As posted at IGN.com:
Immediately following the events of Halo 3, Chief and Cortana were set adrift on the derelict ship, Forward Unto Dawn. In the Announcement Trailer, Cortana wakes Chief from his cryogenic stasis as the ship has come across an Unknown Planet.
Cortana’s also detected an intruder on board, which happens to be Covenent invaders probably joining them from the fleet outside Chief’s derelict ship. No word on why the Covenant are there at all, never mind why they’ve broken their truce with humans, nor what role they play in the narrative.Additional UNSC forces on a deep space mission will also come to Requiem in the course of the game’s events.
A major plot point in Halo 4 will surround Cortana nearing the end of her natural life cycle, which is about 7 years. She has interfaced with Forerunner technology and the Gravemind and is overloaded with information. The usual effects of age cause Artificial Intelligences to display signs of madness.
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Cortana’s new look in the May 2012 Issue of Game Informer
The Covenant is not the primary enemy in Halo 4. There has been no information about The Flood, but since 343 has stated “You will be fighting an ancient evil,” speculation has surrounded The Timeless One.
Halo 4 will open with a prologue to introduce new players into the plot.
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