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Present in the "Sway" alpha, the Recon Drone appears on an early version of the map [[Repository]] as a unit buildable in the map's central [[Sentinel factory]] alongside [[Aggressor Sentinel]]s. Despite this Forerunner construction and neutral placement, the Recon Drone takes the form of a [[Yanme'e]]. The Drone has a complete model and animations, and is able to fly at high speeds around the map. True to its name, the Drone has no attacks, and is instead only intended for scouting.{{Ref/Reuse|YTAlpha}}
Present in the "Sway" alpha, the Recon Drone appears on an early version of the map [[Repository]] as a unit buildable in the map's central [[Sentinel factory]] alongside [[Aggressor Sentinel]]s. Despite this Forerunner construction and neutral placement, the Recon Drone takes the form of a [[Yanme'e]]. The Drone has a complete model and animations, and is able to fly at high speeds around the map. True to its name, the Drone has no attacks, and is instead only intended for scouting.{{Ref/Reuse|YTAlpha}}
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:HW Drone Sculpt.jpg|The high-poly sculpt of the Recon Drone.
File:HW Drone Sculpt.jpg|The high-poly sculpt of the Recon Drone.{{Ref/Site|Id=ASBriley|URL=https://www.artstation.com/artwork/RyY6D|Site=ArtStation|Page=(Halo Wars)|D=22|M=5|Y=2021}}
File:HW Drone Textured.jpg|The textured final unit of the Recon Drone.
File:HW Drone Textured.jpg|The textured final unit of the Recon Drone.{{Ref/Reuse|ASBriley}}
File:HW Drone Alpha.png|The Recon Drone in the internal alpha.
File:HW Drone Alpha.png|The Recon Drone in the internal alpha.
File:HWDE Drone Cut.png|The Recon Drone found in Halo Wars: Definitive Edition.
File:HWDE Drone Cut.png|The Recon Drone found in Halo Wars: Definitive Edition.
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File:HW Screenshots E07 3.jpg|Another screenshot of the Scarab.
File:HW Screenshots E07 3.jpg|Another screenshot of the Scarab.
File:HW E307 Scarab.png|The Scarab as it appears in the [[Halo Wars E3 demo|''Halo Wars'' E3 demo]].
File:HW E307 Scarab.png|The Scarab as it appears in the [[Halo Wars E3 demo|''Halo Wars'' E3 demo]].
</gallery>
==Ambient AI==
===Creep===
A number of maps in ''Halo Wars'' feature neutral AI factions such as [[Unidentified insurrectionist group|rebels]], [[Sentinel]]s and [[Flood]]. These factions will typically be hostile to both the UNSC and Covenant. A number of additional factions were intended to be implemented in the game. These factions were developed under the codename of "creep", and include the following.
====Heretics====
One possible creep faction intended to be included in ''Halo Wars'' were the Covenant [[List of known Covenant heretics|heretics]] - those who sought fit to defy the [[Covenant religion]]. Concept art reveals that Sangheili were intended to be soldiers in this faction, while unused files within the releases of ''Halo Wars'' and ''Halo Wars: Definitive Edition'' showcase additional Heretic [[Unggoy|Grunts]]. An additional texture file known as <code>creep_heretic_ghost_01</code> indicates the Heretics would have access to the [[Ghost]] vehicle; piloted by a Sangheili.
<gallery>
File:HW Heretics Concept.jpg|Concept art for the Heretic Elites.
File:HW HereticGrunts.png|The Heretic Grunts; spawned in via modding.
File:HW HereticGrunt Icon.png|The in-game unit icon for the Heretic Grunts.
</gallery>
====Jackal pirates====
Another cut creep faction that would have been included are the [[Kig-Yar]] [[Piracy|pirates]]. Files for the Jackals are still available within ''Halo Wars'', allowing the units to be spawned in via [[modding]]. The Jackals were to spawn in squads of four, armed with [[Type-25 plasma pistol|plasma pistols]] or [[Type-33 needler|needlers]]. The pirates would also have access to [[Kig-Yar Sniper]]s armed with [[Type-50 particle beam rifle|beam rifles]].
<gallery>
File:HW JackalCreep Concept 1.jpg|Concept art for the Jackal Pirates.
File:HW JackalCreep Concept 2.jpg|Concept art for the Jackal Pirates.
File:HW Jackal Early Design.jpg|The final model for the pirates.{{Ref/Reuse|ASBriley}}
File:HW JackalPirate Needlers.png|The Jackal Pirates spawned into ''Halo Wars''; armed with needlers.
File:HW_JackalPirate_PlasmaPistols.png|The Jackal Pirates spawned into ''Halo Wars''; armed with plasma pistols.
File:HW JackalPirate Snipers.png|The Jackal Pirate snipers.
</gallery>
===Animals===
Alongside the neutral factions, ''Halo Wars'' was intended to feature fauna as ambient AI in the game world. Some of these creatures were only concepted, while others were even modelled and textured for in-game implementation. For a list of other ambient life cut from other ''Halo'' games, see [[List of deleted ambient life in Halo development|this page]].
====Arctic beast====
The arctic beast was a creature concepted, modelled and textured for inclusion in ''Halo Wars'', likely intended to spawn on maps set in the polar regions of [[Harvest]].{{Ref/Reuse|OHWCSAmbient}}{{Ref/Reuse|OHWCSConcept}}{{Ref/Site|Id=WohrAmbient|URL=http://artofphilwohr.blogspot.com/2008/04/halo-wars-ambient-creature-art.html|Site=The Art of Phil Wohr|Page=Halo Wars Ambient Creature Art|D=22|M=5|Y=2021}} This creature was later canonised in [[2015]]'s ''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]'' as the ''[[Chaefka]]''; a species of life indexed by the [[Forerunner]]s and present on [[Installation 00|The Ark]]. The following year's ''[[Halo Mythos: A Guide to the Story of Halo|Halo Mythos]]'' saw a scene from the book visualised with a new illustration, using the arctic beast's design almost entirely unaltered.
<gallery>
File:HW ArcticBeast Concept.jpg|Concept art for the arctic beast.
File:HW ArcticBeast HiPoly.jpg|The high-poly sculpt for the arctic beast.{{Ref/Reuse|ASBriley}}
File:HW ArcticBeast Render.jpg|The textured low-poly model for the arctic beast.{{Ref/Reuse|ASBriley}}
File:HM-Chaefka.jpeg|An official illustration of the ''Chaefka'' from ''Halo Mythos''.
</gallery>
====Arctic ice hound====
{{Quote|I remember back in 2006 watching a show on Discovery channel called “Alien Planet”, it was based on a book called “Expedition: Being an Account in Words and Artwork of the 2358 A.D. Voyage to Darwin IV” by Wayne Douglas Barlowe (sadly out of print). Anyway, it’s a fascinating program and worth picking up the DVD. At the time we were beginning to concept Harvest and I remember coming in the next day talking about this show on Discovery and then running out and getting the DVD for the team so we could watch. I felt that the cycle presented on the show, which is as real on Earth as it is anywhere, was really well represented here (herd, hunter, scavenger) and that I wanted to see this in the worlds and environments in our game. So when you look at our concepts you’ll see that we have herd animals, hunters, and scavengers.|Grame Devine, discussing the arctic ice hound.{{Ref/Reuse|OHWCSAmbient}}}}
This creature was one of a number of concepts developed during the discussions of the wildlife of Harvest. It was concepted and even modelled and textured, though cut from release.{{Ref/Reuse|OHWCSAmbient}}{{Ref/Reuse|OHWCSConcept}}
<gallery>
File:HW ArcticIceHound Concept.jpg|Concept art of the creature.
File:HW ArcticIceHound Render.jpg|A textured 3D model of the creature.{{Ref/Reuse|ASBriley}}
</gallery>
====Thorn beast====
The [[thorn beast]]s are another cut creature seen fully modelled, textured and animated; they are present in the ''Halo Wars'' [[Electronic Entertainment Expo|E3 2008]] build and can be seen walking around the map around thirteen minutes into the demo. They do not appear to attack UNSC forces.{{Ref/Site|Id=E32008|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://www.gamespot.com/videos/halo-wars-e3-2008-stage-show-demo/2300-6194807/|Site=Gamespot|Page=Halo Wars E3 2008 Stage Show Demo}} Thorn beasts remain canon in the ''Halo'' setting; with the [[Thrallslayer|Chieftain]] character said to particularly enjoy eating them; they were later featured in the novel ''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]'' as a delicacy enjoyed by the crew of ''[[Rapid Conversion]]''.
Interestingly, ''Halo Wars'' is not the first time the thorn beasts were developed to appear in a ''Halo'' game; they were originally designed by [[Paul Russel]] during the [[Development of Halo: Combat Evolved|development]] of ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', where they were modelled with an identical design and similarly cut.
<gallery>
File:Pre-Xbox Halo Thorn beast 1.png|Paul Russel's original thorn beast model for ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.
File:HW Unit Thorn Beast.png|A thorn beast can be seen in this image taken from the E3 2008 demo build of ''Halo Wars''.{{Ref/Reuse|E32008}}
</gallery>
====Space owl====
{{Quote|When Ensemble looks at making worlds come alive we look at more than trees, hills and cool water.  We look at something we call "ambient life" which means things like cool space owls flying around (like this one) and creating a look and feel of a natural balance in the world.  If these creatures react to the players interaction in the world (firing weapons for example) then that goes a long way to making the player feel that the world is actually someplace believable rather than an empty sandbox with an AI.|[[Graeme Devine]], discussing the "Space Owl".{{Ref/Site|Id=OHWCSAmbient|URL=http://www.halowars.com/Default.aspx|Site=Official Halo Wars Community Site|Page=Ambient Life Concept|D=23|M=2|Y=2008}}}}
The so-called "space owl" is another ambient creature concepted but ultimately never implemented in ''Halo Wars''. The creature was described as having a wingspan of six feet.{{Ref/Reuse|OHWCSAmbient}}{{Ref/Reuse|OHWCSConcept}}{{Ref/Reuse|WohrAmbient}}
<gallery>
File:HW SpaceOwl Concept.jpg|Concept art for the creature.
</gallery>
====Harvest whale====
{{Quote|After Harvest was attacked things didn’t go well for the population (Just read Joseph Staten’s excellent Contact Harvest!) but the wildlife fared even worse.  As seas boiled, turned toxic and the ecosystem turned poisonous life on Harvest became impossible for creatures great and small.  Our concept artists here have created one such scene of a beached alien whale being picked over by the last surviving wildlife on Harvest, the scavengers.|Grame Devine, discussing the Harvest whale.{{Ref/Reuse|OHWCSAmbient}}}}
The Harvest whale was designed as part of the exploration for the wildlife of Harvest. This creature would likely not be seen as an ambient AI on the map, but instead a dead body appearing in the environment.{{Ref/Reuse|OHWCSAmbient}}{{Ref/Site|Id=OHWCSConcept|URL=http://www.halowars.com/Galleries/ConceptArt.aspx|Site=Official Halo Wars Community Site|Page=Concept art|D=06|M=7|Y=2014|LocalArchive=Archive:Halowars.com/Galleries}}
<gallery>
File:HW HarvestWhale Concept.jpg|Concept art for the whale.
</gallery>
====Oxyaena====
The oxyaena is another creature fully modelled and textured for inclusion in ''Halo Wars''. The creature was present in the game's E3 2008 demo, and can be seen wandering the map at around one minute into the demo.{{Ref/Reuse|E32008}}
<gallery>
File:HW Oxyaena Render.jpg|The model created for the oxyanea.
File:HW Unit Oxyaena.png|The oxyanea in the E3 2008 demo.
</gallery>
====Other creatures====
These creatures have also been showcased in various work uploads related to ''Halo Wars''. Little is known of their design intent or purpose, and are thus presented below.
<gallery>
File:HW EelSnake Concept.jpg|Concept art for an eel-like creature.{{Ref/Reuse|OHWCSConcept}}
File:HW CutCreature Render 1.jpg|A textured 3D model of an unknown creature.{{Ref/Reuse|ASBriley}}
File:HW CutCreature Render 2.jpg|A textured 3D model of an unknown creature.{{Ref/Reuse|ASBriley}}
</gallery>
</gallery>


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