Harbinger is Yanme'e (Drones)

Games Halo Infinite
1

I’ve seen almost no mention of the Harbinger linked to being a Yanme.

Like many, my first thought was a Prelate but the fingers, parts of the body, and mainly the face were quick reasons to move on from that initial reaction.

The reason I quickly shifted to Yanme is because I’ve found them to be a facinating species and have been waiting for when they could be dove deeper into of which prompted me to link a few things right away.

The hands… while Yanme can have a big variety of types that could have variations on the amount of fingers and even hand structure, in the end I have seen pictures of Yanme that have 4 fingers and the exact same kind of structure.

The face/head… is very insectoid like. The eyes and how the mouth/chin come to a smaller point. The head on the Harbinger is big which is actually similar to Yanme.

The feet… this is a big one… seriously go look at a Yanme’s feet and then go look at the Harbinger’s feet in several different angles. They are very similar in how the legs hang in the air and how the feet curle back.

The basic body structure… is similar to what you would find with a Yanme. Again, Yanme have a variety of body structures so it’s not going to be exact but you can see correlations across multiple areas of the body.

To be honest… this could be a Yanme Queen. I’m not 100% because we have not had a true visual depiction of what a Ya me Queen looks like although there are some descriptions but again nothing that feels truly definitive. In the end they are considered VERY smart and can be a force to be reckoned with. For the longest time after I’ve learned about a Yanme Queen, an insect hive queen, the thought of that being brought into the story somehow intrigued me.

Another quick few notes…
-In the comic “Rise of Atriox” there was a portion of the story where a Jackle/Skirmisher scientist invented a device that minced the sonic tones of a Yanme Queen that allowed him to control Yanme soldiers. Atriox defeated the Skirmisher scientist and he also destroyed the device. To me, there isn’t a direct link here but admittedly stretching a bit I could see hypothetically it could be linked. This scientist was part of the Covenant and hated Atriox caling him a traitor of which is why they fought. Anyone that knows Atriox knows his strong hatred for the Covenant for how they treated not only him but many of its members throughout society. The Yanme Queen I would imagine could have similar feelings towards the Covanant. She didnt want to be involved or connected to the Covanant but agreed to allow some of her Yanme soldiers to be part of the Covanant of which is why you see them in Halo lore. I can imagine that the Yanme Queen, like Atriox, eventually became resentful towards the Covanant with how they treated some of their own kind of which I’m sure Yanme weren’t the most included and respected of species within the Covantn for various reasons. Having Atriox destroying a device that mimicked the Yanme Queen’s signals would be a very appreciated and respected gesture towards her thus being another reasons for the Harbinger (Yanme Queen) to work with Atriox’s Banished.

-Some may forget but when Cortana was going all crazy in the end of Halo 5 and caling out all various species to join her, she did not include the Yanme’e in her list of species that she offered to fall under her protection. Why? Nobody is exactly sure. It could be general disgust/distaste or it could be that she knows they are not worth the time for various reasons. Either way, this could possibly be seen as an insult to the Yanme, a rejection of sorts. Different yet similar to how Atriox felt from the Covenant, rejection and abandonment. The two story parallels would make for a similar rooted background that would give each other somewhat similar mindsets. Again, it’s sort of a reach but I’m trying to see how things hypothetically could be connected.

-Finally… look at those ‘new flying enemies’. Those again look different yet similar to Yanme. Look at the feet and body structure throughout. Also, some may point at the jetpack like machines on their back and say that the Ya me dont have those they have wings. What most dont realize that the Covnant had to add structures to their backs to allow them to have the ability of temporary flight. It has something to do with the gravity being different on most places compared to their homeworld. So it’s not a stretch to think this is just their own version of ‘assistance’ to allow these massive sized bugs to fly. The previous added 'assistance to Yanme wings from the Covanant only allow temporary flight so maybe this is their solution for longer last flight. Who knows… I’m trying to justify the difference. Still, you can see that the Harbinger and those flying enemies are connected. They have the same design cues on their armor and again their body structure is practically the same.

All in all… this could be a totally different species. However, there is just enough there to give the Yanme’e species a really good consideration. The Harbinger really could be a Yanme’e Queen and we really could see that species brought more to the forefront which only enriches the Halo universe more which I’m all in favor of.

Will be interesting to see what the truth is. I may have left a few details or connections out but overall that is my two cents on who the ‘Harbinger’ is and right now my money is on she’s somehow connected to the Yanme’e species and could very even possibly be a Yanme’e Queen.

2

I find this extremely unlikely.

3

> 2533274805075298;2:
> I find this extremely unlikely.

How so?

Basically to me it comes down to two options…
-New never before known species
-Existing species

So let’s say it’s a new species. From that point there is not much else to say because there literally isn’t anything known.

Let’s say it is an existing species. Yanme really is the closest thing out there. I’m really not sure what else there could be out there existing that aligns more closely than Yanme.

Like I said, I would like to understand your reasoning. Saying “unlikely” seems like you have a reason for stating so.

4

The trailer outright calls the Skimmers a “surprising new threat” right after saying Chief will fight returning favorites and they look nothing like the Drones.

5

She isn’t a drone. Boot up Halo 2, 3 or Reach and that will be enough to confirm that

6

> 2533274812652989;4:
> The trailer outright calls the Skimmers a “surprising new threat” right after saying Chief will fight returning favorites and they look nothing like the Drones.

First off… just want to say I appreciate your contributions to the community. I’ve read plenty of your posts/content.

Yes, I’m aware in the trailer it stated Skimmers being called a “surprising new threat” but that doesn’t mean they’re a new species. Us humans on Earth could have a nation with a ‘surprising’ group of people that are a ‘new threat’ but that doesn’t make those ‘people’ an entirely different new species. Even the Bannished at one point when they were first introduced were a “surprising new threat” and we all know they weren’t new species.

Next, how could you say they, Skimmers, look “nothing like drones”? I’m not saying they look exact otherwise many others would be saying the same thing but to say “nothing like” does not seem accurate. Look at their feet. Look at their hands. Look at parts of their body structure. Again, there’s obviously differences but that doesn’t mean they cannot be from the same Yanme family tree because of the similarities present. Even the Kig-Yar are an example how there can be subspecies with a single species where there are clear similarities and differences.

You didn’t comment on the Harbinger but I’ll just say that the Harbinger, in my opinion, resembles Drones even more than the Skimmers.

7

> 2535417930992401;5:
> She isn’t a drone. Boot up Halo 2, 3 or Reach and that will be enough to confirm that

Why would I need to boot up the games (of which I’ve done plenty) when I can look up endless screenshots online?

Pause the Halo Infinite Campaign Overview at multiple points with the Skimmers and the Harbinger, zoom in, and compare specific aspects of them with Yanme’e in a google images search. It’s not like this is an impossible reach.

8

> 2533274798955706;6:
> > 2533274812652989;4:
> > The trailer outright calls the Skimmers a “surprising new threat” right after saying Chief will fight returning favorites and they look nothing like the Drones.
>
> First off… just want to say I appreciate your contributions to the community. I’ve read plenty of your posts/content.
>
> Yes, I’m aware in the trailer it stated Skimmers being called a “surprising new threat” but that doesn’t mean they’re a new species. Us humans on Earth could have a nation with a ‘surprising’ group of people that are a ‘new threat’ but that doesn’t make those ‘people’ an entirely different new species. Even the Bannished at one point when they were first introduced were a “surprising new threat” and we all know they weren’t new species.
>
> Next, how could you say they, Skimmers, look “nothing like drones”? I’m not saying they look exact otherwise many others would be saying the same thing but to say “nothing like” does not seem accurate. Look at their feet. Look at their hands. Look at parts of their body structure. Again, there’s obviously differences but that doesn’t mean they cannot be from the same Yanme family tree because of the similarities present. Even the Kig-Yar are an example how there can be subspecies with a single species where there are clear similarities and differences.
>
> You didn’t comment on the Harbinger but I’ll just say that the Harbinger, in my opinion, resembles Drones even more than the Skimmers.

Drones don’t have tails or bipedal legs. It’s a new Species. 343i know after hyping the game if it turned out to be a bugger, it would be extremely underwhelming. Plus 343i are going to use this new species/character to expand on the lore… clearly this race bumped heads with Forerunners at some point and has has it out for them and us, because we are not “true reclaimers.” I doubt very much that the Drones care about the concepts of the mantle

9

> 2535417930992401;8:
> > 2533274798955706;6:
> > > 2533274812652989;4:
> > > The trailer outright calls the Skimmers a “surprising new threat” right after saying Chief will fight returning favorites and they look nothing like the Drones.
> >
> > First off… just want to say I appreciate your contributions to the community. I’ve read plenty of your posts/content.
> >
> > Yes, I’m aware in the trailer it stated Skimmers being called a “surprising new threat” but that doesn’t mean they’re a new species. Us humans on Earth could have a nation with a ‘surprising’ group of people that are a ‘new threat’ but that doesn’t make those ‘people’ an entirely different new species. Even the Bannished at one point when they were first introduced were a “surprising new threat” and we all know they weren’t new species.
> >
> > Next, how could you say they, Skimmers, look “nothing like drones”? I’m not saying they look exact otherwise many others would be saying the same thing but to say “nothing like” does not seem accurate. Look at their feet. Look at their hands. Look at parts of their body structure. Again, there’s obviously differences but that doesn’t mean they cannot be from the same Yanme family tree because of the similarities present. Even the Kig-Yar are an example how there can be subspecies with a single species where there are clear similarities and differences.
> >
> > You didn’t comment on the Harbinger but I’ll just say that the Harbinger, in my opinion, resembles Drones even more than the Skimmers.
>
> Drones don’t have tails or bipedal legs. It’s a new Species. 343i know after hyping the game if it turned out to be a bugger, it would be extremely underwhelming. Plus 343i are going to use this new species/character to expand on the lore… clearly this race bumped heads with Forerunners at some point and has has it out for them and us, because we are not “true reclaimers.” I doubt very much that the Drones care about the concepts of the mantle

Drones are bipedal arthropods so I’m not sure where you’re getting that they do not have “bipedal legs”. The tail comment confuses me also. I know drones do not have a typical ‘tail’ one would find but are you saying Skimmers or the Harbinger have a tail? I didn’t see a tail coming from them.

While I can see your points about the 343i, it’s not like this Harbinger has to be this final boss or a flood-like curvball we encountered in Halo CE. The ‘mantle’ aspect you bring up is another valid point but again who is to say the Yanme in general or possibly even the Yanme Queen, at the time, didn’t have some kind of history with the Forerunners. Also, who is to say what the Yanme think about the Mantle. People don’t realize how smart, especially the queen, the Yanme really are so it’s not like the Mantle is this ‘thing’ beyond their intelligence because it’s not.

Again, it might seem like I’m not being receptive to these replies because I am but there’s not very convincing counterpoints being made to throw me off the Yanme bandwagon just yet because there are, to me, valid reasons to believe it could be Yanme’e/Drones.

10

I’m sort of confused what the point of skimmers are when you could put in the drones.

11

I dont see any of that.
Most likely tullioc queen or something entirely new by a wide margin at that.

12

drones have their own wings. Skimmers and the Harbinger do not. They def are not the same species.

13

> 2533274840624875;12:
> drones have their own wings. Skimmers and the Harbinger do not. They def are not the same species.

First, as noted in my original post, Drones had wings but the Covanant had to add components to help them fly as they are not able to under most environments gravity and atmosphere combination in comparison to their home world. Even then, with assistance, Drones could only temporarily fly. As I said, maybe the reason for jet packs on the Skimmer and Harbinger is to allow a more sustained flight and the suits themselves providing additional enhancements.

In addition, who is to say the Skimmers and Harbinger do not have wings? As noted in the paragraph above, they very well could be using suits and packs as enhancements where the wings are tucked inside their suits. There would be very logical reasons for this.

Again, the points you made don’t do enough to disprove the theory Skimmers and the Harbinger could be Yanme/Drones.

14

Believe she’s a Prelate, which is a genetically enhanced San-Shyuum

15

If you look at the done designs and compare to the harbinger and the need guys they are insect like yes but I doubt their part of the drones species

16

> 2533274798955706;13:
> > 2533274840624875;12:
> > drones have their own wings. Skimmers and the Harbinger do not. They def are not the same species.
>
> First, as noted in my original post, Drones had wings but the Covanant had to add components to help them fly as they are not able to under most environments gravity and atmosphere combination in comparison to their home world. Even then, with assistance, Drones could only temporarily fly. As I said, maybe the reason for jet packs on the Skimmer and Harbinger is to allow a more sustained flight and the suits themselves providing additional enhancements.
>
> In addition, who is to say the Skimmers and Harbinger do not have wings? As noted in the paragraph above, they very well could be using suits and packs as enhancements where the wings are tucked inside their suits. There would be very logical reasons for this.
>
> Again, the points you made don’t do enough to disprove the theory Skimmers and the Harbinger could be Yanme/Drones.

Ok here is some more

Heres an image of a yanmeWhen compared to skimmers, they are lacking another pair of legs and appear to be smaller then a yanme given their size in comparison to a sub monitor (about the size of a normal monitor). Their eyes also dont line up with the helmet design given yanme have larger eyes that actually run along the side of their head. Yanme dont only have binocular vision as the helmets suggest. Yanme also dont where suites and rely on their carapace for armor (something skimmers do not do)

When you look at the Harbinger, she also has binocular vision which is not something Yanme possess. The harbinger also has a much different stature then that of a yanme drone. Of course, she could be a queen, but even queens tend to have similar qualities to that of drines though are considerably larger. She also wheres a suite and external contraptions that (outside of some select pieces, Yanme generally do not).

I would not even be able to argue a sub species of yanme here given many of the biological features are just too different to really be a branching species of it.

If we ignore anatomy all together, it makes 0 sense to take a species that existed in 2 games as a side enemy and push them to the center stage. It makes some sense for brutes as they played a major part in the OG trilogy story wise (Yanme did not) and then an even more pivotle role in HW2. Its also uninteresting for veteran players. If Infinite is staged as a soft reboot, adding a new species to put both veteran and new players on the same plane makes the most sense.

17

> 2533274838687111;14:
> Believe she’s a Prelate, which is a genetically enhanced San-Shyuum

I thought so too, but that theory doesnt work either. She has one more finger, insect like legs (similar to the skimmers) and you can actually see her face. Her face is more that of an insect, though with binocular vision and more visible mandibles.

18

am i the only person who thought it was an elite?

19

I doubt its a Yanme, most likely a new species.
If you take the Kig-Yar’s sub-species. They look very similar in every way unlike the skimmers, they do not have the same type of head like Yanme. The skimmer also have more limbs then Yanme aswell.

And why would 343i even change the Drones in the first place when the community hated the new design of the Elites in 4 and 5? when they finaly made them look like the classic ol Elites we all love. I really doubt 343i would go that path again.

Also when they clearly state its a new threats, like the agile skimmers…then its a new enemy…
343i has always described what the new enemies are in the new halo title’s

20

Nope, she’s a new alien, plain and simple. Don’t know why it’s hard for fans to grasp.