Editing Meduz 'Ra'ashai

In [[2526#June|June of 2526]], 'Ra'ashai was deployed to Netherop with the Fleet of Swift Justice with orders to hunt down the [[Flotilla of Unsung Piety]], a squadron of [[Covenant]] stealth vessels that were commandeered by 'Kvarosee. After the resulting Battle of Netherop, 'Kvarosee and his remaining forces were stripped of their armor by the Silent Shadow and marooned on the planet.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Obl|Oblv}} 'Ra'ashai was also left on the planet, possibly to ensure that the castaways did not find a way off world. Whatever the reason, the harsh conditions on Netherop ultimately forced the Blademaster to join forces with 'Kvarosee to in order to survive.{{Ref/Reuse|OutC10}} He was therefore brought into the conflict between the Sangheili and the human castaways led by [[Amalea Petrov]] that would last for decades.{{Ref/Novel|Id=OutC9|Out|Chapter=9}}

At some point, the Sangheili discovered and gained access to an ancient [[Precursor]] facility they dubbed the [[Sanctum of the Ancients]] that was situated underneath a [[Wikipedia:Tell (archaeology)|tel]]. Inside, they discovered a wealth of powerful artifacts, including the [[Sanctum's Hide]] that provided airtight armor and [[Active camouflage]] and a hydroponics chamber that could grow food to sustain them indefinitely. Most important of these artifacts was the [[Divine Hand]], a Precursor superweapon capable of destroying ships in orbit and would produce superheated waves in the ground immidiately surrounding the tel when fired. It could be controlled by 'Kvarosee from within the [[Inner Sanctum]]. The Sangheili settled in this facility and began calling themselves the [[Defenders of the Sanctum]].{{Ref/Reuse|OutC10}}

Over the years, the Defenders grew less disciplined and fit in the ever more accommodating facility, with 'Ra'ashai growing particularly heavyset.{{Ref/Reuse|OutC10}} They also continued to do battle with the human castaways outside, as the humans built on their numbers by reproducing and attempted to lure the Sangheili outside of the Sanctum. About a year after entering the Sanctum, the Defenders used the Divine Hand to destroy the [[UNSC Alpina]], a [[UNSC corvette|corvette]] that was attempting to rescue the humans on the planet. Approximately ten years after this, as the humans were attempting to dig into the Sanctum, another human rescue mission was attempted on Netherop and was again destroyed by the Divine Hand.{{Ref/Reuse|OutC9}} This time, however, three human castaways attempted to gain entry to the facility and jumped directly into the weapon. This caused their bodies to begin floating inside the walls of the Sanctum for two years, always following the Defenders. Their constant presence and surveillance took a considerable mental toll on the Sangheili, causing four of them to flee into the desert to their deaths and leaving the rest in a shaken state.{{Ref/Reuse|OutC10}} This deteriorated 'Kvarosee's control over the Defenders, with 'Ra'ashai particularly growing resentful of his increasingly fanatical leader. Only 'Kvarosee's control over the Divine Hand stopped 'Ra'ashai from staging a mutiny.{{Ref/Reuse|OutC10}}

In [[2559#November|November of 2559]], the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]], the [[Swords of Sanghelios]], and the [[Banished]] all became aware of the Divine Hand's existence and converged on Netherop to try to recover the weapon in order to gain an advantage over [[Cortana|Cortana's]] [[Guardians]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=OutC2|Out|Chapter=2}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=OutC3|Out|Chapter=3}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=OutC6|Out|Chapter=6}} The Sangheili arrived first, and their insertion force of three [[Phantom]]s was permitted to land by the Defenders due to the assumption that they were Covenant forces.{{Ref/Novel|Id=OutC7|Out|Chapter=7}} Believing themselves to be rescued, a group of four unidentified Defenders took the group's last [[Mountain runner|Dust Runner]] to try to make contact with this force. Given 'Ra'ashai's strong inclination to return home that drove his actions later in the conflict, it is very likely that he was a part of this group.{{Ref/Reuse|OutC10}} However, as they approached the landing zone, a human force of forty [[Pelican]] dropships and a [[D102 Owl]] stealth craft began approaching the planet's surface.{{Ref/Novel|Id=OutC8|Out|Chapter=8}} 'Kvarosee decided to fire on them with the Divine Hand, and the group was barely able to get back to the safety of the Sanctum in time, leaving the Dust Runner in the process.{{Ref/Reuse|OutC10}} The firing destroyed the Pelicans, but the Owl survived and deployed [[SPARTAN-IV program|Spartan]] [[Olympia Vale]] and the [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]] of [[Tango Team]] onto the top of the tel.{{Ref/Reuse|OutC8}} The Defenders began making their way towards the landing zone and planning an ambush, with 'Ra'ashai suggesting that they focus on capturing [[Keely Iyuska]] and [[Rosa Fuertes]], who were the only unarmored humans and were assumed to be the most important. They were able to open a sinkhole underneath the pair but were engaged by Vale, [[Corporal]] [[P. Barnes|Golly Barnes]], and [[Lance Corporal]] [[S. Legowski|Legowski]]. All seven Defenders escaped this firefight and retreated into the Sanctum, capturing Fuertes and dropping Legowski into a sinkhole.{{Ref/Reuse|OutC10}}