- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
You know what I was envisioning for the ending?
An epic battle between the Covenant/Human/Flood for control of the Ark(assuming it's the/a Forerunner Ship). This takes place on Earth, and the Flood has reached Earth. An epic battle and struggle at the end literally all over and throughout the Ark. The Ark is under heavy siege by the Flood both from captured ships and throughout it, as the Ark's hull strains and groans with each bombardment(might even scale the exterior of the Ark fending off the Flood). Forerunner tactical combat sentries are dispatched to do their best to repel the Flood from gaining access to the inside. Gravemind is present also. Arbiter sacrifices himself in destroying the Gravemind, thus allowing the Ark to launch.
This is one of the mysteries addressed since Halo CE by 343GS. Who fired Halo the last time? And why does he think MC is the one who did? Well, I've not the slightest idea. Faced with hopeless impossible odds, the Master Chief finds himself at the end with no choice at the desperate hour but to fire Halo for the greater good. 343GS is at his side. MC activates the Halo, and soon the whole galaxy echoes, then falls silent as the silence within Halo's control center. 343GS tries to console the MC, who wearily replies.."No, it's over." He removes his helmet(can't see his face) and lets it fall to the floor. He rests his arms on the control panel in deep contemplation and exhales. He had done what he was brought up to do, and has completed his ultimate goal. In a sense, humanity has won. The screen blacks out and cuts to the credits.
After the credits, however, is a happy ending. The Ark(assuming it's a ship)drifts through space silently yet elegantly. Aboard the Ark are humans, as well as every race of the Covenant and Forerunner(I've heard rumors they'll make an appearance in Halo 3) on the great journey to a new world. This was 'Noah's Ark', that saved Noah as well as each other animal(which would be the Covenant) from the Flood.
[Edited on 6/27/2006]