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Hybrids, as seen in Resistance 3, the most commonly known Chimera.

The Chimera are an alien species and the main antagonists in the Resistance series. Hailing from an unknown planet, the Chimera previously inhabited Earth millions of years prior to humanity's existence, until they were forced to leave the planet following a devastating conflict with another alien race. For reasons that remain unknown, the Chimera returned to Earth in the early 20th century and waged a genocidal war against humanity.

History

Origins

Main article: Pure Chimera
R3 PlanetChimera

Concept art of the Chimera's home planet.

The precise origins of the Chimera are unknown, but it was known that their progenitors, referred to as the "Pure Chimera", had existed 60 million years ago.[1] These ancient Chimera were a very advanced race in which they had colonized prehistoric Earth among other planets they had conquered.[2] During this era, the Pure Chimera came into conflict with another alien race and their war was brought to Earth. It was unknown what the outcome of this war was, but archaeological evidences uncovered by SRPA scientists revealed that the damage dealt to the Chimera was highly devastating; the Chicxulub crater was created as a result of the conflict and Earth was left barely inhabitable. This war forced the Chimera to completely abandon Earth and bury traces of their presences for eons.[3][4][5] It was also strongly speculated by SRPA scientists that the cause for the Chimera's defeats was laid at the hands of very advanced technological components known as "Grey Tech" that was used by their enemies to construct a powerful weapon that led to their absence from Earth.[6][7]

Return

Over 60 million years later, the Chimera returned to Earth in the form of a virus-infused meteor which impacted in Siberia in 1908.[8] Evidence suggests that the Chimera had planned the attack on Earth since the time of their departure, as shown by the presence of the Chimeran tower network that was found buried across the planet.[5] Some towers even happened to be under major population centers, such as London, ParisChicago and New York. The reasons for their return to Earth, or even why such an advanced race chose a primitive way of invading, remains unknown. However, it was strongly speculated that this was an act of desperation and therefore implies that the Pure Chimera are currently in a very precarious state.[9]

From the moment of their arrival on Earth, the Chimera proceeded to infect and/or kill almost every living organism in Russia before making themselves known to the Russian authorities in 1927.[10] Russian military forces were overwhelmed by the Chimera as thousands of Russian soldiers fell victim to the Crawler strain and converted into Chimera. The Russian government desperately resorted to finding a cure to the Chimeran virus in which every surviving Russian soldier were inoculated by a vaccine derived from Pure Chimeran genetics created by Dr. Fyodor Malikov. However, the vaccine was later proven to be flawed as the inoculated soldiers mutated into crazed cannibals that were hostile to both humans and Chimera known as the Cloven. By the late 1930s, the Chimera had conquered Russia and began unearthing the Chimeran towers across Russia.

Initially, knowledge of the Chimera's existence was completely unknown to the rest of the world due to Russia's strict isolationism. However, Western intelligence agencies soon became aware of the aliens following strange events transpiring in Russia, such as abnormally cold weather changes and completely abandoned towns and cities along the Russian border, but erroneously believed the Chimera to be the byproduct of a Russian military experiment gone horribly wrong. The United States government had been aware of the Chimera's existence and their extraterrestrial nature after the discovery of Chimeran artifacts across America, and created the Special Research Projects Administration to study and combat the Chimera.[10]

Chimeran War

Main article: Chimeran War

During the 1940s, the Chimera patiently amassed their forces before breaking through the Red Curtain and swiftly invading Europe in December 1949, initiating the Chimeran War. Within a few months, continental Europe fell before the United Kingdom, the last European nation, was eventually invaded after the Chimera dug under the English Channel, easily overwhelming its defenders in October 1950. After securing Europe, the Chimera continued their excavation of the Chimeran towers and altering the local climates to subzero temperatures. However, it was not until the intervention of the United States during the Battle of London in July 1951 which resulted in the destruction of the tower network and decimation of the Chimeran forces throughout the United Kingdom, and the knowledge of the Chimera's delicate hive-like connection to the Angels becoming a known weakness, that the tide slowly began to turn against the Chimera. The destruction of the Chimeran tower network in Britain marked a major victory for humanity, which eventually led to Western Europe's liberation during Operation Overstrike.

Despite these setbacks, the Chimera were quick to learn from their failures and made progressive changes in creating newer and stronger strains, and made use of their advanced technology to continue their onslaught on the western hemisphere. The Angel strain was discontinued and the Chimera soon came under the leadership of Daedalus, a former human known as Jordan Shepherd who was a mutated byproduct of Project Abraham. It was under Daedalus that the Chimera quickly expanded their invasion to Canada, Africa, and South America within two years before setting their sight on the United States. The Chimera intended to activate the tower network across the planet, and sought to reach the inactive towers remaining in America.

Ultimately, the Chimera invaded the U.S. on May 15, 1953, deploying a large fleet of airships which totally decimated the country and its military within just over a month. By this time, the Chimera activated the tower network and channeled its energy towards the Chicxulub crater, where the energy was being harnessed by the Chimeran fleet's flagship. SRPA attempted to stop Daedalus and the Chimera by destroying the fleet with a fission bomb.[11] However, the detonation of the bomb only inadvertently created a power surge in the tower network that channeled toward the Chimeran tower in New York City and caused it to activate a bridge through space and time, a wormhole, to the home world of the Chimera.[12]

Occupation of Earth

By 1957, the Chimera had taken total control over Earth. As a result, the Chimera had forgone the need to capture and convert human beings (possibly due to the Hale Vaccine which nullified the effects of the Chimeran virus, and that the majority of Earth's human population are either infected or killed) and subsequently began an extermination campaign to wipe out what remained of the human race, and with the goal of terraforming Earth into a frozen wasteland through the tower network and massive orbital weapons known as Terraformers.[13][14] The wormhole above the New York City tower would then be used for its sole purpose: to transport countless numbers of Pure Chimera from their home world to Earth.[15]

In between 1953 and 1957, the Chimera have, for unknown reasons, removed some lesser Chimeran strains, such as Grims and Leapers, from the Chimeran military structure, consequently resulting in them becoming 'feral' and hostile to their own kind.[16] A possible explanation for the hostilities between military Chimera and the feral strains can be identified as an issue of expired usefulness for the latter. Though it remains unknown how far this purging would have extended. It is possible that once the Pure Chimera retook and resettled the Earth, other strains would face elimination for the same reasons. This reinforces the image that the impure strains of Chimera were simply a means to an end, paving the way for the domination of the Pure Chimeran race.

Defeat

By August 1957, the Chimera were dealt a sudden and devastating blow when former Sentinel, Joseph Capelli, launched a desperate attack that destroyed the New York tower by colliding a Terraformer into the tower, completely sealing the wormhole and ending the Chimera's terraforming process, along with restoring Earth's climate.[17] The attack on the New York tower appeared to be humanity's own turning point as temperatures changed rapidly on the Eastern Coast of the United States just as human resistance groups across the planet were reporting their successes against the Chimera, who appeared to be at a severe incohesive state, presumably from losing their hive mind connection with the Pure Chimera. Over time, the Chimera on Earth are gradually exterminated by the human survivors and Earth is returned to the human race.[18]

Characteristics

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A Marauder, one of the many varying strains of the Chimera species

Biology

The Chimera encountered on Earth are not the natural or "Pure" form of the species, they are parasitic organisms created through the fusion of human, animal and Chimera DNA by a virus-like bioweapon. The common physical characteristics of the various forms of Chimera mutants are two to six golden eyes and grayish-green skin. Their metabolism is approximately twelve times that of a normal human being, granting them extraordinary cellular regeneration abilities, enhanced speed and strength.[19][20][21][14] However, their heighten metabolism came at the cost of significantly raising their body temperatures, which can literally and fatally cook them from the inside out.[19][22] In order to counteract this effect and ensure their survival, Chimeran soldiers have artificial cooling devices implanted into their bodies to regulate their circulatory system.[19] Moreover, the regeneration ability is somewhat limited as it cannot heal them from sufficient damage that will kill a Chimera outright or left with lasting wounds.[21] Since 1951, under Daedalus' command the Chimera have created advanced strains capable of surviving warmer climates, eliminating the need for artificial cooling devices.[23]

Both the "Pure" Chimera and their mutant strains tend to thrive in very cold temperatures, and there have been successful attempts by the Chimera to alter the Earth's climate to suit their needs. As a direct result, temperatures in certain locations such as London under Chimeran occupation have been reduced to sub-zero temperatures, resulting in those areas covered in snow and ice.

The genetic make-up of the Chimeran virus appears to have been specifically designed to attack and modify human genes, suggesting that there is something more to the Chimera than is already known.[24] It was noted that all Chimeran strains encountered by humanity were male, until the events of Operation Overstrike revealed that infected female humans were kept in storage and be used for converting into newer and exclusively female strains, such as Boilers and Hags.[25]

Reproduction

The Chimera reproduce or replicate through parasitism, converting other species into various Chimeran strains via infection by the Chimeran virus transmitted by Crawlers and Spinners. The conversion process, which normally goes very slowly, is artificially accelerated through conversion centers.

Following their defeat in Britain, the Chimera only use conversion centers to create their more advanced strains, and they appear to now be located within Chimeran towers and warships of the Chimeran Fleet, instead of being in separate buildings altogether. Most of the general human population of areas they take over are now converted into Grims by Spinners unless there is a need for other strains. Captured soldiers appear to be taken to these conversion centers, presumably they are more battle-hardened than most noncombatant humans are.

By 1957, while the Chimera have abandoned their conversion of humans, the Feral Chimera have somehow mutated to breed in the wilds.[16]

Psychology

The intellect of the average Chimeran troop appears to be very limited, with only the Angel caste (and later Daedalus) having advanced thought. However, SRPA had discovered that the Hybrid strains and their offshoots may in fact retain vestigial memories of their previous life as SRPA researchers had found random objects that came with Chimera that were killed in battle such as soap bars and toys, rather than a sort of magpie reflex.[26]

Normal military Chimera are fully capable of military thought and comprehension, as shown by the Primarch and Overseer system. It has been stated, however, that their knowledge of anything else is very limited.

Feral Chimera are clearly capable of basic thought needed to survive without any form of outside nurturing or supervision, such as nourishment, reproduction and possibly self-preservation. They also seem to live in packs as opposed to being territorial and are highly aggressive towards humans and military Chimera.

Culture

Little is known of the culture of the Chimera, but it is, in combat situations at least, known to be brutal, with intelligence reports stating that Chimera will often cannibalize their own kind, usually wounded or dead, and are known to eat human beings as well.[27]

Hierarchy

The Chimera are driven by a hive mind and are led by a leadership caste in which they are described as being part of a "great whole"; in which lesser units serve the larger ones.[28][29] Among the various Chimeran strains, each served their specific roles in combat. Such as Hybrids being the most predominant form of infantry and Menials serving as maintenance personnel. Among some are made specifically in siege warfare and others served higher roles in the Chimeran hierarchy as commanders. Also, certain Chimeran strains seem to be phased out by newer, more effective strains extraordinarily fast.

Initially, the Chimera were commanded and directed by the Angel strain, which they possessed a powerful telepathic link to all Chimeran soldiers. Should an Angel died and depriving the Chimera of their link, the Chimera under that Angel's control rapidly begin to die off in a matter of days, or even minutes.[30] To prevent this, the Angels were protected and stationed in Chimeran towers. However, humanity's discovery of the Chimera's hive mind leadership had led to the destruction of the tower network in Western Europe and causing the deaths of the Angels and weakening the Chimera's hold over the continent.

Daedalus later replaced or limited the Angel strain, deeming them to be too inefficient to be of great use to the Chimera anymore. Instead, he instituted a new leadership caste of Chimera, which include Primarchs and Overseers as the main leaders of the Chimeran forces. A Primarch usually has control over 30 to 40 lower ranking Chimera, and Overseers normally control about 12 Primarchs, making for a much more efficient leadership system. This makes it much harder for the Chimera to be stopped, compared to the original method where complete power was vested into an Angel.[31]

Language

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Chimeran symbols in the Terraformer.

The Chimeran language has a twenty-nine symbol alphabet. This was discovered by Dr. Malikov in his research at Bryce Canyon, in which he stated that it would take 5.8 billion years to try each combination. Almost every piece of Chimeran machinery and technology is accessible through the use of Chimeran symbols. In Bryce Canyon, for example, a unique eleven symbol combination is used to lock or open Chimeran doors.

These symbols appear on multiple Malikov Journals in Resistance 3. In-game, they can be seen on a Chimeran terminal inside the Terraformer.

Technology

Chimeran technology is far superior to human technology, which includes robotic A.I. Drones, nuclear power, and climate-changing technology.

The Chimera created weapons capable of doing things no contemporary human weapon could ever do, such as ammunition homing in on enemies, or tunneling through walls. Furthermore, the Chimera created multilegged weapons platforms such as anti-aircraft Stalkers and massive Goliaths that served as siege batteries, and advanced aircraft and airships.

Architecture

ChimeranArcitecture

A Chimeran intake valve in Rotterdam, an example of Chimeran architecture.

On Chimeran vehicles, weapons, buildings, and ships, there are usually three bright lights arranged in a triangle which appear to be completely aesthetic in nature. Additionally, there is often a curious mix of lights, grating, and solid metal where simple plates of metal would do. It is unknown whether these attachments serve a purpose.

Gallery

Concept Art

Resistance: Retribution

Resistance 2

Trivia

  • The Chimera come from an idea in Insomniac Games's cancelled game I-5/Girl With A Stick of a fantasy race named 'the Celestials' that imposed their architecture and style onto the I-5 work and their structures were dark and shiny and described as being 'chitinous'.
  • The Chimera are variously referred to as the "Deathless Plague" or "Demoni" by the Italians, the "Angry Night" by the Russians/Cloven and derogatorily "Gorillas" and "Stinks" by British and American soldiers in Resistance: Retribution and The Gathering Storm, respectively.
  • In some languages the word "Chimera" is different according to regional release. In Italian it is "La Chimera", in French it is "Chimères", in German it is "Die Bestien" and in Spanish it is "La Quimera".
  • The Chimera are named after the Greek mythological creature of the same name in which it was a fire-breathing monster, usually represented as a composite of a lion, goat and serpent. The aliens are also likely named after genetic chimerism, an organism consisting of at least two genetically different kind of tissue, as a result of mutation, grafting etc.
  • Originally Resistance: Fall of Man was supposed to be set in an alternate World War I and the game's primary enemy was Imperial Germany rather than the Chimera.[32][33][34]
  • The Chimera have numerous similarities to the Ceph from the Crysis series, as both species inhabited Earth millions of years ago and have connections to the Tunguska Event.

References

Chimera
Characters Chrysalis · Daedalus · Pure Chimera
Strains Advanced Hybrid · Abomination · Alpha Grim · Angel · Boiler · Brawler · Brute · Carrier · Chameleon · Cocoon · Crawler · Executioner · Fury · Gray Jack · Grim · Hag · Hardfang · Howler · Hybrid · Impaler · Kraken · Leaper · Leaper Pod · Leech · Leaper Pod · Leviathan · Longlegs · Marauder · Mother Spinner · Menial · The Mother · Queen Leaper · Ravager ·Roller · Satan · Siren · Slipskull · Spinner · Steelhead · The Swarm · Titan · Widowmaker
Vehicles/Machines Burrower · Chimeran Dropship · Chimeran Fighter · Chimeran Fleet · Chimeran Shuttle ·Chimeran Transport Walker · Drone · Earth Mover · Goliath · Hammer · Stalker
Weapons Arc Charger · Atomizer · Auger · Brute Minigun · Bullseye · Bullseye Mark II · Chimeran AA Turret · Chimeran Mine · Chimeran Mortar · Deadeye · Hedgehog Grenade · Hellfire Turret · Hunter · Mauler · Reaper Carbine · Sentry Gun · Sixeye · Spire Missile · Splitter · Wildfire
Structures Conversion Center · Chimeran Gun Tower · Chimeran Tower · Terraformer
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