The Locust War

Lore & Background

As the conflict raged, the COG developed specialized weaponry and tactics to counter the Locust's heavy armor and monstrous beasts, leading to iconic battles in cities like Jacinto. However, the war took a horrific turn when the Locust's own mining and use of Imulsion caused widespread exposure, mutating many of their forces into the ravenous Lambent. This evolution of the enemy forced humanity to confront not just the Locust, but the mutated remnants of their own civilization, culminating in the devastating Locust War and the eventual destruction of the Horde's leadership.

In Their Own Story

The air tasted of sulfur and old blood as the horizon cracked open. From the fissure poured a tide of chitin and rage, the Locust swarming over the barricades with mechanical precision. Sergeant Baird watched his squad fall, one by one, swallowed by the earth itself as the ground beneath them liquefied into a trap. There was no glory here, only the grinding noise of gears and the screech of monsters. As the last flare burned out in the smoke-choked sky, he realized the war had not just changed the world; it had broken it.

Reader's Guide

The conflict ignites on Emergence Day when Locust forces surface globally, wiping out major cities and forcing the COG to implement the 'Last Stand' defense strategy. Early years are marked by the loss of key territories like E-Day casualties and the fall of the capital, leading to the establishment of Jacinto as a fortress city. Mid-war tensions rise as the COG deploys heavy armor and specialized Lancer rifles, but the Locust retaliate with massive Brumak assaults and the use of Imulsion bombs. The narrative shifts dramatically during the Pendulum War, where internal human strife is exploited by the enemy, leading to the Lambent outbreak that threatens both sides. The war concludes with a desperate assault on the Locust capital, the Hollow, where the COG discovers the true nature of the enemy's mutation. Key characters like Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago face their personal demons as they lead the final charge, resulting in the destruction of Queen Myrrah and the collapse of the Horde, though at a terrible cost to humanity.

Did You Know?

• The Locust War lasted for roughly 3 years, from Emergence Day (14 A.E.) to the end of the Locust War (17 A.E.).
• Imulsion, the fuel source that powered human society, was also the catalyst for the Locust's awakening and mutation.
• Many COG soldiers were conscripted through the 'Conscription Act' to replenish ranks after massive early losses.
• The Locust Horde launched a coordinated, genocidal assault from the very beginning of Emergence Day, seeking total annihilation of humanity.