Editing Special Operations Commander

{{Ratings}}
{{Era|H1|H2|TF|HGN}}
{{Covenant Rank Infobox
|name=Special Operations Commander
|image=[[Image:Shipmaster Rtas 'Vadum.jpg]]
|species=[[Sangheili]]
|weapons=*[[Plasma Rifle]]
*[[Energy Sword]]
|equipment=[[Elite Personal Energy Shield]], [[Active Camouflage]]
|vehicles=
|missions=Special Operations
|role=Commander of Special Operations
|notable=[[Rtas 'Vadum]] 
|affiliation=[[Covenant]], later [[Covenant Separatists]]
}}
'''Special Operations Commander of the Covenant'''<ref>''[[Halo 3]]'', director's commentary</ref> is a [[Covenant]] [[Sangheili]] position.
== Rank ==
Special Operations Commander is a position/office among the [[Elite]]s, which probably hold more authority than Shipmasters. Its speculated that only one individual can hold this rank at a time. From what is gathered from the name, holders of this rank are in command of all special forces within the Covenant, but do lead attacks themselves.<ref>''[[Halo 2]]'', level ''[[The Arbiter (Level)]]''</ref> This is assuming, however, that the title is meant to refer to authority and not origin (example: Julius Caesar of Rome). This may be down to Sangheili nature, including their sense of Honor. It appears, that the Special Operations Commander is clad in an armor similar to standard Ultras, though not identical.

It is possible, that during the [[Second Battle of Earth]], the [[Covenant Loyalists]] appointed a [[Jiralhanae]] to the position.

== Armor ==

The only known Elite of this office thus far was [[Rtas 'Vadum]], who wore white armor with silver colored trimmings in Halo 2. In Halo 3, his armor was a white and silver colored mix of an [[Assault Harness]] and [[Combat Harness]].

== Combat ==

Most of the time, the Special Operations Commanders are seen wielding [[Energy Sword]]s, but can utilize any [[Covenant]] or [[UNSC]] weapon. They can also drive or operate any [[Humans|Human]] or [[Covenant]] vehicle. Also, in many levels the SpecOps Commander is present he is invincible from attack by both friend and enemy forces.

== Appearances ==

=== ''[[Halo 2]]'' ===

==== [[Rtas 'Vadum]] ====

This is a list of where 'Vadum appears in Halo 2. Note: He leads the SpecOp Elites that the [[Arbiter (character)|Arbiter]] works with on [[Threshold]].

* ''[[The Arbiter (Level)|The Arbiter]]'' - 'Vadum is the commander of the Special Operations force (Arbiter, Special Operations Elites and [[Special Operations Grunts]]) that storms the [[Gas Mine]] and coordinates the attack from the safety of a Phantom.
* ''[[The Oracle (Level)|The Oracle]]'' - He joins in on the attack, fighting the [[Heretic]]s and [[Flood]]. At one point, however, he and his men withdraw, leaving the Arbiter to fight off the enemies to kill the [[Sesa 'Refumee|Heretic Leader]]. Then, 'Vadum appears to exfiltrate the Arbiter from the Gas Mine in his Phantom.
* ''[[Sacred Icon (Level)|The Sacred Icon]]'' - Near the end of the level, when the Arbiter reaches the SpecOp Elites' Base Camp, he meets up with Rtas 'Vadum who's in charge of the troops of the camp. Together  Rtas 'Vadum, the Arbiter and the other SpecOps Elites defend the area until a Phantom arrives and clears the area & drops a [[Spectre]].
* ''[[Quarantine Zone (Level)|Quarantine Zone]]'' - Special Operations Elites assisted the Arbiter in forging a path to the [[Library]]. About at the two-thirds mark, Rtas 'Vadumee sent a Phantom with another [[Spectre]] and more SpecOps Elites to assist. When the Covenant force reached the gondolas, further Elites defended the [[Gondola]] from Flood attacks. When the Gondola halted, Elites awaited on the Gondola to protect their sole exfiltration craft as the Arbiter retrieved the [[Index|Sacred Icon]]. It is likely that the [[Brute]]s slaughtered the remaining commandos that were defending the [[Gondola]] - one of the first acts of the [[Covenant Civil War]].
* ''[[The Great Journey (Level)|The Great Journey]]'' - Rtas 'Vadum escort the Arbiter to the mouth of the Brute fortress before leaving the Arbiter to kill the [[Brute Chieftain|Chieftain]] [[Tartarus]], moving ahead instead to retake a Brute-held [[CCS-class Battlecruiser]] in extreme low orbit (E.L.O.).

===''[[Halo 3]]''===

====[[Rtas 'Vadum]]====
*''[[Floodgate (Level)|Floodgate]]'' - 'Vadum appears in command of the ''[[Shadow of Intent]]'' and her accompanying [[Fleet]], showing the high amount of power he holds. He quickly aids in the latter end of the [[Battle of Voi]] and helps recover the recording of [[Cortana]] and then proceeds to stop the [[Flood]] infection by [[glassing]] the immediate area.
*''[[The Ark (Level)|The Ark]]'' - After the Elite Fleet and the ''[[UNSC Forward Unto Dawn]]'' jumped through the portal, Vadum immediately set to destroying the superior Brute Fleet. Despite his obvious hatred for them, this did not effect the tactics of him and his Fleet, giving them total victory. He later remarked [[SPARTAN-117]] with his destruction of a [[Scarab]].
*''[[The Covenant (Level)|The Covenant]]'' - During the assault of Truth's position, he led a bombardment of his shielding then prepared to make his landings when struck by a chunk of ''[[High Charity]]'' as it came out of slip space, crippling the vessel and making him abort the attack. 
*''[[Halo (Halo 3 Level)|Halo]]'' - He is only heard once, as he prepares to move away from the Ark and into the portal, carrying both his Elites and the humans who traveled with them to the Ark.
*''[[Halo 3 Credits|Epilogue]]'' - He is in the cutscene prior to the credits, in which he talks to the Arbiter, about the end of the Prophets and returning home. He openly relinquishes his command of the carrier to the Arbiter and they travel home on the now repaired ''Shadow of Intent''.

==Known SpecOps Commanders==
*[[Rtas 'Vadum]]

== Related Links ==
*[[Sangheili]]
*[[Special Operations Elite]]

== Sources ==
<references/>

{{Elite Ranks}}
[[Category:The Covenant]]
[[Category:Elites]]

[[Category:Ranks]]