Editing Annex Ridge

{{Status|Gameplay}}
{{disambig header|the [[Halo Infinite]] side mission|the Banished Outpost|Annex Ridge (location)}}
{{Article quote|Recon reports from [[SPARTAN-IV program|Spartans]] [[Jaide]] and [[Rosado]] have revealed peculiar Banished activity concerning the excavation of ancient and enigmatic [[Ring artifact|artifacts]].}} 
{{Level infobox
|pagegamelabel=HI
|prev = 
|next = 
|game = ''[[Halo Infinite]]''
|devname=
|name = Annex Ridge
|image = [[File:HINF Annex Ridge.png|300px]]
|player = [[John-117]]
|date = On or after [[2560#May|May 28, 2560]]{{Ref/Generic|Id=Premiere|[[Halo Infinite Campaign Gameplay Premiere]]}}
|place = [[Annex Ridge (location)|Annex Ridge]], [[Installation 07]]
|objective = * Investigate the base
* Disable the transport
|partime=
|parscore=
}}

'''Annex Ridge''' is an optional side mission in the ''[[Halo Infinite]]'' campaign. It is part of the ''Reformation'' section of the campaign. Completing it earns the player 100 points of [[valor]].

==Overview==
The Master Chief investigates a Forerunner signal coming from a Banished outpost called Annex Ridge. After discovering the Banished are using the base to transport [[Forerunner]] artifacts for further study, he proceeds to disable the facility in order to halt the Banished's research efforts on the Ring.

==Transcript==
[[File:HINF-AnnexRidgeBanshee.png|thumb|250px|Banished forces at Annex Ridge.]]

''The Chief approaches Annex Ridge.''

*'''[[Jiralhanae]] Officer (loudspeaker)''': "Incoming transport on schedule. Secure the landing pad."

*'''Jiralhanae Officer (loudspeaker)''': "Data reconstruction incomplete. [[Escharum]] demands results!"

*'''Jiralhanae Officer (loudspeaker)''': "Handle the artifacts with care - they are worthless if damaged!"

*'''Jiralhanae Officer (loudspeaker)''': "Scheduled excavation in sector 6E is approved."

*'''Jiralhanae Officer (loudspeaker)''': "Surveys for sectors 13, 14, 15! Prepare for deployment!"

*'''Jiralhanae Officer (loudspeaker)''': "Fuel pressure dropping. Maintenance teams to primary fuel silo."

*'''Jiralhanae Officer (loudspeaker)''': "Refueling commenced. Transport liftoff in one hour."

''If an adjacent [[FOB]] has been recaptured:''

*'''[[The Weapon|Weapon]]''': "That's [[Annex Ridge (location)|Annex Ridge]] - a research outpost. And judging by the strong Forerunner signals I'm picking up, a pretty successful one. What do you think [[Banished|they]] found up there?"

*'''John-117''': "Let's find out." 

''If an adjacent FOB has not been recaptured yet:''

*'''Weapon''': "Chief, I'm detecting a strong signal emanating from that Banished base. It's [[Forerunner]]... looks like another [[Ring artifact]]."

*'''John-117''': "In a Banished base. That's not good. Let's move."

''If an adjacent FOB hasn't been recaptured and none of the [[Ring artifact]]s have been scanned yet:''

*'''Weapon''': "Chief, I'm detecting a strong signal emanating from a Banished base on the cliff above. Signature appears to be... Forerunner in origin."

*'''John-117''': "That's not good. Let's go."

''The Chief enters the base and engages the guards.''

*'''Jiralhanae Officer (loudspeaker)''': "Annex Ridge is under attack! Security teams to central loading! Secure all artifacts! Defend the transport! KILL THE SPARTAN!"

*'''[[Sangheili]]''': "The [[human]]s are here for the relics!"

''The Chief fights his way deeper into the base and finds the artifact that the Weapon detected.''

*'''Weapon''': "As expected: it's another Ring totem. That's the source of the signal."

----
''If the none of the [[Ring artifact]]s have been scanned yet:''

*'''Weapon''': "Wow. Look at that. Some kind of monument, maybe? Whatever it is, it's definitely Forerunner."
----

*'''Weapon''': "Looks like the Banished are trying to transport it offsite... They must have plans for it. Possibly research."

*'''John-117''': "Can't let that happen. We need to take this operation offline."

*'''Weapon''': "Agreed. We need a weakness to exploit - and for that, we need access to the outpost's systems. Get me to that control console."

''The control console's location is marked on the Chief's [[HUD]].''

*'''Jiralhanae Officer (loudspeaker)''': "Reinforcements! Defend Annex Ridge!"

''The Chief enters a tunnel leading to an underground section of the base. After fighting his way past the Banished troops inside, he finds a [[gravity lift]] and uses it to enter the base's command center. He eliminates the Banished personnel inside, then accesses the control console at a [[Holotank]]. There are also some imprisoned Marines on the upper level whom he can free.''

*'''Weapon''': "Got something: a high-capacity fuel silo's currently refueling their transport. If we destroy it, it'll take the transport along with it - and bring this operation to a halt. I've enabled a system-wide security lift. Find a way to raise the silo." 

''The Chief heads back outside.''

*'''Jiralhanae Officer (loudspeaker)''': "The Spartan's breached our systems - security throughout the Ridge is offline!"

*'''Jiralhanae Officer (loudspeaker)''': "Backup inbound! Protect the transport!"

*'''Jiralhanae Officer (loudspeaker)''': "Reinforcements incoming! Preserve the artifacts!"

''An [[Eklon'Dal Workshop Phantom]] drops off enemy reinforcements.''

''If the Chief spends too much time wandering around:''

*'''Weapon''': "I'm detecting an anomalous power signature from a console connected to the fuel silo - that might be what we're looking for." 

''The Chief enters another structure, where he locates the silo controls. He proceeds to raise the fuel silo.''

*'''Weapon''': "The silos are raised. Now for the fireworks."

*'''Jiralhanae Officer (loudspeaker)''': "Fuel silo exposed! Attempting retraction- ''(growls)'' I'm locked out!"

''The Chief heads outside and destroys the fuel silo. The subsequent chain reaction destroys [[Barukaza Workshop siege-hauler|the transport]] next to it.''

*'''Weapon''': "The station's powering down and that transport is toast. [[Escharum]]'s research efforts on these artifacts just ground to a halt. For all he's learned about [[Installation 07|this Ring]]... total control is still out of his reach. We've got to keep it that way."

''If [[House of Reckoning]] has been completed:''

*'''Weapon''': "The station's powering down and that transport is toast. Banished research efforts on these artifacts just ground to a halt. Nice work, Chief."

''Mission is completed.''

==Collectibles==
*'''Audio logs''' (4): [[Audio log (Halo Infinite)/Banished/Outpost/11|Banished Outpost Intel 11 - Slow and Steady]], [[Audio log (Halo Infinite)/Banished/Outpost/12|Banished Outpost Intel 12 - Whispers from the Past]], [[Audio log (Halo Infinite)/UNSC/Outpost/11|UNSC Outpost Intel 11 - A Hastily-Assembled Plan]], [[Audio log (Halo Infinite)/UNSC/Outpost/12|UNSC Outpost Intel 12 - Hitching a Ride]]
*'''[[Spartan core]]s''' (1)

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:HINF AnnexRidge Blockout 1.jpg|An early in-progress blockout for the area, before it was significantly reworked. The feature wall (highlighted in yellow) was the only part of the location to survive into the final release unaltered.{{Ref/Twitter|kolbepayne|1709014020177690825|Kolbe Payne|Quote=Never get married to your work. It can and will be cut or completely changed during development. Just look at my blockout for Annex Ridge in Halo Infinite’s campaign. Only thing that was kept the same was this wall 😂 #Blocktober|D=04|M=10|Y=2023}}
File:HINF AnnexRidge Blockout 2.jpg|Another look at the in-development initial Annex Ridge layout.
File:HINF Annex Ridge 2.png|The Annex Ridge base.
File:HINF Annex Ridge Explosion.png|Siege hauler carrying Ring artifacts is destroyed.
</gallery>

==Sources==
{{Ref/List}}

{{Levels|HI}}
[[Category:Halo Infinite campaign]]