The Pillar of Autumn

For more articles of the same name, see The Pillar of Autumn (disambiguation).

The Pillar of Autumn is the tenth campaign level of Halo: Reach. The level takes place on August 30, 2552, near and in the ship-breaking yards at Aszod.

Upon completing this level on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary the player will unlock the "Send Me Out... with a Bang" achievement and 10 Gamerpoints.

Plot

The level opens with the remainder of Noble Team onboard a D77-TC Pelican, on their way to deliver Cortana to the dry-docked UNSC Pillar of Autumn. The Pelican is critically damaged and Carter-A259 is badly wounded. Carter orders SPARTAN-B312 and Emile-A239 to complete the courier mission without him, while he lures the Covenant away from the pair by using the Pelican as a decoy. Emile-A239 and SPARTAN-B312 execute a low-altitude jump from the Pelican outside of the dockyard and are forced to fight their way to the facility. After battling through several Covenant outposts, the two SPARTAN-IIIs are forced to continue their journey through a cave system to circumvent a large group of Covenant forces. Upon reaching the other side, however, they are confronted by a Scarab. Realizing that the Scarab's presence prevents Emile and Noble Six from moving on, Carter rams it with the Pelican, knocking it off a cliff and sacrificing himself in the process. The two SPARTAN-IIIs continue their journey and eventually reach the Aszod ship breaking facility.

The two SPARTAN-IIIs are then hailed by Captain Jacob Keyes, whose cruiser, the Pillar of Autumn, is moored at the facility, and are ordered to clear a landing zone for the Captain, who will use a Pelican to retrieve the Package himself. Emile mans the facility's mass driver to provide covering fire against incoming Covenant Phantoms, while Noble Six and surviving Marines engage the Covenant on the ground. Once cleared, Keyes' Pelican arrives and Captain Keyes retrieves the Package from Noble Six. As the package is handed over, a CCS-class Battlecruiser is revealed to be moving in on the Pillar of Autumn. Keyes orders Emile to fire on the advancing Battlecruiser, however, before Emile can oblige a Phantom attacks the landing zone, destroying one Pelican and deploying a group of Sangheili warriors onto the mass driver. Emile successfully kills one of the Sangheili with his shotgun before a second sneaks up behind him and impales him with an energy sword. Emile manages to draw his kukri and fatally stab the Sangheili in the neck before he expires.

Keyes returns to the landing platform and offers Noble Six transportation to safety. The SPARTAN-III refuses and offers to defend the Captain as he heads towards his ship. Using the mass driver, Six defends the site and shoots down the Covenant Cruiser just as it is about to glass the area. After successfully halting the cruiser's attack, Noble Six looks on as the Pillar of Autumn takes off and heads towards space to escape Reach.

Transcript

{Cutscene}

Auntie Dot's satellite view shows Noble Team's Pelican being pursued by two Banshees and a Phantom.

Aszod, Eposz

August 30, 2552 16:52 Hours

Auntie Dot (COM): "Noble Leader, seek immediate medical attention."

The view zooms in and follows the Pelican.

Auntie Dot (COM): "Noble Leader, please respond."

Cuts to the cockpit of the Pelican, with Noble Six moving closer to the pilot seat. Suddenly, several plasma bolts hit the Pelican, impacting Noble Six, flickering the Spartan's shields. The view turns to the troop bay of the Pelican, and Emile-A239 is seen firing his Grenade Launcher at the two Banshees. Emile concentrates fire on a single Banshee. The grenade detonates close by, and the EMP disables the Banshee, which swoops up and crashes into its wingman. Both are taken out, but the Phantom still pursues. The view switches back to the cockpit, and moves in front of Six. Carter, critically wounded but still in the pilot seat, takes off his helmet and throws it onto the ground. Blood splatters cover the cockpit window.

Auntie Dot (COM): "Please respond, Sierra Two-Five-Nine. You are alarming me."

Carter-A259 turns back to Noble Six. His face is bloodied, and his armor is charred from plasma fire.

Commander Carter-A259: (strained but calm) "Not sure how long she's gonna stay together. Skies are jammed up anyways. Gotta get you off her, Lieutenant."

View faces a critically injured Carter. Noble Six, grabbing the pilot chair, looks up.

Noble Six: "Sir, you-"

Carter-A259: "Don't wanna hear it. Get the Package to the Autumn."

Noble Six : "Done."

Carter-A259: "Not yet, it's not... Emile, go with him/her. It's a ground game now."

The view switches to Emile, who drops his emptied Grenade Launcher and makes a fist-to-chest salute. In the background, two more Banshees appear.

Warrant Officer Emile-A239: "It's been an honor, sir."

Carter-A259: "Likewise... I'll do what I can to draw their fire."

Six turns and walks to the troop bay.

Carter-A259: "Six. That AI chose you... She made the right choice."

The Pelican turns and make the pursuing aircraft out of sight. Six and Emile position at the Pelican's tail, ready to jump off. Holding the AI Package tight, Six crouches down as Emile grips the Pelican. Carter counts down with his fingers.

Carter-A259: "On my mark."

Carter counts down to zero.

Carter-A259: "Mark!"

Six and Emile jump out, and the view switches to Six's point of view. They slide down a canyon, energy shields depleting. They come to a rough stop by impacting the ground. Six looks up as his or her and Emile's shields recharge. Carter's Pelican flies over them, Banshees in hot pursuit. Six turns back, checks the the Package for damage, then places the AI data storage unit on his or her back. They look up to the road ahead.

{Gameplay}

Once More unto the Breach

Six and Emile continue through the narrow crack until they reach a cliff edge, overlooking a large area. Far in the distance, the Template:UNSCship can be seen.

Emile-A239: "Still with us, Commander?"

Carter-A259 (COM): "Stay low, let me draw the heat. You just deliver that Package."

Emile indicates the ship in the distance.

Emile-A239: "There's our destination, Six: Pillar of Autumn. Race you to her."

Carter's Pelican, still being pursued by Banshees, flies out of sight. After killing the distracted Covenant troops, Emile and Six come upon a pair of Mongooses.

Emile-A239: "Got transport.

If the player stalls:

Emile-A239: "You think we got time to walk over there?"

After traveling a short distance, the Spartans reach another open area. Heavy Orbital Insertion Pods drop and Covenant troops emerge from them. To make the situation worse, a Scarab drops from the sky.

If Six is driving his/her own Mongoose rather than riding shotgun on Emile's:

Emile-A239: "Scarab! Do not engage! Gun it, Six!"

If the player dismounts his/her Mongoose:

Emile-A239: "Six! Get back on to the Mon'!"

Carter's Pelican reappears and distracts the Scarab by shooting its back.

Carter-A259 (COM): "Get the Package out of there! Remember your objective!"

More Orbital Insertion Pods drop, and another Scarab falls from the sky as the first one walks over the cliff. After fleeing from the battlefield, the Spartans come upon a broken bridge.

Emile-A239: "The bridge ahead is out, Six. We're gonna have to jump it!"

or, with the IWHBYD Skull activated:

Emile-A239: "Put your hands up Six! We're gonna have to jump it!"

If the player heads to the right of the bridge:

Emile-A239: "Looks like we can climb around to the south."

Emile-A239: "Wraith! Heading our way!"

A Phantom flies overhead as the Spartans cross the chasm, on a Mongoose or not. Barricades block the vehicle's way. Emile and Noble Six dismount and continue on foot.

This Town Isn't Big Enough

Carter-A259 (COM): "Noble, enemy forces blocking the road up ahead."

Emile-A239: "Got a Wraith! Southeast side!"

After clearing or rushing through the area, Six and Emile go through a cave. They draw closer to the exit.

Carter-A259 (COM): "Noble! You got a...situation."

{Cutscene}

Another Scarab suddenly walks down in front of Emile and Six, who are stuck in the tight space.

Emile-A239: "Mother... We can get past it, sir!"

Emile steps back in hesitation.

Carter-A259 (COM): "No you can't. Not without help."

Emile-A239: "Commander, you don't have the firepower!"

After noticing the two Spartans, the Scarab charges its main cannon, aiming at Six and Emile. Carter's Pelican flies over and strafes it. The Scarab is distracted and stops charging its cannon.

Carter-A259 (COM): "I've got the mass."

Emile-A239: "Solid copy. Hit 'em hard, boss."

Carter brings the Pelican around and starts a ballistic trajectory, directly towards the Scarab.

Carter-A259 (COM): "You're on your own, Noble... Carter out."

The Pelican slams into the Scarab's side and explodes as the walker charges its main cannon again. The Scarab's side bursts into flames, explosions rocking within it. The Scarab lets out a dying "scream" and struggles to stay standing. More explosions rock it and it falls down the cliff. A loud explosion is heard indicating its destruction. The view switches back to the two SPARTAN-IIIs, all that remains of Noble Team.

Emile-A239: "Crevice to the east. Let's go."

Noble Six nods.

{Gameplay}

Emile and Six enter another cave. The bodies of dead Marines litter the cave.

Emile-A239: "Buggers. Go quiet."

Drones attack the duo, but with skill and superior firepower, the Spartans take the Covenant troops down. After taking down several Skirmishers, Emile and Six find the cave's exit. The Sinoviet facility is seen, with the grounded and scrapped UNSC frigate Commonwealth being an enormous battlefield between UNSC and Covenant troops.

Trooper #1: "Spartans! Over here!"

Captain Jacob Keyes (COM): "This is Captain Keyes of the Pillar of Autumn. We are tracking you, Noble, but we've begun our launch sequence. Proceed to dry dock, Platform D. I'll be on it myself to receive the Package."

Emile-A239: "We'll be there, sir."

Keyes (COM): "You'd better be, soldier, because my countdown has no abort."

Emile-A239: "Understood. We've got to get to the dry dock - Priority One."

They clear the front of the shipyards and proceed into the facility. Soon they link up with some UNSC Army troopers fighting another mass of Covenant.

Trooper #2: "Sierra, you made it!"

Emile-A239: "So far. TAC eval?"

Trooper #2: "They got this facility covered from all angles. We'll give you covering fire. Take the flank, there has to be a way around."

Emile-A239: "We'll find it. You just keep 'em busy."

Trooper #2: "You got it, sir."

Six and Emile penetrate deeper into the facility, fighting past numerous Covenant soldiers. Along the way, they encounter a pair of Marines.

Marine #1: "Spartans! Drydock's through that structure across the way. Punch through, we'll back you up."

A Phantom approaches and drops off enemy troops.

Emile-A239: "Watch that Phantom!"

Six and Emile deal with the reinforcements and continue outside. They head down a walkway and arrive outside a warehouse guarded by Skirmishers and a pair of Hunters. The Spartans quickly kill the Skirmishers, and after a prolonged battle, bring down the Hunters as well.

Emile-A239: "Go to the east! Keep moving!"

They enter the warehouse secured by Marines, and continue deeper, fighting past more Covenant.

As Noble Six moves up a flight of stairs:

Keyes (COM): "Keyes to Noble Team. We're running out of time here, Spartans."

Emile-A239: "Solid copy, sir. We're close."

The Spartans finally exit the warehouse and see the massive Autumn in view, firing its 50mm Autocannons at various Covenant crafts in the area.

Keyes

Noble Six and Emile links up with a Marine squad outside the warehouse.

Emile-A239: "What's the situation?"

Marine #2: "We rigged the mass driver up top. We lose that, the Autumn will have no covering fire. She'll never make orbit."

Emile-A239: "Noble to Keyes: we're at the pad."

Keyes (COM): "Copy, Noble. My Pelican's ready. Clear an LZ, and I'll meet you there."

Emile-A239: "Will do, sir. All right, Six... This is it. I'll man the big gun. You just get to the platform and deliver that Package."

Noble Six prepares to engage the approaching Phantoms, while Emile gets to the mass driver.

Emile-A239 (COM): "I'm in position! I'll take out as many dropships as I can."

Though Emile shoots down as many Covenant dropships as he can with the enormous coilgun, numerous Phantoms reach the landing pad and drop off dozens of Covenant soldiers, including Brutes, Jackals, and Grunts. Despite the odds, Noble Six and surviving Marine stragglers manage to fight them all off, eventually clearing the platform for Keyes.

Emile-A239 (COM): "Noble to Keyes: pad is clear."

Keyes (COM): "On my way."

Emile-A239 (COM): "Six, time for you to leave. Get the Package to the pad...and get your ass off this planet. I've got your back."

Keyes (COM): "This is Keyes, on hot approach to Platform Delta."

Keyes' Pelican approaches the platform.

Keyes (COM): "Ready to take possession of the Package, Noble."

Noble Six reaches the platform in time to meet the Pelican.

{Cutscene}

Captain Keyes steps off the Pelican and meets up with Noble Six. Marines from the Pelican secure the pad.

Keyes: "Good to see you, Spartan. Halsey assured me I could count on you."

or, on Legendary,

Keyes: "Good to see you, Spartan. Catherine assured me I could count on you."

Noble Six: "Not just me, sir..."

Noble Six hands the Package to Captain Keyes.

Keyes: "They'll be remembered."

Keyes turns back to re-enter the Pelican but stops short as a massive shadow appears in the sky. A CCS-class Battlecruiser pushes through the clouds, advancing towards the Pillar of Autumn.

Keyes: "Cruiser, adjusting heading for the Autumn! Noble Four, I need fire on that cruiser or we're not getting out of here! Do you copy?"

Emile begins to rotate the mass driver to face the advancing cruiser.

Emile-A239 (COM): "You'll have your window, sir."

Jacob Keyes and the Marines enter the Pelican.

Keyes: "Bridge, this is the Captain. We have the Package. Returning to the Autumn, over."

Bridge officer (COM): "Copy that."

Noble Six, about to board the Pelican, is alarmed by the sudden sound of a Phantom and draws his/her Designated Marksman Rifle. A Phantom appears close by, and fires plasma bolts from its forward turret at the two Pelicans. The Pelican escorting Keyes' is shot down and crashes on the platform Noble Six is standing on. Six dives away from the burning wreck and barely avoids being crushed. Keyes' Pelican shifts as the Phantom flies over it. Six readies his/her weapon and turns as the Phantom wheels overhead towards the mass driver, but is forced to duck as the starboard door gunner fires a barrage of plasma at the Spartan. The Phantom drops off a pair of Zealots by the Mass Driver. One Zealot is visible to Noble Six, the second is concealed by the Mass Driver. Emile yells in surprise. The first Zealot raises an Energy Sword, but Emile fires his shotgun through the canopy, shattering the glass and knocking the Elite to the deck. Emile stands, raises his shotgun, and fires again point-blank into the fallen Zealot's chest, killing it.

Emile-A239: "Who's next?!"

Emile's demise.

The second Zealot impales Emile from behind with an Energy Sword, then pulls the mortally-wounded Spartan off the blade, holding Emile by the throat.

Emile-A239: (defiantly) "I'm ready! How 'bout you?!"

Still alive, Emile pulls out his kukri from his shoulder pauldron sheath and stabs the Zealot in the throat before dragging them both to the floor. Keyes' Pelican returns to Platform Delta. One of the Marines holds out his hand, asking the Spartan to join them.

Marine #4: "Lieutenant, get on board! We gotta get the hell out of here!"

Noble Six: (determined) "Negative. I have the gun."

Noble Six: "Good luck, sir."

Six turns away from the Pelican.

Keyes: "...Good luck to you, Spartan."

Keyes' Pelican leaves. Noble Six's only chance to escape Reach leaves with it.

{Gameplay}

Keyes (COM): "Noble Six, get on that mass driver and clear me a path."

If the player stalls:

Keyes (COM): "Spartan, do you copy? Heat up that gun, we've got multiple craft bearing down on us!"

If the player stalls even more:

Keyes (COM): "We need you on that gun, Noble. Or the Autumn's sitting in her grave."

If the player continues to stall:

Keyes (COM): "You're going to have to take down that cruiser, Spartan!"

Six moves towards the building housing the mass driver, but is confronted by an Elite Field Marshal and an accompanying squad of three Zealots. The four Elites in turn are guarded by several Grunts and an Engineer (on higher difficulties). Noble Six fights his or her way through and mans the mass driver.

Keyes (COM): "Cruiser, moving into position. I need it dead!"

Waves of Phantoms and Banshees attack the mass driver, but Six fends them off.

Keyes (COM): "Mass driver won't crack those shields! Steady, Spartan!"

The Cruiser begins to charge its ventral energy projector, dropping its ventral shield around the projector.

Keyes (COM): "Fire! Now, Lieutenant! Hit her in the gut!"

If the player stalls:

Keyes (COM): "You have to fire now, Spartan! We won't survive another hit!"

If the player stalls even more:

Keyes (COM): "Aim for the glassing port!"

Noble Six fires. The mass driver slug hits the ventral energy projector on the Cruiser.

or

Noble Six still stalls. The cruiser fires its beam down, there is a bright flash, and the game resets to the last checkpoint.

{Cutscene}

The magnetic fields guiding the plasma destabilize, causing a massive explosion that rocks the ship.

Keyes (COM): "Good guns, Spartan. All stations: brace for cast-off."

The Pelican docks just in time, as a few Marines run by the troop bay.

Easter Egg: At this point, if the right thumbstick is held to the right, one can see John-117 inside a cryo-chamber.

Noble Six climbs down the ladder leading to the mass driver as the Pillar of Autumn launches into the sky using R7 thrust couplings. The Covenant cruiser crashes down in the background. The Pillar of Autumn pitches up and ejects its rocket pods as it flies toward space.

Keyes (COM): "This is the Pillar of Autumn. We're away. And the Package is with us."

Six walks down the valley as the Autumn flies off into space. The view pans down to Six's legs and the destroyed cruiser.

Fades to black.

Level ends.

Trivia

Easter Eggs

The Hidden Weapons on The Pillar of Autumn easter egg can be found on this level.
By using Pan Cam, it is possible to see a hidden Spartan in one of the Autumn's hangar bays. Bungie confirmed this to be a glitch.^[1]
All Marathon symbols that are present in Halo: Combat Evolved are replaced by Seventh Columns.
When Keyes' Pelican docks with the Autumn in the end cutscene, one can see a SPARTAN-II inside a cryo-chamber. In the November 2010 issue of GameInformer, an interview with Marcus Lehto confirmed that the Spartan is in fact John-117.

Glitches

If Emile drives the Mongoose over the broken bridge, he may not always go fast enough to clear the gap. However, he is scripted to abnormally lurch forward should he not go fast enough. This can still cause Emile to miss the bridge completely and fall into the canyon.
Players can get to the Onager before they are needed to do so.
Emile's shields are curiously still intact after death, similar to the Elites next to him (which he killed). They will flare up and drain, but only one of the Elites shields will recharge. See Dead Shielded Emile.

References

The opening chapter of the level is a reference to the first Halo: Reach ViDoc released, Once More Unto the Breach.
The second chapter of the level is a reference to the chapter This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us, from Halo 2's level, Metropolis, which is the first time in any Halo game in which the player could engage a Scarab in combat, whereas the first chapter of The Pillar of Autumn is the last.
The last chapter of the level is a reference to the Halo: Combat Evolved level of the same name.
It should also be noticed that the amount of thrusters on the back of the Pillar of Autumn differ from the amount in Halo: Combat Evolved, with the Reach version having 14, and the Combat Evolved version having 10. This is another 7 reference: 14/2=7.

Mistakes

In the beginning cutscene, Emile was at Six's left after they landed on the ground. Once the gameplay begins, however, Emile is on the player's right.
In the objective description, visible in the game's pause menu, the Pillar of Autumn is referred to as "The Pillar", whereas in all other media, she is referred to as "The Autumn" or by her full name.

Miscellaneous

The maps Holdout and Boneyard are based on this level.
This level shares the same name as the first level of Halo: Combat Evolved, making "The Pillar of Autumn" both the first and last level of the entire Halo series (discounting "Lone Wolf").
There are Cargo Trucks and 18-Wheeler tractors that can be driven with or without Emile at the beginning of the level. While the tractor can fully make the jump across the bridge, the cargo truck will only get its nose across, forcing the player to either aim for the slope to the right or leap out before the truck is dragged into the chasm by its own weight.
The Marathon symbol engraved on the side of the Autumn is nowhere to be seen. However, there is now a Seventh Column symbol painted on the hull.
The troops on-board Captain Keyes' Pelican are UNSC Marines. This marks a rare appearance of Marines in the game, which centers on the battles of Noble Team supporting the UNSC Army on Reach.
When clearing the platform for Keyes and when using the mass driver cannon, the player can see two Scarabs alongside Wraiths and Ghosts fighting Warthogs and Scorpions in the background.
If the player does not shoot at the CCS-class Battlecruiser with the Mass Driver, the ship will glass the area. When it does, the screen turns white, and Noble Six's death scream can be heard.
If playing on Mythic difficulty, the CCS Battlecruiser will receive a health boost and now takes two shots to destroy instead of just one.
This level has the most Spartan Lasers in the Halo series, with at 3 of them available on solo, and an additional 3 of them near the Onager on co-op.
There is a McFarlane vehicle set based on the events of this level. The set consists of a Noble Six figure with a M6G Pistol replica, the Package replica and a model of a Mongoose.