Nearly two years ago, before the launch of Halo 4, I created a thread that attempted to catalog the parts of pre-Halo 4 media that might have the most impact on the Halo 4 story. Some were relevent, some weren’t (cough anything Precursor cough). However, I felt that fans should be prepared and if they didn’t feel like reading all of the books, I’d give them the nitty-gritty on key details they should know. With a new Halo game on the horizon, I decided to give it another go. The problem I face now, however, is the amount of content to work with. Halo 4 had four nooks released before it came out and a lot of details. Right now, I’m working with the two comic series released thus far, Initiation and Escalation. So along with the summary of choice parts I think are the most relevant to know, I’ll provide a ranking from Low, Medium and High for things that may impact Halo 5 the most. Wish me luck and enjoy the content.
Halo: Initiation
Musa-096
Spartan-II washout left crippled and bound to a wheelchair. He has reached the rank of Commander and covertly started the Spartan-IV Program, seeking to make it independent of the UNSC and ONI.
Low: While I don’t think Musa himself will play a giant role in the Halo 5 story, knowing where the S-IV Program began and its founder are still good bits of trivia.
Jun-A266
Former member of Noble Team, the Spartan-IIIs who tried to defend Reach as it fell to Covenant attack in 2552. Last officially seen escorting Dr. Halsey to CASTLE Base, but somehow survived and escaped Reach and helped find members for the Spartan-IV Program.
Low: Like Musa, I don’t think Jun will hav a huge role, moreso given that he was not mentioned in Halo 4 or Escalation as of yet. Still, to know he is alive gives some closure about Halo: Reach.
Ilsa Zane
One of the original 10 “proto-Spartan-IVs”, went insane as the result of her augmentation and defected to an inserrectionist group. Led a raid on the UNSC Infinity with her fellow rebels, but was stopped by Spartan Sarah Palmer, Davis and others. Last seen being blasted out into space and recovered by an ONI Prowler.
Low: Zane is an interesting characters, but a psycho-Spartan probably isn’t going to trouble Chief and company in Halo 5 since ONI has imprisoned her.
New Colonial Alliance
The name of the insurrectionist group ex-Spartan Ilsa Zane joined and the group responsible for raiding the UNSC Infinity in 2553. Turncoat UNSC Admiral Mattius Drake is connected with them, either leading the rebels or using their services to try and take the Infinity.
Medium: Given the nature of a human who is possibly a rebel helping 'Gajat in Escalation, the insurrection rearing its head again may signal human opposition in the Halo 5 plot in the works. The fact we get a new, named rebel group increases this.
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Halo: Escalation
Aftermath of Second Requiem Campaign
Jul 'Mdama and his Covenant remnant are still at large with their half of the Janus Key along with having Dr. Catherine Elizabeth Halsey in their custody. After being debriefed, Captain Thomas Lasky and the UNSC Infinity are taken off the search for 'Mdama, the UNSC Vociferous has taken up the search instead.
High: With Jul 'Mdama and Halsey on the loose and their half of the Janus Key still in their possession will definitely be a major plot point for Halo 5. The UNSC Vociferous may end up being destroyed or serve as a connection with Escalation to Halo 5.
Negotiations at Ealen IV
Jiralhanae have been raiding Sangheili colony and resources worlds, escalating the possibility of all-out war between the two species. Because of these conflicts, peace talks have been set up on the plasma-harvesting world of Ealen IV between the Arbiter and a respected Jiralhanae Chieftain named Lydus, the UNSC Infinity and its crew act as bodyguards for the delegation. Ultimately due to Covenant remnant attacks, the negotations fail, but both the Arbiter and Lydus escape death.
High: The negotiations and subsequent conflict they cause will shape the politics of the universe that Halo 5 will be set in. With the Arbiter confirmed to still be alive, his chance of appearing in Halo 5 increases as well.
Vata 'Gajat UPDATED
Leader of a Covenant splinter group with possible ties to Jul 'Mdama. He leads an attack on the negotiations being held on Ealen IV. He appears to have the aid of a human of unknown affiliation, likely insurrectionist, in trying to topple the peace talks. He works for Jul 'Mdama, but his recent actions at Ealen IV indicate that he has his own agenda separate from that of the Didact’s Hand. Though he helped lure the Infinity for the New Colonial Alliance and crippled the ship, his own space station/plasma cannon was turned against him by Commander Palmer and Fireteam Majestic while he attempted to baord Infinity in a Corvette.
Medium: With 'Gajat dead, his influence in the Halo story moving forward remains undeterimined. However, his presence helped flesh out the presence of the New Colonial Alliance and how widespread it truly is. Will the NCA matter in Halo 5? For now, nobody knows.
Spartan Vladimir Scruggs
An original Spartan-IV in the same class as Sarah Palmer. He is revealed to be a traitor to the UNSC and has killed fellow Spartans and some of the Arbiter’s men. He could represent potential breaches within the Spartan-IV Program and might be tied to the human helping Vata 'Gajat. He justifies his rebellion by asking why New Phoenix’s fate was covered up, why the Arbiter can’t make peace with his own people and by asking if anyone has seen the Chief in over seven months. Killed in a close-combat skirmish by Commander Sarah Palmer.
Low: The odds of Scruggs living through the conflict on Ealen VI isn’t very high, but with two cases of rebellion within the S-IVs, this may hint at trouble with the IVs in Halo 5.
Spartan Paul DeMarco
Former Team Leader of Fireteam Majestic, killed in action along with Fireteam Bailey on Ealen IV after staying behind to provide covering fire for the escaping human, Brute and Elite delegations.
Low: While he was a major character in Spartan Ops, DeMarco’s death may not affect the universe too much, but will play a role in the development of Sarah Palmer.