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Human-Flood war: Difference between revisions
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|image=[[File:H4-Terminal-HumanShip-Bridge.jpg|300px]]<br>A human ship prepares to cleanse an infested planet by orbital bombardment. | |image=[[File:H4-Terminal-HumanShip-Bridge.jpg|300px]]<br>A human ship prepares to cleanse an infested planet by orbital bombardment. | ||
|conflict= | |conflict= | ||
|date=c. [[110,000 BCE]]—[[109, | |date=c. [[110,000 BCE]]—[[109,040 BCE]] | ||
|place=[[Milky Way]] | |place=[[Milky Way]] | ||
|result= | |result= | ||
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==First Flood contact== | ==First Flood contact== | ||
During their colonization of other planets, humans discovered automated cargo ships of unknown origin, which had supposedly arrived from one of the [[Magellanic Clouds]], crashed on planets near the edge of the galaxy. The humans found no crew, with the ships appearing to be automated, but they did find millions of small transparent cylinders filled with an unknown powder. Initial testing was done in the strictest containment. These early tests showed the powder to be harmless and useless, being composed of lifeless short-chain organic molecules. Early experiments demonstrated psychotropic effects on some smaller domesticated animals, one of which being the [[Pheru]]. The powder tests on the Pheru proved to be initially harmless, and indeed appeared to encourage desirable traits to appear in their appearance and behavior. However, the powder was in fact composed of Flood genetic material, and over time it began merging with and altering the genome of the Pheru in order to generate its own [[Flood Super Cell]]s. Over time, the infected Pheru began to infect others and even began showing some symptoms of the Flood mutation, such as fleshy tentacle-like rods. Close contact with the Pheru spread the infection to humanity. Some [[San 'Shyuum]] were also infected as the Pheru were also kept as pets on the San 'Shyuum worlds. Eventually the Flood began to spread, and the Feral Phase was initiated. | During their colonization of other planets, humans discovered automated cargo ships of unknown origin, which had supposedly arrived from one of the [[Magellanic Clouds]], crashed on planets near the edge of the galaxy. The humans found no crew, with the ships appearing to be automated, but they did find millions of small transparent cylinders filled with an unknown powder. Initial testing was done in the strictest containment. These early tests showed the powder to be harmless and useless, being composed of lifeless short-chain organic molecules. Early experiments demonstrated psychotropic effects on some smaller domesticated animals, one of which being the [[Pheru]]. The powder tests on the Pheru proved to be initially harmless, and indeed appeared to encourage desirable traits to appear in their appearance and behavior. However, the powder was in fact composed of Flood genetic material, and over time it began merging with and altering the genome of the Pheru in order to generate its own [[Flood Super Cell]]s. Over time, the infected Pheru began to infect others and even began showing some symptoms of the Flood mutation, such as fleshy tentacle-like rods. Close contact with the Pheru spread the infection to humanity. Some [[San 'Shyuum]] were also infected as the Pheru were also kept as pets on the San 'Shyuum worlds. Eventually the Flood began to spread, and the Feral Phase was initiated. | ||
==War== | ==War== | ||
By the time the human officials discovered what the powder had done, it was too late. Entire planets were infected, and the Flood began to aggressively expand. Humans, in desperation, began forcefully taking worlds from other species to make up for the ones they had lost, initiating the Human-Forerunner war.<ref name="c271">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 271-272''</ref> However, the primary mission of the fleets under the command of the Lord of Admirals, [[Forthencho]], was to locate and exterminate any presence of the parasite. When Forerunner worlds became infected, they were immediately targeted for orbital bombardment killing millions of Forerunners in the process. As the Forerunners apparently did not believe the Flood a credible threat to their ecumene, these actions only fueled their hatred towards perceived human aggression against other species. | By the time the human officials discovered what the powder had done, it was too late. Entire planets were infected, and the Flood began to aggressively expand. Humans, in desperation, began forcefully taking worlds from other species to make up for the ones they had lost, initiating the Human-Forerunner war.<ref name="c271">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 271-272''</ref> However, the primary mission of the fleets under the command of the Lord of Admirals, [[Forthencho]], was to locate and exterminate any presence of the parasite. When Forerunner worlds became infected, they were immediately targeted for orbital bombardment killing millions of Forerunners in the process. As the Forerunners apparently did not believe the Flood a credible threat to their ecumene, these actions only fueled their hatred towards perceived human aggression against other species. | ||
As a | Forty years before the end of the the conflict with the Forerunners, the [[Primordial]] was discovered.<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 236-238''</ref> Eventually, human researchers attempted to ask the creature about the Flood. They received answers so traumatizing many of them committed suicide rather than live with the knowledge.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 268-271''</ref> As a last desperate measure, humanity's leaders decided to take a third of their population and genetically altered them by inserting genes designed to fight Flood biomass. They then took this third of the human population and allowed the Flood to consume them. The new genes aggressively killed off Flood biomatter and destroyed the Flood until the few that survived were forced to escape. They would not reappear for another 9,000 years. In truth, however, the Flood had not been defeated. Rather, they willingly retreated, as humanity was an essential part of the Flood's overall plan to destroy the Forerunners.<ref name="c271"/> | ||
==Aftermath== | ==Aftermath== | ||