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{{Status|Gameplay}}
{{Era|RW}}
{{Center|This article is about the Halo 4 cinematic. For the Halo 2 music piece, see [[Prologue (music)]].}}
{{New Content}}
{{Level infobox
{{Level Infobox
|pagegamelabel=H4
|prev=*[[Halo 3 credits|''Halo 3'' credits]]
|prev=*''[[Lone Wolf]]'' {{C|''[[Halo: Reach]]''}}
**[[Halo (Halo 3 level)|''Halo'']] (Chronologically)
*''[[Epilogue (Halo 3: ODST)]]'' {{C|''[[Halo: The Master Chief Collection|MCC]]''}}
|next=[[Dawn (level)|Dawn]]
|next=''[[Dawn]]''
|name='''''Prologue'''''
|image=[[File:H4 Prologue Loadscreen.png|300px]]
|game=''Halo 4''
|game=''Halo 4''
|devname=<code>m05_prologue</code>{{Ref/File|Id=H4EK|H4EK|H4EK\tags\environments\solo\m05_prologue\m05_prologue.scenario}}
|name=Prologue
|nowalk=yes
|image=[[File:H4 Spartans are next humanity' step.jpg|300px]]
|player=
|date=
|place=
|objective=
}}
}}


{{Article quote|Catherine Halsey is interrogated deep within a secret ONI facility.}}
{{Article Quote|Catherine Halsey is interrogated deep within a secret ONI facility.}}


'''Prologue''' is the first level of ''[[Halo 4]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[campaign]]. Rather than featuring gameplay, it is a cutscene depicting [[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]] and her thoughts on the [[SPARTAN-II Program]].
'''Prologue''' is the first level of ''[[Halo 4]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[campaign]]. It does not contain actual gameplay, instead only a cutscene depicting [[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]] and her thoughts on the [[SPARTAN-II Program]].


==Transcript==
==Transcript==
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23iCZ8uJzrU '''{''Cutscene''}''']
''Open on a line of beds. They are made of plastic, with no sheets, and are enclosed by glass walls. Pan to a boy sitting on one of the beds. His head is shaved and he wears a grey uniform that reads "[[John-117|John]]". He looks up at his viewer, his eyes showing fear and want of sympathy.''
 
''Open on a line of beds. They are made of plastic, with no sheets, and are enclosed by glass walls. Children inside them are sleeping. Pan to a boy sitting on one of the beds. His head is shaved and he wears a gray uniform that reads "[[John-117|JOHN]]". He looks up at his viewer, his eyes grave.''
 
[[File:Spartan candidate John-117.png|thumb|Halsey's memory of a young John.|200px]]


''Fade in to a closeup of Halsey's eyes. She seems tired and grave.''
''Fade in to a closeup of Halsey's eyes. She seems tired and grave.''
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*'''Interrogator''': "''Dr. Halsey''?"
*'''Interrogator''': "''Dr. Halsey''?"


''Halsey looks at her speaker defiantly.''
''Halsey looks at her speaker defiantly. He is framed in shadow.''


*'''Doctor Catherine Halsey''': "You already know everything."
*'''Doctor Catherine Halsey''': "You already know everything."


*'''Interrogator''': "You kidnapped them."
*'''Interrogator''': You kidnapped them.  


''Cut to John-117, now wearing a breathing mask, lying down on the bed as machines prepare to operate on him.''
''Cut to John-117, now wearing a breath mask, lying down on the bed as machines prepare to operate on him.''


*'''Halsey (voiceover)''': "Children's minds are more easily accepting of indoctrination, their bodies more adaptable to augmentation. The result was the ultimate soldier."
*'''Halsey (voiceover)''': "Children's minds are more easily accepting of indoctrination, their bodies more adaptable to augmentation. The result was the ultimate soldier."


''Cut to John, now fully armored and being inspected by technicians. He towers over all of them.''<!--The main Spartan featured throughout the cutscene has the number 117 written in Braille on his chest.-->
''Cut to a SPARTAN-II, now fully armored and being inspected by technicians. He towers over all of them.''
 
[[File:Spartan-II MJOLNIR Armor fitting.png|thumb|John fully armored.|200px]]


*'''Halsey''': "And because of our success, when the [[Covenant]] invaded, we were ready."
*'''Halsey''': "And because of our success, when the [[Covenant]] invaded, we were ready."
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''Cut back to the interrogation.''
''Cut back to the interrogation.''


*'''Interrogator''': "Dr. Halsey, you're bending history for your favor and you know it. You developed the Spartans to crush [[Insurrection|human rebellion]], not to fight the Covenant."
*'''Interrogator''': "Dr. Halsey, you're bending history in your favor and you know it. You developed the Spartans to crush [[Insurrection|human rebellion]], not to fight the Covenant."


''[[Type-26 Banshee|Banshee]]s strafe and bomb the city as [[civilian]]s run for their lives.''
''Banshees bomb the city as [[civilian]]s runs for their lives.''


*'''Halsey (voiceover)''': "When one human world after another fell..."
*'''Halsey (voiceover)''': "When one human world after another fell..."


''A [[Sangheili]] drives his [[Type-1 energy sword|energy sword]] through a fleeing civilian.''
''An [[Sangheili]] drives his [[Type-1 Energy Weapon/Sword|energy sword]] through a fleeing civilian.''


*'''Halsey (voiceover)''': "When my Spartans were all that stood between humanity and extinction..."
*'''Halsey (voiceover)''': "When my Spartans were all that stood between humanity and extinction..."


''From up in the sky, a dozen Spartans drop from Pelicans, using thruster packs to slow their descent.''
''From up in the sky, a dozen Spartans drop from Pelicans, using their thruster packs to slow their descent.''


*'''Halsey (voiceover)''': "Nobody was ''concerned'' over why they were originally built."
*'''Halsey (voiceover)''': "Nobody was ''concerned'' over why they were originally built."


''The Spartans land. A Sangheili snarls at them. The Spartans take cover and shoot down some of the Sangheili who return fire, flaring the shields on the Spartans' armor, while the lead Sangheili calmly steps forward and fires back. Cut to the Spartans advancing, still firing.''
''The Spartans land. A Elite snarls aggressively at them. The Spartans take cover and shoot down some of the Sangheili, while the lead Elite calmly steps forward and fires back.''
 
[[File:Spartan-II defense - 2.png|thumb|The Spartans fighting the Covenant.|200px]]


*'''Interrogator (voiceover)''': "So you feel in the end that your choices were ''justified''."
*'''Interrogator (voiceover)''': "So you feel in the end that your choices were ''justified''."
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*'''Interrogator''': "Do you think the Spartans' lack of basic humanity helped?"
*'''Interrogator''': "Do you think the Spartans' lack of basic humanity helped?"


''Halsey looks at him worriedly as the interrogator, now standing, backs away from the table.''
''Halsey looks at him worriedly, as the interrogator, now standing, backs away from the table.''
 
*'''Halsey''': "What are you after? The others before you were [[Office of Naval Intelligence|Naval Intelligence]] but ''you'' - you're something else."


''Cut to John sitting alone in a hangar. His head is drooped and he is speaking to no one. Marines walk past him.''
*'''Halsey''': "What are you after? The other before you were [[Office of Naval Intelligence|Naval Intelligence]] but ''you'', you're something else."


[[File:Master Chief - Social outcast - wide shot.png|thumb|John sitting alone.|200px]]
''Cut to a Spartan sitting alone in a hangar. His head is drooped and he is speaking to no one. Marines walk past him.''


*'''Interrogator (voiceover)''': "Records show Spartans routinely exhibited mildly sociopathic tendencies, difficulty with socialization. Furthermore..."
*'''Interrogator (voiceover)''': "Records show Spartans routinely exhibited mildly sociopathic tendencies, difficulty with socialization, furthermore..."


''Cut to a Spartan fighting a [[Jiralhanae Chieftain]]. He leaps agilely, dodging every blow. Dead Sangheili cover the ground.''
''Cut to a Spartan fighting a [[Jiralhanae Chieftain]]. He leaps agilely, dodging its every blow. Dead Sangheili cover the ground.''


*'''Halsey (voiceover)''': "''The records show'' efficient behavior operating in hazardous situations. I supplied the tools to ''maintain'' that efficiency."
*'''Halsey (voiceover)''': "The records show ''efficient behavior'' operating in hazardous situations. I supplied the tools to ''maintain'' that efficiency."


''Cut to John as Halsey hold up a [[data crystal chip]] projecting [[Cortana]]'s avatar.''
''Cut to Master Chief, seeing Halsey hold up a [[data crystal chip]] projecting [[Cortana]].''


''Cut back to the interrogation.''
''Cut back to the interrogation.''
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*'''Interrogator''': "Do you believe the Master Chief succeeded because he was, at his core, ''broken''?"
*'''Interrogator''': "Do you believe the Master Chief succeeded because he was, at his core, ''broken''?"


*'''Halsey''': "What does John have to do with this? You want to replace him."
*'''Halsey''': "What does John have to do with this? ...you want to replace him."


*'''Interrogator''': "The Master Chief is dead."
*'''Interrogator''': "The Master Chief is dead."


*'''Halsey''': "His file reads '[[missing in action]]'."
*'''Halsey''': "His file reads 'Missing in Action'."


*'''Interrogator''': "''Catherine'', [[ONI Directive 930|Spartans never die]]."
*'''Interrogator''': ''Catherine''? [[Office of Naval Intelligence Directive 930|Spartans never die]]?


''Cut to John's foot stepping into a puddle. He leads a crowd of military personnel and civilians. The fighting has stopped but dust clouds cover the city.''
''Cut to a Spartan's foot stepping down on a puddle. The Spartan leads a crowd of military personnel. The fighting has stopped but the city is clouded in smoke.''


*'''Halsey''': "Your mistake is seeing Spartans as military hardware. My Spartans are humanity's next step..."
*'''Halsey''': "Your mistake is seeing Spartans as military hardware. My Spartans are humanity's next step..."
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''Halsey stands up from her chair in determination.''  
''Halsey stands up from her chair in determination.''  


*'''Halsey''': "Our destiny as a species. Do not underestimate them. But most of all, ''do not'' underestimate...''him''."
*'''Halsey''': "Our destiny as a species. Do not underestimate them. But most of all, ''do not'' underestimate... ''him''."


''Cut to black.''
''Cut to black.''


==Production notes==
==Anachronisms==
The Spartans' Mjolnir armor (despite representing the [[Mark IV]] and [[Mark V]]) resembles the upgraded [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark VI|Mark VI]] version that Cortana devised for John-117; however, Dr. Halsey was not aware of the existence of this suit at the time of her interrogation. [[Josh Holmes]] has confirmed that the appearance of John's unique armor in the cutscene is not canon. The development team recycled the existing Mark VI geometry because they had insufficient time to create canonically accurate models.{{Ref/Twitter|Id=notIV|JoshingtonState|474224115608731650|Josh Holmes|Quote=We didn't have time to build S-II armor just for intro so we used the S-IV armor in its place. Canonically incorrect I know. :(|D=13|M=4|Y=2016}} The suits are shown to possess energy shields; while this may represent the field testing that began in [[2531]], it is more likely an example of artistic license of Halsey's imagination.<ref>''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]'', page 119</ref> The Covenant Elites are likewise depicted wearing their patchwork equipment seen in the present day, under Jul 'Mdama's Covenant. They do however use the then-present Plasma Rifles.
{{Main|List of inconsistencies in the Halo series}}


According to ''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', John met Cortana when her chip was inserted into his neural interface for the first time. This occurred just after he received his second-generation [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark V|Mark V Mjolnir armor]] and took place inside a large tent. However, the cutscene shows Cortana being introduced in holographic form outside his suit, which is depicted as the aforementioned Mark VI; the meeting seems to take place inside a bunker (likely inside [[CASTLE Base]]) rather than a surgical tent. The comic ''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]]'' also shows John being introduced to Cortana via her avatar, although John is correctly depicted as wearing his new Mark V suit.
Several elements in the cutscene are different from how they canonically occurred. The most prominent is that the Spartans are all shown wearing [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark VI|MJOLNIR Mark VI]], specifically the heavily modified version Cortana devised for John. Halsey could not have known this variant existed, and she has shown distaste for alterations to "her" armor.<ref>'''[[Halo: Reach]]''', campaign level ''[[ONI: Sword Base]]'' ('''Halsey''': ''"What have you done with my armor?"'')</ref> Several elements of John's upgraded suit were also not applied to the mainline MJOLNIR models except as attachments, such as the built-in thruster pack the cutscene's Spartans use to slow their descent, which would have been useful to Red Team during their orbital drop at the [[Fall of Reach]]. The Sangheili seen in the cutscene have the same physiology and wear the same armor as those from the [[Covenant remnant]], though these may represent an outright retcon rather than artistic license.  


The ONI interrogator is portrayed by [[Bruce Thomas]], who is also John-117's motion capture performer.<ref>[[Halo 4 credits]]</ref>
The [[SPARTAN-II augmentation procedures]] are depicted differently than in the ''[[Scanned]]'' trailer. In the commercial, the Spartans are built like heavily muscled young adults, whereas in Halsey's memory John looks like a preteen, if not younger. The physiques depicted in ''Scanned'' may be more accurate, based on the description of John as having the body of an "eighteen-year-old Olympic athlete" just prior to the augmentations in ''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 59''</ref> Halsey envisioning John with a lighter build could be representative of her guilt, with her imagining the candidates as more vulnerable than they appeared. The surgery and procedure also look different, as the trainees are shown in enclosed chambers while the procedure is done by machine, rather than in an open surgical theater.


==Gallery==
Some of the events can be assumed as representative rather than exact. When and where the battle in the city occurred is unclear, but it is likely not meant to be a specific battle; rather, it could be considered a summation of the entire war. Likewise, the scene in which Halsey presents Cortana to John did not occur as such, as evidenced by John's armor and him meeting Cortana by hologram; canonically, as seen in ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', John met Cortana after she was inserted into his neural interface for the first time. Overall, most questionable aspects of the cutscene could be due to Halsey's embellishment; elements that Halsey could not have known, such as John's unique armor, should be considered mere artistic license.
<gallery>
File:Halsey Interrogated.png|Dr. Halsey being interrogated.
File:Mom, Son, & Daughter.png|Dr. Halsey bringing Cortana to John-117.
File:Covenant assault - 2.png|The Covenant attacking a human world during the Human-Covenant War.
File:H4 Elite with Sword and Plasma Rifle.jpg|An Elite with a Plasma Rifle
File:Covenant assault - Aftermath.png|A Spartan-II walking among the rubble of a city.
File:H4 - Chieftain Battle.png|A Spartan-II fighting a [[Jiralhanae Chieftain]].
</gallery>


==Sources==
==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}
<references/>


{{succession box | before = ''[[Halo 3 credits]]'' <br />| title = ''Halo 4'' Campaign Missions | years = '''''Prologue''''' |after = ''[[Dawn]]''}}
{{succession box | before = ''[[Halo 3 credits]]'' <br />| title = ''Halo 4'' Campaign Missions | years = '''''Prologue''''' |after = ''[[Dawn (level)|Dawn]]''}}
{{Levels|H4}}
{{Level|H4}}


[[Category:Halo 4 campaign]]
[[Category:Halo 4 Campaign]]

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