Halo: First Strike/Threshold (Level)

==Overview==
"Threshold" is the sixth level in the fanon game Halo: First Strike. It takes place after the events of . The player(s) will be piloting a Longsword fighter in space for part of the mission, and playing as a Marine for another. Covenant Engineers will also be encountered for the first time.
==Plot==
Halo has finally been destroyed, but the Master Chief, SPARTAN-117, is left stranded in space inside a Longsword fighter. With the help of the AI Cortana, he searches for human survivors in the ring world's debris field, and must find a way to return to Earth.
==Starting Weapons==
{|class="wikitable" border="1"	Single Player 	Single Player 	Single Player 	Single Player 	Single Player 	Single Player 	Cooperative 	Cooperative 	Cooperative 	Cooperative 	Cooperative 	Cooperative 	Cooperative 	Cooperative 	Cooperative 	Cooperative 	Cooperative 	Cooperative
John-117/Shiela Polaski	John-117/Shiela Polaski	John-117 	John-117 	Avery Johnson 	Avery Johnson 	John-117/Shiela Polaski	John-117/Shiela Polaski	John-117 	John-117 	Avery Johnson 	Avery Johnson 	John-117/Elias Haverson	John-117/Elias Haverson	John-117 	John-117 	Locklear 	Locklear 	
Mission Start 	Mission Start 	Rally Point Alpha 	Rally Point Alpha	Rally Point Bravo 	Rally Point Bravo	Mission Start 	Mission Start 	Rally Point Alpha 	Rally Point Alpha	Rally Point Bravo 	Rally Point Bravo	Mission Start 	Mission Start 	Rally Point Alpha 	Rally Point Alpha	Rally Point Bravo 	Rally Point Bravo	
Primary Weapon 	Secondary Weapon 	Primary Weapon 	Secondary Weapon 	Primary Weapon 	Secondary Weapon 	Primary Weapon 	Secondary Weapon 	Primary Weapon 	Secondary Weapon 	Primary Weapon 	Secondary Weapon 	Primary Weapon 	Secondary Weapon 	Primary Weapon 	Secondary Weapon 	Primary Weapon 	Secondary Weapon 	
none 	none 	MA5B Assault Rifle	M6C Magnum 	MA5B Assault Rifle	M6C Magnum 	none 	none 	MA5B Assault Rifle	M6C Magnum 	MA5B Assault Rifle	M6C Magnum 	none 	none 	MA5B Assault Rifle	M6C Magnum 	MA5B Assault Rifle	M6C Magnum 	
===Double Team===
{cutscene}
{Fade from black. The view is set on a sand-coloured gas giant, Threshold, and its moon Basis. The space is dark and silent.}
SEPTEMBER 22, 2552
SOELL STAR SYSTEM, PLANET THRESHOLD
THREE WEEKS LATER
{The camera pans to see a group of long, artificial chunks of debris hovering in a roughly circular formation, rotating slowly. All the pieces are grey with many patterns on the convex side, and greenish-blue on the other. The camera moves towards a dark shape floating in space.}
{The object is revealed to be a UNSC Longsword Interceptor, and as the camera zooms in closer, the screen fades to black.}
{Fade from black. The camera is now fixed on the inside of the Longsword's pilot cabin. Some screens have been turned off, others still flashing messages. A single armoured figure sits in the pilot seat, his head obstructed from view due to the camera being behind the seat.}
{The Spartan, John-117, takes reaches for his helmet hanging on a weapon holder. He puts it on and stands up.}
John-117: "Scan it again."
Cortana: (voice only) "Already completed. There's nothing out there."
John-117: (slowly and emphatically) "Scan the field again. We don't have much time left."
{Cortana's hologram appears on a projection pad next to the pilot's seat. She crosses her arms.}
Cortana: "May I point out something?"
John-117: "No. (pause) Give me our ship's status."
Cortana: (sighs) "All primary systems functioning. Secondary systems working in seven components. Power at forty-one percent. Fuel at twenty-six percent. One hundred and fifty-three minutes of oxygen left. Half a day's worth of food supplies remaining."
John-117: "We can't last long with those numbers. Once we're out of power, we're both dead. So, scan...again."
Cortana: (exasperatedly) "Scanning...there's still nothing, Chief. All I'm picking up is an echo from the moon, but there are no transponder signals, and no distress calls. Face it, we're on our own."
John-117: "What if someone's out there, but don't want to be found?"
Cortana: "That's highly un—"
{Cortana pauses and looks into space.}
Cortana: "Interesting. That signal echo's getting stronger."
John-117: "Meaning?"
Cortana: "Meaning it's not an echo."
{One of the Longsword's panels light up as a long-range scanner activates. A silhouette comes around the moon's far side.}
Cortana: "Uh-oh."
{The shape is matched to a Covenant cruiser, which edges towards the debris field.}
John-117: "Power down, now!"
{The screens in the Longsword dim and flicker out. Cortana's hologram disappears. Outside, the cruiser is joined by five more. They move in formation around the moon.}
Cortana: "How strange. They're using the same scanning frequencies as our system."
John-117: "Have they spotted us?"
Cortana: "I don't think so. I'll try to piggyback their scans. Maybe we can find out what they want."
{A seventh ship, larger than the cruisers, appear around Basis.}
Cortana: "Picking up encrypted transmissions from new contact. It appears to be a flagship. Scan still in progress, Chief. Stand by."
{John stands up and looks around the Longsword. He walks up to a space where a control panel was placed, and labelled as MORAY SPACE MINES. He picks it up and examines the command buttons.}
Cortana: "Got something."
{John sets the panel down and walks back to the seats.}
John-117: "Show me."
{An image appears on a viewscreen, shaped like a geometric bullet.}
Cortana: "It could be a cryotube. Thruster and power packs can be affixed on their aft sections for emergencies...if a ship has to be abandoned, for example. And most of the crew on the Pillar of Autumn never had a chance to be revived from cryo. They could have been jettisoned before the ship went down."
John-117: "Move us toward them. Docking thrusters only."
Cortana: "Course plotted. Thrusters engaged. ETA twenty minutes, Chief. But given the Covenant cruisers' current search pattern, I estimate they will encounter the pod in five."
John-117: "Then we need to move faster."
Cortana: "Well we can't fire the engines. They'll be onto us before we reach the pods."
John-117: "Do you have another idea?"
Cortana: "Yes, we can open our aft hatches and let the decompression carry us there. Strap in, Chief."
{John buckles himself to the Longsword's seat, and the fighter jumps forward with a bang as air begins to hiss out.}
Cortana: "Adjusting course. ETA two minutes."
{The interior of the Longsword begins to shake as the hatch closes again slowly. One of the cruisers turn towards them.}
Cortana: "Picking up increased scanning signal activity and strength. Jamming their scanners, that might buy us some time."
{John looks towards the display screen again. The image clears and shows four cryotubes tied together, floating in space.}
Cortana: "Hold on, new contact. Whatever it is, it's stuck onto a chunk of rock, half a kilometre in diametre."
{Cortana activates a second display screen with the image, and overlays it with the schematic of a Pelican dropship.}
Cortana: "Match with a tolerance of fifty-eight percent. They might have parked there to avoid detection, as you suggested."
{A second cruiser moves towards the Pelican.}
Cortana: "Coming about, Chief. Get ready to retrieve the pods."
{John unstraps himself, and drifts towards the back of the Longsword. He clips a tether to his suit, and attaches the other end to the fighter's bulkhead. He then climbs into a weapon locker and closes it as much as he can over himself.}
Cortana: "I'm going to drop the aft hatch again. Decompression in three seconds."
{The Longsword shakes again as it explosively decompresses. John slams into the locker door, bending the metal. He climbs out, and jumps out of the ship.}
{John moves towards the cryotubes, and drifts past the first one. He firmly grabs the second, and swings onto the pod. The Spartan wraps the tether around the cryotubes, and they begin to pull back to the Longsword. A moment later, two of the Covenant cruisers turn towards them and their weapons begin to glow.}
Cortana: "Hurry, Chief. We've got trouble."
{John manages to reach the Longsword's hatch, and pulls the cryotubes inside. The cruisers break formation and aim at the fighter.}
{Four missiles launch from the side, and impact on one of the ships' shields. The energy glows for a moment and disappears, as the Pelican launches off the rock and flies towards the cruisers.}
{The Longsword's hatch closes, and the engines fire a moment later. John stands up and dashes to the pilot's seat, activating the weapons.}
{Cortana's hologram reappears, and she watches as the cruisers fire on the Pelican. The dropship flies into Halo's debris field, dodging asteroids and the plasma misses and hits the chunks of rock and metal.}
Cortana: "Whoever's piloting that Pelican really knows their stuff."
John-117: "We owe them a favour."
{John takes the Longsword's controls, and the camera zooms to his face.}
John-117: "Let's settle that debt."
{Fade to black}
{gameplay}
(If played on single player)
[Use Left Thumbstick to navigate the Longsword, and Right Thumbstick to aim. (Press A to continue)]
[Press LT to fire the Longsword's 110mm Rotary Cannons, and RT to fire the 120mm Ventral Guns. (Press A to continue)]
[Hold RB to activate the Longsword's boosters. (Press A to continue)]
(If played on cooperative)
[Use Left Thumbstick to navigate the Longsword, and Right Thumbstick to aim. (Press A to continue)]
[Hold RB to activate the Longsword's boosters. (Press A to continue)]
(Displayed on player 1's screen)
[Press LT to fire the Longsword's 110mm Rotary Cannons, and RT to fire the 120mm Ventral Guns. (Press A to continue)] (Displayed on player 2's screen)
{Three blue bars replace the shield, health, and stamina indicators, respective with a cross, sun, and turret icon respectively. The leftmost one is highlighted.}
[These are your Longsword's status bars. They indicate your ship's health, engine power, and weapon batteries. Health and weapon batteries are not rechargeable, and when the bars are empty, your Longsword will be destroyed. You can drain engine power to refill your weapon batteries with LB, although it will take longer for your engines to recharge to full power. (Press A to continue)]
Cortana: "Contact! Seraph fighters launched from the cruisers! Here they come!"
(After first group of Seraphs are neutralized)
Cortana: "Get into the debris field, link up with the Pelican.The Pelican is indestructible. If we stay in the open those cruisers will get us."The Longsword takes damage if it hits any debris hard. The rocks can be destroyed, more easily by the ventral guns. However, the 120mm cannons have a slower firing rate than the rotary cannons.
{The Pelican fires its weapons on the Seraphs as well, taking some of them down. The Covenant ships fire their plasma turrets into the debris field, hitting some of the destroyed metal.}If the Longsword is hit by the plasma, the player(s) die.
John-117: (COM) "This is Master Chief SPARTAN-117. Recognition code Tango Alpha-340. Respond."
Petty Officer Polaski: (COM) "Copy. Petty Officer Second Class Shiela Polaski here. Damn good to hear you, Chief."
[Activate your tacmap and highlight the Covenant flagship.]
(Once the player has done so)
John-117: (COM) "Polaski, proceed at maximum burn to this position."
Petty Officer Polaski: (COM) "Wilco. Plotting course now, Chief...I hope you know what you're doing. Polaski out."
Cortana: "You do know what you're doing? I mean, we're headed straight toward the largest and most dangerous Covenant ship in this system. I assume this is part of some daring and brutally simplistic plan you've cooked up?"
John-117: "Yes."
Cortana: "Oh...good."
{After the two UNSC ships approach the flagship, more Seraphs launch from the Covenant cruisers.}
Cortana: "Looks like your plan has gotten their attention. I'm reading all six Covenant cruisers moving to overtake us at flank speed. The Pelican's taking heavy fire and moving at a slower trajectory than us. You might want to help take out some of those enemy fighters, and slow down so we don't get separated."
(After several more groups of Seraphs are neutralized)
Cortana: "You never told me precisely what your plan is."
John-117: "Something Captain Keyes would approve of. Put us on a course from the objective into the gravity well of the moon."
Cortana: "Alright, assuming we survive long enough. Let's clean up some of those Seraphs so they don't hassle us when we get there."
{After final wave of Seraphs are neutralized, the screen fades to black.}
{cutscene}
{Fade from black. The Pelican flies towards the Longsword, avoiding the plasma bolts fired by the Covenant cruisers.}
Cortana: "We're in the gravity well now, Chief. Hey, they've stopped firing."
John-117: "We're on the same line of fire as their flagship."
Cortana: "That'll keep us alive for the next while. Pelican now twelve hundred kilometres and closing. We're within range for system link."
John-117: (COM) "Polaski, release your controls. We're taking over. Establish encrypted system link."
Petty Officer Polaski: (COM) "Roger. Sending signal."
Cortana: "Signal received."
John-117: (COM) "Sync our flight courses. Put us on top of the Pelican. Activate scanners when we pass the flagship."
Cortana: "Five hundred kilometres to flagship...three hundred..."
{The flagship fires plasma torpedoes at the Longsword as it passes under it. The Pelican closes more distantly on the other side. The fighter banks sharply and flies across lengthwise. The torpedoes jerk and spin off-course.}
Cortana: "Our approach speed's evaded the missiles. Ten kilometres from the flagship. Scanning in burst mode."
{The Longsword and Pelican fly away from the flagship, and moves in a parallel course.}
Cortana: "We're away. Burning into a high slingshot orbit."
John-117: "Link the fighter to the Pelican's top hatch."
Cortana: "Re-adjusting burn parametres. But a linked-ship configuration during an orbital burn is not stable."
{John unties his harness and drifts to the Longsword's hatch.}
John-117: "We won't be linked long."
{The lights on the pressure door control panel flashes green. The Spartan presses a few buttons on the panel. A hand reaches upward, and the Chief pulls him in.}
{The camera cuts sharply to John. He grabs the soldier by the uniform, yanks out the Marine's pistol from his waist, and pulls him inside. He cocks the sidearm and aims it at his head.}
Cortana: "Chief, what's going on?"
John-117: "You were dead. I saw you die. The Flood got you."
{The Marine smiles.}
Sergeant Johnson: "The Flood? Hell Chief, it'll take more than a pack of walking alien horror-show freaks to take out Avery J. Johnson."
{The Chief pushes Johnson forcefully against the Longsword's wall.}
Sergeant Johnson: "I get it, you think I'm infected. Well I'm not. This is 100% grade-A Marine, and nothing else."
{John remains immobile.}
John-117: "Explain."
{Johnson's expression fades.}
Sergeant Johnson: "They got us alright. They ambushed us, turned my Marines and Captain Keyes into those things. My entire squad was taken, but I guess I didn't taste too good."
Cortana: "The Flood don't 'taste' anything. The infection forms rewrite a victim's cellular structure and convert him or her into a combat form, then later a carrier form—an incubator for more infection forms. Based on what we've seen, they certainly don't just decide to pass up a victim."
Sergeant Johnson: "Well I've seen different. They 'passed me up' like I was undercooked spinach at a turkey dinner."
John-117: "Cortana, is it possible?"
Cortana: "It's possible, but it's also highly unlikely. (pause) According to the readings from Sergeant Johnson's biomonitors, his story checks out. I can't be 100% positive until he's been cleared in a medical suite, but preliminary findings indicate that he is clean of any Flood infection. He's obviously not a mindless killing machine."
{John flicks off the pistol's safety and returns it to the Sergeant.}
John-117: "Alright. But I'm having you checked inside and out the first chance we get."
Sergeant Johnson: "I hear you, Master Chief. Looking forward to those Navy nurses. Now, let's get the rest of the crew on board."
{Johnson walks towards the hatch, and gazes at the four cryotubes.}
Sergeant Johnson: "I see you already picked up a few stragglers."
John-117: "They'll have to wait. We don't have a lot of time before we re-engage the Covenant."
Sergeant Johnson: (smiles) "Re-engage...good. For a second I thought we were running away from a perfectly good fight."
{Johnson opens the hatch again, and pulls another Marine in. The latter is wearing a black combat suit with a depolarized helmet. In his right hand he holds an Assault Rifle. His right shoulder patch is marked with a gold comet. The camera cuts to John's HUD view, and a box highlights the Marine. Two gold chevrons and a single pip appears below the words "CORPORAL T. LOCKLEAR, ORBITAL DROP SHOCK TROOPERS". The ODST looks at the Chief.}
Corporal Locklear: "A Spartan...figures. Outta the freaking frying pan..."
{Johnson pulls a third soldier in. The man, wearing a navy uniform and with an insignia of an eagle with a delta and an eye. John's HUD highlights him as "LIEUTENANT E. HAVERSON, OFFICE OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE", bearing two silver bars. The Chief salutes.}
John-117: "Sir!"
Lieutenant Haverson: "Good. With you, Chief, we might have a chance."
{Johnson pulls the last soldier into the Longsword. It is the pilot, Polaski. She wore a pilot suit and had her helmet tucked under her arm. John's HUD marks her as "PETTY OFFICER 2ND CLASS S. POLASKI, 23RD NAVAL AIR SQUADRON", and with the insignia of an eagle and two stripes.}
Corporal Locklear: "So what's the story? We got something to shoot here?"
Sergeant Johnson: "Relax, Marine. Use that stuffing between your ears for something besides keeping your helmet on. Notice we're not floating? Feel those gee forces? This ship is in a slingshot orbit. We're coming around the moon for another crack at the Covenant."
Lieutenant Haverson: "Our first priority should be to escape, not to blindly engage the Covenant. We have valuable intelligence on the enemy, and on Halo. Our first priority should be to reach UNSC-controlled space."
John-117: "That was my intention, sir. But we don't have a ship to take us into Slipspace. Any inhabited colonies are light-years away."
Lieutenant Haverson: (sighs) "That does limit our options, doesn't it?"
{The officer turns away from John and frowns.}
John-117: "Sir. While you are the ranking officer, I am on a classified mission of the highest priority. My orders come directly from High Command."
{Haverson turns back to the Chief.}
Lieutenant Haverson: "Meaning?"
John-117: "Meaning that I have tactical command of this crew, these ships...and you. Sir."
{A silence stretches between the two Navy soldiers as they stare at each other. The others stand by, waiting. Finally, Haverson smiles.}
Lieutenant Haverson: "Of course. I am well aware of your mission, Chief. I'll do anything I can to assist."
Corporal Locklear: "So what's the plan? We just going to talk all day, Chief?"
{The Spartan turns to him.}
John-117: "No. Get onto the Pelican, grab any extra supplies. Keep linked up to my COM so you can hear the briefing."
{Locklear stands defiantly. Johnson begins to step forward, but the Chief waves him down. He turns back to the ODST.}
John-117: "Was my order unclear, Corporal?"
Corporal Locklear: (looks away) "No. I'm on it, Master Chief."
{Locklear walked to the hatch and re-entered the Pelican.}
Petty Officer Polaski: "So how do we get a Slipspace drive?"
John-117: "The flagship. We'll take it."
Lieutenant Haverson: "Chief, it we approach that ship we'll be blown out of the sky before we can even think about engaging them."
John-117: "I have a plan. We place some Moray mines on the Pelican and remote-pilot it as we move. It'll draw enemy fire, drop a few mines, and let us slip by."
{Polaski frowns. John turns to her.}
John-117: "Is there a problem, Polaski?"
Petty Officer Polaski: "No, Master Chief. I just hate to lose a good ship. That bird got us off Halo in one piece."
John-117: "If we take the flagship, it won't matter either way."
Lieutenant Haverson: "So how do we get inside the flagship? The Covenant are sure to have its shields up."
John-117: "The launch bay. When the flagship deploys Seraphs or fires its weapons, its energy shields will be lowered. That's our chance to get in. Cortana can also hack into the system and open the door."
Petty Officer Polaski: "That's one hell of a window to hit coming in this fast, but...technically possible in a Longsword."
John-117: "Once we're in, we can take the flagship and use it to get home."
Corporal Locklear: (COM) "Rock and roll! Penetrate and annhihilate!"
Lieutenant Haverson: (pause) "No one has ever captured a Covenant ship. The few times we've had one of them beaten and in a position to surrender, they've self-destructed."
Cortana: "The Covenant wouldn't destroy one of their flagships without a good fight. They'll also think they can overwhelm us by sheer numbers. If we can get to its Control Centre, we'll be able to wipe them out and they won't be a worry to us either way."
John-117: "And there's no choice...unless anyone has a better plan?"
{No one speaks.}
Cortana: "Our exit orbit burn leaves us low on fuel and travelling at high velocity on an intercept course with the flagship. There are overlapping fields of enemy fire on our approach vector. We have to decelerate and dodge simultaneously. That will be tricky."
John-117: "Polaski will be on that."
Petty Officer Polaski: "Pilot a Longsword? It's been a while, but yes, Master Chief. I am 110% on it."
{Polaski sits in the pilot seat, puts her helmet on, and activates the harness. She begins to tap the controls and adjusts them.}
Cortana: "With all due respect to Polaski's skill, allow me to point out that I can process information a million times faster, and—"
John-117: "I need you to jam the flagship's communications when we're close enough."
Cortana: "Sending an unescorted lady ahead to do your dirty work? I suppose I'm the only one who can..."
John-117: "Lieutenant Haverson, program the Moray mines to release and attach onto the Pelican before we exit orbit. Program half to track any enemy ship on our approach."
{Haverson nods and sits in front of the ops station next to Polaski. Locklear pushes a duffel bag and two crates into the access tunnel. The ODST climbs in after it and seals the hatch.}
Corporal Locklear: "That's it, Chief. An M6C, two extra Assault Rifles, a Shotgun, and a crate or so of frag grenades. About a dozen clips for the rifles, only a few shells for the Shotgun though."
{John takes his Assault Rifle off one of the Longsword's weapon holders, and grabs some grenades and ammo. He takes the Magnum and straps it to his side. Johnson and Locklear take the rest of the ammo.}
Petty Officer Polaski: "All set back there?"
{The soldiers grab onto handholds.}
John-117: "Affirmative."
Petty Officer Polaski: "Pelican away."
Cortana: "Autopilot programmed."
Lieutenant Haverson: "Moray mines attached and armed."
Petty Officer Polaski: "Exit burn in three...two...one...burn!"
{The Longsword's engines reactivate, and breaks from its orbit. The Pelican flies overhead, and not too far off, the Seraph fighters can be seen flying away from the flagship and towards them. The screen fades to white.}
{gameplay}
Petty Officer Polaski: "Seraphs inbound!"
Lieutenant Haverson: "I'm on it."
Petty Officer Polaski: "Flagship bearing on us! Are they aiming for us?"
Lieutenant Haverson: "Negative. I guess they didn't expect us to run straight at them."
Petty Officer Polaski: "Then let's get the hell across this space. Pelican now two hundred kilometres in the lead. The fighters are being drawn towards it."
{The Pelican takes hits from a squadron of Seraphs, and it begins to take damage.}The Seraphs that attack the Pelican are invincible until they complete their volley. Their trajectories cannot be altered either.
Lieutenant Haverson: "Mines away. Plugging coordinates and trajectories into NAV, Polaski. Don't run them over."
Petty Officer Polaski: "Roger, sir. Hang on! We're going in!"
Corporal Locklear: "I hate this crap...ships shooting each other, fire so thick you could walk on it to the LZ, and me sitting here not able to do a damn thing but hang on and wonder when I'm going to get blown up."
Sergeant Johnson: "Amen. Now shut up and let the lady drive."
Petty Officer Polaski: "More fighters behind us, Lieutenant! Wipe them out!"
{When the Longsword gets into range of the flagship, it fires its weapons at the Longsword.}
Cortana: "Connecting to the Covenant battlenet. Accessing their weapons systems. Stand by."
{The flagship fires a plasma torpedo. The Pelican flies in front of the fighter and takes the hit. The dropship is destroyed.}The Pelican is far ahead of the Longsword, so the torpedo cannot hit the fighter.
Petty Officer Polaski: "Seraphs in tight formation, they're trying to block us. Hit 'em, sir!"
Cortana: "There is now insufficient distance to decelerate and make a soft landing inside the flagship launch bay."
Petty Officer Polaski: (sarcastically) "Really? I didn't realize. I'll do the flying, you concentrate on getting those weapons offline."
Lieutenant Haverson: "Fighters on our tail. I've still got active signals from twenty of the Moray mines. They're coming within range. Tracking...locked on."
{The mines detonate, and the Seraphs are destroyed. Haverson laughs.}The Seraphs are also invincible, and if the Longsword is hit by the mines, it will be destroyed.
Lieutenant Haverson: "Bull's-eye!"
Cortana: "Forward weapons systems and shields are disabled."
Petty Officer Polaski: "Doors are open. We're invited in. It'd be damn impolite to say no."
{Once the player flies for the hangar bay, where the NAV point was located, the screen fades to black.}
{cutscene}
{Fade from black. Polaski makes a series of quick manoeuvres, and the Longsword's engines cut out and the fighter turns roughly 180 degrees. The engines reactivate, and the ship lurches as it fights against its own momentum. The pilot holds onto the controls hard.}
Petty Officer Polaski: "Hang on!"
{The Longsword flies into the hangar a moment before the launch bay's doors closed. The fighter slides across the ground and runs over several Grunts. Polaski cuts the power as the ship slams into a wall.}
Cortana: "External atmosphere stabilizing. Please feel free to get up and move outside the ship."
{Polaski and Haverson unstrap themselves and draw their Magnums. Locklear and Johnson stand up, Assault Rifles ready. The former polarizes his helmet.}
Corporal Locklear: "Yeah! Let's rock!"
{John pulls out Cortana's chip and places her into the slot behind his helmet. He walks next to the hatch and prepares to open it.}
John-117: "Good work, people. But that was just the easy part."
{Fade to black}
{gameplay}
{The hatch opens, and Covenant are running through the hangar bay towards the Longsword.}
Sergeant Johnson: "Out the hatch, go go go!"
Petty Officer Polaski: "Hang on, I think these ventral guns are still working. Stay clear!"
{The Longsword fires a volley of shots, taking out a group of Grunts.}
John-117: "We're going in. Locklear, you're with me. Johnson, you've got the rear. Polaski, Haverson, stay in the middle."
Cortana: "We need to get to the Control Centre. Let's find a way out of the hangar bay. Try that door."
(After leaving the hangar)
Cortana: "Hmm, I'm guessing the layout of this flagship is different from that of a CCS-class cruiser."
Corporal Locklear: "So what now? Do we run around until we find it?"
Cortana: "I have an idea. Look for one of the dataports I can access. I'm sure I can pull up a schematic."
{More Covenant are in the hangar bay when reaching the second floor}
Sergeant Johnson: "Damn. They know we're in here."
Cortana: "Covenant Engineer! Take it out, it could generate overshields to the hostiles."
Sergeant Johnson: "I hear you, Cortana. Hey bastard, over here!"
Corporal Locklear: "Shit, shit, shit! Drones!"
(After leaving the hangar again and up one move level)
Cortana: "There! A dataport. Put me in. Once I'm directly in contact with the ship's battlenet, I can infiltrate and take over their systems."
(When the player(s) walk up to the dataport)
===Repo Job===
{cutscene}
{Fade from black. John walks up to the dataport. He takes reaches behind his head and takes Cortana's chip out of his helmet, and puts it into the dataport. He then removes it a second later as Cortana's hologram appears and puts it back into his head.}
Corporal Locklear: "You couldn't pay me to stick any part of myself in that thing..."
Cortana: "I'm in. It's...different."
John-117: "Which way to the bridge?"
Cortana: "I see a few routes you can take. I'll upload the two shortest ones to your HUDs. I suggest you split your team and proceed along both routes to maximize your chances of egress onto the bridge."
John-117: "Understood. Polaski, Haverson, you're with me. We'll take this route. Johnson, Locklear, through that door."
Sergeant Johnson: "Understood, Chief. See you at the bridge."
{The Marines head off through a door, and it closes behind them. The screen fades to black.}
{gameplay}
Cortana: "Chief, I have a schematic of the flagship in your system. You can access it if you want."
[Activate your tacmap and highlight the Control Centre.]
{After the player does so, the team proceeds along the passageway.}
Cortana: "You won't believe how many floors there are in this thing. If we take this ship, we'll be hard-pressed to kill off the entire crew."
{After passing through several more rooms, the team enter a platform with a deactivated gravity lift.}
Cortana: "This should take us up a few levels towards the Control Centre. Hold on, I'll try to activate it."
{More Covenant attack the squad, and after a few moments, the lift lights up. The team steps in, and begin a long ride upward.}
Cortana: "There's a presence in the system...it's trying to stop me. Tampering with the controls, and bringing Covenant towards our position."
Petty Officer Polaski: "It ain't gonna turn this lift off, is it? It's a long way down..."
{The team gets off the lift and through several more rooms before entering a wide hall.}
Cortana: "Control Room's just through the door, Chief. Lots of Covenant outside, let's clear them out before we link up with the Marines."
{After the area is cleared, the screen fades to black.}
{cutscene}
{Fade from black. Johnson and Locklear slowly move through a door, and it hisses shut behind them. The ODST reloads his Assault Rifle.}
Corporal Locklear: "Whew! I think we took the long way."
Sergeant Johnson: "Quiet. Let's keep moving."
{Fade to black}
{gameplay}
[Your armour does not have shields. Your stamina indicator is shown beside your health indicator. When you take damage, your stamina will go down. To regain stamina, avoid combat (Press A to contine).]
Cortana: "Heads up, Marines. More Covenant pressing on your position."The location of the Control Centre is already placed on the tacmap.
Corporal Locklear: "How do these guys keep finding us?"
Cortana: "There's a presence in the system, it keeps feeding data to the Covenant about our whereabouts."
Corporal Locklear: "Can't you do something about it? You're a smart AI, right?"
Cortana: "I'm trying."
{The Marines move up several floors, most of which contain Covenant.}
Sergeant Johnson: "Cortana? Where's the Chief's location?"
Cortana: "He's currently outside the Control Centre with his team holding off Covenant forces and waiting for your arrival."
Corporal Locklear: "Told you we took the long way."
(After passing through several more floors)
Corporal Locklear: "Hey, what's with all these locked doors? We're making so many turns I'm not sure if this is the right way."
Cortana: "I'm trying to lock some of the Covenant out before they get to your position. I'm also trapping and killing them if I can."
Corporal Locklear: "And how do you do that?"
Cortana: "Simple. I reverse their air systems."
(After reaching the next floor)
Cortana: "Not far now."
Corporal Locklear: "Couldn't have said that when we left, could you?"
{The next door opens to reveal a pair of Hunters.}
Sergeant Johnson: "Take cover, Locklear! Let's put some grenades on them!"
(If the player(s) have no grenades)
Sergeant Johnson: "Flanking positions, Corporal! Aim where there's no armour!"
{After the player(s) pass through a final door, John is seen firing on a group of Covenant, with Polaski and Haverson on either side of him. The screen fades to black.}
===Winner Take All===
{cutscene}
{The Marines charge towards the fight, firing their Assault Rifles. The Covenant are quickly cut down, and silence falls into the hallway. Johnson looks at the bodies.}
Sergeant Johnson: "Looks like you've been here for a while, Chief."
{Polaski is clutching a bandage to her arm.}
Petty Officer Polaski: "We've had a few close calls."
{Johnson looks at the large door.}
Sergeant Johnson: "Heard any noise from inside?"
John-117: "They're keeping us out."
Lieutenant Haverson: "Cortana says she doesn't have access to the engineering systems. We have to find our own way inside."
Corporal Locklear: "Typical."
{The door suddenly hisses and slowly eases open. The squad grab their weapons and aim at it.}
{On the other side of the door is an Engineer, who gives a squeak. Suddenly plasma splashes over it, and it falls onto the ground. An Elite is seen lowering his plasma rifle.}
Elite: "Heresy!"
{The Engineer's armour begins to glow.}
Sergeant Johnson: "Damn! Cover, cover!"
{The squad scrambles away from its body, as a bright explosion consumes it. John takes his position in front of the door, weapon ready. The screen fades to white.}
{gameplay}
Sergeant Johnson: "There's our way in! Move it!"
(After all Covenant are eliminated)
{cutscene}
{The squad carefully step over the bodies in the Control Centre. The room is quiet. John is adjusting something on his armour.}
Cortana: "Something wrong, Chief?"
John-117: "My shields aren't recharging. They've—"
Corporal Locklear: "Look out!"
{John looks up, and sees a black-armoured Elite fading from its camouflage. It activates an Energy Sword, and slowly walks towards the Spartan. Behind him, a dozen Engineers float upward and form a semicircle around him. The screen fades to white.}
{gameplay}
Cortana: "Kill the Engineers, you won't be able to neutralize the Elite when he has his shields up. Heads up, Chief. Your shields are down."The Elites shields recharge less frequently as more Engineers are killed.
(After killing all hostile Engineers, and scoring extensive damage on the Elite)
{cutscene}
Sergeant Johnson: "I'm out."
Corporal Locklear: "Me too."
{John fires the last of his ammo at the Elite, who retaliates by destroying his Assault Rifle with a swipe of his Energy Sword. The Spartan lunges at the alien and grabs his wrists. Haverson and Polaski take firing positions, their Magnums drawn.}
Lieutenant Haverson: "Move, Chief! Damn it, we've got no shot!"
{The Elite lurches towards the two, swinging his blade. The weapon destroys Haverson's gun and slashes a shallow cut on the officer. The Lieutenant screams and falls. Polaski fires a single shot, but is forced to dodge back as the Elite tries to attack her.}
John-117: "Get the Lieutenant out of here."
{John continues to wrestle with the Elite as Johnson comes up with a Plasma Pistol in his hands. The Spartan twists the alien around, and forces his arm into his throat.}
John-117: "Fire!"
{Several green bolts discharge against the Elite, and his shields fail. The Energy Sword cuts into John's arm, but the Spartan ignores it. He hits the Elite several times, before finally managing to shove him into an escape pod.}
John-117: "Get off this ship."
{John hits a control stud and the hatch slams shut. The pod's clocking clamps release with a click, and the vehicle flies away from the flagship. The Spartan turns around, blood and biofoam oozing out of his armour.}
John-117: "Good work, Marines."
{Cortana's hologram appears on the control panel.}
Cortana: "Plasma impact on starboard foredeck! Shields down to 67%. Chief, you need to disable the navigation override so I can manoeuvre."
{Polaski, stands up from where she was treating Haverson, and walks to John.}
Petty Officer Polaski: "You're injured, sir. Let me—"
John-117: "Later."
{John walks to the control panel.}
Cortana: "Move your hand to the right half a metre. No, to the left. That one. Tap it three times."
{John complies, and the red and orange lights cool to blue.}
Cortana: "It worked. NAV controls coming online. I can finally move this crate. Hang on, I'll try to get us into Slipspace."
{A light turns red on one of the displays and begins to pulse.}
Cortana: "Oh, no."
John-117: "What?"
Cortana: "The ship's Slipspace generator is inert. It must have been the Covenant AI."
Lieutenant Haverson: "There's a Covenant AI?"
John-117: "Give me the coordinates to the power coupling. I'll take care of it."
{More plasma impacts on the ship, and damage reports flash on the unmanned stations.}
Cortana: "There's nothing you can do. There are bound to be Covenant waiting for you. And even if you manage to get to the coupling, there's no way to repair it in time. We don't have the tools or the expertise."
{John looks down from the main controls and reaches towards the lower platforms. He grabs one of the Engineers and holds it in the air.}
John-117: "Maybe this Engineer can. Can you communicate with it?"
Cortana: "There is an extensive communications suite in the Covenant lexic—"
John-117: "Just tell it I'm taking it to fix something."
{A series of chirps and hoots emanate from the speakers. The Engineer turns towards them, and makes a few replies.}
Cortana: "It says 'good'."
John-117: "Everyone else, stay here."
{Haverson slumps back against a wall.}
Lieutenant Haverson: "If you insist..."
{John takes some Covenant weapons off the ground.}
John-117: "Don't let the Covenant retake the bridge."
Sergeant Johnson: "Not a problem, Chief. Those Covenant sissies are going to have to tango with me before they set one foot in this room."
{On the displays, the cruisers fire another volley towards the flagship.}
Cortana: "You'd better move fast, Chief. I'm running out of options."
{Fade to black}
==References==