LEVEL 02: "Armory"
CHAPTER 01: "Armory"
CINEMATIC
The Prophet of Truth's holographic Halo fades, to reveal Earth's moon.
A Human cruiser drifts past a massive orbital Magnetic Accelerator Cannon platform. Earth gleams below, the coastline of the Black Sea partially obscured by clouds. Home.
MASTER SERGEANT GUNNS:
The plating was about to fail, there's viscosity throughout the gel layer.
We see a Marine's hand drop some sort of equipment onto a table.
MST. SGT. GUNNS:
Optics, totally fried. And let's not even talk about the power supply. You know how expensive this gear is, son?
An armored glove picks up a green, gold-visored helmet from the table, lifts it, and we pan up to the see the Master Chief, as his helmet locks hiss and activate.
MASTER CHIEF:
Tell that to the Covenant.
END CINEMATIC
CHAPTER 02: "One Size Fits All"
MST. SGT. GUNNS:
Well, I guess it was all obsolete, anyway. Your new suit's a Mark VI, just came up from Songnim this morning. Try and take it easy till you get used to the upgrades. Okay, let's test your targeting, first thing. Please look at the top light. Good. Now look at the bottom light. Alright. Look at the top light again. Now the bottom one. Okay. Tracking looks sketchy, I'm gonna run you through the full diagnostic. The diagnostic software sets your targeting system to be normal. Go ahead and look at the four lights, chief. You want me to leave it like that, or make it inverted? Okay, now it's inverted. Go ahead and target 'em one more time. Should I leave it inverted, or put it back to normal. Okay, now it's back to normal. I'll leave your targeting set to normal. If you change your mind, you can switch the setting anytime. Stand by. I'm gonna offline the inhibitors.
The steel rings surrounding the Chief lift up into the roof.
MST. SGT. GUNNS:
Move around a little, get a feel for it. When you're ready, come and meet me by the zapper.
(If you knock over the can of beans sitting on the cart)
MST. SGT. GUNNS:
Take it easy!
(When you approach the red recharge station pad)
MST. SGT. GUNNS:
Pay attention, 'cause I'm only going over this once. This station'll test your recharging energy shields. Step on in, I'll show ya.
(If you dawdle)
MST. SGT. GUNNS:
Step into the red square, Chief, and we'll get started.
(When you step onto the pad)
MST. SGT. GUNNS:
Your new armor's shields are extremely efficient, very resilient.
(The machine spins up, and zaps your shields)
MST. SGT. GUNNS:
Bingo! As you can see, they recharge a lot faster!
(The elevator door behind Gunns opens, to reveal Sergeant Johnson in crisp, white dress uniform)
MST. SGT. GUNNS:
If your shields go down, find some cover, wait for the meter to read fully charged.
SGT. JOHNSON:
That, or he can hide behind me. You done with my boy here, Master Gunns? I don't see any training wheels.
MST. SGT. GUNNS:
His armor's working fine, Johnson. You're free to go, son, just remember, take things slow.
SGT. JOHNSON:
Don't worry, I'll hold his hand.
(When you step onto the elevator)
MST. SGT. GUNNS:
So, Johnson, when you gonna tell me how you made it back home in one piece?
SGT. JOHNSON:
Sorry, Gunns. It's classified.
MST. SGT. GUNNS:
Huh! My ass! Well, you can forget about those adjustments to your A2 scope!
(The door closes, and the elevator rises)
SGT. JOHNSON:
Well, he's in a particularly fine mood. Maybe Lord Hood didn't give him an invitation.
(The elevator stops, revealing a small four-man tram, and a stunning view of Earth through large bay windows. Another MAC platform floats nearby, and we can see the Anatolian Peninsula beneath it)
SGT. JOHNSON:
Earth. Haven't seen it in years.
(He steps onto the tram car)
SGT. JOHNSON:
When I shipped out for Basic, the orbital defense grid was all theory and politics. Now look! The Cairo is just one of three hundred geosync platforms. That MAC gun can put a round clean through a Covenant capital ship. With coordinated fire from the Athens and the Malta, nothing's getting past this battle cluster in one piece. Ships have been arriving all morning. Nobody's saying much, but I'll bet something big's about to happen.
(The tram stops, to reveal a crowd of cheering Marines)
