Of course, the plot would then move on to take inspiration from Halo 2 - which kicks off with the Covenant attacking Earth. Related: Best First Person Shooters of All Time The history of the Forerunners is a subtle plot-thread that continues to run through the story, with the threat of further Halo Rings looming large. The plot also introduces two major new characters Tartarus, leader of the Brutes, and the Elite who would ultimately become the Arbiter. Nylund's novel expands the cast subtly, meaning the show could then follow multiple side-stories.
There's essentially unlimited potential in this time-period. When the Master Reach returned to Reach, he discovered that a number of his Spartans had actually survived the planet's fall.
Eric Nylund's Halo: First Strike tells an essential story after the destruction of the first Halo Ring, how did the Master Chief and his allies make it home? At the same time, it also deepened the lore of the Halo universe, revealing that the planet Reach was actually a Forerunner construct in its own right. The next season - and, indeed, potentially quite a few seasons after - could easily draw further inspiration from the Halo novels. Season 3 & Beyond: The Human-Covenant War