Flood attacker form: Difference between revisions

When infected by a pod infector, the infector latches onto the host and dig into the host's flesh with a razor-sharp barb-like appendage, injecting the FSC. Typically, the pod infector burrows itself into the chest cavity of the host. As it gains control of the host and tranforms it into an attacker form, the pod infector will dislodge any bones and organs to make room for itself, resulting in extreme pain and disfiguration such as dislocating the host's jaw or,{{Ref/Game|Id=H2AMP|H2A|[[Infection]] game mode}} in the case of infected [[Sangheili]], completely snapping their necks. This process can be performed on living or recently-deceased hosts, though often results in the "death" of a living host prior to their re-animation once the FSC takes hold.{{Ref/Reuse|Universe}} Some hosts may be attacked and infected by multiple pod infectors.{{Ref/Reuse|Flood10}} Even if the infection form is removed, the injection of FSC into the victim's bloodstream results in those wounds becoming spore-filled blisters, and the host cannot be saved from infection.{{Ref/Game|Id=PLInfectionForm|HW2|Phoenix Logs|Detail=Infection Forms}}

Once the sapient host is infected, the FSC begins to consume and convert sections of the host body, creating growths and new appendages formed by the FSC itself. These growths appear randomly, and appendages produce whip-like tentacles that can be used by the attacker form for striking enemies. As this process occurs, bodies take on the appearance and smell of decay.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Flood10|TF|Chapter=10}} Some limbs and sensory organs are preserved in the transformation, and are used to operate tools, equipment, weapons, vehicles, and even ships.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P408}} Infection forms will often augment a host's body to better serve as a living weapon, and damage taken during fighting and infection can be repaired by the controlling infection form, though the attacker form is ultimately disposable.{{Ref/Game|Id=PLCombatForm|HW2|Phoenix Logs|Detail=Combat Forms}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P408}} Any damage that the attacker form receives ultimately creates more vectors of infection as the chunks of infect flesh it leaves behind are scattered throughout the environment.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P408}} The FSC is able to arrange itself to mimic any organ needed to keep the host working,{{Ref/Game|Id=Bestiarum|H3|[[Bestiarum]]}} while other internal organs are replaced with accretions containing a sickly green liquid full of spores in suspension. Spore-filled polyps also often cover the exterior of attacker forms.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P408}} Even once the FSC has taken control of the victim, the controlling infection form can often be seen buried within the victim, with the infection form's red sensory appendages poking out of the flesh. Until the body is completely subsumed by super cell growth, these appendages are maintained as an impromptu central nervous system.{{Ref/Reuse|Universe}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P408}} Some attacker form super cell growths may take on a more chitinous appearance, akin to armor plating, helping protect to the attacker form from enemy retaliations.{{Ref/Game|Id=H4|H4|[[Flood (gametype)|Flood]] gametype}}

====Spartan form====

Following the war, Spartans train in [[War Games]] combat simulations that feature Spartan attacker forms, the appearances of which may be based on conjecture or on information from actual encounters.<ref name="H4Flood">''[[Halo 4]]'', multiplayer - [[Flood (gametype)|Flood]] gamemode</ref><ref name="H2AInf">''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]'', multiplayer - [[Infection]] game mode</ref> Some Spartan attacker forms, as simulated in War Games, feature a pincer-like, bladed appendage in place of their right arm, while the left leg is similarly deformed. Exposed parts of the body are covered with what appear to be calcareous plates, and red "muscle" tissue can be seen in the gaps between the plates. A large hump or tumor-like growth on the back is apparent and the head is disfigured with a grotesque smile-like expression. Notably, none of the typical sensory tendrils can be seen protruding from the body, perhaps indicating a different means of infection rather than by pod infector. Although most of the Spartan's armor is discarded, the components responsible for generating the energy shield are retained.{{Ref/Reuse|H4Flood}} War Games simulations have also depicted infected Spartans as featuring mostly intact armor plating except for the neck and head region, where the helmet is cracked and the remains of the victim's skull are visible. These infected Spartans have large a growth around their head, with their jaws dislocated to allow the emergence of sensory tendrils.{{Ref/Reuse|H2AInf}} Other War Games simulations have depicted infected Spartans as retaining virtually all of their armor, with biomass taking over various armor components and also breaking through the armor in certain places such as the helmet and chestpiece.{{Ref/Game|Id=HIFlood|HINF|Detail=Flood armor customization}}

File:HW2-AltFloodmarine.jpg|Alternate human attacker form models.

File:HW2 - Flood Unggoy form models.jpg|Unggoy attacker form models.

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===Screenshots===

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File:FCFelite.jpg|A Sangheili attacker form in ''Halo 3''.

File:H3 - Sangheili Major combat form.jpg|A Sangheili Major attacker form.

File:Flood.jpg|A human combat form action figure.

File:Old HW Infestation.png|A Sangheili attacker form in ''Halo Wars''.

File:HW floodhellbringers.jpg|Hellbringer attacker forms in ''Halo Wars''.

File:HTMCC-H3ODST-FloodGhost.png|A human attacker form driving a {{Pattern|Karo'etba|Ghost}} in the ''Halo: The Master Chief Collection'' version of ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''.

File:H Evol - Mona Lisa Flood Combat Forms.png|A horde of attacker forms onboard the [[prison ship]] ''[[Mona Lisa]]''.

File:CEAhumancombat.png|A human attacker form in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''.

File:H2A-InfectedSangheili.png|Thel 'Vadam battling Sangheili attacker forms on the [[Threshold gas mine]] in ''Halo 2: Anniversary''.

File:H2A-InfectedHumans.png|Thel 'Vadam battling human attacker forms on Installation 05.

File:H2A-Floodcomparisson.png|A comparison between a Spartan attacker form and an unknown Flood form on [[Lockdown]].

File:TFS-Combatform.png|A human attacker form in ''[[Something has Happened]]''.

File:HW2-Brutecombatform.jpg|A Jiralhanae attacker form on Installation 00.

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*''[[Halo Infinite]]''

**''[[Season 05: Reckoning]]''

==Sources==