Halo TV Script Tryout

[Flugel_Meister]

A few years ago I toyed around with the idea of writing, for my own benefit, a Halo TV series script. I only got so far into the first episode and plan to complete this. But let me know what you think.

[Back-story/Setting]

Humanity is at war, and has been for some time, with a malevolent and advanced collective of aliens who call themselves “The Covenant”. Steadily over the years they have swept aside mankind’s defences, destroyed vast fleets and burned the worlds we call home. Now only a handful of colonies and Earth remain. But from this bleak and one-sided conflict, a glimmer of hope rises, Spartans. A small and highly capable group of chemically and biogenetically augmented soldiers, Spartans are the last, best hope for mankind.

[Main Characters background]

The Spartans in question are COBRA Team, a surgical strike team of Spartan-IIIs. We follow their exploits during the war, both as a team and individually, up to and including the invasion of Reach. We will also have the opportunity to see how they came to be—through flashbacks of their recruitment and training.

[Current Situation]

The year is 2549 and mankind is losing ground. Fast. Cobra Team are one of several operational hand picked strike teams (much like Noble Team). Their primary role is to undertake missions of urgency and importance in extremely volatile situations with a moderate chance of success or survival. Cobra are constantly tasked to perform daring operations to slow or deter the Covenant advance, but mankind is running out of time.

With the Covenant constantly closing in on the remaining colonies and Earth, the Insurrection has become divided. Some members have chosen to fight for the greater good, joining the UNSC as fellow defenders of humanity and all that it stands for. Others, however, see the war as an opportunity not to be missed, where the UNSC can be held to ransom over hidden weapon caches and stolen nuclear weapons. They are also keen to take advantage of key armoury sites with minimal manning, which has become an invaluable source of modern military hardware and vehicles.

C1. Emma “M” (Spartan-A233) Rogue (H3) Helmet
Emma is the commander of Cobra Team. She is resourceful, committed – as all Spartans are – and an expert in infiltration and deception, especially against the Insurrection. She is also the oldest Spartan in the team, but recognises that this does not grant her the right to command. As a result, she is always trying to justify her position through example.

C2. Li (Spartan-B128) Ad Hoc/Personalised Hayabusa
Li is the Close Quarter Battle specialist. He favours a pair of SMG’s and a katana. Li is ruthless in practice but prefers to fight the Covenant more than any member of the Insurrection, which sometimes puts him at odds with Emma. He does not sympathise with the Insurrection, merely the futility of their actions – should they gain recognition and independence they will simply be swept aside by the Covenant. He also harbours a secret regarding his family and his entry into the SPARTAN-III programme.

C3. Max (Spartan-B148) EOD CNM Helmet
Max is highly intelligent and a genius with explosives and often maximises his results with the minimum of resources, hence his nickname. He has a steady hand and is super cool under any kind of pressure. He favours the use of contraband Covenant plasma grenades. Often demonstrates suicidal tendencies.

C4. Steven (Spartan-A199) Pilot UA/HUL[3] Helmet
Steven is an exceptional driver and pilot. He has extensive experience in acquiring Covenant vehicles and aircraft for the Office of Naval Intelligence, which has gained him friends in high places and a number of favours. He has a relaxed attitude to life and takes everything in his stride. Some of his fellow Spartans have stated the motivation behind his piloting skills is born out of laziness and a general dislike to walking or running.

C5. Jen (Spartan-B313) HAZOP CNM-1 Helmet
Jen was recruited along with her brother. Unlike him, Jen thrives on teamwork and dislikes working alone, though she is more than capable of going toe to toe with an Elite in hand to hand combat. She, instead, prefers to engage the enemy at a distance, and is the team’s sniper, precision weapons expert and communications specialist.

INTRO/TEASER
SILENCE then the faint, slow BEAT OF A DRUM.

A BLACK SCREEN:

JEN TAYLOR (V.O.)
(The narration is intended to be unclear as to whether the voice is from Cortana or Dr. Catherine Halsey)

For millennia, mankind believed itself alone, isolated, a single sentient species confident of global domination. So efforts were made to verify this belief. Countless probes and messages to the stars followed, but after nearly five centuries of searching, mankind had nothing… Until one fateful encounter.

WORDS ONSCREEN:

<em>2525</em>
<em>HUMAN COLONY OF HARVEST</em>

JEN TAYLOR (V.O.)
The outcome of that encounter was unsurprisingly one-sided.

A BEAT:
Then we cut to a POV shot of swirling Slipspace. The multi-coloured display is torn apart and replaced by a peaceful star scene and a visible portion of Harvest.

EXT. SLIPSPACE/SPACE.
A trio of UNSC vessels enter the system from Slipspace. They are the frigates Vostok and Arabia, and the accompanying command ship, the Destroyer Heracles. They cruise left to right of shot.

EXT. PAN RIGHT.
Follow the UNSC vessels until a more distant and much larger alien vessel comes into view.

CUT TO:

INT. BRIDGE – UNSC HERACLES.
A tall, confident man (Captain Maribeau Veredi) stands central to the bridge and behind his hurried crew, observing their actions, and the external scene through the large panoramic observation port at the forward section of the deck. The alien vessel grows in size as they approach.

CAPTAIN VEREDI
Report.

BRIDGE OFFICER 1
Vessel of unknown origin, Sir. Energy readings are off the scale, but they’re holding position. No aggressive actions.

CAPTAIN VEREDI
Slow to one-half, lieutenant. Keep our Slipspace drive at seventy percent readiness and initiate First Contact Protocols.

EXT. SPACE.
All three vessels begin to slow.

INT. BRIDGE – UNSC HERACLES.

BRIDGE OFFICER 2
(Taps controls in response)
Hailing channel open, Sir.

CAPTAIN VEREDI
This is Captain Veredi of the UNSC Heracles…
(Captain Veredi is cut off mid-sentence by a booming voice)

VOICE
Your destruction is the will of the Gods… and we are their instrument!

BRIDGE OFFICER 1
(Warning tones fill the bridge)
Energy Spike! Sir, they’re moving!

CAPTAIN VEREDI
Vostok, Arabia weapons free. Fire at will!

[Flugel_Meister]

EXT. SPACE.

Both frigates take up a forward position, firing their MAC’s in quick succession. Light suddenly slashes at both vessels as they are scythed in half by a series of bright red energy beams. The alien vessel then fires half a dozen torpedoes of incandescent blue-white plasma at the Heracles.

INT. BRIDGE – UNSC HERACLES

BRIDGE OFFICER 2
(Turns to look at the captain. Clearly in shock)
Arabia and Vostok destroyed, Sir.

(Sirens and alarms continue to sound as the torpedoes speed towards the remaining UNSC vessel)

CAPTAIN VEREDI
(Sits down in Captain’s chair)
-Yoink-. Lateral spin one-eight-zero by zero! Overload thrust!

BRIDGE OFFICER 2
Aye Sir.

CUT TO:

EXT. SPACE.

The Heracles turns, engines blazing, trying to escape the oncoming plasma torpedoes. The Heracles (partially obscured/shielded by the glowing hulks of the frigates) is grazed by the scything energy weapon, causing damage, but makes it with only seconds to spare.

JEN TAYLOR (V.O.)
They declared themselves the Covenant—a collective of alien malevolence with one, single-minded objective, the complete and utter annihilation of Mankind.

When the UNSC returned to Harvest, they did so with enough firepower to assault the vaults of Heaven.

FADE TO:

(Admiral Cole’s attack on the alien vessel).
The entire sequence is fast paced and demonstrates the resilience of the Covenant vessel as it absorbs dozens of simultaneous MAC rounds and hundreds of Archer missiles. Fighter craft criss-cross the screen as vast broadsides and head on assaults are unleashed. Eventually the ship falls to a concentrated effort.

JEN TAYLOR (V.O.)
But it was far from over. Instead, it was the first step on a road to war where Humanity would constantly be on the back foot.

Worlds burned. Millions perished. But despite a grim and uncertain future, there was hope… …Spartans.

CUT TO:

OPENING CREDITS & TITLE:
COBRA

FADE IN:
EXT. HIGH ORBIT.

SUB TEXT:
UNSC COLONY - BLEACHERS BAY. 2549

We descend silently through the night side atmosphere of a planet, closing in on the surface, which is covered in darkness save for a smattering of tiny lights (towns and cities). As we approach the surface, one particular group of lights become the focus of our descent, before veering off. We drop further until the view is only a few hundred feet above the surface. The view then changes from a sharp descent into a swooping, nap-of-the-earth cruise low over frostbitten woodland.

We pass over more woodland, then mountains, hills, valleys and lakes. Then in the distance, the lights we saw from above.

CLOSER to the lights, we see buildings, structures and fences, surrounded by frosty woodland.

CLOSER STILL, the site is revealed as an encampment, with razor wire-topped fencing, a pair of overlooking watch towers on opposite sides and a number of brick and corrugated tin buildings.

CLOSER to the encampment, the view angles down while flying overhead. We overfly the camp.

EXT. SURFACE. WOODLAND - NIGHT

For the first few seconds we are provided with a peaceful and silent view of the surrounding woodland at shoulder height. The trees are covered in glistening frost, which is only illuminated by distant starlight and a gibbous pairing of moons. THEN five dark humanoid silhouettes flash silently past (right to left), heading towards the encampment half a mile away.

EXT. SURFACE. CAMP PERIMETER – NIGHT

We see several Insurrectionist sentries patrolling the fence line inside and out, in one’s and two’s. One in particular (S1 = Sentry 1) walks slowly, casually (left to right of shot) then after briefly staring at the woodland beyond, turns back the other way. A silhouette follows him.

EXT. SURFACE. CAMP PERIMITER CORNER - NIGHT

Two more stationary sentries (2 & 3) are quietly chatting about the daily chore of life on a backwater planet. They hear a faint noise (like twigs snapping) off in the distance, within the tree line. They both turn to look.

ANGLE: (CLOSE)

SENTRY 2
What do you think? Deeks going for crap in the woods again?
(No answer. Turns)
Mac?

(PAN left following his L.O.S.) His friend is gone.

EXT. SURFACE. CAMP COURTYARD – NIGHT

A fourth sentry (S4) takes his time walking past a brick building, reaches a gap shrouded in shadow between it and another building. He stops. He looks out towards the surrounding woodland, then up at the stars, lights a cigarette before he is SUDDENLY and silently pulled into the shadows by an unseen force.

DROP to his fallen cigarette, still burning in the cold air.

EXT. SURFACE. CAMP PERIMITER CORNER – NIGHT

Back with our now lonely sentry, he looks around for his friend and then notices something on the ground. He bends down for a closer look (ANGLE: CLOSE) and finds a lone playing card (queen of hearts) with a picture of a Cobra on the back. He stands back up, inspecting the card with a puzzled look on his face (what the Hell?)

ANGLE:

PULL BACK to reveal a figure standing behind him. It’s a SPARTAN with an EOD CNM helmet.

Feeling a presence, the sentry turns.

ANGLE: POV. SENTRY 2

Lightning fast, the SPARTAN raises a hand towards the camera. Everything goes black.

CUT TO:

INT. SURFACE. COMPOUND BUILDING – DIMLY LIT

Seven men are gathered around an eighth tied to a chair by his wrists and ankles. He is bloodied and bruised. The others take turns in beating him. He is wearing a black military jumpsuit with a triangular insignia on his left breast—the all seeing eye of the Office of Naval Intelligence. He is an ONI agent and a prisoner to the Insurrectionists. They take pleasure in seeing him suffer.

Another man (Morgan) with greying hair and a scarred and pitted face walks in through a side door to the right, behind a partition wall, holding a small plastic container filled with pasta. A burly six and a half foot bodyguard accompanies him.

MORGAN
Playtime’s over

The men file out of the room through the same door that Morgan and his bodyguard entered. One of men gives the prisoner a light slap around the face and a menacing wink (I’m going to -Yoink- you up later). Only Morgan, his bodyguard and the prisoner now remain.

MORGAN
(Kneels down in front of the prisoner with an unreadable smile, eating his pasta with a plastic fork)
I hope they weren’t too hard on you

The prisoner doesn’t answer, just stares at the floor.

MORGAN
(Still eating, speaks between mouthfuls of food. Offers fork).
Hungry? No? You know, this is the real stuff. Freshly made. You should try it.
(Smile drops. A more menacing look replaces it) You’ll need your strength

The prisoner still unresponsive, save heavy breathing, continues to avoid eye contact.

MORGAN
Thirsty?

The prisoner, sensing he may be in for a rough time and needs at least some sustenance, accepts the offer with a hesitant nod.

Morgan nods at his bodyguard who then fetches a glass of water with a straw.

MORGAN
Here, have some water

The prisoner, eager to finish the glass, drinks all that he can but Morgan deliberately pulls the glass away before he can finish

MORGAN
Whoa, steady there. We don’t want you throwing up, do we?
(Sets the glass down on the floor in front of his prisoner, just out of reach)

Morgan pulls out a handkerchief and then stands up wiping his hands. He hands his bodyguard the remaining pasta and then SUDDENLY slaps the prisoner across the face, his (MORGAN) features are now twisted with hate.

MORGAN
Where is it? (Slaps the prisoner again)
Where is it?!

Morgan steps back from the prisoner and starts pacing back and forth like he’s trying to psych himself up for a fight.

[Flugel_Meister]

ONI PRISONER
(Spits blood on the floor. Surprise written all over his face)
Where’s what?

ANGLE: CLOSE

MORGAN
(Comes in close to his prisoner again)
Where…is…the…station?

ONI PRISONER
Station?

Morgan steps back, grinding his teeth, like he’s contemplating killing his prisoner there and then (He would love to pull him apart). Then he moves in quickly and slaps him again, but harder than before.

MORGAN
The refit station, you maggot.

ONI PRISONER
What station?

MORGAN
(Incensed)
You know, you’re giving me more questions than answers. And I would really appreciate an answer.

ONI PRISONER
Which station? There are thousands.

MORGAN
(Comes in close – eye to eye)
The one you’re stationed on. You are, after all, the residing intelligence officer for the in-system UNSC refit and supply depot. Phoenix Four ring any bells inside that deceptive mind of yours?

Morgan backs off, grabbing something from a nearby table

ONI PRISONER
There isn’t a refit facility this far out.

MORGAN
We know everything about you… (Holds up the prisoner’s ID card) Richard. The fact that it’s an automated facility with a crew of six, including you, and there’s also an on-board AI. The only thing we don’t know is its location.

ONI PRISONER
(Exhibits a brief flash of surprise)
I swear…I don’t know anything.

MORGAN
(Calm and assured)
Would you be so eager to swear if your little boy was here? Mmm? You’ve got family on Reach, haven’t you? – Far away from the front line. Well, our frontline extends all the way to Earth. So I would be more forthcoming.

The ONI prisoner drops his head.

MORGAN
No? Well, we’ll see about that, but first I think we need to smarten you up a little (Looks at his prisoner’s fingers), especially those fingernails. They could do with a trim.

Morgan pulls out set of secateurs from a back pocket, flexing the blades. The agent gives a brief show of fear. He tries to stall by pleading his innocence.

ONI PRISONER
I promise you, I don’t know anything.

MORGAN
Keep telling yourself that when I’m cutting off each of your fingers.

The dull thud of a double-tap sounds from outside. They all look towards the door.

BODYGUARD
(Pulls out a radio and tries to get a response from one of the sentries)
What’s going on out there? Deeks, you there?

No answer, only static.

MORGAN
(Looks at his bodyguard)
Go take a look.

The bodyguard nods, pulls out a pistol and cautiously heads for the door. He opens it, peers out and then steps outside, scanning for a threat. He sees the bodies of the seven heavies that were previously beating the prisoner. They are lying in a broken heap.

The bodyguard slowly steps back into the doorway, closing the door in the process.

BODYGUARD
(Nervous)
Something’s wrong.

Suddenly, the door is violently kicked off its hinges, knocking the bodyguard back and to the floor. He quickly gathers himself and stands up, slightly dazed only to see a figure at the door in some kind of armour.

(This is Li. He’s Cobra’s Close-Quarters expert)

The bodyguard goes to shoot, but Li is already on him, kicking the gun from his hand and breaking it in the process. The bodyguard goes to grab him but Li jabs him once in the chest, breaking ribs and rupturing his aorta. He drops to the floor. Dead.

The Spartan turns his attention to Morgan who has now pulled his own weapon on the hostage, using him as a shield. He has nowhere to run. He backs up towards a shadow-covered wall, pulling the chair with him to keep his hostage close.

MORGAN
If you move, I’ll kill him

LI
I’m not here to kill you.

MORGAN (surprised)
You’re not?

LI
No. But she is.

MORGAN P.O.V.
Morgan turns just in time to see Emma pull the trigger on him.

Angle: close on Emma. No visual of Morgan dying, only her firing the pistol.

EMMA
Nice entry. (To Li)

LI
Thanks.

EMMA
Max, report.

MAX (VIA RADIO)
Area is secure. Everyone’s down, place is rigged. Just waiting for a thumb’s up.

EMMA
It’ll come. Steve, what about our ride?

STEVE
I’ve snagged us a MRV. There’s a pair of Hogs but they’re far too cozy for my taste, and I don’t fancy siding up with Max for the next twenty minutes.

MAX
I heard that.

STEVE
Besides, it’s armed with a twin gauss cannon.

EMMA
Keep me posted. (Looks at the prisoner) You Gibbons?

GIBBONS (Shaken)
Yeah.

Emma nods at Li, and then starts rifling through some nearby notes and paperwork.

LI
We’ll just double check. (Jabs him with a needle/syringe to draw a blood sample).

Gibbons grimaces slightly with pain but he’s had worse in the past twenty minutes.

Li pulls the auto injector from Gibbons, rotates the end section and presses a small button on the face of the tube. (It’s examining his DNA and crosschecking it against his ONI record).

GIBBONS
DNA sampler?

LI
Then you’ll know what I want to see.

The light turns green.
LI
There we go.

EMMA (looking on)
Good. Get him ready. Jen, sitrep.

ROCKY OUTCROP – TWO HUNDRED METRES FROM THE COMPOUND.
We finally get to see the final member of Cobra, Jen. She is observing the surrounding area, near and far through the scope of her sniper rifle.

JEN
All clear. No traffic. Wait. I got movement. Airborne. 6 kilometers, SW, heading this way.

EMMA
I didn’t think Innie’s had the capability out here. ID?

JEN (looks again)
Negative. Too far out. It’s moving slowly whatever it is. Hold on, there’s another. (Pause) Wait a second…

P.O.V. (through Jen’s scope)
A blurred and distant image of a pair of small craft moving in a series of slow, lazy zigzags. Then we recognize those familiar wing pylons and the bulbous cockpit section.

JEN (lowers rifle)
They’re Banshees, on approach.

EMMA
There’ll be more on the way. (They all start moving out of the building, heading towards Steve and the parked MRV). ETA?

JEN
Two minutes. Less if they see us.

GIBBONS
Covenant?

LI (joking)
What gave it away?

GIBBONS
We…we should call for backup.

EMMA
We are the back up.