BRAIN FORM CARRIER FORM COMBAT FORM INFECTION FORM HUNTER FORM

BRAIN FORM

The rarest Flood type is the brain form. A brain form is a type of Flood unlike all the others because it lacks any sort of mobility. While the infection, combat, and carrier forms are dangerous and always hostile, the brain form is passive in a tactical sense. When the Flood attempt to control a starship or interface with a computer system, the brain form is used. It normally contains the body of someone who has knowledge of the computer systems necessary for operation. Like the combat form, it can read the thoughts and memories of its host provided he or she is still alive, and it will sift through every memory until it finds what it needs. If it cannot find the information it requires, it will direct other Flood to bring it a new body to search while it consumes the last body. It interfaces with computers the same way an Infection Form infects a host, through tendrils that attach themselves to the computer's "neural" system.

Brain Forms seem to have a physiological link to the other Flood. Without making sounds it seems to direct them, either asking for hosts so it can drain their knowledge of calling other Flood to in when it feels it is in danger.

CARRIER FORM

If an infection form takes over a body that is unsuitable for combat, or once a combat form is damaged beyond usefulness, it becomes a carrier form. Carrier forms perpetuate the Flood species by acting as incubators for new infection forms and keeping them safe until they're fully developed. Once the infection forms are ready, the carrier simply explodes, sending the new infection forms flying into the air. As soon as the new parasites are released, they start searching for something to infect. It should be noted that carriers will sometimes not wait until full maturation has occurred, and will simply get close to an enemy and explode, sending the infection forms flying at the unsuspecting and often damaged enemies. These should be considered dangerous even though they may not have any other means of inflicting damage.

COMBAT FORM

Once completely infected, the Flood becomes a combat form. Any body capable of carrying a weapon or that is still useful in combat becomes a combat form and is very deadly. The Combat form grows whip-like tendrils on its arms, and will use them as melee weapons in close range, or if it loses its weapon.

The Flood infection is capable of not only controlling the host's body, but of also tapping into its memories to find relevant information about using weapons and equipment. After enough damage has been taken and the combat form cannot function effectively, it becomes a carrier form that incubates more infection forms. Eventually a combat form will mutate into a carrier, regardless of damage, to perpetuate the Flood species.

Any creature with enough biomass can become a Combat form whether Human or Covenant.

Note: The Combat forms can take extensive damage before being neutralized. Arms, legs, even heads can be totally blown off their bodies before they are incapacitated. The only known weakness of a combat form is its sensory feelers that normally develop in the upper chest region. This is where the infection form has nestled, and once destroyed, the body is incapacitated.

INFECTION FORM

The Infection Flood Form is nearly harmless at first glance, but once it gains physical contact with a biological host it becomes highly virulent. Small tendrils underneath its "body" penetrate the skin and unleash an attack on the host's nervous system. First, it paralyzes the host's body. Once this is accomplished, it rewrites the neural pathways of the victim's brain with it's tendrils, forcing a resonant frequency match between it's neural signals, and the host's. When this is done, it starts to edge its way into the body, slowly moving organs out of the way so it can nest itself into the chest cavity of its host. If a match cannot be obtained, the host is left alone and cannot be used. After forcing a match, it begins releasing spores that mutate the host body with Flood DNA.

Infection Forms are incredibly weak and fragile a single shot from any weapon will cause them and often neighboring infection forms to simply "pop". They have the ability to reanimate a fallen flood combat form by entering its body, though how this is achieved is unknown.

HUNTER FORM

The rarest of Combat Forms. Not often seen due to the fact that Hunters often use the devastating Fuel Rod gun which emits a lot of Plasma Radiation. Being prolonged to plasma can cause a rare sickness called Borens Syndrome which alters neural pathways. Fatal to Humans, Hunters can tolerate this. The sickness prevents the host being assimilated by the Flood Infection Form as it cannot fully alter the hosts DNA. Therefore most Hunters are immune. Hunter Combat Forms are rarely encountered due to the fact it takes a long time to alter the DNA of the few that don't have the Borens syndrome.

Hunter Combat Forms are extremely lethal, with un-equaled strength and power. 

* FICTIONAL*