John-117/Late War: Difference between revisions
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{{Quote|no=four|q1=I’m showing a lot of photonic activity. The excited photons have displaced the air around the light path.|Cortana|q2=Which means?|John-117|q3=Which means that the light has become coherent. Solid. How did you know what control to push?|Cortana|q4=I didn’t. Let’s get the hell out of here.|John-117|John and Cortana react to the Spartan's intuitive ability to use technology on the ringworld.}}<ref name="HTF3">''[[Halo: The Flood]]'', ''Chapter 3''</ref> | {{Quote|no=four|q1=I’m showing a lot of photonic activity. The excited photons have displaced the air around the light path.|Cortana|q2=Which means?|John-117|q3=Which means that the light has become coherent. Solid. How did you know what control to push?|Cortana|q4=I didn’t. Let’s get the hell out of here.|John-117|John and Cortana react to the Spartan's intuitive ability to use technology on the ringworld.}}<ref name="HTF3">''[[Halo: The Flood]]'', ''Chapter 3''</ref> | ||
[[File:HM-JohnI04-full.jpg|thumb|300px|left|Class-3 enclosed heavy lifeboats, like most of their kind, were never meant for extended atmospheric use.{{Ref/Reuse|HTF2}}]] | [[File:HM-JohnI04-full.jpg|thumb|300px|left|Class-3 enclosed heavy lifeboats, like most of their kind, were never meant for extended atmospheric use.{{Ref/Reuse|HTF2}}]] | ||
As the massive structure drew ever closer, John queried Cortana as to what it could be.{{Ref/Reuse|HTF1}} She could only tell him that based on what she could glean from the [[ | As the massive structure drew ever closer, John queried Cortana as to what it could be.{{Ref/Reuse|HTF1}} She could only tell him that based on what she could glean from the [[proselytization network]], the aliens referred to it as "Halo" and it held sort of religious significance for them.{{Ref/Reuse|HTF1}} Two minutes and fifty-one seconds after launching from the ''Autumn'', the ring opened up as ''Lima Foxtrot Alpha 43'''s pilot guided them past its edge and over its inner surface, which all aboard could se was covered with plains, mountains, and hills.<ref name="HTF2">''[[Halo: the Flood]]'', ''Chapter 2''</ref> Cortana suggested that John might want to take a seat and get strapped in, but he told her they'd be fine and remained standing for their descent.{{Ref/Reuse|HCETPOA}} Unfortunately, due to a chance airbrake failure, the lifeboat rushed toward the ground too fast and when it slammed into the dirt John was thrown off his feet.{{Ref/Reuse|HTF2}}<ref name="HCEH">''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', ''[[Halo (Halo: Combat Evolved level)|Halo]]''</ref> His helmet careened into a bulkhead, knocking him out.{{Ref/Reuse|HTF2}} When he finally came to hours later, he could hear Cortana urgently trying to get his attention and warning that Covenant forces were on their way, the crash having triggered a lot of radio traffic on their end.{{Ref/Reuse|HTF3}}{{Ref/Reuse|HTF2}} After struggling to his feet, he became more aware of his surroundings and found that he was the only survivor of the impact. John gathered as much ammunition and other supplies as he could, including a quartet of fragmentation grenades, before Cortana recommended moving into some nearby hills. He then crossed a strange, burnished metal bridge just as a {{Pattern|Dextro Xur|Spirit}} appeared. The Master Chief skirted the cliff edge on the far side of the bridge and took up a position at a crevice where a boulder touched the cliff. Two [[Type-26 Banshee]]s were also on immediate approach, and he waited until the first was within range to open fire with his MA5B. He got the first craft to pull out if its dive but the second was able to pelt him with [[Class-2 directed energy cannon|plasma fire]]. When the first returned for another pass, however, he hit it again with armor-piercing rounds and caused it to explode into flames before rushing straight into the cliff wall. His shields replenished, John jumped atop the boulder to get a better look around before the other Banshee returned. Troops deployed from the Spirit were encroaching on his position. One group of [[Unggoy]] was preoccupied with the wreckage of the Bumblebee, but another was coming from the direction of the hills he'd been told to head for. John first dealt with the seven Grunts across the chasm from him, taking them all out with twelve shots from Keyes' M6D. The other group fared no better against him and he was soon dashing forward into some slight cover offered by a copse of trees. He ran from cover to cover as he made his way uphill, soon running into three more Unggoy led by two Sangheili: a [[Sangheili Minor|minor]] and a [[Sangheili Major|major]]. He dealt with the Elites first and was then able to pick off the rest as they tried to scamper away. John continued onward through a meadow of sorts and could hear the sound of automatic weapons fire ahead, which to him signaled the presence of UNSC marines. As such, he sprinted in its direction.{{Ref/Reuse|HTF2}} Cortana was soon able to confirm that a [[Fire Team Charlie|group of marines]] had similarly crash-landed nearby and at just over three hours and fourteen minutes since leaving the ''Autumn'', he found them engaging Sangheili, Kig-Yar, and Unggoy around a [[Beam emitter|large blocky structure of some kind]].{{Ref/Reuse|HTF3}} | ||
From a distance, he first took aim at a trio of Grunts and opened fire on a Sangheili minor before any of the enemy realized where he was.{{Ref/Reuse|HTF3}} He made his way down a slope toward the fellow soldiers, only stopping to scavenge a few plasma grenades off a dead Unggoy. Private [[Bisenti]], who John had rescued on Gamma Station, was the first to meet him and when John asked him for his commanding officer the private called over Staff Sergeant [[Avery Johnson]]. The Chief requested a status report, so Johnson let him know that marines were scattered all over the valley they found themselves in. Cortana told them both that since she had gotten in touch with [[Wellsley]], a Pelican was on its way to pick them up. Before long, however, a Spirit dropship was upon them an unloading a clutch of Unggoy and a Sangheili. The combined fire of the marines and the Master Chief was more than enough to make easy work of the foolhardy Covenant attack, but soon another another dropship arrived to unload more troops. This time a trio of [[Kig-Yar]] protected by their distinctive round [[Kig-Yar point defense gauntlet|shields]] led the charge. John sprinted straight into the Jackals' line, tearing them up with his assault rifle before landing a primed {{Pattern|Anskum|plasma grenade}} on the Sangheili leading them. He hunted down the rest of the attackers and was then greeted by a voice from his radio receiver declaring that Pelican ''[[Echo 419]]'' was inbound. Just then, three more [[Class-3 Bumblebee]]s were sighted overhead as the distance as they tore through the ring's atmosphere.{{Ref/Reuse|HTF3}}{{Ref/Reuse|HCEH}} John was resolved to beat the covenant to where they landed, so as ''Echo 4-19'' approached Cortana asked that its pilot, [[Carol Rawley]], disengage the [[M12 Chaingun Warthog]] she was carrying. John made for the Warthog after it hit the ground to find that out of all the marines, one had elected to forgo the evac and instead act as a gunner for him. And so when John sped away in the vehicle toward the [[Navigation point|nav indicator]] Cortana place, he took Private First Class [[M. Fitzgerald]] with him.{{Ref/Reuse|HTF3}} | From a distance, he first took aim at a trio of Grunts and opened fire on a Sangheili minor before any of the enemy realized where he was.{{Ref/Reuse|HTF3}} He made his way down a slope toward the fellow soldiers, only stopping to scavenge a few plasma grenades off a dead Unggoy. Private [[Bisenti]], who John had rescued on Gamma Station, was the first to meet him and when John asked him for his commanding officer the private called over Staff Sergeant [[Avery Johnson]]. The Chief requested a status report, so Johnson let him know that marines were scattered all over the valley they found themselves in. Cortana told them both that since she had gotten in touch with [[Wellsley]], a Pelican was on its way to pick them up. Before long, however, a Spirit dropship was upon them an unloading a clutch of Unggoy and a Sangheili. The combined fire of the marines and the Master Chief was more than enough to make easy work of the foolhardy Covenant attack, but soon another another dropship arrived to unload more troops. This time a trio of [[Kig-Yar]] protected by their distinctive round [[Kig-Yar point defense gauntlet|shields]] led the charge. John sprinted straight into the Jackals' line, tearing them up with his assault rifle before landing a primed {{Pattern|Anskum|plasma grenade}} on the Sangheili leading them. He hunted down the rest of the attackers and was then greeted by a voice from his radio receiver declaring that Pelican ''[[Echo 419]]'' was inbound. Just then, three more [[Class-3 Bumblebee]]s were sighted overhead as the distance as they tore through the ring's atmosphere.{{Ref/Reuse|HTF3}}{{Ref/Reuse|HCEH}} John was resolved to beat the covenant to where they landed, so as ''Echo 4-19'' approached Cortana asked that its pilot, [[Carol Rawley]], disengage the [[M12 Chaingun Warthog]] she was carrying. John made for the Warthog after it hit the ground to find that out of all the marines, one had elected to forgo the evac and instead act as a gunner for him. And so when John sped away in the vehicle toward the [[Navigation point|nav indicator]] Cortana place, he took Private First Class [[M. Fitzgerald]] with him.{{Ref/Reuse|HTF3}} | ||
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Even as John made his way back into the city Linda continued to provide support, eliminating another two Banshees that tried to shoot John down. Scanning the area for the sniper, John's Banshee was almost destroyed by a [[Type-26 Wraith|Wraith tank]] before he received an acknowledgement from her in the form of the Spartan-derived [[Spartan signals#Oly Oly Oxen Free|Oly Oly Oxen Free]] and a NAV marker. Eventually locating the Spartan, who had been hiding in broad daylight, using an impossible angle to prevent the sun from giving her position, John picked Linda up in his Banshee, forcing its cowling open so they could both fit. As the pair made their way pack to the exfiltration point, it became clear to John that the increasing number of Cortana copies was taking its toll on her, as she struggled to process his request to open the airlock. Fred detonated the Lotus anti-tank mine on the airlock window, but the detonation failed to do any damage. As more Banshees and [[Type-32 Ghost|Ghosts]] pursued them, the airlock doors finally began to open. John and Linda, along with Fred and Will in their own Banshees opened fire on the weakened plaza window and eventually it shattered, depressurizing the atrium and killing all of the Covenant forces within. After briefly losing control of the Banshee due to the rapid depressurization that flung him out of the station and only remaining attached by his tether, John managed to correct his momentum before dropping a NAV marker on a Covenant dropship drifting dead in space. The team made it into the vessel, using the Covenant fleet's disorientation to their advantage and John ordered Linda to pilot the ship slowly to the shadow of a nearby moon, so as to not attract attention from the fleet.<ref name="HFS35">''[[Halo: First Strike]]'', ''Chapter 35''</ref> | Even as John made his way back into the city Linda continued to provide support, eliminating another two Banshees that tried to shoot John down. Scanning the area for the sniper, John's Banshee was almost destroyed by a [[Type-26 Wraith|Wraith tank]] before he received an acknowledgement from her in the form of the Spartan-derived [[Spartan signals#Oly Oly Oxen Free|Oly Oly Oxen Free]] and a NAV marker. Eventually locating the Spartan, who had been hiding in broad daylight, using an impossible angle to prevent the sun from giving her position, John picked Linda up in his Banshee, forcing its cowling open so they could both fit. As the pair made their way pack to the exfiltration point, it became clear to John that the increasing number of Cortana copies was taking its toll on her, as she struggled to process his request to open the airlock. Fred detonated the Lotus anti-tank mine on the airlock window, but the detonation failed to do any damage. As more Banshees and [[Type-32 Ghost|Ghosts]] pursued them, the airlock doors finally began to open. John and Linda, along with Fred and Will in their own Banshees opened fire on the weakened plaza window and eventually it shattered, depressurizing the atrium and killing all of the Covenant forces within. After briefly losing control of the Banshee due to the rapid depressurization that flung him out of the station and only remaining attached by his tether, John managed to correct his momentum before dropping a NAV marker on a Covenant dropship drifting dead in space. The team made it into the vessel, using the Covenant fleet's disorientation to their advantage and John ordered Linda to pilot the ship slowly to the shadow of a nearby moon, so as to not attract attention from the fleet.<ref name="HFS35">''[[Halo: First Strike]]'', ''Chapter 35''</ref> | ||
Fred informed John that the [[ | Fred informed John that the [[proselytization network]] was in disarray, with the copied Cortana fragments aboard ''Unyielding Hierophant'' broadcasting different system error codes and communiques between ships broadcasting their confusion as to what was happening. Suddenly, he received a broadcast from the UNSC E-Band: Oly Oly Oxen Free. After securing the channel, John learned that [[Danforth Whitcomb|Admiral Whitcomb]] had, at [[Elias Haverson|Lieutenant Haverson's]] suggestion, dropped out of slipspace on the edge of the Tau Ceti system and hidden in the Oort cloud to gather intelligence. He told John that he knew that even if they destroyed the ''Unyielding Hierophant'', there would still be a significant number of Covenant ships remaining, enough to blow past Earth's defenses regardless of the station's destruction. He then told John that as they had done their part, it was now time for him to do his, and ordered the Spartans to return to the {{UNSCShip|Gettysburg}}, which had been separated from ''[[Ascendant Justice]]''. Upon returning to the ''Gettysburg's'' bridge, he found only [[Avery Johnson|Sergeant Johnson]] and [[Cortana]] were present. John asked where the Admiral and Lieutenant Haverson were but Johnson instead showed him directly, using a [[Clarion spy drone]] to show the position of ''Ascendant Justice''. Cortana revealed that while Blue Team had been on their mission, they had been attuning ''Ascendant Justice's'' slipspace drive to the ''Gettysburg''. Once communications were reestablished, John discovered that Whitcomb and Haverson were on the ''Ascendant Justice''. The Admiral revealed his intentions: he was going to lure the Covenant fleet in close with a holographic display of the [[Forerunner crystal|crystal]] from [[Reach]]. Taking fire from the Covenant ships and returning with a salvo of their own, Whitcomb crashed the ''Ascendant Justice'' nose-first into the ''Unyielding Hierophant''. John watched as the injured Whitcomb and Haverson broadcast a systemwide transmission to the surrounding Covenant forces, boasting that he had their "holiest of holies" and that they were welcome to come and take it. As Cortana readied the ''Gettysburg'' for a slipspace jump to [[Earth]], Whitcomb gave John his final orders: under no circumstances was he to engage the enemy, he was to head straight for Earth and make his report. The Admiral then recalled his [[Massacre at Eridanus Secundus|previous discussion]] with John about the Alamo. John added the names of Whitcomb and Haverson to the list of people who had made a difference to him. He watched as the Admiral fired a submachine gun at hordes of [[Type-1 energy sword|energy sword]]-wielding [[Sangheili]] warriors before the feed cut off. A moment later, video footage from the Clarion spy drone of the ''Unyielding Hierophant'' exploding, vaporizing the vast majority of the fleet gathered around it. With only a dozen ships still functional from the once massive fleet, John recalled Admiral Whitcomb's final words, "a brilliant strategic victory", before the ''Gettysburg'' entered slipspace.<ref name="HFS36">''[[Halo: First Strike]]'', ''Chapter 36''</ref> | ||
Despite the "overwhelming" evidence that the Covenant had found Earth, John still ensured that the ''Gettysburg'' performed the required random slipspace jump before correcting its approach to Earth as per the [[Cole Protocol]]. With thirty-five hours until arrival at Earth, Cortana told John of her uneasiness regarding the copies she had split off from herself for Operation: FIRST STRIKE, worried that as the copies had some of her core programming, it may indicate that there was some other form of instability in her. John reassured her that they couldn't have done the mission without her and that her programming was as good as theirs. While Cortana continued to monitor slipspace for any anomalies, John opened his team roster and added the names of the Spartans who had fallen as Missing in Action. He added [[Kelly-087|Kelly]] as well, as she was truly missing having been abducted by [[Catherine Halsey|Dr Halsey]] for her [[Onyx|own mission]] and John couldn't help himself from worrying about both of them. Finally he added [[Locklear|Corporal Locklear]], [[Sheila Polaski|Petty Officer Polaski]], Lieutenant Haverson and Admiral Whitcomb as [[Killed in action]]. He ensured that hi mission report detailed Whitcomb and Haverson's heroism, the two of them stopping a whole Covenant armada, willingly sacrificing themselves to buy humanity some time. John knew that they would both live on as inspirations to the human race. Sergeant Johnson entered the bridge after rounding up all of the Huragok from ''Ascendant Justice'' on the ships B-Deck before handing over the data crystal containing Dr Halsey's research into the [[Flood]], Haverson having him to give it to John to deliver to the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] himself. Now, after witnessing the difference one man could make to the war effort, and understanding Dr Halsey's desire to save everyone she could, John crushed the data crystal containing the full mission data, unwilling to sacrifice Sergeant Johnson. He resolved that ONI would have to make use of the data without the Sergeant's medical data and mission logs. Despite the fact that they had temporarily stopped the Covenant threat, John knew that they would come for Earth regardless, but he knew that they had bought the planet some time to prepare, and that he was ready to fight when the Covenant arrived at the planet.{{Ref/Reuse|HFS36}} | Despite the "overwhelming" evidence that the Covenant had found Earth, John still ensured that the ''Gettysburg'' performed the required random slipspace jump before correcting its approach to Earth as per the [[Cole Protocol]]. With thirty-five hours until arrival at Earth, Cortana told John of her uneasiness regarding the copies she had split off from herself for Operation: FIRST STRIKE, worried that as the copies had some of her core programming, it may indicate that there was some other form of instability in her. John reassured her that they couldn't have done the mission without her and that her programming was as good as theirs. While Cortana continued to monitor slipspace for any anomalies, John opened his team roster and added the names of the Spartans who had fallen as Missing in Action. He added [[Kelly-087|Kelly]] as well, as she was truly missing having been abducted by [[Catherine Halsey|Dr Halsey]] for her [[Onyx|own mission]] and John couldn't help himself from worrying about both of them. Finally he added [[Locklear|Corporal Locklear]], [[Sheila Polaski|Petty Officer Polaski]], Lieutenant Haverson and Admiral Whitcomb as [[Killed in action]]. He ensured that hi mission report detailed Whitcomb and Haverson's heroism, the two of them stopping a whole Covenant armada, willingly sacrificing themselves to buy humanity some time. John knew that they would both live on as inspirations to the human race. Sergeant Johnson entered the bridge after rounding up all of the Huragok from ''Ascendant Justice'' on the ships B-Deck before handing over the data crystal containing Dr Halsey's research into the [[Flood]], Haverson having him to give it to John to deliver to the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] himself. Now, after witnessing the difference one man could make to the war effort, and understanding Dr Halsey's desire to save everyone she could, John crushed the data crystal containing the full mission data, unwilling to sacrifice Sergeant Johnson. He resolved that ONI would have to make use of the data without the Sergeant's medical data and mission logs. Despite the fact that they had temporarily stopped the Covenant threat, John knew that they would come for Earth regardless, but he knew that they had bought the planet some time to prepare, and that he was ready to fight when the Covenant arrived at the planet.{{Ref/Reuse|HFS36}} | ||
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[[File:H2 LimitedEdition MasterChief.jpg|thumb|right|John in front of the [[Mombasa Tether]].]] | [[File:H2 LimitedEdition MasterChief.jpg|thumb|right|John in front of the [[Mombasa Tether]].]] | ||
John and the Marines joining him fought their way through an alley under fire from [[Kig-Yar]] [[sniper]]s and Yanme'e, also contending with [[Stealth Sangheili|cloaked]] Sangheili that ambushed them from nearby overhangs.{{Ref/Reuse|H2O}} After fighting their way past waves of Covenant infantry, John made it to [[Hotel Zanzibar]], where Second Squad was pinned down in the lobby by a Covenant {{Pattern|Shepsu|plasma cannon}}. Neutralizing the threat, John met with Sergeant Stacker, who informed him that their crash site was on the other side of the hotel, but was swarming with Covenant. Following the Sergeant, John made his way through the darkened hotel corridors, killing a patrol of Covenant before emerging on the other side. A Phantom arrived and landed more troops to engage the UNSC forces but at that moment, a [[M12 Chaingun Warthog|Warthog]] arrived to assist. The driver of the vehicle informed John that Commander Keyes had sent it specifically for him. Now that Second Squad was safe, Cortana turned John's attention back to the {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}, which she noted was currently surrounded by many Covenant troops directly beneath where its [[gravity lift]] offered a point of entry near the [[New Mombasa city center|city center]]. John, [[Private First Class]] [[Chips Dubbo]], and another Marine set out in the Warthog across the Old Mombasa beach with the aim of reaching [[New Mombasa 105 East#Kilindini Bridge|Kilindini Bridge]] and using it to cross [[Wikipedia:Kilindini Harbour|Kilindini Channel]] into [[New Mombasa]]. The trio sped past the wreckage of Second Squad's Pelican, engaging the Covenant forces around it before contending with a number of [[Type-32 Ghost|Ghosts]], infantry and a Kig-Yar sniper in a [[Deployable lookout tower|Covenant tower emplacement]] on a beachhead with an inactive Covenant [[Zo'op-pattern Weevil|artillery piece]]. On the second stretch of beach, a Phantom arrived to deploy more Ghosts in an attempt to stop the UNSC forces but they too fell to John's Warthog. Reaching a third section of beach, John assisted several Marines in a small structure to defend against Sangheili deployed directly onto the beach by [[Covenant drop pod|insertion pods]] launched by the ''Solemn Penance''. John took the Warthog into a tunnel that would ultimately lead him to the bridge. Cortana told John that while analyzing the Covenant [[ | John and the Marines joining him fought their way through an alley under fire from [[Kig-Yar]] [[sniper]]s and Yanme'e, also contending with [[Stealth Sangheili|cloaked]] Sangheili that ambushed them from nearby overhangs.{{Ref/Reuse|H2O}} After fighting their way past waves of Covenant infantry, John made it to [[Hotel Zanzibar]], where Second Squad was pinned down in the lobby by a Covenant {{Pattern|Shepsu|plasma cannon}}. Neutralizing the threat, John met with Sergeant Stacker, who informed him that their crash site was on the other side of the hotel, but was swarming with Covenant. Following the Sergeant, John made his way through the darkened hotel corridors, killing a patrol of Covenant before emerging on the other side. A Phantom arrived and landed more troops to engage the UNSC forces but at that moment, a [[M12 Chaingun Warthog|Warthog]] arrived to assist. The driver of the vehicle informed John that Commander Keyes had sent it specifically for him. Now that Second Squad was safe, Cortana turned John's attention back to the {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}, which she noted was currently surrounded by many Covenant troops directly beneath where its [[gravity lift]] offered a point of entry near the [[New Mombasa city center|city center]]. John, [[Private First Class]] [[Chips Dubbo]], and another Marine set out in the Warthog across the Old Mombasa beach with the aim of reaching [[New Mombasa 105 East#Kilindini Bridge|Kilindini Bridge]] and using it to cross [[Wikipedia:Kilindini Harbour|Kilindini Channel]] into [[New Mombasa]]. The trio sped past the wreckage of Second Squad's Pelican, engaging the Covenant forces around it before contending with a number of [[Type-32 Ghost|Ghosts]], infantry and a Kig-Yar sniper in a [[Deployable lookout tower|Covenant tower emplacement]] on a beachhead with an inactive Covenant [[Zo'op-pattern Weevil|artillery piece]]. On the second stretch of beach, a Phantom arrived to deploy more Ghosts in an attempt to stop the UNSC forces but they too fell to John's Warthog. Reaching a third section of beach, John assisted several Marines in a small structure to defend against Sangheili deployed directly onto the beach by [[Covenant drop pod|insertion pods]] launched by the ''Solemn Penance''. John took the Warthog into a tunnel that would ultimately lead him to the bridge. Cortana told John that while analyzing the Covenant [[proselytization network]], she had learned that the Covenant was in confusion about the presence of humanity on the planet, as if they hadn't been expecting them to be there and thus explaining the small number of ships in their [[Fleet of Sacred Consecration|fleet]], something that seemed counter to his [[Operation: FIRST STRIKE|earlier operation]]. Soon joined by another Warthog, John and the Marines made their way through several Covenant positions, including [[Type-27 Shade|shielded plasma turrets]], Ghosts and assorted infantry, including a swarm of Yanme'e who attempted to ambush them near a damaged section of road. Further ahead, they witnessed a Warthog attempting to flee into the tunnel through a hole in the ceiling being destroyed by the Scarab walker they had encountered earlier. John soon encountered a convoy of Covenant [[Ruwaa-pattern Shadow|Shadow]] troop transports attempting to regroup with Covenant forces deeper in the tunnels. At Cortana's insistence, John was able to destroy all of the Shadows, before killing the Covenant soldiers they had been trying to reinforce. With the way clear, John made his way out of the tunnel.{{Ref/Reuse|H2O}} | ||
[[File:HtT John in New Mombasa original.jpg|thumb|300px|left|This photograph, captured on [[2552#October|October 20]] by war journalist [[Benjamin Giraud]], was later edited and used for [[propaganda]] by the UNSC.<ref>''[[Hunt the Truth]]'', [[Hunt the Truth Season 1/Blog posts|Season 1 Blog posts]]</ref>]] | [[File:HtT John in New Mombasa original.jpg|thumb|300px|left|This photograph, captured on [[2552#October|October 20]] by war journalist [[Benjamin Giraud]], was later edited and used for [[propaganda]] by the UNSC.<ref>''[[Hunt the Truth]]'', [[Hunt the Truth Season 1/Blog posts|Season 1 Blog posts]]</ref>]] | ||
Upon exiting the tunnel at Kilindini Bridge, John exited the Warthog to approach a small group of surviving Marines watching the same Scarab which had downed his Pelican finish traversing the bridge on the opposite side of the channel, noting that neither fifty caliber rounds or [[M19 missile|rockets]] had any effect on the walker.<ref name="H2M">''[[Halo 2]]'', ''[[Metropolis]]''</ref> A Pelican lowered then to drop off a [[M808B Scorpion]] tank and Sergeant Johnson also disembarked to ask the Marine survivors what had happened to the rest of their platoon. He then ordered the remnants of the devastated platoon to join the Chief, who would be taking control of the tank, in rolling across the bridge in pursuit of the Scarab and the carrier. John climbed aboard the hulking vehicle and began to proceed across bridge, destroying a series of Ghosts and a [[Type-26 Wraith|Wraith]] tank. As John crossed the center of the bridge, another Marine armed with a [[M41 SPNKR|rocket launcher]] emerged from hiding and joined the Spartan. As several Phantom dropships soared by, intending to deliver more Covenant armor to the far side of the bridge, a pair of [[Type-26 Banshee|Banshee]] fliers attempted to strafe John's tank, but were unsuccessful. More Ghosts were waiting at a toll plaza on the far side but these too fell to the Scorpion's weaponry.{{Ref/Reuse|H2M}} Finally a pair of Wraiths and more Banshee's emerged to engage the Spartan. John was able to defeat all of the Covenant vehicles but the Scorpion had suffered heavy damage and the Marines whom had aided him were killed. John left the tank behind and cut across the toll plaza on foot.{{Ref/Reuse|HEPH}}{{Ref/Reuse|H2M}} | Upon exiting the tunnel at Kilindini Bridge, John exited the Warthog to approach a small group of surviving Marines watching the same Scarab which had downed his Pelican finish traversing the bridge on the opposite side of the channel, noting that neither fifty caliber rounds or [[M19 missile|rockets]] had any effect on the walker.<ref name="H2M">''[[Halo 2]]'', ''[[Metropolis]]''</ref> A Pelican lowered then to drop off a [[M808B Scorpion]] tank and Sergeant Johnson also disembarked to ask the Marine survivors what had happened to the rest of their platoon. He then ordered the remnants of the devastated platoon to join the Chief, who would be taking control of the tank, in rolling across the bridge in pursuit of the Scarab and the carrier. John climbed aboard the hulking vehicle and began to proceed across bridge, destroying a series of Ghosts and a [[Type-26 Wraith|Wraith]] tank. As John crossed the center of the bridge, another Marine armed with a [[M41 SPNKR|rocket launcher]] emerged from hiding and joined the Spartan. As several Phantom dropships soared by, intending to deliver more Covenant armor to the far side of the bridge, a pair of [[Type-26 Banshee|Banshee]] fliers attempted to strafe John's tank, but were unsuccessful. More Ghosts were waiting at a toll plaza on the far side but these too fell to the Scorpion's weaponry.{{Ref/Reuse|H2M}} Finally a pair of Wraiths and more Banshee's emerged to engage the Spartan. John was able to defeat all of the Covenant vehicles but the Scorpion had suffered heavy damage and the Marines whom had aided him were killed. John left the tank behind and cut across the toll plaza on foot.{{Ref/Reuse|HEPH}}{{Ref/Reuse|H2M}} | ||
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The {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}} arrived in the [[Coelest system]] on [[2552#November|November 2]], two weeks after departing from Earth. Commander Keyes soon spotted the [[Installation 05|Halo construct]] orbiting the [[Substance|ice giant]] in the system and told [[Cortana]] to pass on all of the information from the [[Installation 04|first Halo]] regardless of her security clearance. Noting that the ''[[Solemn Penance]]'' was deploying troops onto the surface, and knowing that it was even more important to capture the [[Prophet of Regret]], Commander Keyes ordered John to take [[First Platoon (ODST)|First Platoon]] and deploy via [[Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle|SOEIV]] to secure a [[landing zone]] for [[Avery Johnson|Sergeant Johnson]], who would deliver several [[D77-TC Pelican|Pelicans]] with reinforcements. As the ''In Amber Clad'' passed over the ring, the ship deployed John and the ODSTs of First Platoon. As they entered the atmosphere, the started to take heavy fire from Covenant [[Type-27 Shade|stationary guns]] and several of the pods were hit. John managed to make landfall, and emerged from his pod armed with a [[M7 SMG|submachine gun]] and a [[M41 SPNKR|rocket launcher]]. One of the ODSTs immediately informed him that he needed to neutralize the Shade turrets. Using the rocket launcher, John eliminated the various stationary guns around the landing zone before attacking more Covenant soldiers around a nearby structure. Eventually clearing the area, Cortana told Johnson that he was safe to begin his approach. As he acknowledged, Cortana told John that there was several [[Type-52 Phantom|Phantoms]] inbound. John and the surviving ODSTs from First Platoon were successful in holding the LZ, fighting back several dropships worth of Covenant. With the area secure, Johnson's Pelican arrived, dropping off a [[M12 Chaingun Warthog|Warthog]] and several reinforcements.<ref name="H2DH">''[[Halo 2]]'', ''[[Delta Halo]]''</ref> | The {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}} arrived in the [[Coelest system]] on [[2552#November|November 2]], two weeks after departing from Earth. Commander Keyes soon spotted the [[Installation 05|Halo construct]] orbiting the [[Substance|ice giant]] in the system and told [[Cortana]] to pass on all of the information from the [[Installation 04|first Halo]] regardless of her security clearance. Noting that the ''[[Solemn Penance]]'' was deploying troops onto the surface, and knowing that it was even more important to capture the [[Prophet of Regret]], Commander Keyes ordered John to take [[First Platoon (ODST)|First Platoon]] and deploy via [[Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle|SOEIV]] to secure a [[landing zone]] for [[Avery Johnson|Sergeant Johnson]], who would deliver several [[D77-TC Pelican|Pelicans]] with reinforcements. As the ''In Amber Clad'' passed over the ring, the ship deployed John and the ODSTs of First Platoon. As they entered the atmosphere, the started to take heavy fire from Covenant [[Type-27 Shade|stationary guns]] and several of the pods were hit. John managed to make landfall, and emerged from his pod armed with a [[M7 SMG|submachine gun]] and a [[M41 SPNKR|rocket launcher]]. One of the ODSTs immediately informed him that he needed to neutralize the Shade turrets. Using the rocket launcher, John eliminated the various stationary guns around the landing zone before attacking more Covenant soldiers around a nearby structure. Eventually clearing the area, Cortana told Johnson that he was safe to begin his approach. As he acknowledged, Cortana told John that there was several [[Type-52 Phantom|Phantoms]] inbound. John and the surviving ODSTs from First Platoon were successful in holding the LZ, fighting back several dropships worth of Covenant. With the area secure, Johnson's Pelican arrived, dropping off a [[M12 Chaingun Warthog|Warthog]] and several reinforcements.<ref name="H2DH">''[[Halo 2]]'', ''[[Delta Halo]]''</ref> | ||
John and his team pressed on, using the Warthog to clear out an encampment of [[Kig-Yar]] [[Kig-Yar Sniper|snipers]] before arriving at a Covenant-held bridge control structure. As they entered the valley, Covenant inside the structure retracted the bridge, hoping to trap John on their side of the gorge. While under fire from more Shade turrets, as well as [[Type-32 Ghost|Ghosts]] and infantry, John was successful in clearing the area, before entering the structure, killing the Covenant around the bridge control and lowering the bridge. Upon seeing the hologram of Regret within, Cortana informed the team that she would translate if he said anything of interest. While the bridge was down, a number of [[Type-26 Wraith|Wraiths]] had taken up position on the other side of the gorge. In response, Johnson ferried in a [[M808B Scorpion|Scorpion]] tank for John to use. The Spartan was successful in destroying the Wraiths, in addition to the Ghosts and [[Type-26 Banshee|Banshees]] that attacked shortly after. John took the tank through a multitude of ruined [[Forerunner]] structures, engaging large numbers of infantry, Ghosts and turret emplacements before emerging into a larger area. With another Pelican inbound to reinforce the team, John and the remaining Marines managed to clear a landing zone. The Pelican dropped off a number of [[Ordnance pod|resupply canisters]] containing weapons and ammo for the team. Leaving the tank behind to enter the central structure, the team encountered another hologram of the Prophet. This time, Cortana translated some of his speech for John. The team continued, entering an open area where more Kig-Yar snipers and [[Yanme'e]] attempted to stop the team. Eventually they emerged from the other side of the area, where the first of the structures in the lake, and the path to their target, was situated. Cortana informed John that there was still no word about ''In Amber Clad'' on the [[ | John and his team pressed on, using the Warthog to clear out an encampment of [[Kig-Yar]] [[Kig-Yar Sniper|snipers]] before arriving at a Covenant-held bridge control structure. As they entered the valley, Covenant inside the structure retracted the bridge, hoping to trap John on their side of the gorge. While under fire from more Shade turrets, as well as [[Type-32 Ghost|Ghosts]] and infantry, John was successful in clearing the area, before entering the structure, killing the Covenant around the bridge control and lowering the bridge. Upon seeing the hologram of Regret within, Cortana informed the team that she would translate if he said anything of interest. While the bridge was down, a number of [[Type-26 Wraith|Wraiths]] had taken up position on the other side of the gorge. In response, Johnson ferried in a [[M808B Scorpion|Scorpion]] tank for John to use. The Spartan was successful in destroying the Wraiths, in addition to the Ghosts and [[Type-26 Banshee|Banshees]] that attacked shortly after. John took the tank through a multitude of ruined [[Forerunner]] structures, engaging large numbers of infantry, Ghosts and turret emplacements before emerging into a larger area. With another Pelican inbound to reinforce the team, John and the remaining Marines managed to clear a landing zone. The Pelican dropped off a number of [[Ordnance pod|resupply canisters]] containing weapons and ammo for the team. Leaving the tank behind to enter the central structure, the team encountered another hologram of the Prophet. This time, Cortana translated some of his speech for John. The team continued, entering an open area where more Kig-Yar snipers and [[Yanme'e]] attempted to stop the team. Eventually they emerged from the other side of the area, where the first of the structures in the lake, and the path to their target, was situated. Cortana informed John that there was still no word about ''In Amber Clad'' on the [[proselytization network]], explaining it as odd that the Prophet didn't seem to consider them as a serious threat. John fought his way past another Yanme'e ambush from under the bridge and entered the structure, engaging several of the Prophet's [[Sangheili Honor Guardsman|personal guardians]]. John was successful in eliminating his attackers, and approached another hologram of Regret.{{Ref/Reuse|H2DH}} | ||
[[File:H2A - Prophet of Regret hologram.jpg||thumb|300px|left|The Master Chief learns Regret's true intentions.]] | [[File:H2A - Prophet of Regret hologram.jpg||thumb|300px|left|The Master Chief learns Regret's true intentions.]] | ||
Cortana informed John that the Prophet of Regret was planning to activate the installation. Commander Keyes told him that that, with the information she had accessed from the first Halo, she had deduced that the Prophet would need the [[Activation index]] to carry out his objective, and ordered Sergeant Johnson to extract his men and meet her at the installation's [[Library#Installation 05|Library]], leaving John to handle the assassination of the Prophet of Regret. John, with the aid of several Marines, fought his way through groups of Covenant until they reached a [[Anti-gravity gondola]] docking station guarded by a number of Kig-Yar snipers and Sangheili. After the team cleared the area, a Phantom dropship deployed a pair of [[Mgalekgolo]] on to the platform. After a struggle, John managed to take the Covenant behemoths down. Commander Keyes rerouted a Pelican with reinforcements and resupply canisters to John, apologizing that they were all the support they were going to get. A gondola carrying Covenant reinforcements arrived from the opposite structure, of which the Spartan was able to handle with aid from his team. The team boarded the gondola, using it to traverse across the lake to the structure, engaging a group of Yanme'e followed by another gondola of Covenant troops. Upon approach to the structure the team took fire from Kig-Yar snipers and Shade turrets but John was able to defeat the attackers. Inside the structure the team encountered an elevator that would take them underwater to the next structure. The team arrived in the next structure, engaging a group of [[Unggoy]], many of whom were asleep before entering a vast underwater chamber dominated by a massive hologram of the Prophet of Regret. After clearing out huge amounts of Covenant, including more Mgalekgolo, Sangheili Honor Guardsmen, Kig-Yar snipers and swarms of Yanme'e, John paused in front of the hologram, Cortana translating its speech and revealing the apparent reasoning behind the Covenant's [[Human-Covenant War|genocidal war]] against humanity. The team entered another elevator that took them to the third lake structure, fighting more patrolling Honor Guardsmen until they emerged outside. John managed to secure a landing zone for the Pelican, the pilot telling him that he was almost out of fuel and so was conducting his final resupply run, and to contact him when John was ready for evac. After rearming, John pressed into the ruins of another Forerunner structure, engaging more Covenant, as well as another Phantom's troop complement. Finally, the Spartan arrived at the gondola that would take him directly to the Prophet of Regret's [[Temple (Installation 05)|temple]]. As the gondola neared the temple, it was engaged by another carrying [[Sangheili Ranger]]s and Unggoy wielding [[Pez'tk-pattern fuel rod gun|heavy weapons]]. John managed to clear the area in front of the temple of its Unggoy and Kig-Yar guards, but before he could move inside, he witnessed the arrival of hundreds of Covenant vessels coming out of slipspace, followed by ''[[High Charity]]'', the Covenant's holy city. Noting that [[Second Fleet of Homogeneous Clarity|this fleet]] was the largest one anyone had ever seen, Cortana urged John to complete his mission quickly before they could stop him. Quickly making his way inside the temple, John fought through waves of the Prophet's [[Covenant Honor Guard|Honor Guard]] before confronting the Prophet himself. Quickly realizing that Regret's [[Anti-gravity chair|throne]] projected an energy shield that was impervious to small-arms fire, John boarded the throne, beating the Prophet to death. As Regret's throne exploded, Cortana warned him that the Covenant fleet was preparing to open fire on the temple. John escaped the temple moments before it was destroyed by an [[energy projector]], but was thrown into the lake below where he lost consciousness.{{Ref/Reuse|H2R}} | Cortana informed John that the Prophet of Regret was planning to activate the installation. Commander Keyes told him that that, with the information she had accessed from the first Halo, she had deduced that the Prophet would need the [[Activation index]] to carry out his objective, and ordered Sergeant Johnson to extract his men and meet her at the installation's [[Library#Installation 05|Library]], leaving John to handle the assassination of the Prophet of Regret. John, with the aid of several Marines, fought his way through groups of Covenant until they reached a [[Anti-gravity gondola]] docking station guarded by a number of Kig-Yar snipers and Sangheili. After the team cleared the area, a Phantom dropship deployed a pair of [[Mgalekgolo]] on to the platform. After a struggle, John managed to take the Covenant behemoths down. Commander Keyes rerouted a Pelican with reinforcements and resupply canisters to John, apologizing that they were all the support they were going to get. A gondola carrying Covenant reinforcements arrived from the opposite structure, of which the Spartan was able to handle with aid from his team. The team boarded the gondola, using it to traverse across the lake to the structure, engaging a group of Yanme'e followed by another gondola of Covenant troops. Upon approach to the structure the team took fire from Kig-Yar snipers and Shade turrets but John was able to defeat the attackers. Inside the structure the team encountered an elevator that would take them underwater to the next structure. The team arrived in the next structure, engaging a group of [[Unggoy]], many of whom were asleep before entering a vast underwater chamber dominated by a massive hologram of the Prophet of Regret. After clearing out huge amounts of Covenant, including more Mgalekgolo, Sangheili Honor Guardsmen, Kig-Yar snipers and swarms of Yanme'e, John paused in front of the hologram, Cortana translating its speech and revealing the apparent reasoning behind the Covenant's [[Human-Covenant War|genocidal war]] against humanity. The team entered another elevator that took them to the third lake structure, fighting more patrolling Honor Guardsmen until they emerged outside. John managed to secure a landing zone for the Pelican, the pilot telling him that he was almost out of fuel and so was conducting his final resupply run, and to contact him when John was ready for evac. After rearming, John pressed into the ruins of another Forerunner structure, engaging more Covenant, as well as another Phantom's troop complement. Finally, the Spartan arrived at the gondola that would take him directly to the Prophet of Regret's [[Temple (Installation 05)|temple]]. As the gondola neared the temple, it was engaged by another carrying [[Sangheili Ranger]]s and Unggoy wielding [[Pez'tk-pattern fuel rod gun|heavy weapons]]. John managed to clear the area in front of the temple of its Unggoy and Kig-Yar guards, but before he could move inside, he witnessed the arrival of hundreds of Covenant vessels coming out of slipspace, followed by ''[[High Charity]]'', the Covenant's holy city. Noting that [[Second Fleet of Homogeneous Clarity|this fleet]] was the largest one anyone had ever seen, Cortana urged John to complete his mission quickly before they could stop him. Quickly making his way inside the temple, John fought through waves of the Prophet's [[Covenant Honor Guard|Honor Guard]] before confronting the Prophet himself. Quickly realizing that Regret's [[Anti-gravity chair|throne]] projected an energy shield that was impervious to small-arms fire, John boarded the throne, beating the Prophet to death. As Regret's throne exploded, Cortana warned him that the Covenant fleet was preparing to open fire on the temple. John escaped the temple moments before it was destroyed by an [[energy projector]], but was thrown into the lake below where he lost consciousness.{{Ref/Reuse|H2R}} | ||
