Thel 'Vadam: Difference between revisions

Back on [[Sanghelios]], the Arbiter would become a symbol of Sangheili honor and resilience in the face of betrayal. Thel would attempt to unite the feudal states across their homeworld in forming the first coalition government since the [[Sangheili-San 'Shyuum War|1st Age of Conflict]]. However, many felt his ideals went against the ideals and religion of the Sangheili. Despite being greatly weakened, and in several ways defeated by humanity and the Prophets, many Sangheili retained their desire to eradicate humanity once and for all.  

As he arrived at 23 Librae, his ship was attacked by ''A Psalm Every Day''. Thel and his crew were taken by surprise, and the vessel's second salvo disabled the ''Thunder's'' weapons, communications and engines. ''A Psalm Every Day'' escaped while Kig-yar boarding craft and Spirits strafed the hull. Thel, increasingly frustrated, gave permission for his crew to abandon ship. However, this was a secret test in order to weed out the weaker Sangheili among his crew and eliminate them. Enemy Spirits destroyed the retreating craft in short order. Thel then ordered the destruction of the ''Retribution's Thunder'', which killed the boarding Kig-yar.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''pages 155-163''</ref> Thel, however, survived and was captured, along with most of the bridge crew. They ultimately managed to escape and hijack a [[Kig-yar shuttle]],<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''pages 169-172''</ref><ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''pages 187-190''</ref> taking them to [[Unnamed Kig-yar transport|another Kig-yar vessel]]. On the surface of [[Metisette]], Thel captured the leader of the warband, [[Reth]].<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''pages 194-203''</ref><ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''pages 214-217''</ref>

Escaping Reth's clandestine [[Unggoy]] army, Thel returned to the Kig-yar's vessel. Throughout the interrogation, the Sangheili were surprised by Reth's insistence that he was allying with the humans with the blessing of the [[Prophet of Truth|High Prophet of Truth]]. The sale of contraband were a bluff in order to location human worlds through tracking devices implanted in the weapons.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''pages 227-231''</ref> Reth eventually escaped when a loyal grunt switched off the energy barrier, fleeing via escape pod.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''pages 235-237''</ref> Thel then turned his eyes to the Rubble, as a large skirmish between UNSC [[UNSC Midsummer Night|forces]] and Kig-yar forces was taking place on the ''[[Infinite Spoils]]''.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''pages 251-252''</ref><ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 268''</ref> The Sangheili and his crew then boarded the ''Infinite Spoils'' and came face to face with [[Jai-006]], engaging him in a brief fight. The Spartan then fled the ship with the other UNSC forces. Thel, surprised at the strength of the human warrior, stayed behind and commandeered the ''Infinite Spoils''.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''pages 273-276''</ref><ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''pages 281-282''</ref>

At some point between 2535 and 2552, Thel's exceptional leadership and combat prowess earned him the rank of [[Supreme Commander]] of the Fleet of Particular Justice. Near the end of his time serving as Supreme Commander, he led the Covenant forces under his command to victory over the UNSC's greatest military stronghold. The [[Fall of Reach]] proved to be the highlight of Thel's service in the Covenant. As the battle ended, Thel ordered a flotilla of warships to follow the fleeing ''[[UNSC Pillar of Autumn]]''. The ''Autumn'''s course led them to holy Forerunner artifact of [[Installation 04]]. After confirming that the ring a creation of the "gods", the [[Prophet of Stewardship]], the highest ranking political figure with the Fleet, immediately claimed authority over the operation, claiming the mission was now a religious matter. As Thel was unwilling to relinquish command, and unable to contact ''[[High Charity]]'' to determine who held jurisdiction, a power struggle emerged between Thel and Steward for ultimate authority. As the [[Battle of Installation 04]] wore on, the Prophet began subverting Thel, misappropriating military forces to secure facilities on the ring. Thel sent a single infantry unit to the ''[[Ascendant Justice]]'' to relieve the Prophet, but it was destroyed on approach. The Stewart threatened further punishment for any future affronts to his leadership. As Thel assembled a strike force to physically relieve the Prophet, the emergency beacon on the ''[[Infinite Succor]]'' was activated. Thel dispatched a [[Special Operations]] force to assess the threat and procure the [[Minister of Etiology]].  As Thel was about to leave with his strike force for ''Ascendant Justice'', [[Commander]] [[Rtas 'Vadum|Rtas 'Vadumee]] returned to the ship and revealed the results of his mission: the [[Flood]] was on Halo.  

With the situation deteriorating, Thel ordered the evacuation of all ships from the ring, as well as shooting down any vessel which failed to return clean bioscans. When Thel's force arrived on ''Ascendant Justice'', he discovered that the Prophet of Stewardship had left for the ''[[Truth and Reconciliation]]''. The crew of the ''Ascendant Justice'' acknowledged Thel's authority as Supreme Commander without hesitation.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Flood]]''', ''2010 Adjunct''</ref> Unsurprisingly, Thel refused to come to the Steward's aid after its capture by the UNSC. These distractions were to cost Thel the battle, as SPARTAN-117 and Cortana successfully detonated, ''In Amber Clad'' under the nose of the Covenant's occupation. With little else to be done, Thel ordered his surviving ships to fall back. This retreat was to save his life, but not his honor. In an act that further humilated Thel, the ''Ascendant Justice'' was captured by [[John-117]] and a small human boarding party. Escaping the flagship before it jumped, Thel was called before the Covenant High Council to answer for his failures.

As 'Vadum prepared to bomb Truth's position, ''High Charity'' exited Slipspace, crashing into the Ark. In its plummet to the surface, High Charity scattered a barrage of infection capsules which crippled the carrier. The Arbiter led his forces in conjunction with the Marines to clear the third tower of Flood, with the Chief's assistance. As a security measure, the Arbiter escorted a distressed 343 Guilty Spark to reconnoiter the damage inflicted to the Ark by the Flood, leaving his Sangheili with the Chief to push on to the Citadel.