Canon

Rho 'Barutamee: Difference between revisions

From Halopedia, the Halo wiki

mNo edit summary
mNo edit summary
 
(56 intermediate revisions by 20 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Era|HCW}}
{{Status|Canon}}
<center>''For the friend of [[Arbiter]] [[Fal 'Chavamee]], see [[Roh]].''</center>
{{disambig header|the Covenant Supreme Commander|the friend of [[Arbiter]] [[Fal 'Chavamee]]|Roh}}
{{Character Infobox|variant=Cov
{{Character infobox
|variant=Cov
|name=Rho 'Barutamee
|name=Rho 'Barutamee
|homeworld=
|image=[[File:HFB-Rho.jpg|300px]]
|birth=
|homeworld=[[Sanghelios]]{{Ref/Site|Id=Rho|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/rho-barutamee|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Rho Barutamee|D=14|M=09|Y=2016}}{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=248}}
|death=[[2552#August|August 14, 2552]] (Onboard ''Long Night of Solace'', over Reach)
|birth=[[2479|March 23, 2479]]{{Ref/Reuse|Rho}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|rank=*[[Shipmaster]]
|death=Presumably [[2552#August|August 14, 2552]]{{Ref/Reuse|Rho}}{{Ref/Level|Id=hr solace|HR|Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace}}
|causeofdeath=
|parents=
|siblings=
|spouses=
|children=
|species=[[Sangheili]]
|species=[[Sangheili]]
|gender=
|gender=Male
|height=
|height={{Convert|259|cm|ftin|sp=us}}{{Ref/Reuse|Rho}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|weapons=
|mass={{Convert|375|lb|kg|disp=flip|sp=us}}{{Ref/Reuse|Rho}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|equipment=[[Sangheili combat harness]]
|vehicles= ''[[Long Night of Solace]]''
|hair=
|hair=
|eyes=
|eyes=Gray{{Ref/Reuse|Rho}}
|cyber=
|affiliation=*[[Covenant]]{{Ref/Book|Id=fb35|Halo: Fleet Battles - The Fall of Reach campaign guide|Page=35}}
|era=[[Human-Covenant War]]
**[[Ministry of Fervent Intercession]]{{Ref/Reuse|fb35}}
*[[Fall of Reach]]
|rank-title=Title|rank=[[Supreme Commander]]{{Ref/Site|Id=orders|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-taking-orders|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Taking Orders|D=07|M=04|Y=2019}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|sn=
|notable=
|notable=
|affiliation=[[Covenant Empire]]
*[[Covenant Navy]]
}}
}}


'''Rho 'Barutamee'''<ref name="essential">'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 111''</ref> was a [[Sangheili]] [[Shipmaster]] who served the [[Covenant Empire]] during the [[Human-Covenant War]].  
'''Rho 'Barutamee'''{{Ref/Book|Id=essential|EVG|Page=111}}, known by the epithet '''Master of Solace''',{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} was a veteran [[Sangheili]] [[Covenant fleet|fleet]] commander who served the [[Covenant]] [[Ministry of Fervent Intercession]] during the [[Human-Covenant War]]. During the conflict, Rho served as the [[shipmaster]] of the {{Pattern|Sh'wada|supercarrier}} ''[[Long Night of Solace]]'' and [[Supreme Commander]] of the [[Fleet of Valiant Prudence]].{{Ref/Reuse|orders}}{{Ref/Book|Id=fb33|Halo: Fleet Battles - The Fall of Reach campaign guide|Page=33}} His fleet was tasked with security and stewardship of [[Forerunner]] artifacts. 'Barutamee led his fleet in the opening stages of the [[Fall of Reach|Fall]] of [[Reach]], resulting in his presumed death.{{Ref/Reuse|Rho}}


==Battle of Reach==
==Biography==
Rho 'Barutamee was the Shipmaster of the [[CSO-class supercarrier]] ''[[Long Night of Solace]]'' by the year [[2552]]. That year, the ''Long Night of Solace'' was made the flagship of the ''[[Fleet of Valiant Prudence]]'', the [[task force]] sent to [[Reach]] ahead of the main Covenant invasion fleet, with 'Barutamee the overall commander of this [[Fall of Reach|first assault]].<ref name="essential"/>
===Early life and military career===
Rho 'Barutamee was born on [[Sanghelios]] in [[2479|March 23, 2479]].{{Ref/Reuse|Rho}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} 'Barutamee joined the [[Ministry of Fervent Intercession]], serving in the [[Covenant military]] as a [[Sangheili Zealot|Zealot]]. 'Barutamee aggressively rose through the ministry's ranks by exploiting the weaknesses of his former comrades and superiors.{{Ref/Reuse|fb35}} The Ministry of Fervent Intercession eventually selected him from among the Zealots and 'Barutamee was ascended to the post of [[Supreme Commander]] of the [[Fleet of Valiant Prudence]],{{Ref/Reuse|Rho}} a [[Covenant fleet]] charged with far-ranged scouting operations and the security of [[Forerunner]] artifacts. [[Covenant]] leadership entrusted 'Barutamee with a powerful [[Luminary]] from [[High Charity]], which he used to locate Forerunner relics across [[Milky Way|the galaxy]].{{Ref/Book|Id=lum|Halo: Fleet Battles - The Fall of Reach Campaign Guide|Page=5}} Rho 'Barutamee became the [[shipmaster]] of the {{Pattern|Sh'wada|supercarrier}} ''[[Long Night of Solace]]'' during the final years of the [[Human-Covenant War]].{{Ref/Reuse|essential}} At some point in his career, 'Barutamee became interested in seeking out the fabled [[Maethrillian]], the believed-homeworld of the Forerunner [[ecumene]]. Intending to locate the world himself, 'Barutamee had secretly amassed a collection of powerful Forerunner artifacts that helped point him in the right direction to the Capital.{{Ref/Reuse|fb35}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}


'Barutamee's vessel partook in the [[Battle at Szurdok Ridge]] on the surface of Reach, where [[UNSC Army]] forces accompanied by the [[SPARTAN-III]]s of [[Noble Team]] exposed the ''Long Night of Solace'' through the destruction of [[Spire One]], a communications tower that had been cloaking the vessel.<ref>'''[[Halo: Reach]]''', campaign level ''[[Tip of the Spear]]''</ref> 'Barutamee's vessels smashed the UNSC Army garrisons below before retreating to Reach's orbit. The ''Long Night of Solace'' was the primary target of [[Operation: UPPER CUT]], where the [[UNSC]] hijacked the [[SDV-class heavy corvette]] ''[[Ardent Prayer]]'' and used a rigged [[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine|slipspace drive]] to detonate underneath the supercarrier. Rho 'Barutamee was presumably killed along with his entire crew when the subsequent slipspace rupture ripped the vessel apart.<ref>'''[[Halo: Reach]]''', campaign level ''[[Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace]]''</ref>
In around [[2552]], 'Barutamee's Luminary detected Forerunner artifacts on a world in the [[human]]-inhabited [[Beta Eridani system]].{{Ref/Tabletop|Id=fb2|HFB|Scenario=Scenario Two: Contact}} The Fleet of Valiant Prudence traveled to the system and [[Battle of Beta Eridani|engaged]] [[UNSC]] forces. While the system's human residents attempted to flee,{{Ref/Tabletop|Id=fb1|HFB|Scenario=Scenario One: Flight!}} the fleet procured Beta Eridani's Forerunner relics; 'Barutamee studied the objects personally. The artifacts were "processed" through the Luminary and 'Barutamee realized that the objects pointed towards an uncharted system, though he recognized several [[Forerunner symbols|symbols]] on the artifacts that indicated danger, damage, and the marks of the [[Builder]]s' [[rate]]. Determined to embark to the mysterious system, 'Barutamee ordered the destruction of the remaining human forces in the Beta Eridani system to prevent any UNSC forces from following the Fleet of Valiant Prudence to its next destination.{{Ref/Reuse|fb35}}{{Ref/Reuse|fb2}}
 
===Fall of Reach===
{{Main|Fall of Reach}}
By [[2552#July|July 23, 2552]], the Fleet of Valiant Prudence had arrived at its next destination: the [[Epsilon Eridani system]], home to the UNSC stronghold of [[Reach]]. 'Barutamee was surprised to learn that the system boasted a massive human military presence in the form of the [[Epsilon Eridani Fleet]],{{Ref/Reuse|Rho}} so he begun preparing his fleet for the [[Fall of Reach|first assault]] on Reach.{{Ref/Reuse|essential}} However, 'Barutamee had ulterior motives aside from [[glassing]] Reach. He secretly continued to pursue his objective of locating the Capital and believed that the Forerunner artifacts on Reach were the final piece to the puzzle that was the Capital's location.{{Ref/Reuse|Rho}}{{Ref/Reuse|fb35}}
 
[[File:HFB-LongNightofSolace.png|thumb|250px|left|Rho 'Barutamee commanded his forces from ''Long Night of Solace'' at Reach.]]
'Barutamee led a hand-picked crew of Sangheili Zealots known as the [[Devoted Sentries]] from aboard the [[active camouflage|cloaked]] ''Long Night of Solace'' as they covertly searched for numerous Forerunner relics scattered across Reach.{{Ref/Reuse|Rho}} When the UNSC realized the Covenant had arrived in the system, a large-scale engagement began. The Covenant's arrival forced the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] research team at [[Teller Station]] to abandon their efforts at uncovering [[Site 17|a Forerunner installation]] beneath the surface of a planetoid in Epsilon Eridani's [[Oort cloud]]. As the team attempted one last dig, they inadvertently activated Forerunner systems within the installation, revealing the site's location to 'Barutamee and the Fleet of Valiant Prudence.{{Ref/Tabletop|Id=fb3|HFB|Scenario=Scenario Three: Evacuate}} The human scientists managed to recover a Forerunner artifact from within the installation and departed the Oort cloud; 'Barutamee ordered his fleet's reconnaissance elements to retrieve the artifact when he learned of the object's importance. However, Vice Admiral [[Michael Stanforth]] intended to lure the Covenant fleet away from the relic and into a trap over Reach.{{Ref/Tabletop|Id=fb4|HFB|Scenario=Scenario Four: Run!}} 'Barutamee continued to search for Forerunner artifacts that he hoped would reveal the location of the Capital. However, he feared that a massive fleet from the [[Ministry of Resolution]]{{Ref/Tabletop|Id=fb6|HFB|Scenario=Scenario Six: Left Jab}} en route to Reach would rob him of the chance to secret away relics from the other ministries and locate the Forerunner site.{{Ref/Reuse|Rho}} With his artifact recovery teams pinned down by UNSC forces on Reach's surface, 'Barutamee recognized that if his fleet could not locate an object of value before the second fleet's arrival, he would be forced to either evacuate and abandon many of his own Zealots in the process, or face interrogation by the [[Hierarchs]] for his impudence and apparent incompetence in the battle.{{Ref/Reuse|fb6}}
 
'Barutamee's vessel partook in the [[Battle at Szurdok Ridge]] on the surface of Reach, where [[UNSC Army]] forces accompanied by the [[Spartan-III]]s of [[Noble Team]] exposed ''Long Night of Solace'' through the destruction of [[Spire One]], a [[Deployment spire|communications tower]] that had been cloaking the vessel. In response, 'Barutamee destroyed {{UNSCShip|Grafton}}, the {{Class|Paris|heavy frigate}} that revealed the supercarrier's location by destroying the spire.<ref>''Halo: Reach'', campaign level [[Tip of the Spear]]</ref> 'Barutamee's vessels smashed the Army garrisons below before retreating to Reach's orbit.{{Ref/Reuse|hr solace}}
 
In response to the revelation of the supercarrier, UNSC commanders and Noble Team formulated two operations to eliminate the ship: [[Operation: UPPER CUT|Operations: UPPER CUT]] and [[Operation: LEFT JAB|LEFT JAB]]. Operation: LEFT JAB would serve as a mission to distract the Covenant fleet, while Noble Team destroyed ''Long Night of Solace'' with the rigged [[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine|slipspace drive]] of the {{UNSCShip|Savannah}}.{{Ref/Reuse|fb6}} On [[2552#August|August 14, 2552]], the operations were set into motion. While the Epsilon Eridani Fleet engaged the Fleet of Valiant Prudence, the significantly smaller Covenant fleet became stretched thin—leaving 'Barutamee's flagship open for a direct attack.{{Ref/Tabletop|Id=fb7|HFB|Scenario=Scenario Seven: Finishing Blow}} The UNSC hijacked the {{Pattern|Ceudar|heavy corvette}} ''[[Ardent Prayer]]'' disabled the ship's communications so it couldn't warn the supercarrier and activated the corvette's refueling track. The ''Long Night of Solace'' was caught completely by surprise when [[Jorge-052]] detonated the rigged slipspace drive underneath the supercarrier. Rho 'Barutamee was believed to be aboard ''Long Night of Solace'',{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} and thus presumably killed along with his entire crew when the subsequent slipspace rupture tore the ship in half or when its remains reentered the atmosphere and crashed on the surface near [[New Alexandria (location)|New Alexandria]].{{Ref/Reuse|Rho}}{{Ref/Reuse|hr solace}} Due to the supercarrier's crash-landing on Reach, Rho's body alongside the relics and secrets it held were entombed with him on the planet - meaning it is is impossible to confirm that the supreme commander was definitively killed.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
 
Following 'Barutamee's death, his lieutenant—Shipmaster [[Kantar 'Utaralee]]—assumed command of the splintered Fleet of Valiant Prudence. In a last ditch effort, 'Barutamee's fleet attempted to recover the Forerunner relic from Epsilon Eridani's Oort cloud, now held in a [[space station]] near [[Turul]].{{Ref/Tabletop|Id=fb8|HFB|Scenario=Scenario Eight: Rally Point Zulu}} The Ministry of Resolution's fleet arrived directly afterwards to engage UNSC forces at Reach.{{Ref/Reuse|hr solace}}
 
==Personality and traits==
Rho 'Barutamee was a skilled commander and an excellent tactician,{{Ref/Reuse|HFBLC}} and was noted to be unexpectedly reserved and thoughtful for a former [[Sangheili Zealot|Zealot]].{{Ref/Reuse|fb35}} He was a fearless leader, though 'Barutamee became afraid for the first time in decades when he realized that punishment from the [[Hierarchs]] was a possibility following his impudence and apparent ineptitude at the [[Fall of Reach]].{{Ref/Reuse|fb6}} He was disinterested in the [[Human-Covenant War|war]] against [[human]]ity,{{Ref/Reuse|Rho}} but he had no qualms with [[Battle of Beta Eridani|wiping]] out an [[Beta Eridani system|entire system]]'s human population to procure local Forerunner artifacts.{{Ref/Reuse|fb2}} 'Barutamee was very ambitious; as a Zealot, he aggressively climbed through the [[Ministry of Fervent Intercession]]'s ranks by exploiting weaknesses wherever he found them—taking advantage of greed, blind adherence to the [[Covenant religion]], and the ignorance of former allies and comrades alike in order to ascend to the post of [[Supreme Commander]].{{Ref/Reuse|fb35}} In battle, 'Barutamee often tactically ignored the [[United Nations Space Command]]'s attempts to find vulnerabilities in his fleet to exploit, though he realized that he could not afford such luxuries at the heavily defended [[Reach]].{{Ref/Reuse|fb6}}
 
Supreme Commander 'Barutamee was apparently a devout [[Sangheili]] and wished to claim [[Forerunner]] relics for himself. However, 'Barutamee's ambitions far exceeded the expectations of his enemies and rivals within the Ministry of Fervent Intercession.{{Ref/Reuse|fb35}} His personal objective was to locate the fabled [[Maethrillian]], the Forerunner capital of the [[ecumene]].{{Ref/Reuse|Rho}} To help achieve this goal, 'Barutamee had secretly and illegally accumulated a large collection of powerful Forerunner artifacts that he believed would aid in his search.{{Ref/Reuse|fb35}} 'Barutamee attempted to pursue his own goals at Reach, while following his superiors' orders. He became conflicted when he learned that a large [[Covenant fleet]] from the [[Ministry of Resolution]] was en route to Reach, and he feared that the larger fleet would rob him of his chance to locate the Capital.{{Ref/Reuse|Rho}}
 
==In-game information==
===''Halo: Fleet Battles''===
Supreme Commander Rho 'Barutamee is available as a Fleet Commander in ''[[Halo: Fleet Battles]]'' for 100 points. He is able to use four Zealots every full 1,000 points at the cost of 30 points each.{{Ref/Tabletop|Id=HFBLC|HFB|Detail=Fleet Commander card}}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:70%;text-align:center"
|+ <sup>SUPREME COMMANDER - ''Long Night of Solace''</sup><br>RHO 'BARUTAMEE - 100 points
|-
| ZEALOTS: 0-4 per full 1000 Points / 1VP KIA || Each Zealot costs +30 Points
|-
! Standard Orders !! Special Orders
|-
|
;Focused Attack
:Cost: 1 Order Attack die
:An element may re-roll up to two Halo attack dice. These dice may only be re-rolled once. This order is issued after any initial dice are rolled during either the attack segment or the boarding resolution phase.
||
;Power to the Defenses
:Cost: 1 Order Defense die
:An element may re-roll a single initial defense array die rolled by an element. This die may only be re-rolled once. This order may be issued after any initial defense dice pool roll.
|-
|
;Form Up!
:Cost: 1 Order Command die
:The Fleet Commander may order the re-building of a battle group up to a maximum build rating of 6. This order must be issued during the execute orders step of the order dice phase.
| rowspan="2" |
;Fix Those Defense!
:Cost: 3 Order Defense die
: Remove all vulnerable markers from a capital element in the fleet. Issue this order during the orders step of the selected element's activation.
|-
|
;Enhanced Targeting
:Cost: 3 Order Attack die
:Increase the firepower rating of a firing solution by +2. This order must be issued prior to rolling the initial attack dice pool, either when rolling for firing solutions or when rolling as part of a defensive dice pool roll against enemy boarders.
|-
! colspan=2 | Unique Ability
|-
| colspan=2 |
:Rho 'Barutamee is a skilled military leader and an excellent tactician. He can therefore choose to re-roll the initiative dice each turn, but the second result must be accepted.
|}
 
==Production notes==
Rho 'Barutamee was first mentioned as the [[shipmaster]] of ''[[Long Night of Solace]]'' in the ''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]'', released in [[2011]].{{Ref/Reuse|essential}} 'Barutamee was later featured as the first [[Covenant]] "Fleet Commander" in ''[[Halo: Fleet Battles]]'', released in [[2015]], where his backstory and actions at the [[Fall of Reach]] were expanded upon. Those who pre-ordered ''Fleet Battles'' were given a detailed bust of 'Barutamee.{{Ref/Reuse|orders}}
 
==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:HFB Busts Concept.jpg|Concept art for the bust of Rho.
File:HFB-Rhobust.png|An unpainted bust of 'Barutamee.
File:HFB-Rho&dice.png|A colored bust of 'Barutamee.
File:HFB-Lotsofstuff.jpg|A view of Rho's commander card in ''Halo: Fleet Battles''.
</gallery>
 
==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: Fleet Battles]]'' {{1st}}


==Sources==
==Sources==
<references/>
{{Ref/Sources}}
 
{{Elites}}


[[Category:Elites (Characters)]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Barutamee, Rho}}
[[Category:Sangheili characters]]
[[Category:Covenant military personnel]]

Latest revision as of 11:59, August 10, 2024

This article is about the Covenant Supreme Commander. For the friend of Arbiter Fal 'Chavamee, see Roh.
Rho 'Barutamee
Illustration of Rho 'Barutamee.
Biographical information

Homeworld:

Sanghelios[1][2]

Born:

March 23, 2479[1][2]

Died:

Presumably August 14, 2552[1][3] (aged 73)

Personal details

Species:

Sangheili

Gender:

Male

Height:

259 centimeters (8 ft 6 in)[1][2]

Weight:

170 kilograms (375 lb)[1][2]

Eye color:

Gray[1]

Political and military information

Affiliation:

Title:

Supreme Commander[5][2]

 

Rho 'Barutamee[6], known by the epithet Master of Solace,[2] was a veteran Sangheili fleet commander who served the Covenant Ministry of Fervent Intercession during the Human-Covenant War. During the conflict, Rho served as the shipmaster of the Sh'wada-pattern supercarrier Long Night of Solace and Supreme Commander of the Fleet of Valiant Prudence.[5][7] His fleet was tasked with security and stewardship of Forerunner artifacts. 'Barutamee led his fleet in the opening stages of the Fall of Reach, resulting in his presumed death.[1]

Biography[edit]

Early life and military career[edit]

Rho 'Barutamee was born on Sanghelios in March 23, 2479.[1][2] 'Barutamee joined the Ministry of Fervent Intercession, serving in the Covenant military as a Zealot. 'Barutamee aggressively rose through the ministry's ranks by exploiting the weaknesses of his former comrades and superiors.[4] The Ministry of Fervent Intercession eventually selected him from among the Zealots and 'Barutamee was ascended to the post of Supreme Commander of the Fleet of Valiant Prudence,[1] a Covenant fleet charged with far-ranged scouting operations and the security of Forerunner artifacts. Covenant leadership entrusted 'Barutamee with a powerful Luminary from High Charity, which he used to locate Forerunner relics across the galaxy.[8] Rho 'Barutamee became the shipmaster of the Sh'wada-pattern supercarrier Long Night of Solace during the final years of the Human-Covenant War.[6] At some point in his career, 'Barutamee became interested in seeking out the fabled Maethrillian, the believed-homeworld of the Forerunner ecumene. Intending to locate the world himself, 'Barutamee had secretly amassed a collection of powerful Forerunner artifacts that helped point him in the right direction to the Capital.[4][2]

In around 2552, 'Barutamee's Luminary detected Forerunner artifacts on a world in the human-inhabited Beta Eridani system.[9] The Fleet of Valiant Prudence traveled to the system and engaged UNSC forces. While the system's human residents attempted to flee,[10] the fleet procured Beta Eridani's Forerunner relics; 'Barutamee studied the objects personally. The artifacts were "processed" through the Luminary and 'Barutamee realized that the objects pointed towards an uncharted system, though he recognized several symbols on the artifacts that indicated danger, damage, and the marks of the Builders' rate. Determined to embark to the mysterious system, 'Barutamee ordered the destruction of the remaining human forces in the Beta Eridani system to prevent any UNSC forces from following the Fleet of Valiant Prudence to its next destination.[4][9]

Fall of Reach[edit]

Main article: Fall of Reach

By July 23, 2552, the Fleet of Valiant Prudence had arrived at its next destination: the Epsilon Eridani system, home to the UNSC stronghold of Reach. 'Barutamee was surprised to learn that the system boasted a massive human military presence in the form of the Epsilon Eridani Fleet,[1] so he begun preparing his fleet for the first assault on Reach.[6] However, 'Barutamee had ulterior motives aside from glassing Reach. He secretly continued to pursue his objective of locating the Capital and believed that the Forerunner artifacts on Reach were the final piece to the puzzle that was the Capital's location.[1][4]

Rho 'Barutamee commanded his forces from Long Night of Solace at Reach.

'Barutamee led a hand-picked crew of Sangheili Zealots known as the Devoted Sentries from aboard the cloaked Long Night of Solace as they covertly searched for numerous Forerunner relics scattered across Reach.[1] When the UNSC realized the Covenant had arrived in the system, a large-scale engagement began. The Covenant's arrival forced the Office of Naval Intelligence research team at Teller Station to abandon their efforts at uncovering a Forerunner installation beneath the surface of a planetoid in Epsilon Eridani's Oort cloud. As the team attempted one last dig, they inadvertently activated Forerunner systems within the installation, revealing the site's location to 'Barutamee and the Fleet of Valiant Prudence.[11] The human scientists managed to recover a Forerunner artifact from within the installation and departed the Oort cloud; 'Barutamee ordered his fleet's reconnaissance elements to retrieve the artifact when he learned of the object's importance. However, Vice Admiral Michael Stanforth intended to lure the Covenant fleet away from the relic and into a trap over Reach.[12] 'Barutamee continued to search for Forerunner artifacts that he hoped would reveal the location of the Capital. However, he feared that a massive fleet from the Ministry of Resolution[13] en route to Reach would rob him of the chance to secret away relics from the other ministries and locate the Forerunner site.[1] With his artifact recovery teams pinned down by UNSC forces on Reach's surface, 'Barutamee recognized that if his fleet could not locate an object of value before the second fleet's arrival, he would be forced to either evacuate and abandon many of his own Zealots in the process, or face interrogation by the Hierarchs for his impudence and apparent incompetence in the battle.[13]

'Barutamee's vessel partook in the Battle at Szurdok Ridge on the surface of Reach, where UNSC Army forces accompanied by the Spartan-IIIs of Noble Team exposed Long Night of Solace through the destruction of Spire One, a communications tower that had been cloaking the vessel. In response, 'Barutamee destroyed UNSC Grafton, the Paris-class heavy frigate that revealed the supercarrier's location by destroying the spire.[14] 'Barutamee's vessels smashed the Army garrisons below before retreating to Reach's orbit.[3]

In response to the revelation of the supercarrier, UNSC commanders and Noble Team formulated two operations to eliminate the ship: Operations: UPPER CUT and LEFT JAB. Operation: LEFT JAB would serve as a mission to distract the Covenant fleet, while Noble Team destroyed Long Night of Solace with the rigged slipspace drive of the UNSC Savannah.[13] On August 14, 2552, the operations were set into motion. While the Epsilon Eridani Fleet engaged the Fleet of Valiant Prudence, the significantly smaller Covenant fleet became stretched thin—leaving 'Barutamee's flagship open for a direct attack.[15] The UNSC hijacked the Ceudar-pattern heavy corvette Ardent Prayer disabled the ship's communications so it couldn't warn the supercarrier and activated the corvette's refueling track. The Long Night of Solace was caught completely by surprise when Jorge-052 detonated the rigged slipspace drive underneath the supercarrier. Rho 'Barutamee was believed to be aboard Long Night of Solace,[2] and thus presumably killed along with his entire crew when the subsequent slipspace rupture tore the ship in half or when its remains reentered the atmosphere and crashed on the surface near New Alexandria.[1][3] Due to the supercarrier's crash-landing on Reach, Rho's body alongside the relics and secrets it held were entombed with him on the planet - meaning it is is impossible to confirm that the supreme commander was definitively killed.[2]

Following 'Barutamee's death, his lieutenant—Shipmaster Kantar 'Utaralee—assumed command of the splintered Fleet of Valiant Prudence. In a last ditch effort, 'Barutamee's fleet attempted to recover the Forerunner relic from Epsilon Eridani's Oort cloud, now held in a space station near Turul.[16] The Ministry of Resolution's fleet arrived directly afterwards to engage UNSC forces at Reach.[3]

Personality and traits[edit]

Rho 'Barutamee was a skilled commander and an excellent tactician,[17] and was noted to be unexpectedly reserved and thoughtful for a former Zealot.[4] He was a fearless leader, though 'Barutamee became afraid for the first time in decades when he realized that punishment from the Hierarchs was a possibility following his impudence and apparent ineptitude at the Fall of Reach.[13] He was disinterested in the war against humanity,[1] but he had no qualms with wiping out an entire system's human population to procure local Forerunner artifacts.[9] 'Barutamee was very ambitious; as a Zealot, he aggressively climbed through the Ministry of Fervent Intercession's ranks by exploiting weaknesses wherever he found them—taking advantage of greed, blind adherence to the Covenant religion, and the ignorance of former allies and comrades alike in order to ascend to the post of Supreme Commander.[4] In battle, 'Barutamee often tactically ignored the United Nations Space Command's attempts to find vulnerabilities in his fleet to exploit, though he realized that he could not afford such luxuries at the heavily defended Reach.[13]

Supreme Commander 'Barutamee was apparently a devout Sangheili and wished to claim Forerunner relics for himself. However, 'Barutamee's ambitions far exceeded the expectations of his enemies and rivals within the Ministry of Fervent Intercession.[4] His personal objective was to locate the fabled Maethrillian, the Forerunner capital of the ecumene.[1] To help achieve this goal, 'Barutamee had secretly and illegally accumulated a large collection of powerful Forerunner artifacts that he believed would aid in his search.[4] 'Barutamee attempted to pursue his own goals at Reach, while following his superiors' orders. He became conflicted when he learned that a large Covenant fleet from the Ministry of Resolution was en route to Reach, and he feared that the larger fleet would rob him of his chance to locate the Capital.[1]

In-game information[edit]

Halo: Fleet Battles[edit]

Supreme Commander Rho 'Barutamee is available as a Fleet Commander in Halo: Fleet Battles for 100 points. He is able to use four Zealots every full 1,000 points at the cost of 30 points each.[17]

SUPREME COMMANDER - Long Night of Solace
RHO 'BARUTAMEE - 100 points
ZEALOTS: 0-4 per full 1000 Points / 1VP KIA Each Zealot costs +30 Points
Standard Orders Special Orders
Focused Attack
Cost: 1 Order Attack die
An element may re-roll up to two Halo attack dice. These dice may only be re-rolled once. This order is issued after any initial dice are rolled during either the attack segment or the boarding resolution phase.
Power to the Defenses
Cost: 1 Order Defense die
An element may re-roll a single initial defense array die rolled by an element. This die may only be re-rolled once. This order may be issued after any initial defense dice pool roll.
Form Up!
Cost: 1 Order Command die
The Fleet Commander may order the re-building of a battle group up to a maximum build rating of 6. This order must be issued during the execute orders step of the order dice phase.
Fix Those Defense!
Cost: 3 Order Defense die
Remove all vulnerable markers from a capital element in the fleet. Issue this order during the orders step of the selected element's activation.
Enhanced Targeting
Cost: 3 Order Attack die
Increase the firepower rating of a firing solution by +2. This order must be issued prior to rolling the initial attack dice pool, either when rolling for firing solutions or when rolling as part of a defensive dice pool roll against enemy boarders.
Unique Ability
Rho 'Barutamee is a skilled military leader and an excellent tactician. He can therefore choose to re-roll the initiative dice each turn, but the second result must be accepted.

Production notes[edit]

Rho 'Barutamee was first mentioned as the shipmaster of Long Night of Solace in the Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, released in 2011.[6] 'Barutamee was later featured as the first Covenant "Fleet Commander" in Halo: Fleet Battles, released in 2015, where his backstory and actions at the Fall of Reach were expanded upon. Those who pre-ordered Fleet Battles were given a detailed bust of 'Barutamee.[5]

Gallery[edit]

  • Concept art for the bust of Rho.

    Concept art for the bust of Rho.

  • An unpainted bust of 'Barutamee.

    An unpainted bust of 'Barutamee.

  • A colored bust of 'Barutamee.

    A colored bust of 'Barutamee.

  • A view of Rho's commander card in Halo: Fleet Battles.

    A view of Rho's commander card in Halo: Fleet Battles.

List of appearances[edit]

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Halo Waypoint, Rho Barutamee (Retrieved on Sep 14, 2016) [archive]
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 248
  3. ^ a b c d Halo: Reach, campaign level Long Night of Solace
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Halo: Fleet Battles - The Fall of Reach campaign guide, page 35
  5. ^ a b c Halo Waypoint, Canon Fodder - Taking Orders (Retrieved on Apr 7, 2019) [archive]
  6. ^ a b c d Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 111
  7. ^ Halo: Fleet Battles - The Fall of Reach campaign guide, page 33
  8. ^ Halo: Fleet Battles - The Fall of Reach Campaign Guide, page 5
  9. ^ a b c Halo: Fleet Battles, Scenario Two: Contact
  10. ^ Halo: Fleet Battles, Scenario One: Flight!
  11. ^ Halo: Fleet Battles, Scenario Three: Evacuate
  12. ^ Halo: Fleet Battles, Scenario Four: Run!
  13. ^ a b c d e Halo: Fleet Battles, Scenario Six: Left Jab
  14. ^ Halo: Reach, campaign level Tip of the Spear
  15. ^ Halo: Fleet Battles, Scenario Seven: Finishing Blow
  16. ^ Halo: Fleet Battles, Scenario Eight: Rally Point Zulu
  17. ^ a b Halo: Fleet Battles: Fleet Commander card
Retrieved from "https://www.halopedia.org/index.php?title=Rho_%27Barutamee&oldid=1641426"