"Captain's report." "February 4, 2531." "Five years." "Five long years." "That's how long it took us to get Harvest back." "Go!" "go!" "go!" "Move on!" "I am hit!" "Keep firing!" "Go, come on." "At first it was going well... ..then setback after setback..." "..loss after loss." "Made, what was going to be a quick and decisive win... ..five years of hell." "Of course that's all Harvest is, today." "It's hell down there." "But now it's ours, again." "System Epsilon 9, Xatsa February 4, 2531 3:20 pm on battleship HALO" "Serina, status." "Standard orbit achieved, all systems normal." "Prep for Podlaunchers, bring weapon systems online." "Expecting trouble, Captain?" "Harvest maybe ours again... ..but I don't think the Covenant appreciate that, yet." "Sgt. Forge, report." "Definitely plenty of bad guys down here, Captain... ..and they found something in the ice." "Damn it." "That complicates our mission." " Anders, what have you got?" " Captain ..." "Scans of the northern polar region shows some... ..interesting Covenant activity on the surface." "There is some kind of structure down there." "What do you think they're looking for?" "That's what we are here to find out." "We're to bring Alfa base up to operational status... ..and take control over that site." "I get my equipment, Captain." "Lady, there is no way you're coming down here on the first bird." "Sgt. Forge, pull back to Alpha Base, I'm sending you some backup." " Roger that." "Forge out." " So, nothing too difficult, then?" "It might be the key to this whole war, Serina." "It's worth the risk." "Let's just take one last look, Sam." "The Hierarchs are impatient." "We can delay no longer." "What if the infection defiles the relic?" "I care not for your little life." "Open the relic." "Well, well... ..open sesame." "What made you choose my observation deck as your lab, Professor?" "I like the view." "It adds.." "perspective to my work." "Forge doesn't think it's safe for you to go down there, yet." "He is quite insistent." "I can be quite insistent, too, captain." "I can take care of myself." "Any idea, what it is we've got down there?" "It's all theories, right now... ..and I'll know a lot more once I get down there." "I am approving the mission,... ..but the slightest sign of danger, and I'm pulling you out." " Is that understood?" " Understood, Captain." "Hierarch, the humans are closing." "They soon will be upon us." "No matter, the information you've gathered here, is most dramatizing." "However, we must protect what we've learned here." "Set the charges and destroy this place." "Destroy this holy relic?" "Surely, you just..." "The journey requires sacrifice!" "Set the charges. return to us." "Our patience is not infinite!" "It will be done." "Spiro 5, this is Blue 6 We join with Blue 5." "We are on route to the recon patrol's last known position." "Six, out." "Blue 6, Blue 6, We are under attack!" "This is farm group Omega, if they want war... .. we'll give them war!" "Sgt., is this is what the aliens were after?" "Seems so, mom." "They sure paid a price, trying to defend it." "All quite, now." "Hey, what are you doing?" "Nothing ventured, nothing gained." "Now, that's not what I expected." "Heresy, remove this filth!" " Take cover." " Go ahead." "These guys, just don't know when to quit." "One down." " No!" " Spirit Forge... ..we're gonna need a loose backup." "So, all it did, was point here." "In the 30 seconds I had to examine the artifact?" "Yes, all it did, was point at a second star system." "Arcadia Colony, to be precise." "Population a little under three million... ..largely unexplored, but... ..apparently quite a vacation resort." "There's something there, Captain." "I think it's important to get to it, before the Covenant do." "Our orders are to investigate Harvest." "We still don't know a lot, about what's going on down there." "I understand that, Captain." "But everything I see here, tells me that we need to get to Arcadia... ..to figure this out." "Very well, Professor." "I'll clear it with Admiral Kow." "Serina, set course for Arcadia." "Aye, sir." "Crazy, mystery trip to Arcadia, plotted in... ..spinning up FTL drive." "Serina, get out of my lab." "System Procyon, Arcadia February 9, 2531" "Serina, situation update, please." "Two Covenant vessels came out of slip-space near Arcadia." "The Belfast, Pillar of Autumn, Texas and Armstrong engaged immediately... ..and caught one with its shields down." "We lost the Texas and Belfast..." "The Armstrong is venting atmosphere, and Autumn is badly damaged." "The second vessel is engaged in surface activity." "What kind of surface activity?" "Unknown." "Wait." "I'm getting a signal." "Audio, only." "We're being overrun, the alien forces are inside the city limits... ..and approaching the Space Board." "We are still evacuating civilians, we need help." "Getting visuals now, captain." "Serina, launch Pods, bring the ship to alert!" "Arbitrar, you're unusually quiet." "What troubles occupy your thoughts?" "Hierarch, I do not wish to be impudent... ..but you have charged me, with the destruction of humanity." "A most noble cause for one with such a troubled past." "And I am thankful for my task... ..but Sir, you have me stalking ancient ruins... ..and search empty temples." "How does this help me accomplish my goal?" "The war with the humans will require... ..a great deal more machines, that we can currently master." " I will take what we have!" " And leave us defenseless?" "No, the Ancients will provide for us." "This world, shall be the birthplace for an invasion fleet, beyond imagining." "Enough to crush the humans quickly, and with ease." "But this world lies dormant." "It is just a shell." "Blasphemy!" "The key will be found with patience." "But perhaps there's a quicker way." "The human female from the ice relic... ..she has some knowledge in this regard." "The new planet the relic has led us to ... ..has also led her." "Capture that human and bring her here!" "It will be done." "So, it's an energy shield that they can deploy on the planet?" "Yes, Captain." "We can't see through it... ..the Covenant are up to something." "Agreed." "We need to find out what that is." "Can we use the ship's cannons and take it out directly?" "We may destroy whatever is under there." "Covenant shield technology is susceptible to superheated plasma." "Aren't we field testing some plasma based rhinos?" "Pillar of Autumn inventory shows they have some prototypes." "It may take some time to get the right power cells." "I'll need to be on the ground to do that." "Professor, Sgt. Forge, let's get that shield down!" "Babysitting, again?" "How about, one for the scrapbook, Professor?" "If you don't mind..." "Sgt" "I am trying to document this area for study." " You will come with me." " Why don't we put the lady down... ..and talk about this man to freak?" "As you wish." " Stop!" " Anders, get out of here!" "I'll come quietly, if you let him live." " Sir?" " I'm OK!" "Spirit of Fire, this is Forge." "I lost Anders." " What happened?" " Some massive elite came out of nowhere." "Captain, I am tracking her transponder." "It is heading away from the planet." "Damn it." "Sgt., get up here, on the double." "Already en route, sir." "We are all accounted for." "Why'ven't we left, yet?" "Why aren't you in the med bay, Sgt.?" "The Professor's signal, has gone to light speed, headed for the border." "That puts it outside weapon's range." "What?" "We have to go after her!" "Sir, I can only track that transponder a few more seconds." " Captain!" " Sir..." "Anders represents a significant security breach." "Serina, get us under way immediately." "Follow that signal." "Aye, aye, sir." "So, we left a note, saying we're leaving, right?" "February 23, 2531." "Where the hell are we, Serina?" "We're in orbit around a planet in the middle of... ..actually I'm still working on that, Sir." "Anders?" "The Covenant vessel we pursued... ..appears to have taken cover on the planet's surface." "I have rough coordinates." " Any sign of other Covenant activity?" " Not that I can detect." "Although this world is giving off some pretty crazy readings." "Get Forge down there." "I believe he is already aboard the Pelican, awaiting your word." " This is her?" " Yes, Hierarch." " This is the one I observed." " Such a frail, thing." "You would hardly think them a threat." "I demand to know why I'm being held!" "Demand?" "Arbitrar, a human ship has arrived, and is closing in on the entrance portal." "Get the Hierarch to High Charity ... ..intercept that human ship and destroy it at once!" "Nothing but ocean." "Are you sure this is it, Serina?" "Fairly sure." "Initiating deep scan." "Docking, cleansing, that's not right." "Captain, you're not gonna like this." " Serina?" " Captain, we got company." "All hands, engage." "Serina, I got troops down there, still." "Get them back on board, now!" "Captain, I can only hold this position a few minutes at the most." "Now, Serina!" "Recalling surface squads, so that we all can die together." "Aye, sir." "This is all part of the plan, right guys?" " Hard starboard!" " Hard starboard, aye." "Captain, they are charging weapons." "Battle stations, bring weapons online." "Tell Forge he is not done out there, yet." "Alerting the Sgt, aye Sir." "Sir, am I the only one freaked out by the fact that we are inside the planet?" "Restraints off." "Your judgment has waited long enough." "Just, get it over with!" "The ancients have given us the power to doom your race." "Let the deconstruction of our gifts begin." "The majesty of our new fleet will be unparalleled." "Nothing ventured..." "Surface." "That worked out pretty well." "Or maybe not." "Lady, I haven't got all day." "You want to be rescued, or not?" "Is this really going to work, Professor?" "I believe this is our best hope." "The overloaded FTL reactor will cause a chain reaction in the sun." "Enough to destroy all the ships here, before the Covenant... ..can get a chance to make anything from them." "Well, put simply, Captain ... ..our reactor will cause the sun to go supernova... ..leaving nothing here but dust." "That's the weak part of this plan, if you ask me." "We have no way home without that reactor." "One problem at a time, Serina." "If the Covenant get their hands on these ships ... ..it will mean the end of the war." "We'll take our chances here." "Give humanity some hope." "I know it's been a tough call, Captain." "But it's the right one." "Spirit of Fire, this is Forge." "She is buttoned up and ready to go." "Deliver that package safely, Sgt." "Keep the coffee hot." "We'll be back before you know it." "I'll be monitoring you from here, Sgt." "Well, it'll be pretty obvious, if he succeeds..." "Gentlemen, we're burning sunshine here." "It's active!" "Sgt." "Lt.?" "Take care of those elites." "He's mine." "Let's go!" "Like the rest of your race, weak and undisciplined." "There will be no female, to save you, this time." "Look me in the eye and say that." "As you wish." "My face will be the last thing your pathetic eyes ever see." "And for the record... ..I would have kicked your ass the first time, if the lady hadn't stopped me." "Sir, it's already overheating." "I have to separate the core, and align it manually when we need to blow." "Son, I have a feeling before this is over, we'll need every last spark in the fight." "I can do this." "Report back to the ship." "Good luck Sir, it's been an honor." "Hangar bay reports all crews checked in." "Let's not outstay our welcome." "Best speed away!" "Captain, the gravity field from the sun is expanding." "We're not going anywhere." "Let's see if we can turn that to our advantage." "Serina, plot a course that takes us into the sun." "We're going to slingshot around it." "Threading a needle... ..while accelerating around an exploding star... ..inside a planet that is falling apart?" "Sure!" "Why not?" "Serina, can you do it?" "It's done." "You might want to hold on to something." "Closing your eyes might help, too." "Dyx Ogna, Checkpoint 3 March 11, 2531" "Captain, I'd much rather stay awake to monitor this area." "Professor, there's been no sign of the Covenant for almost 2 weeks." " There is nothing to do." " But, Captain!" "But, nothing, Professor." "You got us all out of there alive." "Get some rest." "Not all of us, Captain." "Not all of us."