01: Alpha Base

Control Sergeant Forge in his Warthog as you travel and usurp the Covenant forces from Alpha base, rallying four squads of Marines to your detachment, and attacking scattered Covenant forces along the way, before driving all enemies from inside the Base itself.

Objectives

Win Condition: All Primary Objectives met, and all Covenant units within Alpha Base are neutralized.

Loss Condition: All UNSC Units defeated, and Forge is down.

Par Time: 05:00–12:00

Eliminate Covenant within Alpha Base

Completion Score: 500 Points

Alpha Base is the key UNSC installation on Harvest. Covenant forces have completely overrun the facility. Defeating these units in the area is a top priority.

Optional: Find and Rescue Pinned Marines[4]

Completion Score: 500 Points

Scattered pockets of Marines are isolated and under attack near Alpha Base. Locate as many as you can and kill the Covenant forces that are attacking them; the Marines will be needed to retake Alpha Base.

Use Marines to Destroy Barrier Power Source

Completion Score: 500 Points

The Covenant have erected an energy barrier across the pass leading to Alpha Base. The barrier will block vehicles, but Marines can move through and destroy the power source beyond.

Optional: Kill 100 Grunts[100]

Completion Score: 500 Points

Grunts, called Unggoy in the Covenant language, are cowardly but dangerous in large numbers. Methane-breathers, they are commonly seen in Covenant infantry squads. Counter them with your own infantry or with flamethrowers.

Fight Your Way to Alpha Base

Completion Score: 250 Points

Alpha Base is in the northern section of the map. It has been overrun by the Covenant; get there and take it back.

Mission Commencement

Select , , or to control Sergeant Forge and drive him northwest (ahead) over the ramp, where the first of four pinned Marines are battling a small Covenant force. Attack the Covenant using Forge’s mounted Gauss Cannon (), or Ram () the Jackals, ideally from medium range (to avoid the Warthog missing its target). Pay particular attention to the Shade Turret—this is your most dangerous adversary and takes precedence. After the battle, use to select the UNSC Marines once they climb into their Warthog, then ride east.

Cross the bridge; look east and locate the three Grunts on the snowbank between the bridges. Target one with regular fire (), then Ram the other. Continue north along the second bridge section.

Look ahead around the long left turn; from range, take out two Grunts on the icy road, then concentrate firepower on a Shade Turret that sits atop an icy embankment. After blasting it, deal with two remaining Grunts before continuing.

Continue onto the ice and toward a group of two Marine squads dug in and battling two circular Covenant barricades. Spread your fire out by taking your two Warthogs along the south wall (Picture 1) and aiming your ranged weapons at the southern barricade. After strafing all Grunts and Jackals, Ram (Picture 2) into the Grunt squad outside the other barricade before blasting the remaining foes inside. The Marines you’re rescuing will help you.

Climb the snowbank and from a distance, easily dispatch a Jackal on a supply plate before accelerating down onto a snowy plateau. Split your quartet of Warthogs into two (using ), and set one duo to Ram the first cluster of Grunts and the other to Ram the second cluster. There are two more hiding behind a burning Warthog to finish off, too.

Finish your fight on the snow plateau by edging forward (west) until you reveal a Ghost. Destroy it—ideally before you reveal another Shade Turret at the bridge entrance (as it doesn’t fire on you until the Fog of War is lifted).

Drive and leap the gap in the bridge, make a right, and locate the third set of Marines to rescue. Attacking the Covenant defenses is easy: Group your Warthogs and drive them all up to Ram the cluster of Grunts behind the barricade nearest the precipice (as shown). Next, shoot the Shade Turret inside the raised platform, then target the second Shade Turret before mopping up any Grunt stragglers.

Rake the two Grunts on either side of the overturned Warthog as you cross the bridge, and blast any Grunts you can as they flee through the barrier. Ignore the remaining ones that are fleeing for a moment, and instead use a Warthog to Ram it into the cluster of Grunts pinned down by two squads of Marines (Picture 1). The Covenant have erected a power barrier at the entrance to Alpha Base, so quickly select all your infantry units, swing the camera around (with ) so you can see the barrier’s power source, and march your Marines into the Grunt fire. Shrug off the Grunt fire; blowing up the power source with Grenades () is of paramount importance (Picture 2).

Look Daddy! Although you have to enter Alpha Base and defeat 100 Grunts before the skull appears, don’t complete the mission until you’ve backtracked (ideally using a single Warthog) to the location where you rescued the fourth squad of Marines, just before the Alpha Base entrance. Collect the Look Daddy! Skull.

Black Box 1 While you’re in this vicinity, head down the ramp near the last bridge you crossed. Underneath is Black Box 1.

Now that you’re inside Alpha Base, you must contend with a small but powerful (and scattered) Covenant strike force. You can easily be overwhelmed, so take a methodical approach. Stay to the base’s edge, moving your forces to the two sets of Covenant infantry behind cover near the burning UNSC tanks. Strike them down, and get your infantry behind this cover. Concentrate your firepower on advancing Covenant infantry, and stand your ground, even in the face of an incoming Wraith. Cutter radios in, granting you a Carpet Bomb, which takes out the Wraith in a peppering of explosive fire (Picture 1). Stay where you are, and command all forces to destroy any Ghosts hovering around with the Covenant infantry before cutting down the Jackals and Grunts.

Now advance into the middle of the base, splitting a couple of Marine infantry units to deal with the small cluster of Grunts behind the curved concrete cover. The majority of your forces should blast away at a secondary Wraith (Picture 2); this tank is the target of a second Carpet Bomb on certain Difficulty levels. Use the Marines’ Grenades () constantly, alternating with their small arms fire as they recharge.

This should leave only a couple of Covenant infantry clusters left to take down; separate any remaining Warthogs (using ) and charge Grunts standing in exposed areas (as shown), blast any explosive barrels, and continue until the “Base Clear” tab appears on your screen.

Awards and Summary