Shutdown

This article is about the Halo 4 level. For the Halo 4 achievement, see Shutdown (achievement).

Shutdown is the sixth campaign level of Halo 4. Completing the level on any difficulty unlocks the Shutdown achievement. The Explore the Floor achievement is awarded exclusively in this level for tricking or forcing a Hunter to fall to its death.

Transcript

{Cutscene}

Open on Cortana looking out Infinity's window, watching Requiem's sun.

• Cortana: "I can give you over forty thousand reasons why that sun isn't real. I know it because the emitter's Rayleigh effect is disproportionate to its suggested size. I know it because its stellar cycle is more symmetrical than that of an actual star. But for all that, I'll never actually know if it looks real... if it feels real."

There's is the sound of a rifle being cocked. Cortana turns to see John-117 adjusting it.

• Cortana: "Before this is all over, promise me you'll figure out which one of us is the machine."

John looks at her. Thomas Lasky walks on deck.

• Lasky: "So what's your plan?"

• John-117: Infinity's tracked the Didact's vessel to a docking structure southeast of here. We'll jump ship as Infinity exits the roof."

• Lasky: "You know, I was sent down here with orders to prevent you from leaving. ...In case you had already gone, I took the precaution of ordering a Pelican, outfitted for full combat pursuit."

John turns to hear the Pelican rising up on a platform behind him.

• Lasky: "I hope to God you're wrong about that Forerunner, or whatever he is, Chief. But in the event you're not..."

Lasky nods toward the Pelican, then begins to walk away.

• Lasky: "And Chief? Good luck. ...Both of you."

Cortana watches him walk away and smiles at John.

• Cortana: "C'mon, Chief. Take a girl for a ride."

John lowers his rifle and retrieves her from the Terminal.

{Gameplay}

Aboard the Infinity's hangar, John's HUD tints slightly purple and flickers while Cortana speaks. Her voice is mildly distorted.

• Cortana: "The Didact used this Composer to create the Prometheans from ancient humans. If he wants to finish the job, he'll have to find it first. Out best bet to stop him is to keep him firmly on Requiem. Let's hope Lasky didn't skimp on that Pelican."

John heads toward the Pelican and armors up.

• System: "Attention! All hands. Final call. Secure all hulls and prepare for immediate departure. Final call."

John climbs into the Pelican.

• Cortana: "Initiating pre-flight diagnostics. Forward Autocannon. Check."

The platform carrying the Pelican begins to lower into a dark tunnel.

• Cortana: "Lateral Rail Turrets. Check. Main Thrusters. Check. Auxiliary Boosters. Check. All right, keying engines... now."

Once More Into The Breach

• Cortana: "It may be a while before we find another ride home. You know that, right?"

• John-117: "It'll be OK."

The tunnel lights up and the Pelican boosts forward. It shoots out of the Infinity into the open air. Ahead is the Forerunner launching dock, which mad of huge floating towers. The Didact's Cryptum can be seen in the center, surrounding by an orange field.

• Cortana: "Contact. Didact. Dead ahead. "

• John-117: "How do we get inside those shields?"

• Cortana: "Marking two of the larger facilities on your HUD. They're acting as traffic control for resources moving to and from the satellite. If we disrupt their communications, I can forge an override code and convince it lower those defenses."

If John flies to the right tower, his Pelican fights a group of Phantoms. John shoots them down and lands.

• Cortana: "Slight complication. There are millions of transmissions passing through this structure, not simply ones controlling movement through the structure's shield."

• John-117: "Can you isolate the satellite communications?"

• Cortana: "Not quickly, and shutting them all down's not an option, but destroying the system's attenuators should flood the network."