Mission #2
Tempest
"Defend the Tempest. Rage among the stars."
{CUTSCENE}
We open on a shot of a grey plastic tray, with an equally coloured and textured bowl; a large spoonful of chicken chow mein is deposited on it. We are in the mess hall of the Tempest and the sailors are being served. It is packed – and there is no sign of Jade. The queue for food continues.
We focus on one table where six sailors, all of varying backgrounds, sit and eat. Their name tags are visible on their breast pockets; Johansson (Swedish), Yang (Chinese), Simmons (American), Khan (Arabian), Chen (Chinese), and O'Donnell (Irish).
Yang: How is this already cold?
Johansson: You think this is real chicken?
Yang: Nobody thinks it's real chicken.
Simmons: I don't even think it's real meat.
Khan: Or noodles.
Simmons: But, oh, look, I'm still eating it.
Yang: You know, in the little fishing village I grew up in – Shanghai (she laughs) – we'd go to this restaurant every Friday where you'd get the best chow mein of your life, every time. All the waiters were their kids – don't think any of them were older than eleven. Wonder if it's still there.
Khan: If it is, it won't be for much longer. Not after our failure.
Johansson: Stop being so cynical, Khan.
O'Donnell: Yeah; we've still got Earth.
Johansson: Anyway, it's not our failure. We did our jobs. It's the Spartans that screwed up. Humanity's last, best hope my bony Swedish ass.
Some of the other sailors around the table look nervous at the statement.
Johansson: What? Am I wrong?
O'Donnell: There's still one Spartan left on this ship; you don't want her hearing talk like that.
Johansson: I'd see her coming.
Yang: She's probably taking this harder than anyone. You know Spartans have got to be perfectionists.
Khan: Plus, she lost her partner. Who knows how she must be taking it?
We cut away from the mess hall; we are now in Engineering, starting at a computer screen spitting code and slowly panning along more. We hear voices from just off-camera.
Engineer #1: I've run diagnostic after diagnostic and they all say the same thing.
Jade: Run another one.
Engineer #1: There's really no need-
Jade: Run another one.
Engineer #1: Lieutenant…
The camera pans over an empty table; Jade's helmet is slammed down in front of us. We see that Jade is stood in her armour, connected to all manner of cables as the engineers work around here.
Jade: I'm not making it up.
Engineer #2: Nobody said you were-
Jade: There's a problem with the right gauntlet – it's not responding properly. It's sluggish. And you don't believe me.
Engineer #1: It's not a question of believing, ma'am, it's just I can only go off what the computers say.
Jade: Well, they're lying.
There's a pause.
Engineer #2: Is it possible that you're overreacting?
Jade looks at him.
Engineer #2: Well, it's just… you've been through a lot. You lost your buddy. You could be projecting your feelings onto your armour instead of working through it naturally.
Jade just keeps staring at him. Behind her, Engineer #1 vigorously shakes his head at Engineer #2.
Engineer #2: I'm just saying, you know… if you wanna stay combat ready, you've got to find ways to get over it.
Jade looks away and stares into the middle-distance for a moment.
Jade: Get over it… I see.
Suddenly, she turns back to Engineer #2 and lunges for him, tearing several cables out.
Engineer #3: Watch out!
Jade grabs Engineer #2 by the throat, lifting him off his feet, and pins him to the metal wall. The engineer struggles helplessly.
Jade: Actually, maybe my gauntlets are working fine…
She stares into his eyes for a moment; then, as she realises what an insane thing she's doing, her stare softens. Her hand loosens and the engineer falls to the ground, spluttering. She turns back to look at him; everyone is staring at her.
Jade: Sorry.
There's an awkward pause; then, Jade takes a deep breath, picks up her helmet, and fastens it.
Engineer #1: Is there anything else, Lieutenant?
Jade: My helmet flashlight doesn't work, either.
Engineer #1: (sighs) Yes, it does…
Jade: Or my comms system.
The engineer closes his eyes in frustration.
We cut to the bridge. Sanda is stood with hands behind his back.
Crewman #1: Captain; thirty seconds until we drop out of slipspace.
Sanda: It's been a long few months. You've all earned this shore leave. Once we're out, raise comms with Earth and find us a priority approach path to dock in Jomvoćś.
Crewman #2: Sir, yes sir.
Sanda: I wish I could offer you all sun-kissed beaches and mojitos.
Crewman #3: Earth is enough, sir.
Sanda: It'll have to be.
Crewman #1: Ten seconds. Navigation, prepare for Saturnian gravitational influence.
We view the Tempest from outside, bathed in the blue eternal energy of slipspace. Then, the Tempest drops out – into Hell. Saturn explodes into view and so, too, does a whole Covenant fleet. Quite accidentally, they have dropped into the Second Battle of Earth as the Prophet of Truth's fleet swarms humanity's homeworld. Everyone on the bridge stares in disbelief and horror.
Sanda: By God…
Crewman #5: They found Earth… it's over.
Then, we see flashes from the broadside of a Covenant cruiser as it opens fire on the Tempest.
Crewman #4: Plasma rounds! Evade! Evade!
It is suddenly chaos on the bridge as an alarm blares.
Sanda: Report battle stations!
Crewman #2: Man battle stations! Man battle stations!
Crewman #1: Captain, multiple contacts closing fast! Boarding craft!
Sanda: Dodge what you can. Get everyone armed; we're not going down yet. And get us through to Earth, we need their status!
Crewman #1: Aye, sir!
Sanda: Don't worry, people – they think they can take this ship. They don't know we've got a Spartan.
{GAMEPLAY}
Back in control of Jade, we are now stood in Engineering with the Engineers, equipped initially with an M7 Submachine Gun and Magnum handgun. Jade goes to the door to open it; as she attempts this the ship shakes, the lights flicker, and she finds the door is sealed. The Auto Intercom, an automated female voice, sounds.
Auto Intercom: Attention. Power failure in Section Four. Any maintenance respond.
Jade: The door has hermetically sealed.
Engineer #1: What?Are we stuck in here?!
Jade: No.
Jade puts a fist straight through the door, tearing through the metal, before pulling it open.
Intercom: All hands, this is the bridge – prepare to repel boarders. Man defence stations.
Jade passes through the door into a tight corridor; sailors are prepping to repel the Covenant boarders now entering the ship.
Sailor #1: Get set for combat! This is it! Go, go, go!
Sailor #2: We're being boarded! We're being boarded! Move! Move!
Jade continues down the corridor, then down some stairs. At the bottom, a Marine (Carlyle, Scottish) is pulling on his helmet and waiting to greet her. He has a Shotgun which the player can take if they want it.
Carlyle: Oi,Spartan! Captain Carlyle. We've got some little bastards in the engine room; you're with me!
Jade goes with Carlyle down another flight of winding metal stairs as the ship shakes again and the lights flicker.
Carlyle: Always knew this day would come… been looking forward to it.
At the bottom of the stairs, the ship opens up into the mess hall. A number of troopers are ready with weapons and armour, waiting for Carlyle.
Carlyle: Fear not, lads; I've made us a new friend! Fan out to your defensive positions – let the Spartan take point. He knows what to do.
Jade: She.
Carlyle: Oh. Beg pardon, ma'am.
Jade continues through the mess hall as the troops begin to fan out, as per Carlyle's orders. She goes through the kitchens, then downstairs again into the darkness; the lights aren't working down there.
SandaCOM: Zero Eight Eight; this is Captain Sanda. We've got boarders in the lower levels; this ship has technology aboard even they'd want to get their claws on. Get down there and clean them out.
Jade: I'm already on it, captain.
Auto Intercom: Attention. Unauthorised persons in Section Nine, Eight, Seven. Any security units, please respond.
Entering the darkness of the lower levels, where it's all cramped crew compartments and the mechanics of the ship's systems, a strange quiet comes over everything. The darkness makes it hard to see your hand in front of your face; Jade's helmet flashlight is invaluable.
Jade: Captain; I'm in the lower levels, now. Moving towards breach.
SandaCOM: I copy, Lieutenant.
Jade continues through the darkness until she reaches another sealed door. As she rotates the handle, her helmet's flashlight stops working. She slaps her helmet a couple of times but it does nothing.
Jade: Damn it.
She continues with the handle and pulls the door open; there's nothing but darkness within and she stands there for a moment.
Auto Intercom: Attention. Power restored in Section Eight.
The lights of the room ahead suddenly switch on – to reveal a whole Covenant platoon in the machinery room heading straight for her. They are led by an Elite Ultra armed with a carbine, with Brute Minors and Grunts taking up the rear. All freeze and stare at Jade as the lights flicker on.
Jade: Surprise.
Jade dodges out of the doorway as a hail of plasma fire comes her way; the player regains control as she shelters behind the wall. She must now engage and defeat these Covenant enemies.
Jade: Captain; I've found our boarders.
SandaCOM: I assume you know what to do, Lieutenant?
Jade: I'm already doing it.
Jade clears the enemy forces and continues. The next corridor is a catwalk over more engine-related machinery, with a boarding craft burrowed into the ship's hull to the left. The lights flicker on and off throughout; Brutes, Grunts, and Jackals are present both on the catwalk and down below. The player can jump down to engage them and then use a ladder to get back onto the catwalk. Jade continues through a few more corridors, fighting Brutes, Grunts, and the occasional Jackal as she goes, before reaching the reactor room itself. This room is particularly cavernous with a number of inserted boarding craft. A number of Elite Minors and Majors populate the room and have to be defeated.
Jade: Captain; all boarders have been eliminated.
SandaCOM: No, they damn well haven't! We're being overrun in every sector!
Jade: Why didn't you tell me sooner?
SandaCOM: Couldn't get through – are you sure your comms are working?
Jade: I'm not sure any of my armour is working.
SandaCOM: Well, that's great news! Move it, will you; I'd like to get at least some of my crew home!
Jade: On it, sir.
Jade returns the way she came, going back to the catwalk. As she enters the following room, a squad of Elites are on the other side. However, before combat can initiate the bulkhead is suddenly breached by a plasma round fired from an unseen Covenant ship. Exposed to open space as the metal melts away, Jade is thrown against the wall before the room explosively decompresses. The Covenant infantry are sucked out into space and Jade goes with them, but grabs onto a piece of machinery and clings on. Like navigating monkey bars, she slowly works her way along the wall and through the next doorway, before turning and kicking a control panel to make the door seal. The decompression stops as a consequence and Jade is back on her feet.
Jade makes her way to an elevator shaft, enters the elevator, and activates it. It encloses.
Elevator Intercom: Going up.
Jade: Captain, what's our status?
SandaCOM: It can be summed up with one rude word, Spartan. Enemy infantry are advancing on the bridge. They'll get to us before you do, I'm afraid; but you've got to make it anyway. There's critical data on our systems. We're purging it now but if the Covenant cancel the process before it's done, you need to restart it!
Jade: Understood, sir.
Elevator Intercom: Second floor.
The elevator doors open on a corridor littered with the corpses of UNSC sailors, streaked with blood and plasma burns, the lights flickering. These are the officers' quarters; the player can also locate the captain's quarters if they look. The area is crawling with Grunts and Brutes; at one point the player can come across a Brute Minor feeding on a dead sailor.
Following this part of the ship, Jade then enters the regular crew quarters, continuing to fight hostiles. It remains cramped and claustrophobic, with Brutes dominating over Elites in terms of numbers. There are several branching paths to take, though they all lead to the same doors which take Jade back to the mess hall. This is now full of bodies; the defenders were clearly overwhelmed. Look closely and you can identify the bodies of the sailors we spent the beginning of the opening cutscene with. Jade clears the mess hall and then continues into another corridor.
Jade: Captain, what's your status? Captain?
There's no response. This is a ghost ship, now.
Jade: I wish you were here, Sheldon. You'd have loved this.
Jade continues, being able to access Engineering to the left (where she can acquire a Railgun) or going straight ahead to enter the wardroom – the officers' mess. After that it's into the medical bay.
After finishing in the medical bay, Jade opens a sealed door to find the corridor beyond is exposed to outer space with the roof torn away, giving a panoramic view of nearby Saturn while Seraphs speed by. The medical bay decompresses explosively and Jade holds on, until the air is all sucked away and she can use the magnetism of her boots to make her way through the corridor and to the next room. This is another corridor, which also decompresses until it sealed again when Jade enters and the door closes, followed by a dark control room full of computers. The three rooms (wardroom, medical bay, and, are different arenas; the wardroom is larger with open sightlines, the medical bay is more cramped with multiple avenues and many corners, and the control room is open but with obstacles to sightlines in the shape of pillars and equipment. In all rooms, Brutes and Grunts confront the player with the occasional Jackal squad thrown in. No living humans are encountered. The control room serves a role of mini-boss, by having cloaked Brutes also participate in the fighting while a Brute Chieftain with a Plasma Cannon stays back.
Once Jade clears the control room, she comes upon another elevator. At the doors sits the body of Carlyle; his legs are missing but he still holds his pistol.
Jade opens the elevator doors to be met by an Engineer, which squawks in surprise at her. It is a scripted event; Jade points her weapon at the Engineer but doesn't fire, as it doesn't seem hostile. The Engineer, timidly, approaches, and a tendril strokes her helmet almost tenderly. Jade reaches out and, in a strange moment of connection, their "fingers" touch. Then the Engineer drifts over Jade's shoulder and away.
Jade then enters and activates the elevator. This sets off the next cutscene.
{CUTSCENE}
We are inside the bridge; everyone is dead and the place is a wreck. The camera pans along the blood-streaked floor and the corpse of a crewman. Then, unexpectedly, a dead Elite Ultra falls onto the ground. We see that Sanda is still alive and still fighting, his face bloodied; he brandishes his kirpan, a traditional Sikh dagger, and we see that two Elite Ultras are advancing on him.
Sanda: Get off my ship.
Both Elites activate their Energy Swords.
Sanda: Have it your way.
He smiles.
Sanda does a sick-ass combat pose with his kirpan.
Sanda: The Great Journey ends here…
The first Elite goes in for him – what follows is a knife-fight, with Sanda fighting both Elites with his kirpan and holding his own. He's got moves; he takes out one Elite with a stab to the side of the head, then focuses on the second. He's the underdog throughout the fight. At one point, the Elite pins him against the wall and presses the Energy Sword towards his neck, only for us to see Sanda's legs strain and he starts pushing the now bewildered Elite backwards.
Sanda: Where are your gods now?
The Elite breaks off and the fight continues; but the Elite gets the upper-hand, knocks the kirpan from Sanda's hand, and plunges the Energy Sword into his belly. It's over. Isn't it?
Elite: You die with honour, Shipmaster.
Sanda grimaces and looks into the Elite's eyes.
Sanda: You too.
Sanda grabs the Elite's elbow and pulls himself deeper onto the Energy Sword, allowing himself to get in reach of the Elite and jam the kirpan into its neck. The Elite drops him; Sanda falls to the ground and sits against the wall, mortally wounded, as the Elite stands writhing in pain and trying to tug the knife out. There is a gunshot; the Elite's head blows halfway off. Sanda looks – Jade is stood in the doorway, pointing a smoking Magnum.
Sanda: Better late than never.
Jade hurries to Sanda and crouches beside him.
Jade: Sir – I can get you to medical.
Sanda: Captain's place is on the bridge.
Jade: It's not too late.
Sanda: Oh, it's the dictionary definition of "too late," Lieutenant. Unless you think I can do without my stomach, pancreas, intestines…
He gasps in pain, trying to laugh his way through it.
Jade: Don't make me abandon you, too.
Sanda looks into her visor with something almost fatherly about him.
Sanda: Mission first, Spartan. Now shut up and listen. They found Earth so perhaps it's redundant but we've still got protocols to follow. So do me a favour and set the ship to blow, alright? I couldn't do it. I was too weak. I couldn't kill my people.
Jade: That's not weakness, sir.
Sanda: Agree to disagree, soldier. Now do as you're told and let me go down with my ship.
Jade: Yes, sir.
Jade glances towards Sanda's kirpan, lying on the ground nearby. She grabs it and hands it to him; he holds it close to his chest.
Jade: In case you need it.
Sanda: Thanks, Lieutenant. Wouldn't want to meet the Devil without this.
Jade turns towards a control panel and begins tapping away.
Sanda: Password is "Vancouver." V-a-n-c-
Jade: I know how to spell "Vancouver." Sir.
Jade continues tapping.
Sanda: I watched the recording from your helmet cam, you know. What did One Three One mean? About being a Spartan because you want to be?
Jade looks up from the panel for a moment, but doesn't reply. She then looks back down at the panel and hits a button.
Auto Intercom: Attention. This vessel's self-destruct sequence has been initiated. Please make your way to the nearest lifeboat immediately.
Sanda nods, and smiles bitterly.
Sanda: I hope you find your answers, Spartan.
Jade: Me too, sir.
Jade takes the elevator in the bridge and goes down into the Combat Information Centre. It's a world of computer monitors, dark blue lighting, and dead personnel. Oh, and Elites. Jade fights through them, then goes through another corridor – then, through the next door, is the first truly open space in the mission: the hangar bay. A single Booster Frame waits, dangling from the mechanism on the ceiling. Large numbers of Elites, including a General armed with an Energy Sword, as well as Grunts and Jackals (including a couple snipers on the higher levels) populate the hangar. The player has to eliminate them; it's a fairly large-scale indoor battle. More enemies come in through a couple nearby corridors and have to be eliminated, too.
After this, Jade moves to a control panel which will move the Booster Frame into position. She presses a couple buttons and the crane starts moving the vehicle – then, another boarding craft smashes through the wall right next to Jade. She is thrown off her feet and looks up, watching the craft. There's nothing – until a single Drone comes fluttering out. Then another. Then, a huge swarm pours out.
Jade has to fight off the swarm. Once this is done, she has to move to the control room of the hangar to open the bay doors (tips and tricks – the player can do this from the very moment they enter the room. It'll suck away every enemy and make the whole room combat-less). Once this is done, Jade goes to the Booster Frame and climbs aboard. After turning on the Booster Frame, it begins to be lowered down its rail and into open space.
Jade: Any station; this is Spartan Zero Eight Eight aboard the UNSC Tempest. Vessel abandoned and set to self-destruct. No survivors. I am going EVA and looking for a pickup. I could use some good news right now.
There's static and tuning on the radio frequencies. Then a voice comes.
Behold This FlameCOM: Spartan Zero Eight Eight, we read you – this is the frigate UNSC Behold This Flame. We are holding fast at the Saturn moon Prometheus. Can you reach us?
Jade: Good to hear from you, Behold This Flame. I can certainly try.
Behold This FlameCOM: Roger. Exact coordinates to follow.
{CUTSCENE}
The hooks holding the Booster Frame in place finally let go and the craft blasts away, heading towards Saturn, which looms huge in the sky. A Covenant destroyer looms over the Tempest as Jade leaves; then, the Tempest explodes in a ball of white light powerful enough that the destroyer is melted along with it. We return to Jade as she rockets towards Saturn.
Behold This FlameCOM: Spartan Zero Eight Eight, be advised; we have enemy bandits bearing down on us. Can you provide fighter cover?
Jade: Gladly.
We see the tiny silhouette of Behold This Flame imprinted against the bright face of Saturn. It looks so tiny and helpless. The Booster Frame slashes in front of the camera and towards the frigate.
Behold This FlameCOM: Zero Eight Eight, I have Longswords on station – callsign Condor. Link up with them and engage enemy fighters.
Jade: Roger.
CondorCOM: Zero Eight Eight, this is Condor. We are standing by to meet you. Let's do our part, Spartan.
The four Longswords glide through the sky like manta rays against Saturn's surface, and Jade's aircraft slots in amongst them. We see inside the cockpit of one Longsword as the Booster Frame joins them, sitting in the centre of their diamond formation.
Jade: I've got contacts on my scope.
CondorCOM: Roger. Condors; engage all bandits. Do it for Earth.
Condor #2: Condor Two copies.
Condor #3: Condor Three copies all.
Condor #4: Condor Four, solid copy.
{GAMEPLAY}
You are now in control of Jade as pilot of the Booster Frame, rocketing through space in Saturn's orbit and joined by the Longswords. Up ahead, Seraphs drive towards you – you engage them, with the Booster Frame being equipped with a minigun and homing missiles.
CondorCOM: Behold This Flame Control, this is Condor Leader; enemy fighters are short-range. There's gotta be a ship deploying them somewhere.
Behold This FlameCOM: Roger, Condor Leader. We're on the lookout.
CondorCOM: More on the way.
More Seraphs, as well as Banshee Starfighters, join the party. You engage them.
CondorCOM: Condor Four, you've got one on your tail! Break left! Break left!
Condor #4COM: I can't see him! I can't see-
And Condor #4 is lost.
CondorCOM: Condor Four is down. Repeat, Condor Four is down.
The rest of the enemy fighters are defeated.
Behold This FlameCOM: All fighters, we have a possible enemy signature; suspected Covenant corvette is loitering nearby. It may be cloaked. Transferring coordinates now.
CondorCOM: Roger, we'll investigate.
You are sent to the coordinates.
Jade: Condor, hang back – I'll get in close and test the waters.
CondorCOM: Roger, Spartan.
You move into the area and have to fire into empty space hoping to disrupt the hidden Corvette's cloak. Once you do, it uncloaks and is now a target.
Behold The FlameCOM: Corvette sighted! Engage, engage!
CondorCOM: Acknowledged!
Jade engages the corvette as well as additional Seraphs and Banshees it releases. The other Condors are, one by one, picked off until it's just Jade left.
Jade: Behold The Flame, this is Zero Eight Eight. Just me left now. I'll do my best with the corvette.
Behold This FlameCOM: Roger. Good luck, Spartan.
Jade engages the corvette and, despite its fighters and anti-aircraft defences, successfully destroys it.
Behold This FlameCOM: Corvette is down. Good work, Spartan. Come to us – I'm sure we'll find a bunk for you.
Jade: Roger.
{CUTSCENE}
Jade flies towards the frigate.
Behold This FlameCOM: Spartan Zero Eight Eight, this is Behold This Flame Control. You are cleared for initial docking approach.
Jade: I copy.
Behold This FlameCOM: What the hell… I have a radiation warning!
Suddenly, a slipspace rupture opens up behind the Behold This Flame and out emerges a Covenant carrier. It's huge, easily dwarfing the Behold This Flame. Jade stares up at it.
Behold This FlameCOM: Enemy carrier off the port side! Evade! Evade!
But it's much too late – a plasma beam shoots from the carrier and lances the Behold This Flame, ripping it to pieces. Screams fill the airwaves as the wreckage of the frigate flies towards Jade like an asteroid field. She weaves between pieces of wreckage until one clips an engine and the craft goes into a spin. She jumps from it just before it explodes, and crashes against a piece of metal. Her built-in boosters activate to control her spinning.
Jade: Any station, any station, this is Spartan Zero Eight Eight. Mayday. Mayday. Is anyone on the air? Is anyone out there?
She looks to the side and sees as a huge fleet of Covenant ships begin to come out of slipspace, filling half the distant sky. The sheer scale of it all is overwhelming.
Jade: Is there anyone?
She stares silently at the fleet; then there's movement in the wreckage. She looks – it's an Engineer, exploring the debris. It spots her and seems almost to recognise her before it drifts closer; its tendrils explore her armour before beginning to penetrate it in multiple spots. Using the suit's onboard voice software (which has been a voice-over in-game to narrate mission objectives and such, the Engineer speaks to Jade.
Engineer: Be calm. Your life remains.
Jade: What are you doing?
Engineer: Improvements. Your suit will make you sleep. Preserve oxygen. Maintain integrity of existence.
Jade: No. I don't want to live. Let me die. This is a good enough death.
Engineer: You have more to do.
Jade: I'm alone.
Engineer: So is everyone. I am alone. Yet I help. Now sleep.
With a gasp, Jade goes limp as she is put to sleep by the Engineer. The Engineer removes its tendrils, examines the face of her helmet for a moment, then drifts away. We are left with the sight of Jade floating alone in space with Jupiter behind her.