Editing Flood dispersal pod

{{Status|Canon}}
[[File:Floodpod closeup.JPG|thumb|250px|A Flood dispersal pod shortly before impacting the surface of [[Installation 08]].]]
The '''dispersal pod''',{{Ref/Book|Halo 3: The Official Strategy Guide|Page=107}} also known as a '''spore capsule''' when used to disperse [[Flood spore|spores]] in particular,{{Ref/Novel|Id=sil|Sil|Chapter=26|Quote=Even as we pick up the Librarian, prepare to rise to Audacity, and witness Mantle's Approach climb up behind us, matching our destination vector-the air is pierced by a plunging haze of millions of spore capsules.}} is a [[Flood]] [[Flood infection form|infection form]] that contains [[Flood combat form]]s, [[Flood pure form|pure forms]], and spore clouds.{{Ref/Book|Id=enc22|Enc22|Page=407}} The dispersal pod uses hardened Flood biomass to shape the pod and protect the occupant from the stresses of orbital deployment.{{Ref/Reuse|enc22}} In essence, and in practice, the Flood dispersal pod is the equivalent of the [[drop pod]]s used by the [[Covenant]], the [[Banished]], and [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]].{{Ref/Level|Id=halo|H3|Halo (Halo 3 level)|Halo}}{{Ref/Level|Id=covenant|H3|The Covenant}}

==Overview==
===Design details===
Dispersal pods are misshapen lumps of Flood biomatter grown to be disposable containers for Flood combat forms, pure forms, and spore clouds.{{Ref/Reuse|enc22}} The pod bears several spikes on its front, while the rear trails several tentacles and what appears to be a stream of gas.{{Ref/Reuse|halo}} The pod is capable of limited self-propulsion: it uses a directed-discharge of built-up gases to propel itself across a great distance into targeted territory.{{Ref/Reuse|enc22}} 

===Usage===
Dispersal pods are deployed from a Flood-infected vessel down on to a world's surface, though they can also be expelled from ground-based hives.{{Ref/Reuse|enc22}} Each pod can carry one or two combat forms, which emerge from the pod upon impact after the outer casing shatters.{{Ref/Reuse|halo}} Pods are one of the key infection vectors utilized by the Flood during its interstellar stage, plague ships quickly seeding worlds with the parasite without ever even needing to set down.{{Ref/Reuse|enc22}} 

==History==
===Fall of Nomdagro===
When the Flood invaded the planet [[Nomdagro]] circa [[97,445 BCE]], millions of dispersal pods were deployed to the surface. Their numbers were so vast that they darkened the sky. Many of the pods broke apart in the upper atmosphere, while others landed in the oceans or land, covering the entire biosphere of the planet in [[Flood spores|spores]] and thus quickly altering it to suit the Flood's purposes. [[Spore mountain]]s were generated within moments, expediting the infestation of the planet. Many of these pods landed near the [[Ur-Didact]] and [[IsoDidact]] beside the planet's only [[Precursor]] artifact, putting an end to their confrontation and prompting the two, along with the [[Librarian]], to escape to the [[greater Ark]].{{Ref/Reuse|sil}}

===Battle of Installation 00===
Large numbers of dispersal pods were deployed from ''[[High Charity]]'' as the [[Gravemind]] arrived with its army at [[Installation 00]], scattering Flood forces all over the artificial world, delivering significant numbers of [[Flood combat form|combat forms]] to the surface.{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}} The Flood infestation was also spread across the unfinished [[Installation 08]]. Later, after the destruction of High Charity, more pods were used to deliver combat forms to the [[control room]] of the new Halo built by the Ark, in an attempt by the Gravemind to stop the Halo's activation.{{Ref/Reuse|halo}}

==Production notes==
On rare occasions in ''Halo 3'', a pod may land on the ground but will not open and release its occupants.

==Gallery==
{{Linkbox|gallery=yes}}
<gallery>
File:HTMCC-H3 FloodDispersalPodImpact.png|The impact of a Flood dispersal pod in ''Halo 3''.
File:H3 Flood dispersal pod opening.jpg|A [[flood attacker form|attacker form]] emerging from the debris of a Flood dispersal pod in ''Halo 3''.
File:H3 - Flood pod.png|Angled view of a Flood dispersal pod in ''Halo 3''.
File:H3 - Flood dispersal pod.png|Flood dispersal pod arriving at Installation 08 in ''Halo 3''.
File:H3 - Flood Pod.png|A closeup of a Flood dispersal pod in ''Halo 3''.
File:HTMCC-H3ODST Crater 02.png|A Flood dispersal pod landing in [[Crater]] during [[Firefight (Halo 3: ODST)#Floodfight|Floodfight]] in the ''[[Halo: The Master Chief Collection]]'' version of ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''.
File:HWFDP.png|A Flood dispersal pod in ''Halo Wars''.
File:Halo flood dispersal concept art.jpg|Multiple concepts of a Flood dispersal pod for ''Halo 4''.
File:Halo flood dispersal concept art 2.jpg|Concept art of a Flood dispersal pod for ''Halo 4''.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo 3]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'' {{C|''Halo: The Master Chief Collection'' only}}
*''[[Halo Wars]]''
*''[[Halo: Silentium]]''

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

{{Flood}}
[[Category:Flood]]