The Pillar of Autumn (Halo: Combat Evolved level): Difference between revisions

{{Title|The Pillar of Autumn}}

{{Center|''For more articles of the same name, see [[The Pillar of Autumn|The Pillar of Autumn (disambiguation)]].''}}

{{Level infobox

|pagegamelabel=CE

|next=''[[Halo (Halo: Combat Evolved level)|Halo]]''

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

|date=[[2552#September 19, 2552|September 19, 2552]]

|place=Aboard the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}, in orbit of [[Installation 04]] in [[Soell system]]

''Keyes examines the main screen, pulls his pipe out of his mouth and shakes some ash off it. He closes his eyes wearily.''

*'''Keyes''': "Well, that's it then. Bring the ship back up to Combat Alert Alpha. I want everyone at their stations."

*'''Johnson''': ''([[Normal]])'' "Once again, it is our job to finish what the flyboys started. We are leaving this ship, platoon, and engaging the [[Covenant]] on solid ground. When we meet the enemy, we will rip their skulls from their spines, and toss 'em away, laughin'!" ''(turns around)'' "''Am I right, Marines?''"

*'''Johnson''': ''([[Heroic]])'' "Men, here is where we show those [[Sangheili|split-chin squid-head sons-of-bitches]] that they could not have picked a worse enemy than the [[human]] race! We are going to blow the hell out of those dumb bugs, until we don't have anything left to shoot 'em with! And then we are going to strangle them with their ''own-living-guts!''" ''(turns around)'' "''Am I right, Marines?''"

*'''Marines:''' "Sir, yes sir!"

*'''Johnson''': "All you greenhorns who wanted to see Covenant up close...this is gonna be your lucky day."

''Cut to a computer screen.''

===Reveille===

''Note: Testing only happens in single-player, on Easy and Normal difficulties.''

''When the Chief faces Shephard and stands on the square:''

*'''Shephard''': "I know the ordnance techs usually take care of your targeting sensors, but we're short of time, Chief. Just look at each of the flashing panels to target them. When you lock on, it'll change color."

''If Chief does not stand on the square''

''The Chief steps into the square.''

''The Chief approaches Keyes.''

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3HHf3TQw3E '''{''Original Cutscene''}''']

''Cortana looks around the bridge for one last time, then sighs.''

*'''Cortana''': "Yank me."

===AI Constructs and Cyborgs First!===

''Keyes hands his [[M6D magnum|pistol]] to the Chief.''

*'''Cortana''': "Those Marines could use some help, Chief! Do what you do best!"

''From here to the end of the level, if Chief takes a hit with his shields down:''

*'''Marine #3''': "Move it! Back to the airlock!"

*'''Cortana''': "They're using ''our'' lifeboat airlocks to attach their boarding craft! We go out and they come in! Clever bastards..."

*'''Marine #3''': "Go on ahead, Chief. We'll secure this airlock."

''The Chief finds a trio of Marines fighting Covenant while taking cover behind [[Combat Barriers]].''

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t628k8Bqv44 '''{Anniversary ''Cutscene''}''']

''A Marine heads for the airlock, but is thrown to the ground by an explosion.''

*'''Marine #6''': "We're gonna make it, aren't we, sir? I don't wanna die out here!"

''The Chief pats him on the shoulder.''

''The Chief dashes to the back of the lifeboat, and watches the ''Autumn''.''

*'''Bumblebee Pilot''': "Heads up, everyone, this is it! We're entering the ring's atmosphere in five!"

|[[File:HTMCC HCEA Achievement Steam SkulltakerIron.jpg|center|64px]]

|<center>'''[[Skulltaker Halo: CE: Iron]]'''</center>

|<center>''[[Halo: The Master Chief Collection]]''</center>

|-

==Production notes==

{{Main|Development of Halo: Combat Evolved}}

In both the opening and ending cinematics, the ''Pillar of Autumn'' model remains static. Instead, the movement of surrounding objects and background matte painting forged an illusion that the ship was moving in space.{{Ref/Film|Id=Commentary|[[Halo 3 Legendary Edition|''Halo 3'' Legendary Edition]], Halo: Combat Evolved developer commentary}}

===Glitches===

{{Main|Glitches}}

*There is a glitch which allows the player to get back into the cryo chamber. The player must jump inside the tube and crouch before the cover closes. Once inside, the player will be able to see [[Headless Master Chief|an apparently decapitated copy of the Master Chief]], but once the cover closes, the player will be trapped inside and must load the last checkpoint or restart the level.

*It's possible to stand outside of the energy shield test station while the test is running. Just move carefully into the square and when it starts, the machine will push the player out, freezing the player in place until the process is done.

*There is also another glitch that allows the player to exit the ''Pillar of Autumn''. If the player goes to the spot where 3 Unggoy stand near the 3 launched lifepod stations, the player can crouch on the window looking out into space and, still crouching, slowly move out of the ship.

*Captain Keyes wears the insignia of a [[Unified Ground Command|UNICOM]] [[Captain (ground forces)|captain]] when he should wear those of a [[Captain (Navy)|Navy captain]].

*If the one listens closely when Johnson and his Marines break formation and move out in the launch bay during the beginning cutscene, the sound of a Warthog crashing into a wall can be heard in the background.

*After Keyes puts his cigar in his mouth, his lip becomes permanently tilted as if the cigar was there, even when it has been removed.

*Sometimes, in the cafeteria area, there are two Johnsons among the Marines. One of them comes out of the door where the Sangheili Minor is as normal. The other one is where the rest of the Covenant forces come out of the two doors at the other side of the cafeteria. The second Johnson is pointing his weapon at a pillar that's next to a table. He doesn't attack the Covenant or the player when the rest of the marines think of the player as a [[Treason|traitor]]. He won't budge unless the player or the Covenant kill him. He'll still do his speeches as normal.

*If one looks closely, the Master Chief's escape pod still has its rear hatch open when it launches.

*"Keyes" on Captain Keyes' uniform says "[[Hellomyname Keyes|Hello my name]]" above it. The "is" is missing. This is probably due to the fact that it wouldn't fit.

*In ''Anniversary'', the [[Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)#The Terminals|first terminal]] is one of the computer consoles located on the left side of the Autumn's bridge. All of the console's screens flash "INCOMING MESSAGE" in red, and a crewman is standing beside it instead of manning the console.

*The bulletin board located near the entrance to the bridge has many fliers that can be read, including the flier for the missing cat, [[Jonesy]].

**Also, in the location of the ''missing cat'' ad in the remastered version, there is an ad for a missing goose that lays golden eggs.

*There is "The [[Megg]]" which is the letter "M" made from blood and bullets.

===References===

*If the player kills an ally from outside the bridge, they will be teleported to the bridge. This is a programmatic measure to prevent the player from escaping the horde of invincible Marines that try to kill them; it stops the player from rushing out of the bridge after killing an ally. However, the player could climb down a ladder near the pilots' chair and recover there.

*In the novel ''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'' there is a command chair on the bridge, but there isn't one in this level.

*Strangely enough, all the Covenant and Marines the player finds on his way to the bridge are invincible. This could be so that players cannot take weapons of fallen enemies or allies.

*The Covenant encountered on the way to the bridge will mostly ignore the player. Sometimes they will shoot at you, but inflict very little damage.

**On [[Easy]] and [[Normal]], the player goes through a testing diagnostic which acts as a tutorial for basic controls and the mechanics of health and shields. On Heroic and Legendary difficulty, this is automatically skipped and the player immediately heads out to find Captain Keyes.  

**On Easy and Normal difficulty, the [[Motion tracker]] and grenades are disabled until certain moments in the level. On Heroic and Legendary, they can be used right from the start.

*The crewman who screams "Wait for me!" at the start of the level is voiced by [[Martin O'Donnell]].{{Ref/Twitter|Id=MT|MartyTheElder|1318351385738371073|Marty O'Donnell|Quote=I really appreciate Alan Tudyk's homage to my acting eight years later.|Y=2021|M=2|D=28}}

==Gallery==

<gallery>

File:HCE PillarOfAutumn Bridge Concept.jpg|''Halo: Combat Evolved'' concept art of the bridge.

File:HCE_PillarOfAutumn_Storyboard.jpg|A storyboard for the level.

File:HCE Menu 01 The Pillar of Autumn.png|Preview of the level in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' menu.

File:HCE Fireteam Charlie 2.jpg|Sergeant Johnson rouses his men.

File:HCE ShieldTest.jpg|The crewmen charge up MJOLNIR's energy shielding.

File:HCE TPOA Sam killed.png|Sam Marcus is shot and killed by a Sangheili.

File:Wounded Marine.png|A Marine wounded by the Covenant.

File:Cortana on Autumn.jpg|Cortana on a holotank in the bridge.

File:Siege.jpg|Marines repelling Covenant boarders.

</gallery>

<gallery>

File:HCEA - Shield Test Station.jpg|Concept art of the energy shield test station in ''Anniversary''.

File:HCEA AutumnInterior Concept 1.jpg|Concept art of the ship's interior.

File:HCEA AutumnInterior Concept 2.jpg|Concept art of the ship's interior.

File:HCEA-EnergyShieldTestStation-Screen.jpg|The crewmen charge up MJOLNIR's energy shielding.

File:2817467-gallery.jpg|The Master Chief charging through the ''Autumn''{{'}}s corridors.

File:2817470-gallery.jpg|Two Unggoy near a set of blast doors.

File:2817466-gallery.jpg|The Chief and a Marine engaging Sangheili Minors in ''Anniversary''.

</gallery>

{{Ref/Sources}}

{{Levels|H1}}