Winter Contingency (level)

Winter Contingency is the second level in the campaign of Halo: Reach and the first level to feature gameplay. It immediately follows the first level Noble Actual, which includes the game's opening cinematic.

Upon completing this level on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary the player will unlock the "We're Just Getting Started" achievement and 10 Gamerscore.

Summary
In the level, Noble Team is sent to Visegrad, a remote agricultural region of the planet Reach, to investigate a disturbance in one of the communications relays responsible for the planet's communications to the rest of the UNSC, and the disappearance of the Army troopers sent in to investigate before them. Sabotage by insurrectionists is suspected, but the cause of the disruption is revealed to be a Covenant advance invasion force.

Transcript
Carter is shown from behind, looking over at the other Falcon.


 * Carter: "(muffled) We're going to introduce ourselves to whoever took it out, then Kat's going to get it back online."


 * Kat: "(muffled)."


 * Jorge: "So why would rebels want to cut off Reach from the rest of the colonies?"

Carter is shown from the front.


 * Carter: "You got a chance, maybe you can ask them, Jorge."

The camera shifts to behind the two Falcons.


 * Kat: "Commander, we've lost our signal to HQ."

Cut back to the second Falcon from Carter's point of view.


 * Carter: "Backup channels?"


 * Kat: "Searching... nada. Can't say what's jamming us."

''The two Falcons are once again shown from behind, from a greater distance. They are now approaching the outpost.''


 * Carter: "You heard her. Deadzone confirmed. Command will not be keeping us company this trip."


 * Jorge: "(muffled)."

''The Falcons bank left and hover over the outpost. Fade to black.''

Gameplay begins.

Trivia

 * The level is named after WINTER CONTINGENCY, a UNSC contingency plan that is declared in case Covenant forces have discovered a UNSC colony world. Indeed, the first evidence of Covenant ground activity on Reach is discovered in the level.
 * The Firefight map Overlook is based on a section of this level, but has different weather conditions.
 * This is the only level known to include Moa, although they may appear in others.
 * This level marks the first appearance of Skirmishers.