Shadow of Intent

Shadow Of Intent

"Hail humans, and take heed. This is the carrier Shadow of Intent. Clear this sector, while we deal with the Flood."

- Rtas 'Vadum

The Shadow of Intent is a Covenant Separatist Assault Carrier. Commanded by the Separatist Ship Master Rtas 'Vadum, it served as the flagship of the Fleet of Retribution.

Battle of Installation 05
The Shadow of Intent was most likely either already in control by Covenant Separatist forces or it was taken over by the Sangheili, Unggoy and Lekgolo on Installation 05,and it may be the cruiser seen overhead in the halo 2 mission The Great Journey (Level) After the Flood infested High Charity, the Shadow of Intent and its accompanying Sangheilian Fleet engaged in quarantine tactics over High Charity, trying their hardest to prevent the Flood from escaping the borders of the infested city.

The Flood Escape
However, a Flood-infested cruiser broke through their lines and jumped to Earth. A Sangheili battlegroup led by Rtas 'Vadum broke off their blockade and followed it, intent on preventing it from infecting the planet. It took part in the Second Battle of Earth, where it supported local United Nations Space Command units by landing troops, vehicles and supplies into the area. Later, it glassed the city of Voi and outskirts of Kenya in Africa, to prevent the Flood from spreading across the Earth.

Assault on Installation 00
The ship later led a joint UNSC-Covenant Separatist force through the slipspace portal to Installation 00, also known as "the Ark", where it engaged and defeated the Prophet of Truth's Fleet despite facing forces three times their own strength.

End of the Prophets
"I shall beat the Prophet's shields like a drum"

- Ship Master Rtas 'Vadum

During the assault on Truth's position, the Shadow of Intent sent down soldiers, vehicles and supplies to aid the Human and Sangheili forces. There, it took part in a diversionary bombardment of the shield protecting the Citadel.

Later during the battle, the carrier hovered above the Citadel to begin to destroy the building and to kill the Prophet of Truth. Though before that could take place, the ship was punctured by a large Flood Dispersal Pod (which went completely through the ship) from the Flood-infested High Charity, which had just arrived via Slipspace. The ship was afflicted with "significant damage" and lost use of its major weapons systems, though it was able to stay in commission and return to Earth with all the surviving Humans and Elites.

Return to Sanghelios
After the memorial service to those killed in the Human-Covenant war, The Arbiter is given command of the vessel by Rtas 'Vadum and sets a course to return to Sanghelios.

Trivia

 * It is likely that Rtas 'Vadum had to lower the shield in order to fire the ship's weapons to destroy the Citadel, as fragments from the Flood-infested High Charity would have to be at the speed of a MAC round fires from an Orbital Defense Platform to penetrate both the shield and the hull that easily. It is, however, more likely that the fragments of High Charity penetrated both shields and hull with no resistance, or even the shields were lowered due to no risk being in the area.
 * At the bow of the Shadow of Intent and numerous other Assault Carriers, there is a more bulbous section instead of the flat part where the engines are. This is only seen on Assault Carriers during and after the Second Battle of Earth
 * During the meeting between Fleet Admiral Sir Terrence Hood and Shipmaster Rtas 'Vadum, the Frigate was small enough to fit inside the Shadow of Intent's hangar located in the middle of the ship's hull.
 * The Shadow of Intent is found on many levels of Halo 3. On the mission The Covenant, it is shown to be stationed over The Ark in the beyond distance in game.
 * The second chapter of the level Floodgate is called 'Shadow of Intent'.
 * There is a Marathon symbol on the table in the Shadow of Intent's bridge.
 * The ship can be seen firing its Plasma Torpedos near the beginning of the level The Covenant

Related Articles

 * Assault Carrier
 * Covenant Separatists