Editing Sesa 'Refumee's heretic faction

{{Era|HCW}}
{{Center|For other uses of the word'' Heretic'', see [[Heretic (disambiguation)]].}}
{{Affiliation infobox
|name=
|anthem= 
|image= [[File:Refumee & Spark.png|300px]]
|body-title= Type
|body=Reformation movement 
|bodyfigure=[[Sesa 'Refumee]] 
|branch= 
|main-title=Formed on
|main=[[Threshold]] 
|language= Sangheili language serves as ''lingua franca''; [[Covenant languages|various languages]] spoken by different races<ref>'''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'''</ref>
|script=
|religion= 
|notable= 
|formed-title= Formation
|formed= *[[Ages of Reclamation|Ninth Age of Reclamation]]
*[[2552#September|September 2552]], after the [[Battle of Installation 04]]
|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]]}}

The '''heretic faction''' led by [[Sesa 'Refumee]] was an assortment of Covenant forces that broke away from the [[Covenant]] shortly after the [[Battle of Installation 04]]. They were considered to be a threat to the [[Covenant religion]], and an [[Thel 'Vadam|Arbiter]] was sent by the Hierarchs to silence them.<ref name="arbiter">'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[The Arbiter]]''</ref>

== History ==
===Origins===
The faction was originally a Covenant artifact retrieval team attached to the [[Fleet of Particular Justice]] and led by [[Sesa 'Refumee]] and [[Loka 'Bandolee]]. They were investigating a [[Threshold gas mine|gas mine]] above the planet [[Threshold]] when the {{UNSCship|Pillar of Autumn}} crashed on [[Installation 04|Halo]]. When the [[SPARTAN-II Program|SPARTAN-II]] [[John-117]] destroyed Halo, the team was spared from death, unlike their compatriots on the ring.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Flood|Halo: The Flood (2010)]]''', ''Adjunct''</ref>

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 as per the monitor's request. Spark cheerfully informed 'Refumee of the ''true'' purpose of the [[Halo Array]], utterly destroying his and his team's faith in the promised "[[Covenant_religion#The_Great_Journey|Great Journey]]." 'Refumee then proceeded to cut off all communications to the fleet 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|Prophets]] and their Great Journey, 'Refumee initiated an open rebellion against the Covenant's San'Shyuum leadership. In secret, he sent holographic recordings to other [[Sangheili]] about the true purpose of the [[Halo Array|Halos]]. In the meantime, he strengthened the defenses of the gas mine, fortifying it with [[Type-27 Anti-Infantry Stationary Gun|plasma cannons]] and a large complement of [[Type-26 Ground Support Aircraft|Banshee]] fighter craft in anticipation of the Covenant's retribution for his heresy. He also had at least one [[Type-31 Exoatmospheric Multi-role Fighter|Seraph]] fighter 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 name="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 put the "heretics" down with two other former commanders of the [[Fleet of Particular Justice]]: the disgraced [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee, now the [[Arbiter]] of the Covenant, and [[Special Operations Commander]] [[Rtas 'Vadum]]ee.<ref name="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 [[Type-52 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 name="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 the Sesa 'Refumee's faction 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 name="oracle"/>

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

== Members ==
[[File:Heretic_Elite.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Heretic Sangheili with an [[Type-1 Energy Weapon/Sword|Energy Sword]].]]
*[[Sesa 'Refumee]]
*[[Heretic Unggoy]]
*[[Heretic Sangheili]]

==Equipment==
Sesa 'Refumee's group was equipped with non-standard armor, colored golden-beige and differing in design from normal Covenant armor. 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.

It is known that the group used this type of armor already before turning against the Covenant, so they may have been dedicated environmental suits specifically designed for conditions such as those of the gas giant, or simply designs specific to expeditionary groups such as theirs.<ref name="terminal"/> Interestingly, it appears that the armor used by the Sangheili in the group greatly resembles [[:File:Sangheili Clan Leader.jpg|the ceremonial armor]] known to be worn by the [[Ripa 'Moramee|'Moram]] clan of the Sangheili, apart from having more technical detail.<ref>''[[Halo Wars: Genesis]]''</ref>

The vehicles used by 'Refumee's group also had a nonstandard appearance: the cowlings on their Banshees were much more detailed and covered less of the workings within the craft. Like their suits, these may have been a variant adapted to operation within the environments of a gas giant.

Apart from their different armor and banner, the faction seldom used the standard Covenant weapons. The [[Heretic Sangheili|Sangheili]] are equipped with [[Type-51 Carbine|Carbines]], sometimes [[Sentinel Beam]]s, and [[Type-1 Energy Weapon/Sword|Energy Swords]], instead of [[Type-25 Directed Energy Rifle|Plasma Rifles]] ([[Sesa 'Refumee]] not included), and the [[Heretic Unggoy|Unggoy]] are equipped with [[Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher|Needlers]] instead of the [[Type-25 Directed Energy Pistol|Plasma Pistols]] they were given by loyalists, as well as [[Type-33 Light Anti-Armor Weapon|Fuel Rod Guns]] for anti-vehicular purposes.

==Trivia==
*The faction only appears in two of ''[[Halo 2]]'''s levels, ''[[The Arbiter]]'' and ''[[The Oracle]]''. Different [[Heretic|heretical]] characters have appeared throughout canon however, though not of this group.
*Originally the faction was going to be made up of only [[Mgalekgolo]].<ref>'''The Art of Halo'''</ref>
*The later breakaway Covenant faction, the [[Thel 'Vadam's Covenant faction|separatists]], are also referred to as heretics by the Covenant.
*The Heretic Elites will sometimes say "By the Rings..." even though they no longer believe in the Covenant religion. This is likely due to habit. From a development point, this is a common example of saving resources by making character bipeds to use recycled dialogs.
*Heretic Grunts will often say, "Always hated you Elites!". This is slightly odd, because they are still led by Elites. Covenant [[Special Operations Unggoy|SpecOps Grunts]] will also say this.
*Although this faction of heretics does not appear in the [[Firefight]] mode of ''[[Halo: Reach]]'', Elites using human weapons are referred to as heretics.
*Although Jackal marksmen were also a part of the scouts originally sent to the gas mine, none were seen by Thel 'Vadamee during his raid on the heretics. One possibility is that they were all killed, since a Sangheili officer tells Guilty Spark that "I shall cast them all into the mists below" for attacking him, though Spark tells him no more deaths are required. It's also possible that the Kig-Yar did not defect with the heretics, being mercenaries who viewed the Covenant as more profitable.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Heretic_grunt.jpg|A Heretic Unggoy.
File:HereticEliteCarbine03.jpg|A Heretic Major Sangheili.
File:Heretic_Seraph.png|A Seraph fighter in the Heretics' hangar in the gas mine.
File:H2 - Heretic Banshee.jpg|The group's [[Type-26 Banshee|Banshee]] variant.
File:H2A Heretic Banshee.png|The heretic Banshee in ''Halo 2 Anniversary''.
</gallery>

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

==Sources==
<references/>

{{Organizations}}

[[Category:The Covenant]]