Quarantine Zone But it's Alpha Moon

A very loose restoration of a cut Halo 2 campaign level, Quarantine Zone's map geometry is the remaining 20% of a mission that eventually became The Arbiter/Oracle, where the Heretics were to be located on Basis. So, I re-lit QZ's BSPs and changed its environment shaders to match Burial Mounds, to get an idea of what the level might've looked like before being recycled. The destruction of Installation 04 left Basis littered with debris and the level script seems to suggest that the Heretics had some sort of mining operation taking place there. They also had their own ghosts and wraiths, along with a cut "excavator" variant of the shadow that I've made my own interpretation of. They also used guerrilla warfare extensively against the Arbiter and the Spec-Ops task force, staging hit and run ambushes and setting traps that the player could avoid or disarm. Currently, my plan is to develop this mod further and eventually create a remake of Alpha Moon that is more true to the leftover level script that comes with the H2EK.

So, here's AlphaZone. The Heretic Leader has fled the gas mine to his compound on Basis so it's up to the Arbiter and Rtas' crack team of Covenant commandos to suppress the truth like any real followers of the Great Journey should. The Heretics are heavily dug-in here and heavy resistance is expected. Thankfully, their anti-air accidentally shot down a nearby Sentinel Factory when the Covenant were making landfall, so now the Sentinels want everyone dead instead of just you and your own. Alright, there's yer story fluff.

NEW ENEMIES

Heretic Grunts now have major, ultra, and heavy ranks, you'll know them when you see 'em. Higher Heretic Grunt ranks are far more disciplined in combat, and do not flinch as easily when damage is taken. To further show the Heretics' rejection of the Covenant hierarchy, some Heretic Grunts are armed with Carbines.

Heretic Jackals make an appearance, with brand new state-of-the-art respirators that feed oxygen directly through their noses so that they don't have to lodge air filters in the backs of their throats. Being a species of generally untrustworthy pirates and guns for hire, it's anybody's guess as to why so many of them were allowed to join the former Covenant Expeditionary Force before Sesa's Heresy began. Heretic Jackal Majors frequently maneuver in combat and will jump to dodge enemy fire.

Heretic Hunters are encountered, but they are easily stunlocked and constant exposure to Basis' atmosphere has left them less durable.

Heretic Elites now have a green Ultra rank, tough as nails and ready to take their combat stress out on others with their backup energy swords.

Spec-Ops Jackals will frequently appear and fight alongside you, they're quick on their feet and often operate in groups with each squad member carrying weapons for specific combat roles.