Andycu5's Halo: ODST 2 Script

Community General Discussion
1

In the year 2554, two years after the end of the Human-Covenant War, both Humanity and the races of the Covenant have splintered into countless factions that raise pressure in the doorstep of every known corner of the Galaxy. This is demonstrated more than ever in the UEG controlled colony known as Cascade, a world that survived the Human-Covenant War. Deep beneath the magnificent skyline of Mindoro, in the ravaging streets of the city, a storm of full-scale war is brewing from scores of alien refugees and xenophobic residents.
Gunnery Sergeant Edward Buck, a prime Spartan IV candidate and the leader of a legendary team of ODSTs, is tasked by the newly appointed Vice Admiral Serin Osman to root out the growing tensions between the alien refugees and the human residents of the city to prevent an outbreak of planet-wide war. However, as Buck and his squad get deeper and deeper into the secrets embedded with the city, he, and Veronica Dare, begin to question the true intentions behind their task.
And when the truth is learned, the life of each and every member of the squad is turned upside down…

Disclaimer

The content you are viewing is fan made. It is unofficial, noncanonical, and is not affiliated with 343 Industries and the Microsoft Corporation in any way, shape, or form.

As many of you know, I have been working on my Halo 5 Script for the past 6 months and am still quite devoted to it. However, as 343 Industries has slowly began to increase giving information about their upcoming game, I began to see great inspiration emerge for stories that are incompatible for the direction that my Halo 5 Script has taken. So, with that being said, along with continuing to update my Halo 5 Script on a regular basis, I will now plant the seeds of an entirely new script for an entirely new game: Halo: ODST 2.

Introduction:

Unlike the majority of Halo games, ODST 2 continues the open-world aspect of its predecessor. Instead of having a series of chronological missions, ODST 2 has a single open world level that has seven missions within. The open-world level take place in the city of Mindoro and is much larger than every play-space in every Halo game combined and doubled. The entirety of the city can be explored in this level, and each of the seven missions can be triggered in any order. However, unlike ODST, ODST 2 does not follow flashbacks but rather has the entire game taking place at the same time. With each mission, the player steps into the shoes of a different squad member. Apart from the seven missions, there a side missions that the player can complete. These side missions, however, are not related to the main story and therefore are not required for full comprehension. Once the seven different missions are complete, the game rejoins itself into a linear set of two additional missions that conclude the story.

Table of Contents:

2

Prologue - Part 1
New Jerusalem, Cygnus System
September 12, 2552

The screen starts out as black and completely silent. After a few seconds, the sound of screams and the wailing of Banshees begins to take form. As the sounds get louder and louder, the blackness fades into the view of a small city, surrounded by a horseshoe shape mountain, and is covered in the shadow of a CAS-Class Assault Carrier.
The camera zooms onto a squad of several Marines escorting a group of civilians to a nearby Evacuation Shuttle. One of the marines, who would later be known as the Rookie just a month later, is surrounded by a family of a mother, a father, and two young children. With the Evacuation Shuttle only a few hundred meters ahead, the squad leader orders the squad and the civilians to sprint forwards. As they run, one of the two kids starts lagging behind, quickly running out of breath.
The Rookie notices the child, stops, and runs towards him…
Moments before he can reach him, the child is lifted into the air by an invisible object, and the blades of an Energy Sword pierce through his chest. The boiling corpse is thrown to the side, and the Rookie fires his Assault Rifle, causing a Sangheili Zealot to fade from active camouflage with shields flaring. One of the marines starts screaming at him…[/li]

Marine 1: Corporal, GET YOUR SORRY -Yoink- BACK HERE!

The Rookie turns his head towards his sergeant as the Sangheili Zealot runs at him.[/li]

Rookie: Are you expecting me to run away from a fully armed Hinge-Head and survive!?

He turns back towards the incoming Zealot and fires his MA5 in short controlled bursts. The Elite’s shields flicker and singe as bullets pellet against it. After another second of sustained fire, the shields crack, and purple blood squirts from the Elite as it falls to the ground. With his squadmates and the rest of the civilians getting closer and closer to the shuttle, the Rookie sprints forwards and hears the wailing of Banshees rush above him and begin opening fire upon the group of civilians.[/li]

Marine 1: THOSE BANSHEES NEED TO DIE, CORPORAL!

Rookie: Sergeant, we lack the firepower.

Marine 1: Then FIND IT!

Clearly hinting frustration, the Rookie notices a Rocket Launcher mounted on top of the building near the Shuttle, he rushes towards it, but it is destroyed by the fuel rod cannon of a Banshee. In that same second, the projectile from a Needle Rifle slices cleanly through the head of the sergeant, and the rest of the family of four is butchered by the plasma cannon of a Banshee, their flesh melting from the heat.
Now facing the Evacuation Shuttle, the camera zooms onto crowds of civilians entering it in a single file line. A group of marines fire give sustained fire on a group of Grunts that waddle towards them. One of the marines is struck down by a needle, which then explodes, dismembering him. With all remaining civilians packed into the Shuttle, it begins to take off and lifts into the sky…
A jet of plasma from the Assault Carrier above hits it in the gut, and the Shuttle is evaporated from the heat.
Surrounded by Elite Zealots, the Rookie aims his Assault Rifle and beings to fire. But when he pulls the trigger, only a clicking noise is heard, and the Zealots creep towards him with swords in hand…[/li]

Muffled Voice: Good morning buttercup, Romeo says hello.

The interior of a UNSC Frigate comes into view, and the familiar faces of Romeo, Dutch, Mickey, and Buck appear as well. The Rookie, clad in ODST armor, arises from the floor and punches Romeo in the arm.[/li]

Romeo: What? Did I pull you away from dreamland again?

The camera focuses on Romeo, where his right arm once was, a bionic one exists instead. After being wounded by a Jiralhanae Chieftain in New Mombasa, his arm was amputated and replaced.[/li]

Romeo: One day, Rookie, you’re going to let us hear your beautiful voice.

The Rookie responds with a nod, and then pulls a silenced SMG off a rack on the wall next to him. He steps towards Buck, who has his face buried in the holographic screen of a computer.[/li]

Buck: It turns out, while you were asleep, ONI isn’t done with us yet.

He looks at Veronica Dare, who is leaning against the wall not too far from him. She steps towards a massive screen that hangs on a wall and pushes a panel on it. The projection of Vice Admiral Serin Osman appears, she is shrouded by shadows and has an unsettling look on her face.[/li]

Admiral Osman: My predecessor said you and your squad had much promise, perhaps we’ll see if you can live up to them…

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Prologue - Part 2
Cascade, Omicron Virgi System
February 20th, 2554

A single Marathon-Class Heavy Cruiser flies past the view of the sparkling world of Cascade. The name of the Cruiser, implanted on its hull, says “UNSC Say My Name” in white letters. The camera zooms onto its hangar as a single Pelican Class Dropship flies out of it.[/li]

Cut to Pelican

Sitting in the seats of the Pelican are Edward Buck, Taylor “Dutch” Miles, Kojo “Romeo” Agu, Micheal Crespo, and the Rookie. At the hatch of the Pelican, standing over a hologram pedestal, is Veronica Dare, who is talking to Vice Admiral Osman about unknown matters.[/li][/list]

Veronica Dare: With all due respect, sir, suppressing tensions between civilians and alien refugees isn’t a very ‘fitting’ use of ODSTs.

Admiral Osman: Lieutenant Commander, do you know what happens when survivors of a genocide meet with the ones that committed it?

Veronica Dare: Bloodshed and chaos, that’s what happens. But, again I must ask, why is sending a single squad of ODSTs an appropriate response?

Admiral Osman: Perhaps you will learn, after your drop.

Veronica Dare: There wasn’t even a drop, we are being deployed by a Pelican.

Admiral Osman: That will be all, Osman out.

Dare smacks her hand against the pedestal, causing it to shut off. She then turns to the ODSTs with a shrug.[/li]

Veronica Dare: Well, it turns out that ODSTs are necessary for preventing a potential “war” against alien refugees and civilians. We’re being deployed in the city of Mindoro, which happens to be a city full of xenophobic humans and aliens left over from the fall of the Covenant. ONI says that if a war were to break out within the city, it would likely spread across the planet and potentially disrupt the Kilo program.

Mickey stands from his seat.[/li]

Mickey: What the hell is the Kilo Program?

Veronica Dare: It’s classified.

Mickey: Great, that’s going to bug me for the rest of my life.

Dare then turns to Buck.[/li]

Veronica Dare: There are other details to this operation, it is believed that Insurrectionist forces are rooted within the depths of Mindoro. These Innies, however, appear to be in league with a Covenant Remnant Faction under the name of “The Keepers of the Path”. Osman says that she won’t take any chances with letting Innies spilling any top secret intell to Covenant Remnants, so she’s having us drive them from the planet.

Edward Buck: You’re saying that Osman is having us do her dirty work for her? And there’s still something you’re not telling us.

Dare hesitates before speaking.[/li]

Veronica Dare: This isn’t only a clean up card, this is also a test.

Buck stands from his seat and steps closer to Dare.[/li]

Edward Buck: A test for what?

Veronica Dare: It was said that if you were any better, you’d be a Spartan. If this mission is successful, all of us, even me, will be absorbed into the Spartan IV project.

The Pelican comes to a halt, and the hatch opens, revealing the magnificent skyline of Mindoro. Covering a portion of the massive moon in the background, the shadow of the under-construction Nova Austin Space Tether looms high above the city, and a UNSC Autumn Cass Cruiser is docked next to it, Pelicans and Albatrosses flying in and out of its hangar bays. As the ODSTs step from their seats that walk towards the hatch, the Pelican lands upon a landing pad. An ONI officer surrounded by security guards meets the ODSTs, he has a slight smile on his face as they step towards him from the Pelican. His voice has a thick accent, and half of his face is scarred from a plasma wound.[/li]

Jikab C’Andeshi: I’m quite sure that you and your team are acquainted with the task at hand, I’d hope. Anyhow, that’s the least of our concerns, Cascade has been growing… restless as of late.

Veronica Dare: Osman informed us of a possible war with Covenant Remnant and Insurrectionist joint forces on the planet, was her intel accurate?

Jikab C’Andeshi: CINCONI spoke of reasonable speculation based on data gathered from civilian surveillance programs.

C’Andeshi turns towards Edward Buck.[/li]

Jikab C’Andeshi: In New Mombasa, you and your team completed their mission above maximum expectations despite nearly catastrophic failures in plans. Had you and your men failed to recover that Huragok, none of us may be standing here today. With that being said, I can assume you and your team will have little trouble snuffing out the candles of war that slowly light within the city.

Edward Buck: If you’re expecting failure, you’re going to be disappointed.

Jikab C’Andeshi: In that case, I’m assuming that you and your team are fully prepared for combat. If war breaks within the city, it will spread across the planet, and even across the galaxy. Months of work towards peace will be undone, do not fail under any circumstances.

Edward Buck: Show us the way.

C’Andeshi turns around and steps towards a door way that leads into the building, and the ODSTs follow as the camera fades to black.[/li]

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I like the new approach you are taking for a script, I find your writing as quite the spectacle, however, a question about this…which kind of ODST armour gen are they wearing and will there be any coverage in the gap between ODST 1 - 2?

5

> I like the new approach you are taking for a script, I find your writing as quite the spectacle, however, a question about this…which kind of ODST armour gen are they wearing and will there be any coverage in the gap between ODST 1 - 2?

Since the script takes place in mid-2554, the ODSTs are wearing the gen 1 variant of ODST. In essence, they’re wearing the same armor that they wore in the first game.

As for covering the 2 year gap: In the original post, I noted that there are 5 side-missions embedded within the first level. A few of these side missions will serve to close the gap between ODSDT 1 and ODST 2.

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Mission I: Mindoro - Part 1 of 7
Mindoro, Cascade
February 20th, 2554

As I stated in the original post, ODST 2 isn’t structured through a linear narative but rather a single open-world mission with 7 missions embedded within. As you can infer, the mission that you are veiwing currently is part of the Open-World Mission that follows the path of the Rookie, known as Mindoro. As I update the script, you will see seven missions with a section of the 1st mission between. For example, after this entry, the following will be Mission II. Once all three entries of Mission II are complete, the next entry will be Mission I, Part 2 of 7. This trend will continue until part 7 of Mission I is complete. As I stated, the final two missions afterwards will follow a linear path.Pressure Plate…

The first view of gameplay begins with the player within the shoes of the Rookie. Equipped with a silenced Battle Rifle and a silcened SMG, the player begins the level on a landing pad jutting from the side of a massive angular tower that serves as the ONI headquarters on Cascade. Above and below the landing pad, Hornets and Pelicans circle the tower like vultures, and both the city streets and the starry skies are clouded in mist. As the player explores the multi-leveled landing pad that is dotted with stair cases that lead to different platforms and passage ways that surround the tower. Obviously, the player is able to explore this area throughouly, but a much larger adventure is hundreds and hundreds of meters below them… the streets of Mindoro.
Prior to being able to exit the landing pads, Buck addresses the Rookie before parting ways.[/li][/list]

Edward Buck: Last time, we were split up by accident. However, this time, seperate paths are purposeful. Rookie, grab a jetpack, you’re jumping from this tower.

The Rookie gives a silent nod and a NAV point marks a shelf that is full of Jetpacks not too far away from them[/li]

Edward Buck: When you reach the ground, in one piece of a dozen, I want you to be the spearhead. If it weren’t for you and Dare, Virgl would have never been recovered and all of us would likely be dead. Lead the investigation, report any unrest to me and Dare, and surpress it at your will. If you’re attacked, give no mercy and TRY to clean up after yourself. We’ll see you on the other side.

Buck steps back towards the other ODSTs, begins speaking to them, and the player, now equipped with a jetpack, leaps from the side of the tower with the wind rattling their visor…
When they reach the ground (and of course using the jetpack to break their fall), Mindoro’s magnificent skylines transform into streets littered with trash, buildings with walls and windows and roofs missing, and hundreds of human residents screaming with signs in their hands that all say “REMEMBER REACH”, “THIS IS NO PLACE FOR HINGEHEADS”, and hundreds of other phrases that reflect both the memory of the Human-Covenant War and prejudice towards aliens.
However, one of the civilians is unlike the other. Once that is realized, he pulls a shiny object from his pocket… and it explodes.
In that same second, as dozens of people are shredded by shrapnel and fire, gun fire erupts towards the direction of the Rookie.[/li]

CURRENT OBJECTIVE: Escape the mob and nuetralize INSURRECTIONIST forces.

As the player retialiates from the attack, it must be noted that killing unarmed civilians will result in a revert to the last checkpoint. With that being said, the player must be careful who and where they shoot. Once at least 12 Insurrectionists are killed by the player, a refitted UNSC warthog with a red fist painted on the side plows down the street ahead, gunnign down more civilians and splattering anyone in its way rushes towards the location of the player.
At this point, the player has two choices. They can either fight the Warthog (this will be difficult), or they can escape into one of the many alleyways around them. If the player chooses to flee into an alley, they will be met by an Insurrectionist soldier wearing stolen Marine BDU armor and equipped with a pair of stolen Needlers. Due to the lack of energy shields, the Needler is a very deadly weapon. Just a few needles is enough to drain the player’s stamina and just one more will cause a supercombine. However, just a single BR shot to the head of the Insurrectionist will result in victory. But once that is secure, several more Insurrectionist arrive, wielding both Flamethrowers and Battle Rifles.
Buck then radios to the Rookie.[/li]

Edward Buck: Rookie, those Innies aren’t alone. Dare is reporting a few dozen Grunts and Jackal Mercenaries within their ranks. If you are engaged by them, be wary of plasma.

Not much later, the player finds themselves surrounded by Jackal mercenaries wielding Carbines and Needle Rifles up in the rooftops. A Carbine round will inflict damage over time due to radiation poisoning, and the Needle Rifle carries the same risk as a Needler. Once the player has defeated them, they will find that the buildings that the Jackals were cooped up in are fully accessable and full of caches of both Covenant, UNSC, and Insurrectionist weapons. The player browses through the weapons, and exits the building, and either continues down the alleyways, or turns back to the main road and fights the Warthog with brand new toys.
When the Warthog is defeated, the player can now enter it (as long as they haven’t destroyed it). Unlike most UNSC Warthogs, this refitted Warthog includes a forward mounted flamethrower that is operated by the driver. Without any avaliable passengers, this is obviously quite helpful.
With quick and effective transportation, the player can now explore the city to its fullest potential.[/li]

CURRENT OBJECTIVE: Seek out and destroy the internal operations of the Insurrectionist forces.

While the player is able to explore any sector of the city that they want, the head of the Insurrectionist presence in Mindoro is in a sprawling underground bunker beneath the road that they’re driving on. While traveling, the player is engaged by Jackal mercenaries and a pair of Innie controlled Warthogs that begin a pursuit.
Since the Warthog has no way of firing behind it, the player must think creatively when it comes to defeating them. If he/she tries to turn around and attack from the front, that will give the other Warthogs plenty of time to allow their flamethrower to destroy the Warthog in seconds. However, an upcoming section of the road has multiple propane tanks lying innocuously on the pavement. If the player is able to set them off so that they explode the moment that the pursuing Warthogs pass over them, they will be nothing short of successful.
As usual, there are other alternatives. The road is not only littered with explosive scenery, but every 16 feet is covered by an overpass that is supported by columns. If the player hits these columns, the overpasses will fall, killing the other Warthogs.
Once victory is secured, the player reaches an intersection between two roads, and a UNSC convoy consisting of Warthogs, Mongooses, and a pair of Scorpion Tanks moves down it. The Rookie joins up with UNSC forces, triggering Mission II…[/li]

7

Mission II: The Gutters - Part 1 of 3
February 20th, 2554
Mindoro, Cascade

Being deployed to quell a small-scale skirmish between Unggoy refugees and Kig Yar mercenaries, Micheal “Mickey” Crespo and Taylor “Dutch” Miles soon find themselves in a much more serious situation.Blood on Steel…

Now in the shoes of Mickey rather than the Rookie, the mission begins with Mickey and Dutch stepping from the base of the original tower. Surrounding them, is a beautiful plaza made of hexagonal pavement surrounded by pillars made by stacks of impossibly precise dodecahydrons that glow from plasma inside of them. In the center of the plaza lies a statue of the legendary Master Chief made of lechatelierite that was formed by the glassing of Reach.
Dutch walks up to the statue, and gives a silent prayer in respect before regrouping with Mickey.[/li]

Mickey: Remind me, what exactly was it that the Doe told us to do?

Dutch: The Doe?

Mickey: Oh, I remember, you’re too damn serious to get any jokes. The “Doe” refers to Dare, who is married to “Buck”. Now do you get it?

Dutch: I wonder if you’d be saying the same thing if the ‘Doe’ and the ‘Buck’ were here… Why in the Lord’s name do you have so much trouble remembering things? Did your first drop knock the senses out of you?

Before Mickey can respond, a Warthog painted with a red fist pulls up to the courtyard. And in it, is a bomb…
The explosion shatters the statue of the Master Chief like leaves blowing in the wind. Both Mickey and Dutch are sent off their feet, landing head first into the pavement with a sickening smack. In that same second, dozens and dozens of Insurrectionists emerge from the blast with stolen Covenant weaponry in their hands…[/li]

CURRENT OBJECTIVE: Repel INSURRECTIONIST attack

Equipped with a silenced SMG and a Grenade Launcher, the player makes short work of the Insurrectionist forces barreling towards them. Once the dust clears, a gaping crater, lined with semi-molten pavement and body parts, is enough to know that the original objective that was laid out by Dare is no longer relevant. Mickey and Dutch step around the crater, exit the ruined gates of the courtyard, and step into the terrorized streets of Mindoro.[/li]

Mickey: Was the Doe anticipating that to happen?

Dutch: Doubt it, but I can tell you one thing: she and her other spooks have got themselves a mess to clean up.

With panicking civilians running in every direction, the two ODSTs barely notice another Bombhog speeding towards them. A second later, it explodes, killing tens of people instantly. Moments afterwards, another dozen Insurrectionists emerge from behind and begin opening fire onto the surviving people. An objective appears on the player’s HUD:[/li]

CURRENT OBJECTIVE: Eliminate Insurrectionist forces and limit civilian casualties

As the battle rages on, Dare gives a brief transmission to Mickey.[/li]

Veronica Dare: Crespo, what the hell is happening down there?

Mickey: I’m in a bit of a… situation at the moment!

Veronica Dare: That’s an order.

Mickey: The Innies decided that today was the day to throw our welcome party. However, I’ve always called myself a killjoy when it comes to festivities.

With the first wave of Insurrectionists eliminated, the sound of the roaring engines of an aircraft is heard. Seconds later, a refitted AV-14, bearing the red fist of the Insurrection, flies into view. With fully loaded machine guns and missile pods, the Hornet opens fire upon both the ODSTs and the civilians alike causing complete and total chaos.[/li]

Dutch: Did you happen to pick up any explosives from the armory? Dare didn’t let me have any because she thought that the mission didn’t ‘require’ them.

Mickey: I grabbed a Grenade Launcher on the way out, but I can’t imagine that being useful against an airborne-

Dutch interrupts him.[/li]

Dutch: Now I’m positive that your first drop dropped most of your intelligence. The Grenade Launcher’s ammo packs an EMP. How in God’s name did you not know that?

With an ability to disable the Hornet, the player can use the Grenade Launcher to send the beast plummeting to the ground. However, the Hornet’s passengers, whom are equipped with flamethrowers, will make it quite difficult to get close enough to board. Once the player has succeeded in incapacitating the Hornet, he/she can now enter it. If this is executed, Dutch will ride shotgun (or drive if asked to).[/li]

CURRENT OBJECTIVE: Dispatch the remaining Insurrectionist forces by air

Once the player has stepped behind the wheel of the Hornet, he/she will find that the entirety of the airspace around the ONI tower and the surrounding buildings is completely accessible. In that same time frame, a trio of Bombhogs drives towards the main gate to the tower. The player must destroy the Warthogs before they reach the gate, or they will have to deal with double the enemy resistance in the following engagements. After this is accomplished, a single Hornet and a pair of Falcons engages the player with brutal measures.
When the remaining enemy forces are destroyed, Veronica Dare sends Mickey and Dutch on a task that dwarfs the one before it…[/li]

8

Mission II: The Gutters - Part 2 of 3
February 20th, 2554
Elisuem Square, Mindoro

After repelling the Insurrectionist assault on Elysium Square, Mickey and Dutch are now assigned to root out the main force behind the attack before more lives can be lost…Headsman

With a brief pause in the battle, Veronica Dare gives a transmission to Mickey.[/li]

Veronica Dare: Mickey, this attack has a source. I need you and Dutch to find it and crush it.

Mickey: And… what intel do you have on this ‘source’ you speak of?

Veronica Dare: Not much, but it is very close to home. Too close.

Mickey: Seems simple. Can we just blow up the entire city instead of tracking down a -Yoink!- operation center?

Dare ignores the sarcasm, and the mission continues onward.
As the player flies the Hornet away from Elysium Square, a squadron of five stolen Rocket Warthogs rush down the streets and engage the Hornet. Behind the Warthogs, in the skies, is a trio of Insurrectionist controlled Hornets with passengers that wield Grenade Launchers. Obviously, if the player gets too close, they will find themselves plummeting downwards and being forced to carry out the rest of the mission on foot.[/li]

Veronica Dare: I’ve picked up signals of a major Insurrectionist stronghold within the sewers beneath your location. See if you can find a less ‘explosive’ way to get inside, we don’t want the Innies aware of your presence.

Mickey: Roger that, we’re going in.

The player lands the Hornet (or jumps out of it) and steps into the terrorized streets of the city. Not too far from him/her is a group of Insurrectionist soldiers surrounding a gaping hole in the ground - the entrance to the stronghold. With Dutch at their side, the player makes short work of the Innies and jumps feet first into hell…[/li]

Dutch whisper: You see anything?

Mickey: Negat–

At least six Insurrectionists wielding flamethrowers run at the ODSTs from the impenetrable darkness. If the player shoots the enemy’s flamethrower, gas will leak from it. Shoot the gas, and the room will light up in flames and thus burning the Insurrectionist to a steaming charred crisp and allowing the player to see their surroundings. Once the flamethrowers are defeated, the player is faced with a door barred with a field of energy shielding that’s not too different from a Jackal’s shield.[/li]

Dutch: Now where in God’s name did these -Yoinks!- get all of this?

Mickey: It really shouldn’t take a genius to figure that out…

Just as Mickey says that, several Jackal mercenaries burst from behind the door. One of them barks an order at another, and a dozen Unggoy with Needlers in hand waddle from behind them.[/li]

Dutch: I wonder how much easier this would be if you kept your damn mouth shut.

Once the Jackals and Grunts are defeated, the ODSTs move through the once sealed door and follow a circular hallway that turns out to be a spillway that flows into an enormous vertical chamber. Several other spillways with green-and-yellow liquid flowing down them empty into the chamber and along the walls are Jackal mercenaries wielding Carbines and Needle Rifles. As the player engages the Jackals, Dare contacts Mickey.[/li]

Veronica Dare: Mickey, what’s your status,?

Mickey: We found some birds nests within the sewers. The Innies have hired an entire company of Kig Yar mercenaries with enslaved Unggoy.

Veronica Dare: If word of the presence of former Covenant races in Mindoro is revealed, the entire city will explode with riots. I need you and Dutch to neutralize every last one of them, but spare the Unggoy, they’ve suffered enough at the hands of the Covenant.

Mickey: I can guarantee death, but not life. Let me say this: any Grunt that shoots at me will receive a bullet to the breather.

CURRENT OBJECTIVE: Neutralize Jackal mercenaries and AVOID unneeded Unggoy casualties

Once the player has cleared the chamber of all Jackal forces, Dutch says:[/li]

Dutch: You got any wings? We need to reach those other spillways somehow.

Mickey: The Doe made me ditch the Hornet… Wait a minute…

Dutch: We’re going to need to get to those other spillways by swimming through pools of -Yoink- and piss…

Mickey: I’m going to enjoy this.

The player leaps from the edge of the spillway and into the murky pool of sewage hundreds of feet below with a splash. Pieces of brown matter are stuck to their visor when they float back up to the surface…[/li]

9

Mission 2: The Gutters – Part 3 of 3
February 20th, 2554
District 24 Sewers, Mindoro

Now within the depth of the sewers, Mickey and Dutch must cut the head of Mindoro’s Insurrectionist group before more attacks can begin.Bugs, Rats, and Other Creatures of the Underworld…

After reaching the surface of the sewage water, the player swims towards the nearest wall of the chamber and grabs hold of the pieces of moss that grows on the slick plaster walls. The player uses LT and RT to climb up the wall and reach the nearest spillway before returning to normal movement. When Dutch reaches the top, he pulls off his helmet and vomits before loosing his balance and falling face first into the stream of sludge – which then causes him to vomit again.[/li]

Mickey: Hey Dutch, did you pray for that to happen to?

Dutch: Go -Yoink- yourself Mickey wipes face with arm

Mickey: I’m assuming that’s a yes. In that case, you might as well don your helmet so that we can continue to enjoy these fine sewers and the denziens that dwell within.

As Mickey continues to speak, the sound of damp footsteps and beating wings is heard… Moments later, a swarm of Drones fly from another spillway that empties into the main chamber and converge on the unwary ODSTs.[/li]

Dutch: This place is full of surprises! KILL THEM ALL!

The player fights off the Drones while Dutch recovers from his previous incident. Once this is completed, Dutch puts his helmet back on and shakes the sewage from his SMG. The ODSTs then continue down the spillway and are prompted to active VISR mode.[/li]

Dutch: Something’s telling me that the only thing we’re going to find in these sewers is a dead end with death chasing behind us. The Innies ain’t stupid enough to hide themselves in the sewers, I’d wage that they’re hiding within UNSC grounds.

Mickey: Should we share your suspicions with the Doe?

Dutch: Not yet.

The player comes to a Y intersection in the spillway. While both of these passages will lead to the same destination, they’re contents aren’t the same. If the player chooses to take a right, they’ll be met with a squad of suicide grunts. If they take a left, they’ll be rewarded with Jackals wielding Needlers and heavy shields. Once the player has made their choice and carried it through, the two streams rejoin in a large rectangular room with several streams of sewage flowing from pipes on the walls and a sloped floor that serves as a barrier between the spillway and dry ground. Upon the pipes are a few Carbine wielding Jackals and at the other side of the room with significant high ground are Grunts with overcharged Plasma Pistols waiting to fire. Unlike previous games, and overcharged Plasma Pistol will disable more than just shields – if the player is hit, their weapons, their HUD, and their equipment is disabled for five seconds. Once the player has succeeded in destroying all targets, Dare radios in.[/li]

Veronica Dare: Mickey, status update?

As Mickey responds, the player moves exits the rectangular room through an open doorway and continues through a narrow passage way with moss and fleshy colored veins growing around the walls.[/li]

Mickey: The Innies, if there are any here, are backed by Jackal Mercenaries and a Drone hive. But that’s not our largest concern –

Veronica Dare: – Your largest concern is destroying the enemy, is it not?

Dutch: The Innies know that run down areas like the sewers are the first place the UNSC would look. I’d bet you a trillion credits if their main operations are cooped up within UNSC walls.

Veronica Dare: Roger that, I’ll send Buck and Romeo to search Elysium tower for any suspicious activity. Dare out.

The player exits the narrow passage way and enters another circular chamber with more spillways flowing into it. Unlike the previous one, however, there is a thin bridge connecting the narrow passageway to a circular staircase that hugs the walls of the chamber and leads to the bottom. Once the player steps onto the bridge, at least a dozen Drones fly from the spillways and fill the air with plasma and needles. By the time the Drones are defeated and the player has reached the bottom of the chamber, a massive rumbling sound is heard, followed by the screaming of thousands of civilians, and the morbid wailing of Banshees…
The battle beneath the sewers of Mindoro is now a sneeze compared to the surface…[/li]

END OF MISSION 2

10

Mission 1: Mindoro – Part 2 of 7
February 20, 2554
Abbasid Turnpike, Mindoro

45 minutes into the ‘dropless drop’ into Mindoro, the Rookie meets up with a convoy of UNSC forces… only to have complete chaos break through.Rookie
45 Minutes after 'Dropless Drop’

The convoy consists of at least six Warthogs, a few Cobras, and a pair of Scorpion tanks. For each vehicle that exists, five more Marine infantry trot alongside them. As the Rookie approaches, a field lieutenant rushes towards him and begins to question him…[/li]

Field Lieutenant: Trooper, what t’hell you doin’ here?

As usual, the Rookie responds in silence.[/li]

Field Lieutenant: If you not willin’ to talk, I’d hope you is willin’ to fight. Them Innies’ got a pretty damn huge–Yoink- presence in this city and we’re gonna need all hands to drive 'em out.

With the Rookie continuing his involuntary silence, he ultimately decides to pull his CNM (Command Network Module) off his helmet and hands it to the Marine.
As the Marine gives a brief conversation with Buck, the sound of gunfire echoes through the narrow streets of the city… It gets louder and louder, and the next thing the convoy sees is a horde of Insurrectionists disguised as civilians.
A round from a Sniper Rifle blows half of the Field Lieutenant’s head off. As the corpse slaps into the ground, the Scorpion tanks slowly aim their cannons at the Insurrectionists, only to have several hijacked Wombats, loaded with explosives, smash into them from above.
With fire, semi-molten pieces of twisted metal, and the anguished screams of the wounded surrounding the player, combat begins.[/li]

Edward Buck: Rookie, what the hell happened down there?

As Insurrectionists charge towards the player, the Rookie streams a live video feed to Buck through his CNM.[/li]

Edward Buck: Rookie, get your -Yoink- out of there. Dare’s picking up several more stolen Wombats heading to your position!

Just as Buck finished, the shrieking sound of a Wombat’s engines pieces the battlefield as three of them smash into the buildings that tower over the player. The force of the impact instantly causes massive slabs of metal and glass to rain onto the streets as a tremulous grinding sound, metal on metal, slumbers and resonates through the city’s canyon-like skyline. Seconds later, as the ear-pinching screeching continues, one of the buildings begins to buckle at its base, and slowly tip on its side…
It falls.
The next thing the player sees is Insurrections fleeing in terror as the enormous girth of the tower hurdles towards them. Shards of glass and smoldering steel splatter across the roads, melting both man and asphalt alike. Each pellet that hits the player causes their stamina to spike, and can kill him/her should they avoid cover.
With the smell of burning flesh, tar, and fear radiating everywhere, the player hardly notices the squadron of Insurrectionist Kamikaze-Warthogs heading towards them…[/li]

CURRENT OBJECTIVE: Run.

The player is now given many choices. The level loses any linearity that it previously had, and now the sundered streets of Mindoro are fully accessable. With Kamikaze Hogs barreling towards them from the east, it would be in the player’s best interest to go anywhere BUT east. However, like all things, boarding a Kamikaze Hog would give the player effective transportation, and it would allow them to pass through crowds of Insurrectionists unnoticed.
Regardless of what move the player makes, their objective is the same: run.
The shrieks of explosive-filled Wombats once again approaches the player’s position, and this time… They’re nose-diving towards the player. If they haven’t found reasonable cover (preferably OUT of the streets) yet, now would be a very good time to do so.[/li]

Edward Buck: Rookie, there’s a tremendous amount of Insurrectionist forces en route to your position. If you can find any access to the sewers, I’ve assigned Dutch and Mickey to dig out any Innie command. Whatever you do, DON’T fall back to Elysium Square!

Just as the dust begins to clear, the roaring engines and the massive shadow of a Vulture rise into view…[/li]