Canon

User:JackVibe/Sandbox: Difference between revisions

From Halopedia, the Halo wiki

No edit summary
Tag: Mobile edit
No edit summary
(122 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Era|RW}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{Music infobox
{{Cleanup}}
|video={{#widget:YouTube|id=1DB4PvAGoIM|width=300}}
{{References}}
|album=''[[Halo: Original Soundtrack]]''
{{Species infobox
|composer=[[Martin O'Donnell]] and [[Michael Salvatori]]
|variant=Flood
|length=03:33
|name=Pod infector
|last=
|image=[[File:H2A - Flood infection form model.jpg|300px]]
|next=[[Truth and Reconciliation Suite]]
|latin=
|classification=[[Infection form]]
|species=[[Flood]]
|subspecies=
|diet=
|height={{Convert|89.6|cm|ftin|sp=us}}-{{Convert|131.4|cm|ftin|sp=us}}{{Ref/Game|Id=Library|HCEA|Library (feature)|Library|Detail=Infection Form}}
|weight={{Convert|16.8|kg|lb}}-{{Convert|28.6|kg|lb}}{{Ref/Reuse|Library}}
|distinctions=Small, balloon-like creatures with many tentacles for probing.
|lifespan=
|homeworld=
|techlevel=
|notable-person=
|othernames=
|languages=
}}
}}
The '''pod infector''',{{Ref/Game|Id=PLPI|HW2|Phoenix Logs|Detail=Pod Infectors}} also more commonly known as the '''Flood infection form''',{{Ref/Book|Id=enc22|Enc22|Page=406}} is a stage of the virulent [[Flood]] xenoform. It is the most common Flood form and is usually the first forms to be released. It is the primary form for spreading the Flood infection due to its effectiveness compared to mere [[Flood spores]] when deployed in large numbers.{{Ref/Reuse|PLPI}}


'''Opening Suite''' is the first track in the ''[[Halo: Original Soundtrack]]''. It is composed of four untitled movements: the music for the Bungie logo sequence (0:00-0:10), a variation of the ''[[Halo Theme]]'' Gregorian chant (0:11-0:36), an excerpt of the ''Halo Theme'' Gregorian chant (0:37-1:06), and the space theme (1:07-3:33).
==Overview==
===Physical characteristics===
The most commonly encountered infection forms have soft, pod-like bodies with numerous tentacle-like appendages and a frond-like array which acts as the creature's sensory system. Their tendrils are multi-purpose locomotion systems and insidious methods of control.{{Ref/Game|Id=PLIF|HW2|Phoenix Logs|Detail=Infection Forms}}
 
Each tendril ends in nano-scale barbs which can latch onto the target's body and cut through armor or environmental suits. Once the target is compromised, infection forms inject Flood cells to hijack the victim's nervous system. Even if the infection form is quickly removed, Flood cells in the wounds will slowly consume the victim and turn them into quivering, spore-packed blisters. Against unprepared victims the infection form bores into the body, quickly mutating it into a combat form.{{Ref/Reuse|PLIF}}
 
Though barely intelligent on their own, once an infection form infiltrates a sentient creature they turn the victim's cognitive power to the furtherance of Flood goals. Each is an insidious puppeteer, able to sift through memories of any sentient creature to learn of military countermeasures, security access codes, and the location of population centers. This information is then shared with other Flood through their connection with the key minds.{{Ref/Reuse|PLIF}}
 
 
===Function===
Once the parasite can establish a hive it can begin to produce massive numbers of infection forms that spread out in search of new sentients to infect, and non-sapient animals on which to feed. Both ground and airborne infection forms are used as living weapons, hurling themselves at the enemy to overwhelm defenses and assimilate the unprepared.
 
Pods hurl themselves at infantry units, bursting and dealing damage.
It uses its tentacles to attack and infect organisms.{{Ref/Book|Id=enc11|Enc22|Page=180}}


==Overview==
Though individually weak and easily killed, pod infectors strike in vast numbers and can move over cliffs.
===Bungie logo theme===
 
The track opens with a strong and upbeat percussive piece (0:10). It plays in the opening [[Bungie]] logo sequence.
 
Pod infectors are the primary vector for the Flood infection. While small (roughly the size of a [[human]] torso) and weak, they travel in huge swarms and overwhelm foes using sheer numbers. Once within range of a potential host, they leap for the victim's chest area, rasping away at armor, clothing and flesh with their numerous tentacle-like limbs. These appendages penetrate deep into the body, tap into the victim's spinal cord, and unleash an attack on the host's nervous system via direct contact with the spine. Once this is accomplished, the form rewrites the neural pathways of the victim's brain with its tendrils, forcing a resonant frequency match between its neural signals and the host's. At this point, the Pod infector has complete control over the body's motor functions.
 
As the Pod infector hacks into the host's nervous system, it releases encapsulated [[LF.Xx.3273 Flood Super Cell|Flood Super Cells]] into the body. These cells interface with the host's cells, "digest" them and convert their components into new Flood cells. At this point, the Pod infector burrows into the host body, moving aside the internal organs and taking up residence within the chest cavity (or any approximate equivalent). Having achieved total control over the host, the Pod infector reshapes the body into a form more suitable for attacking enemies - a [[Flood combat form|combat form]]. Even if the Pod Infector is quickly removed from the host body, the injection of Flood cells into the host's system is enough to cause rapid transformation into spore-packed [[Flood blister|blisters]].<ref name="Infection Forms">'''Halo Wars 2''', ''[[Phoenix Logs]]'' - Infection Forms</ref>
 
The speed and intensity of this process occurs at the same rate as an energetic chemical reaction, often taking mere seconds to accomplish. The consequences for the host organism are extreme, as their brains are purged of all traces of their original personality and their bodies are reconstituted into Flood biomatter. The organism effectively becomes a pawn of the Flood's collective intelligence, to be used in any way it deems necessary.
 
In exceedingly rare cases, such as if the Pod infector has been damaged or is incredibly old, it will go through this process without killing the host, leaving them at least partially aware of what is going on, but unable to move or act. This was the fate of UNSC Private [[Wallace A. Jenkins]] during the raid on the "[[Flood containment facility|Covenant weapons cache]]" on [[Installation 04]].<ref>'''[[Halo: The Flood]]''', ''page 176''</ref> This aged version of the Pod infector must have been kept in captivity for far too long, thereby reducing its potential of complete transformation of its host into a Flood combat form. Jenkins survived infection, and even remained conscious, with short periods of time where he could exert control over his mutated body.
 
A Pod infector may abandon its host if the corpse has been heavily damaged, and look for a new one. If the Pod infector inside a combat form has been destroyed, but the combat form itself is intact enough to continue serving its purpose, loose Pod infector may burrow inside the body and take the place of the one that mutated it, effectively "re-animating" the combat form.
 
Pod infectors develop from [[Flood tadpole|a form]] vaguely resembling a larva or tadpole but bearing the basic superficial characteristics of a Pod infector. A number of Flood forms in this stage of their life cycle were kept in stasis by the Forerunners in [[Flood research facility|Flood research facilities]], such as the one in the [[Threshold gas mine]].<ref name="onefinaleffort">[http://halo.bungie.net/news/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=25650 '''Bungie.net''': ''One Final Effort (4/16/2010)'']</ref>
 
While an effective vector of infection against armored and shielded organisms as well as those equipped with atmospheric filters, a Pod infector is not necessary for the Flood to infect a host; merely ingesting [[Flood spore]]s or inserting them via a wound is sufficient to initiate Flood conversion. Such infection may occur several seconds or perhaps minutes later, yet the transformation will occur almost instantaneously once it has begun.<ref>'''Halo Wars''', campaign level ''[[Anders' Signal]]''</ref><ref>'''Halo: Evolutions''' — ''"[[The Mona Lisa]]"''</ref>
 
=== Effects on host forms===
[[File:TFS-Likeafrog.png|thumb|A carrier form spawning Pod infectors aboard the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} in 2537.|250px]]
While any large life form with some level of awareness and/or sentience can be infected by a Pod infector, not all of them are suitable to serve the function of Combat Forms, the Flood's signature and preferred mobile form utilized during the Feral Stage. While these hosts are transformed in a similar fashion to the traditional combat forms, these forms are not often employed in front line combat for several reasons.
 
The first of these would be the fact that such life forms, despite their sophisticated nervous systems and adequate levels of sentience, simply lack the necessary biomass, calcium reserves, and physical strength to make first-choice combat units. More specifically, when a host life form is transformed, the activities of the Pod infector require not only the aforementioned levels of biomass, calcium content, and strength (Though humans become combat forms more often than the much larger and stronger unggoy for whatever reason.) but that the host has the physical endurance and stamina to withstand the process. Species such as humans, Forerunners, Sangheili, and the Jiralhanae are almost always turned into combat forms because their biology and physical properties enable them to withstand the Pod infectors' abilities, which are violent and resource-intensive.


The piece was remixed with an electric guitar solo by [[Steve Vai]] into ''Rising'' (from ''[[Prologue (music)|Prologue]]'' in ''[[Halo 2: Original Soundtrack|Halo 2: Original Soundtrack, Volume 2]]''.
In contrast, other life forms, such as the [[Kig-Yar]], and perhaps the [[Yanme'e]], lack these important qualities, or in the case of the [[Unggoy]] have other limitations due to their physique despite their perfectly adequate levels of sentience and neural complexity. Because of these factors, these hosts are primarily used for other but equally important purposes. These involve multiple mission profiles that are essential to the development of Flood outgrowth: establishment of mobile incubators, biomass and calcium reserves, hive structures, and the components of a [[Proto-Gravemind|coordinating and controlling intelligence]].


===Halo Theme Gregorian chant variation==
When utilized for the creation of the hive and the central intelligence, the weaker hosts gather together and merge into single mass or a collection of masses spread around whatever environment the Flood have established themselves in. In this way, the weaker host forms serve as 'building blocks' for the creation of a Flood Hive, which if all goes according to its logical conclusion, will spawn a fully-developed collective and the next stage of the Flood's development: the [[Coordinated Stage]] and its crowning achievement, a [[Gravemind]]. Surrounding life forms such as significantly smaller animals as well as the full range of plants, microbes, lichens, and fungi, are seized by the growing Flood collective and digested as raw material to create more generic Flood biomass.
A variation of the Gregorian chant from the ''Halo Theme'' (0:25) features vocals singing notes from the key of the ''Halo Theme''.  


It plays in the campaign level ''[[The Truth and Reconciliation]]'', in the cinematic in which [[Jacob Keyes]] is rescued, when [[Cortana]] talks about [[Installation 04|Halo]] possessing a religious significant to the [[Covenant]].
The next vital use for lesser hosts is to serve as the second signature form of the [[Feral Stage]], the mobile Pod infector incubator known as a Carrier Form. While these are usually formed from weakened, damaged, and/or aged Combat Forms, weaker host forms are just as frequently employed for this purpose. The first step in the creation of a Carrier Form by this method involves a single appropriate host to function as a nucleus, which is then followed by one or more other weaker forms attaching themselves to the leading unit. The congregated hosts then fuse, with the external host forms being rapidly digested by the central form, with the result being that the other hosts have been reduced to extra, generic biomass, contributing to the structure of the now significantly distorted, bloated incubator.<ref>''''[[Halo: The Flood]]'''', ''page 291''</ref>


The piece was given a new rendition and incorporated into the opening moments of the music played in the Warthog run in the ''[[Halo 3]]'' campaign level ''[[Halo (Halo 3 level)|Halo]]''.
While this complex methodology is largely standard procedure for the Flood, there are occasionally exceptions to these rules due to the Flood's adaptive nature. In at least [[Battle of the Trove|one notable campaign]]<ref>'''''Halo Wars'''''</ref> early in the Human-Covenant War, this mode of operation was contradicted by the Flood. The outbreak present on this installation employed Kig-Yar and Unggoy quite frequently as front line combat units despite their inadequate status, and was also distinct from other outbreaks with the fact that it was predominantly formed out of life forms lacking sentience such as plants, fungi, etc., or those possessing lower levels of sentience, such as the wide range of animals living there.


===Halo Theme Gregorian chant excerpt==
=== Immunities and defenses ===
The excerpt of the Gregorian chant from the ''Halo Theme'' (0:29) features the four phrases of ''Halo Theme'' Gregorian chant. It plays in the main menu of ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''.
[[Energy shielding]] destroys Pod infectors on contact, causing them to explode in a small burst of gas and flesh. Conventional body armor is generally ineffective against Pod infectors; they can easily squeeze through gaps in armor plating, and their grasping tentacles can burrow through rubber, fabric or polymer (including MJLONIR MK V undersuits) in order to reach the flesh underneath.  


===Space theme==
[[Staff Sergeant]] [[Avery Junior Johnson|Avery Johnson]] was thought by Dr. [[Catherine Halsey]] to be incompatible with Flood Pod infectors due to the fictitious "[[Boren's Syndrome]]"<ref>'''[[Halo: First Strike]]''', ''page 244''</ref> — in reality a cover for the augmentations he received as part of the [[ORION Project]].<ref>'''Halo Graphic Novel''', ''[[Halo Graphic Novel, Page 122|page 122]]''</ref> However, it is apparent that Johnson's augmentations did not make him truly immune to the Flood conversion process itself, instead granting him the ability to fight off and escape the parasite more effectively than the baseline humans alongside him.<ref>[https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postsm2969315_Catalog-Interaction.aspx#post2969315 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Catalog Interaction - Page 14'' (''"No known biological <nowiki>[scaffolding]</nowiki> augmentation impedes efficacy of parasite conversion process.]"'')</ref><ref name="hgn">'''[[Halo Graphic Novel]]''', ''[[Breaking Quarantine]]''</ref><ref>''See [[Avery Johnson#Notes]]''</ref>
The space theme (2:26) features a suspenseful melody. It plays in the main menu of ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''.


The piece plays in the beginning cutscene of the campaign level ''[[The Pillar of Autumn (Halo: Combat Evolved level)|The Pillar of Autumn]]''. It plays in full during the campaign level ''[[Two Betrayals]]'', while [[John-117]] is flying a [[Type-26 Banshee]] to the second [[phase pulse generator]].
The [[Mgalekgolo]]'s lack of a central nervous system and nature as an invertebrate colony consisting of multiple worms likely make them immune to Flood infection.<ref>'''''[[Halo: First Strike]]'''''</ref> The invertebrate nature of the [[Yanme'e]], along with their hard, chitinous exoskeleton, would seem to make them immune as well. However, while their unique physiologies make standard infection difficult, it is likely that the Flood are still capable of consuming and converting Lekgolo and Yanme'e into Flood biomass.


==Reorchestrated Versions==
==Trivia==
Certain sections of the track is reorchestrated into the following:
{{Linkbox|gameplay=yes}}
*The Bungie logo sequence is remastered into [[Prologue (music)|Prologue]] of ''[[Halo 2: Original Soundtrack]]''.
*In ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', if a Pod infector latches itself onto a Marine or one of the Covenant, instead of mutating the host, it will become irrevocably attached until the host is dead. If at least one Pod infector manages to leap onto an unshielded player in this game, it will deal a noticeable amount of damage (this will increase depending on difficulty and number of Pod infectors attached), fall off, and attempt to strike the player again. This effect on the player also appears in ''Halo 3''.
*''Cold Blue Light'' in the ''[[Cairo Suite]]'' of ''[[Halo 2: Original Soundtrack]]''.
*An [[energy sword]] will not lose energy by killing Pod infectors in ''Halo 2'' and ''Halo 3'', but this method is highly ineffective as Pod infectors are extremely hard to hit with an Energy Sword.
*The entire track except for the Bungie logo section was reorchestrated into ''[[Random Slipspace Trajectory]]'' and ''[[Unreliable Exploration]]'' of the ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Original Soundtrack]]''.
*Pod infectors do not add points to the player's meta-score when the [[campaign scoring]] is activated in ''Halo 3'' and ''[[Halo: The Master Chief Collection]]''. This is most likely because Pod infectors come in swarms, and could be used to rack up points with almost no effort.
*Unlike in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' and ''Halo 2'', the Pod infectors in ''Halo 3'' float in water. Thus, they cannot infect corpses that are in water ponds because of this animation.
* In ''Halo Wars'', when Sergeant Forge shoots the Flood Pod infectors that are attacking Professor Anders, they do not pop like all other Pod infectors. Instead, they simply fall lifelessly to the ground.
*In ''Halo 3'', code exists for a deleted "banger" variant of Pod infector, which would explode like a plasma grenade when destroyed.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R60geSLtnWk '''YouTube:''' ''Halo 3 - Cut Enemy: Flood Infection "Banger"'']</ref>
*In ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', Pod infectors are not affected by fall damage, most likely due to the script or slow speed during freefall.


{{Soundtrack|H1}}
==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:HCE_InfectionForm_Concept.jpg|Concept art of a Pod Infector from ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.
File:Flood3.jpg|Flood Pod infector in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''.
File:HCE Flood Infection Form.png|In-game view of a Flood Pod infector in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.
File:HCE Infectionforms.jpg|The Master Chief watches as Pod infectors prepare to consume a dead Elite and a dead Grunt.
File:H2 Flood Infection Form.png|A Pod infector in the [[Threshold gas mine]] in ''[[Halo 2]]''.
File:H2_PodInfector_Closeup.jpg|A Pod infector in ''Halo 2''.
File:HTMCC Avatar InfectionForm.png|Render of the ''Halo 2'' Pod infector in ''[[Halo: The Master Chief Collection]]''.
File:InfectionForm Profile.jpg|Pod infectors in ''[[Halo 3]]''.
File:Flood infection form in HaloWars.jpg|A Pod infector in ''[[Halo Wars]]''.
File:Anders Flood.png|Pod infectors assaulting [[Ellen Anders|Professor Anders]].
File:HW PodInfector Blur Render.jpg|A render of the pod infector asset created for ''Halo Wars''{{'}} cutscenes.
File:Infectionformpet.png|A pet Flood Pod infector which can be purchased as a feature for any Xbox 360 Avatar.
File:Floodsuit.png|An [[Avatar (Xbox 360)|Xbox 360 Avatar]] customized with a Flood Pod infector suit.
File:HTMCC-H4 Terminals LibrarianAtWork.png|The [[Librarian]] investigating a Flood Pod infector in ''[[Halo 4]]''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> [[Terminal (Halo 4)|terminals]].
File:Flood infector Spirit of Fire.jpg|A Flood Pod infector inside the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}}'s cryo-room in ''[[Halo: Escalation]]''.
File:HSA Flood mode.jpg|Flood Pod infectors in ''[[Halo: Spartan Assault]]''.
File:MercyFlood.jpg|A Pod infector attacks the Prophet of Mercy, eventually killing him.
File:TFS-Krunch.png|Jerome-092 destroying a Pod infector in a single punch in ''[[Something has Happened]]''.
File:HW2 - Flood infection form models.jpg|Models of the Pod infector for ''[[Halo Wars 2]]''.
File:HW2 - Flood infection form.jpg|More detailed models.
File:HW2_InfectorTidalWave_Concept.jpg|Banished forces succumbing to a tidal wave of Pod infectors.
File:HW2-SpikedInfectionform.jpg|A Pod infector killed by a Banished Jiralhanae's Spiker in ''Halo Wars 2''.
File:HW2-Squish.gif|Atriox crushes a Pod infector.
File:HOD-InfectionForm.jpg|An infection form at [[Outpost Discovery]].
File:HINF Unknown Cylix Scan.png|A Pod infector trapped in a [[Cylix]] on [[Installation 07]] in ''[[Halo Infinite]]''.
File:HINF - Charm icon - Infection charm.png|A Pod infector weapon charm in ''Halo Infinite''.
</gallery>


=Halo 4=
==List of appearances==
==Track listing==
{{Col-begin}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{{col-2}}
===Volume 1===
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' {{1st}}
#[[Awakening (music)|Awakening]] – 5:41
*''[[Halo: The Flood]]''
E5C3 opening cinematic
*''[[Halo: First Strike]]'' {{Mo}}
E6C1 after freeing marines
*''[[Halo 2]]''
E10C3 boarding
**''[[Conversations from the Universe]]'' {{Mo}}
#[[Belly of the Beast]] – 2:38
*''[[Halo Graphic Novel]]''
E7C2 when Covenant reinforcements arrive, followed by a lighter version
**''[[Breaking Quarantine]]''
#[[Requiem (music)|Requiem]] – 2:15
*''[[Halo 3]]''
#[[Legacy]] – 2:29
*''[[Halo Wars]]''
E9C5 activating the map
*''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'' {{MCCo}}
#[[Faithless]] – 5:02
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
E3C1 defense with UNSC gear
**''[[Origins]]''
E3C2 final wave of Covenant
E4C3 initial arrival
E4C4 light version in opening, followed by full version
E6C1 after deactivating shield door
E7C2 when returning to the hangar
E8C2 opening cinematic
E8C3 opening cinematic
E8C5 briefly in opening cinematic
E9C4 wave of hunters after ambush
E10C1 blowing up the harvester entrance
E10C5 briefly in opening cinematic
#[[Haven (music)|Haven]] – 5:44
#[[Nemesis]] – 3:31
#[[Ascendancy]] – 4:19
E4C4 when defending after arrival of mantis
E4C2 when defending the rear tower
E4C5 when reactivating the reactor
E5C1 when defending wave
E5C5 briefly in opening cinematic
E5C5 when Phantoms arrive
E6C3 after extracting Covenant intel
E7C4 when clearing aft weapon controls
E8C3 when inside the cave
E8C5 when clearing the area after activating AA guns
E10C3 when opening door
E10C3 exiting the lich
#[[Solace (music)|Solace]] – 4:45
#[[To Galaxy]] – 4:57
E3C1 Opening cinematic
E3C2 opening cinematic
E4C5 closing cinematic
E5C4 opening cinematic
E5C5 after clearing the area
#[[Immaterial]] – 7:32
#[[117]] – 7:28
#[[Arrival (music)|Arrival]] – 5:36
#[[Revival]] – 7:19
#[[Green and Blue]] – 7:59
{{col-2}}
{{col-2}}
===Volume 2===
*''[[Halo: Evolutions]]''
#[[Atonement]] – 3:16
**''[[The Mona Lisa]]''
#[[Gravity]] – 2:09
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''
E10C5 escaping the cave
*''[[Halo 4]]''
#[[Wreckage (music)|Wreckage]] – 3:24
**''[[Terminal (Halo 4)|Terminals]]''
#[[Aliens (music)|Aliens]] – 5:31
*''[[Halo: Spartan Assault]]'' {{C|Simulation-only}}
E9C5 activating grav lift
*''[[Halo: Escalation]]''
#[[Kantele Bow]] – 4:04
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
E4C5 activating base power
*''[[Halo Mythos: A Guide to the Story of Halo]]''
E9C4 after ambush
*''[[Halo: Tales from Slipspace]]''
#[[Pylons]] – 5:39
**''[[Something Has Happened]]''
E4C4 when knights enter near the end
*''[[Halo Wars 2]]''
E5C2 when destroying tech
*''[[Halo: Fireteam Raven]]''
E6C5 exiting harvester
*''[[Halo: Outpost Discovery]]''
E9C1 defending the power source
*''[[Halo Infinite]]''
#[[Escape (music)|Escape]] – 3:57
{{col-end}}
E10C3 returning to caves
#[[Swamp]] – 2:49
E3C2 deactivating generators
E3C4 briefly opening between each wave
E5C2 between each wave
E6C5 seraching IFF tags
E7C1 opening skirmish
E9C2 between encounters
E10C1 inside harvester
E10C5 inside cave
#[[Push Through]] – 4:44
E3C4 when defending waves of Banshees and Phantoms
E5C5 when drop pods arrive after finding UNSC gear
E7C4 when closing doors
E7C5 when facing final wave
E8C2 when clearing the conduits
E8C3 clearing the area after freeing switchback
E9C3 nitial scorpion section, again in the final assault
E10C5 attacking the harvester
#[[Convoy]] – 4:44
E10C3 when lich arrives
#[[To Galaxy (extended)|To Galaxy (Extended)]] – 7:04
E3C3 briefly in opening cinematic (3:15)
E7C2 when entering server room hallway (1:07)
E7C5 upon clearing hangar
E9C2 into the cave
#[[Lasky's Theme]] – 3:55
#[[Foreshadow]] – 3:34
E6C5 entering harvester
E7C4 when moving to guns
#[[Cloud City]] – 4:35
#[[This Armour]] – 4:47
#[[Intruders]] – 3:39
E4C1 after cinematic and until pylon is activated
E5C2 when returning to the main atrium
E5C4 when defending the generators
E6C1 opening combat
E7C3 in the hallways to data center
#[[Mantis (music)|Mantis]] – 4:02
E7C1 after Murphy drops off a Mantis
E10C4 when defending the caves and clearing the landing zone
#[[Sacrifice (music)|Sacrifice]] – 3:02
#[[Never Forget (Midnight Version)]] – 4:37
#[[Majestic (music)|Majestic]] – 2:12


{{col-end}}
==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}


Music excluded from OST (according to my ears anyway):
{{Flood}}
* The strings heard during level ''Requiem'' when moving to [[The Gate]]
[[Category:Flood forms]]
** E3C3 when attacking jammer
** E4C1 when leaving sniper valley
** E6C3 when outside fending off reinforcements from the phantom
**E7C2 when clearing the hangar
**E8C5 when investigating the first two map locations
*Ambiance with soft drums and suspenseful strings heard in E3C3 when investigating tower
*Grave melody by strings and bass heard in E3C4 during initial defense
*Strings melody heard in E3C4 when pelicans bring in mantises
*triumphant melody usually played for crimson heroics
**S3C4 when defending
**S4C3 after activating portal
**E8C5 after activating turrets
**E10C1 disabling the aa guns
**E10C3 after activating comm panel
*humming suspenseful ambiance
**E4C1 after tapping into covenant comms
*upbeat woodwinds
**E4C2 opening cinematic
*creepy digital ambiance (sounds like swamp - variation?)
**E4C2 when attacking waterfront tower
*creepy ambiance
**E4C2 when inside waterfront tower
*suspenseful bass and percussion
**E4C5 opening
*short suspenseful strings
**E6C4 investigating base

Revision as of 05:28, May 17, 2024

Help.png
 This article does not meet the wiki's general standards and/or standards on layouts. You can help by cleaning this article.
Help.png
 This article does not have enough inline citations and/or does not adhere to the proper citation format. You can help Halopedia by adding citations.
Pod infector
H2A - Flood infection form model.jpg
Biological overview

Classification:

Infection form

Species:

Flood

Physical information

Avg. height:

89.6 centimeters (2 ft 11.3 in)-131.4 centimeters (4 ft 3.7 in)[1]

Avg. weight:

16.8 kilograms (37 lb)-28.6 kilograms (63 lb)[1]

Distinctions:

Small, balloon-like creatures with many tentacles for probing.

 

The pod infector,[2] also more commonly known as the Flood infection form,[3] is a stage of the virulent Flood xenoform. It is the most common Flood form and is usually the first forms to be released. It is the primary form for spreading the Flood infection due to its effectiveness compared to mere Flood spores when deployed in large numbers.[2]

Overview

Physical characteristics

The most commonly encountered infection forms have soft, pod-like bodies with numerous tentacle-like appendages and a frond-like array which acts as the creature's sensory system. Their tendrils are multi-purpose locomotion systems and insidious methods of control.[4]

Each tendril ends in nano-scale barbs which can latch onto the target's body and cut through armor or environmental suits. Once the target is compromised, infection forms inject Flood cells to hijack the victim's nervous system. Even if the infection form is quickly removed, Flood cells in the wounds will slowly consume the victim and turn them into quivering, spore-packed blisters. Against unprepared victims the infection form bores into the body, quickly mutating it into a combat form.[4]

Though barely intelligent on their own, once an infection form infiltrates a sentient creature they turn the victim's cognitive power to the furtherance of Flood goals. Each is an insidious puppeteer, able to sift through memories of any sentient creature to learn of military countermeasures, security access codes, and the location of population centers. This information is then shared with other Flood through their connection with the key minds.[4]


Function

Once the parasite can establish a hive it can begin to produce massive numbers of infection forms that spread out in search of new sentients to infect, and non-sapient animals on which to feed. Both ground and airborne infection forms are used as living weapons, hurling themselves at the enemy to overwhelm defenses and assimilate the unprepared.

Pods hurl themselves at infantry units, bursting and dealing damage. It uses its tentacles to attack and infect organisms.[5]

Though individually weak and easily killed, pod infectors strike in vast numbers and can move over cliffs.


Pod infectors are the primary vector for the Flood infection. While small (roughly the size of a human torso) and weak, they travel in huge swarms and overwhelm foes using sheer numbers. Once within range of a potential host, they leap for the victim's chest area, rasping away at armor, clothing and flesh with their numerous tentacle-like limbs. These appendages penetrate deep into the body, tap into the victim's spinal cord, and unleash an attack on the host's nervous system via direct contact with the spine. Once this is accomplished, the form rewrites the neural pathways of the victim's brain with its tendrils, forcing a resonant frequency match between its neural signals and the host's. At this point, the Pod infector has complete control over the body's motor functions.

As the Pod infector hacks into the host's nervous system, it releases encapsulated Flood Super Cells into the body. These cells interface with the host's cells, "digest" them and convert their components into new Flood cells. At this point, the Pod infector burrows into the host body, moving aside the internal organs and taking up residence within the chest cavity (or any approximate equivalent). Having achieved total control over the host, the Pod infector reshapes the body into a form more suitable for attacking enemies - a combat form. Even if the Pod Infector is quickly removed from the host body, the injection of Flood cells into the host's system is enough to cause rapid transformation into spore-packed blisters.[6]

The speed and intensity of this process occurs at the same rate as an energetic chemical reaction, often taking mere seconds to accomplish. The consequences for the host organism are extreme, as their brains are purged of all traces of their original personality and their bodies are reconstituted into Flood biomatter. The organism effectively becomes a pawn of the Flood's collective intelligence, to be used in any way it deems necessary.

In exceedingly rare cases, such as if the Pod infector has been damaged or is incredibly old, it will go through this process without killing the host, leaving them at least partially aware of what is going on, but unable to move or act. This was the fate of UNSC Private Wallace A. Jenkins during the raid on the "Covenant weapons cache" on Installation 04.[7] This aged version of the Pod infector must have been kept in captivity for far too long, thereby reducing its potential of complete transformation of its host into a Flood combat form. Jenkins survived infection, and even remained conscious, with short periods of time where he could exert control over his mutated body.

A Pod infector may abandon its host if the corpse has been heavily damaged, and look for a new one. If the Pod infector inside a combat form has been destroyed, but the combat form itself is intact enough to continue serving its purpose, loose Pod infector may burrow inside the body and take the place of the one that mutated it, effectively "re-animating" the combat form.

Pod infectors develop from a form vaguely resembling a larva or tadpole but bearing the basic superficial characteristics of a Pod infector. A number of Flood forms in this stage of their life cycle were kept in stasis by the Forerunners in Flood research facilities, such as the one in the Threshold gas mine.[8]

While an effective vector of infection against armored and shielded organisms as well as those equipped with atmospheric filters, a Pod infector is not necessary for the Flood to infect a host; merely ingesting Flood spores or inserting them via a wound is sufficient to initiate Flood conversion. Such infection may occur several seconds or perhaps minutes later, yet the transformation will occur almost instantaneously once it has begun.[9][10]

Effects on host forms

A carrier form spawning Pod infectors aboard the UNSC Spirit of Fire in 2537.

While any large life form with some level of awareness and/or sentience can be infected by a Pod infector, not all of them are suitable to serve the function of Combat Forms, the Flood's signature and preferred mobile form utilized during the Feral Stage. While these hosts are transformed in a similar fashion to the traditional combat forms, these forms are not often employed in front line combat for several reasons.

The first of these would be the fact that such life forms, despite their sophisticated nervous systems and adequate levels of sentience, simply lack the necessary biomass, calcium reserves, and physical strength to make first-choice combat units. More specifically, when a host life form is transformed, the activities of the Pod infector require not only the aforementioned levels of biomass, calcium content, and strength (Though humans become combat forms more often than the much larger and stronger unggoy for whatever reason.) but that the host has the physical endurance and stamina to withstand the process. Species such as humans, Forerunners, Sangheili, and the Jiralhanae are almost always turned into combat forms because their biology and physical properties enable them to withstand the Pod infectors' abilities, which are violent and resource-intensive.

In contrast, other life forms, such as the Kig-Yar, and perhaps the Yanme'e, lack these important qualities, or in the case of the Unggoy have other limitations due to their physique despite their perfectly adequate levels of sentience and neural complexity. Because of these factors, these hosts are primarily used for other but equally important purposes. These involve multiple mission profiles that are essential to the development of Flood outgrowth: establishment of mobile incubators, biomass and calcium reserves, hive structures, and the components of a coordinating and controlling intelligence.

When utilized for the creation of the hive and the central intelligence, the weaker hosts gather together and merge into single mass or a collection of masses spread around whatever environment the Flood have established themselves in. In this way, the weaker host forms serve as 'building blocks' for the creation of a Flood Hive, which if all goes according to its logical conclusion, will spawn a fully-developed collective and the next stage of the Flood's development: the Coordinated Stage and its crowning achievement, a Gravemind. Surrounding life forms such as significantly smaller animals as well as the full range of plants, microbes, lichens, and fungi, are seized by the growing Flood collective and digested as raw material to create more generic Flood biomass.

The next vital use for lesser hosts is to serve as the second signature form of the Feral Stage, the mobile Pod infector incubator known as a Carrier Form. While these are usually formed from weakened, damaged, and/or aged Combat Forms, weaker host forms are just as frequently employed for this purpose. The first step in the creation of a Carrier Form by this method involves a single appropriate host to function as a nucleus, which is then followed by one or more other weaker forms attaching themselves to the leading unit. The congregated hosts then fuse, with the external host forms being rapidly digested by the central form, with the result being that the other hosts have been reduced to extra, generic biomass, contributing to the structure of the now significantly distorted, bloated incubator.[11]

While this complex methodology is largely standard procedure for the Flood, there are occasionally exceptions to these rules due to the Flood's adaptive nature. In at least one notable campaign[12] early in the Human-Covenant War, this mode of operation was contradicted by the Flood. The outbreak present on this installation employed Kig-Yar and Unggoy quite frequently as front line combat units despite their inadequate status, and was also distinct from other outbreaks with the fact that it was predominantly formed out of life forms lacking sentience such as plants, fungi, etc., or those possessing lower levels of sentience, such as the wide range of animals living there.

Immunities and defenses

Energy shielding destroys Pod infectors on contact, causing them to explode in a small burst of gas and flesh. Conventional body armor is generally ineffective against Pod infectors; they can easily squeeze through gaps in armor plating, and their grasping tentacles can burrow through rubber, fabric or polymer (including MJLONIR MK V undersuits) in order to reach the flesh underneath.

Staff Sergeant Avery Johnson was thought by Dr. Catherine Halsey to be incompatible with Flood Pod infectors due to the fictitious "Boren's Syndrome"[13] — in reality a cover for the augmentations he received as part of the ORION Project.[14] However, it is apparent that Johnson's augmentations did not make him truly immune to the Flood conversion process itself, instead granting him the ability to fight off and escape the parasite more effectively than the baseline humans alongside him.[15][16][17]

The Mgalekgolo's lack of a central nervous system and nature as an invertebrate colony consisting of multiple worms likely make them immune to Flood infection.[18] The invertebrate nature of the Yanme'e, along with their hard, chitinous exoskeleton, would seem to make them immune as well. However, while their unique physiologies make standard infection difficult, it is likely that the Flood are still capable of consuming and converting Lekgolo and Yanme'e into Flood biomass.

Trivia

Main-Legendary.png See our gameplay information related to JackVibe/Sandbox on its gameplay page.
  • In Halo: Combat Evolved, if a Pod infector latches itself onto a Marine or one of the Covenant, instead of mutating the host, it will become irrevocably attached until the host is dead. If at least one Pod infector manages to leap onto an unshielded player in this game, it will deal a noticeable amount of damage (this will increase depending on difficulty and number of Pod infectors attached), fall off, and attempt to strike the player again. This effect on the player also appears in Halo 3.
  • An energy sword will not lose energy by killing Pod infectors in Halo 2 and Halo 3, but this method is highly ineffective as Pod infectors are extremely hard to hit with an Energy Sword.
  • Pod infectors do not add points to the player's meta-score when the campaign scoring is activated in Halo 3 and Halo: The Master Chief Collection. This is most likely because Pod infectors come in swarms, and could be used to rack up points with almost no effort.
  • Unlike in Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2, the Pod infectors in Halo 3 float in water. Thus, they cannot infect corpses that are in water ponds because of this animation.
  • In Halo Wars, when Sergeant Forge shoots the Flood Pod infectors that are attacking Professor Anders, they do not pop like all other Pod infectors. Instead, they simply fall lifelessly to the ground.
  • In Halo 3, code exists for a deleted "banger" variant of Pod infector, which would explode like a plasma grenade when destroyed.[19]
  • In Halo: Combat Evolved, Pod infectors are not affected by fall damage, most likely due to the script or slow speed during freefall.

Gallery

  • Concept art of a Pod Infector from Halo: Combat Evolved.

    Concept art of a Pod Infector from Halo: Combat Evolved.

  • Flood Pod infector in Halo: Combat Evolved.

    Flood Pod infector in Halo: Combat Evolved.

  • In-game view of a Flood Pod infector in Halo: Combat Evolved.

    In-game view of a Flood Pod infector in Halo: Combat Evolved.

  • The Master Chief watches as Pod infectors prepare to consume a dead Elite and a dead Grunt.

    The Master Chief watches as Pod infectors prepare to consume a dead Elite and a dead Grunt.

  • A Pod infector in the Threshold gas mine in Halo 2.

    A Pod infector in the Threshold gas mine in Halo 2.

  • A Pod infector in Halo 2.

    A Pod infector in Halo 2.

  • Render of the Halo 2 Pod infector in Halo: The Master Chief Collection.

    Render of the Halo 2 Pod infector in Halo: The Master Chief Collection.

  • Pod infectors in Halo 3.

    Pod infectors in Halo 3.

  • A Pod infector in Halo Wars.

    A Pod infector in Halo Wars.

  • Pod infectors assaulting Professor Anders.

    Pod infectors assaulting Professor Anders.

  • A render of the pod infector asset created for Halo Wars' cutscenes.

    A render of the pod infector asset created for Halo Wars' cutscenes.

  • A pet Flood Pod infector which can be purchased as a feature for any Xbox 360 Avatar.

    A pet Flood Pod infector which can be purchased as a feature for any Xbox 360 Avatar.

  • An Xbox 360 Avatar customized with a Flood Pod infector suit.

    An Xbox 360 Avatar customized with a Flood Pod infector suit.

  • The Librarian investigating a Flood Pod infector in Halo 4's terminals.

    The Librarian investigating a Flood Pod infector in Halo 4's terminals.

  • A Flood Pod infector inside the UNSC Spirit of Fire's cryo-room in Halo: Escalation.

    A Flood Pod infector inside the UNSC Spirit of Fire's cryo-room in Halo: Escalation.

  • Flood Pod infectors in Halo: Spartan Assault.

    Flood Pod infectors in Halo: Spartan Assault.

  • A Pod infector attacks the Prophet of Mercy, eventually killing him.

    A Pod infector attacks the Prophet of Mercy, eventually killing him.

  • Jerome-092 destroying a Pod infector in a single punch in Something has Happened.

    Jerome-092 destroying a Pod infector in a single punch in Something has Happened.

  • Models of the Pod infector for Halo Wars 2.

    Models of the Pod infector for Halo Wars 2.

  • More detailed models.

    More detailed models.

  • Banished forces succumbing to a tidal wave of Pod infectors.

    Banished forces succumbing to a tidal wave of Pod infectors.

  • A Pod infector killed by a Banished Jiralhanae's Spiker in Halo Wars 2.

    A Pod infector killed by a Banished Jiralhanae's Spiker in Halo Wars 2.

  • Atriox crushes a Pod infector.

    Atriox crushes a Pod infector.

  • An infection form at Outpost Discovery.

    An infection form at Outpost Discovery.

  • A Pod infector trapped in a Cylix on Installation 07 in Halo Infinite.

    A Pod infector trapped in a Cylix on Installation 07 in Halo Infinite.

  • A Pod infector weapon charm in Halo Infinite.

    A Pod infector weapon charm in Halo Infinite.

List of appearances

Sources

  1. ^ a b Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Library: Infection Form
  2. ^ a b Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs: Pod Infectors
  3. ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 406
  4. ^ a b c Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs: Infection Forms
  5. ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 180
  6. ^ Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs - Infection Forms
  7. ^ Halo: The Flood, page 176
  8. ^ Bungie.net: One Final Effort (4/16/2010)
  9. ^ Halo Wars, campaign level Anders' Signal
  10. ^ Halo: Evolutions — "The Mona Lisa"
  11. ^ 'Halo: The Flood', page 291
  12. ^ Halo Wars
  13. ^ Halo: First Strike, page 244
  14. ^ Halo Graphic Novel, page 122
  15. ^ Halo Waypoint: Catalog Interaction - Page 14 ("No known biological [scaffolding] augmentation impedes efficacy of parasite conversion process.")
  16. ^ Halo Graphic Novel, Breaking Quarantine
  17. ^ See Avery Johnson#Notes
  18. ^ Halo: First Strike
  19. ^ YouTube: Halo 3 - Cut Enemy: Flood Infection "Banger"

v • d • e
 
Known Flood forms
Regular Spore • Pod • Seeder • Tadpole • Dispersal pod
Growths Stalk • Blister
Other Flood Super Cell (FSC)
Infected
Structures
Hives Hive • Den • Nest • Colony • Spore Mound • Cocooned base • Blightlands
Defensive Launcher • Root
Other Porta • Vent
Retrieved from "https://www.halopedia.org/index.php?title=User:JackVibe/Sandbox&oldid=1627757"