Rtas 'Vadum: Difference between revisions

Rtas 'Vadum was born on [[2487|September 21, 2487]] on [[Sanghelios]], the [[Sangheili]] homeworld.<ref name="visual"/> He grew up in a [[keep]] on the edge of one of Sanghelios' warm equatorial oceans. As a child, 'Vadum often explored the keep's shoreline at low tide, catching sea urchins and other sea creatures. Shortly after his tenth year, the ocean's water had greatly receded from the shore, allowing 'Vadum to venture out further than usual and capture rare [[snap-tail]]s and [[electric kesh]]. However, the receding of the ocean had actually been the drawback of an oncoming tsunami. As the tsunami's first wave appeared on the horizon, 'Vadum was forced to run nearly a kilometer back to the shore to escape the wave. Although he succeeded, he suffered injuries from the urchins and sharp limestone he had stepped on along the way.<ref>'''[[Halo: Shadow of Intent]]''', ''pages 67-68'' (Google Play edition)</ref> Rtas 'Vadum graduated with honors from the top war college in the [[Iruiru]] region of [[Yermo]] on Sanghelios, a distinction he shares with [[Usze 'Taham]].<ref name="Coop">[http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=thesoundofsack '''Bungie.net''': ''The Tru7h About Co-Op in Halo 3'']</ref> He would later join the [[Covenant military]].

There, Rtas 'Vadum again split up with the Arbiter to prevent any Jiralhanae reinforcements from attacking the Arbiter's rear, and was not present when the latter escorted [[Avery Johnson|Sergeant Major Avery Johnson]] to the control room; earlier, he had announced his intent to take back a Covenant {{Class|CCS|battlecruiser}} that was hovering a distance from the battle area, and it can be assumed he attempted doing so.<ref name="h2journey"/><ref name="cruiser" group="note">Curiously, 'Vadum's line "The Brutes control that cruiser, Arbiter. I'll remain here, make sure no reinforcements get in behind you. Then, I'm going to take the cruiser back!" will not play in the ''Anniversary'' version; it is unknown whether this is simply a glitch or an intended omission, especially in light of contemporary evidence suggesting the cruiser may have been retconned into the assault carrier, ''Shadow of Intent'' (despite battling in space at this point) and 'Vadum retaking the ship simultaneously with the Arbiter's actions in the Control Room.</ref><ref name="universe">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/vehicles/shadow-of-intent '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Shadow of Intent'']</ref> While the Arbiter fought to kill Tartarus and prevent the firing of Installation 05, 'Vadum led a strikeforce that successfully took control of the Jiralhanae-manned {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}} ''[[Shadow of Intent]]''.<ref name="universe"/> Following Tartarus' death, Rtas 'Vadum sent a message to all Sangheili-controlled vessels to inform them that Tartarus was killed by the Arbiter and the activation of Installation 05 was stopped, but the battle on the Halo continued. The supply ship ''[[Journey's Sustenance]]'' was one of the vessels to receive the message.<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 256''</ref>

Now leading the fledgling [[Fleet of Retribution]] as shipmaster of the carrier, ‘Vadum eventually rendezvoused with the Arbiter once again. Both warriors now having risen to leadership positions among the Sangheili rebels, ‘Vadum was instrumental in negotiating an alliance with their newfound human allies, together formulating a plan for sterilization and quarantine of the ring due to the overwhelming threat posed by the Flood in light of Truth and many of his followers' recent departure from the battle.<ref name="enc136"/><ref name="charity">'''[[Halo 2]]''', campaign level ''[[High Charity (level)|High Charity]]''</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">'''[[Halo Waypoint]]''', ''"The Long Road Home"''</ref> While [[343 Guilty Spark]] remained with ‘Vadum and the fleet to help coordinate containment efforts, the Arbiter, Keyes, and Johnson headed back to Earth on one of the shipmaster’s vessels both to warn the Home Fleet of Truth’s impending arrival and to locate the [[Portal at Voi|so-called “Ark”]].<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref name="lootcrate2">'''[[Halo Legendary Crate]]''', ''[[Halo Legendary Crate/Data Drops|Data Drop #2]]''</ref>

On [[2552#November 4|November 4th]],<ref name="11hour">''[[Eleventh Hour reports]]''</ref> ’Vadum’s fleet and any other Sangheili-crewed ships began to [[glassing|cauterize]] the surface of the ring, surgically destroying any vessel attempting to escape as part of a large-scale campaign orchestrated by ‘Vadum. After days of ‘Vadum’s containment operation, a single Flood-infected cruiser, ''[[Indulgence of Conviction]]'', broke through the quarantine and headed for the [[Sol system]], with ‘Vadum and elements of the Fleet of Retribution in pursuit. ‘Vadum followed its trajectory to Earth, where the Arbiter and humans were already headed.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> Upon realizing his location, he made contact with the Arbiter.<ref name="enc205">'''Halo Encyclopedia''', ''page 205'' (2011 edition)</ref>

The ''Intent'' and other vessels of his fleet arrived over the [[Kenya]]n town of [[Voi]] on Earth, shortly after the ''Conviction'' had crash-landed and infested the area. Recognizing the immediate threat the Flood posed, ‘Vadum was willing to sacrifice everyone on the ground in order to sterilize the town, including his own troops that he deployed to aid the Arbiter and John-117 in recovering what was thought to be the AI Cortana from the downed ship, but in actuality a [[Covenant storage device|storage device]]. After ‘Vadum was eventually forced to glass Voi, he met with the Arbiter, John-117, [[343 Guilty Spark]], [[Terrence Hood|Fleet Admiral Lord Terrence Hood]] and [[Miranda Keyes|Commander Miranda Keyes]] on the bridge of ''Shadow of Intent''. Guilty Spark managed to repair the [[Covenant storage device|storage device]] that allegedly contained the human [[artificial intelligence|AI]] [[Cortana]]. However, after the [[monitor]] repaired the device, only a message played, in which Cortana revealed that the Gravemind was on its way to Earth with the now-infested ‘’High Charity’’ and that the key to stopping the Covenant and the Flood was on the other side of the recently opened [[Portal at Voi|slipspace portal]]. While Hood opted to stay and fight a conventional battle against the Flood, ‘Vadum was adamant in proceeding through the Portal, rallying the others to his decision. While Hood remained on Earth with the rest of the [[UNSC Home Fleet]], 'Vadum led the Fleet of Retribution through the portal, joining forces with Keyes and the {{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}}.<ref name="floodgate"/>

Rtas once served as a high-ranking subordinate to Thel 'Vadam during the latter's career as [[Supreme Commander]] of the [[Fleet of Particular Justice]]. However, 'Vadum lost his esteem in the former Supreme Commander after his failure to safeguard [[Installation 04]].<ref name="h2arbiter"/> Rtas' great trust and respect for Thel 'Vadam was regained after the events of the [[Raid on the Threshold gas mine|mission]] on the [[Threshold gas mine]]. His trust was unwavering during the [[Changing of the Guard]] despite the fact that Thel—as the current Arbiter—answered only to the Prophets.<ref name="icon"/> Later during the Great Schism, Rtas and Thel became the catalysts who united the Sangheili against the Prophets and the Jiralhanae. He acknowledged Thel's "counsel" enough to convince himself that the humans were worthy allies.<ref name="enc205"/><ref name="floodgate"/>