Games - Combine

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	Games - Combine

The Combine is a powerful alien race and empire from Valve Software's 2004 first-person shooter computer game Half-Life 2. During the game, it is also referred to as the Universal Union and Our Benefactors in propaganda.

Overview

Introduction

The Combine is a vast empire spanning multiple dimensions. The empire is inhabited by an unknown number of sentient, intelligent species, and appears to be governed by a race of bizarre, artificially-evolved Advisors (see below). The Combine expands its empire by invading worlds and enslaving the dominant species to be exploited as it sees fit. By manipulating these inhabitants, through methods including bioengineering and implantation, the Combine creates a race of super-soldiers uniquely adapted for the environment of that particular world. This process results in a highly mobile and adaptive military force which is able to respond to any threat and crush any opposition. The reasons behind the Combine's imperialism remain unknown throughout the game.

It is worth noting that vocal stress is placed on the first syllable. The name is pronounced as the noun COM-bine, as in combine harvester, as opposed to the verb form com-BINE, as in "to join together or unite." Although Dr. Breen officially states the name of the empire is the Universal Union to the public, he later refers to the Combine Soldiers and Civil Protection as The Transhuman Arm of the Combine Overwatch in Nova Prospekt, verifying that "Combine" is the universally accepted name of the empire, even by the empire itself.

Until recently, many players speculated that the Combine may have possibly controlled Xen. However, new information (discussed here ), from Half-Lifes creators reveals the truth. The Combine Empire was engaged in a war with the Nihilanth
's race, and, through means unknown, managed to force them out of their original homeland. The Nihilanth's race was then forced to seek refuge in Xen. The Combine could not follow them to Xen, as the Nihilanth was keeping the portal closed. However, scientists at the Black Mesa Research Facility
on Earth accidentally opened a portal between Earth and Xen. After Gordon Freeman
killed the Nihilanth, the portal opened, allowing the Combine to teleport its forces into Xen. Once there, the Combine became aware of the portal storm opening a gateway to Earth, and summarily used their forces stationed on Xen to invade and conquer Earth.

Earth is one of the Combine's most recent annexations, acquired following Earth's surrender at the end of the Seven Hour War
. Following the standard Combine process, members of Earth's dominant species have been modified to form a new arm of the Combine military. Whilst these soldiers are primarily used as a permanent Combine garrison on Earth, in-game dialogue suggests that units of the Transhuman Overwatch are used across the Combine Empire.
Combine Advisors
The Combine Advisors are the face of the Combine Empire, suggesting that they are probably the original master race behind the alien empire. They briefly appear in the game, in Doctor Breen's office, on giant monitors. Physically, they resemble large grub-like creatures, belonging to a species which most likely passed its singularity long ago. As a result of their expertise in developing advanced technology, the Advisors have evolved to an artificial state which is undoubtedly vastly different to their original physical state. They seem to be unable to manipulate objects or move around on their own, they are virtually blind, and they have a large number of other physical handicaps. As a result, the Advisors are totally dependent on their highly advanced technology in order to survive, and are probably unable to live without their mechanical aids. However, because of their life support, they have reached a technical immortality.

In terms of size, Advisors are about as large as a rhinoceros. They move using a form of advanced hover technology, possibly the large blue glowing devices on their backs. Despite their obvious intelligence and technological expertise, the Advisors are virtually featureless, with no visible eyes, ears, mouth, or limbs, explaining their many mechanical augmentations. As their natural eyesight is so poor, they rely on a vision enhancement device, and in order to help them breathe, their faces are covered by what appear to be respirators, from which a hose leads to a tank. Advisors rest inside a metal cradle which has two mechanical claw-like arms protruding from the upper section. Each Advisor wears a stitched olive-green body suit, leaving only the mostly featureless face and part of their tail fully visible. The suit also has a black collar adorned with golden hieroglyphics on it, possibly the original race's form of writing. There is similarity in both the colour and texture of the Advisor's body to that of the Nihilanth, the original game's final boss. This may or may not have been intended.
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Games - Combine

Overview

Introduction

Combine Advisors

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