The cadets look up as something makes an appearance through the clouds.

That’s not the UNSC. It’s three Covenant cruisers, like the one seen in the Reach mission “Long Night of Solace.” This is a powerful scene as there is real fear on the cadets faces. They have no idea what it is, but know it’s not good.

One of the cruisers lashes out and strikes the space tether. Um, NOT good.

This is where I started to get chills as it’s reminiscent of the World Trade Center collapsing.

Here comes the rubble and debris wave. The cadets scatter! Again, evoking the cloud of dust we saw during the events of 9/11.

Utter chaos ensues as people fall and are trampled on, or are caught up in the debris blast.

Lasky and Silva fall. Is this the end? This sequence really is striking and puts the cadets in the most peril they’ve been in up until now.

Next the final review of Episode 3. Part 8 The Elite and the Fallen