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Unggoy: Difference between revisions
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{{Quote|When in doubt, flee.|Unggoy philosophy<ref>'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''': ''page 144''</ref>}} | {{Quote|When in doubt, flee.|Unggoy philosophy<ref>'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''': ''page 144''</ref>}} | ||
The '''Unggoy'''<ref>'''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''', page 191 - ''"Unggoy: the Elite name for the Grunt race."''</ref> (Latin, ''Monachus frigus'', meaning "cold monk") are a species of squat bipedal arthropods in the unified races of the [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]]. They are the lowest-ranking species in the hierarchy, and are frequently mistreated by almost every higher-ranking race ([[Sangheili]], [[Jiralhanae]], [[Kig-yar]]). Unggoy are primarily used as laborers or, in combat situations, cannon fodder. They are one of the later races to be introduced into the Covenant, and were either the second or third Covenant species to be encountered by [[human]]s. They are referred to as '''Grunts''' by humans, mainly because they are considered weak compared to their superiors and also because they perform the majority of the labor required by the Covenant. | The '''Unggoy'''<ref>'''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''', page 191 - ''"Unggoy: the Elite name for the Grunt race."''</ref> (Latin, ''Monachus frigus'', meaning "cold monk") are a species of squat bipedal vertebrates, (commonly misidentified as arthropods),<ref name="THB 5.9.12">[http://halo.xbox.com/blogs/Headlines/post/2012/05/09/The-Halo-Bulletin-5912.aspx ''The Halo Bulletin - 5.9.12'']</ref> in the unified races of the [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]]. They are the lowest-ranking species in the hierarchy, and are frequently mistreated by almost every higher-ranking race ([[Sangheili]], [[Jiralhanae]], [[Kig-yar]]). Unggoy are primarily used as laborers or, in combat situations, cannon fodder. They are one of the later races to be introduced into the Covenant, and were either the second or third Covenant species to be encountered by [[human]]s. They are referred to as '''Grunts''' by humans, mainly because they are considered weak compared to their superiors and also because they perform the majority of the labor required by the Covenant. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
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[[File:GruntBlood.jpg|thumb|250px|left|An Unggoy's luminous blue blood.]] | [[File:GruntBlood.jpg|thumb|250px|left|An Unggoy's luminous blue blood.]] | ||
[[File:1215436858 Images.jpeg|thumb|The face of an Unggoy Minor.]] | [[File:1215436858 Images.jpeg|thumb|The face of an Unggoy Minor.]] | ||
Unggoy | Though they possess exoskeletons, some of which are less prominent than others, the Unggoy are actually a vertebrate species. The [[United Nations Space Command]] misclassified the species as arthropodal due to its overall resemblance and similar evolutionary structure to terrestrial arthropods; among other differences, their circulatory system is much more vertebrate than arthropod in nature. More accurately, the species should be considered xeno-arthropod-type vertebrates, possessing substantial, (albeit hypothetical), genetic influences from primate-type and [[Wikipedia:Aphotic zone|aphotic zone]]-dwelling amphibian organisms. This taxonomically incorrect nomenclature persists as late as [[2557]] as an ''ad hoc'' identifier; the pressures of the Human-Covenant War and reconstruction have made such concerns trivial at best.<ref name="THB 5.9.12"/> | ||
Unggoy are on average about four to five feet tall and are relatively weak compared to other Covenant species. Although they can easily walk upright on two legs, they may often use their arms to move in a quadrupedal fashion. While carrying armaments, they are forced to walk upright so that they may support their weapons with their hands, but while trying to flee, or while patrolling without a weapon drawn, they use their over sized arms as forelegs to add speed or stability to their gait. Their eyesight and hearing | Unggoy share a number of features with different animal species on [[Earth]]. Like primates, they walk both bipedally and with the aid of their oversized forearms. However, their bodies are armored with a hard exoskeleton as with crabs and insects. Their mouths have a set of small, pointed teeth, much like reptiles. Unggoy are on average about four to five feet tall and are relatively weak compared to other Covenant species. Although they can easily walk upright on two legs, they may often use their arms to move in a quadrupedal fashion. While carrying armaments, they are forced to walk upright so that they may support their weapons with their hands, but while trying to flee, or while patrolling without a weapon drawn, they use their over sized arms as forelegs to add speed or stability to their gait. Their eyesight<ref name="THB 5.9.12"/> and hearing are average, and seem to have a very well developed sense of smell, sometimes sniffing the air to detect traces of foes or hidden enemies.<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[The Arbiter]]''</ref> This is facilitated through the olfactory membranes installed in their masks. | ||
Unggoy also have thick, bio-luminescent,<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', page 59: ''Phosphorescent blood pooled beneath their prone forms.''</ref> light-blue blood,<ref>'''[[Halo: The Flood]]''', ''page 27''</ref> possibly a result of methane-based proteins in the blood to facilitate methane-based respiration. Like Earth's Horseshoe Crabs, it is possible that their blood is blue due to high copper content. | Unggoy also have thick, bio-luminescent,<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', page 59: ''Phosphorescent blood pooled beneath their prone forms.''</ref> light-blue blood,<ref>'''[[Halo: The Flood]]''', ''page 27''</ref> possibly a result of methane-based proteins in the blood to facilitate methane-based respiration. Like Earth's Horseshoe Crabs, it is possible that their blood is blue due to high copper content. | ||
Unggoy have over-sized forearms, while their upper arms and thighs are seemingly small. This has allowed them to be quite excellent climbers | Unggoy have over-sized forearms, while their upper arms and thighs are seemingly small. This has allowed them to be quite excellent climbers. Spiny protrusions on their elbows help them scale rocky surfaces and may also be used to add force to their melee attacks. They also have an amazingly fast finger reflex speed, as they can fire a [[Type-25 Directed Energy Pistol|plasma pistol]] of the same rate a Sangheili can with a [[Type-25 Directed Energy Rifle|plasma rifle]]. | ||
[[File:Grunt Air Mask.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The standard methane re-breather apparatus.]] | [[File:Grunt Air Mask.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The standard methane re-breather apparatus.]] | ||
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Although they require an atmosphere to breathe, Unggoy are capable of surviving in the vacuum of space without sealed, full-body gear. Unggoy carapaces apparently can withstand the chilling cold and airless environment of EVA conditions, but they must employ sealed face masks in order to breathe, as well as presumably to protect their facial tissues. | Although they require an atmosphere to breathe, Unggoy are capable of surviving in the vacuum of space without sealed, full-body gear. Unggoy carapaces apparently can withstand the chilling cold and airless environment of EVA conditions, but they must employ sealed face masks in order to breathe, as well as presumably to protect their facial tissues. | ||
Some Unggoy, commonly seen among bands of Covenant remnant forces in the mid 2550s, have much less prominent exoskeletons than the majority of their species, with large patches of skin exposed. Their heads are set farther forward than those of most of their kin and folds of loose skin hang down from their necks and chins, likely due to the relative lack of chitin. Their eyes are reddish orange and feature black, cross-shaped pupils, unlike the solid red or yellow eyes of their kin. Their mouths are set farther inward and house larger, sharper teeth. These specimens have much stouter legs and have thinner fingernails and toenails than the rest of the species. Unlike other Unggoy, which have a chitinous protrusion that covers the pubic are, these Unggoy are unarmored in this area; the paucity of chitin also means that the knee and elbow spikes of these individuals are less pronounced. It is unclear what sets these Unggoy apart, (morphologically speaking), from the rest of their kind, though it has been theorized that they belong to a different species, that they are the result of natural mutation, or that they came about due to selective breeding and genetic experimentation.<ref name="THB 5.9.12"/> | |||
===Reproduction=== | ===Reproduction=== | ||
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*In ''[[Halo: Reach]]'', Unggoy voices were changed. Instead of their original high-pitched and squeaky voices, they sound more deep and mechanical, possibly because of their breathing apparatus. However, they are still being voiced by [[Joseph Staten]].<ref>[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?cid=25654 Bungie.net : Bungie Weekly Update 4.16.10]</ref> | *In ''[[Halo: Reach]]'', Unggoy voices were changed. Instead of their original high-pitched and squeaky voices, they sound more deep and mechanical, possibly because of their breathing apparatus. However, they are still being voiced by [[Joseph Staten]].<ref>[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?cid=25654 Bungie.net : Bungie Weekly Update 4.16.10]</ref> | ||
*In ''Halo: Reach'', if an Unggoy's [[methane tank]] is shot or meleed it may fall off, causing the gas to launch said Unggoy into the air and eventually explode. Many players consider this a great hazard, especially on higher difficulties. | *In ''Halo: Reach'', if an Unggoy's [[methane tank]] is shot or meleed it may fall off, causing the gas to launch said Unggoy into the air and eventually explode. Many players consider this a great hazard, especially on higher difficulties. | ||
==Gallery== | ==Gallery== | ||