: I imagine that, given the sheer number of recent Spartan defectors (Zane,
: Scruggs, Mickey, Rudolf Schein) ONI probably has an automatic protocol.
: Then again, nobody has accused ONI of acting entirely rationally in recent
: years.

: I also have to wonder, will the revelation that the Chief isn't actually
: dead, when he (presumably) starts kicking Cortana off human worlds, come
: as a shock to the populace? It'll be the second time he's come back from
: the dead to save humanity. You know what they say: third time's the
: charm...

Just my opinion, but I assume the H2A scenes aren't technically canon anymore, seeing as they don't seem to fit into the timeline anymore. However, you can fit the Locke/Arbiter MCC reveal from E3 into the H5 timeline.

And my only explanation for ONIs actions with Chief, is perhaps too many videos of Blue Team by passing civilians while the Guardian emerged pushed their hand.