Arcadia Outskirts

Arcadia Outskirts is the fifth level of the real-time strategy game, Halo Wars.

Plot
After evacuating numerous civilians inside Pirth City, Sergeant John Forge, his Marines, a Scorpion tank and Red Team retreat to a nearby crater for evacuation. However, along the way they encounter large numbers of Covenant near their route and pursuing them, with an additional Covenant base being built nearby.

Once they had retreated to the crater, a UNSC base is being built to assist them on the ground. Due to a large number of Covenant infantry and vehicles, they are further assisted by Pelicans deploying Marines, Cobras, and Spartan Team Omega (note this is the only level you can control Spartan Team Omega). Once nearby Covenant forces are wiped out, the UNSC forces are recalled back to the Spirit of Fire by Captain Cutter, upon discovering a new problem on Arcadia.

Transcript
{In-game Cutscene}

Forge and his troops are evacuating from the city, under Covenant pursuit.


 * Forge: "The Covenant are right on our ass, keep moving!"


 * Captain Cutter: "We can not lose our foothold on Arcadia, gentlemen. Secure a defensible position, and hold it until we can reinforce you!"

{Gameplay}


 * Serina: "I've scanned the area. The best defensible position is an impact crater a few clicks south along the highway."


 * Forge: "Get to that crater! Do not engage the enemy behind us! Keep moving!"

UNSC forces reach the crater only to find Covenant forces occupying it.


 * Forge: "Clear the enemy out of this crater!"


 * Forge: "We only have a little time to prep the base for the Covenant attacks, let's get to it."


 * Serina: "We're dropping a Command Center in that crater for you, preparing Omega Team now."


 * Captain Cutter: "Other UNSC units have been notified, and are retreating to your position."


 * Forge: "The Covenant are building structures to the north of our base."


 * Evac Pelican: "Evac Pelican inbound with UNSC survivors, cover us!"


 * Serina: "Scans indicate that Covenant are building a large plasma weapon."


 * Forge: "Covenant Mega Turret. We've got to take it out somehow!"


 * Evac Pelican: "Thanks for the cover, we're ready to help."

With reinforcements from the Evac Pelican the turret is destroyed


 * Forge: "The Mega Turret is down, good work."


 * Bravo 29: "Pelican Bravo 29, got a few stragglers for ya requesting cover."


 * Bravo 29: "Thanks for the cover, we're ready to help."


 * Angel: "Angel here, got some evac Marines here wanting to help, cover my landing."


 * Angel: "Thanks for the cover, we're ready to help."

If a second base has been established:


 * Captain Cutter: "Excellent work!"

At the 20 minute mark of the level:


 * Serina: "Help is coming. Trust me, you won't be disappointed."


 * Serina: "Spartan Team Omega is prepped and ready, Pelican is en route."


 * Spartan Team Omega: "Spartan Team Omega, inbound."


 * Forge: "More Spartans! Serina, you never disappoint."


 * Spartan Team Omega: "We'll clean up this mess."


 * Forge: "Let's see what these Spartans can do, push the Covenant back!"


 * Spartan Team Omega: "This is too easy."

{In-game Cutscene}


 * Spartan Team Omega: "This is Omega Team, this sector is clear, we're gone."


 * Captain Cutter: "Sergeant Forge, report to the bridge ASAP. We've got a new problem."

Level ends

Trivia

 * If you look closely in the crater at the beginning of the level, you will encounter multiple Covenant Grunt lances, however there is a lone Brute leading a Grunt squad into battle.
 * It is impossible to beat the level before the 20 minute mark when Serina announces the arrival of Team Omega. Even if the player destroys the Covenant base, enemy reinforcements will continue to be sent through the highway tunnel until the Spartans arrive. Destroying the base before then may cause the level's closing dialogue to play out of order.

General strategies

 * The Covenant will establish a Mega-Turret. On harder difficulties, its barrages target your base and will destroy buildings, so it is important that it is destroyed as soon as possible.
 * On Heroic or Legendary, make use of the infantry cover slots at the mouth of the crater. This will slow the enemy advance and add veterency if the units survive long enough.
 * A Pelican will drop units frequently (mostly Cobras and Marines). These units cost you nothing in supplies, so make use of them.