Supreme Commander
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
Supreme Commander is a military rank within the armed forces of the former-Covenant empire and its successor factions, roughly analagous to the rank of Fleet Admiral within the UNSC Navy.[1] Within the Covenant of old, they consisted of fleetmasters selected by the Hierarchss to lead ministerial fleets on major expeditionary missions.[1]
Overview
Role and responsibilities
Within a given armada, a Supreme Commander served as the lead fleetmaster among the several present, with each subordinate fleetmaster tasked with maintaining their own fleet forces. Within these formations, the word of the Supreme Commander was law, and only the actions of their sponsoring ministry, the High Council, or the Hierarchs themselves could countermand their orders.[2] As such, they held extremely large amounts of power and independence - even moreso than their United Nations Space Command counterparts.[1] The political machinations of the Supreme Commander allowed them to outfit and service their own ships, and they served as the sole senior officer to a Field Marshal.[3][4] To assist in their duties, Covenant fleets often assigned a Precentor - a San'Shyuum official tasked with reporting directly to High Charity and serving as a mediator for the Supreme Commander among other duties.[5] These officials were often the only officials within the fleet with authority capable of challenging the Supreme Commander's decrees.[2]
Within the Covenant's successor factions, the warlord Jul 'Mdama has adopted the title of Supreme Commander[6] - though this title is sometimes used interchangeably with the title of "Supreme Leader".[7][8][Note 1]
Dress
The typical garb for a Sangheili Supreme Commander was a golden-coloured combat harness, of various styles.[9] During fleet command operations, they, like other shipmasters, often donned a purple-coloured cloak alongside this armour.[10][11][12] However, this was not always the case, with some Supreme Commanders electing to forgo the cloak during engagements[13], or even during formal ceremonies in front of the High Council.[14]
During the Battle of Installation 04, Supreme Commander Thel 'Vadamee wore purple armor with a purple ornate helmet, draped in his purple doarmir cloak while commanding the Fleet of Particular Justice.[15] His cloak served a purely sentimental purpose, as it reminded him that he could make grave mistakes if he let his guard down.
Known Supreme Commanders
Pre-Covenant
- Ophon 'Qaram - An ancient Sangheili Supreme Commander during the War of Beginnings, famed for his refusal to join the Covenant.[16]
Covenant-era
- Rho 'Barutamee - Supreme Commander of the Fleet of Valiant Prudence.[17]
- Luro 'Taralumee - Supreme Commander of the Third Fleet of Glorious Consequence.[18]
- Thel 'Vadamee - Supreme Commander of the Fleet of Particular Justice throughout the Human-Covenant War.
Post-Covenant
- Jul 'Mdama - Supreme Commander of his remnant forces,[6] also dubbed "Supreme Leader" for his faction.[7][8]
Gallery
Front view of a unique Supreme Commander helmet.
Supreme Commander Thel 'Vadamee commanding his fleet.
Thel 'Vadamee converses with a Prophet at Installation 04, complete with the formal cloak signifying his rank.
Thel before the High Council.
Luro 'Taralumee in command of the Third Fleet of Glorious Consequence.
List of appearances
- Halo: The Fall of Reach
- Halo 2 (First appearance)
- Halo Graphic Novel
- Halo: Ghosts of Onyx (Mentioned only)
- Halo Wars (Mentioned only)
- Halo Legends
- Halo: Broken Circle (Mentioned only)
- Halo 2: Anniversary
- Halo: Fleet Battles
- Halo Mythos
Notes
- ^ The title of "Supreme Leader" is only ever mentioned within the dubiously-authoritative Halo 5: Guardians Official Game Guide and as a throwaway reference within the game's first mission. As such, this page assumes that the Supreme Leader verbiage is simply an alternate reference to the title of Supreme Commander explicitly given for Jul 'Mdama in Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide.
Sources
- ^ a b c Halo: Warfleet, page 92
- ^ a b Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 239
- ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 240
- ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2011 edition), page 135
- ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 269
- ^ a b Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide, page 27
- ^ a b Halo 5: Guardians Official Game Guide, page 23,25,56
- ^ a b Halo 5: Guardians, campaign level Osiris
- ^ Ultra Combo, Arbiter's Colors & Accessories: "Within the Covenant military regime, the sight of a Sangheili leader striding across the battlefield in a gleaming gold combat harness simultaneously stoked the fires of victory within the hearts of the surrounding forces, and struck fear within the hearts of their enemies." (Retrieved on Sep 25, 2022) [archive]
- ^ Halo 2: Anniversary, Terminals
- ^ Halo: The Cole Protocol, chapter 22
- ^ Halo: Fleet Battles: Rho 'Barutamee artwork (File link)
- ^ Halo Legends, episode The Package (animated short)
- ^ Halo 2, campaign level The Heretic
- ^ Halo Graphic Novel - Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor
- ^ Halo: Warfleet, page 78
- ^ Halo Waypoint, Canon Fodder - Taking Orders (Retrieved on Apr 7, 2019) [archive]
- ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, Adjunct: WORD FROM THE THIRD FLEET OF GLORIOUS CONSEQUENCE
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