The Assault on the Control Room Shortcut requires very good timing, so it may take some practice before you can get it. First go on to the first bridge, and make sure you have a plasma grenade. Try not to wake up any Grunts, as they will be annoying and dangerous. Throw a plasma grenade on the ground, right next to a Shade. Right when the grenade explodes, quickly press X (E in Halo PC) to get in the Shade. If you're lucky, the shade will right itself and you will fall safely to the ground. By doing this, you can skip three quarters of the level.
At the bottom is a snowy and empty world. Events that are going to happen haven't happened yet, because the things that trigger them haven't been done yet.
Another trick is when going out on the rocky bridge right by the pyramid, run out and steal a banshee. you can then fly over to the pyramid and activate the door and use the banshee to kill the people inside. This can be difficult sometimes. but attempt to take out the Major Elite (nearest the Banshee) first, then take down the Minor Elite, preferably with the sniper rifle *NOTE!* unless you're fast, the other banshee WILL launch and try to kill you. so either kill them when they show up or just knock it off the bridge.