Editing The Heretic (Level)

{{Ratings}}
{{Era|H2}}
''<center>Were you looking for [[Sesa 'Refumee]], the [[Heretics (Faction)|Heretic]] leader or [[The Heretic (Machinima Series)|The Heretic]], a sequel to [[The Codex]]?''</center>
{{Level infobox
|prev=[[Halo: Combat Evolved Credits|''Halo: Combat Evolved'' Credits]]
|next=''[[The Armory (Level)|The Armory]]''
|game=''[[Halo 2]]''
|name='''''The Heretic'''''
|image=[[Image:CouncilsScorn.jpg|300px]]
|player=[[The Arbiter]]
|date= [[2552|October 20, 2552]]
|place=Aboard ''[[High Charity]]''
|Objective=None
|enemies=None
}}
{{Article Quote|For failure such as this, no punishment is too great."'''}}
'''The Heretic''' is the first level of ''[[Halo 2]]'', consisting almost entirely of the cinematics involving the [[Arbiter (Character)|Arbiter]]'s hearing by the Prophets.
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==Transcript==
[[Image:Broken Ring.jpg|left|150px|thumb|The broken Installation 04]]
''Fade in on the broken pieces of [[Installation 04]], still burning. Groups of [[Covenant]] {{Class|CCS|Battlecruiser}}s prowl among them.''

''An [[Assault Carrier]] flies by. The camera pans with it to a giant [[Covenant]] structure.''

'''Covenant Holy City, [[High Charity]]. [[Age of Reclamation|Ninth Age of Reclamation]]'''

''Close up of High Charity. Hundreds of Covenant ships swarm around it.''

''Fade to a ledge across from tiers of stadium-like seats; several [[Banshee]]s patrol around. The camera slowly zooms toward a door on the back of the ledge.''

'''[[Arbiter (character)|Elite Commander]]:''' "There was only one ship."

''Fade in to the [[Council Chamber]]. Rows of [[Honor Guard]] [[Elite|Elites]] stand at attention. A single [[Zealot]] stands at the end, facing two [[High Prophet]]s].''

'''[[Prophet of Regret]] :''' "One? Are you sure?"

'''Elite Commander :''' "Yes. They called it the ''[[Pillar of Autumn]]''."

''The focuses on the stadium seats filled with [[Elite]] and [[Prophet]] [[Councilors]]. They mutter amongst themselves.''

'''[[Prophet of Mercy]]:''' "Why was it not destroyed, with the rest of their fleet?"

'''Elite Commander:''' "It fled, as we set fire to their planet."

[[Image:Reach.jpg|170px|The [[Human]] planet Reach being glassed by the Covenant fleet.]]
''{Flashback}: the ''Pillar of Autumn'' flees Reach as Covenant ships glass [[Reach]].''

'''Elite Commander:''' "But I followed with all the ships in my command."

''{Flashback}: a Covenant Battle Cruiser approaches [[Installation 04|Halo]], several dozen smaller ships are already in orbit of it.''

'''Prophet of Regret :''' "When you first saw Halo, were you blinded by its majesty?"

'''Elite Commander:''' "Blinded?"

'''Prophet of Regret:''' "Paralyzed? Dumbstruck?"

'''Elite Commander:''' "No.."

''{End flashback.} It is revealed that the Prophet of Regret is not actually here, but rather speaking through a holographic image of himself. Next to him is the Prophet of Truth.''

'''Prophet of Regret:''' "Yet the humans were able to evade your ships, land on the Sacred Ring, (angrily) and desecrate it with their filthy footsteps!"

'''Elite Commander:''' "Noble Hierarchs, surely you understand that once the [[Flood|parasite]] attacked-"

''The Council members mutter angrily. The Commander looks around at them.''

'''Prophet of Mercy:''' "There will be order in this Council!"

''The [[Prophet of Truth]] comes forward and raises his hand. The room falls into complete silence.''

'''Prophet of Truth:''' "You were right to focus your attention on the [[Flood]]. But this Demon, this "[[Master Chief]]"...

''{Flashback}: The destruction of Halo''

'''Elite Commander:''' "By the time I learned the Demon's intent, there was nothing I could do."

''{End flashback.} The Prophet Councilors stand up and yell angrily. Elite Councilors mutter to each other. [[Tartarus]], standing nearby, chuckles to himself.''

'''Prophet of Regret:''' " ''{Whispers to Truth}'' Noble Prophet of Truth, this has gone on long enough. Make an example of this bungler, the Council demands it."

''Truth holds up a hand, silencing Regret.''

'''Prophet of Truth:''' "You are one of our most treasured instruments. Long have you lead your [[Fleet of Particular Justice|fleet]] with honor and distinction. But your inability to safeguard Halo ... was a colossal failure."

'''[[Prophet of Objection]]:''' "'' {Stands up and shows a fist} ''Nay, it was heresy!"

''The Councilors yell. The Commander looks back and forth between them.''

'''Elite Commander:''' "I will continue my campaign against the humans!"

'''Prophet of Truth:''' "No! You will not."

''Truth glances at Tartarus, and the [[Brute]] [[Chieftain]] barks a command. Two Brutes approach the Commander and try to grab him, but he shakes them off and he starts walking to his fate willingly. They escort him out.''

'''Prophet of Truth :''' "Soon the [[Great Journey]] shall begin. But when it does, the weight of your heresy will stay your feet. And you shall be left behind."

''The view concentrates onto three orbital [[MAC]] stations in Earth's orbit. A few [[UNSC]] ships fly past.}''

'''Earth Defense Platform, [[Cairo Station|Cairo]]. 10.20.2552 ([[Military Calendar]])'''

''Cut to a close-up of the nearest platform.''

'''[[Master Gunnery Sergeant (Armory)|Master Gunnery Sergeant]]:''' "Your plating was about to fail, there's viscosity throughout the [[Hydrostatic Gel|gel]] layer...

''Cut to the armory of Cairo Station. The officer handles equipment on a table.''

'''Master Gunnery Sergeant:''' "Optics, totally fried. And let's not even talk about the power supply." ''The view shows the Chief's new helmet on the table'' "You know how expensive this gear is, son?"

''The view pans up the Chief's body, showing off his new armor. He fits his helmet into place just in time to block the player's view of his face.''

'''Master Chief:''' "Tell that to the Covenant."

== Trivia ==
* There are only two levels in the Halo series that you do not play in. This level, and "Arrival" on Halo 3 which is also a cinematic opening for the game.
*This level is not available in co-op, since it contains only cutscenes.
*Near the conclusion of the cutscene the Arbiter's helmet creates a bursting graphic texture. [[Joseph Staten]] revealed this bug on the Halo 3 Legendary Edition bonus disk and stated he could never fix this bug.
*This is the first and only level in the entire [[Halo Trilogy]] where any member of the Covenant, in this case the Prophet of Truth, refers to [[John-117]] as the Master Chief.
*This is the first level in the ''Halo'' series that [[Councilors]] and the Brutes are seen.
*This cutscene shows the first appearances of the Prophets in the trilogy.
*In this level the Arbiter mentions the ''Pillar of Autumn'', which is the second to last time in the trilogy which they reference the ship, the other being when Cortana says she will light the fusion reactor on "In Amber Clad", she says she'll light them just like the Autumn. But this is the last time it is shown.
*By using modding tools, it is possible to see Master Chief hidden behind one of the pillars above the Councilors. This is due to the fact that Bungie needed to place an avatar in cutscenes to allow for the AI, thus making cutscenes "unplayable" gameplay.
*The ''Pillar of Autumn'' can be seen in the cutscene, but if you watch it carefully, you will find out that the ship is a [[Marathon-Class]] Cruiser, not a [[Halcyon-Class]] Cruiser.

{{succession box | before = ''[[Halo:_Combat_Evolved_Credits|Halo Credits]]'' <br />| title = [[Halo 2 Campaign|''Halo 2'' Campaign Missions]] | years = '''''The Heretic''''' |after = ''[[The_Armory (Level)|The Armory]]''}}


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[[Category:Halo 2 Campaign]]
[[Category:Levels|Heretic]]

[[it:L'Heretic]]
[[ja:異端者(レベル)]]