Winter Contingency: Difference between revisions

{{Title|Winter Contingency}}

{{Status|Gameplay}}

{{Center|'''''Winter Contingency''' redirects here. For articles of the same name, please see [[Winter Contingency (disambiguation)]].''}}

{{Level infobox

|image = [[File:HR WinterContingency Loadscreen.png|300px]]

|place = [[Visegrád]], [[Reach]], [[Epsilon Eridani System]]

|objective = Eliminate hostiles in [[Visegrad]] and re-activate the [[Visegrád Relay|relay]].

|partime=00:15:00 {{C|''Master Chief Collection''}}

|parscore=15,000 {{C|''Master Chief Collection''}}<br/>10,000 {{C|''Halo: Reach''}}

{{Article quote|There's a disturbance on the frontier.}}

'''Winter Contingency''' is the second level in the [[campaign]] of ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' and the first level to feature gameplay.<ref name="bnet">[http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=27328 '''Bungie.net''': ''Bungie Weekly Update: 07.16.10'']</ref> It immediately follows the first level [[Noble Actual]], which includes the game's opening cinematic.

In the level, [[Noble Team]] is sent to [[Visegrad]], a remote agricultural region of the planet [[Reach]], to investigate a disturbance in the [[Visegrad Relay|communications relay]] responsible for the planet's communications to the rest of the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]], and the disappearance of the [[UNSC Army|Army troopers]] sent in to investigate before them.<ref>[http://www.totalvideogames.com/Halo-Reach/preview-15533.html Total video games.com]</ref> Sabotage by [[insurrectionist]]s is suspected, but the cause of the disruption is revealed to be a [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] advance infiltration force.<ref name="GI">[http://gameinformer.com/mag/haloreach.aspx '''GameInformer''']: ''February 2010 issue''</ref> At the Visegrad relay, Noble Team finds the corpse of a [[Laszlo Sorvad|researcher]] alongside his surviving [[Sára Sorvad|daughter]]. Shortly after, several [[Sangheili Zealot]]s attack the Spartans, and after a brief scuffle they retreat deeper into the facility. Eventually Noble Team brings the relay back online, and contact [[Urban Holland|Colonel Holland]], declaring Winter Contingency.

==Transcript==

[http://youtu.be/gCfN6YG7klg '''{''Cutscene''}''']

*'''[[Commander (UNSC)|Commander]] Carter-A259''': "Listen up, Noble Team. We're looking at a downed relay outpost, fifty klicks from [[Visegrad]]. We're going to introduce ourselves to whoever took it out, then Kat's going to get it back online."

*'''[[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Catherine-B320]]''': "Just get me under the hood, Commander."

*'''[[Warrant Officer|Chief Warrant Officer]] [[Jorge-052]]''': "Sir, why would rebels want to cut off Reach from the rest of the colonies?"

*'''Carter-A259''': "You get a chance, maybe you can ask 'em, Jorge."

*'''Kat-B320''': "Commander, we just lost our signal with HQ."

*'''Kat-B320''': "Searching... Nada. Can't say what's jamming us."

*'''Warrant Officer [[Emile-A239]]''': "I'm lonely already."

*'''Pilot (COM)''': "Yes, sir!"

*'''Kat-B320''': "Reading a [[distress beacon]]."

*'''Warrant Officer [[Jun-A266]]''': "Sir."

''Noble Six exits the Falcon along with Carter, Emile, and Kat. Jun and Jorge remain in their respective Falcons to provide sniper support.''

''Six follows Noble Team down the hillside. Emile swiftly jumps on to the top of a boulder and checks the surrounding area.''

*'''Emile-A239''': "Structure point 3-4, looks clear from this angle."

 

 

 

''Soon they come to a burning vehicle next to a small building. There are blood spatters on the ground near the wreckage, but no bodies. Emile begins inspecting a broken pallet on the ground and removes a red object from it.''

''Emile tosses the beacon to Kat.''

*'''Kat-B320''': "Negative, but it's military."

*'''Jorge-052 (COM)''': "So, where are all the troopers?"

*'''Kat-B320''': "Why are we not seeing explosives residue?"

''If the player shoots at the gas tank nearby, detonating it:''

''Noble Team heads off to another cluster of buildings.''

*'''Kat-B320''': "Smoke at the next structure, boss."

''Noble Six moves through the house.''

*'''Jun-A266 (COM)''': "Noble Leader, I'm seeing heat-sigs in the structure ahead."

''Six goes up a short flight of stairs and emerges on the other side of the house. The second Falcon lands in the courtyard long enough to drop Jorge off, then takes off. A door in the house opens, and a male civilian steps out. Other civilians can be seen remaining inside.''

*'''Farmer''': ''([[Hungarian]])'' "Én nem csináltam semmit!" ''(I didn't do anything!)''

*'''Emile-A239''': "On your knees, ''now!''"

*'''Farmer''': ''(Panicked, Hungarian)'' "Ne lőjön! Ne lőjön!" ''(Don't shoot! Don't shoot!)''

*'''Jun-A266 (COM)''': "Commander, be advised. I'm reading heat signatures in that structure directly east of your position. Over."

*'''Carter-A259''': "Noble Team, double-time it."

''A new waypoint appears on the building in question. The farmer gets back inside as Noble Team sprints east toward the building.''

''Inside, the Spartans find several human corpses, including two [[UNSC Army|uniformed ones]] hanging from pegs on the wall. The ground is covered with blood.''

*'''Jun-A266 (COM)''': "Fill me in, Commander, what are you seeing? Over."

''Carter kneels down over the pools of blood and examines them. Avian footprints can be seen in the blood, moving across the floor.''

''Carter stands back up and signals the team to keep moving. They enter an adjacent room with another dead body. Movement is suddenly heard on the roof, and a brief hostile contact is detected on the [[motion tracker]], which refreshes.''

''Noble Team moves to a set of windows, where they see the contacts: [[Unggoy]] and [[T'vaoan]]s. One of the Skirmishers sees Noble Team and begins squawking in alarm.''

*'''Jorge-052''': "Huh?"

*'''Emile-A239''': "Damn it!"

 

*'''Carter-A259''': "Contact, contact! Spartans, assist!"

''Noble Team engages the Covenant forces. Several [[Type-26 Banshee|Banshees]] begin to move in and are engaged by the Falcon.''

*'''Pilot (COM)''': "Banshees! Heads up, ''[[Charlie 1]]''!"

''Noble Team clears out the Covenant near the farm, while the Falcon shoots down the Banshees. A [[Dextro Xur-pattern Spirit|Spirit]] dropship touches down across a nearby bridge and begins deploying troops.''

*'''Jorge-052''': "Contacts? It's the damn ''Covenant!''"

*'''Carter-A259''': "Kat, we've got to warn [[Urban Holland|Holland]]. I need you at that relay outpost ''now''."

''Noble Team heads across the creek to engage more Covenant including a squad of [[Sangheili]] [[Sangheili Ultra|Ultra]]s (and on higher difficulties, a [[Sangheili General]]), eventually defeating them.''

*'''Jun-A266 (COM)''': "Commander, I'm seeing more hostile activity to the north-east."

*'''Kat-B320''': "Noble Three, requesting air-lift. Over."

''Noble Six, Carter, and Jorge head to a [[Spade|flatbed truck]], with Carter taking the passenger seat and Jorge standing in the truck bed, using his gun as a makeshift turret. Noble Six drives.''

''The team moves on to the next location. The Spartans clear the area of Covenant.''

*'''Jun-A266 (COM)''': "Boss, we're picking up a distress signal."

*'''[[Corporal]] [[Travis]] (COM)''': "Mayday! [[3 Charlie]] Six, does anyone read? We were attacked by Covenant forces. The Covenant is on Reach. I repeat: the Covenant is on Reach."

*'''Jun-A266 (COM)''': "No disrespect, but don't we have more important things to do than round up strays?"

''If the player takes time finding the Troopers:''

 

*'''Jun-A266 (COM)''': "Noble Leader: I'm seeing possible friendly forces under attack, north-east/south of your position, over!"

 

'''Note:''' The direction Jun calls out depends on the player's current location.

*'''Travis (COM)''': "We're under attack! I repeat: mayday, mayday! 3 Charlie Six, we're under attack by the Covenant! I've got wounded - cannot hold this position!"

*'''Carter-A259''': "We need to find those Troopers, now!"

 

 

 

''Noble Team and the troopers engage the Covenant and defeat them.''

*'''Travis''': "Spartans? Corporal Travis, sir, 3 Charlie. It's the Covenant..."

*'''Jun-A266 (COM)''': "Be advised: We've got hostile dropships inbound."

 

''Covenant Spirits approach and drop off enemy reinforcements.  Noble Team and 3 Charlie engage the Covenant, eventually clearing them out.''

''Two Falcons land.''

 

*'''Carter-A259''': "Troopers, board that bird on the double! Pilot, stay close - watch for hostile air."

 

 

 

 

 

 

''The troopers get into one Falcon and fly away, while Noble Team departs for the relay in the other.''

*'''Kat-B320 (COM)''': "We're at the relay outpost. Door's locked. Mechanism's been flash-fused."

*'''Kat-B320 (COM)''': "I dialed up my torch, cut a way through. Going to take some time."

''Noble Team reaches the relay, finding a group of Covenant in the courtyard, including several [[Kig-Yar]]. Kat and Emile are pinned down inside the outpost.''

*'''Pilot (COM)''': "Approaching the com outpost."

*'''Pilot (COM)''': "LZ's a little hot, sir-"

''The Falcon touches down. Carter, Jorge and Six get out and move to assist Emile and Kat.''

*'''Kat-B320''': "Taking a little longer than I hoped, Commander. I've cut about halfway through the door."

''Noble Team engage the Covenant infantry, but more and more troops are dropped in via Spirit dropships.''

*'''Kat-B320''': "Just about...there! We're in!"

*'''Carter-A259''': "We need to find the control room. From there, Kat can get the relay back online. Emile, post here. If we flush any hostiles, they're yours. Alright, let's do this."  

 

*'''Carter-A259''': "Can't see a thing... Noble Six, turn on your night vision."

*'''Kat-B320''': "Control room. Go easy."

''Noble Six turns the corridor and finds a body.''

*'''Kat-B320''': "Noble Six, search that body."

''If the player stalls:''

 

 

''Six begins to search the body. Carter attends to a wounded trooper leaning against the wall.''

*'''[[Unidentified Army corporal|Army Corporal]]''': "We got split. I don't think they... It sounded bad on the comms."

*'''Carter-A259''': "Alright, Corporal, stay put. We'll get you a combat surgeon."

''Noble Six finds a data module on the corpse and picks it up as Kat looks at the controls.''

*'''Kat-B320''': "Damn. Plasma damage!"

*'''SPARTAN-B312''': "Found something..."

*'''Kat-B320''': "I'll take that, Six. Not your domain."

*'''Jorge-052''': "I've got a live one over here! Come on, out you come."

''Jorge drags out a young female civilian, but she struggles to escape, repeatedly hitting him while speaking frantic Hungarian.''

 

*'''[[Sára Sorvad]]''': ''(Hungarian)'' "Engedj el, hadd menjek ki innen! Hé!" ''(Let me go, let me get out of here! Hey!)''

*'''Jorge-052''': "I got her."

''Jorge puts down his weapon and grabs her by both arms, easily restraining her. She stops struggling.''

*'''Sàra''': ''(Hungarian)'' "Még... Itt vannak." ''(There's more...)''

''Jorge stiffens in alarm just as a [[Sangheili Field Marshal]] of the [[Devoted Sentries]] jumps down from an upper floor and ignites its [[Type-1 Energy Weapon/Sword|energy sword]]. The alien slashes at Jorge, but he dodges the strike, pulling the civilian to the ground and covering her with his body. The Marshal snarls a challenge at the rest of Noble Team and charges. Two more Zealots jump down to support the Marshal.''

*'''Emile-A239 (COM)''': "What's your status, over?!"

''Carter and Noble Six fire their [[MA37 assault rifle|assault rifle]]s at the charging Sangheili, but his shields absorb the fire. The Marshal slashes at Kat, slicing through the monitors on the wall, but Carter knocks her out of the way just in time. The Field Marshal's shields collapse under sustained fire from Noble Six. The Sangheili charges Noble Six and, unable to bring his sword to bear, knocks the Spartan over before running towards the exit.''

 

''Cut to Noble Six's point of view:''

''One of the Zealots grabs the fallen Noble Six by the neck and extends an [[Energy Dagger]]. The Zealot attempts to stab Noble Six, but Six blocks the strike and punches the Zealot across the face, stunning him momentarily. The Zealot recovers and roars in Six's face, but Carter kicks him off as Kat fires on it with her pistol. The Sangheili's shields flash and it scrambles back to escape. Carter kicks an assault rifle to Six.''

 

''The two Zealots head for another door leading deeper into the facility, one holding the wounded corporal as a shield and forcing Noble Team to hold their fire. The civilian girl begins screaming while the Zealots head through the door, taking the screaming corporal with them. The corporal tries to grab the doorjamb in a desperate attempt to break free, but the Zealot holding him easily drags him out of sight.''

*'''Emile-A239 (COM)''': "That tango blew past me. Permission to pursue?"

*'''Carter-A259''': "Negative, Four, stay on the entrance! Two, handle her! Five and Six, clear the hole!"

''Noble Six reloads. They and Jorge head into the room, which Jorge then seals shut behind them.''

''Jorge throws a flare into the darkness, illuminating the corridor and revealing a mob of hostile infantry blocking the way. Jorge and Six clear the room of Covenant, and head down the corridor into another large room housing computer servers.''

''A group of [[Special Operations Unggoy]] move to engage the two Spartans, but they are soon killed. Noble Six eliminates one of the Zealots. The second Zealot charges Six with an energy sword. Six kills this Zealot as well.''

*'''Jorge-052''': "Noble Five reporting. Targets neutralized."

*'''Carter-A259 (COM)''': "Kat needs you to reset a junction. Do it and get back here."

''Noble Six goes into an adjacent room, finds the junction and resets it.''

[http://youtu.be/C0P_zNK5vi4 '''{''Cutscene''}''']

 

*'''Kat-B320''': "Question of my life. If the question is when will this station be back online, two weeks, earliest. This is plasma damage. All major uplink components are fried."

*'''Carter-A259''': "Two ''minutes'' is too long."

*'''Kat-B320''': "Which is why I'm splicing into the main overland bundle to get you a direct line to Colonel Holland... You're in my light, Commander."

*'''Jorge-052''': "What's your name? Do you live around here?"

*'''Jorge-052''': ''(Hungarian)'' "A nevem Jorge." ''(My name's Jorge.)''

*'''Jorge-052''': ''(Hungarian)'' "Sára... Szép határozott név." ''(A nice, strong name.)'' "Your accent sounds familiar. [[Sopron]]?"

*'''Sára''': "Tengeri." ''(By the sea.)''

*'''Jorge-052''': "Friend of yours?"

*'''Jorge-052''': ''(Hungarian)'' "Sajnálom. I'm sorry."

*'''Emile-A239''': ''(to Six)'' "Big man forgets what he is sometimes."

*'''Jorge-052''': ''(to Emile)'' "''She just lost her father.''" ''(to Carter)'' "She needs a full psychiatric workup."

*'''Emile-A239''': "She's not the only one..."

 

*'''Carter-A259''': "Lock it down, both of you! Get her on her feet...the body stays here."

*'''Kat-B320''': "Signal! It's patchy, but it's there."

*'''Kat-B320''': "Best not touch anything. You wouldn't want to ground this place."

''Noble Team, with the exception of their leader, leaves the room. Holland's image appears on the screen.''

*'''[[Colonel]] [[Urban Holland]] (COM)''': "...I'm barely getting you. What's your situation, over?"

*'''Carter-A259''': "Colonel, this is Noble One. There are no rebels. The Covenant are on Reach. Acknowledge?"

*'''Holland (COM)''': "Come again, Noble One? Did you say ''Covenant?''"

*'''Carter-A259''': "Affirmative. It's the Winter Contingency."

*'''Holland (COM)''': "''May God help us all.''"

*Several seconds before the player exits the Falcon (at the beginning of the level), if they keeps on looking left they will notice that the Falcon flies right through the trees.

 

*In the beginning of the level when the player first gets out of the Falcon, when the checkpoint loads the player's motion tracker may disappear,but then reappear in a few seconds.

*When Jorge tells the farmer to get back inside, the player can block the door (which would automatically close regardless), preventing him from entering. He would now speak in English when touched or shot at like a normal civilian, despite appearing to only speak Hungarian previously.

*Just after Rally Point Alpha, the player can use a [[Plasma Pistol]] to disable and steal Jun's [[Falcon]], holding position above a hill. The invisible "driver" of the Falcon will be ejected when it is upside down (an Assault Rifle will drop out of the cockpit). The player can then fly the Falcon around the level, but numerous invisible barriers will make travel difficult. If the player does not dismount before rescuing the Troopers, the player will be stuck inside the Falcon (the player wasn't supposed to exit the Falcon until it has reached the relay outpost). Because only an AI driver could bypass invisible barriers, the player must restart to proceed. Alternatively, they may continue until the dropships are assaulting the troops, and park the Falcon in the energy field in between the drop ship's prongs. Eventually, the ship will fly away, taking the Falcon with it. About five seconds after the dropship moves past the ruined bridge, the player is now past the invisible wall. They can then release themselves from the dropship and fly to the Relay Station by following the road, continuing the mission normally. However, it's possible to get past the invisible barriers while still in full control of the Falcon. The player must fly it into the forward section (inside the U) of a Spirit dropship and getting the Falcon somewhat locked into it, so that when the Spirit eventually flies away, it takes the Falcon (and thus the player) with it. The tricky part is keeping the Falcon still locked into the forward section while the Spirit often wobbles around and can sometimes shake the player off, forcing him/her to start over. When the Spirit hits the invisible barrier, still with the player's Falcon locked into it, the Falcon will be pushed through the barrier with the Spirit, although the player will take extreme damage (to the point of no health bars even left) from the pressure of breaking through the barrier, but will not die as the Falcon is fully indestructible. The Falcon at a point through the break-through may be dislodged and unsuccessful in getting past the barrier, but if successful, the player will be past the barrier and is now fully free to fly throughout the entire map without the fear of any more barriers. Do note that the entire map is extremely large end to end and transversing it may take a very long time, and it can be very easy to get lost if the player wants to fly back to where the game is supposed to take place.

*The [[Weaponless Elite glitch]] can be performed in this level.

*It is possible to prevent Carter from getting into the Falcon after rescuing the troopers by parking the Spade on the Falcon's landing site. If the Falcon is rammed at the right time neither of them will get in and they appear at the outpost alongside Emile and Kat.  Carter will not be heard responding to other NPC's dialogue, until he reappears at the relay outpost.

*It is possible for Carter and other members of Noble Team (except Six) to get shut out of the outpost when the door seals. Despite this, Carter will still be heard saying "[I]'' Can't see a thing... Noble Six, turn on your night vision''," as if he was right next to the player.

 

*The level is named after [[WINTER CONTINGENCY (protocol)|WINTER CONTINGENCY]], a UNSC contingency plan that is declared in case Covenant forces have discovered a UNSC colony world. Indeed, the first evidence of Covenant ground activity on Reach is discovered in this level.

*The [[Firefight]] map ''[[Overlook]]'' is based on a section of this level, but has different weather conditions.

*When playing on Legendary difficulty, a cloaked [[Special Operations Sangheili|SpecOps Elite]] will spawn near the start of the level, fleeing from the site of the distress beacon to the bottom of the first hill. It holds a [[Data pads|data pad]], which can be accessed if the player kills the Elite. To keep to the storyline consistent, Noble Team will not react to its death.

*It is possible to kill the Skirmisher that is seen early in the level if the player runs out quickly and fires on it with their [[M6G Personal Defense Weapon System|pistol]]. Noble Team may even react to this kill with combat dialog (e.g. Good shot, Six!) that severely contradicts the fact that they are unaware of the Covenant presence.

*A "Micro" Skirmisher can be seen on top of a barn in this level. It will not try to escape and will recoil if shot. If killed, it will drop a needle rifle. It's corpse will be small, but the limbs and neck will be stretched out.

*One of the Zealots can be seen fiddling with the junction that the player later has to reset.

*The Zealot who attacks Noble Six in the cutscene hits his head on the doorway just as his shields recharge.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWgzBUhTQKo '''Youtube:''' ''Halo Reach Legendary Edition - Developer Commentary Part 2'']</ref>

*Regardless of the weapons the player is carrying before the cutscene in which the Zealot strike team ambushes Noble Team in the outpost, the player's loadout will reset to [[MA37 Individual Combat Weapon System|assault rifle]] and a magnum when the pursuit starts. Similarly, Noble Six will always wield an [[MA37 Individual Combat Weapon System|assault rifle]] in cutscenes even if they do not carry the weapon in gameplay.

<gallery>

File:HR Kiva Concept 1.jpg|Concept art of one of the pioneer buildings.

File:HR_PioneerFarm_Concept.jpg|Concept art of one of the level's small pioneer farms.

File:HR OvergrownKivaConcept.jpg|Concept art of an overgrown kiva.

File:HR AbandonedKiva.jpg|Concept art of an [[M12 Warthog]] outside a kiva.

File:HR KivaBarnConcept.jpg|Concept art of a kiva with a barn.

File:HR_PioneerLab_Concept.jpg|Concept art of a wrecked science lab.

File:HR_WinterContingency_Landscape_Concept_1.jpg|Landscape of Reach.

File:HR_WinterContingency_Landscape_Concept_2.jpg|Landscape of the level.

 

File:Level - WinterContingency.jpg|Preview of the level in ''Halo: Reach'' menu.

File:Enviro 02.jpg|An Alpha build view of a Covenant [[Dextro Xur-pattern Spirit|Spirit dropship]], with the communications array seen in the background.

File:ReachCampaign m10 Skirmishers2.jpg|An Alpha build screenshot of [[Skirmisher]]s near a homestead.

File:HR NobleSprinting.jpg|Carter, Kat, and Six sprinting.

File:Reach-m10 3rdperson.jpg|Noble Six engages several [[Unggoy]] and a [[Kig-Yar]].

File:HR NobleDefendsLZ.jpg|Carter, Jorge, and Six fighting Covenant in the valley.

File:HaloReach - Visegrad.png|A Falcon preparing to deploy Noble Team into the communication outpost.

File:HR RelayDefense.jpg|NOBLE Team defends the entrance of the outpost.

File:Reach "The Battle Begins"-Elite.png|[[Sangheili Zealot]]s preparing to attack Noble Team.

{{Ref/Sources}}

{{Succession box | before = ''[[Noble Actual]]'' <br />| title = ''Halo: Reach'' Campaign Missions | years = '''''Winter Contigency''''' |after = ''[[ONI: Sword Base]]''}}

{{Levels|HR}}