Cairo Station (level)

Looking for Cairo Station, the orbital station?

Summary
Cairo Station is the first level in Halo 2 where enemies are encountered. As the Master Chief, you battle against encroaching Covenant forces on the titular orbital platform. Your efforts culminate in a decisive battle against Elites guarding a bomb meant to destroy the station. They guard the bomb so that no humans can deactivate it, ultimately achieving their goal of destruction. However, they don't expect to be confronted by the Master Chief.

Recreation R-01 -> Security R-01 -> Commons R-01 -> Hangar A-01 -> Hangar A-02 -> MAC Storage -> Armory A-01 -> Commons B-01 -> Security B-01 -> Umbilicals -> Portside Shipping -> Firing Control -> Hangar C-01

Usable Weapons

 * Battle Rifle
 * Energy Sword
 * Magnum
 * Needler
 * Plasma Cannon
 * Plasma Pistol
 * Plasma Rifle
 * Shotgun
 * SMG

Glitches

 * Cairo Station Vacation
 * Hidden Soldier in Cairo Station
 * Grunts and Elites in Hard Vacuum

Part 01: Cairo Station
5TafZ_ER1b8 {MC and Johnson step from the tram into a crowd of cheering Marines, robot cameras hover around}

Master Chief: "You told me there wouldn't be any cameras."

Sergeant Johnson: "And you told me you were gonna wear something nice! Folks need heroes, Chief. To give 'em hope! So, smile, would ya? While we still got something to smile about."

''{They walk to the end of the room, blast doors open, fade to white}

{Fade in, Brutes walk the Elite Commander out onto the ledge, Covenant Grunts, Jackals and Hunters have gathered on the walkway}

Grunts: "Her-e-tic! Her-e-tic!"

{They reach the edge, we see the stadium seats filled with roaring Covenant, the Brutes fix the Elite's arms onto floating cuffs}

Tartarus: "You've drawn quite a crowd."

Elite Commander: "If they've come to hear me beg, they will be disappointed."

Tartarus: "Are you sure?"

{The crowd cheers as energy beams hit the Elite on either side, he shakes with pain, fade to white}

''{Fade in on the Cairo's bridge, dozens of Navy officers cheer as MC and Johnson approach Lord Hood at the end}

{They salute}

Lord Hood: "Gentlemen, we're lucky to have you back." {an officer whispers in his ear} "Go ahead, Cortana."

{Cortana's avatar appears on a nearby holotank}

Cortana: "Another whisper, sir, near Io. We have probes en route."

Lord Hood: "I apologize, but we're going to have to make this quick."

Cortana: {looking in their direction} "You look nice."

Master Chief: "Thanks." Sergeant Johnson: {simultaneously} "Thank you."

{they look at each other}

Lord Hood: "Sergeant Major, The Colonial Cross is awarded for acts of singular daring and devotion, for a soldier of the United Earth Space Corps..." {he places the medal on Johnson's uniform}

{fade to white, fade in on Tartarus' face}

Tartarus: "...There can be no greater heresy! Let him be an example for all who would break our oath!"

''{The crowd cheers. Tartarus barks an order, and two Brutes grab onto the Elite's now blackened armor and pull. Fade to white.}

{Fade in, a woman joins MC and Johnson.}

Lord Hood: "Commander Miranda Keyes. Your father's actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service. His bravery in the face of impossible odds reflects great credit, upon himself, and the UNSC. The Navy has lost one of its best." {he hands her a medal, fade to white}

{fade in, the naked Elite hangs limply from his restraints, a brand rises from the floor, Tartarus picks it up and strides forward}

''{the Elite raises his head, Tartarus presses the brand against his chest with malice, the Elite fights the pain but gives in and screams, fade to white}

{Fade in, klaxons sound}

Cortana: "Slipspace ruptures directly off our battle cluster."

Lord Hood: "Show me."

{Image appears on a large board}

Cortana: "Fifteen Covenant capital ships holding position just outside the kill zone."

{The board shows UNSC ships approaching the Covenant ships.}

Radio: "This is Fleet Admiral Harper. We are engaging the enemy."

Lord Hood: "Negative, Admiral. Form a defensive perimeter around the cluster." {to Keyes} "Commander, get to your ship, link up with the fleet."

Commander Keyes: "Yes, sir." {leaves}

Lord Hood: "You have the MAC gun, Cortana. Soon as they come in range, open up."

Cortana: "Gladly." {her avatar disappears}

Lord Hood: "Something's not right... The fleet that destroyed Reach was fifty times this size."

Officer: "Sir, additional contacts. Boarding Craft and lots of 'em!"

Lord Hood: "They're going to try to take our MAC guns offline, give their capital ships a straight shot at Earth. Master Chief, defend this station."

Master Chief: "Yes, sir." {to Johnson} "I need a weapon."

Sergeant Johnson: "Right this way."

''{Johnson and the Chief leave the bridge, as Lord Hood turns back to his command station. Through the bay windows looking up to the MAC cannon, we see the fleet turn to engage the Covenant attackers, Longsword fighters hurtling overhead trailed by a pair of huge cruisers}''

{fade to white}

Cairo Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker): "All hands report to battle stations. This is not a drill. I repeat, this is not a drill!"

Sergeant Johnson (Radio): "How's it going, Malta?"

Malta Defense Coordinator (Radio): "Stand-by... they're latched! Check your targets and watch your crossfire They're in standard formation: little bastards up front, big ones in back. Good luck, Cairo."

Sergeant Johnson: "Field of fire on that bulkhead. As soon as that door opens, let'em have it!"

''{The Marines take up position around a sealed bulkhead. Johnson sets up a stationary gun turret.}''

Part 02: Home Field Advantage
Lord Hood (radio): "Find the borders' point of entry, Chief. Cut them off at the source."

Cairo Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker): This is not a drill. I repeat, this is not a drill.

(Later)

Cairo Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker): Boarders in Habitat Alpha.

(Later)

Cairo Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker): Brace for impact! {A loud crash is heard as a Boarding Craft attaches to the Cairo}

(Later)

Cairo Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker): I need a squad in Habitat Alpha, ASAP!

(Later)

Cairo Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker): We've got boarders in the portside bays.

(Once you finish a fight near a set of bay windows. Covenant Boarding Craft are seen rapidly leaving the Malta Station)

Marine: Hey, check it out! The Malta's already driven off its boarders.

Cortana (Radio): Malta, what is your status?

Malta Defense Coordinator (Radio): I don't believe it! They're retreating, we won!

(The Malta detonates in a huge plume of fire, the MAC gun breaking loose and tumbling away)

Marine: This is bad, real bad!

Cairo Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker): Alert! Hostiles have secured the port bulkheads.

(Later)

Cairo Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker): Security Station 4 is under attack.

(Another set of launch bay windows. Boarding Craft retreat from Athens Station.)

Marine: Uh oh! Hey, they're leaving the Athens…

(The Athens detonates and spins apart, just like the Malta)

Lord Hood (Radio): Cortana, assessment!

Cortana (Radio): That explosion came from inside the Athens. Same as the Malta. The Covenant must have brought something with them. A bomb.

Lord Hood (Radio): Then they sure as hell brought one here. Chief…find it.

Part 03: Priority Shift
(Later)

Cairo Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker): All non-combat personnel to pressure zones.

(As you return to the armory, you find the Master Gunnery Sergeant fighting a pair of Elites), armed only with a Shotgun.

Unnamed Master Gunnery Sergeant (Easy): Get the hell out of my armory, split-lip-

(Normal): Just what this place needed, a couple of real live targets- oh god-

(Heroic): Tell your buddies I got enough ammo for all of 'ya-

(Legendary): Is that a rifle or a flashlight- oh, dangit-

(The Master Gunnery Sergeant is hit and dies)

Cairo Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker): Fireteams to Habitat Delta.

(Later)

Cairo Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker): Hang on, everyone! (Another Crash, and another Boarding Craft is attached)

(Later)

Cairo Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker): Hostiles have taken Security Station 1!

(Later)

Cairo Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker): I need a squad in Habitat Delta!

(You come to a hallway where Commander Keyes, Sergeant Major Johnson, and several others are engaged in a firefight outside the gangway to the UNSC In Amber Clad)

Sergeant Johnson: Come on, Chief, this way!

Commander Keyes: I was almost onboard when they showed up.

Sergeant Johnson: Don't worry Ma'am, we're on it.

(Once you've cleared the area)

Commander Keyes: Thanks, Chief. I owe you one.

Sergeant Johnson: Get going. I'll cover the Commander.

Cairo Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker): Fireteams to terminal 2.

(When you step into the airlock leading outside)

Part 04: Authorized Personnel Only
(During the fight outside)

Cortana (Radio): Sir, boarders have breached the fire control center. They have a bomb.

Lord Hood (Radio): Can you defuse it?

Cortana (Radio): Yes, but I'll need the Chief's help to make contact with the detonator.

Lord Hood (Radio): Chief, get to the bomb, double time! Cortana, prioritize targets and fire at will.

Longsword Commander (Radio): First echelon, you're with me, blanket those cruisers, take ‘em out one by one. Second echelon, keep those carriers busy.

Cortana (Radio): Registering all hostile vessels inside the kill zone. Thirteen cruisers, two Assault Carriers. I'm going loud!

(The huge MAC cannon visible through the bay windows engages, the massive rail slide assembly lifting to the cannon's tip and then slamming back down as a shell bursts from the cannon and goes hurtling up to meet the Covenant fleet. Through the window we can see the rest of the fleet engaging, cruisers and frigates lifting from orbit and firing as they advance)

Cairo Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker): All hands, to pressure zones!

(Later)

Cairo Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker): All non-combat personnel report to evacuation stations!

(As you ride the elevator platform down to the airlock)

Cortana (Radio): Not a lot of time on the clock, Chief!

Fleet Admiral Harper (Radio): The carriers are breaking through, Sir! They're heading straight for the Cairo!

Lord Hood (Radio): Cortana! Concentrate your fire on the first carrier. Admiral, do what you can against the second!

Fleet Admiral Harper (Radio): Everyone, form up, follow my lead!

(Watching through the window as the lift descends, you can see a massive Covenant Assault Carrier accelerate right past the Cairo and towards Earth, making the entire station shake.)

Cortana (Radio): The first carrier completely ignored us, Sir! Blew through the Malta's debris field and headed straight for Earth!

(After crossing the MAC gun's recoil arm in vacuum, and moving back into the airlock)

Part 05: Return to Sender
gpByy8bRzyo Cortana (Radio): Just so you know, there are quite a few Elites guarding the bomb. You may need to get creative.

(The station shakes again. Outside the window, you can see the second Assault Carrier bypassing the Cairo, following the first Assault Carrier down to Earth.)

(Once you clear the room)

(Cortana appears on a pedestal near the bomb.)

Cortana: Me. Inside your head. Now.

''(The Chief touches the pedestal, and Cortana downloads directly into his armor.

He steps over to the bomb, and touches the flashing red activation pad at its center. It blinks and shuts off.)'''

Master Chief: How much time was left?

Cortana: You don't want to know.

Commander Keyes (Radio): Cairo, this is In Amber Clad.

(CUT TO the bridge of In Amber Clad. It's small, with room only for the Captain's chair and two forward seats for the helm and weapons officers.)

Commander Keyes: The carrier's shield is down. I'm in position and ready for immediate assault.

(CUT TO Cairo's bridge. Lord Hood is alone.)

'Lord Hood: Negative, Commander. Not against a ship that size. Not on your own.

Master Chief (Radio): Sir.

(CUT TO the bay, where the Chief is resting one hand on the bomb.)

Master Chief: Permission to leave the station?

(CUT BACK TO Cairo's bridge.)

Lord Hood: For what purpose, Master Chief?

Master Chief (Radio): To give the Covenant back their bomb.

Lord Hood: Permission granted.

(In the bay, the Master Chief grabs the bomb and hauls it across the floor, leaving a trail of sparks. He drags it into an elevator, and descends.)

Cortana: I know what you're thinking, and it's crazy.

Master Chief: So…stay here.

Cortana: Unfortunately for us both…I like crazy.

(The elevator reaches a Longsword launch bay, and the Chief steps out, watching through the huge bay door. The entire fleet streams down toward Earth, chasing the Covenant ships, and exchanges of fire flicker through space. The Chief steps up to the door's release handle, which drops down above him.)

Cortana: Just one question. What if you miss?

Master Chief: I won't.

(The Chief pulls down the handle and the bay doors cycle open, the bay decompressing rapidly. Debris lifts off the floor and hurtles into space, and the bomb slowly begins to slide toward the doors. The Chief grabs hold of it as it passes, and is pulled out into space.

''In free-fall, the Chief descends towards northern Africa, heading for Egypt. The first Assault Carrier is miles below him, too far to reach. The second Covenant assault carrier passes right below his position, and opens up with a huge pulse laser, narrowly missing him. A human cruiser rockets below him, takes a pulse laser burst right through its spine, and explodes. The Chief plummets past it, watches as its engines fail and try to relight themselves.''

''A pair of Longsword fighters dives past him, no doubt vectored in by Cortana, and make a strafing run on the Covenant carrier. Their bombs make a stacatto beat of fire along the back of the carrier, and the Chief slips through the narrow gap the blasts have created into-''

''The carrier's center is a huge, open chamber, a massive fusion core casting white light across its inner surface. The carrier has taken a lot of abuse; the far side of the chamber is torn apart, revealing Earth outside. The Chief crawls up the bomb, presses its activation panel, and spins around. His legs flex, and he vaults off the bomb, aiming for the split in the carrier's armor.''

''He plummets from the carrier, straight for Earth, as behind him minor blue explosions flicker up and down the Covenant ship. A pause, and the entire ship detonates in a huge plasma conflagration.''

The Chief falls towards Africa, and a human frigate passes beneath him, matching trajectories.

Inside In Amber Clad's'' bridge, Sgt. Johnson and Cmdr. Keyes watch a tactical display. A thud resounds through the ship; the Chief has hit his mark.)''

Sergeant Johnson: For a brick…he flew pretty good!

Commander Keyes: Chief…get inside, gear up. We're taking this fight to the surface.

(In Amber Clad banks hard and dives towards the Earth's atmosphere, and a massive, gray city along the East African coast comes into view.)

Normal Walkthrough
Cairo Station. The first level. This level is rather fun, with a large amount of close-combat. I find the best choice of weapon in this level to be a pair of SMG's. Now, BR-55 can do their own "Oh my gosh, all I need is a BR-55 and grenades and I am invincible!", but this way is cool, and very effective in the close corridors of Cairo Station. So, first go down the stairs to the left. Pick up a pair of SMG's, with a BR in reserve. Make sure you have full ammo, then follow the Marines and Johnson out the door. There will also be a Captain with a pistol. Listen to the dude on Malta use explicit language, then run down the stairs, and take cover behind the steel barrier to the left. This is where the true Halo 2 experience begins! Eventually, the Covenant will use a bomb to break through the door. Grunts and Elites in a classic Lance formation will storm through. Pepper them with automatic fire as they come through. Alternatively, you can grab the Sarge's GPMG, and mow them down with 50cal as they poke their heads around the door. After two waves, a pair of Elites with dual Plasma Pistols will jump down from above the door. Keep them in mind. They can surprise you. Another wave will storm through. When they're toast, reload your SMG's and go through the door. A few Grunts, fielded by a pair of Elites, will be there. A Marine down the hall will attack them with a machine-gun. When this area is clear, backtrack to where the Sarge is, and stock up on SMG ammo from the lockers behind him. Then run back through the door, past the machine-gunner, and up the stairs. You will emerge in a tech station overlooking Recreation-R01. There is a turret to the left. Drop your SMG on the ground, and take over the turret. Below you, a Marine with an SMG, and a Captain with a BR will be taking cover behind a barrier. Elites and Grunts will be attacking them. Using the turret, gun down as many Elites and Grunts as you can see, but don't stay in the turret too long, or an Elite will come up behind you. Once every shoot-able target is dead, relinquish the turret, grab your second SMG, and go through the door. Go down the stairs, mowing down an Elite and a Grunt as you go, then prepare for another Elite on the ground floor. Once he has fallen at your feet, go through into R01, blasting away any Grunts that you see. Careful, a door to the right will open, and Grunts and an Elite will jump out. When everyone in this room is dead, jump onto the plant containers, then up again back to the tech station. Refill your ammo from the weapons locker there, then go through the door to continue. Up the stairs, then through the door to the hanger. Drop your second SMG for a bit, and rain grenades down on the boarders as they come out of the ship. Don't be frugal, they are everywhere in this room. When the energy shield in front of the ship's door deactivates, use your Battle Rifle, and headshot the Grunts as they fly. Once you have faced several waves of troops, and the Marines start talking about the Malta, go and grab 4 Plasma Grenades, and your SMG's. Temporarily swap your left hand gun for a Plasma Pistol. Presently, a door will blow, and a Lance will storm through. Take out the Elites first if you can with an overcharged plasma shot, then a peppering of 5mm. When that wave of boarders is dead, swap your pistol for your SMG again, and storm through the door, and past a blockade. There is a lot of ammo here, so remember that. Pull out your Battle Rifle before you get the Checkpoint, and turn into the next Hangar. There are a pair of Grunts bombarding several Marines with Plasma Cannons. Headshot the aliens over the top of their weapon, then swap back to dual SMG's. Crouch and move from cover to cover, peppering the boarders with full auto fire. After you have faced several waves, the Athens will now explode, and doors set into the ground, leading to MAC Storage, will open. Toss a grenade down there at the aliens, then storm down with full auto fire. Before going through the door at the end of the room, have a plasma grenade at the ready. A Stealth Elite will stride through. Stick him before he can dodge, then turn on your flashlight, and try to stick the other Elite lurking around the other door. Grab your SMG's and continue. The Sarge is being bombarded by a pair of Elites. Unfortunately, his death is inevitable, as Agent Smith would say. He will drop a Shotgun. Collect it if you wish, but I prefer not to, as this next room is where your SMG's will come in most handy. Kill the Elites in the Armory, and before you go through, stock up on ammo. The yellow lockers set into the wall hold a pair of SMG's each, which makes a total of 16 SMG's in this room. That should be enough, don't you think? Storm through the door, and run across the room to the doorway opposite you. Mow down the Grunts waiting in there, then get ready for an Elite. Mow him down with reckless full auto fire, then take out a Grunt at the controls of a Plasma Turret on the platform adjoining this room. Rapidly squeeze the triggers, using accurate bursts, to take out the Grunt at the Plasma Cannon on the other platform, then take out the Elite with an accurate stream of bullets. Once he has fallen, very satisfyingly, run across the room and mow down a pair of Grunts. There is a pair of troublesome Gunner Grunts up on the balcony. See if you can stick the turret. That should kill both of the Grunts up there. Across the room, a lance will attack you from a doorway. Kill them off, and then take out the turreter along the corridor. You should be running low on ammo now, so backtrack to the Armory and load up. Go up the stairs to get to another tech station. Across the room, a door will open, and Grunts led by a Major Elite will attack. Try and stick the Elite, then go through the door. The Sergeant, Miranda Keyes and a pair of Captains are trying to clear a path to their ship. Assist them in that, then get ready as a Lance runs around the corner. Mow 'em down, backtrack for more ammo, then go through the door. Time to go for a space-walk! Shortly after the title, a door will open, and a pair of Ranger Elites will attack. Try to stick one, then mow the other one down. Jump outside, but be careful of the beckoning edge, unless you want to visit Central Africa. Mow down the pair of Rangers out here, then go through the airlock, back inside. A Battle Rifle will come in very handy in this part. Get it out, and have a Plasma Grenade ready. As the Admirals discuss space tactics, move towards the edge. A buzzing sound should ring out. When it is halfway through playing, toss a Plasma Grenade just at the edge of the slope. If you timed it right, a couple of Drones should land on the grenade. Bye-bye bugs! Move backwards, to where a Marine is taking cover behind a barrier. This guy's a bit of a space-hog, so if you must, shoot him dead. Mortene the rest of the Drones with BR fire, then jump down the lift railing onto the huge elevator. Press the button to make it descend, and use grenades to take out the Covenant on the platform below you. The go through the airlock, and back outside. Have your BR ready, and when the door opens, scope in on the Ranger on the Plasma Cannon. Concentrate your fire on that damn Elite, and take him out with long-range headshots, then take cover and reload. Kill the other Rangers in this area, then grab a pair of SMG's and continue, over the MAC gun's moving bridge thingy. If you are doing Heroic or Legendary, be careful of the Ranger who will fly from over the rooftops. Go into the airlock. One more room to go! Time to disarm that bomb. When the lift's door opens, use your Battle Rifle to take out the Grunts. Then swap back to your SMG's and continue, under the loading machine, and attack from the left side. The resistance will be less here. There are a large amount of Major Elites in this area, so be careful. Mow down the rest of the aliens, and you've finished this room, and the level! Now watch as the Chief does some really weird stuff with a spikey bomb, and watch a Covie ship go bo0m. There! Finished! Only 12 levels to go! :)

Overview
Like Halo 1, Halo 2 starts you out in space in a relatively small but tricky level. Your opponents are limited to grunts and elites (including the new flying elites) with a few drones thrown in for good measure, and they usually show up in tight groups; but your weapon choices are also limited, forcing you to rely on relatively light, medium-range weapons, with the exception of the energy sword. Weapon selection and effective use of weapon combos are essential right from the start. The good news is that by the time you finish this level, you'll be an expert at killing elites cleanly and efficiently with the aid of the venerable plasma pistol.

Part 1: Home Field Advantage
There are those who said this day would never come. Evidently they were wrong, and so here you are in space once again, about to be boarded by the Covenant. Well, time to start saving humanity, one dead alien at a time. Begin by descending the stairs to your left and grabbing some weapons. I'd strongly recommend the battle rifle and magnum.

As you continue on through the sliding doors, Sarge & company prepare a little defensive position, while the Covenant prepare to blast through the door on the far side of the room. Fortunately, Sarge is too mean to be killed by conventional weapons, so let him handle this fight while the Chief moves on to bigger and better things. This is the first of many optional battles in the game that we're just going to avoid for the sake of expediency. Set yourself up along the wall next to the door (not too close, or the blast will kill you), wait for the Covenant to burst through, and proceed as follows:

QuickTime (1.8 mb) | WMP9 (1.9 mb)

Right-click (option-click on a Mac) and "Save As" to save to disk.

Note that you don't even have to fight the enemies in the hallway; if you hide nearby, marines will soon show up and catch them in a crossfire.

Whatever course you chose, you should now find yourself near a staircase. At this point, I'd suggest switching to a dual plasma pistol/magnum setup in anticipation of the upcoming battle. If you're like me, you might prefer to put the magnum in your dominant hand, which can make it easier to pull the trigger rapidly. Get comfortable with the plasma pistol: you're going to be seeing a lot of each other. When you're suitably armed head up the stairs and through the sliding doors, and prepare for your first serious fight.

You have a few options here. Unlike the lesser difficulties, I'd avoid the turret, which is pretty much just an open invitation to be shot dead. You could continue through the doors ahead and down the stairs, methodically using your plasma pistol and magnum to pick off the elites and grunts, which works perfectly well. However, we're going to do something a bit more daring. When you get the checkpoint, charge up a plasma shot, make a left, and jump right off the balcony and into the fray like the badass cyborg that you are. Actually it's not as suicidal as it sounds. The enemies are already broken up into small, manageable groups, so just take it one elite at a time, as the video shows:

QuickTime (3.9 mb) | WMP9 (4.1 mb)

Right-click (option-click on a Mac) and "Save As" to save to disk.

The advantage to doing it this way is that not only is it quicker, but you have a much greater chance of keeping your marines alive. They will repay the favor by mopping up any stray grunts in the central area while you deal with the elites. When you're done, you'll find yourself at the base of another staircase.

If you liked the dual plasma pistol/magnum setup, and are planning on leaving the catwalk at some point during the upcoming fight, you can refill your magnum ammo under the stairs; otherwise, you might as well drop it now and just hang onto the plasma pistol and battle rifle before proceeding up the stairs. Note that the doors to the previous area close once you enter the hangar, so if you really want to be on the safe side, take advantage of the dual wielding to drop a few spare plasma pistols into the staircase area. That way, you can go back and grab a replacement if you run out. In the same fashion, I might also suggest carrying an extra plasma pistol with you into the hangar from the start, and dropping it at your feet behind wherever you choose to take cover. Two should probably be enough.

As you enter Hangar Bay #1, you're faced with the first of five waves of Covenant, each consisting of one or two elites and a few grunts that will pour out of the boarding craft on the floor below you. If you're the cautious sort, still getting used to the combat, or just don't feel like dying too much today, head right on the catwalk and take cover behind the large crate. This crate will be your refuge for the remainder of the battle. Find the likeliest elite and introduce him to the plasma pistol/battle rifle combo. If you miss, just duck behind the crate and then try again. Pick off the grunts with battle rifle headshots as necessary. That's really all there is to it; just repeat this procedure for each wave, as shown in the video.

QuickTime (4.5 mb) | WMP9 (4.9 mb)

Right-click (option-click on a Mac) and "Save As" to save to disk.

Note that the appearance of the next wave is governed by the number of enemies remaining, and they won't always wait until you're finished; use your judgment, and try not to get overwhelmed by too many elites at once.

As you can see, they can't get close to you, and can't flank you, so as long as you're patient, stopping to let your shield recharge when necessary, and don't get careless about standing in the open for too long you should be fine, save for the occasional unlucky grenade. The final wave can be slightly trickier, as you encounter a gray elite with dual plasma rifles who can literally kill you in about a second if you're not particularly careful, so don't let up too early. If you're having serious trouble surviving even the first waves, it's likely that you're taking too long to line up your shots (even if it may not seem that way).

Another, more adventurous path is to jump right down into the fray once again, taking them on at close range. Your marines can aid you in this by distracting the elites, often leading them to turn their backs unwisely to you, as shown in the next video.

QuickTime (3.9 mb) | WMP9 (4.3 mb)

Right-click (option-click on a Mac) and "Save As" to save to disk.

After you kill the last boarder, take a moment to find a fresh plasma pistol; but don't get too comfortable because you're not done yet. A final group of two elites and some assorted grunts are getting ready to blast through the door on the far side of the room, to the right of the pelican. Line up perpendicular to their path of entry, throw a few plasma grenades at the doorway as soon as you see the explosion, and mop up the survivors, which should be no problem after the last battle. Be careful, since you may not get a checkpoint until after this encounter.

Take a breath, rearm and reload; I would strongly recommend equipping yourself with a plasma pistol and battle rifle at this point. If necessary, you can use one of the crates to crouch jump back up onto the catwalk to retrieve grenades and ammo. Head down the hall and proceed into Hangar #2. Many people have trouble with this room, but there's really nothing fundamentally different from Hangar #1, save that there are a few more elites, and you no longer have the advantage of elevation (unless you do run up onto the catwalk, which is not really advisable). Just find a good crate to hide behind and use your plasma pistol/battle rifle combo as in the last battle to pick off the elites and grunts from a safe distance. If you're in a hurry, you could try lobbing a grenade or two as each new wave arrives, but it's not really necessary. Remember to exploit the dual wielding to carry a backup plasma pistol along with you, because you'll probably need at least two. The fourth wave can be hard, with the two dual-wielding gray elites, but just be patient and cautious, and whatever you do don't get caught out in the open. The safest hiding spot is probably the crate right near the entrance.

If you're feeling more confident, the next video shows another possibility. As you can see, this spot has the advantage of providing a better field of fire, and lets you catch the elites in a crossfire, in which they'll often turn away from you to face your marines. There is, however, a greater chance of being surrounded.

QuickTime (7.2 mb) | WMP9 (8 mb)

Right-click (option-click on a Mac) and "Save As" to save to disk.

It's also possible to play it out even more aggressively, and take the battle to your enemies, as the next video shows.

QuickTime (5.3 mb) | WMP9 (5.8 mb)

Right-click (option-click on a Mac) and "Save As" to save to disk.

Or even:

QuickTime (4.1 mb) | WMP9 (4.3 mb)

Right-click (option-click on a Mac) and "Save As" to save to disk.

Once you finish off the last wave, feel free to relax and pat yourself on the back: you just survived one of the harder battles in the game. I don't know about you, but that didn't feel like much of a home field advantage to me.

Part 2: Priority Shift
I know that energy sword lying on the floor looks awfully tempting, but try to resist it for now as we turn our attention to the two stairways descending into the floor. At the bottom, you'll find a familiar group: two elites, and some assorted grunts. You know the drill: plasma pistol/battle rifle. If you're feeling vindictive, you can cruelly toy with them by striking from one entrance and then switching to the other, hitting them while their backs are turned. I would suggest leaving one grunt alive, running back up to the hangar and exchanging the plasma pistol for the energy sword, and then heading back down the stairs to kill off the last grunt so that you get a checkpoint with the sword already in hand. If you're wondering, we're going through all this trouble in order to conserve the sword for a later battle when it is more useful (that is, the two flying elites at the start of part 3). Do not proceed down the hallways before retrieving the sword, or the doors at the bottom of the stairs will lock behind you. Also, make sure you fill up on plasma grenades before you proceed, even if it means going back to the catwalk in hangar 1.

As you proceed down either of the hallways, the door at the end will open to reveal a very surprised, not-yet-cloaked elite. Greet him with a lunge attack, and finish him off with a slash. An identical, cloaked elite on the other side will either enter the room with you, or try to sneak around behind you, the latter being preferable from your standpoint since you only have to deal with one at a time. In that case, wait next to the door until he appears and make sure he suffers the same fate as his buddy. If you die, no big deal; you have a checkpoint close by, so just try again...after all, it just means more time playing with the sword.

Another two elites are waiting in the room above you. As in the previous area, you can exploit the two staircases to distract them and then sneak around behind them. Deal with them in whatever way you like.

In the next area, you'll find another open atrium much like the last. The video below shows one effective path through the enemies.

QuickTime (2.3 mb) | WMP9 (2.5 mb)

Right-click (option-click on a Mac) and "Save As" to save to disk.

By jumping up onto the balcony, you can skip a significant portion of the fight, avoiding not only the enemies by the staircase, but those that would have entered the balcony as well.

Continue around the bend and take out the elite and grunts, which should be straightforward at this point. You may want to temporarily exchange the sword for a plasma pistol if it's running low. As you advance about halfway down the hallway, a second, similar group will come running around the corner from the right. Toss a grenade to give the grunts something to think about and drop the elite with the plasma pistol/battle rifle combo. After retrieving your sword, round the corner to the right, and keep right on running.

Part 3: Authorized Personnel Only
As the chapter title disappears, the door at the end of the windowed hall will open, and you'll have your first run-in with the game's new flying elites. These guys can be a pain for a couple of reasons. The charged shot, on which we have come to rely so heavily, does not cancel their actions from a distance in the same way that it does with regular elites. On the contrary, they can absorb a shot and keep right on moving and firing at you, giving you much less time to line up the headshot. Also, the charged shot often has difficulty homing in on them while they're flying (naturally, it makes the follow-up shot more difficult, as well). Fortunately for us, they don't usually exploit most of their advantages very well. If they were to attack aggressively in a group, flanking us from above and the side, we would be in serious trouble. Instead, they remind me more of the guards in Metal Gear Solid: once they see you they'll buzz around excitedly for a while until they get bored, land, and go back to staring at the wall again. Often they'll land in such a way as to make themselves easy targets for a plasma grenade or a melee attack to the back. So, while it pays to be cautious with these guys, they're not as formidable as they could be.

Right about now you'll have two of them coming through the door ahead of you. Why they would choose to venture inside and negate their advantage of mobility rather than ambushing you out in the open is unclear. In any case, the sword makes short work of them, as they're no tougher than regular blue elites. Refill your battle rifle and plasma grenades from the piles on the floor back near the entrance to the glass hall; there's also a full plasma pistol on the ground here (I'm going to assume that your weapon selection is plasma pistol/battle rifle for the remainder of the level). Head outside when you're ready.

Your goal here is to make it to the airlock on the far side of the open, crate-littered area. The goal of the additional three flying elites you'll encounter outside is to stop you from getting there. This area can be a bit tricky because there doesn't really seem to be a fixed pattern to their positions. One clever way to circumvent this problem altogether with the help of some grenade jumping (thanks, Cody Miller!) is shown in the next video.

QuickTime (3.5 mb) | WMP9 (3.7 mb)

Right-click (option-click on a Mac) and "Save As" to save to disk.

If you want to fight it out, I've yet to find one definite path that always works. The first elite often hangs out either above or below the windowed hall, but sometimes flies off to join the other two near the airlock door. If you're lucky they might be sitting around with their backs to you, in which case, problem solved. Otherwise, all I can say is observe their positions, look for an opening to take a shot or get close enough for a plasma grenade or melee attack, and retreat to a safe location while they reshuffle themselves in the aftermath. Hiding inside the big crates works well. If you can kill two of them, it's usually pretty easy to sneak up on the last guy.

The airlock will lead you into an open, seemingly empty room where Bungie sneakily tries to set you up for a cheap ambush by another of the game's new enemies, the drones. Don't be fooled: as soon as you step forward into the room and you hear the foreboding music, get ready to throw a grenade right where you see the red arrow on the floor, near the edge of the incline. If you time your throw so the explosion occurs right as the mass of drones appears over the edge, you'll be able to kill and wound several of them before they even get a shot off, as shown in the next video.

QuickTime (488 kb) | WMP9 (600 kb)

Right-click (option-click on a Mac) and "Save As" to save to disk.

Unless you get caught out in the open drones are more of an annoyance than a serious threat. They pretty much just slow you down and make you waste some ammo, requiring about 3-4 battle rifle bursts to kill. For this reason my preferred way to deal with drones is to let my marines take care of most of them; they're better at targeting small, erratically-flying enemies, and have unlimited ammo. In this case, just hide behind the shield and help your marine pick them off one by one. Usually they make life easier for you by landing on the walls in plain view; just make sure you get them all.

Meanwhile, that noise you hear in the background is the world's slowest freight elevator making its way up the incline. Either wait until it reaches the top or, if you're the impatient sort, jump down onto it. On the elevator you'll find Standard Group of Elites and Grunts #5137, which you don't need me to tell you how to deal with at this point. When you're finished, use one of the control panels to reverse the elevator, and go watch the extended Lord of the Rings trilogy while you wait for it to complete its descent. Don't forget to pick up a fresh plasma pistol from the elevator; I'd save the ones you're about to find in the airlock for the finale.

As you head outside once again via the airlock door at the bottom, you'll encounter another three flying elites. One of them will man the turret on the far ledge while the other two, both armed with dual plasma rifles, close in. Most of the time they'll fly up and land a comfortable distance away, making themselves relatively easy targets. Just use one of the short wall segments in front of the airlock doorway for cover and pick them off in whichever order you prefer. Note that if you stay close to the airlock the elite up on the turret will be too far away for the charged shot to home in, so you'll have to aim it manually. I would suggest zooming with your battle rifle to adjust your aim and then (without moving) quickly switching to the plasma pistol.

Once they're dead, pick up both full plasma pistols from the airlock and continue along the moving ramp, staying on the right side. At about the point you pass the plasma turret previously occupied by the now-deceased flying elite, another two of the pests will appear, flying out from under the MAC gun above the elevator door that you're trying to reach. Once again, their erratic behavior makes describing one definite course of action a bit difficult. Generally, the safest approach is probably stay out of sight until they settle down. When they land near the elevator door, proceed toward the area along the right side of the ramp where they are less likely to detect you. As you reach the vicinity of the door, drop one plasma pistol and carefully peek around until you determine their locations and orientations. If they're both facing away from you, smack them on the head and be done with it. Otherwise, I usually stick one with a plasma grenade before shamelessly running off to hide in a most un-Spartan-like fashion (there's a nice dark corner nearby that serves as a good hiding spot). When you hear the sole remaining elite land again, just sneak up and finish him off.

Retrieve your second plasma pistol and continue onward into the elevator door on your way to fire control.

Part 4: Return to Sender
Despite the new chapter title, there's really only one battle left, and not a terribly tough one at that. During the elevator ride, turn around so you're facing the way you came in. The doors open to reveal a room filled with six elites. It's not as bad as it sounds, though: you have plenty of cover, as well as the ability to alternate quickly between two nicely separated points of attack, as the video shows. You've been practicing this technique all level, and if you could survive Hangar Bay #2, this fight should be deservedly anticlimactic.

QuickTime (3.4 mb) | WMP9 (3.8 mb)

Right-click (option-click on a Mac) and "Save As" to save to disk.

Congratulations: you just finished one of the toughest, most combat-intensive levels in the game. Pat yourself on the back, relax, and watch that cutscene that we all marveled at back in the first teaser trailer.

Next stop: Earth.

Speed Run Walkthrough
''Note: This walkthrough requires correct Grenade Jumping, precision in everything and... speed. This walkthrough is based on the current fastest Speed Run at High Speed Halo, Cody Miller's 10:19 Legendary run, with a bit of minor editing as I personally deem fit. It may be altered as and when faster runs emerge. Certain portions detailed here may only take place on Legendary and alternate methods, not detailed here, will be necessary in such events.''

Go down the stairs and pick up the SMG and Battle Rifle (henceforth referred to as "BR" for brevity). Change to the SMG. Head into the next room and dual-wield a Magnum (or go akimbo with another SMG, if you feel like it) from the stockpile. Once in the next room, leap over the railing. Get to the second display-thing and jump onto it, then onto the higher area. Get to the area above the door and wait for the door to open.

Once the first wave of Covenant go through the door, drop down. DO NOT ENGAGE. Instead, go through and assail the Covenant in the adjoining room. Once they are all down, swap out your SMG for a Plasma Pistol (henceforth referred to as "PP" for brevity). Travel on to the next area, overcharging your PP as you do so. You get a checkpoint as you enter the room with the next enemy encounters.

See the Elite in the lower area? Jump down and let him have the charged shot as you fall, then kill with the Magnum. Treat the next Elite the same way, then head to the room at the rightmost corner of this room, overcharging as you do so. Release the charged shot on the Elite there and kill him with the Magnum, then drop the Magnum for your BR and kill the Grunts. Use the scope to snipe out the Grunts in the room across, then charge up and release the shot on the Elite there. Let him have the Battle Rifle rounds and swap out your current PP for a fresh one on the floor. Get to the stairway and reload your BR, heading on to the next area all the while. If you've been following the instructions closely, you should get a checkpoint as you ascend the stairs.

Overcharge your PP as you enter the next room. If you've been going full throttle all this while, you should get in just as an Elite comes under fire. Contribute your charged shot to the cause of bringing him down, then bring back your BR to take the stragglers. Snipe out the Grunts as they leave the boarding craft and contribute overcharges to bringing down the Elites. After two more waves (counting the Elite first seen here as the first), drop to the lower level and replace your PP. Kill the Grunts in the fourth and last wave, then draw close to the Elite. Wait for him to whip out his Energy Sword, then kill him and replace your PP with the Sword. Collect Plasma Grenades (henceforth referred to as "PGs" for brevity), return to the upper floor, get to the platform with the turrets, collecting more Plasma Grenades as you do so, then drop down on the right side of the room. The game won't move on until the Malta blows up, so you might as well watch. Stay alert, you don't get any checkpoints yet. The door opposite the window will blow. Feed the Covenant a PG, then hide behind the crate. Go around the crate and kill the Minor and Major Elite with Sword Lunges, then head into the room they came in from. You FINALLY get a checkpoint as you near the doorway to the next room with enemies.

Snipe out the Grunts on the catwalk, then feed the Covenant at the other end of the room two Frag Grenades. Take the path to the right to sneak up on a Major Elite and backstab him, then whirl around and go around the crates currently in front of you to kill another Major. Go back to where you backstabbed the first Major and go to the right of the crate. Stick the Major there with a PG, then go back behind the crate and to the left to wipe out another. Go behind and to the right and stick the next Major that drops in, then hide again and pop out to the left to finish a Minor. Drop your Sword, which is now most likely low on charge, for a PP. Kill a few remnant Grunts, then treat the Elite coming out to an overcharge. Hide, then use your overcharge combined with BR bursts to neutralize the two Sword-wielding SpecOps Elites that drop by. Pick up any available grenades, then once again swap out the PP for a Sword. Watch the Athens blow, then head down the stairs. As the door opens, stick the waiting Major, then retreat and snipe out the Grunts. Throw another PG at the next Major that appears, then Sword Lunge him to death. Deal with the final Grunt. Checkpoint!

Approach the door at the end and Sword Lunge the approaching Minor. Head into the lower level of the Armoury and find the Infiltrator there. Make him greet your little pointy friend, then head up the stairs. Another checkpoint at the top.

Throw two PGs at the Elite duo waiting by the door, then Sword Lunge them into the afterlife. You get a checkpoint as you get behind the little barrier-thing.

After the unnamed Master Gunnery Sergeant dies, switch your sword for his shotgun; it'll come in handy. Jump on top of the crate in the next room, then to the higher floor. Travel along the path and snipe out the turret-manning Grunt, then jump over to the room he once occupied. Go through the series of doors and get a checkpoint as you enter the next room.

Help Miranda and Sarge with their little Covenant problem and head on into the next area. As "Authorized Personnel Only" starts, throw two PGs at the approaching Ranger Elites and finish off with shotgun blasts. Now drop down. Whirl around and jump on top of the red storage-thing. Get to the edge nearest to the place you came out of and throw a PG so that it stops bouncing at the edge of the storage-thing, using it to Grenade Jump onto the top of the indoor area. Shotgun the Ranger waiting there, then head to the end of the roof. Grenade Jump up to the higher area and follow the edge to the place above the door to the next area. Drop down, ignoring the Ranger if he's still there, and go in. Reload your BR over the dead Helljumper. You should get a checkpoint here.

Head into the next area and, and pick up spare Frag Grenades while you're at it. Throw two Frag Grenades at the approaching Drones and finish off any that survived the detonations, then go under the staircase to the right and drop down onto the elevator. You will get a checkpoint as the formerly-closed door opens to admit more Covenant.

Quickly throw your last Frag Grenade into the door as it opens, then switch to your shotgun. Turn around and kill any Drones that may have followed you down, then swap the shotgun for a PP and hide behind the crate.

Use an overcharge shot and a BR burst to kill the Major visible from the left of the crate, then go around it and to the right of the crate further in front while overcharging. Use the same tactic to drop the second Major. Now start the elevator. Once the elevator reaches the room the Covenant came in front, swap out your current PP for one with more charge. As the door in front of you opens, you will get a checkpoint.

Use the overcharge and the BR, as well as hiding at appropriate moments, to eradicate the three Rangers that appear to greet you. Continue down the path, ignoring whatever remnants of opposition remain, and head into the next elevator. You get a checkpoint as "Return to Sender" starts.

Immediately head to the left side of the room. Stick the first Major you see. Rub out the life of the Minor that tries rather unsuccessfully to backstab you with an overcharge and a BR burst. Stick the two Majors waiting on the other side of the crate with PGs. Let them blow, then use an overcharged PP shot and sniped bursts from the BR to kill the Needler-wielding Major at the other end of the room. Get out from behind your crate and go to the left of the one in front, using your overcharged PP and BR bursts to kill the last Major.

That's it for this level. The current record is Cody Miller's 10 min 19 sec run, but it involves two deaths which I skipped over. If you want to perform a better, deathless run, go ahead, do so and send it in. I'm sure the HSH folks will like one.