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Raid on the Threshold gas mine: Difference between revisions
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'Refumee and Guilty Spark had a lengthy conversation over the history of the Covenant and the Sangheili, during which it was made clear to 'Refumee the extent of San'Shyuum's manipulation of the Sangheili in order to keep them blindly loyal and subservient, a fact readily apparent by their twisting of the ancient Sangheili title of [[Arbiter]] from a position of honor and power into a badge of shame for the Sangheili's most shamed warriors. 'Refumee initially considered conveying these revelations to his commander, [[Thel 'Vadamee]], the only individual that he felt he could trust with 343 Guilty Spark's revelations. However, Thel's disgrace and appointment as Arbiter prevented any detailed conversations. 'Refumee subsequently led the Sangheili, Kig-Yar, and [[Unggoy]] under his command to revolt against the Prophets, declaring his intentions to spread the knowledge he had learned to others within the Covenant, making them aware of the lies and falsehoods told to them by the ruling [[Hierarchs]], with the ultimate goal of inciting a full-scale rebellion within the Covenant.<ref>''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]'', ''[[Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminals]]''</ref> | 'Refumee and Guilty Spark had a lengthy conversation over the history of the Covenant and the Sangheili, during which it was made clear to 'Refumee the extent of San'Shyuum's manipulation of the Sangheili in order to keep them blindly loyal and subservient, a fact readily apparent by their twisting of the ancient Sangheili title of [[Arbiter]] from a position of honor and power into a badge of shame for the Sangheili's most shamed warriors. 'Refumee initially considered conveying these revelations to his commander, [[Thel 'Vadamee]], the only individual that he felt he could trust with 343 Guilty Spark's revelations. However, Thel's disgrace and appointment as Arbiter prevented any detailed conversations. 'Refumee subsequently led the Sangheili, Kig-Yar, and [[Unggoy]] under his command to revolt against the Prophets, declaring his intentions to spread the knowledge he had learned to others within the Covenant, making them aware of the lies and falsehoods told to them by the ruling [[Hierarchs]], with the ultimate goal of inciting a full-scale rebellion within the Covenant.<ref>''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]'', ''[[Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminals]]''</ref> | ||
[[File:MercyTruthArbiter.jpg|thumb | [[File:MercyTruthArbiter.jpg|thumb|250px|Thel 'Vadamee accepting his role as the Arbiter.]] | ||
Aware that their proclamations would soon draw hostile attention once they reached the Covenant's leaders, the newly-formed separatist faction fortified their hold on the gas mine; Unggoy and Sangheili patrolled the facility's labyrinthine corridors, numerous [[ | Aware that their proclamations would soon draw hostile attention once they reached the Covenant's leaders, the newly-formed separatist faction fortified their hold on the gas mine; Unggoy and Sangheili patrolled the facility's labyrinthine corridors, numerous [[Eeo'Pimu-pattern Shade|''Eeo'pimu''-pattern Shades]] were deployed on the exterior surfaces of many of the mine's exterior structures and platforms, supplemented by units of [[Type-33 fuel rod gun|fuel rod gun]]-wielding [[Heretic Unggoy|Unggoy]], and squadrons of {{Pattern|Drailaac|Banshee}}s patrolled the airspace surrounding the mine. Guilty Spark mobilized the facility's contingent of [[Aggressor Sentinel]]s, bolstering the faction's defenses further.{{Ref/Reuse|Arbiter}}{{Ref/Reuse|Oracle}} | ||
By the following month, the Covenant's supreme leaders, the [[Hierarchs]], became aware of the sect's existence. The Prophets of [[Prophet of Truth|Truth]] and [[Prophet of Mercy|Mercy]] viewed these separatists as a threat to the Covenant and an offense to their religion, thus declaring them "[[List of known Covenant heretics|heretic]]s". Against the wishes of the [[High Council]], Truth appointed [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee, the disgraced former [[Supreme Commander]] of the ''[[Fleet of Particular Justice]]'' to the rank of [[Arbiter]]. The Hierarchs then sent 'Vadamee and a [[Covenant Special Operations|Special Operations]] team led by [[Special Operations Commander]] [[Rtas 'Vadum]]ee to destroy the heretics.{{Ref/Reuse|Arbiter}} | By the following month, the Covenant's supreme leaders, the [[Hierarchs]], became aware of the sect's existence. The Prophets of [[Prophet of Truth|Truth]] and [[Prophet of Mercy|Mercy]] viewed these separatists as a threat to the Covenant and an offense to their religion, thus declaring them "[[List of known Covenant heretics|heretic]]s". Against the wishes of the [[High Council]], Truth appointed [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee, the disgraced former [[Supreme Commander]] of the ''[[Fleet of Particular Justice]]'' to the rank of [[Arbiter]]. The Hierarchs then sent 'Vadamee and a [[Covenant Special Operations|Special Operations]] team led by [[Special Operations Commander]] [[Rtas 'Vadum]]ee to destroy the heretics.{{Ref/Reuse|Arbiter}} | ||
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[[File:H2A SpecOpsInfiltration.png|thumb|left|250px|Covenant Special Operations forces infiltrating the mine.]] | [[File:H2A SpecOpsInfiltration.png|thumb|left|250px|Covenant Special Operations forces infiltrating the mine.]] | ||
The team departed High Charity on board three {{Pattern|Kez'katu|Phantom}}s, soaring past the remnants of Installation 04 towards [[Threshold]]. As they travelled, Commander 'Vadumee delivered a motivational speech to the troops under his command. As the Phantoms entered the gas giant's tempestuous atmosphere and closed with the large installation on which the gas mine was attached, 'Vadumee confronted the newly appointed Arbiter. His former commander, 'Vadumee now viewed Thel 'Vadamee with disdain following his failure to safeguard the Halo ring, and made it clear that while the lives of his troops mattered to him, the life of 'Vadamee did not. As the Phantoms closed with the gas mine, one of their pilots reported that the enormous maelstrom below the mine would undoubtedly strike the facility before long, to which 'Vadumee responded that the strike team will have long since accomplished their mission and departed by then. The Phantoms eventually arrived atop one of the many towers surrounding the main structure, and two of them deployed their complements of troops, including 'Vadamee.{{Ref/Reuse|Arbiter}} | The team departed High Charity on board three {{Pattern|Kez'katu|Phantom}}s, soaring past the remnants of Installation 04 towards [[Threshold]]. As they travelled, Commander 'Vadumee delivered a motivational speech to the troops under his command. As the Phantoms entered the gas giant's tempestuous atmosphere and closed with the large installation on which the gas mine was attached, 'Vadumee confronted the newly appointed Arbiter. His former commander, 'Vadumee now viewed Thel 'Vadamee with disdain following his failure to safeguard the Halo ring, and made it clear that while the lives of his troops mattered to him, the life of 'Vadamee did not. As the Phantoms closed with the gas mine, one of their pilots reported that the enormous maelstrom below the mine would undoubtedly strike the facility before long, to which 'Vadumee responded that the strike team will have long since accomplished their mission and departed by then. The Phantoms eventually arrived atop one of the many towers surrounding the main structure, and two of them deployed their complements of troops, including 'Vadamee.{{Ref/Reuse|Arbiter}} | ||
[[File:H2A SpecOpsVsHereticGrunts.png|thumb | [[File:H2A SpecOpsVsHereticGrunts.png|thumb|250px|Special Operations troops battling heretic Unggoy.]] | ||
As the team made their way towards the nearest airlock, 'Vadumee encouraged the Arbiter to make use of stealth and speed in concert with the Special Operations unit to quickly eliminate the heretic forces, notifying the team that the nearby storm had masked their approach from the heretics, and thrown their local [[Proselytization network#Sesa 'Refumee's heretic faction|battle network]] into disarray, granting the team with the element of surprise. One of the teams [[Special Operations Sangheili|Sangheili]] used a console to open the airlock, and the first [[lance]] made their way inside. The lance's commander ordered his troops to engage their [[active camouflage]], telling them to only reveal themselves once the Arbiter initiated open combat with enemy forces. 'Vadumee told the Arbiter that he could also cloak himself, but had to use it sparingly as his [[Arbiter body armor|armor]]'s systems were of a more primitive design than those of modern Sangheili [[Sangheili harness|armor]]. Upon arriving at the first room inside the gas mine, the team found a group of sleeping heretic Unggoy and a pair of patrolling Sangheili. They overheard the Sangheili conversing about missing troops, as well as the presence of 343 Guilty Spark and his Sentinels. The team quickly took out the heretic soldiers and moved forward into a larger area with several | As the team made their way towards the nearest airlock, 'Vadumee encouraged the Arbiter to make use of stealth and speed in concert with the Special Operations unit to quickly eliminate the heretic forces, notifying the team that the nearby storm had masked their approach from the heretics, and thrown their local [[Proselytization network#Sesa 'Refumee's heretic faction|battle network]] into disarray, granting the team with the element of surprise. One of the teams [[Special Operations Sangheili|Sangheili]] used a console to open the airlock, and the first [[lance]] made their way inside. The lance's commander ordered his troops to engage their [[active camouflage]], telling them to only reveal themselves once the Arbiter initiated open combat with enemy forces. 'Vadumee told the Arbiter that he could also cloak himself, but had to use it sparingly as his [[Arbiter body armor|armor]]'s systems were of a more primitive design than those of modern Sangheili [[Sangheili harness|armor]]. Upon arriving at the first room inside the gas mine, the team found a group of sleeping heretic Unggoy and a pair of patrolling Sangheili. They overheard the Sangheili conversing about missing troops, as well as the presence of 343 Guilty Spark and his Sentinels. The team quickly took out the heretic soldiers and moved forward into a larger area with several energy belts ferrying Forerunner [[Forerunner gas canister|gas canisters]] into a deep pit. This larger room was occupied by more heretics and a battle soon erupted but the Covenant, with the support of a [[Type-42 plasma cannon|''Shepsu''-pattern plasma cannon]], emerged victorious. The team pressed on, descending to a lower level below the conveyor room and eliminating several more heretics, including a group arriving from a nearby elevator. With the area clear, the Arbiter and his team boarded the elevator and descended towards a hangar bay containing a single {{Pattern|Kai|Seraph}}. One of the Sangheili in the team observed the presence of Aggressor Sentinels in the room, noting with confusion their allegiance to the heretic forces.{{Ref/Reuse|Arbiter}} | ||
[[File:H2A SecondLanceDeployed.png|thumb|left|250px|A Phantom deploying the strike team's second lance into the hangar bay.]] | [[File:H2A SecondLanceDeployed.png|thumb|left|250px|A Phantom deploying the strike team's second lance into the hangar bay.]] | ||
As the Arbiter and his team engaged in combat with the numerous heretic and Sentinel forces in the hangar, one of the strike team's Phantom pilots radioed 'Vadamee, requesting that they clear out the room and open the bay door so that he could enter and deploy the second lance to assist the team. The group fought their way across the room and the Arbiter opened the door. The Phantom entered and deployed reinforcements while the Arbiter assisted in repelling the attacks of both Sentinels and several fuel rod gun-wielding Unggoy. The heretics launched a final attack on the room, with groups of Unggoy and Sangheili entering from various doors around the room, including one leading deeper into the station. The heretics fought determinedly to stop the Covenant forces, with Unggoy setting up plasma cannons and an energy-sword wielding Sangheili but all of them fell to the Arbiter and his men. With the hangar clear, the team opted to follow the passageway deeper into the mine. They fought more heretics in close quarters, before emerging into another conveyor room where they encountered several heretic Sangheili wielding [[Sentinel beam]]s. Overcoming all resistance in the room, the group found another door taking them even deeper. The group proceeded through the twisting corridors, silencing several patrolling and unaware heretic soldiers as they went. The Arbiter and his forces eventually reached a room with a large window looking out onto a landing pad with several parked {{Pattern|Drailaac|Banshee}}s and heretics, including Sesa 'Refumee. the heretic leader ordered his soldiers to eliminate the Arbiter while he protected the "Oracle", before leaving in a Banshee. The strike team defeated the remaining heretics as well as several more Sentinels before pressing out to the landing pad. One of the team's Sangheili told 'Vadamee to continue his pursuit while they remained behind to secure the areas of the station they had passed through.{{Ref/Reuse|Arbiter}} | As the Arbiter and his team engaged in combat with the numerous heretic and Sentinel forces in the hangar, one of the strike team's Phantom pilots radioed 'Vadamee, requesting that they clear out the room and open the bay door so that he could enter and deploy the second lance to assist the team. The group fought their way across the room and the Arbiter opened the door. The Phantom entered and deployed reinforcements while the Arbiter assisted in repelling the attacks of both Sentinels and several fuel rod gun-wielding Unggoy. The heretics launched a final attack on the room, with groups of Unggoy and Sangheili entering from various doors around the room, including one leading deeper into the station. The heretics fought determinedly to stop the Covenant forces, with Unggoy setting up plasma cannons and an energy-sword wielding Sangheili but all of them fell to the Arbiter and his men. With the hangar clear, the team opted to follow the passageway deeper into the mine. They fought more heretics in close quarters, before emerging into another conveyor room where they encountered several heretic Sangheili wielding [[Sentinel beam]]s. Overcoming all resistance in the room, the group found another door taking them even deeper. The group proceeded through the twisting corridors, silencing several patrolling and unaware heretic soldiers as they went. The Arbiter and his forces eventually reached a room with a large window looking out onto a landing pad with several parked {{Pattern|Drailaac|Banshee}}s and heretics, including Sesa 'Refumee. the heretic leader ordered his soldiers to eliminate the Arbiter while he protected the "Oracle", before leaving in a Banshee. The strike team defeated the remaining heretics as well as several more Sentinels before pressing out to the landing pad. One of the team's Sangheili told 'Vadamee to continue his pursuit while they remained behind to secure the areas of the station they had passed through.{{Ref/Reuse|Arbiter}} | ||
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[[File:H2A-Arbiter&Rtas-01.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Rtas 'Vadumee and Thel 'Vadamee entering the laboratory module of the gas mine.]] | [[File:H2A-Arbiter&Rtas-01.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Rtas 'Vadumee and Thel 'Vadamee entering the laboratory module of the gas mine.]] | ||
As the group cautiously made their way into the next room, 'Vadumee paused and smelled the air, recognizing the stench of the Flood from his [[Skirmish on Infinite Succor|encounter]] with the parasite on board the {{Pattern|Mjern|agricultural support ship}} ''[[Infinite Succor]]'' during the [[Battle of Installation 04]]. In the next room, the team passed a tank full of small [[Flood tadpole|creatures]] floating in liquid. In the next corridor they heard the sounds of combat as heretic forces were overwhelmed by Flood [[Flood combat form|combat forms]] in the room below them. The roars and screams of the Flood forms unsettled the Unggoy in the team, but they soon quieted by one of the Sangheili. Noting that the victorious creatures had moved on, the group decided to press on in the hope of assassinating the heretic leader before the creatures could return. The team entered the next room and dropped to the bottom floor of a laboratory strewn with the corpses of Flood combat forms. The Unggoy in the team voiced their anxiety regarding the situation before a Sangheili warned them to be quiet. A [[holo-drone]] floated into the room, projecting an image of Sesa 'Refumee to the team. The Unggoy panicked and opened fire on the hologram before being ordered to stop by 'Vadumee. The heretic leader taunted the team through the projection, noting the decision of the Hierarchs to send an Arbiter to silence him. 'Vadumee realized that due to his use of the holo-drone, the heretic would likely be close by, and attempted to goad 'Refumee to face them, to which he laughed and told the Covenant forces to "get in line" before the holographic projection dissipated.{{Ref/Reuse|Oracle}} | As the group cautiously made their way into the next room, 'Vadumee paused and smelled the air, recognizing the stench of the Flood from his [[Skirmish on Infinite Succor|encounter]] with the parasite on board the {{Pattern|Mjern|agricultural support ship}} ''[[Infinite Succor]]'' during the [[Battle of Installation 04]]. In the next room, the team passed a tank full of small [[Flood tadpole|creatures]] floating in liquid. In the next corridor they heard the sounds of combat as heretic forces were overwhelmed by Flood [[Flood combat form|combat forms]] in the room below them. The roars and screams of the Flood forms unsettled the Unggoy in the team, but they soon quieted by one of the Sangheili. Noting that the victorious creatures had moved on, the group decided to press on in the hope of assassinating the heretic leader before the creatures could return. The team entered the next room and dropped to the bottom floor of a laboratory strewn with the corpses of Flood combat forms. The Unggoy in the team voiced their anxiety regarding the situation before a Sangheili warned them to be quiet. A [[holo-drone]] floated into the room, projecting an image of Sesa 'Refumee to the team. The Unggoy panicked and opened fire on the hologram before being ordered to stop by 'Vadumee. The heretic leader taunted the team through the projection, noting the decision of the Hierarchs to send an Arbiter to silence him. 'Vadumee realized that due to his use of the holo-drone, the heretic would likely be close by, and attempted to goad 'Refumee to face them, to which he laughed and told the Covenant forces to "get in line" before the holographic projection dissipated.{{Ref/Reuse|Oracle}} | ||
[[File:H2A HereticsVsFlood.png|thumb | [[File:H2A HereticsVsFlood.png|thumb|250px|Heretic forces battling Flood forms in one of the gas mine's laboratories.]] | ||
A moment later, Flood [[Pod infector]]s began to pour into the room. Commander 'Vadumee shouted a warning to his soldiers as the small parasitic creatures assailed the group. After several waves of attacking Flood forms, the assault subsided and a nearby door opened, granting passage out of the laboratory. 'Vadumee told the Arbiter to continue onwards while he waited behind for additional Covenant reinforcements to arrive. The Arbiter and the surviving members of the Special Operations team made their way through another passageway that brought them to a massive circular elevator platform, upon which a pitched battle was underway between Flood combat forms and Sentinels. The team eliminated all hostiles in the area and moved onto the platform, which then began a slow descent towards the lower level of the facility, periodically stopping and rotating while its automated mechanical arm retrieved canisters containing Pod infectors from the walls of the chamber and loaded them on the platform. All the while, the team was forced to endure assaults from Flood combat forms climbing up the walls and leaping onto the platform as well as Sentinels. Eventually, the platform arrived at its destination and the Arbiter disembarked along with his remaining forces. The next corridor was littered with both heretic and Flood corpses, to which one of the Sangheili accompanying 'Vadamee stated that they should have brought along weaponry suitable for destroying the bodies to deny the Flood more biomass. The team eventually arrived on the upper level of a larger laboratory room, where a group of heretics were desperately fighting back against Pod infectors, combat forms and [[Flood carrier form|carrier forms]]. After clearing out the hostiles in the room, the Arbiter and his forces dropped down to the lower level, after which they were ambushed by a group of heretic Sangheili arriving from above. Before long, masses of Flood combat forms entered the room from vents high up on the walls and a vicious firefight soon developed.{{Ref/Reuse|Oracle}} | A moment later, Flood [[Pod infector]]s began to pour into the room. Commander 'Vadumee shouted a warning to his soldiers as the small parasitic creatures assailed the group. After several waves of attacking Flood forms, the assault subsided and a nearby door opened, granting passage out of the laboratory. 'Vadumee told the Arbiter to continue onwards while he waited behind for additional Covenant reinforcements to arrive. The Arbiter and the surviving members of the Special Operations team made their way through another passageway that brought them to a massive circular elevator platform, upon which a pitched battle was underway between Flood combat forms and Sentinels. The team eliminated all hostiles in the area and moved onto the platform, which then began a slow descent towards the lower level of the facility, periodically stopping and rotating while its automated mechanical arm retrieved canisters containing Pod infectors from the walls of the chamber and loaded them on the platform. All the while, the team was forced to endure assaults from Flood combat forms climbing up the walls and leaping onto the platform as well as Sentinels. Eventually, the platform arrived at its destination and the Arbiter disembarked along with his remaining forces. The next corridor was littered with both heretic and Flood corpses, to which one of the Sangheili accompanying 'Vadamee stated that they should have brought along weaponry suitable for destroying the bodies to deny the Flood more biomass. The team eventually arrived on the upper level of a larger laboratory room, where a group of heretics were desperately fighting back against Pod infectors, combat forms and [[Flood carrier form|carrier forms]]. After clearing out the hostiles in the room, the Arbiter and his forces dropped down to the lower level, after which they were ambushed by a group of heretic Sangheili arriving from above. Before long, masses of Flood combat forms entered the room from vents high up on the walls and a vicious firefight soon developed.{{Ref/Reuse|Oracle}} | ||
[[File:H2A SesaShieldDoor.png|thumb|left|250px|The Arbiter confronts 'Refumee, who has sealed himself behind a shield door.]] | [[File:H2A SesaShieldDoor.png|thumb|left|250px|The Arbiter confronts 'Refumee, who has sealed himself behind a shield door.]] | ||
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===Cutting the cable=== | ===Cutting the cable=== | ||
[[File:H2A ArbitersPlan.png|thumb|left|250px|The Arbiter informs 'Vadumee of his plan to sever the cable anchoring the gas mine to | [[File:H2A ArbitersPlan.png|thumb|left|250px|The Arbiter informs 'Vadumee of his plan to sever the cable anchoring the gas mine to its parent installation.]] | ||
The Arbiter ascended up a series of winding ramps, fighting Flood forms until he reached an elevator platform guarded by Sentinels. After dealing with them, 'Vadamee took the elevator up to the room in which the cable was anchored to the station. 'Vadumee reported that all of the strike force's Phantoms had left the facility, allowing the Arbiter to cut the cable. The Arbiter made his way around the room battling Flood and Sentinels as he located three points where the cable was anchored. After using his energy sword to sever these points, the Arbiter quickly returned to the elevator platform as the station violently tore away from the cable, plummeting into freefall. Upon returning to the station, the Arbiter made his way back to the door that had previously been sealed, fighting Flood and surviving heretics as he went. A group of heretic soldiers waited inside the formerly-shielded room that 'Refumee had since vacated, one of them yelling to his men to give their lives for the truths that the heretics had realized about the Covenant. The Arbiter soon slew 'Refumee's rearguard and took an elevator down, making his way through a chamber with a massive generator in the center and fighting past several more heretics as he went, including an energy sword-wielding Sangheili.{{Ref/Reuse|Oracle}} | The Arbiter ascended up a series of winding ramps, fighting Flood forms until he reached an elevator platform guarded by Sentinels. After dealing with them, 'Vadamee took the elevator up to the room in which the cable was anchored to the station. 'Vadumee reported that all of the strike force's Phantoms had left the facility, allowing the Arbiter to cut the cable. The Arbiter made his way around the room battling Flood and Sentinels as he located three points where the cable was anchored. After using his energy sword to sever these points, the Arbiter quickly returned to the elevator platform as the station violently tore away from the cable, plummeting into freefall. Upon returning to the station, the Arbiter made his way back to the door that had previously been sealed, fighting Flood and surviving heretics as he went. A group of heretic soldiers waited inside the formerly-shielded room that 'Refumee had since vacated, one of them yelling to his men to give their lives for the truths that the heretics had realized about the Covenant. The Arbiter soon slew 'Refumee's rearguard and took an elevator down, making his way through a chamber with a massive generator in the center and fighting past several more heretics as he went, including an energy sword-wielding Sangheili.{{Ref/Reuse|Oracle}} | ||
[[File:H2A ThelVsSesaBanshee.png|thumb | [[File:H2A ThelVsSesaBanshee.png|thumb|250px|The Arbiter exchanges shots with 'Refumee's Banshee.]] | ||
The Arbiter soon found himself in close pursuit of the heretic leader, and the two traded shots even as 'Refumee ran for a Banshee on the nearby landing pad. The heretic made it to the Banshee as Thel arrived, the latter firing several shots from his | The Arbiter soon found himself in close pursuit of the heretic leader, and the two traded shots even as 'Refumee ran for a Banshee on the nearby landing pad. The heretic made it to the Banshee as Thel arrived, the latter firing several shots from his {{Pattern|Mosa|carbine}} at the Banshee. Unfortunately, these shots were absorbed by the Banshee's [[Energy shielding|energy shield]] and he was forced to roll into cover behind another parked Banshee as 'Refumee opened fire with his Banshee's [[Class-2 directed energy cannon|plasma cannons]]. 'Refumee then flew away, making for the hangar bay where his single Seraph fighter was parked. The Arbiter was quick to pursue, taking control of the remaining Banshee on the platform and racing after the heretic leader while dodging pieces of the station that were breaking off as it continued to fall into the raging maelstrom. Initially believing the heretic to be making an impossible escape from the station in a Banshee, 'Vadumee remembered the presence of the Seraph in the hangar and urged the Arbiter to make his way back after the heretic. 'Vadamee attempted to land his Banshee on the platform leading into the station but the roaring winds caused him to instead crash violently into it. Unharmed, the Sangheili pulled himself up and hastily made his way through the door and back inside. Once back in the station, the Arbiter was forced to backtrack the path he had taken during his initial push through the mine. On the way, he was accosted by Flood forms as well as Sentinels as he raced through the darkened corridors which were now only illuminated by red emergency lighting. As he passed through a conveyor room in which all of the energy belts were now inactive, he encountered several surviving heretics who were attempting to flee back to the hangar to cover their leader. After cutting through these forces and making his way through corridors filled with Flood forms, he found a final heretic strongpoint in the final room before the hangar. Here, the heretics mustered their remaining forces; numerous Sangheili and Unggoy took cover behind [[Covenant portable shield|stationery shield generators]] and fought furiously against encroaching Flood forms as well as the Arbiter in order to buy 'Refumee time to escape. 'Vadamee eventually broke through these defenses and made his way into the hangar bay.{{Ref/Reuse|Oracle}} | ||
===Final confrontation=== | ===Final confrontation=== | ||
[[File:H2A - Spark, Thel, and Sesa.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The Arbiter confronts Sesa 'Refumee and 343 Guilty Spark in the hangar bay.]] | [[File:H2A - Spark, Thel, and Sesa.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The Arbiter confronts Sesa 'Refumee and 343 Guilty Spark in the hangar bay.]] | ||
The Arbiter entered the room just as Sesa 'Refumee was about to board the Seraph. Raising his Carbine, 'Vadamee demanded his enemy to turn and face him. The heretic leader jumped down from the fighter, telling 'Vadamee that he would rather die by the Arbiter's hand rather than die blinded by falsehoods conveyed by the Prophets. 'Vadamee demanded to know who had taught the heretic the lies that he preached, to which 343 Guilty Spark revealed himself to the surprise of the Arbiter. While 'Refumee told the Arbiter to ask the Oracle about Halo and its true purpose, the heretic used the Arbiter's surprise to draw his dual {{Pattern|Okarda'phaa|plasma rifle}}s and opened fire on 'Vadamee, who was forced to fall back into cover behind a nearby pillar. 'Refumee used his [[antigravity pack]] to return to the Seraph. Declaring that the Sangheili species was blinded to the Prophet's lies and his intention to make them see the truth, the heretic activated a pair of holo-drones which floated into position in front of the Arbiter, each one equipped with their own pair of plasma rifles.{{Ref/Reuse|Oracle}} | The Arbiter entered the room just as Sesa 'Refumee was about to board the Seraph. Raising his Carbine, 'Vadamee demanded his enemy to turn and face him. The heretic leader jumped down from the fighter, telling 'Vadamee that he would rather die by the Arbiter's hand rather than die blinded by falsehoods conveyed by the Prophets. 'Vadamee demanded to know who had taught the heretic the lies that he preached, to which 343 Guilty Spark revealed himself to the surprise of the Arbiter. While 'Refumee told the Arbiter to ask the Oracle about Halo and its true purpose, the heretic used the Arbiter's surprise to draw his dual {{Pattern|Okarda'phaa|plasma rifle}}s and opened fire on 'Vadamee, who was forced to fall back into cover behind a nearby pillar. 'Refumee used his [[antigravity pack]] to return to the Seraph. Declaring that the Sangheili species was blinded to the Prophet's lies and his intention to make them see the truth, the heretic activated a pair of holo-drones which floated into position in front of the Arbiter, each one equipped with their own pair of plasma rifles.{{Ref/Reuse|Oracle}} | ||
[[File:H2A - Tartarus and Spark.jpg|thumb | [[File:H2A - Tartarus and Spark.jpg|thumb|250px|Tartarus capturing 343 Guilty Spark.]] | ||
As the Arbiter fought against the heretic leader and his holographic decoys, 'Refumee continued to taunt the Covenant soldier, mockingly asking how the Hierarchs had secured his loyalty, as well as the supposed "transcendence" of the Forerunners and the Covenant's "Great Journey". Guilty Spark also spoke to the Arbiter during the battle, notifying him of his personal involvement in the gas mines retrofitting as a Flood research facility, as well as the detachment of the gas mine as a failsafe to be used in the event of the parasite's escape. After a protracted battle, the Arbiter was successful in slaying Sesa 'Refumee. As 'Vadamee dragged the heretic's corpse to the opening hangar door, Guilty Spark expressed remorse for the killing of 'Refumee, to which the Arbiter replied that it was his only choice due to the threat the heretic posed to the Covenant and its beliefs. The monitor expressed bemusement at the phrases of "Oracle" and "Great Journey", stating them to be wildly inaccurate, before he was suddenly captured in a gravitational force projected by [[Tartarus]]' [[ | As the Arbiter fought against the heretic leader and his holographic decoys, 'Refumee continued to taunt the Covenant soldier, mockingly asking how the Hierarchs had secured his loyalty, as well as the supposed "transcendence" of the Forerunners and the Covenant's "Great Journey". Guilty Spark also spoke to the Arbiter during the battle, notifying him of his personal involvement in the gas mines retrofitting as a Flood research facility, as well as the detachment of the gas mine as a failsafe to be used in the event of the parasite's escape. After a protracted battle, the Arbiter was successful in slaying Sesa 'Refumee. As 'Vadamee dragged the heretic's corpse to the opening hangar door, Guilty Spark expressed remorse for the killing of 'Refumee, to which the Arbiter replied that it was his only choice due to the threat the heretic posed to the Covenant and its beliefs. The monitor expressed bemusement at the phrases of "Oracle" and "Great Journey", stating them to be wildly inaccurate, before he was suddenly captured in a gravitational force projected by [[Tartarus]]' [[Gravity hammer (fiction)|gravity hammer]], the [[Fist of Rukt]]. The monitor was sent hurtling towards the [[Jiralhanae]]'s hammer. As Tartarus pulled Guilty Spark off the head of his hammer and casually threw him into the [[gravity lift]] of the waiting Phantom, 'Vadamee expressed outrage in the Chieftain's handling of the monitor, to which Tartarus merely told him to board the Phantom as they were leaving the [[Soell system]].{{Ref/Reuse|Oracle}} | ||
==Aftermath== | ==Aftermath== | ||
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File:H2A SpecOpsVsCombatForms.png|SpecOps troops fighting Flood combat forms. | File:H2A SpecOpsVsCombatForms.png|SpecOps troops fighting Flood combat forms. | ||
File:H2A PhantomReinforcements.png|A Phantom deploying reinforcements to assist the Arbiter. | File:H2A PhantomReinforcements.png|A Phantom deploying reinforcements to assist the Arbiter. | ||
File:H2A-Gas mine free-fall.png|The gas mine in free-fall after the Arbiter destroyed | File:H2A-Gas mine free-fall.png|The gas mine in free-fall after the Arbiter destroyed its cable. | ||
File:H2A LurkingHeretics.png|Heretic Sangheili guarding the formerly-shielded doorway. | File:H2A LurkingHeretics.png|Heretic Sangheili guarding the formerly-shielded doorway. | ||
File:H2A HereticGruntVsFlood.png|A heretic Unggoy is overwhelmed by Flood Pod infectors. | File:H2A HereticGruntVsFlood.png|A heretic Unggoy is overwhelmed by Flood Pod infectors. | ||