Why do combine use Headcrab bombs?

[Garric]

How/why would the combine create missiles to send headcrabs to use against their enemies? Does this mean they had previously used headcrabs against their enemies? It seems unlikely when the Combine invaded the earth and were like "Oh lookie, here are some headcrabs from Xen, why don't we stick them into some missles and BOMB people!".

 

[Fighter]

It is biological warfare...

 

[Ryjalon5k]

combine pwns

 

[Ennui]

it's to kill off the resistance - turn them into zombies.

 

[Venmoch]

Convienience

 

[Garric]

Ok, we can speculate on "why". Because they want to kill the resistance. Sounds reasonable (though, what's up with Ravenholm?). But how did they start on using them? Did they have access to the headcrabs before they came to earth? Because that can mean something sinister.

 

[GiaOmerta]

Looked what it did to Ravenholm.
Whipped out the whole town, cept Father G.

Biologiocal warfare, good times.

Badtimes for the resistance.

 

[Feath]

Ok, we can speculate on "why". Because they want to kill the resistance. Sounds reasonable (though, what's up with Ravenholm?). But how did they start on using them? Did they have access to the headcrabs before they came to earth? Because that can mean something sinister.

There were plently of Headcrabs on Earth just after the Black Mesa incident.

 

[Mechagodzilla]

'Cause if you zombify a resistance, he can't use a gun anymore.

 

[Bing_Oh]

This all fits if you assume that the Combine already had control of Xen. We know that the Combine's modus opperandi is to use the indiginous population and resources of a planet as their own military invasion/occupation force. If we assume that the Combine knew that Xen lifeforms could survive on Earth (and, considering the state of Earth after the Black Mesa incident, there's no reason NOT to assume that they knew it), then it just follows that they would use a lifeform that is not only prolific but devistating as a weapon...the headcrab.

 

[Quelaar]

It seems unlikely when the Combine invaded the earth and were like "Oh lookie, here are some headcrabs from Xen, why don't we stick them into some missles and BOMB people!".

Funny thing is, that is exactly what I assumed, lol!

Better to use those effecient headcrabs than risk the lives of combine soldiers.

Quelaar

 

[AJ Rimmer]

Funny thing is, that is exactly what I assumed, lol!

Better to use those effecient headcrabs than risk the lives of combine soldiers.

Quelaar

Yeah, and then they gene manipulated better, faster headcrabs. Don't Kleiner have a post-it on his board with a pic of a poison headcrab that says; "Evoulution, mutation?" Or sumthin' like that?

 

[corkscru74]

I thought the Headcrab bombs were pure genius!

Turn the resistance fighters into Zombies and they can't form an effective strike force. Then just expand the Citadel and crush all the Zombies.

 

[Punky]

I would imagine the "Portal Storms" brought a lot of headcrabs to earth. Once they were here im sure they reproduced so they are now a species living on earth. They may have been genetically altered into poison headcrabs by the combine. I think Headcrabs are an important part of the story. You see the Combine using them to eradicate humans from areas they cant control and you see humans using them for food. Look at the Vortigaunt iron chefs in elis lab. Humans need them, Combine neeed them. They are of great importance.

 

[crownest]

http://members.shaw.ca/storage_4/hl2story/

Pretty interesting, should clear things up.

 

[donutty_uk]

Why not just use conventional shells with TNT? Headcrabs bombs are cooler! And you've got to give the little critters something to do.

 

[Sprafa]

It's biological and psycologhical warfare. At the same time they get rid of the Resistance they can show the remaining Citizens that the World is already crawling with dangerous especimens, and staying in the Combine cities is the only way to live. remember Combine soldiers are mostly volunteers who are convinced this is a way to get a better life and protect his motherland.