Forerunner (level)

Forerunner is a level in the Halo 4 campaign. It is the third level, taking place after Requiem. It was first announced along with the achievements for Halo 4.

At the Eurogamer Expo, 343i showed gameplay footage of this level. You can find the video here. (footage of this level in particular starts around the 14:00 mark.)



Synopsis
Master Chief has now started to pick up the 's signal, but it is reading from the interior of the planet. Cortana and the Chief decide to find the mass transit system to reach the interior of the planet. They reach the interior to only find a satellite in the direct center of the planet. Cortana then realizes that it can be used to send a signal to Infinity to warn them about the gravity well, but two different energy pylons are scrambling the message. They then precede through a portal to the first pylon where they find various Prometheans guarding it. After defeating the enemies, they shut down the pylon, boosting both the signal and the ability to send the message. They then precede to the next pylon, only to find that Covenant cruisers have made their way inside and are fighting the Prometheans. The two shut down the second pylon and race to the satellite to send the message. They reach the controls and try to send the message, but instead release the Didact.

Transcript
{Gameplay}

''Fade from black. There is a flash as John exits the portal from the previous level into a hallway-like room.'' John exits the hall onto a platform with a console on it, from which what appears to be the planet's core can seen in the distance. John walks up and inserts Cortana's data chip into the console.
 * John-117:"What were those things?"
 * Cortana: "Some sort of advanced defense AI. Related to the sentinels most likely but it's hard to say without a closer look."
 * Cortana:"C'mon let's try and figure out where that transit system dumped us."
 * Cortana:"Put me in the console."

{Cutscene}

Cortana's avatar appears on the console and she looks around. ​Cortana taps part of a holographic display.A portal opens. John removes Cortana's data chip and places it in his helmet.
 * John-117:"Where's Infinity?"
 * Cortana:"This is Requiem's core alright, but Infinity is definitely not here. That satellite in the center is amplifying the ship's broadcasts like a relay."
 * John-117:"Maybe we can use it to respond."
 * Cortana:"Perhaps. Those beams coming off of it are creating the interference we've been experiencing, we'd have to take them out in order to contact Infinity."
 * John-117:"Can you get us there?"
 * Cortana:"Opening a gate to the first relay tower, pull me and let's go."

{Gameplay}

John walks to his left and goes through the portal.

''He emerges in some kind of tunnel.  John walks to the end of the tunnel and several blue- lit Crawlers scatter up the rock cliffs and out of sight.'' John walks on until he comes to a wide clearing.An Alpha leaps over a rock and fires followed by others climbing down the walls. John eliminates the new enemies. John activates a light bridge and moves through a rock crevice.
 * John-117:"This is the first pylon?"
 * Cortana:"Negative. This is as close as I could get us. Hope you don't mind hoofing it a little."
 * Cortana:"Contacts!"
 * Cortana:"And they're back! There, crawling down the walls!"
 * John-117:"Those weren't the things we saw in the terminus."
 * Cortana:"Similar cordical footprint as the tower AI, they're connected alright."

{Cutscene}

(NOTE: The following sequence can only be seen in single-player.)


 * Cortana:"Look out!"

''John looks up as a Promethean Knight pounces on him from above. It's face splits apart and reveals a glowing human skull. John punches the knight in the face and kicks himself away from it, The Knight then snarls and teleports away.''

{Gameplay} As John rounds the next bend several knights can be seen teleporting along the ridgeline. ''A knight appears in the next clearing accompanied by a group of crawlers and a Watcher . John eventually kills the knight and it desintegrates into small flame-like light.'' John moves through the a forerunner tunnel and a series of rocky clearings encountering promethean resistance on the way.He soon reaches a circular platform and a distorted video image of Captain Del Rio appears on the HUD. John clears the area of prometheans and his HUD becomes distorted by static. John proceeds up and behind a structure, then moves through another passageway and exits at the pylon structure.
 * Cortana:"Well he's just a ray of sunshine isn't he?"
 * Cortana:"From that peek under the hood I'd say these constructs must be mimetic in nature."
 * John-117:"More of them?"
 * Cortana:"Similar phasing activity at the edge of our sensors, we're about to get busy."
 * Cortana:"I just found out something interesting about our new friends, when the big ones explode that momentary flash we're seeing is actually a data purge."
 * John-117:"Can you tap into it?"
 * Cortana:"So far I've managed to pull several strands referring to the big ones as "Promethean Knights". Beyond that though things get a bit dense."
 * Cortana:"The relay interference is increasing wemust be close to the pylon."
 * John-117:"What's that distortion?"
 * Cortana (troubled):"That's me... something about moving through those portals is increasing the load on my systems."
 * John-117:"You gonna be okay?"
 * Cortana:"Don't worry, I've held off rampancy this long haven't I?"

John destroys it. John destroys the second. John destroys the final core. John moves up the tower. An image of Infinity and Requiem appears on the HUD. ''John heads to an elevator and starts to ascend the pylon. An image of Del Rio flashing the reclaimer symbol appears.'' The elevator reaches the top of the pylon and John heads towards the beam console. John grabs the handle with one hand and pulls. John slams the handle back into place and the beam shuts down. A portal opens and John passes trough it.
 * Cortana:"That's the target but it looks like the entrance is shielded. We'll have to take it down."
 * Cortana (when John finds the first core):"That looks like one of the shields power cores, take it out."
 * Cortana:"I'm reading two more cores on our level, hit them before you climb all the way up."
 * Cortana:"That's two, good work Chief."
 * Cortana:"Great, that's all the cores, let's take out that pylon."
 * Cortana:"Chief, you're gonna want to see this."
 * Cortana:"That's Requiem! They're not inside at all, they're moving into orbit!"
 * Del Rio (garbled):"This is Captain Andrew Del Rio are there any survivors of the Forward Unto Dawn, we are approaching your last known location ."
 * John-117:"Did he say Forward Unto Dawn?"
 * Cortana:"They must have intercepted our distress beacon."
 * John-117:"The beacon was pulled into Requiem with us.If they try to follow it..."
 * Cortana:"... They'll get caught in the gravity well! I'll keep trying to warn them,you just get that beam down."
 * Cortana:"That's the beam control."
 * Cortana:"That's it, shut it down."
 * Del Rio:"Fleetcom Actual, we are detecting a faint UNSC signal from somewhere near the planetary core."
 * John-117:" They haven't hit the gravity well yet."
 * Cortana:"There's still too much interference to warn them. You've got to disable that other beam before they're pulled inside like we were."

''John exits the portal at same platform he started at. A portal now opens to the right and several Covenant cruisers exit from slipspace and head to the right pylon.'' John enters the portal and exits in a hall similar to the last. ''John heads down the path, eliminating groups of battling Prometheans and Covenant. He makes his way through a clearing with a crashed phantom and heads through a tunnel.'' John reaches the forerunner tunnel and moves through it.
 * Cortana:"I was wondering why Infinity hadn't encountered the Covenant yet."
 * John-117:"What are they doing here?"
 * Cortana:"They're headed for the second pylon as well."
 * John-117:"That can't be a coincidence."
 * Cortana:"Looks like the prometheans don't want the Covenant here either, the battle net's already lighting up with reports of resistance all around the pylon."
 * Del Rio:" "
 * Cortana:"The relay signal is breaking up again, we're almost to the beam."

An image of Infinity approaching the planet appears. John reaches the tower, guarded by covenant troops.
 * Cortana:"They found the opening! Hurry, Chief!"

He destroys the first core.

''He then destroys the second core.  Third core.'' John ascends the pylon and enters the elevator. John grabs the handle and repeats the same cycle as the previous tower. John returns to the main platform.
 *  Cortana:"Power core down, shields weak but still online."
 * Cortana:"Two down. Good job, chief."
 * Cortana:"All cores down. Shield disabled."
 * Del Rio(distorted):"UNSC Infinity to survivor Forward Unto Dawn. We're reading a faint IFF tag near the planetary core, do you read?"
 * Cortana:"Planet's Core? They know we're here! Infinity, this is UNSC AI Cortana do not approach forerunner planet. Repeat, do not approach-
 * Del Rio:"Where is the UNSC asset? Forward Unto Dawn, we read you but you're breaking up. Helm, increase speed by twenty-two get us in there!"
 * Cortana:"NEGATIVE Infinity! Do not approach the planet!
 * Del Rio:"If you can read us, keep transmitting."
 * Cortana:"No! Chief, You have to get that beam down now!
 * Cortana:"Cortana to Infinty do you read! The interference is gone but your suits transmitter's not strong enough."
 * John-117:"Move us up to the relay satalite."
 * Cortana:"Already done, go!"


 * Cortana:"Once we're on the satellite we should be able to respond to Infinity."


 * John-117:"The covenant are headed there too."

John enters the next portal and comes out at the satellite. ''John opens a door and heads up to the next area into a firefight. A damaged phantom crashes into the promethean position killing them all. John continues though various enemies and comes to a large outdoor staircase.''
 * Cortana(distorted):"This doesn't make any sense.Why would they care about a broadcast relay?"
 * John-117:"I'll handle them,you just find that control node."
 * John-117:"How soon until Infinity hits the gravity well?"
 * Cortana:"A minute or two max! The Covenant are pushing for something at the far end of the satellite."


 * Cortana:"Chief! you need to hear this."

John fights his way to a raise platform with two small pillars baring the reclaimer symbol. John places his hands on both pillars.
 * Infinity comms:"Detecting unidentified gravimetric disturbance near planets opening, suggest altering approach vector 172k-150k-12k."
 * Cortana:"They're not diverting from the opening! Hurry, Chief!"
 * Cortana:"Wait, something's not right."
 * John-117:"We don't have time!"
 * Cortana: "The pillars! Touch the pillars!"

{Cutscene} John watches as the satellite echos his message. ''The satellite ominously starts to rise. Covenant and Prometheans cease fighting turn to watch." John lets go and unholsters his rifle. John vaults over the wall to his left and takes cover as the satellite releases a sonic wave, knocking over Prometheans and Covenant alike. A small platform descends from the satellite, and it opens to reveal The Didact. He stands and flexes as his warrior armor forms over his body. He waves his hand over the Knights and their lighting changes from blue to orange as they reprogram while the Sangheili bow down to him. The Didact looks towards John's position. John stands and levels his rifle as his cover desintegrates. The Didact telekinetikly grabs him and pulls him over. The Didact's helmet closes over his face. ​John is thrown against a pillar and tumbles to the ground. He struggles to get up.''
 * John-117: "Infinity! This is Sierra 117 of the UNSC Forward Unto Dawn do you copy?"
 * John-117: "Infinity! Do you read?"
 * Cortana:"Chief... Chief let go of the contacts!"
 * John-117:"Find us an exit."
 * Cortana:"Don't wait around on my account!"
 * Didact:"So fades the great harvest of my betrayal."
 * Jul 'Mdama: "Didact!"
 * Didact:"Even these beasts recognized what you were oblivious to, Human. Your nobility has blinded you as ever.
 * Didact:"The The Librarian left little to chance, didn't she? Turning my own guardians… my own world… against me. But what hubris to think that she could protect her pets from me forever… If you have not mastered even these primitives, then Man has not attained the Mantle. Your ascendance may yet be prevented. Time was your ally, Human. But now it has abandoned you. The Forerunners have returned."
 * Didact:"This tomb is now yours."

The Didact disappears into the satellite. John runs as the satellite vanishes. Cut to black.
 * Cortana:"Slipspace rupture! Chief, Move!"

''Fade from black. John wakes up in the rubble.'' John starts to get up and sees the slipspace portal were the satellite used to be. Two phantoms collide and crash opposite each other. {Gameplay} John enters a ghost. John speeds away on the ghost as the core falls apart around him. John jumps into a portal to Reqiem's surface.
 * Cortana:"Chief, please! We have to go! That Didact, he manipulated Infinity's signal to get us to release him. Get up!
 * John-117:"What's happening?"
 * Cortana:"Moving the satellite into slipspace destablized the core!"
 * Cortana:"The Didact's leaving. We have to find a portal out of here before the whole network collapses!"
 * Cortana:"Grab one of those ghosts."
 * Cortana:"Hang on, I'm gonna channel energy from your shields to over drive the ghost's boost."
 * Cortana:" Keep going ! Keep going!
 * Cortana:"Chief! Emergency broadcast from Infinity!"
 * Del Rio:"FLEETCOM actual we're encountering an unidentifible gravimetric disturbance! And are being pulled inside the Forerunner planet! Possible contact with UNSC Forward Unto Dawn! Jettisoning beacons of our last known loc-"
 * John-117:"Cortana, we need to get up there."
 * Cortana:"It's not like I can get out and push!"

{Cutscene}

The portal opens on a barren cliff and John speeds out on the ghost, heading for the edge. John swerves the ghost sideways, swings out of his seat, and kicks himself away from it.
 * Cortana: "Whoa, cowboy!"

He watches as the craft tumbles over the edge and explodes. John looks up as Infinity slowly emerges from the clouds and passes over them, strange electricity ripples over the ship. John turns and looks as the ship descends to the jungle canopy. ''All of a sudden the Didact's satellite rises into the air behind John. It scans the the area and boosts towards the jungle.'' John unholsters his rifle and starts to walk. ''Fade to black. Level ends.''
 * Cortana:"Chief, look!"
 * Del Rio:"Mayday! Mayday! This is the Captain of the UNSC Infinity, we're encountering an unknown gravimetric disturbance. We are without power and are on a collision course with an unidentified forerunner planet!"
 * John-117:"Track its descent."
 * Cortana:"Marking. Impact predicted twenty-two degrees due north."
 * Cortana:"You know were he's headed."
 * John-117:"Same place we are."

Trivia

 * Acording to IGN this level took about 45 minutes, although it is unknown what difficulty that was on.
 * At the second pylon you can hear the battle sounds of the Covenant and the Prometheans, as well as Human assault rifle noises even though both sides use energy weapons.
 * It's possible, but highly unlikely, that the Covenant was so desperate for weapons that some of them used Human weapons.
 * This is probably the only level in Halo 4 where a Promethean Knight assassinates an Elite.
 * Very rarely, you can keep your shields on the final Ghost run.
 * When Phantoms in the last part crash, they do not leave debris.
 * It is strange to note that even when the Prometheans are blue, their weapons remain orange.
 * This is the first Halo level ever to have lava, although it may just be orange hard light.