LEVEL 01: "The Heretic"
CHAPTER 01: "The Heretic"
CINEMATIC
Fade up, to see the broken remnants of the Alpha Halo; a Covenant assault carrier flies into view, and we track with it. A huge Covenant fleet has arrived at the wreckage of Halo, and with them a massive, incredibly complex hemisphere structure. Text reads, "Covenant Holy City, High Charity
Ninth Age of Reclamation"
Inside High Charity, Banshees swoop and join formation, and a huge crowd of Covenant soldiers gathers.
ELITE COMMANDER:
There was only one ship.
Inside the Covenant Council Chambers, a gold-armored Elite stands in front of a group of three Prophets-one of whom is present only by hologram.
PROPHET OF TRUTH:
One? Are you sure?
ELITE COMMANDER:
Yes. They called it...the Pillar of Autumn.
PROPHET OF MERCY:
Why was it not destroyed, with the rest of their fleet?
ELITE COMMANDER:
It fled, as we set fire to their planet.
Reach burns under Covenant plasma bombardment; the Pillar of Autumn lifts from orbit and rockets away, attempting to escape the massive Covenant fleet.
ELITE COMMANDER:
But I followed with all the ships in my command.
A Covenant cruiser arrives at Alpha Halo, slowing and joining the relatively small fleet gathered there.
PROPHET OF TRUTH:
When you first saw Halo, were you blinded by its majesty?
ELITE COMMANDER:
Blinded?
PROPHET OF REGRET:
Paralyzed? Dumbstruck?
ELITE COMMANDER:
No.
PROPHET OF REGRET:
Yet the humans were able to evade your ships, land on the Sacred Ring, and desecrate it with their filthy footsteps?
ELITE COMMANDER:
Noble Heirarchs...surely you understand that once the parasite attacked...
The Council members begin to shout.
PROPHET OF MERCY:
There will be order in this Council!
PROPHET OF TRUTH:
You were right to focus your attention on the Flood, but this Demon, this 'Master Chief'...
The far side of Alpha Halo explodes as the Pillar of Autumn's fusion drives go critical.
ELITE COMMANDER:
By the time I learned the Demon's intent, there was nothing I could do.
The Council becomes angry again, and we see the Brute Tartarus, chuckling to himself.
PROPHET OF REGRET (whispering):
Prophet of Truth, this has gone on long enough. Make an example of this bungler. The Council demands it.
PROPHET OF TRUTH:
You are one of our most cherished instruments. Long have you led your fleet with honor and distinction, but your inability to safeguard Halo...was a colossal failure.
A Council member stands up from his seat.
COUNCIL PROPHET:
Nay, it was heresy!
The room is filled with angry shouts.
ELITE COMMANDER:
I will continue my campaign against the humans.
PROPHET OF TRUTH:
No! You will not.
A pair of Brutes move to take the Elite Commander's arms; he stands up straight and makes to push them away. They back off.
PROPHET OF TRUTH:
Soon the Great Journey shall begin.
The Brutes escort the Elite Commander from the Council Chamber.
PROPHET OF TRUTH:
But when it does, the weight of your heresy will stay your feet, and you shall be left behind.
END CINEMATIC
