Halo: Hunters in the Dark

Halo: Hunters in the Dark is a full-length print novel from Simon & Schuster written by New York Times bestselling author Peter David. It was released on June 16, 2015.

Plot summary
Broadside One, the squad leader of Broadside, is laying heavily wounded in a small cave after an encounter with unknown creatures on Installation 00. One of the several remote contact teams deployed to the remains of the Ark by, Broadside was attacked by the creatures and most of the team was killed. While Broadside One contemplates his fate and observes that the creatures seemed to suddenly unite together to destroy the team, an unidentified voice confirms his theory. Claiming that it requires human assistance and that it will save him, the voice orders Broadside One to surrender himself and he accepts.

Archaeologist Luther Mann recalls fleeing his homeworld of Verent at six years of age as the Covenant glassed the planet. Although his parents became distant and cold, Mann becomes fascinated with the Covenant. Mann is homeschooled by his mother until she committed suicide when he was fifteen. Following the Human-Covenant War, Mann takes advantage of the new-found peace with several of the former Covenant species to learn more about the cultures of them and the Forerunners. On March 8, 2555, Mann has been contracted by the UNSC's Office of Naval Intelligence to work on Installation 07, having discovered the Halo himself. While searching for the installation's Control Room, Mann, and his colleague Henry Lamb, discover a countdown emanating from a certain sector of the ring. Going by worse-case scenario, the two predict that it is counting down to installation activation in approximately five weeks and inform their superior, Director Bob Casper. Casper contacts the research teams on Installations 03 and 05, who also confirm the presence of the same countdown. Casper reports the findings to ONI leadership and a meeting is immediately scheduled between assorted UNSC leaders and scientists, including Fleet Admiral Terrence Hood, Admiral Serin Osman, General Van Zandt, General Crystal Speakman, Captain Annabelle Richards, Doctor William Iqbal, and Casper. Despite Osman's concerns, the rest of the group decide that the Sangheili's help is needed in reaching Installation 00 to stop the ring's activation.

Trivia
The novel's cover depicts blind wolves, creatures that were originally planned to be featured in Halo: Combat Evolved as ambient wildlife. The cover was designed by Kory Hubbell.