Jul 'Mdama: Difference between revisions

|height={{Convert|239.9|cm|ftin|sp=us}}<ref name="VIS"/>

|mass={{Convert|327|lb|kg|disp=flip}}<ref name="universe"/>

|eyes=Gray<ref name="universe"/>

|rank=[[Supreme Leader]]<ref name="VIS"/>

'''Jul 'Mdama''' (formerly ''''Mdamaee'''), known to his followers as the "'''Didact's Hand'''"<ref name="S1E3"/> or the '''"Hand of the Didact"''',<ref name="universe"/> was a [[Sangheili]] [[shipmaster]] previously in the service of the [[Covenant]] during its [[Human-Covenant War|war against humanity]]. Fueled by hatred for humanity after the death of [[Raia 'Mdama|his wife]], 'Mdama became the [[Supreme Leader|supreme leader]] and founder of a [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|new Covenant faction]] in the wake of the [[Great Schism]]. Despite years of eluding the public light, his activities on the [[shield world]] [[Requiem]] established him as a highly valued target for the [[United Nations Space Command]]. Because of this, [[SPARTAN-IV program|Spartan-IVs]] notably trained against a simulated version of him in [[Warzone]].

Jul was born on [[2489|March 5, 2489]], in the state of [[Mdama]] on [[Sanghelios]].<ref name="VIS"/> Years later he would marry [[Raia 'Mdama]], with whom he had two sons, [[Dural]] and [[Asum]].<ref name="gl55">'''[[Halo: Glasslands]]''', ''page 55''</ref> At some point he became the [[elder]] of [[Bekan keep]] in Mdama. During the last third of the Human-Covenant War he served in the [[Covenant military]] under the name 'Mdama''ee'' as the [[shipmaster]] of a Covenant {{Class|ORS|heavy cruiser}}, the ''[[Blight of the Profane]]''.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 174''</ref><ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/canon-fodder-reqlamation-begins '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Canon Fodder: Reqlamation Begins'']</ref> While he was away he left the management of his ancestral estate of Bekan keep to Raia and her grandbrother, [[Naxan]].<ref name="gl55"/>

Meanwhile, at Halsey's urging, 'Mdama had a fake Forerunner artifact placed in a Forerunner structure on Aktis IV. Per Halsey's plan, Glassman and a team of Spartans discovered the artifact and believed that it was related to the Janus Key. Halsey and Jul watched Glassman's investigation from ''Song of Retribution''; when 'Mdama expressed mock abhorrence at creating a copy of a "holy" Forerunner object, Halsey revealed that she knew Jul's public persona is a mere façade. Glassman requested for ''Infinity'' to deliver their half of the Janus Key to him on the planet's surface for further analysis. Anticipating this, 'Mdama had troops ready to ambush the UNSC convoy carrying their half of the Key. Much to 'Mdama's surprise, the dropship carrying the other half was shot down before he could give an order. In the confusion, the rest of the Covenant strike force began the attack. 'Mdama decided to scourge the [[D79-TC Pelican|Pelican]] crash site himself and ordered Halsey to remain aboard his carrier. Unknown to him, Sali 'Nyon was responsible for shooting down the Pelican and he claimed half of the Janus Key for himself.<ref name="HE14"/> Upon arriving planetside, 'Mdama and his forces began to eliminate the [[Treason|traitors]]. Jul ignored a [[Sangheili Zealot|Zealot]]'s suggestion for him to return to his carrier for safety. Upon learning that his forces had almost broken past the human fortifications, he ordered troops to kill all the humans once they gained access to their site; however, he told them to spare Glassman as a special punishment awaited him.<ref name="HE15">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 15|Issue #15]]''</ref>

'Mdama later had Halsey brought planetside from ''Song of Retribution''.<ref name="HE15"/> Upon discovering the location of 'Nyon's base, Jul witnessed his forces lay siege to the base from afar. 'Mdama was informed that a [[Unidentified Sangheili Minor|defector]] from 'Nyon's forces had made contact with Halsey's convoy. The defector gave Halsey the half of the Janus Key he had stolen from 'Nyon and Jul diverted most of the Phantoms to deal with the UNSC forces elsewhere on the island, confident that the battle would soon be won. When the insurgent faction was eliminated, 'Nyon was captured, restrained, and brought before Jul by a Zealot. As punishment, 'Mdama decided that 'Nyon would be kept alive. Elsewhere on the island, Halsey's escort was ambushed by Spartans Sarah Palmer, [[Gabriel Thorne]], and [[Naiya Ray]]. However, during the ensuring conflict, Halsey managed to escape with her half of the Janus Key. She contacted 'Mdama, who sent for a Phantom to return her to ''Song of Retribution''. With both halves of the Janus Key in their possession, 'Mdama and his fleet fled the system. Jul and Halsey used the combined Janus Key to project a holographic map, which pinpointed the location of the [[Absolute Record]].<ref name="HE16">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 16|Issue #16]]''</ref>

'Mdama decided to make a second attempt to travel to the Absolute Record, though he determined that only ''Song of Retribution'' would enter the portal; the rest of the fleet would wait on the other side of the portal, with ''Breath of Annihilation'' making repairs at a nearby [[moon]]. Once they learned of 'Mdama's intentions, Palmer, Tanaka, and Glassman traveled aboard ''Retribution'' to follow him to the Absolute Record, while 'Sevi and Thorne remained behind on ''Annihilation''. Meanwhile, rumors of a Spartan presence within the fleet reached 'Mdama, though his worries were dismissed by Halsey who did not believe that the Spartans could stop them. ''Retribution'' entered the portal and arrived at the Absolute Record's exterior. The carrier was observed by the site's [[custodian]] [[ancilla]], who detected the humans aboard the ship. Arriving at the platform alongside dozens of Zealots, 'Mdama and Halsey encountered the AI. Halsey asked to be given access to the Absolute Record, but the AI denied her request and had its [[Aggressor Sentinel|Sentinel]]s transport the humans hiding aboard ''Retribution'' to the platform, much to the surprise of 'Mdama and Halsey.<ref name="HE20"/> The AI intended to have each human explain their reason for accessing the Absolute Record before taking any action. However, an impatient Zealot attacked the Sentinels, leading to the constructs attacking the Sangheili and humans. Suddenly, the AI removed the platform from under the feet of the Sangheili with Tanaka, Palmer, and Glassman remaining on one platform and Halsey standing on another, while 'Mdama managed to grab onto Halsey's platform as his soldiers plummeted to their deaths. The AI then decided to use a more direct examination to decide who would access the Absolute Record.<ref name="HE21">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 21|Issue #21]]''</ref>

Some time later, with the ''Breath of Annihilation'' now under Sali 'Nyon's control, Jul decided to retake his ship. However, it ended up in a stalemate with the two assault carriers battling each other. Presumably, the ''Song of Retribution'' survived, leaving 'Mdama and Halsey to plan their next course of action.<ref name="HE24"/>

{{Quote|multi=yes|q1=You will also accord me the respect befitting of the Didact's Hand.|Jul 'Mdama|q2=Mmmm, seems your fingers are in open rebellion, Hand.|Catherine Halsey|Jul 'Mdama's and Catherine Halsey's last conversation<ref name="H5G"/>}}

In [[2558#October|October 2558]], Halsey's usefulness to 'Mdama was rapidly drawing to a close. Realizing that her demise was certain if she continued to remain in the Covenant, Halsey led 'Mdama and his followers to the frigid Forerunner world of [[Kamchatka]]. Unbeknownst to 'Mdama, the trip to Kamchatka was actually a trap set by Halsey, who had contacted the UNSC and established a plan to rendezvous with {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} in order to escape 'Mdama's Covenant, motivated also by the growing threat of [[Cortana]]. By this point, 'Mdama's Covenant had started to fracture, due to his former Promethean allies turning against him.<ref name="universe"/>

'Mdama's death proved to be one of the final nails in his dying Covenant's coffin, as the faction soon became destabilized and many defected to the [[Swords of Sanghelios]].<ref name="universe"/> In the [[Battle of Sunaion]] later that month, they were utterly defeated due to the combined efforts of Fireteam Osiris and the Swords of Sanghelios.<ref>'''Halo 5: Guardians''', campaign level, ''[[Battle of Sunaion (level)|Battle of Sunaion]]''</ref> After reuniting with [[Blue Team]] on [[Genesis]], Fireteam Osiris reported the rescue of Halsey and the death of 'Mdama on Kamchatka to the other Spartans.<ref>'''[[Halo: Bad Blood]]''', ''page 16''</ref> With 'Mdama dead and his Covenant collapsed, many in the [[Servants of the Abiding Truth]] considered the Covenant as a whole to be truly gone, including 'Mdama's own son [[Dural 'Mdama]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Legacy of Onyx]]'''</ref>

Jul 'Mdama's hatred for humanity initially stemmed not from any religious issues, but from a fear that humans will eventually overrun the galaxy and ultimately drive the Sangheili to extinction. He compared humans to the [[Flood]] in this regard. When Thel 'Vadam proposed making peace with the humans, 'Mdama was skeptical and insisted humans could not be trusted. His distrust and hate for humanity was only reinforced by his subsequent abduction and captivity by the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]]. After the death of his wife, however, 'Mdama's primary motivation for destroying humanity changed from a matter of species survival to personal vengeance for what he perceived as their role in her demise.<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 442''</ref> Despite his hatred and distrust for humanity as a whole, 'Mdama was still willing to work with certain human individuals, such as Dr. [[Catherine Halsey]], when necessary.<ref name="S1E10"/> Likewise, he also had no qualms over using [[human languages]] such as English if it will achieve his objectives.<ref name="S1E4"/>

Although 'Mdama often displayed typical Sangheili aggression and did not hesitate to use force or the threat of force to accomplish his goals, he could be both patient and highly manipulative at times. During his captivity on Trevelyan, 'Mdama placated his human captors by behaving according to their expectations of his species, while simultaneously gleaning information on ONI's plans whenever possible.<ref name="ttw275"/><ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 56''</ref><ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 381''</ref> He also convinced [[Prone to Drift]] to give him key information about Requiem and the Ur-Didact,<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''pages 372-374''</ref> later forcing the Huragok to aid him in his escape by threatening to detonate his explosive vest and damage the installation - something he anticipated Prone would be unwilling to risk.<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''pages 397-400''</ref> Later, during the Requiem campaign, 'Mdama deliberately allowed the crew of ''Infinity'' to take possession of the [[Requiem slipspace artifacts|slipspace artifact]], playing on their assumption that the Covenant wanted the artifact for themselves.<ref name="S1E5"/> The artifact later enabled his forces to [[Invasion of the UNSC Infinity|board]] ''Infinity'' and abduct Dr. Halsey, at the same time [[interdiction web|physically binding the ship to Requiem]].<ref name="S1E7"/><ref name="S1E8"/> Prior to attacking ''Infinity'', 'Mdama attempted to gain Halsey's trust by sending her anonymous messages offering information about the Prometheans.<ref name="S1E4"/> He further appealed to her scientific curiosity by delivering to her the [[Didact's Gift|"soul"]] of a [[Promethean Knight]].<ref name="S1E5"/> He was surprised, though not overly upset, when Halsey contacted him and revealed that deduced his true identity as only the Didact's Hand could've provided her with the "soul" of a Promethean Knight.<ref name="S1E7"/> 'Mdama accused Glassman of treachery when he unintentionally activated a protective shield at "[[Librarian's Rest]]" and used the chance to [[Escape from Librarian's Rest|escape]]<ref name="S1E6" /> and appeared shocked to learn that it wasn't an intentional betrayal from Halsey who, being more experienced and better equipped, was easily able to shut down the shield and activate the Librarians' shrine.<ref name="S1E8" />

Despite his personal loss of faith in the Forerunners as gods, 'Mdama put on a convincing public image of a devout religious leader in the eyes of his followers. 'Mdama's awareness of the many loopholes and contradictions regarding Sangheili honor and religion allowed him to bend or circumvent cultural rules without sullying his reputation.<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''pages 343-344''</ref> On [[Hesduros]] he garnered support from the colonists there by touting his knowledge of the Forerunners and later playing on the colonists' belief that the "gods" had sent him.<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 437''</ref> Though uncomfortable with this charade, he rationalized it by telling himself that not only is the deception necessary, but the only thing he was ''truly'' lying about is his own faith (or lack thereof), something he considered a personal issue.<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 432''</ref> Later, when Halsey revealed in private that she knew about his lack of faith, he was surprised, but did not further press the issue. Notably, when many of his followers would bow on Requiem in "Librarian's Rest," 'Mdama remained standing, only becoming distracted by the possibility of the power he would gain from the Librarian. However, these brief moments of distraction were enough for both Henry Glassman and Halsey to act before 'Mdama could.<ref name="SO" />

*Despite holding the rank of [[Supreme Leader]] within his faction, 'Mdama is referred to simply as ''[[Shipmaster]]'' by his subordinates.<ref name = "S1E3"/><ref name="terminal"/>

*'Mdama's eyes are depicted as red in ''Halo: Escalation'' and ''Halo 5: Guardians'', despite canonically being gray as shown in ''Halo 4''.<ref name="universe"/>