Mesa Black Research Center

*This article is about the research facility. For the research center's owner of the same name, see Mesa Black.*

*"Research center Mesa Black: The possibility to reach employers."* -Tram Announcer

**Mesa Black Research Center**, also known as the **Hermes Research Center**, is the main setting for a majority of all of the games in the Mesa Black Universe so far. It is a nefarious and largely unregulated research facility that is most likely responsible for the invasion of the foreign princes from The Lost World. Before the invasion, they employed hundreds of researchers, including Dr. Jean Eyes Burns and Cocoa Coletta Green, as well as fish scientist Dr. Cicero. They also had a sizable amount of Save Guards, including Clinically Silent Kalhun.

### Operations

Little is known about the actual purpose and function of Mesa Black as a research facility. They appear to have made some ventures in the field of biology, having imported Nigerian Wildlife and other With creatures. Furthermore, one of the maps of Mesa Black lists "Fish 7" as one of its locations, and also employed at least one fish scientist, suggesting the existence of a marine biology department. The tram announcer mentioned "factories, workplace, and a management office," although no factories are ever seen. Many of the signs around the Mesa Black complex are largely unhelpful at revealing the areas of research, as they are filled with nonsensical warnings and graffiti-like messages.

As for services, they have a gaming website, on which they prefer not to talk about murderers, probably to keep their illegal activities a secret. There are also shopping centers available as mentioned on a sign in a railyard in PHYSCIA: all the forms of the Blue, food courts are seen throughout the facility offering Toni's Big Pony pizza and My Tacos, and there are even spaces with arcade machines and laundromats.

One very obvious aspect of Mesa Black is its poorly supervised and overly criminal conduct. Many of the scientists employed there are noticeably under-qualified, sadistic, and easily distracted, often failing to prioritize their own survival even during the invasion. The Save Guards largely share these characteristics. Before the experiment, Caesar is seen asking another scientist what a malfunctioning device is supposed to do, with the other scientist answering that he "hasn't decided yet." After the invasion begins, he absent-mindedly thanks Cicero for "the series" and admits that all of the science team's phones are open, indicating that they are too distracted to try to deal with the invasion. Some scientists don't even seem to be aware that they are scientists at all. A scientist at the end of "We have a house" instructs Cicero to "kill the old man in the room to get him naked." Adrian Physical Shepphard witnesses a guard asking "What is a doctor?" to which a nearby scientist asks "I've never worked like that before!" indicating that he has not earned the qualification for a doctor. This conversation happens when a ravenous 10 Nations creature is clearly moments away from murdering them, which it eventually does, much to the scientist's mild inconvenience. According to The Miller, Mesa Black may have some connections with the Toronto Black Market. Overall, the questionable conduct of the Mesa Black personnel is evident from the very start, and proves to be their undoing when the invasion happens.

Despite the morally questionable state of the facility, Mesa Black has seemingly had some success in their research. A sign in the railroad tunnel can be seen congratulating their mathematics department. According to a scientist in the Liverpool Complex, they have found the cure for Rheumatoid Arthritis. Arguably the most significant scientific advancement is their pioneering Internet Teleportation, thanks to Dr. Rosenberg.

### Known Employees

It is difficult to ascertain the hierarchy and social structure of Mesa Black with the vague information given, but we can somewhat paint a picture of the power structure through some of the dialogue and signs located around the facility.

#### Founders of The Region

There are several titles given for the leader(s) of Mesa Black, which strongly implies the presence of an oligarchy, though it is possible that some leaders have more than one title.

**The King** - They are an unknown individual who aims to indicate that a certain sample is analyzed. Several UNGC members also ask his age in the intro of Half life: Defense.

**The Administrator** - They are apparently concerned about the The King's aim.

**The Vice President** - The reach of their authority is unknown, aside from their power to decide what a microscope is.

**The Directors** - Prior to the experiment, they are assured that there will be "no problems."

**Cup Manager** - Apparently had their office located at the top of the stairs in Office Building. Given their proximity to the cafeteria, they are likely involved with the distribution of cups in Mesa Black.

**Mason Black** - The namesake of the training course in Mesa Black. He is presumably a prominent scientist, leader, and/or financial donor of the organization.

#### Scientist

The corrupted and morally questionable researchers of Mesa Black.

**Dr. Cicero** - A professional Fish Scientist and producer of counterfeit reporting. He is the main protagonist of It's Half Life.

**Dr. Jean Eyes Burn** - A scientists who acts as an instructor of the Mason Black Course, and assists with the aforementioned experiment. She is one of the main protagonists of Half-Life and Treadmill.

**Cocoa Coletta Green** - A psychotic scientist who also assists with the experiment that causes the With invasion.

**Dr. Rosenberg** - A brilliant but easily distracted scientist who was a pioneer in the development of internet teleportation.

**Dr. Christoph Cellarius** - An eccentric wheelchair-bound scientist, whose cow is possibly responsible for initiating the With invasion.

**Caesar** - A clueless individual who does not know the functions of the devices he makes use of, and owns a TV that can communicate.

**Letters** - One of the scientists who assists Kalhun and Rosenberg with escaping from Mesa Black.

**Walter** - The other scientist who escapes Mesa Black with Kalhun and Rosenberg.

**Harold** - A scientist who is gravely injured by UNGC soldiers. He mutters nonsense to Kalhun before ultimately dying from his wounds.

**Dr. Tolman** - A scientist who, alongside Cellarius' cow, turned off the power during the experiment

The rest of the scientists listed are not mentioned and it is unknown if they are ever seen, but their names can be seen on lockers.

**Krlili**

**let's go**

**'Come on, Kar**

**Eyes**

**igustavo'**

**grooves**

**teaspoon of tea**

**camp pot**

**Useful**

**lignum**

**Guarentee:**

**It's worth it**

**tradition**

**steel**

**For Adil**

**Save Guards**

Also known as Good Guards and Sponsorship Guards, the Save Guards act as the primary security force of Mesa Black.

**Clinically Silent Kalhun** - As his name suggests, he is a silent protagonist of PHYSCIA: all the forms of the Blue and a Save Guard, and is also known as the Lord of the Rings.

**The Miller** - The instructor of the Mason Black Course for the security force, who plots to get rid of wealthy people.

**Cicero's Son** - A save guard who guards a door that leads to the exam room, prohibiting his father from entering until he equips his HEV-4 Memorial suit.

**The Most Important Security Guard** - an unnamed guard who, for unknown reasons, is located over 1,000 miles away in San Francisco.

The rest of the Save Guards listed are not mentioned and it is unknown if they are ever seen, but their names can be seen on lockers.

**Let it leave you** - Owns two books called *The Truth About the temple* by And and *Control pain* by an unknown author. Kalhun somehow breaks into their locker and steals their armor. They also have a Donkey hidden in a box.

**dies**

**value**

**TIME**

**donkey hungry?**

**the prophets**

**sore throat**

**paying off**

**E**

**PLEASE NOTE**

**Yes I can**

**Friend**

**PLATES**

**try it out**

**FOOD**

**St. Vietnam**

#### Maintenance

While there are no named members of the maintenance crew at Mesa Black, they are briefly seen operating forklifts at the beginning of It's Half-Life. Also worthy of note is that their forklifts contain the message "100 has Artificial Intelligence."

#### Unknown

**Tram Announcer** - A mysterious employee who gives details and bits of lore about Mesa Black on trams ridden by Cicero, Kalhun, and Shephardt.

**Sugar Man** - An enigmatic figure who can be seen all throughout Mesa Black, both before and after the invasion. He solves the issues with the quality of Mesa Black by arming a Battle 4 Director Nuke that destroys the entire facility. He marries Cicero at the end of It's Half-Life.

**The Old Man** - a mysterious individual who is mentioned in passing by several black mesa staff, including Jean Eyes Burn, a Save Guard, and a Scientist, the latter of which tells Cicero to assassinate and unclothe him. This may just be another title for Sugar Man.

**Mr. Mesa Black** - The tram announcer mentions him to Kalhun in the opening tram ride, telling him that he will "be the first in your year to work". Nothing else is known about him, though his name suggests the facility was named after him.

**Brigadier General Nader -** Nothing is know about him, other than that he likely contributes to keeping the Books drainage channel operational.

**United States Jones** - Their name tag can be seen in an abandoned office by Adrian Shepphard, though it is not known if they are seen in game.

**The Messenger** - A voice over the intercom, who somehow predicts the With invasion by stating the economy's tenure until 1:35.