Editing Decimus

{{Status|Canon}}

{{Character infobox

|variant=Ban

|homeworld=[[Doisac]]<ref name="HOSFG159">'''[[Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual]]''', ''page 159''</ref>{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22P456|Enc22|Page=456}}

|birth=[[2498#June|June 16, 2498]]{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P456}}

|height={{Convert|281.9|cm|ftin|sp=us}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P456}}

|mass={{Convert|680.4|kg|lb|sp=us}}{{Ref/Reuse|HOSFG159}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P456}}

|hair=White{{Ref/Reuse|gamestop}}

|eyes=Yellow{{Ref/Reuse|gamestop}}

|affiliation=*[[Covenant]]{{Ref/Reuse|gamestop}} {{c|formerly}}

*[[Banished]]{{Ref/Reuse|rtx}}

|rank=[[War Chief]]{{Ref/Reuse|H:OSFM4}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P456}}

'''Decimus''' was a [[Jiralhanae]] warrior who founded the [[Banished]] alongside [[Atriox]] when they and several other Jiralhanae rebelled against the [[Covenant]] when a [[Sangheili]] [[Itho 'Hesiikee|executioner]] was sent to kill Atriox during the [[Algolis Invasion]]. One of the longest serving [[War Chief]]s within the Banished,{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P456}}{{Ref/Book|Id=H:OSFM4|OSFM|Page=159|Quote=Decimus: Banished War Chieftain}} Decimus had been serving as Atriox's right hand and second-in-command ever since his rebellion.{{Ref/Book|Id=H:OSFM3|OSFM|Page=159|Quote=He serves as one of Atriox's most trusted field commanders, and has served as the Banished second-in-command for years.}}

Decimus once served in the [[Covenant]]'s [[Covenant military|military]]. He fought in the genocidal [[Human-Covenant War|war]] against [[human]]ity. He was [[Algolis Invasion|present]] on [[Algolis]] when [[Atriox]], the survivor of numerous suicide missions and a disbeliever in the Covenant's [[Great Journey]] and the war, was meant to be executed.{{Ref/Reuse|ANE}} He was inspired by Atriox's refusal to allow himself to be killed and his defiance of the giant empire. At that moment Decimus sprung into action. He and other Jiralhanae killed all of the Sangheili present in the immediate area.{{Ref/Reuse|ANE}} Decimus personally was responsible for numerous deaths, which he caused with his bare hands.{{Ref/Reuse|ANE}} Forthwith, he fell to both knees before Atriox and pledged to follow him and formed the [[Banished]] together. From that day onward, he was Atriox's right hand.  

 

He accompanied Atriox during raids on Covenant supply lines and stores to build up a formidable amount of ordnance stolen from the empire.{{Ref/Reuse|ANE}}

Shortly after the foundation of the Banished, Decimus travelled to a secret Covenant facility on the planet [[Otraak]] to attempt to recruit a [[Kig-Yar]] scientist he knew named [[Sig Raan]], in an effort to expand the Banished's technological base and support their fleets. Upon arrival to the planet Decimus and his group were attack by many [[Unggoy]] fending off the attackers quickly. A hologram of Sig Raan would appear to stop the Grunts assault, inviting Decimus inside to discuss his proposel. Decimus would try to convince Sig Raan to join the Banished, with the Jackal simply taking him to her [[Yanme'e]] hive, where all Drones there would follow her orders. she was their queen thanks to a device created by her that would mimic the sonic and pheromonal signals of the [[Yanme'e Queen]]. Sig Raan then would inform Decimus that his signal to his group had been cut off and that this was the end for him. Decimus was set upon by Sig Raans drones, being swarmed by them. Decimus would only live thanks to the surprise arrival of Atriox. Atriox coming to the aid of Decimus along side his reinforcements would push back and defeat the entire hive, and as Sig Raan tried to escape Decimus would kill her firing a shot from his [[Type-25 plasma pistol|plasma pistol]]. Killing the Jackal instantly as he would take the device Sig Raan had created.{{Ref/Comic|Id=RoA3|Rise of Atriox|RoAE|Issue=3}}

 

It would be destroyed by Atriox as he declared all his troops would follow him out of free will, not due to being controlled.<ref>[http://www.cbr.com/dark-horse-comics-october-2017-solicitations/ '''CBR''' - ''Dark Horse Comics October 2017 Solicitations'']</ref>

 

{{Quote|He serves as one of Atriox's most trusted field commanders, and has served as the Banished second-in-command for years.|A description of War Chieftain Decimus.}}

After the Banished had grown larger following the recruitment of many mercenaries and criminals, Decimus served in the Banished as a [[War Chief]].{{Ref/Reuse|gamestop}} He had command over multiple types of leaders, including [[Jiralhanae Warlord]]s who were loyal only to him and Atriox, as well as [[Unggoy thrall-taskmaster]]s. Harboring a hatred for the [[Sangheili]] due to the feud between their species, Decimus often ordered the Banished Sangheili mercenaries under his command on suicide missions as canon-fodder for sadistic pleasure.{{Ref/Reuse|gamestop}}

 

Jovus would defy Atriox to the end. Charging at the [[warmaster]], Jovus would be struck down by Atriox with Chainbreaker, killing the Brute instantly. Decimus would watch as Atriox declared that Jovus and the time of the Covenant were at an end, but the time of the Banished had just begun. {{Ref/Comic|Id=RoA5|Rise of Atriox|RoAE|Issue=5}}

[[File:DecimusFighting.png|thumb|300px|Decimus under heavy firepower while fighting against the crew of the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}}.]]

In [[2558#November|November of 2558]], the Banished arrived in force at [[Installation 00]] aboard the ''[[Enduring Conviction]]''. Atriox chose Decimus to lead the [[Attack on Installation 00|assault]] on the installation,{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P456}} and he personally led the subsequent raid on the [[human]]s at the [[Henry Lamb Research Outpost]]. Decimus and a contingent of Banished ground forces massacred everyone in sight. Following this, Decimus was charged with establishing a system of power extraction and excavation across multiple sites on the Ark. In addition to plundering the massive [[Forerunner]] installation's resources, he also directed the collection of salvage left over from the prior [[Battle of Installation 00|battle]] in [[2552]]. Over the next few months, these endeavors grew in scope. Accessing a [[Cartographer]] allowed the Banished to take control of the installation's local [[teleportation grid|portal]] network, which made travel and coordination between many sites much more effective.

When the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} arrived at the Ark on [[2559#March|March 28, 2559]], one of the first things the Banished were required to defend was one of these sites where Decimus was in charge of resource gathering. Around R-6029-4452 according to a [[Sangheili]] method of keeping time, a base under the control of Decimus was destroyed by [[Jerome-092]] and [[Strike One]]. At first, the Jiralhanae War Chieftain was unaware as to why contact had been lost with his contacts at the base, but it wasn't long before the attack and the humans' presence became known to him. At first, he called for [[shipmaster]] [[Let 'Volir]] to target a newly-built UNSC [[firebase]] with [[pulse laser turret]]s as a short show of force. As the [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] and the Spartan weren't dissuaded, however, Decimus finally appeared on the battlefield himself. From the ground, Decimus not only took on the many fighters himself in close-quarters combat, but also repeatedly ordered the shipmaster to target his own location briefly and with precision as he was protected from the lasers by a powerful [[energy shield]] that his mechanized power armor could encapsulate him in for short periods. When it became clear that he would not be able to fend off the attack, Decimus retreated but the ''[[Enduring Conviction]]'' continued to bombard the area on his orders, killing UNSC and Banished troops alike, ostensibly to keep the humans from learning anything from the operation. He was ordered to report to Atriox immediately following this loss. Despite Decimus' best efforts, the humans were able to recover records from Decimus' base pointing them towards the Cartographer as their next target.{{Ref/Reuse|ANE}}{{clear}}

[[File:DecimusDecimated.png|300px|thumb|Decimus is killed by UNSC forces.]]

Decimus would not step into the fray again until two days later on March 30, when UNSC forces were making a push to cripple the portal network by destroying its central hub. He had been reassigned to protect the portals after the extent of the network was discovered by the enemy. Decimus, enraged, made a bold stand against the aggressors, wherein he coordinated with the ''[[Enduring Conviction]]'' similar to the previous engagement. The combined fire from many UNSC infantry, vehicles, and aircraft along with Spartans [[Jerome-092]] and [[Douglas-042]] heavily damaged Decimus and his exoskeleton. Mortally wounded from the immense firepower, Decimus collapsed to his knees and ordered the humans to enjoy their victory as it would be their last, before dying.<ref name="Lights Out">'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''', campaign level ''[[Lights Out]]''</ref>

 

 

{{Quote|He is Atriox's right-hand and pledges loyalty to the Banished, but as I watched him walk among the ancient's halls I recognized the awe and reverence in his eyes that I once saw among my own clan. I saw that fatal longing, that tragic need to be once more struck dumb and blind by the promise of a wondrous destiny. If we are to succeed, Decimus must purge these old conflicts from his thoughts. A warrior's heart must be certain if he is to survive, as doubt is a surer killer than the sharpest blade.|[[Orda Val 'Saham]] on Decimus' reaction to the wonders of the Ark.}}

Decimus was described as a typical [[Sangheili]]-hating “Brute’s Brute”,{{Ref/Reuse|gamestop}}{{Ref/Reuse|finals countdown}} he was ruthless and extremely bloodthirsty while boasting an almost unparalleled raw physical strength. Fighting for the glory to kill, Decimus was considered to be the embodiment of every horror story that has been passed around through the [[UNSC Marine Corps]] about battling [[Jiralhanae]]. When he served the [[Covenant]] during the [[Human-Covenant War]], he took particular delight in hand-to-hand combat with the outmatched soldiers of the [[United Nations Space Command]]. Decimus respected strength above all else and held the traditional Jiralhanae belief that "might makes right"; [[Atriox]] gained Decimus' absolute loyalty after they successfully rebelled against the Covenant,{{Ref/Reuse|gamestop}} becoming known as his right hand. As befitting his rank, Decimus had his own personal Jiralhanae Warlord lieutenants but he also relished the chance to make a personal appearance on the field against particularly stubborn enemies. Decimus' bloodlust often whipped troops under his command into a frenzied rampage. While the Jiralhanae who make up [[Atriox's Chosen]] share their leader's cunning, Decimus encouraged more base traits in his warriors, chief among which was the unquenchable thirst for blood. Decimus showed little care for the troops under his care, ordering an [[orbital bombardment]] from the ''[[Enduring Conviction]]'' on his salvage base to cover up his operations while Decimus himself escaped through one of the Ark's portals. The bombardment killed many of his own troops, disgusting [[Isabel]] who called Decimus a monster for his heartless actions.{{Ref/Reuse|ANE}}

Decimus still harbored resentment against the [[Sangheili]] that serve the Banished due to how they treated the Jiralhanae in the Covenant. As such, Decimus took a sadistic joy in ordering the Sangheili of the Banished on dangerous, and often suicidal, missions.{{Ref/Reuse|gamestop}} Like Atriox, Decimus despises the Covenant and [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|its]] [[Covenant remnants|remnants]].<ref name="finals countdown">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/community-update-the-finals-countdown '''Halo Waypoint''': ''The Finals Countdown'']</ref> Like [[Escharum]], Decimus typically disliked [[human]]s while still working with Banished human mercenaries under his and Atriox's command,{{Ref/Novel|Id=DW7B|Halo: Divine Wind|Chapter=7|Page=117|Quote=Castor noted carefully. 'The Banished have brought humans here, and they have been present for over twenty cycles.'}} viewing their kind as insects and arrogant vermin.{{Ref/Game|HW2|Light Out|Quote=Your arrogant species WILL be humbled! The only thing you are destined for is to be meat on my table!|Quotee=Decimus}}{{Ref/Game|HW2|Light Out|Quote=Vermin! How many of you must I exterminate before you learn your place?|Quotee=Decimus}}{{Ref/Game|HW2|Light Out|Quote=Protect the portal! Crush the humans like the insects they are!|Quotee=Decimus}} On occasion, he would sometimes show respect for them as well.{{Ref/Game|HW2|Light Out|Quote=I'm impressed, humans, but Atriox will ensure you will never leave the Ark. We will control this place and then the Banished will take all of your [[human colonies|worlds]].|Quotee=Decimus}} Unlike many in the Banished, Decimus secretly continued to harbor a belief in the divinity of the Forerunners right up until his death. Orda Val 'Saham, a Sangheili guard who reported to him, noted that he regarded the Forerunner architecture on the Ark with reverence and awe. In his eyes, 'Saham saw what he regarded as a fatal longing and a tragic need to be struck dumb and blind by the promise of a wondrous destiny.<ref name="logs">'''Halo Wars 2''', ''[[Phoenix Logs]]''</ref>

When in battle, Decimus wore a heavily armored [[powered exoskeleton|exoframe]] that he had personally commissioned, preferring hand-to-hand combat in nearly all circumstances.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P456}} This exoskeleton increased his strength and granted him a great deal of protection from weaponry, as shown in his first run-in with forces from the ''Spirit of Fire''.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sphveQodNCU '''YouTube''' ''Ready Up Live - Halo Wars 2 Campaign Gameplay'']</ref> When engaging UNSC forces for the second time, Decimus bragged that his armor had been improved in the meantime since the last fight. Decimus wielded a modified [[Gravity hammer (fiction)|gravity hammer]]{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P456}} that could be used to pull vehicles and infantry toward him so he could then smash them, in addition to unleashing a devastating gravity vortex.

File:HW2-Decimusmenu.jpg|Decimus with a [[Eklon'Dal Workshop Marauder]] and infantry.

{{Ref/Sources}}

[[Category:Jiralhanae characters]]