Usze 'Taham: Difference between revisions

|image=[[File:UszeTaham - Profile.png|300px]]

|birth=[[2519#October|October 31, 2519]]

|height={{Convert|241.3|cm|ftin}}<ref name="universe">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/usze-taham '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Usze 'Taham'']</ref>

|mass={{Convert|355|lb|kg|disp=flip}}{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}

**[[Ascetics]]{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}

*[[Covenant separatists]] {{C|formerly}}

*[[Swords of Sanghelios]]

'''Usze 'Taham''' is a [[Sangheili]] of the [[Swords of Sanghelios]] who was famed as one of the deadliest [[Covenant Special Operations|Special Operations]] commandos alive.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}

Usze 'Taham was born into a respected merchant family in [[Sumai keep]] in the state of [[Bothaes]] on [[Sanghelios]].{{Ref/Reuse|hitd87}} He was fathered by [[Toha 'Sumai]], one of the prominent [[Aristocrat|swordfighters]] of this age. Toha mated with Usze's mother, a privilege granted by being a swordsman, and Usze was raised by his mother and her husband. Per Sangheili custom, Usze did not know that Toha was his father.{{Ref/Reuse|Coop}} Instead, Usze believed that Toha was an uncle and was trained by him in swordsmanship. When he was of age, Usze traveled to the top war college in the [[Iruiru]] region of [[Yermo]] on Sanghelios and graduated with honors,{{Ref/Reuse|hitd87}} a distinction he shares with [[Rtas 'Vadum]].{{Ref/Reuse|Coop}} Upon graduating, Usze's skills attracted the attention of influential individuals and he was posted on the [[Fleet of Faithful Ardor]].{{Ref/Reuse|hitd87}}

Following the onset of the [[Great Schism]], he was once again approached by the Ascetics to become one of their emissaries to the navy of the [[Swords of Sanghelios]].{{Ref/Reuse|Coop}} He eventually became a liaison to the [[United Nations Space Command]], and remained active following the end of the war.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/db05ce78845f4120b062c50816008e5d/topics/n-tho-sraom-and-usze-taham/54170db8-f414-4e5d-a983-4f622bf990d4/posts?page=1#post9 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''N'tho 'Sraom and Usze 'Taham''] ([[Catalog/Archive/2014#N'tho 'Sraom and Usze 'Taham|backup on site]])</ref> He also served as a valued liaison between several Sangheili factions and feuding keeps. In addition, 'Taham increasingly diverted his attention to dealings of his families' keep and the legacy of Toha 'Sumai. 'Taham helped resurrect the Ascetic guard, allowing its members to battle the [[Jiralhanae]].{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}

In [[2555]], he served the Arbiter during the ongoing [[Blooding Years|civil war]] that encroached Sanghelios. Upon learning of a plot to assassinate Thel 'Vadam, Usze helped track down half a dozen conspirators and either killed or interrogated them. The interrogated Sangheili revealed that the plan was engineered by [[Otar 'Bemet]] and Usze traveled to his location in [[Qish'tani]], [[Tolvuus]] aboard a [[Type-26 Banshee|Banshee]]. Otar attempted to convince Usze to join his cause against the Arbiter and humanity, though he refused. A duel began between the two in which Usze feigned incompetence. Otar overestimated his skills and was taken by surprise when Usze avoided his attack, which gave Usze an opening to kill the rebel Sangheili.{{Ref/Reuse|hitd46}} After the mission, though he wished to return to his keep, the Arbiter ordered for Usze to visit [[Vadam keep|his own keep]]. Upon arriving in [[Vadam]], the Arbiter informed Usze that UNSC scientists had discovered that the Halo Array's firing sequence had been activated. Thel assigned him and N'tho to lead the Swords of Sanghelios half of a joint human–Sangheili team tasked with journeying to Installation 00 with the intentions of deactivating the sequence.<ref name="hitd52">'''Halo: Hunters in the Dark''', ''pages 52-57'' (Google Play edition)</ref>

Usze traveled to Earth aboard the [[Covenant corvette|corvette]] ''[[Mayhem]]''. Upon arriving, he descended to the surface in a [[Type-52 Phantom|Phantom]] at [[Research Center Alpha|the site]] of the deactivated [[Portal at Voi|portal]] in [[Kenya]], [[Africa]] that led to the Ark. Along with N'tho and [[Huragok]] [[Drifts Randomly]], he greeted the humans and began working to reactivate the portal.<ref name="hitd64">'''Halo: Hunters in the Dark''', ''pages 64-68'' (Google Play edition)</ref> Two days after their arrival, Usze was watching Drifts work, alongside [[Olympia Vale]]. When the Huragok successfully managed to activate the portal, the three returned to the surface to witness its activation. Shortly after, Usze noticed a [[Retriever]] exiting the portal. As the massive construct began collecting resources from Earth's surface nearby, Usze grabbed Vale and escaped Retriever's path of destruction, with Drifts Randomly following closely behind them.<ref name="hitd98">'''Halo: Hunters in the Dark''', ''pages 98-105'' (Google Play edition)</ref> After the Retriever was destroyed by UNSC forces, all members of the expedition team met aboard ''Mayhem'', at N'tho's request.<ref>'''Halo: Hunters in the Dark''', ''page 110'' (Google Play edition)</ref> When Captain [[Annabelle Richards]] insisted that they required [[Serin Osman|her superior]]'s permission before entering the portal, N'tho regardless moved the corvette towards the portal as he and Usze felt that they could not waste time waiting for administrative consent. As they prepared to enter, ''Mayhem'' was attacked by another Retriever. The corvette managed to destroy the [[Sentinel]] and continued through the [[slipspace portal]].<ref>'''Halo: Hunters in the Dark''', ''pages 113-118'' (Google Play edition)</ref> The trip only took several hours rather than several weeks, as expected<ref>'''Halo: Hunters in the Dark''', ''page 120'' (Google Play edition)</ref>—due to an increase in the portal's power by [[monitor]] [[000 Tragic Solitude]].<ref name="hitd256">'''Halo: Hunters in the Dark''', ''pages 256-260'' (Google Play edition)</ref> Upon exiting slipspace, ''Mayhem'' was attacked by dozens of heavily armed Retrievers and the corvette ultimately crash landed on the surface of the Ark.<ref>'''Halo: Hunters in the Dark''', ''pages 123-129'' (Google Play edition)</ref>

'Taham is renowned for displaying incredible prowess with the energy sword and [[Type-25 plasma rifle]].{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} Known to deftly wield an energy sword, Usze operates the weapon with remarkable speed and power.{{Ref/Reuse|hitd152}} Usze is able to use the blade of his energy sword to block shots from energy rifles. During [[Operation: FAR STORM]], Usze engaged numerous [[armiger]]s head-to-head and succeeded in destroying the constructs, despite the size, swiftness, and dexterity of the armigers.{{Ref/Reuse|hitd176}} His skill against the constructs proved useful when Usze, along with [[Kola 'Baoth]], were forced to defeat dozens of armigers in a small room, with only his energy sword.{{Ref/Reuse|hitd263}}

During the [[Fall of High Charity|initial]] outbreak of the [[Great Schism]] in late [[2552]], Usze wore a custom [[assault harness]] with a distinctive claret color.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} Having trained extensively in swordsmanship, Usze prefers to fight with his [[Type-1 energy sword]] whenever possible. Following the dissolution of the [[Covenant]], Usze began using some weapons of pre-Covenant design, which were considered to invoke ancient [[Sangheili]] heritage.<ref>'''Halo: Hunters in the Dark''', ''page 91'' (Google Play edition)</ref> His energy sword has a traditional, pre-Covenant design that displays intriguing ridges with an upper blade significantly longer than the lower blade.{{Ref/Reuse|hitd46}} Usze armed himself with an old, modified design [[Type-51 carbine]].<ref>'''Halo: Hunters in the Dark''', ''page 149'' (Google Play edition)</ref> As of [[2555]], Usze began to don a [[Combat harness|combat harness]] with crimson and ivory coloring. Polished, though battle-scarred, Usze's armor was similar to the combat harness worn by [[N'tho 'Sraom]].{{Ref/Reuse|hitd64}}

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File:Usze ‘Taham and N’tho ‘Sraom.jpg|'Taham (right), along with 'Sraom (left).