Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)
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- "This is a time to rejoice, a moment that all fiction fans should savor. For the Halo 2: Anniversary Terminals can be found, and with them, your path will be clear; your entry into a greater understanding guaranteed. Your next Great Journey is nigh, and nothing – not even the Flood – can stop it..."
- — Jeff Easterling on the terminals, referencing the Prophet of Truth's speech[1]
Halo 2: Anniversary features Terminals accessible to the player in each level. Animated by Sequence, these terminals focus on the role of Thel 'Vadam as well as that of the Arbiters throughout Covenant history and have connections to the story of Halo 5: Guardians.[1][2][2][3] The terminals are presented from three distinct points of view: target profiles by ONI agent Lt. Commander Jameson Locke, Sesa 'Refumee, the leader of the "heretics" as he learns the truth about the Covenant religion during his conversations with 343 Guilty Spark, and a devout Covenant scribe compiling a record known as The Punished Deeds.[1]
The terminals have been stated to be placed in more conspicuous locations than in the earlier games, as 343 Industries wishes all players to be able to find them.[4] Like the terminals of Halo 4, the Halo 2: Anniversary terminals are not hosted on the game disc and are only accessible online.[5] There are a total of thirteen terminals to be found in the game,[6] and two separate "Prologue" terminals.[7]
The Terminals[edit]
Campaign level: Cairo Station
The terminal is one of the computer consoles located in Cairo Station's Armory A-01, on the wall to the left of the doors leading into Commons B-01. The console's screen flashes "INCOMING MESSAGE" in red.
| “ | Targeting a legend. | ” |
SUBMIT SECURITY CREDENTIALS:
SPARTAN-117
IDENTITY CONFIRMED
ACCESS GRANTED
TARGET PROFILE:
THEL 'VADAMEE, SUPREME COMMANDER
COVENANT FLEET OF PARTICULAR JUSTICE
TARGET VALUE: ALPHA
REPORT COMPILED BY LT. COMMANDER JAMESON LOCKE
The view pans around a wireframe hologram of the Arbiter as Locke narrates.
- Locke: "Pursuant to Office of ONI Retrieval and Acquisitions inquiry of 26 September, 2552, the following is a target profile of Thel 'Vadamee, Supreme Commander of the Fleet of Particular Justice, compiled by Lieutenant Commander Locke."
The view changes to a small Covenant shuttle docked at a gangway in The Rubble.
- Locke: "First confirmed contact with 'Vadamee came in 2535 on an unofficial human colony known as The Rubble. After-action reports from civilians, as well as Spartan units 006, 111, and 120 suggest that 'Vadamee was at that point a relatively minor functionary of the Prophet of Regret."
'Vadamee stalks through passages aboard the Infinite Spoils, when a shadow flits across the foreground. He readies his energy sword as Jai-006 rushes him, tackling him to the ground. Jai attempts to train his rifle on 'Vadamee's head, but 'Vadamee bends the barrel. Jai tosses the weapon away and takes out his combat knife. The two briefly grapple, and 'Vadamee headbutts Jai. Another Elite arrives and begins firing upon Jai, who gets up and retreats.
The scene changes to space in orbit around a glassed planet, where human forces attack the Fleet of Particular Justice with Longswords.
- Locke: "Spartan-006 engaged 'Vadamee in combat. Both parties survived the encounter. Shortly after 2535, the UNSC first encountered the newly-formed Fleet of Particular Justice, now led by 'Vadamee."
A Longsword flies by an assault carrier, and is fired upon by a pursuing Seraph. The Longsword is hit and loses control, glancing off the hull of another assault carrier.
- Locke: "Review of early engagements with this fleet show that it quickly grew in size from five to nearly sixty ships, as 'Vadamee cut a path through many human systems."
Two MAC platforms in orbit around a planet attempt to fend the fleet off, but each are hit with a plasma charge, which shatters the stations.
- Locke: "ONI Section 3 made multiple attempts to anticipate, or even track 'Vadamee's movements, at the cost of a number of operatives' lives."
A Ket-pattern battlecruiser speeds through space, under fire from two Marathon-class heavy cruiser and one Stalwart-class light frigate. Two Ket-pattern battlecruisers and one CAS-class assault carrier drop out of slipspace. The carrier burns into the human ships with their energy projectors.
- Locke: "'Vadamee eluded all such efforts and he continued his unpredictable and devastating campaign. 'Vadamee also stands out from other Covenant commanders in the frequency in which he takes a personal role in ground assaults."
Campaign level: Outskirts
The terminal is a computer screen located on ground floor of the small building in the beach area before entering the highway tunnels. The console's screen flashes "INCOMING MESSAGE" in red.
| “ | Know thy enemy. | ” |
SUBMIT SECURITY CREDENTIALS:
SPARTAN-117
IDENTITY CONFIRMED
ACCESS GRANTED
TARGET PROFILE:
THEL 'VADAMEE, SUPREME COMMANDER
COVENANT FLEET OF PARTICULAR JUSTICE
TARGET VALUE: ALPHA
REPORT COMPILED BY LT. COMMANDER JAMESON LOCKE
Cut to a hologram of Camber with UNSC cruisers and frigates in orbit as Locke narrates.
- Locke: "Camber was a major manufacturing center for UNSC fleet materials with a population of 5.6 million."
The camera quickly pans to several orbital defense platforms defending the colony. The Fleet of Particular Justice enters the system from slipspace. The Covenant fleet begins to attack the ODPs and UNSC ships.
- Locke: "After discovering Camber's location, 'Vadamee penetrated the early-warning perimeter without alerting UNSC forces, and began his ground and orbital attacks before most of the planet knew they were in danger."
The camera quickly pans to four CAS-class assault carriers plasma bombarding the surface of Camber with energy projectors and pulse laser turrets.
- Locke: "While seventeen of his ships bombed key defensive positions, 'Vadamee led a group of Elites in a personal assault on UNSC system HQ."
Cut to the UNSC HQ on Camber in the rain. The nearby streets are bombed by plasma.
- Locke: "One of the first units to engage 'Vadamee was the 3rd Battalion Reserves, who were so unprepared for the arrival of the Covenant forces that 'Vadamee found them unarmed and defenseless."
Cut to the view of a helmet recorder sitting on a bench that observes numerous UNSC Marines preparing for combat in a locker room while alarms are sounding. One Marine picks up the helmet with the recorder and dons it. The Marines begin to run towards the exit of the room, unarmed. Suddenly, a door explodes and the Marine with the helmet recorder is knocked to the ground. The view fades to black.
- Locke: "In an unexpected display of what appears to be honor, 'Vadamee allowed the 3rd to finish gearing up before engaging them in combat."
Fade to the Marine with the helmet recorder looking at two Special Operations Sangheili and 'Vadamee approaching, wielding a plasma rifle. The two Sangheili prepare to attack the wounded Marines, but 'Vadamee stops them. He looks towards the Marine with the helmet recorder and drops his plasma rifle. 'Vadamee activates his energy sword and active camouflage. Two other two Sangheili do the same.
- Locke: "While we have had multiple reports of a strict system of honor and ritual behavior followed by Elites within the Covenant, this is the first recorded example of such honor being shown to human opponents. But even given the chance to defend themselves, the 3rd Battalion losses were complete."
The Sangheili wait while the Marine picks up his assault rifle. The Marine fires his rifle and 'Vadamee charges at him. 'Vadamee picks up the Marine and the view switches to a nearby surveillance camera. 'Vadamee impales the Marine and the view switches back to the Marine's helmet recorder as the Marine dies and is dropped to the ground. The rest of the Marines in the locker room fire at the three Sangheili, but all humans are eventually killed.
- Locke: "'Vadamee continued his campaign across many human systems, culminating in his most devastating blow against the UNSC at Reach."