Editing Special Operations Unggoy

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{{Unit infobox|variant=Cov

|affiliation=[[Covenant]]

'''Special Operations''' is an [[Unggoy]] [[rank]] in the [[Covenant military]].<ref> '''Halo Encyclopedia''', ''pages 142-143''</ref><ref> '''Halo: The Essential Visual Guide''', ''page 87''</ref>

[[Unggoy]] of this rank are part of the [[Covenant Special Operations|Special Operations division]] of the Covenant. Normally, Unggoy are poorly trained for combat and are usually deployed in massive numbers as cannon fodder. However, if they are given proper training they can acquire specialized roles and provide excellent support to Special Operations teams. Often standard infantry Unggoy find themselves promoted to this rank when their commanding [[Sangheili]] is folded into the Special Operations division.<ref>'''[[Library (feature)]]''', SpecOps Grunt</ref> Generally tougher, smarter, and certainly more aggressive than their lesser brethren, Special Operations Unggoy are often deployed with [[Special Operations Sangheili]] team leaders and specialized equipment and sometimes will be lead by [[Unggoy Ultra]]s. These resilient, loyal, and dangerous operatives are not to be underestimated under any circumstances. If a Special Operations Grunt's leading Sangheili is killed, rather than panicking and fleeing, they will often seek revenge, finding cover and sending [[Type-1 Antipersonnel Grenade|plasma grenade]]s and plasma bolts accurately at the opponent who killed the Sangheili. They are also much more accurate than their counterparts, and their armor is much more resilient to damage than other [[Unggoy]] Ranks.

Special Operations Unggoy were widely used by the [[Covenant]] during its [[Human-Covenant War|genocidal campaign]] against [[Human|humanity]]. Often serving under their [[Special Operations Sangheili|Sangheili counterparts]], these highly-trained Unggoy were capable of being deployed to undertake the most perilous of missions. During the pre-invasion of the human colony world of [[Reach]], the [[Fleet of Valiant Prudence]] discreetly deployed a team of [[Sangheili Zealot]]s to disable [[Visegrád Relay|one]] of the planet's communication outposts at [[Visegrád]]. A squad of Special Operations Unggoy were present deep within the facility by the time [[SPARTAN-III]] [[NOBLE Team]] responded to the sabotage. These Unggoy were protecting one of the Zealots as he worked on a junction. When [[Jorge-052]] and [[SPARTAN-B312]] entered the area, the Special Operations Unggoy were defeated by the humans, with the Zealot falling shortly afterwards.<ref>'''[[Halo: Reach]]''', campaign level ''[[Winter Contingency (level)|Winter Contingency]]''</ref>

When the Covenant began their [[Fall of Reach|invasion of Reach]], they established various strongholds across the [[Szurdok Ridge]] at [[Ütközet]], including one in a [[BXR Mining Corporation]] facility. When the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] [[Battle at Szurdok Ridge|attacked]] these strongholds on the morning of August 12, a group of Special Operations Unggoy were present in the BXR facility, along with a Sangheili Zealot and other Covenant forces. These forces were defeated by a UNSC force lead by [[Kat-B320]] and [[SPARTAN-B312]], who passed through their facility in order to find and destroy a Covenant [[Type-38 Tyrant|AA gun]].<ref>'''Halo: Reach''', campaign level ''[[Tip of the Spear]]''</ref> Towards the end of the battle, during the [[Battle of Asźod]], a squad of Special Operations Unggoy [[Suicide attack|ignited plasma grenades]] in a suicidal attempt to stop Spartans [[Emile-A239]] and [[SPARTAN-B312|Noble Six]] but failed in their attack. Several more were present guarding the [[Mark 2488 Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|"Onager" mass driver]] from being manned by human forces along with a group of Sangheili Zealots and a [[Sangheili Field Marshal|Field Marshal]]. They were unable to stop Noble Six, who eliminated the Covenant force and took control of the mass driver, destroying untold numbers of [[Type-26 Ground Support Aircraft|Banshees]] and [[Type-52 Troop Carrier|Phantoms]] as well as crippling a [[CCS-class battlecruiser]] when it attempted to open fire on the departing [[UNSC Pillar of Autumn|''Pillar of Autumn'']].<ref>'''Halo: Reach''', campaign level ''[[The Pillar of Autumn (Halo: Reach level)|The Pillar of Autumn]]''</ref>

During the later stages of the [[Battle of Installation 04]], the [[Flood]] parasite managed to escape containment and soon spread across the surface of the installation. At least [[Brilliant Gift|one]] Covenant [[Type-25 Troop Carrier|Spirit]] was captured by the Flood. They used the dropship to board the [[Covenant agricultural support ship|agricultural support ship]] [[Infinite Succor|''Infinite Succor'']] unbeknownst to the rest of the [[Fleet of Particular Justice|fleet]]. When the ship lost communication with the rest of the fleet, [[Supreme Commander]] [[Thel 'Vadam|Thel 'Vadamee]] assembled a team of [[Special Operations Sangheili]] and Special Operations Unggoy lead by [[Special Operations Commander|Commander]] [[Rtas 'Vadum|Rtas 'Vadumee]] to retake the ship from what was assumed to be human forces at that point. During the events aboard the ''Infinite Succor'', all members of the Special Operations team were killed or infected by the Flood, leaving 'Vadumee as the sole survivor.<ref name="HGN">'''[[Halo Graphic Novel]]''', ''[[The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor]]''</ref> The Flood were able to overwhelm the [[CCS-class battlecruiser|cruiser]] [[Truth and Reconciliation|''Truth and Reconciliation'']] which had been holding position near the surface of the installation. A strike team consisting of Special Operations Sangheili and Unggoy were sent in to neutralize the Flood and prepare the ship for immediate departure. Over the course of the battle, many Spirit dropships and Banshees were seen deploying Special Operations forces into the cruiser by [[SPARTAN-II program|SPARTAN]] [[John-117]].<ref>'''Halo: Combat Evolved''', campaign level ''[[Keyes (level)|Keyes]]''</ref>  By the time the remaining human forces on the ring stormed the ''Truth and Reconciliation'', the strike team and the Flood had managed to nearly wipe each other out.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Flood]]''', ''page ??''</ref> Towards the close of the battle, a contingent of Special Operations forces consisting of Sangheili and Unggoy were present on board the crashed [[UNSC Pillar of Autumn|''Pillar of Autumn'']], where they battled against the Flood as well as [[Aggressor Sentinel|Sentinel]] forces.

Shortly after the Battle of Installation 04, the [[Hierarch|Prophets]] sent a team of [[Covenant Special Operations|Special Operations forces]] consisting of Sangheili and Unggoy to a [[Threshold gas mine|gas mine]] in the atmosphere of [[Threshold]] to kill [[Sesa 'Refumee]] and the [[Sesa 'Refumee's heretic faction|heretic forces]] under his command. Lead by Rtas 'Vadum and newly-adorned [[Arbiter]] Thel 'Vadam, the team was able to complete their mission despite the unexpected entrance of the [[Flood]] into the battle.<ref>'''[[Halo 2]]''', campaign level ''[[The Arbiter (level)|The Arbiter]]''</ref><ref>'''[[Halo 2]]''', campaign level ''[[The Oracle (level)|The Oracle]]''</ref>  

While many Special Operations Unggoy remained loyal to the Sangheili when they were [[Great Schism|cast out]] of the Covenant,<ref>'''[[Halo 2]]''', campaign level ''[[Gravemind (level)|Gravemind]]''</ref> many more remained loyal to the Covenant, now under the command of the [[Jiralhanae]]. These Special Operations Unggoy would continue to fight on behalf of the hegemony during the latter stages of the [[Battle of Earth]], as well as the [[Battle of Installation 00]].<ref>'''[[Halo 3]]'''</ref>

Special Operations Unggoy are denoted by their signature jet-black armor, which matches the black [[Sangheili combat harness|armor]] of their Sangheili commanders. In ''[[Halo 2]]'', they are occasionally equipped with [[active camouflage]]. They are only hard to kill when they are carrying a [[Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher|Needler]], since the Needler does not generate a glow unlike Covenant [[plasma]] weapons.

Special Operations Unggoy almost never panic during combat, as the [[Unggoy Minor|Minor]] and [[Unggoy Major]]s almost always do when their leader is killed. They often wield [[Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher|Needler]]s, [[Type-33 Light Anti-Armor Weapon|fuel rod gun]]s, [[Type-1 Antipersonnel Grenade|plasma grenade]]s, [[Type-52 Guided Munitions Launcher/Explosive|plasma launcher]]s and occasionally [[Type-25 Directed Energy Pistol|plasma pistol]]s. The biggest concern of facing a Special Operations Unggoy, however, is that a [[Special Operations Sangheili]] is more than likely nearby. Unggoy of this rank are not to be underestimated, though. Sometimes if the highest ranking Sangheili is down, the Special Operations Unggoy will run, but to better cover and will usually send out deadly and accurate barrages of plasma grenades. This can be fatal on the higher difficulties. Like earlier, they are not to be trifled with and must be taken down with precision and speed to allow the player to survive the [[Legendary]] difficulty.

*Special Operations Unggoy in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' are similar to [[Heretic Unggoy|their Heretic "brothers"]]. They are not deployed as cannon fodder, use either needlers or fuel rod guns, only cower in the presence of the Flood, and work alongside similar-ranking Sangheili.

*Every Special Operations Unggoy in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' has either a [[Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher|Needler]] or a [[Type-33 Light Anti-Armor Weapon|fuel rod gun]], as per their status as elite infantry. The only exception to this is an [[Easter Eggs|Easter egg]], the "[[Thirsty Grunt]]", who has a [[Type-25 Directed Energy Pistol|plasma pistol]].

*In the ''Halo 2'' level ''The Oracle'''s opening cinematic, the Unggoy that file in after the Sangheili have no weapons, but they have plasma pistols when gameplay starts.

*Many players have mistaken the Special Operations Unggoy in ''Halo 3'' for Ultras, due to their lighter coloured armour, but Bungie.net states that they are indeed Special Operations.

*[[Eric Osborne|Urk]] nicknamed the Special Operations Unggoy of ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' "[[wikia:c:transformers:Starscream (G1)|Starscreams]]" because of the spires on their shoulders.<ref>[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=BWU_061110|''Bungie Weekly Update: 6.11.10'']</ref>

<gallery widths="150" captionalign="left">

File:800px-SpecOpsGrunt.jpg|A Special Operations Unggoy in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' wielding a [[Type-33 Light Anti-Armor Weapon|fuel rod gun]].

File:Yayaya.JPG|A Special Operations Unggoy in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''.

File:H2A-SpecOpsUnggoy.png|A Special Operations Unggoy with a [[Type-25 plasma rifle|plasma rifle]] in ''Halo 2: Anniversary''.

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