User blog comment:Damac1214/Why Shooters Need Good Stories/@comment-5125815-20130518010226/@comment-25496444-20130518090722

Hidden easter egg: if you keep Scarecrow and Ozone alive, they prevent Shepherd killing Roach and Ghost, then the four defeat Shadow Company and go out for milkshakes. Shepherd manages to retreat to go kill Soap and Price. This way is obviously the canonical one and explains how Ghost (who is actually Gaz) is still alive.