Cairo Station

Looking for Cairo Station, the orbital station?

Cairo Station is the first level in Halo 2 where enemies are encountered. The level takes place in Earth's orbit, as part of the Orbital Defense Grid. As the Master Chief, you battle against encroaching Covenant forces on the titular orbital platform. Your efforts culminate in a decisive battle against Elites guarding a bomb meant to destroy the station. You will be aided by marines on this level.

Vehicles Encountered

 * Pelicans

Usable Weapons

 * Battle Rifles
 * Energy Swords
 * Pistols
 * Needlers
 * Machine Gun Turrets
 * Plasma Cannons
 * Plasma Pistols
 * Plasma Rifles
 * Shotguns
 * SMGs
 * Plasma Grenades
 * Frag Grenades

Cairo Station
{Cutscene}

The Master Chief and Sergeant Johnson step from the tram into a crowd of cheering Marines, robot cameras hover around.

Master Chief: "You told me there wouldn't be any cameras."

Sergeant Johnson: "And you told me you were gonna wear something nice! Folks need heroes, Chief. To give 'em hope! So, smile, would ya? While we still got something to smile about."

Johnson and the Chief walk to the end of the room, as the Bridge's blast doors open up.

The view changes to High Charity, where Brutes walk the Elite Commander out onto a ledge on High Charity''. Covenant Grunts, Jackals and Hunters have gathered on the walkway.''

Grunts: "He-re-tic! He-re-tic!"

They reach the ledge, we see the stadium seats filled with roaring Covenant aliens, and the Brutes fix the Commander's arms onto floating cuffs.

Tartarus: "You've drawn quite a crowd."

Elite Commander:{Bitterly} "If they've come to hear me beg, they will be disappointed."

Tartarus: "Are you sure?"

The entire crowd cheers as energy beams hit the Elite on either side, and he shakes with pain.

The view changes back to the Cairo's bridge, dozens of Naval officers cheer as the Master Chief and Sergeant Johnson approach Lord Hood at the end. The Chief and Johnson salute to Lord Hood.

Lord Hood: "Gentlemen, we're lucky to have you back." An officer whispers to Lord Hood's ear.

Lord Hood: "Go ahead, Cortana."

Cortana's avatar appears on a nearby holotank.

Cortana: "Another whisper, sir, near Io. We have probes en route."

Lord Hood: "I apologize, but we're going to have to make this quick."

Lord Hood turns away.

Cortana looks towards the Chief and Johnson.

Cortana: "You look nice."

Master Chief: "Thanks."

Sergeant Johnson: {simultaneously} "Thank you."

The Chief and Johnson look at each other.

Lord Hood: "Sergeant Major, The Colonial Cross is awarded for acts of singular daring and devotion, for a soldier of the United Earth Space Corps..."

 Hood places the medal on Johnson's uniform.

The view changes back to High Charity, on Tartarus' face.

Tartarus: "...There can be no greater heresy! Let him be an example for all who would break our Covenant!"

''The Covenant crowd cheers once more. Tartarus barks an order, and two Brutes grab onto the Elite's now charred armor and pull.''

The view once again changes back to Cairo Station, as a young woman joins the Chief and Johnson.

Lord Hood: "Commander Miranda Keyes. Your father's actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service. His bravery in the face of impossible odds reflects great credit, upon himself, and the UNSC. The Navy has lost one of its best."

Hood hands her the Colonial Cross medal.

''The view changes back to High Charity again, where a blackened Elite Combat helmet falls to the floor, and the naked Commander hangs limply from his restraints. A glowing brand rises from the floor behind him, and Tartarus grabs it and strides forward.''

''The Elite raises his head, Tartarus gives a fierce look, and presses the brand against the Commander's chest with malice. The tortured Elite fights the pain but gives in and screams.''

The view once more changes back to Cairo Station, where alarms start to sound.

Cortana: "Slipspace ruptures directly off our battle cluster."

Lord Hood: "Show me."

Images of Covenant ships appears on a large screen.

Cortana: "Fifteen Covenant capital ships holding position just outside the kill zone."

The screen shows UNSC ships approaching the Covenant fleet.

Fleet Admiral Harper:{Voice-over} "This is Fleet Admiral Harper. We are engaging the enemy."

Lord Hood: "Negative, Admiral. Form a defensive perimeter around the cluster." {to Miranda Keyes} "Commander, get to your ship, link up with the fleet."

Keyes salutes.

Commander Keyes: "Yes, sir." {leaves}

Lord Hood: "You have the MAC gun, Cortana. As soon as they come in range, open up."

Cortana: "Gladly."

Soon Cortana's avatar disappears.

Lord Hood: "Something's not right... The fleet that destroyed Reach was fifty times this size."

An Officer faces Lord Hood.

Officer: "Sir, additional contacts. Boarding craft and lots of 'em!"

The view shifts back to the screen.

Lord Hood: "They're going to try to take our MAC guns offline, give their capital ships a straight shot at Earth. {Turns to the Master Chief} Master Chief, defend this station."

Master Chief: "Yes, sir." {Turns to Johnson} "I need a weapon."

Sergeant Johnson: "Right this way."

''Johnson and the Chief leave the bridge, as Lord Hood turns back to his command station. Through the bay windows looking up to the MAC cannon, the fleet turns to engage the Covenant attackers, Longsword fighters hurtle overhead trailed by a few of huge UNSC cruisers.''

{Gameplay}

Cairo Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker): "All hands report to battle stations. This is not a drill. I repeat, this is not a drill!"

Sergeant Johnson (O.S.): "How's it going, Malta?"

Malta Defense Coordinator (O.S.): "Stand-by... they're latched! Check your targets and watch your crossfire."

Malta Defense Coordinator (O.S.): "They're in standard formation, little bastards up front, big ones in back. Good luck, Cairo."

Sergeant Johnson: "Field of fire on that bulkhead. As soon as that door opens, let 'em have it!"

''The Marines take up position around a sealed bulkhead. Johnson sets up a stationary gun turret. A bright light and crackling noise, like a wielding torch, comes from the center of the door, and is soon followed by an explosion, where the door explodes and Covenant intruders appear.''

Home Field Advantage
Lord Hood (O.S.): "Find the borders' point of entry, Chief. Cut them off at the source."

Cairo Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker): "This is not a drill. I repeat, this is not a drill."

(Later)

Cairo Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker): "Boarders in Habitat Alpha."

(Later)

Cairo Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker): "Brace for impact!"

A loud crash is soon heard as a Boarding Craft attaches to Cairo'' station}'

(Later)

Cairo Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker): "I need a squad in Habitat Alpha, ASAP!"

(Later)

Cairo Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker): "We've got boarders in the portside bays!"

Once the Chief finish killing all Covenant borders in the first Hangar bay, Covenant Boarding Crafts are seen through the windows rapidly leaving Malta Station.

Severely Wounded Marine: "Hey, check it out! The Malta ' s already driven off its boarders!"

Cortana (O.S.): "Malta, what's your status, over?"

Malta Defense Coordinator (O.S.): "I don't believe it! They're retreating, we won!"

The Malta Station soon detonates in a huge plume of fire, the barrel of the MAC gun breaking loose and tumbling away)

Severely Wounded Marine: "This is bad, real bad!"

The Hangar bay is soon intruded by another group of intruders from another Hangar bay.

Cairo Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker): "Alert! Hostiles have secured the port bulkheads."

(Later)

Cairo Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker): "Security Station 4 is under attack."

Once Chief finish killing all the intruders in the second Hangar bay, Covenant Boarding Crafts are seen through the windows retreating, this time, from the Athens Station.

Marine: "Uh oh! Hey, they're leaving the Athens!"

The Athens soon detonates and spins apart, just like the Malta'''.

Lord Hood (O.S.): "Cortana, assessment!"

Cortana (O.S.): "That explosion came from inside the Athens. Same as the Malta. The Covenant must have brought something with them. A bomb."

Lord Hood (O.S.): "Then they sure as hell brought one here. Chief, find it."

Priority Shift
If the player decides to stall for awhile

Cortana: Chief, we don't have much time.

Cortana: Not a lot of time on the clock, chief!

Cortana: Where are you?! The bomb is right here!

Cortana: The clocks tickin' Chief, get down here.

Cortana: Chief, over here, next to the bomb!

Cortana: Ask yourself this question right now: Is doing what I am right now helping Cortana stop this station from blowing into tiny, tiny bits?

Cortana: Just a friendly reminder: Bomb.

Cortana: If this thing goes off, I am never talking to you again.

The Chief takes a route under the Hangar bay, and encounters another group of Covenant.

Cairo Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker): "All non-combat personnel to pressure zones."

''As the Chief returns upstairs to the armory, he finds the Master Gunnery Sergeant fighting a pair of Elites, armed only with a Shotgun. Exactly what he says to them differs depending on what the difficulty level is set to.''

Master Gunnery Sergeant (Easy): "Get the hell out of my armory, split-lip!"

Master Gunnery Sergeant (Normal): "Just what this place needed, a couple of real live targets! Oh God-"

Master Gunnery Sergeant (Heroic): "Tell your buddies I got enough ammo for all of 'ya!"

Master Gunnery Sergeant (Legendary): "Come on, is that a weapon or a flashlight? Oh, dangit-"

The Master Gunnery Sergeant is hit by bolts of Plasma and dies.

Cairo Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker): "Fireteams to Habitat Delta."

(Later)

Cairo Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker): "Hang on, everyone!"

Another crash vibration occurs, as another Boarding Craft is attached}

(Later)

Cairo Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker): "Hostiles have taken Security Station 1!"

(Later)

Cairo Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker): "I need a squad in Habitat Delta!"

The Chief comes to a hallway where Keyes, Johnson, and a couple of officers are engaged in a firefight outside the gangway to the In Amber Clad'''.

Sergeant Johnson: "Come on, Chief, this way!"

Commander Keyes: "I was almost on board when they showed up."

Sergeant Johnson: "Don't worry Ma'am, we're on it."''

Once they cleared the area...

Commander Keyes: "Thanks, Chief. I owe you one."

Sergeant Johnson: "Get going. I'll cover the Commander."

Cairo Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker): "Fireteams to Terminal 2."

Authorized Personnel Only
{Master Chief exits the station through an airlock and fights several Ranger Elites in the vacuum of space.

Cortana (O.S.): "Sir, boarders have breached the fire control center. They have a bomb."

Lord Hood (O.S.): "Can you defuse it?"

Cortana (O.S.): "Yes, but I'll need the Chief's help to make contact with the detonator."

Lord Hood (O.S.): "Chief, get to the bomb, double time! Cortana, prioritize targets and fire at will."

The Chief enters back into the Cairo Station, where he is met by Marines near a cargo, and soon Drones appear.

Fleet Admiral Harper (O.S.): "First Echelon, you're with me, blanket those cruisers, take ‘em out one by one. Second Echelon, keep those carriers busy."

Cortana (O.S.): "Registering all hostile vessels inside the kill zone. Thirteen cruisers, two Assault carriers. I'm going loud!"

(Later)

Cairo Defense Coordinator (Loudspeaker): "All non-combat personnel report to evacuation stations!"

As the Chief rides the elevator platform down to the airlock.

Fleet Admiral Harper (O.S.): "The carriers are breaking through, Sir! They're heading straight for the Cairo!"

Lord Hood (O.S.): "Cortana! Concentrate your fire on the first carrier. Admiral, do what you can against the second."

Fleet Admiral Harper (O.S.): "Everyone, form up, follow my lead!"

As Chief watches through the window as the lift descends, a massive Covenant assault Carrier accelerates right past the Cairo and towards Earth, making the entire station shake.

Cortana (O.S.): "The first carrier completely ignored us, Sir! Blew right through the Malta ' s debris field and headed straight for Earth!"

(After crossing the MAC's recoil arm in vacuum, and moving back into the airlock)

Return to Sender
Cortana (O.S.): "Just so you know, there are quite a few Elites guarding the bomb. You may need to get creative."

''The station shakes again. Outside the window, Chief can see the second carrier bypassing the Cairo, following the first carrier down to Earth.''

Once Chief clears the room of Covenant defenses.

(Cinematic)

Cortana's holographic avatar appears on a pedestal near the bomb.

Cortana: "Me. Inside your head. Now."

''The Master Chief touches the pedestal, and Cortana downloads directly into his armor. He steps over to the bomb, and touches the flashing red activation pad at its center. It blinks and shuts off.''

Master Chief: "How much time was left?"

Cortana: "You don't want to know."

Commander Keyes (O.S.): "Cairo, this is ''In Amber Clad."

The view changes to the bridge of In Amber Clad.

Commander Keyes: "The carrier's shield is down. I'm in position and ready for immediate assault."

The view goes back to Cairo's bridge, showing Lord Hood alone.

Lord Hood: ''"Negative, Commander. Not against a ship that size. Not on your own."

Master Chief (O.S.): "Sir..."

The swifts to the bay, where the Master Chief is resting one hand on the bomb.

Master Chief: "...Permission to leave the station?"

The view returns to Cairo's bridge.)

Lord Hood: (Confused) "For what purpose, Master Chief?"

Master Chief (O.S.): "To give the Covenant back their bomb."

Hood gives a slight pause to think, and agrees.

Lord Hood: "Permission granted."

''In the bay, the Chief grabs the bomb and hauls it across the floor, leaving a trail of sparks. He drags it into an elevator, and rises.''

Cortana: "I know what you're thinking, and it's crazy."

Master Chief: "So, stay here."

Cortana: "Unfortunately for us both ... I like crazy."

''The elevator reaches an empty Longsword launch bay, and the Chief steps out, watching through the huge bay door. The entire fleet streams down toward Earth, chasing the Covenant ships. The Spartan then steps up to the door's release handle, which drops down above him.''

Cortana: "Just one question. What if you miss?"

Master Chief: "I won't."

''The Chief pulls down the handle and the bay doors cycle open, the bay decompressing rapidly. Debris lifts off the floor and hurtles into space, and the bomb slowly begins to slide toward the doors, scratching sparks across the floor. The Chief grabs hold of it as it passes, and is pulled out into space.''

''In free-fall, the Chief descends in the general direction of northern Africa. The first carrier is miles below him, too far to reach. The second carrier passes right below his position, and opens up with a energy projector, narrowly missing him. A human cruiser rockets below him, takes an Energy beam right through its spine, and explodes. The Chief plummets past it, watches as its engines fail and try to relight themselves.''

''A pair of Longsword fighters dive past him, and make a strafing run on the carrier. They open fire on the Carrier, and make a staccato beat of fire along the back of the carrier, allowing the Chief slip through the narrow hole the blasts have created into...''

''The Carrier's center is a huge, open chamber, a massive fusion core casting white light across its inner surface. The carrier has taken a lot of abuse; the far side of the chamber is torn open, showing the Earth outside. The Chief crawls up the bomb, presses its activation panel, and spins around. His legs flex, and he vaults off the bomb, aiming for the split in the carrier's armor.''

''He plummets from the carrier, straight for Earth, as behind him minor blue explosions flicker up and down the alien warship. A pause, and the entire ship detonates in a huge plasma conflagration.''

The Master Chief falls towards Africa, and as a UNSC frigate passes beneath him, matching trajectories.

Inside In Amber Clad'' ' s bridge, Johnson and Keyes watch a tactical display. A thud resounds throughout the ship; the Chief has hit his mark.}'' {Johnson looks at Keyes and grins}

Sergeant Johnson: "For a brick... he flew pretty good!"

Commander Keyes: "Chief, get inside, gear up. We're taking this fight to the surface."

In Amber Clad banks hard and dives towards the Earth's atmosphere, and a massive, gray city along the East African coast comes into view (New/Old Mombasa).

Part 01: Cairo Station
Cairo Station. The first level. This level is rather fun, with a large amount of close-combat. Go down the stairs and grab a Battle Rifle from the weapons locker on the wall. You will also pick up an SMG. Go down the stairs to join a defense force consisting of two Marines and Sergeant Johnson. There will also be a Navy Captain with a pistol. Use the SMG if your Rifle runs out of ammo, or if your magazine is empty and you need a gun fast. Listen to the battle report on the Malta, then run down the stairs, and take cover behind the steel barrier to the left. However, it is advisable to employ the barriers in order to block yourself from the deadly firepower of the Covenant. Though the barriers have transparent glass, it cannot be broken, so fret not.

Part 02: Home Field Advantage
The door glows yellow as the Grunts slice it open. After the door explodes yellow Grunts and blue Elites brust through. Open fire on the Grunts with your SMG; once they've all gone to a tropical paradise, grab a Plasma Pistol and use it along with an SMG to kill the Elites. More Minor ELites show up after a few moments; shove them six feet under. Note: Marines will help you here, so don't hesitate to allow the Marines to kill them while your shields recharge.

After the second wave, you can run through the door that the Covenant came through. Use your BR to take out the Minor Grunts, and switch to your SMG to tackle the Minor Elites (it only takes about three seconds to kill an Elite with the SMG). Or, turning right, you will see a machine-gunner. You can take over the machine gun and fire at the Elites.

Run up the stairs to the left of the machine gun turret. Once you reach the room at the top, turn right to use another turret and blast at the blue Elite and the Grunt.

Below you, a Marine with an SMG, and a Captain with a Battle Rifle are pinned down behind a barrier. Elites and Grunts will be attacking them. Using the turret, gun down as many Elites and Grunts as you can see, but don't stay in the turret too long, or an Elite will come up behind you. Also, a few enemies will be out of sight and can fire upon you, so leave if the going gets worse. Don't expect your Marines to follow you after this point.Once every target is dead, relinquish the turret, and go through the door. Go down the stairs, mowing down an Elite and a Grunt as you go, then prepare for another Elite on the ground floor.

Once he has fallen at your feet, go through into R01, blasting away any Grunts that you see. Careful, a door to the right will open, and Grunts and an Elite will jump out. When everyone in this room is dead, jump onto the plant containers, then up again back to the tech station. Refill your ammo from the weapons locker there, then go through the door to continue. Up the stairs, then through the door to the hanger. This is where you will first find fragmentation and Plasma grenades.

Rain grenades down on the boarders as they come out of the ship. Don't be frugal, they are everywhere in this room. When the energy shield in front of the ship's door deactivates, use your Battle Rifle, and headshot the Grunts as they fly. Once you have faced several waves of troops, and the Marines start talking about the Malta, go and grab 4 Plasma Grenades, and some ammo for your Rifle.

Presently, a door will blow, and a Lance will storm through. Take out the Elites first if you can with a rain of 9.5 mm. When that wave of boarders is dead, storm through the door, and past a failed blockade. There is a lot of ammo here, so remember that. Pull out your Battle Rifle before you get the Checkpoint, and turn into the next Hangar. There are a pair of Grunts bombarding several Marines with Plasma Cannons. Headshot the aliens over the top of their weapon. Crouch and move from cover to cover, killing off the boarders. Watch out for Plasma Grenades and melee attacks.

After you have faced several waves, the Athens will now explode, and doors set into the ground, leading to MAC Storage, will open. Go through the open door at ground level to find a dead Marine with a Rifle and three Frag Grenades.

Toss a grenade down the stairs at the aliens, then storm down with auto fire. Before going through the door at the end of the room, have a plasma grenade at the ready. A Stealth Elite will stride through. Stick him before he can dodge, then turn on your flashlight, and try to stick the other Elite lurking around the other door. Grab some ammo and continue.

Part 03: Priority Shift
The Gunnery Sarge is trying to hold The Armory against a pair of Elites. Unfortunately, his death is inevitable. However he will drop his Shotgun. Kill the Elites in the Armory, and before you go through, stock up on ammo, and pick up the shotgun.

Storm through the door, and run across the room to the doorway opposite you. Use your Shotgun to take down the Grunts waiting in there, then get ready for an Elite.

Blast him dead, then take out a Grunt at the controls of a Plasma Turret on the platform adjoining this room. Headshot the Grunt at the turret, and drop the Elite with the Rifle. There is a pair of troublesome Gunner Grunts up on the balcony. Snipe the gunners or if you can stick the turret, that should kill both of the Grunts up there. Across the room, a lance will attack you from a doorway. Kill them off, and then take out the gunner along the corridor.

You should be running low on ammo now, so backtrack to the Armory and load up.

Go up the stairs to get to another tech station.

Across the room, a door will open, and Grunts led by a Major Elite will attack. Try and stick the Elite, pick off the Grunts, then go through the door.

The Sergeant, Miranda Keyes and a pair of Navy Captains are trying to clear a path to their ship. Assist them in that, then get ready as a Lance runs around the corner. Mow them down, backtrack for more ammo, then go through the door.

You may also skip the Lance of enemies, by jumping onto a computer panel to your right when you come out of the door (before meeting Miranda and Johnson), and then crouch jumping onto a platform with a tram. Go past the tram and drop down, finishing the remaining enemies below. Make sure you listen to Johnson. If he says, "Come on Chief, this way!" then you messed up.

Part 04: Authorized Personnel Only
Time to go for a space-walk! Shortly after the title, a door will open, and a pair of Ranger Elites will attack. Try to stick one with a Plasma Grenade, then mow the other one down.

Jump outside, but be careful of the beckoning edge, unless you want to experience death.

Mow down the pair of Rangers out here, then go through the airlock, back inside.

The Battle Rifle will come in very handy in this part. Get it out, and have a Plasma Grenade ready. As the Admirals discuss space tactics, move towards the edge of the large elevator shaft. A buzzing sound should ring out. When it is three seconds through playing, toss a Plasma Grenade just at the edge of the slope. If you timed it right, a couple of Drones should land on the grenade. Bye-bye bugs! Move backwards, to where a Marine is taking cover behind a barrier.

Take out the rest of the Drones with Battle Rifle bursts, then jump down the lift railing onto the huge elevator. Press the button to make it descend, and use grenades to take out the Covenant on the platform below you.

Grab some ammo, plus the grenades from the ODST body on the top floor.

Then go through the airlock, and back outside. A pair of ODST's have fallen here, apparently from a Grunt that dual-wielded Plasma Pistols and had a heap of Plasma Grenades.

Have your Battle Rifle ready, and when the door opens, scope in on the Ranger on the Plasma Cannon. Concentrate your fire on the Elite, and take him out with long-range headshots, then take cover and reload. Kill the other Rangers in this area, then grab some ammo and continue, over the MAC gun's magazine loader. If you are doing Heroic or Legendary, be careful of the Ranger Elite who will fly from over the rooftops.

Go into the airlock. One more room to go!

Part 05: Return to Sender
Although this part may take down your shields almost immediately, be thankful that it is the end of the level. It is also the shortest "part" of a level to date.

This part of the level starts when you are in the elevator. Once the doors open, hold your breath. This is a big, nasty battle.

When you walk into the room, you will see a large amount of Covenant Minor Elites and Major Elites, along with a variety of Minor and Major Grunts, guarding a big, ugly, blue, spiky bomb.

If you still have your shotgun, use it to take down the Elites: shoot, melee. There will be an Elite who will attack you will dual wielded Needlers (he is a bit like a boss), but you can just shotgun him down. Since it's the end of the level, it's okay to use your ammo on the Grunts, but whacking them is just as easy, and fun. Once all of the Covenant in this room are dead, the cutscene will be triggered. Congratulations!

However, in Legendary, don't charge with your shotgun blazing and your Energy Sword mowing-you'll simply fall under the combined fire of the enemies. Instead, use crate as cover and bomb the enemies with grenades (Plasma works well, though Fragmentation Grenades are preferable). After exhausting your supply, then use your shotgun to pick out the few stragglers.

If you want some extra help with this part of the level, then once you go through the door, take an immediate left. Down the ramp, and left again. Keep walking until you see a Marine standing in a slight doorway. He will thank you for your presence, but he won't follow you into the battle. You can push him up the stairs and into it, though. I find giving him a shotgun works well on easy and normal difficulties. He will make a remark about getting it over with and he will help you take out the Covenant, if he doesn't go back into his hiding spot, which he often does.

Heroic Walkthrough

 * Written by Emosworld and ImperatorExercitus

Part 1: Cairo Station
As the level starts, proceed down the stairs immediately and grab a Battle Rifle and an SMG. If you are currently wielding the Battle Rifle, switch to the SMG and find another SMG to dual-wield. Don't worry, there are plenty around. Proceed through the door where your fellow Marines are waiting. Hide behind something (anything) that is not facing the door that is about to open. The steel barrier is recommended. However, be warned. Do NOT, by any means, stay near the door, as it will explode, thus, killing you.

Part 2: Home Field Advantage
The center of the door will shine bright yellow, and all of a sudden, explode. As soon as it explodes, shoot, no matter if you see enemies or not, because, sooner or later, they will come out. Don't allow your Marines to take them down, as they will die in an instant, with the exception of Sgt. Johnson. There will be a heap of Grunts, followed by one or two Minor Elites. If you run out of ammo, press Y twice, and you will have switched to the Battle Rifle. The Grunts should go down easily enough, though the Elites are a minor prick if you are in Legendary. If so, duck behind the Glass plating and wait for them to go in front of you. There, you can melee them to death.

If you wait for about ten seconds after the death of the first group, another group, consisting of the same amount of Covenant, will come out. However, before they come out, take advantage of the ten seconds. Hide somewhere and reload your weapons (yes, both of them). Use the previous method to destroy the group. If you want, you can swap one of the SMGs that you dual-wielded for a Plasma Rifle (yes, it's the infamous N00b Combo, and yes, it works).

Behind you, two Elites dual-wielding Plasma Rifles will have appeared. Ignore them. Proceed through the door, and turn right. Don't bother going left, it will lead to a locked door, which will be a waste of precious gaming time. Switch to the SMG if you haven't already. Don't worry about dual-wielding, it's not compulsory. As soon as you go right, gun down the two Elites with your Battle Rifle. They pose a threat towards you. Then, switch to the Battle Rifle, then Headshot the Grunts. At this point, your Marines will not follow you, no matter what.

Go to the right again, then up the stairs. Follow the doors until you reach a big room, consisting of Cairo Station mechanics, or something or rather.

Below, a Marine with an SMG and a Captain with a Battle Rifle will be pinned down by several types of Grunts and a few Elites, possibly Minor or Major. Focus on the Elites first. The majority of Elites in this room are Major. Jump on the turret, and gun all Elites down, regardless of type. Don't gun the Grunts down, because, by this time, an Elite will melee you from behind, causing death. Also, don't worry about destroying the turret, any Covenant member would rather die than use a Human weapon.

Now, jump down (don't worry, you won't die-no fall damage in Halo 2) and kill all Grunts in the way with either weapon. Swap your SMG for a Plasma Rifle, and find another Plasma Rifle to dual-wield. Follow the pathway, and gun down any Grunts or Elites with your Plasma Rifle. If it overheats, run back and hide.

Go up the stairs and gun down any Elites or Grunts you see. Follow the pathway of green-lit doors. By now, you should be in a large room with a heap of Covenant Elites & Grunts down below. Drop your secondary Plasma Rifle and switch to the Battle Rifle. The Elites and Grunts down below won't see you, so headshot some Elites until they take notice of you. Don't focus on the Grunts...yet. By now, the Elites will have taken notice, and use their quick, continuous fire on you. Quickly, sidestep.

Alas! Grenades! Pick them up, switch to Fragmentation and toss them where the Elites and Grunts are. Don't fret, they're everywhere. When you run out of Fragmentations, headshot all the Grunts with your Battle Rifle. Then, jump down, and stick as much Elites as possible. Beware of the quick, accurate, non-overheating and dangerous firing. If you run out of grenades, use your Plasma Rifle to annihilate the rest of them. If need be, you can overcharge the Plasma Pistol to drop the shielding. Be warned about cover in legendary - within 5 seconds, a Major can take you down. By now, you should be out of Grenades, probably in the 40s-60s ammo for your Plasma Rifle and probably with 30-50 spare rounds for your Battle Rifle. Don't fret about the Battle Rifle. Switch your Plasma Rifle for another Plasma Rifle with more battery, and walk over the dead bodies for some Grenades. By now, the door near the Pelican should've opened. Headshot the Grunts with your Battle Rifle and then, use your Plasma Rifle and your Grenades to take out the Major Elites.

Walk through the door, and reload your Battle Rifle. There should be some Battle Rifle ammo nearby. Use the flashlight to guide you. By now, there should be two Marines strafing backwards, trying to shoot some Turret Grunts down. Stand near the door, scope with your Battle Rifle and headshot the Turret Grunts.

Walk in the door and hide behind the silver barrier. Scope in with your Battle Rifle and gun down the Grunts. Don't worry about your Marines, they'll probably die. Throw a Plasma Grenade at an Elite. Don't worry, they're everywhere. By now, there should be some Elites left, with an additional whole buncch of Grunts and Elites coming out of the ship. Again, gun down the Grunts and then stick or headshot the Elites. If the Elites are hiding behind the Steel Barrier, go up to them and kill them with your Plasma Rifle.

Part 3: Priority Shift
Right now, a Marine will be talking about the Athens exploding. Take advantage of this; stafe over the dead Covenant bodies to look for Grenades. By now, the door underground will open, with a few Grunts and a hiding Elite. Throw a Fragmentation Grenade in between the Grunts. The Grunts will die, and also, taking down the shields of the hiding Elite. The Elite will be Major or Minor, depending on chance. Still, use the Plasma Rifle to gun the Elite down, and swop your Plasma Rifle for his Plasma Rifle.

Go down the corridor, a Plasma Grenade at the ready. Coming toward the door in your opposite direction is a Stealth Elite. Stick him, then gun him down. Then, go up the stairs to face the death of the Master Gunnery Seargeant. His death cannot be prevented. Wait a few seconds, then go up the stairs and throw a Plasma Grenade at an Elite, then go back down the stairs.

Remember the Stealth Elite we killed? There was another one. He should be somewhere in your room. If he isn't ignore this. If he is, kill him, and swap your Plasma Rifle. Now, go back up, and kill the other Elite. Prefrably, stick him. Then, try to find the body of the Master Gunnery Seargeant, as there is a Shotgun nearby. Swap your Plasma Rifle for the Shotgun.

Switch to your Battle Rifle, as there should be a SpecOps Grunt and a Minor Grunt coming out of the room opposite your one. Watch out, as the SpecOps Grunt chucks grenades. Headshot both of them, then hide behind the steel barrier in the room. Headshot the Turret Grunt and the Major Elite. Go to the body of the dead Grunts and pick up the Grenades. Headshot the rest of the Elites and Grunts. Enter the room on the left and kill all the Elites and Grunts with the Shotgun and a couple of Grenades. Go up the stairs. You will enter a room with a couple of Grunts and an Ultra Elite that has an Energy Sword tucked in somewhere for the ready. Kill the Grunts, then go back for your health to recharge. The continous accurate firing from the Ultra Elite would have easily overwhelmed your shield. Try to set a Checkpoint incase this Elite kills you. Headshot the Ultra Elite twice, then go up close with your Shotgun. I assume you want the Energy Sword, right? Go up close to the Ultra and them melee him a couple of times with your Shotgun. By now, your shields might have nearly been gone. The Ultra Elite should be taking out his Energy Sword. Shoot him with the Shotgun, and he'll die. Swap your Battle Rifle for the Shotgun. You might also want to take the Energy Sword (yes, you can do that in Halo 2), as it will prove to be the most efficient and ruthless Elite-killer. Go into the room. You'll have a few allies with you fighting a Lance. Slice your enemies down, and go forward. Another Lance will be there. Slice them down.

Part 4: Authroised Personnel Only
There will be two Ranger Elites. Stick one of them, and shoot the other down with your Shotgun. Jump down; don't fret; you won't die. There will be another Ranger Elite flying above you. Do not kill him unless you are experienced. Go through the door. There should be a body of a dead ODST trooper. Swap your Shotgun for the Battle Rifle.

Do you hear the buzzing sound? That's the sound of Drones. They will be wielding Plasma Pistols in this level. Kill them with your Battle Rifle. Just make sure you are hiding behind the steel barrier. Now, go back, and swap your Battle Rifle back for the Shotgun. Go down the ramp. There should be several Elites and Grunts. Shotgun them down. Don't use your Energy Sword... yet.

Then, press X on the hand switch. You should be going down. Then, you will see the bodies of a Grunt and two dead ODST troopers. Swap the Shotgun for the Battle Rifle again. There will be several Ranger Elites. Headshot the one in the turret down first, then kill the rest. Backtrack, and swap your Battle Rifle for the Shotgun again. Go to the door. One more room to go!

Part 5: Return to Sender
This will take down your shields immediately, possibly even killing you. If it does, be wary, as next time, you'll know how to take cover. Shotgun the Elites first, but leave the Ultra Elite. Use your trusty Energy Sword to destroy the Ultra Elite. It may take 2-3 lunges. Take care of the rest of the Grunts with your Shotgun. If it runs out of ammo, swap for the Plasma Rifle and, proceed on killing them. Congratulations, you have beaten the first playable level of Halo 2 on Heroic! Alternatively, you can spam grenades to decimate the group, and then use the Sword to decimate the survivors.

Speed Run Walkthrough
''Note: This walkthrough requires correct Grenade Jumping, precision in everything and... speed. This walkthrough is based on the current fastest Speed Run at High Speed Halo, Cody Miller's 10:19 Legendary run, with a bit of minor editing as I personally deem fit. It may be altered as and when faster runs emerge. Certain portions detailed here may only take place on Legendary and alternate methods, not detailed here, will be necessary in such events.''

Go down the stairs and pick up the SMG and Battle Rifle (henceforth referred to as "BR" for brevity). Change to the SMG. Head into the next room and dual-wield a Magnum (or go akimbo with another SMG, if you feel like it) from the stockpile. Once in the next room, leap over the railing. Get to the second display-thing and jump onto it, then onto the higher area. Get to the area above the door and wait for the door to open.

Once the first wave of Covenant go through the door, drop down. DO NOT ENGAGE. Instead, go through and assail the Covenant in the adjoining room. Once they are all down, swap out your SMG for a Plasma Pistol (henceforth referred to as "PP" for brevity). Travel on to the next area, overcharging your PP as you do so. You get a checkpoint as you enter the room with the next enemy encounters.

See the Elite in the lower area? Jump down and let him have the charged shot as you fall, then kill with the Magnum. Treat the next Elite the same way, then head to the room at the rightmost corner of this room, overcharging as you do so. Release the charged shot on the Elite there and kill him with the Magnum, then drop the Magnum for your BR and kill the Grunts. Use the scope to snipe out the Grunts in the room across, then charge up and release the shot on the Elite there. Let him have the Battle Rifle rounds and swap out your current PP for a fresh one on the floor. Get to the stairway and reload your BR, heading on to the next area all the while. If you've been following the instructions closely, you should get a checkpoint as you ascend the stairs.

Overcharge your PP as you enter the next room. If you've been going full throttle all this while, you should get in just as an Elite comes under fire. Contribute your charged shot to the cause of bringing him down, then bring back your BR to take the stragglers. Snipe out the Grunts as they leave the boarding craft and contribute overcharges to bringing down the Elites. After two more waves (counting the Elite first seen here as the first), drop to the lower level and replace your PP. Kill the Grunts in the fourth and last wave, then draw close to the Elite. Wait for him to whip out his Energy Sword, then kill him and replace your PP with the Sword. Collect Plasma Grenades (henceforth referred to as "PGs" for brevity), return to the upper floor, get to the platform with the turrets, collecting more Plasma Grenades as you do so, then drop down on the right side of the room. The game won't move on until the Malta blows up, so you might as well watch. Stay alert, you don't get any checkpoints yet. The door opposite the window will blow. Feed the Covenant a PG, then hide behind the crate. Go around the crate and kill the Minor and Major Elite with Sword Lunges, then head into the room they came in from. You FINALLY get a checkpoint as you near the doorway to the next room with enemies.

Snipe out the Grunts on the catwalk, then feed the Covenant at the other end of the room two Frag Grenades. Take the path to the right to sneak up on a Major Elite and backstab him, then whirl around and go around the crates currently in front of you to kill another Major. Go back to where you backstabbed the first Major and go to the right of the crate. Stick the Major there with a PG, then go back behind the crate and to the left to wipe out another. Go behind and to the right and stick the next Major that drops in, then hide again and pop out to the left to finish a Minor. Drop your Sword, which is now most likely low on charge, for a PP. Kill a few remnant Grunts, then treat the Elite coming out to an overcharge. Hide, then use your overcharge combined with BR bursts to neutralize the two Sword-wielding SpecOps Elites that drop by. Pick up any available grenades, then once again swap out the PP for a Sword. Watch the Athens blow, then head down the stairs. As the door opens, stick the waiting Major, then retreat and snipe out the Grunts. Throw another PG at the next Major that appears, then Sword Lunge him to death. Deal with the final Grunt. Checkpoint!

Approach the door at the end and Sword Lunge the approaching Minor. Head into the lower level of the Armory and find the Infiltrator there. Make him greet your little pointy friend, then head up the stairs. Another checkpoint at the top.

Throw two PGs at the Elite duo waiting by the door, then Sword Lunge them into the afterlife. You get a checkpoint as you get behind the little barrier-thing.

After the unnamed Master Gunnery Sergeant dies, switch your sword for his shotgun; it'll come in handy. Jump on top of the crate in the next room, then to the higher floor. Travel along the path and snipe out the turret-manning Grunt, then jump over to the room he once occupied. Go through the series of doors and get a checkpoint as you enter the next room.

Help Miranda and Sarge with their little Covenant problem and head on into the next area. As "Authorized Personnel Only" starts, throw two PGs at the approaching Ranger Elites and finish off with shotgun blasts. Now drop down. Whirl around and jump on top of the red storage-thing. Get to the edge nearest to the place you came out of and throw a PG so that it stops bouncing at the edge of the storage-thing, using it to Grenade Jump onto the top of the indoor area. Shotgun the Ranger waiting there, then head to the end of the roof. Grenade Jump up to the higher area and follow the edge to the place above the door to the next area. Drop down, ignoring the Ranger if he's still there, and go in. Reload your BR over the dead Helljumper. You should get a checkpoint here.

Head into the next area and, and pick up spare Frag Grenades while you're at it. Throw two Frag Grenades at the approaching Drones and finish off any that survived the detonations, then go under the staircase to the right and drop down onto the elevator. You will get a checkpoint as the formerly-closed door opens to admit more Covenant.

Quickly throw your last Frag Grenade into the door as it opens, then switch to your shotgun. Turn around and kill any Drones that may have followed you down, then swap the shotgun for a PP and hide behind the crate.

Use an overcharge shot and a BR burst to kill the Major visible from the left of the crate, then go around it and to the right of the crate further in front while overcharging. Use the same tactic to drop the second Major. Now start the elevator. Once the elevator reaches the room the Covenant came in front, swap out your current PP for one with more charge. As the door in front of you opens, you will get a checkpoint.

Use the overcharge and the BR, as well as hiding at appropriate moments, to eradicate the three Rangers that appear to greet you. Continue down the path, ignoring whatever remnants of opposition remain, and head into the next elevator. You get a checkpoint as "Return to Sender" starts.

Immediately head to the left side of the room. Stick the first Major you see. Rub out the life of the Minor that tries rather unsuccessfully to backstab you with an overcharge and a BR burst. Stick the two Majors waiting on the other side of the crate with PGs. Let them blow, then use an overcharged PP shot and sniped bursts from the BR to kill the Needler-wielding Major at the other end of the room. Get out from behind your crate and go to the left of the one in front, using your overcharged PP and BR bursts to kill the last Major.

That's it for this level. The current record is Cody Miller's 10 min 19 sec run, but it involves two deaths which I skipped over. If you want to perform a better, deathless run, go ahead, do so and send it in.

Trivia

 * This is the only level in which an Elite (actually, a pair) wield Plasma Pistols.
 * Three Spec Ops Elites with Active Camouflage are present on the bottom floor of the Armory, two being in the room and one appears in the corridor you came from. (Note that all difficulties permit the player to see them)
 * The Thunderstorm Skull is located in this level.
 * It is possible to reach areas that are supposed to be inaccessible to the player in this level.
 * As with Halo: CE's first level, the Pillar of Autumn, there are no Jackals in this level.
 * During this level you can see Covenant Carriers flying pass Cairo station. You can see one when your outside near the MAC fire control center and another when if you look out the windows inside the MAC fire control center.
 * It is possible to see Grunts and Elites in Hard Vacuum.
 * There is a Bloody UNSC Soldier on this level.
 * Although Sergeant Johnson receives a medal in the ceremony before the mission and it is seen being placed on his chest, on the actual mission it does not appear on his uniform and there is only the Purple Heart.
 * The turret that appears in the first Pelican bay is not present on harder difficulties.
 * Originally, Bungie had planned a level after Cairo Station, in which the Master Chief would land on a Covenant ship, break in, and destroy it from the inside out. This was shown in the Halo 2 Announcement Trailer, when the Chief jumped out of the airlock without the bomb. However, because of deadlines, the level was cut from the final game.
 * Despite Johnson's claim that the MAC platforms are geosyncronized with their respective cities, if the player looks out the Cairo's windows, Cairo Station itself is over 1000 miles from Cairo, Egypt, the city it is supposedly geosynchronized with.
 * On Legendary difficulty, a Zealot can be found not too far into the level.
 * The Covenant Bomb had ten seconds left before it detonates in the cutscene despite the fact that it will not detonate.
 * It is possible to see a Ultra Elite with a dual-wielded Plasma Rifle and Needler, (Like with others, get to close or shoot him to much, he draws an Energy Sword), on Easy difficulty.
 * Johnson's cigar is also found in this level, but it is put out, unlike in the Armory level the cigar was lit up, smoke could be seen. You can see this if you find the Thunderstorm skull on this level.
 * It is possible to hear Lord Hood saying something on the intercom about Megg in this level.
 * In the final fight by the bomb, if you kill the Covenant in the right positions, it's possible for the bomb to move their bodies around while being dragged.
 * In the sub-level "Return to Sender" it is possible to be pushed through the wall. Simply stand in front of the moving firing pin. You will be pushed forward at an incredible speed directly into the wall. After running into the wall, you will be able to see the wall as it really is: a textured line that is infinitely thin(note:all walls look like this in computer programming). After seeing this, you will simply "squish" through the wall, and fall to your death to the level below.
 * Also on the chapter "Return to Sender", you can find one surviving Marine. To do this, you must enter the room underneath the firing pin. Walk away from the Elites' position, and you should find a lone Marine survivor, armed with a Battle Rifle. The Marine is a different model every time.
 * Although the MJOLNIR armor system has only 90 minutes worth of oxygen, you can stay in vacuum indefinitely.
 * It is possible to fall below the MAC guns pump. If you try to jump on the middle of the MAC cannon at the end of the level it will launch you out the station and sometimes you will hit an invisible barrier stopping you from getting to the scenery.
 * In the beginning cut scene Lord Hood says United Earth Space Corps, this is a reference from the game marathon as its military branch (In Halo, the military branch is called United Nations Space Command).
 * If you kill the Drones as the elevator is rising, one of their bodies might get caught on the edge of the elevator and look as if it's falling indefinitely.
 * It is possible to see the outside of a Covenant Boarding craft on this level, up close. Just before you enter the first Elevator(just after you fight the Ranger Elites, one using a turret), use one of the structures near the edge to jump to a low ledge. And there is the Craft.
 * When you get to the armory part and you see one of the stair doors is closed get on top of the door and the door should be going up the ceiling and your thinking is it going to kill you but it isn't, when the door closes you will fall through the door and be back to normal instead of dying.
 * It is possible to get into the airlock room Master Chief jumps out of. On the chapter "Return to Sender", walk up to where the firing pin shoots forward. Walk up to the front track, and it will move forward. If you are lucky, your body will fall through the floor and down to the airlock below.
 * It's possible to get on the mac gun or near it but it is very hard to do and requires alot of time.
 * This is the first level you encounter zealots but only on legendary
 * Right when you are fighting the forces defending the bomb you can see through the window the Prophet of Regrets Carrier.
 * When you get out side of the Station, it possible to get inside the FFG-142 "In Amber Clad"'s reactors.

Images
 Image:Station.jpg|Longswords And a Cruiser Pass The Cairo. 