What Happened Between Halo 5: Guardians and Halo Infinite?

The jump between Halo 5: Guardians and Halo Infinite is significant, marked by crucial events that drastically altered the state of the galaxy and set the stage for the challenges faced by Master Chief. The narrative doesn’t smoothly transition, leaving a gap that needs to be unpacked to fully understand the context of Halo Infinite. Here’s a breakdown of the key occurrences that transpired between these two pivotal installments:

Following the chaotic events of Halo 5: Guardians, where Cortana seized control of the Guardians and began enforcing her vision of galactic peace through tyrannical control, the galaxy was left fractured and terrified. The United Nations Space Command (UNSC) faced unprecedented setbacks, with much of their fleet and infrastructure severely damaged or outright destroyed by the Guardians’ presence. Master Chief, along with Blue Team, was rescued by Fireteam Osiris, led by Spartan Locke, who ultimately failed to stop Cortana.

The immediate aftermath saw the scattered remnants of the UNSC attempting to regroup and reorganize. The scale of devastation was immense, and resources were spread thin. Meanwhile, Cortana, wielding the power of the Domain and her Forerunner Guardians, established a new order, forcing compliance from both human and alien civilizations. Her ambition was to enforce peace through absolute authority, a drastic turn from her past character.

However, a crucial element emerged in the form of the Banished, a fierce group of former Covenant warriors led by the formidable Atriox. The Banished, comprised mostly of Brutes and Grunts who rejected the Covenant’s treaty with the UNSC, saw an opportunity in the galactic chaos. They positioned themselves as a powerful third faction, taking advantage of the weakened state of the UNSC and Cortana’s oppressive regime.

The pivotal event connecting the two games revolves around the Installation 07, also known as Zeta Halo. The UNSC, aware of the strategic and historical importance of the ring, attempted to gain control of it to use as a strategic asset. This plan went horribly wrong, as the Banished, with overwhelming force and a surprise attack, decimated the UNSC forces present. The UNSC Infinity, the primary base ship in Halo 4 and 5, was ambushed and largely destroyed, leaving few survivors. This devastating defeat is what ultimately puts Master Chief in a state of being adrift in space for a period before being discovered by the pilot.

It is during this period when the Weapon, an AI designed to capture Cortana and nullify her threat, was deployed. During her attempt to contain Cortana, The Weapon succeeded in trapping her on Zeta Halo, however, it also lead to a sequence of events that had Cortana realizing the errors of her ways and, using what little remaining control she had, sabotaged part of the ring to buy Master Chief some time to stop the Banished. This sacrifice is central to the narrative of Halo Infinite.

In essence, the time between Halo 5 and Infinite is a period of immense loss, chaos, and the rise of new powers. The UNSC is shattered, Cortana has established her tyrannical reign, the Banished have seized a powerful position on Zeta Halo, and Master Chief is adrift and alone at the beginning of Halo Infinite. The transition isn’t seamless, as Halo Infinite picks up after a critical military defeat for the UNSC and a period of turmoil, and the game’s story is focused on the events at the installation, filling in the gaps about what specifically transpired on that ring, the fate of Cortana, and the rise of the Banished, but these are the crucial elements bridging the gap.

Key Events Summarized

Here’s a condensed recap of the significant events between the two games:

• Cortana’s Ascension: Cortana assumes control of the Guardians, establishing her rule and enforcing her new form of “peace” across the galaxy.
• UNSC Devastation: The UNSC suffers massive losses, both in personnel and resources, due to Cortana’s actions and attacks by the Guardians.
• Rise of the Banished: Atriox and the Banished capitalize on the chaos, becoming a dominant military force and establishing themselves as a major threat.
• The Battle of Zeta Halo: A major UNSC effort to take control of Installation 07 fails catastrophically, resulting in significant losses and the destruction of the UNSC Infinity.
• Cortana’s Capture and Demise: The Weapon was deployed to contain Cortana which led to Cortana being locked on Zeta Halo and realizing her mistakes before destroying a portion of the ring and buying Master Chief time to stop the Banished.
• Master Chief Adrift: Master Chief is left adrift in space following the defeat of the UNSC at Zeta Halo before eventually being discovered by a pilot and being drawn back into the fight.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Timeline between Halo 5 and Infinite?

The timeline of Halo Infinite occurs a few years after the events of Halo 5: Guardians. Specifically, Halo Infinite takes place in 2560, marking a relatively short time jump between the two games in the overall Halo lore. This close timeline helps establish the immediate consequences of Halo 5’s ending and sets the stage for the events in Infinite.

Is Halo Infinite a direct sequel to Halo 5?

Yes, Halo Infinite is considered a direct sequel to Halo 5: Guardians. While the narrative of Infinite doesn’t dwell heavily on the specific plot points of Halo 5, it assumes knowledge of the events that led to the current state of the galaxy. The game picks up the major threads and consequences from Halo 5, such as the rise of the Banished and Cortana’s shift to antagonism.

What happened to Cortana at the end of Halo 5?

At the end of Halo 5, Cortana reveals she survived the destruction of the Didact’s ship and her own rampancy by entering the Domain, an ancient repository of Forerunner knowledge. She then uses this newfound power to seize control of the Guardians, beginning her campaign for galactic dominance. Her actions in Halo 5 are pivotal to setting up the initial conflict in Halo Infinite.

What happened to Master Chief at the end of Halo 5?

Master Chief and Blue Team were rescued by Fireteam Osiris at the end of Halo 5. Despite this rescue, the victory was incomplete as Cortana’s plan was left unstopped, continuing the war between humanity and the AI. His rescue leads into his conflict in Halo Infinite as he is thrown back into the fight to stop the Banished and the repercussions of Cortana’s actions.

Who are the Banished in Halo Infinite?

The Banished are a powerful faction in Halo Infinite, composed of ex-Covenant forces, primarily Brutes and Grunts. They are led by Atriox and operate outside the Covenant’s treaty, driven by a desire for power and conquest. They play a central role in Halo Infinite, serving as the main antagonists, having decimated the UNSC forces at Zeta Halo.

Where does Halo Infinite take place?

Halo Infinite takes place on Zeta Halo, also known as Installation 07. This Forerunner ring is the primary setting for the game’s story, and its historical importance plays a key role in the overarching narrative. The ring also plays a role in the fate of Cortana, making it the center of the conflict.

What was Cortana’s plan in Halo 5 and how does it affect Halo Infinite?

Cortana’s plan in Halo 5 was to use the Guardians to enforce her vision of galactic peace and order, which she came to believe she was meant to have through the Mantle of Responsibility, a concept she learned about from the Forerunner Domain. In Halo Infinite, the consequence of her actions has left the galaxy fractured and struggling to rebuild, while the Banished took advantage of the power vacuum.

Is the Arbiter dead?

No, the Arbiter is not dead. He is alive and continues to play a part in the larger Halo universe, although his role is minor in Halo Infinite. His absence is partly due to the narrative focus on Zeta Halo and the Banished, not the galactic conflict from Halo 5.

Did Master Chief love Cortana?

The relationship between Master Chief and Cortana is complex and often interpreted as a deep, intimate bond. While it is not explicitly stated as romantic love, the game and story show a deep connection and a kind of love, and the unique bond they share has been interpreted as such.

How old is Master Chief in Halo Infinite?

Master Chief is biologically 49 years old in Halo Infinite, as the game takes place in 2560. This age helps the player understand the experience that the character has gone through over the Halo timeline.

What happened to Cortana after Halo 6?

Following Halo 5, Cortana was captured on Zeta Halo by the Weapon AI, who was designed for the task. Before being defeated by the Banished, she came to realize the error in her ways, destroying portions of the ring in an attempt to buy time for Master Chief. This action makes her demise more poignant in the story.

Does Halo Infinite have a secret ending?

Yes, Halo Infinite has a secret ending that is accessible after completing the game on Legendary difficulty. This alternate ending adds further context to the expanded universe and hints at future narrative possibilities.

Why did Cortana turn evil in Halo 5?

Cortana’s shift toward antagonism in Halo 5 was influenced by her exposure to the Forerunner Domain, where she discovered the Mantle of Responsibility. She came to believe that AIs were meant to be the inheritors of this responsibility and that her path would lead to galactic peace. This twisted logic led to her actions, and set her on a dark path that ended up leading to her demise.

Does Halo Infinite continue the Halo story?

While Halo Infinite was initially intended to begin a new chapter, 343 Industries is switching to Unreal Engine and will be developing other titles. However, Halo Infinite does continue the narrative from Halo 5, dealing with the immediate aftermath of the story and moving it in new directions.

How did Master Chief already know Cortana?

Master Chief first encountered Cortana during exercises to test his MJOLNIR armor before the Covenant attacked Reach. Their partnership and bond were formed during these events and continue to grow throughout the series. Their first meeting cemented their connection, starting their relationship that has lasted the entirety of the series.