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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=
|player=
|date=
|place=
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}}


{{Article quote|Catherine Halsey is interrogated deep within a secret ONI facility.}}
'''Prologue''' is the first level of ''[[Halo 4]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[campaign]]. It does not contain actual gameplay, instead only a cutscene depicting Halsey and her thoughts on the [[SPARTAN-II Program]].
 
'''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]].


==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.''


*'''Interrogator''': "Tell me about the children."
*'''Interrogator''': Tell me about the children.
 
''The interrogator, who is framed in shadow, sits at the other end of their table.''


*'''Interrogator''': "''Dr. Halsey''?"
''Cut to a side shot of Halsey's face. The interrogator, who is framed in shadow, sits at the other end of their table.''


''Halsey looks at her speaker defiantly.''
*'''Interrogator''': ...''Dr. Halsey''.


*'''Doctor Catherine Halsey''': "You already know everything."
''Halsey looks at her speaker defiantly. He is framed in shadow.''


*'''Interrogator''': "You kidnapped them."
*'''Halsey''': You already know everything.


''Cut to John-117, now wearing a breathing mask, lying down on the bed as machines prepare to operate on him.''
*'''Interrogator''': You kidnapped them.


*'''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 wearing a breath mask, lying down on the bed as machines prepare to operate on him.''


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


[[File:Spartan-II MJOLNIR Armor fitting.png|thumb|John fully armored.|200px]]
''Cut to a SPARTAN-II, now fully armored and being inspected by technicians. He towers over all of them.''


*'''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.


''Cut to a {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}} hovering over a human city. Dozens of aircraft fly out of its launch bay.''
''Cut to a [[CAS-class assault carrier]] hovering over a human city. Dozens of aircraft fly out of its launch bay.''


''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 civilians runs for their lives.''


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


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


*'''Halsey (voiceover)''': "When my Spartans were all that stood between humanity and extinction..."
*'''Halsey''': 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''': No one 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. An Elite snarls aggressively at them. The two sides trade fire.''


[[File:Spartan-II defense - 2.png|thumb|The Spartans fighting the Covenant.|200px]]
*'''Interrogator''': So you feel in the end that your choices were ''justified''.


*'''Interrogator (voiceover)''': "So you feel in the end that your choices were ''justified''."
''Halsey sits forward calmly, clasping her hands.''


''Cut to Halsey, who sits forward calmly, clasping her hands.''
*'''Halsey''': My work ''saved'' the human race.


*'''Halsey''': "My work ''saved'' the human race."
*'''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 other before you were [[ONI|Naval Intelligence]] but ''you'', you're something else.


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


''Cut to John sitting alone in a hangar. His head is drooped and he is speaking to no one. Marines walk past him.''
*'''Interrogator''': Records show Spartans routinely exhibited mildly sociopathic tendencies, difficulty with socialization, furthermore...
 
[[File:Master Chief - Social outcast - wide shot.png|thumb|John sitting alone.|200px]]
 
*'''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.''
 
*'''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 back to the interrogation.''


*'''Interrogator''': "Do you believe the Master Chief succeeded because he was, at his core, ''broken''?"
''Cut to a Spartan fighting a [[Jiralhanae|Brute]] [[Chieftain]]. He leaps agilely, dodging every blow.


*'''Halsey''': "What does John have to do with this? You want to replace him."
*'''Halsey''': The records show ''efficient behavior'' operating in hazardous situations. I supplied the tools to ''maintain'' that efficiency.


*'''Interrogator''': "The Master Chief is dead."
''Cut to Master Chief, seeing Halsey hold up a [[data crystal chip]] projecting [[Cortana]].''


*'''Halsey''': "His file reads '[[missing in action]]'."
*'''Interrogator''': Do you believe the Master Chief succeeded because he was, at his core, ''broken''?


*'''Interrogator''': "''Catherine'', [[ONI Directive 930|Spartans never die]]."
*'''Halsey''': What does John have to do with this? ...you want to replace him.


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


*'''Halsey''': "Your mistake is seeing Spartans as military hardware. My Spartans are humanity's next step..."
*'''Halsey''': His file reads "Missing in Action".


''Halsey stands up from her chair in determination.''  
*'''Interrogator''': ''Catherine''... [[Spartans Never Die]].


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


''Cut to black.''
*'''Halsey''': Your mistake is seeing Spartans as military hardware. My Spartans are humanity's next step, (''Halsey stands up from her chair'') our destiny as a species. (''Closeup and gradual zoom of Halsey's face'') Do not underestimate them. But most of all, ''do not'' underestimate... him.


==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 occurred in the canon. The most prominent is that the Spartans are all shown wearing MJOLNIR Mark VI, specifically the variant Cortana made personally for John. How Halsey even knew this variant even existed is unknown, and she additionally was shown to have distaste for alterations to her armor.<ref>'''[[Halo: Reach]]''', campaign level ''[[ONI: Sword Base]]'' Halsey: "What have you done with my armor?"</ref> Several depicted elements of John's variant, such as its thruster pack, were also not applied to MJOLNIR except as attachments, such as the built-in thruster pack the cutscene's soldiers use to slow their descent, which would have been useful to Red Team during their orbital drop at the [[Fall of Reach]]. In a related vein, the Sangheili are wearing the armor variant only seen used by the [[Covenant remnant]].


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 ''[[Scanned]]''. In the commercial, the Spartans were young adults and teenagers, whether in Halsey's memory the Spartans are preteens. This change may arguably be more accurate, as the augmentations were intended to be applied just before puberty. The surgery and procedure also looks different, as the trainees are now in enclosed chambers while the procedure is done by machine.


==Gallery==
Some of the events are meant to be representative rather than exact. When and where the battle in the city occurred is unclear, but it is likely not a specific battle that occurred, instead compiling elements from hundreds of fights. Likewise, the scene with Halsey presenting Cortana to John is also representative, as evidenced by John's armor and him meeting Cortana by hologram, not inside his head as shown in ''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''. The overall answer for the cutscene's loose depictions is most of it take place inside Halsey's head, and thus she is embellishing its events.
<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:H4 - Walk in Rubble.png|Overhead of UNSC forces in the ruins of a city.
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]]''}}
{{Level|H4}}
{{Levels|H4}}


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

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