Arcadia City

Arcadia City is the fourth campaign mission in Halo Wars. It takes place in Arcadia City on the planet Arcadia.

This level introduces several features, including Spartans (uncontrollable), defensive objectives, and the ability to deploy multiple Herons simultaneously.

Summary
After being evacuated from Harvest, Professor Ellen Anders presents her findings to Captain James Cutter: the star map in the Relic pointed towards the Outer Colony of Arcadia. Though the 's orders are to stay and investigate the Covenant operations on Harvest, Anders is insistent that they must travel to Arcadia as it is the only way to figure out what the Covenant are up to. Cutter finally agrees and orders the Spirit of Fire to Arcadia.

On February 9, 2531, the Spirit of Fire arrives in the Procyon system to find Arcadia under attack. Serina reports that two emerged from slipspace and were confronted by the, ,  and. Together, the four ships caught one with its shields down and destroyed it while the other destroyed the Texas and Belfast and left the Pillar of Autumn badly damaged and the Armstrong venting atmosphere before it engaged in surface activity. Spirit of Fire receives distress calls from the surface and Cutter quickly orders forces deployed to help out.

On Arcadia, forces led by Sergeant John Forge clear out the subway entrance and help to guard three cargo transports that are being used to evacuate civilians from the planet. Cargo 3 attempts to take off early and is destroyed, but the Spirit of Fire's forces, aided by Spartan-II Red Team, manage to evacuate hundreds of people onboard the remaining ships despite heavy resistence. With the civilians safe, Forge is ordered to fall back and regroup.

Transcript
{All It Did Was Point}

''View of the outside of the. Cuts to the Observation Deck, with a The Spirit paper open, where Cutter, Anders and Serina are having a discussion.''


 * Captain James Gregory Cutter: "So, all it did was point here?"


 * Professor Ellen Anders: "In the thirty seconds I had to examine the Artifact? Yes, all it did was point at a second star system."

A viewscreen shows up, displaying a planetary system.


 * Serina: "Arcadia colony, to be precise. Population a little under three-million, largely unexplored, but apparently quite the vacation resort."


 * Anders: "There's something there, Captain, and I think it's important we get to it before the Covenant do."


 * Cutter: "Our orders are to investigate Harvest. We still don't know a lot about what's going on down there."


 * Anders: "I understand that Captain, but everything I see here tells me that we need to get to Arcadia to figure this out."


 * Cutter: "Very well, Professor. I'll clear it with Admiral Cole. Serina, set course for Arcadia."

Cutter leaves the room, Serina looks at Anders.


 * Serina: "Aye, sir. Crazy mystery trip to Arcadia plotted in, spinning up FTL drive."

Anders, annoyed, looks away from Serina and to the viewscreen.


 * Anders: "Serina, get out of my lab."



Fades to black, and to Spirit of Fire approaching a planet.

PROCYON SYSTEM

ARCADIA

FEBRUARY 9TH 2531

Captain Cutter enters the Spirit 's bridge.


 * Cutter: "Serina? Situation update, please."

Serina brings up a hologram of Arcadia and a few ship markers.


 * Serina: "Two Covenant vessels came out of slipspace near Arcadia. The Belfast, Pillar of Autumn, Texas and Armstrong engaged immediately and caught one with its shields down. We lost the Texas and Belfast, the Armstrong is venting atmosphere and the Autumn is badly damaged. The second vessel is engaged in surface activity."


 * Cutter: "What kind of surface activity?"


 * Serina: "Unknown. Wait, I'm getting a signal. Audio only."


 * Arcadian Patrol (COM): "We're being overrun! Alien forces are inside the city limits and approaching the spaceport. We're still evacuating civilians, we need help!"


 * Serina: "Getting visuals now, Captain."

Captain Cutter walks over to a monitor to see various images of the battle, and eventually a group of Spartan-IIs, most likely Team Omega, engaging enemies off screen.


 * Cutter: "Serina, launch pods. Bring the ship to alert."

{In-game Cutscene}

Scene cuts to Arcadia surface, Covenant forces are engaging civilians and transports, with three Spartans from Red Team fending off the enemy forces.


 * Arcadian Patrol (COM): "Spirit of Fire, this is Arcadian patrol, civilians entering the city are being blocked by hostile forces. We need to clear that area, can you assist?"

A Pelican drops Forge's Warthog off with several Hornets to assist.


 * Sergeant John Forge (COM): "Arcadia ground control, this is Forge. We're inbound to aid in evacuation efforts, help is on the way!"

''Covenant infantry and Ghosts are attacking the Subway Exit, where civilians are gathered. Arcadian Patrol officers are suffering heavy losses.''

{Gameplay}


 * Arcadian Patrol (COM): "It's a blood bath here! We need some cover now!"

Forge and the Hornets clear the area.


 * Arcadia Ground Control (COM): "This is Ground Control, Covenant are closing in. Prepare emergency launch protocols, mark."

''Evacuation launch countdown started: 20 minutes. Cargo One, Cargo Two, and Cargo Three appear on the map. One of the Spartans moves towards Cargo Two to defend the vessel. The Covenant begins their assault on Cargo Three.''


 * Cargo Three Pilot (COM): "Cargo Three. We're all alone out here! Can't you guys hurry up?"

''The UNSC forces assist, clearing some of the hostiles, but more Covenant assault the transports. Cargo Three suffers damage."


 * Cargo Three Pilot (COM): "Cargo Three. I've gotta get this bird in the air soon! We're dead down here."

''The UNSC forces continue to fight the attacking Covenant. Cargo Three suffers heavy damage.''

{In-game Cutscene}

Covenant forces are rapidly approaching Cargo Three and civilians as Arcadian Patrol officers engage Covenant infantry.


 * Cargo Three Pilot (COM): "Cargo Three, under fire - screw the evac, proceeding with emergency launch!"

Cargo Three lifts off, leaving some civilians behind, and almost immediately hit by Banshee fire.


 * Cargo Three Pilot (COM): "We're hit! We're hit! Somebody help! Plea-"

Cargo Three's middle section explodes, and the debris hits the ground.

{Gameplay}


 * Jerome-092 (COM): "Spirit of Fire, Red Team. the Covenant are getting control of the city fast. Suggest setting up new ground operations."


 * Forge (COM): "Spirit, Forge here - I agree. We got room to get a base up and running?"


 * Serina: "I've mapped some locations suitable for base deployment, make sure the area is clear."

Forge and the others make their way to one of the base locations, engaging various Covenant forces along the way, and the base is soon constructed.


 * Forge (COM): "We're here to save as many civilians as we can, but there is no way we can save them all."


 * Forge (COM): "Just try to get as many to ships alive as possible."

When the fleeing civilians are under attack: or or or
 * Arcadian Patrol (COM): "Patrol here. I've got enemy fire near a crowd of civilians, assistance required."
 * Arcadian Patrol (COM): "This is Patrol. Civilian crowds under fire, we need help now!"
 * Arcadian Patrol (COM): "Patrol again, we're losing people here, it's a massacre! We need the military!"
 * Arcadian Patrol (COM): "The civilians have no cover! They're dead without military support!"

When Cargo One is under attack: or or
 * Cargo One Pilot (COM): "Cargo One. We are taking fire!"
 * Cargo One Pilot (COM): "Cargo One is taking heavy fire, requesting assistance."
 * Cargo One Pilot (COM): "Cargo One here, we can't take much more of this, get them off us!"

When Cargo Two is under attack: or or
 * Cargo Two Pilot (COM): "Cargo Two is under enemy attack! Don't leave us out here to die!"
 * Cargo Two Pilot (COM): "Cargo Two. We're dead unless you get out here!"
 * Cargo Two Pilot (COM): "Cargo Two. We aren't going to last much longer!"

If Cargo One is destroyed:
 * Arcadian Patrol (COM): "Cargo One is not responding, transport assumed lost, focus all attention on Cargo Two."

If both transport vessels are destroyed:
 * Cutter: "The transport ships have been destroyed. We need to restart this operation."

The UNSC forces continue to defend the transports, until there are two minutes to launch.
 * Arcadia Ground Control (COM): "Ground Control - T-minus two minutes, over."


 * Serina: "Covenant battle net chatter suggests Heavy Turrets are coming online."

''Covenant forces launch an attack on the UNSC forces with Wraiths, Locusts, and Vampires. A Covenant mega turret also fires upon UNSC forces. The countdown reaches one minute to launch.''


 * Arcadia Ground Control (COM): "Ground Control - T-minus sixty seconds... Over."

The countdown reaches five seconds to launch.


 * Arcadia Ground Control (COM): "T-minus five, four, three, two, launch! All systems green. Clearing launch platform. Good luck down there."

{In-game Cutscene}

''Civilians at the subway plaza are overwhelmed by Covenant infantry, Ghosts, and a Wraith. Spirit fly over the plaza and lands at a city square nearby. Cargo One flies over the city.''


 * Cutter: "The transports are away, Sergeant Forge pull back and regroup, new orders are incoming."

''The remaining UNSC forces, composed of Forge's Warthog, Red Team, two ODST squads, and a Scorpion, flee as the city becomes overrun by the Covenant. They head towards the traffic tunnels.''


 * Forge (COM): "Roger that, Captain. Most of us are heading out of the city through the traffic tunnels."

Level ends.

Trivia

 * Some of the footage of cameras viewing the battle aboard the Spirit of Fire in the opening cutscene of this level are part of the Five Long Years Cinematic trailer as well as the opening cinematic of the game.
 * There are six Hornets in the opening in-game cutscene and when it cuts to gameplay on Easy and Normal, there are still six Hornets, however on Heroic and Legendary the player only controls four Hornets.
 * At the northeast corner of the map, the Covenant have a fully upgraded base, protected by numerous vehicles and aircraft. It is not mandatory to destroy this base, but doing so can prove useful toward the end of the mission.
 * Editors from Official Xbox Magazine were invited to play the first five campaign missions from the game, but only revealed the name of this mission, stating it to be their favorite. They mention this mission is also a good showcase for Halo Wars cooperative mode.
 * There is a hidden console which releases a child named Adam. Saving Adam rewards the player the achievement "The Real Winner" and 5 Gamerscore points.