Last Stand (Halo Wars 2 level)

Last Stand is the twelfth and final campaign level in Halo Wars 2.

Transcript
Mission Briefing
 * Captain James Cutter: "Professor, what's the update at the Control Room?"
 * Professor Ellen Anders: "I'm in, and I think I've found the Halo's weapon systems. Once I've deactivated them, then I'll place the comms beacon."
 * Cutter: "Keep us updated. Jerome, Atriox will be sending everything to stop us. You need to hold the line and protect the Professor in the Control Room until she's finished her work."
 * Jerome-092: "Won't let you down, sir."
 * Cutter: "The clock's ticking and we don't have time to drop a base and build it up. You're going to have to rely on turret defenses, so keep them up and running."
 * Isabel: "Fresh troops will be sent in directly from the Spirit of Fire as soon as they are ready to deploy. And I've got all the ship's weapons systems primed and ready, so we'll help as much as we can from up here."
 * Cutter: "Okay everyone, let's get to work. Good luck"

{''In-game cutscene}

Two Pelicans land at the LZ south of the Control Room and drop squads of Marines.
 * Cutter: "Red Team, you have to hold the Banished back until Professor's done her work."
 * Jerome-092: "Don't worry, sir. We've got her. And it looks like we've got company right now."

''The Marines and Red Team form a defensive perimeter around the Control Room where Anders is inside. An energy shield suddenly emerges, covering the Control Room.''
 * Anders: "This Control Room has a defensive shield, but it won't last long. You just keep the wolves at bay."

{Gameplay}
 * Isabel: "The Spirit of Fire's weapons are at your disposal, Spartans. Get this ship in the fight. Turrets and Restoration Drones are online, call in support when you need it."
 * Isabel: "The Spirit of Fire is standing by to assist, Jerome. Use everything you can, we have to keep the professor safe!"

Cutter informs the player that the Banished are approaching.
 * Cutter: "There's a massive influx of Banished heading to your position, team."
 * Jerome-092: "Lock and load. No one crosses that line."

Red Team and the Marines hold off the Banished assault from all directions.
 * Cutter: "Red Team, the Banished have Warlords on the field overseeing their troops. Eliminating them will disrupt the Banished chain of command."
 * Jerome-092: "Roger, sir"
 * Alice-130: "Nothing like sowing a little chaos."
 * Isabel: "We'll be sending the reinforcements directly from the ship just as soon as they're ready to deploy."

''Red Team and UNSC forces start splitting up in two to defeat Warlords while defending the Control Room. Meanwhile, new reinforcements arrive.''
 * Cutter: "Red Team, reinforcements are ready for you at the LZ."

Red Team and the Marines assault the Warlords' encampments and eventually defeat them.
 * Jerome-092: "We've eliminated another Warlord."

New reinforcements arrive from the ship at the LZ as the UNSC continues to hold the line.
 * Cutter: "We've got reinforcement for you now, Red Team"

The Banished keep coming from every direction, but Red Team and UNSC forces continue to deny them access to the Control Room.
 * Cutter: "What's the status, Professor?"
 * Anders: "It's...complicated. So many protocols. I'm probably halfway there, I need more time."
 * Cutter: "Make it fast, Professor."
 * Jerome-092: "We'll buy her time, sir."

The Banished continue to attack from all directions and new UNSC reinforcements arrive.
 * Cutter: "We have reinforcements standing by for you, Red Team."

The Banished start sending Sangheili Snipers and Reavers to the battlefield while UNSC Hornets and Nightingales arrive along with new reinforcements.
 * Cutter: "Reinforcement ready for your command, Red Team."

Locusts and Hunters start attacking the Marines and later, new reinforcements arrive at the LZ.
 * Cutter: "Red Team, reinforcements are ready for you at the LZ."

After succeeding in repelling the wave of Locusts and Hunters, a Scarab appears and the screen moves to show incoming Scarab from the north.
 * Douglas-042: "We've got an incoming Scarab, people!"
 * Anders: "What?"
 * Alice-130: "Stay on target, Professor. This is what we're here for."
 * Cutter: "Isabel! What's the status of that new gunship? We need it now!"
 * Isabel: "The Condor is on the way, Captain. Nothing like live combat to test a new design."

Screen moves to the Condor Gunship that has just arrived from the south.
 * Condor: "My crew is ready for action, sir."
 * Condor: "Where do you need us, sir?"
 * Cutter: "Target that Scarab, we can't let it reach the control room."
 * Condor: "Payback time. Make it hurt, guys."

UNSC forces quickly assemble the units and eventually defeat the Scarab with the help of the Condor Gunship.
 * Jerome-092: "Scarab is down. Professor, how are we doing?"
 * Anders: "Just finishing it up, hang on...okay, I've done it! The ring's disarmed and communications relay is in place!"

''Anders finishes the first stage of her work. The control platform she is standing on descends into the ground.''
 * Anders: "Well, that's a little more complicated. I'm going to have to go down to the ring to set up the beacon. I'm going to need a little more time."
 * Cutter: "We're counting on you, Professor. Jerome, hold the Control Room at all costs so the Professor can get back to us when she's done. I'm not leaving anybody behind."
 * Jerome-092: "Copy that, sir. Game faces, team!"

''More Banished units are incoming, including Banshees. UNSC forces quickly repel them but the Banished has started sending in artillery units.''
 * Cutter: "Watch out, team. The Banished have sent in artillery."

A Blisterback arrives through the air and starts attacking UNSC forces as soon as they land.
 * Jerome-092: "Sir, we won't be able to hold them off indefinitely!"
 * Cutter: "Professor? Time is running out!"
 * Anders: "The communications array is ready Captain, but you said yourself...we can't leave until the Banished are gone? I've found something down here that'll help."
 * Cutter: "Whatever it is, it better work, Professor."

''More Banished units enter the battlefield, including a Wraith. UNSC forces defeat them before they reach Control Room.''
 * Isabel: "Captain, he's back..."
 * Cutter: "Put him through."
 * Atriox (COM): "You think you can stand against me? I, who defied the Covenant itself!"
 * Cutter: "Here's your notice, Atriox. The Ark is our home now and it's under our protection. Cut it, Isabel. I've heard enough."
 * Isabel: "Captain, I didn't think you could make him any madder, but..."

Three Scarabs are inbound from the north.
 * Jerome-092: "We've got them on the ropes. Captain, but it's only a matter of time before they send more."
 * Cutter: "Professor? What's the plan?"
 * Anders: "I've gained control of the Halo's gravity anchors, Captain. Get our troops clear and get ready."

The timer starts to count down from two minutes. ''UNSC forces quickly muster their forces and defeat three Scarabs that enter the battlefield from the north. The timer finally reaches 0.''
 * Cutter: "Our troops are clear, Professor. Whatever you're going to do, do it now."

{Cinematic Cutscene}

''Cut to an orbital view of the Halo, floating high above the Ark's surface. The view slowly zooms to one of the landmasses upon the ring.''

''Cut to a forest on the surface of the Halo. A Jiralhanae trooper, wielding a Brute Shot, pants and sprints to a tree for cover. Gunfire is heard around it. As other Brutes around it defend the position, Blisterback reinforcements land.''

''Cut to a panning shot of the human side of the battlefield. As UNSC troopers fire from emplacements, a Warthog skids up to support them.''


 * Marine Lieutenant (COM): West flank, we have them in position.

''Continue panning right. A Pelican arrives and drops off a Scorpion in a cloud of red identifier smoke.''


 * Marine (COM): Lieutenant, they've got siege units on their way.


 * Marine Lieutenant (COM): Banished has siege units inbound.

''Another Warthog arrives, and Jerome leaps out from its gunner seat. He walks forward and draws his rifle.''


 * Jerome: Professor! It's now or never!

''Cut to inside the Halo's control room. Anders stands by a hologram of the Ark and the Halo above it.''


 * Jerome (COM): Show us what you've got.

''At the control terminal, Anders pulls forward a section of the Halo, magnifying it. Banished forces are marked in red on its surface. Anders reaches forward and draws a circle around them, and the hologram adjusts its borders to contain the entire army. The control room begins to shake.''

''Cut to the surface. A shield wall appears around the Jiralhanae troops, trapping them inside. They look around in confusion, and a Blisterback fires its missiles, but the shield is unscathed.''

''Cut to Anders, who puts her hand under the marked subsection. She slowly lifts her hand to push it upward.''

''Cut to the surface, as the surrounded ground begins to rise. The Banished troops are trapped aboard as it rises above the ground.''

Anders hesitates while holding the subsection hologram.


 * Anders: I hope this works.

''She pushes up, and the landmass is flung into space. The shield dissipates, and the Marines watch the landmass fly high into the space. Cut to an orbital view of the ring, where the ejected landmass crumbles.''

''Cut to an interior view of a Pelican's open troop bay. The Marines and Jerome walk inside. Jerome stands by the door, watching the enormous hole in the ground left from the ejection. The Pelican's bay door closes.''


 * Jerome: Captain, it's done.

Cut to the Control Room.


 * Jerome (COM): Professor Anders, we are on our way. Get to the rendezvous.

Anders brings up a hologram and inspects it.


 * Anders: With all due respect, Spartan...

''The hologram depicts an enormous slipspace portal opening above the ring.


 * Anders: I don't believe that's an option any longer.

''Cut to in orbit above the Ark. The Halo is being pulled towards the slipspace portal, as the Spirit of Fire watches nearby. Cut to the ship's bridge, as Captain Cutter watches the ring pass.''


 * Cutter: Professor Anders, there must be some way to...


 * Anders (COM): Don't worry, Captain. As soon as I'm back to the Soell system, I'll get that beacon out. It should only be a few weeks-


 * Cutter: Professor!


 * '''Anders (COM): -until I can figure out how to get back to you.

''The ring is swallowed and the portal closes up. Cutter and Isabel watch as the Spirit floats alone over the Ark.''


 * Isabel: Captain...


 * Cutter: The other teams are clear?


 * Isabel: Yes sir. ETA to the Spirit of Fire is five minutes.

Cutter continues to watch out into space, but then turns to Isabel.


 * Cutter: Bring up the map. We have a lot of work to do until she gets back.


 * Isabel: Aye Captain.

''The topographical map of the Ark's surface appears on the holo-table. Troop positions and key locations are marked.''

''Pan to the left over the map. It flickers as the shot changes from Cutter's blue map to Atriox's red one. The map stutters and malfunctions thanks to Atriox having just punched it. He grind his fist further in frustration.''

''Atriox growls as the map shuts off. He turns to face his army under the cliff below, still massive and filled with troops, bases, and Scarabs. As he watches over, a Banshee squad flies by.''

Cut to black.

''Cut to within slipspace, as Anders' ring speeds through the galaxy. Stars streak by over the ring's trees.'' ''Cut to the Control Room. The hologram of the slipspace transit shrinks and slow. A Forerunner symbol appears in the hologram near the ring.''


 * Anders: What's happening? Why did we drop out of slipspace?

''Behind her, the Control Room's elevator descends. Anders turns and walks toward it.''

''Cut to the ring's surface. It is dark, as Anders steps cautiously through the forest. As she looks around, reaching the edge of the hole she created, a bright flash of light occurs. It's an object coming out of slipspace. Anders shields her eyes, then looks up as it approaches.''


 * Anders: Good job, Ellen. You may have been safer on the Ark.

She faces up to see an enormous Guardian.

Cut to black.

Game ends.

Leader Powers avaiable
(Note that in this level, all leader powers were already maximized and you do not need to spend leader points anymore).
 * Restoration Drones I, II and III
 * Archer Missiles I, II and III
 * Battle Hardened I and II
 * Lotus Mine I and II
 * ODST Drop
 * Turret Drop I and II
 * R&D I, II and III
 * Holographic Decoy I and II
 * Close Air Support I

Miscellaneous

 * This is the only level where the G81 Condor Gunship appears in the Campaign.
 * This level is similar to From the Deep, where Alice-130's base is also surrounded by the Banished.
 * This is the only level where the player gets infinite population and resources, as units will be keep being reinforced through LZs and the player cannot establish a Firebase on this level.
 * This is the only level where the player has to deal with multiple Banished Super Units.
 * All leader powers are unlocked and has been maximized, the cooldown also has been reduced by around 50% on this level.

Strategies

 * There will be no troops replacement on this level, conserve your units and your defenses will be very airtight once you have many units stationed around the Control Room.
 * It is recommended to eliminate Jiralhanae Warlords immediately once the first batch of reinforcements arrive before things get worse on the battlefield.
 * Unless the player chooses to make Condor single-handedly handle the Jiralhanae Warlord and his guards, one should take a Nightingale and Hornets for escort and support.
 * Keep Nightingales alive as they are a key part of strengthening the defenses on this level.
 * You will get endless resources and population for this mission and the cooldown of Leader Power has been reduced. It is recommended to immediately make ODST Drop on the battlefield to strengthen the garrison with Infantry.
 * You can drop as many ODST as you want on this level and it's better to immediately drop it as soon as the ODST drop is ready which is also reccomended for Lotus Mine as well to shore up defenses.

Mistakes

 * This mission was supposed to be a defensive mission but in the final cutscene, UNSC appears to be on the offensive against the Banished and even surround them.