The Commissioning

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The Commissioning is a live-action trailer for Halo 4 that was released on June 5, 2012 at E3. An extended cut was shown in the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con Halo 4 panel. It depicts the launch and early mission of the, the first almost-purely exploratory ship the UNSC has built in over a generation. The cinematic proper is 1:40 minutes long, though an in-game trailer begins around the 2:00 mark in the video.

Transcript
''A city on Earth. The UNSC Infinity and a large airborne aircraft carrier-type ship hover above the city. Several ranks of UNSCDF personnel line the flight deck in front of a podium. A UNSC dignitary is addressing the crowd. Behind him stand six officers in full ceremonial dress, including Infinity ' s commanding officer, Captain Andrew Del Rio. 


 * Dignitary: "It's been four years since the end of the war. And today we send forth a vessel designed for battle, but now re-purposed. For peace."



''The scene switches to space, near the Forerunner shield world Requiem. The Infinity and an escort of s and unidentified UNSC starfighters approaches the planet. Captain Del Rio stands at the view port on the bridge, watching the looming planet intently.''


 * Bridge Officer: "Captain!"

Del Rio walks toward the back of the bridge, to an officer rapidly tapping at the keyboard of a holotank displaying a schematic of the Infinity.


 * Dignitary (voiceover): "Home to seventeen thousand of our best. Our brightest."

''The hologram begins to flicker erratically. Del Rio looks at it, bemused. The stern of the holographic ship begins to flash red, and an exploded view of ship components moves forward. The scene switches back to Earth.''


 * Dignitary: "This - is the culmination of human achievement."

On board the Infinity'', a woman is talking with her son over a video call. The screen becomes distorted and then ceases to function completely, displaying only the Didact's symbol as an orange glow begins to sweep through the ship. The glow moves through the entire ship, finally exiting the bridge. Power to all systems is lost. The opening on the planet's surface begins to glow a brilliant white, as Captain Del Rio turns to face it.''

Cut to a brief shot of a young soldier's face at the ceremony, then back to the Infinity.


 * Andrew Del Rio: "All engines! Reverse thrust!"



''The ship is pulled inexorably toward Requiem. The effect is felt throughout the ship. Debris and people inside the ship are pulled toward the bow of the ship. A soldier's dog tags are pulled almost horizontally, completely countering gravity. A soldier runs down a corridor, fleeing an explosion. The ship lists dangerously, causing parked vehicles to crash into the walls of their hangar.


 * Dignitary (voiceover): "For the first time in a generation..."

''Two men fall down a depressurizing shaft, and are then launched the other way by an explosion. As crewmen are tossed about the bridge, the Didact's symbol can be seen on computer monitors in the background. The scene cuts briefly to Earth, before returning to the chaos aboard the Infinity.''


 * Dignitary (voiceover): "We commission a UNSC starship, meant not to wage war, but to peacefully advance the cause of mankind. Through the discovery of new worlds."

The Infinity'' plunges toward the planet, as its engines and electrical system begin to fail. Many crewmembers are shown with terrified expressions, some screaming and covering their ears, as if trying to block out an unbearable noise. Captain Del Rio attempts to send out a transmission, but sounds of people screaming as well as static jumble up his transmission.''


 * Andrew Del Rio (COM): "Mayday, mayday! This is the captain of the UNSC Infinity. Requesting immediate assistance."

Cuts to black.

Director's Cut: John-117, wielding an MA5D Assault rifle and standing on a mountain inside Requiem, looks up and sees the UNSC Infinity emerging from the clouds.

The Didact's icon is shown, glowing orange and slowly spinning. AN ANCIENT EVIL AWAKENS

''The icon pulses with bright orange light. Cuts to black.'' HALO 4

Trivia
One of the crewmen who is sucked out of the Infinity by explosive decompression is named in reference to Kiki Wolfkill, an executive producer at 343 Industries.