Battle of the Citadel: Difference between revisions

As the group made their way through the citadel's foyer towards the elevator that would take them to the upper level, John was confronted by [[Character interludes|a vision]] of [[Cortana]] indicating her ongoing torture by the [[Gravemind]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', ''[[Human Weakness]]''</ref> Truth then sent out a message to his remaining forces: he was about to activate the Halo Array. As the group neared the elevator, Commander Keyes asked the Spartan how close he was to Truth, to which John replied that they weren't close enough to stop the Prophet in time. Meanwhile, Sergeant Johnson, who had been captured by the Covenant during the battle, was being tortured by a Jiralhanae chieftain. Johnson attempted to goad the Brute into killing him in order to deny the Prophet of a way to activate the installation but Truth knew what he was doing and ordered the chieftain to stop. As Johnson taunted the Prophet's inability to activate the Ark himself, Truth confessed that he needed the human's help. Before he could continue, Keyes flew her Pelican through the window of the room and onto the platform, crushing one of the Jiralhanae bodyguards. As the Covenant soldiers picked themselves up off the floor, Keyes emerged with a [[M90 shotgun|shotgun]] and promptly shot one of the Brutes, ordering Johnson to reveal himself. The battered sergeant told her to leave him and escape, which she refused to do, shooting an approaching Jiralhanae but only causing its [[Energy shielding#Personal shielding|energy shields]] to flare. Truth remarked that she wouldn't be able to kill all of them even as she pointed her shotgun and a [[M6G magnum|magnum]] at the Brutes around her. Keyes reluctantly conceded his point, aiming her sidearm at Johnson. Knowing it was the only way to deny the Prophet a means to activate the Ark, Johnson told her to shoot him. As she hesitated, the Prophet of Truth took the opportunity to shoot her in the back with a [[Type-25 Spiker|Spiker]]. Commander Keyes was killed instantly, her body falling to the ground even as Johnson attempted to run to her aid before being restrained by a Jiralhanae bodyguard. Dropping the Spiker, Truth told Johnson that the [[Forerunners]] had left [[Human|humanity]] behind because they were weak, whereas gods needed to be strong. He then took Johnson's hand and forced it onto the control panel, beginning the activation sequence of the [[Halo Array]]; Johnson, struck with grief and shock, didn't resist. As the Prophet raised his arms in victory, the elevator carrying John and his team made it to the upper level. Before they could advance, a pair of [[Flood tank form]]s dropped in front of them. Instead of attacking, the Gravemind spoke to the group, proposing a truce to stop their common foe, as only the Master Chief could stop the activation sequence. Reluctant, but with no other choice, the group and their unlikely allies began an assault on the final bastion of Covenant soldiers guarding the Prophet of Truth.<ref name="covenant"/>

A large group of [[Unggoy]] and [[Kig-Yar]] lead by a [[Jiralhanae Captain]] guarded the first bridge making their last stand for the Covenant Empire. The two Flood tank forms lumbered into the midst of the gathered Covenant forces, crushing the smaller soldiers with their massive arms as swarms of [[Pod infector]]s swarmed ahead. The Master Chief and Arbiter 'Vadam followed closely behind their newfound Flood allies. In the face of this determined assault, the Covenant resistance on the first bridge soon crumbled and the allies proceeded through a small room where a holographic projection of Truth cursed the Flood as a final act of treachery by the Sangheili. On the second bridge, a large pack of Jiralhanae containing a unit of [[Jiralhanae Jumper|Jumpers]] fought to stop the team and their Flood allies. It was a losing battle for the Covenant, as every Jiralhanae slain resulted in a new Flood combat form. Even the chieftain and a group of fuel rod gun-wielding [[Unggoy Heavy|Heavies]] failed to stop the determined assault. The Flood pressed relentlessly ahead, slaughtering the final group of Covenant defenders on the third bridge before John and the Sangheili even arrived. A final projection of Truth defiantly claimed that even the Flood would not stop the Covenant from commencing the "Great Journey". Finally reaching the light bridge to the control platform, John and Thel proceeded across, passing several Flood corpses. As Johnson closed Miranda Keyes' eyes, he told the Chief to stop the activation sequence. Meanwhile, Thel approached the downed High Prophet of Truth, who had become partially infected by the Flood. He seized the Prophet by the neck even as the frail San'Shyuum claimed that the Sangheili had never truly believed in the promise of the Great Journey. Thel activated his [[Type-1 energy sword|energy sword]] as the Prophet begun to cough up Flood [[Flood spore|spores]] and sprout tentacles. The Arbiter angrily stated that he would have his revenge on Truth before he was consumed by the Flood. As the Gravemind taunted Truth, telling him that he would only serve as food for the Flood, Thel held the Prophet up so he could see the Master Chief deactivate the Halo Array. With his life's work destroyed, Truth gave one final defiant declaration, announcing himself as the voice of the Covenant before being fatally stabbed by Thel 'Vadam. The final [[Hierarch]] of the Covenant was dead, and what remained of the empire would [[Covenant remnants|crumble away]] soon after. As Thel gave a victorious roar and deactivate his sword, John gave him a nod of acknowledgement. The two watched as Johnson carried the lifeless corpse of Miranda Keyes into her Pelican.