Editing Departure/Core

{{Era|Post}}
{{Title|Core}}
{{Seealso|The Core}}
{{Level Infobox
|prev = ''[[Departure/Sacred|Sacred]]''
|next = ''[[Artifact (Spartan Ops)|Artifact (cinematic)]]''
|game = ''[[Halo 4]]''
|name = '''''Core'''''
|image = [[File:SO-EP1-CH5.png|300px]]
|player = [[Fireteam Crimson]]
|date = [[2558#February|February 10, 2558]]<ref>'''[[Halo 4 Limited Edition]]''', ''Mission Briefing''</ref>
|place = "[[The Cauldron]]", [[Requiem]]
|objective = Interrupt [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|Covenant]] dig and retrieve [[Forerunner]] artifact.
}}
{{Article Quote|Covenant archeological teams operating on Requiem are searching for something. Infinity Command wants to know what.}}
'''''Core''''' is the fifth chapter of ''[[Spartan Ops]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki> first episode, ''[[Departure]]''.<ref>[http://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/intel/spartanops#episodeId=1 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Spartan Ops'' menu.'']</ref>

==Summary==
The data pulled from the [[Departure/Sacred|previous]] mission pointed to earlier reports of [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|Covenant]] archeological teams working within [[Requiem]]. The data leads to a [[Forerunner]] complex, in which the Covenant had set up a dig site. [[Fireteam Crimson]] is sent in to investigate. They encounter stiff resistance from the Covenant, which incites the curiosity of [[Sarah Palmer|Commander Palmer]], who wonders what they could be guarding. [[SPARTAN-IV Program|Spartan]] [[Jared Miller]] discovers Covenant anti-air batteries operating within the vicinity and redirects [[Fireteam Castle]] to take them out. After eliminating all Covenant resistance, Crimson discovers an unknown Forerunner [[Requiem slipspace artifacts|artifact]] guarded by [[Promethean]]s. The Spartans clear the area, but are again attacked. Spartan [[Robert Dalton]] sends in a [[D79-TC Pelican|Pelican]] dropship to retrieve the artifact as Crimson defends the area. After Fireteam Castle successfully disables the anti-air defenses, both Fireteam Crimson and the artifact are extracted out of the area before enemy reinforcements arrive.

==Transcript==

Note: All dialogue is spoken through the COM. 

'''{Cutscene}'''

''Open to the shot of an active volcano. A Phantom flies overhead and approaches a Covenant squad as a [[Sangheili Storm]] looks on.''

*'''Palmer''': "Okay, Crimson. The data you pulled out of the jungle ties into some earlier info on Covenant archaeological teams. The Covies have found a needle in the Requiem haystack, and you're going to stop them from retrieving it."

'''{Gameplay}'''

*'''Palmer''': "First things first, Crimson. Eliminate anything that moves."

''Crimson reaches an open area in time to see a Phantom take off. A plasma cannon spots them and opens fire.''

*'''Miller''': "Crimson, advise you to keep an eye on that turret."

''A drop pod arrives and deposits a squad of Covenant reinforcements. Crimson team makes its way up a ramp and eliminates all Covenant resistance.''

*'''Palmer''': "Miller, find Crimson a way through those doors."

*'''Miller''': "There appears to be a power source here. Activating waypoint now."

''The player activates the switch. A Phantom appears over the cliffs.''

*'''Miller''': "Structural movement, Commander."

''Two Elites leap over the wall and engage Crimson.''

*'''Miller''': "Crimson, I'm marking a pair of power sources that just appeared. Activating them should clear the path between you and our Covenant archaeologists."

''The player activates one of the switches.''

*'''Miller''': "That's one."

''Second switch is activated:''

*'''Palmer''': "Got 'em both. Miller?"

''The doors open and Covenant spill out.''

*'''Miller''': "I was right. Door's opening, Commander."

*'''Palmer''': "Move ahead to the next area, Crimson."

''Crimson moves through the door and battles more Covenant.''

*'''Dalton''': "Commander?"

*'''Palmer''': "Go ahead, Dalton."

*'''Miller''': "There's some serious anti-air activity happening in the area around Crimson. We can't guarantee any kind of extraction."

*'''Palmer''': "Commander Palmer to Fireteam Castle. You're on, Spartans. Dalton's got targets for you."

*'''Spartan [[Ernst Deming]]''': "Affirmative, Commander."

-----
''or, if the player has activated the RvB Easter egg:''

*'''Caboose''': "Um, the regular radio guy isn't here right now. Um... sorry."
-----

''Crimson eliminates all enemies in the area.''

*'''Miller''': "More shields."

*'''Palmer''': "Find a way to bring them down. I don't like the Covenant working this hard to guard a dig."

*'''Miller''': "There're the shield controls."

''Crimson activates the console. Several Crawlers appear.''

''As the player approaches the waypoint.''

*'''Palmer''': "Shut them down, Crimson."

''Several [[Promethean Knights]] appear. Crimson eliminates them.''

*'''Palmer''': "Promethean Knights are working alongside Covenant? That's bad news. Get a look at what they were guarding."

''Crimson activates the switch. The ground shakes as a bright blue light rises from the ground and an [[Requiem slipspace artifacts|artifact]] appears.''

*'''Miller''': "What is that?"

*'''Palmer''': "I don't care. If the Covies wanted it this badly, I'm happy to get it first."

''Several Crawlers and Knights appear.''

*'''Miller''': "Watch out!"

*'''Palmer''': "Defend the artifact, Crimson! Dalton! Crimson needs immediate evac!"

*'''Dalton''': "Still working with Castle to take down air defenses, Commander!"

*'''Palmer''': "Fireteam Castle, this is Commander Palmer! I need an ETA on clear skies!"

*'''Deming''': "It's gonna take a little bit longer, Commander! We're doing all we can!"

-----
''or, if the player has activated the RvB Easter egg''

*'''Caboose''': "Seriously, the regular radio guy said he would be right back. He's in the bathroom."
-----

''Crimson clears the area.''

*'''Miller''': "Commander, there's a LOT of Covenant aircraft inbound!"

*'''Palmer''': "Dalton! Where the hell is that ride?!"

*'''Dalton''': "She's at the LZ, Commander."

*'''Palmer''': "About time! Crimson! Let's go!"

''A Pelican approaches Crimson's position. The player grabs the artifact.''

'''{Cutscene}'''

''The Pelican lifts off.''

*'''Pilot''': "Crimson and artifact are onboard and we are ''Infinity'' bound."

*'''Palmer''': "Nice work, Crimson. Come on home."

''The Pelican flies off into the sunset.''

'''EPISODE COMPLETE'''

''Level ends.''

==Trivia==
The first ''[[Red vs. Blue]]'' [[Roses vs Violets|Easter egg]] is found on this level.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=dFUSFa3Y6cs&NR=1 '''YouTube''': ''Halo 4 - Roses vs Violets Guide'']</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:H4-SpartanOps-7.jpg|A lava stream.
File:H4-SpartanOps-5.jpg|A Forerunner complex.
File:H4-SpartanOps-6.jpg|The last area of the chapter.
File:H4-SpartanOps-4.jpg|A Spartan-IV assassinating a [[Promethean Knight]].
File:CoreAssassination.jpg|Another [[assassination]].
File:H4-SpartanOps-3.jpg|A fight between Spartans and Prometheans.
File:H4-SpartanOps-2.jpg|[[Promethean Watcher]]s protecting a Knight.
File:H4-SpartanOps-1.jpg|A Spartan-IV attacking a Knight.
File:CoreSpartans.jpg|Two Spartan-IVs on ''Core''.
</gallery>

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}
{{Spartanops}}