Halo: Reach Tribute Room

The ***Halo: Reach* Tribute Room** is a hidden easter egg found in the last part of the campaign level, The Package. The room is thought to be a "thank you" from Bungie to the community and those who have been with them since the beginning of the franchise.

The room is the laboratory of Dr. Catherine Halsey, a scientist from the Halo series who helped create the SPARTAN-II Program and the Master Chief.

## Databases

There are seven database auxiliary terminals scattered around the room, and each one contains information about a specific part of Bungie's community or special events that took place over the years through Halsey's perspective.

### Charity Initiatives

Fight the Flood and Be a Hero!

SUBJECT: 'Fight the Flood,' 'Be a Hero' [COMM]

Humanity never ceases to amaze me. In the face of despair, many among us respond only with generosity. Curious given our species' predilection to succumb to the "base" emotions.

I find it comforting to see that there is still a sense of camaraderie and compassion instilled in many among us, even though, as a whole, we regrettably still segregate ourselves voluntarily via a wealth of meaningless artificial constructs.
### HFCS

SUBJECT: HFCS [CLASSIFIED]

My friends in the field. Trusted eyes and ears walking among the masses. They've become invaluable to me over the years, though at times they've proven themselves to be less than delicate. Heavy-handed though they are, they've earned my respect and admiration. I fear that may be the only payment they ever extract from me.
### Halo.Bungie.Org

SUBJECT: HBO[CIV]KNOWN ASSOC.: Errera C, Chavez M, Morden B

I've been keeping my eyes on this faction for years now. I'm now officially impressed. For a civilian, Errera and his compatriots have assembled quite the network of like-minded individuals - and cobbled together more than their fair share of illicit technology. If I didn't know better, I'd call them a militia. Daily they scour public, private and military systems in search of data relevant to their cause. Daily they bring more men and women to their cause.

The fact that they continue to do so is impressive, but ultimately it is their passion and perseverance that could make them a potent and potentially powerful ally in this war. I wonder what kind of mess they could make if I cut out the middle man and provide them direct access to my internal systems. I can't wait to find out.
### I LIKE PIE

SUBJECT: I LIKE PIE

Curious. I don't recall opening this file. Perhaps I have a security breach?
### Red vs Blue

SUBJECT: RvB [CIV] KNOWN ASSOC.: Burns B, Hullum M, Ramsey G, Gustavo S, Saldana J, et al.

This one and his cohorts have piqued my curiosity with their incessant puppeteering. While we busy ourselves bending all of this technology in service of the war, they twist and contort the public message of our effort into something else.

I'll admit, like the massive menagerie of men and women that now hang on their every word, I've laughed at their antics on more than one occasion. I find their incessant mockery and immaturity strangely cathartic, even if I cannot help but question whether or not this protracted war has wreaked irreversible harm and havoc upon these poor souls' sanity.
### Seventh Column

SUBJECT: Seventh Column [COMM]

My dim lab is only a tiny spec inside this cavernous icy hollow, but my work demands a monumental share of time and energy. It is all too easy to convince myself that I am toiling alone here in the bowels of Reach, yet I know that there are thousand upon thousands of men and women who may be affected by my work.

It's comforting to know that so many are willing to reach back and make the connection. I am inspired. I am... happy. Moreover, I am grateful.
### "WartHog Jump"

A Halo Physics Experiment

SUBJECT: Jump Program [MIL]

When I initially caught wind of this new 'training protocol', I didn't believe a word. Military types, despite their devotion to structure - or perhaps because of it - enjoy the respite offered by tall tales.

So, I assumed the field reports of a man and his "flying pig" were owed to such phenomena. Using fragmentation grenades to lift an M12 sounded too much like a fairy tale. But as it's said, seeing is believing - and this particular Marine managed to catch his acrobatic antics on film.

It's a shame my program only ran for a single generation and that its specification so rigid. In another life, this one might have made a hell of a Spartan. He certainly should recommended for the ODST. I'll be flagging this file for investigation. It's too risky to have this Marine out in the field. If his foolish actions go unchecked, I suspect we may see dozens if not hundreds of emulators in the future.
## Decorations

Aside from the terminal databases, there are many decorations around the lab that are references to Bungie, the *Halo* series, and Microsoft.

**Halo Posters**

* Master Chief rushing the beach in the "Silent Cartographer" level from *Halo: Combat Evolved*
* Master Chief holding two SMGs in the *Halo 2* launch poster
* Master Chief standing with his weapon in the alert position in *Halo 3*'s "Sierra 117" level
* The first frame of the opening cutscene from *Halo 3: ODST*
* A photo of *Halo 3: ODST*'s title screen
* Concept art of each member of *Halo Reach*'s NOBLE team.

**Bungie Signage**

* A Carnage Zone warning sign, which is also the *Halo* 3 "Splatter" medal, is on the wall near the entrance
* A picture of Ling-Ling's head appears on one of the desks
* A photo of a young Marty O'Donnell
* A photo of Jason Jones packing *Minotaur* boxes
* A photo of Bungie's 7 Steps to World Domination
* A picture of Bungie's "Don't Make Us Kick Your Ass" coat of arms is on a desk

**Music**

* Playing on a loop
	+ *Siege of Madrigal*
	+ *From the Vault*, a combination of various themes from *Halo: Combat Evolved*, *Halo 2*, and *Halo 3*.
		- The opening strings of Halo 3's *Farthest Outpost* (0:26-1:12)
		- The choir of Halo 2's *Impend* (1:12-2:11)
		- The choir of Halo's *The Maw* (2:11-2:40)
		- The strings of *Weight of Failure* from Halo 2's *Prologue* (2:40-3:25)
		- The choir of *Overcome* from Halo 3's *Behold a Pale Horse* (3:25-4:59)

**Other**

* Xbox 360s are located around the room and under one of the terminals. The console lights are blue instead of the usual green like in real life.
* Cortana's terminal
* Halsey's journal next to Cortana's terminal
* A screen showing an exchange between Halsey and Cortana about Cortana's transfer to another storage unit
* A switch next to the entrance will trigger the last cutscene and end the level

## Accessing the Room

1. Start "The Package" on co-op (2-4 players).
2. Kill all of the Covenant.
3. Go to the bottom of the hill.
4. Find a bridge, go across it, go up the ramp, and use the Jet Pack armor ability to fly over the big gate, but don't touch the floor.
5. A switch will be on the wall - press it and then die.
6. Respawn near the other players, and wait for the seven Elites to appear. You don't have to kill them, but it may be wise to do so.
7. Go up to the lab and a door will open. Upon entering, you will transport inside of a tunnel that leads to the lab.

## Gallery

**Video Walkthroughs**

* Halo Reach - Halsey's Lab Easter Egg
* [Halo Reach] The Monument to All Your Sins
* Halo Reach - Tribute Room Easter Egg | Rooster Teeth

**Images of the Lab**

Halsey's lab as you enter the room.Seven Elite Guards appear as you try accessing the Tribute Room.The view outside Halsey's lab.The Carnage Zone sign, a.k.a. the Halo 3 "Splatter" medal, is on the left wall as you enter the room.Behind the first terminal on the left is a sign of Bungie's Plan for World Domination.A picture of Bungie's Plan for World Domination.A promotional image of Halo: Combat Evolved is located on one of the terminals.A picture of Ling ling is on a table.A picture of Ling ling is on a table.Concept art for Halo: Reach's NOBLE Team is located on the terminal next to the Cortana area.Cortana's holding area where she was made by Halsey.Halsey's conversation with Cortana before they leave the lab.Halsey's journal (the same journal players received for purchasing the Halo Reach Collector Edition) is located on Cortana's holding area.Below the Cortana area is a screenshot from Halo 3.A picture of Bungie's crest of arms is on a table.Xbox 360s are located on the right side of the room.A promotional image for Halo 2 is located behind the 360s.A picture of a young Marty O'Donnell is located on the right side of a terminal.A promotional image from Halo 3: ODST appears on the door on the right as your enter the room.
## Trivia

* There are seven Sangheili Generals guarding the entrance into the room, and seven terminals referencing Bungie's fandom.
* You do not need to kill the generals in order to access the room.
* Although you have no ammunition, you can still melee. You can melee other players to disable their shields, but they cannot be killed.
	+ If played on co-op though, if a player is killed in anyway outside the room while another player is in the room, they can spawn in the room and are treated as a normal character and thus have ammo, and can be killed.
* On the screen next to the Xboxes, there is concept art of NOBLE Team with their corresponding names below tinted black and white. Starting from the right, panning to the left the images begin to fade. Next to Emile, there is a completely blank spot labeled "YOU!" where the name would be, referencing the fact that you are Noble Six.
* The photo included with the "I LIKE PIE" terminal is actually a picture from Bungie Day 2009's playlist Bungie vs. The World.
* If someone were to activate the door that triggers the ending cutscene, all players will appear in the room for a short while before the screen darkens, leading up to the cutscene.
* Players can save a video of the room in Reach's Theater mode, effectively allowing them to visit the room whenever they wish. However, even in first-person view, the content of the terminals will not appear on screen.
* If you trigger the ending cutscene and then start reading a terminal, there is a glitch that will make the text persist on screen during the cutscene
* Accessing the Tribute Room in *Halo: The Master Chief Collection* will unlock the "This is Not the Greatest Lab in the World…" achievement, which is a direct reference to the song *Tribute* by the band *Tenacious D*.

## References

1. ↑ Bungie.net (via archive.org) - Bungie Weekly Update (September 2, 2005)
2. ↑ Bungie.net (via archive.org) - Be a Hero! (January 15, 2010)
3. ↑ YouTube - Warthog Jump
4. ↑ YouTube - Siege of Madrigal
5. ↑ YouTube - From the Vault