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Flood hive: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:Flood wall.jpg|thumb|300px|An example of Flood architecture in a Flood Hive.]]
[[Image:Flood wall.jpg|thumb|300px|An example of Flood architecture in a Flood Hive.]]


A '''Flood Hive'''<ref>''[[Halo 3]]'', ''[[Floodgate]]''</ref> is an important step in the development of the [[The Flood|Flood]] Life-cycle. Once a hive has been established, it serves as a base for Flood assaults as well as housing a Flood [[Gravemind]]. There have been two examples of Flood Hives, ''[[High Charity]]'' and the crashed [[Unidentified Flood-captured battlecruiser|Flood Ship]] in Voi.
A '''Flood Hive'''<ref>'''[[Halo 3]]''', [[campaign]] level ''[[Floodgate]]''</ref> is an important step in the development of the [[The Flood|Flood]] Life-cycle. Once a hive has been established, it serves as a base for Flood assaults as well as housing a Flood [[Gravemind]]. There have been two examples of Flood Hives, ''[[High Charity]]'' and the crashed [[Unidentified Flood-captured battlecruiser|Flood-captured battlecruiser]] in Voi.


==Background==
==Background==
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In order for a hive to be founded, the Flood must have access to a suitably large populace and an environment capable of sustaining Flood life. The population of the area has to contain high enough calcium deposits to sustain the Flood parasite.
In order for a hive to be founded, the Flood must have access to a suitably large populace and an environment capable of sustaining Flood life. The population of the area has to contain high enough calcium deposits to sustain the Flood parasite.


Once a useful area has been found, the Flood proceed to attack the hosts present, gathering food and biomass. The Flood attack with a strategy relying primarily on numerical superiority. The parasite then begins to pump spores into the atmosphere <ref>''[[Halo 3]]'', ''[[High Charity (level)|High Charity]]''</ref><ref>''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', ''[[The Library]]'', [[343 Guilty Spark (level)|343 Guilty Spark]]: "Your environment suit will serve you well when the Flood begin to alter the atmosphere. You are a good planner!"</ref>, restricting breathing for the hosts present, causing them to die of asphyxiation, or weakening them in order to make them less resistant to assimilation. Hosts who are infected will add to the Flood's arsenal. Older [[flood combat form|Combat Forms]] will develop into [[Flood carrier form|Carrier Forms]], which generate more Infection Forms, continuing the cycle.
Once a useful area has been found, the Flood proceed to attack the hosts present, gathering food and biomass. The Flood attack with a strategy relying primarily on numerical superiority. The parasite then begins to pump spores into the atmosphere <ref>'''[[Halo 2]]''', campaign level ''[[High Charity (level)|High Charity]]''</ref><ref>'''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''', campaign level ''[[The Library]]'', ''[[343 Guilty Spark (level)|343 Guilty Spark]]'' ('''[[04-343 Guilty Spark]]''': ''"[[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark V|Your environment suit]] will serve [[John-117|you]] well when the Flood begin to alter the atmosphere. You are a good planner!"'')</ref>, restricting breathing for the hosts present, causing them to die of asphyxiation, or weakening them in order to make them less resistant to assimilation. Hosts who are infected will add to the Flood's arsenal. Older [[Flood combat form|Combat forms]] will develop into [[Flood carrier form|Carrier forms]], which generate more Infection Forms, continuing the cycle.


During this time, [[Flood growth pod|Flood Growth Pods]] start to grow on surfaces. Growth pods are constructed from flesh, and grow at an extraordinary rate. It is unknown how they develop, as this has not been observed, but it is reasonable to assume that they grow from spores that root themselves in a spot capable of sustaining them.
During this time, [[Flood growth pod]]s start to grow on surfaces. Growth pods are constructed from flesh, and grow at an extraordinary rate. It is unknown how they develop, as this has not been observed, but it is reasonable to assume that they grow from spores that root themselves in a spot capable of sustaining them.


===Later stages===
===Later stages===
Once the Flood has access to enough calcium, they begin to develop a hardened carapace, onto which they add [[LF.Xx.3273 Flood Super Cell|Flood Super Cells]] to form [[Flood pure form|Pure Forms]], a form of independent Flood drone which has no need for a host. As a result of this development, Combat Forms are relegated to defensive positions or are converted into more pure forms. <ref>''[[Halo 3]]''</ref>
Once the Flood has access to enough calcium, they begin to develop a hardened carapace, onto which they add [[LF.Xx.3273 Flood Super Cell|Flood Super Cells]] to form [[Flood pure form|Pure forms]], a form of independent Flood drone which has no need for a host. As a result of this development, Combat Forms are relegated to defensive positions or are converted into more pure forms. <ref>'''Halo 3'''</ref>


The functions of objects, such as doors, are [[the Artifact|replaced]] as growth pods grow over the original architecture. Under the Gravemind's orders, life support systems are sabotaged in order to speed up the demise of the inhabitants. <ref>[[Dialogue Placeholders]] [[Cortana]]: "Flood spores have contaminated the city's life-support infrastructure, the filtration systems are overloading!"</ref> The pouch forms eventually consume most or all of the original area. The growth pods grow large, bubble-like growths, which incubate new infection forms, essentially replacing Carrier Forms and further reducing the Flood's dependence on hosts.
The functions of objects, such as doors, are [[Porta|replaced]] as growth pods grow over the original architecture. Under the Gravemind's orders, life support systems are sabotaged in order to speed up the demise of the inhabitants. <ref>'''Halo 2''', ''[[Dialogue Placeholders]]'' ('''[[Cortana]]''': ''"Flood spores have contaminated the city's life-support infrastructure, the filtration systems are overloading!"'')</ref> The pouch forms eventually consume most or all of the original area. The growth pods grow large, bubble-like growths, which incubate new infection forms, essentially replacing Carrier Forms and further reducing the Flood's dependence on hosts.


Once the process is complete, the Flood disposes of almost all need for new biomass, becoming self-sustaining. Despite this, due to the Flood's natural instinct to infect and consume all life, the parasite rarely becomes content at this stage.
Once the process is complete, the Flood disposes of almost all need for new biomass, becoming self-sustaining. Despite this, due to the Flood's natural instinct to infect and consume all life, the parasite rarely becomes content at this stage.


==Trivia==
==Trivia==
*Flood growth pods can be seen all the time, but the only time one can see the underside of a growth pod is on the downloadable map [[Cold Storage]].
*Interestingly, there seems to be less green mist in the later stages of Flood hive creation. This is easily noticeable from the ''[[Halo 2]]'' level ''[[High Charity (level)|High Charity]]'' to ''Halo 3'' level ''[[Cortana (level)|Cortana]]''. It is possible that all the Flood Spores floating in the air settled down and created the hive.
*Interestingly there seems to be less green mist in the later stages of Flood Hive creation. This is easily noticeable from the ''[[Halo 2]]'' level [[High Charity (level)|High Charity]] to ''Halo 3'' level [[Cortana (level)|Cortana]]. It is possible that all the Flood Spores floating in the air settled down and created the Flood Hive.
*The only instance of a [[Porta]] outside of [[campaign]] is in the ''Halo 3'' multiplayer map ''[[Isolation]]'', suggesting t
*The only instance of a [[Porta]] outside of [[Campaign]] is in the ''Halo 3'' level [[Isolation]], suggesting the area was about to become a Hive.
*Flood growth pods can be seen all the time, but the only time one can see the underside of a growth pod is on the downloadable [[multiplayer]] map ''[[Cold Storage]]'', which may implies that the Flood-infected area outside of the map could be part of a Flood hive.he area was about to become a Hive.
*It's possible that the the Flood area outside of Cold Storage could be part of a Flood Hive.
 
==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo 2]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo 3]]''


== Sources ==
== Sources ==

Revision as of 04:56, September 16, 2011

An example of Flood architecture in a Flood Hive.

A Flood Hive[1] is an important step in the development of the Flood Life-cycle. Once a hive has been established, it serves as a base for Flood assaults as well as housing a Flood Gravemind. There have been two examples of Flood Hives, High Charity and the crashed Flood-captured battlecruiser in Voi.

Background

The processes that develop a hive begin during the "coordinated stage" of Flood development, once a viable Gravemind has been developed and the Flood has access to a sizable population. The Gravemind is a collection of the sentience and knowledge that has been gathered by the victims of the Flood Parasite.

Creation

Early Stages

In order for a hive to be founded, the Flood must have access to a suitably large populace and an environment capable of sustaining Flood life. The population of the area has to contain high enough calcium deposits to sustain the Flood parasite.

Once a useful area has been found, the Flood proceed to attack the hosts present, gathering food and biomass. The Flood attack with a strategy relying primarily on numerical superiority. The parasite then begins to pump spores into the atmosphere [2][3], restricting breathing for the hosts present, causing them to die of asphyxiation, or weakening them in order to make them less resistant to assimilation. Hosts who are infected will add to the Flood's arsenal. Older Combat forms will develop into Carrier forms, which generate more Infection Forms, continuing the cycle.

During this time, Flood growth pods start to grow on surfaces. Growth pods are constructed from flesh, and grow at an extraordinary rate. It is unknown how they develop, as this has not been observed, but it is reasonable to assume that they grow from spores that root themselves in a spot capable of sustaining them.

Later stages

Once the Flood has access to enough calcium, they begin to develop a hardened carapace, onto which they add Flood Super Cells to form Pure forms, a form of independent Flood drone which has no need for a host. As a result of this development, Combat Forms are relegated to defensive positions or are converted into more pure forms. [4]

The functions of objects, such as doors, are replaced as growth pods grow over the original architecture. Under the Gravemind's orders, life support systems are sabotaged in order to speed up the demise of the inhabitants. [5] The pouch forms eventually consume most or all of the original area. The growth pods grow large, bubble-like growths, which incubate new infection forms, essentially replacing Carrier Forms and further reducing the Flood's dependence on hosts.

Once the process is complete, the Flood disposes of almost all need for new biomass, becoming self-sustaining. Despite this, due to the Flood's natural instinct to infect and consume all life, the parasite rarely becomes content at this stage.

Trivia

  • Interestingly, there seems to be less green mist in the later stages of Flood hive creation. This is easily noticeable from the Halo 2 level High Charity to Halo 3 level Cortana. It is possible that all the Flood Spores floating in the air settled down and created the hive.
  • The only instance of a Porta outside of campaign is in the Halo 3 multiplayer map Isolation, suggesting t
  • Flood growth pods can be seen all the time, but the only time one can see the underside of a growth pod is on the downloadable multiplayer map Cold Storage, which may implies that the Flood-infected area outside of the map could be part of a Flood hive.he area was about to become a Hive.

List of appearances

Sources

  1. ^ Halo 3, campaign level Floodgate
  2. ^ Halo 2, campaign level High Charity
  3. ^ Halo: Combat Evolved, campaign level The Library, 343 Guilty Spark (04-343 Guilty Spark: "Your environment suit will serve you well when the Flood begin to alter the atmosphere. You are a good planner!")
  4. ^ Halo 3
  5. ^ Halo 2, Dialogue Placeholders (Cortana: "Flood spores have contaminated the city's life-support infrastructure, the filtration systems are overloading!")