Silent Shadow: Difference between revisions

During the [[Human-Covenant War]], the Silent Shadow were a well distinguished [[Covenant Special Operations]] unit of Sangheili primarily tasked with assassination operations against both [[human]] and disobedient [[Covenant]] targets alike.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS18}}{{Ref/Reuse|HSS9}} Occasionally, the [[Bloodstars]] employed members of the Silent Shadow as specialists to hunt down human Spartans.{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=243}}

{{Quote|no=two|1=Qoo 'Weyodosee|q1=The Fleet of Swift Justice emerged from slipspace on vector to insert into our orbit, but intrusion corvettes are not easy to catch. Most of our ships should escape.|q2=If you believe that, you do not understand the Silent Shadow.|2=Nizat 'Kvarosee|3=Nizat 'Kvarosee highlights the Silent Shadow's ruthless and unyielding reputation.{{Ref/Novel|Oblv|Chapter=11}}}}

During the Human-Covenant War in [[2526]], a [[Sangheili]] [[First Blade]] named [[Tel 'Szatulai]] led the [[Bloodstars]], a select group of [[Jiralhanae Stalker]]s that included [[Orsun]] and [[Castor]], to find and destroy the [[Spartan-II program|Demons]].{{Ref/Reuse|HSS9}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS18|HSS|Chapter=18}}{{Ref/Novel|Ret|Chapter=21}} However, before the Covenant realized the threat that the Spartans posed, 'Szatulai and his squad had been attached to then-[[Fleetmaster]] [[Nizat 'Kvarosee]]'s [[Fleet of Inexorable Obedience]] to stealthily scout out the defenses of human [[Human colonies|colonies]] that they planned to destroy. They would also be searching these worlds for any hint that they had once been occupied by the [[Forerunner|gods]]. While scouting the world of [[Amasa]], a courier from the [[United Rebel Front]] delivered a communications device to 'Szatulai's squad. It contained a message from [[General]] [[Harper Garvin]], who wished to form a tentative alliance with the Covenant in exchange for information on the UNSC and their Spartans, which he claimed to be very dangerous. 'Szatulai took the message to 'Kvarosee aboard ''[[Pious Rampage]]'' as the fleet was in the [[Attack on Etalan|process]] of [[glassing]] [[Etalan]]. The fleetmaster, as well as the [[Minor Minister of Artifact Survey]], instructed him to meet with the [[Insurrectionist|insurgents]] on [[Seoba]] to see what more information they could provide, especially pertaining to these Spartans.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS9}}

[[File:Headhunters - SS confront.png|thumb|300px|Jonah captured by a member of the Silent Shadow.]]

{{Quote|You can sense your end, human. That is good. If it brings you any peace, the whole of your kind will soon follow suit.|A member of the Silent Shadow to Jonah{{Ref/Anthology|Id=hh|Evo|Story=Headhunters}}}}

At some point prior to [[2552#December|December 2552]], a unit of the Silent Shadow laid a trap for two two-person teams of [[Spartan-III]] [[Headhunter]]s. On an unnamed moon, ten Covenant base camps were established to field crew for a [[Forerunner]] artifact dig site, which the Spartans were ordered to destroy. The Spartans observed the base for the next two days, identifying patrol routes, high-ranking enemies, and important control sites, unaware of the trap prepared for them. On the third day they infiltrated the base, eliminating all hostiles and setting demolition charges around the base. At the moment the Spartans let their guard down, a cloaked member of the Silent Shadow impaled [[Roland-B210|one of the Headhunters]] with his energy sword, while his subordinates appeared and surrounded [[Jonah-B283]]. The Sangheili suggested the Spartan surrender, informing him that the second Spartan team was already dead. Refusing, Jonah lured the Sangheili closer to the charges before setting them off, killing himself and the Sangheili.{{Ref/Reuse|hh}} The sole surviving Sangheili of this encounter, [[Jega 'Rdomnai]], would eventually join the Banished and become the very first member of the [[Hand of Atriox]].{{Ref/Reuse|enc22p454}}

As with other Special Operations Sangheili, members of the Silent Shadow were equipped with [[energy shielding]] and [[active camoflage]].{{Ref/Reuse|hh}} They often adopted experimental technology and weaponry,{{Ref/Reuse|bf}} one notable example being [[Infiltration harness#Silent Shadow variant|their deep-crimson modified variant of the infiltration harness]].{{Ref/Reuse|hh}}{{Ref/Reuse|enc22p242}} In addition to having a full-faced helmet with a cycloptic visor port, the harness had a chameleonlike feature wherein its coloring seemingly analyzed and adapted to its environment, allowing the base color of the armor to adjust and blend with the background; this feature made it difficult for enemies to focus on the wearer's movements.{{Ref/Reuse|hh}} In combat, members of the Silent Shadow employed [[Bloodblade|blood-red energy swords]].{{Ref/Reuse|enc22p242}}

File:Roland's Death.jpg|Roland's death at the hands of the Silent Shadow in ''Headhunters''.