Combine

## The Combine

The Combine stands as a blanket term for the vast and powerful multi-dimensional Empire that cascades across countless parallel universes. Renowned for their oppressive rule and advanced technological feats, the Combine stands as a dominant force, and an existential threat within the broad multiverse.

The Universal Union refers to the greater whole of the Combine's workforce, the meaning is simple as whether this refers to their military machine or the industrial complex; it means to work as One, and as a Union, or single being - each subject is a cog in their machine.

### Possible Origins

One theory that is to be believed surround the ancient and psychic Shu'ulathoi, they were a conglomerate of peaceful beings, who served as a collective consciousness, with such significant power that could breach the walls of dimensions with their psychic prowess. Their home world was possibly a Gas Giant of some kind, where they were able to float and live within it's atmosphere. Their meditation would've taken place amongst each other, in these Gas fields.

The ancient Shu'ulathoi were as much as physical beings as they were psychic, spending a majority of their time in a state of vulnerable meditation, this meditation could last thousands, if not millions of years within their home universe.

While ancient Shu'ulathoi spent a long time as grubs, they would eventually reach adulthood, which opened up a new chapter of their existence. Adult Shu'ulathoi could morph their cellular structure into any shape, organic large-and-small; as long as the shape could contain the needed density of their alien organs, which wasn't a large requirement, as the lower limit was about the size of a human child, all the way up to their adult, leviathan scale. The Shu'ulathoi could also exist as ''airy nothingness'', pure invisibility by all the elements.

   The younger Shu'ulathoi grubs could access other dimensions, *via* a psychic connection in a state of combined consciousness with it's brethren, but Adult Shu'ulathoi were capable not only of gazing into other dimensions with relative ease, but travelling throughout them, physically. These dimensions are not limited to their current universe, but allow access to parallel timelines.

True Shu'ulathoi adulthood required an intense range of psychic training that could only be achieved willingly, if not, a Shu'ulathoi may reach maturity without the benefits. Maturity could take millions of years, if not longer, for some.

#### Shu'ulathoi Demise

The Shu'ulathoi may have shared their universe with other species, but did not pose a threat to their limitless potential. However, some point in their history, a group of meditating Shu'ulathoi grubs was infected and invaded by an extra-dimensional psychic force, nameless and chaotic - It was parasitic with no physical nature, beyond the dimensions of *our*, or *the Shu'ulathoi's* realm. The young Shu'ulathoi were quickly overwhelmed by this extradimensional, psychic attack, with their minds taken over like *Fungus* to their powerful brains, no adult Shu'ulathoi were captured and all had escaped the psychic massacre, and while they could not be harmed by the virus, they were more than susceptible from a psychic attack from their now-zombified young grub peers.

A side-effect of this psychic virus was that it had indefinitely left the grub body incapable of reaching true adulthood, a self-inflicted suppression of their metamorphosis by the virus' hand, to avoid backlash from the powerful minds of their adult-kind, were they ever to reach it. This virus had now permeated a physical body for the first time, while having it's original psychic form amplified by the new host bodies, the Shu'ulathoi.

#### Building an everlasting Empire

Through many millennia, this was the founding basis of the Universal Union, with their newfound bodies, the possessed Shu'ulathoi, now *Advisors* could now permeate their home universe and dominate other life as they please, utilizing the advanced psychic abilities to suppress and command the will of others.

Eventually, these *Advisors* and their subsidiaries would discover Dark Energy and Interdimensional Travel, having neutered themselves from the natural ability to do, fearing the consequences of unleashing a mature Shu'ulathoi. It is unknown how long the Union has lasted, but the *Advisors* still exist as '*host bodies*' for important figures in their society.

Utilizing their advanced interdimensional portals, the Combine began expanding their influence across countless universes, assimilating and subjugating advanced civilizations along the way. Through their relentless conquest, the Combine Empire rapidly grew in size and power, establishing a vast interdimensional dominion.

## Governance

The Combine is always blanketed in secrecy, but their government structure is quite shallow, and this simpler command structure proves extremely effective.

The Advisors are the first and penultimate species for leadership, as they still remain at the very top of the pyramid. While there is no single *Emperor* that sways command of his many subjects, a High Council of Advisors serve as the leadership of the Combine. This High Council consists of the Grand Advisors, differentiated by the golden glyphs on their skin-tight suits. There are many Grand Advisors on the High Council, with there being at least a few hundred of them. but all share a collective consciousness as the original Combine parasite.

At the very top of the leadership chain are the Advisors, these ultimate-ranking officials sit amongst the Ruling Council of the Combine Empire, it seems to be a requirement for a Council official to inhabit an Advisor body, the Council consists of 132 Seats but only an order of twelve constitute the High Council. High Council Advisors adorn golden glyphs along the neck's of their augment suit, while the rest of the Council seem to bare the same suit as non-Council members.

For an Empire, the *Emperor* of the Combine has not been heard of, but considering that the original physical species of the Combine were the ancient Shu'ulathoi, it is not a wild guess that the Emperor serves the Combine's one and only adult Shu'ulathoi. This Emperor may sustain Shu'ulathoi adulthood by means of technical augmentation, and does not inhibit all of the natural fruits that an adult Shu'ulathoi may posses, whoever it may be, they do not seem to make themselves present very often.

### The Combine Overworld

The Combine Overworld, or the Interdimensional Nexus is the mysterious hellish realm that is speculated to serve as the central hub and headquarters of the vast Combine Empire. This world was briefly seen through the superportal's during the Seven Hour War. This suggests its significance in the empire's operations and control over multiple universes.

As depicted, it is a harsh and baron planet with Citadel-like structures. It's sky littered with bright astronomical elements, and the lack of direct sunlight due to a Dyson Sphere, as a means of energy production, harvesting their own star for almost limitless power.

The residing Dimension is reasonably non-abstract, featuring similar or identical Universal Laws of *our* reality. It is highly likely that at some point during the Combine's early reign, the Union decided that this world would serve as their base of operations, the Overworld is regarded as a secret, even within the vast Union, it is surprising that it was revealed to human onlookers during the Seven Hour War, but this may have been incidental, seeing that the Empire may have had a *particular* interest for human technology.

Whether the planet has always looked like this or not, is unknown.

## Technology & Resources

The Combine is renowned for its advanced technology and access to vast resources. They harness the power of dark energy and utilize it to fuel their machinery, transportation systems, and weaponry. Their technology includes highly efficient space transportation, powerful energy-based weaponry, advanced surveillance and mind-control devices, and formidable synthetic creatures simply known as Synths.

The Combine's mastery over interdimensional travel allows them to exploit resources from conquered worlds, further strengthening their dominion and enabling their continuous expansion. Their ability to manipulate and harness the resources of multiple universes provides them with an unparalleled advantage over resistance forces.

### **Combine Portal Generators**

Combine Portal Generators are a form of Artificial Portal Conduit, on an inter-dimensional scale. Combine Portal Generators are powered by Dark Fusion Reactors, usually all contained within Combine Citadels, a common forward-operating-base prefabrication used by the Combine.

#### **Portal Slingshot**

The Combine were incapable of dedicated sub-dimensional teleportation, unlike the *human race,* that is, teleporting from point A-to-B within any given universe, however, there was a way of getting around this, if there were multiple portal conduits, i.e. Citadels within a given universe, a slingshot could be set-up for a technical sub-dimensional teleport, but this was incredibly power-intensive, even more intensive than running a routine interdimensional portal between two dimensions, as a third Citadel had to act as a slingshot point, within a *nearby* parallel universe.

Not only did this third Citadel have to hold a gateway for Point A, but another, for Point B. The reason the Combine did not perform two consecutive portal hops is because of the extensive cooldown after a portal has been generated. If this were the method, it would take a matter of days, instead of a course of hours that you can achieve with the energy-intensive slingshot.

Of course, a sub-dimensional teleport was only possible between already existing portal conduits, this means that the Combine could not, in any way, open a Portal to somewhere that does not have a Conduit.

#### **Transmission Portal**

Combine Portals came in different sizes, from the most basic were for transmissions, which did not allow the travel of mass, but packets of data for communication. They looked very similar to a regular Portal, however, it was quite tiny in size, only meters in diameter. Sustained use of Transmissions required both a stable Portal Reactor and a Core Reactor within the Citadel.

#### **Regular Portal**

On the intermediary stage, were regular Combine Portals. This was used by the Combine during the Seven Hour War, and by Breen in his escape attempt from Gordon Freeman, it was not particularly huge and was many times smaller than a Superportal. Moments before the destruction of the Citadel, a Regular portal was used to send a Transmission, because a dedicated Transmission Portal was incapable of being formed.

#### **Superportal**

Superportals required incredible amounts of power, and gave of a distinct blue glow. They looked almost identical to a Dark Energy Portal Storm, with the rotating clouds, however, a visible 'portal' in the middle would emerge, allowing massive matter to pass through the gap. Superportals were seen briefly during the Seven Hour War, as Combine starships had passed through, it is to say that something as powerful as the Combine Overworld could produce a stable Superportal, hence why it was seen during the conflict, through the portal lens.

An unstable Dark Fusion Reactor was capable of producing the basis for a Superportal, as when the Citadel was purposefully destroyed by the Dark Energy Flare, a singularity of almost limitless energy was created at the base of the destroyed Citadel. Ironically, the Reactor that destroyed City 17 was one of the only thing to survive and continue to follow it's function.

If Magnusson's rocket did not neutralize the Dark Energy Portal Storm at the end of the Battle for White Forest, the Combine would have opened a two-way Superportal to Earth, the subsequent full-force of the Combine would've decimated the Resistance in a matter of minutes.

### **Dyson Spheres**

    The Dyson Sphere located in the Combine home system is a monumental megastructure encircling a neutron star, designed to harness its immense energy output and provide nearly limitless power to the Combine. Serving as a source of immense technological advancements and unparalleled energy supply, this awe-inspiring construct stands as a testament to the Combine's mastery of advanced engineering and their insatiable thirst for power.

The interior surface of the Dyson Sphere is an intricate network of infrastructure, power conduits, and energy-generating mechanisms. Advanced technologies are employed to capture, contain, and convert the extreme energy output of the neutron star into usable forms, providing a near-inexhaustible power source for the Combine's needs.

The Dyson Sphere's ability to provide nearly limitless power grants the Combine a significant advantage over other civilizations and factions in the multiverse. With access to such vast energy resources, the Combine can sustain and expand their empire, fuel their military operations, and drive their technological advancements to unparalleled heights.

While the existence of the Dyson Sphere in the Combine home system is known, little is understood about potential other spheres or the true extent of the Combine's utilization of such technology. The nature of the Combine's empire and their dominance over multiple dimensions and worlds suggests the possibility of additional Dyson Spheres or similar megastructures in their vast domain.

### **Weapon Classification**

Almost all Combine weaponry utilizes energy, whether that is Dark Energy (Pulse or Warp) for weapon terminology.

#### **Pulse Rifle**

The Overwatch Standard Issue Pulse Rifle *(OSIPR)*, commonly known as the Pulse Rifle or AR2, is a Dark Energy pulse assault rifle manufactured by the Combine for humans or similar sapien-sized species.

The primary ammunition of the Pulse Rifle consists of energy orbs, which are generated within the weapon and propelled at high velocities. These orbs, upon impact with a target, release a powerful energy discharge, capable of inflicting devastating burns even through armour, with unarmoured targets being dealt small craters and chunks of flesh vaporized on hit. The orbs exhibit a distinct blue-green glow, with the centre of the projectile having an almost black-hole appearance, a signature of dark energy weaponry; adding to the weapon's intimidating appearance.

Additionally, the Pulse Rifle features an integrated secondary fire mode, allowing users to launch pulse energy balls. These energy balls, when detonated, create a localized electromagnetic pulse (EMP) effect, while completely vaporizing entire organic bodies on contact.

#### **Heavy Pulse Rifle**

The Synth Heavy Pulse Repeater *(SHPR)*, also known by Heavy Pulse Rifle, Emplacement Gun, or AR3, is an advanced Dark Energy pulse machine-gun. It is a specialized, earlier variant of the standard Pulse Rifle, engineered for heavy combat situations by the Synth Troopers. It is optimized for sustained firepower and churns out a more lethal dark energy pulse ammunition.

The SHPR exhibits a design similar to the standard Pulse Rifle, featuring the signature sleek and angular aesthetics, one notable feature of the SHPR is its automatically deploying bipod. This specialized attachment incorporates an advanced gyroscopic suspension system, providing enhanced stability during sustained firing. The bipod allows the weapon to be deployed on various surfaces, improving accuracy and minimizing recoil, particularly in stationary or defensive positions.

While the SHPR excels in its primary function as a heavy assault rifle, a notable compromise is the absence of the secondary ability to fire pulse energy balls, a feature commonly found in other models. The increased weight and size of the SHPR limits its mobility and versatility for other species, most notably, for humans; as the SHPR is a little more than two-times the size and weight, the same as carrying a man-made, heavy machine-gun equivalent; impractical.

It is commonly deployed as an emplacement weapon, especially for smaller species, enhancing defensive positions or fortifications. The weapon's bipod and stability features make it well-suited for providing cover fire, suppressing enemy advances, or maintaining control over key strategic locations. It is, however, used as a main battle-rifle by the towering Synth Troopers.

#### **Pulse Lance**

The Pulse Lance is a unique and imposing weapon utilized by the Synth Troopers, this formidable melee weapon combines the characteristics of a spear with the pulse rifle, embodying both a physical and energy-based threat. Crafted from a dense alien metal, the Pulse Lance possesses a weight and construction that surpasses the capabilities of casual human use.

It stands at an impressive height of 8 feet, compared to the Synth Trooper's 7 ft. stature. In its melee form, the Lance acts as a long-reaching spear, enabling the user to engage opponents in close-quarters combat. The spearhead's sharpness and density allow for devastating stabs and thrusts, capable of piercing through armour and incapacitating foes.

When activated as a pulse rifle, the Lance harnesses dark energy, similar to the *OSIPR's* primary fire. However, due to its inherent inaccuracy and lack of sights, the ranged capabilities of the weapon are limited, making it less effective when compared to dedicated pulse rifles. It is worth noting that the primary function of the Lance lies in its melee combat utility.

## Suppression and Assimilation

Past their victorious invasions, the Combine are infamous for their brutal suppression and assimilation of conquered worlds. Upon subjugation, the Combine employs a range of methods to eradicate resistance and assert control. These methods include the use of a vast military apparatus, strict propaganda and indoctrination campaigns, and the manipulation of local populations through the deployment of mind-control technology.

The empire's primary objective is to assimilate conquered populations into a homogenized and obedient workforce, known as the Universal Union. Resistance is met with swift and merciless retribution, often resulting in the destruction of entire cities and widespread devastation.

#### Military Prowess throughout the Empire

##### **Synth Corps**

The Synth Corps is the military branch of the Combine responsible for the synthetic beings that are the result of advanced genetic engineering and hybridization techniques, designed to combine the strengths and capabilities of various organisms into powerful and versatile combat units.

The Synth Corps encompasses a wide range of synthetically engineered creatures, each tailored for specific roles on the battlefield. The sheer variety of synthetic organisms within the Corps allows the Combine to deploy units with specialized capabilities for precision strikes, ensuring adaptability to various combat situations.

###### **Synth Troops**

The Synth Troopers or 'Alien Troopers' played a crucial role in the Combine's ground-based operations, these humanoid creatures, standing at an imposing seven feet, were a symbol of the alien empire's military might. Their numbers might mistake them for cannon fodder, but a single Synth Trooper was capable of wiping out a squad of well-prepared soldiers.

    Synth Troopers possessed distinct physical characteristics, their faces were entirely devoid of features, lacking eyes, a nose, or a mouth, giving them an eerie and otherworldly appearance. They had hair-like whiskers growing in various places, adding to their alien and unfamiliar aesthetic.

Their skin, akin to the carapace of a Strider, was tough and resistant, providing enhanced protection against conventional weaponry. The coloration of their skin typically ranged from shades of green to brown, enabling them to blend into their surroundings in urban and natural environments.

Synth Troopers were at the forefront of the Combine's ground-based offensive during the Seven Hour War. They exhibited exceptional physical strength, agility, and combat prowess, making them formidable adversaries on the battlefield.

Equipped with advanced weaponry and tactical gear, Synth Troopers engaged in both ranged and close-quarter combat. They were typically armed with large pulse firearms, in two variants; the 'Alien' Pulse Rifle, a variant of the more well-known human-applicable Pulse Rifle, and the Pulse Lance, a spear-like weapon which could be utilized as a melee weapon, as well as a rifle with questionable accuracy. Both were capable of firing devastating projectiles that could neutralize opponents with unparalleled lethality. In addition, the larger Pulse Rifle carries a secondary fire mode, capable of firing a projectile that can vaporize it's target on contact. They also wore body Armor, known as a 'Bodypack' further enhancing their combat effectiveness.

Synth Troopers often operated in coordinated squads, employing advanced military tactics and strategies. Their training and coordination allowed them to swiftly adapt to changing battlefield conditions, overwhelm human defenders, and seize key objectives.

###### **Striders**

    During the Seven Hour War, the Combine forces deployed many formidable and menacing synthetic creatures. One of the most commonly known was the "Strider." The Strider played a pivotal role in the Combine's overwhelming invasion and was a symbol of the technological superiority wielded by the alien empire.

The Strider is an immense bipedal creature that stands several stories tall. Its imposing frame is comprised of a metallic exoskeleton, resembling a combination of insectoid and arachnid features. The creature possesses three long, spindly legs that enable it to traverse urban environments with surprising agility. Its primary means of offense is a powerful energy cannon mounted on its front, capable of unleashing devastating blasts at its adversaries.

###### **Gunships**

The Combine Gunship is an advanced synthetic aircraft deployed during the Seven Hour War and throughout the subsequent Occupation. These formidable aerial units play a crucial role for the Combine and are mass-produced.

Utilizing their advanced capabilities to suppress resistance and maintain control over occupied territories, the Gunship boasts a distinctive and menacing appearance, featuring a sleek and angular design reminiscent of other Combine technology. These aerial synths are equipped with a head-mounted heavy repeating pulse cannon, and a secondary belly cannon, which can vaporize targets, similar to the strider's warp cannon, making them a formidable adversary in the skies.

A larger variant of the Gunship employs a durable energy shield, capable of deflecting incoming projectiles and providing limited defense against anti-aircraft fire. This shielding mechanism allows the heavier Gunship to sustain damage while maintaining their offensive capabilities.

The heavy variant has it's repeating pulse cannon replaced for a combine Autogun, which is a rapid-fire version of the heavier *Strider* warp cannon.

##### **Augmented Species**

###### Overwatch Transhuman Arm

The Overwatch Transhuman Arm is the Earth / human division within the Combine military, responsible for the integration of human subjects into the Combine's forces. Operating as a specialized branch, the Transhuman Arm plays a crucial role in transforming ordinary humans into powerful soldiers through a process known as transspecies augmentation, this is distinct from the Synth process, however, and avoids cloning techniques for more pure, individual soldiers.

    The transhuman augmentation process involves subjecting chosen candidates to a series of advanced procedures and treatments designed to enhance their physical and mental capabilities. These procedures often involve a combination of invasive surgeries, genetic manipulation, and integration of sophisticated technology into the human body.

Through the augmentation process, the Transhuman Arm seeks to increase the strength, speed, resilience, and cognitive abilities of the subjects. This transformation enables them to operate effectively in combat situations, endure harsh conditions, and carry out complex missions with unwavering loyalty.

Advanced prosthetics and cybernetic implants are used to replace or enhance specific body parts. These biomechanical enhancements integrate seamlessly with the recipient's body, mimicking or surpassing natural functionality. Neural interfaces connect the subject's brain with advanced computer systems, allowing for direct mental control and improved cognitive functions. This integration enhances situational awareness, information processing, and the ability to interface with Combine technology.

Once the augmentation process is complete, individuals within the Overwatch Transhuman Arm are assigned various operational roles. These roles may include:

* Overwatch Transhuman Soldier (OTS)

> The common soldiers serve as the backbone of the Combine's military forces. Equipped with enhanced physical capabilities, advanced weaponry, and unwavering loyalty, they form the front lines in the conquest and control of targeted territories. The OTS utilize conventional small-arms and the OSIPR.
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* Overwatch Transhuman Soldier, Specialist (OTSS)

> Highly trained and augmented individuals are selected for specialized covert missions, intelligence gathering, and sabotage. Their enhanced abilities and versatility make them valuable assets in accomplishing critical objectives behind enemy lines. The OTSS utilize the Pulse Sniper, conventional shotguns, rocket launchers and the Emplacement Gun.
>
>

* Overwatch Transhuman Soldier, Elite (OTSE)

> Elites are augmented officers and commanders within the Transhuman Arm that oversee the operations of transhuman units. They utilize their heightened mental capabilities, strategic thinking, and coordination skills to ensure the efficiency and success of Combine forces, they also serve as advanced infiltration units and administrative guards. The Elites exclusively use the OSIPR and are given access to it's secondary firing mode *via* the neural interface.
>
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###### Advisors

The Combine Advisors, formally known as *Shu'ulathoi*, are powerful entities that play a highly pivotal role within the Combine's hierarchy. These beings are highly intelligent and possess immense psychic capabilities, making them formidable assets and strategic assets for the Combine's inter-dimensional dominion.

A defining characteristic of the Advisors are their psychic and telepathic abilities. Through their psychic prowess, the Advisors can communicate and exert influence over other beings, including a whole range of abilities involving mind-control of other psychic species. There was a very clear caveat, as species completely removed from a *psychic channel*, such as the Human Race, were completely immune to mind-control. The best an Advisor could do was disrupt the human mind with a concentration of psi, this felt like a mild concussion or a migraine.

The Advisor was also capable of telekinesis, this was fully capable of lifting Gordon Freeman while adorned in the HEV suit, not only that, but capable of lifting another two human subjects, while also manoeuvring hundreds of smaller objects all at the same time. This is impressive as the Advisors are the only species in Half-Life capable of telekinesis, second to the Nihilanth, who's powers may have far-outweighed the Advisors.

This goes to say that a significantly intelligent species that lack a psychic channel entirely is an apparent rarity within the broad multiverse, as with most intelligent species the Combine enslave, such as vortigaunts, have a clear psychic channel, *via* the Vortessence. On the contrary, the Combine may encounter many species without psychic channels, but they appear to be less intelligent, primitive and animalistic. These lesser species may serve as the Combine's backbone for Synth engineering, and are not worth Augmentation.

The original *parasite* may still inhabit high-ranking Advisor bodies, and very well may remain as the leaders to the present day of their Empire. This is secured by the fact that particular Advisors adorn glyphs upon the 'neck' of their suit.

It is unknown how many Advisors are indeed original leaders of the Combine, but there must be hundreds or thousands, at least. If not, these high-ranking Advisors may serve as rare as in the dozen.

**Host Bodies**

Advisor bodies also serve as excellent 'Host Bodies' for Combine officials, and are the optimal species for leadership within the Combine species index, as they have yet to be replaced.

Dr Breen was offered the chance to have his consciousness converted into one of them, during the Uprising of City 17.

This implies that these Advisor bodies are cloned, as sacrificing pre-existing Combine Advisors for a new host seems impractical, and are the optimal species for leadership within the Combine species index, as they have yet to be replaced.

Another theory is that instead of sacrificing the mind of an Advisor host body for the next consciousness in-line, the previous inhabitant could be moved onto the next stage, perhaps an even higher species. However, if this were the case, high-ranking officials would have already been transferred, there is no sense to using redundant host bodies, especially for the efficiency of the Combine. This then proves the augmented Shu'ulathoi body is the best host for the Combine's high leadership.

Other augmented species within the Combine may serve as 'host bodies', but these are yet to be seen. The Overwatch Transhuman Arm may be candidates, but lack a psychic channel, this is not only risky for the Combine, but impractical in their chain of leadership.

###### The Nihilanth

The Advisor forebearers and grand leaders of the Combine were endowed with the psychic powers of their Shu'ulathoi host bodies, of which would allow control and subjugation of others with ease, however, spreading these powerful leaders of the Combine thin throughout the expanse could prove dangerous, and therefor, the search for other powerful psychic beings begun.

The Nihilanth was a member of one of these psychic species. After extensive modification, their race were left looking mutilated by the Combine's horrific augments, however, this may have enhanced the Nihilanth's abilities greatly, as not only was *he* able to hold open a portal from Xen to Earth, but mind-control a whole army inter-dimensionally.

The Nihilanth's kind was seemingly free of mind and was unable to be mind-controlled by the Advisors, this freedom led to many of his race dying trying to escape the Combine, leaving only the Nihilanth himself as the sole survivor. Under the reign of the Combine, the Nihilanth was tasked with controlling lesser psychic species, such as the Controllers, or the Vortigaunts.

Eventually, the Nihilanth had grown weary from the Combine's subjugation, freeing himself from the chains of captivity with an army of mind-controlled Vortigaunts and Controllers. The Nihilanth had escaped to the borderworld of Xen, a non-sensical oasis in the middle of non-space, or the void. It was a collection of rocky Islands in a nebula, orbiting what seems to be a star.

**The Nihilanth's Invasion of Earth**

The Combine were not far behind, however, and the Nihilanth could not remain in Xen forever, it is believed the Nihilanth had spent at least a few decades in Xen, before invading Earth. With his army of Controllers and Vortigaunts, the Nihilanth had built factories and an army of clone Grunts, which seem to have a similar genetic makeup to both the Vortigaunts and Controllers, with both having red eyes and a third arm on their chest. The Black Mesa Research Facility had been conducting teleportation experiments during this relative period, using Xen as a dimensional 'slingshot', this slingshot would completely bypass Xen, however, and could be used for point A-to-B teleportation within one universe, for example, an operator could enter a portal in the London and exit in New York, without ever encountering Xen. Before perfecting the Xen slingshot, Black Mesa first discovered interdimensional travel between Earth and Xen, this was seemingly undetectable by the Combine, however, it was sorely noted by the Nihilanth and his mind-controlled army.

The Nihilanth now had a target world to relocate to, but it was way too early to do so, and even less so possible, as the two-way travel to Xen that Black Mesa were using was far too small to begin an invasion. In the early 2000s of a particular *timeline*, Gordon Freeman had accidentally fired off a Resonance Cascade, of whom was operating the Anti-Mass Spectrometer, an advanced material analyser. A particular *agent* had nudged a volatile Xen crystal for testing that day, of which had overloaded the AMS and caused a tear between *their* reality and the Xen borderworld.

This allowed the Nihilanth a fortunate opening to escape the Combine another step-ahead, with the natural Xen wildlife, to the Vortigaunts and Grunts, the Nihilanth had initiated a full-scale invasion of Earth, a brutal attack for his own self-preservation. In a mere few minutes, the Black Mesa Facility was swarmed with strikes by the Nihilanth's portal precision.

In the following hours, HEV-armoured scientist Gordon Freeman survives the bloody onslaught by both his Earth government and the invading, alien force. Freeman, along with other scientists and stragglers, manage to launch a rocket from the facility into the upper atmosphere, this rocket had closed the portal on *their* side, leaving strain upon the Nihilanth to keep the whole thing alive.

With a whole day of fighting for humanity, Gordon Freeman had eventually landed in the borderworld of Xen, utilizing the Lambda Sector's interdimensional Earth-Xen portal. The Nihilanth was not innocent, but not a sinister entity by any demand, Freeman was left with little choice, through ignorance or the need to save his own race, Gordon had defeated the Nihilanth and many of his subsidiaries.

This had officially closed Xen's end of the portal, leaving Freeman trapped within the borderworld, but not left short of his saviour and new employer, the G-Man, a powerful interdimensional being, who had plucked him safely from Xen, before his demise. This enigmatic figure of mystery, the G-Man, takes interest in Freeman, as so does his 'employers'. Freeman is placed within a void of stasis for the time being.

This leads up to the Combine's *first* invasion of Earth.

### The Seven Hour War

The Combine had first invaded Earth due to the Black Mesa incident, in the Freeman Dimension.