Basically this article explains why I think the Flood will return in Halo 6. I previously wrote an article explaining how Cortana can be defeated in Halo 6, but I’ll recap on that.
After a bit of research I’ve come up with some theories of what will happen in Halo 6. I’ve never read the books but I have watched the terminals from Halo CEA, 2, and 3. I’ve never really been interested in the logs because I didn’t want to rely on them to understand Halo 5’s campaign. Nevertheless, they may still hold information I’m missing for my theory. Just like Halo 3’s terminals did for Halo 4!
Theory 1: The flood will return in Halo 6, and Chief makes verbal contact with them!
If you’ve watched Halo Legends: Origins, you’ll remember a small scene where for a brief moment the Gravemind gives Cortana’s chip to Master Chief. I can’t remember when this event happened, unless it was in a novel, but this gives me an idea that 1: The flood are still present on installation 05 and other Halos, and 2: The flood have absorbed fragments from Cortana when she was onboard High Charity in Halo 2. This is similar to how Cortana survived her death on the Didact’s ship, teleporting her fragments to Genysis.
I’m uncertain how and where, but for some reason it is quite possible that in order to defeat Cortana, or save her, Chief must find the gravemind, or the flood offers a temporary deal to Chief. With the flood still present, Cortana’s plan to “bring peace” to the galaxy may be jeopardised, if for a brief moment the flood had their way and were spreading. Chief already understands how the process works between Forerunner protocol and Flood infection, and potentially releasing the flood could cause him to become a traitor. But in the process he may gain something valuable enough to fight either faction. However any information the flood gives to Chief could be corrupt, and it’s possible Dr Halsy could “fix” what he’s obtained. Even sane Cortana admitted it was possible, and if Halsey can’t maybe 343 guilty spark can, if he’s alive. Or the Forerunner builders?
The fragments of Cortana in the chip that the Gravemind gives chief may also contain an activation index. No AI except Cortana understands the Halos or Foreunner technology better than and these fragments, and if healed, could even be used to locate the activation index, control room and cartographer of the next Halo installation. Why do they need to locate a Halo ring? I explain in my next theory…
Theory 2: The Domain is physically vulnerable to the Halo array, so Chief may fire the halo ring.
If you read the Halo wiki, the Domain is a Precursor installment/infrastructure that can be destroyed or at least critically damaged by the Halo array. Since Cortana has access to the Domain, which grants her access to all Forerunner technology, she is dependant on the Domain for her conquest. If the Domain can be destroyed it would stop Cortana, and the Guardians would no longer obey her, possibly.
343 Guilty Spark already stated in a Halo CEA terminal: “If something were to ever go wrong with one of the Halos, [or] if our tools were ever turned against us… Long plans indeed”. 343 Guilty Spark also mentioned that it was the Librarian’s decision to preserve the flood. (This could mean that the “thousand lifetimes of planning”, could include cooperating with the Flood.) If the Halo closest to the Domain is 25000 lights years away from Human life, it could easily be used. But if Chief fired it in order to stop Cortana, he could then be called a traitor, with him fleeing on a Guardian.
Whatever happens, “until we can find a way to fight [Cortana]” (- Thomas Lasky), be sure there is a way. You can read more of how to defeat Cortana’s Domain here:
Theory 3: The Janus Key will be used to locate Genesis, a Halo ring, and Guardians.
In order for the previously suggested theories to work, they need to know where to look. What better way then the Janus Key. The remnant Covenent faction on the other hand may use the “Luminary” they found on Meridian in 2551 (Halo 2A terminal) which could be an excuse or reason to fight the Covenant again in Halo 6. Arbiter could be aware of this and inform his friends. The Luminary probably got lost on High Charity or one of the Heirachs ships, which should locate at either the Ark, or installation 05. I’m just wondering how did Chief return to Senghelios from Genesis? In a Pelican that should’ve been EMP’d?
Theory 4: Chief needs to find one inactive Guardian.
In the first Halo 5 trailer where Chief is wearing a cloak, and is assumed to be on the Ark, Chief is seen holding the SAME chip the Gravemind gave him in Halo Legends. With fragments of Cortana inside the chip, the Guardian could confuse this for the actual Cortana and grant Chief access to the slumbering Guardian. The Guardian could then be used to fight flood or transport Chief to where he needs to go, such as the Halo in Halo 6 (Unless however the Infinity already slipspaced there by accident), since most of the UNSC fleet is inactive due to Guardians EMP.
(It’s debatable whether the trailers for Halo 5 were highly exaggerated, designed for profit, or… they are leading just teasers for what happens after Halo 5. When chief is seen in multiple trailers looking for Guardians, it is possible they could still be looking for any remaining Guardians. This would be reasonable for the development of Halo 6 so that the Guardians aren’t just forgotten.
Summary:
Domain is vulnerable to the Halo array. Cortana can be defeated if the Domain is destroyed. Halo ring in Halo 6. Flood are still active on Installation 05. Flood would interfere with Cortana’s plan. The Librarian preserved Flood on Halo rings research facilities, which means the next halo will have flood;even installation 03. Teaser trailer mentions Chief dying in 2560. Covenant are able to locate Forerunner technology using Luminary. Cortana will likely try to prevent the Halos from being fired, not use it (unless for bluff).I also suspect the Didact will return in Halo 6. I don’t believe Cortana’s motivations are her own. So where does Locke fit in to all this? Stay tuned for my next theory