1
edit
Flood combat form: Difference between revisions
→Pathology
| Line 23: | Line 23: | ||
A Combat Form is not a natural organism, but rather a mutated host infected by parasitic [[Flood Super Cell]]s implanted by an [[Infection Form]]. Successful creation of a Combat Form requires a host with sufficient biomass and calcium store. After mutation begins, the infection form attaches with a protruding neural connection that allows it to command the host's nervous system, thus rendering command of the legs or arms useless. During the infection process, the host's internal organs are liquefied and the nutrients from them are used to develop the tentacles and other appendages. | A Combat Form is not a natural organism, but rather a mutated host infected by parasitic [[Flood Super Cell]]s implanted by an [[Infection Form]]. Successful creation of a Combat Form requires a host with sufficient biomass and calcium store. After mutation begins, the infection form attaches with a protruding neural connection that allows it to command the host's nervous system, thus rendering command of the legs or arms useless. During the infection process, the host's internal organs are liquefied and the nutrients from them are used to develop the tentacles and other appendages. | ||
The host stays alive during the transformation process and can even be conscious and aware after the final transformation. This process is presumably very painful and terrifying. Once fully transformed, the [[Infection Form]] has total control over the host's body and changes the physical appearance of the host to better suit its own needs. (Although an infected host will be roughly the same size as it was before.) On rare occasions, this effect may be weakened by time in stasis, allowing the host to regain some control,as in the case of [[Private | The host stays alive during the transformation process and can even be conscious and aware after the final transformation. This process is presumably very painful and terrifying. Once fully transformed, the [[Infection Form]] has total control over the host's body and changes the physical appearance of the host to better suit its own needs. (Although an infected host will be roughly the same size as it was before.) On rare occasions, this effect may be weakened by time in stasis, allowing the host to regain some control,as in the case of [[Private First Class]] [[Wallace Jenkins]] <ref>''[[Halo: The Flood]]''</ref>. Combat Forms retain the host's previous skills and so can wield weapons(not dual wield), drive [[vehicles]] and [[boarding|board]] enemy [[vehicles]]. However, [[Infection Forms]] do not require their hosts to still be alive for infection. Even dead hosts are suitable for conversion into a Combat Form, [[reanimation|reanimating]] again after being infected. Though the brain tissue remains dead, the victim's biomass and calcium reserves are sufficient to warrant infection. | ||
In the initial stage of a Flood outbreak, the [[Feral Stage]], Combat Forms communicate using pheromones and have one instinctual behavior: to secure new hosts to strengthen the local [[Proto-Gravemind|controlling intelligence]]. Once a sufficient store of biomass is available for the Flood to enter the [[Coordinated Stage]] and begin forming [[Pure Form]] Flood, the Combat Forms are used either as defensive units or calcium/biomass reserves. According to the [[Master Chief]], it looked like an [[Elite]], except it appeared that someone had "killed him, buried the body, and dug it up two weeks later" <ref>''[[Halo: The Flood]]'', page 220</ref>. Flood infection is a rapid and efficient biological process, which can take under a minute in extreme cases. An interesting side effect of the deadly [[Human]] disease [[Boren's Syndrome]], which [[Sergeant Avery Johnson]] suffered from, is total immunity to Flood Super Cells. The [[Flood]] can recognize if a potential host is immune, and will focus on that organism above other threats in the area. A group of Flood will occasionally go after [[Sentinels]] if they are perceived the greatest threat in the area, although Sentinels are unable to be infected by the Flood. Curiously in ''Halo 2'', if their is a single Flood left that matches the species of the player(i.e. Human Flood if playing as Master Chief.) The flood will not attack the player but simple stand idle. Implying that the memories the Flood has absorbed seems to have a degree of influence over there actions. However, if other Flood arrive it will resume attacking. | In the initial stage of a Flood outbreak, the [[Feral Stage]], Combat Forms communicate using pheromones and have one instinctual behavior: to secure new hosts to strengthen the local [[Proto-Gravemind|controlling intelligence]]. Once a sufficient store of biomass is available for the Flood to enter the [[Coordinated Stage]] and begin forming [[Pure Form]] Flood, the Combat Forms are used either as defensive units or calcium/biomass reserves. According to the [[Master Chief]], it looked like an [[Elite]], except it appeared that someone had "killed him, buried the body, and dug it up two weeks later" <ref>''[[Halo: The Flood]]'', page 220</ref>. Flood infection is a rapid and efficient biological process, which can take under a minute in extreme cases. An interesting side effect of the deadly [[Human]] disease [[Boren's Syndrome]], which [[Sergeant Avery Johnson]] suffered from, is total immunity to Flood Super Cells. The [[Flood]] can recognize if a potential host is immune, and will focus on that organism above other threats in the area. A group of Flood will occasionally go after [[Sentinels]] if they are perceived the greatest threat in the area, although Sentinels are unable to be infected by the Flood. Curiously in ''Halo 2'', if their is a single Flood left that matches the species of the player(i.e. Human Flood if playing as Master Chief.) The flood will not attack the player but simple stand idle. Implying that the memories the Flood has absorbed seems to have a degree of influence over there actions. However, if other Flood arrive it will resume attacking. | ||