The Pillar of Autumn (Halo: Combat Evolved level)

For more articles of the same name, see The Pillar of Autumn (disambiguation).

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The Pillar of Autumn
Game:	Halo: Combat Evolved (Anniversary)
File name (?):	a10
Player:	Master Chief
Date:	September 19, 2552
Location:	Aboard the UNSC Pillar of Autumn, in orbit of Installation 04 in Soell system
Objective(s):	Retrieve Cortana from the bridge and escape the Autumn
Par Time:	00:15:00 (Master Chief Collection-only)
Par Score:	17,000 (Master Chief Collection-only)
	Halopedia has a walkthrough guide for this level; see CE:The Pillar of Autumn/Walkthrough.

“

Escape intact as Covenant forces board your ship.

”

The Pillar of Autumn is the first level in the campaign of Halo: Combat Evolved and the Halo game series overall. The UNSC Pillar of Autumn, having escaped the destruction of Reach, has arrived near a strange object. Unfortunately, the Covenant, who are here as well, attack the ship. Master Chief Petty Officer SPARTAN John-117 is awakened from his cryo-sleep and makes his way to the bridge of the titular ship to be debriefed by Captain Jacob Keyes about their current situation. After the brief meeting, the Master Chief, with his AI companion Cortana, makes his way off the ship via a Bumblebee escape pod.

In 2026 the level was remade entirely for inclusion in Halo: Campaign Evolved.

Transcript

{Original Cutscene} {Anniversary Cutscene}

The UNSC Pillar of Autumn approaching Installation 04.

Fades into space. Installation 04 is visible above Threshold. The Pillar of Autumn appears, moving slowly toward the ring. Longsword escorts soar alongside. In Anniversary, the camera fades into the Autumn and pans to show Installation 04 and Threshold as the ship moves.

The camera slowly turns and zooms in on the Pillar of Autumn.

• Captain Jacob Keyes: "Cortana, all I need to know is did we lose them?"

• Cortana: "I think we both know the answer to that."

Inside the ship's bridge, the camera focuses on Keyes.

• Keyes: (sighs) "We made a blind jump. How did they—"

• Cortana: "Get here first? The Covenant ships have always been faster. As for tracking us all the way from Reach...at light speed, my maneuvering options were limited."

Keyes begins pacing around, looking at viewscreens.

• Keyes: "We were running dark, yes?"

• Cortana: "Until we decelerated. No one could have missed the hole we tore in subspace."

Keyes looks at a bridge crewman's console.

• Cortana: "They were waiting for us on the far side of the planet."

The crewman presses some buttons. The screen shows a diagram of Threshold with Installation 04 in orbit.

• Keyes: "So, where do we stand?"

• Cortana: "Our fighters are mopping up the last of their recon picket now, nothing serious."

Keyes examines the main screen, pulls his pipe out of his mouth and shakes some ash off it. He closes his eyes wearily.

• Cortana: "But I've isolated approach signatures from multiple CCS-class battle groups, make it three capital ships per group. And in about 90 seconds they'll be all over us."

• Keyes: "Well, that's it then. Bring the ship back up to Combat Alert Alpha. I want everyone at their stations."

• Cortana: "Everyone, sir?"

• Keyes: "Everyone."

Alarm klaxon sounds. Crewmen run towards their stations.

• Keyes: "And Cortana..."

Cortana's avatar appears on a holotank.

• Cortana: "Hmm?"

• Keyes: "...let's give our old friends a warm welcome."

• Cortana: "I've already begun."

Cuts to the one of the launch bays of the Pillar of Autumn. A Marine waves light batons to guide a Pelican into the correct docking position. The view moves towards the lower deck.

• Cortana (PA): "Attention, all combat personnel: Please report to your action stations."

• Cortana (PA): "5th Platoon, secure airlocks on Deck 11. 14th Platoon, rendezvous with 22nd Tactical at bulkhead Charlie 14."

Marines start talking, readying their weapons, preparing Scorpion Tanks and Warthogs, or just loitering, until the view shows Staff Sergeant Avery Junior Johnson walking through a line of Marines.

• Staff Sergeant Avery Junior Johnson: "You heard the lady! Move like you've got a purpose!"

• Cortana (PA): "This is not a drill. I repeat, this is not a drill."

{Original Cutscene w/ All Difficulties} {Anniversary Cutscene w/ All Difficulties}

Marines get in two lines, facing each other. Johnson walks down the column between the formation.

• Johnson: (Easy) "Men...keep your eyes down range, fingers on your triggers, and we all go home in one piece." (turns around) "Am I right, Marines?"

• Johnson: (Normal) "Once again, it is our job to finish what the flyboys started. We are leaving this ship, platoon, and engaging the Covenant on solid ground. When we meet the enemy, we will rip their skulls from their spines, and toss 'em away, laughin'!" (turns around) "Am I right, Marines?"

Johnson giving his speech

• Johnson: (Heroic) "Men, here is where we show those split-chin squid-head sons-of-bitches that they could not have picked a worse enemy than the human race! We are going to blow the hell out of those dumb bugs, until we don't have anything left to shoot 'em with! And then we are going to strangle them with their own-living-guts!" (turns around) "Am I right, Marines?"

• Johnson: (Legendary): "Men, we led those dumb bugs out to the middle of nowhere to keep 'em from gettin' their filthy claws on Earth, but we stumbled onto somethin' they're so hot for that they're scramblin' over each other to get it. Well, I don't care if it's God's own anti-son-of-a-bitch machine or a giant hula hoop, we're not gonna let 'em have it! What we will let 'em have...is a belly full of lead and a pool of their own blood to drown in!" (turns around) "Am I right, Marines?"

• Marines: "Sir, yes sir!"

• Johnson: "Uh-huh. Damn right, I am. Now move it out! Double time!"

The Marines break formation and run out of the area, as Johnson follows them slowly.

• Cortana (PA): "Attention, all personnel: We are re-engaging the enemy. Internal and external contact imminent."

• Johnson: "All you greenhorns who wanted to see Covenant up close...this is gonna be your lucky day."

Technicians awakening the Master Chief.

Cut to a computer screen.

>X - CORTANA 1 0 CRYOSTOR. 23.4.7
>(PRIORITY ALPHA)

>UNSEAL THE HUSHED CASKET

• Tech Officer Sam Marcus: "Whoa! Sir?"

• Tech Chief Thom Shephard: "Right. Let's thaw him out."

The crewmen beg