Sharquoi: Difference between revisions

The '''Sharquoi''' are a race of powerful creatures that were biomechanically altered by the [[Forerunner]]s to fight the [[Flood]]. While the Sharquoi are little more than animals on their own, the Forerunners implanted them with devices enabling them to be mentally controlled ''en masse'' by a single individual via the ''[[vertex]]'', a central neural interface. Left in [[Slipspace field pod|stasis]] following the [[Forerunner-Flood war]], a number of Sharquoi were later found by the [[Covenant]], but were rarely used in combat as the Covenant lacked effective means of controlling them.<ref name="Envoy186"/> After recovering the ''vertex'' from [[Installation 00]], the [[Jiralhanae Chieftain]] [[Hekabe]] intended to use hundreds of thousands of the creatures in his own plot to gain power. Though he nearly succeeded, Hekabe's plan was foiled by [[Spartan-II]] [[Gray Team]], the [[Surakan Militia Volunteers]] and [[Rojka 'Kasaan]] who [[Battle of the Sharquoi Hive|destroyed the hive]] and all of the creatures within using a [[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon]].{{Ref/Reuse|Id=HEnv}}

Sometime after the [[Writ of Union]] the Covenant discovered the Sharquoi and inducted a limited number of them for combat, but largely kept their existence a mystery to the average Covenant citizen.<ref name="Envoy183/184"/> Near the end of the [[Human-Covenant War]], a [[Sangheili]] expressed to his commander that [[human]]ity's corralling following the [[Fall of Reach]] might allow the Sharquoi to be deployed soon.<ref name="conversations"/> The [[San'Shyuum]] had intended to use the Sharqoui during the [[Battle for Earth]], but never got the chance to deploy them.<ref name="Envoy186"/>

While many former Covenant members believed the Sharquoi's status after the war was unknown<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/canon-fodder-feet-first '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Canon Fodder - Feet First'']</ref> at least two hives had remained untouched by the Covenant. A former Sangheili [[Shipmaster]] seeking [[Asylum seeker|asylum]] provided useful intel of the Sharquoi to the [[UNSC]] by replicating [[Covenant murals]] for them in hand-drawn sketches. Later the UNSC and the Sangheili crew of an ex-Covenant destroyer were able to [[Operation: POLECAT|locate]] on a remote world the Sharquoi hive once controlled by the [[Prophets]]. During the mission ONI personnel accidentally released a single Sharquoi that resulted in the deaths of 50 out of the 100 [[ODST]]s that had been deployed. The hive was subsequently razed with [[nuclear weapon]]s and then [[glassed]] by the destroyer to ensure that none of the Sharquoi would ever again pose a threat.<ref name="Envoy187/189"/>

Sharquoi are a large cyclopsian species. At five meters tall they are even larger than [[Jiralhanae]] and [[Mgalekgolo]], and are considered more dangerous than either of the two.<ref name="Envoy186">'''Halo Envoy''', ''page 186''</ref> Sharquoi have small heads for their body size, and are not very intelligent when they are not connected to their technologically-enabled hive mind.<ref name="Envoy187/189"/> They have trunk-like legs and hands bigger than a Jiralhanae's head. Above each of the hands are large bone spikes at least a meter in length. Sharquoi are covered in grey, leathery skin over heavily bunched and corded, muscles. In place of an eye the Sharquoi have light-grey bony tissue used for echolocation. They have razor-like teeth that jut over their jaws.<ref name="Envoy183/184">'''[[Halo: Envoy]]''', ''pages 183-184''</ref> Sharquoi  [[blood]] is purple.<ref name="Envoy244">'''Halo: Envoy''', ''page 244''</ref> Sharquoi are strong enough to rip [[Sangheili]] and Jiralhanae limb from limb,<ref name="Envoy354">'''Halo: Envoy''', ''page 354''</ref> incapacitate a [[Spartan-II]] in [[MJOLNIR Mark V]], flip [[M12 Warthog]]s into the air,<ref name="Envoy240/241">'''Halo: Envoy''', ''pages 240-241''</ref> and destroy [[M400 Kodiak]]s with their bare hands.<ref name="Envoy242/243">'''Halo: Envoy''', ''pages 242-243''</ref> Sharquoi are also incredibly durable, capable of taking a [[14.5×114mm]] round to the head, or a [[M19 missile]] to the chest, without dying<ref name="Envoy240/241"/> However, they are susceptible to continuous fire from heavy weapons, multiple headshots from a [[SRS99-S5 AM sniper rifle]], and decapitation from a [[Type-1 energy sword]].<ref name="Envoy186"/>

The Sharquoi are mentioned briefly in ''[[Conversations from the Universe]]'', a pamphlet included with the ''Halo 2 Limited Edition''. This remained as the sole reference to the Sharquoi in ''Halo'' canon until the 2017 novel ''[[Halo: Envoy]]'', which elaborates on the creatures' nature. The novel even makes clear references to the early placeholder and concept art for the creatures (seen below), including [[:File:3 mural.jpg|a mural]] featured in the early cinematic cutscenes for ''[[Halo 2]]''.<ref name="Envoy186"/>