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| HCE Remake: The Truth and Reconciliation v1.0 | |
| Posted By: SonGoharotto <SonGoharotto@gmail.com> | Date: 4/29/11 5:15 p.m. |
In Response To: HCE Remake: Halo v2.1 (SonGoharotto) At last, the next level! The Truth and Reconciliation {Cutscene} We open to blackness. A metallic clang and ribbon of white signals the opening of Echo 419's troop bay door. The bloom of light is blinding, but shadows soon resolve into the image of Master Chief looking out the back of the Pelican, a handhold firmly in grip. [Yes, John has some common sense.] The scenery that sweeps past is at first sky, then the tops of trees, and suddenly a cliff of bare rock with alien architecture jutting out from it. From the outside, we can see the Pelican is flying over UNSC Alpha Base, where the survivors from the Pillar of Autumn have gathered. A sprawling alien complex overlooks plains that sweep down from the miles-long cliff face. This position has been further fortified with prefabricated field camp gear and whatever arms that were salvaged from the Autumn before its crash site was captured by the Covenant. They have precious few resources, but a small fleet of Warthogs and Mongoose ATVs, a few Scorpion tanks, and even a pair of Hornet VTOLs can be seen. Echo 419 descends to the makeshift LZ. Back on Master Chief now, we follow him out of the Pelican and across Alpha Base. Several Marines and Autumn personnel stop what they're doing to watch him pass. Entrance to the command tent is guarded by a pair of Orbital Drop Shock Troopers, whose full black BDUs are almost as distinctive as a SPARTAN's MJOLNIR. They tense up at the Chief's approach, but don't quite aim their rifles at him. Master Chief enters the command tent. Major Antonio Silva of the ODSTs is a grim-faced man who bears the scars of a command earned in blood. He and First Lieutenant Melissa McKay are poring over a digital sys-ops table. Sergeant Johnson, as the highest ranked staffer among the Autumn's conventional Marine contingent, is also present. Smoking a cigar, he nods to the Chief. • Master Chief: "SPARTAN-117, reporting." McKay faces the Chief, but Silva ignores him for a moment. Finally, he looks up. • Maj. Silva: "SPARTAN. The best and... the last, or so I'm told." (Pause) "I understand Cortana has some intel for me?"
Master Chief removes the data chip from his helmet and plugs it into a port on the sys-ops table. Cortana's purple avatar springs up. She waves her hand and a three-dimensional schematic of a Covenant cruiser is summoned before her. • Cortana: "This is the Truth and Reconciliation, a CCS-class battlecruiser. It's the principle workhorse of the Covenant armada; I don't have to tell you what these can do. Here towards the aft--" (a damaged section in red flashes) "--you can see where it took a glancing blow from one of the Autumn's MAC rounds. Though direct damage was minimal, this knocked out the shields and Archer missiles impacting along the port side disabled a number of plasma turrets, as well its primary drive capabilities."
Silva stares past Cortana and directly at Master Chief. Whatever he expects to see in the SPARTAN's mirrored gold visor is unknown, but he eventually gives a small nod. • Maj. Silva: "First Lieutenant McKay will lead the op, but I grant you command of the infiltration team. Gear up, Master Chief."
We transition to a panning shot of a barren plateau. Echo 419 flies in a low approach. The Truth and Reconciliation dominates the skyline. • Cortana (VO): "There's a Gravity Lift that ferries troops and supplies from the ship and the surface. Get me to the lift's docking pad and I'll do the rest." {Gameplay} Master Chief is sitting in the back of the Pelican with a squad of ODSTs. • Lt. McKay: "Cortana, do you have a lock on the Captain's position?"
Normal control begins as the Chief disembarks, equipped with a Sniper Rifle and the M7S Caseless Submachine Gun. Favored by ODSTs for covert missions, this SMG is comparable in power and accuracy to the AR, but with a shorter magazine. That is a small price to pay for the ability to kill silently; its soft burp no more likely to alert nearby enemies than an Assassination. [This may or may not be a campaign-only weapon. The idea is that in short bursts, it's almost silent. Full auto becomes increasingly loud, as the suppressor is overtaxed and you are more likely to be heard. At the very least, it gives you a secondary stealth option.] Master Chief moves up a ridge overlooking a squad of mixed Covenant, who have supplemented their force with a pair Shade anti-infantry stationary guns. The ODSTs wait in reserve so the Chief can pick his targets, engaging the enemy themselves only when his position is compromised. [I initially wanted to make the classic insect-legged Shades mobile, rather like carrying a turret-class weapon. But for the sake of simplicity, let's go with the Halo: Reach iteration instead.] Additional Covenant troops may join the fray from a cliff-side path ahead. After this encounter, the player will be introduced to the Fire Team mechanic. Slightly upgraded from the time of Halo: Reach, it makes use of the two unused points on the controller's directional pad. Aiming the reticule at a particular ally and tapping Up will assign him to one of the four free slots on your Fire Team. Aiming at no one will recruit whomever is closest, while holding Up automatically fills out all empty slots. Tapping/holding Down on the D-pad will likewise dismiss members of your Fire Team. The Fire Team will stick close to Master Chief and follow him anywhere, changing the dynamic of certain encounters from the original Halo: Combat Evolved. Dismissing the Fire Team effectively tells them to hold position and defend themselves, allowing the Chief to advance solo. Or you can ignore this feature all together and just let the AI do its normal thing. Master Chief and his Fire Team creep out along the cliff-side path, eliminating small Covenant patrols, until finally coming to another fortified position. Three Shades enclose a dry river bed with few entrances, creating a kill box for attackers. Master Chief and his Fire Team can move in immediately or split up, coordinated by Cortana. A squad of Covenant relief troops will also join the fray. A narrow ravine leads to the final encampment around the Gravity Lift's docking pad. Not only is this position heavily manned, it is defended by both more Shades and Jackal Snipers, who are equipped with the Needle Rifle. However, they are asleep on the job -- literally, in the case of several Grunts. Again, Master Chief can go in guns blazing or sneak around to deal with the majority of these targets with minimal fuss. [I'm honestly not sure if Shade turrets are hijackable in Halo: Reach, but they definitely will be here.] Cortana attempts to hack the Gravity Lift, inadvertently bringing down a mixed squad from the cruiser. Two more follow before Cortana gets control of the system. While the first wave was a standard assortment of Grunts and Jackals led by an Elite, the second wave will be Jackals in phalanx formation defending Elites with Needle Rifles. The final wave will be a pair of Mgalekgolo, the enormous shock troopers of the Covenant infantry. Always deployed in pairs, a single "Hunter" is actually a gestalt of the worm-like Lekgolo whom develop a manner of hive sentience. Armed with a Fuel Rod Cannon and a shield like sharpened battleship plate, they are equally deadly at range or in close-quarters. The only way to bring one down is with equally heavy weapons or precise fire to the small gaps in their armor where exposed Lekgolo can be seen. • Cortana: "Almost... got it! Sorry for the delay, Chief. No more surprises coming down this pipe. (COM) Lieutenant McKay, you are clear to move in and secure the perimeter."
Echo 419 sweeps back in and a fresh squad of ODSTs pile out of the troop bay. Several take up defensive positions around the lift to defend from Covenant patrols, while others step onto the docking pad alongside Master Chief. McKay approaches, but does not join them. • Lt. McKay: "Chief, Cortana! Silva may be a hard ass, but he knows what's important. Good luck in there."
{Cutscene} Cortana initiates the Gravity Lift. Chief and the ODSTs are drawn up inside the Covenant cruiser. Into the Belly of the Beast {Gameplay} Master Chief and company arrive in the loading bay. It is occupied primarily by storage crates and a Wraith tank that is shut down. • Cortana: "I've got a good lock on the Captain's CNI transponder. Mapping a route to the ship's brig. Interesting. Comm chatter indicates there's some kind of high-ranking official on board." One of the ODSTs spots movement across the loading bay. It is a Huragok, a servant caste of the Covenant who are nicknamed Engineers; appropriate given they are typically so absorbed with technical endeavors that they are almost apathetic to the war at large. • ODST: "Got a contact over here!"
Despite this comment, he will not. It might have been wise, however, as a squad of Covenant move in to engage. There are many entrances to the loading bay and this is only the first of several waves. While Engineers do not fight, they will provide Overshields to nearby infantry. If the player chooses to shoot the Engineer proactively, you may hear responses such as: • Cortana: (jokingly) "You barbarian."
All the doors have now been locked, so Cortana attempts to disable the internal security systems. One of the ODSTs will walk over to a particularly large set of blast doors and idly tap at the holographic control display. Lights around the door flash and they begin to open. • ODST: "Hey, I think I got it!" When the doors finally part, the ODST comes face-to-face with an Elite Ultra in crested silver armor. He fires a Concussion Rifle at point-blank range, with the expected results, then bellows a challenge. Several Grunt Ultras follow the Elite in charging into the room. If Master Chief is alone, there will simply be a pause before this final wave of Ultras enter and attack. At higher difficulty levels, there will be more than one Elite. When the final Ultra falls, Master Chief advances through the blast doors, but the wide hallway beyond ends in another set of blast doors that remain locked. Cortana advises leaving the Fire Team here to circumvent the door via side passages and unlock it from the other side. Master Chief is free to choose, although taking the Fire Team eliminates the possibility of moving in total stealth. On the other side of the blast doors is a storage bay, where the Covenant have quickly prepared a response to Master Chief's infiltration. In the center of the room is an Elite behind a mounted Plasma Cannon, flanked by Grunts. The Chief looks down on them from a balcony running around the bay, but he also shares this position with a trio of Jackal Snipers. Before advancing, Cortana gets the Chief's attention. • Cortana: "See that, Chief? By those crate. Looks like the Covenant have an interest in these artifacts as well. This one seems to augment your shields with light-bending camouflage." The Active Camo works much as it did in the original game: Master Chief will have 'invisibility' for a set period of time. Moving will disrupt the Active Camo only slightly; firing a weapon more so. There is no Radar Jammer side-effect, as with the Halo: Reach Armor Ability. Taking this opportunity, Master Chief silently dispatches the Jackals, jumps down to assassinate the Elite, then tears the cannon from its mount to hose the Grunts with plasma fire. He opens the blast doors for the ODSTs in time to meet a wave of Covenant responders. Master Chief and his Fire Team regroup, then move on. The interior space of the Truth and Reconciliation is a series of narrow, winding hallways that interconnect grandly columned chambers. Master Chief eventually comes upon one of the cruiser's many hangar bays. Two Spirits are docked. One flies out through the energy field, but there is no shortage of enemies remaining. Engineers defended by Grunt escorts roam the bottom level while Jackals patrol the top. A platform that extends from the middle level is occupied by Elite overseers, with two mounted Plasma Cannons facing each side of the bay. A keen eye may discern shortcuts between these levels, but all the exits are currently locked. When engaged, more Covenant will begin flooding in from all angles. Cortana will call Echo 419 for reinforcements before the final wave of Hunters. After the battle, Cortana is able to unlock the doors again. If the Chief gets lost in the tangle of corridors, she will lay down a NAV beacon. Pushing further into the bowels of the ship, Master Chief encounters stiff resistance from cloaked SpecOps Elites, before finally reaching the bridge. The Truth and Reconciliation's Shipmaster looks on from a raised dias while his command crew mans the stations. • Cortana: "Believe it or not, this is a shortcut." As a Zealot-class warrior, the Shipmaster will be the single most challenging opponent for the Master Chief thus far. Not content to let his crew handle this invader, the Shipmaster will attack immediately. He wields an Energy Sword in one hand and a Plasma Rifle in the other, the only time this will be seen in the campaign. Getting too close will prompt the Shipmaster to charge, relying on Overshield-quality armor to protect it, even from heavy weapons. After the bridge is cleared: • Cortana: "One moment, Chief. Accessing the ship's mainframe directly. Looks like detention centers are on a closed network, but I've got door security control. There, that should keep Covenant defenders at bay for a little while. Let's move." The path to the brig is mostly clear now, with only a few confused Grunts and Jackals to handle. It's a different story when Master Chief reaches the cells where Captain Keyes is being held. A pair of Grunts sleep by the entrance, but at the back of the chamber, an Elite Ultra works a holographic console. Human screams from one of the detention cells is cut short, then another Ultra emerges followed by an Engineer. If alerted, the torturer will turn its Energy Sword on the Chief. When this Ultra falls, the other will open fire with a Concussion Rifle. Although there are columns to hide behind, Concussion rounds will ricochet off the energy barriers of detention cells lining the room. Once they are dispatched, Master Chief deactivates the cell barriers. {Cutscene} Keyes thanks Master Chief and Cortana, despite their recklessness. Only one other member of the Autumn's command crew survived the torture, but there are Marines present as well. • Cortana: "How is it you've survived, Captain? The Covenant have never been known to take prisoners before."
Keyes and the Marines arm themselves with dropped Covenant weapons. Master Chief takes point. Shut Up and Get Behind Me... Sir. {Gameplay} • Cortana: "Warning! Picking up contacts on the ship's biological sensors. Above us, Chief!" A pair of camouflaged SpecOps Elites (or more) descend from ventilation ducts in the ceiling and set upon your Fire Team. Once these are dealt with, a squad of Grunts and Jackals will enter the room, but panic at the sight of the dead Elites. From here on out, if Keyes is killed, the mission will end as if the Master Chief died. Fortunately, he is smart enough to stay in the back and not engage Covenant unless directly approached. While trying to make your way out, more Elites will attack from unexpected angles. Reaching the bridge again, escape seems to be cut off as Covenant can be heard banging on the doors. • Cortana (COM): "Cortana to Echo 419 -- Lieutenant McKay, we have Captain Keyes and need extraction on the double!"
Doors to the bridge blow inward and an Elite Ultra with dual Plasma Rifles enters, backed by Grunt Ultras. Keyes takes cover under the Shipmaster's dias. Once these Covenant are dealt with, squads of lesser troops will move in, the start of an endless wave. • Cpt. Keyes: "Cortana, I've found a service tunnel under here!"
Master Chief will briefly have to contend with the Covenant waves before getting the all-clear from Cortana to move out. The service tunnels are dark and constricting, but wrong turns will be blocked by startled Engineers, to keep the player on track. A final drop lands the Chief behind where his rescuees are hunkered down behind storage containers. Despite being scant yards from the Spirit drop ship, the way is blocked by Jackals in phalanx formation defending a Sniper. Master Chief breaks up their formation, then dispatches a trio of Elites charging from across the platform. Finally, the Chief is able to deactivate docking clamps on the Spirit. {Cutscene} Master Chief lays down suppressive fire while Captain Keyes and the Marines load up. Doors open behind the Chief and a pair of Hunters emerge, barely missing the SPARTAN with rounds from their Fuel Rod Cannons. Master Chief jumps aboard the Spirit just before Keyes maneuvers it in a tight arc and smashes the Hunters to paste with the drop ship's tuning fork-shaped troop compartments. The Spirit flies out of the hangar and into the night. Fade to black. Level ends. [You may notice I toned down Major Silva's anti-SPARTAN-ism. While it's an interesting dynamic in the novel, somehow I don't think getting shit-talked by a superior officer would make the player feel very badass. I tried to make it seem more like a grudging respect.]
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| Replies: |
| HCE Remake: The Pillar of Autumn 1.1 | SonGoharotto | 4/29/11 5:13 p.m. |
| HCE Remake: Halo v2.1 | SonGoharotto | 4/29/11 5:15 p.m. |
| HCE Remake: The Truth and Reconciliation v1.0 | SonGoharotto | 4/29/11 5:15 p.m. |
| Re: HCE Remake: The Pillar of Autumn 1.1 | Document | 4/29/11 5:24 p.m. |
| Re: HCE Remake: The Pillar of Autumn 1.1 | SonGoharotto | 4/29/11 5:25 p.m. |
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