V. The Pillar of Autumn
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Intro Cut Scene Begins)
Keyes: Cortana, all I need to know is did we lose them?
Cortana: I think we both know the answer to that.
Keyes: (Sigh) We made a blind jump how did they...
Cortana: Get here first? The Covenant ships have always been faster. As for
tracking us all the way from Reach? At light speed my maneuvering options were
limited.
Keyes: We were running dark, yes?
Cortana: Until we decelerated. No one could have missed the hole we tore in
subspace. They were waiting for us on the far side of the planet.
Keyes: So where do we stand?
Cortana: Our fighters are mopping up the last of the recon picket now, nothing
serious. But I've isolated approach signatures from multiple CCS class battle
groups...make it three capital ships per group - and in about ninety seconds
they'll be all over us.
Keyes: Well that's it then. Bring the ship back up to combat alert alpha. I
want everyone at their stations.
Cortana: Everyone, sir?
Keyes: Everyone. And, Cortana...
Cortana: Hmm?
Keyes: Let's give our old friends a warm welcome.
Cortana: I've already begun.
Cortana (broadcasting through ship) Attention all combat personnel! Please
report to your action stations.
Sergeant: You heard the lady, move like you got a purpose.
Cortana: This is not a drill. I repeat, this is not a drill.
SERGEANT (easy):
Men...keep your eyes downrange, fingers on your triggers, and we all go home in
one piece. (Pause) (Quickly) AmIrightMarines?!?!
SERGEANT (normal):
Once again, it is our job to finish what the flyboys started. We are leaving
this ship platoon, and engaging the Covenant on solid ground. When we meet the
enemy, we will rip their skulls from their spine, and toss 'em away, laughin'!
(Pause) (Loud) Am I right, Marines?
SERGEANT (heroic):
Men, here is where we show those split-chin squid-head sons of bitches that
they could not have picked a worse enemy than the human race. We are going to
blow the hell out of those dumb bugs until we don't have anything left to shoot
'em with! And then, we are going to strangle them with their own-living-guts!
(Pause) (Loud and precise) Am I right, Marines?
SERGEANT (legendary):
Men, we led those dumb bugs out to the middle of nowhere to keep 'em from
gettin' their filthy claws on Earth. But, we stumbled onto somethin' they're
so hot for, that they're scramblin' over each other to get it. Well, I don't
care if it's God's own personal anti-son-of-a-bitch machine, or a giant hoola
hoop, we're not gonna let 'em have it! What we will let 'em have is a belly
full of lead, and a pool of their own blood to drown in! (Pause) (Slow and
loud) Am I right, Marines?
Marines: Sir, yes sir!
Sergeant: UM HM damn right I am. Now move it out double time.
Cortana: Attention all personnel, we are reengaging the enemy. External and
internal contact imminent.
Sergeant: All you greenhorns who wanted to see Covenant up close, this is gonna
be your lucky day.
(Scene cuts to Cryo room B)
Man 1 in Cryo room: Wow! Sir!
Man 2 in Cryo Room: Right. Let's thaw him out.
Man 1: Okay, bringing low level systems online. Cracking the case in thirty
seconds. (Pause) He's hot. Blowing the pins in five.
(Cut Scene Ends)
(Level Script)
Man 1: Come on we have to get the hell out of here.
Man 1: This way.
Man: I'm a cowardly fool.
Man: They're right behind us.
Marine: Seal those blast doors. Move. Move!
Marine: Sir! The captain needs you on the bridge ASAP. Better follow me.
(Cut Scene Begins)
Master Chief: Captain Keyes.
Keyes: Good to see you, Master Chief, things aren't going well. Cortana did
her best but we never really had a chance.
Cortana: A dozen Covenant superior battle ships against a single Halcyon-Class
Cruiser with those odds I'm content with three...make that four kills. Sleep
well?
Master Chief: No thanks to your driving, yes.
Cortana: So you did miss me.
(large explosion rocks the bridge)
Keyes: Report.
Cortana: It must have been one of their boarding parties, I guess an anti
matter charge.
Man in Cockpit: Mam! Fire control for the main cannon is offline.
Cortana: Captain, the cannon was my last offensive option.
Keyes: All right then I'm initiating Cole Protocol Article Two. We're
abandoning the Autumn. That means you too, Cortana.
Cortana: While you do what, go down with the ship?
Keyes: In a manner of speaking. The object we found--I'm gonna try and land
the Autumn on it.
Cortana: With all due respect, sir, this war has enough dead heroes.
Keyes: I appreciate your concern, Cortana, but its not up to me, protocol is
clear. Destruction or capture of the
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Intro Cut Scene Begins)
Keyes: Cortana, all I need to know is did we lose them?
Cortana: I think we both know the answer to that.
Keyes: (Sigh) We made a blind jump how did they...
Cortana: Get here first? The Covenant ships have always been faster. As for
tracking us all the way from Reach? At light speed my maneuvering options were
limited.
Keyes: We were running dark, yes?
Cortana: Until we decelerated. No one could have missed the hole we tore in
subspace. They were waiting for us on the far side of the planet.
Keyes: So where do we stand?
Cortana: Our fighters are mopping up the last of the recon picket now, nothing
serious. But I've isolated approach signatures from multiple CCS class battle
groups...make it three capital ships per group - and in about ninety seconds
they'll be all over us.
Keyes: Well that's it then. Bring the ship back up to combat alert alpha. I
want everyone at their stations.
Cortana: Everyone, sir?
Keyes: Everyone. And, Cortana...
Cortana: Hmm?
Keyes: Let's give our old friends a warm welcome.
Cortana: I've already begun.
Cortana (broadcasting through ship) Attention all combat personnel! Please
report to your action stations.
Sergeant: You heard the lady, move like you got a purpose.
Cortana: This is not a drill. I repeat, this is not a drill.
SERGEANT (easy):
Men...keep your eyes downrange, fingers on your triggers, and we all go home in
one piece. (Pause) (Quickly) AmIrightMarines?!?!
SERGEANT (normal):
Once again, it is our job to finish what the flyboys started. We are leaving
this ship platoon, and engaging the Covenant on solid ground. When we meet the
enemy, we will rip their skulls from their spine, and toss 'em away, laughin'!
(Pause) (Loud) Am I right, Marines?
SERGEANT (heroic):
Men, here is where we show those split-chin squid-head sons of bitches that
they could not have picked a worse enemy than the human race. We are going to
blow the hell out of those dumb bugs until we don't have anything left to shoot
'em with! And then, we are going to strangle them with their own-living-guts!
(Pause) (Loud and precise) Am I right, Marines?
SERGEANT (legendary):
Men, we led those dumb bugs out to the middle of nowhere to keep 'em from
gettin' their filthy claws on Earth. But, we stumbled onto somethin' they're
so hot for, that they're scramblin' over each other to get it. Well, I don't
care if it's God's own personal anti-son-of-a-bitch machine, or a giant hoola
hoop, we're not gonna let 'em have it! What we will let 'em have is a belly
full of lead, and a pool of their own blood to drown in! (Pause) (Slow and
loud) Am I right, Marines?
Marines: Sir, yes sir!
Sergeant: UM HM damn right I am. Now move it out double time.
Cortana: Attention all personnel, we are reengaging the enemy. External and
internal contact imminent.
Sergeant: All you greenhorns who wanted to see Covenant up close, this is gonna
be your lucky day.
(Scene cuts to Cryo room B)
Man 1 in Cryo room: Wow! Sir!
Man 2 in Cryo Room: Right. Let's thaw him out.
Man 1: Okay, bringing low level systems online. Cracking the case in thirty
seconds. (Pause) He's hot. Blowing the pins in five.
(Cut Scene Ends)
(Level Script)
Man 1: Come on we have to get the hell out of here.
Man 1: This way.
Man: I'm a cowardly fool.
Man: They're right behind us.
Marine: Seal those blast doors. Move. Move!
Marine: Sir! The captain needs you on the bridge ASAP. Better follow me.
(Cut Scene Begins)
Master Chief: Captain Keyes.
Keyes: Good to see you, Master Chief, things aren't going well. Cortana did
her best but we never really had a chance.
Cortana: A dozen Covenant superior battle ships against a single Halcyon-Class
Cruiser with those odds I'm content with three...make that four kills. Sleep
well?
Master Chief: No thanks to your driving, yes.
Cortana: So you did miss me.
(large explosion rocks the bridge)
Keyes: Report.
Cortana: It must have been one of their boarding parties, I guess an anti
matter charge.
Man in Cockpit: Mam! Fire control for the main cannon is offline.
Cortana: Captain, the cannon was my last offensive option.
Keyes: All right then I'm initiating Cole Protocol Article Two. We're
abandoning the Autumn. That means you too, Cortana.
Cortana: While you do what, go down with the ship?
Keyes: In a manner of speaking. The object we found--I'm gonna try and land
the Autumn on it.
Cortana: With all due respect, sir, this war has enough dead heroes.
Keyes: I appreciate your concern, Cortana, but its not up to me, protocol is
clear. Destruction or capture of the