Shipmaster

Ship Master is a Covenant Sangheili (Elite) position/office.

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.

Appearance
Thus far, only Zealots have been featured as the ship masters, with no visible changes to their reflective golden armor. The same is probably true for the lower ranks.

Lower Ranks
Zealots (with the exception of Prophets), much as with modern day Admirals, command the largest, most powerful and most important ships in the Covenant fleet. However, Halo: Ghosts of Onyx confirmed lower ranks holding the position of ship master. Voro 'Mantakree was forced to kill his former superior officer, a Zealot by the name of Tano 'Inanraree, and was given command of the Reverence-class Cruiser ship Incorruptible. At that point in time, he was a Major Domo Elite, but was later promoted to a Zealot so that he could command a fleet sent to Onyx to catch the Bloodied Spirit.

This confirms that when a Zealot isn't available (due to death, injury or some other reason), or perhaps isn't required, a lower rank may hold the title of ship master.

Likewise, higher ranks than Zealot probably have the potential for being assigned the task as Ship Master, such as The Arbiter or Councillors.

Related Links

 * Zealot
 * Elite
 * Arbiter
 * Orna 'Fulsamee
 * Tano 'Inanraree
 * Voro 'Mantakree
 * 'Qunu
 * Ultra