Gameplay

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{{Era|RW}}
{{Title|Forerunner}}
{{Title|Forerunner}}
{{Level Infobox
{{Status|Gameplay}}
{{Level infobox
|pagegamelabel=H4
|prev=[[Requiem (level)|Requiem]]
|prev=[[Requiem (level)|Requiem]]
|next=[[Infinity (Halo 4 level)|Infinity]]
|next=[[Infinity (Halo 4 level)|Infinity]]
|name='''''Forerunner'''''
|image=[[File:H4 Forerunner Loadscreen.png|350px]]
|game=''Halo 4''
|game=''Halo 4''
|name=Forerunner
|devname=<code>m30_cryptum</code>{{Ref/File|Id=H4EK|H4EK|H4EK\tags\environments\solo\m30_cryptum\m30_cryptum.scenario}}
|image=[[File:Forerunners.png|300px]]
|player=[[Master_Chief_(gameplay)#Halo_4|Master Chief]]
|player=[[John-117]]
|date=[[2557|July 21, 2557]]
|date=[[2557]]
|place=[[Core of Requiem|Core]] of [[Requiem]]
|place=[[Requiem]]
|objective=Disable the two relay pylons, reach the satellite, and warn the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}.
|objective=Disable the two relay pylons, reach the satellite and warn UNSC ''Infinity''.
|partime=00:20:00 {{C|''Master Chief Collection''-only}}
|parscore=25,000 {{C|''Master Chief Collection''-only}}
}}
}}
{{Article quote|Master Chief tracks the Infinity's signal to Requiem's core in the hopes of returning Cortana to Earth to address her rampancy.}}


{{Article Quote|Master Chief tracks the Infinity's signal to Requiem's core in the hopes of returning Cortana to Earth to address her rampancy.}}
'''Forerunner''' is the fourth [[campaign]] level of ''[[Halo 4]]'', and the third one with actual gameplay.<ref name="gttv">[http://www.gametrailers.com/full-episodes/qevv7h/gt-tv-halo-4 '''GTTV''': ''Halo 4'']</ref>


'''Forerunner''' is the third [[campaign]] level of ''[[Halo 4]]''.<ref>[http://www.gametrailers.com/full-episodes/qevv7h/gt-tv-halo-4 '''GTTV''': ''Halo 4'']</ref> Completing the level earns the player the [[Forerunner (achievement)|Forerunner]] achievement. The level-exclusive achievement [[This is my Rifle, this is my Gun]] is awarded for carrying a [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] weapon all the way through the level on [[Heroic]] or harder.<ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/blogs/Headlines/post/2012/08/22/The-Halo-Bulletin-82212.aspx '''Halo Waypoint''': ''The Halo Bulletin: 8.22.12'']</ref>
Completing the level earns the player the "[[Forerunner (achievement)|Forerunner]]" achievement, worth 10 Gamerscore points. The level-exclusive achievement "[[This is my Rifle, This is my Gun]]" is awarded for carrying a [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] weapon all the way through the level on [[Heroic]] or [[Legendary]], worth 20 Gamerscore points.<ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/blogs/Headlines/post/2012/08/22/The-Halo-Bulletin-82212.aspx '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''The Halo Bulletin - 22/08/2012'']</ref>


==Summary==
In ''[[Halo: The Master Chief Collection]]'', "Forerunner" and "This is my Rifle, this is my Gun", unlockable with the same respective criteria, are now worth 10 Gamerscore points. "[[Lord of Admirals]]", worth 5 Gamerscore points, is awarded for finding and accessing the [[Terminal (Halo 4)|terminal]] in the level. Beating the level's 20 minute par time and 22,000 point par score unlocks "[[Raging in the Dark]]" and "[[Shadow of a Sundered Star|Shadow of Sundered Star]]", respectively, each worth 10 Gamerscore points.
The level is mainly set in a rocky region on the surface of the [[shield world]] [[Requiem]], as well as a series of [[Forerunner]] structures, including two relay pylons and a satellite station inside the shell enveloping the shield world. The prototype UNSC warship {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} has arrived near Requiem to investigate [[Cortana]]'s [[emergency locator beacon|distress beacon]], and the [[John-117|Master Chief]] must disable two beam towers that are causing communications interference preventing Cortana from contacting the ''Infinity'' in order to warn the ship about Requiem's defenses. During the level, the player faces opposition from both the [[Promethean]]s occupying the shield world as well as [[Covenant remnant]] forces. The assault on the first pylon primarily involves combat on foot, while the second one is more vehicle-focused. After deactivating the second beam tower, the Chief uses a series of [[teleporter|translocation portals]] to reach what Cortana assumes to be a relay satellite, while Covenant remnant warships converge on the same location; instead of a communications relay, however, the satellite turns out to house a [[Cryptum]].<ref>[http://youtu.be/JylkzGSfnn4 '''YouTube''': ''Eurogamer Expo 2012: Halo 4 Developer Session with Frank O'Connor'']</ref> The finale of the level introduces the primary antagonist of the game,<ref name="x360a">[http://www.xbox360achievements.org/news/news-13009-Halo-4-Campaign-Hands-On-Preview---The-Hardest-Halo-Yet?-Me-Thinks-So- '''Xbox 360 Achievements''': ''Halo 4 Campaign Hands-On Preview - The Hardest Halo Yet? Me Thinks So!'']</ref> the Promethean leader known as the [[Didact]].<ref name="gttv">[http://www.gametrailers.com/full-episodes/qevv7h/gt-tv-halo-4 '''GameTrailers''': ''GTTV: Halo 4'']</ref>


==Transcript==
== Summary ==
'''{''Gameplay'}'''
The level is mainly set in [[Core of Requiem|a rocky region]] under the habitable surface of the [[shield world]] [[Requiem]], as well as a series of [[Forerunner]] structures, including two relay pylons and a satellite station inside the shell enveloping the shield world. The prototype UNSC warship {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} has arrived near Requiem to investigate [[Cortana]]'s [[distress beacon]], and the [[John-117|Master Chief]] must disable two beam towers that are causing communications interference preventing Cortana from contacting the ''Infinity'' in order to warn the ship about Requiem's defenses. During the level, the player faces opposition from both the [[Promethean]]s occupying the shield world as well as [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|Covenant remnant]] forces. The assault on the first pylon primarily involves combat on foot, while the second one is more vehicle-focused. After deactivating the second beam tower, the Chief uses a series of [[teleportation grid#Requiem|translocation portals]] to reach what Cortana assumes to be a relay satellite, while Covenant remnant warships converge on the same location; instead of a communications relay, however, the satellite turns out to house a [[Cryptum]].<ref>[http://youtu.be/JylkzGSfnn4 '''YouTube''': ''Eurogamer Expo 2012 - Halo 4 Developer Session with Frank O'Connor'']</ref> The finale of the level introduces the primary antagonist of the game,<ref name="x360a">[http://www.xbox360achievements.org/news/news-13009-Halo-4-Campaign-Hands-On-Preview---The-Hardest-Halo-Yet?-Me-Thinks-So- '''Xbox 360 Achievements''': ''Halo 4 Campaign Hands-On Preview - The Hardest Halo Yet? Me Thinks So!'']</ref> the Promethean leader known as the [[Ur-Didact|Didact]].<ref name="gttv" /> With Requiem's core collapsing, the Master Chief flees to a portal back to the surface on a [[Karo'etba-pattern Ghost|Ghost]], arriving in time to witness the ''Infinity'', out of control, coming through Requiem's atmosphere broadcasting a distress signal. With the Didact's Cryptum chasing the ''Infinity'', the Master Chief sets out to help the stricken ship.


''John arrives at a small Forerunner room.''
== Transcript ==
'''{''Gameplay''}'''
 
''The slipspace portal delivers John into a small Forerunner room. Four [[Z-2500 autosentry|autosentry]] units line the walls.''


*'''John-117''': "What were [[Promethean Knight|those things]]?"
* '''John-117''': "What were [[Promethean Knight|those things]]?"


*'''Cortana''': "Some sort of advanced defense AIs. Related to the [[Sentinel]]s, I'm guessing. But hard to say without a closer look. C'mon, let's figure out where that transit system dumped us."
* '''Cortana''': "Some sort of advanced defense AIs. Related to the [[Sentinel]]s, I'm guessing, but it's hard to say without a closer look. C'mon, let's figure out where that transit system dumped us."


''John-117 leaves the room via a door and enters a platform inside Requiem's core, which is revealed to be a large empty sphere.''
''John-117 leaves the room and enters a platform inside Requiem's core - a hollow sphere of gigantic proportions.''


===Buried and Forgotten===
=== BURIED AND FORGOTTEN ===
*'''Cortana''': "Put me in the console."
[[File:Halo4-Cortana-RequiemCore.jpg|thumb|300px|Cortana observing the core of Requiem.]]
* '''Cortana''': "Put me in the console."


''John approaches a console at the end of the platform and inserts Cortana's data crystal chip into it.''
''John approaches a console at the end of the platform and inserts Cortana's data crystal chip into it.''
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'''{''Cutscene''}'''
'''{''Cutscene''}'''


''John and Cortana look around, but only see a distant purplish sphere in an otherwise empty expanse.''
''John and Cortana observe the area. A distant purple sphere hovers in an otherwise empty expanse, with two energy beams anchoring it to the core's inner surface.''
 
* '''John-117''': "Where's ''Infinity''?"
 
* '''Cortana''': "This is [[Core of Requiem|Requiem's core]], all right, but ''Infinity'' is definitely not here."
 
''Cortana brings up a holographic panel in front of her.''  


*'''John-117''': "Where's ''Infinity''?"
* '''Cortana''': "That satellite in the center is amplifying the ship's broadcasts like a relay."


*'''Cortana''': This is Requiem's core, all right, but ''Infinity'' is definitely not here. (''Cortana manipulates the holoscreen in front of her.'') That satellite in the center is amplifying the ship's broadcasts like a relay.
* '''John-117''': "Maybe we can use it to respond."


*'''John-117''': "Maybe we can use it to respond."
* '''Cortana''': "Perhaps."


*'''Cortana''': "Perhaps."
''Cortana access several other options on the screen.''


''Cortana clicks a few more buttons on the screen. Pan to show two thin beams anchoring the sphere on opposite sides.''
* '''Cortana''': "Those beams coming off of it are creating the interference we've been experiencing. We'd have to take them out to contact ''Infinity''."


*'''Cortana''': "Those beams coming off of it are creating the interference we've been experiencing. We'd have to take them out to contact ''Infinity''."
* '''John-117''': "Can you get us there?"


''Cortana presses another button and a translocation portal opens nearby.''
''Cortana presses a final prompt, opening a nearby translocation portal.''


*'''Cortana''': "Opening a gate to the first beam pylon. Pull me, and let's go."
* '''Cortana''': "Opening a gate to the first beam pylon. Pull me, and let's go."


''John retrieves her.''
''John retrieves Cortana from the terminal and readies his rifle.''


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


''John enters the portal and arrives at a small Forerunner hallway, which leads to a rocky canyon.''
''John enters the portal and arrives at a small hallway.''
 
* '''John-117''': "This is the first pylon?"
 
''The Chief exits into a tight canyon. A schematic is displayed on his [[heads-up display|HUD]], showing the path to the pylon.''


*'''John-117''': "This is the first pylon?"
* '''Cortana''': "Negative, this is as close as I could get us. Hope you don't mind hoofing it a little."


*'''Cortana''': "Negative. This is as close as I could get us. Hope you don't mind hoofing it a little."
[[File:H4-Forerunner-Pylon-1.jpg|thumb|300px|The first pylon, looming over the cliffs.]]


''John arrives at a small valley where [[Promethean Crawler|robotic dog-like creatures]] are crawling on the walls. One of them growls, and they retreat.''
''The Chief exits into a small valley, where [[Promethean Crawler|mechanical quadrupeds]] are crawling over the rocks. The nearby skyline is dominated by the pylon.''


*'''Cortana''': "Contacts!"
* '''Cortana''': "Contacts!"


''John continues on and encounters more of them in the next valley.''
''The automatons hastily retreat as John approaches. He continues on, encountering more of them in the next valley.''


*'''Cortana''': "And they're back! Coming down the walls!"
* '''Cortana''': "And they're back! Coming down the walls!"


''John defeats all the Crawlers and resumes his journey.''
''John quickly defeats the Crawlers and resumes his journey.''


*'''John-117''': "Those weren't the same things we saw in the Terminus."
* '''John-117''': "Those weren't the same things we saw in the Terminus."


*'''Cortana''': "Similar cortical footprints as the tower AIs. They're connected, all right."
* '''Cortana''': "Similar cortical footprints as the tower AIs... They're connected, all right."


''John presses a terminal that activates a hard light bridge. He crosses the bridge and enters another valley.''
''John activates a hard light bridge. Crossing the bridge, he enters another valley.''


*'''Cortana''': "Look out!"
* '''Cortana''': "Look out!"


'''{''Cutscene''}'''
'''{''Cutscene''}'''


''John looks up and see a Promethean Knight jumping down. The Promethean Knight knocks John on the ground and screams. Its face plate opens, revealing a screaming blue skull. John punches the face, and the Knight flinches. John kicks himself away from the Knight, which teleports away.''
''John looks up just in time to see a [[Promethean Knight]] crashing down from above. The Knight knocks John on the ground, emptying his shields, and screams; its faceplate splits open, revealing a glowing blue skull that is disturbingly human. John punches the Knight's head and then kicks its abdomen, knocking the machine off him. Snarling, the Knight quickly teleports away.''


*'''Cortana''': "Well, he's just a ray of sunshine, isn't he?"
* '''Cortana''': "Well he's just a ray of sunshine, isn't he?"


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


*'''Cortana''': "From that peek under the hood, I can say these constructs must be mimetic in nature."
* '''Cortana''': "From that peek under the hood, I'd say these constructs must be mimetic in nature."


''John arrives at an area. Knights are seen teleporting away from the cliffs.''
[[File:H4-Forerunner-Cliff-Knights.jpg|thumb|300px|Multiple Knights observe the Chief's progress from the cliffs.]]


*'''John-117''': "More of them?"
''John arrives at a cliff edge. Knights are seen phasing away from the opposite rocks.''


*'''Cortana''': "Similar phasing activity at the edge of our sensors. We're about to get busy."
* '''John-117''': "More of them?"


''John continues and see a door at the far side of the valley. A Knight teleports into the area as Crawlers come into view. The Knight releases a [[Promethean Watcher]] from its back and attacks John. More Knights are seen on the cliff above the door, but they don't attack John. John destroys all the Prometheans, and the Knights on the cliff teleport away.''
* '''Cortana''': "Similar phasing activity at the edge of our sensors. We're about to get busy!"


*'''Cortana''': "I've discovered something interesting about our new friends. When the big one explodes, that momentary flash we're seeing is actually a data purge."
''John enters another small valley. A Knight teleports into the area as Crawlers come into view. The Knight releases a [[Promethean Watcher]] from its back and attacks the Chief, as several other Knights observe from atop the canyon. John eventually eliminates all hostiles, causing the observing Knights to teleport away. The Chief enters a doorway on the far side of the valley, which leads into a hallway stocked with Forerunner ordnance.''


*'''John-117''': "Can you tap into it?"
* '''Cortana''': "I've discovered something interesting about our new friends. When the big ones explode, that momentary flash we're seeing is actually a data purge."


*'''Cortana''': "So far, I've pulled multiple strings referring the big ones as Promethean Knights. beyond that though, things get a bit dense."
''A schematic of a Knight is displayed. As the Knight dissolves, a data stream is extracted and translated by Cortana.''


''John enters a Forerunner tunnel.''
* '''John-117''': "Can you tap into it?"


*'''Captain Andrew Del Rio (COM)''': "(''garbled transmission'')"
* '''Cortana''': "So far, I've pulled multiple strings referring to the big ones as "[[Promethean Knight]]s". Beyond that, though, things get a bit dense."


*'''Cortana''': "The relay interference is increasing. We must be getting close to the pylon."
''The Chief exits into a large cavern, disposing of more Knights and Crawlers along the way. As he approaches a raised platform, he picks up a garbled transmission from Captain Del Rio over the COM.''


''John exits the tunnel and fights more Prometheans. As he moves on, a distortion appears on [[Heads-up display|HUD]].''
* '''Cortana''': "The relay interference is increasing. We must be getting close to the pylon."


*'''John-117''': "What's that distortion?"
''More Prometheans occupy the area below. After wiping out the opposition, John's HUD is distorted by purple static.''


*'''Cortana''': "That's me…something about moving through these portal is increasing the load on my system."
* '''John-117''': "What's that distortion?"


*'''John-117''': "Are you… going to be alright?"
* '''Cortana''': "...that's me. Something about moving through those portals is increasing the load on my systems."


*'''Cortana''': "Don't worry. Ive held off rampancy this long, haven't I?"
* '''John-117''': "Are you...going to be alright?"


''If the player stalls:''
* '''Cortana''': "Don't worry. I've held off rampancy this long, haven't I?"
*'''Cortana''': "Chief, we won't be able to contact ''Infinity'' if we don't get to that pylon and take it down."
----
''If the Chief stalls:''


''After heading through another tunnel, John arrives at pylon. At the top of the structure, the walkway leading to the top of the pylon is blocked by hard light shields.''
* '''Cortana''': "Chief, we won't be able to contact ''Infinity'' if we don't get to that pylon and take it down."
----
[[File:2821570-gallery.jpg|thumb|300px|Armed with a [[Z-250 lightrifle|lightrifle]], the unshielded Chief engages a pack of Crawlers.]]


*'''Cortana''': "That's the target, but it looks like the entrance is shielded. Let's figure out how to take it down."
''On the far side of the depression is a rocky path, which leads up to the exit; the second terminal lies below this path. After traversing another tunnel, John finally arrives at the pylon. The walkway leading to the top is blocked by hardlight shields.''


''John explores the structures in the area, engaging more Prometheans, and eventually finds an energy sphere in one of the smaller structures.''
* '''Cortana''': "That's the target, but it looks like the entrance is shielded. Let's figure out how to take it down."


*'''Cortana''': "One of the shield's power core. Take it out."
''John explores the area, engaging more Prometheans, and eventually finds an energy sphere in one of the smaller structures.''
 
* '''Cortana''': "One of the shield's power cores. Take it out!"


''John destroys the sphere.''
''John destroys the sphere.''


*'''Cortana''': "I read two more cores on our level. Hit them before you climb all the way up."
* '''Cortana''': "I read two more cores on our level. Hit them before you climb all the way up."


''John continues on and destroys the second core in another structure.''
''John continues on and destroys the second core in another structure.''


*'''Cortana''': "Well done, Chief, one to go."
* '''Cortana''': "Well done, Chief! One to go."


''John destroys the last core.''
''John destroys the last core.''


*'''Cortana''': "Great, that's all the cores. Head for the top of the pylon."
* '''Cortana''': "Great, that's all the cores. Head for the top of the pylon."


''John heads up the main center structure.''
''John heads up the main structure. Two more Knights phase in to block the pylon entrance, but are quickly defeated.''


*'''Cortana''': "Chief, look at this:"
* '''Cortana''': "Chief, look at this:"


''A diagram appears on John's HUD. The symbol representing Infinity is approaching the circle representing Requiem.''
''A schematic is displayed as another garbled transmission from Del Rio plays in the background, displaying the ''Infinity'' approaching Requiem's entrance portal.''


*'''Cortana''': "That's Requiem. They're not inside at all… they're moving into orbit."
* '''Cortana''': "That's Requiem! They're not inside at all...they're moving into orbit."


''John enters an elevator, which starts up to the top of the pylon.''
''John enters an elevator, which starts up to the top of the pylon.''


*'''Andrew Del Rio (COM)''': "(''garble transmission'')"
* '''[[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Andrew Del Rio]] (Video COM)''': ''(garbled)'' "This is Captain Andrew Del Rio, hailing any survivors of the {{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}}; we're approaching your last known location."


*'''John-117''': "Did he say [[UNSC Forward Unto Dawn|''Forward Unto Dawn'']]?"
''The video feed is briefly superimposed by the same [[Ur-Didact|orange glyph]] encountered at the Cartographer.''


*'''Cortana''': "They must have intercepted our distress beacon!"
* '''John-117''': "Did he say ''Forward Unto Dawn''?"


*'''John-117''': "The beacon was pulled into Requiem with us. If they try to follow it…"
* '''Cortana''': "They must have intercepted our [[distress beacon]]!"


*'''Cortana''': "…they'll get caught in the gravity well. I'll keep trying to warn them; you get that beam down!"
* '''John-117''': "The beacon was pulled into Requiem with us. If they try to follow it..."


''The elevator stops and the door opens. A mechanism is exerting a large beam to the center of Requiem's core.''
* '''Cortana''': "...they'll get caught in the gravity well. I'll keep trying to warn them; you just get that beam down!"


*'''Cortana''': "That's the beam control!"
''The elevator stops and the doors open. A rotating mechanism is projecting the energy beam into the distant satellite. A small console stands directly in front of the beam emitter.''
 
* '''Cortana''': "That's the beam control!"


'''{''Cutscene''}'''
'''{''Cutscene''}'''
[[File:HTMCC-H4 Pylon controls.png|thumb|300px|Shield pylon controls for the first pylon.]]


''John deactivates the beam.''
''John pulls out a metal shaft inside the console, reorients it to a horizontal position, then slams the cylinder back in. The beam emitter deactivates and retracts into the floor.''


*'''Cortana''': "It's working. the signal from the relay is starting to clear up."
* '''Cortana''': "It's working. The signal from the relay is starting to clear up."


*'''Andrew Del Rio (COM)''': "Fleetcom actual. We've detected a UNSC beacon coming from somewhere ''inside'' the planet-"
* '''Del Rio (COM)''': "[[UNSC Fleet Command|FLEETCOM]] Actual, we've detected a UNSC beacon coming from somewhere ''inside'' the planet-"


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


*'''Cortana''': "They haven't hit the gravity well yet."
* '''John-117''': "They haven't hit the gravity well yet."


''A portal activates on the far side of the chamber.''
''A portal activates on the far side of the chamber.''


*'''Cortana''': "There's still too much interference to warn them. We've got to disable the other beam before they're pulled in like we were."
* '''Cortana''': "There's still too much interference to warn them. We've got to disable that other beam before they're pulled in like we were."
 
''John returns to the room that leads to Requiem's core. He leaves the room. Several Covenant remnant ships leave slipspace and arrive at the Requiem's core. They fly towards the second pylon.''


===Enemy of my Enemy===
''John is returned to his starting point. With the first pylon disabled, only half of the energy field surrounding the satellite remains active. As the Chief approaches the console, three {{Pattern|Zanar|light cruiser}}s and their [[Ru'swum-pattern Phantom|Phantom]] escorts drop out of slipspace inside the core. They rapidly close in on the second pylon.''


*'''Cortana''': "I was wondering why ''Infinity'' hadn't encountered the Covenant yet."
=== ENEMY OF MY ENEMY ===
[[File:H4-KnightsWatchers-HardlightShield.jpg|thumb|300px|Two Watchers protecting a [[Knight Battlewagon]].]]
* '''Cortana''': "I was wondering why ''Infinity'' hadn't encountered the Covenant yet."


*'''John-117''': "What are they doing here?"
* '''John-117''': "What are they doing here?"


*'''Cortana''': "They're heading to the second pylon as well!"
* '''Cortana''': "They're heading to the second pylon as well!"


*'''John-117''': "That can't be a coincidence."
* '''John-117''': "That can't be a coincidence."


''John enters another portal and teleports to another room leading to a canyon.''
''Cortana activates a second portal, transporting John to a small cavern. Another schematic is displayed, showing the path to the pylon.''


*'''Cortana''': "Sounds like the Prometheans don't want the Covenant here, either. The battlenet's already lighting up with reports of resistance all around the pylon."
* '''Cortana''': "Sounds like the Prometheans don't want the Covenant here, either. The [[proselytization network|battlenet]]'s already lighting up with reports of resistance all around the pylon."


''John drops down a hole in the rocks, and arrives at a small valley. Two Covenant drop pods drop from the sky. Covenant troops leave the pod and immediately defend themselves from the patrolling Prometheans.''
''John drops down an opening in the rocks and arrives in a large valley. One of the light cruisers moves into position, dispensing drop pods into the area. Covenant troops leave the pod and immediately engage patrolling Prometheans.''


*'''Cortana''': "Drop pods!"
* '''Cortana''': "Drop pods!"


''John moves on up to the cliff of the valley. A Promethean Knight teleports to where a Sangheili is standing, and kills the Sangheili with its blade. John kills the Knight and moves on. A group of Watchers enter the area and one of them generates a Forerunner [[beam turret]], which opens fire at John and the Covenant. After dispatching the enemies in the valley, John enters the adjacent valley. Two Ghosts speeds past John, but both of the operators are killed by a Knight, who swiftly slashed them off their vehicles. John moves on to the valley, where Covenant and Prometheans fight for control of the area. John eventually reaches the end of the valley and enters a tunnel.''
''John moves up to a raised path on the opposite side of the valley. A Promethean Knight phases in behind a Sangheili and stabs him in the back. John eliminates the Knight and moves on. A group of Watchers enters the area; one of them generates a Forerunner [[Z-510 focus turret|beam turret]], which opens fire on both the Chief and Covenant infantry. After dispatching all hostiles in the valley, John enters the adjacent valley.''


*'''Andrew Del Rio (COM)''': "(''garbled transmission'')"
''Two [[Karo'etba-pattern Ghost|Ghosts]] speed past John, but a Knight swiftly cuts down both drivers with its blade. After killing the Knight, John boards one of the Ghosts and speeds through the valley, past Covenant and Promethean infantry battling for control. Another unintelligible transmission from Del Rio is received just before John reaches the exit tunnel.''


*'''Cortana''': "The relay's signal is breaking up again. We're almost to the beam."
* '''Cortana''': "The relay's signal is breaking up again. We're almost to the beam."


''A diagram appears on John's HUD. The circle representing Requiem opens as the symbol representing Infinity gets close to it.''
''The garbled video feed switches to a diagram, showing the ''Infinity'' moving into Requiem's open entrance portal.''


*'''Andrew Del Rio (COM)''': "(''garbled transmission'')"
* '''Cortana''': "They've found the opening! We better get up to that relay, and fast!"


*'''Cortana''': "They've found the opening! We better get up to that relay and fast!"
[[File:H4-Forerunner-Pylon-2.jpg|thumb|300px|The second pylon, occupied by Covenant troops.]]


''John arrives at the second pylon. The main structure and the smaller structures are occupied by the Covenant. John finds the first power core and disables it.''
''John arrives at the second pylon. The area is occupied by Covenant infantry, supported by [[Type-26 Banshee|Banshees]] and Ghosts. John finds the first power core and disables it, liquidating the opposition along the way.''


*'''Cortana''': "Power core down! Shield's weak, but still online. Take out the other two power cores and we can access the pylon."
* '''Cortana''': "Power core down. Shield's weak, but still online. Take out the other two power cores and we can access the pylon."


''John moves on to disable the second power core.''
''John moves on to destroy the second power core.''


*'''Cortana''': "Second power core offline, good job, Chief!"
* '''Cortana''': "Second power core offline. Good job, Chief!"


''John disables the final power core.''
''John disables the final power core.''


*'''Cortana''': "That'll do it. Shields should be down. Get up to that beam!"
* '''Cortana''': "That'll do it. Shields should be down. Get up to that beam!"


''John reaches the top of the main structure and enters the elevator.''
''John reaches the top of the main structure, battling past several Sangheili and enters the elevator.''


*'''Andrew Del Rio (COM)''': "UNSC ''Infinity'' to survivor, ''Forward Unto Dawn''. Reading a faint IFF tag near the planetary core, do you read?"
* '''Del Rio (Video COM)''': "UNSC ''Infinity'' to survivor, ''Forward Unto Dawn''. Reading a faint [[Identification friend or foe|IFF]] tag near the planetary core, do you read?"


*'''Cortana''': "Planet's core? They know we're here!"
* '''Cortana''': "The planet's core? They know we're here! ''Infinity'', this is UNSC AI Cortana. Do not approach Forerunner planet! Repeat, do not approach-"


*'''Cortana''': "''Infinity'' this is UNSC AI Cortana. Do not approach Forerunner planet! Repeat, do not approach-"
* '''Del Rio (Video COM)''': "''Infinity'' to UNSC asset! ''Forward Unto Dawn''! We read you, but you're breaking up! Helm, increase speed by point-seven. Get us in there."


*'''Andrew Del Rio (COM)''': "''Infinity'' to UNSC asset! ''Forward Unto Dawn''! We read you but you're breaking up! Helm, increase speed by point seven. Get us in there."
* '''Cortana''': "Negative, ''Infinity''! ''Do not enter the planet!''"


*'''Cortana''': "Negative, ''Infinity''! Do not enter the planet!"
* '''Del Rio (Video COM)''': "If you can hear us, keep transmitting."


*'''Andrew Del Rio (COM)''': "If you can hear us, keep transmitting-"
* '''Cortana''': "No! Chief, you've got to get that beam down ''now''!"


*'''Cortana''': "No! Chief, you've got to that beam down now!"
''The elevator stops, and John emerges into the emitter chamber.''


''The elevator stops, and John exits to deactivate the second beam.''
'''{''Cutscene''}'''


'''{''Cutscene''}'''  
''John deactivates the second pylon, using the same method as the first.''


*'''Cortana''': "Cortana to ''Infinity'', do you copy? Come in, Infinity! The interference is gone, but your suit's transmitter is not strong enough."
'''{''Gameplay''}'''


'''{''Gameplay''}'''
* '''Cortana''': "Cortana to ''Infinity'', do you copy? Come in, ''Infinity''! The interference is gone, but your suit's transmitter's not strong enough."
 
* '''John-117''': "Route us up to the relay satellite."


*'''John-117''': "Route us up to the relay satellite."
* '''Cortana''': "Already done! Go!"


*'''Cortana''': "Already done! go!"
''A portal appears at the end of the chamber. John heads in and phases back to the starting point. With both pylons disabled, the energy field surrounding the satellite is now completely gone. A large portal activates on the far side of the platform.''


''A portal appears at the end of the chamber. John heads in and teleports to the first room. They exit to the where they started. A portal activates on the center of the platform.''
* '''Cortana''': "Once we're on the satellite, there's bound to be a central control point."


*'''Cortana''': "Once we're on the satellite, there's bound to be a central control point."
''Covenant light cruisers depart from the second pylon and reverse towards the satellite.''  


''The Covenant ships head towards the satellite in the center of Requiem's core.''
* '''John-117''': "The Covenant are moving towards the relay, too."


*'''John-117''': "The Covenant is moving towards the relay too."
* '''Cortana''': "This doesn't make any sense! Why would they care about a broadcast relay?"


*'''Cortana''': "This doesn't make any sense! Why would they care about a broadcast relay?
* '''John-117''': "I'll handle them; you just find us that control node."


*'''John-117''': "I'll handle them; you just find us that control node."
''John enters the portal and is brought to the satellite. The central chamber is dominated by an [[Cryptum|ominous grey sphere]], engraved with orange patterns.''


''John enters the center portal and is brought to the satellite. A ominous grey orb with orange patterns on it is placed at the center of the satellite.''
=== ALMOST HOME ===
[[File:HTMCC-H4 RequiemCoreCryptum.png|thumb|300px|The Didact's dormant Cryptum.]]
''A Phantom arrives and drops off an [[Unggoy]] lance, with one [[Kig-Yar Sniper]]. They are quickly disposed of.''


===Almost Home===
* '''John-117''': "How soon 'til ''Infinity'' hits the gravity well?"
''A Phantom arrives and drops off a few Unggoy and a Kig-yar Sniper.''
*'''John-117''': "How soon 'til Infinity hits the gravity well?"


*'''Cortana''': "A minute or two, max!"
* '''Cortana''': "A minute or two, max! The Covenant are making a push for something on the far side of the satellite."
----
''If the Chief approaches the orb:''


*'''Cortana''': "The Covenant are making a push for something on the far side of the satellite."
* '''John-117''': "Is that the signal relay?"


''John enters one of the chambers leading to the far side of the satellite. Prometheans and Covenant are having fierce battles. A Phantom crashes into one of the Forerunner wall. John pushes on.''
* '''Cortana''': "Yes. Now we just have to hope we can use it to warn ''Infinity'' before it's too late!"
----
''Two doorways lie opposite each other, leading to opposite sides of the chamber. John can enter either; on the left side, the Prometheans are using their superior weapons to keep the Covenant intruders at bay. On the right side, Promethean forces are being forced back by the numerically superior Covenant. The Chief advances through the chaos, eventually reaching a walkway leading up to the orb.''


*'''Cortana''': "Chief, you need to hear this!"
* '''Cortana''': "Chief, you need to hear this!"


*'''''Infinity'' Comm (COM)''': "We're detecting a slight gravimeter disturbance near the planetary entrance. Suggest altering vector approach 43K-750K-12K."
* '''''Infinity'' Communications (COM)''': "We're detecting a slight gravimetric disturbance near the planetary entrance. Suggest altering approach vector: 43K-750K-12K."


*'''Cortana''': "They're not diverting from the opening! Hurry, Chief!"
* '''Cortana''': "They're not diverting from the opening! Hurry, Chief!"


''John arrives at the far side of the satellite, where more Sangheili are fighting Promethean Knights. John eliminates or runs past them. On the end of the walkway, there are two small pillars imprinted with the Reclaimer symbols.''
''John arrives at the far side of the satellite, where several Sangheili are combating Promethean Knights, including [[Endurance-of-Will]].{{Ref/Site|Id=CF132|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/canon-fodder-high-value-histories|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder #132: High-Value Histories}} He quickly eliminates the last hostiles in the area. Two small pillars imprinted with the [[Reclaimer]] symbol stands on the far end of the walkway.''


*'''Cortana''': "Wait - something's not right!"
* '''Cortana''': "Wait! Something's not right-"


*'''John-117''': "We don't have time!"
* '''John-117''': "We don't have time!"


*'''Cortana''': "The pillars! Touch the pillars!"
* '''Cortana''': "The pillars! Touch the pillars!"


[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cIFNDy2zDM '''{''Cutscene''}''']
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cIFNDy2zDM '''{''Cutscene''}''']


''John places his hands on each pillar and speaks.''
[[File:H4 Cryptum open.jpg|thumb|300px|The Cryptum's occupant is set free after a hundred thousand years of slumber.]]
 
''John places his hands on each pillar.''
 
* '''John-117''': "''Infinity''! This is Sierra-117 of the {{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}}. Do you copy?"
 
''John's own speech is distorted and amplified back at him. The sphere slowly rises, emanating an orange glow. John stares at it in confusion.''


*'''John-117''': "''Infinity''! This Sierra 117 of {{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}}. Do you copy?"
* '''John-117''': "''Infinity''? Do you read?"


''John's own speech broadcasts dully and garbled from the enormous sphere before him. It is slowly rising and emanating an orange glow. John looks at it in confusion.''
''Again, John's words are distorted and amplified back to him. The sphere continues to rise, its black plating folding away to reveal a glowing orange core. Below the Chief, both Covenant and Promethean forces cease fighting and look upwards as the [[Cryptum]] is set free.''


*'''John-117''': "''Infinity''? Do you read?"
* '''Cortana''': "Chief...Chief, let go of the contacts!"


''The sphere continues to rise. Its black plating is folding away to reveal its glowing orange core. Below John, many fighting Sangheili and Prometheans stop to see the [[Cryptum]] rising.''
''John quickly pulls his hands away from the pillars, proceeding to ready his assault rifle.''


*'''Cortana''': "Chief... Chief, let go of the contacts!"
* '''John-117''': "Find us an exit."


''John quickly pulls his hands away from the pillars. He faces the rising Cryptum and pulls out his assault rifle.
* '''Cortana''': "Don't wait around on my account..."


*'''John-117''': "Find us an exit."
''John leaps off the platform just as the Cryptum releases an orange energy wave, knocking the Covenant and Prometheans off their feet. John takes cover behind a small barrier, peeking over to observe the sphere.''


*'''Cortana''': "Don't wait around on my account."
''A small triangular capsule lowers itself out of the Cryptum's bottom opening. The capsule opens up to reveal [[Ur-Didact|a kneeling humanoid figure]]. Upon seeing him, John ducks back behind the barrier. The figure stands up and flexes his muscles. His customized [[combat skin]] assembles itself around him. Once fully armored, the figure assesses his surroundings.''


''John leaps off the platform to a lower level just as the Cryptum releases an orange energy wave, which knocks over the Covenant and Prometheans. John hides behind a small barrier and peaks over it to see what is happening.''
* '''[[Ur-Didact]]''': "So fades the great harvest of [[Halo: Silentium|my betrayal]]."


''POV shot of the Cryptum's bottom unfolding and letting down a small triangular capsule. The capsule floats down into midair, stops, and opens up to reveal a kneeling figure. He seems to be non-human, but very tall and muscular. Upon seeing him, John ducks back behind the barrier again.''
''The Ur-Didact waves his hand, creating a shimmering wave over the nearby Prometheans; their blue highlights turn orange, signifying his control over them. The Sangheili bow down in reverence of their living god.''  


''The released figure stands up and flexes his body. Gradually armor starts to appear on his back, chest, and arms. Once he is fully armored, the man assesses his surroundings.''
* '''[[Jul 'Mdama]]''': "Didact!"<ref>[http://blogs.halowaypoint.com/Headlines/post/2013/01/16/The-Halo-Bulletin-11613.aspx ''Halo Waypoint'' - ''The Halo Bulletin - 16/01/2013'']</ref>


*'''[[Didact]]''': "So fades the great harvest of my betrayal."
''The Ur-Didact's platform floats toward the Chief's position. He looks at John disdainfully.''


''The Didact spreads out a hand to let out an shimmering wave over the nearby Prometheans, which calm down and change their blue highlights to orange. They cease fighting the Sangheili, who bow down in reverence of the Forerunner.  
* '''Ur-Didact''': "Even [[Covenant|these beasts]] recognized what you were oblivious to, [[human]]. Your nobility has blinded you...as ever."


*'''[[Jul 'Mdama]]''': "Didact!"<ref>[http://blogs.halowaypoint.com/Headlines/post/2013/01/16/The-Halo-Bulletin-11613.aspx '''Halo Waypoint''': ''The Halo Bulletin: 1.16.13'']</ref>
''The metal barrier shielding John disintegrates. John immediately raises his rifle, but the Forerunner simply reaches out and [[constraint field|telekinetically binds]] him. The helpless John is lifted to face the Didact.''


''The Didact's platform floats to where John is hiding. He looks at him disdainfully.''
* '''Ur-Didact''': "The [[Librarian]] left little to chance, didn't she? Turning [[Promethean Knight|my own guardians]] - [[Requiem|my own world]] - against me." ''(looks down at the Prometheans, then looks back at John)'' "But what hubris to believe she could protect her pets from me forever. If you haven't mastered even ''these'' primitives ''(looks down at the Sangheili)'', then Man has not attained the [[Mantle]]. Your ascendance may yet be prevented."


*'''Didact''': "Even [[Covenant|these beasts]] recognized what you were oblivious to, [[Human]]. Your nobility has blinded you, as ever."
''The Ur-Didact pulls John in closer.''


''The metal barrier shielding John disintegrates. John immediately stands up to fight but the Forerunner simply reaches out into the air and [[Constraint field|telekinetically binds him]]. The helpless John is lifted to face the Didact.''
* '''Ur-Didact''': "Time was your ally, human. But now it has abandoned you. The [[Forerunner]]s... [[Post-Covenant War conflicts#Return of the Prometheans|have returned]]."


*'''Didact''': "The [[Librarian]] left little to chance, didn't she? Turning [[Promethean Knight|my own guardians]]… [[Requiem|my own world]]… against me. But what hubris to believe she could protect her pets from me forever… If you haven't mastered even these primitives, then Man has not attained the [[Mantle]]. Your ascendance may yet be prevented. Time was your ally, Human, but now it has abandoned you. The [[Forerunner]]s have returned."
[[File:HTMCC-H4 ThisTombIsNowYours.png|thumb|300px|The Chief is rendered helpless by the Didact's constraint field.]]


''The Didact summons his helmet, which assembles itself to resemble a glowing metal skull. John struggles and chokes but still can't break free.''
''The Ur-Didact summons his helmet, which assembles itself to resemble a glowing metal skull. John struggles futilely against his grip.''


*'''Didact''': "This tomb is now yours."
* '''Ur-Didact''': "This tomb...is now yours."


''The Didact tosses John away, who slams into a wall and crashes onto the floor. The Spartan groans and forces himself back up, seeing the Didact retreat into the enormous rising Cryptum, now surrounded by swirling energy.''
''The Ur-Didact tosses John away, slamming him against a wall. He crashes onto the floor. The Spartan groans and forces himself back up, seeing the Ur-Didact retreat back into the rising Cryptum, now surrounded by swirling energy.''


*'''Cortana''': "Slipspace rupture! Chief, move!"
* '''Cortana''': "Slipspace rupture! Chief, move!"


''John runs for his life. The Cryptum's energy glows brighter and brighter then explodes. Cut to black.''
''John runs for his life. The Cryptum's energy glows increasingly bright, then explodes with a blinding flash. Cut to black.''


*'''Cortana''': "Chief, please! We've got to go!  
* '''Cortana''': "Chief, please! We've got to go!"


''Fade in to John's HUD. He slowly comes to.''
''Fade in to John's HUD, slowly coming to. He's back in the canyon.''


*'''Cortana''': "That… Didact. He manipulated Infinity's signal to get us to release him! …Get up!"
* '''Cortana''': "That...Didact. He manipulated ''Infinity''{{'}}s signal to get us to release him! ''Get up!''"


''John regains full consciousness and forces himself up.''
''John regains full consciousness and quickly forces himself up.''


*'''John-117''': "What's happening?"
* '''John-117''': "What's happening?"


''John looks up to see an enormous glowing energy mass forming in the sky. A Phantom is pulled out of the air toward it.''
''John looks up to see a swirling energy field forming above him. A light cruiser is sucked into the breach, alongside masses of debris.''


*'''Cortana''': "Moving the satellite into slipspace has destabilized the core."
* '''Cortana''': "Moving the satellite into slipspace destabilized the core."


''The Phantom smashes into another being pulled, and both smash down on the surface. Their complements, Ghosts enough for a whole squad, fall off the Phantoms and on to the ground.''
''A nearby Phantom is pulled into the field as well, smashing into another Phantom in the process. Both crash into the canyon walls, their Ghost complement spilling out ahead of the Chief.''


*'''Cortana''': "The Didact's leaving! We've got to find a way out of here before the whole network collapses!"
* '''Cortana''': "The Didact's leaving! We've got to find a portal out of here before the whole network collapses!"


===Next Stop, Certain Death===
=== NEXT STOP, CERTAIN DEATH ===
'''{''Gameplay''}'''
'''{''Gameplay''}'''


''John heads to where the Phantoms crashed. All of the Ghosts are still intact.''
''John heads to the Phantom's crash site. All of the Ghosts are still intact.''
 
* '''Cortana''': "Grab one of those Ghosts!"


*'''Cortana''': "Grab one of those Ghosts."
''John boards the Ghost and begins to drive down the valley.''


''John gets on the Ghost and begin to drive down the valley.''
* '''Cortana''': "Hang on, I'm going to channel energy from your shields to overdrive the Ghost's boost."


*'''Cortana''': "Hang on, I'm going to channel energy from your shields to overdrive the Ghost's boost."
''John's energy shields are depleted, but his Ghost can boost faster and indefinitely. He charges down the valley.''
----
''If the Chief exits (or is knocked out of) the Ghost:''


''John's energy shields are depleted, but his Ghost's boost drive is stronger, allowing him to boost faster and for a indefinite time. He continues down the valley.''
* '''Cortana''': "Chief, what are you doing?"
----
''Another Phantom crashes into the canyon.''  


''If the player exits the Ghost:''
* '''Cortana''': "Keep going! Keep going!"
*'''Cortana''': "Chief, what are you doing?"


''John encounters numerous Unggoy running for their lives. He speeds past them.''
''John encounters numerous Unggoy running for their lives. He speeds past them.''


*'''Cortana''': "Keep going! Keep going!"
''The canyon is rapidly disintegrating around John as the gravity well grows stronger, sucking chunks of rock upwards. As he enters a cave, Cortana picks up another transmission from Del Rio.''
 
* '''Cortana''': "Emergency broadcast from ''Infinity''!"
 
* '''Del Rio (COM)''': "FLEETCOM, this is ''Infinity''. We are encountering an unidentifiable gravimetric disturbance and are being pulled ''inside'' a planet of ''Forerunner'' origin! Possible contact with the UNSC ''Forward Unto Dawn''! Jettisoning complete [[log buoy|log beacons]] at our last known!"
 
* '''John-117''': "Cortana, we need to get up there."
 
* '''Cortana''': "It's not like I can get out and push!"


''He goes through a cave.''
''John advances through the imploding caves, chasms and valleys, passing by more fleeing Unggoy along the way.''


*'''Cortana''': "Emergency broadcast from ''Infinity''!"
* '''Cortana''': "The core's not going to last much longer!"


*'''Andrew Del Rio (COM)''': "Fleet com, this is ''Infinity''. We are encountering an unidentifiable gravimetric disturbance and are being pulled inside a planet of Forerunner origin! Possible contact with UNSC ''Forward Unto Dawn''! Jettisoning complete log beacon at our last known!"
''John drives over a chasm, revealing a large portal up ahead.''


*'''John-117''': "Cortana, we need to get up there."
* '''Cortana''': "Portal, up ahead!"


*'''Cortana''': "It's not like I can get out and push!"
''The Ghost enters the portal. As it leaves the ground for the last time in the core, John's shield recharges.''


''John drives through chasms, caves and valleys.''
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ELmZ-HiaWA '''{''Cutscene''}''']


*'''Cortana''': "The core's not going to last much longer!"
[[File:H4-E3-Campaign-4.jpg|thumb|300px|The ''Infinity'' emerges inside Requiem.]]


''John drives over a chasm and a portal could be seen ahead.''
''A portal opens near a rocky cliff, spitting out John's Ghost. The edge of the cliff is rapidly approaching.''


*'''Cortana''': "Portal up ahead!"
* '''Cortana''': "Whoa, cowboy!"


''The Ghost enters the portal.''
''John quickly vaults on top of the Ghost, then kick-jumps off of it, coming to a stop inches away from the edge. The Ghost plummets into the fog below and explodes.''


[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ELmZ-HiaWA '''{''Cutscene''}''']
* '''Cortana''': "Chief, there!"
 
''John looks up and sees the massive UNSC ''Infinity'' emerging from the clouds, electricity sparkling around the hull. The ship leaves the cloud layer and draws closer to the Chief.''
 
* '''Del Rio (COM)''': "Mayday! Mayday! This is the captain of the UNSC ''Infinity''. Unknown entity has seized control of our ship! We're without power, and on a collision course with an unidentified Forerunner planet!"
 
''The ''Infinity'' speeds past the Chief's position and descends into the jungles ahead.''


''A portal opens near a rocky cliff, spitting out John's Ghost. He sees the edge of the cliff approaching rapidly.''
* '''John-117''': "Track its descent."


*'''Cortana''': "Whoa, cowboy!"
[[File:H4 - Cryptum.png|thumb|300px|The Cryptum towers over the Master Chief.]]


''He stands atop the Ghost, then kick-jumps off of it, landing and coming to a stop inches from the edge. The Ghost tumbles away into the fog below.''
* '''Cortana''': "Marking. Impact predicted [[Seven|77.8]] kilometers due north."


*'''Cortana''': "Chief, there!"
''John watches as the ''Infinity'' descends. The air begins to waver and distort behind him as the Cryptum rises from below the cliff edge. John quickly turns back and readies his assault rifle in alarm. The Cryptum sends out a scanning pulse, then zooms away to the ''Infinity'' at supersonic speed.''


''John looks up and sees the UNSC Infinity emerging from the clouds. Electric sparkles around the ship. The ship leaves the cloud layer and draws closer to him. The ship tumbles over him and past the mountain range.''
* '''Cortana''': "You know where he's heading..."


* '''Andrew Del Rio (COM)''': "Mayday! Mayday! This is the captain of the ''UNSC Infinity''. Unknown enemy has seized control of the ship - we're without power! We are on a collision course with an unidentified Forerunner planet..."
* '''John-117''': "Same place we are."


*'''John-117''': "Track its descent."
''John walks directly towards the camera.''


*'''Cortana''': "Marking. Impact predicted [[List of references to "seven" in the Halo series|seventy-seven]]-point-eight kilometers due north."
''Cut to black. Level ends.''


''John watches as the ''Infinity'' descends. The air begins to waver and distort behind him as Didact's Cryptum rises from beyond the cliff edge. John turns back and unholsters his assault rifle in alarm. The Cyptum scans the mountain he is on. The sphere then zooms away to the direction of the ''Infinity'' at supersonic speed.''
== Trivia ==
===Easter eggs===
* A Legendary-only easter egg allows the player to [[Incineration Cannons on Forerunner|spawn nine]] [[Z-390 incineration cannon|Incineration Cannon]]s in the mission.<ref name="easteregg">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ku5GwTzc_-Q '''YouTube''' - ''Halo 4 Incineration Cannons Easter Egg on Forerunner'']</ref>
* Another Legendary-only easter egg allows the player to [[Hidden weapons caches on Forerunner|spawn two hidden weapons caches]], one with Incineration Cannons and another with [[Z-750 binary rifle|Binary Rifle]]s, near the Cryptum.<ref name="easteregg2">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uv49Bo5kQSA '''YouTube''' - ''Halo 4 - Secret Weapons Cache Easter Egg'']</ref>


*'''Cortana''': "You know where he's heading..."
=== Glitches ===
* During the final segment of the mission, the player can occasionally cause a glitch in the game by ramming a rock with a boosting Ghost right as the rock juts into the air. This will launch the Ghost and the player up into the air and out of the map, where they will continue to fall below the map for several seconds before the game reverts to last checkpoint.
* Sometimes, during the Ghost segment, John-117's shields will not be drained and diverted to the Ghost's engines. If this happens, sometimes dialogue during this segment will not play.


*'''John-117''': "Same place we are."
=== Mistakes ===
* The Covenant ships that slip inside the core take a substantial amount of time moving to the second pylon and satellite, but when you go through the teleporters, they are much closer.
* During the cutscene where the Didact is freed, the two Elites besides the Promethean Knights are both shown with energy swords. In a later shot, one of the Elites is shown with a Needler instead.
* In the final cutscene, [[Captain]] [[Andrew Del Rio]] states that the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} is without power. However, the ship's engines are clearly powered up as it passes over the Master Chief.


''John walks toward the camera. Fade to black. Level ends.''
=== Miscellaneous ===
* In co-op mode, players who die during the Ghost escape sequence will respawn already riding a new Ghost, to prevent death from making it impossible to finish the level.
* The animation of the Promethean Knight leaping onto John is changed if the level is played with the [[Halo 4 skulls#Black Eye|Black Eye]] skull on. In the alternate animation, it shoots the player after being kicked off to ensure your shields don't recharge from your melee.
** Rarely, though, in the ''Halo: The Master Chief Collection'' version of ''Halo 4'', even if the player has the Black Eye skull on, the default animation will still play and John's shields will still recharge like normal, thus causing all dialogue between this sequence and the next sequence to not play.
* In the section where the [[Promethean Knight|Knight]] kills the Elite drivers of the Ghosts, the Ghosts to be hovering; also if the player touches them they will fall to the ground as any other vehicle would.
* The two paths to the Cryptum on "Almost Home" reverse the battles between the Covenant and the Prometheans. On the left path, the Prometheans appear to be winning. On the right path, the Covenant appear to be winning.
* The map profile image for this level can be found under the name "Forerunners" through the Halo Waypoint website, indicating that the title for the level may have originally been plural.
* During the first playthrough of the level on a given [[Xbox 360]], an extended pickup animation will play for each Forerunner weapon the first time it is acquired. The animations will not appear on subsequent playthroughs unless one clears all ''Halo 4'' data from the console's system cache. The same is true of Cortana's unique dialog regarding the terminal on the level ''[[Requiem (level)|Requiem]]'', as well as the very first appearance of terminals throughout the campaign.
**In the ''Master Chief Collection'' version of ''Halo 4'', the pickup animation of the Forerunner weapons will play in every level, but only if the player chooses the level in which they will play; if the player plays the campaign from the start, without losing progress, or choosing another level during the play, the animations won't play.


==Trivia==
===Glitches===
*During the final segment of the mission, the player can occasionally cause a glitch in the game by ramming a rock with a boosting Ghost right as the rock juts into the air. This will launch the Ghost and the player up into the air and out of the map, where they will continue to fall below the map for several seconds before the game reverts to last checkpoint.
===Mistakes===
*During the cutscene where the the Didact is freed, the two Elites besides the Promethean Knights are both shown with energy swords. In a later shot, one of the Elites is shown with a Needler instead.
===Miscellaneous===
*In co-op mode, players who die during the Ghost escape sequence will respawn already riding a new Ghost, to prevent death from making it impossible to finish the level.
==Gallery==
==Gallery==
===Concept art===
<gallery>
File:H4-Concept-Requiem-Interior.jpg|Early concept art of the level.
File:H4-Concept-Requiem-Interior-2.jpg|Early concept art of the level.
File:H4 Requiem InteriorCore Concept.jpg|Concept art of the level.
File:Halo4conceptart10.jpg|Early concept art of the level.
File:H4 RequiemCore Early Concept 1.jpg|Early concept art of the level.
File:H4 RequiemCore Early Concept 2.jpg|Early concept art of the level.
File:H4 RequiemCore Early Concept 3.jpg|Early concept art of the level.
File:H4 Beam Pylon concept art.jpg|Early concept art of the pylon.
File:H4-Concept-RequiemPylon.jpg|Finalized concept art of a pylon.
File:H4-Concept-Pylons-Core.jpg|Finalized concept art of Requiem's core, with the pylons rising out of the cliffs.
File:H4 Concept ForerunnerPylon.png|Concept art of a pylon in the distance.
File:H4-Concept-Pylon-Emitter.jpg|Concept art of a pylon's beam emitter.
File:H4-Concept-Forerunner-Cryptum.jpg|Concept art of the Cryptum.
File:H4 DidactAwakening Concept 1.jpg|Early concept art of the Didact's awakening from the Cryptum.
File:H4 DidactAwakening Concept 2.jpg|Early concept art of the Didact's awakening from the Cryptum.
File:H4_EarlyCryptumPlatform_Concept_1.jpg|Early concept sketches of the Didact's Cryptum platform, at the level's end.
File:H4_EarlyCryptumPlatform_Concept_2.jpg|Early concept sketches of the Didact's Cryptum platform, at the level's end.
File:H4 CryptumFrame Concept.jpg|Concept art of the Cryptum's frame at the level's end.
</gallery>
===Screenshots===
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:Unknown Forerunner Structure.jpg|One of the beam towers.
File:2821560-gallery.jpg|John-117 facing a Forerunner [[door]] in a cavern.
File:2821570-gallery.jpg|John-117 in action wielding a [[Z-250 Directed Energy Engagement Weapon|Lightrifle]].
File:2821561-gallery.jpg|A first-person view of John-117 observing one of the pylons from a distance.
File:2821559-gallery.jpg|The player wielding a Lightrifle in first person.
File:HTMCC-H4 Promethean Crawler.png|Crawlers climbing down a wall.
File:2821560-gallery.jpg|The player facing a Forerunner [[door]] in a cavern.
File:HTMCC-H4 PressKit Knight.jpg|A [[Promethean Knight]] screeches.
File:2821563-gallery.jpg|First-person view of the player fighting a [[Promethean Knight]] and a [[Promethean Watcher|Watcher]].
File:2821559-gallery.jpg|John-117 wielding a lightrifle in first-person.
File:2821561-gallery.jpg|A first-person view of the player observing one of the pylons from a distance.
File:HTMCC-H4 PressKit Chief&Knight.jpg|A Promethean Knight wrestles with John-117.
File:2821562-gallery.jpg|The player near the entrance to one of the pylons.
File:2821563-gallery.jpg|First-person view of John-117 fighting a [[Promethean Knight]] and a [[Promethean Watcher|Watcher]].
File:H4-ForerunnerCryptum-Campaign.jpg|Didact's dormant Cryptum.
File:HTMCC-H4 Battlewagon Knight.png|A Knight and a Watcher.
File:H4-Concept-RequiemPylon.jpg|Concept art of a Forerunner pylon on the level ''Forerunner''.
File:HTMCC-H4 ShieldPylon.png|A view of the shield pylon.
File:H4 Beam Pylon concept art.jpg|Concept art of the Forerunner pylon seen on ''Forerunner''.
File:2821562-gallery.jpg|John-117 near the entrance to one of the pylons.
File:H4-ForerunnerPylon-Detail.jpg|Close-up view of one of the Forerunner pylons.
File:HTMCC-H4 Reclaimer glyph pylon.png|The Reclaimer symbol on the pylon's interface.
File:HTMCC-H4 PressKit Cryptum.jpg|The [[Ur-Didact]]'s [[Cryptum]].
File:Woah, Cowboy.png|John-117 almost falls off a cliff with his Ghost.
File:H4-E3-Campaign-2.jpg|John-117, moments before the ''Infinity'' arrives inside Requiem.
File:Chief_at_cliff.png|John-117 raises his assault rifle at the Cryptum.
</gallery>
</gallery>


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


{{Level|H4}}
{{succession box | before = ''[[Requiem (level)|Requiem]]'' <br />| title = ''Halo 4'' Campaign Missions | years = '''''Forerunner''''' |after = ''[[Infinity (Halo 4 level)|Infinity]]''}}
[[Category:Halo 4 Campaign]]
{{Levels|H4}}
[[Category:Halo 4 campaign]]

Latest revision as of 09:34, June 28, 2024

Prev:

Requiem

Next:

Infinity

Forerunner
H4 Forerunner Loadscreen.png

Game:

Halo 4

File name (?):

m30_cryptum[1]

Player:

Master Chief

Date:

July 21, 2557

Location:

Core of Requiem

Objective(s):

Disable the two relay pylons, reach the satellite, and warn the UNSC Infinity.

Par Time:

00:20:00 (Master Chief Collection-only)

Par Score:

25,000 (Master Chief Collection-only)

Main-Legendary.png

Halopedia has a walkthrough guide for this level; see Forerunner (level)/Walkthrough.

 
Master Chief tracks the Infinity's signal to Requiem's core in the hopes of returning Cortana to Earth to address her rampancy.

Forerunner is the fourth campaign level of Halo 4, and the third one with actual gameplay.[2]

Completing the level earns the player the "Forerunner" achievement, worth 10 Gamerscore points. The level-exclusive achievement "This is my Rifle, This is my Gun" is awarded for carrying a UNSC weapon all the way through the level on Heroic or Legendary, worth 20 Gamerscore points.[3]

In Halo: The Master Chief Collection, "Forerunner" and "This is my Rifle, this is my Gun", unlockable with the same respective criteria, are now worth 10 Gamerscore points. "Lord of Admirals", worth 5 Gamerscore points, is awarded for finding and accessing the terminal in the level. Beating the level's 20 minute par time and 22,000 point par score unlocks "Raging in the Dark" and "Shadow of Sundered Star", respectively, each worth 10 Gamerscore points.

Summary[edit]

The level is mainly set in a rocky region under the habitable surface of the shield world Requiem, as well as a series of Forerunner structures, including two relay pylons and a satellite station inside the shell enveloping the shield world. The prototype UNSC warship UNSC Infinity has arrived near Requiem to investigate Cortana's distress beacon, and the Master Chief must disable two beam towers that are causing communications interference preventing Cortana from contacting the Infinity in order to warn the ship about Requiem's defenses. During the level, the player faces opposition from both the Prometheans occupying the shield world as well as Covenant remnant forces. The assault on the first pylon primarily involves combat on foot, while the second one is more vehicle-focused. After deactivating the second beam tower, the Chief uses a series of translocation portals to reach what Cortana assumes to be a relay satellite, while Covenant remnant warships converge on the same location; instead of a communications relay, however, the satellite turns out to house a Cryptum.[4] The finale of the level introduces the primary antagonist of the game,[5] the Promethean leader known as the Didact.[2] With Requiem's core collapsing, the Master Chief flees to a portal back to the surface on a Ghost, arriving in time to witness the Infinity, out of control, coming through Requiem's atmosphere broadcasting a distress signal. With the Didact's Cryptum chasing the Infinity, the Master Chief sets out to help the stricken ship.

Transcript[edit]

{Gameplay}

The slipspace portal delivers John into a small Forerunner room. Four autosentry units line the walls.

  • Cortana: "Some sort of advanced defense AIs. Related to the Sentinels, I'm guessing, but it's hard to say without a closer look. C'mon, let's figure out where that transit system dumped us."

John-117 leaves the room and enters a platform inside Requiem's core - a hollow sphere of gigantic proportions.

BURIED AND FORGOTTEN[edit]

Cortana observing the core of Requiem.
  • Cortana: "Put me in the console."

John approaches a console at the end of the platform and inserts Cortana's data crystal chip into it.

{Cutscene}

John and Cortana observe the area. A distant purple sphere hovers in an otherwise empty expanse, with two energy beams anchoring it to the core's inner surface.

  • John-117: "Where's Infinity?"
  • Cortana: "This is Requiem's core, all right, but Infinity is definitely not here."

Cortana brings up a holographic panel in front of her.

  • Cortana: "That satellite in the center is amplifying the ship's broadcasts like a relay."
  • John-117: "Maybe we can use it to respond."
  • Cortana: "Perhaps."

Cortana access several other options on the screen.

  • Cortana: "Those beams coming off of it are creating the interference we've been experiencing. We'd have to take them out to contact Infinity."
  • John-117: "Can you get us there?"

Cortana presses a final prompt, opening a nearby translocation portal.

  • Cortana: "Opening a gate to the first beam pylon. Pull me, and let's go."

John retrieves Cortana from the terminal and readies his rifle.

{Gameplay}

John enters the portal and arrives at a small hallway.

  • John-117: "This is the first pylon?"

The Chief exits into a tight canyon. A schematic is displayed on his HUD, showing the path to the pylon.

  • Cortana: "Negative, this is as close as I could get us. Hope you don't mind hoofing it a little."
The first pylon, looming over the cliffs.

The Chief exits into a small valley, where mechanical quadrupeds are crawling over the rocks. The nearby skyline is dominated by the pylon.

  • Cortana: "Contacts!"

The automatons hastily retreat as John approaches. He continues on, encountering more of them in the next valley.

  • Cortana: "And they're back! Coming down the walls!"

John quickly defeats the Crawlers and resumes his journey.

  • John-117: "Those weren't the same things we saw in the Terminus."
  • Cortana: "Similar cortical footprints as the tower AIs... They're connected, all right."

John activates a hard light bridge. Crossing the bridge, he enters another valley.

  • Cortana: "Look out!"

{Cutscene}

John looks up just in time to see a Promethean Knight crashing down from above. The Knight knocks John on the ground, emptying his shields, and screams; its faceplate splits open, revealing a glowing blue skull that is disturbingly human. John punches the Knight's head and then kicks its abdomen, knocking the machine off him. Snarling, the Knight quickly teleports away.

  • Cortana: "Well he's just a ray of sunshine, isn't he?"

{Gameplay}

  • Cortana: "From that peek under the hood, I'd say these constructs must be mimetic in nature."
Multiple Knights observe the Chief's progress from the cliffs.

John arrives at a cliff edge. Knights are seen phasing away from the opposite rocks.

  • John-117: "More of them?"
  • Cortana: "Similar phasing activity at the edge of our sensors. We're about to get busy!"

John enters another small valley. A Knight teleports into the area as Crawlers come into view. The Knight releases a Promethean Watcher from its back and attacks the Chief, as several other Knights observe from atop the canyon. John eventually eliminates all hostiles, causing the observing Knights to teleport away. The Chief enters a doorway on the far side of the valley, which leads into a hallway stocked with Forerunner ordnance.

  • Cortana: "I've discovered something interesting about our new friends. When the big ones explode, that momentary flash we're seeing is actually a data purge."

A schematic of a Knight is displayed. As the Knight dissolves, a data stream is extracted and translated by Cortana.

  • John-117: "Can you tap into it?"
  • Cortana: "So far, I've pulled multiple strings referring to the big ones as "Promethean Knights". Beyond that, though, things get a bit dense."

The Chief exits into a large cavern, disposing of more Knights and Crawlers along the way. As he approaches a raised platform, he picks up a garbled transmission from Captain Del Rio over the COM.

  • Cortana: "The relay interference is increasing. We must be getting close to the pylon."

More Prometheans occupy the area below. After wiping out the opposition, John's HUD is distorted by purple static.

  • John-117: "What's that distortion?"
  • Cortana: "...that's me. Something about moving through those portals is increasing the load on my systems."
  • John-117: "Are you...going to be alright?"
  • Cortana: "Don't worry. I've held off rampancy this long, haven't I?"

If the Chief stalls:

  • Cortana: "Chief, we won't be able to contact Infinity if we don't get to that pylon and take it down."

Armed with a lightrifle, the unshielded Chief engages a pack of Crawlers.

On the far side of the depression is a rocky path, which leads up to the exit; the second terminal lies below this path. After traversing another tunnel, John finally arrives at the pylon. The walkway leading to the top is blocked by hardlight shields.

  • Cortana: "That's the target, but it looks like the entrance is shielded. Let's figure out how to take it down."

John explores the area, engaging more Prometheans, and eventually finds an energy sphere in one of the smaller structures.

  • Cortana: "One of the shield's power cores. Take it out!"

John destroys the sphere.

  • Cortana: "I read two more cores on our level. Hit them before you climb all the way up."

John continues on and destroys the second core in another structure.

  • Cortana: "Well done, Chief! One to go."

John destroys the last core.

  • Cortana: "Great, that's all the cores. Head for the top of the pylon."

John heads up the main structure. Two more Knights phase in to block the pylon entrance, but are quickly defeated.

  • Cortana: "Chief, look at this:"

A schematic is displayed as another garbled transmission from Del Rio plays in the background, displaying the Infinity approaching Requiem's entrance portal.

  • Cortana: "That's Requiem! They're not inside at all...they're moving into orbit."

John enters an elevator, which starts up to the top of the pylon.

The video feed is briefly superimposed by the same orange glyph encountered at the Cartographer.

  • John-117: "Did he say Forward Unto Dawn?"
  • John-117: "The beacon was pulled into Requiem with us. If they try to follow it..."
  • Cortana: "...they'll get caught in the gravity well. I'll keep trying to warn them; you just get that beam down!"

The elevator stops and the doors open. A rotating mechanism is projecting the energy beam into the distant satellite. A small console stands directly in front of the beam emitter.

  • Cortana: "That's the beam control!"

{Cutscene}

Forerunner beam pylon controls
Shield pylon controls for the first pylon.

John pulls out a metal shaft inside the console, reorients it to a horizontal position, then slams the cylinder back in. The beam emitter deactivates and retracts into the floor.

  • Cortana: "It's working. The signal from the relay is starting to clear up."
  • Del Rio (COM): "FLEETCOM Actual, we've detected a UNSC beacon coming from somewhere inside the planet-"

{Gameplay}

  • John-117: "They haven't hit the gravity well yet."

A portal activates on the far side of the chamber.

  • Cortana: "There's still too much interference to warn them. We've got to disable that other beam before they're pulled in like we were."

John is returned to his starting point. With the first pylon disabled, only half of the energy field surrounding the satellite remains active. As the Chief approaches the console, three Zanar-pattern light cruisers and their Phantom escorts drop out of slipspace inside the core. They rapidly close in on the second pylon.

ENEMY OF MY ENEMY[edit]

Two Watchers protecting a Knight Battlewagon.
  • Cortana: "I was wondering why Infinity hadn't encountered the Covenant yet."
  • John-117: "What are they doing here?"
  • Cortana: "They're heading to the second pylon as well!"
  • John-117: "That can't be a coincidence."

Cortana activates a second portal, transporting John to a small cavern. Another schematic is displayed, showing the path to the pylon.

  • Cortana: "Sounds like the Prometheans don't want the Covenant here, either. The battlenet's already lighting up with reports of resistance all around the pylon."

John drops down an opening in the rocks and arrives in a large valley. One of the light cruisers moves into position, dispensing drop pods into the area. Covenant troops leave the pod and immediately engage patrolling Prometheans.

  • Cortana: "Drop pods!"

John moves up to a raised path on the opposite side of the valley. A Promethean Knight phases in behind a Sangheili and stabs him in the back. John eliminates the Knight and moves on. A group of Watchers enters the area; one of them generates a Forerunner beam turret, which opens fire on both the Chief and Covenant infantry. After dispatching all hostiles in the valley, John enters the adjacent valley.

Two Ghosts speed past John, but a Knight swiftly cuts down both drivers with its blade. After killing the Knight, John boards one of the Ghosts and speeds through the valley, past Covenant and Promethean infantry battling for control. Another unintelligible transmission from Del Rio is received just before John reaches the exit tunnel.

  • Cortana: "The relay's signal is breaking up again. We're almost to the beam."

The garbled video feed switches to a diagram, showing the Infinity moving into Requiem's open entrance portal.

  • Cortana: "They've found the opening! We better get up to that relay, and fast!"
The second pylon, occupied by Covenant troops.

John arrives at the second pylon. The area is occupied by Covenant infantry, supported by Banshees and Ghosts. John finds the first power core and disables it, liquidating the opposition along the way.

  • Cortana: "Power core down. Shield's weak, but still online. Take out the other two power cores and we can access the pylon."

John moves on to destroy the second power core.

  • Cortana: "Second power core offline. Good job, Chief!"

John disables the final power core.

  • Cortana: "That'll do it. Shields should be down. Get up to that beam!"

John reaches the top of the main structure, battling past several Sangheili and enters the elevator.

  • Del Rio (Video COM): "UNSC Infinity to survivor, Forward Unto Dawn. Reading a faint IFF tag near the planetary core, do you read?"
  • Cortana: "The planet's core? They know we're here! Infinity, this is UNSC AI Cortana. Do not approach Forerunner planet! Repeat, do not approach-"
  • Del Rio (Video COM): "Infinity to UNSC asset! Forward Unto Dawn! We read you, but you're breaking up! Helm, increase speed by point-seven. Get us in there."
  • Cortana: "Negative, Infinity! Do not enter the planet!"
  • Del Rio (Video COM): "If you can hear us, keep transmitting."
  • Cortana: "No! Chief, you've got to get that beam down now!"

The elevator stops, and John emerges into the emitter chamber.

{Cutscene}

John deactivates the second pylon, using the same method as the first.

{Gameplay}

  • Cortana: "Cortana to Infinity, do you copy? Come in, Infinity! The interference is gone, but your suit's transmitter's not strong enough."
  • John-117: "Route us up to the relay satellite."
  • Cortana: "Already done! Go!"

A portal appears at the end of the chamber. John heads in and phases back to the starting point. With both pylons disabled, the energy field surrounding the satellite is now completely gone. A large portal activates on the far side of the platform.

  • Cortana: "Once we're on the satellite, there's bound to be a central control point."

Covenant light cruisers depart from the second pylon and reverse towards the satellite.

  • John-117: "The Covenant are moving towards the relay, too."
  • Cortana: "This doesn't make any sense! Why would they care about a broadcast relay?"
  • John-117: "I'll handle them; you just find us that control node."

John enters the portal and is brought to the satellite. The central chamber is dominated by an ominous grey sphere, engraved with orange patterns.

ALMOST HOME[edit]

The Ur-Didact's Cryptum in Requiem's core.
The Didact's dormant Cryptum.

A Phantom arrives and drops off an Unggoy lance, with one Kig-Yar Sniper. They are quickly disposed of.

  • John-117: "How soon 'til Infinity hits the gravity well?"
  • Cortana: "A minute or two, max! The Covenant are making a push for something on the far side of the satellite."

If the Chief approaches the orb:

  • John-117: "Is that the signal relay?"
  • Cortana: "Yes. Now we just have to hope we can use it to warn Infinity before it's too late!"

Two doorways lie opposite each other, leading to opposite sides of the chamber. John can enter either; on the left side, the Prometheans are using their superior weapons to keep the Covenant intruders at bay. On the right side, Promethean forces are being forced back by the numerically superior Covenant. The Chief advances through the chaos, eventually reaching a walkway leading up to the orb.

  • Cortana: "Chief, you need to hear this!"
  • Infinity Communications (COM): "We're detecting a slight gravimetric disturbance near the planetary entrance. Suggest altering approach vector: 43K-750K-12K."
  • Cortana: "They're not diverting from the opening! Hurry, Chief!"

John arrives at the far side of the satellite, where several Sangheili are combating Promethean Knights, including Endurance-of-Will.[6] He quickly eliminates the last hostiles in the area. Two small pillars imprinted with the Reclaimer symbol stands on the far end of the walkway.

  • Cortana: "Wait! Something's not right-"
  • John-117: "We don't have time!"
  • Cortana: "The pillars! Touch the pillars!"

{Cutscene}

The Cryptum's occupant is set free after a hundred thousand years of slumber.

John places his hands on each pillar.

John's own speech is distorted and amplified back at him. The sphere slowly rises, emanating an orange glow. John stares at it in confusion.

  • John-117: "Infinity? Do you read?"

Again, John's words are distorted and amplified back to him. The sphere continues to rise, its black plating folding away to reveal a glowing orange core. Below the Chief, both Covenant and Promethean forces cease fighting and look upwards as the Cryptum is set free.

  • Cortana: "Chief...Chief, let go of the contacts!"

John quickly pulls his hands away from the pillars, proceeding to ready his assault rifle.

  • John-117: "Find us an exit."
  • Cortana: "Don't wait around on my account..."

John leaps off the platform just as the Cryptum releases an orange energy wave, knocking the Covenant and Prometheans off their feet. John takes cover behind a small barrier, peeking over to observe the sphere.

A small triangular capsule lowers itself out of the Cryptum's bottom opening. The capsule opens up to reveal a kneeling humanoid figure. Upon seeing him, John ducks back behind the barrier. The figure stands up and flexes his muscles. His customized combat skin assembles itself around him. Once fully armored, the figure assesses his surroundings.

The Ur-Didact waves his hand, creating a shimmering wave over the nearby Prometheans; their blue highlights turn orange, signifying his control over them. The Sangheili bow down in reverence of their living god.

The Ur-Didact's platform floats toward the Chief's position. He looks at John disdainfully.

  • Ur-Didact: "Even these beasts recognized what you were oblivious to, human. Your nobility has blinded you...as ever."

The metal barrier shielding John disintegrates. John immediately raises his rifle, but the Forerunner simply reaches out and telekinetically binds him. The helpless John is lifted to face the Didact.

  • Ur-Didact: "The Librarian left little to chance, didn't she? Turning my own guardians - my own world - against me." (looks down at the Prometheans, then looks back at John) "But what hubris to believe she could protect her pets from me forever. If you haven't mastered even these primitives (looks down at the Sangheili), then Man has not attained the Mantle. Your ascendance may yet be prevented."

The Ur-Didact pulls John in closer.

The Ur-Didact holding John-117 in a constraint field.
The Chief is rendered helpless by the Didact's constraint field.

The Ur-Didact summons his helmet, which assembles itself to resemble a glowing metal skull. John struggles futilely against his grip.

  • Ur-Didact: "This tomb...is now yours."

The Ur-Didact tosses John away, slamming him against a wall. He crashes onto the floor. The Spartan groans and forces himself back up, seeing the Ur-Didact retreat back into the rising Cryptum, now surrounded by swirling energy.

  • Cortana: "Slipspace rupture! Chief, move!"

John runs for his life. The Cryptum's energy glows increasingly bright, then explodes with a blinding flash. Cut to black.

  • Cortana: "Chief, please! We've got to go!"

Fade in to John's HUD, slowly coming to. He's back in the canyon.

  • Cortana: "That...Didact. He manipulated Infinity's signal to get us to release him! Get up!"

John regains full consciousness and quickly forces himself up.

  • John-117: "What's happening?"

John looks up to see a swirling energy field forming above him. A light cruiser is sucked into the breach, alongside masses of debris.

  • Cortana: "Moving the satellite into slipspace destabilized the core."

A nearby Phantom is pulled into the field as well, smashing into another Phantom in the process. Both crash into the canyon walls, their Ghost complement spilling out ahead of the Chief.

  • Cortana: "The Didact's leaving! We've got to find a portal out of here before the whole network collapses!"

NEXT STOP, CERTAIN DEATH[edit]

{Gameplay}

John heads to the Phantom's crash site. All of the Ghosts are still intact.

  • Cortana: "Grab one of those Ghosts!"

John boards the Ghost and begins to drive down the valley.

  • Cortana: "Hang on, I'm going to channel energy from your shields to overdrive the Ghost's boost."

John's energy shields are depleted, but his Ghost can boost faster and indefinitely. He charges down the valley.


If the Chief exits (or is knocked out of) the Ghost:

  • Cortana: "Chief, what are you doing?"

Another Phantom crashes into the canyon.

  • Cortana: "Keep going! Keep going!"

John encounters numerous Unggoy running for their lives. He speeds past them.

The canyon is rapidly disintegrating around John as the gravity well grows stronger, sucking chunks of rock upwards. As he enters a cave, Cortana picks up another transmission from Del Rio.

  • Cortana: "Emergency broadcast from Infinity!"
  • Del Rio (COM): "FLEETCOM, this is Infinity. We are encountering an unidentifiable gravimetric disturbance and are being pulled inside a planet of Forerunner origin! Possible contact with the UNSC Forward Unto Dawn! Jettisoning complete log beacons at our last known!"
  • John-117: "Cortana, we need to get up there."
  • Cortana: "It's not like I can get out and push!"

John advances through the imploding caves, chasms and valleys, passing by more fleeing Unggoy along the way.

  • Cortana: "The core's not going to last much longer!"

John drives over a chasm, revealing a large portal up ahead.

  • Cortana: "Portal, up ahead!"

The Ghost enters the portal. As it leaves the ground for the last time in the core, John's shield recharges.

{Cutscene}

The Infinity emerges inside Requiem.

A portal opens near a rocky cliff, spitting out John's Ghost. The edge of the cliff is rapidly approaching.

  • Cortana: "Whoa, cowboy!"

John quickly vaults on top of the Ghost, then kick-jumps off of it, coming to a stop inches away from the edge. The Ghost plummets into the fog below and explodes.

  • Cortana: "Chief, there!"

John looks up and sees the massive UNSC Infinity emerging from the clouds, electricity sparkling around the hull. The ship leaves the cloud layer and draws closer to the Chief.

  • Del Rio (COM): "Mayday! Mayday! This is the captain of the UNSC Infinity. Unknown entity has seized control of our ship! We're without power, and on a collision course with an unidentified Forerunner planet!"

The Infinity speeds past the Chief's position and descends into the jungles ahead.

  • John-117: "Track its descent."
The Cryptum towers over the Master Chief.
  • Cortana: "Marking. Impact predicted 77.8 kilometers due north."

John watches as the Infinity descends. The air begins to waver and distort behind him as the Cryptum rises from below the cliff edge. John quickly turns back and readies his assault rifle in alarm. The Cryptum sends out a scanning pulse, then zooms away to the Infinity at supersonic speed.

  • Cortana: "You know where he's heading..."
  • John-117: "Same place we are."

John walks directly towards the camera.

Cut to black. Level ends.

Trivia[edit]

Easter eggs[edit]

Glitches[edit]

  • During the final segment of the mission, the player can occasionally cause a glitch in the game by ramming a rock with a boosting Ghost right as the rock juts into the air. This will launch the Ghost and the player up into the air and out of the map, where they will continue to fall below the map for several seconds before the game reverts to last checkpoint.
  • Sometimes, during the Ghost segment, John-117's shields will not be drained and diverted to the Ghost's engines. If this happens, sometimes dialogue during this segment will not play.

Mistakes[edit]

  • The Covenant ships that slip inside the core take a substantial amount of time moving to the second pylon and satellite, but when you go through the teleporters, they are much closer.
  • During the cutscene where the Didact is freed, the two Elites besides the Promethean Knights are both shown with energy swords. In a later shot, one of the Elites is shown with a Needler instead.
  • In the final cutscene, Captain Andrew Del Rio states that the UNSC Infinity is without power. However, the ship's engines are clearly powered up as it passes over the Master Chief.

Miscellaneous[edit]

  • In co-op mode, players who die during the Ghost escape sequence will respawn already riding a new Ghost, to prevent death from making it impossible to finish the level.
  • The animation of the Promethean Knight leaping onto John is changed if the level is played with the Black Eye skull on. In the alternate animation, it shoots the player after being kicked off to ensure your shields don't recharge from your melee.
    • Rarely, though, in the Halo: The Master Chief Collection version of Halo 4, even if the player has the Black Eye skull on, the default animation will still play and John's shields will still recharge like normal, thus causing all dialogue between this sequence and the next sequence to not play.
  • In the section where the Knight kills the Elite drivers of the Ghosts, the Ghosts to be hovering; also if the player touches them they will fall to the ground as any other vehicle would.
  • The two paths to the Cryptum on "Almost Home" reverse the battles between the Covenant and the Prometheans. On the left path, the Prometheans appear to be winning. On the right path, the Covenant appear to be winning.
  • The map profile image for this level can be found under the name "Forerunners" through the Halo Waypoint website, indicating that the title for the level may have originally been plural.
  • During the first playthrough of the level on a given Xbox 360, an extended pickup animation will play for each Forerunner weapon the first time it is acquired. The animations will not appear on subsequent playthroughs unless one clears all Halo 4 data from the console's system cache. The same is true of Cortana's unique dialog regarding the terminal on the level Requiem, as well as the very first appearance of terminals throughout the campaign.
    • In the Master Chief Collection version of Halo 4, the pickup animation of the Forerunner weapons will play in every level, but only if the player chooses the level in which they will play; if the player plays the campaign from the start, without losing progress, or choosing another level during the play, the animations won't play.

Gallery[edit]

Concept art[edit]

Screenshots[edit]

Sources[edit]

Preceded by
Requiem
Halo 4 Campaign Missions
Forerunner
Succeeded by
Infinity