Halo: Combat Evolved (2001 Video Game)

Steve Downes: The Master Chief

Photos 

Quotes 

• [last lines] 

  [as you enter the Longsword Fighter] 

  Cortana : We're cutting it close!

  [the Master Chief sits down, hits a few buttons] 

  The Master Chief : Here we go.

  [the fighter launches, Halo explodes, the engines give a critical temperature warning] 

  Cortana : Shut them down, we'll need them later.

  [pause] 

  Cortana : Fancy a look?

  The Master Chief : Did anyone else make it?

  Cortana : Scanning... Just dust and echoes. We're the only ones left. We... did what we had to do, for Earth. An entire Covenant armada, obliterated, and the Flood... we had no choice... Halo. It's finished.

  The Master Chief : No, I think we're just getting started.

• The Master Chief : Captain Keyes.

  Captain Keyes : [offers his hand]  Good to see you, Master Chief. Things aren't going well. Cortana did her best, but we never really had a chance.

  Cortana : A dozen Covenant superior battleships against a single Halcyon-class cruiser. With those odds I'm content with three... make that four kills.

  [turns to the Master Chief] 

  Cortana : Sleep well?

  The Master Chief : No thanks to your driving... yes.

  Cortana : So you did miss me.

• Cortana : I've spent the last 12 hours cooped up in here watching you toady about, helping that thing get set to slit our throats!

  The Master Chief : Hold on, now. He's a friend.

  Cortana : [sarcastically]  Oh! I didn't realize. He's your pal, is he? Your chum? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THAT BASTARD ALMOST MADE YOU DO?

  The Master Chief : Yes. Activate Halo's defenses and destroy the Flood. Which is why we brought the Index to the control center.

  Cortana : [holds up the Index]  You mean this?

  343 Guilty Spark : A construct? In the core? That is absolutely unacceptable!

  Cortana : Sod off!

  343 Guilty Spark : What impertinence! I shall purge you at once.

  Cortana : You sure that's a good idea?

  [the Index vanishes from her hand] 

  343 Guilty Spark : How... How dare you! I'll...

  Cortana : Do what? I have the Index. You can just float and sputter!

  The Master Chief : Enough!

  [turns to Cortana] 

  The Master Chief : The Flood is spreading. If we activate Halo's defenses, we can wipe them out.

  Cortana : You have no idea how this ring works, do you? Why the Forerunners built it? Halo doesn't kill Flood, it kills their food! Humans, Covenant, whatever. We're all equally edible. The only way to stop the Flood is to starve them to death. And that's exactly what Halo is designed to do: wipe the galaxy clean of all sentient life. You don't believe me? Ask him!

  The Master Chief : [turns to the Monitor]  Is it true?

  343 Guilty Spark : More or less. Technically, this installation's pulse has a maximum effective radius of 25,000 light years. But once the others follow suit, this galaxy will be quite devoid of life, or at least any life with sufficient biomass to sustain the Flood. But you already knew that. I mean... how couldn't you?

  Cortana : Left out that little detail, did he?

  343 Guilty Spark : [to the Chief]  We have followed outbreak containment procedure to the letter. You were with me each step of the way as we managed this crisis.

  Cortana : [puts her hand to her head]  Chief, I'm picking up movement.

  343 Guilty Spark : Why would you hesitate to do what you have already done?

  Cortana : We need to go. Right now!

  343 Guilty Spark : Last time you asked me, if it were my choice, would I do it? Having had considerable time to ponder your query, my answer has not changed. There is no choice. We must activate the ring.

  [four Sentinels appear behind the Monitor] 

  Cortana : [to the Chief]  Get... us... out of here!

  343 Guilty Spark : If you are unwilling to help, I will simply find another. Still, I must have the Index. Give your construct to me, or I will be forced to take her from you.

  The Master Chief : [raises his weapon]  That's not going to happen.

  343 Guilty Spark : So be it.

  [to the Sentinels] 

  343 Guilty Spark : Save his head, dispose of the rest.

• Cortana : [at the Library's control center on Halo]  That terminal, try there.

  [the Master Chief inserts Cortana's chip into the terminal, and Cortana materializes from the console] 

  The Master Chief : You all right?

  Cortana : Never been better! You can't imagine the wealth of information. The knowledge, so much, so fast! It's glorious!

  The Master Chief : So, what sort of weapon is it?

  Cortana : What are you talking about?

  The Master Chief : Let's stay focused. Halo - how do we use it against the Covenant?

  Cortana : This ring isn't a cudgel, you barbarian, it's something else. Something much more important. The Covenant were right. This ring... it's Forerunner. Gimme a second to access... Yes, the Forerunner built this ring, what they call a "fortress world", in order to... Wait... No, that can't be... Oh, those Covenant fools! They must have known! There must have been signs!

  The Master Chief : Slow down. You're losin' me.

  Cortana : The Covenant found something buried in this ring, something horrible, and now... they're afraid.

  The Master Chief : Something buried? Wha...

  Cortana : The Captain! We've got to stop the Captain!

  The Master Chief : Keyes? What do we...

  Cortana : The weapons cache he's looking for, it's not really... we can't let him get inside!

  The Master Chief : I don't understa...

  Cortana : There's no time! Get out of here, find Keyes, stop him!

  [the Master Chief runs out of the room] 

  Cortana : Before it's too late!

• [in a Banshee] 

  Cortana : This thing is falling apart!

  The Master Chief : It'll hold.

  Cortana : We're not gonna make it!

  The Master Chief : We'll make it.

  Cortana : Pull up! Pull up!

  [the Banshee crashes] 

  Cortana : [sardonic]  You did that on purpose, didn't you?

• [the Master Chief plugs the AI Cortana into his MJOLNIR armor memory matrix] 

  Cortana : Hmm. Your architecture is a quite similar the Autumn's.

  The Master Chief : Don't get any funny ideas.

• Cortana : [Before crash landing on Halo in the life pod]  Sure you wouldn't rather take a seat?

  The Master Chief : We'll be fine.