrier. Giving up, 'Vadumee was about to turn away when the Arbiter volunteered to cut the cables holding up the mine, possibly drawing out the fugitive. The Commander agreed, giving his partner his prized Energy Sword. Leaving the Arbiter to his work, 'Vadumee and his remaining forces left in a Phantom, and returned to High Charity.

Changing of the Guard


Back in High Charity, the Jiralhanae were taking over the position of Honor Guard to the High Prophets. Expressing his disdain to the Prophets of Truth and Mercy, 'Vadumee was disgusted by this radical switch in tradition and customs. However, Truth refused to hear any more complaints, and the Elite was sent away, swearing to relay the Prophets' decision to the council. As he left, Truth muttered to himself "Politics, how tiresome."

The Search for the Sacred Icon
Soon afterward, 'Vadumee was involved in the Covenant operations against the Flood inside the Quarantine Zone. Traveling in a Phantom, he and his squad set down and set up an encampment, which was soon after attacked by the Flood. Surviving this attack, he was suprised when some of his scouts met up with the Arbiter, in his search for the Sacred Icon, the key to make way for the Great Journey. Together, 'Vadumee, his remaining Elites, and the Arbiter fended off the Flood long enough for a Phantom carrying reinforcements and vehicles to arrive. The Commander continued forward, leaving the Arbiter to forge a path through the Quarantine Zone alone. He took a Phantom carrying a Spectre and rejoined his comrade later near the end of the Quarantine Zone. Fighting through Flood-controlled vehicles and Sentinels, they arrived at a massive gondola, which would take them into the Library. Hearing the battle cries of some Flood, the SpecOps Commander stayed behind to draw them off, receiving criticism from Tartarus for doing so. His actions gave the Arbiter enough precious time to enter the Library and obtain the Icon.

Deactivating Halo
Word got out that the Prophet of Truth had his hands on the Sacred Icon and the Oracle and was going to begin the Great Journey. Commandeering a Wraith, 'Vadumee spotted a Scarab walker parked outside a Jiralhanae encampment. Making his way along the cost, a surprised 'Vadumee met up with the Arbiter, this time on a quest to find the Icon before Installation 05 could be activated. From the Arbiter, he was informed of the murder of the Council and the treachery of the Brutes. The Elites were interrupted by the arrival of Tartarus's Phantom and its escorts as they entered the Control Room. Wishing to avenge their fallen brothers, 'Vadumee and the Arbiter attacked the surprised Jiralhanae and met up with a squad of Hunters and other Elites. There, 'Vadumee split up with the Arbiter again, and was not present when he escorted Johnson to the Control Room. It is unknown what happened to him, though it is assumed he attempted to take back a Covenant CCS-Class Battlecruiser that was hovering a distance from the battle area, as the last line said by 'Vadumee is that he is "going to take the cruiser back."

Quotes

 * "These are my Elites. Their lives matter to me. Yours does not." -To the Arbiter
 * "We are the arm of the Prophets, Arbiter, and you are the blade. Be silent and swift, and we shall quell this heresy without incident." -To the Arbiter, on his mission to the Gas Mine.
 * "That stench... I've smelled it before..." -To the Arbiter, immediately before encountering the Flood on the Gas Mine.
 * "We shall cut into the heart of this infestation, retrieve the Icon, and burn any Flood that stand in our way." -To the team of Operatives sent to the Quarantine Zone
 * "On your way, Arbiter. I'll deal with these beasts!" -In the Quarantine Zone, referring to the Flood

Trivia

 * 'Vadumee seems to express great care for those under his command, even Grunts. The latter is particularly unusual for an Elite. During the events of Succor, he is shown telling the Grunts to get behind the Elites. In his first shown conversation with the Arbiter, he tells him "These are my Elites. Their lives matter to me."
 * 'Vadumee is the only character (human, Covenant, or otherwise) shown carrying his weapon in his left hand, at least once. This occurs during the level Quarantine Zone, in which he leaves the Arbiter to do battle with the Flood, saying "On your way Arbiter. I'll deal with these beasts."
 * 'Vadumee is the only Ultra featured that does not have black/steel as his secondary armor color. This may hint that secondary colors play an important role in an Elite's armor, much like modern day function badges play on military uniforms. Black may hint at infantry or ground combat positions while white, as in 'Vadumee's case, may hint at Spec Ops. Or, it may simply imply that 'Vadumee is a slightly higher/lower rank (as with the relation with Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel) or position (as with the relation with a Sergeant Major and a Command Sergeant Major) than a normal Ultra.
 * 'Vadumee is the only Covenant NPC that is immune from all harm in game, much like his human counter part, Sergeant Avery Johnson.

Production Notes
"Rtas 'Vadumee" was voiced by Robert Davi on Halo 2.

The Rtas 'Vadumee model for Halo 2 was created by Marcus R. Lehto.

'Vadumee appears during the following levels:
 * Halo 2
 * The Arbiter
 * The Oracle
 * Sacred Icon
 * Quarantine Zone
 * Uprising (Cutscene)
 * The Great Journey

Joyride Studios had originally planned to produce Rtas 'Vadumee Action Figures in the eighth series of the Halo 2 8-inch figures, but the production was cancelled because they felt it was pointless to release another Elite figure with a different paint job. Also, in light of the Halo 3 announcement, Joyride is hard at work producing figures for Halo 3. They did not feel that a Rtas 'Vadumee figure was worth producing.