By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.
I'm getting very tired of the lack of common sense here... Especially in the Reach forum.
Reach was glassed, it has no atmosphere. John could only last 90 minutes on the planet due to his oxygen reserves, I don't think that's the kind of future Bungie had in mind for Halo.
And where else would he be? Well, a Forerunner Shield World? A Precursor world?
Likely he'll end up wherever the Didact went after the activation of the Ark 100,000 years before current events. As Mendicant Bias had control over the Portal's systems, he wished to atone for his sins, sending a Reclaimer to his master may help absolve him.
*
Therefore, halo: reach is a sequal to halo 3, but also a prequel to halo 1.
That makes no sense what-so-ever. It can't be a prequel and sequel to two different things at the same time.
[Edited on 09.20.2009 2:07 PM PDT]