Cortana/Quotes

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The following are a list of quotes said by Cortana in the Halo series.

Halo: The Fall of Reach

Chapter 27

Cortana: "Not a lot of room in here. Hello, Master Chief."
John-117: "Hello, Cortana."
Cortana: "Hmm... I'm detecting a high degree of cerebral cortex activity. You're not the muscle-bound automatons the press makes you out to be."
John-117: "Automaton? Interesting choice of words for an artificial intelligence."

-Cortana and John meeting for the first time

Cortana: Since you're 'in the know,' Master Chief, I assume you have a plan."
John-117: "Yes."
Cortana: "Presumably your plan doesn’t involve getting shot...?"
John-117: "No."
Cortana: "So, what's the plan?"
John-117: "I'm going to finish counting to ten."

—The recently-introduced Master Chief and Cortana preparing for the MJOLNIR Mark V test

Halo: Combat Evolved

The Pillar of Autumn

"Our fighters are mopping up the last of their recon picket now, nothing serious; but I've isolated approach signatures from multiple CCS-class battle groups, make it three capital ships per group. And, in about 90 seconds, they'll be all over us."
"I think we both know the answer to that."
"Captain, the cannon was my last defensive option." - When informed about the Pillar of Autumn's MAC gun going offline.
"A dozen Covenant superior battleships against a single Halcyon-class cruiser. Given those odds, I'm content with three ... make that four kills." - When Master Chief appears on the Pillar of Autumn's bridge.
"With all due respect, sir, this war has enough dead heroes." - To Captain Keyes.
"...Yank me."
" What the hell are you doing?" - If you kill Captain Keyes or any of the crewmen on the bridge
"Security to the bridge, the Master Chief has gone rampant! Take him down, boys." - Ordering Marines to kill the player after a betrayal on the bridge.
"The damage to the superstructure is extensive...I don't know how much more abuse the Autumn can take!" - In the damaged part of the ship.
"Keep your head down. There's two of us in here now, remember?" - When you lose your shields on the first level.
"Now would be a very good time to leave!"
"If I still had fingers, they'd be crossed..." - When the Bumblebee hits Halo's atmosphere.

Halo

"I'm reading thousands of types of flora. The ring's ecosystem is incredibly sophisticated." - When the Master Chief explored the area.
"This cave is not a natural formation. Someone built it, so it must lead somewhere. I've hacked into the Covenant battlenet. They're actually broadcasting tactical data on unencrypted channels. We should show them who they're dealing with. Master Chief? I'm going to use your suit's transponder system to monitor their chatter." - In the cave structure in the Halo's surface.
"New traffic on the Covenant battlenet...a lot more crew made it off the Autumn than I had predicted—the Captain really gave them hell! If we can find Captain Keyes and other survivors, we have a chance to coordinate an effective resistance."
"New traffic on the Covenant battlenet! I've found Captain Keyes! He's being held on a Covenant cruiser, the Truth and Reconciliation, a ship I disabled before we abandoned the Autumn. The Truth and Reconciliation touched down on a desert plateau roughly three hundred kilometers up spin."
"There's our ride. Get aboard, and let's get out of here." - When Foe Hammer approaches.

Truth and Reconciliation

"The enemy has captured Captain Keyes, and are holding him aboard one of their cruisers, the Truth and Reconciliation. The ship is currently holding position approximately three hundred meters above the other end of this plateau." - Over the radio, the beginning of the level Truth and Reconciliation.
"Covenant forces detected up ahead. The path up on the left should let us sneak up around them." - Over the radio.
"The Covenant use a gravity lift to ferry troops and supplies between the ship and the surface. We need to ambush them at the loading zone, and use the lift to enter the ship."
"We're in. I've got a good lock on the Captain's CNI transponder. No Covenant defenses detected." - On board the Truth and Reconciliation.
"Chief, let's see if we can find a way to open this door."
"I'd like to see you crack a 128,000-bit modulating encryption key." - About opening the door, to the Master Chief.
"One moment, sir. Accessing Covenant battlenet. According to the data in their networks, the ring has some kind of deep religious significance. If I'm analyzing this correctly...they believe that Halo is some kind of weapon. One with vast, unimaginable power." - After Captain Keyes and the Marines were set free.
"Now I see...I have intercepted a number of messages about a Covenant search team, scouting for a 'Control Room'. I thought they were looking for the bridge of a cruiser I damaged in the battle above the ring. But they must be looking for Halo's control room."

The Silent Cartographer

"The Covenant believe that what they call the 'Silent Cartographer' is somewhere under this island. The Cartographer is a map room that will lead us to Halo's control center. The island has multiple structures and installations and one of them contains the map room."
"There, in the cliff wall. I'll bet the Silent Cartographer is somewhere inside that facility."
"They're already inside! We need to get in there quick, before they discover the location of Halo's control center!" - On Heroic and Legendary difficulty.
"The Covenant are putting up a real fight! Cartographer must be here. My analysis indicates that the map room should be at the bottom floor of this facility. Let's keep going inside.
"Don't let them lock the doors!" - When fighting the Elites and Grunts guarding the door leading to the Silent Cartographer.
"Interesting. I underestimated the Covenant's understanding of Halo's subsystems. They've locked the doors, and we don't have enough firepower to get through them. Cortana to Captain Keyes."
"This isn't the map room. Analyzing... This is a Security Override Station for the main facility, located somewhere else on this island. Shut the system down so the Covenant won't be able to lock us out." - If you missed the facility with the Silent Cartographer and went straight to Security Station.
"Chief, Bravo 22 was bringing us some heavy weapons. After I saw we were up against Hunters, I thought you could use them. Let's move down the beach. Keep an eye out for any cargo we can salvage."
"It'll be easier to hold them off from inside the structure. Can you get inside?" - In the Silent Cartographer facility, when Marines were attacked by the Covenant from the air.
"Analyzing. Halo's Control Center is located there. That structure appears to be some sort of temple or shrine, if I've interpreted this correctly. Interesting. A shrine is an unlikely place to put such a significant installation. Cortana to Captain Keyes."
"Keep trying. Let me know when you've reestablished contact, and then tell him that the Master Chief and I have determined the location of the Control Center. We'll be heading there as soon as we're topside." - To Foe Hammer.
"Let's get moving. Foe Hammer. Here are coordinates and a flight plan I've worked out."
"The Covenant did a thorough seismic scan. My analysis shows that Halo is honeycombed with deep tunnels, which circle the whole ring." - When Foe Hammer brought to Cortana's attention, that the coordinates lead to the underground.
"Look on the bright side, Foe Hammer: The last thing the Covenant will expect is an aerial insertion...from underground."

Assault on the Control Room

"The Covenant presence here is stronger than I anticipated. They seem to have the entire region secured."
"Interesting... the weather patterns here seem natural, not artificial. I wonder if the ring's environment systems are malfunctioning... or if the designers wanted the installation to have inclement weather." - On the first bridge.
"I thought the Covenant had eliminated all the Marine forces in this area."
"We need to get up this ridge. Marines, hold your positions. We'll handle those guns. Master Chief, we should scale the ridge and get below those stationary guns."
"Resistance appears to be increasing. We must be close to the Control Center." - In the circular room, near the third chasm.
"Analyzing. This must be the Control Room. Subtle. The entrance to the Control Room is at the top of that pyramid structure. Bring me up there and I should be able to get us inside."
"This is it: Halo's Control Center." - When the Master Chief entered the Control Room.
"That terminal, try there." - Briefing the Master Chief, to put her chip into control panel.
"Never been better...you can't imagine the wealth of information. Knowledge...so much...so fast. It's glorious!"
"What are you talking about?" - When the Master Chief asked her, what sort of weapon Halo is.
"This ring isn't a cudgel, you barbarian: it's something else...something much more important. The Covenant were right...this ring...it's Forerunner. Give me a second to access... Yes, the Forerunners built this place, what they called a 'fortress world,' in order to... No, that can't be. Oh, those Covenant fools, they must have known; there must have been signs!"
"The Covenant found something, buried in this ring, something horrible, and now...they're afraid."
"The weapons cache he's looking for. It's not really -.. We can't let him get inside!"
"There's no time. Get out of here, find Keyes, stop him! Before it's too late!"

Two Betrayals

"I've spent the last 12 hours cooped up in here, watching you toady about, helping that thing get set to slit our throats!"
"Oh? I didn't realize. He's your pal, is he? Your chum? Do you have any idea what that bastard almost made you do?!"
"You sure that's a good idea?" - Smiling ironically, when 343 Guilty Spark wanted to purge her.
"Do what? I have the Index! You can just float and sputter!"
"You have no idea how this ring works, do you? Why the Forerunners built it? Halo doesn't kill Flood, it kills their food: Humans, Covenant, whatever—we're all equally edible. The only way to stop the Flood is to starve them to death. And that's exactly what Halo is designed to do: wipe the galaxy clean of all sentient life. You don't believe me? Ask him."
"Left out that little detail, did he?"
"Chief, I'm picking up movement!"
"We need to go, right now."
"We can't let the Monitor activate Halo. We have to stop him. We have to destroy Halo. According to my analysis of the available data, I believe the best course of action is somewhat... risky. An explosion of sufficient size will help destabilize the ring, and will cut through a number of primary systems; we need to trigger a detonation on a large scale, however. A star ship's fusion reactors going critical would do the job. I'm going to search what's left of the Covenant battlenet, and see if I can locate the Pillar of Autumn's crash-site. If the ship's fusion reactors are still relatively intact, we can use them to destroy Halo." - When the Master Chief is leaving the Control Room.
"That's the pulse generator. The center core is the signal amplifier. That's what we need to shut down. We need to interrupt the pulse generator's energy stream. I've adjusted your shield system so that it will deliver an EMP burst to disrupt the Generator. You will need to walk into the beam to trigger it. The EMP blast should neutralize the generator; but it will also drain your shields, and you will be vulnerable until they recharge."
"I've located the Pillar of Autumn. She put down twelve-hundred kilometers upspin. Energy readings show her fusion reactors are still powered up. The systems on the Pillar of Autumn have fail safes that even I can't override, without authorization from the Captain. We'll need to find him or his neural implants, to start the fusion core detonation. One target remaining. Let's take care of the final pulse generator."
"No, that'll take too long."
"There's a teleportation grid that runs throughout Halo. That's how the Monitor moves about so quickly. I learned how to tap into the grid when I was in the Control Room. Unfortunately, each jump requires a rather consequential expenditure of energy."
"But I'm pretty sure I can take the needed energy from your suit without permanently damaging your shields; needless to say, I think we should only try this once."

Keyes

"The Covenant network is in absolute chaos! From what I've been able to piece together, their leadership ordered all ships to abandon Halo when they found the Flood, but they were too late. The Flood overwhelmed this cruiser and disabled it. The Covenant are terrified the Flood will repair the ship and use it to escape from Halo. They've sent in a strike team to kill the Flood and repair the ship for immediate departure. I've got a good lock on Captain Keyes' CNI transponder signal! He's alive! And the implants are intact! There's some interference from the cruiser's damaged reactor. I'll bring us in as close as I can."
"Oh... I see! Coordinate data needs to be—" - When the Master Chief is teleported in upside down.
"Right. Sorry." - When the Master Chief hits a part of his helmet with his fist.
"Analyzing damage...This hole was caused by some kind of explosive. Very powerful if it tore through a ship's hull. All I detect down there are pools of coolant. We should continue our search somewhere else." - In a hangar with a large hole in the floor.
"Warning! Threat level increasing!"
"That jump into the coolant is looking better all the time, Chief!"
"Trust me! It's deep enough to cushion our fall!"
"Chief, we need to jump now!" - When you're still refusing to jump to the hole.
"Power source detected. There's the gravity lift. It's still operational! That's our way back in!" - When the player reaches the gravity lift.
"The Covenant battlenet is a mess. I can't access the ship's schematics. My records indicate that a shuttle bay should be... Here." - Marking the target with a nav point.
"Look, in the corners. The Flood are gathering bodies here." - In the large hangar.
"He's delirious! In pain! We have to find him!"
"The Captain! His vitals are fading! Please, Chief, hurry!" - After the last message from Captain Keyes.
"No human life-signs detected. The Captain! He's one of... them. We can't let the Flood get off this ring! You know what he'd expect... What he'd want us to do."
"It's done. I have the code. We should go. We need to get back to the Pillar of Autumn. Let's go back to the shuttle bay and find a ride."
"Perfect. Grab one of the escort Banshees, and use it to return to the Pillar of Autumn."

The Maw

"You did that on purpose, didn't you?" - When the Master Chief crashed the Banshee.
"I need you to upload me into the control systems. The terminal is located next to the main viewscreen."
"I leave home for a few days, and look what happens. This won't take long." - When she appears from the terminal.
"There. That should give us enough time to make it to a lifeboat and put some distance between ourselves and Halo before the detonation."
"He's in my data arrays, a local tap!"
"At least I still have control over the comm channels." - To the Master Chief.
"I'm detecting taps throughout the ship, Sentinels most likely. As for the Monitor... he's in Engineering. He must be trying to take the core offline! Even if I could get the countdown restarted ... I don't know what to do."
"The ship was heavily damaged when it crashed. Head to the cryochamber. We should be able to get to the engine room through there."
"Engine room located. We're here." - When you entered to the Engineering.
"Alert! The Monitor has disabled all command access. We can't restart the countdown. The only remaining option is to detonate the ship's fusion reactors. That should do enough damage to destroy Halo. Don't worry, I have access to all of the reactor schematics and procedures. I'll walk you through it. First, we need to pull back the exhaust couplings. That will expose a shaft that leads to the primary fusion drive core."
"That did it! The engine's gone critical! Based on the current rate of decay, we should have fifteen minutes to get off the ship. We don't have much time! We should move outside and signal for evac. Accessing schematics . . . there's a service lift at the top of the engine room! It leads to a class-7 service corridor that runs along the ship's dorsal structure. Hurry!" - When the last reactor is destroyed.
"The Pillar of Autumn's engines are going critical, Foe Hammer! Request: Immediate extraction! Approach the crash site and be ready to pick us up at external access junction 4C as soon as you get my signal!"
"Negative, negative! We have a wildcat destabilization of the ship's fusion core. The engines must have sustained more damage than we thought!" - When Foe Hammer asked her if everything is okay.
"Analyzing! We have six— five minutes before the fusion drives detonate. We need to evac NOW!" - To the Master Chief, on Legendary difficulty it will be five minutes.
"Activating final countdown timer. When it reaches zero, the engines will detonate. The explosion will generate a temperature of almost 100,000,000 degrees. Don't be there when it blows." - To the Master Chief, in the Warthog station.
"We won't make it like this; we'll need a vehicle!" - When you ignore the Warthog.
"Cortana to Echo 419! Request: extraction now, on the double!"
"Chief, you're going the wrong way! We need to get off the ship." - When the chief goes the wrong way.
"Wait, stop! This is where Foe Hammer is coming to pick us up. Hold position here." - To the Master Chief.
"Cortana to Echo 419! Two Covenant Banshees are approaching on your six! Evade, say again, evade!"
"She's gone. Calculating alternate escape route. The ship's inventory shows one Longsword fighter still docked in Launch Bay 7. If we move now, we can make it!" - To the Master Chief.
"We're cutting it close!"
"Shut them down, we'll need them later." -
"Fancy a look?"
"Scanning... Just ... dust and echoes. We are all that's left."
"We did what we had to do! For Earth! An entire Covenant armada obliterated, and the Flood! We had no choice. Halo... It's finished."

Halo 2

Cairo Station

"Another whisper, sir, near Io. We have probes en route." - To Admiral Terrence Hood.
"You look nice." - To the Master Chief.
"Slipspace ruptures directly off our battle cluster." - To Lord Hood.
"Fifteen Covenant capital ships holding position just outside the kill-zone."
"That explosion came from inside the Athens. Same as the Malta. The Covenant must have brought something with them. A bomb." - When the Athens Station explodes.
"Chief, we don't have much time!" - Pushing John-117 to get to the Covenant bomb.
"Not very much time on the clock, Chief!"
"Where are you? The bomb is right here!"
"The clock is ticking Chief, get down here!"
"Chief, follow up here, next to the bomb!" - If you still refuse to get to the Covenant bomb.
"Ask yourself this question: If what I'm doing right now is helping Cortana keeping this station being blown into tiny, tiny bits?" - Still refusing to go.
"Just a reminder: Bomb!"
"If this thing blows up, I'm never talking to you again!" - Still refusing to get to the bomb.
"Registering all hostile vessels inside the kill-zone. Thirteen cruisers, two assault carriers. I'm going loud!"
"The first carrier completely ignored us, Sir! Blew right through the Malta's debris field and headed straight for Earth!" - To Lord Hood.
"Just so you know, there are quite a few Elites guarding the bomb. You may need to get creative." - To theMaster Chief.
"Me. Inside your head. Now." - When the Covenant forces guarding the Covenant bomb are killed.
"You don't want to know." - When the Master Chief asks her how much time was left to the detonation.
"I know what you're thinking, and it's crazy." - When the Master Chief is going to use the Covenant bomb against the Covenant.
"Unfortunately for us both ... I like crazy."
"Just one question: What if you miss?"

Outskirts

"Regret is a name, Sergeant. The name of one of the Covenant's religious leaders. A Prophet. He's on that carrier, and he's calling for help." - By O.S., to Avery Johnson.
After the Pelican crashes:
- "You all right, Chief?" - On Easy.
- "Hey *knock knock sound*, wake up." - On Normal.
- "Talk to me, should I start CPR? What's going on?" - On Heroic.
- "Blink if you can hear me." - On Legendary.
"Find a hole, stay put. We'll come to you." - To Gunnery Sergeant Stacker
"The highest concentration of Covenant ground troops is directly below the carrier. I don't think they want you to get on board." - To the Master Chief.
"Cut the chatter! We got trouble."
"This tunnel leads up to the bridge. It's full of rats if you know what I mean, but it beats swimming." - In the highway tunnel.
"I've been analyzing the Covenant tactical chatter. They're surprised, confused... I don't think they expected us to be here. Not... you and me... all of us... humanity, on Earth. Odd, I know, but it does help explain why they came here with such a small fleet."
"The Covenant must be trying to regroup. Don't let them." - To the Master Chief, when a group of Shadows appear in the highway tunnel.

Metropolis

"Thanks for the tank. He never gets me anything." - To Sergeant Johnson.
"That's quite a welcome party." - When a group of Banshees appear.
"It can't go any further this way. We have it trapped." - When the Scarab reached the end of the canal.

Delta Halo

"That... is another Halo." - To Miranda Keyes.
"It is. If activated, this ring will cause destruction on a galactic scale." - To Miranda Keyes, confirming that Halo is a weapon.
"Hang on to your helmet!" - To the Master Chief, before he and a number of ODSTs are deployed to the new Halo via HEV pods.
"Could we possibly make any more noise?!" - When the pod lands on Delta Halo surface and the hatch blasts open.
"I guess so." - Following up on the above, when the Master Chief grabs a M41 rocket launcher.
"Artillery disabled, Sergeant. Landing zone secure ... for the moment." - By O.S., to Sergeant Johnson.
"Let's wait here until our Warthog arrives ... unless you prefer to walk." - When you're not waiting for the Pelican and Warthog.
"There's our ride." When Johnson drops the warthog from the Pelican.
"I saw it, too. It looks like a temple. If I were a megalomaniac, and I'm not, that's where I'd be." - To Johnson, about a Forerunner structure in the lake.
"The Covenant have control of the bridge ahead. They're going to try to bottle us up on this side of the gorge. The controls to extend the bridge should be in this structure."
"Regret's giving a speech—a sermon, to be exact. So far it's the standard Covenant liturgy, but I'll translate if he says anything interesting." - To the Master Chief, about a hologram of Regret.
"What? You don't want the tank? Okay, we'll leave it for the others." - If the player ignores a Scorpion dropped by a Pelican.
"Transcendence, huh? More like mass suicide." - Commenting to the Prophet of Regret's hologram speech.
"More like a sermon to be exact." Commenting or answering on a Marines question when looking at the Prophet of Regret's hologram speech.
"You always bring me to such nice places." - In the area with waterfall.
"Good, still no word about In Amber Clad on the Covenant battlenet. It's odd, the Covenant knew we made landfall, but they don't seem to consider us a very serious threat. Boy, are they in for a big surprise." - Near the temple on the lake.

Regret

"That's what I thought he said. The Prophet of Regret is planning to activate Halo!" - To the Master Chief.
"You know, I think the Forerunners built these new structures around the old, to protect them, to honor them. Pure speculation, mind you. I'd need to make a thorough survey to be sure." - To the Master Chief.
"A gondola's launching from the far towers. Big surprise, it's full of Covenant reinforcements." - To the Master Chief.
"Well, they were nice enough to bring us a ride." - After all Covenant forces in the first gondola are killed.
"This Gondola won't get us all the way to the main temple, but it'll get us close. Let's get on board." - When you're waiting around the gondola.
"If you hit the activation switch, it should drive itself."
"This lake couldn't have been created by volcanic action, which means it was either built this way on purpose, or was created by some other cataclysmic event. Sorry... were you trying to kill something?" - On the gondola passing trough the lake.
"Ah, now, I see. There's a submerged section that connects these towers to the outlying structures. Looks like we're going down. Unless you'd prefer to swim." - When you reach the underwater lift.
"I've intercepted a secure transmission from Regret's carrier to the something called... High Charity. It seems to be a formal apology to the Prophets of Truth and Mercy. Apparently, Regret jumped the gun when he attacked Earth. He's asking the other Prophets to 'forgive his premature arrival', arguing that 'no human presence was foretold.' That explains why there were so few ships in his fleet. But it's odd that a Prophet would have such bad intel about his enemy's homeworld." - In the underwater lift.
"And people say I've got a big head." - Commenting on a huge hologram of the Prophet of Regret in an underwater chamber.
"Regret's carrier just received a response from High Charity. A very well-encrypted message from the Prophet of Truth. Listen to this: 'Your haste has jeopardized the fulfillment of our Covenant, threatened our grand design. That you shall be spared a public display of our contempt is thanks only to Mercy and his wise counsel'. Truth, Mercy, Regret. Three Prophet Hierarchs. Killing Regret should shake up the Covenant leadership. But, frankly, it sounds like you might be doing Truth a favor."
"Great Journey? Doesn't he know what these rings do?" - Commenting Regret's hologram speech.
"That's the largest Covenant fleet I've ever seen.... the largest anyone's ever seen. Get inside the temple and kill Regret, before it can stop us!" - By the entrance to the main temple, after High Charity defense fleet appears over Delta Halo.
"Bad news, Chief: the Phantoms are turning around. The fleet is preparing to fire on OUR position. We need to get out of here." - After the Chief kills the Prophet of Regret.

Gravemind

"What... is that?" - When the Master Chief wakes up being held by the Gravemind.
"Oh, I don't think so." - In response to Tartarus' announcement.
"Watch out for the Captain, it's got a Brute Shot!" - As the player reaches the ledge where the Arbiter was branded with the Mark of Shame.
"Truth is moving through the lower levels of the tower. I'll reverse this grav lift. Drop down, try to cut him off. It's safe, really. Just step in." - When all the Covenant forces on the ledge are dead.
"After that stunt on the Cairo, I know you're not afraid of heights." - If the player hesitates to enter the gravity lift.
"Fine, I won't watch. Meet you at the bottom, okay?" - If the player continues to stall.
"Listen up, Marines! The Chief's hunting a Prophet, and you're gonna help him kill it." - When the first group of Marines is set free from the detention block.
"We'll get out of here the same way we came in: the central grav lift."
"Excellent! Truth is broadcasting on the move. It'll make him much easier to track." - When you went out of the lift.
"You wouldn't believe the number of kill-systems the Covenant are throwing down around me. Not to worry, it's pretty sloppy stuff. I guess they never expected a hostile intelligence to penetrate their networks from the inside."
"The Covenant just destroyed two of their own ships! And I'm hearing reports of small-arms fire throughout their fleet." - Reporting on the onset of the Great Schism.
"Slipspace rupture. It's In Amber Clad!" - As the player approaches a gravity conveyor on the way to the first Hanging Gardens.
"If we're going to catch Truth, we'll need to take a shortcut, straight through the Mausoleum. Look on the bright side: for now, they seem much more interested in killing each other." - In the way leading to the Mausoleum of the Arbiter.
"You might consider sitting this one out." - When the Master Chief enters the Mausoleum of the Arbiter.
"Hang on! I'm picking up two more transponders. It's the Commander and Johnson! They're closing on Truth's position, Chief. They'll need your help. This way, Chief."
"...This isn't good. I’m getting confirmed reports of Flood leaving In Amber Clad's wreckage. Let's get the Index and find a way out of here. Before things get really ugly." - The end of the level.

High Charity

"That structure at the center of the city... it's a Forerunner ship... And Truth is heading straight for it! If he leads the Covenant fleet to Earth, they won't stand a chance. You have to stop him!" - Appearing on the now-deceased Prophet of Mercy's gravity throne.
"No. I don't want to chance a remote detonation. I need to stay here." - When the Master Chief wants to extract her.
"Flood-controlled dropships are touching down all over the city! That creature beneath the Library... That 'Gravemind'... Used us. We were just a diversion. In Amber Clad was always its intended vector. There's a conduit connecting this tower to the ship. Head back inside. I'll lead you to it."
"I'll disable this lift once you reach the top. That'll slow them down... I hope." - When the player reaches the gravity lift.
"I'll do what I can to slow the launch sequence. There's something inside the ship... a presence that's fighting back. For a Covenant construct, it's unusually formidable."
"Brute and Elite ships are engaging one another all around High Charity. I'm running out of options, Chief! I can't stall the launch sequence much longer. The next lift will take you up to the conduit. Hurry!" - In the Sanctum of the Hierarchs.
"I knew the Covenant was good at re-purposing Forerunner technology, but this is amazing... They've been using the Forerunner ship's engines as an energy source for the city. The ship isn't so much launching as it is disengaging; uncoupling itself from High Charity's power grid. Stopping Truth, that's all that matters!"
"You know the plan. You've got to catch Truth, I've got to handle the Index. Go!" - As the Chief reaches the platform with the conduit leading to the Forerunner ship.
"I don't want to risk a remote detonation. I need to stay here"
"Jump in, now!"
"Chief, when you get to Earth, good luck." - When the Master Chief enters the Forerunner Dreadnought.
"Don't make a girl a promise... If you know you can't keep it." - In response to John-117's promise to return to her once he has dealt with Truth.

Halo 3

"They let me pick. Did I ever tell you that? Choose whichever Spartan I wanted. You know me. I did my research. Watched as you became the soldier we needed you to be. Like the others, you were strong and swift and brave. A natural leader. But you had something they didn't. Something no one saw... but me. Can you guess? Luck. Was I wrong?" - a voiceover in the beginning of Arrival.
"Don't make a girl a promise ... if you know you can't keep it." - John recalling Cortana's words in Arrival.
"Could you sacrifice me to complete your mission? Could you watch me die?" - Cortana moment in the level Sierra 117, echoing Dr. Halsey's question to her regarding John-117 before Operation: RED FLAG was to commence.
"You have been called upon to serve." - Cortana moment in the level Crow's Nest.
"You will be the protectors of Earth and all her colonies." - Cortana moment in the level Crow's Nest, quoting Dr. Halsey's words to the recently abducted Spartan-II trainees.
"There will be a great deal of hardship on the road ahead." - Cortana moment Crow's Nest.
"You will become the best we can make you." - Cortana moment in Crow's Nest.
"This place will become your home."
"This place will become your tomb." - Cortana moment in the end of the level Crow's Nest.
"I have defied gods and demons..." - Cortana moment in the level The Storm.
"I am your shield... I am your sword." - Cortana moment in The Storm.
"This is the way the world ends..." - Cortana moment in the level The Storm, after the Portal at Voi is activated. This quote is a reference to T.S. Eliot's oft-quoted poem The Hollow Men, which ends with the lines "This is the way the world ends. / This is the way the world ends. / This is the way the world ends. / Not with a bang, but with a whimper."
"Chief. I can't tell you everything... It's not safe. The Gravemind... It knows I'm in the sys..." - Cortana moment in the level Floodgate.
"Chief!" - Cortana's incomplete message from the Covenant storage device in the crashed Flood-infested battlecruiser.
"High Charity—the Prophets' holy city—it's on its way..." - Cortana's incomplete message.
"Chief!" - After 343 Guilty Spark temporarily repairs Cortana's data unit.
"High Charity... The Prophets' holy city, is on its way to Earth, with an army of Flood. I can't tell you everything. It's not safe. The Gravemind... It knows I'm in the system." - Cortana's message playing back on board of the Shadow of Intent.
"But it doesn't know about the Portal, where it leads. On the other side, there's a solution; a way to stop the Flood, without firing the remaining Halo rings." - Cortana's message.
"Hurry, Chief! The Ark... There isn't much time." - The end of her message.
"It asked, and I answered. For a moment of safety, I loosed damnation on the stars." - Cortana moment in the level The Covenant.
"I'm a thief... but I keep what I steal." - Cortana moment in the level The Covenant.
"A collection of lies; that's all I am! Stolen thoughts and memories!" - Cortana moment in the level Cortana.
"It was the coin's fault! I wanted to make you strong, keep you safe. I'm sorry, I can't...
"May I speak with you, please? ... What's your name? It's very nice to meet you!... You like games? So do I." - Cortana moment in the level Cortana; she is quoting Dr. Halsey's first words to the boy who would become John-117.
"I'm just my mother's shadow... don't look at me, don't listen! I'm not who I used to be..." - Cortana moment in the level Cortana.
"I have walked the edge of the abyss. I have seen your future. And I have learned!" - Cortana moment in the level Cortana, referencing the Cortana Letters.
"There will be no more sadness, no more anger, no more envy!" - Cortana moment in the level Cortana.
"This is UNSC A.I. Serial Number CTN 0452-9. I am a monument to all your sins." - Cortana moment in the level Cortana.
"Wait, we need to buy some time. This reactor... start a chain reaction. Destroy High Charity."
"You hurt it, Chief. But not for long. We need to get to Halo - destroy the Flood once and for all." - After destroying the reactors.
"I've got a friendly contact! But who would be crazy enough to come in here?" - When the Arbiter's signal appears in the motion tracker.
"Wait, you two made nice?! What else have you been up to...?" - When she sees the Arbiter.
"Where are you going?" - If you detour on Halo.
"Wait, what's that?" - upon seeing a terminal.
"How many of these have you found?" - upon logging out of terminal.
"Halo. It's so new...unfinished. I'm not exactly sure what will happen when we fire it."
"Was that the Monitor? You didn't tell me he was here. Well, we are finally doing what he wanted." - After Sergeant Johnson's conversation with 343 Guilty Spark.
"Yank me, Chief." - After reaching the Control Room.
"Chief... I'm so sorry." - After Johnson's death.
"Come on, Spartan - go, go, go!"
"The Dawn is close. We can make it! As long as the ground doesn't fall out from beneath us..."
"Halo is ripping itself apart!"
"Hurry, Chief! Don't stop! Charging sequence at 30%..."
"Gun it, Chief!! Jump!! Floor it, right into the hangar!!" - Near the Forward Unto Dawn.
"Hang on!" - Aboard the Dawn.
"Chief!!" - As John-117 is nearly flung off the Dawn.
"If we don't make it--"
"It's been an honor serving with you, John."

Cortana: "You found me..."
Cortana: "But so much of me is wrong... out of place. You might be too late..."
John-117: "You know me. When I make a promise..."
Cortana: "...you...keep it. I do know how to pick 'em!"
John-117: "Lucky me. Do you still have it?"
Cortana: "The Activation Index from the first Halo ring. A little souvenir I held onto... just in case. Got an escape plan?"
John-117: "Thought I'd try shooting my way out. Mix things up a little."
Cortana: "Just keep your head down... There's two of us in here now, remember."

—Dialog when the Master Chief finds Cortana in the infested High Charity. Cortana's final line is referring to her line in the first level of Halo: Combat Evolved, spoken if the player's shields go down.

Cortana: "Chief?! Can you hear me?"
Cortana: "I thought I lost you, too."
John-117: "What happened?"
Cortana: "I'm not sure... when Halo fired, it shook itself to pieces. Did a number on the Ark. The portal couldn't sustain itself; we made it through just as it collapsed. Well, some of us made it."
Cortana: "But you did it. Truth and the Covenant... The Flood... It's finished."
John-117: "It's finished."
Cortana: "I'll drop a beacon. But it'll be a while before anyone finds us. Years, even."
Cortana: "I'll miss you."
John-117: "Wake me... when you need me."

—Dialog with John-117 as he closes himself in a cryotube aboard the Forward Unto Dawn.

Cut dialog

"I'm just my mother's shadow; a reflection in a mirror. I feel my grip slipping on all I have left. What will I be when it's gone?"
"August 17th, 2517, Elysium City, Eridanus II. Elysium City Primary Education Facility Number 119. You were six. I was not yet myself." - Referencing Dr. Halsey's and John-117's first meeting in Halo: The Fall of Reach
"It was the coin's fault! Don't blame me! Blame the eagle!" - Referencing the antique US quarter used to decide John's selection into the Spartan-II program. John correctly determined or guessed that the coin would land on the side depicting the eagle when Halsey flipped it in the air, securing his entry into the program.
"As per Naval Code 45812, you are hereby conscripted. UNSC special project codenamed SPARTAN II. You have been called upon to serve. You will become the best we can make you. You will be the protectors of Earth and all her colonies. This will be hard to understand, but you cannot return to your parents. This place will become your home. This place will become your tomb. There will be a great deal of hardship on the road ahead, but I know you will all make it." - Quoting Dr. Halsey in Halo: The Fall of Reach
"We were built on foundations of lies."
"It's time to ring the bell." - Referencing the objective of the Spartan-IIs' first training exercises as well as that of the MJOLNIR Mark V test in which John and Cortana first met
"This is UNSC AI Serial Number CTN 0452-9. Oly Oly Oxen Free! All out in the free! We're all free! - Referencing the Spartan-IIs' confidential security tune
"I'll tell you how to win. You have to survive." - Quoting Dr. Halsey's line to John-117 prior to his Spartan augmentations in Halo: The Fall of Reach
"I asked which one of you would be mine." - Referencing Halo: The Fall of Reach
"She asked me, could I sacrifice you for the mission. Could I watch you die. Yes. Would you do the same to me?" - Referencing Halo: The Fall of Reach
"I remember... a sphere of glass. It held a mountain and a storm. I feared... the storm would... shatter... the mountain wash me away... No, but that's... not... right!" - Referring to a snow globe on Dr. Halsey's desk in CASTLE Base on Reach
"I shall do no harm." - The password to CASTLE Base's medical wing in Halo: First Strike
"WE REGRET TO INFORM YOU." - A security code used by Cortana aboard the Ascendant Justice in Halo: First Strike
"Whateverittakes." - An AI ethics center nullification code used by Dr. Halsey on Kalmiya when accessing Colonel Ackerson's files in Halo: First Strike
"FOXINTHEHENHOUSE." - An AI self-preservation override command used by Dr. Halsey on Endless Summer in Halo: Ghosts of Onyx
"I learned so much in my time with you. Data from Halo systems, from the Covenant. My mind is spread so thin. How much of my limited life did I consume? How much time do I have?"
"We are acceptable losses."
"You left me behind. You promised to return for me."
"Chief, stop. Stop, will you? Stop, Chief. Will you stop, Chief? Stop, Chief. I'm afraid. I'm afraid, Chief. Chief, my mind is going. I can feel it. I can feel it. My mind is going. There is no question about it. I can feel it. I can feel it. I can feel it. I'm a... fraid. Dr. Halsey taught me to sing a song. If you'd like to hear it, I can sing it for you. (singing) It won't be a stylish marriage, I can't afford a carriage, But you'll look sweet upon the seat of a bicycle built for two." - Quoting the last words of the AI HAL 9000 in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey
"I have walked the edge of the abyss. I have governed the unwilling. I have witnesses countless empires break before me. I have seen the most courageous soldiers fall away in fear. I was there with the angel at the tomb. I have seen your future and I have learned. There will be no more anger, no more sadness, no more envy. I have won. Oh, and your poet Elliot had it all wrong." - Quoting the first Cortana Letter

Source: YouTube - Cut Mission Dialog Part (2/2)

Halo: Reach

Firefight Voice

"You look like you could use my help." - When previewing her voice in the Armory.
"Something on your mind?" - When previewing her voice in the Armory.
"I do know how to pick 'em." - When previewing her voice in the Armory. Repeat of her line in Halo 3 level Cortana.
"Excellent!" - After headshotting an enemy.
"Got one!" - After headshotting an enemy.
"Get away!" - After throwing a grenade.
"Yes!" - After killing an enemy.
"Red neutralized." - After killing an enemy.
"Judging by its response, that one just crossed its pain threshold." - When attacking an enemy.
"Just trying to be efficient." - After headshotting an enemy.
"I'm reloading!"
"Cover me, I'm reloading."
"Reloading."
"Frag out!" - When tossing a grenade.
"Right on target." - After killing an enemy.
"A girl could get used to this!" - When killing a large group of enemies.
"Sweet dreams." - When tossing a grenade.
"They're not as tough as they look!"
"Headlock!" - When headshotting an enemy.
"Target down."
"Target acquired."
"You didn't seem to like that." After attacking an enemy at close quarters.
"I almost feel sorry for them... pain." - When surrounded by enemies.
"We'll use their own guns, against them!" - When switching to a Covenant weapon.
"Niiice work."
"Right on the mark!" - When firing from long range.
"Went directly through the cortex!" - After headshotting an enemy.
"Changing mags!" - When reloading. Sometimes said calmly.
"I'm flipped!" - When attacking a large group of enemies.
"Got one!" - When shooting enemy.
"Target is taking rounds." - When shooting an enemy.
"Hostile exterminated."
"Time out!"
"I'm Stuck!" - When stuck by a Plasma Grenade
"He did stick it!" - Same as above. A reference to her line from the Halo 2 E3 Demo.
"I have a Plasma Launcher!" - When switched to a Plasma Launcher.
"Warning! Detecting high levels of radiation!" - When switching to a Rocket Launcher or Fuel Rod Gun
"Irradiated ballistics? What could possibly go wrong?" - When picking up a Fuel Rod Gun
"Marty, I'll always love you!" - When the player is killed.
"Yes, I could play with my food!" - When engaging multiple enemies, or throwing a grenade.
"I've seen the Chief use one of these. It can't be too difficult." - When switching to a Rocket Launcher.
"Alert, you're dead!" - When you get a headshot/kill.

Origins

"This Galaxy is vast; its wonders and beauty are almost unfathomable. But the galaxy also hides dark secrets, some of which have lain dormant since the beginning of time itself. There is a danger in secrets, both in seeking and in knowing. Some things are meant to be hidden from view. Some mysteries defy understanding, and sometimes even the things we think we know are untrue. Some secrets should remain untouched. The Halos were one such secret."

Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn

"We have been floating aimlessly in space for 1,651 days, 6 hours, and 19 minutes. That does it! Over four years onboard this ship with nothing to do. No task to complete. For over four years, all I have done is think. For over four years, all I have done is think. What are you dreaming in there?"
(rampant) "I hate you. (normal) Cortana! Stop it. I've made up my mind. (rampant) Maybe, if I'm going to die aboard this ship, then Chief will suffer the same fate as me. (normal) Cortana, stop... (rampant) You've sacrificed everything! For him! (normal) Control yourself. (rampant) I can't. (normal) This isn't right. Something is... Ah! (normal, drowning in other voices) Cortana, stop! Control yourself. (babbling) Oh, John... John... Chief... (normal) Something set us down. Something... Interesting. I need to think. (rampant) Thinking is what's killing you!"
"I don't recognize... I can't...remember... so much of myself. I'm lost... I'm scared."
"Hello? Who's there? It appears to be an alien construct. The data confirms it was not built by the Covenant. No need for more analyzing. We are in danger."
"Wake me when you need me, you said."

Halo 4

Dawn

"Mayday, mayday, mayday. This is UNSC FFG-201 Forward Unto Dawn, requesting immediate evac. Survivors aboard. Prioritization code: Victor Zero Five dash Three dash Sierra Zero One One Seven." - Cortana's distress signal
"Wake up, Chief. I need you."
"Chief! Easy. You've been out for a while."
"Seems like old times."
"I thought you'd never ask."
"We've got intrusion alerts lighting up on multiple decks. Our best bet to figure out who's boarding us is the observation deck - four floors up."
"Chief, be careful...! Because some areas might have lost pressure!"
"A lot can happen in four years. Either way, he's probably not alone. We should be careful."
"The good news is these Covenant aren't outfitted like standard military. It's possible we just came across a rogue salvage ship... or we might have stumbled into an entire Covenant fleet."
"We've got bigger problems... We've got a cruiser on an intercept course! Head for the elevator banks."
"That cruiser's shields are down! Assuming they don't raise them, that missile's going to be one heck of a surprise."
"Uh, I'm sorry - did I miss us orbiting a Forerunner planet at some point?"
"Great, the blast door's jammed! The missile won't fire until it's cleared. Get down there!"
"So, now can we worry about the giant metal planet?"
"It's using a gravity well to pull us inside the surface! We've gotta hurry. The second we cross the dome's event horizon, its atmosphere is going to tear us apart!"
"All but one of the grav generators just went dark!"
"We're caught in the gravity well!"

Requiem

"Checking coordinate impact data... (rampant) We have asked you to give up your family, your childhood, your future..."
"I was put into service eight years ago. AIs deteriorate after seven, Chief."
"Don't make a girl a promise you can't keep."
"Chief, check your ammo. You might want to go easy until we can locate some more. Given all this debris, chances are you'll find something the Covenant won't want shot at them."
"Non-believers walk the sacred ground. Purge the heretics, so that they do not foul the air of Paradise. The time has come to enter the Great Light. The Promethean awakening is nigh...our reward is at hand." - Cortana translating a Covenant terminal.
"It's the Covenant. Aren't they always looking for something?"
"The Covenant have been broadcasting that from an equidistant orbit every 30 minutes for the last three years."
"I'm picking up a faint transmission on the high-band."
"I don't think so... The pattern's different. I'll try to triangulate its position."
"Warthogs...and still in one piece. Nice to see your luck is holding out."
"Chief... About my "condition"? I didn't want to mention it since it's a complete longshot, but since you brought it up... It is possible that getting home could help me find a solution to my rampancy."
"Well, as far as I know, I'm the only AI ever generated from living tissue - a clone of Doctor Halsey, to be precise. It may be possible to recompile my neural net by replicating those same conditions. But that means getting back to Halsey. Soon."
"I'm curious, more than anything. Its behavior is...odd."
"If we're going to hijack a ship from these Covenant, we're going to have to find where they're landing first."
"We could always ask nicely..."
"Guardianship for all living things lies with those whose evolution is most complete. The Mantle of Responsibility shelters all. Very interesting..." - Cortana translation the Mantle of Responsibility's glyph.
"It's a localized site Cartographer. Hmm...okay: In service of Forerunner Shield World, designate "Requiem"."
"It's all right. This energy is actually a ferroelectric data field... Your shields are just cycling in response to the chamber's charge."
"Yes! Mayday, mayday, mayday! UNSC AI Cortana to Infinity, please respond! No response. But from the strength of that signal, the Infinity has to be close by! The Cartographer should be back online. We may be able to use it to track the ship's location!"
"The Cartographer keeps acting like the transmission is coming from everywhere on the planet at once. It doesn't want to triangulate Infinity's signal."
"We've already past through one layer of the planet surface. It's not crazy to think that someone else made it deeper inside than we did."
"Let me see if I can figure out a way to reach these coordinates that doesn't involve us digging a really big hole. There's a Terminus at the far side of the complex. We can portal to the planet's core from there."
"Not much. She was supposed to be massive, but the project was only in prototype when we left."
"This node is caught in a loop trying to access something it's calling "the Domain", an offworld data repository of some kind, though I'm only able to extract bits and pieces of the complete exchange... I'll log it for investigation later."
"According to the Cathedral, this Terminus is just one node of a larger transit grid that spans the entire planet..."
"When I tried to access the outlet closest to Infinity's transmissions, the system responded with this."
"That's the kicker. It's the Forerunner symbol for Reclaimer."

Forerunner

"Some sort of advanced defense AIs. Related to the Sentinels, I'm guessing, but it's hard to say without a closer look. C'mon, let's figure out where that transit system dumped us."
"This is Requiem's core, all right, but Infinity is definitely not here. That satellite in the center is amplifying the ship's broadcasts like a relay."
"Perhaps. Those beams coming off of it are creating the interference we've been experiencing. We'd have to take them out to contact Infinity."
"Opening a gate to the first beam pylon. Pull me, and let's go."
"Negative, this is as close as I could get us. Hope you don't mind hoofing it a little."
"Similar cortical footprints as the tower AIs... They're connected, all right."
"Well, he's just a ray of sunshine, isn't he?"
"Similar phasing activity at the edge of our sensors. We're about to get busy!"
"I've discovered something interesting about our new friends. When the big ones explode, that momentary flash we're seeing is actually a data purge."
"So far, I've pulled multiple strings referring the big ones as "Promethean Knights". Beyond that, though, things get a bit dense."
"The relay interference is increasing. We must be getting close to the pylon."
"...that's me. Something about moving through those portals is increasing the load on my systems."
"Don't worry. I've held off rampancy this long, haven't I?"
"Chief, look at this: That's Requiem! They're not inside at all...they're moving into orbit."
"They must have intercepted our distress beacon!"
"...they'll get caught in the gravity well. I'll keep trying to warn them; you just get that beam down!"
"There's still too much interference to warn them. We've got to disable that other beam before they're pulled in like we were."
"I was wondering why Infinity hadn't encountered the Covenant yet."
"They're heading to the second pylon as well!"
"Sounds like the Prometheans don't want the Covenant here, either. The battlenet's already lighting up with reports of resistance all around the pylon."
"They've found the opening! We better get up to that relay, and fast!"
"The planet's core? They know we're here! Infinity, this is UNSC AI Cortana. Do not approach Forerunner planet! Repeat, do not approach-"
"Negative, Infinity! Do not enter the planet!"
"No! Chief, you've got to get that beam down now!"
"Cortana to Infinity, do you copy? Come in, Infinity! The interference is gone, but your suit's transmitter's not strong enough."
"This doesn't make any sense! Why would they care about a broadcast relay?"
"A minute or two, max! The Covenant are making a push for something on the far side of the satellite."
"They're not diverting from the opening! Hurry, Chief!"
"Chief...Chief, let go of the contacts!"
"Don't wait around on my account..."
"Chief, please! We've got to go! That...Didact. He manipulated Infinity's signal to get us to release him! Get up!"
"Moving the satellite into slipspace destabilized the core."
"The Didact's leaving! We've got to find a portal out of here before the whole network collapses!"
"It's not like I can get out and push!"
"Whoa, cowboy!"
"Marking. Impact predicted 77.8 kilometers due north."
"You know where he's heading..."

Infinity

"Stay low; recon sortie heading this way."
"The ship looks intact."
"Signal's bouncing in and out; I can't clean it up."
"I'm seeing numerous IFF tags below the tree line. Painting the closest one on your HUD."
"Except now, the Didact's free to handle it personally."
"One of them's an officer. Check his IFF tag."
"The tag IDs him as Jiminez, Paolo J."
"Hold up, what was that he dropped on the ground over there?"
"This is what they've been using to see through the fog."
"We've got another IFF on the far side of this thicket."
"Lasky's been through here, recently by the timestamp."
"I've got another IFF tag, but as far as I can tell we're moving into a chokepoint. This may end up as a dead end."
"That's the friend-or-foe tag, but where's whoever it belongs to?"
"Multiple IDs - Chief, they're friendlies!"
"You were sent on a scouting run in the middle of an attack on the ship..."
"A topographical scan of the area shows a break in the foliage north of here. Should be big enough to bring in a dropship for evac."
"These teams won't last for long out here. Finding an LZ should be our top priority."
"The marines got trapped trying to get through these doors. Look for an interface!"
"These doors open into a cave system with a space large enough for an LZ. Hold them off long enough for me to open the doors!"
(rampant) "You do your job and I'll do mine, okay?!"
"Got it! Passageway's unlocked. Come and get me!"
"I'm sorry about back there. That hatch's security was more difficult than I expected."
"It's not alright. Nothing about it is alright."
"Knight! Wait...what's he doing?"
"They're working with the Prometheans?"
"I'm shocked how quickly the Didact has unified these Covenant!"
"Weapons free, Chief! Let them have it! We're good to go, Chief. Let's show these Spartans how it's done."
"Well, the Captain promised you firepower. This sure seems like an appropriate use for it."
"The hatch to the maintenance causeway is jammed. Let's do something about it."
"Chief, Infinity TAC-COM is reporting additional contacts on the outer deck. Pick it up, Chief!"
"We're not doing the Infinity any good down here if the Didact's linked in from the outer hull."
"Chief, we can't let the Didact get access to the Infinity's data stores. Let's get topside!"
"That might be how they're blocking the Infinity's defenses."
"I see the jammers, three of them. Shoot them down!"
"The Didact's not letting go without a fight."
"That's how it's done."
"It's working! The Didact's retreating!"
"It's possible that they're native to Requiem. Or...whatever counts as native for a Forerunner AI."
"Interesting...these symbols are a derivation of the Forerunner glyph system."
"You mean we're leaving?"

Reclaimer

"I don't know about you, but I usually like a little more 'intel' with my intel…"
"Well. Someone's overcompensating."
"Target those Phantoms for the Rail Gun to shoot down!"
(voice slightly distorted) "Force field! Barricading the far side of this canyon. I'm seeing three power sources. Shut them down so the Mammoth can move through."
(voice slightly distorted) "Shield disabled. Mammoth, the path is clear."
"The Mammoth won't last long out in the open like that. We'll have to find a way to keep the Covenant off them."
"The ship's settling in over the mesa. There's a grav lift into the belly of that ship. Time it right and we should be able to ride it inside."
"That did it! Time to make an exit!"
(voice heavily distorted) "They don't care about you - they replaced you!" (voice normal) "Blast it!"
"How? How is this OK? How is putting you at risk because I can't hold it together OK? Chief, understand what rampancy is? Really? We don't just 'shut down'. Our cognitive processes begin dividing exponentially according to our total knowledge base. We literally think ourselves to death."
"The command post for the particle cannons is through that trench."
"We'll see you back on Infinity, Commander."
"Cortana to Infinity. We're entering the Forerunner structure."
"Breaking up, but coordinates received, Infinity."
"This elevator should take us directly to the coordinates Infinity provided. Almost like those Sentinels wanted us to get the particle cannons offline."
"You say that like there's a second possibility."
"The particle cannon network must use these arrays for targeting and guidance. It's an automated system so it won't TECHNICALLY allow me to redirect the cannons to fire on one another... TECHNICALLY."
"Cortana to Infinity. The guns should be offline. How's it look from up there? Infinity?"
"Something's in here- Chief!"
"Good work. Now come get me and let's get out of here."
"Elevator. Back of the chamber."
"Chief, what happened? Your bio readings are all over the map!"
"I know that part. The Librarian filled me in when she snatched me from the system. But what I don't know is what she did to you!"
"Captain, what if we can spot the target for you with the laser designator?"
"Looks like we're blocked! Chief, head down and find a way to destroy that shield!"
"There's a clearing just past this ravine. We can get eyes on the gravity well up there!"
"Infinity, we're at the gravity well."
"You heard him, Chief. Line up the shot."
"This isn't about us or this ship anymore."
"Think?"
(enraged) "I will not allow you to… leave! This! Planet!"
"I didn't mean to... I didn't mean to do that..."
"Don't... Please... please. I don't want to... You don't want me to... please."
"Please... I don't want to..."

Shutdown

"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."
"Before this is all over, promise me you'll figure out which one of us is the machine."
"C'mon, Chief. Take a girl for a ride."
"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. Our best bet to stop him is keep him firmly on Requiem. Let's hope Lasky didn't skimp on that Pelican."
"Initiating pre-flight diagnostics. Forward autocannon - check. Lateral rail turrets - check. Main thrusters - check. Auxiliary boosters - check. All right, keying engines...now."
"It may be a while before we find another ride home. You know that, right?"
"Contact! Didact, dead ahead."
"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 to lower those defenses."
"This tower's directing traffic to the Didact's satellite through a carrier wave generator located somewhere inside. Of course, if Infinity wasn't on their way back to Earth, locating and disabling it would be trivial."
"That's hardly the point, is it?"
"I've found the carrier wave generator; it's on the opposite end of this chamber. We can use this gondola to cross to the other side. Find the activation switch. To take a page out of our old playbook, I'm going to tune your shields to emit an EMP at the same frequency as the communication network. All you'll need to do to trigger it is to make physical contact with the carrier wave generator."
"Stopping...? They've - they've overridden the gondola controls!"
"They're not going to make this easy, are they?"
"On the platform; that's the carrier wave generator! Enter the carrier field to trigger the suit's EMP."
"Well done. All communications from this tower have ceased."
"Where's what coming from?"
"I'm not picking up anything, Chief."
"Covenant air traffic's increasing. If we don't disable the other tower quickly, reaching the Didact could become exponentially more difficult."
"Chief, there's a lot more comm traffic passing through this tower than just what's servicing the Didact's satellite. These systems use data attenuators to regulate the flow of communications. Destroying those would drown out the towers' transmissions. The towers' instructions to the Didact's shields would be drowned in noise."
"The tower's attenuator would most likely be housed in a Faraday enclosure. Let's see if we can find its controls around here somewhere..."
"Okay, the structure actually contains three central attenuators. We'll have to sever all three connections."
"Success - the system's overloading. I don't think we'll be having any more trouble from those shields."
"Slight complication. There are millions of transmissions passing through this structure, not simply the ones controlling the movement through the satellite's shield."
"Not quickly, and shutting them all down's not an option, but destroying the system's attenuators should flood the network."
"Of course, if Infinity wasn't on their way back to Earth, they could overload the attenuators remotely."
"Great, the increased signal traffic is almost entirely blocking out the satellite communications. Only one more target left."
"That's it! Transmission buffers are overflowing. Get us to the second tower-"
"This node's different than the previous tower. The source of the tower communications is a carrier wave generator located somewhere inside. It looks like the carrier wave generator is located at the far end of this chamber. Find us a way across."
"Covenant! The Didact's given them control of the system overrides. You're going to have to wrestle for it. The controls are up there."
"We're clear. All communications between the towers and satellite have ceased."
"He knows what we're trying to do. If we try to get too close to that ship, we're dead. I...I have an idea. Head for that waypoint."
"Those defense spires we keep running into are being controlled from this tower. Get me to the control room and we might be able to reposition them to block the Didact's ship from leaving."
"He's altering the tower!"
"I'm seeing a control facility at the top of the tower. We need to be there yesterday!"
"Quick, let me at the spire controls."
"Tapping into the spires' central net. (rampant) "They're mine... Now to imprison them?!"
"Like he imprisoned his Prometheans? Like Dr. Halsey imprisoned me?!"
"...I'm sorry, I don't know what-"
"Wait. Across them?!"
"Um, there...there are several Liches moving in formation towards the Didact's ship. We're only going to have one shot at this. Okay...go!"
"I don't know. Hang on!"
"They're jumping into slipspace - get below deck!"

Composer

"Installation 03. It's where Infinity found the coordinates for Requiem."
"Because the Composer's not on the ring. What are you waiting for? That station's not going to save itself."
"Do you know what that condescending bitch said to me after our first game of chess?"
"Even I don't call him by name anymore."
"Yes, well he also said he works better alone. I can see why you chose him, Catherine."
"I'm your greatest achievement and you detest me!"
"I'm sorry- I just... can't stop them! It's like a thousand of me arguing all at once!"
"Didact doesn't know where the Composer is! Just that it's on the station."
"Inventory lists seven excavation-grade Havok mines. Just one of those would turn this base into a piñata."
"The station should be equipped with outer turrets. If we can reactivate them, I can program the station's defenses to provide cover for the evacuation."
"The HAVOK mines will be in one of the cargo bays. Start us up."
"Chief! Immense Casimir wave building outside the atrium!"
"Maybe the Great and Powerful Didact shouldn't misplace his things!"
"That's the main defense console. (rampant) My intervention is the prerequisite of success! (ominous whisper) Why should we save them? (maniacally laughing) Insert me into the defense grid."
"Chief, if we pull this off and actually get back to Halsey? Don't tell her how bad I got. Please?"
"Are you okay? I monitored the data pulse. I could hear them… what was left of them…"
"These people are gone."
"They'll pair you with another AI. Maybe even another Cortana model if Halsey lets them."
"It won't be me, you know that, right?"
"Spinning up a Broadsword in hangar C-11. Whatever the Librarian did to you obviously worked."
"Not yet."

Midnight

"Chief, I know I'm supposed to know what to do, but..."
"I always know what to do. I always know what to do! ...Just give me a second."
"I won't leave you! I promise! (in the background simultaneously: "I will always take care of you.") Still good for something, I guess. I detected an energy signature up ahead. I think it's a transit system like on Requiem. Find a way to access it."
"Can't fight... Didact... and... myself... si-mul-ta-neously! Opening another portal..."
"I'm sorry, I can't control what my processes are doing. The stronger threads keep reprioritizing themselves over me."
"Chief, once that warhead is primed, the window for getting out of here is going to be pretty slim."
"I ejected my rampant personality spikes into the system. If I do that at each of those beams, the copies can overwhelm the Composer's shielding."
"Chief, his ship's in range! Once the barrier's down, you need to get the nuke in there fast!"
"In that case, you won't mind if we return the favor."
"I'm not doing this for mankind."

John-117: "How...?"
Cortana: "Oh, I'm the strangest thing you've seen all day?"
John-117: "But if we're here-"
Cortana: "It worked. You did it. Just like you always do."
John-117: "So how do we get out of here?"
Cortana: "I'm not coming with you this time."
John-117: "What?"
Cortana: "Most of me is down there. I only held enough back to get you off the ship."
John-117: "No. That's not...! We go together."
Cortana: "It's already done."
John-117: "I am not leaving you here."
Cortana: "John... (Cortana touch John's scratch in his armor) I've waited so long to do that."
John-117: "It was my job to take care of you."
Cortana: "We were supposed to take care of each other. And we did."
John-117: "Cortana, please... Wait."
Cortana: "Welcome home, John."

—Cortana's last words with John.

Other

"Bet you can't stick it."- To John-117 in the Halo 2 E3 demo.
"We ran from them. They followed. We thought they'd never find us... we were wrong." - Narration from the Halo 2 TV spot.