: Like you I definitely appreciated the mystery elements and how it focused on
: the civilian side early on; it gave the book a different and appreciated
: flavor (although past a certain point the mystery element seemed rote--we
: knew it was the AI that did it so why draw it out like we were in an
: Agatha Christie novel?)

Those two times Veta tried to say who the killer was towards the end got a little bit annoying. It was like waiting for those commercial breaks on American Idol. JUST TELL US ALREADY!

: The time spent with the Spartan-IIIs was great, and I liked their interplay
: with Veta.

Ash, Mark, and Livi calling Veta "Mom" was really cool. Loved that Mark just had to have the final words for them in the book too. I can't wait to see what becomes of the Ferrets.

: I also appreciated the small moments we got with the other minor characters,
: like Castor's "angel" encounter in the epilogue and the small
: little death of the tech who was trying to help Fred fight the AI--those
: little bits are often my favorite bits in the more bombastic halo tales.

Castor's character did a complete 360 with that ending. The Chieftain appreciated what Roams Alone had done for him as a "gift from the creators" and not objectifying the Huragok for their abilities like the Covenant have done so many times before.

: What are Venezia and Gao up to in Halo 5 times?

It will have been just a little over five years since Gao and Venezia made their intentions clear by the time Halo 5 comes around. I bet both will have completely revitalized their armed forces. The Battle-jumpers will likely become near-peer to the UNSC Orbital Drop Shock Troopers, the Gao Space Navy could be modernized with whatever shipbuilding industry they have. I wouldn't be all that surprised if they manufacture some of their own frigates or destroyers, or seize some decommissioned UNSC ships to refit. New Tyne, Venezia will definitely grow more and more into a metropolis and the economic heart of the colonial separatists.

Most importantly I think Gao being as stable as they are with a local planetary government, with an industry and military of their own, mixed in with plenty of will and audacity, will show any disgruntled colonists that they can stand toe-to-toe with Earth.

: *So what's the reference to Requiem mean? Is the Forerunner AI somehow a part
: of the events of Halo 4? If so how?

Could be. Intrepid Eye wanted to go to Requiem, however, she was seized by Serin Osman the last time we saw of her.