Welcome to Gaia! :: View User's Journal | Gaia Journals

Headcrab Zombies

When a headcrab successfully attaches to a host, the host becomes a "headcrab zombie", or "necrotic" as they are called by the Combine Overwatch. The headcrab's alien physiology causes various "mutations" to rapidly manifest in its host, such as elongated claws, increased strength, and a sharp-toothed, sideways mouth that bisects the victim's chest cavity from neck to groin. This giant mouth has inspired the nickname "Mawmen". Upon further investigation, however, one finds that the “mouth” is in fact no such thing. The “teeth” appear to be protruding ribs: a ripped open chest cavity and no sternum. Zombies do not appear to retain any of their former intelligence, blindly pursuing their prey, oblivious to danger. A small number of headcrab zombies also survive despite losing both legs and its lower torso, crawling and moving using their arms.
In most cases, a headcrab remains attached to its host until destroyed, although they have the ability to detach from the host if it is damaged significantly. Removal of the headcrab reveals that the host's face and head has been eaten away by the creature; the degree of such damage on these areas depends on the type of headcrab in control.

THE COMBINE

A vast empire spanning multiple dimensions, 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 Combine is also known by their official name, the Universal Union, and commonly referred to as Our Benefactors by Dr. Breen, the Combine-appointed Earth Administrator.

During the Black Mesa Resonance Cascade, Dr. Gordon Freeman, a theoretical physicist working at Black Mesa, launched a satellite into orbit in an attempt to reverse the effects of the Resonance Cascade. Unfortunately, however, the launching of this satellite caused Portal Storms to occur all over the planet, ripping open dimensional tears and allowing the inhabitants of Xen to pour through. The Combine took advantage of these Portal Storms as well, using them to launch a massive invasion of Earth that lasted only seven hours. Earth’s military forces were unable to stand up against the power of the Combine Empire, and were swiftly defeated. Former administrator of the Black Mesa Research Facility, Dr. Wallace Breen, negotiated a surrender on Earth's behalf and was therefore appointed the administrator of the Combine's forces on Earth - the Overwatch.

The Combine rules Earth from giant towers known as Citadels, the most important being in City 17 where Dr. Breen runs his administration. The reasons behind the Combine's desire to control the Earth are unknown, other than the absorption of Earth's resources, the use of human teleporter technology and the enslavement and exploitation of its dominant species - the humans - for either menial work or (more likely) military service.

The Combine, since gaining dominance on Earth, has imposed something known as a suppression field. The suppression field's main effect is to bring the human birth rate down to zero by prohibiting certain protein chains important to embryonic development from forming, effectively ensuring that the humans currently alive will be the last generation.