HALO: THE MOVIE
By
Andrew W
Based upon the video game
BLACKNESS:
Over, the soft voice of CATHERINE HALSEY --
HALSEY (V.O.) (CONT'D)
I remember... I remember that day
on Eridanus Four...
FADE IN:
EXT. PLAYGROUND - DAY (DREAM)
Against a picturesque rural landscape. Children run around.
Pitched GIGGLES fill the air.
HALSEY (V.O.) (CONT'D)
It was a time when the skies were
still blue and the grass still
carried that gentle flow of a
summer's breeze...
JOHN (5), lonely pair of eyes, sits on a set of swings. The
rungs CREAK lightly as they sway back and forth.
HALSEY (V.O.) (CONT'D)
It was the day we met 1-1-7...
John looks onwards to see a MAN and a WOMAN steadily
approaching. Both figures seem blurred out. He climbs off
the swing and takes steps to meet them.
HALSEY (V.O.) (CONT'D)
And then they came...
A strong gush of wind. Everything around the boy stops. The
sun rapidly descends to the horizon, leaving an orange tan.
The children become lifeless silhouettes -- the Man and Woman
including.
Distant SCREAMING and GUNFIRE... The scenery DISSOLVES into
a raging battlefield. The once serene landscape no more.
HALSEY (V.O.) (CONT'D)
They came with their legions. With
their crusade...
The interspaced THUDS of a marching army. Silhouettes of an
insidious alien army crest into view.
HALSEY (V.O.) (CONT'D)
They were the Covenant. Our skies
became blackened by smoke, our
fields filled with the graves of
our dead...
Now, the CRACKLE of thunder.
HALSEY (V.O.) (CONT'D)
But something else was coming.
Something much more terrifying than
the Covenant.
John looks behind him. Ominous clouds loom in the distance.
Piercing through is a blue HALO of light. The blanket of
clouds roll in... and over John. His eyes follow... and
this is where he sees HIM...
Standing right before him at a seven-foot height. Completely
covered in MJOLNIR body-armor. HIS CHEST rises and falls to
every breath. A HELMET with an amber visor. He is a
SPARTAN.
The Spartan glares down at the boy with unseen intensity, his
face reflecting off the amber visor.
HALSEY (V.O.) (CONT'D)
But one will stand for mankind.
Above the rest, one man will save
us all...
The Spartan reaches down to snatch John...
INT. OBSERVATION ROOM
A SPIKE BLIPS on a console screen. SCIENCE OFFICER DAVIES
stops rocking on his chair.
DAVIES
Did you see that?
Diligent SCIENCE OFFICER SAM busies away with a digital pad.
SAM
See what?
DAVIES
Thought I caught a spike there.
Sam breaks from his pad and glances over the displays.
SAM
Heart rate at 51 b-p-ms. Neural
activity appears stable... Maybe
it was a glitch.
DAVIES
Yeah... maybe.
Sam resumes with the digital pad.
SAM
(idly)
Or maybe he was dreaming.
DAVIES
You reckon they dream?
Sam stops with the pad again. Looks at Davies.
SAM
I... don't know...
The two share a gaze though the observation window and into
the --
-- CRYO CHAMBER. A huge metallic mass fills the view.
Several pods extend from it. Nitrogen gas swells at its
base.
DAVIES
Have you ever seen anything like
him?
SAM
Can't say I have.
INT. HANGER
Marines hustle, shifting artillery and equipment along
loading ramps of PELICAN DROP-SHIPS -- the Hercules for space
travel.
WARTHOGS -- jeeps with mounted guns, SCREECH across the
hanger floor and up the loading ramps.
SERGEANT AVERY JOHNSON (40s), the nut-buster Sarge, overlooks
the action from a walkway.
JOHNSON
C'mon men, move like you've gotta
purpose. The Covenant aren't gonna
wait around forever.
PRIVATE WALLACE JENKINS (mid-20s), the still green trooper,
lugs a crateful of ammo. A FOOT snags on a cable and he
spills the shells across the floor. PRIVATE MENDOZA (30s), a
guy who lives for action, stops behind him with his own
crate.
MENDOZA
Great going, dip-shit.
Jenkins kneels down and attempts to shovel the loose shells
back into the crate. Many trickle back out.
MENDOZA
C'mon, you're holding up the line.
He prods Jenkins with his boot.
JENKINS
Knock it off, Mendoza!
Johnson peers over them from the walkway.
JOHNSON
Without breaking up what fun you
girls were having, but can I ask
what's goin on down there?
MENDOZA
Jenkins spilled a tank of the 50s.
JOHNSON
I'm sorry but did you hear a
question in my statement?
(off Mendoza's
bewilderment)
You think I don't see the damn 50s
on the floor?
Mendoza gets it and attempts to negotiate his way around
Jenkins. He slips on the loose shells and spills his own
crate across the floor.
JOHNSON
Oh, well done! Which grade school
did the UNSC pluck you from?
CORPORAL GRACE MURPHY (30s), an aspiring leader wearing a
practiced toughness, rushes into view to help Jenkins with
the shells.
JOHNSON
Finally, a person with a bit of
initiative.
JENKINS
Thanks Grace.
GRACE
Don't sweat it.
A well-worked CORPORAL JAKE MILLER (30s), the level headed
trooper, steps out of a drop-ship's loading bay. He rests
against a bulkhead and watches Grace.
JOHNSON
Miss Murphy, you need a mop for
that?
GRACE
I'm good, sir.
MENDOZA
I could do with one, Sarge.
JOHNSON
Well if you reach up your ass,
Mendoza, you just might find one.
Mendoza grins. Johnson stomps across the walkway.
JOHNSON
Shee'it. And they said this was
gonna be a holiday camp compared to
Mars.
INT. KEYES' QUARTERS
A HAND sets down two glasses and fills them up with bourbon.
LANGLEY (O.S.)
You wouldn't believe the lengths I
had to get to for this single
barrel. One of the finest --
distilled on Earth.
A full-of-pride LT. COLONEL FRANK LANGLEY (50s) picks up the
glasses and takes them over to --
CAPTAIN JACOB KEYES (50s), an old space dog. Behind his
desk, he mulls over a digital pad. Langley sits one glass
before him and proceeds to sip his own.
LANGLEY
I know what you are thinking --
it's disregarding the Cole
Protocol.
KEYES
I assume there's good reason.
Langley turns to the window to watch the streams of stars
whiz by in hyperspace.
LANGLEY
The random hyperspace jump protocol
is just a countermeasure to prevent
the Covenant from finding Earth. I
can assure you, Jacob, that those
coordinates will have no bearing on
giving away Earth's location.
He glances at the untouched bourbon on Keyes' desk.
LANGLEY
Go ahead, try it.
Keyes places the pad down and picks up the glass. He gives a
passing glance to SGT. MAJOR JAMESON (late 30s) on a couch.
Jameson carries that molded emptiness of a disciplined
soldier. Keyes downs the glass -- it hits the spot.
LANGLEY
Has that kick doesn't it? It's
rare to get something like this.
Like everything else these days,
it's a depleting luxury.
KEYES
Frank, my main priority is to
regroup and salvage what we can
from Reach.
LANGLEY
You saw what it was like there,
planet Reach is the Covenant's now.
Your ship was lucky to get out of
there with minimal loss.
KEYES
We can't allow our last military
installation --
LANGLEY
(interrupting)
This doesn't have anything to do
with Catherine Halsey, does it?
Keyes isn't quick to respond.
LANGLEY (CONT'D)
It's not like you to let your
emotions affect your judgment.
(re: the digital pad)
Besides, you know where those
orders come from.
Keyes looks at the pad on his desk.
LANGLEY
Oh, and I hear that one of her
experiments is onboard.
KEYES
1-1-7 was the only Spartan to make
it off Reach.
LANGLEY
So not even the great Spartans
could protect Reach from the
Covenant.
KEYES
Earth needs to be informed that our
last military research facility has
been breached.
LANGLEY
All in good time, Jacob.
He sips his drink. A console BLEEPS.
KEYES
Yes?
CORTANA'S voice sounds through a desk intercom -- a voice
practically identical to Halsey's from the beginning.
CORTANA (FILTER)
Captain, we're reaching the
slipstream horizon for vector
coordinate entry. ETA 15 minutes.
KEYES
Thank you, Cortana.
He rises from his chair, snatches the digital pad, and heads
for the door. As they slide open for him --
LANGLEY
We will turn the tides of this war.
Keyes stops to those words... then continues on. The doors
slide shut behind him. Jameson looks over to Langley and
catches the reflection of his grin through the window.
INT. MESS HALL
Rows of tables form a sea of hungry Marines. Jenkins is at
one table, fiddling with a miniature camera that clips over
his ear. He positions the viewfinder over his eye.
CAMERA POV
FOCUS IN on Grace sitting opposite, munching away.
JENKINS (V.O.)
Check it out Grace, you're
streaming live on "Jenkins cam".
Grace stops chewing, spots the camera, and immediately covers
her face. Jenkins CHUCKLES. The POV shifts over to a hearty
blonde -- PRIVATE JESSICA VALENTINE (mid-20s), and a
despondent looking PRIVATE NICK YANG (mid-20s).
Jessica nags away to Nick's ear as he stares vacantly away.
JESSICA
You said in the Spring, then Spring
came. Then you said Summer, and
Summer came. Now it's Autumn...
Is this your way of saying you
don't want to walk me down the
aisle anymore?
JENKINS (V.O.)
Never a dull day on the Pillar --
not with the live soap operas.
Nick sees the camera and grins at it.
JENKINS (V.O.)
How're you doin, man?
Jessica glares at the camera. Jenkins' fingers twiddle back.
JENKINS (V.O.)
Hey Jess.
She immediately refocuses back on Nick.
JESSICA
Are you even listening to me?
The camera is on the move again. Looks down between the rows
of tables where a GIANT HAND suddenly obscures the view --
BACK TO SCENE
Mendoza palms Jenkins' camera aside.
MENDOZA
Point that shit away from me.
PRIVATE BISENTI (late 20s) is directly behind him, Miller
further back.
BISENTI
Hey, how's fire team cheerleader?
MENDOZA
(to Nick)
They got you cleaning their panties
for them yet, laundry man?
Nick flips him the finger. Mendoza shoulders Jenkins aside
as he leans across the table over to Grace and Jessica.
MENDOZA
You girls decided to take me up on
that offer yet -- working out on
the Zero-G deck? I'll let you take
turns on being top.
Nick rises to object. Jessica pulls him back down.
MENDOZA
That's right, smart boy, do what
the wifey tells ya.
NICK
Why don't you suck it, Mendoza?
MENDOZA
Gotta find it first.
GRACE
(clears her throat)
As tempting as your offer sounds,
Mendoza, but I'd rather sup jet
fuel.
MENDOZA
C'mon, we all know that the pussies
onboard are only here to service
the guys during R&R.
(to Jenkins)
Even pussies like you.
Jenkins looks away to avoid further eye contact with him.
FEMALE VOICE (O.S.)
That a fact?
Mendoza twirls around to find the tough SERGEANT LACY ADAMS
(late 30s) with her food tray. He immediately stiffens up.
ADAMS
Well maybe for R&R, you can service
the ship's hull until I can see my
ass in it. You want that, Marine?
MENDOZA
No ma'am.
Adams flashes Grace a wink before moving on with her tray.
BISENTI
(chuckling at Mendoza)
Man, she really bitch slapped you.
Mendoza narrows his eyes and moves on. Bisenti follows.
Miller, however, saddles up next to Jenkins.
MILLER
Mind if I join you guys?
GRACE
Go right ahead, Jake.
JESSICA
(re: Mendoza)
I can't see how you can put up with
being in the same team as that jerk
off.
MILLER
Mendoza can have his moments.
JENKINS
Yeah, one bowel moment for every
time he opens that mouth of his.
Nick laughs. The two slap hands. Miller watches Grace chow
down.
MILLER
So Grace, I hear they're putting
you through for Sergeant.
GRACE
Sarge's got me up on the
consideration roster... along with
a few hundred other candidates.
JESSICA
Yup, my girl's going ca-reer.
MILLER
I'm sure you'll make a fine
Sergeant.
GRACE
(smiling warmly)
Nice of you to say...
The CLATTER of a food tray hitting the ground. All eyes
shift over to --
-- Mendoza, covered in his own dinner.
MENDOZA
(turning to who he
collided with)
Why don't you watch where you're
damn --
It's Jameson. Along with other hardened troops bearing the
Orbital Drop Shock Troops (ODST) insignia. Mendoza stiffens
again. Jameson eyes him.
MENDOZA
So sorry, Major. My fault.
Jameson and his entourage hold glares on him for a beat...
then move on. One ODST troop shoulder barges past Mendoza.
Bisenti leans over to Mendoza's ear.
BISENTI
Just ain't your day with the
superiors.
MENDOZA
Shaddap.
JENKINS adjusts his camera, trying the focus in on the ODSTs
walking through the mess hall like schoolyard bullies.
JESSICA
Those ODST nutjobs are always
causing a ruckus wherever they are.
Miller watches Jenkins with his camera.
MILLER
Is that for a documentary or
something?
JENKINS
Kinda. I know this guy who was at
Paris 4 -- got some real good
footage at what happened there.
Channel Live back on Earth paid big
bucks for what he had.
NICK
They'd censor it before it'd even
get aired.
JESSICA
I wouldn't exactly call the police
action we've been in "the front".
GRACE
We brushed it close on Reach, but
it was all over before breakfast.
JENKINS
Yeah but notice the artillery we've
been racking up?
MILLER
He's got a point. The Lt. Colonel
himself doesn't make these kinds of
appearances without good reason.
GRACE
Do you know who else we've got
onboard?
All eyes are on Grace.
GRACE
The Master Chief.
JESSICA
Really?
JENKINS
No way.
MILLER
Is that a fact?
GRACE
Uh huh. Pulled him off from Reach.
He was the only one to make it.
We've got him on the cooler right
now. I can't believe it -- we have
a living legend on the Pillar.
MILLER
I wouldn't exactly bank him on our
survival.
GRACE
Are you kidding? It's not everyday
you get to be in the presence of
people like the Chief.
JENKINS
I heard he leveled an entire
Covenant battalion single-handedly.
Nick chortles with his drink.
JESSICA
No man can handle a battalion.
JENKINS
Haven't you heard...? He-ain't-no
man.
NICK
Well Grace does have a thing for
mechanical substitutes, just never
thought it'd be the Chief.
JESSICA
(elbowing Nick)
Hey, watch it!
JENKINS
Yeah watch it, man. She'll be
replacing you with one soon.
JESSICA
What makes you think I haven't
already?
Grace and Jenkins laugh as Nick chews on the remark.
MILLER
Well if he's some hero, how come he
led an entire company to their
deaths on Epsilon 4?
The comment dampens the mood across the table.
GRACE
Yeah? And where'd you hear that?
JENKINS
(muttering to Jake)
Back away, man -- whilst you still
can...
MILLER
Just something I heard.
GRACE
Sounds cock and bull. I'll tell
you, one guy gets a stripe, another
tells everyone else how it
should've been him.
MILLER
Well... I just think that people
like that try to become heroes by
gambling the lives of others,
hoping to get lucky. I wouldn't
put myself on the line for that
kind of person. If it's a stripe
they want, they should just get
themselves shot in the foot or
something.
At least that way they get to go
home with their lives intact.
GRACE
Jake, that is the song and dance of
someone who only looks after number
one. We need people to step up and
take those kind of risks -- put
themselves on the line to save
countless of others.
Grace rises with her food tray.
GRACE (CONT'D)
Now THAT'S what people like the
Master Chief do.
She moves off with her food tray. Jessica rises and follows
after her. Miller watches with a sigh.
NICK
Great going, Jake.
JENKINS
Yeah, real smooth...
EXT. SPACE
A tear in space appears. A giant star-cruiser streams
through the fissure. The side bears a military insignia:
"UNSC", along with the name: "PILLAR OF AUTUMN".
Tiny windows along the hull emit dots of lights. Awed faces
are pressed against them, all staring at --
A colossal RING PLANET. It out-sizes the now tiny looking
star-cruiser by several thousand lengths. The artificial
piece of structure spins serenely. The inner-side breathes
an atmosphere similar to Earth.
INT. MARINE QUARTERS
Grace lies on a lower bunk, staring up to a PHOTO attached to
the upper bunk.
INSERT PHOTO: A MAN and a five year-old GIRL. Both smiling.
Jessica yaps away on the upper bunk --
JESSICA
I really don't get him sometimes.
He proposes, gives the "how I want
to spend the rest of my life with
you" speech, but when it comes to
setting an actual date...? I
dunno, pops reckons he's a sack of
shit taking me for a ride... Maybe
I should cut my losses. I mean --
She peers over to Grace.
JESSICA
Seriously, you know what it's all
about. Is it really worth it?
Grace glances at the photo. A smile forms.
Commotion as Marines roll out of their bunks and wander to
the edge of the deck. Jessica and Grace exchange inquisitive
looks. They climb out and wander after them.
The two traipse to a gathering at the deck end. They all
peer through the windows to the huge ring planet.
GRACE
What... on Earth...
INT. PILLAR OF AUTUMN BRIDGE
The bridge crew fixate on a giant view screen displaying the
same ring-shaped construct. Keyes watches uneasily from
behind the Captain's console.
KEYES
Cortana, what is that?
Cortana's voice sounds through the console speaker.
CORTANA
Unknown Captain. The structure is
ten thousand kilometers in
diameter. Sensors detect an oxygen
and nitrogen enriched atmosphere on
the inner-side of the ring.
Keyes glances at Langley who is glued to the main screen.
A bridge console BLIPS. ENSIGN LOVELL scans his screens.
LOVELL
Sir, we're picking up a signature.
Keyes screws his eyes. He checks the displays on his
console. A look of disbelief emerges.
KEYES
Impossible. Cortana, were we
followed?
CORTANA
Negative. Sensors didn't read any
ships on our tail. We made a clean
jump.
Keyes looks at Langley for answers. Langley stares back with
a blank face.
ENSIGN PETERSON reads his displays.
PETERSON
Confirmed! Signature is a Covenant
cruiser.
LOVELL
She's coming about.
KEYES
Evasive maneuvers!
EXT. SPACE
A COVENANT CRUISER, similar class to the Pillar of Autumn,
hangs adrift in the ring planet's orbit. Side thrusters kick
in, the ship yaws to face the Pillar of Autumn. Plasma
arrays along the Covenant ship power up --
The Pillar of Autumn banks away --
Plasma beams stream out from the Covenant arrays --
-- and SHEAR across the aft of the Pillar's skin --
INT. PILLAR OF AUTUMN
Explosions rupture deck passageways. A wave of fire engulfs
Crewman and Marines.
INT. PILLAR OF AUTUMN BRIDGE
The bridge rumbles.
LOVELL
We just took a direct hit. Heavy
damage on the aft decks 15 to 20.
KEYES
Return fire.
EXT. SPACE
The Pillar of Autumn lines up with the alien ship. Several
beams cut across space to rip a gash in the Covenant ship.
A beat...
Now, like bees leaving their nest, an almost infinite number
of Covenant ships swarm from the cruiser.
INT. PILLAR OF AUTUMN BRIDGE
The bridge crew watch the main screen with dazzled faces.
KEYES
Bring everyone to Combat Alert
Alpha!
The bridge crew snap into action. Fingers fly over console
keys. Verbal commands fire through headset mikes.
Langley crosses his arms with an unsettled look.
EXT. SPACE
Squadrons of UNSC fighters take flight from the Pillar's
launch bays and engage the wave of Covenant ships --
A CLASH. Interspaced explosions flicker throughout the
combat zone. But the Covenant's ships overwhelm the UNSC as
many break through the defense line and make a heading for
the Pillar of Autumn.
GUN TURRETS along the ship's hull kick into action. Strings
of fighters are taken down. But there's still too many.
INT. MARINE QUARTERS
A running mayhem. Marines struggle to stay steady along the
shaky deck. Grace laces up her boots. Jessica zips up her
fatigues. Adams briskly passes by.
ADAMS
Make a move you two.
Grace peels the photo of the man and little girl from the
bunk and tucks it into her helmet. She hurries after Adams
along with Jessica.
EXT. SPACE
Three Covenant boarding ships glide along the Pillar's hull.
A gun turret swivels over and BLASTS one to pieces. The
other two clamp down onto the ship's exterior.
INT. DECK PASSAGEWAY #1
A bulkhead BLOWS open. A GRUNT -- looks like a 5-foot
walking turtle in its environmental suit, waddles through the
hole with a plasma gun. It makes sniveling gremlin-like
noises and waves others over.
Three more Grunts make their appearance along with an 8-foot
alien warrior with a plasma rifle -- an ELITE. The Elite's
mouth splits open four ways and lets out a deep ROAR.
INT. PILLAR OF AUTUMN BRIDGE
PETERSON, ENSIGN WANG and ENSIGN SINGH scan their screens.
PETERSON
Sir, we have a hull breach on decks
14 and 15.
SINGH
We have a breach on section H.
WANG
We have a breach on lower deck 20.
Keyes' face tightens.
KEYES
They're boarding...
INT. WEAPONS BAY
A PRIVATE stands by a rack of MA5B assault rifles. A queue
of Marines in flak jackets and helmets sweep by to take a
rifle. Another PRIVATE dishes out two grenades. A readied
Sergeant Johnson drills past the Marines.
JOHNSON
For those who haven't popped their
cherry yet, now's the perfect time.
The Covenant are coming in hot. So
let's show our gatecrashers some
hospitality.
INT. DECK PASSAGEWAY #1
A stack of storage containers form a makeshift barricade.
Marines wait by with their rifles.
Down the passageway, amidst the development of swelling
smoke, several Covenant Grunts make their appearance. The
Marines open fire.
INT. DECK PASSAGEWAY #2
Adams, Grace, Jenkins, Jessica, and Nick jog down the
passageway. Jessica and Nick adjust their flak jackets.
GRACE
Sarge, where're we going?
ADAMS
The Covenant are coming in through
the outer hull. We need to repel
boarders.
Nick watches Jenkins adjust his camera's viewfinder.
NICK
You serious with that thing?
JENKINS
Hey man, this is where the cash
start rolling in.
INT. DECK PASSAGEWAY #3
A FEMALE SERGEANT and her team use bulkhead ridges as cover.
An EXPLOSION tears a hole. Covenant troops stagger through.
The Marines open fire. Two Grunts are immediately gunned
down -- one has a pulsing plasma grenade. The grenade slips
out of its hand and sticks to another Grunt. The Grunt
feverishly tries to shake it away but it's firmly stuck on.
MARINE SERGEANT
Fire in the hole!
The Marines brace for cover as the grenade discharges and
RIPS AWAY the attached Covenant boarding ship. The vacuum
sucks the Covenant boarding party out.
The Marines clamp down. One Marine loses grip and is sucked
out into space.
A SIREN BLARES. Airlock doors RAIL down and seal the
breached section.
The Marines drop to the ground and pant in relief.
INT. MESS HALL
A heavy firefight. A dozen Marines hold down the fort, using
tables for cover as Covenant troops filter through the end
doors. Miller, Mendoza, and Bisenti are here.
A Marine gets a plasma blast in the shoulder. He hits the
ground and screams in agony.
Another Marine attempts to retrieve him...
A Grunt fires its NEEDLER GUN. PINK CRYSTAL SHARDS shoot
from the muzzle and stream into the air. They home in on the
Retrieving Marine and punch through his flak jacket.
MILLER
Take cover!
Everyone takes cover as the impaled crystals explode, blowing
chunks off the Marine.
The Covenant troops part way to allow TWO GOLIATHS through --
HUNTERS! Covered in plated armor. Massive shields. Fuel
Rod Gun attached to one arm. They're walking tanks.
The Hunters stomp forwards. Marines open fire on them.
Bullets merely ping off their heavy duty armor. One Hunter
builds up speed... ready for a charge...
Miller hollers out --
MILLER
Fall back!
The Hunter rockets across the mess hall, SMASHING tables and
chairs into the air. The Marines back away towards the mess
hall doors. A flying steel table wipes out two Marines.
The other Hunter aims its gun out. A green glow develops...
before a humongous blast of plasma JETS out and --
-- rips through a Marine's chest. The remaining Marines back
through the doors.
OUTSIDE THE MESS HALL
Miller whacks the door panel. The doors seal shut. He
punches in a set of keystrokes. The panel lights up red.
The Marines back-peddle to a T-junction where another
firefight is in progress. Johnson heads up the Marines --
MILLER
Sir, we've just lost section D,
deck 7.
MENDOZA
These bastards are coming through
the walls like termites.
BISENTI
Let's bail this outfit, Sarge.
Johnson scans over their position. Covenant soldiers seem to
keep coming non-stop at the end of the hallway.
JOHNSON
Shit... Al-right, I hear a fat
lady singin' somewhere. So let's
back up to secondary defensive
positions!
The Marines shift from their positions and arrange a passive
formation. As they drop back through a blast door --
An explosion along a bulkhead sets a Marine on fire. He
SCREAMS. Another Marine tries to put him out. Overheads
suddenly CRASH down on the two.
An alarm BLARES. The blast door rails down, separating the
Marines -- Johnson, Miller, Bisenti and a dozen at one end,
Mendoza and several others at the other.
Johnson SLAMS a fist against the blast door.
JOHNSON
God-damn...
It's no good. He presses on up the passageway.
JOHNSON
Let's keep goin'!
The others follow. Bisenti backs away with his eyes firmly
on the blast door. He finally turns and follows the others.
ON THE OTHER SIDE
A frightened Marine pounds the blast door a few times.
FRIGHTENED MARINE
What do we do, man?
Mendoza slots in a fresh piece of gum into his mouth.
MENDOZA
I dunno, but I ain't goin out like
some punk.
He cocks his rifle and heads back down the passageway. The
other Marines follow.
INT. PILLAR OF AUTUMN BRIDGE
Numbers roll down before Keyes' eyes on his displays.
CORTANA
Captain, we've just lost our
primary thrusters...
KEYES
We're a sitting duck.
CORTANA (CONT'D)
I'm reading fire on multiple decks.
I've lost main controls for
sections D, E, and G. There are
47... no, 48 hull breaches. We're
losing superstructure stability.
KEYES
What are your calculations,
Cortana?
CORTANA
(beat)
Less than 3 percent, sir.
Keyes hisses. He sweeps across his bridge crew's faces.
They all look back at him, awaiting their next command. He
then looks at Langley. Langley holds a firm gaze upon him.
KEYES
Commence Cole Protocol Article 2.
CORTANA
Aye-aye, Captain.
The bridge crew exchange concerned looks upon hearing this.
Peterson adjusts his mike.
PETERSON
Beginning evacuation sequence.
INT. DECK PASSAGEWAY #6
The lighting shifts to a flashing red strobe. Sirens BLARE.
Marines stop shooting to acknowledge it. One Staff Sergeant
hand signals his fellow Marines. They fall back.
INT. PILLAR OF AUTUMN BRIDGE
Jameson and a couple of armed ODSTs approach Langley.
JAMESON
We're ready for you, Colonel.
Langley promptly follows them out. Doesn't care to look
back. Keyes watches him exit, then focuses on his console.
KEYES
Cortana, patch me through to cryo
two.
INT. OBSERVATION ROOM
Something SLAMS repeatedly against the other side of the
door. A nervous Davies stands by with a handgun. Sam is by
an intercom.
SAM
We can't hold out, Capt'n.
KEYES (FILTER)
Bring 1-1-7 out of the cooler.
SAM
No can do, sir. Recovery is barely
80%. I don't know if he's even
stable.
KEYES (FILTER)
Just do it, Sam.
A massive dent appears on the door, edges crimple in. An
ALIEN HAND feels through the gap. Davies looks over to Sam.
DAVIES
Oh God...
Sam looks at his consoles in reluctance. He then proceeds to
punch keys. Along the screens, display bars fill up --
SAM
Initiating quick thaw.
INT. CRYO CHAMBER
The central mass starts to move. Lights around it flicker
on. Pressurized gases exhaust out.
A cryo-tube ejects. A mechanical arm brings it about to an
upright position. Only fog can be seen through the glass.
The tube cover opens and releases a cloud of nitrogen gas...
A FIGURE stumbles out. Lands on his HANDS AND KNEES. In
full Mjolnir body armor. Patches of it scolded with burns.
AMBER VISOR of his helmet reflects the entire chamber...
A moment... and HE picks himself up. Standing incredibly
tall. He is a SPARTAN. And he is the MASTER CHIEF.
His head tilts up to the observation room window. A set of
MUFFLED SCREAMS from within followed by gunfire flashes. The
observation window clouds with a web of cracks.
The Master Chief turns to the chamber door...
INT. BRIDGE
Keyes looks to his bridge crew.
KEYES
Okay people, you know the evac
procedures.
The bridge crew stare at him with reluctance. Then, one-by
one, they shuffle away from their post and exit the bridge.
Keyes draws out a handgun. Cocks it.
INT. DECK PASSAGEWAY #7
Adams, Grace, Jenkins, Jessica, and Nick are locked down in a
firefight along with another team of Marines.
At the other end of the passageway, portable plasma shields
form an impenetrable cover for the Covenant soldiers. Grunts
and Elites peer round and blast away.
A Marine in the open is struck down. Grace attempts to
retrieve him. Adams grabs her collar and yanks her back into
cover just as plasma fire whiz by.
ADAMS
Stay sharp, Grace!
Grace, sweating from the near miss, returns a nod.
A Grunt waddles into the open and hurls a plasma grenade. It
sticks to a Marine. He flails in an attempt to remove it.
FLAILING MARINE
Get it off-a me!
The grenade EXPLODES, rips the Marine apart, and engulfs the
area in a blinding blue light. Nick drops to the ground with
his hands over his eyes, SCREAMING.
Jessica rushes to his side and peels his hands away.
JESSICA
Let me see, let me see!
His eyes are bloodshot red.
JESSICA
Don't worry, you'll be okay.
She helps him to his feet. Adams halts firing.
ADAMS
Everybody, fall back!
GRACE
Let's go, let's go.
The Marines break off their engagement and retreat.
A bulkhead suddenly EXPLODES, swallows up a Marine, and fills
the place with smoke. The blast throws Jenkins to the
ground. He loses his handgun -- it slides along the floor.
A HAND intercepts and picks it up. Jenkins looks up to whom
the hand belongs to --
THE MASTER CHIEF towers over him. Surrounding Marines freeze
and gasp to the very sight of him.
Two Grunts emerge through the smoke. The Master Chief
promptly drills a bullet into each of their skulls. They
drop instantly. He then presses on down the passageway.
Jenkins frantically adjusts his camera on him.
GRAINY CAMERA POV
The Master Chief disappears into the smoky haze like some
elusive sasquatch.
BACK TO SCENE
Jenkins is stunned to what he just saw. Grace hoists him to
his feet.
GRACE
C'mon, Jenkins!
The Marines continue their retreat.
INT. LIFEBOAT DECK #1
Marines and personnel rush through airlocks leading to the
space lifeboats. STAFF SERGEANT MYERS waves them to hustle.
MYERS
Come on, double time!
The first lifeboat fills up. A Marine gives the thumbs up.
LIFEBOAT #1 MARINE
Good to go!
Myers bangs a button next to the airlock door. The door
SLAMS shut. The lifeboat EJECTS into space.
The next lifeboat fills up. Another thumbs up.
LIFEBOAT #2 MARINE
Good to go!
Myers hits another button. The airlock door slams shut. The
lifeboat EJECTS.
As the third lifeboat fills up --
-- the FIRST AIRLOCK door implodes and crushes a bolting
Marine. Covenant soldiers appear through the doorway.
MYERS
(thrown)
Son of a...
He raises his rifle and opens fire.
EXT. SPACE
Lifeboats spit out along the length of the Pillar of Autumn.
Covenant Fighters stream by to them pick off.
AN EJECTING LIFEBOAT SLAMS into one of the Covenant ships.
ANOTHER LIFEBOAT makes a clean detachment. A Covenant
boarding ship glides over to take its place. It clamps down
onto the airlock door.
The reams of ejected lifeboats sail past the net of Covenant
fighters. Thrusters flare up and, in unison, they jet
towards the giant ring planet.
INT. PILLAR OF AUTUMN BRIDGE
Keyes, now alone on the bridge, mans his console. Something
catches his peripheral as he raises his handgun at it --
It's the Master Chief, heading over. Keyes lowers the gun.
KEYES
(reading the displays)
The Covenant has overwhelmed us.
We didn't really have much of a
chance.
MASTER CHIEF
What are my orders?
Keyes taps a few keys on the console. A blue crystal
embedded within an electronic unit ejects. He detaches it
from its cradle and hands it over to the Master Chief.
KEYES
There are a few lifeboats left on
deck 28. Take Cortana with you --
a ship's AI absolutely cannot fall
into the Covenant's hands.
The Master Chief takes it and places it onto his wrist. A
clamp develops and tightens around his wrist.
KEYES
Get our men out of here. Contact
Earth, tell them what happened to
planet Reach.
He looks upon the Chief like a father would to his son.
KEYES
Chief, you're the last Spartan...
(he offers a reassuring
smile)
I have every confidence in you.
The Master Chief stays put as if waiting more from Keyes.
KEYES
Don't worry about me, I'll catch
up. Now you have your orders.
The Master Chief tips a nod and makes his way back out.
Keyes looks to the main display -- at the Covenant star
cruiser. He punches a few keys on his console. One of the
displays reads: "VECTORS CONFIGURES. COLLISION WARNING."
INT. LIFEBOAT DECKS
Adams and her team jog along the now seemingly abandoned
deck. Jessica shoulders Nick's arm and helps him along. He
stops, unhooks his arm from Jessica and rubs his eyes.
JESSICA
You okay now?
He blinks a few times before gripping his rifle tightly.
NICK
Yeah, I'm good.
The Marines glance at every passing airlock. The lifeboats
have already ejected.
JENKINS
They've bailed out. They've left
us, man!
GRACE
Pipe down, Jenkins.
ADAMS
The lower decks may still have some
lifeboats left.
They reach a passageway intersection.
An airlock door behind them blows open and bashes against a
bulkhead. Covenant Grunts and Elites straggle into view.
The Marines waste no time and immediately disappear out of
view down one passageway.
INT. LOWER DECKS
The Master Chief treads along a passageway carpeted with
Covenant and human bodies. He sees an MA5B rifle.
He reaches down, tugs it free from a dead Marine, snatches a
few magazines from his jacket, and cocks the rifle. He
instinctively aims it down the passageway...
THREE GRUNTS AND AN ELITE wander into view at a juncture.
The Master Chief POPS a round into each Grunt's skull. The
Elite spins to face their assailant. The Master Chief clamps
down the trigger and delivers a rapid burst of rounds.
Bullets pound into the Elite's chest. It collapses into heap
of smoking mess.
In one smooth action, the Master Chief ejects the exhausted
magazine and slots in a fresh one. He lowers the rifle and
presses on.
INT. FINAL LIFEBOAT DECK
Adams and her team run along another empty deck, continually
scrutinizing each airlock door. They've all punched out!
Grace catches a glimpse of a Marine further along the deck --
He disappears through the final airlock.
GRACE
I see one!
The Marines bolt for the airlock.
INT. LIFEBOAT
Adams and her team stumble onto the escape pod. A pilot and
several Marines strap themselves in. Mendoza is here too.
He looks at Grace, smiles, and indicates to a seat next to
him.
MENDOZA
Saved a seat for ya.
GRACE
I'd rather take my chances with the
Covenant.
She takes a different seat along with Jenkins, Jessica, and
Nick. Adams inspects the passengers.
ADAMS
Has all ship personnel been
accounted for?
Blank expressions all around. They don't care and continue
to buckle up.
They suddenly freeze as something makes an appearance by the
airlock door. Heads turn to --
-- A GRUNT, gripping a plasma grenade, pulsing with a blue
hue. It CACKLES an alien remark.
The Marines GASP -- they're all gonna go out like punks...
GUNFIRE suddenly drills the Grunt's flank and flings it
aside. It hits the floor, hand still gripping the flashing
grenade. The blue strobe picks up speeds.
The Master Chief steps into view by the airlock door.
Stunned faces all around. The Chief wastes no time and
promptly heads for the lifeboat controls. He throws a
switch. The airlock door slams shut and --
EXT. SPACE
The lifeboat ejects. A blue haze blooms from the just
departed airlock. The lifeboat makes a clean break and
blasts towards the ring planet.
As it cuts into the ring planet's stratosphere --
INT. LIFEBOAT
Strong turbulence. Tense faces at the white-knuckle ride.
The Master Chief stands calmly, gripping the overhead rails.
His visor reflects the flames rolling off the windshield.
The LIFEBOAT PILOT throws the actuators --
EXT. RING PLANET'S ATMOSPHERE
A series of airbrakes hydraulically kick in, but snap off
before they can fully deploy --
INT. LIFEBOAT
A warning signal BLARES. The shaking subsides, the view
through the windshield clears. There are clouds... then the
ground... rapidly closing in on a nose dive...
The Lifeboat Pilot pulls the stick as hard as he can. But
the earth grows larger and larger...
BLACKNESS:
FADE IN:
INT. WHITE LIMBO (DREAM)
John -- the same boy from the beginning, stands by, rubbing
tears away. A slender WOMAN in a lab coat fades into view
before him. Brown hair, her face out of view. A nametag
reads: "HALSEY". She kneels down to the boy's height.
HALSEY
There, there, no need to cry? Have
you been fighting with the others
again?
John shakes his head, but we can clearly see bruises on his
knuckles.
LINDA (5) -- blonde pigtails, fades into view behind him.
She carries the same desolate eyes as John...
EXT. EPSILON 4 - DAY (DREAM)
A SPARTAN HELMET rests on a blanket of snow. We hear comms--
MALE VOICE (FILTER)
Orders were for you to withdraw.
We cannot support you. I repeat,
we cannot support you.
FEMALE VOICE (FILTER)
We don't have 5 minutes, Chief.
Fall back while you still can...
CHIEF!
THE AMBER VISOR of the helmet reflects a ravaged urban
battlefield. Figures bolt across. One of them --
THE MASTER CHIEF -- in full Mjolnir armor. He charges
through a gauntlet of gunfire with a few dozen Marines. Many
are cut down by whizzing plasma fire.
MASTER CHIEF
(into collar microphone)
Linda! Linda!
A plasma mortar SMASHES into the ground and hurls his body
several meters to the side.
THE MASTER CHIEF'S EYES, visible through the cracks in his
visor. They stare upwards at the planet's suns. Lids
flutter, blinking twitches of flickering life. They sink...
MALE VOICE (V.O.)
(whispering)
John...
INT. LIFEBOAT - DAY (PRESENT)
The Master Chief jolts to an upright position. A Marine lies
on top of him with a snapped neck. Sparkling wires dangle
from above.
The Master Chief rolls the body and pulls himself up. He
turns to a light at the rear of the lifeboat.
EXT. HALO - DAY
The Master Chief steps out of the lifeboat -- one hand grips
an MA5B rifle, the other clips a couple of grenades to his
belt. Before him --
Grass, trees, rock faces -- we could well be on Earth.
Flaming wreckage scatter along the lifeboat's crash trail.
Several Marines lie on the floor, some dead, others GROANING
last breaths of life.
The Master Chief heads along the trail. He passes by a
barely living Adams as she tries to reach out to him.
The Master Chief stops at a cliff edge. The visor on his
helmet reflects the awesome landscape. The length of the
ring planet curves up into the sky at the horizon. The sky
carries a melded color of blue and purple. A blue planet
hangs like a moon. A brilliant white sun provides the light.
The Master Chief looks at the unit on his wrist. He fingers
it. A purple, pint-sized hologram of a SLENDER WOMAN (30s)
materializes. She stretches out. This is CORTANA.
CORTANA
Whew, I was wondering how long I
was going to be cooped up in there.
She looks up to the Master Chief.
CORTANA
Ah, Spartan 1-1-7. I hope you
didn't mind but I took the liberty
of scanning your biometrics. You
must have taken quite a beating
down there on Reach --
MASTER CHIEF
Doctor Halsey?
CORTANA
Did you hit your head back there
'cause you're confusing me with the
wrong gal? I guess creators like
to remodel themselves in their work
-- it's an ego thing... It's been
a while hasn't it, Chief?
MASTER CHIEF
Cortana, what is our current
location?
Places her hands onto her hips and cocks a grin at the Master
Chief.
CORTANA
No time to catch up, huh?
MASTER CHIEF
Just tell me where we are.
CORTANA
Okay. Sure. The Pillar of
Autumn's sensors detected a ring
planet enriched with a nitrogen
oxygen atmosphere. I assume that's
where we are.
MASTER CHIEF
Can you pinpoint the position of
the Pillar of Autumn?
CORTANA
Unfortunately not. Although I am
picking up a lifeboat beacon 96
kilometers from your current
position.
MASTER CHIEF
Show me.
A separate hologram is projected, showing a rough outline of
the terrain along with a pulsing dot.
CORTANA
The Pillar of Autumn has an
inventory of 120 lifeboats. I
suggest the first priority would be
to establish contact --
MASTER CHIEF
I know.
CORTANA
(smiling back)
I guess a Spartan should.
CLATTERING from behind. The Master Chief glances over...
Other SURVIVORS stumble out of the lifeboat wreckage.
Amongst them: Grace, Mendoza, Jenkins, Jessica, and Nick.
Grace spots Adams and immediately hurries to her side.
GRACE
Oh God. Oh shit. Hold on --
Adams snatches Grace's arm.
ADAMS
I need something to make the pain
stop! Now!
GRACE
(aloud)
Jess!
Grace watches Adams with developing tears.
ADAMS
You're a leatherneck, Grace. So
shape up and show like you've got
some balls.
Grace wipes away the tears just as Jessica arrives with a med
box. She flips it open and draws out a syringe.
JESSICA
Hold her down.
Grace does so. Jessica delivers the dose. Adams' body
spasms, Grace tries to keep her down, watching in pain.
Adams' eyes firmly fix on Grace's.
ADAMS
You better take care of them.
(re: the other Marines)
They're yours now.
Her eyelids flutter as she exhales a lung full of air and
drops back onto the floor. Jessica draws out a bio-reader
and scans along the length of Adams' body.
GRACE
Tell me she's going to be alright.
Jessica's face shows doubt.
MENDOZA stands over Nick as he fiddles with a semi-charred
radio backpack.
NICK
This is 10 Victor of Fire Team
Charlie, does anyone copy?
(just static)
Is anyone there?
Sparks splutter from the unit. He smacks it in frustration.
NICK
It's busted.
MENDOZA
Well fix it then. Ain't that what
you do?
NICK
Sure, wait one moment while I pull
spare parts out of my ass.
Mendoza huffs and traipses away. He slots a fresh piece of
gum into his mouth and surveys the area.
MENDOZA
(to himself)
The hell are we?
ON JENKINS as he trudges through the devastation, adjusting
his camera, documenting what he sees. A look of uneasiness
works its way in. He heads over to Grace with Adams.
JENKINS
Grace?
(Grace remains fixed on
Adams)
What do we do?
Grace finally looks at Jenkins, then around for answers. Her
eyes land on the Master Chief staring out into the horizon.
She rises and begins heading over.
She stops meters behind him -- this guy's a Legend here...
She composes herself and proceeds towards him.
GRACE
(firm)
Master Chief --
MASTER CHIEF
There's another lifeboat beacon 96
klicks in that direction. If we
move out now, we'll be able to
rendezvous with any survivors in 10
hours.
(out loud)
Let's move out.
He begins to hike down a rocky descent by the side of the
cliff. Grace looks over to the other Marines who look back
with incredulous looks -- is this guy for real?
Grace jogs after him.
GRACE
Chief, sir... the others --
MASTER CHIEF
Our position is unknown, our
supplies negligible. There is a
low chance of assistance, and if
one does come, it would already be
too late. There is nothing you can
do for them.
GRACE
But we can't just leave --
MASTER CHIEF (CONT'D)
The Covenant may well be tracking
us down. The crash site
compromises our position. Having
injured with us will make us
vulnerable in an open attack.
They'll only slow us down.
GRACE
But...
(angrily)
I'm not gonna leave them to rot,
SIR!"
The Master Chief suddenly stops.
GRACE (CONT'D)
I insist, as a Marine Sergeant...
The Master Chief hushes her.
MASTER CHIEF
Do you hear that?
Grace listens. A WAILING noise... distant... The Master
Chief looks skywards. The sound grows louder... closer...
The Master Chief bolts back up the rocky path, to the crash
site. All the Marines are staring upwards with blank faces.
MASTER CHIEF
Take cover!
A COVENANT BANSHEE -- a single passenger aerial vehicle,
bursts into view. Fuel rods pronged outwards, leaving an
exhaust trail across the sky.
The Marines scarper. Some head for trees, others anything
closest to them.
The Banshee nosedives. Its twin plasma cannons jettison a
shower of plasma fire. Several Marines are struck down.
The Banshee twirls elegantly and glides back up into the sky.
Marines open fire with their MA5Bs, but the Banshee's aerial
flair makes it impossible to target.
The Master Chief, Grace, Mendoza, Jenkins, Jessica and Nick
seek cover under a cluster of trees. The rest are scattered
about near the lifeboat.
MASTER CHIEF
Keep away from the boat!
The Marines look back at the Master Chief with clued up
expressions.
The Banshee comes out about, makes another dive at the
lifeboat. Its FUEL ROD CANNON launches a plasma missile.
The lifeboat EXPLODES, taking the Marines with it.
One SURVIVING MARINE makes a desperate dash across the open
grass. The Banshee streams behind him and unleashes a hail
of plasma into him. They zap through his chest. The Banshee
trails back up into the sky, ready for the next dive.
The Master Chief suddenly breaks into a sprint across the
open grass. Grace and her team watch him do so.
JENKINS
What's he doing?
MENDOZA
That shit ain't for real.
A stunned Grace watches on.
The Banshee comes about for its next target -- the Master
Chief. It fires repeatedly. Plasma ZAP the dirt around the
Chief's thrashing legs.
The Banshee reaches the base of its dive and ZIPS across the
grass, closing in on the Master Chief from behind.
The Master Chief unclips a grenade and loosely drops it onto
the floor... BOOM -- a cloud of dirt kicks up in front of
the Banshee's view.
As it clears away, it becomes apparent where the Master Chief
is running to -- towards a rock face. The Banshee quickly
pulls up. Its tail clips a rock.
The Chief, now with a clear shot of the Banshee's rear,
trains his rifle and rapidly unloads a magazine.
A fuel rod takes a POUNDING, bursts into flames. The Banshee
spins out of control and CRUNCHES into a rock face -- BOOM!
The Master Chief, still locked in his position, ejects the
exhausted magazine and slots in a fresh one.
The other Marines step out into the open with exasperated
expressions.
The Master Chief lowers his rifle and calmly strolls towards
the rocky path by the cliff like nothing had just transpired.
Stunned looks on the Marines.
MASTER CHIEF
There could be more.
The other Marines waste no time and follow after him. Grace
stays pinned on the spot, looking over the dead Marines. One
is the charred remains of Adams. Jessica takes her arm.
JESSICA
Come on. Let's go.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. GRASSY MOUNTAIN PASS - NIGHT
A planet eclipses the sun. Stars twinkle. Metallic bollards
along the grass provide a dull illumination.
The Master Chief takes the terrain with an easy stride. The
others lag behind. Mendoza wearily trudges along, rifle
draped by his side.
MENDOZA
We even headin anywhere? 'Cause
all I see is that loop-the-loop.
How do we know we ain't circling
round over and over... There ain't
jack for miles, man. We might be
the only ones that made it...
As Mendoza continues on, Jenkins and Nick walk side by side.
JENKINS
Doesn't the guy stop?
Nick grips his rifle tightly.
NICK
Tell me about it.
MENDOZA
This is bullshit!
He stops to rest on a rock. Grace passes by.
GRACE
Keep moving, Mendoza.
MENDOZA
Screw that? We ain't machines
like...
(re: the Master Chief)
... that guy. Some of us need to
eat, shit, and sleep.
GRACE
Chief says we're only 5 hours out.
So haul that ass up and get going.
MENDOZA
(rising up)
You giving me an order?
GRACE
I'm giving you an ord --
Mendoza squares up to Grace.
MENDOZA
Who the hell died and made you
Sarge?
Grace zips it, looks away. Jessica steps in before Mendoza.
JESSICA
Hey, we're all tired, so why don't
you quit riding her back?
MENDOZA
You offerin me yours instead?
Nick steps in now. Gives him a hard shove.
NICK
Why do you always got to be such a
dick?
MENDOZA
Whoah! When did Yang grow some
balls?
Nick levels his rifle at him.
NICK
Just keep pushing, Mendoza.
GRACE
Put that down, Yang!
MENDOZA
Or what? You'll take me down?
Down to Chinatown?
Nick rifle-butts him. Mendoza quickly reels back in with a
fist. The two fight. Jessica and Grace try to break it up.
GRACE
Hey, enough!
JESSICA
Stop it!
NICK
You son-u-va...
MENDOZA
C'mon, I'll fuck you up.
The Master Chief stops at a ridge and cross-references their
position with Cortana's holographic map.
CORTANA
Chief, the men are out of control.
The Master Chief glances over to the commotion.
CORTANA (CONT'D)
Exhaustion is affecting their
behavior. I recommend a break.
He watches Grace separate Mendoza and Nick.
GRACE
I said that's enough!
The Master Chief presses on.
MASTER CHIEF
They've still got plenty of energy
in them.
Grace keeps Mendoza at arm's length.
GRACE
I'm the acting Sergeant for this
team and I say we keep moving. If
you want to stay, Mendoza, you
stay. But I'm not compromising the
rest of this team for your lazy
ass.
And with those words she moves on. The others follow.
Mendoza watches them continue along the pass... He grumbles
and starts off after them.
EXT. EMBANKMENT - DAY
The sound of RUSHING WATER. NICK'S HAND holds a vial of
clear liquid against the cloudless sky.
NICK (O.S.)
Traces of sodium, magnesium,
potassium, calcium... It's good.
The Marines stand by a crystal stream. They immediately sink
their water canteens into the stream and down liters of the
stuff.
Jenkins inspects the curvature of this ring planet.
JENKINS
Maybe it's a different type of
planet. A hoop shaped planet. You
know how some planets are round...
MENDOZA
No, not some planets. ALL planets
are round, numb-nuts.
Jenkins narrows his eyes, doesn't retort. Jessica hands Nick
a water canteen. He gulps down a mouthful.
NICK
This place -- it has an ecosystem
similar to Earth.
JESSICA
(with a smile)
This stretch kind of reminds me of
that summer at Banks Peninsula.
Don't you think?
NICK
I don't remember.
(looking across the
stream)
Something's missing here. There
are no animals whatsoever. For
this type of environment, there
should be life. I mean, where is
the source of calcium?
Nick checks his digital readers. The smile on Jessica fades
as she watches him.
Grace stops drinking to regain her breath. She stares after
the Master Chief ahead of them. Jenkins sides up with her.
JENKINS
You reckon he drinks?
GRACE
I don't know.
MENDOZA
Why don't you ask him?
JENKINS
Why don't YOU?
MENDOZA
Oooh, nice comeback, dick breath.
Grace ventures over to the Master Chief.
GRACE
Chief?
The Master Chief turns to her. She offers out her water
canteen. The Master Chief turns away and resumes onwards.
MASTER CHIEF
Time.
The Marines sigh and press on after him.
MENDOZA
(bitterly to Grace)
Way to go.
EXT. VALLEY - LATER
The Master Chief and the Marines make their way up a rocky
pass, towards the peak of a steep hill.
The CRACKLE of gunfire echoes through the valley. The Master
Chief raises a hand. Everyone halts. Now, a loud HUMMING
sound develops. Closing in, they look up.
A U-shaped COVENANT DROP-SHIP SOARS by overhead and
disappears out of view at the ridge.
The Master Chief waves the team to hustle.
EXT. CLEARING - DAY
A spire-shaped structure centers a grass clearing. Nearby, a
group of Marines hole up amongst a cluster of boulders.
Factions of Covenant soldiers circle the Marines, slowly
closing in with heavy plasma fire.
An Elite BARKS out to its fellow troops. Grunts waddle
across the field. A hail of bullets SLING them back.
AMONGST THE MARINES: Miller ejects an exhausted magazine,
slots in a fresh one, and fires a bursts of defensive rounds.
He then switches position to repel other angles.
Dead and wounded amongst them. The dirt well worn. Miller
flips over to a boulder near Johnson. Johnson yaps into a
radio pack. The heavy gunfire is deafening.
JOHNSON
Echo 4-19, Echo 4-19, where's that
ride? We're taking heavy fire
here. I hope to shit you haven't
forgotten about us.
The radio crackles before --
RADIO (FILTER)
Delta 4 Whiskey, Echo 4-19 --
Foehammer here. We're having
problems pinpointing your
coordinates.
JOHNSON
Just look for where the God-damn
the firing is!
JACKALS -- frail looking aliens with portable energy shields
- rally up to form an impenetrable wall. Miller focuses a
burst of rounds on them. Bullets bounce off their shields.
MILLER
There's too many of them, Sarge!
Bisenti empties his rifle. He looks over to Miller.
BISENTI
Miller, break me another.
Miller tosses him a fresh magazine. Another MARINE stops
firing to throw his voice over --
MARINE #2
Inbound Covenant drop-ship!
A HUGE U-SHAPED SHADOW casts over them. The Marines look up
and see the dreaded Covenant drop-ship sail by.
JOHNSON
Shee'it...
ON THE MASTER CHIEF, hugging a rock along the battlefield's
perimeter. He throws a set of hand signals to Grace and her
team. They reposition themselves.
Grace takes in a deep breath. Jenkins adjusts his camera.
Mendoza shoves in a fresh piece of gum into his mouth.
MENDOZA
Let's get some payback.
The Master Chief and his Marines shuffle into --
-- the open field. Jogging along in a column formation.
Staying low. Rifles covering their flanks.
The Covenant drop-ship descends onto the grassy plain. The
troop bays springs open and deploys a payload of soldiers.
A GRUNT spots the Master Chief and his team. It jabbers out
to its fellow troops. The Master Chief clocks it and quickly
drills a few rounds into it. Now...
Other Covenant troops turn to realize their presence. They
flick their aims over and begin blasting away with their
plasma weapons. Grace and her team stop and return fire.
MILLER peers over a boulder. Sees the Master Chief and the
Marines pinned down. He eyes hold on Grace.
MILLER
Sarge? We got fresh company!
Johnson breaks from his firefighting to share Miller's view.
JOHNSON
I'll be damned.
(to the others)
Alright, let's give our friends
some support.
The other Marines refocus their guns.
Covenant troops firing upon the Master Chief and his team are
suddenly struck from the side. Three Grunts are knocked
down. An Elite receives slugs in its flank. The Master
Chief sees the support fire from the other team.
MASTER CHIEF
(to his team)
Go-go-go!
Grace's team cease fire and make a rapid dash for the rock
cluster. The Master Chief drops to one knee and lays support
fire. He's fast -- a series of the round-burst then re-aim
in rapid succession. Every shot scores a hit.
Grace holds the ground with him.
MASTER CHIEF
(to Grace)
I said go!
GRACE
Not without you, sir!
The Master Chief GROWLS. He rises and makes a move for the
rock cluster. He collars Grace along the way and launches
her onwards, sending her into a stumbling sprint.
WITHIN THE ROCK CLUSTER, Nick tumbles in. Jessica follows
and lands on top of him. The two have a moment staring into
one another -- there's history here.
Mendoza base slides his way in. Holes up next to Bisenti.
BISENTI
Jesus wept, you actually made it.
MENDOZA
(feeling for holes)
Shit to hell, my ass ain't fried.
BISENTI
It's good to get with the cavalry.
MENDOZA
Whatcha talkin' about? I thought
you were them.
Jenkins finally staggers in, adjusting his mini-camera.
Miller pulls him down just as plasma fire whiz by...
MILLER
Watch your head!
A Grunt opens fire with its Needler. Crystal shards stream
out and arc towards Grace as she races across the grass.
Miller nails the shooting Grunt. Then hollers out --
MILLER
Grace! C'mon!
Grace picks up speed. The crystal shards stab into the dirt
behind her. A beat... and the shards EXPLODE. The blast
throws Grace into the shelter. Miller catches her fall. Her
helmet rolls along the grass.
MILLER
You okay?
Grace nods back. Miller snatches her helmet. As he hands it
back to Grace, he catches a glimpse of the PHOTO of the man
and the girl inside.
Grace snaps up the helmet and places it back onto her head.
She spins around and starts laying cover fire for the Chief.
The Master Chief sprints like an athlete across the clearing.
His MA5B train and fire upon passing Covenant soldiers. He
takes down two Grunts, then an Elite.
He explodes into the presence of the others Marines, spins
round, and continues firing. Some of Johnson's Marines hold
fire momentarily to lay eyes on the guy.
JOHNSON
Glad you can join us, Chief.
MASTER CHIEF
What do we have, Sergeant?
JOHNSON
Shit was already in the fan as soon
as our lifeboat hit the surface 8
klicks from here. The Covenant
were right on top of us.
MASTER CHIEF
Support?
JOHNSON
We got a Pelican drop-ship on the
way, but negative on the ETA.
They're flying blind. We're four
men down and running dry.
The Master Chief scans the area. Sees --
-- A NARROW RAMP, running along one side of the spire-shaped
structure, up to a secondary level.
MASTER CHIEF
We have to take higher ground.
Johnson sees it too and nods in acknowledgement.
JOHNSON
(out loud)
Let go! Move if y'all wanna live.
The Marines peel off from their posts and head for the ramp
in a V formation. Grace stays locked tight at her position,
giving it her all with the rifle. Miller grips her shoulder.
MILLER
Grace, we've got to go.
Grace hesitates for a moment... then follows Miller lead.
The Jackals take advancing steps with their energy shields.
Grunts and Elites use them as cover. One Jackal's gun powers
up then releases a jet blast of green plasma...
It SEARS through a Marine on the ramp. He tumbles, causing a
domino effect with a few behind him. Grace dodges the
avalanche of bodies.
She glances over, sees the Marines picking themselves up only
to get cut down by plasma fire.
THE UPPER LEVEL OF THE STRUCTURE
The Master Chief and the Marines emerge. They fan out and
take up covering positions at each side of the floor. They
fire down from the elevated position...
Covenant troops seeking cover behind the Jackals' shields are
hit from above.
The Master Chief centers the floor under the overhead spire.
MASTER CHIEF
Cortana, can you send a visual
beacon for the pickup?
CORTANA
Standby.
The Cortana unit glows. Fires out a brilliant, holographic
beam through the overhead spire and --
-- into the sky at the apex of the structure.
A PLASMA CANNON on the Covenant drop-ship swivels over and
BLASTS away. Two Marines covering that side of the structure
are hit. Others drop back to avoid the heavy plasma fire.
Miller and Grace hold the position at the top of ramp, firing
down onto Covenant soldiers trickling into view.
MILLER
They're breaching!
Johnson marches over.
JOHNSON
They're like God-damn roaches.
He peers over the edge and fires down onto the Covenant
troops along the base of the ramp.
OVER A MOUND, at the clearing's perimeter, A WARTHOG JEEP
suddenly SCREAMS into view. A trigger happy PRIVATE CHIPS
DUBBO mans the mounted machine gun.
CHIPS
(firing away)
Come and get some, you mongrels.
He aims at the line of Jackals. The torrent of bullets punch
through their energy shields and into their chests. They
flail to the ground like tossed rag dolls.
The Warthog then screeches to a halt near the spire-shaped
structure. Chips looks up to Johnson and the Marines.
CHIPS
(to Johnson)
You call for assistance, Sergeant?
JOHNSON
I called for a drop-ship.
Chips cocks a reassuring smile.
As the Covenant drop-ship begins its ascent, a CRACKLE is
heard from above. All eyes gaze upwards. Two rockets propel
across the sky and SLAM into the side of the Covenant drop
ship. Explosions and smoke blooms out.
The ship plummets and crashes into the dirt, shoveling a wave
of grass and soil. Squads of Jackals and Grunts attempt to
flee but are engulfed under the tsunami of mud.
The Marines CHEER victoriously.
A Pelican drop-ship THUNDERS into view. Its chain guns kick
in and lay heavy fire on the Covenant troops. Groups of
Grunts feverishly flee from the scene. Elites are cut to
ribbons.
The Pelican drifts over to the structure. The rear loading
ramp slides open. Private O'NEIL stands by, one hand
grappling the overhead netting, the other waving the Marines
to board.
O'NEIL
C'mon!
The Marines hop on.
INT. PELICAN ECHO 419 - SAME
Johnson jumps on.
JOHNSON
'Bout time!
O'NEIL
Sorry for making you wait, Sarge.
O'Neil then sees the Master Chief boarding the ship.
O'NEIL
Chief, pleasure to have you
onboard.
The Master Chief swiftly heads for the cockpit where FLIGHT
CAPTAIN CAROL RAWLEY, a ball-breaker fly-girl, grips the
flight stick.
RAWLEY
Welcome aboard, Chief.
MASTER CHIEF
What's the status?
RAWLEY
We've managed to recover the crew
of the 62 ejected lifeboats. 3
Pelican drop-ships also ejected
carrying artillery, Warthogs, and
Scorpions. We've established a
base 800 klicks from here.
MASTER CHIEF
What of the Captain.
RAWLEY
(shakes her head)
Negative. The Pillar of Autumn
went down onto this ring planet 17
hours ago. The Covenant ship also
went down with it.
MASTER CHIEF
Do we have the position of the
Pillar of Autumn?
RAWLEY
Affirmative, but its status is
unknown. Our current orders from
the Colonel is recovery of the evac
survivors.
MASTER CHIEF
The Colonel?
RAWLEY
Yes sir.
IN THE TROOP BAY, the last of the Marines are loaded up.
Miller relaxes back and gives himself five to regain his
breath. He looks over to a shaken Grace. She peels off her
helmet and runs a hand through her hair.
MILLER
Hey Grace, you okay?
Grace looks over and tips a nod.
BISENTI
(to O'Neil)
Woo-hoo! Good job you fly-boys
showed up. Thought we were cooked.
MENDOZA
(to O'Neil)
What's the onboard entertainment?
O'NEIL
Same old band -- the white noise of
a Pelican jet engine.
Mendoza cracks an amused grin. Jenkins sits next to Grace,
still pumped.
JENKINS
I tell you, the Chief sure is
something.
Grace looks over to the Master Chief in the cockpit.
GRACE
Yeah... he's something alright.
O'Neil strolls through the bay.
O'NEIL
A little safety announcement
everybody -- if you don't wanna
shit your pants, hold on tight.
(aloud to Rawley)
Let's punch out.
Rawley peers over her shoulder to the troop bay.
RAWLEY
Buckle up, ladies.
EXT. HALO, STRUCTURE - DAY
Chips watches the Pelican drop-ship drift away from the
structure. Thrusters FLARE, the nose dips forward, and the
drop-ship BLASTS away.
Chips SLAPS a "good to go" remark on the driver's roof. The
Warthog's tires spit dirt as it tears off.
INT. PELICAN DROP-SHIP ECHO 419 - NIGHT
Green nightlights keep the bay lit.
Weary Marines rest. Injured give low groans. Jessica
dresses a wound on an injured Marine. Nick assists.
Jenkins fiddles inspects the recorded footage of his camera.
Mendoza dozes off with his helmet over his face.
The Master Chief stares vacantly at the Cortana unit on his
wrist. Grace holds an icy stare on him. The Master Chief
glances over, Grace quickly looks away. Miller watches
Grace.
IN THE COCKPIT
Rawley flicks a few switches on a panel.
RAWLEY
(into headset microphone)
Alpha Base, this is Echo 4-19
making an approach for the LZ.
ALPHA BASE (FILTER)
Roger that Foehammer. Welcome
back.
Speckles of light can be seen through the windshield.
EXT. BEACH - NIGHT
Tracers and plasma fire stream across the sky. The blaze of
a distant firefight is apparent beyond the inland trees.
Marines hustle. Locking and loading. Heading inland.
Warthog Jeeps kick sand and tear off ahead of them.
INT. PELICAN DROP-SHIP - NIGHT
Along the loading ramp, Langley scans over a set of digital
charts. Jameson and the ODSTs stand around him like generals
in a war room. STAFF SERGEANT CONNELLY is before them.
CONNELLY
Gecko company have managed to
secure the North Ridge, sir. The
structure is in sight, but the
resistance is too heavy. We need
an alternative route.
LANGLEY
That is the only route.
CONNELLY
They're killing us, sir...
LANGLEY
Take the Companies you need. I
don't care if it even takes an
entire platoon, you will breach
that structure.
Connelly looks on with hesitation. Jameson steps up to him.
JAMESON
You got a problem with your orders,
Staff Sergeant?
CONNELLY
No sir!
The Sergeant moves off just as STAFF SERGEANT TYLER jogs in
to take his place.
TYLER
Colonel, Echo 4-19 has returned
with more evac survivors. The
Master Chief -- he's here.
Langley reacts with an unsettled look.
JAMESON
Do you want me to deal with him?
LANGLEY
No.
He heads down the ramp, Jameson follows.
LANGLEY
He was supposed to be in stasis on
the Pillar.
Yet, somehow, he manages to get out
and make it off with other
survivors. Just what are the
chances?
JAMESON
I don't know, Colonel.
ALONG THE BEACH
The Master Chief and the other Marines trudge across the
sand. Surrounding Marines freeze to look at the Master
Chief. Langley and Jameson march over to meet him.
JAMESON
As you were Marines!
The Marines trickle back into action.
LANGLEY
Chief, so you managed to check out
of the Pillar in one piece.
MASTER CHIEF
What's our situation, Colonel?
LANGLEY
We've got Covenant resistance all
around this ring planet. Our
objective is to engage and acquire
this Covenant weapon.
Marines exchange looks to the word, "Weapon".
LANGLEY (CONT'D)
The current target is the Silent
Cartographer located within a
structure 50 degrees --
MASTER CHIEF
(interrupting)
That isn't the advisable strategy,
sir.
LANGLEY
What did you say?
MASTER CHIEF
(overlapping)
The Pillar of Autumn has an
inventory lower than that of the
Covenant cruiser. Their numbers
are significantly higher and
they'll be more familiar with the
terrain. Our current supplies and
artillery does not put us in the
best position to face them. Our
objective should be to regroup and
evacuate this ring planet.
Langley steps up to him.
LANGLEY
Who on God's Green Earth do you
think you are talking to?
MASTER CHIEF
My orders from the Captain --
LANGLEY
(stepping closer)
Your Captain is DEAD, Chief! I am
the Lt. Colonel and I carry full
authority over the Pillar's crew.
(even closer)
I don't know who you think you are
or how you even became Master Chief
Petty Officer, but right now,
you're seen as nothing more than
the ship's cargo.
(Jameson smirks)
And if you want me to eject this
cargo back to Reach, then I will
do, with pleasure.
His face fills the Chief's visor now.
LANGLEY (CON'T)
I will not replicate an incident
like Epsilon 4.
(Grace's eyes flicker to
the remark.)
Do we have an understanding,
"Chief"?
MASTER CHIEF
(beat)
Yes, Colonel.
LANGLEY
Good...
(turns away)
I've already laid the necessary
preparations. We will face the
Covenant.
He walks away, Jameson remains. The Master Chief starts off,
Jameson snatches his arm. The grip is firm.
JAMESON
Be the good doggie, Spartan.
The Master Chief doesn't react. Jameson releases his grip
and lets him go. Johnson, Grace, Miller, and the Marines
look on at the departing Chief.
JAMESON
Okay, you heard the Colonel's
orders. Saddle up, you've got a
long day tomorrow.
MARINES
(in unison)
Yes sir!
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. HALO, SNOWFIELDS - DAY
We roll along a snow filled landscape. The shadow of a
Pelican drop-ship rides the surface. Echo 419 BLASTS into
view, a cloud of snow in its wake. ROCK MUSIC BLARES over --
INT. PELICAN DROP-SHIP ECHO 419 - DAY
Johnson fronts a group of Marines, lost to the music. Some
heads bob along, others show boredom.
MENDOZA
Sarge, we gotta listen to this shit
every time?
Johnson glares at him.
JOHNSON
You watch your mouth, son. My
great grand-daddy listened to this
"shit". He passed this "shit" down
to my grand-daddy, who then passed
it down to my very own daddy.
Hell, my daddy DIED whilst
listening to this "shit". So when
you say "shit", I gonna assume that
you meant, in the utmost respect,
our history. 'Cause this "shit"
should remind you of the things
we're fightin' to protect.
Mendoza rolls his eyes. Catches Jenkins grinning at him,
camera poised.
MENDOZA
The hell you smiling at?
Nick peers through a window, watching the snow skim by with
fascination. Jessica doesn't look as enthused.
NICK
A Covenant weapon, eh? Who
would've thought? Grass, trees,
rocks, now snow? This place is
more like Earth than any of their
homeworlds. How long has it been
since we've last seen snow?
JESSICA
Since the day when you promised to
walk me down the aisle. Too
long...
Nick deflates and sits back down.
Miller looks to Grace as she stares at the photo inside her
helmet. He shifts over to her side. Grace immediately
places her helmet back on.
MILLER
Hey Grace, you know back at the
Pillar?
GRACE
Don't sweat it. I've already
forgotten about it.
Miller draws out his own photo of a cherub faced girl and
shows it to Grace.
MILLER
Check it out, she'd be 7 today.
GRACE
She yours?
MILLER
No-no-no -- my little sister.
Parents started out young. I
always try to make it to her
birthday every year. But I guess
all of us are missing out on
something.
GRACE
We're all a long way from home.
MILLER
Not easy being a draftee.
GRACE
Yeah, well, I'm a volunteer.
Miller looks at her in surprise.
At the far rear of the troop bay, the Master Chief watches
the snowy ground --
EXT. REACH, SNOWFIELD - DAY (FLASHBACK)
-- rush by. We slow to a group of FIGURES on the field: One
line formed, two figures engaged in hand-to-hand combat. An
exchange of heavy grunts...
JOHN (now 18) -- vest, combat pants and boots -- stands with
fists held high. Blood seeps from a tear in his cheek. The
cold doesn't affect him. Not even a shiver.
His opponent is LINDA (now 18) -- hardened toughness over an
underlying beauty. She mirrors John's stance.
A line of future Spartans stand like statues. Boots buried
under falling snow. A SCIENCE OFFICER observes in his thick
winter jacket.
John launches a set of attacks on Linda. She dodges, catches
an arm and twists it. John unlocks it and grapples Linda
round the throat. She launches him over her shoulder...
John hits the ground. LINDA'S FIST powers down. John cocks
his head aside to avoid it. Linda pulls her fist back out --
a cold burn, but the pain doesn't register.
John swings his legs up to her head, then launches her to the
ground. The two spring back up.
John smacks Linda in the face once, twice, the third is
blocked. Linda chops his throat then follows through with a
roundhouse kick. John hits the snow again, but is back up,
only to meet another fist. She uppercuts him in the ribs.
Linda winds back a fist, launches it. John catches it,
twists her arm, and throws her down. He continues twisting
her arm until -- SNAP. Her face is unresponsive to the
break.
She grabs him with her free arm and attempts to throw him
over. The two end up in roll across the snow like lovers.
John finishes on top. He winds back a fist, ready for a
straight blow... but then hesitates.
Linda looks back at him with empty eyes. She then shoots her
head forward and butts him. John stumbles back --
SCIENCE OFFICER
Okay, that's enough.
The two break away. John watches Linda nurse her broken arm.
Blood trickles from where she head butted him. The Science
Officer heads over to Linda and inspects the broken arm.
SCIENCE OFFICER
Get that fixed.
Linda nods and trundles off across the snowfield.
SCIENCE OFFICER
(waving over)
Next two.
Two other teenagers detach from the sideline to face each
other in combat. John watches Linda walk away. Her body
dissolves and --
EXT. MOUNTAIN TRAIL - DAY (PRESENT)
-- the MASSIVE TRACKS of a UNSC SCORPIAN TANK CRUNCHES snow
as it peddles into view. A chain-gun sprays bullets up a
well-trodden path, pummeling squads of Grunts and Elites.
A COMPANY OF MARINES lay ground fire in skirmish line
formations, slowly pushing back the Covenant foot troops.
Sergeant Stacker heads down a pathway to meet with the Master
Chief and his Marines (Johnson, Bisenti, Mendoza, Miller,
Grace, Jenkins, Jessica, and Nick).
STACKER
Johnson, well I'll be damned. I
thought the Covenant toasted your
ass back on the Pillar.
JOHNSON
Not my sweet ass, Stacker.
STACKER
(to the Master Chief)
Welcome to the pest control zone,
sir.
MASTER CHIEF
What do you have here?
STACKER
We're still working up that valley.
We've got pockets of resistance
along this run but nothing we can't
handle.
MENDOZA
Any of you guys lost a nut to
frostbite yet?
JENKINS
It's freezing.
MILLER
We aren't exactly equipped for this
kind of terrain at all, Sarge.
JOHNSON
Christ. I ain't seen such a bunch
of pansy-assed leathernecks in all
my life.
Stacker laughs.
GRACE
What's going on here anyway?
STACKER
Colonel's got us clearing the
backwash from Alpha Base. But
apart from our cold asses, there
ain't nothing of interest to the
Covenant.
Disgruntled murmurs from some of the Marines.
GRACE
You've got to be kidding.
MENDOZA
They send us all the way here for
this crap?
JENKINS
Sounds like someone wanted us out
of the way.
BISENTI
You feelin' all rejected, Jenkins?
JOHNSON
Will y'all quit moaning like a
bunch of old women?
MASTER CHIEF
Does recon scans indicate a
potential Covenant insurgence?
STACKER
Like I said, nothing we can't
handle. But you guys are here for
the Captain, right?
The Marines exchange bewildered looks.
MASTER CHIEF
What about the Captain?
STACKER
That Covenant transmission -- said
that the Captain was held on their
crashed cruiser. We relayed it
back to the Colonel. I figured
that's why you guys were sent...
GRACE
The Colonel knows?
MASTER CHIEF
Do you have the position of the
ship?
STACKER
Affirmative. I have a unit
surveying the area right now.
MARINE (O.S.)
Incoming!
A huge PLASMA MORTAR crashes down onto one of the Scorpion
tank. Engulfed in blue flames, the tank peddles back.
The Master Chief and Marines peer up the hill. A purple
COVENANT HOVER TANK with a plasma cannon crests into view
along with company of Covenant troops.
JOHNSON
Nothing you can't handle, eh
Stacker?
STACKER
Goddamn WRAITHS aren't supposed to
be in this area.
(aloud)
Contact!
COVENANT GHOSTS -- hover cycles with twin plasma cannons,
speed on ahead of the troops and glide down the snowy trail.
Marines open fire. Bullets zip past -- too fast to target.
The Ghosts' pulse cannons zap away on the Marines.
STACKER
Don't let those Ghosts round you
up.
MARINES
Spread out, spread out.
Marines fan out into a grid, making themselves tougher
targets for the G