In episode 9, Benjamin Giraud is preparing to hack into a senate meeting of some of the most powerful people in human society. He has gathered all his evidence, has gotten ex-ODST Cpl. Anthony Petrovski to testify about the Spartan abductees, and with the assistance of FERO, got his message through to them.
Earlier that week, Master Chief had turned a peaceful embassy on the outer colonies into a shooting gallery, taking 19 lives and making him “the most wanted man in the galaxy.” While making small talk with Ben, Petrovski also suggested that Master Chief might be working for the Covenant. There are a few interesting points that those who’ve followed Hunt The Truth might be thinking about right now.
Could FERO be Dr. Halsey? This was starting to look like a possibility, but according to Xbox Wire, FERO’s voice actress is Janina Gavankar. Dr. Catherine Halsey is voiced by Jen Taylor. Two completely different voice actresses, which reinforces that they’re not the same person. Dr. Halsey could be considered a rebel leader in a way, but she most likely isn’t FERO.
Did the Master Chief really shoot up the embassy? Why would the Master Chief do that? Upon closer inspection of the photo attached to Xbox Wire’s coverage of episode 8, you can see that Chief is at the embassy. If you download the photo, the file name comes up as “SecurityCamera3_v4.jpg.” Did Microsoft just not expect people to download this file, or is there a deeper meaning to that “v4” that implies this photo could be one of numerous versions? It’s possible that this incriminating photo showing the Chief attacking civilians was manipulated. He was never really at peace with killing people before, so why would he be doing it now?
The Master Chief is now the most wanted man in the galaxy. It’s unclear why ONI would want to destroy the Master Chief’s reputation, but that’s what they seem intent on doing, based on the Hunt the Truth series. He has gone through a lot, and he now stands as a hero. But he also has a responsibility: He’s there to keep the peace. Destroying the Master Chief in the eyes of the people would bring about chaos.
The art that accompanies episode 9 looks rather desolate, indicative of the chaos that the colonies have been thrown into. Towards the end of episode 9, it becomes apparent that ONI was never the “good guy,” and that everyone wants their heads. ONI is currently part of the problem, but with the right factors, we could see them act independently of the main government. Or they could just become more corrupt. Rebel factions could also arise. This picture could represent not just one colony, but the galaxy in its entirety standing up against ONI.
Also, did Mshak die? The end of episode 9 rang ominous, as the delayed message from Mshak was the last that Ben had heard from him. He served as the comic relief, but towards the end, he’d become uncharacteristically serious. He spoke with a sense of urgency, declaring radio silence until he could arrive at Ben’s location. Ben didn’t listen, and attempted to call him. None of his calls could get through, though. Mshak never arrived, so it’s reasonable to assume that he may have perished due to any of the various reasons that a universe thrown into chaos can muster.
Hunt the Truth keeps getting more intense with each episode. We’re sure next week’s episode will still manage to top this one.
