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The Truth Behind the Locust Horde: Unraveling the COG’s Role in Their Creation

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The question of why the Coalition of Ordered Governments (COG) created the Locust is a common misconception among Gears of War fans. The truth is, the COG did not intentionally create the Locust Horde as super soldiers. The Locust Horde’s origins are far more complex and tragic, stemming from unethical genetic experiments conducted by Dr. Niles Samson at the New Hope Research Facility. These experiments, aimed at finding a cure for Rustlung (a disease affecting Imulsion miners), involved the children of those miners who had been mutated by Imulsion exposure. The twisted combination of Imulsion-altered DNA and genetic material from creatures inhabiting the Hollow (the subterranean network beneath Sera) resulted in the creation of the Sires, the precursors to the Locust. Myrrah’s stem cells were also used in their creation. The Locust didn’t originate as a deliberate military project, but rather as an unintended consequence of reckless scientific ambition and corporate greed, a truth that throws a dark shadow on the COG’s past.

The Dark Origins of the Locust Horde

The Imulsion Crisis and the Rustlung Pandemic

The story begins with Imulsion, a valuable energy source that fueled Sera’s industrial revolution but also poisoned its inhabitants. Rustlung, a debilitating respiratory disease, ravaged the Imulsion miners and their families. In a desperate attempt to find a cure, the New Hope Research Facility, under the direction of Dr. Niles Samson, initiated a series of controversial genetic experiments.

The Sires: Unforeseen Aberrations

The experiments involved the children of Imulsion miners, already genetically compromised by prolonged exposure to the substance. By combining their DNA with that of creatures from the Hollow, Samson inadvertently created the Sires: monstrous, unstable beings that were the genetic ancestors of the Locust Horde. They were held and experimented on.

Myrrah’s Role: A Queen Born of Tragedy

Adding another layer of complexity, Queen Myrrah, a human with a unique genetic immunity to Imulsion, became intrinsically linked to the Locust’s creation. Myrrah’s daughter, Princess Reyna, was also experimented on. Dr. Samson used her stem cells to stabilize and enhance the Locust genome, ensuring their survival and adaptability. She later came to hate the people who imprisoned her and killed her daughter. This connection solidified Myrrah’s role as the leader of the Horde and fueled her intense hatred for humanity.

The Hollow: A Subterranean Cradle

The Hollow, a vast network of underground tunnels and caverns beneath Sera, provided the perfect environment for the Locust to evolve and thrive. Untouched by the surface wars, the Hollow allowed the Sires and their descendants to develop their own society, culture, and military might. It also allowed them to amass a massive army.

The Emergence of the Locust Horde

Over generations, the Sires evolved into the Locust Horde, a highly organized and militaristic society driven by a deep-seated need for survival. Their emergence onto the surface of Sera, known as Emergence Day (E-Day), marked the beginning of a brutal and devastating war against humanity.

Dispelling the Misconception

The widespread belief that the COG deliberately created the Locust stems from several factors:

COG’s Secrecy: The COG’s government actively suppressed the truth about the New Hope Research Facility and its horrific experiments to protect its own image and maintain control.
COG’s Militaristic Nature: The COG’s authoritarian and militaristic structure led many to assume that they were capable of such a drastic and morally questionable action as creating a bioweapon.
Misinterpretation of Lore: The complex lore of Gears of War can be easily misinterpreted, leading to the assumption that the COG had a direct hand in the Locust’s creation.

The truth is far more nuanced. The COG’s involvement was indirect, stemming from its reckless pursuit of energy and its willingness to turn a blind eye to the unethical practices of its scientists and corporations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Locust Horde

Who is Dr. Niles Samson, and what was his role in the Locust’s creation? Dr. Niles Samson was the head scientist at the New Hope Research Facility. He conducted the genetic experiments on Imulsion-affected children and used Myrrah’s stem cells that led to the creation of the Sires, the precursors to the Locust Horde.
What is Rustlung, and how did it contribute to the Locust’s origin? Rustlung is a respiratory disease caused by prolonged exposure to Imulsion. The disease affected Imulsion miners and their families, leading the COG to fund research, including the unethical experiments at the New Hope Facility.
What are the Sires, and how are they related to the Locust? The Sires were the result of combining Imulsion-mutated human DNA with genetic material from creatures found in the Hollow. They were unstable, monstrous beings and served as the genetic foundation for the Locust Horde.
Who is Queen Myrrah, and why is she so important? Queen Myrrah was a human born with a genetic immunity to Imulsion. Her stem cells were used to stabilize the Locust genome, making her intrinsically linked to their creation and eventual leader.
What is the Hollow, and how did it help the Locust evolve? The Hollow is a vast network of underground tunnels and caverns beneath Sera. It provided the perfect environment for the Locust to evolve and thrive, developing their own society, culture, and military might in isolation.
What is Emergence Day (E-Day)? Emergence Day (E-Day) marks the day the Locust Horde emerged from the Hollow and launched a full-scale assault on the surface world, initiating a brutal and devastating war against humanity.
Are there female Locusts in Gears of War? Yes. The Berserkers are considered female Locusts. They are larger, stronger, and more ferocious than their male counterparts, and they rely on echolocation to hunt due to their blindness.
How did the Locust evolve into the Swarm? Niles Samson designed the Locust to survive by evolving and hibernating, ensuring their resilience through generational conflict. When the Imulsion Countermeasure was activated at the end of Gears of War 3, many Locust were mutated and transformed into the Swarm.
Why does Queen Myrrah hate humans? Myrrah harbored a deep hatred for humanity, particularly for Niles Samson and the scientists who experimented on her daughter and forced her to live a life of torturous experimentation.
What did the Locust do with captured humans? The Locust enslaved humans in labor camps, fed them to creatures in the Hollow, or subjected them to torture and lobotomization in a process they referred to as “processing.”
Where does the Gears of War series take place? The Gears of War series takes place on Sera, a fictional Earth-like planet.
Who is the main villain in Gears of War? General RAAM is the main antagonist of the original Gears of War.
What caused Anya’s death in Gears of War? After the Locust War, Anya became the first minister of the COG and had a son, James Dominic Fenix, with Marcus. She died while trying to have another child.
What is the significance of Imulsion in the Gears of War universe? Imulsion is a valuable energy source that fueled Sera’s industrial revolution, but it also caused widespread disease and genetic mutations, ultimately contributing to the creation of the Locust and the Lambent.
What are some resources for further learning about game narratives and lore? For more insights into game design, narrative construction, and the impact of gaming on learning, visit the Games Learning Society website: https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/ or GamesLearningSociety.org. You can also explore fan wikis, forums, and academic publications on game studies.

Ultimately, the Locust Horde serves as a tragic reminder of the consequences of unchecked scientific ambition and the moral compromises made in the pursuit of power. While the COG didn’t intend to create the Locust, their actions laid the groundwork for their horrific existence, forever staining their history.