This is the first piece of writing I've done in regards to Halo and I wanted to focus on what, for me, is the most interesting topic in the series; the Forerunner. This is intended to be an announcement trailer for a trilogy of games dedicated to telling the Forerunners' story. I used the Halo 3 terminals for guidance on how Didact speaks, so a lot of the dialog will sound familiar. Also, I know that announcement trailers are much more cinematically driven than they are dialog driven, but for this I couldn't help myself. Any feedback (no matter how brutally honest) is appreciated. I hope you all enjoy. _____________________________________________________________ _______________ [i]The trailer begins with the camera situated behind a lone figure briefly pausing before a doorway. We can see the back of his head down to his waist and it is obvious by the way he carries himself that he is a powerful figure but is burdened by insurmountable grief. He is wearing armor, which is more of a symbol of his authority than it is protection, as well as a cloak which reaches the floor. Music has been playing since the beginning (music familiar to the Halo series but something that has great weight to it; we want viewers to feel like they have been here before and to immediately infer what is going on from the outset of the scene) and as he approaches the door it opens to reveal that this is in fact the hallway to the halo activation terminal on the Ark. As the doors open the inactivated light bridge can be seen in the background as well as the not yet illuminated pedestals for the seven halos. Guards line both sides of the walkway to the light bridge and are equipped with staffs much like the honor guards of elites that guarded the prophets. As he steps through the doorway he begins his monologue.[/i] Didact: Do you know the true meaning of power? We who built worlds, we who created life, we who were masters of all we surveyed only understood power in the simplest of terms. It was this unfounded arrogance, this blind assumption that we understood power in all of its aspects that has led me here, led me to this final bastion of our cowardice, and has made me the executioner of those I had sworn to protect. [i]This speech is occurring as Didact walks the hallway to the light bridge. As Didact passes each pair of guards they bang their staffs on the ground both as a show of respect and to show they are at attention. (In filming this the first time the camera angle should be low enough to the ground to only show the feet of Didact as he passes between the guards and situated behind the guard on the left side. It will also show each staff striking the ground as Didact's cloak drags heavily behind him) In addition each halo pedestal fully illuminates as he passes as a silent acknowledgment that it is primed to fire. In between each of Didact's monologues we will flash to the battle occurring overhead between Mendicant and Offensive Bias.[/i] [i]The first shot is of millions of ships, both small commercial vessels and larger freighters appearing out of slip space (akin to how Star Wars presents it). The camera pans out to Offensive's Forerunner fleet in a defensive position between the Flood and the Ark. Offensive's fleet maintains a level of rigid military professionalism in spite of the odds being overwhelmingly against them, whereas the Flood fleet appears haphazardly; lacking any cohesion and carrying themselves lazily, certain of their victory. In addition there is a light tint of green gas (Flood Spores?) that always seems to accompany the Flood which is dispersed evenly between their ships. The first wave of small commercial vessels in thrown against the Forerunner fleet which proceeds to decimate the majority of them as the camera switches back to Didact.[/i] Didact: For all my people have accomplished, in these final moments this record might be the only valuable gift we have to pass on. Our unquestioning belief in our own superiority and intellect, the belief that our mandates were infallible, the beliefs we held since the conception of our empire were proven false by the Flood time and time again. This reality was shown in the harshest of manners as we watched all that we had worked towards burn and become ashen before our eyes. Our families, our friends, our beliefs and our Mantle were all eventually consumed. But I suppose I should thank Mendicant and his new found cohorts; for in these final hours he has taught us the beliefs we should have had all along. What irony that these realizations come at the twilight of our civilization. [i]The Forerunner fleet's utter decimation of the first attack wave gives the viewer a feeling of hope (important that this feeling is felt; most likely to be done through a change in music or the introduction of some triumphant sound) as dust obscures the battlefield. However, as soon as the dust clears a second wave of larger ships slam straight into the Forerunner vanguard. We are able to see Flood forms latch onto the ships and begin entering. As this occurs infected ships quickly break formation and crash headlong into the larger Flood vessels causing a series of explosions.[/i] Didact: The greatest knowledge that I can leave you with is the true meaning of power. Power is not the ability to sweep aside all opposition. It is not about technological advancement nor is it about mastery of your surroundings. True power is the ability to prove your right to existence; to assert that you are not some blind accident of evolution but destiny made manifest. Your right to existence, however, isn't proven by the degree to which you dominate sentient life, but through your desire and capacity to protect it in all of its forms. When you as a civilization are able to state this truth knowing full well that it isn't weakened by hypocrisy, you will have achieved more than we ever did. In declaring ourselves guardians of the galaxy we deprived countless species of the means to protect themselves against the Flood's onslaught. Our arrogance made us blind and I see now that we were never able to assert our right to exist. For all our strength and wisdom we watched as the Flood; the antithesis of life itself, beat us back until we began to question everything we had stood for. [i]Didact activates the light bridge (camera view situated behind him through this shot like all of the previous shots so as to suggest that although Didact is bitterly recounting the past he is moving forward towards the future; even though that future may not include him or his people) and crosses. As he does so the activation terminal rises out of the ground).[/i] Didact: Know that the sacrifice we make is not some genocide against sentient life. So many plans were tried and lives lost in order to avert this final outcome. However, our sacrifice will ensure your survival. Perhaps by this gesture we will be seen as worthy protectors in your eyes. If our plan succeeds it will fall to you to pick up where we left off; to become the guardians of this galaxy. Learn what true power is and become worthy of the charge; succeed where we have failed. For if you don't you too will be forced to watch as all you have lived for is snuffed out in an instant. [i]Didact reaches the top of the of the activation terminal with the camera situated in front of him, showing his whole body. For the first time his face is seen (whether he is covered by a mask like master chief or we show his face is up for debate). The camera switches to an overhead view of his gloved hand pressing firmly against the activation button. A bluish white light is seen dimly at first but grows eventually engulfing his gloved hands and then the entire screen. A white screen is shown as the next words are spoken.[/i] Didact: My name is Didact and this is my story. [i]The camera flashes to the Forerunner and Flood ships swapping burst of plasma fire. A bluish white light emanates from the Ark and consumes both fleets (the blast is powerful enough to physically alter their trajectories, thus pushing them away from the Ark). The screen then fades to white. The title of the game and intended release date are then presented in black (or blue as is usually the case with the halo logo) against the white backdrop.[/i]