- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
I think it really behooves us to pay attention to Cortana's last words in the teaser: "this is the way the world ends."
She doesn't say, "this is the way a really big battle kicks the crap out of the earth." She says the world ENDS. Them's is some harsh words.
I really think this is meant to be taken in a fairly literal context - ie. either earth is physically destroyed or the particular timeline the chief and cortana are in goes bye bye (see my crazy donnie darko thread).
Obviously, Bungie is not going to have the Earth blow up and have credits start scrolling on the screen. Also, I believe Frankie said that the teaser takes place approximately 1/3rd through the game. If the world ENDS 1/3rd thru the game, it seems like the only logical way the game could continue would be via time travel.
I firmly believe Master Chief will go back in time either in a conscious effort to save the world as its being destroyed or will be thrown back in time against his will (by gravemind??) as the world is ending.
I don't think it's too much of a stretch to believe that the remaining 2/3rds of the game will take place in the distant past (especially given that the supposed codename for halo 3 was forerunner). Guilty Sparks comments in Halo 1, as pointed out earlier, seem to strongly support the chief and him getting together long, long ago.
Good times. :)