Part 01:

CORTANA:

We're coming in too fast!

PILOT:

Damn! Airbrake failure! They blew too early! I'm losin' her...brace for impact!

(White out)

CORTANA:

Chief! Chief, can you hear me? At last...are you alright? Can you move? (As you exit the lifepod) The others...the impact. There's nothing we can do.

(As you exit the area)

CORTANA:

Warning. I've detected multiple Covenant dropships on approach. I recommend moving into those hills. If we're lucky, the Covenant will believe that everyone aboard this lifeboat died in the crash.

(If you explore a little bit)

CORTANA:

I'm reading thousands of types of flora. The ring's ecosystem is incredibly sophisticated.

(As a dropship approaches)

CORTANA:

Alert! Covenant dropship inbound! They must be looking for survivors. I recommend immediate evasion.

(You wait a bit)

CORTANA:

Warning! They've detected us, hear they come.

(Combat)

CORTANA:

I'm reading a lifeboat beacon over the next hill. We should check to see if there are any survivors.

(As you come up to the surviving Marines)

SERGEANT H1:

It's a mess, Sir. We're scattered all over this valley. We called for evac, but until you showed up, I thought we were cooked.

CORTANA:

Don't worry Sergeant. We'll stay here until evac arrives.

MARINE X (over radio):

Heads up! I got a Covenant dropship headin' in, over here!

(Next wave)

MARINE X (radio):

Look sharp! Covenant dropship on approach! I could use some help over here!

(Next wave)

MARINE X (radio):

Uh oh, another bandit droppin' in behind us! They're tryin' to flank us!

(After the final wave of Covie dropships)

FOE HAMMER:

This is Pelican Echo 419. Anybody readin' me? Repeat. Any UNSC personnel respond.

MARINE X or CORTANA (radio):

Roger, Echo 419. This is Fire Team Charlie. We read you 5-by-5. That you, Foe Hammer?

FOE HAMMER:

Roger, Fire Team Charlie. Good to hear from ya.

MARINE X (radio):

If you're not too busy, Foe Hammer, we could use a lift. We have survivors to transport to the command shuttle.

CORTANA:

Look, more lifeboats! They're coming in fast. If those lifeboats make it down, the Covenant are going to be right on top of them. (over radio to Foe Hammer) Foe Hammer, we need you to disengage your Warthog. The Master Chief and I are going to see if we can save some soldiers.

FOE HAMMER:

Roger, Cortana. Okay, Charlie Team, Warthog deployed. Saddle up and give 'em hell.

CORTANA:

Roger, Foe Hammer. Stand by to evac survivors and transport them to safety.

FOE HAMMER:

That's affimative. Echo 419 staying on station. Foe Hammer out.

CORTANA:

The Master Chief and I need some backup, can you spare a few men?

(If you've kept the Sergeant alive until this point)

SERGEANT:

All right, volunteers step up!

(If you're stupid enough to walk away from the dropped warthog - or if you explore the area on foot for more than 5 minutes)

CORTANA:

We need that Warthog, if we want to get to the other lifeboats in time.

(As you drive through the cave structure)

CORTANA:

This cave is not a natural formation. Someone built it, so it must lead somewhere. (Pause) I've hacked into the Covenant battlenet. They're actually broadcasting tactical data on unencrypted channels. We should show them who they're dealing with. Master Chief, I'm going to use your suit's transpond system to monitor their chatter.

(After you kill everything in the big cavern)

CORTANA:

There must be some mechanism to cross this cavern. Look for a control panel or switch.

(Cinematic: When you find the panel and engage it, you get a nice little cinematic of the giant silver beam-generating structures extending across the chasm, and an energy bridge slowly fading into existence)

(As you drive out the other end of the cave...)

CORTANA:

New traffic on the Covenant battlenet...a lot more crew made it off the Autumn than I had expected—the Captain must have really gave them hell! If we can find Captain Keyes and the other survivors, we have a chance to coordinate an effective resistance.

Part 02: Reunion Tour

(All of the dialogue from now until the end of the level varies according to the order you take to visit each crash site. This is only one of nine. Expect the others soon.)

(As you approach the second crash site)

CORTANA:

Survivors detected. The Marines are concealed in those rocks.

FOE HAMMER:

Echo 419 to Cortana, come in.

CORTANA:

We read you, Echo 419. We have survivors and need immediate dust-off.

FOE HAMMER:

Roger, Cortana. On my way. I've spotted additional lifeboats in your area. One near the cliff edge. And another near the head of the river. Hard to see from my altitude, but it looks like there are more survivors.

CORTANA:

Acknowledged. We're on our way.

(If you dawdle)

CORTANA:

We need to find the other two lifeboats.

(As you approach the third crash site)

CORTANA:

There are some Marines hiding in the hills above the structure!

(When you kill everything)

FOE HAMMER:

Echo 419 to Cortana. Foe Hammer's on station and ready for another pickup.

CORTANA:

Affirmative, Foe Hammer. We're ready for dustoff. Approach when ready. We're going to look for the last lifeboat, Echo 419. Good luck.

(As you approach the river)

CORTANA:

Warning. I've picked up reports that the Covenant have located and secured the Pillar of Autumn's crash site. The good news is the Captain's still alive. The bad news is that the Covenant have captured the entire surviving command crew. Let's hurry and find the final lifeboat, so we can link up with the rest of the survivors.

(As you approach the fourth lifeboat)

CORTANA:

Lifeboat detected. No sign of survivors.

MARINE A:

This lifeboat is trashed, Chief. There are weapons and supplies but...no bodies.

(As you run around the final structure)

CORTANA:

We should search the interior of those structures before we leave.

(As you arrive at the bottom of the cavern, where the Marines and the crew members are hiding)

CORTANA:

I've called for evac.

MARINE H2:

(presumably a Sergeant of some sort, though he's not wearing the normal Sergeant's cap): Marines! Assemble for evac, pronto!

(when you kill all the Covies in the area)

CORTANA:

That's the last of them.

FOE HAMMER:

Roger that. I'm on my way.

CORTANA:

New traffic on the Covenant battlenet! I've found Captain Keyes! He's being held on a Covenant cruiser, the Truth and Reconciliation, a ship I disabled before we abandoned the Autumn. The Truth and Reconciliation touched down on a desert plateau roughly three hundred kilometers upspin.

(As FOE HAMMER flies in)

CORTANA:

There's our ride. Get aboard, and let's get out of here.

FOE HAMMER:

Welcome aboard, Master Chief. Ready for dust-off.

(As you climb into the Pelican)

CORTANA:

We should move out, Lieutenant. And then we'll need your help on our rescue mission.