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Logic plague: Difference between revisions
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===Biological beings=== | ===Biological beings=== | ||
While most commonly associated with AIs, this form of corruption is not limited to machine entities: given the right conditions, the Flood is capable of manipulating organic beings as well due to the Gravemind's immense intelligence as well as its powerful metaphysical abilities. Using a key individual as an unwitting puppet, for example, would be highly effective at demoralizing the enemy and generating chaos in their midst; doing so may potentially be more beneficial to the Flood as a whole than immediate biological infection.<ref name="s286">'''Halo: Silentium''', ''pages 286-289''</ref> However, instances of this occurring are relatively uncommon and were only hypothetical to the Forerunners during the [[human-Forerunner wars|first Flood outbreak]] and most of the Forerunner-Flood war | While most commonly associated with AIs, this form of corruption is not limited to machine entities: given the right conditions, the Flood is capable of manipulating organic beings as well due to the Gravemind's immense intelligence as well as its powerful metaphysical abilities. Using a key individual as an unwitting puppet, for example, would be highly effective at demoralizing the enemy and generating chaos in their midst; doing so may potentially be more beneficial to the Flood as a whole than immediate biological infection.<ref name="s286">'''Halo: Silentium''', ''pages 286-289''</ref> However, instances of this occurring are relatively uncommon and were only hypothetical to the Forerunners during the [[human-Forerunner wars|first Flood outbreak]] and most of the Forerunner-Flood war,<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''pages 34-35''</ref> until the [[Ur-Didact]]'s manipulation by the Gravemind.<ref name="s286"/> | ||
However, normal Flood infection also contains an incorporeal aspect. When the Flood infects a biological being, a metaphysical strain of the infection capable of surviving [[mind transfer]] procedures and the destruction of the victim's physical body. Even if the extracted essence is restored to a new body free of infection, the Flood is capable of resuming its biological infection through this fundamental corruption of pattern information. This was most tragically demonstrated with the [[Composer]] and its failure to reconstitute infected individuals' biological forms: the new bodies of Flood victims subjected to Composer processing would invariably degenerate and fall apart in a short period of time.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''pages 320-323''</ref> | However, normal Flood infection also contains an incorporeal aspect. When the Flood infects a biological being, a metaphysical strain of the infection capable of surviving [[mind transfer]] procedures and the destruction of the victim's physical body. Even if the extracted essence is restored to a new body free of infection, the Flood is capable of resuming its biological infection through this fundamental corruption of pattern information. This was most tragically demonstrated with the [[Composer]] and its failure to reconstitute infected individuals' biological forms: the new bodies of Flood victims subjected to Composer processing would invariably degenerate and fall apart in a short period of time.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''pages 320-323''</ref> | ||
===Countermeasures=== | ===Countermeasures=== | ||
Because of its highly flexible and adaptive nature, most Forerunner attempts to directly protect their AIs against the logic plague failed. Even the most powerful Forerunner [[ancilla]]s were susceptible to this condition, the most notable example being [[05-032 Mendicant Bias]].<ref name="terminals">'''[[Halo 3]]''', ''[[Terminal/Halo 3|Terminals]]''</ref> The most effective defensive measure employed by the Forerunners was compartmentalization: ancillas and [[monitor]]s were only given access to information they required in their duties.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''pages 314, 330''</ref> Important strategic data, such as the locations of crucial facilities of the [[Halo Array]], was suppressed from the AI's memory as a safeguard in the event of subversion by the Flood.<ref>'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[The Ark (level)|The Ark]]'' (''"Not at all. While I had a complete understanding of Installation 04, my makers wisely limited my knowledge of all other strategic facilities. Compartmentalization - in case I was ever captured by the Flood."'')</ref> | Because of its highly flexible and adaptive nature, most Forerunner attempts to directly protect their AIs against the logic plague failed. Even the most powerful Forerunner [[ancilla]]s were susceptible to this condition, the most notable example being [[05-032 Mendicant Bias]].<ref name="terminals">'''[[Halo 3]]''', ''[[Terminal/Halo 3|Terminals]]''</ref> Early into their conflict against the Flood, the Forerunners attempted to use software countermeasures to reclaim infected [[ancilla]]s and computer systems. As this yielded little results, these efforts were eventually abandoned in favor of destroying all vessels and their AIs at the first sign of infection.<ref name="s215"/> | ||
The most effective defensive measure employed by the Forerunners was compartmentalization: ancillas and [[monitor]]s were only given access to information they required in their duties.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''pages 314, 330''</ref> Important strategic data, such as the locations of crucial facilities of the [[Halo Array]], was suppressed from the AI's memory as a safeguard in the event of subversion by the Flood.<ref>'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[The Ark (level)|The Ark]]'' (''"Not at all. While I had a complete understanding of Installation 04, my makers wisely limited my knowledge of all other strategic facilities. Compartmentalization - in case I was ever captured by the Flood."'')</ref> | |||
==Notable examples== | ==Notable examples== | ||