Editing H2:Cairo Station

{{Title|H2:Cairo Station}}
{{Status|Gameplay}}
{{center|For the achievement, see [[Cairo Station (achievement)]]. For the [[orbital defense platform]], see [[Cairo Station]].}}
{{Level infobox
|pagegamelabel=H2
|prev=''[[H2:The Armory|The Armory]]''
|next=''[[H2:Outskirts|Outskirts]]''
|game=''[[Halo 2]]'' (<small>''[[Halo 2: Anniversary|Anniversary]]''</small>)
|name=''Cairo Station''
|devname=<code>01b_spacestation</code>{{Ref/File|Id=H2EK|H2EK|H2EK\tags\scenarios\solo\01b_spacestation\01b_spacestation.scenario}}
|image=[[File:H2A CairoStation Loadscreen.png|300px]]
|player=[[Master_Chief_(gameplay)#Halo_2|Master Chief]]
|date= [[2552#October|October 20, 2552]]
|place=''[[Cairo Station]]''
|objective= Repel [[Covenant]] boarders and find the Covenant [[antimatter charge]].
|weapon=
|partime=00:15:00 {{C|''Master Chief Collection''}}
|parscore=14,000 {{C|''Master Chief Collection''}}
}}

{{Article quote|Defend the station's [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|MAC]] gun from [[Covenant]] boarders.}}

'''Cairo Station''' is the third [[campaign]] level of ''[[Halo 2]]'', taking place in Earth's orbit on the eponymous ''[[Cairo Station]]''. The [[John-117|Master Chief]] and [[UNSC Marine Corps|UNSC Marines]] fight against boarding [[Covenant]] troops, culminating in a battle over an [[Sangheili|Elite]]-guarded bomb intended to destroy the station. This is the first level in ''[[Halo 2]]'' in which enemies are encountered.

==Transcript==
[https://youtu.be/klK5yJsxy-o '''{''Cutscene''}''']
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZ7J6A1nzrA '''{''Anniversary Cutscene''}''']

''John-117 and [[Sergeant Major|Sgt. Mjr.]] [[Avery Junior Johnson|Avery Johnson]] step from the [[tram]] into a crowd of cheering [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]], robot cameras hover around.''

*'''[[Master Chief Petty Officer]] [[John-117]]''': "You told me there wouldn't ''be'' any cameras."

*'''[[Sergeant Major]] [[Avery Junior Johnson|Johnson]]''': "And ''you'' told ''me'' you were gonna wear something nice! Folks need heroes, Chief. To give 'em hope. ''(raises cap, adjusts his hair, puts cap back on)'' So ''smile'', would ya? While we still got something to smile about!"

''Johnson and the Master Chief walk to the end of the room, as the [[Bridge]]'s blast doors open up.''

''The view changes to'' [[High Charity]], ''where [[Tartarus]] and two of his [[Jiralhanae]] walk [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee down a walkway leading to an oval-shaped ledge that sports a pair of pincer-like columns. The ''[[Anodyne Spirit]]'' can be seen in the distance. [[Sangheili Honor Guardsman|Sangheili Honor Guardsmen]] are stationed on either side of the walkway. [[Covenant]] [[Unggoy]], [[Kig-yar]] and [[Mgalekgolo]] have also gathered along the path and begin to heckle 'Vadamee.''

*'''Unggoy''': ''(chanting)'' "''He-re-tic! He-re-tic!''"

''They reach the ledge, which overlooks the city. Across the chasm are multiple stadium rows, all filled with roaring Covenant aliens. 'Vadamee stands on a seal between the two curved columns. The Jiralhanae fix his arms onto floating cuffs.''

*'''[[Tartarus]]''': ''(gleefully)'' "You've drawn quite a crowd."

*'''Thel 'Vadamee''': ''(bitterly)'' "If they came to hear me beg, they will be disappointed."

*'''Tartarus''': ''(malevolently)'' "Are you sure?"

''The entire crowd cheers as energy beams hit 'Vadamee on either side, and he shakes with pain. (In the Anniversary, the floating cuffs charge up and unleash bolts of electricity across his body.)''

''The view changes back to the'' Cairo''{{'}}s bridge, dozens of Naval officers cheer as Master Chief and Sergeant Johnson approach [[Terrence Hood|Lord Hood]] at the end.''

''Master Chief and Johnson salute to Lord Hood.''

*'''Lord Hood''': "Gentlemen, we're lucky to have you back."

''An officer whispers in Lord Hood's ear.''

*'''Lord Hood''': "Go ahead, [[Cortana]]."

''Cortana's avatar appears on a nearby [[holotank]].''

*'''Cortana''': "Another whisper, sir, near [[Jovian Moons|Io]]. We have probes en route."

''Hood looks back to the Chief and Johnson.''

*'''Lord Hood''': "I apologize, but we're going to have to make this quick."

''Lord Hood turns away.''

''Cortana looks up at the Chief and Johnson.''

*'''Cortana''': "You look nice."

''Johnson and the Chief respond simultaneously.''
*'''John-117''': "Thanks."
*''' Johnson''': "Thank you."

''The Master Chief and Johnson look at each other.''

''Lord Hood picks up a Colonial Cross medal from a red-clothed case containing two other Colonial Cross medals.''

*'''Lord Hood''': "[[Sergeant Major]], [[Colonial Cross|The Colonial Cross]] is awarded for acts of singular daring and devotion, for a soldier of the United Earth Space Corps..."

''Hood pins the medal on Johnson's uniform.''

''The view changes back to ''High Charity'', on Tartarus' face.''

*'''Tartarus''': "...There can be no greater heresy! Let him be an example for all who would break our [[Covenant]]!"

''The Covenant crowd cheers once more. Tartarus barks an order, and his two Jiralhanae underlings grab onto 'Vadamee's now charred armor and pull.''

''The view once again changes back to ''Cairo Station'', as a young woman joins the Chief and Johnson.''

[[File:H2A-KeyesMedal.jpg|thumb|300px|Commander Miranda Keyes receives her father's posthumous Colonial Cross from Lord Hood prior to the Covenant's arrival.]]

*'''Lord Hood''': "[[Commander (UNSC)|Commander]] [[Miranda Keyes]]. [[Jacob Keyes|Your father]]'s actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service. His bravery in the face of impossible odds reflects great credit, upon himself, and the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]]. The Navy has lost one of its best."

''Hood hands her the Colonial Cross medal. Miranda holds back tears as she accepts the medal.''

''The view changes back to ''High Charity'' again, where a blackened [[Combat harness|Sangheili Combat helmet]] falls to the floor, and the naked 'Vadamee hangs limply from his restraints. A glowing brand rises from the floor in front of him, and Tartarus grabs it and strides forward.''

[[File:HTMCC-H2A_—_Tartarus_branding.png|thumb|300px|Thel 'Vadamee, about to be publicly branded with the Mark of Shame by Tartarus.]]

''Thel 'Vadamee raises his head weakly. Tartarus gives him a fierce look, and presses the brand against the Sangheili's chest with glee, printing the [[Mark of Shame]] in it. The tortured Sangheili warrior fights the pain but gives in and screams.''

''The view once more changes to ''Cairo Station'', where alarms start to sound.''

*'''Cortana''': "[[Slipstream space|Slipspace]] ruptures directly off our battle cluster."

*'''Lord Hood''': "Show me."

''Images of Covenant ships appear on a large screen.''

*'''Cortana''': "Fifteen Covenant capital ships holding position just outside the kill zone."

''The screen shows UNSC ships approaching the Covenant fleet.''

*'''[[Fleet Admiral]] [[Harper]] (COM)''': "This is Fleet Admiral Harper. We are engaging the enemy."

*'''Lord Hood''': "Negative, Admiral. Form a defensive perimeter around the cluster." ''(to Miranda Keyes)'' "[[Commander (UNSC)|Commander]], get to your ship, link up with the fleet."

''Keyes salutes.''

*'''Commander Keyes''': "Yes, sir." ''(leaves)''

*'''Lord Hood''': "You have the [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|MAC]] gun, Cortana. Soon as they come in range, open up."

*'''Cortana''': "Gladly."

''Cortana's avatar disappears.  Hood turns back to the tactical screen.''

*'''Lord Hood''': (''Concerned'') "Something's not right... The [[Fleet of Particular Justice|fleet]] that [[Fall of Reach|destroyed]] [[Reach]] was fifty times this size."

''An officer faces Lord Hood.''

*'''Officer''': ''(Panicked)'' "Sir, additional contacts. [[R'sisho-pattern Tick|Boarding crafts]], and lots of 'em!"

''The view shifts back to the screen.''

*'''Lord Hood''': "They're going to try to take our MAC guns offline, give their capital ships a straight shot at [[Earth]]." ''(Looks to the Chief)'' "Master Chief, defend this station!"

[[File:H2A - Cruiser over Cairo.jpg|thumb|300px|The Chief and Johnson depart the control room as the Home Fleet outside prepares for battle.]]

*'''John-117''': "Yes, sir." ''(to Johnson)'' "I need a weapon."

*'''Johnson''': "Right this way."

''Johnson and the Master Chief leave the bridge, as Lord Hood turns back to his command station. Through the bay windows looking up to the MAC cannon, the fleet turns to engage the Covenant attackers. [[GA-TL1 Longsword|Longsword]] fighters hurtle overhead trailed by {{Class|Marathon|heavy cruiser}}s.''

'''{''Gameplay''}'''

*'''''Cairo'' Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker)''': "Alert! Boarders inbound!"

''The Master Chief arms himself and joins Johnson and a squad of Marines. Miranda Keyes and several Navy officers leave on a tram.''

*'''''Cairo'' Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker)''': "All hands report to battle stations."

*'''''Cairo'' Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker)''': "This is not a drill. I repeat, this is not a drill!"

*'''''Cairo'' Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker)''': "Seal pressure doors."

*'''''Cairo'' Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker)''': "Open weapons lockers."

''The Chief, Johnson, and the Marines enter [[Recreation R-01]].''

*'''Johnson (COM)''': "How's it going, ''[[Malta Station|Malta]]''?"

*'''''Malta'' Defense Coordinator (COM)''': "Stand-by... they're latched! Check your targets and watch the crossfires. They're in standard formation: [[Unggoy|little bastards]] up front, [[Sangheili|big ones]] in back... Good luck, ''Cairo''."

''Outside, a Covenant Boarding Craft latches onto the hull, causing the station to shake. Weapons fire is soon heard from outside the doorway.''

*'''Johnson''': "Field of fire on that bulkhead. Soon as that door opens, let 'em have it!"

''The [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] take up position around a sealed bulkhead. Johnson sets up a [[m247 General Purpose Machine Gun|stationary gun turret]]. A bright light and crackling noise, like a welding torch, comes from the center of the door, and is soon followed by an explosion.  The door is blasted open and Unggoy rush in, followed by their Sangheili commanders. Soon after, two more Sangheili, both dual-wielding plasma pistols, jump down from the balcony above the breach.  With the Master Chief's help, the UNSC defenders eliminate the attackers.''

===Home Field Advantage===
[[File:H2A-CairoStationBattle.png|thumb|300px|Two Marines repelling Covenant boarders.]]
*'''Lord Hood (COM)''': "Find the boarders' point of entry, Chief. Cut them off at the source."

''If the player stalls:''

*'''Lord Hood (COM)''': "Chief, if we don't take out their boarding craft, they'll just keep sending reinforcements."

''If the player stalls some more:''

*'''Lord Hood (COM)''': "Concentrate on the boarding craft, Chief.  The marines can handle the rest."

''The Master Chief and the marines go outside. After eliminating another lance of Covenant, the Chief heads off to find the boarding craft while the marines stay behind to guard the entrance to the Recreation room.'' 

*'''Female Marine''': "This'll be your fallback position, sir."

''Or''

*'''Female Marine''':  "We'll make our stand here, sir."

''Or''

*'''Female Marine''':  "Go on, Chief. We'll hold here."

''Or''

*'''Marine''': "We've got orders to stay here, Chief."

''Or''

*'''Marine''': "This is as far as we go, Chief."

''Or''

*'''Marine''': "Sir, we'll secure the area."

''Throughout the battle, the station's defense coordinator continues giving orders over the loudspeaker.''

*'''''Cairo'' Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker)''': "Boarders in Habitat Alpha."

''(Later)''

*'''''Cairo'' Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker)''': "I need a squad in Habitat Alpha, ASAP!"

''(Later)''

*'''''Cairo'' Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker)''': "Quick response teams to [[Security Station Three]]!"

''(Later)''

*'''''Cairo'' Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker)''': "Seal pressure doors."

''(Later)''

*'''''Cairo'' Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker)''': "[[Security Station Four]] is under attack!"

''(Later)''

*'''''Cairo'' Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker)''': "Boarders in Section [[Seven|7]]!"

''(Later)''

*'''''Cairo'' Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker)''': "Fireteams, boarders in Section 2."

''(Later)''

*'''''Cairo'' Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker)''': "Attention! We have boarders in Section 3!"

''(Later)''

*'''''Cairo'' Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker)''': "Fireteams to Tram Terminal 1."

''The Chief heads up a flight of stairs and enters [[Security R-01]]. He mans a portable machine gun and assists the Marines below in [[Commons R-01]]. He then heads downstairs and engages more Covenant in the Commons.''

*'''''Cairo'' Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker)''': "Brace for impact!"

''A loud clang is heard as a boarding craft attaches to ''Cairo station''.''

''After securing the Commons, the Chief goes up another flight of stairs, and steps out onto a catwalk overlooking [[Hangar A-01]], where one of the Covenant boarding craft is docked.  The Chief and the Marines engage the Covenant intruders below, including [[Sangheili Ultra]]s on higher difficulties.''

*'''''Cairo'' Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker)''': "We've got boarders in the port Pelican bay!"

''(Later)''

*'''''Cairo'' Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker)''': "Boarders have breached the [[Communications deck]]!"

''(Later)''

*'''''Cairo'' Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker)''': "Quick-response teams to the Communications deck!"

''Once the Master Chief finishes killing all the Covenant boarders in the first hangar bay, Covenant boarding craft are seen through the windows rapidly leaving ''Malta Station''.''

[[File:H2A-Malta Destruction.png|thumb|300px|''Malta Station'' is destroyed after its boarders retreat, opening a path towards Earth for the Covenant.]]

*'''[[Private First Class]] [[Chips Dubbo]]''': "Hey, check it out! The ''Malta''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s already driven off its boarders!"

*'''Cortana (COM)''': "''Malta'', what is your status, over?"

*'''''Malta'' Defense Coordinator (COM)''': "I don't believe it! They're retreating, we won!"

Malta Station ''suddenly explodes in a huge ball of fire, the barrel of its MAC gun breaking loose and tumbling away.''

*'''Private Dubbo''': "This is bad! Real bad!"

''The hangar bay doors explode and another [[lance]] of Covenant attack. The Chief kills them, then exits the hangar.''

*'''''Cairo'' Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker)''': "All hands, brace for impact!"

''The station shakes violently as another boarding craft attaches itself to ''Cairo.

*'''''Cairo'' Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker)''': "Alert! Hostiles have breached the Port MAC bay!"

----
''If the Chief stalls:''

*'''Lord Hood (COM)''': "There are more boarding craft in your area, Chief."

''If the Chief continues to stall:''

*'''Lord Hood (COM)''': "Chief, I'm showing active boarding craft nearby. Find them."

''If the Chief further stalls:''

*'''Lord Hood (COM)''': "Take out the remaining boarding craft, Chief."
----

''The Chief and the surviving marines head to [[Hangar A-02]] where they find another squad of marines under fire from several Unggoy-manned [[Shepsu-pattern plasma cannon|plasma turret]]s mounted on the catwalk above. Another boarding craft is docked here.''

*'''''Cairo'' Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker)''': "Alert! We have hostiles on the [[Bridge|Command deck]]!"

''Once the Master Chief finishes killing all the intruders in the second hangar bay (including a [[Sangheili Zealot]] on [[legendary]] difficulty) Covenant boarding craft are again seen through the windows retreating, only this time, from ''[[Athens]] Station''.''

[[File:H2A-Athens Destruction.png|thumb|300px|Soon after, the same fate befalls ''Athens Station''.]] 

*'''Private Dubbo''': "Uh oh! Hey, they're leaving the ''Athens''!"

''The ''Athens'' explodes violently, just like the ''Malta''.  The resulting shockwave rocks ''Cairo Station''.''

*'''Lord Hood (COM)''': "Cortana, assessment!"

*'''Cortana (COM)''': "That explosion came from ''inside'' the ''Athens''. Same as the ''Malta''. The Covenant must have brought something with them. A [[antimatter charge|bomb]]."

*'''Lord Hood (COM)''': "Then they sure as hell brought one here. Chief, find it."

===Priority Shift===
''If the Chief decides to stall for awhile, Cortana will remind him of the urgency of the situation with some of the following lines:''

*'''Cortana (COM)''': "Chief, we don't have much time."

*'''Cortana (COM)''': "Not a lot of time on the clock, Chief!"

*'''Cortana (COM)''': "Where are you?! The bomb is ''right here!''"

*'''Cortana (COM)''': "The clock's tickin', Chief. Get down here!"

*'''Cortana (COM)''': "Chief, over here, next to the bomb!"

*'''Cortana (COM)''': "Ask yourself this question right now: Is doing what I am right now helping Cortana stop this station from blowing into tiny, tiny bits?"

*'''Cortana (COM)''': "Just a friendly reminder: Bomb."

*'''Cortana (COM)''': "If this thing goes off, I am NEVER talking to you again!"

''The Chief takes a route under the hangar bay through [[MAC Storage]], and encounters another lance of Covenant.  As he nears the opposite side of the corridor, two [[Stealth Sangheili]] emerge. The Chief kills them.''

''While the Chief is fighting his way to the bomb, the ''Cairo'' Defense Coordinator starts issuing evacuation orders.''

*'''''Cairo'' Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker)''': "All non-combat personnel to pressure zones."

''(Later)''

*'''''Cairo'' Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker)''': "All hands to pressure zones."

''(Later)''

*'''''Cairo'' Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker)''': "All non-combat personnel report to evacuation stations!"

''(Later)''

*'''''Cairo'' Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker)''': "All hands, report to evacuation stations!"

''(Later)''

*'''''Cairo'' Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker)''': "All hands, we are abandoning the station!"

''(Later)''

*'''''Cairo'' Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker)''': "All personnel, prepare to abandon the station!"

''As the Chief returns to the armory, he finds the Master Gunnery Sergeant firing a [[M90 Close Assault Weapon System|shotgun]] at a pair of Sangheili. Exactly what he says to them differs depending on what the difficulty level is set to.''

*'''Master Gunnery Sergeant ([[Easy]] or [[Normal]])''': "Get the hell out of my armory, split-lip! Oh God—!"

*'''Master Gunnery Sergeant ([[Heroic]])''': "Call your friends! I got enough ammo for all of 'ya!"

*'''Master Gunnery Sergeant ([[Legendary]])''': "Come on, is that a weapon or a flashlight? Oh, dangit—!"

''The Master Gunnery Sergeant is hit by bolts of plasma and dies. The Chief proceeds upstairs and eliminates his Sangheili killers.''

*'''''Cairo'' Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker)''': "Fireteams to Habitat Delta."

''(Later)''

*'''''Cairo'' Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker)''': "Hostiles have taken [[Security Station One]]!"

''(Later)''

*'''''Cairo'' Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker)''': "I need a squad in [[Habitat Delta]]!"

''The Chief exits the Armory and enters [[Commons B-01]], which has been completely overrun by the Covenant. The alien forces have set up multiple plasma turrets which cover the room and assorted Covenant infantry lurk in the corridors.'' 

*'''''Cairo'' Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker)''': "Hang on, everyone!"

''The station shakes again, as another Boarding Craft is attached.''

''The Chief fights his way through the Commons, moves up a flight of stairs, and enters [[Security B-01]], where he dispatches another lance of Covenant.''

*'''''Cairo'' Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker)''': "Fireteams to Terminal 2."

''The Chief exits Security B-01 and enters the [[Tram station]] where Commander Keyes, Sergeant Johnson, and a couple Navy officers are engaged in a firefight just outside a [[umbilical|docking umbilical]] leading to the ''[[UNSC In Amber Clad|In Amber Clad]]''.''

*'''''Cairo'' Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker)''': "Alert!  Boarders in Port Dry dock!"

*'''Sergeant Johnson''': "Come on, Chief, this way!"

*'''Commander Keyes''': "I was almost on board when ''they'' showed up."

*'''Sergeant Johnson''': "Don't worry, ma'am, we're on it."

''Once they clear the area of Covenant:''

*'''Commander Keyes''': "Thanks, Chief. I owe you one."

''A second lance of Covenant appears from another umbilical at the end of the corridor. After the Chief and his allies kill the intruders, the Chief enters the umbilical.''

''If the player stalls:''

*'''Johnson''': "Get going. I'll cover the Commander."

===Authorized Personnel Only===
''The Chief exits the station through an airlock and fights several [[Sangheili Ranger]]s in the vacuum of space.''

*'''Cortana (COM)''': "Sir, boarders have breached the fire control center. They have a bomb."

*'''Lord Hood (COM)''': "Can you defuse it?"

*'''Cortana (COM)''': "Yes, but I'll need the Chief's help to make contact with the detonator."

*'''Lord Hood (COM)''': "Chief, get to the bomb, double time! Cortana, prioritize targets and fire at will."

''The Master Chief re-enters ''Cairo Station'' through [[Portside Shipping]], where he is met by Marines near a cargo container.  There is a loud buzzing sound and a swarm of [[Yanme'e]] appear. The Chief and the Marines eliminate the swarm.'' 

*'''Fleet Admiral Harper (COM)''': "First Echelon, you're with me, blanket those cruisers, take ‘em out one by one. Second Echelon, keep those carriers busy."

*'''Cortana (COM)''': "Registering all hostile vessels inside the kill zone. Thirteen [[Ket-pattern battlecruiser|cruisers]], two [[CAS-class assault carrier|assault carriers]]. I'm going loud!"

''The station's MAC gun begins firing at the Covenant fleet.''

''A loading platform full of Covenant troops rises from below. The Chief kills them all and rides the platform down to an airlock. He gets off the platform and enters the airlock. The internal door closes behind him and the external door leading outside opens up.''

*'''Fleet Admiral Harper (COM)''': "The carriers are breaking through, sir! They're heading straight for the ''Cairo''!"

*'''Lord Hood (COM)''': "Cortana! Concentrate your fire on the first carrier. Admiral, do what you can against the second."

*'''Fleet Admiral Harper (COM)''': "Everyone, form up. Follow my lead!"

''The Master Chief watches through the open airlock as a massive Covenant Assault Carrier accelerates right past the ''Cairo'' and towards Earth, making the entire station shake.''

*'''Cortana (COM)''': "The first carrier completely ignored us, sir! Blew through the ''Malta''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s debris field and headed straight for Earth!"

''After crossing the MAC's recoil arm in vacuum and killing several more Sangheili Rangers - including one manning a plasma turret, the Chief re-enters the station through another airlock.''

===Return to Sender===
''The Chief takes an elevator down to the [[fire control]] center.''

*'''Cortana (COM)''': "Just so you know, there are quite a few [[Sangheili|Elites]] guarding the [[antimatter charge|bomb]]. You may need to get creative."

''The Chief arrives at fire control, where a sizable group of Sangheili (one of whom is dual wielding a plasma rifle and Needler) and Unggoy are guarding the bomb. The station shakes again. Outside the window, the Chief can see the second carrier bypassing the ''Cairo'', following the first carrier down to Earth.''

''Once the Chief clears the room of the Covenant guarding the bomb:''

[https://youtu.be/brxzo-qGreQ '''{''Cutscene''}''']
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzXx8MiHV9g '''{''Anniversary Cutscene''}''']

''Cortana's holographic avatar appears on a pedestal near the bomb.''

*'''Cortana''': ''(urgently)'' "Me. Inside your head. Now."

''The Master Chief touches the pedestal, and Cortana downloads directly into his armor. He steps over to the bomb, and touches the flashing red activation pad at its center. It blinks and turns blue. The threat is neutralized.''

*'''John-117''': "How much time was left?"

*'''Cortana''': "You ''don't'' want to know."

*'''Commander Keyes (COM)''': "''Cairo'', this is ''In Amber Clad.''"

''The view changes to the bridge of ''In Amber Clad'', where Commander Keyes and Sergeant Johnson are present. Keyes is now wearing her [[UNSC Navy Service Uniform|service uniform]] and Johnson is fully geared up in [[UNSC Marine Corps Battle Dress Uniform|Marine armor]].''

*'''Commander Keyes''': "The carrier's shield is down. I'm in position and ready for immediate assault."

''The view goes back to ''Cairo'''s bridge, showing Lord Hood alone. (In the Anniversary, there is another officer with him.)''

*'''Lord Hood''': "Negative, Commander. Not against a ship that size. Not on your own."

*'''John-117 (COM)''': "Sir..."

''The view changes back to the bay, where the Chief is waiting with one hand on the bomb.''

*'''John-117''': "...Permission to leave the station."

''The view returns to ''Cairo'''s bridge.''

*'''Lord Hood''': ''(distractedly)'' "For what purpose, Master Chief?"

*'''John-117 (COM)''': "To give the Covenant back their bomb."

''Hood pauses to think, and then agrees.''

*'''Lord Hood''': "Permission granted."

[[File:H2A - Master Chief and antimatter charge.png|thumb|300px|The Master Chief drags the bomb to the lift leading to the airlock.]]

''In the bay, the Chief grabs the bomb by two of its pointy protrusions and drags it across the floor, causing sparks to erupt as it scrapes across the metal plating. He drags it into an elevator, and ascends.''

*'''Cortana''': "I know what you're thinking, and it's crazy."

*'''John-117''': "So, stay here."

*'''Cortana''': "Unfortunately for us both... I ''like'' crazy."

''The elevator reaches an empty [[GA-TL1 Longsword|Longsword]] launch bay, and the Chief steps out, watching through the huge bay door. A Seraph fighter flies by, pursued by two Longswords (Original version only). The UNSC fleet streams down toward