The Covenant (level)

The Covenant is the title of the seventh campaign mission of Halo 3.

It takes place in The Ark. In this level, you must deactivate the shield protecting the Prophet of Truth. Before reaching Truth, you must face off against a massive vehicular Covenant force, including two Scarabs. Finally, united by the common purpose of stopping the rings, Master Chief and the Arbiter unite with the flood, only to be betrayed when the threat has been dealt with.

Upon completing it on the Normal, Heroic, or Legendary difficulties, the player will earn the "Last Stand" achievement and 40 Gamerpoints. It is the longest level on the game.

Transcript
[Note: The following transcript is not complete]

Trident
{"Cutscene"}

(Five pelicans fly in, Followed by two Seperatist Phantoms. Cut to a large energy barrier surrounded by Covenant Loyalists)

Miranda Keyes (Radio): "So we hit these three generators, and the barrier will fall?"

343 Guilty Spark (Radio): "A small section, yes."

(A Grunt spots the flight formation as it approaches the mainland, and runs off cowardly)

Keyes (Radio): "Good enough. Johnson, drop the Chief at the first generator, then head to the third, the elites will punch right down the middle."

Johnson (Radio): "Roger that."

(The Pelicans and Phantoms break formation. Two Pelicans, one carrying the Chief, head towards Generator 1. AA fire erupts around them.)

Hocus (Radio): "Charlie Foxtrot! Tower One approach has active Triple-A!"

(Gunfire hits one of the engines of the following Pelican, forcing it into the Chief's Pelican, tossing a Warthog out onto the ground. The Pelican swerves out of control)

Damaged Pelican Pilot: "MAYDAY! I can't control her!"

Hocus (Radio): "Pelican down, Pelican down!"

Pelican Pilot #3 "Brace yourselves, we're going in a little hot!"

(Chief grabs a Spartan Laser jumps off the Pelican with the ODSTs)

{Gameplay}

ODST Sergeant: "Pile out! Go go go!

ODST Sergeant (Reynolds): "Up the beach! Kill that Wraith!

or

ODST Sergeant (Stacker): "Alright, up the beach! Take out that Wraith!

Hocus (Radio): "Commander, this is Kilo 23. Lost my Wingman and our only Hog. Over."

Keyes: "Roger that Hocus. Get outta there."

(The Master Chief and his Squad secure the beach, and destroy the Anti-Air Wraith)

ODST Trooper (Radio): "Beach head secure, Commander. Hostile Anti-Air has been neutralised."

Keyes (Radio): "Understood. I'm on my way.

Shipmaster: Begin diversionary bombardment."

Shipmaster Rtas 'Vadum (Radio): "I will beat the Prophet's shield like a drum. By the time the barrier falls, he will beg for mercy."

(A Pelican drops off a Mongoose and Warthog for the Chief and the Squad.)

Keyes (Radio): "Spark believes Truth can activate the rings at anytime. If he does, Earth, every being in the Galaxy. Halo will kill them all."

(They mount up and head off for the first tower.)

Keyes (Radio): "Get to the first tower. Shut it down."

(Later)

Johnson (Radio): "Ma'am, we're on the ground. Third Tower in sight."

Keyes (Radio): "Good. The Arbiter and the Elites have touched down in No. 2."

(or in Co-op)

Keyes (Radio): "Good. The Elites have touched down in No. 2."

ODST Trooper: "Objective in sight. Watch for heavy armor."

(The Squad clears the Armor and other resistance on the perimeter of the tower)

Keyes (Radio): "Chief. You've got to offline that tower."

(Keyes' Pelican drops off weapons)

Keyes (Radio): "Get inside that tower. Take it down!"

(Master Chief gets inside, secures the bottom floor. The ODST and/or Marines hold while the Chief secures the top floor and deactivates the tower. The Chief secures the top floor, after an encounter with a Chieftain with a hammer)

Keyes (Radio): "Chief, find the control panels, and shut it down!"

(The Master Chief deactivates Tower 1)

{Cutscene}

Keyes (Radio): "Good work Chief! That's one. The Arbiter (The "Elites" in Co-op) should be just about to... that's two! It's all up to Johnson's team now."

(Tower 3 does nothing)

Keyes (Radio): "Get back outside Chief. Wait for transport

{Gameplay}

Keyes (Radio): "Johnson. Come in. Over."

Johnson (Radio): "We need reinforcements (static) We're pinned down!"

Keyes (Radio): "I'm on my way!"

Johnson (Radio): "Negitave! Fire's too heavy! Everyone fall back! Ow!"

Keyes (Radio): "Sergeant Major?!"

(The Chief heads back downstairs)

Keyes (Radio): "Johnson?! Can you hear me?! Chief. You need to link up with the Arbiter ("Elites" in Co-op) and proceed directly to the Third Tower. Make your way back to the beach."

''(After clearing a group of Jackals and Grunts attacking the Marines holding the lower floor, the Chief and his squad get back to their vehicles and link up with Hornet Gunships on the beach).

If you want it done right
Hocus (Radio): "I got a few birds that need an escort. Take a Hornet, and proceed to the Third Tower."

(Reaching Tower 3 airspace)

Pelican Pilot (Radio): "Objective in sight, Commander. No sign of Johnson or his team."

Keyes (Radio): "Understood. Chief. Clear an LZ, then get inside the tower."

''(After taking out the Anti-Air Wraiths, the Seperatist Phantoms arrive and drop of the Arbiter and Elites for the Assault. The Chief lands the Hornet and joins them. They secure the lower floor.)

Arbiter: "Target this tower and the barrier will fall. Go Spartan! We have no time to waste."

(The Chief secures the top floor, after encounter a Chieftain Support Gunner with Stealth Brutes)

Keyes (Radio): "Hit the switch Chief! And the barrier will fall!"

(The Chief deactivates the Third Tower. The barrier falls. The Shadow of Intent advances.)

Shipmaster Rtas 'Vadum (Radio): "Now, Prophet. Your end has come."

(A Slipspace Rupture suddenly appears. High Charity appears from it and approaches the Ark)

Shadow of Intent Crewmember (Radio): "High Charity?! By the Gods! BRACE FOR IMPACT!"

(Debris strikes right through the Shadow of Intent's hull. More is seen. One of them crashes through the window right above the Chief. The Chief prepares for the Flood he knows came with it. The Chief quickly manages to eliminate few hostiles that arrived in the rock.) Keyes (Radio): "Shipmaster! Status!"

Shipmaster Rtas 'Vadum (Radio): "Significant damage. Weapon system disabled."

Keyes (Radio): "Move to a safe distance! Stay away from the Flood."

Shipmaster Rtas 'Vadum (Radio): "Why would the Parasite come here?!"

'''343 Guilty Spark (Radio): "The Ark is out of range of ALL the active installations!!! Priority! We must contain this outbreak and..."

Keyes (Radio): "No! FIRST we stop Truth! The we deal with the Flood."

(The Chief links up with the Elites and the Arbiter under attack. After eliminating the Flood in the tower, they get outside to meet Marines engaged in combat with the Flood)

Marine: "Another one! Wait! It's one of us!"

343 Guilty Spark: "I must see the crash site, assess the damage done to the Ark."

Arbiter: "To the top of that hill, Oracle, no further. We cannot risk you being captured by the Flood."

(The Pelicans dropped a M12G1 LAAV Warthog and a Scorpion for the Assault on the Citadel. The Chief, Marines, and Elites mount up.)

Keyes (Radio): "Shipmaster's Carrier is out of commission, Chief. I need you to take down Truth. Flood's just going to put pressure on him and accelerate his plans. Punch through the cliffs! Get inside that Citadel!"

Journey's End
(The Assault Team gets through the cliffs.)

Marine (Radio): "Citadel in sight."

Marine #2 (Radio): "Brutes are mobilising everything they got."

(The Assault Team clears the cliff and meets with Hornet Gunships near the route down into the clearing)

Marine Sergeant (Stacker): "Hornets inbound"

(Depending on choice, the Master Chief takes a Hornet and makes his way to the Citadel, when two Scarab drop down from above.)

Pelican Pilot (Radio) "I count two Scarabs! Repeat: Two Scarabs!"

(The Chief takes out one of the Scarabs)

Keyes (Radio): "First Scarab's down! All units. Concentrate your fire on No. 2."

(The Chief takes out the final Scarab)

Keyes (Radio): "Both Scarabs down! Well done! (If any resistance is left) Marines! Pick off the straglers."

(A Seperatist Phantom arrives at the Platform leading to the entrance of the Ark's Control Room, dropping off the Arbiter)

Arbiter (Radio): (If you're not there when he is) "Spartan. Come to me."

(The Chief lands and meets the Arbiter and 343 Guilty Spark at the top of the Platform)

Arbiter: "The Flood scales the citadel's far wall. Activate this bridge Oracle. (To the Chief) The Prophet will die by my hands. Not theirs."

343 Guilty Spark: "Calamity! If only we had more time."

(The Chief and the Arbiter enter alone. The entrance is a large hallway with screens mounted along the walls)

Cortana (Cortana Moment): "It asked, and I answered. For a moment of safety, I unleashed damnation on the stars."

Truth: "My faithful. Stand firm."

{Cutscene}

(The screens light up. with the Prophet of Truth making another speech. The Chief and Arbiter rush to find a way up)

Truth: "Though our enemies crowd around us, we tread the blessed path. In a moment I will light the rings, and all who believe, shall be saved."

(Master Chief and Arbiter find an elevater, with a screen in front of it, showing Johnson behind Truth, held aloft by a Brute)

Keyes (radio): "Chief, how close are you?"

(They look up. The height is thenominal)

Master Chief: "Not close enough."

(In chamber with Truth)

Johnson: "That the best you got?"

(A Brute Chieftan picks him up around the neck, and begins to strangle him)

Johnson: "Come on! Impress me!"

Truth: "Stop, you imbecile! He wants you to kill him. I would prefer that you did not."

Johnson: "What's the matter, big shot? Can't start your own party?"

Truth: "I admit, I need your help. But that secret dies with all the rest."

(Behind, a pelican roars through a huge window and crashes onto the ledge next to them. Truth is thrown offscreen)

Miranda Keyes: "Johnson, sound off!"

Johnson: "(Coughing) Get out of here!"

Keyes: "Not without you!"

(Brutes surround Miranda and Johnson. Miranda fires away at the Brutes with a shotgun.)

Truth: "You delay the inevitable. One of you will light the rings. You cannot hope to kill them all."

Miranda Keyes: "You're right."

(She aims the pistol at Johnson)

Johnson: "Do it. Me...then you...now!"

(Miranda pauses... several spiker shots are heard. Miranda gasps in pain)

Johnson: "NO!"

(Brute Cpt. restrains Johnson. Miranda collapses and dies. Truth walks onscreen, a Spiker in hand. He looks down at Miranda and gingerly tosses the Spiker away)

Truth: "Your forefathers wisely set aside their compassion. Steeled themselves for what needed to be done. I see now why they left you behind."

(Johnson is brought up to the control panel)

Truth: "You were weak, and Gods must be strong."

(He forces Johnson's hand down on the panel. Instantly the chamber begins to change. At the end of the corridor at the end of the chamber, the Chief and Arbiter emerge, face to face with two Pure Flood Tank Forms)

(Pure Flood Tank Forms): "Do not shoot, but listen! Let me lead you safely to our foe. Only you can halt what he has set in motion!"

(Infection forms scurry past Chief and Arbiter)

Revelation
{Gameplay}

(Master Chief, Arbiter, and the Flood begin the assault on the Covenant. After crossing a bridge guarded by heavy weapons, they reach a room with holograms of Truth in the Forerunner systems.)

Truth: "How could I have known the Parasite would follow?! Undoubtably this is the Heretics' doing. A final, bitter purse. Clear evidence of treachary long hidden."

(At the second bridge, the Covenant forces make their final resistance. At the second room, Truth holograms make a final message)

Truth: "So far are we along the path, that I must strain to hear the clumsy patter of their feet. Know this my brothers. They may foul the way with their charred and broken bones, but they will not stop the Journey."

(The resistance on the third bridge has already been decimated by the Flood. A light bridge is all that remains to reach Truth)

{Cutscene}

(The Chief and the Arbiter cross the light bridge, and come across Johnson, who is leaning over Miranda's body next to the Pelican. Johnson closes Miranda's eyes)

Johnson: "Stop the rings. Save the rest."

(Arbiter approaches the crawling form of Truth, Energy Sword in hand)

Truth: "Can you see, Arbiter?  The moment of salvation is at hand!"

Arbiter: (grabbing Truth by the throat): "It will not last!"

Truth: "Your kind never believed in the promise of the sacred rings."

Gravemind: (speaking through Truth as Arbiter activates sword): "Lies for the weak! Beacons for the deluded!"

Arbiter: "I will have my revenge - on a Prophet, not a plague!"

Truth: "My feet tread the path; I shall become a God!"

(Tentacles begin to infect Truth as the Flood take him)

Gravemind: (speaking through Truth): "You will be food - nothing more!"

Truth: (realizing what is happening to him and seeing the Chief stopping the activation): NO!

(Chief deactivates the Ark)

Truth: "I. Am. Truth. The voice...of the Covenant!"

Arbiter: (grasping Truth around the neck from behind): "And so...you must be silenced!"

(The Arbiter plunges his sword through Truth, and lets his corpse fall to the floor. The Arbiter lets out a roar of triumph as Johnson carries Miranda into the Pelican.  The ground begins to tremble, and tentacles rise up out of the ground around them)

Gravemind: Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!

(The Pelican takes off, and the Chief and Arbiter try to clamber on, but are knocked off by the tentacles, sending the Pelican spiralling out of control. On the ring, the tentacles swerve around them and multiple Flood forms appear)

Gravemind: "Now the gate has been unlatched, headstones pushed aside, corpses shift and offer room, a fate you must abide!"

(The Arbiter and the Master Chief stand back-to-back with their weapons ready.)

Arbiter: "We trade one villain for another."

(The tentacles retreat)

{Gameplay}

Johnson (Radio): "I can barely keep hold of her, Chief! No way I can pickup. Head to the lift! Find a way down!"

(Master Chief & Arbiter make it back. The lift is not working, so they jump down a shaft at the back of the room)

{Cutscene}

(After landing at the bottom of the shaft, the Chief sees flashing images of Cortana in the hallway. He starts to follow)

Arbiter: "What do you see?"

(The Master Chief follows the image of Cortana to a panel and activates it)

(A viewscreen slides open, the Chief and the Arbiter step out onto a balcony to watch as a Massive Halo rises up out of thick fog.)

Arbiter: "A replacement. For the ring you destroyed."

Master Chief: "When did you know?"

343 Guilty Spark: "Just now. But I had my hopes. What will you do?"

Master Chief: "Light it."

343 GS: "Then we are agreed! A tactical pulse will completely eradicate the local infestation I will personally oversee the final preperations. Though it will take time to fabricate an activation index."

(Spark flies off into the distance)

Arbiter: "How will you light it?"

(They both turn to look at High Charity. indicating that The Chief will find Cortana and use the Activation Index she still carries)

Leaked Intro
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OxbaLCvpZE