Half Life Saga
- Thread starter Jandor
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Cons Himself
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valve create hl1, not having the slightest inkling of the success it will have.
hl1 story: aliens have invaded earth due to earth experimenting with teleportation and teleporting to alien planet, there is a mysterious guy almost guiding you through the game. at the end you kill the big bad alien who is controlling all the other aliens telepathically and keeping the portal open because he is really powerful at teleporting. in the end you are hired by the mysterious man because you did a good job.
bam success. valve think shit, now let make hl2, but wait we have to go back and think about what the story is actually going to be since we are going to be making quite a few of these games it seems. everyone likes them.
cue hl2, new alien invaders, the combine. they fight both humans and xenians and are trying to agglomerate all human tech into their vast army, as well as human characteristics. hence the name combine. in the end you stop the mad collaborator breen and destroy the combine citadel dark energy reactor, preventing them teleporting any more troops through. the mysterious dude puts you in stasis again pending further offers for your employment by parties unknown.
now - what next. no one knows.
hl1 story: aliens have invaded earth due to earth experimenting with teleportation and teleporting to alien planet, there is a mysterious guy almost guiding you through the game. at the end you kill the big bad alien who is controlling all the other aliens telepathically and keeping the portal open because he is really powerful at teleporting. in the end you are hired by the mysterious man because you did a good job.
bam success. valve think shit, now let make hl2, but wait we have to go back and think about what the story is actually going to be since we are going to be making quite a few of these games it seems. everyone likes them.
cue hl2, new alien invaders, the combine. they fight both humans and xenians and are trying to agglomerate all human tech into their vast army, as well as human characteristics. hence the name combine. in the end you stop the mad collaborator breen and destroy the combine citadel dark energy reactor, preventing them teleporting any more troops through. the mysterious dude puts you in stasis again pending further offers for your employment by parties unknown.
now - what next. no one knows.
Cons Himself
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neither did valve before hl1 became such a success 
and we just dont know enough to conjecture about anything. each new game leaves more new questions than it answers.
and we just dont know enough to conjecture about anything. each new game leaves more new questions than it answers.
FictiousWill
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Cons Himself said:
Nicely put.
Jandor
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1. Gordon Graduates.
2. Gordon is sent to Black Mesa.
3. Breen see's the Borderworld and see's the oppurtunity for scientific acclaim.
4. G-Man see's the Borderworld and see's a nice little addition to the U.S.
5. The Resonance Cascade happens. Neither Breen nor G-Man tried to stop it.
6. Nihilanth trys to stop the effects of the Resonance Cascade.
7. Xen troops begin to arrive on Earth, under orders from Nihilanth to destroy the lab.
8. Race-X on it's way through Xen get drawn away by the Cascade. They to try and invade Earth.
9. The sattelite is launched so that control can be gained on this side.
10. Gordon makes the trip to Xen.
11. Adrian kills the Gene-Worm. Race-X decide not to try again.
12. Gordon faces Nihilanth and kills him.
13. The Cascade is now out of control and spreads across the planet, dubbed the Portal Storms.
14. Gordon is placed in stasis.
15. The Human populace moves out of the countryside crowding into the citys.
16. Breen is appointed as chief of some sort of International alien commitee.
16. The growing storms attract the attention of the Combine.
17. The Combine attack Earth (and later Xen.)
18. The now free Vortigaunts that are stranded on Earth ally with the Humans.
19. Breen brokers a peace deal, gaining many benefits for himself.
20. The Combine have Earth secure.
21. G-Man brings Gordon out of stasis.
22. Gordon fights the Combine, destroys Nova Prospekt and triggers an uprising.
23. The rebels now have widespread support and uprisings begin to occur in many Combine cities.
24. The main citadel is destroyed, the Combine grip on Earth is loosened.
Who knows from there?
2. Gordon is sent to Black Mesa.
3. Breen see's the Borderworld and see's the oppurtunity for scientific acclaim.
4. G-Man see's the Borderworld and see's a nice little addition to the U.S.
5. The Resonance Cascade happens. Neither Breen nor G-Man tried to stop it.
6. Nihilanth trys to stop the effects of the Resonance Cascade.
7. Xen troops begin to arrive on Earth, under orders from Nihilanth to destroy the lab.
8. Race-X on it's way through Xen get drawn away by the Cascade. They to try and invade Earth.
9. The sattelite is launched so that control can be gained on this side.
10. Gordon makes the trip to Xen.
11. Adrian kills the Gene-Worm. Race-X decide not to try again.
12. Gordon faces Nihilanth and kills him.
13. The Cascade is now out of control and spreads across the planet, dubbed the Portal Storms.
14. Gordon is placed in stasis.
15. The Human populace moves out of the countryside crowding into the citys.
16. Breen is appointed as chief of some sort of International alien commitee.
16. The growing storms attract the attention of the Combine.
17. The Combine attack Earth (and later Xen.)
18. The now free Vortigaunts that are stranded on Earth ally with the Humans.
19. Breen brokers a peace deal, gaining many benefits for himself.
20. The Combine have Earth secure.
21. G-Man brings Gordon out of stasis.
22. Gordon fights the Combine, destroys Nova Prospekt and triggers an uprising.
23. The rebels now have widespread support and uprisings begin to occur in many Combine cities.
24. The main citadel is destroyed, the Combine grip on Earth is loosened.
Who knows from there?
Jandor storyline, with certain modifications,
1. Gordon Graduates.
2. Gordon is sent to Black Mesa.
3. Breen see's the Borderworld and see's an oppurtunity, he somehow manage to contact the combine. *
4. G-Man see's the Borderworld.
5. The Resonance Cascade happens. Breen pushed it forward, Gman decided not to interfere **
6. Nihilanth feels the effects of the cascade. ***
7. Xen troops begin to arrive on Earth. They attack.
8. (Op4 material not included)
9. The sattelite is launched, effect unknown, the marines protect the rocket, why?
10. Gordon makes the trip to Xen.
11. (Op4 material not included)
12. Gordon faces Nihilanth and kills him.
13. The Cascade is now out of control and spreads across the planet, dubbed the Portal Storms. Possibly caused by the satelite (Why Gman placed marines to protect the rocket)
14. Gordon is placed in stasis.
15. The Human populace moves out of the countryside crowding into the citys.
16. Breen is appointed as chief of some sort of International alien commitee. (Coincidence? I think not)
16. The growing storms/death of Nihilanth **** attract the attention of the Combine.
17. The Combine attack Earth
18. The now free Vortigaunts that are stranded on Earth ally with the Humans.
19. Breen brokers a peace deal, gaining many benefits for himself. *****
20. The Combine have Earth secure.
21. G-Man brings Gordon out of stasis.
22. Gordon fights the Combine, destroys Nova Prospekt and triggers an uprising.
23. The rebels now have widespread support and uprisings begin to occur in many Combine cities.
24. The main citadel is destroyed, the Combine grip on Earth is loosened.
* I don't know who contacte who, or the exact circumstances but he comvince them he can deliver Earth, but it is currently to strong.
The BMRF researchers discover the uses of the Xen rock, a pure specimen is gathered before Breen and the combine talk. Breen sees the possibility of a cascade using the pure specimen, he consults the combine about his plan, although he doesn't mentions details about the teleportation process since he assume the combine already knows this.
The combine approves his plan.
(For information/filling plot holes: The Nihilanth is not the Xen world leader, he is only a VIP that the combine didn't see any importance of. The combine severly underestimate the Xenians and never discover their teleporting abilities, Dr. Mossman never inform Breen that the combine have string based teleportation, Breen being busy with his then never discover this.)
** Both under the control of their "leaders", Gmans employers sees this as a perfect scenario for recruiting.
*** How I'm not sure, it happens before Gordon travels to Xen.
**** This probably makes Gordon known throughout the combine and he is now seen as a threat, probably why Dr. Breen say "Gordon Freeman" instead of "rebel", and why he quickly becomes a priority, I don't believe rebel talk gets so much of Breens attention.
***** He becomes World leader in under 7 hours? I don't believe it.
I'll write one entirely mine one day... Gonna be long.
1. Gordon Graduates.
2. Gordon is sent to Black Mesa.
3. Breen see's the Borderworld and see's an oppurtunity, he somehow manage to contact the combine. *
4. G-Man see's the Borderworld.
5. The Resonance Cascade happens. Breen pushed it forward, Gman decided not to interfere **
6. Nihilanth feels the effects of the cascade. ***
7. Xen troops begin to arrive on Earth. They attack.
8. (Op4 material not included)
9. The sattelite is launched, effect unknown, the marines protect the rocket, why?
10. Gordon makes the trip to Xen.
11. (Op4 material not included)
12. Gordon faces Nihilanth and kills him.
13. The Cascade is now out of control and spreads across the planet, dubbed the Portal Storms. Possibly caused by the satelite (Why Gman placed marines to protect the rocket)
14. Gordon is placed in stasis.
15. The Human populace moves out of the countryside crowding into the citys.
16. Breen is appointed as chief of some sort of International alien commitee. (Coincidence? I think not)
16. The growing storms/death of Nihilanth **** attract the attention of the Combine.
17. The Combine attack Earth
18. The now free Vortigaunts that are stranded on Earth ally with the Humans.
19. Breen brokers a peace deal, gaining many benefits for himself. *****
20. The Combine have Earth secure.
21. G-Man brings Gordon out of stasis.
22. Gordon fights the Combine, destroys Nova Prospekt and triggers an uprising.
23. The rebels now have widespread support and uprisings begin to occur in many Combine cities.
24. The main citadel is destroyed, the Combine grip on Earth is loosened.
* I don't know who contacte who, or the exact circumstances but he comvince them he can deliver Earth, but it is currently to strong.
The BMRF researchers discover the uses of the Xen rock, a pure specimen is gathered before Breen and the combine talk. Breen sees the possibility of a cascade using the pure specimen, he consults the combine about his plan, although he doesn't mentions details about the teleportation process since he assume the combine already knows this.
The combine approves his plan.
(For information/filling plot holes: The Nihilanth is not the Xen world leader, he is only a VIP that the combine didn't see any importance of. The combine severly underestimate the Xenians and never discover their teleporting abilities, Dr. Mossman never inform Breen that the combine have string based teleportation, Breen being busy with his then never discover this.)
** Both under the control of their "leaders", Gmans employers sees this as a perfect scenario for recruiting.
*** How I'm not sure, it happens before Gordon travels to Xen.
**** This probably makes Gordon known throughout the combine and he is now seen as a threat, probably why Dr. Breen say "Gordon Freeman" instead of "rebel", and why he quickly becomes a priority, I don't believe rebel talk gets so much of Breens attention.
***** He becomes World leader in under 7 hours? I don't believe it.
I'll write one entirely mine one day... Gonna be long.
FictiousWill
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There's a whole site on this somewhere.
O
Overconfidence`
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Ehhh, I pretty much see it two ways.. (So Im not decisive)
Either combine invade Xen, see Earth, contact Breen, 'accidentally' trigger portal, Xen creatures go into Earth, Freeman saves the ensclaved Vortiguant, gets put into statis, Combine lose the vortiguant as slaves and go to Earth through portal storms, then the rest of HL2. That's basically the saga story guide or whatever that i've seen around.
Conversely, there's the other story of Earth happening to find Xen, fighting them off, and then the Combine finding Earth through that and attacking.
I really can't decide between those two (which seem to be the two most popular theories), as they both have an equal amount of probability. I'm sorry if I didn't get the stories perfect, but oh well.
Also, one thing that's been bugging me: Where does the whole 'seven hour war' thing come from, other than the one newspaper clipping? How do we know that the seven hour war wasn't one war in a giant battle? Maybe the combine sent in some preliminary troops to round up and weaken Earth's forces, and then portaled in an immense army to finish them off? I'm just guessing, i've maybe (probably) missed some (a lot) of backstory.
Either combine invade Xen, see Earth, contact Breen, 'accidentally' trigger portal, Xen creatures go into Earth, Freeman saves the ensclaved Vortiguant, gets put into statis, Combine lose the vortiguant as slaves and go to Earth through portal storms, then the rest of HL2. That's basically the saga story guide or whatever that i've seen around.
Conversely, there's the other story of Earth happening to find Xen, fighting them off, and then the Combine finding Earth through that and attacking.
I really can't decide between those two (which seem to be the two most popular theories), as they both have an equal amount of probability. I'm sorry if I didn't get the stories perfect, but oh well.
Also, one thing that's been bugging me: Where does the whole 'seven hour war' thing come from, other than the one newspaper clipping? How do we know that the seven hour war wasn't one war in a giant battle? Maybe the combine sent in some preliminary troops to round up and weaken Earth's forces, and then portaled in an immense army to finish them off? I'm just guessing, i've maybe (probably) missed some (a lot) of backstory.
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Just to let ye know, mine will be masive; with a full indepth desctription of everything anyone of importance is doing during BM or C17 incidents. It will also fill in blanks for people who haven't played the other games.
Edit: BTW I don't agree with much on that site.
Edit: BTW I don't agree with much on that site.
Angry Lawyer
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We've hit critical mass of posters here, sparks are going to fly on the Combine Xen thing again.
But, I'm interested in your interpretations of the games, so I won't blow up at anyone yet.
Most of the information about the Seven Hour War comes from Raising the Bar, Confidence.
-Angry Lawyer
But, I'm interested in your interpretations of the games, so I won't blow up at anyone yet.
Most of the information about the Seven Hour War comes from Raising the Bar, Confidence.
-Angry Lawyer
O
Overconfidence`
Guest
Ah, alright, I haven't read Raising the Bar yet, just heard about it. Though if the info is in the 'official' book, or whatever, then it has to be pretty conclusive? Or still 'implying', basicaly?
Ehh, I'm pretty much a follower in the whole storylining issue, seeing how i've only played through the games a few times and haven't looked too in depth at everything, although I do find the whole HL stories really neat (whichever one ends up being the truth).
Ehh, I'm pretty much a follower in the whole storylining issue, seeing how i've only played through the games a few times and haven't looked too in depth at everything, although I do find the whole HL stories really neat (whichever one ends up being the truth).
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The Growth of the Combine Empire
The Combine are a race that were once not unlike humans. They built technology to make their lives easier and slowly evolved into a grub-like state. They can no longer support their own bodies and are fully dependent on the technology that they have created. They are vastly intelligent and have conquered many worlds with their technology, building up a huge empire.
Xen is a border world that is therefore very useful for teleportation in a number of ways. It became inhabited by a number an alien species who managed to survive long enough to bread and form a crude ecosystem. It was also colonised by Controllers, their lord, Nihilanth, and their slave the Vortigaunts who were controlled by their psychic powers.
The Combine found their way to Xen and seized power by assimilating Nihilanth with their technology, thereby enslaving him and boosting is control of the Vortigaunts. They also put slave collars on the Vortigaunts to make sure they could not rebel. The Vortigaunts were put to work making the Xen synths; the grunts and gargantuas.
The Combine not only captured Xen, but also many other words using its vast army of synths.
Race-X colonised Xen relatively shortly before the Black Mesa incident and were never noticed by Nihilanth’s forces.
The Build-Up and Black Mesa Incident
The g-man’s race also looked on to other worlds with the intension of conquering. Once such world was Earth. They assimilated many humans in the governments and powerful organisations and manipulated them as they saw fit. One such assimilated man was the g-man. He was put in charge of keeping a close eye on the Black Mesa Research Facility in New Mexico. They also took interest in certain humans with large potential such as Dr. Gordon Freeman and Adrian Shepard.
As the teleportation technology was developing at Black Mesa the scientists discovered Xen and started interfering, taking samples of crystals and Xen creatures. This angered Nihilanth and he prepared an invasion force. The same was for Race-X who were deeply angered by the scientists taking their children for experiments. The g-man knew of this and didn’t want it to happen. He prepared a group of special forces marines and an elite group of soldiers know as Black Operations or Black Ops for short. Nihilanth found it hard to locate Earth and Black Mesa but he could locate by following the teleports and certain experiments in Black Mesa. The g-man realised that Nihilanth was close to locating Earth so he hacked the Black Mesa computer system. He strategically disabled the dampening fields for the Anti-Mass Spectrometer so that analysing the Xen crystal sample GG-3883 would cause a resonance cascade and also removed clearance from some high-risk individuals such as Dr. Gordon Freeman and Cpl. Adrian Shepard. He also pushed forward the testing of the sample.
Throughout the month of March Adrian’s unit and many others were reassigned to Indoor Strategic Combat Training (This is where he is scouted by the g-man). Eventually a mission in Black Mesa is confirmed. Gordon is officially hired as a Black Mesa employee on 5th May, above many others including Dr. Judith Mossman, after he is recommended by Dr. Isaac Kleiner who was his MIT professor and an employee at Black Mesa. On May 9th Barney Calhoun is promoted to the Level 3 Blue Shift in Black Mesa.
Dr. Gina Cross and Dr. Colette Green prepare the equipment for the analyses of the sample GG-3883. The Anti-Mass Spectrometer on so high without dampening fields causes the resonance cascade and a portal storm between most of the Black Mesa complex and a small part of Xen. During the resonance cascade Gordon is teleported to many places but ends up back in the test chamber and falls unconscious for a few hours. At the same time Barney Calhoun is repairing an elevator when the resonance cascade causes a power failure and the lift falls down many stories and crashes. The lift is very strong though and Barney survives but is rendered unconscious for a few hours. Gina and Colette make their way out of the equipment area and meet up with Dr. Rosenberg.
Because of the resonance cascade many Xen and Earth creatures were teleported between the two worlds. The Xen creatures fared better. Gordon, Barney, Colette and Gina fought their way through the complex. Dr. Rosenberg tells Gina and Colette to call the military but they are already on their way, along with Cpl. Adrian Shephard and the Black Ops. The marines are ordered to kill all aliens and Black Mesa personnel to leave no witnesses and are ordered to take extra interest in eliminating Gordon as the g-man considers him very dangerous while the Black Ops were to kill any survivors after the marines pulled out and detonate a nuclear bomb to destroy Black Mesa. Adrian’s helicopter is shot down by a Xen manta that was sent as scout before Adrian’s squad could be given their orders. The helicopter crash lands and Adrian’s squad drag Adrian to safety. The squad is killed by aliens but some scientist who are hiding out find Adrian and his deceased squad.
Dr. Rosenberg and Colette and Gina prepare a satellite for launch that would stop the resonance cascade and portal storms. The g-man learns of this and orders the marines to abort the launch, as this would end the confusion on Xen and allow Nihilanth to re-organise his invasion force. Dr. Rosenberg waited for military help but once he discovered the marines’ intentions he hid in a cargo container tram. Barney learns of Dr. Rosenberg’s hiding and escape plan and finds him. Barney escorts him to the Section A-17 Prototype Labs and is explained the escape plan in full. Barney is sent to Xen to align the Focus Emitters so that him, Dr. Rosenberg, Walter and Simons can escape by means of localised teleport. When Barney returns he is told to charge a power cell that is needed to complete the teleport.
While Barney is charging the power cell Gordon finds the satellite that the marines aborted the launch of and launches it starting the reversal of the resonance cascade. At this time Dr. Keller, Gina and Colette are activating the Focus Emitters and the Displacement Beacon to finish off the resonance reversal. Barney returns to Dr. Rosenberg who, thanks to the fully charged power cell, has the teleporter up and running. He Dr. Rosenberg, Simons and Walter escape Black Mesa in an SUV shortly after marines capture Gordon. Dr. Keller, Gina and Colette shortly escape Black Mesa with other scientists and some equipment that would later prove very useful to the resistance.
The marines decide to kill Gordon and leave no evidence so they put him in a giant rubbish crusher to destroy the body but Gordon manages to escape and find a his crowbar. Gordon makes his way through an alien holding area and learns of that the remaining scientists have fled to the Lambda Complex. He makes his way there across the marine-controlled surface. Around this time Adrian finally wakes up and dons his PCV. Both he and Gordon hear a radio message saying the marines are pulling out. Adrian on his way to the evacuation point ends up in a room that begins to fill with toxic waste. The g-man watches pondering whether Adrian chould be useful or not. He decided that Adrian could still be of use and opened a door for him to escape to. When Adrian reached the evacuation point he was about to be on the helicopter when the g-man closed the door in his face leaving him stuck in Black Mesa.
The Black Ops were then instructed to kill all survivors and detonate a thermonuclear bomb. About this time Race-X scouts begin to arrive in Black Mesa. As the full Race-X invasion begins Gordon finds the Lambda Complex and is informed of a being – Nihilanth – creating the portals. He is given a long-jump module and is sent to Xen to deal with Nihilanth seeing as he was the only one with a HEV suit and he had survived so much himself.
While Gordon was being sent all around Xen Adrian was fighting through Black Mesa. Gordon deals with a Gonarch while Adrian kills a Pit Worm. Gordon fights his way to Nihilanth’s chamber and kills the almost defenceless ruler of Xen. As Nihilanth screams his last words the g-man pulls Gordon out of Xen and gives him an ultimatum, work for him or die. Gordon of-course chooses the first. With Xen now in a state of semi-collapse the g-man’s race moved in and secured it.
While this is happening Adrian fights his way past Black Ops and disarms the thermonuclear bomb A.K.A. the ‘package’ but the g-man, now done with Gordon for the moment, rearms it and locks the door so Adrian can only look on in anger. Adrian makes his way to a supply warehouse area. While fighting past Black Ops and Race-X he notices strange lights flowing through the air. He decides to follow them seeing as they may lead somewhere. He comes across a security guard who says there is a monster ahead who already killed some marines. Adrian goes forth and finds the Race-X Gene-Worm tunnelling trough a portal into Black Mesa. He uses turrets set up by the marines before they died and uses them to defeat the Gene-Worm. After the job is done the g-man takes Adrian away and puts him in stasis while the nuclear bomb goes off wiping Black Mesa off the Earth and destroying any survivors who had not escaped.
Others who escaped Black Mesa–some with equipment that would later prove invaluable to the City-17 resistance–included Dr. Eli Vance, his daughter Alyx (But sadly not his wife), Dr. Isaac Kleiner and Dr. Wallace Breen.
The Portal Storms, The 7-Hour War and Combine Take-Over
Because of the death of Nihilanth and the Gene-Worm portal storms spun out of control between Xen and Earth. The people fled to the cities where there was some protection from the alien beasts–and Lamarr– beaming in. Dr. Wallace Breen was appointed to the UN and US government because he was administer of Black Mesa and was the only politician who had any–though little–experience with the creatures. As the people held off in the cities the portal storms started to stop but before they were finished a new threat appeared: The Combine.
The Combine teleported in citadels full of synths into the middle of specially chosen cities. The synths immediately deployed and started beating back Earth’s forces. The humans held off futilely for seven hours until the government got in contact with the Combine–through the g-man’s race’s meddling–and Dr. Breen surrendered Earth.
The Combine got information of humans from Breen and decided to control them by means of a police state with Breen as a figurehead. They set up cities one to thirty on with the remaining populace and the Overwatch to keep the citizens in check. Once peace was restored Civil Protection was established while the Overwatch and synths retreated back to the bases in case of emergency.
Breen soon established his base of operations in City-17 and so the resistance soon followed. Some Black Mesa science team and security force members who survived headed up the resistance, including Dr. Eli Vance, Dr. Isaac Kleiner and Barney Calhoun. Vortigaunts who were left stranded on Earth and wanted revenge on the Combine also joined the resistance. The resistance established its base in Ravenholme, a small town on the outskirts of City-17. Black Mesa East was established as the resistances HQ. Bases were also set up along the canals to help citizens escape City-17 and get to Black Mesa East. Overwatch shelled the hell out off Ravenholme with headcrabs, forcing the remaining resistance to flee either to Black Mesa East or to the coast. The resistance also set about developing weapons to fight the Combine, many using Black Mesa technology. Most notably they developed teleports to help move resistance members. Members of the resistance, most notably Barney Calhoun, infiltrated Civil Protection. The g-man also aided the resistance–though only known to a few–to help liberate Earth from the Combine.
The Combine are a race that were once not unlike humans. They built technology to make their lives easier and slowly evolved into a grub-like state. They can no longer support their own bodies and are fully dependent on the technology that they have created. They are vastly intelligent and have conquered many worlds with their technology, building up a huge empire.
Xen is a border world that is therefore very useful for teleportation in a number of ways. It became inhabited by a number an alien species who managed to survive long enough to bread and form a crude ecosystem. It was also colonised by Controllers, their lord, Nihilanth, and their slave the Vortigaunts who were controlled by their psychic powers.
The Combine found their way to Xen and seized power by assimilating Nihilanth with their technology, thereby enslaving him and boosting is control of the Vortigaunts. They also put slave collars on the Vortigaunts to make sure they could not rebel. The Vortigaunts were put to work making the Xen synths; the grunts and gargantuas.
The Combine not only captured Xen, but also many other words using its vast army of synths.
Race-X colonised Xen relatively shortly before the Black Mesa incident and were never noticed by Nihilanth’s forces.
The Build-Up and Black Mesa Incident
The g-man’s race also looked on to other worlds with the intension of conquering. Once such world was Earth. They assimilated many humans in the governments and powerful organisations and manipulated them as they saw fit. One such assimilated man was the g-man. He was put in charge of keeping a close eye on the Black Mesa Research Facility in New Mexico. They also took interest in certain humans with large potential such as Dr. Gordon Freeman and Adrian Shepard.
As the teleportation technology was developing at Black Mesa the scientists discovered Xen and started interfering, taking samples of crystals and Xen creatures. This angered Nihilanth and he prepared an invasion force. The same was for Race-X who were deeply angered by the scientists taking their children for experiments. The g-man knew of this and didn’t want it to happen. He prepared a group of special forces marines and an elite group of soldiers know as Black Operations or Black Ops for short. Nihilanth found it hard to locate Earth and Black Mesa but he could locate by following the teleports and certain experiments in Black Mesa. The g-man realised that Nihilanth was close to locating Earth so he hacked the Black Mesa computer system. He strategically disabled the dampening fields for the Anti-Mass Spectrometer so that analysing the Xen crystal sample GG-3883 would cause a resonance cascade and also removed clearance from some high-risk individuals such as Dr. Gordon Freeman and Cpl. Adrian Shepard. He also pushed forward the testing of the sample.
Throughout the month of March Adrian’s unit and many others were reassigned to Indoor Strategic Combat Training (This is where he is scouted by the g-man). Eventually a mission in Black Mesa is confirmed. Gordon is officially hired as a Black Mesa employee on 5th May, above many others including Dr. Judith Mossman, after he is recommended by Dr. Isaac Kleiner who was his MIT professor and an employee at Black Mesa. On May 9th Barney Calhoun is promoted to the Level 3 Blue Shift in Black Mesa.
Dr. Gina Cross and Dr. Colette Green prepare the equipment for the analyses of the sample GG-3883. The Anti-Mass Spectrometer on so high without dampening fields causes the resonance cascade and a portal storm between most of the Black Mesa complex and a small part of Xen. During the resonance cascade Gordon is teleported to many places but ends up back in the test chamber and falls unconscious for a few hours. At the same time Barney Calhoun is repairing an elevator when the resonance cascade causes a power failure and the lift falls down many stories and crashes. The lift is very strong though and Barney survives but is rendered unconscious for a few hours. Gina and Colette make their way out of the equipment area and meet up with Dr. Rosenberg.
Because of the resonance cascade many Xen and Earth creatures were teleported between the two worlds. The Xen creatures fared better. Gordon, Barney, Colette and Gina fought their way through the complex. Dr. Rosenberg tells Gina and Colette to call the military but they are already on their way, along with Cpl. Adrian Shephard and the Black Ops. The marines are ordered to kill all aliens and Black Mesa personnel to leave no witnesses and are ordered to take extra interest in eliminating Gordon as the g-man considers him very dangerous while the Black Ops were to kill any survivors after the marines pulled out and detonate a nuclear bomb to destroy Black Mesa. Adrian’s helicopter is shot down by a Xen manta that was sent as scout before Adrian’s squad could be given their orders. The helicopter crash lands and Adrian’s squad drag Adrian to safety. The squad is killed by aliens but some scientist who are hiding out find Adrian and his deceased squad.
Dr. Rosenberg and Colette and Gina prepare a satellite for launch that would stop the resonance cascade and portal storms. The g-man learns of this and orders the marines to abort the launch, as this would end the confusion on Xen and allow Nihilanth to re-organise his invasion force. Dr. Rosenberg waited for military help but once he discovered the marines’ intentions he hid in a cargo container tram. Barney learns of Dr. Rosenberg’s hiding and escape plan and finds him. Barney escorts him to the Section A-17 Prototype Labs and is explained the escape plan in full. Barney is sent to Xen to align the Focus Emitters so that him, Dr. Rosenberg, Walter and Simons can escape by means of localised teleport. When Barney returns he is told to charge a power cell that is needed to complete the teleport.
While Barney is charging the power cell Gordon finds the satellite that the marines aborted the launch of and launches it starting the reversal of the resonance cascade. At this time Dr. Keller, Gina and Colette are activating the Focus Emitters and the Displacement Beacon to finish off the resonance reversal. Barney returns to Dr. Rosenberg who, thanks to the fully charged power cell, has the teleporter up and running. He Dr. Rosenberg, Simons and Walter escape Black Mesa in an SUV shortly after marines capture Gordon. Dr. Keller, Gina and Colette shortly escape Black Mesa with other scientists and some equipment that would later prove very useful to the resistance.
The marines decide to kill Gordon and leave no evidence so they put him in a giant rubbish crusher to destroy the body but Gordon manages to escape and find a his crowbar. Gordon makes his way through an alien holding area and learns of that the remaining scientists have fled to the Lambda Complex. He makes his way there across the marine-controlled surface. Around this time Adrian finally wakes up and dons his PCV. Both he and Gordon hear a radio message saying the marines are pulling out. Adrian on his way to the evacuation point ends up in a room that begins to fill with toxic waste. The g-man watches pondering whether Adrian chould be useful or not. He decided that Adrian could still be of use and opened a door for him to escape to. When Adrian reached the evacuation point he was about to be on the helicopter when the g-man closed the door in his face leaving him stuck in Black Mesa.
The Black Ops were then instructed to kill all survivors and detonate a thermonuclear bomb. About this time Race-X scouts begin to arrive in Black Mesa. As the full Race-X invasion begins Gordon finds the Lambda Complex and is informed of a being – Nihilanth – creating the portals. He is given a long-jump module and is sent to Xen to deal with Nihilanth seeing as he was the only one with a HEV suit and he had survived so much himself.
While Gordon was being sent all around Xen Adrian was fighting through Black Mesa. Gordon deals with a Gonarch while Adrian kills a Pit Worm. Gordon fights his way to Nihilanth’s chamber and kills the almost defenceless ruler of Xen. As Nihilanth screams his last words the g-man pulls Gordon out of Xen and gives him an ultimatum, work for him or die. Gordon of-course chooses the first. With Xen now in a state of semi-collapse the g-man’s race moved in and secured it.
While this is happening Adrian fights his way past Black Ops and disarms the thermonuclear bomb A.K.A. the ‘package’ but the g-man, now done with Gordon for the moment, rearms it and locks the door so Adrian can only look on in anger. Adrian makes his way to a supply warehouse area. While fighting past Black Ops and Race-X he notices strange lights flowing through the air. He decides to follow them seeing as they may lead somewhere. He comes across a security guard who says there is a monster ahead who already killed some marines. Adrian goes forth and finds the Race-X Gene-Worm tunnelling trough a portal into Black Mesa. He uses turrets set up by the marines before they died and uses them to defeat the Gene-Worm. After the job is done the g-man takes Adrian away and puts him in stasis while the nuclear bomb goes off wiping Black Mesa off the Earth and destroying any survivors who had not escaped.
Others who escaped Black Mesa–some with equipment that would later prove invaluable to the City-17 resistance–included Dr. Eli Vance, his daughter Alyx (But sadly not his wife), Dr. Isaac Kleiner and Dr. Wallace Breen.
The Portal Storms, The 7-Hour War and Combine Take-Over
Because of the death of Nihilanth and the Gene-Worm portal storms spun out of control between Xen and Earth. The people fled to the cities where there was some protection from the alien beasts–and Lamarr– beaming in. Dr. Wallace Breen was appointed to the UN and US government because he was administer of Black Mesa and was the only politician who had any–though little–experience with the creatures. As the people held off in the cities the portal storms started to stop but before they were finished a new threat appeared: The Combine.
The Combine teleported in citadels full of synths into the middle of specially chosen cities. The synths immediately deployed and started beating back Earth’s forces. The humans held off futilely for seven hours until the government got in contact with the Combine–through the g-man’s race’s meddling–and Dr. Breen surrendered Earth.
The Combine got information of humans from Breen and decided to control them by means of a police state with Breen as a figurehead. They set up cities one to thirty on with the remaining populace and the Overwatch to keep the citizens in check. Once peace was restored Civil Protection was established while the Overwatch and synths retreated back to the bases in case of emergency.
Breen soon established his base of operations in City-17 and so the resistance soon followed. Some Black Mesa science team and security force members who survived headed up the resistance, including Dr. Eli Vance, Dr. Isaac Kleiner and Barney Calhoun. Vortigaunts who were left stranded on Earth and wanted revenge on the Combine also joined the resistance. The resistance established its base in Ravenholme, a small town on the outskirts of City-17. Black Mesa East was established as the resistances HQ. Bases were also set up along the canals to help citizens escape City-17 and get to Black Mesa East. Overwatch shelled the hell out off Ravenholme with headcrabs, forcing the remaining resistance to flee either to Black Mesa East or to the coast. The resistance also set about developing weapons to fight the Combine, many using Black Mesa technology. Most notably they developed teleports to help move resistance members. Members of the resistance, most notably Barney Calhoun, infiltrated Civil Protection. The g-man also aided the resistance–though only known to a few–to help liberate Earth from the Combine.
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2004
- Messages
- 20,876
- Reaction score
- 435
The City-17 Rebellion
Ten long years after the destruction of Black Mesa and the beginning of the Portal Storms, the g-man decides the time is right to let Gordon return to the world. Left at the City-17 railway station, Gordon is rescued from a train to Nova Prospekt by Barney. Barney tells him to find Dr. Kleiner’s laboratory. On his way there he is cornered by Civil Protection but is rescued by Alyx Vance. Alyx brings him to the lab and Barney, after escaping being found out, joins them. Gordon dons his HEV suit, now upgraded to a Mark V. Alyx is sent through the teleporter to Black Mesa East and on Gordon’s turn Dr. Kleiner’s pet headcrab, Heady Lamarr, interferes and causes a resonance displacement anomaly sending Gordon teleporting around City-17. He ends up outside Dr. Kleiner’s lab and Barney gives him his old crowbar and tells him to take the canals to Black Mesa East.
Gordon makes his way through the canals on foot and by airboat. Alyx is given watch with the Vortigaunts in Black Mesa East. When Gordon arrives the Vortigaunts inform Alyx and she goes to meet him. Here Gordon meet Dr. Judith Mossman, who was an applicant for Gordon’s old job at Black Mesa. Eli tells Alyx to show Gordon the zero-point energy field manipulator, A.K.A. the gravity gun. While Gordon is playing catch with Dog, Alyx’s pet robot, the Combine attacked Black Mesa East. Gordon, Alyx and Dog fled to help but Alyx was separated from the others. Dog led Gordon to the Ravenholme tunnel and let him through.
In Ravenholme he meats up with Farther Gregori, who leads him to a tunnel to old mines that will lead him to the coast. After exiting the mine Gordon finds himself in a train yard where Overwatch soldiers are dealing with a headcrab outbreak. He makes his way to a resistance base and talks to Alyx who has met up with Barney after escaping Black Mesa East. She informs him that her farther has been captured and she is trying to free him from Nova Prospekt. She tells Gordon to break by the coast while she goes via the train station.
Gordon makes his way along the coast and eventually reaches the lighthouse. There he fights off an Overwatch attack and makes his way across the cliff path, as he does another wave comes and they take Gordon’s car. He makes his way to the Vortigaunt camp and receives some pheropods, A.K.A. bugbait, to shepherd a pack of anlions. He makes his way to and through Nova Prospekt and meets up with Alyx. Together they find Eli and send him through to the teleportation room. They then find Dr. Mossman holding a conversation with Dr. Breen and discover that she is a traitor. They prepare the teleporter but Dr. Mossman takes Eli to Dr. Breen through it. Gordon and Alyx then hold off attacks from Overwatch while the teleporter recharges. As they teleport through the teleport explodes from the fire it is being put under by the soldiers. The resulting explosion destroys Nova Prospekt.
This is taken as a sign by the resistance to start the rebellion. Gordon and Alyx arrive at Dr. Kleiner’s lab a week later. The rebellion is in high swing and the Overwatch has turned the area around the citadel over to striders and shell the areas that they have lost. Alyx stays with Dr. Kleiner and Gordon leaves to help the rebellion. He meets up with Alyx later and they take out a power core to disable some Overwatch defences. Alyx is then captured and Gordon meets up with Barney. They siege the Combine Nexus Building in front of the citadel. They shut it and its suppression device down and Barney stays to hold the fort.
Gordon fights his way through the streets and then towards the citadel. He meets up with Barney and Dog again and Dog lets him inside the citadel walls. Gordon gets his weapons confiscated but the confiscation device reacts with the zero-point energy field manipulator and super charges it. He fights his way through the citadel and finds himself, along with Eli and Alyx, constrained and face-to-face with Dr. Breen. Breen informs Gordon that his contract is now up for hire but before he can finish his speach Dr. Mossman frees them and Breen flees. Gordon chases him and takes back the gravity gun. Breen enters a teleporter to another Combine world. Gordon destroys the teleporter before Breen can go through, the resulting explosion shatters the glass that Alyx was watching through, destroys the teleporter and the two circling gunships, does great damage to the top of the citadel, kills Breen but does cools to quickly to do much more.
The g-man takes Gordon out of the citadel and congratulates him and confirms his contract is up to the highest bidder. He then puts Gordon back into stasis for when he is needed again.
It's actualy shorter than I though it'd be.
Ten long years after the destruction of Black Mesa and the beginning of the Portal Storms, the g-man decides the time is right to let Gordon return to the world. Left at the City-17 railway station, Gordon is rescued from a train to Nova Prospekt by Barney. Barney tells him to find Dr. Kleiner’s laboratory. On his way there he is cornered by Civil Protection but is rescued by Alyx Vance. Alyx brings him to the lab and Barney, after escaping being found out, joins them. Gordon dons his HEV suit, now upgraded to a Mark V. Alyx is sent through the teleporter to Black Mesa East and on Gordon’s turn Dr. Kleiner’s pet headcrab, Heady Lamarr, interferes and causes a resonance displacement anomaly sending Gordon teleporting around City-17. He ends up outside Dr. Kleiner’s lab and Barney gives him his old crowbar and tells him to take the canals to Black Mesa East.
Gordon makes his way through the canals on foot and by airboat. Alyx is given watch with the Vortigaunts in Black Mesa East. When Gordon arrives the Vortigaunts inform Alyx and she goes to meet him. Here Gordon meet Dr. Judith Mossman, who was an applicant for Gordon’s old job at Black Mesa. Eli tells Alyx to show Gordon the zero-point energy field manipulator, A.K.A. the gravity gun. While Gordon is playing catch with Dog, Alyx’s pet robot, the Combine attacked Black Mesa East. Gordon, Alyx and Dog fled to help but Alyx was separated from the others. Dog led Gordon to the Ravenholme tunnel and let him through.
In Ravenholme he meats up with Farther Gregori, who leads him to a tunnel to old mines that will lead him to the coast. After exiting the mine Gordon finds himself in a train yard where Overwatch soldiers are dealing with a headcrab outbreak. He makes his way to a resistance base and talks to Alyx who has met up with Barney after escaping Black Mesa East. She informs him that her farther has been captured and she is trying to free him from Nova Prospekt. She tells Gordon to break by the coast while she goes via the train station.
Gordon makes his way along the coast and eventually reaches the lighthouse. There he fights off an Overwatch attack and makes his way across the cliff path, as he does another wave comes and they take Gordon’s car. He makes his way to the Vortigaunt camp and receives some pheropods, A.K.A. bugbait, to shepherd a pack of anlions. He makes his way to and through Nova Prospekt and meets up with Alyx. Together they find Eli and send him through to the teleportation room. They then find Dr. Mossman holding a conversation with Dr. Breen and discover that she is a traitor. They prepare the teleporter but Dr. Mossman takes Eli to Dr. Breen through it. Gordon and Alyx then hold off attacks from Overwatch while the teleporter recharges. As they teleport through the teleport explodes from the fire it is being put under by the soldiers. The resulting explosion destroys Nova Prospekt.
This is taken as a sign by the resistance to start the rebellion. Gordon and Alyx arrive at Dr. Kleiner’s lab a week later. The rebellion is in high swing and the Overwatch has turned the area around the citadel over to striders and shell the areas that they have lost. Alyx stays with Dr. Kleiner and Gordon leaves to help the rebellion. He meets up with Alyx later and they take out a power core to disable some Overwatch defences. Alyx is then captured and Gordon meets up with Barney. They siege the Combine Nexus Building in front of the citadel. They shut it and its suppression device down and Barney stays to hold the fort.
Gordon fights his way through the streets and then towards the citadel. He meets up with Barney and Dog again and Dog lets him inside the citadel walls. Gordon gets his weapons confiscated but the confiscation device reacts with the zero-point energy field manipulator and super charges it. He fights his way through the citadel and finds himself, along with Eli and Alyx, constrained and face-to-face with Dr. Breen. Breen informs Gordon that his contract is now up for hire but before he can finish his speach Dr. Mossman frees them and Breen flees. Gordon chases him and takes back the gravity gun. Breen enters a teleporter to another Combine world. Gordon destroys the teleporter before Breen can go through, the resulting explosion shatters the glass that Alyx was watching through, destroys the teleporter and the two circling gunships, does great damage to the top of the citadel, kills Breen but does cools to quickly to do much more.
The g-man takes Gordon out of the citadel and congratulates him and confirms his contract is up to the highest bidder. He then puts Gordon back into stasis for when he is needed again.
It's actualy shorter than I though it'd be.
