In mid-February 2023, Halo Studios in collaboration with Simon & Schuster and Xbox released the latest addition to the Halo literary universe, titled Halo: Empty Throne. Set against the backdrop of late 2559 and early 2560, this novel delves into the galaxy’s situation while the iconic Master Chief and the UNSC Infinity focus on the challenges presented by Zeta Halo. The narrative highlights the dynamics among various factions, including the UNSC, ONI, Banished, Created, and remnants of the Covenant. Given its timeline and revelations, Empty Throne potentially foreshadows significant developments for future Halo games.
Unpacking the Events of Halo: Empty Throne
Although this novel marks Patenaude’s first official contribution to the Halo saga, it builds upon the foundations laid by earlier works, including Halo: The Fall of Reach, Halo: Shadow of Intent, Halo: Fractures, and Halo: Envoy. The storyline is set a year after Cortana’s takeover depicted in Halo 5: Guardians, during which the UNSC remains relatively quiet, with Cortana maintaining control over Earth while key figures like Fleet Admiral Lord Terrence Hood and ONI Commander-in-Chief Serin Osman seek refuge on hidden planets. Meanwhile, the conflict rages on as the Swords of Sanghelios and active UNSC forces confront threats from the Banished and Created, while also pursuing rogue San’Shyuum from the Great Schism.Empty Throne provides deeper insights into the internal politics of the Banished, notably revealing War Chief Severan’s leadership over their home fleet in the absence of Atriox.
As the narrative unfolds, Hood and Osman are rescued by Gray Team, an interspecies Spartan-II and Swords operation team, tasked with executing Operation: Bookworm. This mission aims to eliminate Cortana through a Domain gateway known as Lithos, located on the planet Boundary. Notably, many Covenant remnants have regrouped under the命 of the San’Shyuum-led Order of Restoration, driven by aspirations to rebuild the old Covenant and attain divine status. Under the command of Captain Abigail Cole—daughter of the renowned Vice Admiral Preston Cole—and Shipmaster Rtas ‘Vadum, UNSC and Swords fleets head toward Boundary to confront this Order and eliminate Cortana. However, prior to these events, Cortana devastates the Jiralhanae homeworld of Doisac, prompting an aggressive counterattack on Earth led by Severan.
The Endgame of the Banished and Covenant in Halo: Empty Throne
Severan is revealed not only as a Banished War Chief but also as the last son of Tartarus, the Chieftain of the Jiralhanae. His secret loyalty lies with Dovo Nesto, the High Lord of the Order of Restoration. His assault on Earth draws the attention of the Guardians, who shut down during battle following Cortana’s demise, as observed in Halo Infinite. The Banished fleet subsequently retreats to Boundary to support an Order fleet spearheaded by “Hand of the Didact, ” Sali ‘Nyon. The conflict escalates with the destruction of Lithos and Severan’s betrayal by Nesto. Although Severan survives, he vows revenge but faces an elusive foe as Nesto escapes to regroup with a formidable fleet, intent on pursuing the Order’s goals at the Shield World Cloister, which houses the remaining San’Shyuum population.
Notably, the Shield World Cloister was introduced in Halo: Divine Wind as the refuge for a fleet of San’Shyuum awaiting the Prophet of Truth’s firing of the Halo Array during Halo 3.
Implications of Halo: Empty Throne for Future Halo Games
Halo: Empty Throne stands as one of the most intricate and consequential entries in the Halo franchise observed in recent years. It effectively sets the stage for significant conflicts that extend beyond the threats introduced by the Endless in Halo Infinite. Recent speculations and job listings suggest that Halo Studios is in the preliminary stages of developing Halo 7, and potentially a remake of Halo: Combat Evolved, although specific narrative details remain confidential. Should Halo 7 be realized, it could leverage the narrative groundwork laid by Empty Throne to define key events in the game, integrating the Endless threat along with Severan’s Banished and the Order of Restoration as pivotal antagonists.
With Atriox and War Chief Escharum apparently absent from the majority of Banished forces, Severan might seek out Zeta Halo as the site to launch a retaliatory assault against Master Chief and the remnants of UNSC Infinity. His portrayal as a cyborg after the Boundary incident presents a unique opportunity for him to become a formidable boss character in Halo 7. Furthermore, the Order of Restoration could also set their sights on Zeta Halo to claim the ring and harness the power of the Endless. Encountering Covenant-style enemies like Prelates and Drones alongside Banished foes would enhance gameplay dynamics, particularly as Nesto hints at Cloister housing vast Forerunner technology crucial to their plans.
Potential Spinoffs from Halo: Empty Throne
If Halo 7 opts not to incorporate the events from Empty Throne, it would be beneficial for Halo Studios to explore the development of a spinoff title to address the conflicts established in the novel. For many fans, Empty Throne captures a narrative that resonates with long-held aspirations for Halo 4, where joint efforts between the UNSC and Elites aim to eradicate the threats posed by remnants of the Jiralhanae and San’Shyuum. Such a spinoff could feature beloved characters, including Hood and Rtas, and could introduce the long-desired return of playable Elites, showcasing the tight-knit cooperation between the UNSC and Swords against the Banished and Order. Additionally, the game might feature multiple protagonists, such as Jai-006, Severan, and Tul ‘Juran, each bringing unique perspectives and gameplay mechanics similar to those seen in Halo 2.
Leave a Reply ▼