Editing The Pillar of Autumn (Halo: Reach level)

{{Level infobox

|prev=''[[The Package]]''

| next=*''[[Halo: Reach credits]]'' {{C|''[[Halo: Reach]]''}}

*''[[Epilogue (Halo: Reach level)|Epilogue]]'' {{C|''[[Halo: The Master Chief Collection|MCC]]''}}

|name='''''The Pillar of Autumn'''''

|image=[[File:HR ThePillarOfAutumn Loadscreen.png|300px]]

|player=[[Spartan_(multiplayer)#Campaign_and_Firefight|Noble Six]]

|date=[[2552#August|August 30, 2552]]

|place=[[SinoViet Heavy Machinery|SinoViet]] [[Asźod ship breaking yards|ship breaking facility]], [[Asźod]], [[Reach]]

|objective=Deliver the [[armored matrix|Package]] to the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}, then shoot down the Covenant {{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}} so that the ''Autumn'' can escape.

{{Article quote|Deliver Halsey's data package to the ''Pillar of Autumn''.}}

'''The Pillar of Autumn''' is the tenth campaign level of ''[[Halo: Reach]]''. The level takes place on [[2552#August|August 30, 2552]], near and in the [[Asźod ship breaking yards|ship-breaking yards]] at [[Asźod]].

The level opens with the remainder of [[Noble Team]] onboard a [[D77-TC Pelican]], on their way to deliver [[Cortana]] to the dry-docked {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}. The Pelican is critically damaged and [[Carter-A259]] is badly wounded. Carter orders [[SPARTAN-B312]] and [[Emile-A239]] to complete the courier mission without him, while he lures the Covenant away from the pair by using the Pelican as a decoy. Emile-A239 and SPARTAN-B312 execute a low-altitude jump from the Pelican outside of the dockyard and are forced to fight their way to the facility. After battling through several Covenant outposts, the two SPARTAN-IIIs are forced to continue their journey through a cave system to circumvent a large group of Covenant forces. Upon reaching the other side, however, they are confronted by a Scarab. Realizing that the Scarab's presence prevents Emile and Noble Six from moving on, Carter rams it with the Pelican, knocking it off a cliff and sacrificing himself in the process. The two SPARTAN-IIIs continue their journey and eventually reach the Asźod ship breaking facility.

The two SPARTAN-IIIs are then hailed by [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Jacob Keyes]], whose [[Halcyon-class Cruiser|cruiser]], the ''Pillar of Autumn'', is moored at the facility, and are ordered to clear a landing zone for the Captain, who will use a Pelican to retrieve [[armored matrix|the Package]] himself. Emile mans the facility's [[15cm Mark/2488 1.1GJ MAC|mass driver]] to provide covering fire against incoming Covenant [[Kez'katu-pattern Phantom|Phantoms]], while Noble Six and surviving [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] engage the Covenant on the ground. Once cleared, Keyes' Pelican arrives and Captain Keyes retrieves the Package from Noble Six. As the package is handed over, a {{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}} is revealed to be moving in on the ''Pillar of Autumn''. Keyes orders Emile to fire on the advancing battlecruiser, however, before Emile can oblige a Phantom attacks the landing zone, destroying one Pelican and deploying a group of Sangheili warriors onto the mass driver. Emile successfully kills one of the Sangheili with his [[M45 Tactical Shotgun|shotgun]] before a second sneaks up behind him and impales him with an [[Type-1 energy sword|energy sword]]. Emile manages to draw his [[Combat knife|kukri]] and fatally stab the Sangheili in the neck before he expires.

Keyes returns to the landing platform and offers Noble Six transportation to safety. The SPARTAN-III refuses and offers to defend the Captain as he heads towards his ship. Using the mass driver, Six defends the site and shoots down the Covenant battlecruiser just as it is about to glass the area. After successfully halting the battlecruiser's attack, Noble Six looks on as the ''Pillar of Autumn'' takes off and heads towards space to escape Reach, leaving Noble Six stranded with no way off of the planet.

''[[Auntie Dot]]'s satellite view shows [[Noble Team]]'s [[D77-TC Pelican Dropship|Pelican]] being pursued by two [[Banshee]]s and a [[Kez'katu-pattern Phantom|Phantom]].''

'''Asźod, Eposz'''

*'''[[Commander]] [[Carter-A259]]''': ''(strained but calm)'' "Not sure how long she's gonna stay together. Skies are jammed up anyways. Gotta get you off here, Lieutenant."

''Six and Emile jump out, and the view switches to Six's point of view. They slide down a canyon, energy shields depleting. They come to a rough stop by impacting the ground. Six looks up as their and Emile's shields recharge. Carter's Pelican flies over them, Banshees in hot pursuit. Six turns back, checks the armored matrix for damage, then places the AI data storage unit on their back. They look up to the road ahead.''

''Six and Emile continue through the narrow crack until they reach a cliff edge, overlooking a large area. Two Banshees are still in pursuit of the Pelican. Far in the distance, the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} can be seen.''

''After traveling a short distance, the Spartans reach another open area. [[Covenant drop pod|Covenant troop deployment pods]] drop and Covenant troops emerge from them. To make the situation worse, a [[Deutoros-pattern Scarab|Scarab]] drops from the sky.''

''If Six is driving their own Mongoose rather than riding shotgun on Emile's:''

''If the player dismounts their Mongoose:''

*'''Emile-A239''': "Got a [[Wraith]]! Southeast side!"

 

*'''[[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Jacob Keyes]] (COM)''': "This is Captain Keyes of the ''Pillar of Autumn''. We are tracking you, Noble, but we've begun our launch sequence. Proceed to dry dock, [[Platform Delta|Platform D]]. I'll be on it myself to receive the Package."

''The Spartans link up with some surviving UNSC Marines.''

*'''Marine #1''': "Spartans! Over here!"

*'''Marine #1''': "It's not looking good, sir. Covies have taken the whole shipyard."

*'''Marine #1''': "Keep heading east. ''(to the other Marines)'' Marines, push them back!"

''They clear the front of the shipyards and proceed into the facility. Soon they link up with some UNSC Marines fighting another mass of Covenant.''

*'''Marine #2''': "Ah, Sierra, you made it!"

*'''Marine #2''': "They got this facility covered from all angles. We'll give you covering fire. Take the flank, there has to be a way around."

*'''Marine #2''':  "You got it, sir."

*'''Marine #3''': "Spartans! Drydock's through that structure across the way. Punch through, we'll back you up."

*'''Marine #4''': "We rigged the [[Mark 2488 Onager|mass driver]] up top. We lose that, the ''Autumn'' will have no covering fire. She'll ''never'' make orbit."

*'''Keyes''': "Good to see you, Spartan. [[Catherine Halsey|Halsey]] assured me I could count on you."

*'''Keyes''': "[[NOBLE Team|They'll]] be remembered."

''Keyes turns back to re-enter the Pelican but stops short as a massive shadow appears in the sky. A {{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}} pushes through the clouds, advancing towards the ''Pillar of Autumn''.''

''Noble Six, about to board the Pelican, is alarmed by the sudden sound of a Phantom and draws their [[Designated Marksman Rifle]]. A Phantom appears close by, and fires plasma bolts from its forward turret at the two Pelicans. The Pelican escorting Keyes' is shot down and crashes on the platform Noble Six is standing on. Six dives away from the burning wreck and barely avoids being crushed. Keyes' Pelican shifts as the Phantom flies over it. Six readies their weapon and turns as the Phantom wheels overhead towards the mass driver, but is forced to duck as the starboard door gunner fires a barrage of plasma at the Spartan. The Phantom drops off a pair of [[Zealot]]s of the [[Devoted Sentries]] by the Mass Driver. One Zealot is visible to Noble Six, the second is concealed by the Mass Driver. Emile yells in surprise. The first Zealot raises an Energy Sword, but Emile fires his shotgun through the canopy, shattering the glass and knocking the Elite to the deck. Emile stands, raises his shotgun, and fires again point-blank into the fallen Zealot's chest, killing it.''

[[File:Reach 947096 Medium.jpg|thumb|300px|Emile's demise.]]

*'''Marine #5''': "Lieutenant, get on board! We gotta get the hell out of here!"

*'''Keyes (COM)''':  "We ''need'' you on that gun, Noble.  Or the ''Autumn''{{'}}s sitting in her grave."

''Six moves towards the building housing the mass driver, but is confronted by an [[Sangheili|Elite]] [[Sangheili Field Marshal|Field Marshal]] and an accompanying squad of three Zealots, all Devoted Sentries. The four Elites in turn are guarded by multiple [[Special Operations Unggoy]] and an Engineer (on higher difficulties). Noble Six fights their way through and mans the mass driver.''

===Easter eggs===

*The [[Hidden weapons on The Pillar of Autumn]] easter egg can be found on this level.

*By using [[Panoramic camera mode|Pan Cam]], it is possible to see [[Spartan In The Autumn easter egg|a hidden Spartan]] in one of the ''Autumn'''s hangar bays. [[Bungie]] confirmed this to be a glitch.<ref>http://halo.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=55454181</ref>

*The Marathon symbol engraved on the side of the ''Autumn'' is nowhere to be seen. However, there is now a [[Seventh Column]] symbol painted on the hull.

*If playing on [[Mythic]] difficulty, the {{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}} will receive a health boost and thus take two shots to destroy instead of just one.

*This level has the most [[Spartan Laser]]s in the ''Halo'' series, with 3 of them available on solo, and an additional 3 of them near the ''Onager'' on co-op.

*There is a [[McFarlane Toys|McFarlane]] [[McFarlane Toys/Halo: Reach Vehicle Series#Pillar of Autumn Mongoose|vehicle set]] based on the events of this level. The set consists of a Noble Six figure with an M6G Pistol replica, the Package replica and a model of a Mongoose.

*This is the only level where a [[Sangheili Field Marshal]] is encountered as an enemy, and only one is fought. Noble Team has had [[Winter Contingency|several]] [[New Alexandria|encounters]] with a Field Marshal before, and possibly all being the same individual.

File:Level - PoA.jpg|Preview of the level in ''Halo: Reach'' menu.

File:TPoA_Header.jpg|A view of Azsod's skyline.

File:HR DistantPoA.jpg|Emile and Six watch Carter's Pelican pursued by Banshees.

File:HR Six&EmileMongoose.jpg|Emile and Six on a Mongoose.

File:Covenant_Fleet_Aszod.jpg|The Covenant fleet above Asźod.

File:HR SkirmisherMurmillones.jpg|Three Skirmisher Murmillones in the caverns.

File:HR BoneyardBattle1.jpg|Emile and Six in combat against Covenant troops at the ship-breaking yards.

File:Reach 5602750 Full.jpg|The Sangheili Field Marshal fires its fuel rod gun.

File:HaloReach - John117.png|The [[John-117 in cryo]] easter egg in the ''Pillar of Autumn''{{'}}s hangar bay.

{{Ref/Sources}}

{{Succession box | before = ''[[The Package]]'' <br />| title = ''Halo: Reach'' Campaign Missions | years = '''''The Pillar of Autumn''''' |after = ''[[Lone Wolf]]''}}