Halo: Primordium

Halo: Primordium is the second novel in The Forerunner Saga by Greg Bear and is the sequel to Halo: Cryptum. It was released on January 3, 2012, with an audio edition released simultaneously.

Plot
"I’m having great fun working through the action and growing mysteries in Halo: Primordium, as humans engage in an epic odyssey across a damaged, war-torn Halo, facing the Flood, rogue AIs, and the stunning testament of the last Precursor..."

- Greg Bear

Set primarily on the "rogue" Halo ring used by Mendicant Bias during the events of Halo: Cryptum, the novel follows the journey of several humans, including Chakas and Morning Riser, former companions of Bornstellar Makes Eternal Lasting. After crash-landing on the Halo ring during Mendicant Bias' assault on the capital, Chakas is discovered by a local community of humans, who have been transplanted there by the Master Builder's researchers in order to conduct research on them.

Chakas, accompanied by the local humans Vinnevra and Gamelpar, begins his search for his friend Riser. As they make their way across the embattled Halo installation, they face the Flood and rogue AI constructs on the way, while the Precursors' ancient plan of vengeance against the Forerunners is revealed. During their journey, they find their way into the Palace of Pain, the lair of the ancient entity known as the Timeless One, which has unleashed the Flood on the Master Builder's researchers on the installation. Mendicant Bias will also play a major role in the story.

Frank O'Connor has mentioned that the story is "closer to the ground" than that of Cryptum, and that it will have "resonant connections" to Halo 4. Greg Bear has hinted at a connection between John-117 and one of the novel's human characters and has confirmed that the novel will explore the Precursors' plan. He has also hinted that the novel may cover events that occurred up to three million years before the events of Halo: Combat Evolved, though he referred to the entire Saga, not necessarily Primordium.

Forerunners

 * Bornstellar Makes Eternal Lasting
 * The Didact
 * The Library

Humans

 * Chakas
 * Morning Riser
 * Vinnevra
 * Gamelpar
 * Lord of Admirals

Artificial Intelligences

 * 05-032 Mendicant Bias
 * 04-343 Guilty Spark

Precursors

 * The Timeless One

Trivia

 * A primordium is an aggregation of cells that is the first stage in the development of an organ or tissue. It is also a derivation of the term Primordial, which is a title given to the last Precursor.
 * The novel's cover illustration, as well as that of Halo: Cryptum, was created as concept art for Halo 4. Both images were illustrated by Nicolas "Sparth" Bouvier.
 * A preview of the novel's first chapters was released on December 28, 2011 on Tor.com and Halo Waypoint, with the first chapter released on Tor.com and the second and third chapters as well as part of the fourth chapter on Halo Waypoint.