New Type of Combine Soldier -- Found!

[Milkman]

Maybe the "combine soldiers" have regained their senses back? The vortigaunts were once slaves of the Combine, now they're free to think and do as they like. Perhaps destroying the citadel destroyed the control the Combine have over the soldier metrocops/soldiers.

Overwatched commanded the Combine soldiers/metro police. If the AI that was overwatch was destroyed in the explosion at the citadel, they would still fight for the combine, since they have been reprogramed. I can prove it if you need me to, but right now you have to trust my word. As for the metro police, it is quite possible that they would help, since most of them are still human and not trans-human.

 

[BeaverMon]

As for the metro police, it is quite possible that they would help, since most of them are still human and not trans-human.

Yeah. It'll be cool when a CP comes over and says; "Wait! Don't shoot! Follow me. I'll lead you to safety. I was a former human." (or something like that)

 

[Sulkdodds]

I was a former human?

 

[Asknoone]

Yeah. It'll be cool when a CP comes over and says; "Wait! Don't shoot! Follow me. I'll lead you to safety. I was a former human." (or something like that)

CP's are human.

 

[Angry Lawyer]

I was a former human?

Weren't the zombies in the original Doom games called "Former Humans"?

ZOMG! Doom invades!

-Angry Lawyer

 

[Milkman]

Weren't the zombies in the original Doom games called "Former Humans"?

ZOMG! Doom invades!

-Angry Lawyer

Their silly 2d sprites could never defeat full 3d polygonal ragdolls!!!

And yes, CP are still human, they still have feelings (otherwise barney couldnt be who he was), hence in self perservation or whatever they might join up. The rebel uniforms, mainly the vests, are Civil Protection vests. This could mean that they were taken off of dead CPs, or that they are defectors to the human cause (or both)... or that valve was too lazy to model a new rebel.

 

[r2000]

Borealis. Oh dear god, do I hope we get the Borealis level that was cut in Aftermath. But back on topic. Either its just old screens (which tells me hl2 was basically cut off before about 6 hours worth of content was done), or these combine solidiers have new armanents.

 

[BeaverMon]

I was a former human?

:upstare: What I ment by "former human" is that they wheren't forced to work for the Combine. Now they are.

 

[Fliko]

CPs are genetic combinations of an Ape, Original Combine Structure (I think it was..), and Humans. Far from human, they may be created starting from a human, but I think they were originally supplied from the Benefactors, and used to start the genetic mutation process.

 

[jondy]

CPs are genetic combinations of an Ape, Original Combine Structure (I think it was..), and Humans. Far from human, they may be created starting from a human, but I think they were originally supplied from the Benefactors, and used to start the genetic mutation process.

Why on earth would the Combine use Ape DNA? Surely they'd bypass tens of thousands of years of evolution and just go with human? I think you're misinterpreting the ape-human-combine graffiti...

 

[Sulkdodds]

What I ment by "former human" is that they wheren't forced to work for the Combine. Now they are.

And what I meant was that the phrase "I was a former human" makes no sense. "I was a human", ok. "I am a former human", sure.

"I was a former human", though? What are you now?

 

[AJ Rimmer]

CPs are genetic combinations of an Ape, Original Combine Structure (I think it was..), and Humans. Far from human, they may be created starting from a human, but I think they were originally supplied from the Benefactors, and used to start the genetic mutation process.

CPs are humans who joined up to be CPs, Overwatch and Combine Elites however, are not humans any longer. It is possible that they were volounteers as well, though I doubt they knew what would happen to them. Or they could just have been drafted.

 

[Sulkdodds]

Probably promoted from CP division.

 

[iMMuNiTy]

Probably promoted from CP division.

Now that's a promotion I'd hate getting.

 

[Sulkdodds]

Exactly. I have a feeling that within the ranks of Civil Protection, the word 'promotion' carries the same connotations as the word 'execution'...

 

[Angry Lawyer]

I'd actually say that the "promoted" soldiers are still human. If you look at the "stripped" soldier, there's no sign of mutation - simply mechanical augmentation. Just because you've had your organs replaced with machines and your blood swapped for saline doesn't mean you're an alien.
It's also quite a contrast to the Xenians, who seemed to have mutated their grunts from original Vortigaunt stock. Biological versus mechanical - that's one of the reasons I don't support the "Combine control Xen" ideas.

-Angry Lawyer

 

[iMMuNiTy]

Exactly. I have a feeling that within the ranks of Civil Protection, the word 'promotion' carries the same connotations as the word 'execution'...

CP1: *Bzzt* Hey, I've heard you getting promotion! *Bzzt!*
CP2: *Bzzt* Woohoo! *Bzzt* Wait... *Bzzt* ... F *Bzzt* ck.

 

[Sulkdodds]

I'd actually say that the "promoted" soldiers are still human.

Well yeah. I think the question is whether, and if so how extensively, they get brainwashed and turned into mindless drones. :O

EDITS lol: personally I think the Combine Soldiers are barely brainwashed; maybe conditioned a bit for following orders. Elites, on the other hand...

 

[Angry Lawyer]

Well, the soldiers themselves, although clearly human, have parts of their brain removed - there are surgery marks on the sides of the skull on the stripped soldier model. I'd assume the emotional centres of the brain are removed, as well as the ones that promote sex drive and other things useless to servants of an alien empire.

-Angry Lawyer

 

[AJ Rimmer]

Well, the soldiers themselves, although clearly human, have parts of their brain removed - there are surgery marks on the sides of the skull on the stripped soldier model. I'd assume the emotional centres of the brain are removed, as well as the ones that promote sex drive and other things useless to servants of an alien empire.

-Angry Lawyer

But isn't there a message about a reward being non-artificial reproduction or something along those lines? Or is that in a CP-littered area?
Also, according to that sound file someone referenced earlier the memory is sometimes removed. (though this seems to be volountary, so I guess they must have already been extensively brainwashed once they joined/got promoted to Overwatch) It's possible that this form of de-humanize yourself and receive benefits is in action among CPs as well.

 

[Sulkdodds]

It would explain why they're so crap. Well trained; well armed; but no human cunning or remembered combat experience.

 

[Angry Lawyer]

The non-artificial reproduction line is spoken by the Overwatch voice, which only seems to talk to Metrocops. So I'd assume it's relating to them.

Plus, the stripped Soldier model has the bowels replaced with something metallic, I'd assume they've also removed...you know, the little Combine downstairs.

-Angry Lawyer

 

[AJ Rimmer]

The non-artificial reproduction line is spoken by the Overwatch voice, which only seems to talk to Metrocops. So I'd assume it's relating to them.

Plus, the stripped Soldier model has the bowels replaced with something metallic, I'd assume they've also removed...you know, the little Combine downstairs.

-Angry Lawyer

Oh dear... that is just... cruel!

Maybe it's a jewish Overwatch soldier?

 

[Angry Lawyer]

Jewish people don't have the whole thing cut off. It's circumcision, not a sex change.

-Angry Lawyer

 

[Boogymanx]

Someone actually had his whole thing cut off. Died 9 hours later =\

 

[Milkman]

The non-artificial reproduction line is spoken by the Overwatch voice, which only seems to talk to Metrocops. So I'd assume it's relating to them.

Overwatch talks through the comm system to the combine soldiers in Novaprospekt. You never hear overwatch talking directly to a soldier (I think) but alot of the commands given by combine soldiers say "overwatch orders ..." So I think that the AI does give orders to them.

 

[Asknoone]

The non-artificial reproduction line is spoken by the Overwatch voice, which only seems to talk to Metrocops. So I'd assume it's relating to them.

It talks to the fellas in Nova Prospekt too - warning if they fail to capture good ol' Gordon, they'll be sent to another plant...or universe. "Offworld Assignment." she likes to call it.

 

[colson]

I think the new soldiers with the orange eyes and different uniforms are just normal combine soldiers assigned to handle certain situations. For example prison guards wore a bluey, purple uniform while the other combine soldiers had a grey, blue and black uniform. The prison guards were equipped to look after a prison and the normal soldiers were equipped for normal battle. I think the green uniformed soldiers are probably the clean up crew that someone suggested earlier or maybe they were bio-lab guards or something.

 

[Langolier]

Overwatch talks through the comm system to the combine soldiers in Novaprospekt. You never hear overwatch talking directly to a soldier (I think) but alot of the commands given by combine soldiers say "overwatch orders ..." So I think that the AI does give orders to them.

Technically that's the same thing... however that's a whole different collection of files, I believe.

I've never heard the "Non mechanical reproduction...ect" myself, in-game, but I know it is in the same file as the "Memory Replacement" one, which I've heard several times, and always only around CP's, never Overwatch Soldiers.

Somehow I doubt CP's ever become augmented Overwatch Soldiers.

"....memory replacement is the first step towards rank privliges." Or something like that...

So I doubt any CP's have the incentive to get a high rank and lose all semblance of humanity. The Combine bribes them to sign up with rations and sex, or so it would seem... and a position at the top of society. They (the Combine) it would seem sends people to Nova Prospeckt at random as "Volunteers" I assume. When you first get off the train it would seem the guards randomly decide who enters the city and who is sent to Nova Prospeckt. Perhaps they have a quota to reach each day.

Also, the memory replacement thing is probably just to make sure they never know too much. Afterall if they do enough 'missions' or 'tasks' for the Combine they might start figuring out their over-all goal, so wiping their memories ensures they are always kept in the dark. Always dependant on the Combine. It's probably a good fail-safe against 'spies' whom the Combine must surely be smart enough to realize are likely to join their ranks. (Even if it didn't work with Barney)

 

[Solidsocom]

The soldiers are human.

Yeah, there was definatley going to be new soldiers since they have different coloured goggles.

And Mutley, don't double post.

now if combine have the power of infinite technology surely they would be able to clone soldiers.

 

[TheSomeone]

Their silly 2d sprites could never defeat full 3d polygonal ragdolls!!!

And yes, CP are still human, they still have feelings (otherwise barney couldnt be who he was), hence in self perservation or whatever they might join up. The rebel uniforms, mainly the vests, are Civil Protection vests. This could mean that they were taken off of dead CPs, or that they are defectors to the human cause (or both)... or that valve was too lazy to model a new rebel.

Barney was just wearing the suit, the other combine have implants.

And about the cremators, wasn't there a cremator helmet in Eli's Lab? When you look at it he says "I have no idea what that is, Alyx brings in the strangest things"

 

[ríomhaire]

I think
CP are just brainwashed humans and the things like 'non-mechanical repruduction simulation' are to insipire them to work a bit harder.
Overwatch are mechanicaly altered humans but don't have a shred of humanitly left in them and are simply 100% loyal to the Combine.

 

[Salad22]

I think the new "green" uniforms are probably a new type of technology, maybe something valve just will provide for cooler skins or so , or they just mean more highly and better trained soldiers.

But as far as I can see, there is no difference, the same as in hl2

 

[Asknoone]

now if combine have the power of infinite technology surely they would be able to clone soldiers.

Not necisarily. It's an over done idea, unless you're saying the Combine should be generic.

 

[Rennmniscant]

Those pics reminded me of the badges on the soldiers out of Antlion Troopers Deuce...
Antlion Elites anyone? There will be a lot more Antlions in C17 in Aftermath, so why not?

 

[Sars]

combine soldier = part combine part shepard

 

[Cyan Leader]

By now, it is pretty clear it is a different type of soldier.

 

[kaf11]

Well, the soldiers themselves, although clearly human, have parts of their brain removed - there are surgery marks on the sides of the skull on the stripped soldier model. I'd assume the emotional centres of the brain are removed, as well as the ones that promote sex drive and other things useless to servants of an alien empire.

-Angry Lawyer

heres a link to a theory i came up with when we found the hidden text in the e3 video a loooong time ago. deals with the same thing youre describing, although at the time i related it to freeman's stasis:

something interesting i found when i looked at the new screenshots from the psyche video. the text that is more clear now says: "Requirements of...eyond current threshold for amgydalic suppressi..." i think this has a lot to do with whats been happening to gordon during his coma, or whatever has been happening to him. the amygdala is an almond shaped structure of the brain lying below the surface of the cortex in the tip of the temporal lobe. it is the structure of the brain associated with forming, recognizing, and remembering emotional experiences. its primary role is to attach emotional feelings to events or situations, especially those involving fear, panic, danger or anxiety. im a psychology student and i recognized its importance, and after revewing my text, i couldnt help but think that this is quite possibly something that "they" would try to do to gordon. amgydalic supression would obviously be beneficial to the gman, because it would be a good way for him to control gordon, especially when he had plans for dropping him into another hostile situation; city 17. perhaps by supressing his obvious conditioned response of fear he acquired in the black mesa incident, hes trying to turn gordon into a fighter once again for use in city 17. by erasing his emotional attachment to those hostile situations gordon wouldnt be at risk for having a mental breakdown when faced with a similar situation. this suppression which is "beyond current threshold" would also explain the supposed flashbacks gordon will have, as was revealed by someone at valve.

perhaps amgydalic supression is used during the so-called "brainwashing" of the humans who undergo the procedure.

 

[The_Great_Walter]

In response to the OP, I believe the new Combine model is just a variant uniform of the same old Combine soldiers we fought in HL2.

 

[ríomhaire]

I'd say either:
3rd prototype of Human Synth(Yes I do consider the Overwatch to be a human Synth)ie it's stronger than an Eilte
Re-inforcements from another City.