<DIV><DIV><P><B>REACH HAS FALLEN.</B></P><P><B>THE COVENANT WAR MACHINE RAGES ON.</B></P><P><B>HUMANITY'S LAST HOPE LIES WITH THE CREW OF THE <I>PILLAR OF AUTUMN</I>—THE INDOMITABLE CAPTAIN JACOB KEYES, STAFF SERGEANT AVERY JOHNSON, THE AI CORTANA, HUNDREDS OF FEARLESS MARINES . . . AND SPARTAN 117, THE MASTER CHIEF. </B></P><P>Having barely escaped the battle for Reach, the crew of the <I>Pillar of Autumn</I> is forced to make a jump into Slipspace in hopes of evading the vast alien alliance hell-bent on wiping out humanity.  But their destination brings them to an ancient mystery and an even greater struggle.</P><P>In this far-flung corner of the universe floats a magnificently massive artificial ring world . . . a construct from a long lost race. The humans' only hope of survival is to crash land on its surface and take the battle against the Covenant to the ground.</P><P>But they soon discover that this enigmatic ring world is much more than it seems. Built 100,000 years ago by a civilization known as the Forerunners, this “Halo” is worshipped by the Covenant---a sacred artifact that they hope will complete their religious quest for supposed transcendence. They will stop at nothing to control it. </P><P>Engaged in a fierce ground battle, Master Chief and Cortana go deep into the Halo Construct to uncover a dark secret; this enigmatic ring world is also the universe's most dangerous weapon. Its purpose: the destruction of all sentient life. For the Forerunners built the Halo to battle the universe's most vicious enemy---a virtually unstoppable and suddenly reawakened force known as The Flood.  </P></DIV></DIV>