User:Yuhi33/Replicator

A Replicator is a microscopic constrcut developed by the Forerunners as a way to combat the Flood. They are so named because they have the ability to self-replicate from any material using molecular manipulation.

Overview
During the Forerunner-Flood War, the Forerunners needed a way to combat the Flood, without losing too many infantry. It was finally suggested that they create a construct that could self-replicate thus making it difficult to destroy. The Forerunners then created microscopic nanobots called Replicators that could self-replicate from any material basically eating any material. Unfortunately, the Forerunners could not put the Replicators into actual combat, as they could find a way to give a protocol to the Replicators that would limit them from self-replicating from everything. As such, the Forerunners placed the Replicators in special gravity isolation containment units in The Cryptographer, a Forerunner facility used for decrypting codes.

Description
The Forerunners made the Replicators learning constructs that could easily laern how to do specified objectives. The Forerunners however, could not stop the Replicators from out-of-control self-replication. A Replicator, is able to self-replicate by manipulating atoms of molecules of a substance, or material while also incorporating carbon-dioxide,nitrogen,water,oxygen,hydroxylapatite, and other molecular compounds. Most Replicators can self-replicate at an extremely high rate, although strangely, Replicators only self-replicate depending on an evironment,event, or any other interaction. Since the Forerunners made Replicators as learning constructs, Replicators will decide when they want to self-replicate, as they always travel in swarms. In fractions of a second, Replicators can turn any material into more of themselves through self-replication.

Appearance
Replicators come in various forms. Because they are microscopic, they cannot be directly seen unless implementing electron-based visual equipment. However, when Replicators travel through space as swarms, they will appear as a blackish smoke that appears to be alive. When self-replicating, they will turn a material into a goop that can move around, which is actually billions of Replicators formed together. Depending if they copy a sentient being, they can appear as any animal or plant, even as a Human if they decide to copy. They can be dangerous if they attack using self-replication by instantly turing all molecules of a being into more of themselves, or they might attack as a swarm in smoke.

Weaknesses
They do have abilities that make them seem impossible to kill, but they can be destroyed by ions. If any positively charged ion is presented to them, like plasma, they will immediatly be destroyed by the ion charge. It is interesting to note, that Replicators can't self-replicate from cations like plasma, possibly indicating they may use electromagnetic radiation to function.