Key/The Hammer

The Hammer is the fifth chapter of Spartan Ops ' ninth episode, Key.

Summary
Picking up from where the last chapter left off, Crimson is forced to hold off additional reinforcements now including Promethean Crawlers, during the fight Poker Squad calls for assistance. When Crimson defeats the enemy forces in the area they move to the next and assist Poker squad in eliminating the enemy forces. While assisting Poker, Roland detects Hawk Squad's IFF tags, once Poker Squad is safe Crimson is sent to investigate. After fighting through numerous Promethean forces they arrive at Hawk's position to find only their tags. Jared Miller accesses a recording on one of the tags that reveal they had been captured by Elites looking for Reclaimers. Hawk was killed while the Elites tried to activate a device. Crimson activates the device while holding off Elite and Promethean Watcher reinforcements. The device is soon revealed to be a map of Requiem, Roland quickly contacts Henry Glassman and believes the map could help them free the Inifinity from Requiem.

Trivia

 * The three holographic panels in the final area display the original Reclaimer symbol, which is actually the Marathon logo. This is strange, as the Marathon franchise is owned by Bungie, not 343 Industries.
 * The ninth Red vs. Blue Easter Egg of Season 1 can be found on this level. When Crimson activates one of Hawk Squad's IFF tags, Church can be heared talking with a Sangheili, telling him that he does not understand what he says. The Elite, enraged, kills Church with an Energy Sword. This easter egg is a reference to the first chapters of the fourth season of Red vs Blue, where the Blue Team meets an alien and they have trouble understanding what the alien is trying to say.