Crow's Nest (Base)

Crow's Nest is a United Nations Space Command base close to the town of Voi. It was a command center for local UNSC Defense Forces in Kenya during the Second Battle of Earth, and later the Battle of Voi. The base was under command of Commander Miranda Keyes.

Background
The Base is located inside a hill about 24 kilometers west from Voi, Kenya, a few kilometers north of the Tsavo Highway. The Crow's Nest was built for a war in the 20th century. Because of its age, the base often frustrated UNSC personnel because it required constant maintenance and had outdated technology like its door controls.

It was probably used during the Battle of Voi for its proximity to what the UNSC thought was the Ark, but was in reality the Portal, as well as the fact that its underground location provided relative protection from aerial bombardment.

Early History
Crow's Nest was originally created for a 20th Century conflict of probably during the second world war, this being an oversight as no such base actually exists in realtime. It is not known, but it can be presumed that it was used during the Interplanetary War. During the occupation of Earth in November 2552-January of 2553, it became a base of guerrilla warfare for human forces in East Africa, because of its prime location, which is deep in the African jungle. Also, if you look around, in some places you can see a NATO star on the walls.

Battle of Voi
During the Battle of Voi, the Crow's Nest was used as a command base for forces in the area, such as contingents in Mombasa, Arusha, as well as the jungles and savanna.

Many wounded marine survivors from encounters with covenant patrols were sent to the base for medical treatment. The few able-bodied soldiers were organized into fire teams, but were spread thin throughout the base.

When SPARTAN-117 arrived at the base, Fleet Admiral Hood briefed him, and the command staff at the base, including the Arbiter and Sergeant Major Avery Johnson about a low-level assault on Covenant Loyalist warships stationed over the so called "Ark". Though their communication systems were hacked into and received a transmission of the Prophet of Truth.

Battle of the Crow's Nest
SPARTAN-117, Gunnery Sergeant Pete Stacker, Gunnery Sergeant Reynolds, and the Arbiter then organized a defense of the base. First, they attacked infantry, mainly Grunts and Jackals in a large roadway containing numerous supply trucks and armament. They then engaged one of the base's hangars controlled by Covenant Loyalist forces, with support by Type-52 "Phantom" Troop Carriers.

Current Status
The Crow's Nest was reported destroyed when the bomb armed by John-117 detonated. However, the motor pool and the cave leading to the Tsavo Highway are still intact, having only received minor damages after the explosion. The smoking hangars leading into the Crow's Nest are still visible from the outside.

Locations

 * Operations Center
 * Armory
 * Pipe Room
 * South Hangar
 * Motor Pool
 * Barracks
 * Landing Pad Bravo
 * Service Elevator
 * Basement
 * Ventilation hub

Trivia

 * The name "Crow's Nest" originates from a ship's lookout position, located near the mast.
 * In this base there is a door that opens automatically. It is located by where the Jackal Marksman appear and later where two Marines walk out of.
 * The level is similar to the Halo 2 level, Cairo Station. Though instead of disarming a bomb, John-117 activates one.
 * There are two skulls in the Crow's Nest. The first skull, Black Eye is found by standing on the pipes in the Ops Center. The second, Grunt Birthday Party, is found when you get through the Drone infested ventilation hub, into a small room overlooking the external ventilation intake.
 * You can unlock the Used Car Salesman achievement by destroying the bottom turret off of one of the Phantoms that comes into the hanger.
 * The Multiplayer map Rat's Nest was based off of this level.
 * The small rats throughout the level appear as friendlies on your Motion Sensor.
 * The Crow's Nest and Voi are the only specific locations that are each featured in two different levels in the Halo 3 campaign.
 * If you go through the door leading to where the Warthog is blown up and then go all the way down this road and kill all the Brutes, Jackals and Grunts you will see two Marines talking through a door. This is actually a Easter egg with some of the characters from the machinima Red vs Blue. If you are playing on Normal you will hear Jason Saldaña (Tucker) and Matt Hullum (Sarge, Doc). If you play on Heroic you will hear Geoff Ramsey (Grif) and Gus Sorola (Simmons). If you play on Legendary you will hear Burnie Burns (Church) and Joel Heyman (Caboose).

Internal Links

 * United Nations Space Command
 * Voi, Kenya
 * Rat's Nest - a multiplayer level with similar terrain to the Crow's Nest mission.