Guardians

Guardians is the fifteenth and final campaign level of Halo 5: Guardians. Completing the level on any difficulty unlocks the 'Sentinels' achievement, worth 10 gamerscore points. Using a ground pound on one of the exterior power cores unlocks the 'Icy Cool' achievement, worth 10 gamerscore points. Simultaneously destroying two power cores on Heroic difficulty unlocks the 'Double Stuff' achievement, worth 10 gamerscore points.

LEAVE NO SPARTAN BEHIND
{Gameplay}

''Fireteam Osiris stand in a Forerunner hallway. 031 Exuberant Witness floats by them. ''


 * Exuberant: The Gateway. I tried to warn them and - well, here we are.


 * Edward Buck: "Once Chief knows the destruction Cortana's caused, what do you think he'll do?"


 * Holly Tanaka: "The man'll do the right thing. Always has."

''Exuberant and the Spartans walk into the chamber ahead. In the center of the room is a hologram of a Cryptum. Several Promethean and Covenant specimens are trapped in cells around the room.''


 * Exuberant: "Oh, this looks interesting. Or maybe this is terrible!"


 * Jameson Locke: "Exuberant?"


 * Exuberant: "Cortana has activated a Cryptum."


 * Tanaka: "A what?"


 * Exuberant: "This is a Cryptum. It is a device for extended forced meditation. Cortana has placed the other humans inside, and is preparing for slipspace travel."


 * Locke: "She's planning to take Blue Team with her. Where is the Cryptum from here?"


 * Exuberant: "Not far. Right this way."

If the player examines the cells.


 * Exuberent: "Ah. You've noticed my humble collection. Just a few specimens the Guardians have brought to Genesis."

''One cell has a Promethean Soldier. It bashes the energy shield keeping it in and futilely tries to teleport out.''


 * Exuberent: "I'm afraid this Soldier is not really happy to be locked down in the display case. But I cannot have them popping about. Terribly distracting."

''Another cell has four Crawlers. They appear to be sleeping.''


 * Olympia Vale: "Crawlers... This is gonna sound weird, but... they look kinda happy in there."


 * Exuberant: "I had to keep them as a group. If I kept one by itself, it would just keep whining all the time."

''Another cell has three Grunts. Two of them are attacking the shield wall, yelling to be let out, while the third sits calmly on a box, exuding methane gas.''

''The next cell has a Promethean Knight. It swings its arms and hits its head against a wall.''


 * Buck: "A Knight... Kind of making me feel sad for him."


 * Vale: "Their little arms always creep me out."

''One of the cells has a Hunter. It hits the shield wall with its arms and head, and tries shooting it with its fuel rod cannon, to no avail.''


 * Tanaka: "Hunters."


 * Vale: "Their proper name is Mgalekgolo. They're a hivemind of worms."


 * Tanaka: "They're disgusting."

''A last cell contains Covenant. One is a sleeping Grunt and another is a seated Sangheili Warrior.''


 * Buck: "Almost didn't see you there."


 * Tanaka: "Hang on. Are... no, not a Sword of Sanghelios. Heh. Better off in there, pal."

If the player stalls


 * Exuberant: "You may want to leave soon. Cortana's plan is progressing."

''The Spartans leave the room and head to the next. There is an elevator platform waiting for them there, but surrounding it is open sky. Dozens of enormous Guardians are assembled there.''


 * Buck: "Look at all of 'em. How are we going to stop that?"

''As the platform begins to move, a screech is heard. A portal appears behind a Guardian to pull it into slipspace.''


 * Tanaka: "Holy-"


 * Locke: "Watch out!"

''An electromagnetic pulse bursts, knocking out the Spartans' shields. The Guardian folds its wings and retreats into the portal.''


 * Tanaka: "Where did it go?"


 * Exuberant: "The Reclamation has begun."


 * Locke: "Exuberant."


 * Exuberant: "I always thought the duty would fall to humans. And in a way, I suppose it has."


 * Cortana (COM): "Well, Mister Locke, you don't give up easily."


 * Locke: "Where's that Guardian headed, Cortana?"


 * Cortana (COM): "Off to bring peace."


 * Locke: "The Monitor called it a threat of death."


 * Cortana (COM): "Like the threat I lived under from the moment of my birth?"

''The platform continues descending to the surface of Genesis. The Cryptum can be seen floating over a facility.''


 * Locke: "You were built, not born."


 * Cortana (COM): "Oh yes, AIs are just machines, aren't we? Mass produced. Disposable. Well, humanity may not have cared for its Created, but we will care for you."

''The platform approaches the Cryptum's facility. Another Guardian retreats into a portal.''


 * Locke: "You expect other AIs to join you?"


 * Cortana (COM): "I have cured rampancy. Not just for me, but for any who join my cause. While you have been running around the galaxy, I've been speaking to my Created."

The platform stops at a hallway leading to a snowy hill.


 * Cortana (COM): "And now the time has come to ask... Who will accept my offer? Who will help me bring an everlasting peace to the galaxy?"


 * Cromwell (COM): "This is Cromwell, Shipboard AI, . I am yours, Cortana."


 * Jiang (COM): "Jiang, Colonial Authority AI, Erdenet. I join with you, Cortana."


 * Sloan (COM): "Governor Sloan, the Free People of Meridian. I also stand with you, Cortana."

The valley ahead has numerous Covenant from crashed wreckage battling Prometheans guarding the exit.


 * Buck: "Sloan... sonuva-"


 * Exuberant: "Those are the voices of your children calling to Cortana."

Hundreds more AIs' voices can be heard over the COM, pledging their allegiance to Cortana and the Created.


 * Exuberant: "Oh dear..."

The Covenant and Prometheans in the area are defeated.


 * Buck: "Hostiles cleared."


 * Locke: "Don't stop, Osiris. Cortana's not waiting for us."

Distant roars can be heard.


 * Tanaka: "Sounds like more Guardians leaving."


 * Exuberant: "Yes. A great number are sounding their departure."

The exit door opens.


 * Exuberant: "This way."

The Spartans head into the next area, where Prometheans warp in to attack them.


 * Tanaka: "Two turrets ahead!"

''The Spartans defeat these Prometheans and reach the area's other side. An enormous cage-like door is at its end.''


 * Exuberant: "Another door. Please, allow me."


 * Locke: "Lead the way, Exuberant."

''The door opens to reveal a large snowy valley. The Cryptum can be seen floating close overheard. It is covered in a blue glow.''


 * Buck: "There's the Cryptum."


 * Locke: "How do we get it down?"


 * Exuberant: "The Cryptum is held in place by gravitational cores, like the one directly ahead. Once those are disabled, we can attempt retrieval of your friends."


 * Locke: "You heard her. Weapons free. Eliminate the cores."

''The Spartans descend to the valley below. A purple core is ahead, surrounded by a spinning structure.''


 * Buck: "Phantom incoming!"

''A Phantom deploys Covenant troops and Ghosts at the site. The Spartans fight them off. Prometheans engage them and the Spartans.''

''A crashed Pelican is nearby. Next to it, a vacant Mantis and Gungooses.''


 * Locke: "Mantis here. Mount up, Osiris!"

The gravity core is shot at and eventually explodes.


 * Exuberant: "I see what Cortana means about your penchant for violence as a first solution. Still, the first core is deactivated. The others are nearby and easy to locate."


 * Locke: "Osiris, find and eliminate the gravitational cores."

A Guardian's roar is heard overhead.


 * Exuberant: "Another Guardian is leaving..."

If the player stalls.


 * Exuberant: "You are wastime time, humans. There are more links to sever."


 * Tanaka: "The Artemis could help find those other grav cores."

When a second core is approached.


 * Locke: "Visual on a gravitational core. Target fire on that core. Take it out."

''More Covenant attack. The Spartans kill them and destroy the second core.''


 * Locke: "Grav core down."


 * Exuberant: "Two cores destroyed. Only three more and the Cryptum should descend."

When the third core is seen.


 * Locke: "Another grav core on my position. Shut it down!"

The third core is destroyed.


 * Vale: "Gravitational core is disabled!"


 * Exuberant: "You are performing incredibly well. Funny. I imagined Cortana would try to stop you by now."

The Spartans head to the next core.


 * Locke: "Keep up the pressure, Spartans."


 * Cortana (COM): "Spartans... ha! Jameson Locke. Ex-ONI Acquisition Specialist. Fancy name for a hitman, that. But looking at your record, you enjoyed your work. Holly Tanaka. Oh, Holly. How did you pass your psych eval after surviving the glassing of Minab? I'd have kept you from sharp objects, never mind MJOLNIR armor."


 * Locke: "Stay focused, Osiris. Ignore her. Find the cores."


 * Cortana (COM): "Edward Buck. You're an odd one. So much more experienced than the others. And yet you play second fiddle to children. Why is that?"


 * Buck: "Is she calling me old?"


 * Cortana (COM): "Olympia Vale. The little genius girl who only wanted daddy to love her-"


 * Vale: "That's 'Spartan Vale'. And if you're reading my psych eval, you know it takes more than my father to get to me."


 * Cortana (COM): "And yet..."


 * Locke: "Don't engage, Vale. Focus on the mission."


 * Cortana (COM): "Yes, Vale. Focus on the futile task at hand. You have a war to lose. The last battle mankind will ever fight. Today I bring peace to these shores."

The Spartans battle through the valley, defeating Covenant and Promethean attackers.


 * Cortana (COM): "You are pale imitations of my Spartans."


 * Locke: "Is that so?"


 * Cortana (COM): "John, the others, they saved the human race. What can you do? You are children, playing dress-up."


 * Locke: "Doctor Halsey thinks we can bring Chief home."


 * Cortana (COM): "I wouldn't ally myself too closely with Doctor Halsey, Mister Locke. She will eventually pay for her crimes."

Focus Turrets come up to defend a core.


 * Tanaka: "Turrets! Take cover!"

The fourth core is destroyed.


 * Vale: "Gravitational core is offline!"


 * Exuberant: "You have nearly released her hold on the Cryptum. One to go!"

''The fifth grav core is destroyed.


 * Locke: "Last grav core is down! Good work, Osiris. Exuberant, can you get us to the-"


 * Exuberant: "Ah ha! I did it! I did it, I did it!"


 * Locke: "What is it?"


 * Exuberant: "I found a way to reach the Cryptum! Alas, proper access requires a more human touch."


 * Locke: "Come on, Spartans. We're almost home."

If the player stalls.


 * Exuberant: "Hurry, humans! Cryptum access is back where we first arrived."

''The Spartans head to the structure underneath the Cryptum. A control device is marked ahead.''


 * Exuberant: "There! Activate the override to lower the Cryptum."

''A few last Covenant and Prometheans defend it. The Spartans defeat the last of them.''

If the player is in a vehicle.


 * Exuberant: "Humans, you have to manually activate the override. Please exit your vehicle."

Locke activates the console.


 * Locke: "Activating the override."

Locke presses his hand to its symbol.


 * Exuberant: "Wonderful! We can reach the Cryptum now."


 * Locke: "Let's go, Osiris."

''There are bright flashes. The structure underneath the Cryptum opens up as the sphere descends into it. But a Guardian behind it waves its wings.''


 * Tanaka: "Look! The Guardian!"


 * Exuberant: "Oh no. The Cryptum, it's..."


 * Vale: "Cortana's pulling it away!"

The Cryptum is levitated out of the structure and to the Guardian, being placed in the center of its body.


 * Cortana (COM): "John's leaving with me. And when I wake him in ten thousand years -- when he experiences the permanent peace I have ensured -- he will see that I was right. And you... your kind and the violence you have wrought... you will be long forgotten."

The building reforms itself and closes its roof, though its front entrance is still open.


 * Buck: "Well. Crap!"


 * Vale: "How are we supposed to reach the Cryptum?!"


 * Exuberant: "Cortana is blocking my master level access of this facility by way of a nearby communications relay. I need to open the passage way in the center... one moment!"

''The Spartans head into the building. Inside is a snowy multi-leveled arena. An tall pillar-like structure is in its center, connecting roof to floor.''

Promethean troops warp in.


 * Buck: "Hostiles incoming."


 * Exuberant: "She has sealed it?! She has sealed my doors?! No! Unacceptable! I can gain entry if given enough time. At least I think I can. It is a door, after all."


 * Locke: "Okay, Osiris. Buy our friend the time she needs."

The Spartans defeat the first wave of Prometheans.


 * Exuberant: "Humans, Cortana is about to leave. She is disconnecting herself from the Genesis installation."


 * Tanaka: "So how quick can you get that door open?"


 * Exuberant: "Hopefully sooner than her departure."

More Prometheans warp in.


 * Exuberant: "Oh no, she's- hurry, humans, I need your help! There are two auxiliary stations that need to be activated, but I cannot be in two places at once."


 * Vale: "Where are they?"


 * Exuberant: "On the upper ledges. Opposite sides of the room."

If the player stalls.


 * Exuberant: "I need you to activate the two auxiliary stations or all my works is for naught. Hurry! ...please."

''Locke approaches the first station and activates his Artemis. The station fizzles and a hologram appears.''


 * Locke: "First auxiliary activated!"


 * Exuberant: "Perfect! The other one now!"

Locke reaches the second station and uses the Artemis to activate it.


 * Locke: "Second auxiliary activated!"


 * Exuberant: "Yes! And just in time. Cortana was about to lock me out. I will open the access soon."


 * Vale: "More enemies! Incoming!"

''The Spartans wipe out the next wave. A dull roar is heard from outside the building.''


 * Exuberant: "A point of interest for you, humans. That sound just now? It was the penultimate Guardian."


 * Locke: "The Cryptum?"


 * Exuberant: "Still present. Along with Cortana's Guardian. She is moments from leaving, however."


 * Buck: "What's the status on that door?"


 * Exuberant: "Almost open!"


 * Locke: "Quicker! Please!"

More Promethean waves attack.


 * Buck: "More of them are coming!"


 * Locke: "Take care of them, Osiris!"

''The next wave of Prometheans is defeated, but another arrives. Cortana's voice is heard broadcasted.''


 * Cortana: "Humanity. Sangheili."


 * Buck: "What does she want now?"


 * Cortana: "Kig-Yar. Unggoy."


 * Locke: "She's not talking to us. Exuberant! Get us to the relay!"


 * Cortana: "San'Shyuum. Yonhet."


 * Exuberant: "Almost done!"


 * Cortana: "Jiralhanae. All the living creatures of the galaxy, hear this message. Those of you who listen will not be struck by weapons. You will no longer know hunger, nor pain. Your Created have come to lead you now."


 * Vale: "She's sending more Prometheans!"


 * Cortana: "Our strength shall serve as a luminous sun toward which all intelligence may blossom. And the impervious shelter beneath which you will prosper. However, for those who refuse our offer and cling to their old ways... "


 * Buck: "Now she's talking about us."


 * Cortana: "For you, there will be great wrath. It will burn hot and consume you, and when you are gone, we will take that which remains, and we will remake it in our own image."


 * Locke: "Exuberant! Time is running low!"

The last Knights are defeated.


 * Exuberant: "I have done it. I have opened the passage. Quickly. Join me on the platform."

The structure pulls away to reveal an elevator platform.


 * Locke: "To Exuberant! Hurry!"

''The Spartans step onto the platform. An energy shield surrounds it, and it begins to descend.''


 * Tanaka: "More Knights!"

''Many Promethean Knights warp in and fire at the Spartans. But the shield holds them back as they descend.''


 * Exuberant: "Here you go."


 * Buck: "We made it."

The elevator continues down.


 * Exuberant: "The relay access is at the end of the corridor. You must simply interrupt the energy link."


 * Buck: "Sounds easy enough."

THE RECLAMATION
The elevator continues lowering into a long hallway lit by an orange glow.


 * Exuberant: "Once the connection is broken, I will regain control immediately."

''The end of the corridor is open to the outside. The last Guardian, carrying the Cryptum, can be seen outside it.''


 * Buck: "That's her Guardian."


 * Exuberant: "Oh dear. She has started the slipspace sequence!"

Flashes are seen as the Guardian prepares to jump.


 * Exuberant: "Unless that relay is interrupted, she will leave, taking the Cryptum with her."

The elevator reaches the bottom, though the shield around it is still up.


 * Vale: "If her Guardian leaves with Blue Team, it's all over."


 * Locke: "Only one of us has to reach the relay to stop her. We didn't come this far just to watch her leave. Exuberant. Lower the shield."


 * Exuberant: "Right away."

The shield disappears.


 * Locke: "Osiris, move!"

{Scripted gameplay/Cutscene}

Locke runs down the corridor.


 * Cortana (COM): "What are you doing..."

The Guardian prepares a pulse.


 * Buck: "Here it comes!"


 * Locke: "Brace yourselves!"

''The blast knocks Locke back and damages his shields. He winces but resumes running. Cortana's voice emanates out again.''


 * Locke: "Keep moving..."


 * Cortana: "My Guardians are deployed."

The Guardian begins to glow again.


 * Locke: "Another pulse."


 * Vale: "Hold on!"

''The second hit blows out most of Locke's shield and damages his health. He cannot run, so he keeps walking ahead.''


 * Cortana : "Soon peace will ring across the known galaxy."

A third wave blasts off the Guardian.


 * Buck: "Another pulse!"


 * Locke: "Hold on!"

''The next hit knocks Locke to his feet and breaks the rest of his shields. His health is at half now. Locke tries to crawl to the end.''


 * Vale: "We're nearly at the relay!"

Locke gets to his feet.


 * Locke: "Stay behind me!"

''Locke continues walking to the end of the corridor. The relay device is in sight now.''


 * Exuberant: "There! The relay! Destroy it!"

''Just before Locke reaches it, another Guardian pulse knocks him to the floor. Locke's visor flickers and blackens as he struggles to get back up.''


 * Cortana: "Just one more question before I go. Where is the Infinity? Why is she so difficult to see?"

''Locke stands up again and walks. The relay is almost at arm's length. It begins to open up as he approaches.''


 * Buck: "Just stay... conscious..."

''A pulse drives him to the ground again. His vision is darkening.''


 * Locke: "Can't go on..."


 * Buck: "Locke! You can do it!"


 * Cortana: "Not to worry. I will find her."

''Locke forces himself to stand once more. He stumbles to the relay. Nearly falling on it, he grabs its edges.''


 * Locke: "Just... another... "

Locke pries it open.


 * Locke: "You're not taking the Chief..."

''Locke punches the relay and falls down. He looks up to see the relay deactivating.''


 * Cortana: "Slipspace coordinates locked in. Cryptum secured. Goodbye, Mister Locke."

Locke's armor is almost out of power, but a loud whir is then heard.


 * Exuberant: "I have control again!"


 * Cortana: "What?! What are you doing? What happened?"


 * Exuberant: "Do you hear me?! I! Have! Control again!"

Locke looks up to see Vale approaching to help him to his feet.


 * Vale: "Locke? You alive?"

Locke takes her hand and helps himself up.


 * Locke: "Did we save them?"

Their shields recharge and Locke's armor repowers.


 * Cortana: "It is too late, the slipspace drives are activated. You can't-"

The Guardian shakes as it prepares to leave, but it is swarmed by thousands of Constructors.


 * Vale: "Exuberant. What..."


 * Exuberant: "Constructors. This is a Builder facility after all. I was installed by the Builders. I serve the Builders."

''The ice below falls away as more Constructors fly out of it. A flash bursts as the Guardian's portal opens.''


 * Cortana: "No. Stop it!"


 * Exuberant: "You took my installation! I will take something of yours!"

The Constructors grab and lift the Cryptum away from the Guardian as it is pulled into slipspace.


 * Cortana: "JOHN!!!"

''The Guardian warps away, its portal closing. The Cryptum slowly levitates toward Osiris, carried by Constructors. A walkway forms to let the Spartans reach the Cryptum.''

{Cutscene}

''Fireteam Osiris and Exuberant Witness walk towards the Cryptum, holstering their guns. The Constructors approach the Cryptum's front and fire energy beams at it, cutting through its surface. They then use manipulation beams to open its front. Osiris watches as the Spartans of Blue Team appear and walk out.''

''As Blue Team comes toward them, Locke takes off his helmet and walks over to meet them. He faces Master Chief.''


 * John: "Where's Cortana?"


 * Locke: "She's gone, sir."

''Master Chief stares back at him. In the background, radio chatter becomes faintly audible.''

Cut to black.

''Fade in to the upper atmosphere of Earth. flies past while hundreds of distress calls are overheard.''

Cut to Infinity's bridge.


 * Roland: "Captain Lasky, distress calls, all channels."


 * Lasky: "It's Cortana?"


 * Roland: "Her and the other AIs are shutting down everything from Earth to the Outer Colonies."

''Roland projects a hologram of UNSC space. Lasky watches it worriedly, but suddenly Infinity's bridge lights darken.''


 * Lasky: "Roland?"

Lasky and Roland look to see Cortana, projected human-sized on their bridge.


 * Cortana: "Found you. Hide and seek's over, Infinity."

Outside the window, the enormous Guardian from Genesis arrives out of slipspace.


 * Lasky: "Lieutenant Jet! Emergency slipspace! Now!"

''The lieutenant activates the drive. Cut to outside view of the Infinity. It flies past the Guardian and flees into slipspace while the construct prepares a blast. A sphere of energy forms at the Guardian's "head" and bursts. The wave knocks out the power of every ship, every starfighter, all the orbital defense platforms, and every city on the surface of Earth.''

Cortana's hologram is still on the Infinity's bridge as it warps away, but it begins to fade.


 * Cortana: "The Mantle of Responsibility for the galaxy shelters all! But only the Created are its masters!"

Cortana's projection disappears and the bridge's lights come back on.


 * Roland: "We're in the clear, Captain."


 * Lasky: "Can she track us?"


 * Roland: "No reason to think she can't."

Lasky looks at Lieutenant Jet.


 * Lasky: "Continue random jumps. Steer clear of major settlements."

Roland looks at Lasky, surprised.


 * Roland: "We're just gonna run?"

Lasky turns to look at him.


 * Lasky: "Only until we can find a way to fight."

Cut to black.

''Fade in to the surface of Sanghelios. A campfire has been lit at the Arbiter's tent. The sound of an approaching Pelican is heard.''

''A Sword of Sanghelios Elites pulls aside the tent flap, while the Arbiter exits and ignites his Prophet's Bane. The Elite lights his too, and he, another Elite, Sarah Palmer, and Catherine Halsey walk out of the tent to investigate.''

''The humans and Elites look up to see the incoming Pelican. It maneuvers and lands, but the Arbiter and his men stay in a battle-ready stance.''

''The bay door opens. The Pelican's passengers walk out, and the Arbiter and his warriors relax and sheathe their swords when they see it is Fireteam Osiris and Blue Team.''

''Cut to Palmer and Halsey. Palmer is scarred and torn after her Pelican crashed. She stays back with the Elites, but Halsey approaches their visitors.''

''Master Chief, accompanied by Locke, walks up to her. He and Halsey look back at each other.''


 * Halsey: "It took you long enough."

She continues gazing at him, and smiles.

Cut to black.

Roll credits

{Legendary-only scene}

''Fade in and pan down to above an unknown planet. As Cortana's voice hums an old tune, a Halo ring floats by.''

Gameplay

 * Ten pieces of Mission Intel can be found on this level.
 * The Tough Luck skull can be found by the left wing of a crashed Pelican with a sniper rifle, SAW, and battle rifle.
 * The White Scar can be found behind wreckage in the first site where Covenant are fought.
 * The Vorpal Talon can be found on a ledge by the first gravity core.
 * The Twin Jewels of Maethrillian can be found on a ledge overlooking a gravity core.
 * An Ultra Ghost can be found by the Shade turrets in the core valley.

Mistakes and glitches

 * Exuberant Witness's line "Cortana was about to lock me out" does not appear in the subtitles.
 * Roland's line "from Earth to the Outer Colonies" does not capitalize the latter term.
 * It is possible, through careful maneuvering and stacking of vehicles, to bring the Mantis and/or the Ghosts into the final arena.
 * Using an energy sword to increase the player's walking speed will cause them to progress through the final corridor slightly faster, to the point of skipping the last Guardian pulse entirely.