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Script Guide

by Rachel Maille

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HALO2:
SCRIPT GUIDE
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Copyright Information, Credit, and Legal Garbage
===============================================================================
Halo2 is trademarked property of Microsoft Corporation and Bungie Studios, with
all that entails.
I'm sure the voice actors don't have any right to their work in this, but they
should.  Without their phenomenal work, this game would only be a dumb shooter.
Double that for the writer: Joseph Staten.

The scene descriptions are entirely my fault, and should probably be 
copyrighted, so here goes:
Copyright 2004 Rachel Maille

Under the whole "Information desires to be free" philosophy, this document may
be reproduced in physical and/or electronic form.  This is provided that no
money is made from that reproduction and that the work is reproduced in its 
entirety including this section.

For my own amusement, drop me a line if you decide to put this on your site.
Comments, corrections, criticisms, &c are also welcome.  Please don't send
attached files; I'm paranoid about viruses.
email: [email protected]                                
===============================================================================

Notes
===============================================================================
This guide is meant to be a compilation of the cut scene and in-game dialogue.  
This guide is not a novelization, although if it gets any longer, it just might
be.  This guide also does not, with a few notable exceptions, include the 
random dialogue spouted by the Marines, Covenant, Cortana, &c.  That's for
someone else to compile.
I've tried to use a minimum of scene descriptions.  You be judge.
There are sections where someone (usually Cortana) will make running comments
every few rooms.  For readability, these are seperated.
There are also a few sections later on in the game where I couldn't make out
the dialogue.  These are marked as "(missing data)".  If anyone can make these
parts out, I'd appreciate it greatly if you could email me.
Also, if anyone knows the name of the Elite Commander that keeps popping up,
I'd like to know.

Lastly, this is tentatively being labeled version 1.0.  I still need to confirm
a few scene descriptions and check to see if there are any more level dependent
differences.  
===============================================================================
Special Thanks

Truc87: For the correction to Johnson's speach in The Armory
Rick: For the correction to Hood's line in Field Expedient
Daniel: For the [missing data] fill in for Gravemind's line during Please Make
Yourself at Home.

===============================================================================
UPDATES: Please check to make sure you have the most current edition before
sending corrections.
===============================================================================
December 23,2004- Made dozens of minor changes to spelling, punctuation, and 
certain inacurate words.  Changes cover up to "Uncomfortable Silence"

===============================================================================

Contents
===============================================================================
Heretic
Armory
---One Size Fits All
Cairo Station
---Home Field Advantage
---Authorized Personnel Only
---Return to Sender
Outskirts
---They'll Regret That Too
---A Day At the Beach
---Speed Zone Ahead
Metropolis
---Ladies Like Armor Plating (level dependent)
---This Town Ain't Big Enough For the Both of Us
---Field Expedient
Arbiter
---A Whisper in the Storm
---To the Hunt
Oracle
---Juggernaut
---Hey, Watch This
---Dead or Alive...Actually Just Dead
Delta Halo
---Helljumpers
---You Break It, You Buy It
---Off the Rock, Through the Bush, Nothing But Jackal
Regret
---Testament
---One-Way Ticket
---Sorry, Were You in the Middle of Something?
Sacred Icon
---Uncomfortable Silence
---Buyer's Remorse
---100,000 Year's War
Quarantine Zone
---Objects in Mirror are Larger Than They Appear
---Healthy Competition
---Shooting Gallery
---That Old, Familiar Feeling
Gravemind
---Inside Job
Uprising
---Oh, So That's How it Is
---Step Aside, Let the Man Go Through
---Fight Club
High Charity
---Cross-purposes
---Please, Make Yourself at Home
---Sanctified
---Once More, With Feeling
The Great Journey
---You Ass, My Size-24 Hoof
---Backseat Driver
---Delusions and Grandeur
Credits
Epilogue
   
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And now, on with the show.
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===============
Chapter 1:
Heretic
===============
[The game opens on a wide shot of space.  Large sections of the destroyed Halo
float through there.  Several Covenant ships move among the wreckage.  In orbit
above the planet is what looks to be a half-destroyed moon...or a very large 
city.  Hundreds of Covenant ships are in position around it.]

Covenant Holy City, High Charity
Ninth Age of Reclemation

Voice: There was only one ship.
[Cut to an interior shot of the Covenant council chambers.  An Elite stands in 
the center of the room speaking to threefloating Prophets, one of which is a
hologram, as a squad of Brutes
and a gallery full of council members watch.]
Prophet of Regret: One?  Are you sure?
Elite: Yes.  They called it...Pillar of Autumn.
Prophet of Mercy: Why was it not destroyed with the rest of their fleet?
Elite: It fled as we set fire to their planet.  But I followed with all the
ships in my command.
Regret: When you first saw Halo, were you blinded by its majesty?
Elite: Blinded?
Regret: Paralyzed?  Dumstruck?
Elite: No!
Regret: Yet the humans were able to evade your ships, land on the Sacred Ring,
and desecrate it with their filthy footsteps!
Elite: Noble Hierarchs, surely you understand that once the parasite attack-
[He is drowned out by angry shouts from the gallery.  The Brute leader watches
all this with amusement]
Mercy: There will be order in this council!  
Prothet of Truth: You were right to focus your intention on the flood.  
But this demon...this 'Master Chief'...
Elite: By the time I learned the demon's intent, there was nothing I could do.
[Indignant clamoring]
Regret: Noble Prophet of Truth, this has gone on long enough.  Make an example
of this bungler!  The Council demands it!
Truth: You are one of our most treasured instruments.  Long have you led your
fleet with honour and distinction, but your inability to safeguard Halo was a
colossal failure...
Council Member: Nay, it was heresy!
[The chamber erupts in an enraged uproar]
Elite: I will continue my campaign against the humans!
Truth: No!  You will not!  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.

===============
Chapter 2:
The Armory
===============
[Establishing shot of Earth.  Orbital MAC stations and dozens of UNSC ships can
be seen.]

Earth Defense Platform, Cairo
10.20.2552 (Military Callender)
[Cut to interior bay]

Master Gun: The plating was about to fail.  There's viscocity throughout the 
gel layer.  Optics?  Totally fried.  And let's not even talk about the power
supply.  You know how expensive this gear is son?
Master Chief: Tell that to the Covenant.

-----One Size Fits All-----
Gun: Well, I guess it was all obsolete anyway.  Your new suit's a Mark VI-just
came up from Sondheim this morning.  Try and take it easy until you get used to
the upgrades.  Everything checks out.  Standby, I'm gonna offline the 
inhibitors.  Move around a little.  Get a feel for it.  When you're ready meet
me by the zapper.
Pay attention 'cause I'm only going over this once.  This station will test
your recharging energy shields.  Step on in and I'll show you.  Your new 
armour's shields are extremely resilient.  Very efficient...much better than 
the Covenant tech we used on the Mark V.  Bingo!  As you can see they recharge
a lot faster.  If your shields go down, find some cover.  Wait for the meter to
read fully charged.
Sergeant Johnson: That or he can hide behind me.  You done with my boy here
Master Guns?  I don't see any training wheels.
Gun: His armour's working fine Johnson, so shut your chilly hole.  You're free
to go son.  Just remember, take things slow.
/*Note: "so shut your chilly hole" only seems to appear on heroic*/
Johnson: Don't worry.  I'll hold his hand.
Gun: So Johnson, when you gonna tell me how you made it back home in one piece?
Johnson: Sorry Guns, it's classified.
Gun: Huh, my ass!  Well you can forget about those adjustments to your A2 
scope...[fades off]
Johnson: Well he's in a particularly fine mood.  Maybe Lord Hood didn't give
him an invitation.
[The Chief and Johnson step into a lift]
Johnson: Earth.  I haven't seen it in years.  When I shipped out for basic, the
Orbital Defense Grid was all theory and politics.  Now look.  The Cairo's just
one of three hundred Geo-sync platforms.  That MAC gun could put a round clean 
through a Covenant capital ship.  Coordinated fire from the Athens and the 
Malta.  Nothin's gettin past this battle cluster in one piece.  Ships've been 
arrivin all mornin.  Nobody's sayin much, but I bet something big's about to 
happen.

===============
Chapter 3:
Cairo Station
===============
[The Master Chief and Johnson step off the lift into a windowed bay.  UNSC
officers and crew stand by in formal uniform applauding.  Automated cameras
float above the crowd.  Johnson is in full dress uniform with a purple heart 
on his chest.  The Chief, as usual is in his armour.]
Chief: You told me there wouldn't be any cameras.
Johnson: And you told me you were gonna wear something nice.  Folks need heroes
Chief.  Gives 'em hope.  So smile will ya?  While we still got something to 
smile about.

[Scene cut to High Charity.  Brutes are dragging the Elite from the council
chambers into the center of an ampitheter.  Thousands of Covenant line the 
stands.]
Grunts[chanting]: Her-e-tic!  Her-e-tic!
Tartarus: You've drawn quite a crowd.
[The Elite is placed upright in the center with bands of energy circling each
wrist]
Elite: If they've come to hear me beg, they will be disappointed.
Tartarus: Are you sure?
[Energy arcs down to the wrist restraints, and from there to the Elite himself]

[Cut back to the Cairo.  An older man of obvious rank and an aide waits
for the Chief and Johnson to approach.  There are other officers lined up 
nearby.  The two salute the man.]
Lord Hood: Gentlemen.  We're lucky to have you back...
[An aid whispers something to Lord Hood who turns to a holo-platform.]
Hood: Go ahead Cortana.
[Cortana appears on the platform.  She's now a uniform blue-white and has 
longer hair.]
Cortana: Another whisper, sir, near Io.  We have probes enroute.
Hood: I apologize, but we're going to have to make this short.
Cortana: You look nice.
Chief and Johnson: Thanks-------Thank you!
Hood: Sergeant Major, the Colonial Cross is awarded for acts of singular daring
and devotion.  For a soldier of the United Earth Space Corp-

Tartartus:-there can be no greater heresy.  Let him be an example for all who
would break our Covenant!
[Wild cheers from the crowd.  Brute guards strip the smoking armour from the
Elite.]

Hood: Commander Miranda Keyes.  Your father's actions were in keeping with the
highest traditions of military service.  His bravery in the face of impossible
odds reflects great credit upon himself and the UNSC.  The Navy has lost one of
its best.

[The now naked Elite dangles from his restraints.  A long, twisted, spiky
object rises near Tartarus.  He pulls it out to reveal a roughly circular end
that's glowing hot.  He walks up to the Elite and presses it against his chest.
There is the sound of searing flesh and agonized screams.]

[An alert sounds on the Cairo]
Cortana: Slipspace ruptures, directly off our battle cluster.
Hood: Show me.
Cortana: Fifteen Covenant capital ships holding position just outside the kill
zone.
Admiral Harper: This is Fleet Admiral Harper.  We are engaging the enemy.
Hood: Negative Admiral.  Form a defensive perimeter around the cluster!  
Commander, get to your ship.  Link up with the fleet.
Commander Miranda Keyes: Yes sir!
Hood: You have the MAC gun Cortana.  As soon as they come in range, open up.
Cortana: Gladly.
Hood: Something's not right...the fleet that destroyed Reach was fifty times
this size.
Officer: Sir!  Additional contacts!  Boarding craft...and lots of 'em.
Hood: They're going to try and take our MAC guns offline...give their capital
ships a straight shot to Earth.  Master Chief...defend this station.
Chief: Yes sir. [turns to Johnson] I need a weapon.
Johnson: Right this way.
Intercom: All hands report to battle stations.  This is not a drill.  I repeat,
this is not a drill!
Johnson: How's it going Malta?
Malta: Stand-by...they're latched!  Check your targets and watch your crossfire
They're in standard formation: little bastards up front big ones in back.  Good
luck Cairo.
Johnson: Field of fire on that bulkhead.  As soon as that door opens, let'em
have it.

-----Home Field Advantage-----
/*This is all radio chatter as the Chief moves through the Cairo*/
Malta: Find the borders' point of entry Chief.  Cut them off at the source.
Cortana: Malta, what's your status?  Over.
Malta: I don't believe it!  They're retreating!  We won!
[Outside the hanger windows, the Malta explodes.]
Marine: This is bad...real bad.
Marine: Uh oh, I think they're leaving the Athens.
[The Athens explodes.]
Hood: Cortana, assessment.
Cortana: That explosion came from inside the Athens-same as the Malta.  The
Covenant must have brought something with them.  A bomb.
Hood: Then they sure as hell brought one here.  Chief, find it.

-----Priority Shift-----
Gun: Get the hell out my armory split-li-ahhh God!
Johnson: Come on Chief.  This way.
Keyes: I was almost on board when they showed up.
Johnson: Don't worry ma'am.  We're on it.
Keyes: Thanks Chief.  I owe you one.

-----Authorized Personnel Only-----
Cortana: Sir!  Boarders have breached the firing control center.  They have a 
bomb.
Hood: Can you defuse it?
Cortana: Yes, but I'll need the Chief's help to make contact with the detonator
Hood: Chief, get to the bomb...double time.  Cortana, prioritize targets and
fire at will.
Harper: First echelon, you're with me.  Blanket those cruisers.  Take 'em out
one by one.  Second echelon, keep those carriers busy.
Cortana: Registering all hostile vessels inside the kill zone.  Thirteen 
cruisers, two assault carriers...I'm going loud!
[Little aside if the Chief takes his sweet time getting to fire control]
Cortana: Ask yourself this question: "Is what I'm doing right now helping
Cortana keep this station from exploding into tiny, tiny bits?"
Harper: The carriers are breaking through sir.  They're heading straight for 
the Cairo.
Hood: Cortana, concentrate your fire on the first carrier.  Admiral, do what 
you can against the second.
Harper: Everyone form up.  Follow my lead.
Cortana: The first carrier completely ignored us sir, blew straight through the
Malta's debris field, and headed straight for Earth.
Cortana: Just so you know...there are quite a few Elites guarding the bomb.  
You may need to get creative.

-----Return to Sender-----
[After the Chief clears out the Covenant guards, Cortana appears.]
Cortana: Me.  Inside your head.  Now!
[The Chief touches Cortana's hologram, and she dissapears into his glove.  He
places his hand over the glowing detonator on the bomb.  After a few seconds of
insistent beeping, the device goes silent.]
Chief: How much time was left?
Cortana: You don't want to know.
[Commander Keyes and Johnson have finally made it onto In Amber Clad and joined
the fleet.]
Keyes: Cairo, this is In Amber Clad.  The carrier's shield is down.  I'm in
position and ready for immediate assault.
Hood: Negative Commander.  Not against a ship that size.
Chief: Sir, permission to leave the ship.
Hood: For what purpose Chief?
Chief: To give the Covenant back their bomb.
Hood: ...Permission granted.
Cortana: I know what you're thinking, and it's crazy.
Chief: So, stay here.
Cortana: Unfortunately us both...I like crazy.
[The Master Chief checks the positioning of the bomb and grabs ahold of the 
lever that opens the hanger doors.]
Cortana: Just one question.  What if you miss?
Chief: I won't.
[He opens the hanger doors.  The venting atmosphere drags the bomb out with it.
As it passes the Chief, he grabs on to one of the protruding spikes and rides 
it out.  He drops behind the engine of an exploding UNSC ship, aiming straight
for the carrier.  An explosion rips into a section of the hull, and the Chief
takes the convenient opening.  He drops into the huge, cavernous expanse that
is the carrier's engine core.  Around the midpoint, he climbs up the spikes,
resets the detonator, and pushes off in a graceful arc torwards open space.
The carrier goes up in a series of explosions, as the Chief falls torwards
Earth.  Suddenly, In Amber Clad floats beneath him, and he land on it with a 
loud thud.]
Johnson: For a brick, he flew pretty good.
Keyes: Chief.  Get inside-gear up.  We're taking this fight to the surface.

===============
Chapter 4:
Outskirts
===============
[In Amber Clad hovers over the city while three Pelican dropships launch.]
Cortana: The message just repeats: Regret.  Regret.  Regret.
Keyes: Catchy.  Any idea what it means?
Johnson: Dear humanity, we regret being alien bastards,  we regret coming to
Earth, and we most definitely regret the Corps just blew up our raggedy-ass
fleet!
Pilots: Hoorah!
Cortana: Regret is a name Sergeant.  The name of one of the Covenant's religous
leaders-a Prophet.  He's on that carrier, and he's calling for help.

[The Pelicans pass over a group of Warthogs headed down the street.  A sniper
team is running lookout on a nearby rooftop.]
Spotter: Immediate: grid kilo-two-three is hot.  Recommend mission abort.
Pilot: Roger recon.  It's your call Sarge.
Johnson: We're going in.  Get tactical Marines!
Hood: Master Chief?  Get aboard that carrier secure the Prophet of Regret.
This is the only place on Earth the Covenant decided to land.  That Prophet is
going to tell us why.
Pilot: Thirty seconds out.  Stand-by...whoa...

[A Covenant Scarab stomps into view.  Its jaws open, and it fires a plasma beam
at the approaching Pelicans.  The one holding the Chief goes down hard.]
Cortana: You alright Chief? [easy]
         Hey Chief!  Wake up! [normal]
         Talk to me.  Should I start CPR?  What's going on? [heroic]
         Blink if you can hear me Chief. [legendary]
Johnson: Shake it off Marines!  Clear the crash site. Go! Go! Go!

-----They'll Regret That Too-----
Pilot: My girl's a little too big for that courtyard Sarge.  I see a good LZ on
the other side of these buildings.  Meet you there.  Over?
Johnson: Copy that.  Someone get a satchel on the gates.
Cortana: Hunters!
Johnson: Stand back Marines!  Let the Chief show you how it's done.
Cortana: Second squad, this is Cortana.  What's your status?  Over.
Squad Leader: We're operational ma'am...barely.  Our pilots didn't make it.
Cortana: Find a hole and stay put.  We'll come to you.
[After a while a Pelican lands.]
Keyes: Sergeant, I need you on that bird.
Johnson: Ma'am?
Keyes: My Pelicans are gonna start airlifting armour and reinforcements into 
the vicinity.  They'll need an escort that isn't afraid of a little hostile 
ground fire.
Johnson: Understood!  I'll keep an eye on 'em.  Chief?  Good luck.
Squad Leader: Chief?  Glad you could make it.  Crash site's on the other side 
of this hotel Chief.  Covenant are crawling all over it.  Follow me.

-----A Day at the Beach-----
Cortana: The highest concentration of Covenant troops is directly below the
carrier.  I don't think they want you to get onboard.  That bridge is the most
direct route to the city's center.

-----Speed Zone Ahead-----
Cortana: I've been analyzing the Covenant tactical chatter.  They're surprised
...confused.  I don't think they expected us to be here.  Not you and me.  All
of us...humanity...on Earth.  Odd, I know, but it does help explain why they 
came here with such a small fleet.

===============
Chapter 5:
Metropolis
===============
[The Master Chief walks up to a barricade at the foot of the bridge.  Two 
Marines are hiding behind it watching the Scarab head unoposed up the bridge.]
Marine1: It blew right through us. 50 cal, rockets...didn't do a thing.
[A Pelican hovers down and drops off a Scorpion tank and Sergeant Johnson.]
Johnson: Where's the rest of your platoon?
Marine1: Wasted Sarge!
Marine2: And we will be too, sir, if we don't get the hell out of here!
Johnson: You hit Marine?
Marine2: N-No sir.
Johnson: Then listen up!
       [easy] You had your chance to be afraid before you joined my beloved 
Corps.  But to guide you back to the true path, I've brought you this 
motivational device.  Our big green style cannot be defeated!
       [normal] The Chief is gonna jump in this tank, roll across the bridge,
and blow up any inhuman son-of-a-bitch dumb enough to get between him and the
Prophet of Regret!  Pull yourself together.  'Cause you're going with him.
       [heroic] When I joined the Corps, we didn't have any fancy-schmancy 
tanks.  We had sticks-two sticks...and a rock for the whole Platoon.  And we 
had to share the rock!  Buck-up boy!  You're one very lucky Marine.
       [legendary] Usually, the good Lord works in mysterious ways.  But not
today!  This here's sixty-six tons of straight up, HE-spewing dee-vine
intervention.  If God is love, you can call me Cupid.
Marine1: What about that Scarab?
Johnson: We've all run the simulation.  They're tough, but they ain't 
invincible.  Stay with the Master Chief.  He'll know what to do.
Marine1: Yes sir!  Sergeant!
Cortana: Thanks for the tank.  He never gets me anything.
Johnson: Oh I know what the ladies like.

-----Ladies Like Armour Plating-----[easy/normal]
-----Ladies Like Grinding Treads-----[heroic]
-----Ladies Like Superior Firepower-----[legendary]
Cortana: That's quite a welcome party.

-----This Town Ain't Big Enough for the Both of Us-----
Cortana: There are a number of Marines trapped in that building Chief.  
Concentrate on the Wraiths.  They're the biggest threat.
Corporal Perez: Sir! Corporal Perez, A Company CP's this way.  The Lieutenant 
got hit as soon as we dropped in.
Cortana: Who's in charge now Corporal?
Perez: Sergeant Banks ma'am.  He's up top.  Come on.  I'll show you.

-----Field Expidition-----
Sergeant Banks: When I asked for reinforcements, I didn't think they'd send a
Spartan.
[In the courtyard below, the Scarab blows up a Scorpion]
Marine: See this look?  It's terror!
Banks: Marine, did I give you permission to bitch?  I don't think it's stopping
-get your heads down!  Marines, time to kill us a Scarab!
Cortana: They can't go any further this way.  We have them trapped.  Chief, 
you're going to have to board that Scarab.

[cut scene]
[The Master Chief walks down the ramp of the now defunct Scarab.  The carrier
overhead turns and starts heading out.]
Johnson: That's right you mothers!  Run!
Keyes: Not if we can help it Sergeant.  Extract the Chief and return to In 
Amber Clad!
Johnson: Roger that!
Hood: Status.
Keyes: Sir!  The Prophet's bugging out.  Request permission to engage.
Hood: Negative Commander.  I'll vector two heavies for starside intercept.
Tactical: Ma'am!  Slipspace rupture off the starboard bow.  It's gonna jump
inside the city!
Keyes: There's no time sir!
Hood: Green light!  Green light to engage!
Keyes: Punch it!  Get close!
Nav: Ma'am?  Without a destination solution...
Keyes: We are not losing that ship.
[In Amber Clad roars after the carrier.  They manage to slide inside its 
Slipspace field just as it jumps out.  The backwash of energy vaporizes the 
city.]

===============
Chapter 6:
The Arbiter
===============
[Blurry view at a floor and the lower legs of an Elite as seen through the eyes
of said Elite.  He looks up to see Tartarus striding down the corridor in front
of him.  There are two other Brutes half-carrying, half-dragging him along.]
Brute1: How much further must we heft this baggage?  Any cell will do.  Why not
toss him in with this lot? [Gestures torwards a cell full of jackals]  They
could use the meat.
Brute2: Them?  What about us?  My belly aches. And his flesh is seared just the
way I like it.
Tartarus: Quiet!  You two whimper like Grunts fresh off the teat.  He's not 
meant for the jails.  The Hierarchs have something special in mind.

[They step onto a gravlift and descend into a large open area.  A bridge
connects to a structure in the middle.  Lining the bridge are Elite honor 
guards armed with spears and dressed in red and gold armour.  The group enters
the structure to find Truth and Mercy in the center.  On the inside walls,
metallic grids, like doors, march up the walls at regular intervals.  Tartarus
and the Brutes approach the two Prophets and drop to one knee.]
Tartarus: Noble Prophets of Truth and Mercy, I have brought the incompetent.
Truth: You may leave Tartarus.
Tartarus: But I thought-
Truth: And take your Brutes with you.
Tartarus: Release the prisoner.
[They drop the Elite and walk out sullenly]
Truth: The Council decided to have you hanged by your entrails and your corpse
paraded through the city.  But ultimately the terms of your execution are up
to me.
Elite: I am already dead.
Truth: Indeed.  Do you know where we are?
Elite: The Masoleum of the Arbiter.
Truth: Quite so.  Here rests the vanguard of the Great Journey.  Every Arbiter
from first to last.  Each created and consumed in times of extraordinary 
crisis.
Mercy: The Taming of the Hunters, the Grunt Rebellion-were it not for the
Arbiters the Covenant would have broken long ago!
Elite: Even on my knees I do not belong in their presence.
Truth: Halo's destruction was you error, and you rightly bear the blame.  But
the Council was...overzealous.  We know you are no heretic.  This is the true
face of heresy.  One who would subvert our faith and encite rebellion against
the High Council.
[Truth motions and a small hologram of an Elite appears.]
Holo: Our prophets are false!  Open your eyes my brothers!  They would use the
faith of our forefathers to bring ruin to us all.  The Great Journey is-
Truth: This heretic and those who follow him must be silenced.
Mercy: Their slander offends all who walk the path.
Elite: What use am I?  I can no longer command ships or lead troops into 
battle.
Truth: Not as you are.  But become the Arbiter, and you shall be set loose
against this heresy with our blessing.

[An oversized pod floats down and hovers a few feet above the floor.  The door
swings out and down like a ramp to reveal a set of blue armour arranged inside.
It has an old feel to it.  The Elite gives it a long look.]
Elite: What of the Council?
Mercy: The tasks you must undertake as the Arbiter are perilous-suicidal.  You
will die as each Arbiter has before you.  The Council will have their corpse.
[The Elite approaches the armour and stares reverently at it for a few seconds
more.  Finally, he reaches in, takes the helmet, and places it on his head.]
Arbiter: What would you have your Arbiter do?

[Three Phantom dropships descend torwards the planet.  Inside the lead ship, 
an Elite Commander paces between the lines of troops.]
Commander: When we joined the Covenant, we took an oath.
All: According to our station.  All without exception.
Commander: On the blood of our fathers.  On the blood of our sons-we swore to
uphold the Covenant.
All: Even to our dying breath.
Commander: Those who would break this oath are heretics.  Worthy of neither
pity nor mercy.  Even now they use our Lords' creation to broadcast their lies.
All: We shall grind them to dust! /*Added in the subtitles,"And scrape them
like excrement from our boots!"*/
Commander: And continue our march to Glorious Salvation!

[Afterwards, the battle leader corners the Arbiter]
Commander: This armour suits you, but it can not hide that mark.
Arbiter: Nothing ever will.
Commander: You are the Arbiter.  The will of the Prophets.  But these are my
Elites.  Their lives matter to me.  Yours does not.
Arbiter: That makes two of us.
Commander: Mmmmm.
[The Phantoms descend towards a large mining facility above the surface.  A
huge dust storm is blowing up nearby.]
Pilot: Leader...there is no doubt.  The storm will strike the facility.
Commander: We'll be long gone before it arrives.  Warriors, prepare for combat.
We are the arm of the Prophets, Arbiter.  And you are the blade.  Be silent and
swift, and we shall quell this heresy without incident.

-----A Whisper in the Storm-----
Commander: The storm has masked our approach, and it should have their local
battlenet in disarray.  We have the element of surprise...for now.
Commander: Arbiter, clear the hanger and open its doors so that I may drop a 
second batch.

[The heretic leader can be seen outside boarding a Banshee.]
Heretic: Deal with him my brothers!  I will defend the Oracle!

-----To the Hunt-----
Commander: The heretics are mobilizing their airforces, Arbiter.  Get after
them, but watch your back!  I'm sending one of our Phantoms to support you.
Phantom: The heretics have weapons placed all over the facility, Arbiter.
We'll take them out one-by-one until we find their leader.
Commander: We've tracked the heretic leader to this part of the station.  Clear
that landing zone and get inside.

=============== 
Chapter 7:
The Oracle
===============
[The Arbiter, Commander, and squad head into the facility.  The Commander stops
and sniffs the air.]
Arbiter: What is it?
Commander: That stench...I've smelled it before

-----Juggernaut-----
[The group enters a room and fans out.  The sound of fighting comes from the
previous room.  After a few seconds, the Heretic leader appears in mid-air
wearing a jetpack.]
Grunt: See? Heretic!
[Several squad members fire on the figure only to have their shots go through
and ricochet off the walls.]
Commander: Hold your fire.  Hold your fire!
Heretic: I wondered who the Prophets would send to silence me.  An Arbiter...
I'm flattered.
Commander: He's using a holodrone.  He must be close.  Come out so we may kill
you.
Heretic: Ha, ha, ha.  Get in line.

[The holodrone drops to the floor.  After a moment, Flood start appearing.]
Commander: Heretic fools!  What have they done?  Go Arbiter!  I'll follow when
our reinforcements have arrived.
Pilot: Leader!  The storm is about to hit.  We cannot maintain our position.
Commander: Bring the Phantoms close to the mine.  We're not leaving until the
leader of these Heretics is dead.  
Commander: Arbiter, the Flood have spread throughout the station.  We don't 
have enough troops to manage such a large infestation.  Find the leader of 
these heretics.  Kill him now!

[The Arbiter chases the Heretic leader into a room with a ramp spiraling up
into the darkness.  The Heretic is making for a door at the far side of the
room.]
Heretic: This will save me from the storm...but you will be consumed.
Commander: Arbiter, where is he?  Stinking Flood-bait boxed himself in tight.
Arbiter: We will force him out.
Commander: How?
Arbiter: The cable.  I'm going to cut it.  Get everyone back to the ships.
Commander: Warriors, get everyone back to the ships.  The Arbiter will continue
upward, cut this station loose, and scare the Heretic from his hole.

-----Hey, Watch This!-----
Commander: All my Phantoms are in the air Arbiter.  Go ahead!  Cut the cable!
[After the first cable is cut]
Commander: That's one.  By the Prophets, look at the station list!
[After cutting second]
Commander: One final cable, Arbiter.
[After cutting the third, the station groans for a few seconds then drops out
from under the Arbiter's feet.]
Commander: That did it!  The station is in freefall.
Commander: The Heretic Leader is on the move.  Do not let him escape!  We'll
stay with you as long as we can.
Commander: Are you still alive Arbiter?  We're keeping pace as best we can.

[The Arbiter runs out onto a platform where a Banshee is parked.  Another 
Banshee is already airborne.  The Arbiter ducks back behind the door as it 
fires on his position.  He fires back before jumping into the Banshee and
pursuing.]
Commander: What lunacy!  He'll never escape this maelstrom in a Banshee.  Wait,
the hanger!  There was a Seraph fighter inside.  Arbiter, you know what to do.
[Hotly pursued by a pack of Banshees, the Arbiter makes for a small ledge, 
crashing into it in an almost exact replay of Master Chief's manuever from
Halo:CE.]

-----Dead of Alive...Actually Just Dead-----
[The Arbiter corners the Herectic leader in the hanger]
Arbiter: Turn Heretic!
Heretic: Arbiter, I would rather die by your hand than have the Prophets lead
me to slaughter.
Arbiter: Who has taught you these lies?
[On cue, a metallic object floats in humming annoyingly]
Arbiter: The Oracle?
343: Hello, I am three-four-three Guilty Spark.  I am the monitor of 
installation zero-four.
Heretic: Ask the Oracle about Halo.  How they would sacrifice us all for 
nothing.
343: More questions?  Splendid!  I would be happy to assist.

[The Heretic leader takes advantage of the distraction to fire a few shots at
the Arbiter.  He then uses his jetpack to get some air and activates a couple
of holodrones, making perfect replicas of himself.]
Heretic: The Elites are blind Arbiter, but I will make them see...

[After defeating the Heretic, the Arbiter drags him across the hanger.]
343: Unfortunate.  His edification was most enjoyable.
Arbiter: I had no choice Holy Oracle.  This Heretic imperiled the Great 
Journey.
343: Oracle?  Sacred Journey?  Why do you meddlers insist on using such 
inept verbiage?  Oh my!
[Tartarus has arrived.  He uses some kind of gravity generator in his hammer to
draw the monitor to him.]
Arbiter: That is the Oracle.
[Tartarus peels 343 from the end of his hammer and tosses it casually into a 
waiting ship.]
Tartarus: Hmmmm, so it is.  Come.  We are leaving this system.

===============
Chapter 8:
Delta Halo
===============
[Exit Slipspace: one Covenant carrier, a dozen ruined buildings, and In Amber
Clad.  The ship lurches hard as it decelerates.]
Keyes: Uhn.  Report!
Nav: Both engines cores have spun to zero!  We're drifting.
Tactical: Archer pods are cold.  I'll need to rekey the system.
Keyes: Do it!  And find out where we are.
[Down below, Sergeant Johnson is emerging from a pod.]
Keyes: Sorry for the quick jump Sergeant.  You in one piece?
Johnson: I'm good.  Chief?
Cortana: We're fine.
Nav: Ma'am...there's an object.  Coming into view now.
[Outside the ship is a blue-green planet, and in orbit is a large ring.  There
is a moment of dead silence.]
Keyes: Cortana?  What exactly am I looking at?
Cortana: That...is another Halo.
Johnson:[spits] Say what?
Keyes: So this is what my father found...I thought Halo was some sort of
superweapon?
Cortana: It is.  If activated, this ring will cause destruction on a galactic
scale.
Keyes: I want all the information you've got on the first Halo...Schematics,
topography, whatever...I don't care if I have the clearance or not.
Cortana: Yes ma'am.
Keyes: Where's our target?
Tactical: The enemy ship has stopped above the ring ma'am...we're going to pass\
right over it.
Keyes: Perfect.  Given what we know about the ring, it's even more important
that we capture the Prophet of Regret-Find out why he came to Earth.  Why he
came here.  Chief, take first platoon...hard-drop.  Secure a landing zone.
Sergeant, load up two flights of Pelicans and follow them in.
Johnson: Aye, aye ma'am.
Keyes: Until I can move and fight I'm going to keep a low profile.  Once you
leave the ship, you're on your own.
Chief: Understood.
Tactical: Over the target in 5...
Cortana: Hang onto your helmet.

[A half dozen pods drop from the ship.  Parachutes deploy for a few seconds to
slow their descent through the atmosphere then snap loose.]
Cortana: Mind the bump.
[Groundside is a beach with lush, green jungle vegetation growing down to it.
There's a Forerunner ruin built into the hillside above the beach, and around 
it is a Covenant encampment.  A jackal looks up, spots the pods dropping 
like flaming meteors, and shrieks an alarm.  A Grunt huffs over to a turret 
gun, slips, stumbles, grabs onto the seat, starts to step up, slips again,
finally makes it up, and starts firing steadily.  Unsurprisingly, he fails to
hit anything.  The pods hit the beach hard.  ODSTs kick their way out.  The
Master Chief is right behind them.]
Cortana: Could we possibly make any more noise?
[The Chief reaches back into his pod and halls out a Jackhammer launcher
helpfully inscribed with a "Hold Like This" decal above the grip.]
Cortana:...I guess so.

-----Helljumpers-----
/*Note: Some lines in this section will be spoken by Marines/ODSTs when present
or by Cortana if they are not present.*/
ODST: Sir, we need to take out those cannons!
Cortana: Artillery disabled Sergeant.  Landing zone secure...for the moment.
Johnson: I hear ya.  Starting our approach.  Hang tight.
Cortana: Easier said than done.  Inbound Phantoms Chief.
Cortana: Hold here until the Pelican arrives Chief.
Cortana: Here comes our ride.
Johnson: I got a good view comin in.  There's a big building in the middle of
this island's lake.
Cortana: I saw it too.  It looks like a temple.  If I were a megalomaniac...and
I'm not...that's where I'd be.
ODST: Dear Sarge, kicking ass in outer space.  Wish you were here.
Johnson: I heard that!  Jackass...
Cortana: The Covenant have control of the bridge ahead.  They're going to try
and bottle us up on this side of the gorge.  The controls to extend the bridge
should be inside this structure.
Cortana: Good, the bridge is down.  Now about those Wraiths...
Johnson: Roger that.  Armour's on the way.

-----You Break It, You Buy It-----
Cortana: Pelican inbound.  Let's clear a landing zone.
[There's a lot of chanting from a hologram of the Prophet of Regret.]
Cortana: Transcendence huh?  More like mass suicide.

-----Off the Rock, Through the Bush, Nothing But Jackal-----
Cortana: Good.  Still no word about In Amber Clad on the Covenant battlenet.
It's odd.  The Covenant know we made landfall.  But they don't seem to consider 
us a very serious threat.  Boy are they in for a big surprise. This tower 
cluster should connect to the structure further out in the lake.  Let's get 
inside.

===============
Chapter 9:
Regret
===============
[Another holo of Regret floats in the center of the room chanting,]
Cortana: Wait!  Go back!  That's what I thought he said.  The Prophet of Regret
is planning to activate Halo!
Chief: Are you sure?
[Cortana snaps her finger at the holo, activating a translation algorithm.]
Regret: I shall light this Holy Ring-release its cleansing flame, and burn a 
path into the Divine Beyond!
Cortana: Pretty much.
Chief: Commander?  We've got a problem.
Keyes: So I hear.  But from what I understand, the Prophet will need an object
...the Index...to activate the ring.  I've located a library similar to the one
you found on the first Halo.  If the rings work the same way, the Index should
be inside.
Johnson: I'll bet the Covenant are thinking the exact same thing.
Keyes: Then we better beat them to it, Sergeant.  Extract your men and meet me
at the Library.
Johnson: Yes ma'am!
Keyes: I'll secure the Index, Chief.  You take out the Prophet.  He's given us
all the intel we need.

-----Testament-----
Cortana: You know, I think the Forerunners built these new structures around
the old to protect them-honour them.  Pure speculation mind you.  I'd need to
make a thourough survey to be sure.
Keyes: Cortana?  The Covenant's getting nosy.  I don't want to give away my 
position, so I'm rerouting a few stragglers back to you.  I apologize.  These
Pelicans are all the support you're going to get.
Cortana: Understood ma'am.  The gondolas are launching from the far tower.  Big
surprise, it's full of Covenant reinforcements.  Well they were nice enought to
bring us a ride.

-----One-Way Ticket-----
Cortana: This lake couldn't have been formed by volcanic action which means it
was either built this way on purpose or was created by some other cataclysm.
Sorry...were you trying to kill something?
Cortana: Ahhh now I see...there's a submerged section that connects these 
towers to the outlying structures.  Looks like we're going down...unless you'd
prefer to swim.
Cortana: I've intercepted a secure transmission from Regret's carrier to 
something called "High Charity".  It seems to be a formal apology to the 
Prophets of Truth and Mercy.  Apparently, Regret jumped the gun when he 
attacked Earth.  He's asking the other Prophets to forgive his premature
arrival, arguing that no human presence was foretold.  That explains why so
few ships were in his fleet.  But it's odd a Prophet would have such bad intel
about his enemy's homeworld.
Cortana: Regret's carrier just received a response from High Charity-a very
well encrypted message from the Prophet of Truth.  Listen to this: "Your haste
has jeopardized the fulfillment of our Covenant, threatened our Grand Design,
that you should be spared a public display of our contempt is thanks only to
Mercy and his wise counsel."  Truth.  Mercy.  Regret.  Three Covenant 
Hierarchs.  Killing Regret should shake up the Covenant leadership.  But 
frankly, it sounds like you might be doing Truth a favor.
(Holo)Regret: Every member of the Covenant shall walk the Path.  None will be
left behind when the Great Journey begins!  That is the Prophets' age old
promise, and it shall be fulfilled!
Cortana: Great Journey?  Doesn't he know what these rings do?
Pilot: This is my last run Chief.  I'm almost out of fuel.  We've secured the
first tower cluster.  I'll set down there.  Call when you're ready for evac.
Cortana: There-another gondola.  It looks like it leads straight to the main
temple.  Not much further now.
Keyes: How's it going you two?
Cortana: So far so good.  We're approaching the main temple now.
Keyes: Roger that.  I'm as close to the Library as I can get.  There's some 
sort of barrier.  We're trying to find a way around it.  I'll keep you posted.

[The Chief looks up to see hundreds of Covenant ships appearing out of 
Slipspace.]
Cortana: That's the largest Covenant fleet I've ever seen...the largest
anyone's ever seen.  Get inside the temple and kill Regret before it can stop
us.

-----Sorry, Were You in the Middle of Something?-----
[All through this sectio, Cortana spams the Master Chief with warnings of
imminent death and destruction.]
Regret: Incompetents!  I'll kill them myself.
Cortana: There's the target!  Take him out!
Cortana: Bad news.  The Phantoms are turning around-preparing to fire on our
position.  We need to get out of here.

[The Master Chief to see a very low flying Phantom preparing to fire on the
temple.  He takes off running torward the lake.  The ship fires, and the Chief
is hurled into the lake.  Unconscious, he sinks deeper into the lake.  Then a 
tentacle snakes up from below and wrap around his waist.]
Gravemind: This is not your grave...But you are welcome in it.

===============
Chapter 10:
Sacred Icon
===============
Covenant Holy City, High Charity
Sanctum of the Hierarchs

[The Arbiter walks torwards the sanctum.  All around him, Brutes are stripping
the armour and weapons from Elite honour guards.  The Brutes fight it out with
the Elites and each other for choice pieces of armour.  The Arbiter enters the
sanctum.  The Prophets of Truth and Mercy are holding an audience with the 
Commander from the Heretic mission and two of his lieutenants.]
Commander: This is unprecedented.  Unacceptable.
Truth: A Hierarch is dead Commander.
Commander: His murderer was within our grasp!  If you had not withdrawn our 
Phantoms-
Truth: Are you questioning my decision?
Commander: No, Holy One.  I only want to express my concern that the Brutes-
Truth: Recommissioning the guards was a radical step.  But recent events have
made it abundantly clear that the Elites can no longer guarantee our safety.
Commander:I shall relay your decision to the Council.

[The Commander and his lieutenants leave, giving the Arbiter a respectful nod 
on the way out.]
Truth: Politics.  How tiresome.  Do you know, Arbiter, the Elites have 
threatended to resign?  To quit the High Council?  Because of this...exchange
of hats?
Arbiter: We have always been your protectors.
Truth: These are trying times-for all of us.
Mercy: Even as the humans' annihalation filled us with satisfation, the loss of
one of the Sacred Rings wracked our hearts with grief!
Truth: Putting aside our sorrow, we renewed our faith in the prophecy that 
other rings would be found.  And see how our faith has been rewarded!
Mercy: Halo...It's divine wind will rush through the stars, propelling all who
are worthy along the path to Salvation!
Truth: But how to start this process?  For ages we searched for one who might
unlock the secrets of the ring-an Oracle.  And with your help, we found it!
Mercy: With appropriate humility, we plied the Oracle with our questions, and 
it with clarity and grace has shown us the key.
Truth: You will journey to the surface of the ring and retrieve this Sacred
Icon.  With it we shall fulfill our promise.
Mercy: Salvation for all!
Truth: And begin the Great Journey!

[Several Phantoms drop torwards Halo.]
Tartarus: Once the shield is down...we will head straight for the Library.  I
do not wish to keep the Hierarchs waiting.
Arbiter: The human who killed the Prophet of Regret.  Who was it?
Tartarus: Who do you think?
Arbiter: The demon is here?
Tartarus: Why?  Looking for a little payback?
Arbiter: Retrieving the Icon is my only concern.
Tartarus: Of course.
[They drop the Arbiter off on an outcropping outside the Library.  Behind him
rises an Enforcer.  The Phantom fires on it.]
Tartarus: Lower the shield Arbiter!  I'll pick you up when you finish.

-----Uncomfortable Silence-----
Tartarus: You're getting close to the shield generators.  Many Brutes have
fallen attempting to take it down.  Let's see if you fare better.
Tartarus: You've reached the shield's power source Arbiter.  Overload the locks
holding it in place.  Release the power source.  Now find a way to remove it 
from its cradle.

-----Buyer's Remorse-----
Tartarus: Our path to the Library is clear.  We'll pick you up on the ledge
ahead.  Ahhhh!  Blasted machines!  Make your own way through the wall Arbiter.
UNSC Marine radio: Proceed with the objective.  We'll hold out as long as we
can. [Screams]  Get'er off me!  Suppressive fire!  Suppressive fire!  Negative
ma'am, they're not Covenant.  Cover that door!

-----100,000 Year's War-----
Commander: Arbiter, what are you doing here?  We must hold this camp until
reinforcements arrive.

===============
Chapter 11:
Quarantine Zone
===============
Arbiter: In the center of this zone is a Sacred Icon critical to the Great
Journey.  I must find it.
Commander:  We shall cut into the heart of this infestation, retrieve the Icon,
and burn any Flood that stand in our way.
[The Elite platoon gives a loud roar of agreement.]
Commander: The Parisite is not the to be trifled with.  I hope you know what
you are doing.

-----Objects in Mirror are Larger Than They Appear-----
Commander: Forward warriors!  And fear not pain or death!  Go, Arbiter, I'll
follow when our reinforcements arrive.

-----Healthy Competition-----
[The Commander and Arbiter head up onto a ferry platform.  They turn to see 
another ferry moving off.]
Commander: More humans?  They must be after the Icon.  On your way Arbiter!  
I'll deal with these beasts.
Tartarus: I see that coward didn't join you.  I'll do what I can to keep the 
Flood off your back.

-----Shooting Gallery-----
Tartarus: We cannot let the humans capture the Icon!  The Hierarchs do not look
kindly on failure.
Elite: Look!  Up ahead-the parasite gather for an attack.
Tartarus(?): I'll thin their ranks.
Elite: What courage!  Nice and sage in his Phantom.
Tartarus(?): The humans are already inside Arbiter.  After them!  I'll watch 
the perimeter.

-----That Old, Familiar Feeling-----
[Commander Keyes reaches the Index room.  There are obvious signs of a big 
fight.  The wreckage of several Enforcers litters the floor, and their's a 
large hole in the floor. The Index floats above it.  Keyes grabs a broken
tentacle wrapped around an Enforcer, leans our over and grabs the Index.]
Keyes: Gotcha!
[Her anchor slides free.  Before she can fall too far, the tentacle is grabbed
by Sergeant Johnson.]
Johnson: You know, your father never asked me for help either.
Keyes: The Index is secure.
Johnson: McKenzie?  Perez?  How's our exit?  You hear me Marines?  We got
trouble.
[Johnson fires on a shadow.]
Johnson: Damn!
[The shadow resolves into the Arbiter.  He knocks Johnson's rifle aside and 
grabs him.]
Johnson: How ya doin?
[The Arbiter headbutts Johnson, knocking him out.  Keyes pulls out SMGs and 
unloads on the room.]
Keyes: Sergeant stay down!  Johnson you alright?  Johnson!

[Tartarus shows up with reinforcements, knocks the Commander down, a draws her
and the Index to him with his grav-hammer.]
Tartarus: Excellent work Arbiter.  The Hierarchs will be pleased.
Arbiter: The Icon...is my responsibility.
Tartarus: Was your responsibility.  Now it is mine.  A bloody fate awaits you
and your incompetent race.  And I, Tartarus, Chieftain of the Brutes, will send
you to it.
Arbiter: When the Prophets learn of this they will have your head.
Tartarus: When they learn?  Fool.  They ordered me to do it.
[Tartarus knocks the Arbiter off the same ledge he originally landed on.]

===============
Chapter 12:
Gravemind
===============
[A hazy view of an underground area and a circle of red lights.  The Master
Chief comes fully awake to see himself held by a tentacle.  It's attached to
a creature that seems to be entirely head, neck, and tentacles.  The eyeless
head bears a strong resemblance to the mouth structure of an Elite.]
Cortana: What...is that?
Gravemind: I? I am a monument to all your sins.
[Two more tentacles descend holding a struggling Arbiter.]
Chief: Relax.  I'd rather not piss this thing off.
Arbiter: Demon!
Gravemind: This one is machine and nerve, and has its mind concluded.  This one
is but flesh and faith, and is the more deluded.
Arbiter: Kill me or release me parasite!  But do not waste my time with talk.
Gravemind: There is much talk.  And I have listened.  Through rock and metal
and time.  Now I shall talk, and you shall listen.
[Another tentacle comes into view, wrapped around a monitor with a red eye.]
2401: Greetings!  I am twenty-four-oh-one Penitent Tangent.  I am the monitor
of installation zero-five.
[Yet another tentacle.  This one is merged with a half-Flood Regret.]
Regret: And I am the Prophet of Regret...counciler most high...Hierarch of the
Covenant!
2401: A Reclaimer?  Here?  At last!  We have much to do.  This facility must be
activated if we are to control this outbreak!
Regret: Stay were you are!  Nothing can be done until my sermon is complete!
2401: Not true.  This installation has a successful utilization record of one-
point-two trillion simulated and one actual.  It is ready to fire on demand.
Regret: Of all the objects our Lords left behind, there are none so worthless
as these Oracles!  They know nothing of the Great Journey!
2401: And you know nothing of containment!  You have demonstrated complete
disregard for even the most basic of protocols!
Gravemind: This one's containment...and this one's Great Journey are the same.
Your Prophets have promised you freedom from a doomed existence.  But you will
find no salvation on this ring.  Those who built this place knew what they 
wrought.  Do not mistake their intent, or all will perish as they did before.
Chief: This thing is right.  Halo is a weapon.  Your Prophets are making a big
mistake.
Arbiter: Your ignorance already destroyed one of the Sacred Rings demon.  It
shall not harm another.
Gravemind: If you will not hear the truth, then I will show it to you.  There
is still time to keep the key from turning.  But first, it must be found.  You
will search one likely spot.  And you will search another.  Fate had us meet as
foes, but this ring will make us brothers!

[High Charity is floating between the planet and Halo.  A battle rages around
it as Covenant ships fight each other.  Inside, the city isn't better.  Brute
guards in their new red and gold armour stand in front of the Council chambers.
A mob of Grunts and Jackals cover the stairs and literally climb the walls.
The Brutes use their spears to smash anyone who gets within range.  Inside the
chamber, Truth and Mercy are broadcasting to the Covenant fleet.]
Truth: We are, all of us, greatly concerned...the release of the parisite was
unexpected, unfortunate.  But there is no need to panic...In truth, this is a 
time to rejoice!  A moment that all the Covenant should savor!  For the Sacred
Icon has been found.  With it, our path is clear-our entry into the Divine
Beyond guaranteed!  The Great Journey is nigh, and nothing, not even the Flood,
can stop it!

[A swirling yellow light appears.  The Chief steps out of it to the amazement
of a Grunt.]
Chief: Boo.
[The Grunt runs screaming, helpfully dropping a needler.]
Truth: Kill the demon!

-----Inside Job-----
/*Note: sections with a '*' after the name are being broadcast overhead*/
Cortana: Brutes!  The faster you can kill these Brutes the better.  They don't 
have shield generators, but take them out before...it's berserking!
Tartarus*: Intruder in the Council chamber!  Protect the Hierarchs!
Seal the exits.
Cortana: Oh I don't think so.  Put me down on one of those pedestals near the
door.
Cortana: That Prophet...Truth, he has the Index.  You've got to take it from
him.  Let me get these doors.  Go!  It will be easier to track Truth if I stay
in the network.  Don't worry.  You can pick me up later.
Cortana: Truth is moving through the lower levels of the tower.  I'll reverse
this gravlift.  Drop down.  Try to cut him off.
Tartarus*: Reinforce all approaches to the holding pens.  Slay the demon on 
sight.
Cortana: They're beefing up their patrols.  Stay sharp.
Cortana: Wait a minute!  I'm reading Marine IFF transponders.  The signals are
originating somewhere below your position.
Cortana: There are two groups of Marines in this detention block.  I'll zero
their locations.  You neutralize the guards...quietly.
Cortana: Chief, come to the lower level.  The Marines are just inside.  Careful
of the guards.
Cortana: Listen up Marines!  The Chief's hunting a Prophet, and you're gonna
help him kill it.
Marine: Affirmative!
Cortana: One more group of Marines to go Chief.  Come to the middle level.
Cortana: That's all the Marines Chief.  Good work!  We'll get out of here the
same way we got in-the central gravlift.
/*Not a plot point but there seems to be a bug here.  Sometimes the second wave
of Covenant come down the lift and splatter on impact.  Maybe one of the Grunts
forgot to turn it on...*/
Truth(broadcast): Fear not my brothers!  The Sacred Icon is secure.  It was
Tartarus and his Brutes who took it from the Flood, and for that they have our
thanks.
Cortana: Excellent!  Truth is broadcasting on the moon.  It'll make it much 
easier to track.
Truth*: The Elites have failed to protect the Prophets, and in doing so, have
put all our lives at risk.  Let no warrior forget his oath: "Thou, in faith,
shall keep us safe, while we find the Path."
Cortana:  I've got a fix on Truth-just outside this tower Chief.  There's an
exit nearby...hurry!
Truth*: With my blessing, the Brutes now lead the (defenses?).  They ask for
your allegiance, and you shall give it.
Cortana: You wouldn't believe the numner of killsystems the Covenant are 
throwing down around me.  Not to worry.  It's pretty sloppy stuff.  I guess 
they never expected a hostile intelligence to penetrate the network from the
inside.
Cortana: The Covenant just destroyed two of their own ships, and I'm hearing
reports of small arms fire throughout the fleet.
Truth*: Creatures of the Covenant!  The Path is long, and we shall walk it 
side-by-side.
Cortana: Slipspace rupture!  It's In Amber Clad!  Hailing...no response.  It's 
crashed into another tower ahead of our position.  I'll keep trying to make
contact, but I'm not registering any human vital signs.
Truth*: At this moment, the Council is gathered on Halo to watch the Icon
ascend.
Tartarus*:  Fight back brothers!  Cast down the Elites!
Truth*: There are those who said this day would never come.  What are they to
say now?
Tartarus*: Once the towers are clear, we'll drive them from the lower district.
Truth*: I have listened to the Oracle, and confirmed our duties to it.  The
Great Journey begins here.
Tartarus*: The Elites are falling back to the Masoleum.  Fools!  Their Arbiter
can do nothing for them now!
Truth*: Who would die for the Prophets?  What have they [can't make this out]
Cortana: If we're going to catch Truth, we'll need to take a shortcut straight
through the Masoleum.  Look at the bright side...for now they seem much more
interested in killing each other.
Cortana: Hang on!  I'm picking up two more transponders.  It's the Commander 
and Johnson!  They're closing on Truth's position Chief.  They'll need you
help.
Cortana: This isn't good.  I am getting confirmed reports of Flood leaving In
Amber Clad's wreckage.  Let's get the Index and find a way out of here-before
things get really ugly.

[Tartarus and a squad of Brutes lead Keyes and Johnson onto a dock area.]
Tartarus: Split them up.  One in each Phantom.
Truth: The hopes of all the Covenant rest on you Chieftain.
Tartarus: My faith is strong!  I will not fail!
[Flood infection forms swarm over the dock.  The Brutes jump in, smashing and
kicking as many as they can.  One gets through and attaches itself to Mercy.]
Truth: Let him be!  The Great Journey waits for no one brother...Not even you.

===============
Chapter 13:
Uprising
===============
-----Oh, So That's How It Is?-----
[The Arbiter is dropped on a section of Halo.]
Dying Elite: The Brutes have betrayed us.  They murdered the Council.
Elite: By the Prophets!  What have these Brutes done?  They have shed our 
blood, and for that, they must die!

-----Step Aside, Let the Man Go Through-----
[No significant plot points.]

-----Fight Club-----
[The Elite Commander arrives]
Commander: By the rings!  Arbiter?  The Council...are they?
Arbiter: Murdered by the Brutes.
Commander: Vile beasts!  The Prophets were fools to trust them.
[Cuts to Tartarus leading his group into a structure.  He stops and sniffs.]

===============
Chapter 14:
High Charity
===============
[The Master Chief drops down to the dock in time to watch the Phantoms fly off.
he walks over to Mercy, still fighting the parasite.]
Chief: Your pal, where's he going?
Mercy: Earth...to finish what we started.  And this time...none of you will be
left behind.
Cortana: That structure in the center of the city...It's a forerunner ship!
And Truth is heading straight for it!  If he leads the Covenant fleet to Earth,
they won't stand a chance!  You have to stop him!
Chief: That Brute has Miranda and Johnson.  He can activate the ring.
Cortana: If he does, I'll detonate In Amber Clad's reactor just like we did the
Autumn's.  The blast will destroy this city and the ring.  Not a very original
plan, but we know it will work.
[Master Chief reaches out to collect Cortana.}
Cortana: No!  I don't want to chance a remote detonation.  I need to stay here.

-----Cross-Purposes-----
Cortana: Flood controlled dropships are touching down all over the city!  That
creature beneath the Library...that Gravemind...used us.  We were just a 
diversion.  In Amber Clad was always its intended vector.  There's a conduit
connecting this tower to the ship.  Head back inside.  I'll lead you to it.
Cortana: We don't have time for this Chief.  Truth's Phantom is nearing the
Forerunner's ship.
Cortana: I'll disable this lift once you reach the top.  That'll slow them
down...I hope.
Truth*: Shall we let the Flood consume our holy city?  Turn High Charity into
another of their wretched hives?  No enemy has ever withstood our might.  The
Flood too shall fail.
Cortana: I'll do what I can to stall the launch sequence.  There's something
inside the ship...a presence that's fighting back!  For a Covenant construct
it's unusually formidable.  No time to admire the view.  Truth's Phantom has
reached the Forerunner ship.

-----Please, Make Yourself at Home-----
Truth*: The parasite did not defeat the Forerunners, and it shall not defeat 
us.
Gravemind*: Arrogant creature! Your death will be instantaneous, while we 
suffer the progress of infinity.
Cortana: The security systems in this part of the tower are particularly 
robust.
Truth*: Whosoever is ruled by fear, take head.  I am the Prophet of Truth, and
I am not afraid.  Noble Mercy is here at my side.  His wise counsel is ever at
my aide.
Gravemind*: This together (missing data)now?  Two corpses in one grave.
Cortana: Apparently, these are the Prophet Hierarchs' private quarters-their
inner sanctum.

-----Sanctified-----
Truth*: This crisis cannot be the end of us.  It is but one path to fulfill our
journey (missing data)
Cortana: Brute and Elite ships are engaging each other all over High Charity.
I'm running out of options Chief!  I can't stall the launch sequence much
longer.  The next lift will take you up to the conduit.  Hurry!

-----Once More, With Feeling-----
Cortana: I knew the Covenant was good at repurposing Forerunner technology, but
this is amazing!  They've been using the Forerunner ship's engines as an energy
source for the city.  The ship isn't so much launching, as it is disengaging-
uncoupling itself from High Charity's power grid.  Stopping Truth!  That's all
that matters!
Truth*: Now is the time of our (unwielding?).  When you all shall become as 
gods.
Cortana: You know the plan!  You've got to stop Truth.  I've got to handle the
Index.  Go!

[Master Chief steps into the conduit and shoots off to the Forerunner ship.]
Cortana: Chief, when you get to Earth...good luck.
Chief: After I'm through with Truth...
Cortana: Don't make a girl a promise...if you know you can't keep it.

===============
Chapter 15:
The Great Journey
===============
[The Arbiter and Commander are scoping a facility ahead.]
Arbiter: What is that place?
Commander: Where the Councilors were meant to watch the consecration of the 
Icon-the start of the Great Journey.
Gravemind: There is still time to keep the key from turning.
Arbiter: I must get inside.
Commander: Then mount up Arbiter.  I know a way to break those doors.

-----Your Ass, My Size-24 Hoof-----
Commander: There Arbiter!  That Scarab's gun will break the control room's
doors.  At the far end of the beach there's a passage into the cliff.
Commander: The Brutes control the cruiser Arbiter. I'll remain here-make sure
no reinforcements get in behind you.  Then, I'm going to take the cruiser back!
Elite: The Arbiter?  I thought he was dead!  Hold you fire.  The Hunters have
come to our aid Arbiter.  They will fight by our side.
Tartarus*: (missing data).  Kill the others.
Brute: Yes Chieftain!

[The Arbiter comes out onto the platform where the Scarab is docked.  Johnson
and a couple of Marines are fighting it out with the Brutes.  Johnson makes it
into the Scarab.]
Johnson: Listen.  You don't like me, and I don't like you.  But if we don't do
something, Mr. Mohawk's gonna activate the ring.  And we're all gonna die.
Arbiter: Tartarus has locked himself inside the control room.
Johnson: Well I just happen to have a key.  Come on!  Grab a Banshee and give
me some cover.

-----Backseat Driver-----
Johnson: Ha, how do you like it?
Johnson: Stay clear of the doors.  Hey bastards!  Knock knock.

-----Delusions and Grandeur-----
[Tartarus is at the center of the control room.  He's holding Commander Keys 
physically trying to get her to insert the Index.  A brute squad stands by.  
One of them holds 343 Guilty Spark.]
Tartarus: Come human, it is easy.  Take the Icon in your hands...and do as you
are told!
343: Please!  Use caution!  This Reclaimer is delicate!
Tartarus: One more word, Oracle, and I will rip your eye from its socket!  
Keyes: Nnnn!
Tartarus: Which is nothing compared to what I will do to you.
Arbiter: Tartarus.  Stop!
Tartarus: Impossible!
Arbiter: Put down the Icon.
Tartarus: Put it down?  And disobey the Hierarchs?
Arbiter: There are things about this ring even the Hierarchs do not understand.
Tartarus: Take care Arbiter.  What you say is heresy.
Arbiter: Is it?  Oracle, what is Halo's purpose?
343: Collectively, the seven-
Tartarus: Not-another-word-
[Sergeant Johnson shows up.]
Johnson: Please...don't shake the light-bulb.  If you want to keep your brains
in your head, I'd tell those boys to chill.  Go ahead.  Do your thing.
Arbiter: The sacred rings, what are they?
343: Weapons of last resort built by the Forerunners to eliminate potential
Flood hosts, thereby rendering the parasite harmless.
Arbiter: And those who built the rings?  What happened to the Forerunners?
343: After exausting every other strategic option, my creators activated the
rings.  They and all additional sentient life in a three galactic radii of the
center died...as planned.  Would you like to see the relevant data?
Arbiter: Tartarus, the Prophets have betrayed us...
[Tartarus hesitates for a minute.  Then he goes berserk, grabs Commander Keyes'
hand, and uses her to shove the Index into place.]
Tartarus: No Arbiter!  The Great Journey has begun!  And the Brutes, not the
Elites, shall be the Prophets' escort.

343: Charging sequence initiated.
Keyes: Well shut it down!
343: Apology.  Protocol does not allow me to interfere with any aspect of the
sequence.
Keyes: Then how do I stop it?
343: Well...it will take some time to go over the proper procedures.  I-
Keyes: Quit stalling!
343: Under more controlled circumstances, I would suggest that you simply
remove the Index.
Keyes: That's it?  Johnson!  I'm on it!
Johnson: Hang tight ma'am!  Not until that Brute is dead.
343: Second generators charging.  All systems performing well within 
operational paramenters.
343: Power generation phase complete.  The installation is ready to fire.
Starting final countdown.
Johnson: Come on Arbiter!  Kick that guy's ass!

[Commander Keyes jumps and ducks across rotating platforms until she gets an
opening to jump onto the central structure.  Running across it, she snatches
the Index.  The whole complex shudders.  A bolt of energy fires from the top.
It heads straight to the center of the ring and collides with a ball of energy
that's been growing there.  There is a large explosion.  When it clears, Halo
and everything around it is intact and unharmed.  Inside the control center,
Keyes is looking at a new hologram that's appeared where the Index had been.]
Keyes: What's that?
343: A beacon.
Keyes: What's it doing?
343: Communicating at super-luminal speeds with a frequency of-
Keyes: Communicating with what?
343: The other installations.
Keyes: Show me.
[A hologram appears of multiple halo rings moving into a formation.]
343: Fail-safe protocol: In the event of an unexpected shutdown, the entire
system will move to standby status.  All available platforms will move into 
position and await remote detonation.
Keyes: Remote detonation?  From here?
343: Don't be ridiculous!
Johnson: Listen Tinkerbell, don't make me-
Keyes: Where would someone go to activate the rings.
343: Why the Ark of course!
Arbiter: And where is that?

[Master Chief is riding the outside of the Forerunner ship as it exits
Slipspace near Earth.]
Officer: We've got a new contact.  It doesn't match any known profiles.
Hood: It's not one of ours.  Take it out.
Chief: This is Spartan one-one-seven.  Can anyone hear me? Over.
Hood: Isolate that signal!  Master Chief, you mind telling me what you're doing
on that ship?
Chief: Sir.  Finishing this fight.

===============
Roll Credits
===============
[High Charity: The city is very much the worse for wear.  Gravemind's tentacles
can be seen all over the place.]
Gravemind: Silence fills the empty grave, now that I am gone.  But my mind is
not at rest, for questions linger on.  I will ask, and you will answer.
[Tentacles reach out torwards a holopanel.  Cortana appears on it.  She raises
one hand, and the tentacles veer off.]
Cortana: All right.  Shoot.