Library

The Library is the name of a structure present on each of the Forerunner Halos. The Library's true function is unknown, but it is speculated to be a collection of cloned DNA sequences whose location and identity can be established by mapping the genome of a particular organism, this information is contained in the Index used for activation of the Halo. The Library is also where the Index is housed. It is kept safe from the Flood by having the only access be an Anti-Gravity Gondola from a Forerunner base, which is protected by an energy shield and a large wall filled with Sentinels and Enforcers. Then, beyond the wall is an artifical lake. It should be noted that one may access the Library though the Halo's teleportation grid. The Libraries consist of multiple hallways interconnected to each other, finally leading to the Index Room.

Library of Installation 04
343 Guilty Spark teleports the Master Chief from the swamp that was part of the previous level, 343 Guilty Spark he was in into the Library of Installation 04. Equipped initially with a Pistol and an Assault Rifle, he must battle through four Flood-filled levels to reach the Index chamber.

It is in this level that 343 makes reference to the Forerunners' technological superiority. He wonders why the Chief had brought "such ineffective weapons" to combat the Flood, and recommends that the Chief upgrades from the MJOLNIR armour, which, according to some Forerunner ranking system, the criteria of which is not gone into, is only Class 2, to a Class 12 Combat Skin, which he says is necessary to combat the Flood.

Somewhere in the 3rd or 4th section of the Library, the Chief encounters the body of a Marine who was the most recent failed Reclaimer. In The Flood, this Marine is said to have had his body so mutilated that the Flood could not possibly take over him, and he is identified to be Staff Sergeant Marvin Mobuto.

Library of Installation 05
In Halo 2, while the Chief goes after Regret, Commander Miranda Keyes, Sergeant Johnson and most of the Marines go into the Library of Installation 05 to find the Index. Because of its significantly larger Flood outbreak, the Library of Installation 05 is damaged and filled with more Flood than that of Installation 04.

Therefore, the Arbiter, instead of the Chief, is the playable character that has to travel the Library of Delta Halo. This journey encompasses the Sacred Icon (Level) and Quarantine Zone (Level).

Dropped in the wall from Tartarus' Phantom, the character must go through the wall's area, down pistons and fighting Sentinels to find a gondola. By removing the containment plugs, the Containment Shield guarding the Quarantine Zone can be lowered, enabling the Arbiter to enter the Library proper.

After battling his way through corridors filled with Flood in all three varieties, as well as Sentinels and Enforcers, the Arbiter finds an open-air area where he meets with some air-dropped Elite comrades and reunites with Half-Jaw, the Spec Ops Commander. He now has to defend the Elite encampment from waves of Flood Combat Forms.

After the waves of Flood have ceased their siege, the player, in the guise of the Arbiter, is given the option of choosing either a Ghost or a Spectre to go through the Quarantine Zone with. While battling through the Quarantine Zone, other vehicles, including Warthogs, Wraiths, and a Scorpion can be found. It is first learnt here that Flood Combat Forms now know how to drive vehicles. After going through an open-air section, a mine-like area (which is a downed sentinel constructor factory, you can see it fall if you look up at the sky as soon as you get out in the open near the end of the level Sacred Icon), and another open-air section, the Arbiter reaches yet another gondola, where Half-Jaw leaves to take care of an approaching group of Flood. Tartarus calls Half-Jaw a coward from the safety of his Phantom and sends a few Elites to aid the Arbiter. The Arbiter takes the gondola into the depths of the Library to find the Index chamber. On the way, he must fend off assaults by Combat Form Flood wielding a variety of weapons. When he finds the Index, he easily takes it from UNSC forces, but he is betrayed by Tartarus. Nearly falling to his death, he is teleported to the throne room of the Gravemind. It should be noted that in the Index Room there is what appears to be multiple destroyed Enforcers.

Related Links

 * Index
 * Halo