Editing Floodgate

{{Status|Gameplay}}
{{Level infobox
|pagegamelabel=H3
|prev=''[[The Storm]]''
|next=''[[The Ark (level)|The Ark]]''
|game=''[[Halo 3]]''
|devname=<code>050_floodvoi</code>
|name='''''Floodgate'''''
|image=[[File:H3 Floodgate Loadscreen.png|300px]]
|player=[[John-117]]
|date=[[2552#November|November 17, 2552]]<ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=16989 '''Bungie.net''': ''Bungie Weekly Update: 01/23/09 - Timeline'']</ref>
|place=[[Voi]], [[East African Protectorate]]
|objective=Make your way to the [[Indulgence of Conviction|Flood ship]] and retrieve Cortana.
|partime=00:15:00 {{C|''Master Chief Collection''}}
|parscore=25,000 {{C|''Master Chief Collection''}}<br/>15,000 {{C|''Halo 3''}}
}}
{{Article quote|Stop [[Flood|the Infestation]]. Find [[Cortana]].}}
'''Floodgate''' is the sixth [[campaign]] [[:Category:Levels|level]] of ''[[Halo 3]]'' and the first ''Halo 3'' level in which the [[Flood]] appears.

Upon completing the level on [[Normal]], [[Heroic]], or [[Legendary]] difficulties, the player will earn the [[Cleansing (Achievement)|"Cleansing" achievement]] and 30 [[Gamerscore]]; in ''[[Halo: The Master Chief Collection]]'', this achievement, now only worth 10 Gamerscore, can also be obtained on [[Easy]]. Earning over 15,000 points in the Campaign meta-game will give the player the [[Exterminator]] achievement and 10 Gamerscore.

==Background==
It takes place in [[Voi]], [[Kenya]] on the continent of [[Africa]] on [[Earth]] during the [[Battle for Earth]]. ''Floodgate'' is the first campaign mission where [[Sangheili]] allies other than the [[Arbiter]], [[Thel 'Vadam]], are encountered in ''Halo 3''. It is also one of the shortest levels in the game.

Shortly after [[John-117]] disables the [[Covenant]] [[Skar'wa-pattern Mantis|anti-aircraft battery]] in the previous level,'' [[The Storm]]'', [[UNSC frigate]]s under the command of [[Terrence Hood|Admiral Hood]] attacked the Covenant-controlled [[Anodyne Spirit|Forerunner Dreadnought]]. This attempt failed, as the Dreadnought survived unscathed. The [[Prophet of Truth]] then activated a [[Portal at Voi|Portal]] to the [[Installation 00|Ark]] and his Dreadnought entered the slipspace rift, followed by the rest of the Covenant fleet. Immediately afterward, a [[Indulgence of Conviction|Flood-infested battlecruiser]] emerged from slipspace and crashed into [[Traxus Factory Complex 09]].{{Ref/Level|H3|[[The Storm]]}}

In order to eliminate the infestation, John-117 and [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]] must overload the crashed cruiser's engines, wiping out the entire city and the Flood with it. To do this, they push back through the factory where they just came from, fighting many [[Flood combat form]]s and [[Flood pure form|pure forms]], the next stage in Flood evolution. They are then aided by the arrival of [[Rtas 'Vadum]] and a [[Sangheili]] [[Fleet of Retribution|fleet]]. 'Vadam and John, along with a Sangheili strike team, push forward to the crashed ship, and 'Vadam holds position while John extracts what is believed to be [[Cortana]], stored in a [[Covenant storage device]]. This eventually turns out to be only a recording. Inside the crashed Flood ship, John-117 has an unexpected reunion with [[343 Guilty Spark]].  Though distrustful of the [[monitor]]'s intentions, John accepts Guilty Spark's offer of aid. After the area is evacuated, Sangheili warships begin to glass Voi and the immediate vicinity to prevent further contamination by the Flood.

Onboard Rtas 'Vadum's {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}, ''[[Shadow of Intent]]'', Guilty Spark extracts Cortana's recorded message from the storage device.  The recording reveals the existence of a solution to the Flood on the other side of the Portal without firing the remaining Halo rings. The Master Chief convinces Lord Hood to allow an expedition through the Portal to find both Truth and Cortana's solution. A joint human-Sangheili fleet then heads into the Portal.

==Transcript==

===It Followed Me Home===
'''''Hot zone. Weapons free.'''''

'''{''Gameplay''}'''

[[File:26728157-Medium.jpg|thumb|300px|John-117 prepares to return to the factory complex while the portal looms in the sky.]]
''Fade in outside the city. The Chief and 'Vadam are standing under the remains of the Covenant [[Skar'wa-pattern Mantis|AA gun]]. The sky is choking with thick smog from [[Indulgence of Conviction|the crashed cruiser]]. Faint screeching and growling noises can be heard in the distance.''

*'''Commander [[Miranda Keyes]] (COM)''': "The [[Flood]] - it's spreading, all over the [[Voi|city]]."

*'''[[Terrence Hood|Lord Hood]] (COM)''': "How do we contain it?"

*'''Commander Keyes (COM)''': "Find the crashed Flood ship; overload its engine core. We either destroy this city, or risk losing the entire [[Earth|planet]]."

*'''Lord Hood (COM)''': "Do it."

*'''Commander Keyes (COM)''': "[[John-117|Chief]], make your way to the crash site."

''To the right, two [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] are seen on a cliff edge, fighting off several [[Flood combat form]]s. They are overrun and typically mutate into more combat forms.''

''The Chief and [[Thel 'Vadam]] reenter the city.''

*'''Gunnery Sergeant [[Reynolds]] (COM)''': "All squads, report!"

''At this time, a group of Flood combat forms jump from the building on the right.''

*'''Marine (COM)''': "Multiple contacts, unknown hostiles."

''Flood screeches are heard.''

*'''Thel 'Vadam''': "There are some [[M7057 flamethrower|powerful weapons]] we've not yet used..."

*'''[[UNSC Marine Corps|Marine]] (COM)''': "There! Over there! We're surrounded, [[Sergeant]]!"

''The Chief finds a Marine squad on a loading ramp.''

*'''Marine (COM)''': "Aaaaah!"

*'''Reynolds (COM)''': "Fall back, fall back!"

*'''Female Marine''': "Sergeant, come on!"

''[[Pod infector]]s and combat forms (all former humans and [[Jiralhanae]]) descend from above and swarm on the Marines at the ramp, killing, then infecting them, forcing the remaining Marines, the Chief, and 'Vadam to kill them.''

*'''Reynolds''': "Ahhh!"

''The Sergeant becomes mutated by a Pod infector.''

*'''Reynolds''': "No! No! No!"

''A Marine proceeds to attack the reanimated Sergeant.''

*'''Female Marine''': "What are you doing?! That's the sergeant!"

*'''Marine''': "That ''was'' the sergeant! It ain't no more..."

''They fight off the wave of Flood.''

*'''Thel 'Vadam''': "Quickly! Let us find their ship. Make short work of this ''abomination''!"

''The Marines accompany the Chief and 'Vadam into a building, where a lone Marine is running away from a horde of Pod infectors.''

*'''Marine''': "Uhh! Get off me!"

''or''

*'''Marine''': "Get it off! Get it off!"

''If the Marine is not saved, the Pod infector dives into his chest, gruesomely transforming him into a Flood combat form. This forces the Master Chief and 'Vadam to kill him immediately.''

[[File:HTMCC-H3 Stacker and Flood Combat Form.jpg|thumb|300px|Sergeant Stacker takes on a Flood combat form.]]
''Marines led by Gunnery Sergeant [[Marcus Stacker|Stacker]] are pinned down behind sandbags by a massive horde of Flood. The Chief and 'Vadam engage and destroy the Flood forms in this section of the warehouse.''

''If the Marines are saved from being killed or infected:''

*'''Female Marine''': "It gets inside you, chews you up."

*'''Marine''': "We gotta get outta here."

''The Chief, 'Vadam, and the surviving Marines head into the next section of the warehouse. Upstairs, two Marines, one wielding a flamethrower, try to combat the Flood as well, but they soon fall to the parasite's overwhelming numbers.''

*'''Thel 'Vadam''': "Wretched/Accursed parasite! Rise up and I will kill you! Again and again!"

''Reaching the other end of the warehouse, the surviving Marines hold position after clearing the area. The Chief and 'Vadam head upstairs onto an upper balcony, optionally picking up the abandoned Flamethrower for use against the Flood.''

''Proceeding forward, the two find a hole in the floor and drop down it, arriving in the office areas.''

*'''[[Cortana]] ([[Character interludes|Cortana Moment]])''': "Chief! ''(connection drops)'' I can't tell you everything...it's not safe. The [[Gravemind]]...it knows I'm in the sys-''(connection drops)''."

''The Chief and 'Vadam force their way through another wave of Flood, and find a Marine huddling in a corner of the large room [[The Storm|previously]] used as an Aid Station, surrounded by three dead Marines. The Marine is holding a [[M6G magnum|pistol]], and will occasionally aim it at his own head, before lowering it and burying his face in his hands.''

*'''[[Suicidal Marine|Traumatized Marine]]''': "I...I didn't have a choice...! The [[First Lieutenant|L.T]]...the Sergeant...they were ''all'' infected! I could see it crawling...''sliding around beneath their skin!'' ''(sobs)'' A-and then they got up...they s-started to talk! ''Oh, God! Their voices!'' Oh, God! No, ''make them stop!'' I did them a favor...y-yeah that's it; I ''helped'' them! ''(sobs)'' Maybe...maybe I need to help myself... ''(breaks out into sobs)''"

''With no time to spare, the Chief and 'Vadam continue on ahead to the lake bed.''

''The Master Chief and Thel 'Vadam enter the lake bed of Voi where the [[Deutoros-pattern Scarab|Scarab]] was previously fought and destroyed.''

*'''[[Shipmaster]] [[Rtas 'Vadum]] (COM)''': "Hail, humans, and take heed."

===Shadow of Intent===
'''''The Flood has Evolved.'''''

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8C5-olIBR9I&NR=1 '''{''Cutscene''}''']
[[File:H3 CovenantDropPod Exiting.jpg|thumb|300px|SpecOps Sangheili are deployed into Voi via drop pods.]]

*'''Rtas 'Vadum (COM)''': "This is the [[CAS-class assault carrier|carrier]] ''[[Shadow of Intent]]''."

''The Chief and 'Vadam pause to see three [[Sangheili]]-controlled {{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}}s fly in formation as a {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}} slices overhead from [[slipspace]].''

*'''Rtas 'Vadum (COM)''': "Clear this sector, while ''we'' deal with the Flood."

''A [[Sangheili Major]] and four [[Special Operations Sangheili]] leap out of landed [[Orbital Insertion Pod]]s ahead of the Chief and 'Vadam, and join the battle against the Flood.''

'''{''Gameplay''}'''

''The Chief and 'Vadam make their way to the Sangheili lance.''

*'''Thel 'Vadam''': "My brothers, I fear you bring bad news."

*'''[[Sangheili Major]]''': "[[High Charity]] has fallen, become a dreaded hive!"

*'''Thel 'Vadam:''' "And the [[Fleet of Retribution|fleet]]? Has quarantine been broken?"

*'''Sangheili Major''': "A single ship broke through our line, and we gave chase."

*'''Thel 'Vadam''': "But we had a fleet of hundreds!"

*'''Sangheili Major''': "Alas brother, the Flood... It has evolved!"

''The Chief, 'Vadam, and the Sangheili fight their way through a massive wave of Flood, including a pair of [[Flood carrier form|carrier forms]] and enter a warehouse. They clear the building of Flood.''

*'''Commander Keyes (COM)''': "Chief, the Elites are looking for something. We didn't believe them when they told us."

*'''Sergeant Johnson (COM)''': "It's [[Cortana]], Chief! She's on that ship! Find her - get her out!"

''The group exits the warehouse.  Outside, two Sangheili [[Kez'katu-pattern Phantom|Phantoms]] arrive and drop off more Sangheili reinforcements to combat the Flood.''

*'''Sangheili Major or Special Operations Sangheili''': "Hurry, Demon! We seek the same prize. But our Shipmaster will [[glassing|sacrifice]] ''all'' to stop the Flood."

[[File:H3 FloodgateTank.png|thumb|300px|A Flood tank form attacks John-117 and the Sangheili forces.]]
''The Master Chief, 'Vadam, and the remaining Sangheili head towards the crash site. Along the way, they encounter Flood [[pure form]]s for the first time.''

*'''Special Operations Sangheili''': "What great horror is this?!"

''or''

*'''Special Operations Sangheili''': "What is this?! Some abomination from the ancient texts?!"

''The group fights past dozens of pure forms, combat forms (including former Sangheili), and pod infectors before finally reaching the massive, burning hulk of the [[Indulgence of Conviction|crashed Flood battlecruiser]]. Up an incline, an ominous hole resides in the ship's hull, leading to the interior.''

*'''Thel 'Vadam''': "I shall remain here. We will let nothing pass."

''The Chief drops in alone.''

===Infinite Devil Machine===
''The Chief drops into a tunnel.''

*'''[[Gravemind]] ([[Character interludes|Gravemind Moment]])''': "Do not be afraid. I am peace... I am salvation."

''The Chief reaches a large room after passing several dead [[Sangheili Ultra]]s.''

*'''Gravemind (Gravemind Moment)''': "I am a timeless chorus. Join your voice with mine, and sing victory... everlasting!"

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riOxIfZ-KWA&feature=related '''{''Cutscene''}''']

''Inside the central chamber of the Flood-infested crashed cruiser, the Chief finds Cortana in a small [[Covenant storage device|Covenant hand held memory unit]].''

*'''Cortana''' ''(recorded)'': "Chief!"

*'''[[Master Chief Petty Officer]] John-117''': "Cortana?"

*'''Cortana''' ''(recorded)'': "[[High Charity]], the [[San'Shyuum|Prophets]]' holy city, is on its way-"

''Cortana's projection above the holographic unit flickers and then disappears.''

*'''John-117''': "''Cortana!''"

''Suddenly, the humming of a Phantom's gravity drives are heard, and a Phantom appears over the open chamber. Uncertain of its intentions, the Chief turns and aims his [[MA5C assault rifle|assault rifle]] at it. [[343 Guilty Spark]] floats down from the Phantom.''

*'''343 Guilty Spark''': ''(surprised)'' "[[Reclaimer]]!"

''A Flood combat form appears to the right behind the Chief, and 343 Guilty Spark casually turns and uses a powerful energy beam to destroy it in a single glancing hit. Spark turns back to the Covenant device and begins to interface it with a beam projected from his central eye.''

*'''343 Guilty Spark''': "I must act quickly before your construct suffers any further trauma!"

[[File:343 Guilty Spark John 117 Meet-up.jpg|thumb|300px|John-117 accuses 343 Guilty Spark of trying to kill him on [[Installation 04]].]]
''The Chief grabs 343 Guilty Spark and pulls him away from Cortana's storage unit, disabling the interface beam.''

*'''John-117''': "Wait. Leave her alone."

*'''343 Guilty Spark''': "If we do not take this device to a safe location, somewhere I can make repairs..."

''343 Guilty Spark continues trying to project his energy beam into Cortana's storage unit. John again pulls him away, disrupting the beam. He then let's go of Spark and confronts him.''

*'''John-117''': ''(accusingly)'' "On [[Installation 04|Halo]], you tried to ''kill'' Cortana. You tried to kill ''me''."

*'''343 Guilty Spark''': ''(defensively)'' "Protocol dictated my response! ''She'' had the [[Activation Index]] and ''you'' were going to destroy my installation. You ''did'' [[The Maw|destroy my installation]]. Now, I only have one function: to ''help'' you, Reclaimer. As I always should have done."

''The Master Chief stares wordlessly at 343 Guilty Spark, then holds up Cortana's storage device. 343 Guilty Spark takes Cortana's device away, shooting his beam into it while the Phantom projects a [[gravity lift]]. 343 Guilty Spark enters it first and the Master Chief reluctantly follows.''

''The view cuts to an aerial one over the whole town of [[Voi]] at a high altitude. Although clouds obscure the surface, part of the ''Indulgence of Conviction'' is still visible. The Phantom flies away from the ship while two battlecruisers of the Fleet of Retribution glass Voi with their [[energy projector]]s.''

''The view then cuts to an aerial one above the [[Forerunner]] [[Portal at Voi|Portal]]. Its 'fins' are open and blue energy streams from their tips to the open [[slipspace portal]] drifting ominously above the construct. Fighting on Kenya has ceased and the [[Battle of Kenya]] has ended with the departure of the [[Prophet of Truth]]'s [[Truth's fleet|fleet]] through the Portal hours earlier. Four vessels of the Sangheili fleet are gathered above the Portal and 343 Guilty Spark's Phantom arches to the largest of them: the assault carrier ''Shadow of Intent''.''

[[File:Floodgate - Cutscene.jpg|thumb|300px|343 Guilty Spark attempts to repair the storage device on the bridge of ''Shadow of Intent''.]]
''Inside the bridge of the ''Shadow of Intent'', Sangheili and humans are gathered around a long holographic table, with [[Shipmaster]] [[Rtas 'Vadum]] floating on a gravity throne at one end with his Sangheili attendants, Master Chief and Arbiter Thel 'Vadam in the middle, and [[Fleet Admiral]] [[Terrence Hood|Hood]] and Commander [[Miranda Keyes]] at the far side of the table. All are silent except 343 Guilty Spark, who is bobbing at the center of the table and interfacing with Cortana's memory unit with his projector beam.''

*'''Rtas 'Vadum''': "Will it live, Oracle? Can it be saved?"

*'''343 Guilty Spark''': "Uncertain. This storage device has suffered considerable trauma. Its matrices are... highly unstable."

''343 Guilty Spark glances at 'Vadum and Lord Hood''

*'''Lord Hood''': "Perhaps one of ''our'' technicians-"

*'''Rtas 'Vadum''': ''(sternly)'' "That will ''not'' be necessary."

''As Spark finishes his work, the storage device lights up, and a holographic projection of Cortana springs up.''

*'''Cortana (Recording)''': "Chief!"

*'''343 Guilty Spark''': "Success!"

*'''Cortana (Recording)''': "[[High Charity]], the Prophets' holy city, is on its way to Earth. With an army of ''Flood''. I can't tell you everything. It's not safe. The [[Gravemind]]... it knows I'm in the system."

''Cortana's image flickers and stalls. The Chief turns to Rtas 'Vadum.''

*'''John-117''': ''(disappointed)'' "It's just a message."

[[File:E32007-1.jpg|thumb|300px|John-117, Thel 'Vadam, and 343 Guilty Spark watching the message from Cortana.]]
*'''Rtas 'Vadum''': "Let it play."

''343 Guilty Spark jolts the device with another beam.''

*'''Cortana (Recording)''': "But it ''doesn't'' know about the Portal, where it leads. On the other side, there's [[Installation 08|a solution]]. A way to stop the Flood, without firing the remaining [[Halo Array|Halo rings]]-"

''Suddenly, Cortana's skin lights up. She clutches her head, gasps in sudden pain and collapses onto the "floor".''

*'''Cortana (Recording)''': ''(softly, her voice filled with agony)'' "Hurry, Chief... the Ark... there isn't much time."

''Cortana's recording ends and she is left staring with desperation at the Chief.''

*'''343 Guilty Spark''': "I'm... sorry."

*'''Rtas 'Vadum''': "No matter, Oracle. We've heard enough. Our fight is through the Portal, with the [[Jiralhanae|Brutes]] and the bastard Truth!"

'' Sangheili around the room raise their forearms and roar in agreement.''

*'''Lord Hood''': ''(wearily)'' "Fine. We'll remain [[Earth|here]]. Hold out as long as we can."

*'''Rtas 'Vadum''': "Did you not hear? Your world is doomed." ''(descends from his seat)'' "A Flood army, a ''Gravemind'', has you in its sights! You barely survived a ''small'' contamination!"

*'''Lord Hood''': ''(angrily)'' "And ''you'', Shipmaster, just ''glassed'' half a ''[[Africa|continent]]''! Maybe the Flood isn't all I should be worried about..."

[[File:Vadum & Vadam.jpg|thumb|300px|Rtas 'Vadum acknowledges the counsel of 'Vadam, who prevented the glassing of Earth.]]
*'''Rtas 'Vadum''': ''(just as angrily)'' "One single [[Flood spore]] can destroy a species. Were it not for the Arbiter's counsel, I would have glassed your ''entire planet!''"

''Lord Hood angrily raises his fist at 'Vadum, but Miranda Keyes interrupts.''

*'''Commander Keyes''': "Sir, with respect, Cortana has a solution."

*'''Lord Hood''': "Cortana? Did you see her condition? How damaged she is?"

''While Hood and Keyes argue, the Master Chief bends down and observes Cortana's pained, frozen figure, still collapsed on the holographic table.''

*'''Lord Hood''': "She could be [[rampancy|corrupted]] for all we know. Her "solution" could be a Flood trap!"

*'''Commander Keyes''': "We should go through the Portal, find out for sure."

*'''Lord Hood''': "What we ''should'' do Commander, is understand - clearly - that this is humanity's final stand - here - at Earth. We go, we risk ''everything''; every last man, woman and child. If we stand our ground, we might just have a chance."

*'''Thel 'Vadam''': ''(flatly)'' "No. If your construct is wrong, then the Flood has already won."

*'''John-117''': "I'll find Cortana's solution. And I'll bring it back."

*'''Lord Hood''': "Earth... is all we have left. You trust Cortana ''that'' much?"

*'''John-117''': "Sir. ''Yes'', sir."

*'''Lord Hood''': "This is either the best decision you've ever made or the worst. Hell of it is, Chief? I doubt I'll live long enough to find out which."

''Lord Hood turns, looks wordlessly at Miranda Keyes, and then exits the bridge.''

[[File:H3-SOSUNSC.png|thumb|300px|UNSC and Sangheili forces gathered at the hangar bay of the ''Shadow of Intent''.]]
''Inside the ''Shadow of Intent's'' hangar bay, both the Sangheili and the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] are getting ready for battle. While a pair of Sangheili [[Kez'katu-pattern Phantom|Phantom]]s drift into the hangar on the far side, two Sangheili [[Type-26 Banshee|Banshee]]s glide past in the opposite direction.  On the ground, two [[M12 Chaingun Warthog|Warthogs]] race to the {{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}}'s loading bay, drawing near a group of Marines clustered around some UNSC crates. At uneasy rest opposing the Marines are a Sangheili Major sitting on a [[Karo'etba-pattern Ghost|Ghost]], along with a few [[Special Operations Sangheili]]. The Major's [[Type-50 particle beam rifle|particle beam rifle]] is resting next to the Ghost. Sergeant Johnson, with his arm full of "stolen" [[Type-51 Carbine|Covenant carbines]] brushes past the wordless Sangheili, stopping only to scoop up the Major's rifle. The Sangheili, resentful at this non-permitted collection, rise challengingly around Johnson. Johnson ignores them and continues walking.''

''Nearby, a pair of [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper|ODST]]s are joking with each other when the Arbiter passes by with an acquired [[M41 SPNKR|rocket launcher]] over his shoulder and a [[M7057 flamethrower|flamethrower]] in his left hand. The ODSTs and a pair of nearby Marines watch the Arbiter in awe, when 343 Guilty Spark drifts through the Marines in tow behind 'Vadam, pausing momentarily to glance at one Marine, leaving him speechless. Johnson rejoins the Marines, and begins to hand out carbines.'' 

''The scene cuts to the fore of the hangar, where a [[D77H-TCI Pelican|Pelican dropship]] lays before the hangar's energy field. The ''Forward Unto Dawn'' is stationed nearby. The Chief and Miranda Keyes stand at attention before Lord Hood, who looks at them grimly from the rear of the Pelican as the troop bay door shuts and the Pelican takes off. Keyes glances at the Chief wordlessly, and the two leave, going off to their own business.''

''Hood's Pelican arcs away from the gathered [[Fleet of Retribution|Sangheili fleet]] as the ''Shadow of Intent'' powers its engines and thrusts into the Portal, followed by the rest of the fleet.''

''Fades to black.''

''Level ends.''

==Production notes==
According to statements by [[Dan Miller]] and select elements of a post mortem by [[Vic DeLeon]], Floodgate was originally intended to be a much longer mission, with the section inside the crashed cruiser given considerably more play time. Ultimately, this was deemed too long and badly-paced, and the level was cut-down by around 75%. At the same time, the early layout for the level ''[[Cortana (level)|Cortana]]'' was scrapped and that mission increased in scope by around 75% - due to issues with development, the geometry cut from Floodgate was transferred to ''Cortana''.{{Ref/Site|Id=GDC1|URL=https://www.bungie.net/en/aboutus#page=publications&publication=12662|Site=Bungie Publications|Page=Halo 3 Flood Alien Level Autopsy|D=10|M=10|Y=2021}}{{Ref/Site|Id=GDC2|URL=http://halo.bungie.net/images/Inside/publications/presentations/Bungie_EnvDesign_GDC.pptx|Site=Bungie.net|Page=Halo 3 Flood Alien Level Autopsy|Detail=Original presentation download link|D=18|M=1|Y=2021}}{{Ref/Twitter|dmiller360|533780549807398912|Dan Miller|Quote=the level order was the same,just the geometry was different. Originally floodgate consisted  of both floodgate AND Cortana|D=10|M=10|Y=2021}}{{Ref/Twitter|dmiller360|1113434705133625344|Dan Miller|Quote=In floodgate you went into the covenant cruiser at the end, correct? Well that was the Cortana geometry. The Floodgate mission was much, much longer. There was original High Charity geometry made for the Cortana mission that was cut due to lack of time.|D=10|M=10|Y=2021}}{{Ref/Twitter|dmiller360|533780831513624576|Dan Miller|Quote=the old original geometry for cortana was cut- that was high charity geometry.|D=10|M=10|Y=2021}}

However, the rest of the evidence shows that this was not going to be included in ''Floodgate'', but was a separate mission only known as ''[[Flood Ship]]''. The filenames for ''Floodgate'' and ''The Ark'' are <code>050_floodvoi</code> and <code>070_waste</code> respectively, indicating there is a missing <code>060</code> mission. Within the Halo 3 files, there are objects classified as being from a <code>060_floodship</code>. Within the [[:File:H3 Script FirstDraft.pdf|first-draft script]] of ''Halo 3'', it describes the player entering "''Mission 050 floodvoi''" where they would fight off Flood through the streets of Voi, and then enter "''Mission 060 floodship''" and delve into the Flood infected ship. Within the known design documents for the missions, a document titled "2.1 - Flood Town" describes the mission ending with "Large Flood encounter to enter ship", with the next mission documents being "2.2 - Flood Ship". Interestingly, Vic DeLeon used documentation that had this name, but ascribed them as being for ''Floodgate''.{{Ref/Reuse|GDC1}}{{Ref/Reuse|GDC2}}{{Ref/Site
|Id=RobStokesH3|URL=https://rpstokes53.wixsite.com/work-of-rob-stokes/halo-3|Site=Work of Rob Stokes|Page=Halo 3|D=25|M=5|Y=2023}}

By looking at the development documentation, it seems to confirm that the extended ship section was firmly meant to be it's own mission, contradicting the developers statements. However, in a technical sense a small section of ''Flood Ship'' did became part of ''Floodgate'', but only after it was decided to transfer 75% of the original geometry to ''Cortana''. It's possible for the sake of conversation they had simply used ''Floodgate'' and ''Flood Ship'' interchangeably given the leftover merging done for the final game. 


<gallery>
File:H3 Floodgate DesignDoc 1.jpg|An early design layout for Flood Ship.
File:H3 Floodgate DesignDoc 2.jpg|A later design layout for Flood Ship.
</gallery>

==Trivia==
===Glitches===
[[File:H3 - Glitch - Helmet Glitch.jpg|250px|thumb|The overlapping helmet as a result of the [[Elite helmet glitch]].]]
{{Main|Glitches}}
*The [[Elite helmet glitch]] occurs on this level. Occasionally, the Elites on the crashed battlecruiser have the face of R'tas 'Vadum.
*Occasionally, when the player shoots the Pod infector off the Marine in the first building, he will still turn into a Combat Form regardless.

===Easter eggs===
{{Main|Easter eggs}}
* The [[Missing Person Poster]] can be seen in this level.
*The [[Halo 3 skulls#Fog|Fog Skull]] is found on this level.

===References===
*The Suicidal Marine bears a striking resemblance to the [[Paranoid Marine]] in the ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' level ''[[343 Guilty Spark (level)|343 Guilty Spark]]'' that shoots the player, thinking that the Chief may be Flood-controlled. It should be noted that the player comes across both the Paranoid Marine and the Suicidal Marine in the first level where the Flood is fought in their respective games.

===Miscellaneous===
*The Marine with the flamethrower that appears on the right side of the walkway near the start of the mission is scripted to spawn in, fire three short bursts and then ragdoll, dropping his flamethrower. While firing the marine is pointing the flamethrower towards the ceiling despite the flames travelling towards the incoming flood. {{citation needed}} However, the corpse can be infected, becoming a normal Combat Form with the Flamethrower.
*At the first checkpoint, the Marine on the radio that says, "''We're surrounded, Sergeant!''" is in fact Gus Sorola, the voice actor of Private Simmons from the web series, [[Red vs Blue]].
*Interestingly, the Arbiter does not use either of his acquired weapons in co-op. The flamethrower is used in single player campaign while the rocket launcher is never seen at all. It's possible that both sides are just unofficially sharing supplies so as to better arm themselves.
*The deceased Elite Ultras found inside the crashed Infected Crusier were supposed to be Elite Spec Ops. However, due to incorrect coding, Ultras, and sometimes even Rtas, appeared instead.
*If you knock any of the Elite Ultra corpses down to the ship's bottom level, then pop a [[Flood blister]] and allow the infection forms within to infect the corpses, you can create Elite Ultra combat forms. These enemies do not appear anywhere else in the game, and have broken AI as they will ignore the player unless you approach their melee range.

==Gallery==
===Concept art===
<gallery>
File:H3 IndulgenceOfConviction_Concept.jpg|Concept art of the ship as an assault carrier.
File:H3_IndulgenceOfConviction_Crash_Concept 1.jpg|Concept art of John-117 approaching the crashsite.
File:H3 IndulgenceOfConviction Crash Concept 2.jpg|Another concept art of the crash.
File:H3 FoggyFloodgateConcept.jpg|Concept art of Voi after the ship crashes.
File:H3 MarinesInVoiConcept.jpg|Concept art of Marines in Voi.
File:H3 ODSTsAndFloodConcept.jpg|Concept art of ODSTs preparing to fight the Flood.
File:H3 WorkerTown Floodnvasion Concept.jpg|An early sketch of ODSTs fighting combat forms in Voi.
File:H3 Floodgate ODST Concept.jpg|Concept art of Flood forms approaching some ODSTs in Voi.
File:H3 FloodVoiConcept.jpg|Concept art of John-117 and some Marines fighting the Flood.
File:H3 Glassing Concept.jpg|Concept art of the Fleet of Retribution glassing the city.
File:H3 Voi SpookyFlood Concept.jpg|An atmospheric concept painting of the post-crash Voi.
</gallery>


===Design Documents===
<gallery>
File:H3_VoiRefineryPaperSketch.jpeg|Early paper sketch titled "Voi (Refinery)".
File:H3_FloodTownDesignDoc.jpeg|Digital design document titled "2.1 - Flood Town".
</gallery>

===Storyboards===
<gallery>
File:H3 Floodgate Storyboard 1.jpg
File:H3 Floodgate Storyboard 2.jpg
File:H3 Floodgate Storyboard 3.jpg
File:H3 Floodgate Storyboard 4.jpg
File:H3 Floodgate Storyboard 5.jpg
File:H3 Floodgate Storyboard 6.jpg
File:H3 Floodgate Storyboard 7.jpg
File:H3 Floodgate Storyboard 8.jpg
File:H3 Floodgate Storyboard 9.jpg
File:H3 Floodgate Storyboard 10.jpg
</gallery>

===Screenshots===
<gallery>
File:H3 Menu 06 Floodgate.png|Preview of the level in ''Halo 3'' menu.
File:Closesave.jpg|John-117 shoots a Pod infector off the Marine just in time.
File:Picture 1.jpg|A Marine under attack by Flood Combat Forms.
File:Conversing_Sangheili.jpg|Thel 'Vadam converses with a Sangheili Major about the Flood.
File:H3-SpecOpsSangheili-ThrowingGrenade.png|A Spec-Ops Sangheili throwing a plasma grenade.
File:Flood Tank Pure Form on Earth.jpg|A Flood tank form at the crash site.
File:Floodgate3.jpg|The Fleet of Retribution holding position beneath the Portal.
File:H3-JohnsontakesBeamRifle.png|Johnson picks up a Beam Rifle from a Sangheili Major.
File:Marines with 'ol Arby.PNG|Thel 'Vadam taking weapons from the UNSC.
File:Hood Pelican.jpg|Lord Hood grimly watches Miranda Keyes and John-117 as his Pelican departs from the ''Shadow of Intent''.
File:Floodgate2.jpg|John-117 and Miranda Keyes watch as Lord Hood's Pelican leaves the ''Shadow of Intent''.
File:H3 - Chasing Truth.png|Lord Hood's Pelican remains on Earth while the Fleet of Retribution enter the Portal.
</gallery>

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

{{Succession box | before = ''[[The Storm]]'' <br />| title = ''Halo 3'' Campaign Missions | years = '''''Floodgate''''' |after = ''[[The Ark (level)|The Ark]]''}}

{{Levels|H3}}