The Master Chief first appears in the games as the protagonist of Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2 and Halo 3. During the opening cinematic of Halo: Combat Evolved, the Chief is awakened from cryonic sleep. While fighting the Covenant, the Master Chief and Cortana learn that Halo was created by an ancient race, the Forerunners, as a last line of defense against an alien parasite called the Flood. At the of of the game, The Master Chief and Cortana escape in a Longsword , and believe that they are the only survivors.