*Note [i] Long post ahead, you have been forewarned[/i] In case you guys did not notice, in Halo Reach Bungie added two new elite ranks. These are as follows. [u]Field Marshals[/u] [url=http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100924131214/halo/images/thumb/0/0e/Sangheili_Field_Marshall.jpg/640px-Sangheili_Field_Marshall.jpg]Appearance[/url] [url=http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/Field_Marshall]Profile[/url] [u]Generals[/u] [url=http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100919233250/halo/images/d/d5/Reach_1641364_Medium.jpg]Appearance[/url] [url=http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/Sangheili_General]Profile[/url] *Note [i]All content is brought from the Halo wiki and is rightfully theirs, content used for reference and discussion.[/i] [u]Summary[/u] So basically Generals are not seen too much in the campaign in terms of cutscenes. They prefer heavy weapons instead of the energy sword wielding [url=http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/Zealot]Zealots[/url], though in the Reach campaign (as far as I know) we mainly encounter generals in terms of high ranks. And they DO sometimes wield energy swords. So how do we rank this then? Zealots command ships and sometimes fleets as there are classifications of ranks for zealots. Zealots usually wield energy swords as a sign of their rank. Saying that means that the generals could be equivalent to the Zealot rank because they are able to use energy swords. Also sometimes Generals are white (rarely) but albeit that could be an indication of the fact that maybe generals are just another classification of a zealot? In my head that doesn't make too much sense. Because whats confusing is who would have a higher power over another if a general were to be on a ship with a Zealot (unless of course said Zealot is the ships commander). Also generals are more commonly found as instead of the all powerful sword rushing zealots in Halo CE who are rarely seen, as to thus may infer that Zealots have a higher power then a general. Though there also are Zealot ranks such as a [url=http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/Field_Master]Field Master[/url] which command ground forces so that could maybe fill in the blank. So that's one contradiction I found. Another is the field marshals, though they are actually seen in a cutscene in reach. They are seen in the mission "Winter Contingency" which is the second mission in the campaign. More specifically they appear in the cutscene where jorge was consoling the frantic german girl. In case you guys wanted a refresher here is a [url=http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100816132560/halo/images/thumb/a/a8/Reach_%22The_Battle_Begins%22-Elite.png/759px-Reach_%22The_Battle_Begins%22-Elite.png]screenie[/url] from the cutscene. Now field marshals are EXTREMELY rare in the campaign. Literally only one is fought during the entire reach campaign. (In game as in not only in the cutscene). They in my opinion outrank Generals because of the sheer fact that they are so rare in the game. Now they could be translated by that point that due to the major similarities between the generals and the zealots that field marshals could be equal to a [url=http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/Fleet_Master]Fleet Master[/url]. A fleet master is the highest rank (as known right now) a Zealot can attain. They command [i]fleets[/i] (hence the name)of ships. [u]Theory[/u] Though even with that comparison done there is one theory that I have come up with on the field marshal in terms of role in the covenant military. I do not have reference to this as of right now but your going to have to take my word for it on some of it unless you really want me to show evidence then I'll try to scrounge up something. So at the time of the field marshal appearing there is ONE covenant carrier(I vaguely know ship classes so work with me) in orbit at the time of the invasion. After jorge dies of course is when the whole fleet or instead the real invasion force arrives. So basically that's ONE covenant ship that was there of course needed a commander. Zealots command ships, so obviously a Zealot would be on said ship, due to not seeing any zealots or even generals for that matter at the time. But why is a field marshal there if there is only one ship currently out at the time? Probably because to the covenant this is a very important mission so they probably assigned a field marshal too that ship in order to overlook everything. Now here is where it gets interesting, there is a line of dialogue in the campaign said by Jorge during the ending cutscene in the mission [i]ONI: Sword Base[/i] in which jorge is briefing halsey on what happened in the confrontation with the elites. Now here is the line that piqued my interest during this writeup. Jorge: They engaged us as well. It was uh, just after we found your scientist's daughter, Ma'am. She was hiding in the- Halsey: Irrelevant. The Elites. Tell me more about them. Jorge: Three. [i]Zealot[/i] class. One got by us. The leader, from the looks of him. Did you get that? That's right he just said Zealot class, meaning that the aforementioned field marshal IS a zealot and is probably equivalent to a fleet master as it also says that he was the leader of the group. But then again we may never know as a field marshal could be the leader of several zealots meaning that they could be equal to in power to a [url=http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/Supreme_Commander]Supreme Commander[/url]. Also since they look as if they command ground based forces then that means the field marshal may have been in charge of recovering forerunner artifacts as well, meaning they may have direct contact with the [url=http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/Imperial_Admiral]Imperial Admiral[/url] or even more as having direct console to the Sangheili [url=http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/Councilor]Council[/url] So basically that's my theory. Despite all the contradictions I've pointed out there may still be some stuff to sort out and to me its more interesting than confusing to see new elite ranks. What is the role of generals? Are they zealots? (even though I've shown my theory nothing is set in stone until it officially is) And plus if you go by matchmaking rank then field marshals ARE the highest eilte permutation you can get so that sort've adds support to the theory as well. So discuss on what you guys think and if you've actually read this far then thanks and tell me your thoughts on my theory and your perspective on the matter. [Edited on 09.26.2010 9:37 PM PDT]