Flood dispersal pod

The Flood Dispersal Pod^[1] is a Flood dissemination mechanism seen only in Halo 3 and rarely in Halo Wars on the level Cleansing.

In essence, and in practice, the Flood Dispersal Pod is the Flood equivalent of the HEV drop pods used by UNSC ODSTs and Orbital Insertion Pod used by Sangheili Special Forces. Rather than encasing its occupant(s) in protective Titanium-A and lead, the Dispersal Pod uses Flood biomass to shape the pod and protect the occupant from the stresses of orbital deployment.

Large Dispersal Pods were deployed by High Charity as the Gravemind arrived with its army at Installation 00, scattering Flood forces all over the artificial world, delivering significant numbers of Combat Forms to the surface.^[2] It is presumed that the Flood infestation was spread across the unfinished Installation 08. Later, after the destruction of High Charity, more pods were used to deliver Combat Forms to the Control Room of the new Halo built by the Ark,^[3] in an attempt by the Gravemind to stop the Halo's activation. They are similar to the Infection Forms in appearance, but obviously not in size. The pod's design might simply be based on captured knowledge of Human Entry Vehicle pods and Covenant Orbital Insertion Pods. It is also unlikely that the pods have a navigation system.

Trivia[]

On very rare occasions, a pod may land on the ground but will not open up.
Unlike the SOEIV and the Orbital Insertion Pod, the Dispersal Pod has no means to slow down and protect the Combat Forms from the fall, simply crashing straight down.
The Dispersal Pods in Halo Wars can also carry small Flood structures to the ground.
- These Dispersal Pods appear to be the actual Flood structure falling rather than a pod containing it.
It is possible that the Flood Dispersal Pod is actually a kind of Flood Pure Form or an advanced Carrier Form.
Mega Bloks has released a set with a Flood Dispersal Pod in it. It contains a single Sangheili Flood Combat Form with its weapon and two Infection Forms.