The Halo 5 launch trailer stated “…the beginning of the greatest hunt…” I’m sure it’s a long shot, but judging by the trailer, those marines were looking for chief. Chief saw them from afar then walked away. Then they were seen driving a warthog, assumingly in his direction. What if they’re hunting him down? I know this was just a teaser and the entire thing may not even be cannon, but maybe Chief is truly rouge now, for whatever reason, and people are looking for him.
Not a chance in hell.
With all this created, banished and perhaps flood business going on. I highly doubt Master Chief would be the primary concern even if they were still looking for him before everything went dark.
No, I think you’re way off.
You can see a Warthog in the reflection of Chief’s visor. Plus the Marines were walking, and wouldn’t set off a smoke and then drive / walk away, normally smoke is to attract attention of others for them to rendezvous / pickup there.
More likely that separated, injured squads were meeting up after a crash (crashed Pelican seen earlier) or skirmish (didn’t see evidence of this besides an injured Marine, which could’ve been from a crash). Think similar to the level “Halo” in Halo 1.
Plus I’m pretty sure after Halo 5 no one is going to genuinely be hunting Chief any more, that storyline was massacred prior to Halo 5 release (rip hunt the truth) and probably won’t be continued.