Editing Sesa 'Refumee's heretic faction

{{Status|Canon}}
{{Conjectural title|1}}
{{Cleanup}}
{{Center|You may be looking for [[Heretic (disambiguation)|other uses of the word heretic]].}}
{{Affiliation infobox
|name=
|image=[[File:H2A SesaAndTheHeretics.jpg|300px]]
|type=Reformation movement 
|founder=[[Sesa 'Refumee]] 
|documents=
|head= Sesa 'Refumee
|executive=
|legislative=
|judicial=
|branch=
|main=[[Threshold gas mine]]
|anthem=
|language=[[Sangheili language]]
|script=
|religion=
|techlevel=
|notable=
|formed=[[2552#September|September 2552]] ([[Ages of Reclamation|Ninth Age of Reclamation]])
|dissolved=[[2552#October|October 20, 2552]]: [[Raid on the Threshold gas mine]]
|affiliation=[[343 Guilty Spark]]
}}
{{Quote|Our Prophets are false! Open your eyes, my brothers! They would use the faith of our forefathers to bring ruin to us all!|[[Sesa 'Refumee]]}}

A '''heretic faction''' led by [[Sesa 'Refumee]] broke away from the [[Covenant]] shortly after the [[Battle of Installation 04]]. Denouncing the [[Covenant religion|Prophets' religion]], they came to be regarded as heretics and were considered a substantial threat to the Covenant. The [[Hierarchs]] sent [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee to eliminate the secessionists before their message could spread and undermine the public faith in the [[Covenant religion#Great Journey|Great Journey]].<ref name="arbiter">'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[The Arbiter]]''</ref>

== History ==
===Origins===
The faction was originally an artifact retrieval team attached to the [[Fleet of Particular Justice]]. Led by [[Sesa 'Refumee]] and [[Loka 'Bandolee]], they were dispatched by the [[Prophet of Stewardship]] to investigate a [[Threshold gas mine|gas mine]] above the planet [[Threshold]] when the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} crashed on [[Halo Array|Halo]] [[Installation 04]]. The team survived the Halo's destruction at the hands of [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan]] [[John-117]], unlike the majority of the Covenant forces who had failed to evacuate the system.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Flood|Halo: The Flood (2010)]]''', ''Adjunct''</ref>

[[File:Refumee & Spark.png|thumb|250px|Sesa 'Refumee meets 343 Guilty Spark.]]
Shortly afterwards, the retrieval team came into contact with the [[monitor]] of Installation 04, [[343 Guilty Spark]], who had traveled to the gas mining facility. After a brief confrontation with several [[Unggoy]] and [[Kig-Yar]], their [[Sangheili]] leader recognized the monitor as an "Oracle" and took him to the group's leader per the monitor's request. Guilty Spark cheerfully informed 'Refumee of the true purpose of the Halo Array, utterly destroying his and his team's faith in the promised "Great Journey". 'Refumee then ordered all communications with the fleet to be severed until the Oracle could fully explain the matter.<ref name="terminal">'''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary''', ''[[Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)|Terminal 11]]''</ref>

Disillusioned with the lies of the [[Hierarchs]] and their Great Journey, 'Refumee initiated an open rebellion against the Covenant's San'Shyuum leadership. He secretly dispatched holographic recordings to other Sangheili about the true purpose of the Halos. In the meantime he strengthened the defenses of the gas mine, fortifying it with [[Eeo'Pimu-pattern Shade|plasma cannons]] and a large complement of [[Type-26 Banshee|Banshee attack craft]] in anticipation of the Covenant's retribution for his heresy. He also had at least one [[Kai-pattern Seraph|Seraph starfighter]] in the mine's docking bay. In addition, the group was supported by the [[Sentinel]]s based in the gas mine, under the command of 343 Guilty Spark.{{Ref/Reuse|arbiter}}

===Raid on the Threshold gas mine===
{{Main|Raid on the Threshold gas mine}}
It is unclear how many more Covenant members 'Refumee was able to sway to his cause. Eventually, 'Refumee's activities were discovered by the [[Hierarchs]], who decided to quell the heresy using two former commanders of the [[Fleet of Particular Justice]]: the disgraced [[Supreme Commander]] [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee, now the [[Arbiter]], and [[Special Operations Commander]] [[Rtas 'Vadum]]ee.{{Ref/Reuse|arbiter}}

Whilst inhabiting the mine, the faction discovered that the facility had a secondary purpose: a [[Flood research facility]] was built into the mine as part of the Forerunners' attempt to find a way to destroy the [[Flood]]. The Arbiter and 'Vadumee arrived at the facility with orders to annihilate all heretics. Accompanying them were three [[Kez'katu-pattern Phantom|Phantoms]] full of [[Special Operations Sangheili]] and [[Special Operations Unggoy|Unggoy]], fighting through a large contingent of heretic soldiers whilst chasing 'Refumee throughout the facility.{{Ref/Reuse|arbiter}}<ref name="oracle">'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[The Oracle]]''</ref>

Whether by accident or design, the heretics released the Flood upon themselves shortly before or during the Arbiter's arrival, creating a deadly triangle of conflict as all sides attempted to destroy the others. Despite heavy resistance from heretic forces and the Flood, the Arbiter was able to assassinate 'Refumee and destroy the gas mine completely by severing the support cables maintaining the facility's position.{{Ref/Reuse|oracle}}

This was a crippling blow to the faction. It is possible, though unlikely, that some survived, as they operated [[Burial Mounds|a makeshift compound]] on Threshold's moon, [[Basis]].<ref>'''Halo 2''', multiplayer map ''[[Burial Mounds]]'' description</ref>

== Members ==
[[File:H2A Heretic Major.png|thumb|250px|A Sangheili heretic with a {{Pattern|Vostu|carbine}}.]]
*[[Sesa 'Refumee]] - The faction's leader
*Dozens of [[Heretic Sangheili|Sangheili]] - The commanders of 'Refumee's forces
**[[Loka 'Bandolee]] - A Sangheili warrior
**[[Kola 'Baoth]]'s brother - Killed by Arbiter Thel 'Vadamee<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-annual-achievements '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Canon Fodder - Annual Achievements'']</ref> 
*Numerous [[Heretic Unggoy|Unggoy]] - Comprised the majority of 'Refumee's forces
*Unknown number of [[Kig-Yar]] - May have been killed prior to secession due to attacking 343 Guilty Spark{{Ref/Reuse|terminal}}

==Equipment==
Sesa 'Refumee's group was equipped with non-standard armor, colored golden-beige and differing in design from normal Covenant armor. After they split from the Covenant, they donned the colors of [[Sangheilios]]. The Sangheili did not wear helmets, but were instead equipped with respirators and goggles to help them survive in the [[hydrogen]]-[[helium]] atmosphere of Threshold. Their armor was more ornate than the typical glossy armor worn by most Covenant forces, and their harnesses had four distinctive fins on the back. The [[methane tank]]s used by the Unggoy consisted of two translucent tubes. The [[Kig-Yar]] assigned to 'Refumee's artifact retrieval team wore similar harnesses.{{Ref/Reuse|terminal}}

Sesa's group used several ''Drailaac''-pattern Banshee's often associated with select artifact-hunting [[Covenant fleet|fleets]], though they removed the Covenant manufactured cowlings from their Banshees revealing the Forerunner mechanisms beneath, and redesigned them so they sport the colors of Sanghelios.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070126131232/http://www.joyridestudios.com/halo2_7_heretic_banshee.asp '''Joyride Heretic Banshee description''']</ref>

Unlike most Sangheili warriors in the Covenant, very few Sangheili in the heretic faction (aside from Sesa 'Refumee himself and Banshee operators) wielded {{Pattern|Okarda'phaa|plasma rifle}}s. The majority instead opted to use {{Pattern|Vostu|carbine}}s as their standard weapon of choice. Others made use of [[Type-33 needler]]s and even [[Sentinel beam]]s. The faction's Sangheili did, however, continue to use [[Type-1 Energy Sword|Type-1 energy swords]] as normal. Heretic Unggoy were similarly nonstandard, nearly all equipping themselves with Type-33 needlers while a few used {{Pattern|Pez'tk|fuel rod gun}}s. This style of armament was a radically different to Unggoy within the Covenant who typically used [[Type-25 plasma pistol]]s.

===Weapons===
*[[Type-1 energy sword]]
*[[Type-25 plasma pistol]] {{C|limited use by Heretic [[Kig-Yar]]}}
*{{Pattern|Okarda'phaa|plasma rifle}} {{C|limited use}}
*[[Type-33 needler]]
*{{Pattern|Pez'tk|fuel rod gun}}
*{{Pattern|Vostu|carbine}}
*{{Pattern|Mosa|carbine}}
*[[Sentinel beam]]

===Vehicles===
*[[Kai-pattern Seraph]] {{c|single}}
*[[Type-26 Banshee#Type-26AZ|Drailaac-pattern Banshee]]
*[[Type-26 Banshee#Type-26BZ|Te'ved-pattern Banshee]]

==Trivia==
*Early concepts for the faction consisted solely of [[Mgalekgolo]].<ref>'''The Art of Halo'''</ref>
*Sesa 'Refumee's heretic Sangheili are among the only NPCs in any Halo game (besides [[the Flood]] and [[Sentinel]]s themselves) seen using the [[Sentinel beam]] as a standard weapon (though Sentinel beams can be traded to Sangheili allies in Halo 2 & 3).
**However, this was changed in [[Halo Infinite]], where [[Banished]] forces occasionally use [[Sentinel Beams]].

==Gallery==
===Infantry===
<gallery>
File:H2A-SesaRefumee.jpg|[[Sesa Refumee]], the leader of the faction.
File:H2A-HereticUnggoyconceptart.png|Concept art for heretic Unggoy for ''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''.
File:Heretic_grunt.jpg|A heretic Unggoy in ''[[Halo 2]]''.
File:Heretic grunts.jpg|Heretic Unggoy in ''Halo 2''.
File:H2A_Heretic_Grunt.png|Heretic Unggoy in ''Halo 2: Anniversary''.
File:HereticJackal.png|A heretic Kig-Yar, armed with a [[Type-25 plasma pistol|plasma pistol]].
File:Heretic Sangheili Minor.png|Heretic Sangheili Minor in ''Halo 2''.
File:H2A Heretic Minor.png|Heretic Sangheili Minor in ''Halo 2: Anniversary''.
File:HereticEliteCarbine03.jpg|A heretic Sangheili Major in ''Halo 2''.
File:Heretic Elite.jpg|A heretic Sangheili Major with an [[Type-1 energy sword|energy sword]] in ''Halo 2''.
File:heretic Elite Major.jpg|A heretic Sangheili Major with a [[Sentinel beam]] in ''Halo 2''.
File:H2AHereticElite.png|A heretic Sangheili Major in ''Halo 2: Anniversary''.
File:H2AHereticElite1.png|A heretic Sangheili Major with an energy sword in ''Halo 2: Anniversary''.
</gallery>

===Vehicles===
<gallery>
File:Heretic_Seraph.png|A Seraph fighter in the heretics' hangar in the gas mine in ''Halo 2''.
File:H2A_-_Seraph_model.jpg|Model used for the Seraph fighter in ''Halo 2 Anniversary''.
File:H2 - Heretic Banshee.jpg|A [[Drailaac-pattern Banshee|T-26AZ Banshee]] being used by the heretics.
File:H2A_-_Heretic_Banshee.png|The ''Halo 2: Anniversary'' version of the Banshee used by the heretics.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo 2]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''
**''[[Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)|Terminals]]''
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
**''[[Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminals]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos]]'' {{Mo}}

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

{{Organizations}}

[[Category:The Covenant]]