The Signal: Difference between revisions

{{Level infobox

|next = [[A New Enemy]]

|game = ''[[Halo Wars 2]]''

|date = [[2559|March 28, 2559]]<ref>'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''', ''[[Phoenix Logs#Alice-130 Report #1|Phoenix Logs - Alice-130 Report #1]]''</ref>

|place = [[Installation 00]]

}}

'''Official Status: Lost with all hands'''

''A light flashes sporadically in the background as two of the ship's turrets rise up and turn, ready once again.''

''AI SYNC 0%''

''The screen moves to the ship's Cryo Room 3, showing Sergeant [[John Forge]]'s empty [[cryo chamber]]. The cryo room starts to light up, machinery returning to life, as well as the human occupants''

*'''Anders''': "I'll need to get down there. Immediately, of course."

*'''Cutter''': "Good morning to you too, Professor."

*'''Cutter''': "What is it, and where are we?"

''Anders brings up various holographic astronavigation data.''

''Cutter looks at and manipulates another holo-terminal.''

''Anders studies the holographic message.''

''Anders opens the source on the holotable.''

''Anders triangulates the location, designating it with a yellow mark''

*'''Cutter''': "Cutter to Jerome."

''The holotable closes after the coordinates are given''

*'''Cutter''': "Twenty-eight years, Professor...Let's see what kind of galaxy we woke up to."

''Cutter observes the Forerunner installation below him; cut to an overall view of the Ark.''

*'''Cutter''': "Professor Anders, any update on the source of that signal?"

*'''Anders''': "It wasn't easy, but I've narrowed it down to a small sector and our recon teams are investigation now. I've cleared up the scans a bit and it looks like there is a UNSC outpost or research station, but it's heavily damaged. It doesn't look good, but the Spartans will handle it. They always do. It would be a lot faster if you let me go down with them, Captain."

*'''Jerome-092''': "Understood, sir. We'll find them.""

'''Scouting Report'''

'''{''In-game cutscene''}'''

*'''Pelican Pilot''': "Standby for drop, Red Team."

*'''Anders''': Odd, they look like they've been modified, and those machines attached to them aren't UNSC tech. Keep an eye out for any more of them."

'''{''Cinematic Cutscene''}'''

''The sun starts to rise as Red Team enters the Research Outpost. Flashlights pan over the floor and walls as Red Team moves cautiously into the outpust until Alice spots a Holotable.''

*'''Jerome-092''': "Identify."

*'''Isabel''': "Isabel. UNSC logistics, Ark research outpost."

''Isabel looks confused.''

''A loud banging can be heard echoing from within the confines of the output, causing her to stop talking. Red Team, instantly alerted, points their weapons towards the source of the noise.''

*'''Douglas-042''': "What was that?"

''A second, even louder band echoes before the third and final bang rocks the entire outpost.''

*'''Jerome-092''': "You're coming with us."

''Alice charges in, firing her [[M6C magnum|handgun]] in her right hand and brandishing a combat knife in her left, but like the battle rifle rounds, seemingly has no effect on their unknown assailant. She is immediately swatted aside, knocking her to the floor again. Douglas gets on his knees and tries to reach for his shotgun, but the enemy quickly steps on the shotgun and knees him in the chin with enough force to knock back across the room. Jerome quickly brandishes his knife to attack him, sliding under and dodging an incoming attack. Immediately managing to stab his combat knife into his opponent's side, he is immediately punched aside again as Alice charges in again with her pistol, only to be knocked down again by a shoulder-butt. Douglas manages to pick him his shotgun this time and manages to aim it at their enemy. Before he can fire, however, the enemy slaps the gun out of his hands with their gravity hammer and grabs Douglas' shoulder even as he manages to stab him in the lower abdomen.''

''The enemy grabs Douglas' shoulder and swings him around as Douglas stabs him again. As he goes in for the third stab, the enemy squeezes Douglas' shoulder hard enough to stop the Spartan in his tracks and involuntarily releases the knife. Douglas reaches desperately for the knife as the enemy continues squeezing his shoulder, causing him to groan painfully. Sparks shoot out of his armor. With a bone-breaking ''crunch,'' the enemy finally puts enough force on Douglas' shoulder to break the armor and bone underneath despite the Spartan's augmentation.''

''Douglas lands with a groan and struggles feebly on the ground as the enemy, a Jiralhanae, yanks the knife out of him and tosses it to the ground. He picks up Douglas' discarded helmet and examines it.''

''Behind Douglas, Jerome looks cautiously at the Jiralhanae before bending down to pick up his battle rifle again. Together, he and Alice point their weapons at the Jiralhanae.''

''Alice bends down to grab Douglas by the back of his armor and begins dragging him away, his damaged armor scraping on the floor. Jerome follows close behind, weapon still trained on the Jiralhanae standing menacingly before them.''

''He activates the gravity hammer again, this time close enough to his face to illuminate it.''

''Cut back to the Jiralhanae as he turns and walks away.''

''A Jiralhanae is seen slamming the staff of their gravity hammer down onto the floor, causing a loud crashing sound.''

*'''Jerome-092''': "Immediate EVAC requested."

''Cut back to the Jiralhanae walking into the shadows of the research outpost, deactivating his gravity hammer.''

''Cut to a view of two Brutes slamming their gravity hammers into the ground.''

''Cut back to the feeling Spartans.''

''Cut back to the Jiralhanae, now fully enclosed by darkness.''

''Cut back to the Spartans.''

*'''Jerome-092''': "Douglas!"

''The Jiralhanae Warlords slam their gravity hammers into the ground one last time as they gather in the center of the room, eager for the hunt. One Jiralhanae raises his gravity hammer over his head  and roars as the others begin scrambling after their prey, panting and growling in excitement.''

''Jerome turns around and gestures frantically to Alice who is carrying Douglas over her shoulder.''

*'''Jerome-092''': "COME ON, COME ON!"

*'''Alice-130''': "Do we have a plan?"

*'''Jerome-092''': "We do."

''As soon as Alice and Douglas are clear, Jerome quickly turns around while Alice places an unconscious Douglas in the passenger seat. Alice quickly hops on the Warthog's turret while Jerome takes the driver seat.''

*'''Jerome-092''': "Sir. Requesting [[Final protective fire|danger close]]. On our location, trailing north. Commence five seconds."

*'''Alice-130''': "Interesting plan."

'''{''In-game cutscene''}'''

''More missiles finish off the Wraiths while the left route has been cut off, forcing Jerome to go right and jump down from the cliff.''

''Soon they encounter Banshees and a Banished squad coming out from the portal.''

*'''Alice-130''': "Portals. Why is it always portals?"

'''{''In-game cutscene''}'''

*'''Isabel''': "She's gone!"

''A Banshee attempts to shoot down the Pelican, but Hornets destroy it instead and another Banshee is soon destroyed by another Hornet. The Pelicans quickly leave the scene under hornet escort and Alice continue to hold the ground units off. The bridge has been deactivated.''

'''{''Level ends''}'''

==Trivia==

*While Jerome identifies the research facility as the "[[Henry Lamb Research Outpost]]", the sign in front of the outpost actually reads "Henry Lamb Research Facility".

==Gallery==

<gallery>

File:HW2 Level 1 evac zone.png|Concept art of the evacuation point at the end of the mission.

</gallery>

==Sources==

{{succession box | before = ''None'' <br />| title = [[Halo Wars 2|''Halo Wars 2'' campaign levels]] | years = '''''The Signal''''' |after = ''[[A New Enemy]]''}}

{{Levels|HW2}}