I am now writing this Halo 2 sequel in a reaction the cliffhanger at the conclusion of the game. I felt that it had answered some questions, but indeed asked many more. This fanfiction is the work of my own creativity, but Micro$oft owns all the rights of Halo 2, so sue me.

Foreword: Character List

I decided to give a background to these characters, because they are either just quickly mentioned in Halo 2 or not discussed at all (my characters)

Humans:

Fleet Admiral Terrance Hood

Commander of the 1st and 3rd Earth Sector Fleets, UNSC security council member

Sixty-four years old. One of the Earth's greatest commanders. He realized the importance of strategy in fighting the Covenant. While all the other admirals were foolishly throwing their fleets into the teeth of the Covenant, he learned that the Covenant could be defeated using superior tactics. Hood realizes that the humans could take advantage of the inflexible strategies of the Covenant. He is given command of the defense of Earth, which is possibly the greatest responsibility of mankind. A superior student, he graduated from the Fleet Academy in the first of his class. During his long combat experience, he was promoted up all the way to Fleet Admiral in 2546 after holding off a Covenant force three times the size of his fleet at Centurion.

Captain Daniel Stuart

Commander of Alpha Company in the 20th Infantry Division

Forty-two. He has had much experience in fighting the Covenant. His company has one of the highest kill to loss ratios in the UNSC, with the exception of the Spartans. He has fought with the Covenant for over 15 years, and knows what to expect. A calm and resolved man, he has watched his company become decimated by the Covenant during his 5 years of experience at the head of the division.

Covenant:

The Prophet of Truth

Final Remaining High Prophet

Six hundred fifty five years old. A member of the race of the Prophets, he has the ability of all the Prophets to read the language of the gods. During his lifetime, he has scoured space for the Halo rings and the Ark. When he found the humans living on the Ark, he became determined to wipe out the filthy humans out of existence. His race has technology that surpasses that of the Elites, including the particle-beam flagship in combat around Reach. The Prophets were able to subdue the Elites thousands of years ago and absorbed them into the Covenant. He believes that the Brutes are primitive animals, but they are much more useful because they are less likely to question their orders. Despite his high religious ranking, he is devoid of morals unlike his two fellow Prophets, Regret and Mercy. He was the one who first introduced the Brutes into the Covenant and now with the death of the two other Prophets is free to use any method possible to win at all costs.

The Brute Chieftain

The leader of the race called the Brutes. This honor is passed on through the death tournament, in which the challenger to the Chieftain must fight and kill the current leader and two of his chosen friends in combat. Restricted to only the traditional Brute Shot, each side uses underhanded tactics, including rigging the battle, to win. Only the smartest and strongest of the Brutes are able to overcome their enemy and claim the rank of Chieftain. The former Brute Chieftain was Tartarus, but after his death at the hands of the Arbiter, there is a vacancy in the leadership position.

The Flood:

Gravemind

Its age is unknown, but it is probably eons of years old. It is the common mind of all of the Flood and controls their actions. Its minions have some level of sentient thought, but it still has absolute control over its underlings. With every battle it fights, it gains experience and power. With the knowledge of the Forerunners, Covenant, and Humans, it is very persistent and difficult to defeat. It regarded the Master Chief and Arbiter as pawns in its bigger plan for total domination of the galaxy. Its control is not limited by space and distance, for it first encountered the Covenant and Humans on Halo 04. With the High Charity under its command, it seeks to expand its rule over all life.