- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
Ok, I know that there have been literally HUNDREDS of posts about what the Ark could be, and what it could do, but bare with me. I think this is somewhat original. Somewhat lengthy read.
The Prophet of Truth was rushing to Earth BEFORE Delta Halo's firing sequence was aborted. Presumably, this was to annihalate all humans, to "finish what was started". But why would he bother? If the Great Journey was moments away from commencing, why go to fight a lengthy battle at the human home planet? I doubt that the Prophets have the same sentiments about "glory in battle" that the Elites do.
This leads one to believe that he is going to Earth for the Ark. And why would he be going for the Ark unless he suspected that something would go wrong at Delta Halo. Perhaps he knew that Tartarus would fail (side theory: maybe the prophets posess their own Forerunner artifact similar to the time crystal from Reach, letting them have limited looks at the future). So he anticipates that Tartarus will fail. So how does he know that the Ark controls all the Halos when they are in standby status? Maybe he knows some secret about the Ark that only the Hierarchs know, because of some very secretive Forerunner artifact they found( again, look at side theory above).
So here Truth is, conquering Earth, and now he can get to the Ark (so conviniently excavated by Regret's slipspace jump). But maybe he DOESN'T know the true function of the Halos? What if he really does believe in the divinity of the Forerunners. But because of this secret knowledge he and the other Hierarchs have, they know that the Ark is VERY special.
The Ark itself may not control the Halos. 343 GS says you need to go there to activate them remotely. He doesn't say that the Ark is the device to do it. Maybe Truth knows that there is some "otherspace" pocket in the Ark that 1 or more Forerunners remained to monitor how the fledgling races of our galaxy progressed, how we dealt with the Flood, and how the Halos are used/abused by these baby races.
Yes, 343 said that all the Forerunners in this galaxy died as planned. THIS galaxy. Thus the "otherspace" pocket. They aren't in this galaxy, but are still connected to it. Truth knows this. He knows Tartarus is going to fail. So he wants to go speak to his gods face to face, to see them in their divine glory, etc., and prove himself worthy of the knowledge of the Halos. The Forerunners in this other "dimension" of space have are actually in control of the Halos, and decide who is responsible enough to use the Halos.
The flash from the device in the trailer could be that "otherspace" pocket collapsing, or taking something/someone into it, OR rejecting someone(Truth) not found worthy. Bungie said the trailer was about 1/3 into the game (or 3/4, don't remember). The rest of the game can be spent dealing with a humiliated and furious Truth(can't be too fun to have your loyal disciples see you chastised by your "gods). He is now leading a vengeful fleet to physically destroy Earth, and all the remaining humans on colony worlds. "The way the world ends" could be Truth destroying Earth, but MC finally destroying Truth. He(MC) then gathers the remaining human survivors and settles down on a very nice new planet, and what Covenant are allied with the Humans (ones loyal to the Arbiter) could help the Humans rebuild their civilization.
I know this theory needs a lot of work, and it probably won't turn out that way, but it's food for thought. Lemme know your ideas on this.
[Edited on 6/27/2006]