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{{Era|HCW}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{Battle infobox
{{Cleanup}}
|prev=[[Battle of Sector Six]]
{{References}}
|conc=[[URNA Southwest Campaign]]
{{Species infobox
|next=[[Attack on Crow's Nest]]
|variant=Flood
|name=Recovery of John-117
|name=Pod infector
|image=[[File:Master Chief & The Arbiter.jpg|350px]]
|image=[[File:H2A - Flood infection form model.jpg|300px]]
|conflict=*[[Human-Covenant War]]
|latin=
**[[Battle for Earth]]
|classification=[[Infection form]]
|date=[[2552#November|November 17, 2552]]
|species=[[Flood]]
|place=South of [[Mount Kilimanjaro]], [[Tanzania]], [[East African Protectorate]]
|subspecies=
|result=;Decisive [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] victory
|diet=
*[[John-117]] recovered
|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}}
|side1=*{{Icon|UNSC HCW}} [[United Nations Space Command]]
|weight={{Convert|16.8|kg|lb}}-{{Convert|28.6|kg|lb}}{{Ref/Reuse|Library}}
**{{Icon|Navy}} [[UNSC Navy]]
|distinctions=Small, balloon-like creatures with many tentacles for probing.
**[[UNSC Air Force]]
|lifespan=
**[[UNSC Marine Corps]]
|homeworld=
-------
|techlevel=
*{{Icon|Covenant FB}} [[Covenant separatists]]
|notable-person=
**[[Fleet of Retribution]]
|othernames=
|side2= *{{Icon|Covenant FB}} [[Covenant]]
|languages=
|commanders1=*[[Master Chief Petty Officer|MCPO]] [[John-117]]
*[[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]]
*[[Sergeant Major|SGTMAJ]] [[Avery Johnson]]
*[[Gunnery Sergeant|GYSGT]] [[Marcus Stacker]]
*[[Gunnery Sergeant|GYSGT]] [[Reynolds]]
|commanders2=Unnamed [[Jiralhanae Chieftain]]†
|forces1=
*3 [[D77H-TCI Pelican|Pelican]]s{{Ref/Reuse|s117}}
**[[Echo 051]]†{{Ref/Reuse|s117}}
**[[Kilo 023]]{{Ref/Reuse|s117}}
*1 [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan-II]]{{Ref/Reuse|s117}}
*1 [[Sangheili]] [[Arbiter]]{{Ref/Reuse|s117}}
*Several ground troops
|forces2=
*[[Type-52 Phantom|Phantoms]]{{Ref/Reuse|s117}}
*2 [[Type-26C Banshee|Banshees]] {{Ref/Reuse|s117}}
*Ground forces{{Ref/Reuse|s117}}
**[[Jiralhanae]]
**[[Unggoy]]
**[[Kig-Yar]]
|casual1=*Medium-heavy
**2 Pelicans{{Ref/Reuse|s117}}
***''Echo 51''
**All of [[Bravo Team]]{{Ref/Reuse|s117}} {{c|save for Reynold}}
|casual2=Heavy
}}
}}
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}}


The '''Recovery of John-117''' was a small [[battle|engagement]] between the [[United Nations Space Command]] against the [[Covenant]] on [[2552#November|November 17, 2552]] in the [[Tanzania|Tanzanian]] jungles near [[Mount Kilimanjaro]] in [[Africa]]. UNSC forces led by [[Avery Johnson|Sergeant Major Avery Johnson]] succeeded in recovering [[SPARTAN-II Program|SPARTAN-II]] [[John-117]] after his escape from the ''[[Anodyne Spirit]]''.{{Ref/Level|Id=arrival|H3|Arrival}}{{Ref/Level|Id=s117|H3|Sierra 117}}
==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}}


==Background==
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}}
During the early morning of [[2552#November|November 17, 2552]], the [[Forerunner]] [[keyship]] ''[[Anodyne Spirit]]'' carrying the [[Hierarch|High Prophet]] of [[Prophet of Truth|Truth]] arrived at [[Earth]], smashing through the remnants of the [[UNSC Home Fleet]] that had been [[Battle for Earth|engaging]] [[Covenant]] warships over the planet for the last month. On board the keyship was [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan]] [[John-117]] who, after making a failed [[Scramble onboard Forerunner Dreadnought|assassination attempt]] on the Prophet, was forced to flee from the ship.<ref>'''[[Halo: Uprising]]'''</ref> Using a [[door]] as a heat shield, the Spartan bailed out of the ''Anodyne Spirit'' as it entered Earth's atmosphere. His trajectory and expected crash site was triangulated by [[S. Hartley]], an [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper]] [[Battle of Sector Six|fighting]] [[Covenant]] forces near [[Sector Six]], [[Asia]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Landfall]]''', ''[[Halo: Last One Standing|Last One Standing]]''</ref> This would allow several [[squad]]s of [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] led by [[Avery Johnson]] to locate the Spartan in the following hours.{{Ref/Reuse|arrival}} John made landfall in a [[Tanzania|Tanzanian]] jungle south of [[Mount Kilimanjaro]] while the Forerunner vessel continued descending until it landed on the [[Portal at Voi|portal]] to [[Installation 00|the Ark]], which had been excavated by Truth's [[Truth's fleet|fleet]].<ref name="storm">'''[[Halo 3]]''', campaign level, ''[[The Storm]]''</ref>


==Battle==
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}}
===Recovering John-117===
[[File:Arrivalgather.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Sergeant Johnson and his Marines locate the unconscious Master Chief.]]
{{Quote|no=two|[[Avery Johnson]]|[[John-117]]|q1=Radio for VTOL, heavy lift gear. We're not leaving him here.|q2=Yeah, you're not.|John-117 after regaining consciousness.{{Ref/Reuse|arrival}}}}
In the morning of 17 November, 2552, Sergeant Major Avery Johnson led [[Gunnery Sergeant]][[Marcus Stacker]]'s [[First Squad]] and [[Second Squad#Recovering Spartan-117|Second Squad]] into the jungles of Tanzania to recover John-117, using the triangulation data acquired by forces [[Battle of Sector Six|fighting]] near the [[Pakistan]]-Afghanistan border in [[Sector Six]]. [[Bravo Team]], led by [[Gunnery Sergeant]] [[Reynolds]], was also deployed nearby, closer to the extraction point at the river.


Johnson and his team discovered the Spartan lying in a supine position at the end of an impact crater with his [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark VI|armor]] locked into place by it's [[Hydrostatic gel|gel layer]]. The Spartan remained unconscious until the [[Unidentified Corpsman|Corpsman]] partially unlocked John's armor, and John-117 woke up just as Johnson instructed his Marines to call in heavy lifting gear to extract the Spartan. After John-117 reported [[Cortana]] had remained on ''[[High Charity]]'', the Corpsman helped the calibrate and fully unlocked Spartan’s armor.


The recovery team was joined by [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]], who, upon disengaging his [[active camouflage]], was briefly accosted by John-117. Johnson quickly defused the situation, and 'Vadam reported the Jiralhanae had caught their scent.{{Ref/Reuse|arrival}}
===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.


===Opening skirmishes===
Pods hurl themselves at infantry units, bursting and dealing damage.  
[[File:H3_Sierra117_Marines.jpg|thumb|left|250px|John-117 and a fireteam of Marines in the Tanzanian jungle.]]
It uses its tentacles to attack and infect organisms.{{Ref/Book|Id=enc11|Enc22|Page=180}}
Johnson ordered First Squad to scout ahead. The squad moved ahead, with Second Squad along with himself, John-117 and 'Vadam following behind. As they made their way through the jungle, Johnson informed Reynolds that they had recovered the Master Chief. Although Reynolds responded in affirmative, soon afterwards he and the rest of Bravo Team, while en route to the extraction point, came under attack by a Jiralhanae Chieftain and a Phantom, and they lost contact with Johnson's team.


As Johnson's team approached a waterfall, they were forced to take cover as a [[Type-52 Phantom]] flew overhead. Fearful that they would be spotted more quickly in a large unit, Johnson split the team. John-117 and 'Vadam went with First Squad while he took command of Second Squad and ascended the nearby cliff-face to take an alternate route to the extraction point at a nearby river. First Squad was discovered by Covenant patrols moments later, and they found their way through the Covenant-occupied jungle.
Though individually weak and easily killed, pod infectors strike in vast numbers and can move over cliffs.


Near the extraction point, John-117 found a Jiralhanae Captain interrogating Reynolds and demanding the location of the [[Crow's Nest (location)|nearby UNSC base]], to which the Gunnery Sergeant refused to answer. Before the Brute could kill Reynolds, John-117 and his team managed to eliminate the Captain and his subordinates. The group, now accompanied by Reynolds, then continued their way towards the river.{{Ref/Reuse|s117}}


===Extraction is prevented===
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.
[[File:H3 Sierra 117 Reynolds captured.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Reynolds being interrogated by a Jiralhanae Captain.]]
{{Quote|Come on, you dumb apes! You want breakfast? You gotta catch it!|Sergeant Johnson to pursuing Covenant forces.}}
By the time John and his team reached the river, the Pelicans were under heavy fire from Covenant ground troops that had entrenched themselves around the river substation. Johnson and his team were already on board, the sergeant using the Pelican's bay-mounted [[AIE-486H machine gun|heavy machine gun]] in an attempt to fend off the attackers. As John, Thel and the Marines of First Squad arrived to assist, several [[Type-26 Banshee|Banshees]] soared in over the river, landing direct hits on the engines of both Pelicans. One dropship plummeted into the water beyond the dam while the Pelican with Johnson and his team, ''[[Echo 051]]'' managed to clear the dam but smashed into a nearby cliff and tumbled out of sight. Several Phantoms then arrived, one of them suppressing the UNSC forces while the other deployed large numbers of Covenant reinforcements onto the dam. John and his team had fight their way through these newly-landed troops until they could re-enter the jungle. Once in the jungle, the humans and Sangheili had to pass through a narrow section of jungle laden with Kig-Yar [[Kig-Yar Sniper|snipers]]. On the other side of the pass, they reached an overhang where they witnessed Johnson and the other survivors from ''Echo 051'' retreat into a nearby cave while under heavy Covenant fire. With support from Thel and First Squad, John moved through the area, engaging groups of infantry including a mass of Unggoy deploying from a Phantom that had a Jiralhanae Chieftain riding on the side. As the number of Covenant soldiers dwindled, the Phantom left the battlefield, allowing John to approach the overturned wreckage of ''Echo 051''. Here, the Spartan was able to overhear a radio transmission from the Crow's Nest controller coming through the Pelican's still-functional radio in which ''[[Kilo 023]]'' was ordered to provide emergency evacuation for the team due to ''Echo 051's'' destruction. After re-arming from the weapons littering the crash site, John and Thel proceeded through the cave that Johnson's squad had taken. Upon arriving at the [[A2 Hydroelectric Facility]], Thel informed John that Sergeant Johnson had been captured by the Covenant; the two watched as the sergeant attempted to punch the commanding Jiralhanae Chieftain, only to get kicked into a small building and sealed behind a [[shield door]].{{Ref/Reuse|s117}}


===Rescue of Sergeant Johnson===
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>
{{Quote|See how they bait their trap? I will help you spring it.|Thel 'Vadam to John-117 as they prepare to rescue the captured Sergeant Johnson.}}
[[File:emag_halo3_092307_2_bd140.jpg|thumb|left|250px|John-117 fighting a Jiralhanae Chieftain at the A2 Hydroelectric Facility.]]
The two began an attack on the large contingent of Covenant forces at the facility, facing off against numerous Jiralhanae Captains and their [[Lance|lances]]. As they battled their way across the dam, another Phantom arrived to deposit more troops near the building where Johnson was held captive. Eventually engaging with the Chieftain and his [[Jiralhanae Bodyguard|bodyguards]], John and Thel managed to defeat the ferocious Covenant warriors and make it to the building where Johnson and the survivors of his squad were imprisoned. After deactivating the energy barrier keeping them contained, Johnson and the remnants of Second Squad took weaponry from the nearby Covenant [[Covenant supply case|supply cases]]. As a pair of Phantom dropships entered the area, ''Kilo 032's'' [[Hocus|pilot]] warned the team to remain in cover as she was inbound to clear a path. As the Phantoms deployed troops onto the dam, the team were forced to engage while waiting for the Pelican to arrive. Moments later, ''Kilo 023'' flew in along the river, unloading barrages of [[Anvil-II air-to-surface missile|missiles]] into both Phantoms, obliterating them. Hocus then brought her dropship in to land on the dam, allowing the team to climb on board. As the Pelican departed for the nearby Crow's Nest, Johnson gratefully patted John on the shoulder. ''Kilo 023'' would land on the landing pad of Crow's Nest, with [[Miranda Keyes|Commander Miranda Keyes]] personally arriving to meet the group off the Pelican.{{Ref/Reuse|s117}}<ref name="crows">'''[[Halo 3]]''', campaign level, ''[[Crow's Nest]]''</ref>
{{clear|left}}


==Aftermath==
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.
Upon arriving at Crow's Nest, Commander Keyes would tell John that she had [[Battle for the Control Room (Installation 05)|prevented]] [[Installation 05]]'s activation, and of the Prophet of Truth's plans to activate what they believed to be [[Installation 00|the Ark]], but was in reality the [[Portal at Voi|gateway portal]] to the installation. [[Admiral Hood]] would explain the [[Battle of Voi|plan]] to neutralize [[Type-27 Mantis|anti-aircraft emplacements]] in the city of [[Voi]] allowing a UNSC [[Battle Group Victory|battle group]] to assault the excavation site. The base would soon be [[Attack on Crow's Nest|attacked]] by the Covenant, which would conclude with John destroying the entire base with a [[Improvised UNSC bomb|bomb]] once all other UNSC personnel had evacuated.{{Ref/Reuse|crows}} The survivors would then mobilize for the assault on Voi.<ref>'''[[Halo 3]]''', campaign level, ''[[Tsavo Highway]]''</ref><ref>'''[[Halo 3]]''', campaign level, ''[[The Storm]]''</ref>


==Participants==
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.
===UNSC===
===Naval assets===
====Military personnel====
{| class="wikitable sortable " style="width: 75%;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"
|-
! Branch
! Rank
! Name
! Status<!--This refers to their status after the battle, not their overall status-->
|-
| rowspan="5" |[[UNSC Navy]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Gunnery Sergeant]]
|[[Marcus Stacker]]{{Ref/Reuse|s117}}
|Survived
|-
|[[Reynolds]]{{Ref/Reuse|s117}}
|Survived
|-
|[[Sergeant Major]]
|[[Avery Johnson]]
|Survived
|-
|[[Master Chief Petty Officer]]
|[[John-117]]
|Survived
|-
|[[Lieutenant]]
|[[Hocus]]
|Survived
|}
===Units===
====Ground forces====
*[[UNSC Navy]]
*[[UNSC Marine Corps]]
**[[Bravo Team]]†
**[[First Squad]]
**[[Second Squad#Recovering Spartan-117|Second Squad]]


===Covenant separatists===
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.
===Naval assets===
====Military personnel====
{| class="wikitable sortable " style="width: 75%;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"
|-
! Branch
! Rank
! Name
! Status<!--This refers to their status after the battle, not their overall status-->
|-
| rowspan="3" |Unknown
|[[Arbiter]]
|[[Thel 'Vadam]]
|Survived
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Special Operations Sangheili|Special Operations]]
|[[Usze 'Taham]]{{Ref/Site|Id=Coop|D=14|M=11|Y=2014|URL=http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=thesoundofsack|Site=bungie.net|Page=The Tru7h About Co-Op in Halo 3}}
|Survived
|-
|[[N'tho 'Sraom]]{{Ref/Reuse|Coop}}
|Survived
|}
===Units===
====Ground forces====
*[[Special Warfare Group|Fleet of Retribution Special Warfare Group]]


==List of appearances==
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>
*''[[Halo 3]]'' {{1st}}
 
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.
 
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]].
 
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.<ref>''''[[Halo: The Flood]]'''', ''page 291''</ref>
 
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.
 
=== 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 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 [[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.


==Sources==
==Trivia==
{{Ref/Sources}}
{{Linkbox|gameplay=yes}}
{{Engagements in the Battle for Earth}}
*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.<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.


==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

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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
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