It has been majorly developed over the past 5 years. If you're at all interested in investing yourself in this extra fiction, I can point you to thinks to look at. - [url=http://www.halopedia.org/Iris]The IRIS Saga.[/url] (2007, Halo 3 ARG) - [url=http://www.halopedia.org/Terminal/Halo_3]Halo 3 Terminals.[/url] (Official transcripts) - [url=http://blog.ascendantjustice.com/halo-3/the-terminals/]Ascendant Justice: 'She Died In Eden'.[/url] (The blog of Mr Vociferous who analyses the Terminals, now works for 343i) - [url=http://blog.ascendantjustice.com/2008/05/09/terminal-visuals/]Ascendant Justice: 'Terminal Visuals'.[/url] (Further details on some of the more vague aspects of Halo 3's Terminals) - [url=http://officeofnavalintelligence.tumblr.com/Evolutions]Halo: Evolutions.[/url] (An anthology of stories by 343i, several setting up the Reclaimer Trilogy's story.) - [url=http://officeofnavalintelligence.tumblr.com/Cryptum]Halo: Cryptum, Book 1 of the Forerunner Saga.[/url] ([i]Essential[/i] reading for fully understanding much of the context of Halo 4, my personal favourite Halo novel) - [url=http://officeofnavalintelligence.tumblr.com/Primordium]Halo: Primordium, Book 2 of the Forerunner Saga.[/url] (Sequel to Cryptum, pretty much sets the stage for Halo 5 and beyond) I realise that's a shit-ton of reading, but there's so much expansive lore in the Halo universe and it all connects in subtle ways. Enjoy.