i definately hope there will be some way to import 3D models (whether official or Jorodox) like those from SotP wholesale in some usable form. because while they don't use the Thermopylae-class giant metal brick in space anymore, it would be nice to see it resurrected... so i can blow it up with the equally non-canon and badass OAS class
EDIT: as for the OP, the best scenario i can think of would be right around the time the shaw-fujikawa translight engine in invented in 2291. ample time to so little as the covenant or possibly do some crazy stuff as a client race, or ready humanity for the coming storm 234 years down the road, while dealing with all the problems it had/has.