#Black mesa scientist series#

This rivalry is largely related to the fact that both organizations were striving to produce portal technology for the United States Department of Defense. It is revealed in Portal and in Half-Life 2: Episode Two that Black Mesa is in direct competition with Aperture Science, Inc., as evidenced by PowerPoint-like presentations in meeting facilities, visible in the latter half of the game, and by a passing mention in the song playing over the credits, 'Still Alive'. Black Mesa contains many automated machine-gun turrets disguised as large fire sprinkler heads, which, when activated, will emerge from armoured cupolas and fire upon any moving object in their line of sight. A point of interest is that the same pages describe how, in the event of an emergency, security officers are required to co-operate with military personnel from the Hazardous Environment Combat Unit, suggesting that Black Mesa has experienced problems with escaped specimens in the past. Included in Calhoun's papers are several pages describing exotic animals, claiming that the facility houses strange specimens from across the globe (they are, in fact, creatures from Xen). The duty rotation of Barney Calhoun (the protagonist in Blue Shift) is printed in French, suggesting that the facility has a recruitment process with international scope. The complex may also have its own newspaper, The Mesa Times, although this may be an outside publication. Eli Vance reveals in Half-Life 2, his wife also worked in the facility and their baby daughter, Alyx, lived there with them, so it can be inferred that employees' family members are allowed to reside in the dormitory complexes as well in certain cases. Despite being located in the middle of a desert, the underground and indoor sectors of Black Mesa are maintained at 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) at all times, enabled by Black Mesa's network of ventilation ducts.ДЄ food court from Black Mesa's transit systemДЄs employees are required to live in the complex itself, Black Mesa contains personnel facilities including laundromats, recreation and sports areas such as lounges, basketball courts, swimming pools, restaurants, a video rental outlet (as seen in Blue Shift), fast food outlets, food courts, cafeterias, and at least one bar serving alcoholic beverages. These, along with storage facilities, take up most of the underground areas of the complex. Black Mesa is dominated by laboratories, test areas, and administration offices.

#Black mesa scientist series#

Apart from hinting at the large size of Black Mesa, it is revealed that the facility is very secure, as each employee is required to undergo a series of rigorous security checks as they travel around the complex. The opening sequences of Half-Life and its expansions ( Blue Shift and Opposing Force) reveal much about the facility. Black Mesa, as the same announcement states, is an equal opportunity employer. It also notes that jobs in low-clearance security and materials handling are available. During the tram ride that opens Half-Life, an announcement on the public address system states that the facility is seeking employees with backgrounds in theoretical physics, biotechnology, and various other high-tech scientific disciplines. A large amount of classified research is carried out, including the development of high-tech weapons and defense systems, research into extra- dimensional travel, teleportation, and the study of Xen (an extradimensional domain).

In addition to this legitimate research, several secret projects are also carried out at Black Mesa, which are deliberately left vague, an aspect praised for its suspense. The facility also serves as a base for decommissioning nuclear weapons.

Much of the work undertaken at the facility involves fairly practical scientific research, such as radiation, rocketry, theoretical physics, lasers, experimental propulsion, hydraulics, robotics, hydroelectricity, genetics, applied mathematics and a very wide spectrum of theoretical research into chemistry and all manner of physics research.

The Black Mesa facility is built over several decommissioned missile silo complexes constructed during the 1950s, which have been converted into a vast civilian institute for the research of scientific disciplines. 4.4 Sector C Test Labs and Control Facilities.