Editing Special Operations Commander

{{Status|Canon}}
{{Unit infobox|variant=Cov
|name=Special Operations Commander
|image=[[File:H2A Rtas-Ingame.png|250px]]
|species=[[Sangheili]]
|affiliation=[[Covenant]]
|branch=[[Covenant Special Operations]]
|mission=Commander of Special Operations
|armament=
|equipment=
|notable=[[Rtas 'Vadum]] 
}}

'''Special Operations Commander''' was a high [[Covenant]] [[Sangheili]] rank. Special Operations Commanders held authority over all [[Covenant Special Operations|Special Operations forces]] within a [[Covenant fleet|fleet]].<ref name="vis">'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 175''</ref><ref>'''[[The Official Halo 2 Strategy Guide]]''', ''page 121''</ref>{{Ref/Note|In the ''Halo 2'' developer commentary included with the ''[[Halo 3 Legendary Edition]]'', [[Jason Jones]] refers to Rtas 'Vadumee as "Special Operations Commander of the Covenant", implying that 'Vadumee is the commander-in-chief of the entire Special Operations division. However, ''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]'' gives Vadumee's rank as "Special Operations Commander" and suggests that the title is not unique. The latter source is considered authoritative as it is newer and comes from [[343 Industries]].}}

==Background==
The title of Special Operations Commander was the highest known office attainable by a Sangheili in the Covenant Special Operations division. They held considerable political and military authority; a Special Operations Commander was placed in command of all the personnel and matériel of a fleet's Special Operations detachment and had the honor of speaking directly to the [[Hierarchs]] and relaying their messages to the [[High Council]].<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Sacred Icon (level)|Sacred Icon]]''</ref> It is unclear whether the position remains in service with any of the various [[Covenant remnants]] active as of [[2558]], with the possible exception of [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]]'s [[Swords of Sanghelios]].

[[Rtas 'Vadum]]ee, Special Operations Commander of the [[Fleet of Particular Justice]], led his forces near [[Halo Array|Halo]] [[Installation 04]] in [[2552#September|September 2552]],<ref>'''Halo Graphic Novel''': ''The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor''</ref> near [[Threshold]] in [[2552#October|October]],<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign levels ''[[The Arbiter]]'' and ''[[The Oracle]]''</ref> and at [[Installation 05]] in early [[2552#November|November]]. He later joined the Arbiter against the [[San'Shyuum]] and [[Jiralhanae]] (who had betrayed the entire Sangheili species) at the outbreak of the [[Great Schism]].<ref>Halo 2, campaign level ''[[The Great Journey]]''</ref> 'Vadumee (now 'Vadum) would come to humanity's aid during the Covenant's [[Battle of Earth|invasion of Earth]], turning the tide of the campaign and contributing to the Covenant's destruction at [[Installation 00|the Ark]] in [[2552#December|December 2552]].<ref>'''Halo 3''', campaign levels ''[[The Ark (level)|The Ark]]'' and ''[[Halo (Halo 3 level)|Halo]]''</ref>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo 2]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo Graphic Novel]]''
**''[[The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor]]''
*''[[Halo 3]]''
*''[[Halo: Broken Circle]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
*''[[Halo: Shadow of Intent]]''
*''[[Halo: Envoy]]''

==Notes==
{{Ref/Notes}}

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

{{Sangheili Ranks}}