An idea that just popped into my head:

Community Halo Universe
1

For awhile after reading Priordium I have sat and begun thinking on what the test could be for humanity. If we could survive the onslaught of the precursors? Can we resist/attain the mantle? Must we ally with all life in the galaxy as the test?

The 3rd question led me down another train of thought. The UNSC does not wholly support the existence of all life in the galaxy. Neither does the Storm Covenant. However I’ve noticed that the Insurrectionists have no quarrels about working with the other species. Wouldn’t it be ironic if the group that John was raised and bred to originally quell, actually be the salvation of the human race? If being able to form a true alliance with all members of the galaxy and sharing the mantle with all is the test, wouldn’t it really be ironic to see the small group of human rebels heralding the way?

Just a thought is all.

2

I think Origins is rather telling of that. Cortana’s misinterpretations of events leads her to state we’re allies. I think that’s coming in the future. The Precursor onslaught is going to be overwhelming beyond belief. Although, I am working on a theory right now on how it’s possible they could be stopped.

3

> I think Origins is rather telling of that. Cortana’s misinterpretations of events leads her to state we’re allies. I think that’s coming in the future. The Precursor onslaught is going to be overwhelming beyond belief. Although, I am working on a theory right now on how it’s possible they could be stopped.

You know, maybe the grand ending is that we can’t. What if Humanity or the whole galaxy fails?

4

What if humanity refuses the mantle?

5

> What if humanity refuses the mantle?

What if the mantle is a deciption? An idea whose only purpose is to divide the galaxy along species lines? A philosophy only created and pushed by the Precursors to make it easier for them to return and to ensure that no creation rises against its creators?

6

Imagine if the Ur-Didact had been able to complete his mediation in his Cryptum. He would have given humanity the Janus Key, which would have gave them access to untold Forerunner technology. The fact that the Ur-Didact would give the Janus Key to humanity would crush the Covenant Remnant’s ideology. The UNSC already has a peace treaty with the Arbiter’s faction of Sangheili and in Escalation we learn there is one in the works with the Jiralhanae. Humanity and the galaxy around them would have been well prepared for this upcoming “test”, in my opinion

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> > What if humanity refuses the mantle?
>
> What if the mantle is a deciption? An idea whose only purpose is to divide the galaxy along species lines? A philosophy only created and pushed by the Precursors to make it easier for them to return and to ensure that no creation rises against its creators?

Disagree.

The entire Halo series is layered over and over with correlations to religions of today.
The Precursors were viewed as nearly god-like, and in a sense they were, since they created entire civilizations & races. They made humans & forerunners specifically, in the hopes that one would be able to ‘take over’ care of this galaxy - it’s a pretty straight-forward analogy to the Biblical God in Genesis and Adam & Eve, I think.

Also keep in mind that the Precursors were judging Forerunners on whether they could hold the Mantle well before the Forerunners actually enacted a war of extermination against Precursors, and as a result, caused the creation of the Flood.

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> What if humanity refuses the mantle?

Based on how I interpret the Mantle (it being a concept that exists solely to lure life into the corruption that results from the lust of power), I’d hope that Humanity doesn’t hesitate to do so.

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> Imagine if the Ur-Didact had been able to complete his mediation in his Cryptum. He would have given humanity the Janus Key, which would have gave them access to untold Forerunner technology. The fact that the Ur-Didact would give the Janus Key to humanity would crush the Covenant Remnant’s ideology. The UNSC already has a peace treaty with the Arbiter’s faction of Sangheili and in Escalation we learn there is one in the works with the Jiralhanae. Humanity and the galaxy around them would have been well prepared for this upcoming “test”, in my opinion

The thing is, if Iso-Didact hadn’t fired the Halo rings. The Ur-Didact could’ve easily completed his ‘meditation’ but on the flip side, the galaxy would’ve been lost.
The Domain was destroyed when the Halo rings were fired. So there was nothing but pure silence and an alert mind filled to the brim with the gravemind’s previous madness inducing terrors gnawing away at the Ur-Didact’s psyche for 1000000 years.
The fact that Ur-Didact did not outright kill Master Chief, but instead atleast treated him with some respect after leaving the Crytum is testament to the the fact that had the Domain not been lost, then the Didact would’ve recovered successfully and led Humanity and the galaxy to a whole new level of awesome.

Also the UNSC wants peace with Arbiter but ONI wants to destablize the Arbiter’s faction as well as the Covenant remnant. Once this fact gets out, all hell will break loose square upon Lord Hood and by large the UNSC’s head.

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> > Imagine if the Ur-Didact had been able to complete his mediation in his Cryptum. He would have given humanity the Janus Key, which would have gave them access to untold Forerunner technology. The fact that the Ur-Didact would give the Janus Key to humanity would crush the Covenant Remnant’s ideology. The UNSC already has a peace treaty with the Arbiter’s faction of Sangheili and in Escalation we learn there is one in the works with the Jiralhanae. Humanity and the galaxy around them would have been well prepared for this upcoming “test”, in my opinion
>
> The thing is, if Iso-Didact hadn’t fired the Halo rings. The Ur-Didact could’ve easily completed his ‘meditation’ but on the flip side, the galaxy would’ve been lost.
> The Domain was destroyed when the Halo rings were fired. So there was nothing but pure silence and an alert mind filled to the brim with the gravemind’s previous madness inducing terrors gnawing away at the Ur-Didact’s psyche for 1000000 years.
> The fact that Ur-Didact did not outright kill Master Chief, but instead atleast treated him with some respect after leaving the Crytum is testament to the the fact that had the Domain not been lost, then the Didact would’ve recovered successfully and led Humanity and the galaxy to a whole new level of awesome.
>
> Also the UNSC wants peace with Arbiter but ONI wants to destablize the Arbiter’s faction as well as the Covenant remnant. Once this fact gets out, all hell will break loose square upon Lord Hood and by large the UNSC’s head.

And then utter and glorious madness/chaos…till then…sweetness. Hahaha

11

Wouldn’t actually surprise me that the Innies are the answer to uniting the galaxy. The UNSC is killing Grunts instead of asking them to join. The Elites and Brutes are still at each others’ throats. But then we see Gajat’s group having Elites, Brutes, and Humans all working together, and Venezia with the Humans, Jackals, Grunts, and even Brutes all getting along.

Those rebel groups are the future. And even 'Gajat mentions that’s the truth.

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This is going to sound cheesy, but I feel that one sole species does not need to occupy the mantle.

If responsibility was shared, the Forerunners would have never sought to destroy humanity.

Humanity should be working to ally with as many alien species as possible. It’s going to take them all to defeat the Flood.

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The Didact never shown restraint, he expected the Chief dead after tossing him aside…

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I feel that Humanity would only be able to make peace with the Elites, Grunts, Hunters, and Jackals. The Brutes don’t seem capable of peaceful relations with humans or elites. The drones wouldn’t agree to anything unless the UNSC manages to convince the Drone Queen.

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> Also keep in mind that the Precursors were judging Forerunners on whether they could hold the Mantle well before the Forerunners actually enacted a war of extermination against Precursors, and as a result, caused the creation of the Flood.

So… If we want to flesh out this Halo/religion analogy (in terms of Christianity)…

WARNING: Possible butchery of theology ahead!

In the beginning there was God. God created beings in his own image with the ultimate goal of them becoming one with Him, of becoming individual gods of goodness in their own right after accepting His will. Lucifer, one of God’s more powerful creations, didn’t care for this plan and decided to try to absorb every other being in Creation into himself in a selfish grab for power, to become an individual god of whatever-the-Hell-he-wants in his own right by bending Creation to his will.

(Anyone here read The Screwtape Letters?)

God: Precursors
Creation of God: Creation of Precursors
The Flood: The Devil

Implying that the word “Precursor” does not neccicarily mean “Flood”. Kinda obvious, but I never really considered the fact that not ALL Precursors became the corrupt Flood powder. Does this mean there are “good” Precursors out there? That they might have been watching over the Halo universe for all this time, even after being rejected by their version of Adam and Eve?

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> I feel that Humanity would only be able to make peace with the Elites, Grunts, Hunters, and Jackals. The Brutes don’t seem capable of peaceful relations with humans or elites. The drones wouldn’t agree to anything unless the UNSC manages to convince the Drone Queen.

Weren’t things going alright in Escalations?

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> This is going to sound cheesy, but I feel that one sole species does not need to occupy the mantle.
>
> If responsibility was shared, the Forerunners would have never sought to destroy humanity.
>
> Humanity should be working to ally with as many alien species as possible. It’s going to take them all to defeat the Flood.

I believe every species is going to have to work together to defeat the Precursors/Flood.

However, I can see that Humanity will still be the only holders of the Mantle. Though not as overpowered beings believing every species is basically lesser than them and that said lesser species can never rise up in technology, but more as the police/protectors of the galaxy. Like say Balaho (the Grunt homeworld) is in trouble, Humanity comes and helps, but does not devolve/exterminate the attackers’ entire species.

> > I feel that Humanity would only be able to make peace with the Elites, Grunts, Hunters, and Jackals. The Brutes don’t seem capable of peaceful relations with humans or elites. The drones wouldn’t agree to anything unless the UNSC manages to convince the Drone Queen.
>
> Weren’t things going alright in Escalations?

Depends on what you’re specifically asking.

While the Brute Chieftain Lydus was reasonable and would listen to both Hood and Thel, at the end of the day, Lydus wasn’t convinced because Thel couldn’t help his own world.

On the other hand, the mercenary group, led by the Elite 'Gajat, has Elites, Humans, Brutes, Jackals, Grunts, and Hunters (basically every species except Drones, Engineers, and Prophets, which makes sense to me) all working together with no problems so far.

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> However, I can see that Humanity will still be the only holders of the Mantle. Though not as overpowered beings believing every species is basically lesser than them and that said lesser species can never rise up in technology, but more as the police/protectors of the galaxy. Like say Balaho (the Grunt homeworld) is in trouble, Humanity comes and helps, but does not devolve/exterminate the attackers’ entire species.

Speak softly, and carry a big stick…? So Humanity should model itself after America of the Teddy Roosevelt age?

I’m not trying to be quippy, that’s all I got out of what you posted.