The Pillar of Autumn

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

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The Pillar of Autumn
Game:	Halo: Reach
File name (?):	m70
Player:	Noble Six
Date:	August 30, 2552
Location:	SinoViet ship breaking facility, Asźod, Reach
Objective(s):	Deliver the Package to the UNSC Pillar of Autumn, then shoot down the Covenant Ket-pattern battlecruiser so that the Autumn can escape.
Par Time:	00:20:00 (Master Chief Collection)
Par Score:	25,000 (Master Chief Collection) 20,000 (Halo: Reach)
	Halopedia has a walkthrough guide for this level; see Reach:The Pillar of Autumn/Walkthrough.

“

Deliver Halsey's data package to the Pillar of Autumn.

”

The Pillar of Autumn is the tenth campaign level of Halo: Reach. The level takes place on August 30, 2552, near and in the ship-breaking yards at Asźod.

Summary

The level opens with the remainder of Noble Team onboard a D77 Pelican, on their way to deliver Cortana to the dry-docked UNSC Pillar of Autumn. The Pelican is critically damaged and Carter-A259 is badly wounded. Carter orders SPARTAN-B312 and Emile-A239 to complete the courier mission without him, while he lures the Covenant away from the pair by using the Pelican as a decoy. Emile-A239 and SPARTAN-B312 execute a low-altitude jump from the Pelican outside of the dockyard and are forced to fight their way to the facility. After battling through several Covenant outposts, the two SPARTAN-IIIs are forced to continue their journey through a cave system to circumvent a large group of Covenant forces. Upon reaching the other side, however, they are confronted by a Scarab. Realizing that the Scarab's presence prevents Emile and Noble Six from moving on, Carter rams it with the Pelican, knocking it off a cliff and sacrificing himself in the process. The two SPARTAN-IIIs continue their journey and eventually reach the Asźod ship breaking facility.

The two SPARTAN-IIIs are then hailed by Captain Jacob Keyes, whose cruiser, the Pillar of Autumn, is moored at the facility, and are ordered to clear a landing zone for the Captain, who will use a Pelican to retrieve the Package himself. Emile mans the facility's mass driver to provide covering fire against incoming Covenant Phantoms, while Noble Six and surviving Marines engage the Covenant on the ground. Once cleared, Keyes' Pelican arrives and Captain Keyes retrieves the Package from Noble Six. As the package is handed over, a Ket-pattern battlecruiser is revealed to be moving in on the Pillar of Autumn. Keyes orders Emile to fire on the advancing battlecruiser, however, before Emile can oblige a Phantom attacks the landing zone, destroying one Pelican and deploying a group of Sangheili warriors onto the mass driver. Emile successfully kills one of the Sangheili with his shotgun before a second sneaks up behind him and impales him with an energy sword. Emile manages to draw his kukri and fatally stab the Sangheili in the neck before he expires.

Keyes returns to the landing platform and offers Noble Six transportation to safety. The SPARTAN-III refuses and offers to defend the Captain as he heads towards his ship. Using the mass driver, Six defends the site and shoots down the Covenant battlecruiser just as it is about to glass the area. After successfully halting the battlecruiser's attack, Noble Six looks on as the Pillar of Autumn takes off and heads towards space to escape Reach, leaving Noble Six stranded with no way off of the planet.

Transcript

{Cutscene}

Auntie Dot's satellite view shows Noble Team's Pelican being pursued by two Banshees and a Phantom.

Asźod, Eposz

August 30, 2552 16:52 Hours

• Auntie Dot (COM): "Noble Leader, seek immediate medical attention."

The view zooms in and follows the Pelican.

• Auntie Dot (COM): "Noble Leader, please respond."

Emile in combat with Covenant aircrafts in pursuit.

Cuts to the cockpit of the Pelican, with Noble Six moving closer to the pilot seat. Suddenly, several plasma bolts hit the Pelican, impacting Noble Six, flickering the Spartan's shields. The view turns to the troop bay of the Pelican, and Emile-A239 is seen firing his Grenade Launcher at the two Banshees. Emile concentrates fire on a single Banshee. The grenade detonates close by, and the EMP disables the Banshee, which swoops up and crashes into its wingman. Both are taken out, but the Phantom still pursues. The view switches back to the cockpit, and moves in front of Six. Carter, critically wounded but still in the pilot seat, takes off his helmet and throws it onto the ground. Blood splatters cover the cockpit window.

• Auntie Dot (COM): "Please respond, Sierra Two-Five-Nine. You are alarming me."

Carter-A259 turns back to Noble Six. His face is bloodied, and his armor is charred from plasma fire.

• Commander Carter-A259: (strained but calm) "Not sure how long she's gonna stay together. Skies are jammed up anyways. Gotta get you off here, Lieutenant."

The view faces a critically injured Carter. Noble Six, grabbing the pilot chair, looks up.

• SPARTAN-B312: "Sir, you-"

• Carter-A259: "Don't wanna hear it. Get the Package to the Autumn."

• SPARTAN-B312: "Done."

• Carter-A259: "Not yet, it's not... Emile, go with him/her. It's a ground game now."

The view switches to Emile, who drops his emptied Grenade Launcher and makes a fist-to-chest salute. In the background, two more Banshees appear.

• Warrant Officer Emile-A239: "It's been an honor, sir."

• Carter-A259: "Likewise... I'll do what I can to draw their fire."

Carter gives Six his parting words.

Six turns and walks to the troop bay.

• Carter-A259: "Six. That AI chose you... She made the right choice."

The Pelican turns and make the pursuing aircraft out of sight. Six and Emile position at the Pelican's tail, ready to jump off. Holding the AI Package tight, Six crouches down as Emile grips the Pelican. Carter counts down with his fingers.

• Carter-A259: "On my mark."

Carter counts down to zero.

• Carter-A259: "Mark!"

Six and Emile jump out, and the view switches to Six's point of view. They slide down a canyon, energy shields depleting. They come to a rough stop by impacting the ground. Six looks up as their and Emile's shields recharge. Carter's Pelican flies over them, Banshees in hot pursuit. Six turns back, checks the armored matrix for damage, then places the AI data storage unit on their back. They look up to the road ahead.

{Gameplay}

Once More unto the Breach

Take the package and deliver it to the Pillar of Autumn while Carter covers you from the air.

Six and Emile continue through the narrow crack until they reach a cliff edge, overlooking a large area. Two Banshees are still in pursuit of the Pelican. Far in the distance, the UNSC Pillar of Autumn can be seen.

• Emile-A239: "Still with us, Commander?"

• Carter-A259 (COM): "Stay low, let me draw the heat. You just deliver that Package."

Emile points at the Autumn.

Emile indicates the ship in the distance.

• Emile-A239: "There's our destination, Six: Pillar of Autumn. Race you to her."

Carter's Pelican, still being pursued by Banshees, flies out of sight. After killing the distracted Covenant troops, Emile and Six come upon a pair of Mongooses.

• Emile-A239: "Got transport."

If the player stalls:

• Emile-A239: "You think we got time to walk over there?"
• Emile-A239: "Jump on that Mongoose. Let's kick some dirt!"

After traveling a short distance, the Spartans reach another open area. Covenant troop deployment pods drop and Covenant troops emerge from them. To make the situation worse, a Scarab drops from the sky.

If Six is driving their own Mongoose rather than riding shotgun on Emile's:

• Emile-A239: "Scarab! Do not engage! Gun it, Six!"

If the player dismounts their Mongoose:

• Emile-A239: "Six! Get back on to the Mon'!"

Carter's Pelican return briefly and fires its chin-mounted gun at a Scarab.

Carter's Pelican reappears and distracts the Scarab by shooting its back.

• Carter-A259 (COM): "Get the Package out of there! Remember your objective!"

More Orbital Insertion Pods drop, and another Scarab falls from the sky as the first one walks over the cliff. After fleeing from the battlefield, the Spartans come upon a broken bridge.

• Emile-A239: "The bridge ahead is out, Six. We're gonna have to jump it!"

or, with the IWHBYD Skull activated:

• Emile-A239: "Put your hands up, Six! We're gonna have to jump it!"

If the player heads to the right of the bridge:

• Emile-A239: "Looks like we can climb around to the south."

• Emile-A239: "Wraith! Heading our way!"

A Phantom flies overhead as the Spartans cross the chasm, on a Mongoose or not. Barricades block the vehicle's way. Emile and Noble Six dismount and continue on foot.

This Town Isn't Big Enough

• Carter-A259 (COM): "Noble, enemy forces blocking the road up ahead."

• Emile-A239: "Got a Wraith! Southeast side!"

After clearing or rushing through the area, Six and Emile go through a cave. They draw closer to the exit.

• Carter-A259 (COM): "Noble! You got a...situation."

{Cutscene}

Another Scarab suddenly walks down in front of Emile and Six, who are stuck at the cave exit.

• Emile-A239: "Mother... We can get past it, sir!"

Emile steps back in hesitation.

• Carter-A259 (COM): "No, you can't. Not without help."

• Emile-A239: "Commander, you don't have the firepower!"

Carter's Pelican ramming the Scarab.

After noticing the two Spartans, the Scarab takes aim at Six and Emile as it charges its cannon. Carter's Pelican flies over and strafes it. The Scarab is distracted and stops charging its cannon.

• Carter-A259 (COM): "I've got the mass."

• Emile-A239: "Solid copy. Hit 'em hard, boss."

Carter brings the Pelican around and starts a ballistic trajectory, directly towards the Scarab.

• Carter-A259 (COM): "You're on your own, Noble... Carter out."

The Pelican slams into the Scarab's side and explodes as the walker charges its main cannon again. The Scarab's side bursts into flames, explosions rocking within it. The Scarab lets out a dying "scream" and struggles to stay standing. More explosions rock it and it falls down the cliff. A loud explosion is heard indicating its destruction. The view switches back to the two SPARTAN-IIIs, all that remains of Noble Team.

• Emile-A239: "Crevice to the east. Let's go."

Noble Six nods.

{Gameplay}

Emile and Six enter another cave. The bodies of dead Marines litter the cave.

• Emile-A239: "Buggers. Go quiet."

Emile and Six encounter Yanme'e in the cave.

Drones attack the duo, but with skill and superior firepower, the Spartans take the Covenant troops down. After taking down several Skirmishers, Emile and Six find the cave's exit. The SinoViet facility is seen, with the grounded and scrapped UNSC frigate Commonwealth being an enormous battlefield between UNSC and Covenant troops.

The Pillar draws closer, and Keyes is awaiting delivery of the package.

• Captain Jacob Keyes (COM): "This is Captain Keyes of the Pillar of Autumn. We are tracking you, Noble, but we've begun our launch sequence. Proceed to dry dock, Platform D. I'll be on it myself to receive the Package."

• Emile-A239: "We'll be there, sir."

• Keyes (COM): "You'd better be, soldier, because my countdown has no abort."

• Emile-A239: "Understood. We've got to get to the dry dock - Priority One."

The Spartans link up with some surviving UNSC Marines.

• Marine #1: "Spartans! Over here!"

• Marine #1: "It's not looking good, sir. Covies have taken the whole shipyard."

• Marine #1: "Keep heading east. (to the other Marines) Marines, push them back!"

Six joins two Marines in the ship-breaking yard.

They clear the front of the shipyards and proceed into the facility. Soon they link up with some UNSC Marines fighting another mass of Covenant.

• Marine #2: "Ah, Sierra, you made it!"

• Emile-A239: "So far. TAC eval?"

• Marine #2: "They got this facility covered from all angles. We'll give you covering fire. Take the flank, there has to be a way around."

• Emile-A239: "We'll find it. You just keep 'em busy."

• Marine #2: "You got it, sir."

If Six stalls:

• Emile-A239: "Come on, Six! We gotta move through that facility ahead!"

or

• Emile-A239: "Autumn can't wait forever. Let's go, Six!"

Six and Emile penetrate deeper into the facility, fighting past numerous Covenant soldiers. Along the way, they encounter a pair of Marines.

• Marine #3: "Spartans! Drydock's through that structure across the way. Punch through, we'll back you up."

A Phantom approaches and drops off enemy troops.

• Emile-A239: "Watch that Phantom!"

Six and Emile deal with the reinforcements and continue outside. They head down a walkway and arrive outside a warehouse guarded by Skirmishers and a pair of Hunters. The Spartans quickly kill the Skirmishers, and after a prolonged battle, bring down the Hunters as well.

• Emile-A239: "Go to the east! Keep moving!"

They enter the warehouse, where Marines on the ground floor are exchanging fire with Kig-Yar infantry occupying the facility's upper level. As the Spartans approach a flight of stairs, a sword-wielding Sangheili Ultra charges at them. The Spartans eliminate it, head upstairs and kill the remaining Covenant troops, before moving on.

As Noble Six moves up another flight of stairs:

• Keyes (COM): "Keyes to Noble Team. We're running out of time here, Spartans."

• Emile-A239: "Solid copy, sir. We're close. (to Six) Last push, Lieutenant."

Six and Emile meet up with another team of Marines engaged in a firefight with a small lance of Grunts and Kig-Yar. After dealing with these enemies, the Spartans finally exit the warehouse and see the massive Autumn in view, firing its 50mm Autocannons at various Covenant crafts in the area.

Keyes

Keep heading east, no matter what they throw at you.

Six joins two Marines at Platform Delta.

Noble Six and Emile link up with a Marine squad outside the warehouse.

• Emile-A239: "What's the situation?"

• Marine #4: "We rigged the mass driver up top. We lose that, the Autumn will have no covering fire. She'll never make orbit."

• Emile-A239: "Noble to Keyes: we're at the pad."

• Keyes (COM): "Copy, Noble. My Pelican's ready. Clear an LZ, and I'll meet you there."

• Emile-A239: "Will do, sir. All right, Six... This is it. I'll man the big gun. You just get to the platform and deliver that Package."

Noble Six prepares to engage the approaching Phantoms, while Emile gets to the mass driver.

• Emile-A239 (COM): "I'm in position! I'll take out as many dropships as I can."

Though Emile shoots down as many Covenant dropships as he can with the enormous coilgun, numerous Phantoms reach the landing pad and drop off dozens of Covenant soldiers, including Brutes, Jackals, and Grunts.

• Emile-A239 (COM): "Hold them off until Keyes gets here!"

More Phantoms show up.

• Emile-A239 (COM): "Take 'em out, Lieutenant! Clear the zone!"

Despite the odds, Noble Six and surviving Marines manage to fight them all off, eventually clearing the platform for Keyes.

• Emile-A239 (COM): "Noble to Keyes: pad is clear."

• Keyes (COM): "On my way."

• Emile-A239 (COM): "Six, time for you to leave. Get the Package to the pad...and get your ass off this planet. I've got your back."

• Keyes (COM): "This is Keyes, on hot approach to Platform Delta."

Keyes' Pelican approaches the platform.

• Keyes (COM): "Ready to take possess