User:Yuhi33/Spore

"Giant mutant plants....thats all I can say..."

- An unknown marine describing the Spore.

The Spore are a species of plant-like creatures, that are supposedly responsible for the extinction of the Presagers. They can be compared in similarity to the Flood for the fact, that they have parasite-like behavioral patterns. They were first mentioned by a very secret data file, stored in a Terminal on Installation 00.

Discovery
It is unknown when they were discovered, as Presager artifacts have been dated back as far as 200,000,000 B.C. However, Forerunner data files show, that the Presagers possibly knew of the coming of the Spore, and even prepared for them with a private military. Whether this is true or not, is yet to be known. Based on Forerunner data, it is most likely that the Presagers came in contact with the Spore between 200,000,000 B.C. and 170,000,000 B.C. Based on some Forerunner theories, the Spore had an all-out war with the Presagers and might've been the event that caused the Presagers to go extinct. It appears that the Presagers had an interest and fascination with the Spore. Forerunner speculations show the Presagers maybe even worshipped the Spore, although it doesn't explain why the Spore had a war with the Presagers. The Forerunners still argued though, that the Presagers didn't go extinct, but evolved into the Precursors.

Study
After discovering old Presager drawings, the Forerunners noticed strange plant-like creatures with a very large one that appeared to spread spores among tall white-skinned beings, possibly the Presagers. When the Presagers discovered the Spore on the planet, Shrub (named for its jungle appearance) they used their micro dyson sphere technology and made Spore Worlds to study the Spore, without spreading them. Only Presager Dreadnaughts could tarvel to the Spore Worlds using quantum technology. Unfortunately, the Spore eventually captured a Presager Dreadnaught, and flew back to their homeworld. Several years later, the Spore returned with more of their forms and attacked the Presager homeworld. Some Presagers fled to a nearby system, while others stayed and fought.

Presager-Spore War
For many thousands of years, the Presagers and Spore fought eachother, trying to gain grip of eachothers planets. The Presagers tried to find a way to elminate the Spore, but couldn't find a way. The Presager military commander suggested that there must be a commander of the Spore, and made an idea that if this commander is killed, the Spore will be unorganized, and therefore will cease to exist. Finding the commander of the Spore would be a suicide mission, as the commander was most likely on Shrub. The Presagers finally decided to send all of their military to Shrub, to kill the commander. During the attack, the Spore still was winning, and the Presagers were forced to execute their fail-safe plan:Use their quantum flucuator. The device was activated, and the entire planet, and fleet was sent into a Slipspace bubble, trapped in a limbo between normal space, and nothingness. The Presagers that fled, retreated to various planets, and was never seen again.

Description
All Spore forms are various shapes and sizes. They are all plants that appear to be alive with a different structure of cells than normal plants. They are most likely mutant plants that have a similar motive as the Flood. They were discovered on a jungle planet, so they are obviously exotic plants, which might help explain why they have parasite-like behavior. Almost all forms have tentacles with roots and vines attached to something. Strangely, all Spore forms can quickly adapt to any kind of environment, which probably means they are mutated plants, as they quickly mutate to fit with the environment.

Reproduction
All Spore need a host to reproduce. A Command Form will spread spores that eventually grow into large bulbous plants. When the bulbs open, small mobile plant-like creatures called Control Forms will attach to a host and take control of it's central nerve, and Brain. Female Control Forms will lay eggs in the host, while Male Control Forms will use mind control techniques to force the host to attack an enemy. When the eggs hatch, the host will die, and Drone Forms will start rapidy growing with enhanced metabolism. If a host controlled by a male dies, the Male Control Form will die as well, but the Cell Forms will cause the host to re-animate and mutate, and eventually become a Lurker Form.

Forms
There are various forms of the Spore, all of them having different abilities and behavior.

Cell Form
The Cell Form is the most basic of Spore. It is carried by Control Forms and is injected into the nervous system and Brain of a host. These tiny forms allow for mind control, and reproduction of Lurker Forms, and Ethereal Forms.

Control Form
Control Forms are responsible for spreading Spore. They are created when Queen Form spread spores that grow into bulbous plants. After the bulbs open, the Control Forms come out, and search for a host. Once they find a host, they will take control of the host, and lay eggs. When the eggs hatch, Drone Forms, or Ethereal Forms will be born, and will rapidly grow from high metabolism. Sometimes a Lurker Form will be created, if the host dies.

Drone Form
Drone Forms are equivelant to Flood Combat Forms. They are one of the few mobile forms of the Spore that are responsible for attacking enemies. These forms are dangerous with their swiping tentacles, and poisonous fumes. Mutated Drone Forms can also spit acidic plant sap, that can burn through almost anything.

Ethereal Form
Ethereal Forms are a special type of Spore, that can fly. These forms are more dangerous duee to the fact, that they drop bulbs of poisonous fumes. Thes forms are easier to kill because of their light structure.

Lurker Form
Lurker Forms are created, when a host dies, while being controlled. They are then re-animated by the Cell Forms in their body, and rapidly mutate, becoming more agile,stronger, and faster. They are considered to be the 2nd toughest of the Spore, and can't be killed by ordinary firearms.

Queen Form
A Queen Form is the most important form of the Spore. These forms are responsible for spreading the Control Forms, and commanding the other Spore forms. These forms are also the most dangerous, and hardest to kill. Their attacks include tentacles,vines,poisonous fumes,acidic plant sap, and mind control.

Containment
Containment of the Spore is rather easier than Flood, if mistakes aren't made. The Presagers used Spore Worlds to contain them, although they eventually escaped by capturing a Presager Dreadnaught. All Spore need a host to spread, so if direct contact is made with the Spore, infestation is likely to occur. It is also hard to kill them, because they can quickly adapt to any environment, without problems.

Death
Killing Spore, is rather ill advised. If any Spore Form is killed, it's Cell Forms will be released into the air, and take control of a host, being controlled by a Queen Form. It is best that incendiary weapons, such as flame throwers should be used (intense heat kills Cell Forms).