Sangheili Ultra: Difference between revisions

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*Rtas 'Vadumee is the only Ultra featured that does not have black/steel as his secondary armor color. This may hint that secondary colors play an important role in an Elite's armor, much like modern day function badges play on military uniforms. Black may hint at infantry or ground combat positions while white, as in Rtas' case, may hint at Special Operations. Or, it may simply imply that Rtas is a slightly higher/lower rank (as with the relation with Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel) or position (as with the relation with a Sergeant Major and a Command Sergeant Major) than a normal Ultra. It may just serve to differentiate him from other Ultras.
*Rtas 'Vadumee is the only Ultra featured that does not have black/steel as his secondary armor color. This may hint that secondary colors play an important role in an Elite's armor, much like modern day function badges play on military uniforms. Black may hint at infantry or ground combat positions while white, as in Rtas' case, may hint at Special Operations. Or, it may simply imply that Rtas is a slightly higher/lower rank (as with the relation with Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel) or position (as with the relation with a Sergeant Major and a Command Sergeant Major) than a normal Ultra. It may just serve to differentiate him from other Ultras.


*Given the sheer size of the Covenent's military, the majority of [[Ship Master]]s are probably Ultras. While an Ultra would probably not be the Ship Master of a capital ship such as a gargantuan [[Assault Carrier]], an Ultra may be given command of a [[CCS-class battlecruiser]]. [[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]] also confirmed a lower rank, Major Domo, holding the title of ship master (although later promoted to Zealot to command a fleet).
*Given the sheer size of the Covenent's military, the majority of [[Ship Master]]s are probably Ultras. While an Ultra would probably not be the Ship Master of a capital ship such as a gargantuan [[Assault Carrier]], an Ultra probably would be given command of a [[CCS-class battlecruiser]]. [[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]] also confirmed a lower rank, Major Domo, holding the title of ship master (although later promoted to Zealot to command a fleet).


*Since Major Domos are called Half-Commanders, it is possible that Ultras are simply called Commander.
*Since Major Domos are called Half-Commanders, it is possible that Ultras are simply called Commander.

Revision as of 13:38, April 16, 2007

Template:Covenant Rank Infobox

Were you looking for Ultra Grunts or Honor Guard Ultras?

Ultra Elite is a Covenant Sangheili (Elite) rank.

Titles

File:Ultracapt.jpg
An Ultra ready to attack.

Standard

The standard Ultra Elites command specific operations and are the Covenant's equivalent to field officers (possibly along with Major Domo elites). They are subordinate to Zealots, who command fleets and armies.

In Halo 2, Ultras are seen defending a Scarab walker in the level Metropolis and warring with the Covenant Loyalists for the Mausoleum of the Arbiter.

Special Operations Commander

Thus far, Rtas 'Vadumee is the only known officer holding this title. A Spec Ops Commander commands a troupe of Special Operations Elites, as the name implies.

It is highly probable that other Elite castes hold this position as well, depending on the size of the spec ops units they command. Spec Ops Elites are probably not commanded by anything lower ranked than another Spec Ops Elite, but larger units (larger than the one commanded by Rtas 'Vadumee) may be commanded by Zealots, thus appearance of the armor may vary greatly.

Combat

File:UltraElite01.jpg
An Ultra Elite ready to attack Old Mombasa.

Like their Zealot superiors, the Ultras are extremely skilled warriors. They also possess extra-strong energy shields that can withstand several times as much damage as those possessed by regular Elites, and they can take more physical damage as well. They often fight with heavy or dual-wielded weapons. Many also carry Energy Swords as their secondary weapon; when enemies get too close, or deplete their shield, Ultras let out a war cry, drop their currently wielded weapon, and pull the sword out for close combat. The 'Ultras' are able to continue in sustained heavy combat long after most Elite warriors' shields would have been depleted. They are particularly effective in close quarters combat, where their stronger energy shields and Energy Swords allow them take down large numbers of enemies. They are the only Elites capable of standing a shotgun shot or a plasma grenade stick.

Physical Appearance

Ultra Elites wear white standard Elite armor.

Appearances

Several Ultra Elite corpses were seen in Halo: Combat Evolved - presumably killed in combat with the Flood - but they do not appear in battle until Halo 2. However, even in Halo 2, they are infrequent in number. Yet one of the main protagonists of Halo 2, Rtas 'Vadumee, better known as the "Special Operations Commander" or as "Half-Jaw", is an Ultra Elite. Rtas commands a force of Special Operations Elites that greatly assist the Arbiter in almost all of his battles on the Threshold Gas Mine and on Installation 05, although he only physically fights in four levels - Oracle, Sacred Icon, Quarantine Zone, and The Great Journey.

Halo: Combat Evolved

Halo 2

Ultra Elites appear more frequently on the higher difficulty levels; Heroic and Legendary, as fitting with their increased difficulty and the Ultra Elite's greater combat assets that the lower Major Domo and Minor Domos.

Rtas 'Vadumee

The following is a list of areas that 'Vadumee appears in, on any of the four difficulties:

File:HalfJaw.png
A modded image of Rtas 'Vadumee with two energy swords.
  • The Arbiter - Rtas 'Vadumee 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 - Rtas 'Vadumee joins in the attack, fighting the Heretics and the Flood. At one point, however, he and his men withdraw, leaving the Arbiter to fight off the enemies to kill the Heretic Leader. Then, 'Vadumee appears to exfiltrate the Arbiter from the Gas Mine in his Phantom.
  • Sacred Icon - Special Operations Elites once again under the command of Rtas 'Vadumee held a Covenant reinforcement point by way of Plasma Cannon, Energy Sword, and Plasma Rifle for the Arbiter to join them in the strike to retrieve the Index from the Library. They held out long enough for a Phantom with further Special Operations Elites and several vehicles, including a Specters and two Ghosts.
  • 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 Specter and more Special Operations Elites to assist. When the Covenant force reached the gondolas, further Special Operations Elites defended the gondola from Flood attacks. When the gondola halted, Special Operations Elites awaited on the gondola to protect their sole exfiltration craft as the Arbiter retrieved the Sacred Icon. It is likely that the Brutes slaughtered the remaining commandos that were defending the Gondola - one of the first acts of the Covenant Civil War.
  • Uprising - Appears only in a cutscene to learn of the Brute's betrayal.
  • The Great Journey - Rtas 'Vadumee drives a Wraith, escorting the Arbiter to the mouth of the Brute fortress before leaving the Arbiter, moving instead to retake a Brute-held CCS-class Battlecruiser in extreme low orbit. (E.L.O.)

Easy & Normal Difficulties

Heroic & Legendary Difficulties

  • Cairo Station - An Ultra Elite, armed with an Energy Sword was in the rear vanguard of the Covenant force that deployed in Hangar A-02. A second, also armed with an Energy Sword, kills the Master Gunnery Sergeant in Armory A-01. On the easier difficulties, the Master Gunnery Sergeant is killed by a Stealth Elite with a Plasma Rifle.
  • Outskirts -
    • An Ultra Elite leads the first Covenant counterattack against the UNSC-held position near the Pelican crash site at the start of Outskirts.
    • An Ultra Elite leads the attack on the Hotel Zanzibar in New Mombasa. He operates a Plasma Cannon until SPARTAN-117 approaches too close, and then he will charge with an Energy Sword.
  • Metropolis
    • One of the Wraiths attacking A Company's position is piloted by an Ultra.
    • The Scarab walker was commanded by an Ultra.
  • Gravemind
    • Four Ultras defended the Mausoleum of the Arbiter from the Brutes.
    • Two more arrived to the battle there, along with a Zealot and two Stealth Elites.

Known Ultra Elites

Trivia

  • Rtas 'Vadumee is the only Ultra featured that does not have black/steel as his secondary armor color. This may hint that secondary colors play an important role in an Elite's armor, much like modern day function badges play on military uniforms. Black may hint at infantry or ground combat positions while white, as in Rtas' case, may hint at Special Operations. Or, it may simply imply that Rtas is a slightly higher/lower rank (as with the relation with Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel) or position (as with the relation with a Sergeant Major and a Command Sergeant Major) than a normal Ultra. It may just serve to differentiate him from other Ultras.
  • Given the sheer size of the Covenent's military, the majority of Ship Masters are probably Ultras. While an Ultra would probably not be the Ship Master of a capital ship such as a gargantuan Assault Carrier, an Ultra probably would be given command of a CCS-class battlecruiser. Halo: Ghosts of Onyx also confirmed a lower rank, Major Domo, holding the title of ship master (although later promoted to Zealot to command a fleet).
  • Since Major Domos are called Half-Commanders, it is possible that Ultras are simply called Commander.
  • Given what is played out in both Halo games, an Ultra seems to perform the same duties and be just as important as a senior field officer. If this is true, the Ultras are the Covenant's version of UNSC Lieutenant Colonels/Colonels and Commanders/Captains.
  • It is interesting to note that, thus far, an Ultra, has never been seen answering to a Zealot. In fact, Rtas 'Vadumee (a confirmed Spec Ops Commander) is seen answering directly to the High Prophets.

Related Links

Template:Elite Ranks