Flood: Difference between revisions
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{{quote|It fed on intelligent life and in doing so, became every more intelligent itself. The Flood was unique, it used [[Forerunners|their]] very strength against them.|Cortana on the Forerunner-Flood War.}} | {{quote|It fed on intelligent life and in doing so, became every more intelligent itself. The Flood was unique, it used [[Forerunners|their]] very strength against them.|Cortana on the Forerunner-Flood War.}} | ||
The Flood are believed to have arrived in the [[Milky Way Galaxy]] from an unknown galaxy, more than 100,000 years prior to [[2552]]<ref>'''Halo 2''', level ''[[Sacred Icon (Level)|Sacred Icon]]''</ref> when they encountered the Forerunners on the planet [[G617 g1]]. The Flood used unarmed civilian assets to penetrate planetary defense groups, first striking at the Forerunner-held planet of [[LP 656-38 e]], bypassing the Forerunner Orbital [[Fleet]], and infesting the planet below. They soon moved to similarly infest the planet [[DM-3-1123b]]. | The Flood are believed to have arrived in the [[Milky Way Galaxy]] from an unknown galaxy, more than 100,000 years prior to [[2552]]<ref>'''Halo 2''', level ''[[Sacred Icon (Level)|Sacred Icon]]''</ref> when they encountered the Forerunners on the planet [[G617 g1]]. Initially, the Forerunners severely underestimated the potential threat this new life-form posed, and used tactics more suited to disease outbreak than actual warfare. By the time the infection had begun to spread, the Flood had become a much deadlier and more intelligent foe. The Flood used unarmed civilian assets to penetrate planetary defense groups, first striking at the Forerunner-held planet of [[LP 656-38 e]], bypassing the Forerunner Orbital [[Fleet]], and infesting the planet below. They soon moved to similarly infest the planet [[DM-3-1123b]]. Forerunner ground forces were overcome by the sheer numbers of Flood forms on the planets. While at first the Flood demonstrated a lack of even "basic cohesion", they had "numerical superiority"; billions of forms dedicated to the assault, and every member of the Forerunner population a potential Flood host. In desperation, the Forerunner's armada was ordered to immediately commence full planetary bombardment on infested worlds, although at a great cost - many Forerunners were unable to be evacuated before bombardment commenced, leaving the Forerunner military with shallow victories against the Flood. In events where the naval garrisons were unable to commence bombardment, major Forerunner population centers appeared to activate localized weapons of mass destruction, effectively committing mass suicide, but stopping the growing infestation. | ||
Thereafter, the Forerunners realized that ordinary naval tactics were unable to stem the growing tide of the Flood, and decided to pin their hopes of defeating the Flood on super weaponry. While the Forerunners initially deployed the [[Sentinel]] robotic drones to fight against and contain the Flood, almost immediately afterward, the [[Forerunner Fleet Command]] contemplated "Premature stellar collapse": using naval battle groups to destroy planetary star systems' primary stars in supernova that would engulf the planetary systems and prevent any possibility of Flood infection. | Thereafter, the Forerunners realized that ordinary naval tactics were unable to stem the growing tide of the Flood, and decided to pin their hopes of defeating the Flood on super-weaponry. While the Forerunners initially deployed the [[Sentinel]] robotic drones to fight against and contain the Flood, almost immediately afterward, the [[Forerunner Fleet Command]] contemplated "Premature stellar collapse": using naval battle groups to destroy planetary star systems' primary stars in supernova that would engulf the planetary systems and prevent any possibility of Flood infection. | ||
While the Flood were exponentially growing, spreading from system to system with the intent to infect the Forerunner population, not to wage war with Forerunner battle groups, the tide was turning: the Flood had reached sufficient proportions to create a Gravemind form, a creature that embodied a collective sentient intelligence for the Flood species, and one that could coordinate the Flood swarms in intelligent attacks against the Forerunner Fleets. The Forerunners were aware of this, and constructed the [[Contender-class Artificial Intelligence|Contender class]] [[artificial intelligence]] [[Mendicant Bias]] in an effort to destroy this centralized Gravemind and disorganize the Flood. This too failed since Mendicant Bias went rampant and joined the Flood cause to destroy its former masters. | While the Flood were exponentially growing, spreading from system to system with the intent to infect the Forerunner population, not to wage war with Forerunner battle groups, the tide was turning: the Flood had reached sufficient proportions to create a Gravemind form, a creature that embodied a collective sentient intelligence for the Flood species, and one that could coordinate the Flood swarms in intelligent attacks against the Forerunner Fleets. The Forerunners were aware of this, and constructed the [[Contender-class Artificial Intelligence|Contender class]] [[artificial intelligence]] [[Mendicant Bias]] in an effort to destroy this centralized Gravemind and disorganize the Flood. This too failed since Mendicant Bias went rampant and joined the Flood cause to destroy its former masters. | ||
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The Forerunners employed many, many measures, including intricate naval tactics in an attempt to contain the Flood, which ultimately failed. Finally, the Forerunners were forced to a Pyrrhic solution, building seven ring-like super-weapons, known as [[Fortress Worlds]] or Halos, across the galaxy. Because the Flood were parasitic, and their survival was directly linked to the presence of potential hosts, the Forerunners reasoned that eliminating all potential Flood hosts, that is, all sentient life forms in the galaxy, would "render the parasite harmless", as explained by the Forerunner AI 343 Guilty Spark. After all countermeasures failed, the Forerunners activated the [[Halos]] in 97,448 B.C, unleashing galactic destruction, and destroying almost all sentient life forms in the Galaxy. However, the human race and many other species throughout the galaxy survived the firing of the Halos because they were safely spared on the Ark which was out of range of the Halo Array or protected by the [[Shield Worlds]], which were also out of range . | The Forerunners employed many, many measures, including intricate naval tactics in an attempt to contain the Flood, which ultimately failed. Finally, the Forerunners were forced to a Pyrrhic solution, building seven ring-like super-weapons, known as [[Fortress Worlds]] or Halos, across the galaxy. Because the Flood were parasitic, and their survival was directly linked to the presence of potential hosts, the Forerunners reasoned that eliminating all potential Flood hosts, that is, all sentient life forms in the galaxy, would "render the parasite harmless", as explained by the Forerunner AI 343 Guilty Spark. After all countermeasures failed, the Forerunners activated the [[Halos]] in 97,448 B.C, unleashing galactic destruction, and destroying almost all sentient life forms in the Galaxy. However, the human race and many other species throughout the galaxy survived the firing of the Halos because they were safely spared on the Ark which was out of range of the Halo Array or protected by the [[Shield Worlds]], which were also out of range . | ||
The Flood were contained, and unable to reproduce due to lack of hosts, and eventually died out. The only surviving specimens were contained in state of the art, high-security Forerunner research facilities, such as the Halo Installations and the [[Threshold]] [[Gas Mine]]. | The Flood were contained, and unable to reproduce and grow due to lack of hosts, and eventually died out. The only surviving specimens were contained in state of the art, high-security Forerunner research facilities, such as the Halo Installations and the [[Threshold]] [[Gas Mine]]. | ||
===Battle of the Apex=== | ===Battle of the Apex=== | ||
{{main|Battle of the Apex}} | {{main|Battle of the Apex}} | ||
Thousands of years after the end of the Forerunner-Flood war, the human ship ''[[Spirit of Fire]]'' jumped from Arcadia to follow the signal of [[Professor Anders]], who had been captured by the Covenant. They were led to an unknown planet, which happened to be a Forerunner [[Shield World]]. Ground forces were deployed to investigate the presence of unknown hostiles sighted by the ship's radar. After fighting their way through Covenant forces, [[Sergeant Forge]] and several Marine squads were attacked by the Flood. | Thousands of years after the end of the Forerunner-Flood war, the human ship ''[[Spirit of Fire]]'' jumped from Arcadia to follow the signal of [[Professor Anders]], who had been captured by the Covenant. They were led to an unknown planet, which happened to be a Forerunner [[Shield World]]. Containment measures on this planet had failed catastrophically, and the entire surface of the planet was choked with Flood biomass. Ground forces were deployed to investigate the presence of unknown hostiles sighted by the ship's radar. After fighting their way through Covenant forces, [[Sergeant Forge]] and several Marine squads were attacked by the Flood. | ||
The surviving UNSC forces, which included Sergeant Forge, were ordered to recover some Elephants that were surrounded by Flood forms. After one was rescued, the small squad made their way into a site that would become a base. They then assembled a larger force to rescue the other soldiers. Following their successful rescue, the UNSC forces prepared to engage the Flood. | The surviving UNSC forces, which included Sergeant Forge, were ordered to recover some Elephants that were surrounded by Flood forms. After one was rescued, the small squad made their way into a site that would become a base. They then assembled a larger force to rescue the other soldiers. Following their successful rescue, the UNSC forces prepared to engage the Flood. | ||