Xenobiology of Halo's "Flood"

How might a fictional parasitic superorganism like the Halo franchise's "Flood" function?

Put plainly, how would the biology of a parasitic superorganism that grows by converting the biomass of other organisms into something that it can use to maximally propagate itself function?

What type of infectious agent would it use to spread (e.g.: virus, retrovirus, fungus, bacteria, etc.)? How would it convert all of the host's body cells into dynamically moldable material (i.e.: how the Flood become highly specialized forms)? How might communication work between infected hosts (e.g.: pheromones)? And anything else you can think of or would care to explain.

Is the concept feasible? How could the concept be streamlined to make it even more realistic?

posted almost 8 years ago

Christopher Costello‭

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