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Locust Horde
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- "Frankly, other than the fact that they want to kill every man, woman and child out there, we know nothing about them. We've tagged them Locusts since this degree of death has only been seen in times of plague. They're subterranean in nature. That's obvious. Aside from that, I'm afraid..."
- — Human Scientist dubbing the name of the Locust Horde[3]
The Locust Horde was a race of reptilian humanoids that until Emergence Day, appears to have remained in the subterranean regions of Sera. The Locust Horde has decided that its secondary goal is the extermination of the human race down to every man, woman, and child. The Locust Horde's primary goal is to populate the surface of Sera. The Locust wage a tactically beneficial war of genocide against the Humans due to the existence of a civil war between the Locust Horde and the Lambent Locust. This civil war has been going on for an undetermined amount of time, and is gradually forcing the Locust out of the Hollow and into a war with humanity over who controls the surface world.
All known attempts at negotiating with the Locust Horde have ended in violence, although Adam Fenix believed he could end the war peacefully.[4] The Locust consist of a common race of drones and all manner of other animals that are indigenous to the underground tunnels known as the Hollow, which is a short term used to describe the hollow portions of planet Sera which is mainly controlled by the Locust Horde. Under Mount Kadar is the Locust capital Nexus.
The majority of the Horde's technology was stolen or salvaged from what the Humans dumped.[5][6][1] It appears to be at around the same level as that of humans with similar firearms, although the Locusts' arsenal seems to be more biologically based with the use of Tickers, Nemacyst, Brumaks etc. Locust troops will use nearly any weapon, whether it is one of their own design or human-made.
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Physiology
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A typical Locust is a hulking brute of a creature, over 7 feet tall, although many are larger. They are bipedal, muscular creatures, with tough skin. They were considerably more bulky than a normal human and notably stronger physically. Their bones were heavier and show signs of extensive thickening. Grenadiers show further toughening and occasionally scarification, which appeared to further toughen the Locust's flesh.
Locust Blood is a deep reddish-orange in coloration. A Locust had multiple internal organs, as hinted by hearing multiple heartbeats from a given Locust when they run or are at critical health. Locust required oxygen like any other species, though they seemed somewhat more resistant to environmental hazards, most likely due to their harsh environment.
Locust had large eyes with good depth perception in spite of the fact that they are a subterranean race. They had a noted vulnerability to flash overcompensation response (Flash-blindness), a weakness many offset with polarized goggles or blinders. Some subspecies had particularly strong eyesight and incredible depth perception; it is strongly hinted that Locust can see perfectly in total darkness, and most seemed to possess superior senses of smell.
Berserkers and Myrrah were the only known female Locust. The only known method of Locust reproduction is the mating of a Berserker and a Drone by tying the female down and raping her to prevent the blind beast from killing her mate.[7]
History
Edit
Origins
Edit
- "We can't stop them. We don't know where they come from. We don't know what they want. They don't even seem to want territory. All they do is kill. We can't even begin to negotiate with them, or work out their objectives, because we just don't know the first damn thing about them. That's not an enemy, Mr. Chairman. That's a monster."
- — Chief of the COG Defense Staff, General Bardly Salaman describing the Locusts
The early origin of the Horde is shrouded in mystery, although they existed long before the Pendulum Wars.[8] Early human records speak of the legend of Romily, mentioning a demon from underground stealing children, legend later attached to the Horde. Some theories on their origins have been suggested by the remaining human population. One such example is that the Locust came from a neighboring planet (or one of its moons) and feed on Imulsion. However rumors such as these are generally regarded as false.[9][10] It is known that as they live underground, they were able to coexist with many creatures of the Hollow, like the Rockworm and Bloodmounts, while remaining fearful of the Kryll and Heart Leeches. Other speculation exists saying they came from Hell or outer space.[9]
During Operation Hollow Storm, Delta-One was sent to New Hope Research Facility and discovered that during the Pendulum Wars the COG created 'the genetic bridge to the future' known as the Sires as well as another group of subjects only referenced to as children. There is an unknown link between the Locust and New Hope, in particular regarding Mount Kadar. The occupants of New Hope were sent to Mount Kadar, where many years later Delta-One would find the entrance to the Nexus. Thus it is possible that the occupants encountered the Locust here which triggered the events that culminated in Emergence Day.

Added by JacktheBlackThe Lambent, E-Day, and Adam Fenix
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- "Should I tell Dalyell what's coming? No. I can still stop it happening. I can avoid more bloodshed. I'm the only one who can."
- — Adam Fenix few weeks before E-Day.
Five years before E-Day, Imulsion started evolving in the Hollows. Exposure to this Imulsion caused mutating creatures known as the Lambent that started fighting the Locust Horde deep in the Hollows, forcing them from their homes. Queen Myrrah desperately entered into a pact with Adam Fenix. If Adam Fenix could find a way to stop Imulsion from spreading, thus saving the Locust race, they would not have to invade the surface in order to survive.[11] Unfortunately, Adam Fenix could not find a way to stop the Lambent in time because the Pendulum Wars was still raging on the surface. Adam using the last five years to finally create the Hammer of Dawn and end the Pendulum Wars between the COG and UIR. Before the peace treaty between the two Seran alliances was signed, Adam reflected on his pact with the Locust Queen hoping she would not invade the surface.[12] Six weeks after the Pendulum Wars ended, the Locust Horde invaded the surface, attacking all major cities and slaughtering billions in the first day. In the early hours of confusion, the COG viewed it as a massive UIR attack or the Gorasni attacking. Only after Chairman Dalyell's announcement that the attackers where subterranean in nature did the Seran people discover they were not the only intelligent species on the planet. The Locust Horde easily overwhelmed the COG on E-Day and advanced from their captured cities, moving from one city to another only leaving destruction. The war against the humans allowed the Locust to advance their technology and war effort by using stolen human technology and equipment. By 1 A.E., the Locust Horde was able to defeat the COG, but the humans used the Hammer of Dawn, destroying 90% of the surface and killing everything trapped on the surface within the blast zones. The Locust survived the Hammer, but were not able to accomplish a swift victory liked they had hoped.
Victory after Victory
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- "Cut off the head of the snake and the body dies. We will win this war. It's only a matter of time."
- — Queen Myrahh
The Horde, having caught humanity off-guard and having slaughtered a vast majority of the human population during the first year of the war, enjoyed the advantage of sheer numbers. With many hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of the most battle-hardened Gears in the COG Army having been killed in the initial attack, the COG was forced to recruit from the infirm, the young, and the imprisoned to try to hold off the advancing Horde. As a result, not only did the Locust also benefit from an advantage in quantity of troops, but in the average quality of soldiers as well. As a result, the war went horribly for humanity, but went exceptionally well for the Locust, who seized Landown in 5 A.E. during the Winter of Sorrow, and the COG capital of Ephyra in 10 A.E. It was during the fall of Ephyra that the Locust supposedly killed the COG's most prominent scientist, Adam Fenix, the father of Marcus Fenix.
The Tipping of the Balance
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In 14 A.E., Col.Victor Hoffman, the highest-ranking COG military leader, directly underneath Chairman Richard Prescott devised a plan to win the war once for all. Squads of Gears were deployed in what was known as the Lightmass Offensive across Ephyra city. Though many suffered heavy, if not total, casualty rates, a single squad of hard-bitten veterans of the war was able to break through the Locust forces and deploy a device known as the Resonator, a sonic-mapper that was, in theory, supposed to map out the tunnel networks of the Hollow. Unfortunately, the device was severely limited in its capabilities, barely mapping even a fraction of the network. Not all was lost, however, as Delta-One, the aforementioned squad, was able to find a new data source, located in East Barricade, that provided a much more sufficient geo-mapping of the Hollow. Upon securing the data, the squad was deployed to Timgad East to retake control of the captured Tyro Pillar, a train which held the Lightmass Bomb. Delta was able to defeat General RAAM, leader of the Locust Army, in as well as his forces aboard the train, and deploy the Lightmass Bomb. This act resulted in the destruction of the entire Outer Hollow, causing incredibly high casualties to the Locust Horde and the near-complete annihilation of the entire population of the Kryll.

Added by JacktheBlackRe-Emergence
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Unfortunately, the Locust proved incredibly persistent, even in the face of the most powerful weapons of mass destruction in history being delivered right onto their doorstep. The Locust continued to mobilize and build their forces, determined to break the back of humanity.[13] Bolstered by the awakening of their deity, the Riftworm, the Horde launched a major counter-offensive across Jacinto Plateau, attacking the city of Jilane and butchering the entire population (sans a small group of renegades), depriving the COG of another breeding farm. They proceeded to use the Riftworm to sink several cities surrounding Jacinto City, and destroy several COG military bases.[14] Across the Plateau the COG suffered heavy casualties, mainly in the Pirnah Badlands and in several failed search-and-rescue missions in Tollen and Montevado. The Horde was also able to force the COG to abandon North Gate Agricultural Depot. However, this was just a precursor to the Siege of Jacinto, which forced the COG's hand into retaliating with a mobilization on the scale that had not been seen since AE 1. However, most of these Locust attacks were done out of desperation; throughout the entire war with humanity, the Locust had also been fighting the Lambent, and they were losing ground in the Hollow at an alarming rate.

Added by JacktheBlackHollow Storm
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After months of fighting across Jacinto Plateau, the Horde was able to lay direct siege to Jacinto City itself, having cut off a great amount of its water and food supplies. The Horde made its first incursions by attacking Pomeroy Depot, and then later Jacinto Med, though the latter was a total disaster for the Locust, who ended up having to beat a hasty retreat. Nevertheless, the attacks on the last stronghold of humanity showed the COG how truly desperate their situation was; their backs were against the wall, and they had no choice but to launch a desperate all-out attack on the Locust Stronghold. It was a high-risk maneuver; the odds of a payoff were understandably low, and in the likely event it should fail, it would leave Jacinto utterly and totally defenseless in case of a Locust counterattack, but if it succeeded, it could buy humanity time to regain its footing, if not end the war entirely. And thus a massive fleet of Assault Derricks, King Ravens, and Centaurs converged on the Locust-held city of Landown; the perfect spot to launch a massive grindlift assault right into the heart of the Hollow. The attack did not quite go as planned for either side; the Locust, who themselves had their backs against the wall in regards to their conflict with the Lambent, were preparing a final assault on Jacinto in an attempt to take the city and sink it, to flood their old home with seawater, to kill the Lambent once and for all. For the COG's part, during the initial assault, they found themselves attacking little more than staging areas and outposts rather than the heart of the homeland of the Locust forces, but Delta Squad did manage to kill the Riftworm preventing that method of attack from working again. However, they were later able to pinpoint Nexus, the center of all Locust civilization, and in their own desperate bid to annihilate their foes, they did exactly what the Locust were trying to do; they sunk their own city in order to wipe out their foe, but before the Locust were prepared for it, resulting in much of the Locust forces being annihilated. Queen Myyrah's fate was left unknown as she escaped Nexus before the sinking, but Skorge, the new leader of the Locust Army, was presumably killed when Delta Squad destroyed his Hydra.

Added by JacktheBlackLambent Pandemic and Extinction
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- "You humans! Why do you think your lives are worth more than ours? Don't you realize who we are? Don't you recognize all your most admirable qualities in us? Oh yes... we are genocidal monsters! Just like you!"
- — Queen Myrrah of the Locust Horde, arguing with Marcus Fenix during their final confrontation[15]
Only hours after the sinking of Jacinto, Locust stragglers were spotted around Port Farrall, leading to multiple battles throughout the city. The continuous fighting eventually forced the COG to look for a new home. Eighteen months after Operation Hollow Storm, the Horde took to the surface of Char to fight the humans as well as the Lambent, who had survived the flooding of the Inner Hollow and returned in even greater numbers than before.[16] In addition, with Queen Myrrah missing, the Locust Horde was leaderless,[17] leading some of the Horde to degenerate into a feral state, becoming Savage Locust. Others however acted as the Queen's Guard under Myrrah. The Locust captured the island of Azura, the last remaining COG stronghold where the COGs elite scientists were kept safe in the First Battle of Azura and captured Adam Fenix who was working on a weapon against the Lambent. Adam was capable of destroying the Lambent and Imulsion, but it would also destroy the Horde so Myrrah had Adam work on refining it so it would only affect the Lambent. The Savage Locust and the Queen's Guard had multiple battles with the COG, attempting to prevent the COG from reaching and retaking Azura, but failed and engaged in the Second Battle of Azura with the COG, the Gorasni and the Lambent. Myrrah and her Tempest directly attacked the human forces, attempting to keep Adam from activating his weapon, but were defeated by the Hammer of Dawn. After the weapon killed Adam, Myrrah emerged and was killed by Marcus Fenix with Dominic Santiago's commando knife and the weapon killed all of the Lambent as it was meant to as well as all of the Locust, making the species extinct.
Hierarchy
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The Locust Horde was a Matriarch-based Monarchy, divided into classes. The Queen was the head of the entire Locust Horde, and led it in advancement and improvement. The only known class was the Kantus monks lead by Skorge until 15 A.E. The Kantus monks followed a strict religious code. The lower classes of the Horde are willing to die for the Queen, however there were some field officer-types that were of higher intelligence and power than the standard foot soldiers, who led the Hordes' military into battle.
Queen Myrrah
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Added by BuzzSawBill- Main article: Queen Myrrah
The Locust Queen was the enigmatic leader of the Locust Horde. Though she was never present on the battlefield, she is the undisputed leader of the Locust Army and the top of the Locust hierarchy, leading the Horde with ruthless tactics to exterminate all threats to the Locust Horde, both Human and Lambent. However, following the Sinking of Jacinto, Myrrah went missing, leaving the Horde leaderless and disorganized. She was killed in the Second Battle of Azura by Marcus Fenix who stabbed her through the heart with Dominic Santiago's commando knife.
General RAAM
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Added by Darth Oblivion- Main article: RAAM
General RAAM was the brutal and powerful Locust field commander, and commanded and led the entire Locust military into battle, and was second to the Locust Queen. RAAM had pronounced facial features, with large, bony eyebrow ridges and a seemingly constant snarling expression. During the final battle of the Lightmass Offensive, he was armed with a Troika Heavy Machine Gun, a weapon that is normally mounted on a turret (albeit his appeared to be altered in order to make it lighter as well as easier to hold onto), suggesting his great strength. He had one main advantage over his enemies in battle: a shroud of Kryll which he could summon and control, making him the only known Locust or Human able to command the otherwise feral Kryll thus far. He was killed by Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago whilst on the train, which carried the Lightmass Bomb, trying to prevent the weapon from being detonated.
High Priest Skorge
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Added by Spartan-055- Main article: Skorge
Skorge was the High Priest of the Locust Horde and the leader of the Kantus caste of priests, sharing their tall, sinewy frame. After RAAM's demise, Skorge took the position of the Horde's highest military leader. After the detonation of the Lightmass Bomb, the Rift Worm awoke, and Skorge took control of it, using it to sink entire COG cities on the surface. He wore specialized armor studded with spikes, and also sports several leather dreadlocks attached to his helmet. In addition to standard Kantus priest combat equipment, consisting of a Gorgon Pistol and Ink Grenades, he used a formidable staff with chainsaws at each end. He was nearly defeated by Marcus and Dom in Nexus; however, he escaped on his Hydra and proceeded to pursue Delta Squad. Skorge soon died when he fell to the ground after his Hydra was killed in midair.
Standards and Symbols
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Society and Culture
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Foot Soldiers
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Drones
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- Main article: Drones

Added by JacktheBlackDrones appear to be the common race among the Locust Horde. They are larger than humans and have chalky white skin with gray, scale-like patches that most likely are hardened to protect them from minor damage. They were bred in the Hollow to be bloodthirsty fighters, supposedly by the Queen herself. When ordered, Drones will throw their lives away by the hundreds to kill a single entrenched Gear. They often observed crawling out of "emergence holes", which the Locust use as bridges between the underground and the surface world. Drones regularly carry out basic infantry tactics of flanking, dominating the terrain, and setting up ambushes, as well as more advanced tactics, suggesting that Drones themselves are intelligent, independent creatures rather than dim-witted, single-minded brutes, or some combination thereof. Almost fearless, they know little in the way of self-preservation and almost never retreat, though they have little need to, considering their vast numbers. Drones often refer to humans as "Groundwalkers" or "Hominids". They will usually wield the Hammerburst assault rifle or Hammerburst II battle rifle, the ubiquitous standard infantry weapons of the Locust.
Drone classes:
- Cyclops
- Grenadier
- Grenadier Elite
- Flame Grenadier
- Sniper
- Spotter
- Gunner
- Bolter
- Beast Rider
- Grappler
- Miner
- Hunter
- Hunter Elite
Non-canon classes:
Therons
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Added by JonahofthecavernThe elite Therons are easily distinguishable from standard Drones thanks to the long, leather-like cloaks and metallic masks that they wear, in addition to ornate armor, which is apparently superior to the generic Drone armor. Their sibilant voices have been known to scare Gears into fleeing though their speech is also hard to understand or even notice thanks to being so raspy and mistaken for the wind. Therons are stronger, faster, and far more intelligent than an average drone. They mostly wield deadly Torque Bows. Because of their increased intelligence, strength, and speed, Therons are usually assigned to officer roles, leading smaller groups of Locust forces into battle.
There are many classes of Therons, each with minor differences:
Boomers
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- Main article: Boomers
Added by JonahofthecavernBoomers are huge, unintelligent Locusts. They usually wield the Boomshot Grenade Launcher when in combat; though Boomer subclasses generally wield other weaponry; and are often partnered up with other Boomers. They do not use infantry tactics unless instructed by a more intelligent superior, instead moving forward slowly whilst firing their weapons. To combat this tactic, many Gears have noted that an easy way to defeat a Boomer is to stay behind cover and bring them down with automatic fire. Boomers mainly can be heard laughing and saying "Boom!" before they fire, and referring to the incoming mortar rockets as "Sky Fire."
There are several different combat variants of the standard Boomer:
Kantus
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- Main article: Kantus

Added by EDGEing the limitKantus are Locust priests and the religious leadership of the Horde, and are led by the Locust High Priest, Skorge. They stand almost 7 feet, and have leathery white flesh. They are often heard chanting, which is used to communicate with other Locust in order to direct attacks, but can also revive downed Locust soldiers in a seemingly mystical fashion. They are extremely agile and have been seen rolling to one side to avoid gunfire. Their main weapons in battle are the Gorgon Burst Pistol and the Ink Grenade.
There is also a special variation of Kantus clad in spiky, durable armor known as an Armored Kantus. They are more warlike and vicious than normal Kantus, but have the same abilities.
Berserkers
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- Main article: Berserkers

Added by Chainsaw SkillzBerserkers are monstrous female Locust. They are blind, and therefore rely on smell and sound to navigate and locate enemies. Possessing enormous physical strength, these Locusts can tear foes limb from limb and can gain enough momentum when running to smash through a solid stone wall, able to kill Gears in a similar fashion to ramming them with a vehicle by running into them at high speed. Vicious and bloodthirsty even by Locust standards, they have been known to kill other Locust Drones just for getting too close, and in essence anything that irritates them. Any Gear that fights a Berserker will have to be quick with their feet to defeat her, and the only known effective way to kill one is to lure it outside and blast it with the Hammer of Dawn. This weakens the Berserkers hide meaning it becomes susceptible to gunfire until the hide cools and rehardens.
Locust Creatures
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The Locust Horde uses many creatures as vehicles, machines, and weapons of war. The origins of indigenous mostly come from the Hollow, or have been genetically engineered by the Locust, such as the Brumak.

Added by DarthraulBrumak
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- Main article: Brumak
Brumaks stood about 12 meters tall and weigh around 10,000 kilograms (22,046 lbs). They were apparently bred by the Locust Horde from smaller native apes and are lethal at close range. Their head-gear resembles the Corpser's helmet, but their bodies have more in common with humanoids than arachnids. Brumaks are capable of carrying a rocket launcher and a Gatling gun on their back, in addition to two Troika machineguns on their forearms, and have also been rumored to carry energy beam cannons that kill at a range. Their strength can be compared to a Corpser's.
Added by JacktheBlackWretch
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- Main article: Wretch
Small, jittery members of the Locust, Wretches are weak when on their own, but potentially deadly in large packs. They attack by climbing on or over surfaces and lunging at their target in a vicious frenzy. They make up for their lack of strength with speed and unpredictability, and are often used as a distraction or as cannon fodder by the Locust. Alone, they are easily beaten, but in groups, they can literally tear COG soldiers to shreds. They often make their presence known before becoming visible by letting out a horrid, extremely high-pitched scream that can make the Gears cover their ears in pain. They are very dangerous often causing Gears forget to look up being overwhelmed by a subsequent attack if the Wretches themselves do not kill them.

Added by DarthraulCorpsers
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- Main article: Corpsers
Corpsers were spider like creatures which appear to be somewhat arachnid.[18]Corspers have four eyes and lay eggs, and they wear multi-lensed helmets similar to those worn by Brumaks. Corpsers have eight thick rock-hard legs reinforced with metal plates that guard their vulnerable underbellies, which is the only vulnerable part of their body besides their mouth. The Locust Horde uses Corpsers to dig tunnels through the soil of Sera, allowing the Horde to move about undetected, even deep behind COG lines.

Added by JacktheBlackReavers
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- Main article: Reavers
Reavers were large, flying creatures about twenty times the size of a drone. They are saddled up and ridden by a Beast Rider as well as a passenger Drone or Theron Guard.

Added by Jedrik101Hydra
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- Main article: Hydra
The Hydra was the personal mount of High Priest Skorge. It was killed along with its rider outside of Jacinto city during the Siege of Jacinto.[19]
Added by IkinatorSeeder
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- Main article: Seeders
Seeders were large, bizarre, insect-like creatures that launch Nemacyst, flying jellyfish-like creatures that act as flying mines and anti-air interceptors into the air from their anus. When Seeders were present in an area, they scramble COG radio frequencies.

Added by IkinatorTorture Barge
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- Main article: Torture Barge
The Barge was a mobile prison used by the Locust Horde to transport prisoners for Processing.
Added by Spartan-055Bloodmount
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- Main article: Bloodmount
The Bloodmount was a Hollow creature that feeds on human flesh. It has two tusks, which it uses to attack.

Added by FLAMESPARTAN363Tickers
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- Main article: Tickers
Tickers were small creatures that the Locust Horde used as mobile landmines. The Kantus was able to summon Tickers. "Wild" Tickers, which do not have explosives strapped to them, can also devour weapons and ammunition.
Serapede
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- Main article: Serapede
Serapedes were animals native to the planet of Sera, described as being "unlike any other creature on the planet". The Giant Serapedes were notable for their almost steel-like carapaces which rendered them immune to most forms of attack; they could also "shoot lightning" from their pincers.
Shrieker
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- Main article: Shrieker
See also
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References
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| The Locust Horde | ||
|---|---|---|
| Boomer · Drone · Berserker · Kantus The Lambent | ||
| Hollow Creatures | ||
| Bloodmount · Brumak · Corpser · Digger · Gas Barge · Heart Leeches · Hydra · Leviathan · Nemacyst · Reaver · Rock Worm · Riftworm · Seeder · Serapede · Shrieker · Siegebeast · Tempest · Ticker · Mangler · Kryll · Torture Barge · Wretch | ||
| Boomer variants | ||
|---|---|---|
| Butcher · Flame Boomer · Grinder · Mauler · Mauler Elite · Tremor · Savage Boomer | ||
