The Package

This article is about a campaign level. For other uses, see The Package (disambiguation).

Prev:	New Alexandria
Next:	The Pillar of Autumn
The Package
Game:	Halo: Reach
File name (?):	m60
Player:	Noble Six
Date:	August 29, 2552
Location:	Babd Catha Ice Shelf, Reach Sword Base Babd Catha Forerunner vessel
Objective(s):	Neutralize Covenant AA cannons, enter Sword Base and defend Dr. Halsey's lab.
Par Time:	00:20:00 (Master Chief Collection)
Par Score:	65,000 (Master Chief Collection) 15,000 (Halo: Reach)
	Halopedia has a walkthrough guide for this level; see Reach:The Package/Walkthrough.

“

Your orders are to destroy Sword Base... Or are they?

”

The Package is the ninth level in the campaign of Halo: Reach.

Plot

The level begins on August 29, 2552. It takes place around the destroyed SWORD Base, as well as in an interior cavern underneath the facility. Noble Team is ordered to destroy Sword Base in a torch-and-burn op. Noble Six and a small strike force of Orbital Drop Shock Troopers infiltrates Sword Base to take out Covenant anti-air turrets. On their way to the facility, the team finds an operational Scorpion tank that they use to fight through Covenant forces around Sword Base. Meanwhile, the Falcons carrying the rest of Noble Team land at Sword Base and begin the assault.

Noble Six arrives at Sword Base, and the entire team pushes through to a set of prearranged coordinates. However, there is nothing there. Auntie Dot receives a set of revised coordinates from an AI of unknown origin, and a hidden door slides back to reveal an excavation tunnel. Noble Team rides a cart down the tunnel, where they find a large cavern housing a massive Forerunner vessel embedded in the ice. On the way down, Dr. Halsey reveals herself as the one who orchestrated their arrival. She asks for their assistance in defending her lab while she decrypts final information from the crashed Forerunner ship.

Noble Team uses Wolf Spider turrets to defend the lab as the Covenant begin their attack. They engage in an open firefight against incoming waves of Covenant and after a period of time, Dr. Halsey opens the doors to the lab. Noble Team walks into the lab, revealing a large, glowing Forerunner artifact in the center. Dr. Halsey tells them about a great discovery that could change the tide of the war, and stresses that it is imperative that they get the information off-planet. She then shows them Cortana, who is revealed to be the AI that sent them the revised coordinates. She stores Cortana in an armored matrix and gives it to Noble Six, whom Cortana has chosen.

Jun leaves to escort Halsey to CASTLE Base, while the rest of Noble Team gets into a Pelican to fly to the UNSC Pillar of Autumn that is awaiting their arrival. As they depart, a large underground explosion destroys Sword Base, denying the Covenant access to whatever remains.

Transcript

{Cutscene}

Noble Six's silhouette in the burning skies while SWORD Base burns in the distance.

Sword Base, Babd Catha Ice Shelf, Eposz

August 29, 2552 26:16 Hours

Fades in to the burnt and destroyed landscape outside of Sword Base. A Falcon flies overhead as Noble Six walks out from a small hill. Six walks down the rocky terrain.

• Colonel Holland (COM): "Noble One, this is Noble Actual. Noble One?"

• Carter-A259 (COM): "...Go ahead."

• Colonel Holland (COM): "We need that base taken out, son. What's your status?"

• Carter-A259 (COM): "Still outside. Thermal on the interior shows standing-room-only. We're gonna have to thin 'em out or we'll be way too popular."

• Colonel Holland (COM): "Copy that, Noble One. Holland out."

Six jumps out and lands beside three ODSTs.

• Carter-A259 (COM): "We've got a job to do, so let's stay focused and get it done. Six, are you in position?"

• SPARTAN-B312: "Affirmative."

• Carter-A259 (COM): "Good. Execute."

Six signals the ODSTs and they move out.

{Gameplay}

Torch and Burn

Eliminate the anti-air towers so NOBLE team can airdrop into Sword Base.

• Carter-A259 (COM): "Covenant own this sector now. They are defending for a full major strike, not a small-group infiltration. Eliminate all hostile ground air-defense so the rest of Noble can land at Sword Base for the torch-and-burn. Keep a low profile - we'll take them by surprise, this will be a hell lot easier."

• ODST #1: Spartan, we'll follow you."

The team moves down to the flooded Farragut Station in front of a Covenant outpost, comprising of a Covenant watchtower, Shades, a few Ghosts, and a group of infantry. While approaching the outpost, the team comes across the wreckage of a Falcon.

• ODST #1: "Falcon down. Watch for bodies."

The team attacks the outpost and clears the immediate area.

• ODST #2: "Structure's cleared, Lieutenant."

• Emile-A239 (COM): "Kat was right. Does seem like overkill... Sending us back here for a simple demo-op?"

• Jun-A266 (COM): "ONI thinks it's worth it. Ought to tell you something."

• Emile-A239 (COM): "Tells me things ain't so simple."

Up ahead, they come across another deployable lookout tower and a Scorpion hidden from it.

• ODST #3: "Looks like we have a Scorpion still operational, sir."

or, if the ODSTs are dead or too far behind Six:

• Carter-A259 (COM): "Might be a Scorpion still operational, Six. Check it out."

The Scorpion in battle.

Noble Six commandeers the tank. More towers and Ghosts block the way, but are easily eliminated by the Scorpion's superior firepower.

• ODST #2: "Ready to hit that anti-air whenever you are, Lieutenant."

The team clears the area.

• ODST #2: "Area secure."

or

• ODST #3: "Tangos neutralized."

• Carter-A259 (COM): "Get a move on, Noble Six. Our Falcons are standing by."

The teams finally reach Airview Base, now the dwelling of two Covenant Tyrants defended by Covenant troops, Ghosts and Banshees. Hot magma and rough terrain have replaced the airfield under the base. An aerial battle between Banshees and Falcons rages above.

• ODST #1: "AA guns dead ahead, Lieutenant."

• Carter-A259 (COM): "Time to get to work, Noble Six. Take out those guns!"

The Scorpion begins to take down the Covenant defenses around Airview Base.

Noble Six destroys the first AA gun.

• Carter-A259 (COM): "First target neutralized. Falcons, stand-by."

Six destroys the second anti-air gun.

• Carter-A259 (COM): "Nice job, Six. Falcons, commence descent. See you inside the base, Lieutenant."

• ODST #2: "Let's give 'em hell, Spartan!"

• ODST #3: "They sure gave it to Reach..."

Several Falcons, one piloted by Carter, fly over Six and towards Sword Base. Six continues to Sword Base's gate.

• Carter-A259 (COM): "Noble Team: Falcon group has landed, hostiles engaged. Jun is working on getting the gate open."

• Jun-A266 (COM): "Really missing Kat right about now..."

Six gets to Sword Base's gate area, which is defended by Covenant turrets and vehicles.

• Jun-A266 (COM): "Got it. Gate's open, boss."

• Carter-A259 (COM): "Six, get over here! Covies all over the base."

Six gets out of the Scorpion and heads for the gate.

• Emile-A239 (COM): "Tangos, coming from the pad!"

• Jun-A266 (COM): "And the garage!"