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Halo Script, Part 1
Date: 17 May 2007, 5:59 am

Since the Halo film has been put on hiatus due to cooporation between Microsoft/Bungie and the film studios (I forget which ones) I have began a script of my own...

So please, please email me or comment on this for any additions/suggestions/etc...

Here it is, enjoy!!!!

H A L O

Screenplay by Sean Mortensen
























5/16/07

FADE FROM WHITE

EXT. OUTER SPACE, THE DISTANT FUTURE

Here in the cold, unyielding vacuum of deep space lies a small ring of planets that have been deserted for sometime.

FLASH.

Suddenly, the planets are engulfed in a bright blue-white burst of energy, as the sounds of horrific screams accompany the blast of raw power.

FADE TO WHITE

MAIN TITLE:

"H A L O"

FADE FROM WHITE

EXT. DESERT, MIDDAY

Crouching behind a small outcropping of rocks is a squadron in dark green combat armor.

They are Spartans.

It is obvious that they are not on Earth, but on another similar planet far across the galaxy.

Suddenly, one of them waves his fist in a circle and his comrades nod, and break off to their duties.

The leader looks up, and we can see from his stance that he is the leader.

He is the MASTER CHIEF.

He looks up and grabs the MA5B assault rifle that was slung on his back, and pushes the activator button.

A massive blue-white bomb of plasma strikes the ground near him, making the shields on his armor flare, while spraying up a cloud of dust around him.

He looks up, and shrugs his shoulders as his shields reboot, towards the battle raging far beyond in the distance.

EXT. BATTLEFIELD

Across an entire plain of grass and scrub plain is an intense battle, where Marines and Spartans trade fire, spraying assault rifles across the field as blue-white and green bursts of plasma fire reach them.

This is the planet REACH.

It has fallen to the Covenant, a merciless collective of alien species whose sole purpose is to annihilate all of humanity in the entire galaxy.

The war continues as the Master Chief runs past a pair of Marines crouching behind a fallen Warthog. The two soldiers return fire as a blue-white orb of plasma races over the sky, towards them.

The Chief looks up, and the reflection of the plasma bomb is reflected in his gold-plated visor. He spins around on his foot, and runs towards the soldiers.

The two men continue to fire as the mortar reaches it's apex above them, just as the Master Chief runs in-between them and drops to one knee.

The two Marines look at him as he pulls a grenade-type device from his waist and sets it on the dirt in front of them.

It is a SHIELD GRENADE.

The mortar continues it's way down towards them, as a transparent hemisphere appears over them, emitting a low humming noise.

The plasma mortar slams into the dome shaped device.

INT. SHIELD DOME

The Marines look up at the energy bleeding off of the shield, amazed.

MARINE #1
Whoa.

EXT. BATTLEFIELD

The dome vanishes, and the Master Chief looks up.

MASTER CHIEF, POINT-OF-VIEW

He looks around the sky, and spots what he was looking for: a Covenant battleship.

RETURN

He looks around and spots several more, and in the distance, the Covenant fleet's flagship.

EXT. REACH, COVENANT FLAGSHIP

The leading edges of the battleship glow white-hot as the ship begins to rain lines of plasma down to the planet's surface.

EXT. BATTLEFIELD

The Master Chief runs into the distance, as more plasma bombs rain down behind him.

He continues to run, past a blur of aliens that continue to fight the Marines as he stops at the crest of a hill, where he spots one of his comrades fighting a pair of tall, angular aliens clad in silver armor.

These aliens are called Elites.

The Spartan grabs the lead Elite's wrist, and twists it with a bone crunching snap as the second one rushes the Spartan, as the Chief snaps up his assault rifle and pulls the trigger.

The rounds impact into the Elite's back, sixty rounds in five seconds. After a moment the alien staggers onto it's back, and dies with a horrible guttural roar.

The Spartan looks at him just as the plasma rains down from above, and begins to strike the ground, turning the dirt and sand into glowing, molten glass.

The Master Chief walks up over to his comrade and stands beside him as the remaining hundreds of Spartans are seen fighting as the raining plasma begins to engulf them.

Some of the Spartans in the distance seem to burst into flame as the massive wave of boiling hot energy begins to rush towards the others like an ocean wave.

EXT. HILL

Several hundred more of them, seem to materialize behind the Master Chief, like phantoms.

These are the Spartans of Delta Company, and they are clad in armor different from the Master Chief's.

They are armed with cut-down versions of the MA5B and are armed with M19 missile launchers. One of them approaches the Master Chief, shouldering a massive weapon different from the others.

The weapon is a GALILEAN LASER.

The Chief looks at the Spartan wielding it, who depolarizes their faceplate. Their face is still obscured by the reflection of the sun on the visor as the Master Chief looks at the sky, as hundreds of beams of plasma continue to rain down to the surface.

The other Spartan hands the Master Chief the laser, who accepts it as he hefts it onto his right shoulder.

The Chief drops to one knee, and tracks a Covenant Phantom transport with the weapon as the device begins to whine as a red ball of energy begins to glow at the end of the barrel.

The Phantom begins a strafing run as a piercing blood red laser beam targets the ship, and strikes one of the turrets mounted under the vessel's belly.

After a moment the turret detonates, and sends the Phantom into a roll until it slams into the ground, spraying dirt and sand all around.

Suddenly, the Master Chief looks up and sees another wave of plasma raining down from the ships above the planet.

He looks up as the bolts of superheated energy begin to rain down.

FADE TO WHITE

FADE FROM WHITE

INT. RECOVERY ROOM, SOMETIME LATER

Laying on a bed, obscured by a thin white cloth divider is the Master Chief. We do not see him, but we can tell from the shadow cast by him that he is a muscular being and he is unconscious.

Several screens on the far wall are monitoring him as a pair of technicians in white lab coats enter the room. One of them is a woman. Tall, slender and she appears concerned as the other technician checks one of the several screens on the wall.

The woman is DOCTOR CATHERINE HALSEY.

She pulls back the screen, but she obscures the Master Chief's head. We only see one of his arms, which has white and bears hundreds of scars.

Halsey looks down at him, as she looks at the technician.

HALSEY
How's he doing?

The technician turns around.

TECHNICIAN
He'll live. Plasma burns have done a number on his armor though.

The man nods to a table that is sagging under the weight of a lump of metal.

The pile was his MJOLNIR Mark-V battle armor, now it is a smoking pile of semi-melted metal and plastic.

Halsey nods and looks back at him.

She turns around, and pulls the sheet back around the Chief's bed, again obscuring him from being seen.

EXT. CORRIDOR

Halsey and the technician walk down the long corridor as a tall, black man approaches her, holding a cigar in his mouth.

He is Sergeant AVERY JOHNSON.

Johnson looks at her and nods to the door behind her, where the Master Chief is laying.

JOHNSON
How's the Chief?

Halsey looks at him as a two men approaches Johnson from behind, followed by two women.

HALSEY
He'll live. In the meantime, we'd better get as far away from this system while we still can.

Johnson nods as Halsey looks at the four men and women standing behind him.

HALSEY
It's good to see you all again.

The first man is FRED, the Master Chief's second-in-command and the other man is WILLIAM.

Fred and William salute Johnson as the two women, LINDA and KELLY also salute.

Linda looks at Halsey who is obviously concerned.

HALSEY
Where's Sam?

Fred and William bow their heads as Kelly folds her arms and Linda speaks to her.

LINDA
He never made it past the first wave.

Halsey nods and pinches the bridge of her nose as a Marine approaches her. He then stares at the four Spartans, eyes wide with amazement.

He is Private MANUEL MENDOZA. Then he snaps of a report.

MENDOZA
Doctor Halsey, Chief Mendez would like a word with you, regarding Spartan-051.

Halsey nods and walks down the corridor as Mendoza and Johnson follow her.

Fred looks at the door and opens it.

INT. RECOVERY ROOM

Fred, Linda, Kelly and William enter the Master Chief's room and William pulls back the cloth divider, as Fred looks at the smoking pile of armor on the table.

Linda walks around to the other side of the bed and she looks down at him and she grabs his enormous hand and clasps it.

William smiles as Kelly sits down on the end of the bed, staring out the far view port, to the cold loneliness of space beyond.

EXT. BATTLESHIP, RECOVERY ROOM WINDOW

PULL BACK from the window until the enormous battleship cruises past. A towering bulk of scarred steel and plastic, with long smears of black scorches marring the surface.

The enormous vessel seems to vanish into the blackness of space.

INT. QUARTERS

Halsey, Johnson and Mendoza enter the private quarters of FRANKLIN MENDEZ, the famous trainer of the Master Chief and the Spartans.

He is sitting behind a wide mahogany desk, smoking a cigar.

Mendez looks at them and smiles.

MENDEZ
Doctor. Sergeant.

Halsey nods as Johnson smiles.

JOHNSON
Good to see you again, Chief.

Mendoza salutes Mendez who stands up and motions to a chair.

MENDEZ
Doctor Halsey, if you please.

She sits down and looks at him, her eyes full of attention.

HALSEY
You have something regarding Spartan-051?

Mendez nods and sets his cigar in the small metal ashtray.

MENDEZ
I think you might find this interesting, Doctor.

He sets a small disc-shaped device on the desktop and a holograph appears.

It shows an officer in his late forties approaching a man wearing the Spartan uniform who salutes the officer.

Halsey looks at Mendez, and the holograph pauses in mid-play.

HALSEY
I'm confused, Chief. What does this have to do with 051?

Mendez looks at her.

MENDEZ
Just keep watching, Doctor.

The holograph resumes playing as the officer and the Spartan shake hands as a rotating schematic of some new armor type:

SEMI-POWERED INFILTRATION ARMOR

Then the schematic is replaced with a headshot of Spartan-051 with a new description:

SPARTAN-051/KURT: CURRENT STATUS: MIA (For after-action report see below)

[REASSIGNMENT//:NEW CLASSIFICATION]

LIEUTENANT COMMANDER KURT AMBROSE

Halsey looks at Mendez.

HALSEY
So, Spartan-051 never died in combat?

Mendez nods and looks at her.

MENDEZ
That's right. He was recruited by Colonel Ackerson.

She looks at him, her eyes wide with frustration.

HALSEY
Ackerson?

Mendez nods and looks at Johnson.

MENDEZ
I've been reassigned to assist him in the deployment of Delta Company in the Zeta Doradus system.

Halsey looks at him, as another holograph appears, showing a system of planets orbiting a enormous blue-white sun.

HALSEY
Zeta Doradus? Isn't that Onyx?

Mendez nods and the holograph vanishes.

MENDEZ
Yes.

HALSEY
There isn't a conflict on Onyx though.

Mendez clasps his hands together, and sits back in his chair and sighs.

MENDEZ
Catherine, I am reluctant to tell you this but I've been authorized by Admiral Hood: the Covenant have located Earth.

Halsey looks at him.

HALSEY
How? They destroyed Reach and all the Outer Colonies.

Mendez looks at her, saddened and worried.

MENDEZ
There is a situation on Onyx.

FLASHBACK SEQUENCE

INT. QUARTERS, WEEKS EARLIER

Kurt is sitting down at a small desk, in front of a holographic pad and laptop.

MENDEZ
(Voiceover)
When Kurt was on Reach, training this new generation of Spartans, he received a urgent transmission from the top-secret excavation site on Onyx.

The pad comes to life and a military commander appears, his eyes wide with fear.

MENDEZ
(Cont'd)
The message was that the Covenant were over Onyx, and that Zone 67 was in danger of being invaded. But, before Kurt could organize a rapid-response, a fleet appeared over Reach.

EXT. REACH

The fleet of battle cruisers, destroyers and their flagship are orbiting around the blue-green planet.

MENDEZ
(Cont'd)
And that the Spartans were already here was pure luck. Until a Covenant force landed on Onyx.

EXT. ZONE 67, MIDDAY

A fleet of battleships hover over the planet, with purple gravity lifts reaching down to the surface.

Marines and Covenant Elites exchange fire, in an intense battle.

MENDEZ
(Cont'd)
The Marines on station there put up a fight, until the base ship over Onyx intervened.

The main vessel in orbit sends a quick burst of plasma to the surface.

FADE TO WHITE

FADE FROM WHITE

INT. QUARTERS

Mendez, is now looking out his small view port. Then he turns around to look at her.

MENDEZ
There was no contact from Zone 67 ever since. So Kurt and the new Spartans were supposed to head to Onyx to stop the Covenant once and for all, until we received this.

He hands her a small 2D photograph which shows a mushroom-shaped ship attached to what looks like a massive ring.

HALSEY
What is this, Mendez?

He looks at her, and shrugs. Johnson takes the picture and scrutinizes it.

JOHNSON
It looks like some kind of halo.

Mendez looks at him and nods.

MENDEZ
This was discovered by the prowler Dusk, with it's long range radar.

Halsey looks at him, confused.

HALSEY
What do you mean, Chief?

MENDEZ
The ring is ten-thousand kilometers in diameter and we believe that the object at the apex of the ring is the something the Covenant believe is important.

HALSEY
Explain.

The holographic pad lights up and the enormous ring shrinks as thousands of Covenant battleships and cruisers appear, surrounding the ring and the mushroom-shaped ship.

MENDEZ
We believe that this 'ship' is being heavily guarded by the Covenant for someone of most importance.

HALSEY
How do you know?

The holograph changes to show Onyx, and the other fleet of battleships above it.

MENDEZ
We received a fragment of a transmission from one of the ships based over Onyx and we've managed to translate part of it.

Suddenly, a Elite in silver armor appears on the holograph pad and it's deep, distorted voice speaks through the holographic pad's speakers.

ELITE
(Voiceover)
Together we will please the Prophets and begin the Great Journey, for our reward for eternity is to ascend to the great beyond.

The holograph fades and Mendez looks at her.

Halsey seems to understand.

HALSEY
So, you believe that these 'Prophets' are on that ship.

Mendez nods.

MENDEZ
Exactly. We need the Spartans to be armed and ready for action in two days.

Halsey looks at him.

The expression says it all: Are you nuts?

MENDEZ
Their mission is to board that Covenant vessel, find these 'Prophets' and bring them back to human-controlled space to negotiate a peace treaty to end this war.

Halsey nods and then clasps her hands, and sets them on her lap.

HALSEY
Who's leading the attack?

Mendez looks at her and smiles.

MENDEZ
I was hoping that John would lead the assault.

She looks at him.

HALSEY
I must protest. He's starting to recover from his injuries from the fight on Reach. He's in no condition for combat.

Mendez nods and looks at Johnson.

MENDEZ
That is why I was planning on taking a battalion of Marines Earthside to strengthen their forces before the Covenant attack. They could use the help.

HALSEY
What about the rest of the fleet?

MENDEZ
The Brass are going to split it into three.

He begins ticking off the explanation on three of his fingers.

MENDEZ
The first fleet is going to take the Spartans into the Covenant-controlled space, hopefully catching those bastards off-guard. The second fleet is taking the majority of the Marines to get Onyx back. Meanwhile the last fleet is going to Sol to bolster their forces.

Halsey nods and looks at Johnson.

HALSEY
So what are you doing, Sergeant?

Johnson smiles and looks at him.

JOHNSON
I'm going with the Master Chief and the Spartans. They can use my help.

She nods and then looks out the window as the stars outside begin to slow.

HALSEY
We're slowing down.

Mendez nods.

MENDEZ
The fleet's starting to reform.

He stands up and looks at Johnson.

MENDEZ
Well, we'd better get going.

Halsey stands up and looks at Johnson.

HALSEY
Be sure to take care of them.

Johnson nods and takes her hand.

JOHNSON
Don't worry, doc. They're in good hands.

As Halsey follows Mendez out of his quarters she stops.

HALSEY
Oh. I almost forgot.

She hands Johnson a small data chip. He looks at it.

JOHNSON
What is this? A million bytes of BS?

She shakes her head.

HALSEY
This is Cortana.

Johnson looks at the chip.

JOHNSON
I don't see anybody.

He cocks his head and folds his arms.

JOHNSON
Doc, are you sure you're alright?

She takes the chip from him and slides it into a slot on the holograph pad on the desk.

A woman blinks into existence on the pad, with millions of numbers and data streaming across her 'body.'

This is CORTANA.

She looks around and then up at Johnson and Halsey.

CORTANA
It's cramped in here.

She looks around the room.

CORTANA
We there already?

Halsey shakes her head as Johnson looks at her.

JOHNSON
Allow me to introduce myself. I am…

CORTANA
Sergeant Johnson. I know who you are, Sergeant.

She looks around, not seeing someone here.

CORTANA
Where is the Master Chief?

Halsey looks at the holograph and folds her arms.

HALSEY
He's recovering from plasma burns received in combat.

A man's deep, graveling voice startles everybody

MASTER CHIEF
No he isn't.

Johnson, Halsey and Cortana all look at the Master Chief, standing there.

Cortana looks up and down at his figure and crosses his arms.

CORTANA
You look nice. Handsome, in a primitive sort of way.

The Master Chief looks at Halsey and at Johnson.

MASTER CHIEF
Doctor Halsey, Sergeant.

JOHNSON
Chief.

Johnson nods as Halsey nods at Cortana.

HALSEY
You'll have to excuse her, Chief. She's, more outspoken than most AI's.

The Chief nods and looks at Johnson.

MASTER CHIEF
What are our orders?

Johnson looks at him, as Halsey pulls the chip out of the holograph pad, and hands it to the Master Chief.

HALSEY
This is one of the assets for your mission, Chief. She'll be an important addition to your original interface.

The Chief nods and takes the chip in his hand as Halsey walks out of the quarters.

Johnson looks at the Chief.

JOHNSON
Follow me, Chief.

INT. CORRIDOR

Johnson and the Master Chief walk down the long corridor, past technicians and Marines as Johnson tells the Chief about their mission.

JOHNSON
Our mission is to infiltrate a Covenant ship that is docked to some kind of ring world. We believe that the Covenant leadership is on that base ship and that if we can extract them to human-controlled space we can somehow get a treaty signed to end this war.

The Chief nods and stops to stare out of a wall-sized view port to the stars beyond.

MASTER CHIEF
When do we leave?

FADE TO BLACK

FADE IN:

EXT. DEEP SPACE, TWO DAYS LATER

A small purple nebulae masks most of the stars in this sector as an enormous battle cruiser SLICES ACROSS.

This is PILLAR OF AUTUMN.

The enormous ship cruises into the nebulae and vanishes, as the residue of it's engines casts eerie glows through the mist, as if the nebulae itself is the remnants of long lost spirits.

EXT. PLANET

The Autumn emerges through the nebulae, and into the orbit of an enormous blue-gray gas giant. The enormous ring world hovers in a La Grange point in-between the planet's moon and the planet itself.

The planet is SUBSTANCE.

The battleship manages to slip beneath an Covenant patrol ship and beneath the bottom portion of the ring.

INT. BRIDGE

Standing at the head of the bridge, looking out at the planet and ring beyond, is a captain.

He is CAPTAIN JACOB KEYES.

Sitting in the pilot's chair in front of him is ENSIGN WILLIAM LOVELL.

Lovell turns around and looks at Keyes.

LOVELL
Where would you like me to park this thing, Sir?

Keyes pulls out a old-fashioned pipe and lights it. He places it in-between his lips and takes in a breath.

KEYES
Anywhere we can hide her will do.

Lovell nods and begins typing in commands as LIEUTENANT DOMINIQUE approaches Keyes from behind and salutes him.

DOMINIQUE
Sir, we've got a transmission. Priority Alpha.

Keyes nods, and places his thumb on a small fingerprint reader mounted beside the command chair.

After a moment, the information is broadcast onto the wall sized screen:

BURST TRANSMISSION: ENCRYPTION SCHEME THETA-7

SUBJECT: PRIORITY ALPHA
TO: CAPTAIN JACOB KEYES [IDENTIFICATION #: (CLASSIFIED)]
FROM: COMMANDER MIRANDA KEYES

Dad,

In short, In Amber Clad has just deployed Marine forces Earthside to bolster the already weakened contingent based here.

Only one thing left to say: be careful.

We all know how vicious these bastards are.

Love,

Miranda.

Keyes sighed. He was never happy about Miranda following in his footsteps.

His only dream was for her to find someone to settle down with, not go gallivanting off through the Outer Colonies to join the Naval fleet.

Keyes looked at the screen as the internal processor wiped all the unnecessary data clean from the ship's internal memory as Cortana appeared on the holographic pad near the front of the bridge.

She shrugs her arms and looks at Keyes.

CORTANA
Why did we get this piece of junk?

Keyes looks at her, thoughtfully, and then takes another puff from his pipe.

KEYES
Because this 'piece of junk' is what is going to get us past the Covenant blockade.

Cortana nods and then points out the view port to the hundreds of Covenant ships orbiting around the mushroom-shaped vessel docked at the upper portion of the ring.

CORTANA
But how are we supposed to get there?

Keyes looks where she's pointing.

KEYES
Were sending in the Spartans first.

Cortana nods.

CORTANA
Do you know the Master Chief?

Keyes looks at her, eyebrow raised.

KEYES
Why's that so important?

She shrugs and looks at him, hands on her 'hips.'

He sighs and looks at her.

KEYES
All right. I knew him before all of his training. I went with their teacher…

CORTANA
Doctor Halsey?

He nods and turns to look out the side view port, to the stars beyond.

KEYES
Yes, I went with her during the 'selection' process, and I met him then.

CORTANA
How long ago was that?

KEYES
A long time ago…

FLASHBACK SEQUENCE

FADE TO WHITE

KEYES
(Voiceover)
He was six when I met him.

FADE FROM WHITE…

EXT. PLANET, THIRTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

…As the engine glows of a small corvette roars towards a sandy yellow planet beyond, as two suns shine in the distance.

KEYES
(Cont'd)
We arrived in the Eridanus system, on a unmarked corvette loaned to Doctor Halsey for her mission.

EXT. SCHOOLYARD, MIDDAY

Standing under a tree, are Captain Keyes, back when he was a Lieutenant Junior Grade and Doctor Halsey. They are watching a group of boys run up and down a hill, most prominent is a boy who was a head taller that everybody else, and twice as strong too.

KEYES
(Cont'd)
We were under orders to observe him, and prepare the information for the flash-cloning facilities on the Hopeful.

Halsey approaches the boy and looks at him.

FADE TO WHITE

FADE FROM WHITE

INT. CONFERENCE CHAMBER, PLANET REACH

Sitting around on the risers are three-hundred boys and girls who are looking at Halsey and Mendez.

KEYES
(Cont'd)
Later that day he was indoctrinated into the Spartan program, and training began immediately after.

EXT. TRAINING GROUNDS, PREDAWN

The boy and the other girls are doing pushups, pull-ups and sit ups as Mendez and the trainee's instructors watch them.

FADE TO WHITE

FADE FROM WHITE

INT. OFFICE

Standing at attention, in his early teens, is the Master Chief, as Mendez and Halsey look at him.

KEYES
(Cont'd)
After a training mission, he was given command of the Spartans for his demonstration of leadership. Then they got their first mission: an insertion into a hidden rebel base in the Eridanus asteroid belt.

FADE TO WHITE

FADE FROM WHITE

EXT. ASTEROID FIELD

A enormous freighter cruises into the asteroid field, and towards one of several moon-sized rocks in the distance.

INT. OFFICE BUILDING, TOP FLOOR

The Chief, and several more Spartans are engaged in a firefight between several armed men.

KEYES
(Cont'd)
They had orders to capture the rebel leader and bring him back to Reach for questioning.

The Spartans stick the unconscious leader into a black vacuum crate and exit the building.

EXT. REBEL ASTEROID

A Pelican roars out of the docking bay, as air begins to escape from a massive hole in the blast doors.

KEYES
(Cont'd)
That was their first mission as a squad of Spartans, before their augmentation.

FADE TO WHITE

FADE FROM WHITE

INT. SURGICAL CHAMBER 117

Laying on a bed in his own room is the Master Chief, only fourteen years old as Mendez and Halsey enter.

The Chief has surgical incision vectors marked all over his body and on his shaved head.

KEYES
(Cont'd)
This is when the day changed the Spartans for all humanity.

Mendez stares through emotionless eyes as the Chief groggily sits up and salutes him.

FADE TO WHITE

FADE FROM WHITE

INT. FIRING DECK, SOMETIME LATER

Standing at attention are the remaining forty-nine Spartans.

KEYES
(Cont'd)
After the augmentation process was over, only a quarter of the Spartans remained, and the Chief, saddened for the loss of members of his squad, learned to keep his emotions to himself.

Mendez approaches the Chief, standing alone and quiet and grabs his shoulder in a consoling gesture.

KEYES
(Cont'd)
Afterwards, the Spartans were split up into seven squads and spread throughout the Outer Colonies to end the rebellion.

FADE TO WHITE

FADE FROM WHITE

EXT. REACH, EARLIER

The Covenant vessels arrive around the blue-green planet.

KEYES
(Cont'd)
Then the Covenant invaded Reach, and the Spartans were recalled to defend the surface, until the Covenant began to bombard the planet and killed most of the Spartans in one sudden attack.

EXT. BATTLEFIELD

We see the same image as the Master Chief and his comrades are standing on the hill as the Covenant ships begin to bombard the planet with bolts of white-hot plasma that surround the Spartans.

FADE TO WHITE

FADE FROM WHITE

INT. BRIDGE

Keyes closes his eyes and looks at Cortana, his eyes sad.

CORTANA
I understand why he seems to be important to you.

Keyes turns around and looks at her.

KEYES
Do you?

CORTANA
I am programmed with every human impulse recorded, so I can understand to a point, what you are feeling.

KEYES
But you do not truly understand, because you're not human.

He turns back to the main view port and looks at the gas planet's surface.

EXT. PILLAR OF AUTUMN

The Autumn cruises past the ring world and around the terminus of the gas planet, and into the distance.

KEYES
(Voiceover)
And you never will be.

FADE TO BLACK

FADE IN:

INT. CRYOGENIC CHAMBER

Lined up in rows of seven are cryogenic capsules, and in five of the first row are the Spartans: Fred, Linda, William, Kelly and the Master Chief.

The last two capsules are holding Johnson and Mendoza as the freezing capsules begin to hiss and cold white clouds of steam puff out onto the floor as the lids of the capsules start to raise upwards.

Johnson looks around and climbs out, and places a cigar into his mouth as two more Marines come around to look at him.

These two soldiers are JENKINS and FITZGERALD.

Jenkins looks at Johnson and begins rubbing his shoulders.

Mendoza looks at him and then spots Fitzgerald, who's hands are rubbing his eyes.

MENDOZA
Hey Fits, you look just like I feel.

The Spartans climb out of their pods as Johnson walks over to them, and looks them over. He turns around and looks at the rest of the soldiers who are freezing and complaining about it.

JOHNSON
Welcome back to the land of the living!

Mendoza looks at him as Jenkins hops around from one foot to another.

JENKINS
Man this floor's freezing!

MENDOZA
What do you want me to do, fetch your slippers?

Jenkins looks at him and smiles.

JENKINS
Gee would you? I'd like that.

The Master Chief and the other Spartans brush past Mendoza and the others and Jenkins looks at the Chief.

JENKINS
Hey, Mendoza. What's with the Chief?

Mendoza shrugs as Johnson walks over to them and slaps Jenkins on the shoulder.

JOHNSON
After the Covenant bombed Reach, he's been a changed man.

Jenkins and Mendoza understand, as Fitzgerald walks past them and follows the Spartans into the showers.

INT. SHOWERS

The soldiers are immersed in a hot spray of soapy water, which they wash off the stench of the cryogenic capsules and then they dry in an icy cold blast of air.

INT. LOCKERS

The Master Chief and the others walk over to their lockers and begin pulling on fatigues and boots. Johnson eyes them, already dressed and smiles.

JOHNSON
I never saw a bunch of old women.

He sees that the Spartans are already dressed and waiting for the others.

JOHNSON
Come on, ladies. Move it!

The Marines look at him and the Spartans, who look at them with disdain at their slowness and begin to hustle.

Johnson leans over to the Chief and crosses his arms.

JOHNSON
How're you doing, Chief?

The Master Chief shrugs and looks at him. Two of the Marines are whipping each other with wet towels as Fred and William look at each other.

WILLIAM
Why are they coming with us?

Fred shrugs as Linda turns around, her eyes hard and cold.

LINDA
Because they're the best.

Johnson nods.

JOHNSON
Orbital Drop Shock Troopers. ODSTs. Tough-as-nails and green to the core.

William leans over to Fred, as the Chief watches the Marines through dead, sunken in eyes.

WILLIAM
They call themselves Helljumpers.

The Chief turns around, tired of waiting and the other Spartans follow him out of the locker room.

INT. GYMNASIUM

The Chief and Fred are doing hand-to-hand combat as Kelly, Linda and William working on close combat wrestling moves.

Fred gets the Chief in a headlock, but the Master Chief twists around and grabs Fred's arm, and flips him over onto his back, and pins him.

William and Linda charge Kelly, the fastest Spartan, who back steps to one side and trips William, as Linda steps behind her, to catch an uppercut to the chin, as William leaps up from his back and thrusts out a left-cross but Kelly catches his fist and throws him onto the floor as Linda looks at her, rubbing her bruised chin.

The Marines enter as Johnson walks over to the Spartans and smiles.

JOHNSON
That's one hell of a fight, Chief.

One of the Marines, a muscular man in his early twenties, stands up and looks at the Spartans, and he motions towards the Master Chief.

This Marine is SCOTT.

He sucks in a deep breath and smiles.

SCOTT
I'd like some.

Johnson looks at him, then the Chief. The Master Chief nods and steps over to the center of the gym, where a boxing ring is.

They slip through the ropes as the Marines congregate around the ring as the Spartans look at the Chief and Fred looks at him.

FRED
Take it easy on him.

The Chief looks at him and grins.

Scott looks at the Chief and grins.

SLOW-MOTION SEQUENCE

He rushes the Chief, thrusting out with a right hook, striking the Chief on the lower chin, before the Chief grabs his wrist, and twists it.

Scott gives ground and drops to his knees, then he thrusts out with a uppercut, impacting the Chief's chin. The Chief steps back and then grabs Scott's collar and spins him around, stepping on the backside of Scott's knee, blowing it out.

The Marine cries out and collapses onto his good knee as the Chief steps back and delivers a pile driver punch to Scott's right cheek with so much force that blood and teeth are spit out onto the mat.

He steps back and looks at his bloody fist.

RETURN

Johnson hands him a towel. He wipes the sweat off of his forehead and face as a tall, muscular man walks in, in black fatigues, eyes wide with anger and disturbance.

He is MAJOR ANTONIO SILVA.

Silva surveys the Chief and one of his dead soldiers and then turns to Johnson.

SILVA
He's one of them isn't he?

Johnson shrugs as the Chief climbs out of the boxing ring and walks past them and out of the gymnasium.

EXT. PILLAR OF AUTUMN, SUBSTANCE

The Autumn cruises around the edge of the gas planet and around the dark side of the ring world as a pair of Covenant battleships seem to take notice of the vessel.

Another vessel a destroyer emerges from the shadow of the planet and begins to follow behind the Pillar of Autumn, to a elliptical orbit around the ring world.

The destroyer is GOLIATH.

The two Covenant vessels begin following the Autumn and Goliath around the ring world and the lead battleship fires a warning shot at them.

INT. AUTUMN, BRIDGE

The first warning shot detonated just beyond the cruiser and sent a ripple through the entire hull as Keyes looked at his crew and grimaced as the second shot struck the rear of the Autumn, making it list to one side.

KEYES
Report!

Lovell turns around in his chair and shouts over the creaking of the hull.

LOVELL
We've lost all power to the main engines, Captain!

Keyes nods and looks at Dominique.

KEYES
Lieutenant, weapons status?

Dominique turns around and looks at him, with a grim look on his face.

DOMINIQUE
Sir, we've lost firing control for the MAC gun.

Keyes nods and looks at the ring world beyond as Lovell turns around and begins cursing at his monitor.

LOVELL
Damn!

He turns around and looks at Keyes.

KEYES
What is it?

LOVELL
Sir, scopes show we've got boarding craft inbound!

Keyes nods and looks at his crew members who are waiting for their orders.

KEYES
Sound the general alarm. Contact the Goliath tell them we've got boarding craft inbound, see if they can run the boarders off.

Lovell begins pushing buttons, and then turns around and looks at Keyes.

LOVELL
Sir, there is no response from the Goliath on any frequency.

Keyes looks at him.

KEYES
Try the E-Band.

Lovell shakes his head.

LOVELL
I did, Captain.

Keyes closes his eyes and then looks at his crew.

KEYES
Sound the warning alarm and inform the Marines to prepare to fight against enemy boarders.

Lovell nods and turns around as Keyes stands straighter.

KEYES
Tell the Master Chief and the Spartans to report to the bridge ASAP.

Lovell nods and swivels around in his chair and begins issuing orders.

Keyes sighs and looks at the planet beyond and then the ring world and the mushroom-shaped vessel attached.

Halo: Film Script, Part 2
Date: 23 May 2007, 2:02 am

FADE TO WHITE

FADE FROM WHITE

EXT. OUTER SPACE

Cruising through the thick ocean of space are several destroyers, and floating beyond them is a blue-green planet.

This is ONYX.

The lead destroyer is most prominent, and it is scarred from hundreds of past battles. Long, black scorches mar most of the hull.

This is LEVIATHAN.

The Leviathan cruises even closer to the planet, and begins to orbit, as the others begin to patrol the outer area of the system.

EXT. LEVIATHAN

A Pelican emerges from one of several openings in the hull, and the dropship's afterburners ignite and the ship screams towards the surface.

EXT. STRATOSPHERE

The leading edges of the Pelican begin to turn red-hot as the ship punches through the many layers.

EXT. EXCAVATION SITE, ZONE 67

Scattered around an enormous crater are several concrete bunkers and warehouse-like structures. Featured in the foreground is a small canyon where the main headquarters of the site are located.

EXT. CANYON, BASE HEADQUARTERS

The Pelican lowers near the edge of beachhead, and a man climbs out. He is wearing the armor different from the Master Chief's and he is wielding a new version of the assault rifle, an MA5C.

The man is KURT.

He hefts it and sweeps the sandy beach, then heads into the small area beyond, and he spots an overturned Warthog near an enormous metal gate.

He sees something taped to the gate:

WELCOME TO CAMP HIGH GROUND

Kurt walks around the Warthog, and doesn't see anything, so he turns around and waves his hand towards himself.

EXT. PELICAN, BEACH

Several more soldiers climb out of the dropship's troop bay, and head towards him.

These are the next-generation Spartans that survived the fall of Reach to the Covenant.

They are: ASH, OLIVIA, MARK, DANTE, HOLLY, TOM and LUCY.

Tom and the others follow Kurt towards the main gate, and the squad spreads out.

Kurt looks at Ash and Dante.

KURT
Ash, Dante, see if you find a control panel that can get this gate open.

Dante and Ash nod, and salute.

ASH
Yes, sir.

DANTE
Right.

They move off, hefting their MA5Cs and sweeping the area as Kurt looks at Holly and Mark.

KURT
Holly, see if you and Mark can get that Warthog running.

Mark nods and runs towards the overturned vehicle, with Holly following closely behind.

Then, Kurt turns towards Tom, Lucy and Olivia.

KURT
Now you three…

They look at him, ready for orders.

KURT
I want you to scout ahead and set up a ground-return transceiver outside of this canyon, and try to raise the AI at Zone 67.

Tom nods as Lucy and Olivia grab their gear and move out.

Kurt depolarizes his helmet and sighs. He turns to the Pelican.

KURT
Take the Pelican back to the Leviathan, tell them we've set up base camp at Camp High Ground.

INT. PELICAN, COCKPIT

The pilot looks at his copilot, and nods.

PILOT
Affirmative, sir. Good luck.

EXT. MAIN GATE

Kurt watches as the Pelican hovers on it's thrusters, and vanishes into the blue sky when the Warthog pulls over to him, Mark at the wheel and Holly sitting in the passenger seat.

Mark looks at Kurt, and depolarizes his faceplate. He is smiling, and he pats the steering wheel of the vehicle affectionately.

MARK
Mission accomplished, sir.

Kurt nods, and polarizes his faceplate as the gate begins to rumble.

The enormous metal gate screeches open, rusty metal rubbing on rusty metal. Kurt watches as the sunlight passes through the opening and Ash walks out.

KURT
Where's Dante?

Ash turns around and points to a tower with camouflage netting wrapped around it.

ASH
He's just found something that you might find interesting.

Suddenly a rock pings into the hood of the Warthog, and Kurt, Ash and Holly snap up their assault rifles at the source of the noise, as Dante looks down at them, hefting an enormous weapon of some type.

KURT
What is that?

INT. CAMOUFLAGE TOWER

Dante looks down at them, and he speaks, giddy with excitement.

DANTE
This is a chain gun.

The weapon in his hands is tubular in shape, with several barrels and long, long chains of armor-piercing ammunition.

EXT. MAIN GATE

Kurt looks at the enormous weapon.

KURT
A chain gun? What're the specs?

INT. CAMOUFLAGE TOWER

Dante nods and reads a metal card welded to the backside of a metal plate mounted just behind the barrel.

DANTE
Type AIE-486H HMG.

EXT. MAIN GATE

Kurt looks around and shrugs.

KURT
I wonder why we haven't gotten this for standard munitions.

INT. CAMOUFLAGE TOWER

Dante looks down at him, and gets a better grip on the weapon.

DANTE
Maybe because they were invaded before they had a chance to transport them Earthside.

EXT. MAIN GATE

Kurt nods and points to Mark and the Warthog.

KURT
Take the Warthog, and park it at the backside bunker, and rendezvous with us at the main base.

Mark nods and floors the accelerator. The Warthog jumps forwards and through the gate as Kurt waves his hand in a circle and the others surround him.

KURT
We're going to set up a command post at the base over there.

He points through the gate to a rusting metal structure with boarded up windows and torn down blast doors.

KURT
We didn't spot any Covenant when we arrived here, but that doesn't mean that they are on the far side, lying in wait.

Mark comes running through the gate towards them as Dante, still hefting the enormous weapon walks towards Kurt.

Kurt looks up at the canyon walls and hold a hand up to the right side of his helmet.

KURT
Tom, how's it coming?

Tom replies, his voice drowning in static.

TOM
(Voiceover, filtered)
We're almost done.

Kurt nods and then looks at the sky.

KURT
You see anything?

TOM
(Voiceover, filtered)
We spotted a Covenant battleship based over the excavation site. I don't think they've noticed us just yet. It looks like they're getting ready for war.

KURT
What's the enemy strength?

TOM
(Voiceover, filtered)
I estimate at least several battalions of Elites.

KURT
Anything else?

EXT. HILLSIDE

Tom looks around and looks around the sky.

TOM
We've spotted some kind of drone.

EXT. MAIN GATE

Kurt looks up, confused.

KURT
A drone?

TOM
(Voiceover, filtered)
Affirmative, they don't appear hostile.

KURT
Right, keep me informed.

EXT. HILLSIDE

Tom nods and looks at Lucy and Olivia.

TOM
Yes, sir.

Lucy and Olivia continue wiring the ground-return receiver as Tom sweeps the air.

FADE TO WHITE

FADE FROM WHITE

INT. READY ROOM

Fred and the other Spartans watch as the Master Chief steps out, clad in new armor.

This is the MJOLNIR Mark-VI combat armor system.

He holds his new helmet in his hands when Fred whistles as Johnson walks into the room, and eyes the Chief up and down.

JOHNSON
New duds, Chief?

Fred and the others look at Johnson when he grins, and puts a cigar in his mouth.

Suddenly, a light blows out as Keyes' voice breaks through the intercom, laced with static.

KEYES
(Voiceover, filtered)
All hands report to battle stations immediately!

Johnson looks at him and gives him a bow.

JOHNSON
After you, Chief.

The Spartans, with Johnson following exit their ready room and walk into the corridor beyond.

INT. PILLAR OF AUTUMN, CORRIDORS

The Master Chief and the other Spartans walk down the long corridor when the deck shudders from another impact. Several Marines hustle past them, carrying rifles and grenades as another impact makes the ship's hull shake again.

William looks at the Marines in another wide corridor who are setting up barricades and laying out trip lines tied to grenades as they head to the intersection where their corridor branches off to the two cryogenic chambers and the bridge.

INT. AUTUMN, BRIDGE

They step onto the bridge and snap to attention as Keyes turns around and returns their salute.

KEYES
Chief, Spartans, we have a situation.

MASTER CHIEF
Sir.

KEYES
The Covenant have found us and have already dispatched boarding craft to invade.

Suddenly another explosion sends a technician flying into the bulkhead as Keyes braces himself where he stands.

He turns to Lovell, and barks an order.

KEYES
Report!

Lovell turns around and looks at him.

LOVELL
Captain, Covenant boarding parties have slipped past the defense sentries.

Keyes nods in grim agreement and looks at the Chief.

KEYES
All right. I'm enacting the Cole Protocol. We're abandoning the Autumn.

Suddenly, Cortana appears on the holographic pad, arms on her hips. She has a stern expression on her face.

CORTANA
While you do what, go down with the ship?

Keyes nods.

KEYES
In a matter of speaking.

He points to the mushroom-shaped vessel a few thousand kilometers away.

KEYES
That vessel docked to the ring, I'm going to try and crash-land the Autumn on it.

Cortana looks at him, and shakes her head.

CORTANA
Captain, that is inadvisable.

She opens one of her hands, showing a rotating schematic of a Albatross transport on her palm.

CORTANA
May I suggest that the Spartans take a Albatross and insert ahead of the rest of the crew. To scout it out.

Keyes nods and looks at her.

KEYES
That's a very good idea, Cortana.

He turns to the Master Chief, and the Spartans.

KEYES
Well, Chief?

The Master Chief nods.

MASTER CHIEF
We'll get it done.

The captain nods and looks at Cortana.

KEYES
Cortana, I'll need you to go with them.

She nods as Johnson approaches from behind Keyes. The sergeant looks at Keyes, and smiles.

JOHNSON
Captain, I'm going with them.

Keyes nods again.

KEYES
Sergeant, take a squad of ODSTs with you.

Johnson salutes him, then looks at the Chief as Keyes looks down at Cortana.

KEYES
Are you ready?

Cortana takes a long look around the bridge of the ship and sighs.

CORTANA
Yank me.

Keyes pushes a series of buttons on the holographic pad and then pulls out the chip holding Cortana inside and hands it to the Chief.

He slides the chip into a slot on his armor, and after a moment his shields flare as they begin a diagnostic cycle.

She speaks through his external speakers.

CORTANA
(Voiceover, filtered)
Hmm. You're architecture isn't much different from the Autumn's.

The shields reboot as Keyes motions for Johnson's hand, and the captain hands Johnson another cigar, this one in a metal tube.

KEYES
Don't light this one up until I get there.

Johnson nods and slaps Keyes on the shoulder.

JOHNSON
Let's go, Chief.

They walk out of the bridge as Keyes' voice resonates throughout the corridors.

KEYES
(Voiceover, filtered)
All hands brace for impact!

Suddenly another blast rocks the ship, and the Chief vaults over a pair of power conduits, and almost headlong into an Elite in golden armor.

The alien roars and raises a shimmering blade of energy as Fred and William charge the alien, and slam it into the bulkhead.

The Elite roars as the Master Chief steps towards the alien.

The creature opens it's mandibles and roars at him when he snaps up a M6G pistol and pulls the trigger.

He fires three bursts, the puncturing the alien's chest armor, then the flesh, spattering blue blood and gore on William.

The Elite's growling dies away as Fred and William drop the alien, and William wipes off some of the blood.

WILLIAM
Damn, I just got these too.

Fred slaps him on the helmet as the Chief looks around and spots a weapons locker.

He rips open the door and hands William, Fred and Kelly an assault rifle. Then he hands Linda an sniper rifle, who slides a magazine into the receiver and pulls back the slide with a clack.

She looks at the Chief, who picks up the humming energy sword.

William looks at him, and the shimmering blade.

WILLIAM
Nice.

The Chief studies the blade's configuration then clips it onto his waist, and he readies his sidearm.

Johnson bends over and picks up a plasma pistol from the Elite's waist as they head out of the corridor and into a large chamber: the armory.

INT. ARMORY

The Helljumpers look up, as the Spartans and Johnson enter the armory, and snap to attention.

Mendoza pulls off his polarized helmet and looks at Johnson.

MENDOZA
Helljumpers ready for action, Sarge!

Johnson nods and hands Mendoza the plasma pistol. Mendoza looks at it, and turns it over in his hand.

MENDOZA
What the hell is this, Sarge?

He pulls the trigger, and a green ball of energy spits from one end of the weapon and strikes the far wall, melting the metal.

Johnson looks at him, and laughs.

JOHNSON
Better be careful with that thing, Mendoza.

He looks around.

JOHNSON
Where the hell's Jenkins?

Jenkins taps him on the shoulder.

JENKINS
I'm right here, Sarge.

Fitzgerald laughs as the Chief pulls back his slide on the pistol and Johnson looks at the ODSTs.

JOHNSON
Let's move!

The Spartans and Marines stomp out of the armory, with Johnson leading them.

INT. HANGAR BAY

Sitting in the middle of the hangar is a Longsword interceptor, but most prominent in the hangar is only one Albatross transport.

Johnson stops at the ramp and looks at the Marines, and smiles.

JOHNSON
Marines, we are taking the fight to the Covenant, with a decisive first-strike. We are going to kick ass and take names…

He looks to the Spartans.

JOHNSON
And we're taking a few tanks with us.

The Marines all stand there, waiting.

JOHNSON
Load up!

The Helljumpers climb into the Albatross, followed by Johnson and the Spartans as the thrusters whine to life.

INT. BRIDGE

Keyes looks at a small view screen showing the Marines board their transport in the hangar bay, and he closes his eyes.

KEYES
Godspeed.

INT. ALBATROSS, TROOP COMPARTMENT

The Marines sit down in the wall-to-wall mounted jumpseats, as the Spartans stand up. Mendoza looks at the Chief, and then at the seats behind them.

The Master Chief looks at him and gets the message.

MASTER CHIEF
These seats weren't designed to hold half a ton of armor.

Mendoza shifts in his seat, uncomfortable.

MENDOZA
You're lucky. My ass falls asleep every time.

Jenkins slaps him on the shoulder and laughs.

JENKINS
I don't care how many times they upgrade these things, they always go out of their way to give us the most uncomfortable seats imaginable.

Johnson looks at Mendoza, then Jenkins and chews on the tip of the cigar in his mouth.

JOHNSON
Mendoza, quit whining.

Mendoza turns around to look at him, and begins to whine even more.

MENDOZA
But Sarge, every time…

Johnson looks at him, and mock whines at Mendoza.

JOHNSON
It's always every time. Next time you're on latrine duty with the rest of the greenhorns.

Mendoza looks at him, resigned to stop complaining and looks at Fitzgerald, who is busy watching the rest of the Helljumpers.

The other ODSTs are silent, just sitting in their seats.

MENDOZA
What's with these jerks?

Fitzgerald turns to look at him and shrugs.

FITZGERALD
I think these are Colonel Ackerson's boys.

Mendoza looks at him as Johnson walks over to them.

MENDOZA
Colonel Ackerson?

Johnson nods.

JOHNSON
He's the spearhead for the Special Warfare division of the Corps. More importantly, he's the rival of the good doctor and her Spartans.

Mendoza looks at him, and nods.

MENDOZA
So, you think they're here to 'watch us?'

Fitzgerald shrugs as Johnson leans over and whispers to them two.

JOHNSON
Just watch your backs. Well, watch Jenkins'.

Mendoza laughs as the Master Chief looks around, watching all of them.

CUT TO BLACK

IN THE DARKNESS

Screaming is heard, then a sudden sound of flesh ripping and bones breaking.

FADE FROM BLACK

DREAM SEQUENCE

EXT. BATTLEFIELD, MIDNIGHT

Marching through a battlefield is the Master Chief.

He is walking on a snow covered field, over the elongated skulls of the Elites and the bits carbonized skeletons of fallen Marines.

His armor is worn, beaten and has multiple holes with red flesh peeking through.

The Chief is limping, carrying a MA5C in his hands as he collapses to his knees.

He looks up into the starry night sky, and we can hear his panting breath.

It is clear he is worn out, he sees a towering structure ahead of him.

He stands up and walks towards the building, but before he can move even one foot forward, he drops to all fours, almost unconscious.

The structure beyond starts to whine, as he looks up and a bright beam of multicolored light appears from the tip of the building.

The flash continues to get brighter and brighter until:

FADE TO WHITE

END DREAM SEQUENCE

FADE FROM WHITE

INT. ALBATROSS, TROOP COMPARTMENT

The Master Chief looks around as he sees the others looking out the small view ports mounted around the sides of the hull.

He looks out of one, and sees the huge mushroom-shaped vessel directly ahead, glistening with a purple/gray sheen.

EXT. ALBATROSS

The transport roars towards the vessel as it appears that the mushroom-shaped vehicle is a enormous city.

This is HIGH CHARITY.

EXT. HIGH CHARITY, EXTERIOR DOCKING BAYS

The Albatross roars over the exterior bays, and towards the only smooth spot on the entire structure, directly at the top of the vessel.

The rest of the vessel is covered in towering skyscraper-like buildings, with windows shining like the millions of stars the Covenant race has conquered as the Albatross hovers above the 'smooth spot.'

EXT. ALBATROSS, HIGH CHARITY

The transport, hovering on flames of blue-white fire, lowers its loading ramp as the Spartans exit, methodically sweeping the area for any hostiles.

Johnson and the Helljumpers follow the Spartans, in bulky vacuum suits, across the 'open space' towards a outcropping of conduits and pipes protruding out of the structure.

EXT. SUBSTANCE, HIGH CHARITY

PULL BACK as the small dwarf sun Substance is orbiting shines brightly, obscuring High Charity, the gas giant and the orbiting human destroyers from view.

FADE TO WHITE

FADE FROM WHITE

EXT. CAMP HIGH GROUND

PULL BACK from the sun blazing high above as the new 'Camp High Ground' is seen below.

EXT. COMMAND POST, MIDDAY

Kurt is sitting down under the shaded overhand of the rusting structure as Ash pulls off his helmet, and wipes off his face with his gloved hand.

His face is now covered with dirt and sweat as he smirks, disgusted.

Ash looks at Kurt and puts his helmet back on.

ASH
Sir, what are we doing waiting around here?

Kurt looks up, and depolarizes his faceplate.

KURT
We're waiting for Tom and Lucy to get back.

Suddenly, their radio headsets burst to life with the sounds of gunfire.

Tom is heard, shouting through his throat-mike and is almost drowned out in the roars of engines and weapons.

TOM
(Voiceover, filtered)
Sir, we've got a situation here.

Kurt jumps to his feet, all of a sudden aware and concerned.

KURT
What it is?

EXT. EXCAVATION SITE, CANYON EDGE

Tom and Lucy are firing their assault weapons at several Phantom transports as a squadron of Elites in black combat armor charge them.

TOM
Sir, we've just engaged an enemy force.

He unloads the rest of his clip into one of the Elites, then he primes a fragmentation grenade and throws it.

TOM
We think they were guarding something.

EXT. COMMAND POST

Mark looks at Kurt, who nods and makes a fist, then opens it. The hand signal to get ready.

KURT
We're on our way.

Mark, Ash, Dante and Holly stand at attention as Kurt looks at Dante.

He motions for the chain gun.

KURT
Give me that.

Dante looks at him.

DANTE
Yes, sir.

Dante hands it to him, reluctant to give it up, but Kurt is their commanding officer so he has to.

Kurt hefts the weapon, testing it's weight and he looks at the Spartans.

KURT
Dante, you and Holly get the Warthog. Everybody else, lock and load.

Dante and Holly run to get the vehicle as the others grab their assault weapons.

KURT
Let's go.

They run around the edge of the beachhead as Dante speeds past them in the Warthog, with Holly manning the chain gun in the back.

EXT. CANYON EDGE, NEAR EXCAVATION SITE

Kurt points at Mark then to the top of the canyon, where Tom and the others are.

Mark nods and climbs up to the edge of the cliff and peers over the side.

He sees Tom and Lucy exchanging fire and taking cover to reload as Olivia jumps up and opens fire in their place.

He looks down at Kurt and points his index finger at his eyes, then at the general area where Tom, Lucy and Olivia are.

Kurt nods and holds his right hand up to his ear.

KURT
Dante, Holly get set for distraction pattern 4.

EXT. EXCAVATION SITE, MAIN ROAD

Dante looks back at Holly and floors the accelerator.

DANTE
Affirmative, sir.

Holly looks at the squad of Elites charging Tom and the others.

HOLLY
Look, over there.

She points to them as Dante nods.

DANTE
Any time you're ready, sir.

EXT. CANYON EDGE, NEAR EXCAVATION SITE

Kurt nods.

KURT
Go.

EXT. EXCAVATION SITE, MAIN ROAD

Dante nods and grips the steering wheel.

DANTE
Let's make it hot!

He stomps on the accelerator and pours on the speed as the Warthog leaps forward, bouncing over boulders and spraying up twin plumes of dirt.

Holly opens up with the chain gun and sprays bullets at the black-armored Elites as Tom ducks to avoid getting spattered himself.

EXT. CANYON EDGE, NEAR EXCAVATION SITE

Kurt watches as the Warthog screams past them, the rear bumper scraping the jumble of boulders off of the cliff.

KURT
Let's move!

Ash, Mark and Kurt climb up the cliff side, just in time to see the Dante drive the Warthog through a line of Elites, crushing them underneath their tires.

Kurt and the others sprint to the area where Tom, Lucy and Olivia are crouching as the Warthog screams around, with Holly spraying the advancing Elites with bullets.

EXT. EXCAVATION SITE

Dante skids the Warthog to a stop, with the Holly facing the Elites. He climbs out, and lobs a grenade into the midst as Kurt hefts the chain gun and opens fire in tandem with Holly on the Warthog's weapon.

It is a deafening sound of guns firing as the rest of the Spartans open fire with their assault weapons.

The Elites continue to charge, as another alien comes into the mix.

They are short, stocky creatures that have a wild look in their eyes as they storm across the ground.

They are GRUNTS.

Kurt drops the smoking chain gun, that is out of ammo and snaps up his assault rifle.

He looks at the Spartans.

KURT
Field of fire!

Suddenly, the Spartans open up with a fusillade of automatic-weapons fire, and chew up the Grunts with armor-piercing ammo.

PAN ACROSS as we see the muzzle-flashes reflected in each of the Spartans' visors.

In a matter of seconds, the battle is over, and the ground is littered with the corpses of Grunts and Elites.

Kurt sighs and ejects the spent magazine of his assault rifle. He slides in a new clip and looks at Dante.

KURT
Dante…

Dante turns to look at him.

DANTE
Sir.

Kurt turns to look at the Warthog.

KURT
Nice driving.

Dante nods as Holly walks over.

DANTE
Right.

Kurt looks at Tom, and makes a come-here gesture with his index finger.

Tom walks over.

TOM
Sir.

Kurt points to the enormous crater just beyond.

KURT
What do you think they're guarding?

Tom shrugs.

TOM
I…don't know, sir.

Kurt slaps him on the shoulder.

KURT
Let's just make sure they never get what they were here for.

Tom stands a little straighter, and nods.

TOM
Right, sir.

Mark looks at Dante, who is affectionately patting the hood of the Warthog.

MARK
That was some insane driving, man.

Dante nods.

DANTE
Yeah, it was.

Suddenly, an enormous explosion rips through the excavation site beyond, and Kurt turns to look at it.

KURT
What the…

Olivia comes running over to him as a series of mechanical fliers soar over them.

She looks at him, and points to the fliers.

OLIVIA
Sir, it's the drones.

Kurt looks up and sights down his rifle at the excavation site.

EXT. EXCAVATION SITE, CRATER

The drones emit a red-orange energy beam that cuts through rock, stone and dirt.

EXT. EXCAVATION SITE

Kurt lowers his rifle, and looks at her.

KURT
Are they hostile?

Olivia shakes her head.

OLIVIA
No, sir. But we didn't want to provoke them.

He lowers his rifle and nods.

KURT
We'd better not.

FADE TO WHITE

FADE FROM WHITE

EXT. MOON

PULL BACK from the sun, as the Moon's terminating curve is seen, covered with ancient craters as half of the Earth's planet is covered in gray.

EXT. EARTH

The gray sheath that is wrapped around the Earth is in fact a enormous fleet of destroyers, carriers and cruisers and long stations with massive tubular weapons.

One of the enormous stations floats over the African continent.

This is CAIRO station, and docked to the Cairo is a destroyer.

The destroyer is IN AMBER CLAD.

INT. IN AMBER CLAD, BRIDGE

Sitting in the center contour seat, behind two pilots is COMMANDER MIRANDA KEYES, daughter of the Autumn's captain.

Miranda looks out the window as Mendez's face is seen on a wall-mounted screen.

MENDEZ
(Filtered)
Ma'am, we've just deployed two Helljumper squads in Old Mombassa. They're getting ready to set up base camp.

Miranda nods and looks out the main view port.

MIRANDA
Well, we'd better get moving. See you on the surface.

Mendez nods and the screen goes blank.

EXT. CAIRO STATION, IN AMBER CLAD

The destroyer undocks from the station, and its dorsal thrusters push the destroyer beneath the platform and its enormous weapon, towards the surface.

EXT. OLD MOMBASSA, STREETS

Mendez watches as the two squadrons of black-armored Helljumpers begin setting up prefab metal structures, turret emplacements and bunkers to store ammunition.

He pulls off his hat and wipes his forehead with his forearm.

He puts his hat back on his head, and then puts on a set of wire rim sunglasses.

A Marine approaches him and salutes.

He is MAJOR ALAN MITCHELL.

Mendez returns his salute as Mitchell pulls off his black helmet and scratches his head.

MENDEZ
It's midmorning and I'm already getting sunburned.

MITCHELL
Sir, the command structure's almost finished, we just need to install the AC.

Mendez nods and looks at the rumbling walls of the buildings along the street.

MENDEZ
Good.

A pair of Pelicans roar overhead, with Warthogs dangling beneath them as a pair of Helljumpers: PEREZ and FINCHER, walk towards Mendez and Mitchell.

MITCHELL
What is it private?

Fincher, the private, looks at the crumbling building in the distance.

FINCHER
Sir, we've just set up a sniper post on the far structure.

Mitchell nods as Perez, the corporal, points to a tall gated structure with three Warthogs parked side-by-side in front of it.

PEREZ
We've just set up an ammunition locker over there.

Mendez looks up as a armored carrier pulls up and a three-man team of Helljumpers climb out and salute Mitchell and Mendez.

The leader of the team: captain ARNOLDS lowers his BR55 battle rifle and looks at the two men.

ARNOLDS
Major, we've just set up sensors around the perimeter of the structure, and have posted six four-man fire teams on routine sweeps of the entire area.

Mendez nods as Mitchell looks up as another pair of Pelicans roar overhead and into the distance.

EXT. HIGH CHARITY, CONDUIT SURFACE

The Master Chief, his Spartans with Johnson and the Marines following closely behind, take cover beneath the tangled web of conduits as several Covenant patrol cruisers pass overhead, as Linda points to a hatchway leading deeper into the outer shell of the city.

The Master Chief nods as Fred and William place several blocks of C12 plastic explosive on the hatch, and the group takes cover as the Chief holds up his gauntlet and pushes his thumb and index finger together.

In a split second, the explosive detonates in a white flash, spraying purple metal and plastic out into space.

Some of the debris strikes the shield of a passing destroyer and disintegrates as the Chief looks at the Spartans, Johnson and the Helljumpers and waves his hand forwards.

EXT. HIGH CHARITY, CONDUIT HOLE

The Master Chief points to William and Kelly, who move towards the smoking hole and they grasp onto the sharp, torn edges of the hole and vanish.

MASTER CHIEF POINT-OF-VIEW

After a moment, two green lights, next to their names and identification numbers, in the far right corner of the Chief's HUD that are projected on his faceplate blink on.

RETURN

The Chief nods and turns to Fred and Linda, and points behind Johnson. They nod and move to cover Johnson and the Helljumpers as they climb into the hole, and vanish into the blackness.

The Chief motions for Fred to move, and he pushes off of the surface.

He uses one long cylindrical conduit to pull himself towards the hole, and he 'swims' into the opening, vanishing.

Then the Master Chief motions for Linda, who moves towards him, sniper rifle drawn, and as she stops near him, he drops into the hole.

Linda sweeps the space beyond, then, satisfied there aren't any enemies coming after them, she clips her rifle to her back, and then pushes off of the surface into the hole.

INT. HIGH CHARITY, SHELL ACCESS CORRIDOR

The entire corridor is bathed in blackness as the Master Chief and the other Spartans' armor-mounted lights come on, and immerse the Helljumpers and Johnson in white beams of energy.

The Chief points at Fred then to a organic-looking doorway, as a gorilla-like creature walks past the opening, its back to them.

This gorilla-like creature is a BRUTE.

Another Brute follows closely behind the first, but this one turns to look down the corridor the Spartans, Johnson and the Helljumpers are, as the Master Chief snaps up his weapon, and fires a burst into the creature's head.

Purple blood and gore splash onto the far bulkhead as the dead Brute's body drops to the deck with a thud.

INT. CROSS CORRIDOR

The other Brute turns around, and holds his head up to the ceiling, sniffing.

It sees the dead Brute and walks over to it, as Linda peers around the corner, and snaps up her sniper rifle.

In one split-second, the Brute growls, then its head snaps backwards, and off of the neck, dead.

Linda lowers her rifle as the Chief, William and Kelly walk into the corridor, weapons drawn.

They sweep the corridor methodically as Johnson and the ODSTs follow closely behind.

Cortana is heard through Johnson's helmet speakers, as she converses to the entire squad.

CORTANA
(Voiceover, filtered)
Chief, back up.

The Master Chief stops and backs up.

CORTANA
(Voiceover, filtered)
Turn right, and look down.

He follows her commands and spots a short, round pedestal painted purple like the rest of the entire vessel.

CORTANA
(Voiceover, filtered)
That looks like a transfer port. Plug me in.

The Chief pulls out the square AI chip, and slides it into a slot on the pedestal.

After a moment, she appears on the holographic pad of the pedestal, arms folded.

CORTANA
Give me a minute.

Her 'body' shifts colors from soft blue to brilliant purple, then pink, then cycles back.

CORTANA
There's another AI in here, fighting back. But it doesn't seem too hard to break it.

She burns bright white, then she clasps her hands together as her hue shifts back to the normal soft blue.

She looks at the Chief.

CORTANA
There, I've bypassed the security perimeters on this vessel.

She opens one palm and a overhead view of the vessel appears. A tangled web of intersecting corridors wrapped around a central energy lift.

One such pathway is illuminated with orange waypoint markers as she looks at the Chief.

CORTANA
This pathway will take you straight to the lift, which will head deeper into the structure.

Johnson looks behind the squadron, and sees several squads of Brutes marching towards them, led by one that is a head taller than the rest.

This Brute is TARTARUS.

He is the Chieftain of the Brutes and he is clutching a enormous hammer like weapon.

The hammer is the FIST OF RUKT.

Tartarus points the Fist at Johnson, the ODSTs and the Spartans.

Johnson points at them, and shoulders his weapon.

JOHNSON
Chief, we've got company.

Cortana looks at the Master Chief.

MASTER CHIEF
What are these things?

CORTANA
According to their data network, these creatures are called: Brutes, and they are the guardians of what the Covenant come to worship: Prophets.

The Chief nods and snaps up his assault rifle.

MASTER CHIEF
If these 'Brutes' are here, than the Prophets are here too.

Cortana holds a hand up to her forehead.

CORTANA
The Prophets are here! They are in a temple in the very center of the ship.

She holds open her palm which shows a towering, triangular structure in the very center of the vessel.

Fred and William set up a line of grenades on the floor as the Brutes and the humans regard one another.

MASTER CHIEF
Then we'd better get there…

He looks at Linda and the other Spartans, who are standing there, guns drawn at the Brutes, and nods.

MASTER CHIEF
Now!

Suddenly the Brutes charge, as the Chief leads Johnson, the Helljumpers and the Spartans back the way they came.

As the Brutes run over the grenades, they trip the detonator cord, which sets off the grenades.

An enormous explosion rips through the corridor, as steaming, blackened flesh, grizzle and hair spatters onto the walls.

The Chief peers out of the corridor, to see Tartarus looking at him, before growling at them and spinning on his heel, stomping away.

Cortana looks at the Master Chief.

MASTER CHIEF
What did it say?

CORTANA
He called you Demons.

The Master Chief looks at the departing Brute Chieftain.

MASTER CHIEF
Demons?

Cortana nods as Tartarus disappears.

After a tense moment, Cortana looks at him, her eyes wide with worry.

CORTANA
Uhoh. Chief, it seems there's been an issue ordered to find the Demons and exterminate them.

The Chief shrugs and looks at the Spartans.

MASTER CHIEF
Why's that a problem?

CORTANA
Because the Prophets are leaving.

The Chief looks at Johnson.

MASTER CHIEF
Where are they going?

Cortana shows him the holograph of the pyramidal structure.

CORTANA
The structure they're in isn't part of their city, it is a ancient structure built by what they call Forerunners. The ship is powering this structure, and once it uncouples from the city…

The Master Chief nods, understanding the entire severity of the situation.

MASTER CHIEF
…The city's will be bathed in darkness.

Johnson cocks his weapon and looks at the Master Chief and the Spartans.

JOHNSON
You go get those Prophets, Chief.

He looks at the Helljumpers and smiles.

JOHNSON
We'll take care of these bastards.

The Chief nods, and salutes Johnson, who returns the salute.

The Master Chief looks at the Spartans and unclips his holstered sidearm.

MASTER CHIEF
Let's go.

The Spartans bound off down to one end of the corridor, toward the glowing gravity lift, as Johnson and the Helljumpers head in the opposite direction, vanishing beyond the curving edge of the hallway, as the flashes of gunfire are seen.

EXT. GRAVITY LIFT, MAIN CORRIDOR JUNCTION

The Master Chief looks around as Cortana appears on a pedestal on the lift and nods.

CORTANA
Hang on, I'll get this crate moving.

After a moment, the Spartans are lifted off their feet, moving past thousands of floors until they slow to a stop.

EXT. GRAVITY LIFT, TOP LEVELS

The Spartans are standing on a flat, metallic surface that materializes beneath them as the pyramidal Forerunner ship beyond looms directly ahead of them, several kilometers away.

The Master Chief looks at the Spartans, his Spartans, and nods to the structure.

MASTER CHIEF
Let's move!

The Spartans break into a run and charge across the metallic stone, their boots making thumping sounds onto the surface.

EXT. EXCAVATION SITE, CRATER

Kurt is looking down inside the enormous crater, as several drones soar past them, and emit more high-heat energy beams, tearing through the dirt, and exposing more black quartz stone.

He looks at Tom, and points to the far side of the crater, where an old, concrete structure is standing.

KURT
Take Ash and Dante, secure the structure, and send a distress signal Earthside. I'll take Olivia, and Lucy to secure more ammunition from the CP.

Tom nods and gathers the two Spartans as Kurt turns to the two soldiers lurking by the Warthog.

KURT
Mark, you and Holly take the Warthog around to the far side of the crater, directly parallel to the canyon, and post the ridge. Give me a sit-rep as soon as Tom make it at the structure.

Mark nods and Holly climbs up behind the massive chain gun as Kurt turns around and gathers up his men.

Mark climbs in behind the wheel and turns over the Warthog and floors the accelerator. The vehicle rumbles forward and he spins the steering wheel around, and the Warthog moves around the canyon edge, towards the hill.

Kurt looks at Lucy and Olivia as Tom and his squad is already halfway around the edge of the crater.

KURT
Let's move.

They begin marching back to their command base as the Warthog's growling engine drifts away into the breeze and the sounds of the drones tearing apart the ground.

EXT. CAMP HIGH GROUND, ARMORY

Kurt and Olivia step into the narrow arms locker and begin opening various cabinets and crates.

Olivia finds two duffel bags and begins filling them with clips of various ammunition as Kurt shoves an armful of grenades into the bags. He looks at her and then grabs several submachine guns and puts them in the bag.

KURT
Get as much into these as you can.

He looks out the window, and to the far beach beyond.

KURT
I have a feeling we won't be able to come back.

Olivia continues grabbing clips, grenades and various explosives as Lucy claps her hands.

Kurt and Olivia freeze as the sound of crumbling rock gets louder and louder.

Kurt slowly moves forwards, giving Olivia a hand hovering over the ground: the hand signal to move quietly.

Olivia nods and grabs the last of the ammunition as the tumbling rocks begin making the earth tremor until Lucy dives into the room as the armory snaps into blackness.

CUT TO BLACK

FADE FROM BLACK

EXT. NEW MOMBASSA, MIDDAY

The skyscrapers are bathed in golden yellow-orange sunlight as the shadow of something enormous crosses over the buildings.

PULL BACK to reveal that the source of the shadow is a Covenant flagship.

EXT. OLD MOMBASSA, STREETS

Mendez looks up as Arnolds hands him a set of binoculars. He grabs the binoculars and holds them to his eyes as the flagship moves to a position near one of several towering towers.

This tower is a Centennial Orbital Elevator (COE).

The flagship hovers near the elevator as a the purple light of a gravity beam breaks through the midday brightness.

Mendez looks at Arnolds as Mitchell and Fincher run over.

MITCHELL
Sir, major, we've got an urgent transmission on the E-band.

Mendez and Arnolds look at him.

ARNOLDS
Go ahead.

Fincher holds up a portable radio receiver and the unmistakably distorted voice of Cortana is heard.

CORTANA
(Voiceover, filtered)
This is an automated distress beacon from Military AI CTN:417. Order all UNSC personnel heed and stand to. I am initiating emergency signal Hydra. Sergeant Johnson and Orbital Drop Shock Troopers are currently engaging Covenant forces on the Covenant platform.

Mendez and Arnolds look at each other as the transmission continues.

CORTANA
(Cont'd)
Meanwhile, Spartans -117, -104, -058 and -043 are currently engaging a vessel docked inside the Covenant vessel with some of the Covenant leadership onboard.

Arnolds looks at Mendez who nods.

CORTANA
(Cont'd)
Be advised: suggest any UNSC battleships in the vicinity NOVA bomb the orbital platform. Suggest: the inbound fleets extract the Helljumper squadron before attempting any assault on the Covenant platform.

Mendez looks up at the Covenant flagship hovering over the skyscrapers beyond as Arnolds looks at Mitchell and Fincher.

ARNOLDS
Round up the rest of first platoon.

The two Marines nod and run over to a Warthog. Mitchell puts the vehicle into gear as Fincher straps himself into the passenger seat.

The Warthog peels off down the narrow street, vanishing around a corner.

Halo: Film Script, Part 3
Date: 30 May 2007, 5:20 am

EXT. HIGH CHARITY, MAIN ACCESS COURTYARD

The Master Chief, Fred, William, Linda and Kelly are bounding across the open courtyard when a pair of Brutes climb up from behind a outcropping of rocks, and open fire with grenade launchers.

The Chief drops to one knee, and fires a burst at one of the Brutes, puncturing it in the wrist, but only making it angry when another Brute, taller than the rest, charges the Spartans from behind.

It knocks the Master Chief onto his back, and grabs his neck, and squeezes.

Fred and William try to pry the thing off, but several more Brutes surround them, and the rest of the Spartans open fire.

The Master Chief grabs the Brute's wrists and manages to release the thing's grip on his neck, as spittle and mucus hit his faceplate, smearing it as the creature growls and snarls.

Fred opens fire on two Brutes, shredding one's stomach, and ripping apart the other's arm.

William and Linda shoot several more Brutes that return fire, making their shields flare in the dim light.

Kelly spots a pair of Covenant dropships roaring overhead, and she grabs Linda's discarded sniper rifle. She snaps it up and sights it.

SNIPER SCOPE - POINT-OF-VIEW

The crosshairs center on the near side of the dropship, as the vehicles hover above them, and begin strafing them.

RETURN

The dropships begin strafing the Spartans as the hatches open, and several Grunts and Elites climb out, and begin firing on the Brutes.

Kelly looks at the Master Chief, who is still struggling with the Brute on top of him, as one Elite, clad in silver armor with ancient Arcane engravings, snaps up it's plasma rifle and fires a burst into the back of the Brute.

Melting flesh and bone spatters onto the Chief's armor and the metallic stone surface.

The Master Chief gets up, and brushes off his armor as the Elite approaches him.

The Elite looks at the Master Chief, and nods.

He is the ARBITER.

The Arbiter looks at the Chief, and then points to the Forerunner ship, and speaks in English with a deep accent.

ARBITER
Demon, these Prophets have betrayed us.

The Master Chief looks at him, confused.

MASTER CHIEF
I don't understand.

ARBITER
They believe that the activation of these rings will bring about the Great Journey.

Kelly looks at the Arbiter, and shrugs.

KELLY
What is this Great Journey?

The Arbiter motions for another Elite, who holds out a holographic pad.

Several rings appear on the display and the Arbiter looks at the Spartans.

ARBITER
The Forerunners built these rings, but they weren't to start this Great Journey, but they were to do something else.

Fred looks at the Arbiter, and then at the Forerunner ship in the distance.

FRED
What were they supposed to do?

William nods.

WILLIAM
Yeah, what do they do once they're activated?

The Arbiter closes his eyes, and takes in a deep breath.

FLASHBACK SEQUENCE

EXT. OUTER SPACE, CENTURIES EARLIER

The rings emit the same burst of raw power and blue-white energy as the Arbiter speaks.

ARBITER
(Voiceover)
These things, when activated, eradicate all life in the entire galaxy.

MASTER CHIEF
(Voiceover)
Eradicate?

ARBITER
(Cont'd)
Correct. That is why we need to prevent the Prophets from reaching the activation center.

Another burst of blue-white energy is emitted from the rings.

FADE TO WHITE

FADE FROM WHITE

EXT. HIGH CHARITY, MAIN ACCESS COURTYARD

The Spartans are staring at the Arbiter, as the Elites surround their leader, who gets down on his knee, and looks up imploringly at the Master Chief.

ARBITER
Demon, we must prevent them from activating these platforms.

Kelly looks at the Elite.

KELLY
And how do you suggest we do that?

The Arbiter points to the Forerunner ship.

ARBITER
We must stop them from leaving.

The Master Chief nods and looks at the Spartans, then the Elites.

MASTER CHIEF
Right.

Linda looks at them.

LINDA
Easier said than done, though.

Fred walks over to the Chief, reloading his assault rifle.

FRED
Sir, we're almost out of ammunition.

The Chief nods as the Arbiter looks at them.

ARBITER
We'll find weapons once we get onboard the Forerunner ship.

The Master Chief watches as several more dropships scream overhead and towards the area around the Forerunner ship.

The Arbiter moves towards one dropship that deployed them and the Grunts and waves over the Spartans.

ARBITER
We'll get there faster if we fly.

The Spartans and the Elites climb into the dropship, as more and more of the dropships fly towards the Forerunner ship.

EXT. HIGH CHARITY, FORERUNNER VESSEL

The dropships deposit thousands and thousands of Elites, Grunts. Several lines of vulture-like aliens with arm-mounted shields walk in front of the Grunts and Elites, wielding plasma pistols.

These vulture-like aliens are called JACKALS.

The Elites watch as the dropship carrying the Master Chief, and the Arbiter soars over them, and lands in front of the Forerunner vessel.

The Master Chief and the Arbiter climb out of the dropship, and stand side-by-side as the Forerunner vessel begins to whine to life.

The Arbiter looks at the vessel and waves a clawed hand towards it.

ARBITER
Brothers, we have fallen prey to the Prophets and they're devious schemes.

Most of the Elites nod and agree with murmurings and rumblings.

ARBITER
(Cont'd)
We have been split asunder. The Covenant Writ of Union has been broken.

All of the Covenant nod, with the Grunts shifting uneasily on their feet.

ARBITER
(Cont'd)
This is the end of the ninth and final Age.

The Elites all roar in unison as the Jackals and Grunts raise their weapons above their heads.

The Arbiter clasps his fists and stands tall, as the Spartans watch him.

ARBITER
(Cont'd)
We will fight, and we will ascend to the great beyond. But not on this Great Journey we have believed will allow us to transcend.

They all stand there, waiting for their orders.

ARBITER
(Cont'd)
We will fight for justice…

The Elites all nod, firmly gripping their weapons tightly in their hands.

ARBITER
(Cont'd)
Glory…

The Arbiter holds his head up high, and looks at the Spartans.

ARBITER
(Cont'd)
And honor.

The Spartans nod.

The Arbiter looks at the Master Chief, and the Spartans. Then, he turns to look at the whole of the Covenant.

ARBITER
(Cont'd)
Stand tall warriors, for victory is nigh.

The entire collective of Spartans and Covenant stand waiting as the Arbiter looks at the Master Chief.

ARBITER
You ready, Demon?

The Master Chief nods, and shoulders his assault rifle.

MASTER CHIEF
I was born ready.

The Arbiter nods and makes a waving motion in the air.

Suddenly, the Spartans, Elites, Grunts and Jackals all charge towards the towering Forerunner vessel several hundred yards in the distance.

CUT TO BLACK

FADE FROM BLACK

INT. COMMAND BUNKER, CONTROL CENTER

The lights are off as Tom searches for a light switch. He finds one, and flips it on, but only one beam is shone, which is facing the far gray wall.

The rest of the room is in darkness.

He turns on his rifle's flashlight and sweeps the control room as Ash and Dante enter behind him.

Ash secures the rusty door behind them as Dante moves to a blinking monitor and begins typing in commands on a alphanumeric keypad.

He turns to look at Tom.

DANTE
What should I tell them?

Tom looks at the monitor.

TOM
Tell them to send a prowler for emergency extraction.

Dante begins typing, his gauntleted hands rapidly pushing the buttons, until he grunts in frustration.

DANTE
Can't type a damn thing.

He pulls his gloves off and resumes writing, now with ease.

DANTE
Ah, much better.

He finishes the message and sends it.

DANTE
Message sent.

Tom nods and looks at Ash, who is fingering his weapon.

TOM
You still with us, Ash?

He shrugs and depolarizes his faceplate. Tom sees Ash staring at him through eyes with a dead-stare.

Tom moves over to him, and pulls out an anti-shock syringe.

TOM
Hey, hold still a minute.

He slips the syringe into a slot on his armor and injects the ingredients into Ash's system.

Ash's eyes seem to clear and he shakes his head.

ASH
Sorry. Getting a little crazy out here.

Tom slaps him on the shoulder, and nods to Dante.

TOM
Let's just go one step at a time, guys.

Dante shrugs as a static-distorted message breaks through the bunker's speakers.

INTERCOM SPEAKER
(Voiceover, filtered, static)
This is an automated distress beacon from Military AI CTN: 417. Order all UNSC personnel heed and stand to. I am initiating emergency signal Hydra. Sergeant Johnson and Orbital Drop Shock Troopers are currently engaging Covenant forces on the Covenant platform.

Tom looks at Dante and Ash, who are listening intently.

INTERCOM SPEAKER
(Cont'd)
Meanwhile, Spartans -117, -104, -058 and -043 are currently engaging a vessel docked inside the Covenant vessel with some of the Covenant leadership onboard.

He looks around, and finds a holographic display that hums to life with a series of waypoints leading from star system to star system.

INTERCOM SPEAKER
(Cont'd)
Be advised: suggest any UNSC battleships in the vicinity NOVA bomb the orbital platform. Suggest: the inbound fleets extract the Helljumper squadron before attempting any assault on the Covenant platform.

Dante laughs as Tom looks at him.

TOM
What's so funny?

Dante points at the holograph.

DANTE
Where do you think the Covenant was headed?

Tom sees one very similar system, and he shakes his head.

TOM
Earth.

Dante nods.

DANTE
Exactly.

Tom nods and gets a better grip on his weapon.

TOM
Sir, we've got a situation.

INT. ARMORY

Kurt looks around, and shoves some stones and boulders off of his body.

KURT
Go ahead, Tom. What've you got?

INT. COMMAND BUNKER, CONTROL CENTER

Tom looks at Ash and Dante as a wall mounted monitor blinks to life.

TOM
We've just received a response.

The silhouette of an angular vessel appears on the screen.

TOM
Admiral Hood just sent the Dusk to extract us.

INT. ARMORY

Kurt nods and looks at Lucy, who gets up and helps Olivia stand.

KURT
What's their ETA?

INT. COMMAND BUNKER, CONTROL CENTER

Tom looks at the monitor, with a countdown timer on it.

TOM
It'll be here in seven days.

INT. ARMORY

Kurt nods and points two fingers at the now blocked doorway. Lucy and Olivia begin moving the boulders out of the way as he nods.

KURT
Understood. Wait for us, we'll rendezvous there.

TOM
(Voiceover, filtered)
Yes, sir.

Kurt looks at Lucy who points at the boulders then makes a fist. The hand signal for: no egress.

Kurt nods.

KURT
Look for a basement.

Olivia and Lucy nod and begin searching the narrow armory for a basement hatch.

EXT. CANYON RIDGE

Mark and Holly are watching the drones continue to move the dirt in the crater around as a sonic boom rips through the dirt and rattles the Warthog.

MARK
What the hell was that?

Holly shrugs and tracks the sky overhead as the all-famous silhouette of a Covenant cruiser appears over them.

Mark looks up, and then punches in a command on the radio.

MARK
Sir, we've got a situation.

INT. ARMORY

Kurt looks up as part of the message gets through.

KURT
Say again?

MARK
(Voiceover, filtered)
Sir…we've got…a…tion…

Kurt looks at Lucy who points to the ceiling. He looks up at the ceiling, where a hatchway is.

EXT. CANYON RIDGE

The drones continue to move the dirt, as a trio of them hover over the Warthog.

One of them looks at Holly and speaks with a distorted male voice.

DRONE #1
'Fhejelet Juber?

HOLLY
What?

The next drone speaks, almost with annoyance.

DRONE #2
'Fhejelet, non sequitur now?

Holly shrugs as the first drone responds.

DRONE #3
Ring offensive system activated, shield in countdown mode. Exchange proper counter response, Reclaimer.

Holly looks at the drones.

HOLLY
I don't understand.

The drones shift their pylons into a different configuration, almost as if they are agitiated.

DRONE #1
Reclassification of species as non-Reclaimers, to prevent possible infection, neutralize with extreme prejudice.

MARK
Oh shit.

Holly swivels the chain gun around when their 'eyes' burn gold-yellow as he looks at her.

MARK
Whoa!

He dives out of the way, as she opens fire, but the rounds bounce off a transparent sphere around them.

EXT. ARMORY, HATCHWAY

Kurt is climbing up the ladder as Mark's voice breaks through the interference.

MARK
(Voiceover, filtered)
They've got energy shields!

Kurt climbs out onto the stone surface as he spots a glimmer of sunlight reflecting off of the Warthog's windshield, across the canyon.

EXT. CANYON RIDGE

Holly looks at him, and unloads the long, long chains of armor piercing ammo at the drones, trying to find a chink in their shields.

HOLLY
Got to be Covenant!

Mark looks up at her, and runs towards the Warthog, as the drones hit her with their energy beams.

In a matter of seconds, she and the Warthog are disintegrated into black ash.

Mark growls and snaps up his assault rifle, unloads a full clip into the drones, which shift their aim to him, as he reloads, cursing.

Suddenly, he screams a blood curdling shrill as his erupts into molten metal, plastic and flesh, as the remains of his body spatters onto the stone.

EXT. ARMORY, HATCHWAY

Kurt watches as the drones move off, with indifference to what they've just done.

He looks up, and sees the Covenant battleship move over the crater, and a purple gravity beam is lowered into the center of the depression.

Olivia looks at him, and then points to the Covenant ship.

OLIVIA
Why don't we crash their party?

Lucy grunts as Kurt shakes his head.

KURT
We can't.

OLIVIA
Why not?

He points up into the sky as several hundred more battleships hover over the crater as dropships head towards the central vessel hovering over the depression.

KURT
That's why.

INT. COMMAND BUNKER, CONTROL CENTER

Tom, Ash and Dante are silent, as the echoes of Mark's last scream haunts them, until Kurt's voice breaks through the silence, bringing them back to reality.

KURT
(Voiceover, filtered)
Tom, Dante, Ash.

TOM
Go ahead, sir.

EXT. ARMORY

Kurt looks at the fleet of Covenant battleships hovering around the crater.

KURT
We've got a Covenant force guarding the crater in masse.

INT. COMMAND BUNKER, CONTROL CENTER

Tom nods and looks at Ash and Dante.

TOM
What's our next move, sir?

KURT
(Voiceover, filtered)
We need to catch them off guard.

TOM
What do you have in mind?

KURT
(Voiceover, filtered)
We're going to cause a diversion. Gather up all the ordnance you can find, and hightail it back to base camp.

Tom nods, as Dante is already gone, vanishing out of the control center.

TOM
We're already one step ahead of you, sir.

INT. MUNITIONS BUNKER

Dante looks around as several 440 caliber mortars lined up against the far wall catches his eye.

He moves over to the far locker, and pries it open. He rubs his hands together as Tom and Ash enter.

DANTE
Come to poppa.

He gathers a double armful of high explosives and begins stashing them into a duffel as Tom and Ash help him.

TOM
Get as much as you can carry. Get some more weapons too.

Ash moves to another locker, and rips it open with a crowbar and begins stuffing another duffel with rifles and grenades.

Tom looks at the small window slit on the far wall, as the eclipsing hull of a Covenant battleship shuts out the sunlight.

TOM
We aren't going to be coming back.

EXT. HIGH CHARITY, FORERUNNER VESSEL

The Spartans arrive at the Forerunner ship first; with the Arbiter following closely behind as the rest of the Covenant warriors arrive.

EXT. FORERUNNER VESSEL, LOADING DOCK

One of several enormous doors on the vessel slides open, as the Master Chief and the Spartans arrive to see several thousand Brutes marching out of the loading dock, armed for war.

The Arbiter slides on his hoofs, right beside the Chief and he sees the Brutes, led by Tartarus with Johnson and the ODSTs being forcibly escorted in-between the Brutes and the Spartans.

Tartarus looks up at the Master Chief, and snarls when Johnson looks up, weary-eyed.

MASTER CHIEF
You all right, Sergeant?

Johnson looks at him, and grins.

JOHNSON
I've been better, Chief.

The Chief nods as the ODSTs look at the Brutes and grip their hands tighter.

MASTER CHIEF
Get ready.

Johnson nods, and clasps his hands together.

JOHNSON
We're ready.

Tartarus looks at the Spartans and grins.

TARTARUS
Demons, your end has come.

Then he turns to look at the Arbiter and the Elites.

TARTARUS
And you, Arbiter, you and the Brutes, not the Elites shall be the Prophet's escort.

The Arbiter looks at Tartarus as all of the Elites ignite their energy swords.

ARBITER
Let our fates decide that future.

The Chieftain grins and hefts his enormous gravity hammer.

TARTARUS
Lets.

He spins the hammer in his hands with a 'by-your-leave' flourish, as the Elites charge the Brutes.

The Spartans charge through the Brutes and make it to the inside of the Forerunner ship as the Elites engage in a bloody battle against the Brutes.

INT. FORERUNNER VESSEL, HANGAR

The Master Chief looks around as William and Linda begin sweeping the open hangar as Fred and Kelly begin placing mines in a semicircle around them.

William looks at the Chief as Linda nods her head.

LINDA
It's all clear.

The Chief nods and makes a fist. The squad reforms and they head deeper into the Forerunner ship.

EXT. LOADING DOCK

The Arbiter slices the arms off of a Brute as Tartarus slams his gravity hammer into one of the Elites and crushes its back, turning the Elite into pulpy mush.

The Arbiter spins around as the gravity hammer nearly hits him. The force of the impact makes the ground beneath him shake as the Forerunner vessel comes to life.

INT. FORERUNNER VESSEL, BRIDGE

Sitting at the main consoles that control the ship are several Brutes as the Spartans step onto a balcony that overlooks the bridge.

The Master Chief looks at the bridge and points his two fingers at his faceplate then at the Brutes working on the bridge.

The Spartans nod and they leap over the edge of the balcony, and land two tons of MJOLNIR armor and Spartan on the deck with a whisper.

The Chief looks at Fred and holds his hand out, palm down, and they spread out and stand directly behind the Brutes.

In a matter of seconds, the Master Chief lunges to the Brute standing in front of him, and grabs it.

The other Spartans open fire, and shoot the others, killing them as the Brute the Master Chief has grabbed knocks him backwards.

He spins on his heel and snaps up his weapon, and fires. The bullets impact the Brute's legs, tearing through flesh and bone, and the creature collapses to the ground.

The Brute growls as the Chief looks down at it.

MASTER CHIEF
Where are the Prophets?

The Brute looks up and snarls something at the Chief as Fred looks at the Chief.

FRED
Sir, I don't think they're here.

The Master Chief looks down at the Brute, who's reaction is answer enough.

MASTER CHIEF
Damn.

He looks at William.

MASTER CHIEF
It was all a distraction.

William nods and sees a map of the Earth on a far holograph projector.

WILLIAM
Sir, they're already there.

The Chief spins around and sees the blinking map of the Earth and he growls.

EXT. LOADING DOCK

The Arbiter looks up at the Forerunner ship and senses something as the Elites kill more Brutes, but the war seems to be one-sided.

The Brutes are seemingly winning this battle.

The Arbiter slices a Brute at the knees, and then he drops to his knees to avoid another strike of Tartarus' gravity hammer.

ARBITER
Demons.

INT. FORERUNNER VESSEL, BRIDGE

The Master Chief hears the Arbiter's voice come through the ships intercom, and William runs over to one of the consoles.

MASTER CHIEF
This was all a diversion.

EXT. LOADING DOCK

The Arbiter looks at the vessel and closes his eyes.

ARBITER
I know.

Tartarus looks at the Arbiter, and stops his assault and laughs maniacally.

TARTARUS
Fools! Once the assault on the Ark is complete, we will begin the Great Journey, and the Elites and all humanity will be left behind.

The Arbiter opens his eyes as Johnson is seen running towards the Chieftain.

SLOW-MOTION SEQUENCE

Johnson leaps into the air, and body-kicks Tartarus in the back, knocking the gravity hammer out of his hands, and sending it spinning towards the Arbiter.

RETURN

The Arbiter picks the weapon up and hefts the weight as Tartarus turns to looks up at Johnson.

TARTARUS
Foolish ape.

Johnson smiles.

JOHNSON
Who you calling foolish?

Suddenly, the Arbiter swings the gravity hammer with all his might towards Tartarus' head…

…and hits an invisible barrier surrounding Tartarus' body.

The Arbiter drops the hammer and looks at the Brute, who looks at him, with a demon look in his eyes.

TARTARUS
Now, it's your turn.

He swings out with a bare arm, and hits Johnson in the chest, sending him sprawling.

The Brute looks at the Arbiter, and takes off his excess equipment, and the Arbiter removes his helmet and nods.

ARBITER
To the death then.

Johnson gets up, rubbing his chest as the Elites and the Brutes stop fighting.

Tartarus and the Arbiter regard each other as the Arbiter hefts the gravity hammer, and gets a firm grip on the weapon's shaft, as a Brute hands Tartarus a pair of projectile weapons.

Tartarus opens fire as the Arbiter spins the gravity hammer around, catching every projectile that is sent towards him, deflecting them away from himself as the Chieftain snarls and throws the weapons aside.

The Arbiter hurls the gravity hammer aside also as Tartarus charges the Arbiter.

They exchange blows, kicks and spill more sweat and blood that artifice as Johnson picks up a discarded beam rifle and shoulders it.

RIFLE SCOPE

The crosshairs center on Tartarus' head as Johnson is heard.

JOHNSON
(Voiceover)
Duck Arbiter!

RETURN

The Arbiter ducks as a piercing purple beam of energy strikes the Chieftain in the head and shorts out the Brute's shield.

JOHNSON
Come on Arbiter; kick that guy's ass!

The Arbiter trades blows to Tartarus' head and spills some purple blood when the shield recharges itself and surrounds the Brute with the film of protective energy as Johnson snaps up the rifle again.

He fires another three-round burst and the rounds hit the shield generator.

The shimmering force field vanishes again and the Arbiter lunges in for the attack.

INT. FORERUNNER SHIP, BRIDGE

The Master Chief walks over to the wide, curving view port and looks down at the ring of Elites and Brutes that surround the Arbiter and Tartarus.

EXT. LOADING DOCK

Tartarus charges the Arbiter, who sidesteps as Johnson fires the rifle again.

The shields finally fail, as Tartarus looks at the Arbiter and grins as the Arbiter gives the Brute a sidekick to the Chieftain's head, and snap it sideways.

The Brutes all look in dismay as their leader drops to the surface, dead.

Suddenly, the entire structure begins to shudder as the Arbiter and Johnson look at each other.

JOHNSON
Chief!

INT. FORERUNNER SHIP, BRIDGE

The Master Chief looks down at the ring of creatures.

MASTER CHIEF
I know. The entire city has a fifteen-minute countdown timer.

INT. FORERUNNER SHIP, HANGAR

The Arbiter, Johnson and the Elites enter the hangar as Johnson and the Arbiter race to the lift.

INT. LIFT

Johnson looks up at the long shaft of shimmering blue-white energy and then at the Arbiter.

INT. BRIDGE

Johnson steps onto the bridge, and looks at the Arbiter and waves his arms around him.

JOHNSON
Well, how do we get this crate moving?

The Arbiter shrugs and pulls up a holograph on the main console. A series of ancient hieroglyphs appear and he begins touching several of them.

ARBITER
Are we secure?

The Master Chief looks at Fred and William, posted near the two hatchways.

They nod.

MASTER CHIEF
Secure.

The Arbiter nods and pushes a long holographic tube forwards.

EXT. FORERUNNER SHIP

The towering vessel rumbles to life, hovering on a shaft of white energy, as the city around it begins to rattle.

INT. BRIDGE

The Master Chief looks at the collapsing city as Kelly looks at him. She points out the window, and he follows her guiding finger to a far structure in the distance.

KELLY
What about Cortana?

Suddenly, Cortana appears on a holographic pad near the Arbiter.

She folds her arms and looks at the Chief.

CORTANA
You didn't forget me.

The Master Chief nods, and folds his arms as the vessel rises upwards, towards a circular opening in the ceiling of the structure.

EXT. HIGH CHARITY, FORERUNNER SHIP

The vessel emerges from the opening in the structure and a ball of glowing; rippling energy surrounds it until it vanishes.

FADE TO WHITE

FADE FROM WHITE

EXT. CRATER RIM

Kurt and the remaining Spartans stand on the edge of the canyon, overlooking the bottom beyond as Kurt looks at the drones that continue to unearth more structures made of black quartz.

KURT
So this is what the planet was named after.

Dante looks at him.

DANTE
Onyx?

Kurt nods as the Covenant ships overhead don't seem to notice them, until small teams of Grunts are seen waddling up the edge towards them.

Kurt snaps up his weapon and fires. The first burst rips a pair of the aliens apart, spraying fluorescent blue blood all over the others that begin running in circles, screaming.

Suddenly, Olivia looks up, and sputters as an energy sword materializes from her chest.

She goes limp, but doesn't fall off of the shimmering weapon until the invisible Elite shows himself.

Kurt curses under his breath and opens fire.

The rounds bounce off of the Elite's shields, as Dante grabs her body and drags it behind them, firing his assault rifle one-handed.

Kurt looks at him, as Tom and Lucy return fire, just as several hundred more Elites appear from behind the one that stabbed Olivia and stand their waiting.

DANTE
What is this, a party?

Tom ejects a spent clip, as Kurt motions for Dante to throw a couple of grenades. He does, and the twin concussions of the explosives detonating shake up the Elites, as Kurt leads their retreat.

The lead Elite looks at the Spartans falling back and emits a blood-chilling roar.

This Elite is 'Rtas 'Vadumee.

'VADUMEE
Demons, you needn't retreat. We are in your charge.

Kurt stops, as Dante slams into him, and stumbles onto the ground.

Kurt turns around and looks at the Elites.

KURT
What do you mean?

'Vadumee holds out a palm and a holograph appears of the Master Chief and the other Spartans fighting alongside the Elites against the Brutes, then as the Arbiter defeats Tartarus, until the holograph ripples to show the towering Forerunner ship lifting off.

'VADUMEE
The Prophets have betrayed the Covenant, and the Brutes have slaughtered millions of our own kind.

He closes his eyes, and looks up.

'VADUMEE
For this, we vow revenge.

Kurt looks at him as Dante lowers his weapon.

DANTE
Why?

'VADUMEE
For untold millennia, the Covenant have followed the Prophets on what we believed was the Great Journey. But we have revealed this path to the world beyond was all a lie.

Kurt looks up at him.

KURT
How do you know?

'VADUMEE
We have uncovered an Oracle from one of several holy rings scattered throughout the galaxy.

The holograph dies out as a hovering silver sphere appears from behind 'Vadumee, with a glowing blue eye.

This is the Oracle: 343 GUILTY SPARK.

Spark looks at the Spartans, then at the Elites and speaks with concerned undertones.

SPARK
You believe these armored humans can help you stop the parasite from spreading?

'Vadumee nods as Kurt looks at Spark, then 'Vadumee, who is looking past the Spartans, to the crater beyond.

KURT
Parasite?

'Vadumee nods, and Spark's glowing center eye brightens.

SPARK
Should I tell them?

'Vadumee shakes his head, and then looks at Kurt.

'VADUMEE
The parasite has been contained by the Ancient Ones for several hundred thousand years. But when the Prophets unlock the Ark, they will release the parasite in order to activate the holy rings.

KURT
The Ark?

'VADUMEE
Yes. Only one Sangheili knows this sacred location every thousand years.

Kurt nods, and looks at the darkening sky.

KURT
Who knows where this Ark is?

'Vadumee holds up his palm, and the holograph shows the Arbiter fighting Tartarus.

'VADUMEE
Only he does.

FADE TO WHITE

FADE FROM WHITE

EXT. FORERUNNER SHIP

A glowing white ball of energy ripples suddenly in the blackness, and through it, comes the pyramidal Forerunner vessel.

INT. FORERUNNER SHIP, BRIDGE

The Arbiter shifts several holographic controls as the Master Chief looks out the window, just as a familiar moon moves past the view port.

EXT. FORERUNNER SHIP, MOON

The ship moves past the Moon, as the Earth looms in the distance.

INT. BRIDGE

Linda looks at the Arbiter, as Johnson and William secure several duffels of weapons.

LINDA
So what are we looking for anyways?

The Arbiter points to the planet far beyond.

ARBITER
This is the Ark.

The Master Chief looks at him.

MASTER CHIEF
Earth?

The Arbiter nods.

ARBITER
All this time, our sworn enemies have been here.

Kelly walks over, and folds her arm.

KELLY
And yet, here we are. Allies.

The Arbiter nods.

EXT. FORERUNNER SHIP, EARTH

The vessel screams towards the planet and through the atmosphere, over the African continent below.

EXT. NEW MOMBASSA, MARINE BASE CAMP, PREDAWN

Mendez climbs out of his prefabricated tent and looks up in the sky as the Forerunner vessel screams overhead, shattering the windows of several tall structures and making the loose rubble around him rattle.

INT. FORERUNNER SHIP, BRIDGE

The Master Chief looks out the view port as he watches the streets of New Mombassa pass beyond in a blur.

A holographic image of the city appears and the Arbiter points to a section of the city, where the fleets of Covenant carriers are.

ARBITER
This is the place.

The Master Chief looks at him.

MASTER CHIEF
The place?

The Arbiter doesn't say any more, as the vessel begins to tip onto its nose, pointing towards the ground.

EXT. FORERUNNER SHIP

The vessel, nose down, passes over the African desert, and hovers over a section of excavated dirt.

INT. BRIDGE

The Arbiter begins tapping commands on a control panel.

EXT. EXCAVATION SITE

The Forerunner ship begins to rotate around, as some unseen force begins pushing the sand away, making a perfect circle.

INT. BRIDGE

The Arbiter looks at the Master Chief.

ARBITER
Demon, it is time.

The Master Chief looks at him and nods.

MASTER CHIEF
Right.

He turns to look at the other Spartans.

They look at him, and Johnson and the Helljumpers snap to attention.

MASTER CHIEF
Lock and load.

FADE TO WHITE

FADE FROM WHITE

EXT. EXCAVATION CRATER, EVENING

The Spartans and the Elites are loading up Pelicans and Covenant dropships as Kurt and 'Vadumee are talking.

KURT
How do we find this Elite?

'Vadumee looks at him, then at Spark.

'VADUMEE
We already know whom he is with.

KURT
The Master Chief.

'Vadumee nods and looks at him, as Spark hovers above them.

'VADUMEE
Yes, this Master Chief, he will contact you.

Kurt looks at him.

KURT
How do you know?

'Vadumee clasps his claws together.

'VADUMEE
Because I have faith in you, Demon.

The Elites and the Spartans step onto the platform of a gravity lift as they are raised up into midair, and they vanish into the bowels of the enormous Covenant flagship.

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