User:Kolar 'Refum/Covenant Heretics Union

The Covenant Heretics Union is a democratic republic which encompasses a small part of the Orion Arm of the Milky Way Galaxy. It is the result of a rebellion against the Covenant Empire, and later a splitting from the Separatist movement of the Covenant. It is a military oriented republic, the majority of its populace being involved in one way or another with the Heretic Armed Forces (HAF). There are seven heads of state, originally elected by a select group of voters, now elected by the entire population of the Union at elections held every seven years. The current goal of the Covenant Heretics Union is to aid the UNSC in its reconstruction after the devastating Human-Covenant War, as well as providing security for UNSC colonisation efforts.

Origins
Covenant Heretics trace their origins back to the Grunt Rebellions in the 39th Age of Conflict, although the current group did not form until the 9th Age of Reclamation. The current Heretic movement was formed by Field Commander Sesa 'Refumee of the Covenant Empire, while retreating from the Battle for the Truth and Reconciliation during the Battle of Installation 04. He retreated to a Forerunner gas mine with a sizeable fleet of spirits, setting up base there. He, along with Chieftain Caecili and Major Domo Kolar 'Refum spread word about the truth behind the Forerunners that they had found deep within Reach at the Battle of Reach. This was the beginning of the modern Covenant Heretics. 'Refum and Caecili captured the Fleet of Holy Exile, now known as the Fleet of Divine Reclamation, converting the Prophet of Passing, later known as the Prophet of Reclamation to their cause. During the period in which this capturing of the fleet took place, the Covenant Empire had sent an Arbiter, Thel 'Vadam, to silence Sesa 'Refumee. By the time 'Refum and Caecili had returned, the gas mine was gone, 'Refumee was dead. The Heretics later used this fleet to do battle against the Covenant Fleet above Installation 05. The Fleet of Divine Reclamation was at a great disadvantage to the superior numbers of the Covenant fleet that defended High Charity. The Heretics were denied their rights to speak to the fleet masters of the Covenant, and were soon forced to retreat to a Forerunner space station orbiting with Installation 05. This came to be known as the Hammer of Crisis.

The Great Schism
As the Covenant Fleet began to encroach upon the Heretics' space station, massive internal conflict began within the Covenant Empire. This came to be known as the Great Schism, as a purge of Sangheili began, executed by the Jiralhanae. The Sangheili and their Lekgolo and Unggoy allies, although few, were able to avoid complete destruction at the hands of the Jiralhanae, with many of the early survivors joining the Heretics. Soon, the vast majority of surviving Sangheili gave themselves a new name, the Separatist Covenant. The Heretic-Separatist Alliance was able to fight on even terms with the Loyalist Covenant, and soon the Alliance included the UNSC as well. The Alliance was able to stop the activation of Installation 05 by Tartarus, although at a heavy cost. With the end of the Battle of Installation 05, the Heretics held the First Council of Heresy. Within this council, the six High Architects were elected, as successors to Sesa 'Refumee. Much of the Heretics' political and military standing was determined at this council, which decided that the Heretics would operate under the jurisdiction of the Arbiter, Thel 'Vadam and Fleet Master Rtas 'Vadum. The six High Architects were decided and given roles to play. The High Architect of Dogma was Kolar 'Refum, a member of Sesa's clan, and a man seen by his soldiers to be the successor of Sesa during his days as Field Commander. The High Architect of Warfare was Caecili, a Jiralhanae Chieftain and Sesa's protégé who was with Sesa when he made his discoveries on Reach. The High Architect of Technology was the Prophet of Reclamation, who was Sesa's advisor and a political enemy of the High Prophet of Truth. The High Architect of Foreign Relations was Qasno 'Mantak, an ex-councilor who defected from the Covenant at the first hint of the Great Schism. The High Architect of Internal Relations was Kato, a large Lekgolo colony made up of Sesa's two bodyguards. The High Architect of Trade was Fadak Charity, a well respected merchant Unggoy who fled from High Charity in his private gondola at the first sign of conflict.