Delta Halo

Delta Halo redirects here. For the Halo installation, see Installation 05. For the achievement, see Delta Halo (achievement).

Delta Halo is the eighth campaign level of Halo 2.

In Halo 2 for Windows Vista, upon completing this level on Normal or higher will reward the player "Delta Halo" Achievement and 30 Gamerscore.

Summary
After helljumping onto Halo in an HEV, John-117 fought his way through Covenant forces to reach the temple where the Prophet of Regret resides. This is the only Halo 2 level where the player will be aided by ODSTs and is also the first level that the Sangheili Honor Guardsmen are fought.

Transcript
{Cutscene} Cutscene}'''



''A Slipspace rupture appears in space. Solemn Penance comes out, followed by some debris from New Mombasa and the .''

Cuts to the bridge of In Amber Clad:


 * Commander Miranda Keyes: (lurches forward, grunts) "Report!"


 * Remi: "Both engine cores have spun to zero. We're drifting."


 * Pascal: "Archer pods are cold. I'll need to re-key the system."


 * Commander Keyes: "Do it, and find out where we are."

Pan over to a room lined with HEVs:


 * Commander Keyes (COM): "Sorry for the quick jump, Sergeant. You in one piece?"

Johnson is inside a HEV pod, smoking a smashed cigar.


 * Sergeant Major Avery Junior Johnson: "I'm good. Chief?"

Cuts to John-117 in another pod.


 * Cortana (COM): "We're fine."


 * Remi: "Ma'am, there's an object. Coming into view now."
 * Commander Keyes: (stares in amazement) "Cortana, what exactly am I looking at?"

In Amber Clad approaches a familiar-looking ringworld.


 * Cortana: "That... is another Halo."


 * Sergeant Johnson: (chokes) "Say what?!"


 * Commander Keyes: "So this is what my father found... " (gazes at Halo) "I thought Halo was some sort of superweapon."


 * Cortana (COM): "It is. If activated, this ring will cause destruction on a galactic scale."

In the pod, John-117 looks at Halo on his viewscreen.


 * Commander Keyes (COM): "I want all the information you've got on the first Halo. Schematics, topography, whatever. I don't care if I have the clearance or not."


 * Cortana (COM): "Yes, ma'am."


 * Commander Keyes: "Where's our target?"


 * Pascal: "The enemy ship has stopped above the ring, ma'am. We're going to pass right over it."


 * Commander Keyes: "Perfect. Given what we know about this ring, it's even more important that we capture the Prophet of Regret. Find out why he came to Earth, why he came here. (COM) Chief, take first platoon. Hard drop, secure a landing zone. Sergeant, load up two flights of Pelicans and follow them in."


 * Sergeant Johnson: "Aye aye, ma'am."

Johnson exits his pod.


 * Commander Miranda Keyes: "Until I can move and fight, I'm going to keep a low profile. Once you leave the ship, you're on your own."

Johnson knocks twice on the hatch of John's pod as he is walking by, John-117 pounds back in acknowledgment.


 * Master Chief Petty Officer John-117: "Understood."


 * Pascal: "Over the target in five..."


 * Cortana: "Hang on to your helmet!"

The pods drop, and they hell-jump onto Halo.


 * Cortana: (as the parachute deploys) "Mind the bump."



''On Halo, an Unggoy and a Kig-Yar notice the pods flaming and streaking down towards them. The Kig-Yar snarls in alarm. He flicks his wrist, and his energy shield snaps on. The Unggoy boards a Shade turret and shoots at the pods, and soon another Shade starts firing. The pods land, John-117 breaks the cover open on his pod, scanning the area with an SMG.''


 * Cortana: "Could we possibly make any more noise?!"

John-117 takes a Rocket Launcher out of his pod and hefts it.


 * Cortana: "I guess so."

{Gameplay}

Helljumpers
The team comes under fire from the Shades.


 * Private First Class Chips Dubbo: "Sir, we gotta neutralize those turrets!"

The team destroys the Shades.

or
 * Gunnery Sergeant Stacker: "Clear this landing zone! The Pelicans are right behind us!"
 * Staff Sergeant Banks: "Clear this LZ! The Pelicans are right behind us!"

''The team attack the Covenant troops around a nearby structure, which includes several Sangheili and a Kig-Yar Sniper. Eventually they clear all hostiles and hold position in the ancient structure.''


 * Cortana (COM): "Artillery disabled, Sergeant. Landing zone secure... for the moment."


 * Sergeant Johnson (COM): "I hear ya. Starting our approach - hang tight."


 * Cortana: "Easier said than done. Inbound Phantoms, Chief."

''A Phantom drops off troops. The Chief eliminates them.''


 * Cortana: "Another Phantom, on approach."

''A second Phantom drops off troops. John-117 eliminates them as well.''

On Legendary, a third Phantom drops off a squad of three Stealth Sangheili.


 * Cortana: "Hold here until the Pelican arrives, Chief."

If the player stays and waits for the Warthog:


 * Dubbo or Cortana: "Here comes our ride!"

A Pelican arrives, carrying a Warthog and two Marines, if the ODSTs have been killed.

If the player proceeds up the path without waiting for the Pelican to arrive:


 * Cortana: "Let's wait here until our Warthog arrives...unless you'd prefer to walk."


 * Sergeant Johnson (COM): "I got a good view comin' in. There's a big building in the middle of this island's lake."


 * Cortana (COM): "I saw it too. It looks like a temple. If I were a megalomaniac--and I'm not--that's where I'd be."

The Pelican drops off the Warthog.


 * ODST Sergeant (Stacker or Banks): "All right saddle up! We're movin' out!"

They cross a ridge to reveal a panoramic vista of a lake with the Temple in the middle of it.


 * Private First Class Chips Dubbo: "Whoa...it's like a postcard! 'Dear Sarge: kicking ass in outer space, wish you were here.'"


 * Sergeant Johnson (COM): "I heard that...jackass!"

Later, John-117 comes across a bridge held by the Covenant.


 * Cortana: "The Covenant have control of the bridge ahead. They're going to try to bottle us up on this side of the gorge. The controls to extend the bridge should be in this structure."


 * Dubbo or Cortana: "Watch out, Chief! Wraiths on the far side!"

''Several Shade turrets open fire on the team and Ghosts soon appear to provide support. Eventually the team eliminate all hostiles, including a lance of Kig-Yar. They enter a structure and eliminate another lance of Covenant in the main room. A hologram of Regret hovers above the center. The Chief activates the switch and the bridge extends over the gorge.''


 * Dubbo or Cortana: "Good, the bridge is down. Now about those Wraiths..."


 * Sergeant Johnson (COM): "Roger that. Armor's on the way."

If the player stares at Regret's hologram, then walks up to the ODST:


 * ODST #2: "Isn't that our target? What's he doing? Giving a speech?"


 * Cortana: "A sermon, actually. I've been listening to it since we landed. So far, some standard Covenant literature, but I'll translate if he says anything interesting."

If the player keeps staring at the hologram:


 * Cortana: "Regret's giving a speech. A sermon, to be exact. So far it's the standard Covenant liturgy, but I'll translate if he says anything interesting."

If you keep staring at Regret's hologram:


 * Prophet of Regret (Hologram): "The Forerunners, our most exalted lords, used the seven sacred rings to flee a doomed existence, to escape their endless struggle against the Flood. Long ago, the Prophets and Elites fought an equally fruitless war. Indeed, I suspect we would still be at each others' throats had the Prophets not found evidence of the Forerunners and their Great Journey."

Another Pelican approaches, carrying a Scorpion Tank.

If the player chooses to go on foot, Warthog, or Ghost:




 * Cortana: "You don't want the tank? Okay, we'll leave it for the others."

''John-117 eliminates the Wraiths as well as a group of Banshees and Ghosts and passes through a multitude of Forerunner ruins. Large numbers of Shade turrets, Ghosts and Covenant infantry fall to the Spartan's onslaught. Eventually the Chief emerges from the ruins.''

You Break It, You Buy It

 * Cortana or Marine: "Careful. We're coming up to another structure."

''More Shades, Ghosts and ground troops attack the team, but are repelled. As the Chief and his team attack the structure:''


 * ODST #2: "We got a Pelican coming in! Let's clear a landing zone!"

or


 * Dubbo: "Got a Pelican coming in! Let's clear an LZ!"

or


 * Cortana: "Pelican inbound! Let's clear a landing zone!"

''The Pelican drops some Ordnance pods for the team, as well as at least one Marine. In response to the human presence, more Covenant troops begin to emerge from inside the structure.''


 * Dubbo or Cortana: "They're all pouring out of the middle! Let's get in there."

A massive battle is fought between the human attackers and the Covenant defenders, but with the help of the Master Chief, the UNSC forces are victorious.


 * Cortana: "The Covenant are holed up in the middle of this structure. We need to clear them out."

If the player lingers outside the structure:


 * Cortana: "There must be some way to get through this rubble."

''As they progress into the building, they eliminate several more Covenant troops. The team soon come across another hologram of the Prophet of Regret.''


 * Prophet of Regret (Hologram): "In a gesture of peace and reconciliation, the Prophets promised to find the means of the Forerunners' transcendence, and to share this knowledge with the Elites. The Elites promised to defend the Prophets as they searched. A simple arrangement, that has become our binding Covenant!"


 * Cortana: "Transcendence, huh? More like mass suicide."

The team press on, engaging another pair of carbine wielding Sangheili and a lance of Unggoy and Kig-Yar.

Off The Rock, Through The Bush, Nothing But Jackal
The team continues through a narrow cave, and finds more Covenant troops patrolling near a waterfall flowing into a creek.


 * Cortana: "You always bring me to such nice places."

''The team take the Covenant troops by surprise and easily mow them down. Several Kig-Yar Snipers and a swarm of Yanme'e try to stop the UNSC forces, but fail. A final pair of Sangheili defend the approach to the next area, but they too are killed. The team continues through a narrow crack. They eventually reach the first series of structures in the lake.''


 * Cortana: "Good, still no word about In Amber Clad on the Covenant battlenet. It's odd, the Covenant knew we made landfall, but they don't seem to consider us a very serious threat. Boy, are they in for a big surprise."

''The main structure's upper walkways are patrolled by a pair of Kig-Yar Snipers. A swarm of Yanme'e attempt to stop the humans, but all Covenant troops eventually fall to the Chief and his team.

If the player waits or backtracks:


 * Cortana: "This tower cluster should connect to other towers around the lake. Let's get inside."

John-117 enters the main structure, encountering two Sangheili Honor Guardsmen standing next to another hologram of Regret.


 * Cortana: "Watch yourself! Honor Guards!"

''John-117 kills the Honor Guardsmen (on higher difficulties, more may appear). Fades to white.''

Level ends.

Skull
The Envy Skull is found on this level.

Note: this is similar to the Hidden Sniper Rifle, which can also be found on Delta Halo. Near the end of the level, after the area with the waterfall and snipers, you will go through a tunnel and come out onto an open ledge. There will be several buildings in the distance and if you still have a Sniper Rifle or Beam Rifle, you can pick off several Unggoy, Kig-Yar, and Sangheili. Below the ledge you are standing on is the main ledge which has weapon drop pods, however if you turn right and go along the wall, you'll reach a point where you can jump up and walk along above the main ledge. This will deposit you on a hidden ledge covered in thick vegetation. On the ledge is a dead ODST and a Sniper Rifle.

Glitches

 * Because Delta Halo is the first part of a two-part level, your weapons will carry over to Regret, unless one of your weapons is a Rocket Launcher or a pistol. If you finish Delta Halo with a Rocket Launcher or pistol you will start Regret with a Beam Rifle and an SMG.
 * Using the Sputnik skull, it is possible to jump into Regret and find The Gate, which is a switch located where the first Gondola would arrive. Upon opening it you will hear the noise the Gondola makes when you start it up. It has been highly controversial between Halo fans because no one knows its purpose although it is most likely to be a place holder for the Gondola itself.
 * At the beginning of the level, when you clear the Covenant from the first structure, move on to the bridge area, and get the Scorpion. If you do this, the game will act as if you did not go get the Scorpion, and will spawn a Warthog. Cortana will also say "Let's wait for the Warthog, unless you'd rather walk" on your way back through with the tank.
 * When looking directly at the holographic projections of Regret, press the "melee button" and John will charge towards the projection as if you were actually about to melee an enemy unit. This is because, to save time, an alternate model of Regret with no collision model is used for holograms. This also occurs on the holograms viewing the Heretic Leader at the beginning of the level The Oracle, and The Prophet of Truth on the Halo 3 level The Covenant.
 * At the starting of the level when you hold the Temple with the Helljumpers where the Kig-Yar and the Unggoy were in the cinematic, climb up the hill, walk around until it says Loading...done. After that, go somewhere low that you can get to the ground without dying. There will be no enemies for the whole level, but you'll also be unable to get to the next level because a door will be locked. Also, all holograms of the High Prophet of Regret will just be of his Gravity Throne, with no Prophet sitting in it. In addition, at the set of buildings before the last checkpoint, you can drive a Ghost up to the area of gondolas in the next level. There will be no enemies. However, this area is inaccessible. You will fall and die instantly.
 * When you reach the temple where you must clear a Landing Zone for the Pelican and its drop pods, after you eliminate all enemies that exit the temple, about half the time all surviving ODSTs (only a maximum of 3) will suddenly vanish. Rarely, only one or two will vanish. The Marine reinforcement(s) will never disappear, only the Helljumpers.
 * After Cortana says "The controls to extend the bridge should be in this structure", drive your Warthog onto where the bridge extends. When the Wraith comes out and shoots at you go forward very slightly so that the Wraith shot will hit the back of the 'Hog. You will go flying over the gorge and land on the other side. However, even on Easy, you will die upon impact of landing. For a better view, after the Wraith hits the back of your Warthog, get out of it. You'll die the moment you get out, but you'll get a much better view, and sometimes, you'll fly over the next structure. If you are in a Ghost, and haven't yet extended the bridge, if you go where the bridge would be, and the wraith's mortar hits you, its possible that you will be flung over the gorge, and hopefully stay alive. You can continue the level if this happens.
 * It is possible to enter the next level (Regret) without activating the cut scene. The Sputnik Skull is not required for this glitch, though it does help. First, go through the level on any difficulty until you reach the part where you are on the bridge with the Weapon Pods that the In Amber Clad dropped for you. Instead of going into the tower, grenade jump on the side of the entrance to the platform above. Kill all the Jackal Snipers. Then, find your way around and jump down. You will be on the other side. There will be Covenant soldiers with most of the Grunts sleeping. They will act as if you were not there unless you bump into them.Continue to where the gondola is and you will see what appears to be a Zanzibar gate switch hovering off the coast of your platform.
 * The first hologram of Regret in the courtyard like area in the structure that you come to has a part where you can stand on it as if it was a solid object.
 * This is one of the few levels in the game where the Permanent invisibility glitch can be performed.

Easter eggs

 * The Envy Skull is found on this level.
 * There are three hidden Rocket Launchers in this level; one on the top of the first structure, which to get to you have to go to the balcony, look to the right, walk on the side of the structure, then crouch jump on top. The second is at the chapter "You Break It, You Buy It." Go to where the swirling ramp is and try to park your Scorpion in a way that you can reach the ledge with the trees. In the trees, there will be a dead ODST with a rocket launcher. The third one is at the structure where the first Pelican drops in reinforcements. You have to go to the corner that is through the tunnel of where the Envy skull is. You have to grenade jump up that corner, walk across the "balcony", and look to the left after the giant piece of broken wall. There is a Marine corpse with a Rocket Launcher.
 * The Unggoy with Toys Easter Egg can be found on this level.
 * There is a Tri-Gate outside the level.
 * If you managed to reach the bridges at the last structure of the level, you can walk up to any of the Covenant forces in that area and none of them will attack you. Instead they will simply stare at you, make a random comment and run off. The Sputnik Skull may be required to achieve this task.
 * It is possible to go outside the boundaries of the map near the very beginning. You can explore the entire level up to the part when you get on the gondola, from outside the valley the level takes place in.
 * At the Checkpoint "Over The Rock, Through The Bush, Nothing But Jackal", there is a hidden energy sword if you follow the stream from the waterfall.
 * Around the area of where the Envy skull is found, in the room where there's a giant block covering the doorway, there is a way of getting in the room and finding two energy swords and two dead Grunts. Just go as if you were going to get the Envy skull, and drop down the right side of the building. In the dark room, there should be two dead Grunts, and two energy swords. And you should also be able to see the block covering up the initial doorway. The block can be removed through the use of grenades.
 * A screen displaying orbital defense platforms can be seen on In Amber Clad's bridge. The same screen is also seen on The Armory, Cairo Station, and Elongation.
 * The sixth terminal is a Covenant terminal in the room of the Forerunner structure contains the first hologram of Prophet of Regret and the switch which extends the bridge.

Mistakes

 * The HEV the player starts from has the interior facing the cliff. It would be impossible for the Chief to jump out from the pod.

Miscellaneous

 * The opening cut scene plays in two parts. If you skip the first part of the cut scene then the music which normally plays as the SOEIV's land (part of Delta Halo Suite) will not play and the cut scene will finish without music. This is likely because normally the music is triggered in the first part of the cut scene and carries over into the second.
 * In the first cutscene, the various debris that comes out of the Slipspace portal are actually parts of buildings from New Mombasa that were pulled in during the jump. This is more apparent in the remastered cutscene in the Anniversary edition.
 * The Quadwings flying around (at the beginning where the Wraiths are) can be killed with a Beam Rifle, Battle Rifle, Covenant Carbine, or the Scorpion's machine gun; and they will explode into a blur of red blood and die. There are more of these birds in the level Regret and they can also be seen on the Halo 3 multiplayer levels Guardian and Epitaph.
 * Originally, Bungie had planned for the level to begin while the Master Chief was still in the Orbital Drop Pod. Two Pelicans would fly by a window in the pod, which the player would then have to save from the turrets seen in the opening cut scene. However, this feature was cut due to bugs and a time shortage.
 * This is the only level by default in Halo 2 that you start with a Rocket Launcher.
 * You can see the Sentinel Wall in the distance, implying that the area is pretty close to the Library.
 * This is the last level where John-117 will have the opportunity to drive a vehicle.
 * If you kill the first three Honor Guards inside the building, the beginning cut-scene for Regret will begin. If any are killed outside it, a fourth one will be on the second level, to the right.
 * It is possible that Sergeant Stacker and Sergeant Banks appear as both an ODST and a Marine in this level.
 * For the first time in a game, you can see a Kig-Yar using a Plasma Rifle against you.
 * When you have cleared the landing zone and the Pelican has arrived with a Warthog and two Marines, one can hear a piece of music that doesn't appear on the soundtrack.
 * While looking through the caves in the area with the waterfall and creeks, you will see the body of a lone ODST that was armed only with two pistols which may seem somewhat strange since there isn't any evidence of HEVs other than the ones that landed alongside you in the beginning of the level.
 * When Regret's hologram is encountered throughout the level, it seems that he is chanting something similar to the Halo theme.
 * If you are playing on Legendary, at the beginning of the level, a third Phantom will drop off a squad of four Sangheili. All have active camo, and one is a dark brown Stealth Sangheili.
 * On lower difficulties, a Phantom will drop off some Elites. One will be a Minor Elite with an Energy Sword.
 * If the player does not approach the entrance to the inner structure at the end of the section with the Scorpion, a nav point will eventually appear at the doorway. Grunts will also infinitely spawn during this time. Sitting in the Scorpion and shooting them down for a few minutes is an easy way to beat the par score for this level.
 * A group of Grunts and Elites will spawn once the player proceeds toward the doorway.