Huragok

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"A sentient labor-saving device with the ability to self-repair and self-replicate. Good with computers."

— Bungie.net description of Huragok

Huragok (Latin Facticius indoles^[1], meaning "artificial genius"^[2]), known to humans as Engineers,^[3] or more rarely, Savants,^[4] are a race of biological supercomputers that were created by the Forerunners.^[1] They are the only known non-combatant race of the Covenant, though some are rigged to explode like suicide bombers.

Description

The Huragok fulfill one of the most important roles within the Covenant, as they bear the responsibility of maintaining the Covenant's machines, managing medical matters, and interacting with Forerunner technology. While it is generally held that only the San 'Shyuum are high enough in the Covenant hierarchy to handle and manage Forerunner research and technology, in reality it is the Huragok who must excavate, unlock, and transport Forerunner artifacts (a fact only known to higher ranked officers and leaders within the Covenant, due to its sensitive nature),^[5] though the San 'Shyuum insist that any admission of that fact is heresy.^{[citation needed]} These remarkably helpful and docile aliens are exceedingly patient, rarely communicate with other species, and are almost single-mindedly devoted to their work.

Huragok are the scientific and engineering backbone of the Covenant and its economy. They float via bladders that contain a mixture of gas lighter than air, and their four tentacles are able to split into many fine cilia, with which they are able to manipulate machinery on a near-microscopic level. Certain Forerunner installations feature panels, apparently similar to human touch-pad technology, that Huragok can "type" on using their cilia.

Engineers are capable of quickly learning the functionality of new technology. On one occasion, an Engineer was observed by John-117 dismantling a vehicle's engine, assembling it into various other working configurations, and then returning it to its original state, all in a matter of seconds.^[6]

Huragok have little interest in taking sides in conflict; they appear to draw no real distinction between friend and foe, preferring to spend their time inspecting or repairing technology, although they will react with agitation if Forerunner technology is damaged or compromised in any way. They are apathetic to any sort of combat, and tend to just float along with a single goal: to fix things. In one encounter, a Huragok repaired John-117's damaged shield generator and then floated away; the rather unlucky Huragok was later shot by Lieutenant Haverson to prevent it from possibly giving the specifications of the Spartan's improved shield technology to the Covenant.^[7] If shot at in a firefight, Huragok make no attempt to defend themselves, but rather curl up in fright and float to a safe distance.

Their concentration has been described as "a trance-like reverie" by the few who have witnessed it. They usually communicate only with San 'Shyuum, a fact that may contribute to the balance of power between Sangheili and San 'Shyuum, and will usually ignore anything that is neither a San 'Shyuum, a Forerunner artifact, nor a machine.^[5]^[8] A notable exception is the Huragok Lighter Than Some, who communicated with the Unggoy Deacon Dadab via Huragok sign language.^[9]

The abilities of the Huragok are not limited to their skills to fix things; they are also able to absorb data from a computer or an AI, and combine it with their own biological "data". One such incident occurred when one Huragok combined its knowledge with the dumb AI of New Mombasa, the Superintendent. During a mission to recover a living Huragok, Captain Veronica Dare described the species as "biological supercomputers".^[10]

History

Origins

The Huragok were created by the Forerunners prior to the first activation of the Halo Array.^[1] They served as "servant-tools" to the Builders, the highest rate in Forerunner society. They often served aboard semi-automated maintenance stations, including a number of facilities within the San 'Shyuum home system. They were rarely accorded personhood in Forerunner society.

Being mechanical structures rather than organic life forms, they survived the activation and were later found by the Prophets in various M-Series facilities.^[1] Several were left within one of the Forerunners' Shield Worlds, the Sharpened Shield, and would remain there for the next 100,000 years.

The Covenant

After being discovered by the San 'Shyuum, the Huragok were employed as the Covenant's science, maintenance and archeological specialists. They were used to retrieve and dissect Forerunner artifacts, as well as to repair spacecraft and machinery. However, the actual amount of information that Huragok can extract is limited, and would require a more advanced artificial intelligence to assist in truly understanding the work of a Forerunner construct.^[1]

After the Great Schism, the Covenant placed explosives charges into the bodies of Huragok to ensure that humans cannot recover the Huragok. During various engagements in the Human-Covenant War, Huragok were deployed on certain human colonies to search for Forerunner technology. During the Battle of New Mombasa, they scoured the city for evidence of the Portal that lay beneath it's foundation.

Post-Covenant

After the dissolution of the Covenant, the Huragok dispersed, leaving the Sangheili at a loss without their mastery of technology.^[11] In November 2552, Lucy-B091 discovered four Huragok inside the Sharpened Shield in Onyx.^[12] By March 2553 Requires Adjustment and the three Huragok from the Sharpened Shield were stationed aboard the UNSC Infinity. In the time since arriving on Infinity they created several new Huragok to aid them. Admiral Parangosky questioned Requires Adjustment on the progress the Huragok have made on the ship. It informed Parangosky that the Huragok have improved the ship's slipspace capabilities to be faster and more accurate, and they planned to improve the ship's communications next, making Infinity able to maintain contact from slipspace.^[13]

Anatomy and physiology

Huragok blood inspected by Rtas 'Vadumee as seen in Halo Graphic Novel.

The Engineers are actually not a natural, biological species at all, but rather an artificial life form created by the Forerunners. While they possess no true tissues or organs, their nano-mechanical surrogates so closely mimic their biological analogs that they seem almost indistinguishable to observers.^[1] Multiple gas-bladders serve as their method of locomotion, allowing them to float through the air even after their deaths. The bladders also serve as part of their respiratory system; if their gas bladders deflate, they will asphyxiate and die.

As a result of their biomechanical nature, Huragok possess the ability to interface with electronic forms of data storage, "downloading" data directly into themselves. They appear to be able to "read" biological life-signs as well; during her time within the Sharpened Shield, Lucy-B091 was analyzed by a Huragok, who scanned her brain activity in an attempt to determine the cause of her vocal disarticulation.

They have small heads with six dark eyes, and four tentacles that can split into very small, near-microscopic cilia. The Engineers use these cilia to construct, repair, or rebuild nearly anything they can grasp. They can take apart whole vehicles and rearrange their entire structure in a matter of seconds, with the resulting machines still operating at least as well as they did before. They learn at an unprecedented rate, and store that information for future reference if ever they need to repair the same thing twice. They are capable of surviving in at least oxygen and methane-rich environments, though they cannot survive in a vacuum.^[14]

Huragok are not normally a tactical threat and are hardly ever seen in combat situations. Most UNSC soldiers make a point of avoiding intentionally harming Huragok if possible. Unlike the majority of the Covenant races, they do not regard humans as enemies; during John-117's assault upon Ascendant Justice, one even aided the SPARTAN-II by repairing the shield generator on his MJOLNIR armor and fixing the SPARTAN's current weapon, a broken Needler.^[7] However, Lieutenant Haverson killed the Engineer stating that it had learned all about the MJOLNIR shield technology, which was superior to the Sangheili personal energy shield, and could not be allowed to relay that information. In Halo: Contact Harvest, a Huragok named Lighter Than Some attempted to aid the humans in an attempt to bring peace; he even made them a peace offering, which, against his wishes, was converted into the Brute Chopper.

Huragok "reproduce" by gathering the needed (or available) materials from their surroundings to "build" another Huragok.^[15] This new offspring is then filled with a precise mixture of lighter-than-air gasses. The initial buoyancy of the newly born Huragok is what it is named after.^[16] Those who sink are named 'Far Too Heavy'. Those whose buoyancy is almost perfect are named 'Easy to Adjust'. Lastly, those whose gas mixture causes them to exhibit extreme buoyancy are named 'Lighter Than Some'. Up to three Huragok take part in this process, relaying all the information that they have learned to their "offspring". Given sufficient raw materials, a pair of Huragok can produce a unified replica of themselves in approximately 45 minutes; the addition of a third Huragok cuts the time down to thirty minutes.^[17] Understandably, it is advantageous to have as many Huragok contribute to this process as possible, raising the "intelligence" of the offspring.

When deployed during large-scale archaeological expeditions, Huragok make use of large Recharge Stations, where they rest, repair each other, and share data between forays.

Huragok blood is luminescent blue-purple in color, as seen in Halo 3: ODST.

Huragok are bioluminescent, and in dark conditions their heads and tentacles emit a bright bluish glow, which seems to pulsate when the Huragok is calm and dim when it is frightened. The cilia on their tentacles give off a pinkish-red light as well.

Though the inner workings of an Engineer's internal macroscopic biology remain a mystery, it is known that they are capable of using the gas sacks that keep them afloat for anaerobic respiration. This method is painful, dangerous, and apparently only used as a last resort.^[18] In the Halo series, only one usage of the ability has been described: when Lighter Than Some used anaerobic respiration to keep Dadab alive after the latter's methane tank depleted. Huragok use thousands of microscopic organisms to digest the food they consume, producing many gases, including methane, as a by-product.^[9]

Communication

Huragok can communicate with other Covenant species, such as Grunts (particularly the more intelligent ones such as Dadab), and with other Huragok, by flexing their limbs in various directions, bending and overlapping to form the specific formation for each word, much like Human sign language.^[19] Their gas sacs can also swell and deflate at times of great emotion, suggesting another, more subtle method of communication.

Huragok can also communicate using melodic whistling sounds, as shown when Cortana used a Covenant SHIPCOM speakers to verbally communicate with a Huragok.^[20] This form of communication can also be heard in Halo 3: ODST and used in Halo Wars; the whistle sounds are how Huragok respond when selected. Their verbal communication is almost musical, and very slightly resembles the calls of Earth whales.

Personality

Huragoks are an extremely valuable asset to a crew as they enjoy fixing things immensely. In several of the novels, they are described as caring about nothing else.^[21] However, it is shown that they are very peace loving and have a great respect for life in general.^[22] Lighter Than Some even refuses to play a game that would kill non-sentient pests.^[23] However, they can be pushed into violence when a friend is in danger, as demonstrated when Lighter Than Some saved his friend, Dadab, by killing the human, Henry Gibson, with a hunting rock.^[9]

Huragok have also been known to display great compassion and caring for one another, as shown in Halo 3: ODST. Dr. Endesha observed six Huragok selflessly give their own lives while attempting to disarm a bomb attached to another, which detonated after its removal and killed all but the seventh Huragok.

Halo Wars gameplay

In Halo Wars, Huragok provide the only means for the Covenant to repair damaged buildings, vehicles and heal injured units. They are easily slain as they are unarmed and can only be repaired by other Huragok - not by themselves. They do not attack and automatically search for damaged machinery, buildings and troops to heal and repair. Huragok create an almost unstoppable force when combined with the Scarab.

Requirements to train

Resources: 250 (requires Summit)
Minimum Tech Level: 0
Population Count: 1
Upgrades:

State of Grace: Increases rate of healing and repair
Harmonious Digestion: Increases movement speed

Symbols

File:DotSymbol.jpg

An example of a Huragok symbol.

"These tell stories, not very clear cut stories but they represent the shape of Forerunner ships, etc..."

— Joseph Staten, commenting on the symbols^[24]

Huragok are known to mark some areas of significance with mysterious glyphs, which can be found on various surfaces, walls, ceilings or floors, often in irregular patterns. These usually consist of an "Y"-shape or a circle, with various types of glyphs similar to Forerunner symbols around them. The symbols are likely related to the Huragok's Forerunner origin.

In Halo 3: ODST, they can be seen glowing with the VISR mode turned on. They are usually seen in or near areas of interest, such as locations with dead Sangheili or supply caches. The ones in the supply caches also bear similar symbols depicting the Superintendent, possibly hinting to cooperation of the AI with Huragok. This is further supported by the fact that the subroutine of the Superintendent known as Vergil fused with a Huragok to pass information along to the UNSC.^[10]

Behind the scenes

File:Engineer character-evolution 4-of-4.jpg

Concept art for Halo 3: ODST.

The creation of the Huragok started around 1999, during the development of Halo: Combat Evolved. From the beginning, they were meant to be "a class of aliens that acted as idiot savants towards technology," and were meant to be able to decipher Forerunner technology easily and allow a glimpse into what made the Forerunner technology so special. As far as gameplay, the designers wanted a race that were less aggressive to populate the world in a more passive way, making Halo feel more alive. The general idea of the Huragok was to be "a character meant to be passive, almost puppy like in nature," and make the players feel bad if they killed them.^[25]

Sea creatures were used for inspiration, especially underwater sea slugs and glowing jellyfish; their movements, the way they emit light, the fluidity of their bodies - and tried to translate that into a creature out of water. According to Shi Kai Wang, underwater sea creatures like the jellyfish had the right type of feel to them, a very docile and graceful creature that just minds its own business—very much how they initially wanted the Huragok to be.^[25] More emotive states were added to their animations and facial features to make them relatable, so that people would feel for them. The Huragok were eventually cut from Halo: Combat Evolved, as there was not enough time or technology to "make them feel right".^[25]

For Halo 3: ODST, the Huragok were completely redesigned to fit the gameplay, and to make them more in-depth characters. As the graphics, technology and capabilities were now available, the creatures could be made just like they were originally envisioned. Originally, in Halo 3: ODST, the Engineer was to suck its limbs and head into a cocoon shell and have it float away in distress or cower in fear. This effect wasn't fully achieved as a good solution for how the animations would work alongside gameplay couldn't be figured out. Eventually, the idea was turned into something similar but a scaled-down version.^[25]

In Halo: Reach, Engineers were made slightly less sympathetic and more alien.^[26] They have lost their pink feathery feelers, and will not react to being shot at by the player. Additionally, rather than exploding and turning its own body into a suicide weapon like in ODST, their death will simply result in their body bursting apart, which causes no surrounding damage.

Trivia

Engineers are the only Covenant race to be cut from the Halo trilogy and appear in later games.
In Halo 3: ODST, the "Good Samaritan" achievement can be unlocked by not killing any Engineers in New Mombasa at night during the entire campaign, alone or with another ODST. On the other hand, killing ten of the Engineers in the city will unlock the "Naughty Naughty" achievement.
In Midnight in the Heart of Midlothian, Mo Ye incorrectly states that the Covenant "call them Engineers". "Engineer" is actually the human name for the species, with the Covenant name being Huragok.
In Halo: Reach, a well-placed headshot will detach the face mask without killing the Huragok.
In Halo: Reach, on the side of the Huragok's armored shell, there is a v-shaped symbol that bears a striking resemblance to the NOBLE Team logo.

Gallery

A side view of the cut Huragok from Halo: Combat Evolved.
A frontal view of the cut Huragok.
The early look of a Huragok aboard a Covenant ship.
A group of the concept Engineers from a Halo: Combat Evolved mod of the level "The Silent Cartographer".
Huragok as seen in Halo Wars.
Engineer character-evolution 3-of-4.jpg

Concept art of an armored Huragok for Halo 3: ODST.
A side view of a Huragok.
94983734-Full-1-.JPG

A suicide Huragok moments before exploding.
A Phantom dropping off/picking up Huragok into one of their Recharging Stations.
Two Huragok as seen in Halo Legends' Origins.
A Huragok during a detonation.
The exotic lighting and colors of a Huragok when its shields are disrupted by an EMP charge from a Plasma Pistol.
Huragok Overshield.jpg

A Huragok's passive ability which grants all allies within a certain radius overshields seen on this group of Covenant infantry in Halo 3: ODST's Firefight level Chasm Ten.
Huragok-supplied shielding on Unggoy Ultras in the Halo: Reach level Long Night of Solace.
HuragokODST.jpg

A Huragok in New Mombasa during the Battle of Earth.
A Huragok equipped with full combat armour.
The Huragok as seen in Halo: Reach.
A view of a Huragok aboard Ardent Prayer.