Cairo Station: Difference between revisions

{{Status|Gameplay}}

{{Level infobox

|pagegamelabel=H2

|game=''[[Halo 2]]'' (<small>''[[Halo 2: Anniversary|Anniversary]]''</small>)

|name=''Cairo Station''

|image=[[File:H2A CairoStation Loadscreen.png|300px]]

|date= [[2552#October|October 20, 2552]]

|place=''[[Cairo Station (station)|Cairo Station]]''

|parscore=14,000 {{C|''Master Chief Collection''}}

}}

{{Article quote|Defend the station's [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|MAC]] gun from [[Covenant]] boarders.}}

'''Cairo Station''' is the third [[campaign]] level of ''[[Halo 2]]'', taking place in Earth's orbit on the eponymous ''[[Cairo Station (station)|Cairo Station]]''. The [[John-117|Master Chief]] and [[UNSC Marine Corps|UNSC Marines]] fight against boarding [[Covenant]] troops, culminating in a battle over an [[Sangheili|Elite]]-guarded bomb intended to destroy the station. This is the first level in ''[[Halo 2]]'' in which enemies are encountered.

==Transcript==

''The view once again changes back to ''Cairo Station'', as a young woman joins the Chief and Johnson.''

*'''Lord Hood''': "[[Commander (UNSC)|Commander]] [[Miranda Keyes]]. [[Jacob 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 [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]]. The Navy has lost one of its best."

''The view changes back to ''High Charity'' again, where a blackened [[Combat harness|Sangheili Combat helmet]] falls to the floor, and the naked 'Vadamee hangs limply from his restraints. A glowing brand rises from the floor in front of him, and Tartarus grabs it and strides forward.''

''Thel 'Vadamee raises his head weakly. Tartarus gives him a fierce look, and presses the brand against the Sangheili's chest with glee, printing the [[Mark of Shame]] in it. The tortured Sangheili warrior fights the pain but gives in and screams.''

''An officer faces Lord Hood.''

''The view shifts back to the screen.''

*'''Lord Hood''': "They're going to try to take our MAC guns offline, give their capital ships a straight shot at [[Earth]]." ''(Looks to the Chief)'' "Master Chief, defend this station!"

*'''John-117''': "Yes, sir." ''(to Johnson)'' "I need a weapon."

''Once the Master Chief finishes killing all the Covenant boarders in the first hangar bay, Covenant boarding craft are seen through the windows rapidly leaving ''Malta Station''.''

*'''[[Private First Class]] [[Chips Dubbo]]''': "Hey, check it out! The ''Malta''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s already driven off its boarders!"

----

*'''''Cairo'' Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker)''': "Alert! We have hostiles on the [[Bridge|Command deck]]!"

''Once the Master Chief finishes killing all the intruders in the second hangar bay (including a [[Sangheili Zealot]] on [[legendary]] difficulty) Covenant boarding craft are again seen through the windows retreating, only this time, from ''[[Athens]] Station''.''

*'''Private Dubbo''': "Uh oh! Hey, they're leaving the ''Athens''!"

*'''Lord Hood (COM)''': "Chief, get to the bomb, double time! Cortana, prioritize targets and fire at will."

*'''Fleet Admiral Harper (COM)''': "First Echelon, you're with me, blanket those cruisers, take ‘em out one by one. Second Echelon, keep those carriers busy."

''The station's MAC gun begins firing at the Covenant fleet.''

*'''Lord Hood''': "Permission granted."

''In the bay, the Chief grabs the bomb by two of its pointy protrusions and drags it across the floor, causing sparks to erupt as it scrapes across the metal plating. He drags it into an elevator, and ascends.''

''The carrier's center is a huge, open chamber, a massive fusion core casting white light across its inner surface. The carrier has taken a lot of abuse; the far side of the chamber is torn open, showing the Earth outside. The Master Chief crawls up the bomb, presses its activation panel, and spins around. His legs flex, and he vaults off the bomb, aiming for the split in the carrier's armor.''

''He plummets from the carrier, straight for Earth, as behind him minor blue explosions flicker up and down the alien warship. A pause, and the entire ship detonates in a huge plasma conflagration.''

''Level ends.''

{{Clear}}

==Production notes==

Originally, [[Bungie]] had planned [[Covenant Ship|a level after Cairo Station]], in which the [[John-117|Master Chief]] would land on a [[Covenant]] ship, break in, and destroy it from the inside out. This was shown in the [[Halo 2 Announcement Trailer]], when the [[Chief]] jumped out of the airlock without the bomb. However, because of deadlines, the level was cut from the final game.<ref>''[[Halo 3 Essentials]]'': Disc 2; Halo 2 Cinematics Commentary</ref>

===''Halo 2: Anniversary''===

For the ''Anniversary'' remake of the level, it was originally planned to have ''Cairo''{{'}}s position over Earth adjusted. The ''Return to Sender'' cutscene for example was to take place over Eastern and Central Europe as opposed to Northern Africa and the Mediterranean in the final version.<ref>[[Halo 2: Anniversary cinematic trailer|''Halo 2: Anniversary'', cinematic trailer]]</ref>

*It is possible to see the outside of a [[Covenant]] boarding craft on this level up close. Just before the player enters the first elevator, they can use one of the structures near the edge to jump to a lower ledge, where they can view a craft.

*There is some odd dialog where [[Miranda Keyes]] would say "Thanks, Chief. I owe you one. Take me now!" {{Citation needed}}

*It is possible to get into the airlock room [[John-117|Master Chief]] jumps out of. On the chapter "Return to Sender", the player can walk up to where the firing pin shoots forward, walk up to the front track, and when the pin moves forward, the Chief's body will fall through the floor and down to the airlock below.

*When the player gets outside of the [[Cairo Station (station)|Station]], it is possible to get inside the FFG-142 ''[[UNSC In Amber Clad|In Amber Clad]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s reactors.

===Easter eggs===

*The [[Halo 2 skulls|Thunderstorm Skull]] is located in this level.

*It is possible to hear [[Terrence Hood|Lord Hood]] saying something on the intercom about [[Megg]] in this level.

*This level contains the only ''Halo 2'' [[Bloody UNSC marine|Marine model covered in wounds and blood]]. He is found in the first Pelican hangar and is usually without a helmet.

*The [[Cairo Station console message|''Cairo Station'' console message]] can be found on several consoles throughout the level.

===References===

*This is the only level in which [[Sangheili|Elites]] wield [[Type-25 Directed Energy Pistol|Plasma Pistols]].

*The turret that appears in the first [[D77-TC Pelican|Pelican]] bay is not present on harder difficulties.

[[File:Miranda squint.jpg|thumb|Miranda scowls at the Chief for injuring her.]]

*If the player melees or shoots Commander Keyes, she grimaces in pain and glares at the player resentfully.

*In the final fight by the bomb, if the player kills the [[Covenant]] forces in the right positions, it's possible for the bomb to move their bodies around while being dragged in the cutscene.

*In the airlocks at the top and bottom of the elevator platform, and the Port shipping bay are four [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper|ODST]] bodies (one at the top, one in the Port shipping bay, two at the bottom.) These are the only ODSTs seen in the level. This is also the first in-game appearance of [[ODST armor]].

*The machine gun turret used by Johnson at the beginning of the level sometimes will not be usable, although the player can order Johnson to stay away from it.

==Gallery==

===Development images===

<gallery>

</gallery>

===''Halo 2''===

<gallery>

File:Cairo Station Official.png|Preview of the level in ''Halo 2'' menu.

File:Old HW Gauss 6.png|UNSC personnel at the ceremony onboard ''Cairo Station''.