I realize as far as galactic events are concerned, the biggest threat is the “tainted Cortana”, but there is an even bigger threat that seems to have been left on the sidelines. The Flood, the greatest threat to Ancient Humanity and Forerunners. I cannot believe that Halo 3 was the end of that. I feel as though it is time to re-visit that subject and give them a proper exterminating. It also opens the door into maybe traveling to Ancient Humanity’s worlds for more story.
Thoughts?
I take it you’ve not played Halo Wars 2, then.
> 2533274838418174;2:
> I take it you’ve not played Halo Wars 2, then.
I have, that’s really not what I consider wrapping it up.
The hints throughout the Forerunner Saga suggest the Precursors are incorporeal timeless beings, and that the organic forms they took, that the Forerunners tried to exterminate, were biological avatars the Precursors used to interact with their creations. The consequence of this is that the Flood still serves the Precursors, forwarding their goals of passing on the Mantle to humanity. This context better explains the Flood’s decisions throughout the franchise than the Flood actually intending to consume everything.
The Flood first emerged on human worlds as a test, one they passed by being self-sacrificing in an attempt to save the other races from the threat they faced. The Flood then faked humanity’s cure working, causing the Forerunners to take special steps to preserve humanity, rather than exterminating them, because the Forerunners were tricked into believing that humanity held the secret to defeating the Flood. After this, the Flood retreated from the galaxy for long enough for the Forerunners to develop the first Halo Array, determine that it was insufficient, and then design and build the second Halo Array. Then the Flood returned, and attacked with just enough force that they’d win immediately after the Forerunner civilization peaked, and humanity was relocated to the Lesser Ark. At that point, the Flood stopped holding back and wiped out the Greater Ark, just before the Halo array was fired.
The Flood’s next emergence prevented the Covenant from acquiring a Forerunner fleet (Halo Wars), then the next preventing the Covenant from acquiring a Halo, then prevented the Covenant from activating the whole Halo Array. The Flood then amassed its forces in the only place in the universe where a Halo could be fired to wipe them out without any civilian casualties, giving a plausible explanation for the Flood’s absence as the various races of the galaxy continue to develop. The Flood’s not defeatable, unless the Precursors decide it should be defeated, so they have to be careful when they use it, so they don’t have to reveal their full plan (the last time they did that, the people told by the Primordial committed suicide).
I believe the Created are the next test. The Flood will be held back, unless the Precursors decide they need that level of deterrent for something.
> 2533274883501878;4:
> The hints throughout the Forerunner Saga suggest the Precursors are incorporeal timeless beings, and that the organic forms they took, that the Forerunners tried to exterminate, were biological avatars the Precursors used to interact with their creations. The consequence of this is that the Flood still serves the Precursors, forwarding their goals of passing on the Mantle to humanity. This context better explains the Flood’s decisions throughout the franchise than the Flood actually intending to consume everything.
>
> The Flood first emerged on human worlds as a test, one they passed by being self-sacrificing in an attempt to save the other races from the threat they faced. The Flood then faked humanity’s cure working, causing the Forerunners to take special steps to preserve humanity, rather than exterminating them, because the Forerunners were tricked into believing that humanity held the secret to defeating the Flood. After this, the Flood retreated from the galaxy for long enough for the Forerunners to develop the first Halo Array, determine that it was insufficient, and then design and build the second Halo Array. Then the Flood returned, and attacked with just enough force that they’d win immediately after the Forerunner civilization peaked, and humanity was relocated to the Lesser Ark. At that point, the Flood stopped holding back and wiped out the Greater Ark, just before the Halo array was fired.
>
> The Flood’s next emergence prevented the Covenant from acquiring a Forerunner fleet (Halo Wars), then the next preventing the Covenant from acquiring a Halo, then prevented the Covenant from activating the whole Halo Array. The Flood then amassed its forces in the only place in the universe where a Halo could be fired to wipe them out without any civilian casualties, giving a plausible explanation for the Flood’s absence as the various races of the galaxy continue to develop. The Flood’s not defeatable, unless the Precursors decide it should be defeated, so they have to be careful when they use it, so they don’t have to reveal their full plan (the last time they did that, the people told by the Primordial committed suicide).
>
> I believe the Created are the next test. The Flood will be held back, unless the Precursors decide they need that level of deterrent for something.
Is it just me or did this get a bit biblical?
I think Halo Wars 2 brings to the forefront the very solid possibility that the Flood have not been sufficiently subdued and remain a serious, impending threat to all sentient life in the galaxy.
Which is to say that things weren’t resolved with Halo 3- not completely, at least. That makes sense, as you’ve pointed out. The Flood is the closest thing imaginable in the Halo lore to an insurmountable threat.
I wouldn’t hold my breath on them showing back up in Infinite, but I wouldn’t be too surprised to see them there. In any case, the Flood aren’t gone forever.