Foreword
A note on canon…
I don't normally do this sort of thing, but I think this time I really need to explain myself (and because I know I'll get at least one person commenting on it and at least one person flaming me for it if I don't). Basically, the Haloverse canon is a total mess. It's convoluted and self-conflicting, what with the newer games overwriting the old novels to varying degrees – and the novels' continuity itself being somewhat shot – and what's more, it's really confusing. Well, to me anyway, some of you may disagree.
At first I really did try to do my research so I could get these stories to fit into the canonical timeline, but to be honest, I've just given up on that. I mean, it's virtually impossible when the timeline is pretty much broken in the first place.
So, I've decided on a compromise, and this is the most important detail of this intro, even if you don't read the rest: this fanfiction uses game canon only. I'm not entirely sure if this makes it technically an AU or not, but that doesn't matter. The fact is, I'm writing this as though there were no other official Halo literature or media except the games - drawing logical conclusions from the information we get in Halo CE, 2, 3, and Reach, only. Ideas from other Halo mediums will of course be incorporated where applicable, but as a general rule, I'm pretty much disregarding the books and Halo Legends (and Halo Wars since that's apparently non-canonical anyway). However saying that, I will attempt to remain as faithful to the timeline as I possibly can while at the same time trying to make all the individual components work as a whole.
In a nutshell: disregard everything you learnt from the books, Halo Legends, and anything else that didn't come from the games, unless it's otherwise specified and explained within this set of stories.
Please don't hate me.
PS. Also, if Bungie themselves can play fast and loose with their own canon, I don't see why I can't for fanfiction purposes.
Lobo Diablo