Nightfall

This article is about the level. For the Halo: Reach song, see Nightfall (song).

Nightfall is the fourth campaign level of Halo: Reach.^[1]

Upon completing this level on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary the player will unlock the "I Need a Weapon" achievement and 10 Gamerscore.

Summary

The mission involves Noble Six cooperating with Jun-A266 (Noble Three), in a series of stealth-based encounters at night, the purpose of which is to recon Covenant Forces in the colloquially named 'Dark Zone'. They first eliminate a few guards posts, and then encountering a native creature of Reach, the Gúta. They then met a few militia troopers attempting to recover smuggled UNSC weaponry at a waterfront. The militia troopers told the Spartans about a hydro plant further into the dark zone. They discovered a Covenant pylon, which Jun placed a remote detonator charge on after a few firefights. After proceeding further into the dark zone and eliminating the Covenant troops in the area, the two Spartan discover a Covenant landing zone. Kat receives the visual and tells them to retreat so they will be prepared for the next day.

Transcript

{Cutscene}

The camera fades in on a cliffside at night.

26:30 Hours

A Phantom dropship flies by with its search light on. Jun-A266 emerges from a concealed position behind a rock as the dropship passes. He nods to Noble Six, who follows Jun along the cliff edge.

Warrant Officer Jun-A266: "Recon Team Bravo reporting: Three and Six in position. It's starting to get crowded up here, Kat."

Lieutenant Commander Catherine-B320 (COM): "Then we're closing in. Report any Covenant structures or devices. Direct action may be necessary."

Jun-A266: "Copy that. (chuckling, to Six) When Kat runs an op, direct action is always necessary."

Jun hands Six a magazine of sniper rounds.

Jun-A266: "Here. You may need these. High velocity, armor-piercing. They'll take the hat off an Elite at two thousand yards. And they ain't cheap."

Jun and Six head further along the ledge, Jun reaches a boulder and starts to climb it.

Jun-A266: "I'll be in touch."

Noble Six slides down the ledge to the ground below.

{Gameplay}

...Too Quiet

Catherine-B320 (COM): "Recon Bravo, the sector ahead is dark to electronic surveillance."

Jun-A266: "Covenant can block our instruments?"

Catherine-B320 (COM): "So it would seem, and Command wants to know what they're hiding."

Six heads up along another ledge. An Elite stands watch over the area, back facing them, while a few Grunts sleep nearby.

Jun-A266: "Elite. He's yours, do it quiet."

Noble Six assassinates the Elite quietly using a combat knife.

Jun-A266: "Not bad."

Six eliminates the Grunts and continues forward, eventually reaching a Covenant-controlled complex.

Jun-A266: "Recon Bravo to Noble Two, stand by for contact report."

Catherine-B320 (COM): "Standing by to copy, over."

Jun-A266: "We have eyes on multiple hostiles patrolling a settlement. This what we're looking for, Kat?"

Catherine-B320 (COM): "Negative, too small, you're not in the dark zone yet. Engage at your own discretion, but keep moving."

Jun-A266: "You heard her, Six. Drop those tangos."

After a eliminating a few of the Covenant troops, a Phantom shows up.

Jun-A266: "Incoming. Looks like we really pissed them off."

Jun and Six eliminate the rest of the Covenant in the area and continue on a trail behind the buildings, going further into the complex, soon finding an area with more Covenant troops.

Jun-A266: "We got hostiles near."

The Covenant in the area are quickly eliminated. Jun and Six find a trail leading away, with still more Covenant troops advancing.

Jun-A266: "Visual on targets."

After dealing with the enemy troops, Jun and Six continue down the trail.

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

Jun and Six reach a clearing where some enormous native creatures are attacking Covenant troops.

Jun-A266: "Look at that!"

After laying waste to the Covenant, the creatures notice Jun and Noble Six, and begin to charge them.

Jun-A266: "Major enemy, incoming."

The creatures take sustained gunfire from both Jun and Six, but eventually fall.

Jun-A266: "Kat, pick any of that up?"

Catherine-B320 (COM): "Affirmative, Recon Bravo. It's an indigenous creature, called Gúta."

Jun and Six continue on, soon finding another trail.

Jun-A266: "Six, there's a trail up ahead through the rocks. Let's take it."

While taking the trail they come across several Moa, soon hearing gunfire.

Jun-A266: "Gunfire. Magnums, security side-arms. Standard issue."

The trail opens up to a pumping station. Several militia are under attack by Covenant forces.

Jun-A266: "Noble Two, that's some sort of pump station. Got eyes on civilians, I'm thinking more local militia, they've engaged hostiles."

Catherine-B320 (COM): "Move to assist. They may have intel we need."

Jun-A266: "You heard her, Six. Keep those civilians alive."

Militia Trooper: "Give us a hand! Bastards just keep comin'."

After the Covenant troops in the area are eliminated, the group gathers around a couple briefcases.

Militia Trooper: "Little more action than we're used to. You Spartans are good in a fight."

Jun-A266: "What are you doing here? Whole area's supposed to be evacuated."

Militia Trooper: "Didn't like leaving it to someone else to protect our home. So we came back, for this. We have 'em hidden all over the territory."

The briefcases electronically open to reveal various UNSC weapons.

Jun-A266: "You know this stuff is stolen."

Militia trooper: "What? You gonna arrest me?"

Jun-A266: "No. Gonna steal it back."

A Phantom shows up, and the group moves to defensive positions.

Jun-A266: "Another dropship coming in."

After dealing with the hostiles, a second Phantom shows up.

Jun-A266: "We've got company."

After eliminating the hostiles, yet another Phantom shows up.

Jun-A266: "More inbound."

Eventually, they eliminate the final wave.

Jun-A266: "Nothing here but that lake."

Militia trooper: Road leads to a hydro-electric plant, but the gate doesn't work.

Jun-A266: "Alternate route?"

Militia trooper: "We use the riverbed to smuggle rations, weapons..."

Jun-A266: "Basically anything the UNSC considers contraband."

Militia trooper: "Basically."

Jun-A266: "Show us."

The troopers lead Jun and Six to the riverbed.

Jun-A266: "There's the riverbed, Six. Let's see where it goes."

The Spartans continue down the riverbed.

Jun-A266: "Where does this riverbed lead?"

Militia Trooper: "Straight to the hydro plant. We dammed this river up forty-five years ago, plant powers every settlement in the territory. Shame if it all gets wasted."

Jun-A266: "Doing what we can."

A Phantom passes overhead.

Jun-A266: "Hold up. Covie dropship, take cover."

The Phantom passes them by.

Jun-A266: "OK, clear. Let's move."
Template:Expand-Section

I'll Just Leave This Here...

They continue on, eventually reaching the plant, which is under Covenant control. A Covenant pylon is seen near the plant.

Jun-A266: "Kat, are you seeing this? Covenant structure, kind of a big pylon. Heavily fortified."

Catherine-B320 (COM): "That's the source of our dark zone."

Jun-A266: "OK, consider it gone."

Catherine-B320 (COM): "Negative, stick a remote det charge on it. Command's planning something big, they say that pylon dies at dawn."

Militia Trooper: "We gonna blow it?"

Jun-A266: "We're gonna clear the area, and I'm gonna plant a remote det charge. You want to provide some cover, go right ahead."

They neutralize the guards on the bridge, attracting the attention of the other Covenant in the area.

After eliminating the Covenant forces in the area, Jun heads for one of the pylon's legs.

Jun-A266: "All clear, Six. This is gonna take a minute, keep your eyes peeled."

A Phantom shows up and drops off a pair of Hunters, followed by another Phantom with an Elite Spec-Ops team. Noble Six eventually defeats them while Jun continues to work on the remote detonator.

Jun-A266: "Recon Bravo to Noble Two, charge placed."

Catherine-B320 (COM): "Somewhere inconspicuous, I hope."

Jun-A266: "Stuck it inside the pylon's power supply."

Catherine-B320 (COM): "Alright. Keep pushing into the dark zone. Command wants to know what the Covenant are hiding."

Jun-A266: "There's a gate to the southeast of the power plant."

Catherine-B320 (COM): "Copy. Uploading security codes to you now."

Jun-A266: "Okay, got 'em. Unlocking the gate."

Catherine-B320 (COM): "Recon Bravo, you're heading into the dark zone now."

Jun-A266: "Understood."

The Spartans head through the gate, engaging more Covenant troops almost immediately.

Jun-A266: "Phantom, too close for comfort."

They advance further, engaging more Covenant troops and a Shade turret.

Jun-A266: "Shade! Fire and manoeuvre. Hit 'em from the side, Six."

After neutralizing the Shade, they advance further. Multiple Banshees start flying overhead.

Jun-A266: "Lotta air traffic around here, Six. I think we're getting warm."

As they advance further in, they encounter more Covenant troops and several more Shades. Soon, another Covenant Corvette is seen holding position on the other side of the rock wall.

Jun-A266: "Noble Two, we have eyes on at least one Covenant ship."

Catherine-B320 (COM): "Solid copy. Don't stop now."

Eventually, the Spartans and militia clear the area of hostiles.

Jun-A266: "Yes, clear."

{Cutscene}

Jun and Six go prone and crawl forward towards a cliff edge. A massive Covenant landing zone is seen in the distance.

Jun-A266: "Jackpot."

Noble Six: "Transmitting visual."

Jun-A266: "You seeing this, Kat?"

Catherine-B320 (COM): "Confirmed. Receiving Noble Three and Noble Six's live visual of a Covenant strike force."

Jun-A266: "That's no strike force, it's an invading army. If we're gonna smother this thing, we need to go in hard and fast."

Catherine-B320 (COM): "Agreed. All recon teams disengage and fall back. Sun will be up in a few hours... and its going to be a very busy day."

Fade to black.

Level ends.

Trivia

Glitches

There is a possible glitch where, if a Hunter knocks Jun into the canyon, he will not be able to progress further. The player will be able to progress further, albeit with no Jun.

References

The chapter "...Too Quiet" is a reference to the cliché phrase, "It's quiet... too quiet." This phrase was previously referenced in the second chapter of the Halo: Combat Evolved level The Silent Cartographer, "It's Quiet...".
The "I Need a Weapon" Achievement, unlocked by completing Nightfall on any difficulty above Easy, is a reference to a line spoken in another Bungie-made Halo game, like many other Reach Achievements. In this case, it refers to a line spoken by the Master Chief in Halo 2, in the level Cairo Station.

Miscellaneous

A section of this level is a night-time version of the multiplayer map Powerhouse, with some notable differences such as a large Covenant shield dome generator.
This is the only level that features a Gúta, one of Reach's native species.
This is the only level in any of the games to feature the Colonial Militia.
The Sniper Rifle given to Noble Six at the start of the mission has more ammunition capacity than normal. This is mission-specific only, as Nightfall is primarily a sniper mission. This is similar to the mission Truth and Reconciliation from Halo: Combat Evolved, in which John-117 uses a Sniper Rifle with above-normal ammunition capacity. The player's secondary weapon also has increased capacity, though this is often overlooked.
The firefight map Waterfront is based on this level.

Gallery

REACHglassing.PNG

Noble Six and Jun overlooking a Covenant encampment.
Nightfall5.jpg

Noble Six and Jun standing atop a cliff.
GUETA nightfall.jpg

Jun and Noble Six encounter a Gúta, one of Reach's native creatures.
Nightfall9.jpg

A Sangheili standing guard while a Phantom passes by.
Nightfall7.jpg

Noble Six sneaking up on the Sangheili.
Noble Six assassinates the Sangheili sentry.
A Phantom over a Covenant outpost.
Nightfall6.jpg

Another general view of the outpost.
Nightfall10.jpg

Jun and Noble Six approaching the Covenant-occupied power plant.
Noble Six and Jun engaged in combat.
Nightfall4.jpg

Noble Six in combat with a Mgalekgolo.
Nightfall8.jpg

Noble Six commandeers a Forklift while under fire by a Mgalekgolo.
Image (8).JPG

A screenshot of the level.
Concept Art (3).JPG

A concept art of Nightfall.

Sources

^ Gamespot - Halo: Reach Interview

Preceded by
ONI: Sword Base

Halo: Reach Campaign Missions
Nightfall

Succeeded by
Tip of The Spear

[1] Gamespot - Halo: Reach Interview

[1]