The Library (Level)

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The Library
Game:	Halo: Combat Evolved
Player:	Master Chief
Date:	September 20, 2552
Location:	Inside the Library of Installation 04
	Halopedia has a walkthrough guide for this level; see The Library (Level)/Walkthrough.

The Library is the seventh level in Halo:CE. It begins after 343 Guilty Spark teleports the Master Chief from the swamp he was in (part of the previous level) into the Library of Installation 04. Equipped initially with a Pistol and an Assault Rifle (Shotgun is primary for the second player in co-op) or with a Pistol and Shotgun on Easy difficulty, he must battle through four Flood-filled levels to reach the Index chamber. This is the first level where you encounter Carrier Forms. This is also the first and only level where Sentinels will be your allies for most of the level. And this is the only level that you're not fighting against the Covenant foes.

It should also be noted that this is one of the least popular levels in the Halo series. Many players find the layout confusing and repetitive. Also, as the only adversary in this level is the Flood, some players are thrown off by the dramatic changes in challenges, rhythm, and tactics in the level. After so much negative feedback, Bungie made the Library segment much shorter in its Halo 2 counterpart, Sacred Icon. However, some players like this level due to its difficulty and see it as a challenge. It is also very similar to the Halo 3 level Cortana. This is also the last level you will have allies.

Allies

• Forerunner
  • 343 Guilty Spark
  • Sentinels
  • Constructors

Usable Weapons

• Pistol
• Assault Rifle
• Rocket Launcher
• Shotgun
• Frag Grenade
• Plasma Pistol
• Plasma Rifle
• Needler
• Plasma Grenade

Transcript

The Library

{Cutscene}

(The view flythroughs of the main central chamber of the Installation, through a bizarre rotating doorway, to find 343 Guilty Spark and the Master Chief teleporting in.)

343 Guilty Spark: "We must collect the Index before we can activate the installation."

{Gameplay}

(Over the course of the level, 343 Guilty Spark mutters all sorts of random phrases. Here are most, if not all of them):

• "Huaaaaa, huaaaauuuuhummmmm."
• "Ahhhh...I, am a genius. Heeheeheehee!"
• "Ah."
• "Oh. Hello.
• "Hahahahaha!"
• "Oh, that's a good idea! (When you reach one of the rotating doors)
• "Reclaimer, we must keep moving! ...Reclaimer? (If you die)
• "Hmm, unfortunate (If you die)
• "I told you to upgrade to a class 12 combat skin!" (If you die)
• "Please stop being Human"(If you shoot him or the Sentinels)
• "That is totaly unnecessary" (If you shoot him)
• "We have much more important business here" (If you shoot him)
• "Please control your temper" (If you shoot him)
• "Are you finished yet?" (If you shoot him)

343 Guilty Spark: "We are near the Index chamber. Follow me."

When the Chief emerges into the large central chamber

343 Guilty Spark: "The energy field above us contains the Index. We must get up there."

(When the Chief comes to a huge door, which is locked)

343 Guilty Spark: "The security doors have sealed automatically. I will go access the override to open them."

(When Spark returns)

343 Guilty Spark: "Please, follow closely. This portal is the first of ten."

(If the Chief heads to the wrong way)

343 Guilty Spark: "That is not the correct direction, Reclaimer. If you do not follow me, you may become lost."

(As the Chief and Spark move into the next hallway)

343 Guilty Spark: "Puzzling. You brought such ineffective weapons to combat the Flood, despite the containment protocols."

(Upon moving down another hallway)

343 Guilty Spark: "The Flood must not escape the installation. They would consume all."

(Upon entering into another hallway)

343 Guilty Spark: "You can see how the body's been transformed by the genetic restructuring of the Flood infection. The small creatures carry spores that cause a host to mutate. The mutated host then produces spores that can pass the Flood to others. It is insidious and elegant. As long as any hosts remain, the Flood is virulent."

(As the Chief goes down yet another hallway)

343 Guilty Spark: "We must continue. This way please."

(Further down the another hallway)

343 Guilty Spark: "This installation's research facilities are most impressive! Perhaps we'll have time to see them later."

(As the Monitor Spark sends a squad of Sentinels to assist the Chief)

343 Guilty Spark: "These Sentinels will supplement your combat system. But, I suggest you upgrade to at least a Class Twelve combat skin. Your current model only scans as a Class Two, which is ill suited for this kind of work. "

(As the Chief nears the first platform lift)

343 Guilty Spark: "Pardon me. A plasma conduit breach in Section 5-5-2-4 has disrupted power flow to a gravitic maintenance assembly. Repairs require my attention. I will return soon."

(As the Chief rides the first lift to upstairs)

Wait, It Gets Worse!

Towards a little down the first hall of the second floor.

343 Guilty Spark: "Flood activity has caused a failure in a drone control subsystem. I must reset the backup unit. Please, continue on. I will rejoin you when I have completed my task."

The Monitor leaves temporaily, and soon returns to the Chief with the door open.

343 Guilty Spark: "The Sentinels can use their weapons to manage the Flood only for a short time. Speed is of the essence."

Once the Chief encounters another large door.

343 Guilty Spark: "Please wait here."

As Chief appoarches another hallway on the second floor.

343 Guilty Spark: "Your environment suit should serve you well when the Flood begins to alter the atmosphere. You are a good planner."

Into once again another hallway.

343 Guilty Spark: "The installation was well conceived. It is surely the only way to end the Flood threat."

The Chief finds and rides the second platform lift)

But I Don't Want To Ride The Elevator!

The Chief goes into the first hallway of the third floor.

343 Guilty Spark: "I would conjecture that the other species' currently on the installation is responsible for releasing the Flood. They seem most persistent in their attempts to access restricted areas."

The Chief comes into another hallway, but this time its large, open, cavernous.

343 Guilty Spark: "Why naturally the Flood is simply too dangerous to release, and mass sterilization protocols may again need to be enacted. Of course, samples were kept here after the last catastrophic outbreak...for study. It seems... that decision may have been an error."

The Chief encounters another hallway.

343 Guilty Spark: "The installation was specifically built to study and contain the Flood. Their survival as a race was dependent upon it. I am grateful to see that some of them survived to reproduce. "

The Chief reaches the third floor's locked door.

343 Guilty Spark: "I will deactivate the security lock. Wait here.'

Spark once again leaves and returns to the Master Chief."

The Chief encounters yet another hallway, but this time with slightly more Flood forms.

343 Guilty Spark: Please stay close. Time is short.

The Chief rides on the platform lift to the fourth floor.

Fourth Floor: Tools, Guns, Keys To Super Weapons

The Chief enters the first hallway of the fourth floor.

343 Guilty Spark: "The Flood are already hard at work repairing your vessel. Its parasitic nature belies the Flood's intelligence."

The Chief clears the route to the Index platform, fending off several remaining Flood forms.

{Cutscene}

343 Guilty Spark: "The energy barrier surrounding the Index will deactivate when we reach the ground floor."

When the platform comes to a stop.

343 Guilty Spark: "You may now retrieve the Index."

The Chief walks slowly over to the Index, which is held in a sheath of some sort. Sections of the sheath move in and out for a few moments, before the Index itself pops slightly out of the top of the sheath. The Chief removes it and stares at it for a moment, before 343 Guilty Spark zaps it from the Chief's hands and into some sort of trans-dimensional pocket.

343 Guilty Spark: "Protocol requires that I take possession of the Index for transport. Your organic form renders you vulnerable to infection. The Index must not fall into the hands of the Flood, before we reach the Control Room and activate the installation."

Spark and the Chief teleport away from the platform

343 Guilty Spark: "The Flood is spreading! We must hurry!"

Walkthrough

The Library is possibly the hardest level in Halo: Combat Evolved, with tons of flood on your tail and Carrier Forms walking stupidly towards you, the chances of survival for a new FTS Shooter is down to zero. One of the better ways to pick your way through is to get a Shotgun and a Pistol in hand. Shotgun for short range encounter, the Pistol for long range sniping. The player must be cautious when entering a new area, as new Flood are usually waiting to jump down from somewhere.

Part 01: The Library

You will teleport to a somewhat safe location at the back end of a large room. As the Monitor moves forward, follow him with extreme caution. As you pass the first outcropping on your left, you’ll notice a puffy, inflated Flood form shaking violently like a living castanet stuffed with Mexican jumping beans. Enter the Flood carrier: an impregnated Flood form that spreads its seed by detonating. Careful, If you're close enough you will sustain damage when it explodes. Whip out your pistol and concentrate your fire on the carrier. When he pops, any infection forms surrounding him will follow suit and likewise explode. Quickly pull out your assault rifle and spray the ground with bullets to take out any remaining spores. Looking ahead, four carriers will begin charging your position. Swap back to your pistol and take out the front most carrier. Popping the carrier in the front will cause an explosion that will send the other carriers flying from the point of detonation. Killing a carrier at the rear of the pack will send the rest flying towards you. That would be bad. The thing to keep in mind when fighting the Flood is to always concentrate your fire on a carrier when other forms are near him. As in the Myth games, where seasoned players jump at the chance to take out a Wight in a cluster of troops, you can damage several enemies at once without using much ammo. If your energy level is adequate, you can allow the remaining spores to burst on your shields, or just melee attack them.

Follow the Monitor forward cautiously until you see red blips appear on your motion tracker again. Immediately backpedal to avoid getting flanked on both sides. Using your pistol, take out any immediate threats first, concentrating on the carriers. After that wave, turn on your flashlight, scan the floor for ammo and move forward with caution. The moment you find a shotgun, swap it for your rifle. At the end of the room, a couple of carriers will be standing still. Use your pistol to pop them and back up right away. A group of well-armed Flood will charge from the outcroppings ahead. Toss a frag grenade just in front of them. Keep your pistol trained on them and don’t let yourself get surrounded. Pummel away and creep forward when the fighting stops. Another small wave may come forward; repeat the procedure until the room clears and you checkpoint. Allow your shields to recharge and follow the Monitor out the doorway to the right.

You will enter the vast central room of the Library. Quickly turn to your left and take out the armed Flood Fighters to your left. Immediately whip around and open fire on the Fighters to your right. Often the Flood carriers will try to surprise you by hiding in a nice ambush spot. When you are preoccupied in battle, they will emerge. Try to take them out at a distance with your pistol before they go back into hiding. Keep a close eye on your shields. If you have to, run back into the doorway to avoid being surrounded by Flood spores while your shields recharge. Once all the large forms are gone (infection forms will keep appearing sporadically) follow the Monitor to the doorway on the left.

Once you walk into the entry hall to the next room, a group of Flood will literally come flying toward you. The second you see a Flood fighter jump from behind the unit ahead, throw a plasma grenade on the floor in front of you and back up. As soon as it goes off, toss another one in the doorway. Several more Fighters will appear and fly forward from the explosion. If any survive, mop them up with the shotgun. If you accidentally tag a fighter with a plasma grenade, blast him with your shotgun to stun him long enough for the grenade to go off; if he charges you, all bets are off. Step into the next room. Your presence will trigger a few small groups of Flood to jump from two ducts directly ahead. Back up into the central room and use grenades and the shotgun to clear them out, using the entryway as a choke point. Repeat this procedure until the ducts stop spewing Flood.

When you emerge into the next room, you’ll find it very similar to the first one you were in. Pull your pistol out and take out as many enemies as you can from a distance. Use a grenade or two. If you start to get swarmed, back up to the entry hall again, forcing the Flood into a single file line as you blast away at them. Watch your shields. If they gets low, back out and run around to avoid spores until your shields recharge. When the Fighters stop coming, go back in the room and scrounge around the floor for goodies. Switch to your pistol and move forward. When you reach the Monitor, a fighter on the outcropping to your right will open fire on you. Snipe him with your pistol before he gets a chance. Stand under the Monitor and wait for the large set of doors to open. Move through the doorway into the next room.

There is nothing but a cluster of spore forms waiting to the left, so take a right into the spacious hallway. On the floor ahead there will be three glass panes. Inevitably, the carriers will swarm the glass, shattering when they pop. Don’t forget about these three nasty holes, as you will be fighting around them soon. A group of Flood will appear around the glass. Shoot with your pistol and grenade them from a distance. Switch to shotgun when they get close. Always look for cover. There’s going to be a lot of shooting going on, so you aren’t going to want to be out in the open. The last thing you want to do is charge ahead full bore. Trigger one small group, back up, destroy them. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. If you run out of shotgun shells, swap your gun for an assault rifle. It’s better than plasma and definitely better than nothing. When the large hall comes to a “T”, you will go left. A small group will come for you. Use grenades and pistols from a distance, shotgun at close range. Duck and cover.

Follow the large hall around until you see Guilty Spark again. A small group of Flood will pour from the duct ahead. Use grenades and backpedal around the corner to take cover while shooting. Around the corner to the right will be a health pack. A slot in the floor will have a super shield. Be advised that as soon as you round the corner a group will jump from the slot. Toss a grenade in front of the short ramp and trigger the Fighters right before it explodes to watch them soar. A few more Flood Fighters will appear before you can pick up the overshield but they shouldn’t give you too much grief. When the coast is clear, go down the short ramp and pick up the powerup. Overshields are a lifesaver when fighting the Flood. Since they are scarcer than bullets, you will want to open fire on the spores rather than letting them whittle down your overshield.

Moving forward, you will trigger an ambush that will approach from in front and behind. Immediately back up to avoid getting swarmed and open fire on the Flood carrier closest to you. Take cover and fire at the Fighters as they come. Concentrate your efforts on the Carriers. Scoot forward slowly. Blips will appear ahead by another group of three glass panes on the floor. You can pretty much take out that group from a distance with your pistol. Once the coast is clear, creep past the fresh holes in the floor until you come to another bend in the hall. Turn right. Ahead another group of Flood will appear. However, there are enough walking pus pouches that you shouldn’t have much trouble eliminating them. Take the jog to the right past the library’s AV department and keep moving forward. Another group of Flood will appear, but this time a group of Sentinels will come to join the fight. Don’t feel too obligated to save them since they won’t follow you up the nearby elevator. Give them a hand, neutralize the threat, scavenge around for ammo and hop on the massive elevator platform at the far end of the hallway.

Part 02: Wait, it gets worse!

Step off the elevator and head toward the doorway. To your right, a cluster of Carriers will drop. Blast them with your shotgun and step back to avoid their explosion. Head back in and go to the right. Sentinels will emerge from the alcove to your left. Move forward past the bank of 200” Jumbo-Tron screens and take the jog to the left. The Monitor will leave you and the sentinels to take out another small group of Carriers. Directly in front of you is another slot in the floor. This one has two health packs, so use one if you need it. Keep moving forward until you checkpoint. You will then get the infamous message: ”Hold your position until the Monitor returns.” Here’s where we have fun.

Go to the far end of the room next to another health pack on the floor. Toss a grenade into the nearest duct on your right. The Flood will begin pouring out of the ducts, so stay in that little alcove and let them come to you. Cream them with a little shotgun and grenade. When you get down to your last grenade, toss it in the middle of the room and run through to the opposite side of the room. You should pick up a few goodies along your way. Continue doing what you’ve been doing until the Monitor returns. Grab a health pack and follow him through the big doors.

This next room is the large circular room directly above the index. Whip out your pistol and follow 343 Guilty Spark. A large group of Flood will show up ahead. Toss grenades ahead of them and open fire on the Carriers behind. See how high you can make the Fighters fly. Repeat with the next group. Repeat with the third group, keeping an eye out for rockets. When the coast is clear, scan the floor for ammo. Resist the urge to pick up the rocket launcher; it will just mess you up due to the time it takes to line up a shot and switch back to a close range weapon. At the end of the room there will be another set of doors. You’ll also get another message to hold your position. Relax. This one’s easy. Go grab a rifle behind you and mop up the waves of spores as they come toward you. Shortly the Monitor will return and the doors will open. Clear away the popcorn forms, swap your weapon back and move through the doorway.

Follow 343 Guilty Spark to the right. Ahead will be another slot in the floor, but this time the descending ramp actually goes somewhere. Take out the small pocket of Flood resistance ahead and proceed down the narrow ramp. Pull out your pistol and pop the Carriers. Carefully peek around the corner ahead and pop the pregnant puss balls waiting for you there. Move forward down the narrow walkway until you see the exit. Several Flood forms will jump down. Back up and use the corner of the hall for cover. Toss grenades and use your pistol until the area is clear. Move up the ramp and out the exit. Spores will be there to hop down on you so make sure your shields are full. Follow the Monitor to the left. Stop right before the hall comes to a “T”. This AV corridor will have Flood attacking from both ends, so stay back and clear this hall like so many you have before. Once the waves of Flood dry up, move forward and follow the large hallway. When the Hall comes to a “T” again, pull out your pistol and turn right. At the far end will be a large group of Flood Carriers and a pair of rocket wielding Fighters. Stay back so you can dodge the rockets and start popping Carrier forms as fast as you can. When you've killed them all, move forward. A health pack will be in the corner to your left. If you need it, take it and follow the hall to the right. Another group will jump you. Fight them till they stop coming. If you feel compelled to pick up a rocket launcher, drop your pistol in a safe spot so you can pick it up immediately following this encounter. Follow the Monitor. An ambush will appear, but if you just keep moving forward to the elevator, you can avoid a fight altogether. Ride the elevator up.

Part 03: But I don’t want to ride the elevator!

Hop off the elevator and turn left. You’ll come across a group of Sentinels fighting the Flood. Help them out if you want. Sometimes the Sentinels do more harm than good, though. Head down the ramp in another slot in the floor ahead. Follow the narrow hallway around. When you get to the turn, pull out your pistol and snipe the small group ahead. A large group of Infection forms will show up. Send them away with your shotgun. Lastly, at the next bend will be two Carrier forms. Toss a grenade around the corner or carefully snipe them from a distance with your pistol. When you reach the exit, a group of Flood and Sentinels will appear on your motion tracker. Back up and let them duke it out. When the blips on your motion tracker stop, proceed up the ramp. The Flood will have won and there will be plenty of survivors. Head back down the ramp and use it as a choke point, letting the Flood funnel into your sights. When the area is clear, move up the ramp and into the room.

Turn right, pass the three consoles and turn right at the row of screens. Turn right again and follow the hall until it dead-ends. You’ll be asked to wait until the Monitor returns again, but this fight will be much easier than the first. There are just enough Carrier forms to make this a shotgun-only battle. There will be a health pack in the far corner when you are finished. Follow the Monitor through the doors when he returns. This will be the third floor of the index room. This time you’ll go clockwise around the perimeter. A group will initially attack from the left. Use your skills and guns to eliminate the threat and move on. The next group of Flood will drop onto the two tall blocks directly ahead. Stay back and use your pistol to snipe them before they can ream you. Move through the doorway into the next large, winding hallway.

A health kit will be sitting on the floor ahead, should you need it. Follow the Monitor to the right. Switch to plasma grenades ad pistol. Stick a plasma grenade to the floor in front of the slot ahead. Three Flood forms will jump from the slot right about the time your grenade goes off. Pop the other forms with the pistol as they come towards you. Switch to your shotgun if any get in close range. The hallway ahead will come to a “T”. If you go forward, you’ll trigger groups of Flood on both ends of the “T” so back up and take them out, triggering one group at a time like you’ve done before. Take a left, left, right, right to the next set of large doors. Squeeze through the opening into the next room. Trigger the checkpoint and it will tell you to stay here until the Monitor returns. Slide into the niche between the outcropping and the double-doors and reload your shotgun. Don’t go too far back - just far enough to use the outcropping as cover. You won’t be able to stay here for long. Fight the Flood as best you can with grenades and shotgun shells. When your health gets low, use the health pack in the centre of this room. Always reload as soon as there is a momentary lull in the action. You’ll end up having to use plasma grenades to supplement your arsenal. Try to hit the ground as best as you can. If you start getting surrounded, move to the niche on the other end of the room, picking up grenades on your way.

Once the doors open, several Sentinels will come to your rescue. Go out the doors and follow the hall to the left. Hang back and help your Sentinels fight the next group of Flood by using your pistol at a distance. Follow the hallway around to the end where you will get to the elevator again. Beware kamikaze Carriers that will drop from the ceiling as you go by.

Part 04: Fourth Floor: Tools, Guns, Keys to Super Weapons.

As you get off the elevator, a few Flood Carriers will drop from above. Be watchful and get away if one gets next to you and prepares for self-detonation. There’s a health pack right here in case you need it. Follow the path to the adjacent bank of video screens where the hall comes to a “T”. Does this sound familiar? Go forward, trigger each wave and pull back to take cover behind an outcropping, letting the flood funnel to you at a trickle. Repeat this process again until they stop coming. Move down the hallway. You’ll eventually come to another slot in the floor with a ramp leading down to a small tunnel. Does this sound familiar? Head into the tunnel. Around the first bend will be a Carrier or two with a large swarm of infection forms. Pop them and proceed. There will be a couple more around the next bend. Pop them and proceed. If the Flood weren’t so much fun to blow away, this might actually get monotonous.

Proceed forward up the ramp and take an immediate right. Although it doesn’t say so in your objectives, this will be another one of those “wait for the Monitor to return” moments. Stay in the niche on the right. If you go to the far left side, fighters will pour out of the opening above and on top of you. Besides, on the right there is a health pack available when you need it. There's another one on the other side of the door, so don’t feel obligated to save it for later. When the Monitor returns, move through the open doors and out. The health pack is in the floor slot ahead. Move forward; we’re almost there.

Eventually, you’ll trigger the next wave of Flood. However, there won’t be an easy fall-back position. At this point, you need to just run and gun. Blast through the Flood quickly and get your butt out of there. Eventually you’ll come to a large pair of doors on your left. This is not a good place to turn and stand your ground. The Monitor will come and open them, allowing another wave to pour in from behind. Keep moving and duck in the first niche past the door. THIS is where you will make your stand. Use plenty of grenades and blow away anything that moves. When the coast is clear, move toward the open doors.

Ahead, you will see the central elevator that rides an energy beam down to the index. Although it may look clear, don’t be fooled. There is a massive flock of Flood waiting on the sides to flank you, fire at you, and flog you. Before proceeding, scavenge around until you have a healthy supply of grenades. When you're ready, creep towards the doors. If you’re quiet, you can run about halfway to the elevator before being detected. If you have full health you might just make it. If that isn’t working, then you’ll have to eliminate the threat as best as you can. Hang back as far as you can and snipe the Fighters standing on the left pillar. Then turn and snipe the ones on the pillar to the right of the doorway. If they aren’t visible, shoot the wall near them to get their attention. Hopefully you can take out the doorway guardians without alerting the rest of the crowd. When they are taken out, run through the doorway, making a beeline for the elevator. When you start taking fire, do a 180º and blast away with your shotgun while backpedaling to the elevator. Eventually, the cutscene will kick in. When all is said and done, passing this level requires not only a little knowledge, but also a lot of skills and some plain old dumb luck. Good luck.

Trivia

• If you have an overshield, it is possible to launch yourself onto the Index, and you can fall to the bottom of the place right below this post and survive.

• This is the one of the only two levels where the Sentinels are your allies the other being 343 Guilty Spark.

• On the second elevator you ride, get it just high enough to where you can walk under it. Once under it will start to go back up, jump into the blue light that represents a grav lift, you will fall to your death but at the bottom you will see a spinning Monitor who will even talk. You can also do this while Guilty Spark is on another part of the level at the time.

• Throughout the level there are spawn points for Flood that you can reactivate after going through them the first time.

• The level has been said to the most annoying and difficult level in Halo, due to its repetitiveness and countless waves of Flood AI.

• The Library, apart from 343 Guilty Spark is the only level on Halo: Combat Evolved after you meet the Flood that isn't played somewhere where you have already played during the game.

• This is the only level in Halo: CE where the only enemies encountered are the Flood and is the last level where the player will be aided by Sentinels.

• The Library is the first level in which you can see Constructors, although there's only two in the beginning of the level.

• This is also the first level where you encounter AI using Rocket Launchers.

• After 343 Guilty Spark opens the first security door, if you go to your left, there will be a large hologram on the wall. At the top of this, there is a smaller hologram that resembles the Ark from Halo 3.

• This is the only level that does not feature vehicles in both cinematic and game play modes.
• On heroic if you shoot spark with a shotgun at a certain part of the game he will turn green.