The Flood (Halo) v.s. Necromorphs (Dead Space)

Alright. Let's get this thing started. First Id like to acknowledge that obviously the Floods infection process is and has been effective, they were able to wipeout almost the entire galaxy, however Iv always thought that their process is extremely straightforward, crude, simple, and lacks any form of variety. Basically it comes down to, bull rush the potential hosts with as many infection forms as possible and pray that some of the little guys in the very back are able to make it to the prey. Like I said, we've seen that it works, just not all that effective when you come right down to it. And the infection forms are extremely weak. You even acknowledge this. Just one infection form "popping" can cause several others near by to pop. But basically my main problem with the Flood infection process is the lack of variety and I believe this will be the key edge for the Necromorphs (Necros for short) Now on to the Necro infection process. This process is extremely intricate and offers a wide range of infection methods. Essentially it all begins with the introduction of the Black Markers. The Black Markers are a mysterious contract who's exact origin and creation unknown, though it is probable that they come from the Brethren Moons. The Markers are sent throughout the galaxy where they will land on planets with intelligent life, or it is even theorized that the Markers actually induce evolution in order to create intelligent life. These markers can lay dormant for 10s of millions of years. 65 million in the case of Earths Black Marker. Through means of detection unknown, the Marker will wait until the apex species of the planet it is on reaches the desirable level of intelligence. Once reached, the Marker will begin to admit a highly-tuned electromagnetic frequency that can effect any life form but primarily the planets apex species. This frequency (from now on "the Signal") subconsciously draws the planets intelligent life to the Marker and, under the guise of creating a source of limitless energy, drives them to make copies of the Black Marker known as Red Markers. The Black Marker can also create Necros and powerfully influence the minds of intelligent life around it although it tends to only use such measures in an almost self-defensive way. Scientist on earth were able to remove a piece of the Black Marker, which in turn drove one of the men guarding it insane and killed his partner and used the blood to write symbols all over the walls before killing himself. Once this staged is reached. The chosen species will become almost obsessed with creating more and more Red Markers. Not only that, but they will strive to ensure that the Markers reach all corners of their civilization. Even species that have achieved interplanetary colonization will ensure the spread of the Red Markers. Once built, the Red Marker will also begin to emit its own Signal. Unlike the Black Marker however, this Signals purpose is kill and transform all life in its area. The exact strength and distance the Signal can reach is unknown. Though entire planets have been destroyed with just one Marker and the effects have reached from a planets surface entire the reaches of space above it. It's even possible that the range of the Signal is limitless, as Markers (or more accurately the Brethren Moon controlling then) have been able to communicate across the spans of the universe. It is unknown why then the need for multiple Black Markers or why the need to drive intelligent life to recreate so many Red Markers, although it's possible the more there are the faster the Markers can initiate a Convergence event, which we will discuss later. Anyway. When the Red Marker Signal comes into contact with dead organic tissue it begins to reanimate and chance this tissue on a cellular level (whereas the flood most make direct contact with the spinal cord and nervous system with an infection form and may even be resisted, Sgt Major Johnson and his plasma related illness) Once reanimated the Signal morphs and changes the dead tissue into whatever form is needed for the given situation. Thus is born the Necromorph. These creatures then go about with the sole purpose of creating more dead tissue. Via killing everyone. The Signal also effects the minds of the living. For some, the Marker can directly communicate with, even manipulate into helping it or downloading the blue print in order to build more Red Markers. Most people however, are unable to decipher the Signal and rationalize it as merely "noise", images and meanings without coherence, which will eventually cause the individual to suffer headaches, migraine, nausea, insomnia, paranoia, hallucinations, dementia and insanity. This usually leads to suicidal or even homicidal tendencies which only serves to create more dead tissue to be infected. The level of the individuals intelligence is most likely the factor with how the effects are. Unlike the Flood who, as I said, must make direct contact with dead tissue in order for infection to begin the Necro infection can occur merely by being on the same planet as a Marker, of which there are thousands. There is no escape. Not only are you fighting tangible, actual organisms which can be killed by simple gun fire. You are also fighting your very mind. Aside from the direct Signal of the Markers or being killed by the standard Necros there are several other methods of infection. The infected tissue emits a pathogen that, although weak and unable to cause direct death (at least as far as we know) will cause paralysis or catatonia, which only makes easier for death to occur. Special Necro forms can also directly spread the infection such as the Infector (duh) Creepers and the Swarm. These do not require the host to be dead as they can directly initiate reanimation on a living host, a process that takes mere seconds (that poor guy from the beginning of Dead Space 2) #1. There is also a case where a group of soldiers manage to barricade themselves inside a building. Unable to get in and spread the infection with regular Necros, the Marker signal manipulates one of the soldiers into destroying the food supply they depended on. After weeks of hunger, starvation, as well as the motivational dementia the Marker Signal was so kind to burn their minds with, the soldiers finally cracked and began to eat the only thing available to them. The infected flesh of their dead comrades. Which slowly drove them insane and eventually transformed them into feeder Necros. #2 Well this will rap up my opening arguments. So far pretty fun. Took FOREVER to write this up. Sorry to everyone big on sources but since there is such an abundance of information, and there could be a source for every other sentence, I'm just going to leave a source for the Dead Space wiki page and if your interested you can skim through there and find all this information #3. Good luck to my opponent in his next round. #1 http://m.youtube.com... #2 http://deadspace.wikia.com... #3 http://deadspace.wikia.com...