Tip of the Spear

This article is about the level. For the Halo: Reach soundtrack, see Tip of the Spear (music).

Tip of the Spear is the fifth Campaign level in Halo: Reach.^[1]^[2]

Upon completing the level on Normal or higher, the player will unlock the achievement "To War" and 10 Gamerpoints.

Summary

The level opens with Auntie Dot briefing Noble Team on the situation: A large Covenant invasion force has been discovered in the Viery Territory, and a joint UNSC military force has been mobilized to counter them across the continent. Noble Team's mission is to destroy Spire One, one of many large towers the Covenant have placed around their landing zone. Noble Six and Catherine-B320 lead the charge at the Covenant positions, and destroy two Covenant anti-air guns. Noble Six, manning a Falcon's gunner seat, then joins Jorge-052 as they make their way to the Spire. As their Falcon passes through the Spire's energy shield, the craft is disabled by an EMP which sends it crashing to the ground, killing the crew and forcing the Spartans to continue on foot. Jorge and Six eventually make their way to the Spire, where the installation is revealed to be a teleportation terminal, used by the Covenant to transport troops to the ground from a yet-unknown source. After deactivating Spire One's energy shield, Six leaves the area on a Falcon accompanied by Carter-A259 and Jorge-052 as the UNSC Grafton destroys the Spire. Immediately after the tower collapses, the Grafton is destroyed by the previously cloaked Covenant supercarrier Long Night of Solace.

Transcript

{Cutscene}

Szurdok Ridge, Ütközet

August 12, 2552 08:00 Hours

A convoy of more than thirty Warthogs, a Mongoose, four Scorpions, along with several Falcons and two Pelicans advance across a bare plain.

Auntie Dot: "It appears that Noble Team's discovery last night was not an anomaly. Large Covenant deployments have occurred undetected, and we are now under attack across the Viery territory, including orbital defenses. As per the Winter Contingency, we are countering on every front. Noble's reconnaissance has also identified sophisticated Covenant army hiding canopies, and has been pinpointed what's believed to be a landing zone for additional Covenant forces, the origin of which is yet to be determined."

The Warthogs, led by Kat and Noble Six, charge towards the Covenant landing zone, followed by a group of Falcons. Carter is revealed to be on board a Falcon overlooking the Warthog driven by Kat. Noble Six rides shotgun in Kat's Warthog.

Commander Carter-A259 (COM): "That landing zone has been tagged by UNSC command as a Priority One target."

Warrant Officer Jun-A266 (COM): "Det-charge link is loud and clear!"

At this point, the subtitles show Jun saying, "Time to bake that cake we made last night!" The dialogue was confirmed by Bungie to have been a last-minute change.^[3]

Lieutenant Commander Catherine-B320 : "Copy that. Acquiring signal lock on the pylon. Detonating in three, two..."

Kat detonates the charge that was planted on the pylon in the previous mission by Jun, which is seen far to the right of the advancing Warthog strike force. The pylon is destroyed.

Banshees swoop down on the convoy and open fire, while Wraiths lob mortar rounds from a distance. The gunners on the Warthogs retaliate, firing at the Banshees. Wraith mortar rounds tear into the convoy and destroy several of the advancing vehicles. Kat and Noble Six dodge the mortar fire, and turn towards a bridge across a deep chasm, but as they prepare to cross, a plasma mortar destroys the bridge.

Noble Six: "Incoming!"

Catherine-B320: "Might want to hold onto something!"

Kat accelerates and the Warthog manages to jump the gap in the destroyed bridge, but crashes violently on the other side, (presumably) killing the gunner and sending Kat and Noble Six flying.

Fade to white.

Fade back to Noble Six's point of view, which is hazy. The SPARTAN is lying facedown after the crash, with a M319 Individual Grenade Launcher lying several feet away. Vision clears, and Six glances towards the destroyed bridge. A second Warthog attempts to clear the gap in the bridge but fails, and the troopers inside fall screaming into the canyon below.

Catherine-B320: "Six! Can you hear me? Six, you alright? I could use some help!"

Six gets up, grabbing the grenade launcher along the way.

Noble Six: "On my way."

{Gameplay}

Tempest Perimeter

Kat activates her Armor Lock as the Warthog she is using for cover explodes after being shot by two Banshees. A Spirit drops down troops and flies away. A Falcon flies overhead and engages a few Covenant troops before being shot down. On the adjacent plateau across the river, Warthogs and Ghosts clash behind a huge rock.

Carter-A259 (COM): "Kat, Six, what's your status?"

Catherine-B320: "Pylons are down, we're pushing up the hill."

Kat and Six encounter heavy resistance as they move up the hill, including two Fuel Rod Shade variants. After eliminating the enemy forces in the area, a Pelican shows up with a Missile Warthog.

Carter-A259 (COM): "Kat, be advised: ONI has identified two hostile anti-aircraft guns southwest of your location."

Catherine-B320: "Copy, Commander. New target, Six. Shut down those AA guns. Commandeer that Warthog, get us there in one piece."

If the player stalls:

Catherine-B320: "Commandeer that Warthog, Six."

Kat and Six drive a short distance before arriving at the AA gun.

Carter-A259 (COM): "Six, AA guns should be in visual range."

2 Lima 4 (COM): "2 Lima 4 to Noble One, those guns are pounding us with high-velocity plasma shells!"

Auntie Dot (COM): "Which would mean a strike by the Frigate Grafton is also out of the question."

Carter-A259 (COM): "Noble Six, all our birds are stuck out of range unless you can do something about those guns."

As they approach the gun, a furious battle can be seen in the valley below. Three Scarabs and multiple Ghosts, Wraiths, and Banshees attack a large group of Warthogs, Scorpions, and Falcons.

Kat and Six proceed to the AA gun, encountering resistance along the way.

Carter-A259 (COM): "New intel, Six. Looks like normal weapons won't dent those AA guns."

Auntie Dot (COM): "I would suggest neutralizing the internal fuse, Lieutenant."

Kat and Noble Six eliminates the Covenant troops in the area, eventually destroying the cannon.

2 Lima 4 (COM): "Control, 2 Lima 4: permission to commence bombing run, heading 224.6, over."

After the AA cannon exploded, three Longswords and two heavy frigates, the Template:UNSCship and the Template:UNSCship, fly overhead.

Carter-A259 (COM): "Good work, Noble Six. UNSC air support: skies are clear."

Control (COM): "Copy. 2 Lima 4, bombing run, heading 224.6, permission granted - out."

The Frigates open fire on the Covenant forces in the valley, as 2 Lima 4 commences a bombing run on the three Scarabs, destroying two of them and disabling the third, which detonates seconds later.

Kat and Six proceed on, soon driving under a partially destroyed bridge. A Pelican, while under fire from a Phantom, drops off a deployable bridge, allowing Noble Team to continue. They soon arrive at a mining facility that is across a canyon.

Hand Over Fist

Carter-A259 (COM): "Noble Six, there's a mining facility near your location, the Covenant are using it as a command outpost. Troopers on site have already engaged."

The Spartans arrive at a bridge over the canyon. Several Army troopers are under fire from Covenant troops and a Shade turret, which are soon neutralized. The Spartans and troopers advance on the BXR Mining facility.

Auntie Dot (COM): "New intelligence: friendly forces near the Covenant outpost have spotted a high value target. An Elite Zealot, in fact."

Catherine-B320: "A Zealot? We're onto something big here, Commander."

Carter-A259 (COM): "Eyes on the prize, Noble. Take out that Zealot if you get the chance, but keep movin' towards the spires."

They move into the facility, encountering resistance as they go.

Catherine-B320: "No visual on target."

The Spartans move farther into the facility, eventually finding the Zealot.

If the player eliminates the Zealot:

Catherine-B320: "High value target has been neutralized. Impressive, Six."

After eliminating the enemy forces in the area, Kat and Six move outside to find two Unggoy, two Ghosts, and a Revenant. When Noble Six exits the mining facility, the two Grunts attempt to escape in the Ghosts but are quickly eliminated. Six and Kat proceed down the trail, encountering Covenant forces as they go.

Carter-A259 (COM): "Update, Six: scans show another Covenant AA cannon ahead of your location. I want you to neutralize that gun, by any means necessary."

Kat and Six arrive at the second AA cannon and engage a large amount of Covenant forces, including two Wraiths and a Hunter pair.

After neutralizing the Covenant forces in the area, Six proceeds inside the cannon and destroys the gun's power core. A Phantom arrives to drop off reinforcements, which are soon defeated.

A Pelican arrives soon after, dropping off troopers.

Carter-A259 (COM): "Well done, Six. ONI needs up-close recon on those spires, we're gonna fly you the rest of the way."

Catherine-B320: "Jorge has a Falcon inbound to your position. Lieutenant, highlighting the LZ now."

A navpoint appears on Noble Six's HUD.

Catherine-B320: "Commander, I'm going to set up a forward observation post here."

Carter-A259 (COM): "Copy that, I'm waiting on new intel. See what you can see, Carter out."

The Falcon arrives.

Chief Warrant Officer Jorge-052: "Need a lift, Spartan?"

Noble Six mans a M460 Automatic Grenade Launcher.

Jorge-052: "Spotted some nasty business in the canyon on the way down."

Falcon Pilot (COM): "I'll call out targets as we go."

The Spire

The Falcon flies along the river. It eventually reaches a bridge, with Covenant forces attempting to cross it.

Falcon Pilot (COM): "Top of the canyon, dead ahead."

Six eliminates the forces on the bridge. Jorge and Six encounter more resistance further down the canyon, but Six eliminates them as well.

Falcon Pilot (COM): "Nice shooting, Spartan."

Jorge-052: "Stay sharp, Six. We're not out of the canyon yet."

The Falcon approaches a spire with an enormous, visible energy shield.

Falcon Pilot (COM): "There's the spire."

Auntie Dot (COM): "Latest intel suggests these spires may be projecting electromagnetic cloaking shields."

Carter-A259 (COM): "Solid copy, Dot."

They arrive at the edge of the shield. The pilot hesitates, hovering just outside it.

Jorge-052: "Priority One, pilot. Gotta know what's in there."

Falcon Pilot (COM): "Affirmative, sir... Here we go."

The Falcon flies towards the shield and the screen flashes white.

{Cutscene}

Cuts to Six's point of view as the Falcon begins to spin out of control and scratches the rock wall. The grenade launcher retracts, and Six holds on to the side of the Falcon. She looks at Jorge, who is also holding on to the side of the Falcon.

Falcon Pilot (COM): "We just lost all power. We're going down!"

Jorge-052: "Lock your armor, Spartan!"

Falcon Pilot (COM): "Brace for a hard landing!"

The Falcon crashes. Six is thrown a short distance from the Falcon. Jorge emerges from the Falcon, tossing out equipment. Six grabs a rifle on the ground and stands up. After looking around briefly, Jorge picks up his gun.

Jorge-052: "Crew's dead. We shouldn't stay here."

{Gameplay}

Jorge-052: "I'm showing hostiles all over the place, we gotta move."

Jorge-052: "Commander, we got eyes on the spire. Looks like a staging area".

Carter-A259 (COM): "Copy, we have your visual. Dot's working the problem, stand by."

Jorge and Six move across the river.

The Spire comes into full view. A Phantom seemingly appears out of nowhere in the Spire's midsection, and flies away, outside the dome-shaped energy shield.

Auntie Dot (COM): "Noble Five, ONI believes those spires to be teleportation terminals."

Jorge-052: "Teleporters? Linked to what?"

Carter-A259 (COM): "Frigate Grafton is on station, ready to kill that spire, but first we need to power down its shields."

Jorge-052: "Understood. Six, I'll hold these bastards off, you find a way to the top of the spire."

Noble Six eventually makes it to one of the gravity lifts, sending him/her up to the top of spire.

Jorge-052: "Noble Leader, Six is on his/her way up."

Carter-A259 (COM): "Get in there. Take out that shield, Lieutenant."

Carter-A259 (COM): "Spartans, I'm en route with a Falcon, will pick you up as soon as you knock out power to that shield."

Jorge-052 (COM): "Ready when you are, Six".

Noble Six proceeds to engage the Covenant forces at the top of the spire. A Sangheili Ultra, seen manning the controls of the spire, draws his Energy Sword as soon as Noble Six engages him.

Carter-A259 (COM): "Hurry, Lieutenant. We got a frigate inbound to blow that spire as soon as the shield is powered down."

Noble Six eliminates the hostiles in the spire and proceeds to the spire controls.

Carter-A259 (COM): "Lieutenant, drop the shield and get out of there!"

Six powers down the shield.

{Cutscene}

The shield dissipates. Six sprints for the outer edge of the top floor, where Carter and Jorge are waiting in a hovering Falcon. Without slowing down, Noble Six leaps off the spire and is caught by Jorge, who pulls Six up into the Falcon.

Carter-A259: "Get us outta here!"

The Falcon begins to pull away from the spire.

Carter-A259: "Control? This is Noble One. Spire One is green, and you're free to engage. Have a nice day."

Air Control (COM): "Copy that, Noble One. Be advised, all ground units: Frigate Three-One-Eight heavy is inbound, and MAC rounds have been authorized."

Noble Team's Falcon continue to fly away from the Spire, joining a larger group of Falcons.

Jorge-052: "MAC rounds? In atmosphere?"

Carter-A259: "One way to get their attention! Hang on to your teeth, people!"

The UNSC Grafton, in a shallow dive, moves towards the spire past the Falcon with Six, Carter, and Jorge. The Spartans brace themselves.

The Grafton continues to move towards the spire, and, with a bright flash, fires its MAC cannon, hitting the Spire and shattering it. Jorge, satisfied, turns back and nods at Carter and Six, failing to notice as a purple glow illuminates the sky above the Grafton. An energy projector beam streaks down from the sky and hits Grafton's bow section, instantly gutting the ship. Secondary explosions blossom along the hull, and the Grafton begins to plummet towards the ground.

Auntie Dot (COM): "New contact. High-tonnage."

The Spartans watch as the aft section of the Grafton explodes. The forward section crashes to the ground.

Jorge-052: (Shocked) "No. No! Somebody tell me this ain't happening!"

As Six looks out to watch the frigate fall, Air Control calls in.

Air Control (COM): "UNSC Frigate Grafton, do you copy?"

Carter-A259: "Grafton is dust! We need to get out of here, now!"

The Falcon flees the scene. As the shattered UNSC Grafton falls to the ground, a Covenant supercarrier, the Long Night of Solace, is revealed holding position over the destroyed Spire.

Fade to black.

Level ends.

Trivia

Glitches

Kat can sometimes be heard saying lines of dialogue out of sequence throughout the level.
Sometimes a Banshee will randomly boost into the ground at the beginning of the level, destroying itself.
It is possible for the player to kill himself/herself during the cutscene after the Falcon goes through the Spire by continuously firing the grenade launcher at the shield. When the player goes through the shield, he/she will hear his/her shields collapse and will be brought back to the previous checkpoint. In Co-op, the player who shot the shield will die instantly once the gameplay starts again in the crashsite.

Mistakes

In the opening cutscene, when the machine guns on the Warthogs fire on the attacking Banshees, their barrels do not spin.
The Warthog that fails the jump at the beginning cutscene is nowhere to be seen in the canyon below. It may have floated off with the river.
The Shade turrets that the player engages when on the Falcon do not have operators.
When the Falcon loses power after going through the shield, it spirals out of control before crashing. It would likely not spin after losing power, as the Falcon does not have a tail rotor, though it is possible that the tail was struck by wind as the electronic systems were disabled. During gameplay, Falcons that are affected by an electromagnetic pulse simply drop straight down.
During the final chapter The Spire, if the player wields the left grenade launcher of the Falcon (opposite of an army trooper), the cutscene following will still show Six on on the right side of the Falcon (opposite of Jorge-052).

References

The widely known "Wilhelm Scream" is featured in the opening cinematic of this level on the Normal difficulty. The screams of the falling troopers vary on each difficulty.
The mining facility in this level is run by the BXR Mining company, a reference to the BXR button combination.
The player must clear the top of the spire which is loaded with Grunts led by an Ultra Sangheili, resembling that of Halo 2's campaign level Metropolis' where the inside of the Scarab is also led by an Ultra Sangheili.

Miscellaneous

Tip of the Spear was alluded to in a Bungie Weekly Update before the release of Halo: Reach, which hinted at a level with the initials "TotS" becoming an instant favorite among fans.
This is the first level of Halo: Reach in which Yanme'e are encountered.
There was an early bug in development where the gunner of the Warthog that falls into the chasm in the beginning cutscene will fire at Kat's hips as the Warthogs crashes into the cliff.^[4]
This is the third of four levels, (the others being Winter Contingency, ONI: Sword Base, and The Pillar of Autumn), where the assault rifle the player begins with has more than the usual 288 rounds. In this case, it carries 568 rounds (in Cooperative Play only).
It is possible to use the grenade launcher's secondary fire to disable a Banshee at the beginning of the level. However, these Banshees cannot be hijacked.
The musical track that plays when the player travels to the first Tyrant is not present in the Halo: Reach Original Soundtrack. The track itself has the same percussion beat as the Halo Theme, and Martin O'Donnell humorously called it the "Halo Driving Music".^[4]
This level marks the first appearance of the Scarab in Halo: Reach, although it is not fought by the player. The Scarabs in the distance have a single looping walking animation, but they do not move anywhere. When the Longswords bomb them, the Scarabs are destroyed but do not have a destruction animation.
Due to the range at which they are engaging Covenant forces, the Scorpions in the background battles fire their shells in an curved trajectory, indicating the shells are being affected by gravity.
The severely damaged Warthog on the destroyed bridge near the second AA cannon is drivable. The easiest way to get to it is to boost to it in a Revenant (press "jump" as one crosses the gap) or knock it down with a grenade or any other explosion. Another way is to drive the Revenant as close to the first broken pillar as possible, use it to get on the first pillar, then jump on the second and finally jump on to the piece of intact bridge the Warthog is on and simply drive it off on to the ground.
The Covenant Spire that Noble Six destroys is the central location for the multiplayer Invasion map Spire.
The Spires in the distance are actually merged bitmaps and are only a quarter as tall as Spire One's in-game geometry. Similarly, a player that escapes the map can discover that they are not solid and the projected shields do not block any shots, inside or out.
In the final cutscene, all of the Falcons, with exception of the one Noble Team is riding on, are used with the rough models used in background battles.