- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
As the Arbiter and his allies help the humans fight the giant Covenant fleet, and as the remaining UNSC soldiers attempt to defend Earth from the Flood or Covenant invasion forces, Master Chief goes into the Ark by himself to stop the Prophet of Truth from activating the rings. He kills Truth in a bad-ass boss battle, only to discover that Cortana has taken over the Ark and is beginning the sequence to activate the Halo rings herself (Her program has finally started to be corrupted from all the information she has absorbed and she goes loco). Master Chief somehow beats her and brings her back to her senses, but she says that it's too late to stop the countdown.
Cortana's program finally breaks down and she fades away into nothing, leaving Master Chief alone as he contemplates the ultimate decision: to sacrifice his life somehow by destroying the Ark. Dr. Halsey's words suddenly burst into his head, the last words she said before she disappeared with Kelly: "Your mission is to save as many lives as possible..." Master Chief's decision is made, and he pulls off some kind of technical maneuver inside the Ark to destroy it (something like destroying the Pillar of Autumn at the end of Halo: CE, but much harder). The Ark explodes and Master Chief dies in the explosion, a hero.
The Arbiter and his fleet are so moved by Master Chief's sacrifice that they are filled with passion to avenge his death and drive back the Covenant fleet. The UNSC forces are also moved (Sgt. Johnson does a lone salute while cursing under his breath, "Dammit kid, why'd you have to go and be the hero?...") Sgt. Johnson charges after the Flood or Covenant army by himself with a fierce battle-cry, rifle blazing into the enemy ranks. The other marines are inspired by Master Chief's martyrdom and Sgt. Johnson's passion and they all charge after the enemy forces.
Both battles end in victory, and the humans, elites, grunts, and hunters form a new covenant of peace and brotherhood, to coexist together and always come to each other's aid, in remembrance of their hero, who sacrificed his own life so that others may have a chance...