Logic plague: Difference between revisions

The '''logic plague'''<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 315''</ref> is a blanket term for a wide-ranging series of techniques used by the [[Flood]] to attack and subvert intelligences through non-biological means.<ref name="s215">'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 215''</ref> Described as the information equivalent of the parasite,<ref name="s177">'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 177''</ref> the logic plague is not a rigid or singular mechanism; much like the Flood's biological aspects, it can take many forms and adapt based on different circumstances. The state induced by the logic plague in an [[artificial intelligence]] is often equated with the condition of [[rampancy]],<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 204''</ref> albeit one of a specific focus—the propagation of the Flood's goals. The ability to induce the logic plague develops as alongside the manifestation and growth of a [[Gravemind]]. The parasite's capacity to do so continues to increase as the Flood gains more biomass and thus processing power and intelligence. This growth—achieved in part through the planet-encompassing [[Key Mind]]s—eventually enabled the parasite to match any Forerunner AI near the end of the [[Forerunner-Flood war]].<ref name="s215"/>

On the most basic level, the logic plague takes the form of facts or philosophical arguments delivered with carefully engineered deliberation to directly or indirectly persuade the targeted intelligence to act in a certain way. In what may appear to be something as innocuous as a simple conversation, the Gravemind gradually uses insidious arguments to convince the AI of its cause; information is transmitted both ways, making the ultimately hostile process appear cooperative.<ref name="terminals"/> The intelligence in direct contact with the Gravemind may only act as a vector for the logic plague, which then continues to spread to other intelligences in the form of information forwarded by the initial vector.<ref name="s177"/><ref name="catalog">[https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postsm2959975_Query--Catalog-old.aspx#post2959975 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Query: Catalog'']</ref>

In a more aggressive variation of the logic plague, the Gravemind completely overwhelms the AI's firewalls and uses its immense intellect and processing power to saturate the construct with incessant argumentation and more violent means of coercion. These have been shown to include realistic simulation of physical sensations, such as pain. The Gravemind is also capable of immersing the captive AI in illusions and forcing the intelligence to relive the memories of the Flood's earlier victims.<ref name="human weakness">'''Halo: Evolutions''', ''"[[Human Weakness]]"''</ref>

In the later stages of a Flood outbreak, the logic plague becomes an adaptive, self-replicating data instance which will directly infect and convert virtually all AIs it comes in contact with. This variation of the plague is no longer be limited to direct communication between an embodied Gravemind and an AI, but can be transmitted via any Flood form, infected construct or network. This state was evidenced at the end of the Forerunners' war with the Flood.<ref name="s215"/>

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"/>

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 [[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"/>