What is the Combine Empire's Overall Goal?

[Thunderclap]

Hello, all. I've lurked on these forums fo months, but this is my first post.

We know the Combine's eventual goal for Earth is to absorb all of its resources and convert all humans into a branch of the Combine army, specializing in whatever humans are superior to other races in. Earth will be essentially utilized to invade another world. This, however, is a circular process? What are the Combine's overarching plan? Now you can say their motives are alien and unknowable, but for the sake of argument, hear me out.

Are they (or just their leaders) paranoid? Do they launch preemptive strikes against species that develop teleporter technology to protect themselves?

Are they terraforming (or more acurrately, xenoforming) Earth for Combine colonization? The best argument for this is the Air Exchange, but that was cut.

Do they utilize our resources for personal use? Do the Combine live in unimaginable luxury? Is Earth's oceans being drained to fill the multiverse's largest swimming pool, as someone once joked?

Which do you personally think is the reason and why? I honestly don't know and would like to hear your responses.

 

[Roman Legion]

Well I think they will continuo to use Humans for Troops for different tactical purposes and for different ways of war…

 

[Thunderclap]

Yes. They will continue training troops to conquer other worlds.

But why do they want to conquer other worlds?


...to train more troops?

 

[imagod284]

This thread should be awesome. But let me ask you this, what do human nations want when they invade other cultures? What did the Italians want in Ethiopia? Maybe the creatures of the combine are very similar to us. Maybe they just need to group together and prove that they are superior to other groups. Perhaps our best bet to beat them is to introduce them to sports and let beating us in soccer be a substitute for beating us in war

 

[Adabiviak]

Enzymatic reactions? Yo momma? Stole ideas when they received our first television transmission from Nazi Germany? Wannabe Strogg? Only their hairdresser knows for sure.

 

[Asknoone]

I'm pretty sure the Combines overall goal is to simply assimilate every race they come across. Take the planets resources, suck it dry, absorb its populace then prepare the planet for Combine colonization. You need to also be aware that they are fighting a cosmic war out there, and even though they've countless races at their disposal there are other planets/galaxies/universes out there fighting back. Are they as bad as the Combine? Do they seek conquest? Or is it for freedom?

Its an increasingly hostile universe, and for an alien race so dependant on the technology they have created to survive they feel it necessary to force it onto any other races they come across.

It's also worth noting their teleportation technology whilst powerful, is not great. They require massive amounts of energy and take quite a while to rise into position. And, as you can see at the end of HL2 looking through the portal - there is a great deal of relays around the teleport site in order to keep the thing functioning.
On Earth, Breen has promised them Eli's local teleportation technology. One place to another in close proximity, rather than say, universe to universe.

 

[Thunderclap]

Interesting thought Samon. On their own, the Combine would be quite content in their own universe, but they are at war with another alien species (likely this "third power" hinted at in Aftermath). They must merely match them in resources and military strength if they want to survive. I personally think that hellish world we saw at the end of HL2 where Breen was about to be sent was some factory world that produces endless streams of weapons and armor for the Combine war effort. The air is so polluted Breen would need a host body. It reminded me a lot of the planet of Armageddon in Warhammer 40,000. The Combine are fighting a war for survival. For all we know, they might not be the agressor, and arguably the "good" side in comparison to this other alien superpower.

 

[Asknoone]

Well, its been said by Valve that the Combine are sort of "The evil empire" of the Half-life universe, and I wouldn't call slavery a form of good - even if it is for survival. But I agree, these others forces may not, in anyway be good. On the contary.

I'm certain wherever Breen was going, it certainly wasn't the Combine homeworld. We already know he's been off world, but its obvious wherever they are teleporting him to is some back wash planet. They were more interested in Freeman. "Its me you should be concerned about!"

 

[Thunderclap]

So we can agree the Combine are using the Earth to fight this other empire. Knowing this we might be able to guess the Combine's reaction to Gordon's rebellion. Earth is a minor world, and it is more likely to be stripped down to a bare husk then abandoned rather than be industrialized. It would seem our prime export is water (draining the oceans) for some unknown purpose (synth coolant anyone?)

A minor insurrection has suprisingly separated Earth from the rest of the Combine teleport network. The ensuing dark energy explosion and will likely take the rebellion with it however, and the uprising can be considered over. Will the Combine just port in another Citadel in another city and pick up like nothing has ever happened. Will they not send reinforcements and let the Citadel meltdown finish off the rebels. They could care less for Combine soldiers, but might they try to extract their far more valuable synths?

The moment Gordon reached Breen's office, a Synth company had been brought in to put down the rebellion, because it was starting to get serious. They weren't expecting the One Free Man to strand them there and put them in serious danger from the meltdown.

What will this Synth company do? And can we expect more offworld Combine to arrive.

 

[Asknoone]

Well, the Combine put the Citadel into self destruct in Episode 1, basically. They are effectively speeding up the meltdown of the reactor. They've lost the Citadel, and suffered a major defeat by a rag tag human resistance. Breen failed them. Gordon succeeded. With that in mind, they want the resistance wiped out as quick as possible. There are other Citadels on Earth, but its reasonable to assume the one in City 17 was the central Citadel on Earth. When Gordon destroyed that reactor, he destroyed the tunnelling entanglement system, which according to Mossman is what they use to go from one universe to another. With that in ruins its fair to say the Combine have lost contact with Earth as far as getting there is concerned.

At this point, I'd say they want Earth destroyed. They aren't happy with Breen, who failed to stop the resistance and Freeman. They are taking things into their own hands. The last thing they need is a rebellion across the universe if other planets/races gain wind of the events on Earth. The Combine already have a powerful force, they won't need whatever is left on Earth.

At this point forward, I think they'll want Earth, and whatever humans are left destroyed.

 

[Solver]

We don't know there are other citadels on Earth. That material was cut from HL2, so technically, there's nothing in canon to indicate that the C17 Citadel wasn't the only one.

As I see the Combine, though, they are seeking to achieve an ultimate technological state (maybe biological, too) by assimilating the technology (and possibly biology) of the dominant species from as many planets as they can find. The weapons that the Combine would develop on a planet inhabited by flying reptiles would definitely be different from those we see on Earth.

The Combine definitely like to install a figurehead leader on their planets to help with the assimilation. But it's probably safe to say that, if they see things aren't going good, they're ready and willing to wipe the planet out. So I concur with Samon's point above, as far as Earth goes, they now probably want it destroyed.

Now it would be truly fascinating if having Earth destroyed through Combine wrath was the G-Man's goal all along. Doesn't seem likely at all, but it would be a fascinating twist indeed.

 

[Angry Lawyer]

I see the Combine as similar to the Roman Empire. They're conquering for a number of reasons, mainly because they like power, and because they believe that we're uncultured barbarians that would really benefit being assimilated into their lifestyle. In the long run, maybe they're the ones doing the right thing.

-Angry Lawyer

 

[Thunderclap]

That's actually a really interesting proposal Solver. The Combine are trying to absorb ALL technology and learn as much about the universe as possible. From what we've seen, they might actually be retarded in many sciences, but got lucky with intradimensional travel and conquering the Synths.

Their local transport technology doesn't seem very powerful. Take for example the gunship, which I think is more or less the basic anti-infantry aircraft for the Combine. It works on a wheel-and-axis rotor like a human helicopter. That's not very advanced at all.

The planet Earth might not interest them at all, but the fact that we have local teleportation may make Mankind hugely important to the Combine. Local teleportation will provide a massive benefit to the Combine legions, who are already one of the most powerful armies in the multiverse.

 

[Asknoone]

Now it would be truly fascinating if having Earth destroyed through Combine wrath was the G-Man's goal all along. Doesn't seem likely at all, but it would be a fascinating twist indeed.

Whats left to destroy except for its populace? Besides a few Combine cities, Earth is a wasteland inhabited by Xenian wildlife. And thats about it. Somehow I don't think Gman has a 'clear' goal, as such. He sends Freeman in to do a job as though he's a mercenary, hiring him out to different buyers. I'm unsure if Gman really has an overall goal. Even if he did - its pretty much shattered now Freemans free of his grasp.

 

[Thunderclap]

Transmitted: Earth Advisor
Received: Lord Commander’s Office
Date: DEN8-DAB5-WUX7-1923 Homeworld Time
Subject: Earth Insurrection

Lord Commander, I bear dire news. The Earth Insurrection has spiraled out of control. The mercenary Gordon Freeman, believed killed in the destruction of our main troop factory, Nova Prospekt, has emerged and led an armed rebellion against the local garrisons. Even after Freeman and the lead terrorist Eli Vance were captured, the collaborator Judith Mossman betrayed us and freed Vance and Freeman, who proceeded to critically damage the Earth Citadel’s dark energy reactor.

Earth consul Wallace Breen is likely dead, and Synth Company Epsilon Minor, which I dispatched to assist the local garrisons, is stranded. What are your orders?

++++Lord Commander’s Office+++

Message received Earth Advisor. Earth Dimension is far too troublesome to keep. We have rerouted the 72nd Synth Legion to your area to eliminate the planet Earth. Freeman’s contract has expired and we are unlikely to encounter him. Breen is discharged as head consul, and Mankind has been declared Unfit for Integration. Recover Eli Vance and/or Judith Mossman, as they possess knowledge of local teleport. Synth centurions have orders to apprehend them, and once knowledge has been extracted (forcibly if need be), Planet will then be destroyed by the opening of a controlled dimensional rip to the Omega Dimension. Earth Citadel will automatically self destruct in 6 hours. Capture them in that timeframe.

 

[Asknoone]

Yes, I'm sure it would go something like that. Bar the Lord Commander bit. Warhammer 40k fan?

 

[UltimaApocalypse]

Well, its been said by Valve that the Combine are sort of "The evil empire" of the Half-life universe, and I wouldn't call slavery a form of good - even if it is for survival. But I agree, these others forces may not, in anyway be good. On the contary.

I'm certain wherever Breen was going, it certainly wasn't the Combine homeworld. We already know he's been off world, but its obvious wherever they are teleporting him to is some back wash planet. They were more interested in Freeman. "Its me you should be concerned about!"

Advisor: "Have you secured plans for a local teleportation device?"

Breen: "It's me you should be concerned about!"

 

[Thunderclap]

Yes, I'm sure it would go something like that. Bar the Lord Commander bit. Warhammer 40k fan?

Yeah. I couldn't think of what the Combine head honcho would be called. So I just thought, what the hell, let's call him lord commander.

And FYI, i just attended Games Day Los Angeles last Sunday. It was awesome, particularly the megabattle. Entrenched Guardsmen defending against waves of Tau infantry, who had little to no vehicular support. If anyone plays 40K, they will know this is a dream scenario, particularly when you have a Leman Russ that cannot be destroyed by any enemy in the immediate vicinity, like I did.

 

[Bob_Marley]

Yeah. I couldn't think of what the Combine head honcho would be called. So I just thought, what the hell, let's call him lord commander.

And FYI, i just attended Games Day Los Angeles last Sunday. It was awesome, particularly the megabattle. Entrenched Guardsmen defending against waves of Tau infantry, who had little to no vehicular support. If anyone plays 40K, they will know this is a dream scenario, particularly when you have a Leman Russ that cannot be destroyed by any enemy in the immediate vicinity, like I did.

That sounds rather cool, despite the fact that having the tau participate in a WWI style "infantry rush" against entrenched enemy positions goes completly against tau combat doctirnes. Then again, I havent read the new codex yet, so knowing GW the tau now have infinte armies of uber soldiers to throw away in suicidal attacks.

 

[Thunderclap]

That sounds rather cool, despite the fact that having the tau participate in a WWI style "infantry rush" against entrenched enemy positions goes completly against tau combat doctirnes. Then again, I havent read the new codex yet, so knowing GW the tau now have infinte armies of uber soldiers to throw away in suicidal attacks.

I know! That was why it was so damn fun! It was easier than shooting fish in a barrel because the fish don't run into your lasbolts. It was bloody murder. Hell, halfway through the game they reduced the Guard's save from 4+ to 5+ because the fighting was so one sided. The premise was the Tau were attacking an Imperial city and they had a limited timeframe before massive Imperial reinforcement could arrive. So they couldn't settle into a long siege of artillery bombardment and strategic strikes like the Tau normally would.

 

[bbson john]

What is the humanity's final goal?

 

[Darkside55]

Live. Destroy. Thrive. These are the goals of the Universal Union, and let all who stand in their way be swept away by their mighty tide like so much refuse.

Gaining power through military and technological superiority is their only known goal. I would imagine that, being a race of fat, immobile (save for mechanical assistance) slugs who believe themselves to be the smartest creatures in the universe, they probably just grew bored one day and decided, "Hey, let's go blow some sh*t up."

The Combine definitely like to install a figurehead leader on their planets to help with the assimilation.

...because they believe that we're uncultured barbarians that would really benefit being assimilated into their lifestyle.

Two things: the Combine have never instated an interim leader before Breen, on any world. This is because the Combine do not see any reason to help the alien populace along with their transition into synthification--they (the aliens) will be FORCED. They have no choice in the matter; why should the Combine make it any easier or more pleasant? And usually, converting whatever species into synths is usually a quicker process than ten-twenty years.

The second thing is, the Combine didn't give a damn about us or what we could benefit from. Their original intent was to exterminate us. Breen bought us those years by promising them technology and convincing them that we were worthy enough to become a part of them.

 

[Mr. COWmaster]

Gaining power through military and technological superiority is their only known goal. I would imagine that, being a race of fat, immobile (save for mechanical assistance) slugs who believe themselves to be the smartest creatures in the universe, they probably just grew bored one day and decided, "Hey, let's go blow some sh*t up."

Thats what I was thinking. I mean, how long can one thrive on learning as entertainment before you become bored and go insane?

EDIT: In my school, apparently it's 5 minutes.

 

[Oppressor]

This was one of the most interesting and fascinating threads in weeks

 

[Thunderclap]

GRAND UNIFIED COMBINE MOTIVE THEORY (long post, read it all before u post)

Originally the Combine were an ordinary sentient species from an unknown dimension. The most common theory was they resembled the Flood-Infected Elite from Halo, and they lived in an extremely alien habitat, possibly composed of antimatter. Through some fluke they invented intradimensional teleportation before space flight. The first (or one of the first) alien species they encountered were the Synth. Motivated by a sense of manifest destiny and racial pride, the Combine went to war against the Synth. After a period of conflict (unknown but without a doubt MUCH longer than 7 hours), they subjugated the Synth.
The Combine respected the Synth for their combat prowess, and they became the primary warrior race for the growing Combine Empire. Possibly accelerated by technology, the Combine devolved physically to bloated, immobile slugs, while their minds grew highly developed, going so far as learning telepathy. The average Combine lived well of the wealth of ten million worlds while the now loyal Synth fought their wars for them. They clashed with the Vortigaunts and destroyed their home world, though most of the race escaped into some unknown dimension.
The Combine met with the Third Race said to emerge in Aftermath, and they were nearly matched in power. Billions died as they clashed across a hundred dimensions, and both sides desperately tried to grab unclaimed worlds before the other. Earth was discovered and conquered, and formed a small cog in the vast Combine war effort.
Humanity has in fact been receiving preferential treatment from the Combine (despite what the average repatriated citizen might tell you). This has been going on mainly thanks to Breen’s efforts, who swore that he would show them local teleport technology if they spared humanity. Things went badly however with the reemergence of the One Free Man who with disturbing precision dismantled the Combine control apparatus in the Earth dimension.
Earth’s natural resources are not large or unique enough to merit special attention, and the world will go the way of a thousand others with xenoforming for eventual Combine colonization. Earth has already proved itself far too expensive to keep with the destruction of the Citadel (something I think that has never been accomplished by so ragtag a rebellion). Eli Vance and/or Judith Mossman (and Kleiner, if the Combine are aware he’s still alive) will no doubt be wanted for interrogation.
Breen was attempting to extract the information from Eli, but no doubt the Combine will use harsher methods to get it. Once the knowledge has been learned, Earth has lost all purpose to the Combine and will be destroyed. Some have argued that Gordon blew everything by rebelling, and that if Breen had learned the technology and given it to the Combine, Earth would have been granted sovereignty again. I highly doubt this would have happened, but if it had, well, Gordon Freeman really has screwed over humanity. We will see how this will all play out in Episode 1.

 

[mastapenguin]

A question about interdimensional travel.

Can we say that the combine have the ability to travel from a point in their dimension to a specific point in ours? It seems likely, since they stuck their citadels directly into our cities. This in itself seems like a big advantage in itself. Why not 'port huge armies into the middle of enemy strongholds? Is there some kind of countermeasure that can be used?

Also, if the Combine have no intra-dimensional travel, doesn't that mean they have spaceships? Different planets in our solar system are still in the same dimension. The Combine would need some sort of spaceship if they wanted to conquer an interplanetary empire.

And if they send forces to those other planets using interdimensional travel, that brings us back to the first bunch of questions.

The only way there can be some entity or group opposed to the Combine is if either interdimensional travel is significantly less accurate than is demonstrated on Earth, or there is some sort of countermeasure to teleportation.

 

[Asknoone]

According to Raising the bar, the Combine originated as a species not unlike humans. The technology they began to develop was an attempt to improve their lives, but as time went on they began to grow too dependant on it, and were ultimately consumed by it.

Synths aren't a race. Synths are self replicating robots, former organic alien creatures. Synth is merely a term for creatures enslaved during the Combines wars and conquests. (RTB)

 

[bbson john]

What is the humanity's final goal?

If someone can answer this question, the question carried out by this threat can also be answered as well.

 

[RezDude]

Will probably find out more about this in episode 2 or 3.

 

[Asknoone]

If someone can answer this question, the question carried out by this threat can also be answered as well.

If that made sense, I'm Chuck Norris.

 

[Darkside55]

He means that if someone can answer what humanity's purpose is, they can answer what the Combine's purpose is, Chuck.

Mastapenguin, you are right that the Combine can select a specific location to teleport to on our planet, however they are only capable of teleporting a citadel into that location. They could not, say, decide to teleport a regiment of synths into an enemy base. For whatever reason, their teleportation technology only allows them to teleport citadels...which is why it is so essential that the synths can be constructed within a citadel, that they are self-sufficient.

On spaceships, you might be right. I'm not sure if the Combine's teleportation limits mean that they can ONLY port from their universe into another. Mossman said, "They can tunnel from their universe into ours, but from there they're completely reliant on conventional transportation." (Or something to that effect) This might not mean that they can't teleport from one planet in their universe to an adjacent planet...simply that once they GET there, they can't teleport a group of synths from one part of the planet to another. It's pretty much the same thing as above; they require the citadels, and they must move the citadels from one location to another...from there, they cannot move them or any of the forces around.

Also, I'm pretty sure we know some countermeasures to stop teleportation. We stopped the portal anomalies by launching that satellite during the BMRF incident.

 

[Asknoone]

I see. Chuck. Heh. Damn.

 

[bbson john]

Once you have answered my question, you'll find that the goal of the combine and the goal of human being are the same.

 

[Asknoone]

Oh rly.

 

[Thunderclap]

Humanity's purpose is to perpetuate itself. This is achieved by breeding, bearing, and raising healthy children, and ensuring a comfortable lifestyle for your spawn. Humans also remove perceived threats to their self-perpetuation. Unfortunately, Mankind is rapidly becoming its own worst enemy with the deterioration of the environment.
Using this as a jumping off point, we can argue all the Combine want to do is expand till all the worlds in all the universes are xenoformed and inhabited by the Combine, which is actually a very understandble purpose. It is just an obstacle to Mankind's existence. And it is our duty as human beings to remove said obstacles...

 

[UltimaApocalypse]

*very long theory*

I like the first part.

 

[bbson john]

Exactly. If human being does not die out before it achieves the teleporting technology, human will play the role of Combine as well. Since the Sun will expend into Red Giant and be doomed after about five billion years, human must leave the solar system and emigrant to other planets, if it wishes to survive. Human being is going to choose to move in some livable planets. However, livable planets imply that they are favourable for live, and it is possible that some species have already occupy the planets. As not all species are going to fully agree the great population of human-emigration. A war seems to be inevitable. The act of human will become conquest, instead of emigration.

This theory is able to explain both the Combine and the Humanity.

 

[Thunderclap]

Death to the Combine! Death to the Vortigaunts! Death to all not of Holy Terra! There can be no peace until we realize a Human Galaxy!

 

[99.vikram]

Death to the Combine! Death to the Vortigaunts! Death to all not of Holy Terra! There can be no peace until we realize a Human Galaxy!

This doesnt relate to HL but - my uber awesome theory of death:

Humans, if they meet other races, will try to subjugate them rather than try to learn from them.

Case in point: The European nations. When they explored Africa or Asia, the first thing that came to mind was - these barbaric animals! We must offer them our knowledge, and while we're at it, we can take their resources too.

It took a LONG time for humans to understand that two peoples can learn from each other, and it will likely take much longer when dealing with an alien civilization.

 

[Thunderclap]

So...I'm reviving this thread with the release of Episode 1.

WHAT WE KNOW: The Combine on Earth are stranded from the rest of the Empire and are paralyzed with the breakdown in communication. A well-organized worldwide uprising can reclaim Earth with a little bit of luck, and seems to me to be the premise of Episode 2.

I was VERY surprised to learn that there were true Combine in the Citadel. I am unsure of their purpose. They could have been a small group of administrators overseeing the exploitation of Earth, hell they might have even been the first few alien colonists.

The Combine have successfully relayed their message with the Citadel's annihilation. The contents of this message are unknown, but I am of the personal opinion that it is something along the lines of "ZOMG!1! Teh harmanz r rebelling!!!" possibly with Dr. Breen's memory on tape for uploading into a host. I have no idea of the Combine's reaction. On one hand, they may be outraged at Mankind's insolence and obliterate Earth. Or they may say "Earth? Who cares about that backwater, we've got more imporant things to worry about." Which brings me to...

WHAT WE DON'T KNOW: This "third power" that was mentioned seems to be the Vortigaunts, who successfully thwarted GMan. Our mysterious patron almost looked alarmed when the Vorts showed up. Almost. If the Combine is waging a pandimensional war against some race, it is clearly not the Vortigaunts, whose homeworld has been destroyed and are now trapped on Earth. Which paves the way for a FOURTH DIMENSIONAL POWER. Or not...

NEW QUESTIONS RAISED: So, having speculated on the Combine reaction, what will Earth do? Eli in the Episode 2 trailer hinted that the time to fight back had come, and we will be fighting both Xen wildlife and the Combine (either the scattered remnants of the Earth garrisons or extradimensional reinforcements).

From what I saw of the trailer it looks really awesome, and I hope they take a page from Oblivion's book on realistic forests. If they do this and combine it with the hectic combat against horrifying foes which HL is known for, I think we might have something that will surpass Episode One.