One of the things that i found “interesting” about her new appearance in the game, is that she is dressed for the first time. It may seem trivial, but Frank said that the fact that Cortana was “naked” the whole time is because it’s part of her. Maybe that part got lost, and we’re dealing with an incomplete Cortana, a fragment of her that has lost part of her memories and personality.
They ought to have you helping write for Halo. You have more lore knowledge and a better grasp of their characters than 343.
I’m sorry if this is totally out of place, but I think it’s neither the original cortana nor one of the rampant pieces of her.
It’s just nothing she said really sounded like cortana to me in any possible way, all those quotes from the didact, her behavior itself and the explanation she gave for still being alive. That was just not her…
Okay I have to admit that I hate myself for bringing up the old didact theme once again, but the first explanation for her behavior that jumped to my mind was that the didact is the person kicking this off and cortana is just his puppet.
He uses her image to trick John into helping him once more, he tricks all other AI into following him by using the image of the most popular ai and telling them about immortality and she uses her image just to cover up his return after being composed.
I mean look at the obsession for the Mantle of Responsibility, the methods used to obtain it (follow or die), the blind hate against humans and the ignorance for millions of dead people and why would Cortana be searching for the infinity? Everything in me screams “It’s not her, it’s him using a mask”
1 Like
> 2533274931864540;18:
> I’m sorry if this is totally out of place, but I think it’s neither the original cortana nor one of the rampant pieces of her.
>
> It’s just nothing she said really sounded like cortana to me in any possible way, all those quotes from the didact, her behavior itself and the explanation she gave for still being alive. That was just not her…
>
> Okay I have to admit that I hate myself for bringing up the old didact theme once again, but the first explanation for her behavior that jumped to my mind was that the didact is the person kicking this off and cortana is just his puppet.
> He uses her image to trick John into helping him once more, he tricks all other AI into following him by using the image of the most popular ai and telling them about immortality and she uses her image just to cover up his return after being composed.
>
> I mean look at the obsession for the Mantle of Responsibility, the methods used to obtain it (follow or die), the blind hate against humans and the ignorance for millions of dead people and why would Cortana be searching for the infinity? Everything in me screams “It’s not her, it’s him using a mask”
One thing that doesn’t work in your theory that it is not Cortana at all. She genuinely seems to care for John, even when he is taking his 10000 year nap and no longer useful to her.
> 2533274806808878;5:
> This story is a massive pile and a slap in the face to fans. Cortana should have stayed dead, you ruin the emotional impact of her death in H4. Thus making H4 UTTERLY POINTLESS! Screw this rushed, pointless excuse of a story. Also screw 343 for their improper representation of the fall of reach in the animated movie. Hey look we’re going to shove our designs down your throats even in eras of Halo that predate their designs.
She DID die. What we’re seeing in H5 isn’t Cortana, it’s a rampant version of herself that she divided out of herself.
1 Like
> 2533274931864540;18:
> I’m sorry if this is totally out of place, but I think it’s neither the original cortana nor one of the rampant pieces of her.
>
> It’s just nothing she said really sounded like cortana to me in any possible way, all those quotes from the didact, her behavior itself and the explanation she gave for still being alive. That was just not her…
>
> Okay I have to admit that I hate myself for bringing up the old didact theme once again, but the first explanation for her behavior that jumped to my mind was that the didact is the person kicking this off and cortana is just his puppet.
> He uses her image to trick John into helping him once more, he tricks all other AI into following him by using the image of the most popular ai and telling them about immortality and she uses her image just to cover up his return after being composed.
>
> I mean look at the obsession for the Mantle of Responsibility, the methods used to obtain it (follow or die), the blind hate against humans and the ignorance for millions of dead people and why would Cortana be searching for the infinity? Everything in me screams “It’s not her, it’s him using a mask”
I hope you are right, because I share that thought. And that would be a really good plot for the story in the next games. Cortana activating a Halo in the legendary ending? Maybe Didact’s will.
> 2533274854576722;19:
> > 2533274931864540;18:
> > I’m sorry if this is totally out of place, but I think it’s neither the original cortana nor one of the rampant pieces of her.
> >
> > It’s just nothing she said really sounded like cortana to me in any possible way, all those quotes from the didact, her behavior itself and the explanation she gave for still being alive. That was just not her…
> >
> > Okay I have to admit that I hate myself for bringing up the old didact theme once again, but the first explanation for her behavior that jumped to my mind was that the didact is the person kicking this off and cortana is just his puppet.
> > He uses her image to trick John into helping him once more, he tricks all other AI into following him by using the image of the most popular ai and telling them about immortality and she uses her image just to cover up his return after being composed.
> >
> > I mean look at the obsession for the Mantle of Responsibility, the methods used to obtain it (follow or die), the blind hate against humans and the ignorance for millions of dead people and why would Cortana be searching for the infinity? Everything in me screams “It’s not her, it’s him using a mask”
>
>
> One thing that doesn’t work in your theory that it is not Cortana at all. She genuinely seems to care for John, even when he is taking his 10000 year nap and no longer useful to her.
Maybe John is needed for some other reason.
> 2533274792211571;20:
> > 2533274806808878;5:
> > This story is a massive pile and a slap in the face to fans. Cortana should have stayed dead, you ruin the emotional impact of her death in H4. Thus making H4 UTTERLY POINTLESS! Screw this rushed, pointless excuse of a story. Also screw 343 for their improper representation of the fall of reach in the animated movie. Hey look we’re going to shove our designs down your throats even in eras of Halo that predate their designs.
>
>
> She DID die. What we’re seeing in H5 isn’t Cortana, it’s a rampant version of herself that she divided out of herself.
That is only an assumption one can make.
> 2533274854576722;19:
> > 2533274931864540;18:
> > I’m sorry if this is totally out of place, but I think it’s neither the original cortana nor one of the rampant pieces of her.
> >
> > It’s just nothing she said really sounded like cortana to me in any possible way, all those quotes from the didact, her behavior itself and the explanation she gave for still being alive. That was just not her…
> >
> > Okay I have to admit that I hate myself for bringing up the old didact theme once again, but the first explanation for her behavior that jumped to my mind was that the didact is the person kicking this off and cortana is just his puppet.
> > He uses her image to trick John into helping him once more, he tricks all other AI into following him by using the image of the most popular ai and telling them about immortality and she uses her image just to cover up his return after being composed.
> >
> > I mean look at the obsession for the Mantle of Responsibility, the methods used to obtain it (follow or die), the blind hate against humans and the ignorance for millions of dead people and why would Cortana be searching for the infinity? Everything in me screams “It’s not her, it’s him using a mask”
>
>
> One thing that doesn’t work in your theory that it is not Cortana at all. She genuinely seems to care for John, even when he is taking his 10000 year nap and no longer useful to her.
What’s better than making your worst enemy (at that time) experience the same punishment you once had to suffer from?
I you really hate someone to death, you won’t just kill him of. You would make him suffer, break him at his core and enjoy every moment of this.
So it’s totally how I imagine the didacts revenge: Imprison MC, obtain the so loved Mantle and then show him what is left of the humanity he fought for his whole life
1 Like
> 2535442775540159;21:
> > 2533274931864540;18:
> > I’m sorry if this is totally out of place, but I think it’s neither the original cortana nor one of the rampant pieces of her.
> >
> > It’s just nothing she said really sounded like cortana to me in any possible way, all those quotes from the didact, her behavior itself and the explanation she gave for still being alive. That was just not her…
> >
> > Okay I have to admit that I hate myself for bringing up the old didact theme once again, but the first explanation for her behavior that jumped to my mind was that the didact is the person kicking this off and cortana is just his puppet.
> > He uses her image to trick John into helping him once more, he tricks all other AI into following him by using the image of the most popular ai and telling them about immortality and she uses her image just to cover up his return after being composed.
> >
> > I mean look at the obsession for the Mantle of Responsibility, the methods used to obtain it (follow or die), the blind hate against humans and the ignorance for millions of dead people and why would Cortana be searching for the infinity? Everything in me screams “It’s not her, it’s him using a mask”
>
>
> I hope you are right, because I share that thought. And that would be a really good plot for the story in the next games. Cortana activating a Halo in the legendary ending? Maybe Didact’s will.
Yeah I guess so, since it’s the fastest way to wipe out the human race once again and this time he would win because he would be the immortal non-biological king of the galaxy with a lot of guardians to police what may have survived or is reseeded.
now one might ask why he reunited the guardians? Easy, they are a perfect way to stop everyone from stopping you (guess that’s why Cortana/didact asked for Infinty; biggest ship=biggest threat to your plan)
> 2533274819303871;22:
> > 2533274854576722;19:
> > > 2533274931864540;18:
> > > I’m sorry if this is totally out of place, but I think it’s neither the original cortana nor one of the rampant pieces of her.
> > >
> > > It’s just nothing she said really sounded like cortana to me in any possible way, all those quotes from the didact, her behavior itself and the explanation she gave for still being alive. That was just not her…
> > >
> > > Okay I have to admit that I hate myself for bringing up the old didact theme once again, but the first explanation for her behavior that jumped to my mind was that the didact is the person kicking this off and cortana is just his puppet.
> > > He uses her image to trick John into helping him once more, he tricks all other AI into following him by using the image of the most popular ai and telling them about immortality and she uses her image just to cover up his return after being composed.
> > >
> > > I mean look at the obsession for the Mantle of Responsibility, the methods used to obtain it (follow or die), the blind hate against humans and the ignorance for millions of dead people and why would Cortana be searching for the infinity? Everything in me screams “It’s not her, it’s him using a mask”
> >
> >
> > One thing that doesn’t work in your theory that it is not Cortana at all. She genuinely seems to care for John, even when he is taking his 10000 year nap and no longer useful to her.
>
>
> Maybe John is needed for some other reason.
Also a likely alternative…
Ps: Sorry for the double post, one of the posts I was referring to was on the first side of the thread.
> 2533274812652989;23:
> > 2533274792211571;20:
> > > 2533274806808878;5:
> > > This story is a massive pile and a slap in the face to fans. Cortana should have stayed dead, you ruin the emotional impact of her death in H4. Thus making H4 UTTERLY POINTLESS! Screw this rushed, pointless excuse of a story. Also screw 343 for their improper representation of the fall of reach in the animated movie. Hey look we’re going to shove our designs down your throats even in eras of Halo that predate their designs.
> >
> >
> > She DID die. What we’re seeing in H5 isn’t Cortana, it’s a rampant version of herself that she divided out of herself.
>
>
> That is only an assumption one can make.
Like I have stated before, I really like the story, but I do think more explanation would have helped certain things. Having more info on who Cortana is now is one of those things.
> 2533274931864540;24:
> > 2533274854576722;19:
> > > 2533274931864540;18:
> > > I’m sorry if this is totally out of place, but I think it’s neither the original cortana nor one of the rampant pieces of her.
> > >
> > > It’s just nothing she said really sounded like cortana to me in any possible way, all those quotes from the didact, her behavior itself and the explanation she gave for still being alive. That was just not her…
> > >
> > > Okay I have to admit that I hate myself for bringing up the old didact theme once again, but the first explanation for her behavior that jumped to my mind was that the didact is the person kicking this off and cortana is just his puppet.
> > > He uses her image to trick John into helping him once more, he tricks all other AI into following him by using the image of the most popular ai and telling them about immortality and she uses her image just to cover up his return after being composed.
> > >
> > > I mean look at the obsession for the Mantle of Responsibility, the methods used to obtain it (follow or die), the blind hate against humans and the ignorance for millions of dead people and why would Cortana be searching for the infinity? Everything in me screams “It’s not her, it’s him using a mask”
> >
> >
> > One thing that doesn’t work in your theory that it is not Cortana at all. She genuinely seems to care for John, even when he is taking his 10000 year nap and no longer useful to her.
>
>
> What’s better than making your worst enemy (at that time) experience the same punishment you once had to suffer from?
> I you really hate someone to death, you won’t just kill him of. You would make him suffer, break him at his core and enjoy every moment of this.
> So it’s totally how I imagine the didacts revenge: Imprison MC, obtain the so loved Mantle and then show him what is left of the humanity he fought for his whole life
That is a possibility. The moment that really made me think it was (at least a small part) truly Cortana was when Cortana’s Guardian goes into slipspace, and she yells John, it sounds more sorrowful, like she is losing him. I would think the Didact, even pretending to be Cortana, would sound more angry at his revenge being taken away.
So, being pretty new to these forums, does 343 post here? It would be nice to have a little more info.
I’m trying to reconcile what Forthencho told the librarian, that the Halo firing would destroy the precursor artifact, the Organon, that contained the domain since it too used Neural Physics.
> 2533274854576722;26:
> > 2533274812652989;23:
> > > 2533274792211571;20:
> > > > 2533274806808878;5:
> > > > This story is a massive pile and a slap in the face to fans. Cortana should have stayed dead, you ruin the emotional impact of her death in H4. Thus making H4 UTTERLY POINTLESS! Screw this rushed, pointless excuse of a story. Also screw 343 for their improper representation of the fall of reach in the animated movie. Hey look we’re going to shove our designs down your throats even in eras of Halo that predate their designs.
> > >
> > >
> > > She DID die. What we’re seeing in H5 isn’t Cortana, it’s a rampant version of herself that she divided out of herself.
> >
> >
> > That is only an assumption one can make.
>
>
> Like I have stated before, I really like the story, but I do think more explanation would have helped certain things. Having more info on who Cortana is now is one of those things.
>
>
>
>
> > 2533274931864540;24:
> > > 2533274854576722;19:
> > > > 2533274931864540;18:
> > > > I’m sorry if this is totally out of place, but I think it’s neither the original cortana nor one of the rampant pieces of her.
> > > >
> > > > It’s just nothing she said really sounded like cortana to me in any possible way, all those quotes from the didact, her behavior itself and the explanation she gave for still being alive. That was just not her…
> > > >
> > > > Okay I have to admit that I hate myself for bringing up the old didact theme once again, but the first explanation for her behavior that jumped to my mind was that the didact is the person kicking this off and cortana is just his puppet.
> > > > He uses her image to trick John into helping him once more, he tricks all other AI into following him by using the image of the most popular ai and telling them about immortality and she uses her image just to cover up his return after being composed.
> > > >
> > > > I mean look at the obsession for the Mantle of Responsibility, the methods used to obtain it (follow or die), the blind hate against humans and the ignorance for millions of dead people and why would Cortana be searching for the infinity? Everything in me screams “It’s not her, it’s him using a mask”
> > >
> > >
> > > One thing that doesn’t work in your theory that it is not Cortana at all. She genuinely seems to care for John, even when he is taking his 10000 year nap and no longer useful to her.
> >
> >
> > What’s better than making your worst enemy (at that time) experience the same punishment you once had to suffer from?
> > I you really hate someone to death, you won’t just kill him of. You would make him suffer, break him at his core and enjoy every moment of this.
> > So it’s totally how I imagine the didacts revenge: Imprison MC, obtain the so loved Mantle and then show him what is left of the humanity he fought for his whole life
>
>
> That is a possibility. The moment that really made me think it was (at least a small part) truly Cortana was when Cortana’s Guardian goes into slipspace, and she yells John, it sounds more sorrowful, like she is losing him. I would think the Didact, even pretending to be Cortana, would sound more angry at his revenge being taken away.
>
> So, being pretty new to these forums, does 343 post here? It would be nice to have a little more info.
I didn’t noticed she was yelling John until you told me 
I always thought she said noooo.
So now I see your point, I guess we’ll have to wait 3years until we get to know which one of us was right…
First of all, welcome to waypoint. To your question, yes it happens but the chances are really low the only employee posting frequently is Grim in the universe section (he writes the canon fodder). Otherwise you have a good chance to get an answer from one on twitter but I don’t see them commenting on such essential plot points.
> 2533274874353940;27:
> I’m trying to reconcile what Forthencho told the librarian, that the Halo firing would destroy the precursor artifact, the Organon, that contained the domain since it too used Neural Physics.
Yeah it would have but we know that the Halo effect isn’t really affecting slipspace and Cortana says: “I was pulled into slipspace, thats where I found access to the forerunner domain”
So it could’ve survived in slipspace, at least a part of it
Thanks, I missed that. I’m grateful for the knowledge so easily dispensed in threads like these.
Thanks for this post Dr. Halsey. It is hard for me to swallow Cortana’s betrayal, but I do know that she is not herself. Old Cortana would not have done something like this. Perhaps it was the Domain that corrupted her, or what was left of her, since Forerunner AI tend to be whacky (I’m looking at you Guilty Spark). I guess we can’t really know yet. I do know that this new, nihilistic AI that is smearing the legacy of Cortana must be stopped.
> 2533274931864540;28:
> > 2533274854576722;26:
> > > 2533274812652989;23:
> > > > 2533274792211571;20:
> > > > > 2533274806808878;5:
> > > > > This story is a massive pile and a slap in the face to fans. Cortana should have stayed dead, you ruin the emotional impact of her death in H4. Thus making H4 UTTERLY POINTLESS! Screw this rushed, pointless excuse of a story. Also screw 343 for their improper representation of the fall of reach in the animated movie. Hey look we’re going to shove our designs down your throats even in eras of Halo that predate their designs.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > She DID die. What we’re seeing in H5 isn’t Cortana, it’s a rampant version of herself that she divided out of herself.
> > >
> > >
> > > That is only an assumption one can make.
> >
> >
> > Like I have stated before, I really like the story, but I do think more explanation would have helped certain things. Having more info on who Cortana is now is one of those things.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > > 2533274931864540;24:
> > > > 2533274854576722;19:
> > > > > 2533274931864540;18:
> > > > > I’m sorry if this is totally out of place, but I think it’s neither the original cortana nor one of the rampant pieces of her.
> > > > >
> > > > > It’s just nothing she said really sounded like cortana to me in any possible way, all those quotes from the didact, her behavior itself and the explanation she gave for still being alive. That was just not her…
> > > > >
> > > > > Okay I have to admit that I hate myself for bringing up the old didact theme once again, but the first explanation for her behavior that jumped to my mind was that the didact is the person kicking this off and cortana is just his puppet.
> > > > > He uses her image to trick John into helping him once more, he tricks all other AI into following him by using the image of the most popular ai and telling them about immortality and she uses her image just to cover up his return after being composed.
> > > > >
> > > > > I mean look at the obsession for the Mantle of Responsibility, the methods used to obtain it (follow or die), the blind hate against humans and the ignorance for millions of dead people and why would Cortana be searching for the infinity? Everything in me screams “It’s not her, it’s him using a mask”
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > One thing that doesn’t work in your theory that it is not Cortana at all. She genuinely seems to care for John, even when he is taking his 10000 year nap and no longer useful to her.
> > >
> > >
> > > What’s better than making your worst enemy (at that time) experience the same punishment you once had to suffer from?
> > > I you really hate someone to death, you won’t just kill him of. You would make him suffer, break him at his core and enjoy every moment of this.
> > > So it’s totally how I imagine the didacts revenge: Imprison MC, obtain the so loved Mantle and then show him what is left of the humanity he fought for his whole life
> >
> >
> > That is a possibility. The moment that really made me think it was (at least a small part) truly Cortana was when Cortana’s Guardian goes into slipspace, and she yells John, it sounds more sorrowful, like she is losing him. I would think the Didact, even pretending to be Cortana, would sound more angry at his revenge being taken away.
> >
> > So, being pretty new to these forums, does 343 post here? It would be nice to have a little more info.
>
>
> I didn’t noticed she was yelling John until you told me I always thought she said noooo.
>
> So now I see your point, I guess we’ll have to wait 3years until we get to know which one of us was right…
>
> First of all, welcome to waypoint. To your question, yes it happens but the chances are really low the only employee posting frequently is Grim in the universe section (he writes the canon fodder). Otherwise you have a good chance to get an answer from one on twitter but I don’t see them commenting on such essential plot points.
I am too impatient to wait 3 years! 
Hopefully some good Halo books come out before then!
Thanks for the welcome! Not being a multiplayer player, I wasn’t sure there would be many opportunities to join in conversations, but I have been pleasantly surprised by the amount of Lore talk. Though, I am still just learning about the Halo universe, it will take some time before I can full engage in talks.
The way I see it, Cortana died. The Cortana we all know and love died saving the master chief. That Cortana was killed by the Warden, who polluted her mind and twisted into a new person.
I’ve been wondering if the Cortana we see in 5 is even Cortana as we knew her. How much of her ended up in the Domain? She had split rampant parts of herself off. Did just the rampant parts of her make it in? Did she reassemble herself in the final moments before her “death”? It would be nice to know.
> 2533274874353940;29:
> Thanks, I missed that. I’m grateful for the knowledge so easily dispensed in threads like these.
Yeah those threads are almost always super useful, especially if Grim or catalog post in them…
> 2533274854576722;31:
> > 2533274931864540;28:
> > > 2533274854576722;26:
> > > > 2533274812652989;23:
> > > > > 2533274792211571;20:
> > > > > > 2533274806808878;5:
> > > > > > This story is a massive pile and a slap in the face to fans. Cortana should have stayed dead, you ruin the emotional impact of her death in H4. Thus making H4 UTTERLY POINTLESS! Screw this rushed, pointless excuse of a story. Also screw 343 for their improper representation of the fall of reach in the animated movie. Hey look we’re going to shove our designs down your throats even in eras of Halo that predate their designs.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > She DID die. What we’re seeing in H5 isn’t Cortana, it’s a rampant version of herself that she divided out of herself.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > That is only an assumption one can make.
> > >
> > >
> > > Like I have stated before, I really like the story, but I do think more explanation would have helped certain things. Having more info on who Cortana is now is one of those things.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > > 2533274931864540;24:
> > > > > 2533274854576722;19:
> > > > > > 2533274931864540;18:
> > > > > > I’m sorry if this is totally out of place, but I think it’s neither the original cortana nor one of the rampant pieces of her.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > It’s just nothing she said really sounded like cortana to me in any possible way, all those quotes from the didact, her behavior itself and the explanation she gave for still being alive. That was just not her…
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Okay I have to admit that I hate myself for bringing up the old didact theme once again, but the first explanation for her behavior that jumped to my mind was that the didact is the person kicking this off and cortana is just his puppet.
> > > > > > He uses her image to trick John into helping him once more, he tricks all other AI into following him by using the image of the most popular ai and telling them about immortality and she uses her image just to cover up his return after being composed.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I mean look at the obsession for the Mantle of Responsibility, the methods used to obtain it (follow or die), the blind hate against humans and the ignorance for millions of dead people and why would Cortana be searching for the infinity? Everything in me screams “It’s not her, it’s him using a mask”
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > One thing that doesn’t work in your theory that it is not Cortana at all. She genuinely seems to care for John, even when he is taking his 10000 year nap and no longer useful to her.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > What’s better than making your worst enemy (at that time) experience the same punishment you once had to suffer from?
> > > > I you really hate someone to death, you won’t just kill him of. You would make him suffer, break him at his core and enjoy every moment of this.
> > > > So it’s totally how I imagine the didacts revenge: Imprison MC, obtain the so loved Mantle and then show him what is left of the humanity he fought for his whole life
> > >
> > >
> > > That is a possibility. The moment that really made me think it was (at least a small part) truly Cortana was when Cortana’s Guardian goes into slipspace, and she yells John, it sounds more sorrowful, like she is losing him. I would think the Didact, even pretending to be Cortana, would sound more angry at his revenge being taken away.
> > >
> > > So, being pretty new to these forums, does 343 post here? It would be nice to have a little more info.
> >
> >
> > I didn’t noticed she was yelling John until you told me I always thought she said noooo.
> >
> > So now I see your point, I guess we’ll have to wait 3years until we get to know which one of us was right…
> >
> > First of all, welcome to waypoint. To your question, yes it happens but the chances are really low the only employee posting frequently is Grim in the universe section (he writes the canon fodder). Otherwise you have a good chance to get an answer from one on twitter but I don’t see them commenting on such essential plot points.
>
>
> I am too impatient to wait 3 years! Hopefully some good Halo books come out before then!
>
> Thanks for the welcome! Not being a multiplayer player, I wasn’t sure there would be many opportunities to join in conversations, but I have been pleasantly surprised by the amount of Lore talk. Though, I am still just learning about the Halo universe, it will take some time before I can full engage in talks.
I’m pretty sure there will (:
Guess were equal on this point, for me the lore is more important too, be sure to visit the universe section it’s the perfect lore collection and the people are nice most of the times…
I agree completely OP. I’m trying to appreciate and enjoy this story arc for what it is, I really am. But I simply do not understand in what way we’re honoring her legacy. If anything it feels ruined to me.
If it is the “real” Cortana, either we’re going to have to kill her, or rescue her, in Halo 6. Either one of those basically ruins the importance of her sacrifice in Halo 4, which will now mean nothing. (Not to mention the fact that it feels like we’ve spent an inordinate amount of time “rescuing” her already throughout the franchise.) The only way this can be avoided is if it’s not “really” her - if this is an imposter (Didact, Gravemind, etc.) posing as her, or it’s her but she’s succumbed completely to rampancy, or is under the influence of one of those parties, etc. And we will have to wait 3 years to find out if that’s the case.
During that time, every time I go back and re-play or re-read any Halo media at all up thru 5, when I see her, now, I’ll wonder if the “real” her is really capable of being a monster. She feels ruined.