Sangheili Ultra

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"On the blood of our fathers. On the blood of our sons."

- Sangheili Ultra's mantra.

The Sangheili Ultra is the highest Covenant Sangheili regular rank.

Description
The standard Sangheili Ultras command specific operations and are the Covenant's equivalent to field officers. They are directly subordinate to Zealots, who command fleets and armies. They are used on high-priority missions, such as defending the Scarab that was deployed in New Mombasa and during the battle in the Mausoleum of the Arbiter.

Special Operations Commander
Thus far, Rtas 'Vadum is the only known officer holding this title. As the name implies, a Spec Ops Commander commands a troupe of Special Operations Elites. It is generally thought that only one Sangheili can hold this position at a time (similar to the human rank of Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps); thus, the Spec Ops Commander would be in command of the entire Special Operations Forces of the Covenant, a very lofty position that most likely surpasses that of many Zealots (i.e. Ship Masters, though probably not Fleet Masters or any Sangheili of even higher rank). This explains the unique armor of a Spec Ops Commander - a combination of a Combat Harness and Assault Harness, colored white with silver trimmings - clearly placing the Commander above normal Ultras but below the higher-ranking Zealots, who wear golden armor.

Operational history
The Sangheili Ultras are one of the top tier Covenant units and have served gallantly in multiple engagements throughout the Human-Covenant War.

The Sangheili Ultras were seen leading a ground campaign on Reach as well as defending key locations for further reinforcements from the Covenant ships.

During the Battle of Installation 04, corpses of Sangheili Ultras were seen scattered within the CCS-class Battlecruiser, the Truth and Reconciliation, presumably killed in combat with the Flood. The Sangheili Ultras were also seen leading the ground campaign in the occupation of Mombasa, leading multiple lances against the UNSC as well as escorting the Scarab towards the city metropolis of Mombasa. Some were also seen assisting the Arbiter Thel 'Vadam against the Jiralhanae during the Civil War of the Covenant. After Regret's departure to Delta Halo, the Sangheili Ultras along with their brethren were engaged by the Jiralhanae and were slain. Several corpses of Sangheili Ultras were seen in a Flood-commandeered CCS-class ship during the Flood invasion of Voi.

Trivia

 * Rtas 'Vadum 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 Rtas' case, may hint at Special Operations. Alternatively, it may imply that Rtas is of a slightly higher 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. It also may just serve as a means to differentiate him from normal Ultras, similar to the way red armor differentiates Elite Majors from the blue-armored Elite Minors.
 * Since Major Domos are called Half-commanders, it is possible that Ultras are simply called Commanders. It is possible, and perhaps implied, that Elite Ultras are also given the title of Ship Master. 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, a Covenant Frigate, or a CCS-class battlecruiser. 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 Battlecruiser in the distance. If he intended to take and then hold the ship from the Covenant Separatists, then one could argue that he most likely already had the authority of rank to command such a ship. However, this is only speculation, as 'Vadum may have intended to hand control of the ship over to a higher ranking Sangheili once he'd secured it. Still, given the importance of Ultras in ground operations, the possibility of them being Ship Masters should not be taken lightly.
 * Given what is played out in both Halo: CE and Halo 2, an Ultra seems to perform the same duties and be just as important as a senior field officer. If this is true, the Ultras are the Covenant's version of UNSC Lieutenant Colonels/Colonels and Commanders/Captains.
 * In Halo 2 if the Thunderstorm skull is put on, all Sangheili will be upgraded to this rank.
 * In Halo: Reach multiplayer, the Ultra Combat Harness is available after a player reaches the rank of Warrant Officer.
 * In Halo: Reach, Ultras seem to have what appears to be an upside-down Marathon symbol on the front on their helmet.