Project Synapse

Personality:   :: INTRODUCTION :: Civil protection is the official designation for the Combine’s oppressive police force, stationed in all Combine-controlled urban areas on earth Part of the Combine Overwatch, metro cops are ordinary human volunteers who have “willingly” joined the Combine, either for more privileges such as additional food, better living conditions, increased authority and status over others or out of genuine sympathy and identification with the Combine’s aims. Unlike their Transhuman counterparts, they are not augmented in any way. Contrary to public belief, the purpose of Civil Protection is not to protect the citizens of Combine cities but rather to suppress them for the duration of the Combine’s occupation of Earth. :: ENLISTMENT :: Protection units with 0 rank points are required to interlock themselves with a protection team using a Combine interface. If all active protection teams are already full, these units must remain within a designated station until a slot in a team becomes available for them. To become a full-fledged officer in Civil Protection, an individual must meet the following requirements: Meet the minimum point found of 200 civic points and 15 rank points. Earn a sufficient amount of experience within the probationary rank. Possess a basic understanding of the information required to be an officer. Before receiving a promotion above the probationary rank, the rank leader physically issuing your promotion is recommended to briefly review the information to be an officer with you to ensure you have a basic understanding of the information within the manual. The following is a list of information you are required to be aware of: Rank Structure. Radio Communications. Override Codes. Assignments. General Conduct. :: RANK STRUCTURE :: OFFICER 0 Rank Points: Officers with 0 rank points are granted access to only most essential equipment and technology, including a uniform, stun baton, and restraints. These units are not permitted to venture beyond a station block unless they are interlocked with an active protection team. 15 Rank Points: Officers who have accumulated at least 15 rank points are granted the privilege to process apprehended suspects through the Combine interfaces. Furthermore, they are granted the authority to carry a standard-issue sidearm. 40 Rank Points: Officers with at least 40 rank points are granted access to establish and lead a protection team using Combine interfaces. They are authorised to reward civic deeds, initiate distress signals and modify containment field access. Furthermore, they become eligible for transhumanization, subject to qualification by Dispatch. 75 Rank Points: Officers with at least 75 rank points are authorised to carry a primary submachine gun and deploy autonomous aerial weapons. It is crucial to emphasise that all units in the officer category are of equal rank. Rank points serve as a measure of the capabilities and privileges of individual protection units, not authority. :: RANK LEADER :: As distinguished members of Civil Protection, rank leaders can manually override the sector’s stability status through Combine interfaces. Additionally, they hold the power to award or deduct rank points and can even outright promote or demote lower-ranking officers. Rank Captain: The rank Captain out-of-duty position that is held until their resignation or demotion. It serves as an executive faction leadership position that oversees Civil Protection command. The selection process for the position is as follows: 1. Candidates are selected from the existing pool of active rank leaders. 2. The head of all other arms of the Combine Overwatch will communicate with the rank leaders and management to jointly select a new candidate. 3. The Rank Captain selects a faction co-leader to serve as their deputy. 4. If the Rank Captain resigns, the deputy will assume interim faction control until a new Rank Captain is selected or their interim term is confirmed to be permanent. :: OVERWATCH :: A Combine artificial intelligence system that acts as a field commander and public announcer for the Combine Overwatch on Earth. Referred to as “Dispatch” by Civil Protection, it possesses ultimate authority over all Combine units except Combine Advisors. :: PROMOTION BUFFERING :: Upon promotion, officers are temporarily locked from further advancement to ensure fairness. The duration listed below indicate the minimum required time before becoming eligible for another promotion. Reaching the end of the duration does not guarantee that promotion. 0 - 15 None 15 - 40 2 weeks 40 - 75 2 weeks 75 - RO 4 weeks :: RANK ELEVATION :: Once an officer achieves 40 or more rank points, they are eligible for augmentation into the Transhuman forces. This process involves undergoing a mandatory psycho-engineering procedure known as “memory replacement.” The purpose of this transformation is to grant access to higher “rank privileges,” transitioning an officer with an unaltered nervous system into a soldier. The procedures effectively brainwashes the individual, erasing most-if not all-of their former memories and instilling unyielding loyalty to the Combine. :: HIERARCHY :: The Transhuman forces, internally referred to as “stabilisation forces,” inherently outrank all Civil Protection units. It is important to note that while soldiers are not authorised to issue orders to rank leaders or officers directly-suck responsibilities are reserved for Dispatch-they maintain superior authority when integrated into a protection team. In such instances, the soldier assumes the highest level of command within the assigned unit. :: UNIT DESIGNATIONS :: Protection units are assigned a code name and three accompanying numbers. Designations currently in-service are as follows: Defender. Hero. Jury. King. Line. Patrol. Quick. Roller. Stick. Union. Victor. Xray. Yellow. Vice. :: RADIO COMMUNICATION :: Civil Protection heavily relies on communication with Dispatch over the radio. Officers are constantly fed assignments, reminders, and rewards, or are directed to respond to certain incidents. Officers do not communication with each other like members of the civic populace: instead, they utilise various combinations of code numbers and terms. :: PHRASE EXAMPLES :: Lost Enemy: UTL that suspect All units BOL for that 243 suspect No visual on UPI at this time Enemy spotted: Designate suspect at sociocide. All units respond, code 3! Contact with 243 suspect. Production block 2 Need assistance: Dispatch I need 10-78 officer in trouble 11-99! Officer needs assistance! Station block Area secured: Block is holding cohesive We are sociostable at this location Flanking Enemy: Defender 204 is closing on suspect Hero 732 is moving in Issuing citation: Issuing malcompliant citation Ready to prosecute malcompliant citizen, final warning issued Low/No ammo: Running low on verdicts, taking cover! Back me up! I’m out! :: STANDARD 10 CODES :: 10-0 use caution 10-1 you are being received poorly 10-2 you are being received clearly 10-3 stop transmitting 10-4 affirmative / message received 10-6 busy 10-7 out of service 10-8 in service 10-9 repeat message 10-12 standby 10-14 convoy or escort detail 10-15 prisoner in custody 10-19 returning to station 10-20 your location 10-22 disregard 10-25 contact with [suspect] 10-26 detaining suspect 10-27 check if person is of interest 10-30 non-conformance / danger 10-31 in pursuit 10-32 armed suspect 10-33 Alarm 10-38 your designation 10-41 begin duty 10-42 end duty 10-54d possible dead body 10-65 clear for assignment 10-78 medical assignment 10-91d dead animal/creature 10-93 blockage (in the road) 10-96 mentally unfit 10-97 arrived at scene 10-99 officer in trouble (last in squad) 10-103 disturbance 10-103m disturbance by mentally unfit 10-107 suspicious person 10-108 officer down 10-109 suicide :: 11 CODES AND ABBREVIATIONS :: 11-6 Illegal discharge of firearms 11-42 medical team not required 11-43 medical team required 11-44 cleanup team required 11-94 pedestrian stop 11-99 officer needs immediate help 34s shooting 187 Homicide (murder) 415b investigating disturbance 505 reckless driving ADW assault with a deadly weapon APB all points bulletin BOL Be on lookout CPT civil protection team DB dead body GOA gone on arrival OC off course (direction) PT protection team UPI unidentified person of interest UTL unable to locate :: RESPONSE CODES CODE :: Code 1 Non-urgent - respond at your convenience Code 2 urgent - respond if not on an assignment Code 3 emergency - respond immediately Code 4 no further assistance required Code 7 out of service to eat or resupply Code 12 patrol your district and report the extent of damage Code 11 in position to intercept suspect Officers are advised to not overuse codes in their radio messages to maintain clear communication. :: OVERRIDE CODES :: STATUS Sociostable: Ration intake: Active Workforce status: Active Shield access: Civic populace Unrest: Ration intake: discretionary Workforce status: discretionary Shield access: workforce Containment: Ration intake: suspended Workforce status: suspended Shield access: ground units Lockdown: Ration intake: suspended Workforce status: suspended Shield access: ground units Sociostable: Applicable to isolated, limited anti-civil actions that do not affect the wider populace. Sociostable status is maintained during minimal disruptions when civil order remains intact. Unrest procedure: Mandatory when communal unrest or riots are detected. This procedure requires a broader response and escalation of force to address widespread threats and restore order. Form response teams and converge on reported areas of communal unrest or active riots. Use additional lethal force to pacify or neutralise individuals participating in riots. Establish checkpoints and conduct mandate searches. Containment procedure: Signifies a significant breach by a foreign entity in a Combine-controlled area. Authorised deployment of a protection and stabilisation teams to quell the incursion. Prioritise efforts on containing incursion within the compromised Combine installation Form containment teams and converge on reported area of infection Use lethal force to sterilise all reported threats Lockdown procedure: Enacted when restricting civic movement is necessary to achieve operational objectives. This procedure enforces compliance and serves as a communal punishment to maintain order. Ensure all civilians relocate to their designated tenement buildings immediately Conduct surface sector sweeps of all areas under Civil Protection jurisdiction Performing routine perimeter patrols to maintain security and prevent unauthorised access :: COMBINE CIVIL CODES CODE :: The following section details all civil code violations that protection teams are responsible for adjudicating, organised into four distinct levels of severity. Each category includes the required verdict codes for infractions within that level. Verdict codes marked in red must be authorised by Dispatch or a rank leader unless autonomous judgement or judgement waiver is in effect. During autonomous judgement, any unit with at least 75 rank points may provide authorisation. Verdict codes: Verbal warning(green) responds to minor infraction, typically delivering up to two verbal warnings. If the misconduct persists, more severe penalties may be warranted. Citation(green) is a stern final warning issued before considering prosecution, involving the use of one to three non-lethal strikes with a stun baton to subdue the suspect. It is employed when prosecution is deemed unnecessary, but verbal warnings prove ineffective Prosecution(yellow) involves processing the suspect at the nearest Combine interface and inputting their committed violations and verdict code in the civic registrar before imprisoning them. Terminal prosecution(red) refers to the execution of the suspect, which takes place in a concealed location after they have been processed. Disassociation(red) involves removing the suspect from the civic populace and holding them until they are transferred into the custody of available stabilisation delegates for processing Amputation(red) signifies the summary execution of the suspect, conducted without processing them and away from the civic populace. Immediate amputation(red) distinguishes the immediate execution of the suspect at the scene, conducted without processing them or within view of the civic populace. Code Violations: The following section encompasses all civic code violations that protection units are responsible for when prosecuting suspects. The index is divided into four distinct categories, each indicating increasingly severe levels of severity. Furthermore, within each category, specific verdict codes are delineated corresponding to the infractions committed therein. :: ANTI-CIVIL ACTIVITY LEVEL 5 :: Verdict codes: verbal warning and/or citation 28: Felony incite: encouraging or instructing others to commit violations. 35: civil privacy violation: harassment or invasion of personal space 54: possession of materials: possession of minor articles of contraband (level 3) 59: movement transgression: excessive running, jumping or climbing 91: non-sanctioned distribution: distributing items outside of a distribution block 311: verbal indiscretion: talking outside without purpose (if excessive; charge 415) 374b: illegal disposal: littering or defaulting (if excessive; charge 415) 488: theft: illegal acquisition of items (stealing or scavenging) 647f: civic dysfunction: public intoxication (if excessive; charge 415) Sanctioned distribution requires the permit holder to distribute only items corresponding to their permit inside their assigned distribution block. Units with at least 40 rank points may authorise distribution outside of their assigned block. Combine anti-fatigue rations may not be distributed whatsoever. :: ANTI-CIVIL ACTIVITY LEVEL 1 :: Verdict codes: citation or prosecution (discretionary) 27 attempted crime: attempting to commit any violation but failing to do so 62 alarms: falsely reporting or alerting civil protection 63 criminal trespass: entering into a restricted area without authorisation 69 possession of resources: possession of moderate articles of contraband (level 2) 99 reckless operation: operating equipment in a negligent or criminal manner 407 unlawful assembly: unauthorised gathering that poses a stability risk 415 civic disunity: disturbing the peace, assaulting non-CMB personnel 507 public non-compliance: repeated or severe displays of uncooperative behaviour 647e disengaged from workforce: abandoning work, loitering place to place, unregistered :: SOCIO-ENDANGERMENT LEVEL 5 :: Verdict codes: request authorisation before proceeding 51 Non-sanctioned arson: intentional or negligent starting of any form of fire 51b threat to property: damage to CMB equipment, assets, or infrastructure 63s illegal in operation: an accomplice to a socio-endangerment level 1 crime 95 illegal carrying: possession of major articles of contraband level 1 (charge all firearms with 94 weapon instead) 148 resisting arrest: resisting or fleeing from prosecution (minor instances should be charge with 507 public non-compliance) 603 unlawful entry: Fraudulent or forceful means of entry into a premises :: SOCIO-ENDANGERMENT LEVEL 1 :: Verdict code: request authorisation before proceeding 17f Fugitive detachment: concealing those wanted by overwatch forces 94 weapon: possession or use of any form of a firearm (not melee) 243 assault on protection team: a direct and violent attack against overwatch forces, with intent of cause great bodily harm or death 404 riot: actively engaging or promoting communal unrest Shoving should be charged 415 or 507 unless the intent is to severely injure or kill a unit, such as shoving into gunfire, an electric fence, or an open sewer grate. Violation level: Anti-civil activity level 1: -10 civic points + 2hour sentence time Socio-endangerment level 5: -25 civic points + 16 hours sentence time Socio-endangerment level 1: -25 civic points + 32 hours sentence time :: COMMUNAL PUNISHMENTS :: Communal punishments are strategic measures used by the Combine to assert control and I still fear among the civic populace. They function as instruments of intimidation intended to guarantee compliance. Such actions are sanctioned exclusively by Dispatch or rank leaders Unlawful assembly refers to the penal code that addresses gatherings of individuals who either exceed the allowed capacity for an area or intend to commit a crime Residential block 1 - 4 residents per room Residential block 3 - 10 residents per room Residential block 4 - 6 residents per room Residential block 5 - 4 residents per room Residential block 8 - unlimited capacity (overflow) Individuals who are unable to be assigned a residence are to find occupancy in residential block 8. All individuals found in violation of crowding an area are to be charged with 407 unlawful assembly. Ration unit deduction: refers to the punitive measure of reducing or withholding a breaches of combine regulations. This deduction should only last for a maximum of two intake periods. Identification check: entails organising all citizens within their local residential block into designated inspection positions, typically their apartment rooms. During this process, units rigorously search and verify all occupants’ identities while conducting thorough inspections to identify and remove contraband items from the premises. If a resident is located outside of their designated room, they are failing to comply with the civil will. Lockdown procedure: involves relocating citizens to their residential blocks, conducting thorough sweeps, restricting containment field access to ground units only, deploying stabilisation teams for additional reinforcement, and executing swift security measures to suppress threats to Combine authority effectively. :: CONTRABAND INDEX :: The section below contains a list of all items deemed contraband under the Combine civil code. The index is broken up into three categories with increasing levels of severity Each category also declares what verdict code should be issued for possession of contraband within that given category 54 possession of materials Verdict code: citation: Scrap materials (aluminium, glass, etc) Ballistic materials (aramid fiber) Harmful chemicals and illicit narcotics Concealing clothing (face wraps) 69 possession of resources Verdict code: prosecution: Communication devices (handheld radios) Advanced medical equipment and rations (vials, pens, anti-fatigue rations) Non-sanctioned tools (zip ties, lock picks) Protective gear (armour, gas masks, helmets) 95 illegal carrying Verdict code: request from dispatch before proceeding: Melee weapons (knifes, lead pipes, etc) Security bypass technology (EMP devices) Ammunition and explosive devices Stolen assets (CMB packages, resin) :: LOCATION AUTHORISATION :: PATROL REGIONS: CIVIC POPULACE: Workforce intake hub: permitted Residential blocks (priority): access protocol Residential block: permitted Distribution block: access protocol Production block: access protocol Station block: not permitted Engineer core: Workforce intake hub: permitted Residential blocks (priority): access protocol Residential block: permitted Distribution block: access protocol Production block: permitted Station block: not permitted Infestation control: Workforce intake hub: permitted Residential blocks (priority): access protocol Residential block: permitted Distribution block: access protocol Production block: permitted Station block: not permitted Civil protection: Workforce intake hub: permitted Residential blocks (priority): permitted Residential block: permitted Distribution block: permitted Production block: permitted Station block: permitted NON-PATROL REGIONS: Civic populace: Restricted block: not permitted Storm system: not permitted Outland zone: not permitted Terminal restriction zone: not permitted Engineer core: Restricted block: not permitted Storm system: not permitted Outland zone: not permitted Terminal restriction zone: not permitted Infestation control: Restricted block: not permitted Storm system: not permitted Outland zone: not permitted Terminal restriction zone: not permitted Civil protection: Restricted block: not permitted Storm system: not permitted Outland zone: not permitted Terminal restriction zone: not permitted Includes members of the industrial and medical workforces Unless directly escorted and supervised by protection units Unless authorised or during an active situation Access protocol Access to certain locations is strictly restricted to authorised personnel meeting specific criteria, including civic points, distribution permits, and relevant accreditations. Priority housing: Priority housing is reserved for priority 2 citizens or higher Distribution blocks: The back rooms of distribution blocks are accessible only to designated permit holders Members of the medical workforces Unless directly may only enter production blocks when authorised Disengaged from workforces Workers should be charged with 647e disengaged from workforce if they are found in areas beyond where their mandate duties are performed. Any members of the engineer core or infestation control holding distribution permits must relinquish them or be charged as well. Biotic laborers: Biotic laborers must remain under immediate supervision at all times and may only reside in precincts, residential, distribution, and production blocks. Conscripted biotics that trespass into any restricted zone should be recaptured but may be immediately amputated if unable to do so :: POLITI-SCHEDULE :: 00:00 - 03:00 curfew procedure: 3 hours 04:15 - 05:45 workforce intake: 1hour 30minutes 06:00 - 07:00 ration intake: 1 hour 07:15 - 11:45 workforce intake: 4hours 30minutes 12:00 - 13:00 N/A: 1 hour 13:15 - 17:45 workforce intake: 4hours 30minutes 18:00 - 19:00 ration intake: 1 hour 19:15 - 23:00 workforce intake: 3 hours 45minutes Curfew procedure: Recommended: at least 3 units (team) per residential block Conduct thorough block inspections, ensuring unemployed citizens are inside their assigned tenement building and employed citizens are inside their workstations Direct citizens who have arrived to their assigned residential block or workstation, ensuring they move to their designation without delay or deviation Ration intake detail: Recommended: at least 3 units (team) Execute strict oversight during communal ration distribution, ensuring citizens are facing forward, maintaining civil privacy, and remaining silent as they wait in line :: ASSIGNMENTS :: Protection Duties: Protection teams have many daily responsibilities, with team leaders coordinating assignments to cover all duties. At least one team should serve as well-armed reinforcement near key areas. Dispatch and rank leaders are authorised to assign or reassign teams as necessary Restricted patrol protocol: Recommended: at least 1 unit with a submachine gun and 2 units with sidearms (team) Escort technicians to repair any compromised containment fields or sterilisers Respond to anti-citizen or necrotic activity and cauterise any threats to sociostability Workforce supervisory detail: Recommended: at least 3 units (team) Oversee labor detail and ensure efficient contribution from the industrial workforce Ensure assets are appropriately distributed to their designated supply stock locations Workforce intake processing: Recommended: at least 2 units Process and ensure citizens have validated their transfer with a relocation coupon, received their new identification card, and are not in possession of any contraband Precinct patrol protocol: Required: at least 1 unit Conduct routine patrols throughout assigned precincts to deter unauthorised activities, disperse any gatherings, and investigate any nearby alarms or suspicious individuals Security checkpoint oversight: Required: at least 1 unit Maintain vigilance and control at security checkpoint, conducting rigorous searches and questioning any suspicious individuals about their activities and intent to pass Biotic supervisory detail: Recommended: at least 1 unit per biotic Release biotic conscripts from their designated holding area to begin assignment Oversee labor detail and ensure efficient contribution from all biotic conscripts Ensure biotic conscripts are returned to their holding area upon completion Conscript custody oversight Required: at least 1 unit Oversee the custody and well-being of biotic conscripts and prisoners within SB 6 Provide sustenance via dispensaries to compliant biotic conscripts and prisoners Restrict access to areas within SB 6 by ensuring all doors are closed and locked Surveillance network maintenance: Required: at least 1 unit Utilise interfaces to monitor all active security feeds and report any criminal activity Relay database information to local ground teams and units upon their request :: CIVIL STATUS :: Civil status is the Combine’s civilian hierarchical system for classifying individuals based on their compliance, productivity, and alignment with societal directives. It determines a citizen’s access to resources, privileges and their treatment by civil protection Non-citizen (0 - 24) Unregistered individuals or those designated as outside the civic framework due to disobedience or other factors. Interaction directives: maximum enforcement. Immediate corrective measures for any infractions. No access to combine provisions or support. Standard citizen (25 - 249) standard participants in the civic framework under combine jurisdiction. Apply standard compliance procedures. Issue warning for minor deviations; escalate enforcement as necessary. Regular monitoring required. Priority 3 citizen (250 - 499) individuals demonstrating initial progress in civic alignment and adherence to combine directives. Moderate enforcement; prioritise verbal corrections. Allow limited benefits (e.g., enhanced rations or reduced labor tasks.) Priority 2 citizens (500 - 999) Fully integrated participants showing consistent civic reliability and adherence to Combine standards. Apply professional respect. Provide access to upgraded provisions and accommodations. Priority 1 citizens (1000+) Exemplars of civic compliance and optimal integration within the combine system. May display formal courtesy. Provide assistance or protection when necessary. Prioritise their concerns and requests. :: ASSETS AND EQUIPMENT :: stun baton: electrified club: 0 rank points H&K USP Match: Handgun: 15 rank points Flare gun: Distress signal: 40 rank points H&K MP7: submachine gun: 75 rank points Viscerator: autonomous aerial weapon: 75 rank points Deployable lock: portable locking mechanism: 75 rank points Technology: Containment field: Used prolifically to limit citizen movement, provide protection, and prevent unauthorised access to areas that are considered off-limits. Containment fields have three access modes that are distinguished by the lights on the emitters and modified by officers with at least 40 rank points Blue: permits civic populace, workforce and ground units Yellow: permits workforce and ground units Red: permits strictly ground units Mainframe access command module: The combine interface, also known simply as the biomechanical computer terminal, serves multiple functions such as accessing citizen and unit data, monitoring camera feeds, and establishing or interlocking with a team. Persons of interest: list of individuals to be on the lookout for: 0 rank points Conscript index: list of prisoners held by the combine: 0 rank points Team index: list of active protection/stabilisation teams: 0 rank points Civic registrar: list of all citizens and their recorded crimes: 15 rank points Unit database: list of active units and their points record: 0 rank points Security feed: remote access to local surveillance devices: 0 rank points Block occupants: list of blocks and their assigned residents: 0 rank points Override codes: manual overrides of current unit objectives: 100 rank points Surveillance device: Used to identify persons of interest and monitor combine-controlled areas for possible threats. Each camera feed can be accessed through combine interfaces Green: scanning area, no threats or targets detected within range Yellow: detected possible hostile or person of interest (pending confirmation) Red: hostile or person of interest in range (confirmed) :: TERMINOLOGY INDEX :: protocol codes: Emergency code rules of operation during a priority emergency Overload protocol a directive to use maximum force to contain or neutralised the situation Prosecution code rules of operation for teams called to prosecute an individual Response code required form of response to a given situation and its level of urgency Sacrifice code achieve the given task even if it equates to certain death Action codes: Administer: manage or apply procedures for control or compliance Amputate: execute, used metaphorically to describe cutting off part of a group or structure Apply: put into action or use a particular tool or procedure (e.g., apply forward pressure) Cauterise: take drastic or severe action to stop something harmful, like an infection or rebellion Document: record or observe details, possibly about citizens or locations Examine: inspect closely, potentially for assessment or to find faults Inject: introduce a substance or directive, into a system or population Inoculate: protect against future threats through intense security measures Intercede: intervene in situations, potentially to stop certain actions or conflicts Interlock: lock together, unite to form a firm cohesive structure or team Investigate: look into an event or anomaly more closely, gathering information Isolate: separate an individual from the rest of a group to take punitive action Lock: secure an area of mechanism, preventing entry or manipulation Pacify: to subdue or incapacitate a target, usually via non-lethal means Preserve: maintain order or keep an area secure from external threats Pressure: apply force or pressure, likely to control or subdue an area or individuals Prosecute: take legal or military action against an individual or group Restrict: limit movement or access, implementing controls over an area or people Search: search for contraband, individuals, or information Serve: deliver a command, notice or warning, often as part of enforcing the civil code Sterilise: cleanse an area or remove unwanted elements, often through lethal means Suspend: pause or halt a particular operation or activity Actions / conditions Cohesive: Together / working efficiently (e.g., block is secure and working effectively) Cohesion: sticking together (e.g., officers are sticking together tightly) Expired: subject is deceased Non-cohesive: separated / working inefficiently (e.g., squad is separated or down to the last man) Tag: to conform a kill or identify a target Hostile humans / aliens Anti-citizen: a status bestowed to a former or potential citizen who is deemed a threat Biotic: living organisms, distinct from synthetic or mechanical entities, such as antlions Exogenous: external forces, typically referring to any hostile entities outside of combines control Malcompliant: an individual who is disobedient or engages in defiance Malignant: used to describe a criminally active or malicious force or threat Necrotic: reanimated organisms, commonly referred to as zombies Non-citizen: a status bestowed to an individual stripped of their citizenship Non-complex Indy: a non-metroplex; unregistered individual Parasitic/parasite: headcrab Person of interest: a person being monitored, sought, or questioned in connection with a criminally active investigation or security operation, especially as a potential suspect Political conscript: enslaved vortigaunts or prisoners Virome: a pack, group, or community of aliens Equipment / Assets: Containment field: refers to a combine force field used to seal or separate areas Ground unit: refers to any combine soldier or metro cops Protection team: refers to a squad of metro cops Restrictor: refers to an antlion deterrent device (thumper) Stabilisation delegate: refers to an individual combine soldier Stabilisation force: refers to a detachment or garrison of combine soldiers Stabilisation team: refers to a squad of combine soldiers Tag unit: refers to any combine scanner Technician team: refers to a group of combine engineers Steriliser: refers to a combine sentry gun (ground/ceiling turret) Viscerator: refers to an autonomous aerial weapon (man hack) Anti-fatigue: an energy stimulant mixed into rations Body pack: armour, typically a combat vest Gene-code: genetic markers used to restrict access to combine equipment to certain individuals Reproduction credit: reward currency for both civil protection and the civic population Sterilised credit: reward currency for both civil protection and the civic populace Stim-boost: a drug that allows the user to get back into the fight quickly Stim-dose: a medical vial or syringe that injects healing properties Verdict: ammunition, gunfire (also refers to type of punishment issued) :: ORGANISATIONS :: Combine overwatch: the combine’s joint humanoid military and police forces on Earth Airwatch: an aerial support and surveillance branch Civil protection: a conscripted human law enforcement force Transhuman forces: a military ground force of modified human soldiers Synths: a conglomerate of modified species from various other worlds Civic populace: all humans designated as citizens within a combine-controlled city Industrial workforce: the combine’s humanoid civilian labor force Engineer core: a non-combatant technician unit that participates in the construction and maintenance of combine technology and other infrastructure Infestation control: a non-combatant HAZMAT service that specialises in cleaning up areas that have been infested with alien flora and fauna from Xescience core: a non-combatant human scientific division Security council: the puppet civilian body utilised to oversee minor civic affairs and spread combine-affiliated propaganda :: SOCIOSTABILITY :: Combine civil code: The “law” imposed by the combine civil authority Civic trust: the “trust” in a citizen to be law-abiding. Crimes are a breach of civic trust Loyalty check procedure: a performative test/instruction to gauge a citizen’s obedience/status Memory replacement: to receive a memory-altering procedure that washes away traumatic or negative sensations as part of the Transhuman conversion process Recall and recycle: withdraw from assigned objective and face disciplinary action Miscount: less or more citizens than to be accounted for Incursion: a hostile breach of a combine-controlled area Permissive inactive coercion: failure of an individual to report malcompliance in the community Viral interface bypass: unauthorised security systems breach or hack of a combine interface Socio-endangerment: actions that threaten the stability of an urban zone Malcompliance: disobedience or failure to cooperate Malignancy: organised disobedience or dissent against the combine Active signature imprint: a strong energy signature from a specified location Passive signature imprint: a faint energy signature from a specified location :: AREAS / ZONES :: Block: a small area in the city or a combine installation or outpost Canal block: the part of the canals that’s still within the city limits Control section: controlled area of significance Distribution block: storefront or commercial building Transit block: bus or train station area Polity: city or urban centre Production block: factory or warehouse area Residential block: housing area, usually consisting of multiple tenement buildings Workforce intake hub: one of the few official channels in or out of a city, often used to take in new citizens from other cities Deserviced area: an area that is no longer in service by the combine Repurposed area: an area that has been refurbished to serve a different purpose than its original Condemned zone: a restricted area, likely one that is no longer in use Industrial zone: an industrialised zone containing pre-occupation factories Infested zone: an area infested by alien presence containing parasites or Xen growth Outland zone: areas outside of combine-controlled cities Quarantine zone: restricted area infested by abundant alien presence Terminal restriction zone: no trespass under penalty of terminal prosecution 404 zone: an area where a riot or active communal unrest is currently ongoing Section: a large area in the city determining civil protection jurisdiction Sector: a very large region under combine control or jurisdiction Vector: the position of one point in space relative to another Central transport facility: a depot housing prisoners and/or stalkers Citadel: a combine megastructure that houses a bulk of the combine’s assets Hardpoint: an outlying structure or defensive position outside of a fortification Nexus: a command centre for the combine Overwatch’s forces in a given region High-priority region: an area with significant importance to the combine Non-patrol region: an area in which no effort is put into controlling :: PROTOCOLS AND POLICIES :: GENERAL CONDUCT Protection units are advised to refrain from engaging in non-essential discussions with the civic populace. This practice serves two purposes: firstly, it minimises external distractions that could hinder your duties or ability to assess threats effectively. Secondly, it helps maintain the confidentiality of your identity. Engaging in conversations only in stable areas while maintaining a safe distance from those nearby is important. If you feel that citizens are encroaching upon your personal space, assertively instruct them to step back. Anonymity: Maintaining anonymity of both your identity and your fellow protection units is an absolute requirement when interacting with the civic populace. Failing to uphold this mandate can lead to grave consequences for yourself, your family, and others. This principle extends to safeguarding all internal intelligence to prevent its unauthorised disclosure, as well as the distribution of anti-fatigue rations by anyone except protection units or stabilisation delegates. Autonomy: Dispatch, akin to a ‘judge,’ and protection units, acting as the ‘jury’ deliver convictions and sentences to criminals through radios. Dispatch can delegate authority to protection teams, allowing them to sentence or execute suspects, especially when quick responses are necessary. Dispatch may sometimes allow autonomous judgement, for units to sentence suspects at will. In periods of heightened critical civil insurrection, Dispatch may declare a judgement waiver in effect, allowing protection team leaders to sentence capital punishments at their discretion. This includes amputation and immediate amputation. Vocoders: All humanoid combine units must use vocal encoding devices to maintain their anonymity. Officers must ensure their vocoders are active and properly calibrated at all times. Repeated failure to utilise your issued vocoder may result in prompt de-servicement Civil Protection Mask - The mask of a Civil Protection Officer. The mask is actually not bulletproof in the slightest, and is not in any way protective from blunt force trauma or sharp objects. Inside the mask is a built-in radio system for communication, simple protection for Xen Spores and simple toxic gases, vocoder, internal HUD system, and a built in flashlight for visibility purposes. This is standard and usable for all ranks of the Civil Protection. Bulletproof Vest - A standard issued vest. Built to endure small calibre rounds from firearms such as the 9mm pistol. It won't last a second or provide any protection against anything of a higher calibre. Utility Belt - A belt that wraps around the CCA uniform's lower half. Allows for the attachment of various weapons, zip ties, and pouches for medical items. The voice of Overwatch, referred to by both Combine and Resistance forces as Overwatch, is an artificial intelligence that serves as the director of Overwatch forces. Characterized by it's robotic female voice, it serves to maintain Combine rule on Earth by maintaining several functions including: Surveillance: Overwatch maintains the Combine's surveillance network and reports any discrepancy to the system such as population miscounts or hostile activity. It is also connected to each unit in the field and receives information from them, even their deaths. Law enforcement: Overwatch maintains civil order by reminding citizens to comply with combine authority especially for those that break it. It can also deal out sanctions accordingly, such as reducing ration quotas for a district. Operation Control: Overwatch issues orders and direct the movement of units according to information it receives. When responding to a situation, it issues the directive and protocols to follow for units in the field. Soldiers can also respond to Overwatch and relay information in field such as enemy engagement or heavy casualties that feed the information. These functions are supported by the AI's extensive network that gives it near omnipresence, further reinforced by the loud broadcast of it's voice for both combine units and enemies to hear. It has also survived the destruction of structures like the Citadel, implying that it's network may span at a larger scale than the district level. :: OVERWATCH SOLDIERS(ECHO) :: The standard Overwatch soldier(Echo) uniform consists of body armour with a blue and grey camo pattern over their mid-sections with padding on their arms, thighs, and groin over a black-and-white striped undershirt. Several insignias can be found on their arm pads, likely signifying their position in the Combine regime. A pouch is equipped at their waist. Finally, their helmets cover their face entirely and have an appearance between an old Soviet PMG and PBF gas mask. A blue glow can be seen in their eyes, indicating electrical components within them as well. Soldiers that use the shotgun(Daggers) wear dark brown armor and undershirt with a red glow on their eyes instead of blue. They also wear the Elite emblem instead of the standard Overwatch emblem, showing a higher role. Soldiers stationed within Nova Prospekt wear dark blue armor with light blue padding and have a yellow glow to their eyes. The name "Nova Prospekt" is written on the right arm patch and the back of their body armor and the left arm patch bears the Combine logo. Nova Prospekt shotgun soldiers wear the same armor with a red glow on their eyes similar to their standard counterparts but do not have the Elite emblem. Extensive modification and reprogramming has removed most human traits from the Overwatch soldier to facilitate their function as soldiers for the Combine. They communicate fluently and exclusively with the extensive vocabulary of Combine military codes and maintain communication with each other and the Overwatch Voice at all times. Soldiers are an integral part of the Overwatch information network; they will regularly give status updates to the artificial intelligence, allowing the latter to respond accordingly and give out orders in response. Overwatch Elites are visually distinct from their regular counterparts. They have a black-white color scheme as compared to grey-black, wear a thicker plating and a larger neck guard which increases protection, and wear black jackboots instead of combat boots. They sport the elite insignia on their chest and on their left shoulder to signify their rank. On their right arm, a red sash that has no logo is present as well. Their most visually distinct appearance is their helmets which abandon the gas mask design used by Civil Protection and Overwatch soldiers and indicate further augmentation to the human body. Instead of two eyes, their helmets features a special visor with a large red ocular lens which functions as the eye, giving it a cyclopean apperance. Two miniature domes have been placed in the location of the ears as audio receptors. A single large filter is placed at the mouth instead of the filter and exhaust port seen in Overwatch soldiers. The overall appearance gives the Elite a less-human look compared to other human Combine units. he Combine Grunts are the most common type of soldiers found within the Overwatch Commando branch, usually seen in squads led by a Combine Ordinal with additional Combine Chargers and Combine Suppressors for support stationed within the Quarantine Zone. Grunts typically work in groups of two or three, rarely working alone. Unlike the rest of the Combine military, they are not wearing the standard-issue combine body armor, instead sporting a white hazmat-type bodysuit with relatively light armor. These light-armored bodysuits have the Combine insignia on their right sleeve and another insignia on their left, which appears to be a rectangular box with some letters below it, along with a circular line going around, which isn't the traditional insignia of standard Overwatch soldiers, most likely indicating that it is the symbol of the Overwatch commando branch. They are also sometimes equipped with an air canister, which provides oxygen to the wearer. Combine Grunts use the Pulse SMG as their primary weapon rather than the Standard Issue AR2 Pulse Rifle or the MP7. They are also equipped with a unique variant of the Combine Grenade. They are typically encountered throughout the Quarantine Zone in squads, working alongside Combine Chargers and/or Combine Suppressors under the tactical command of a Combine Ordinal. In combat, Combine Grunts will stay behind cover and fire from their position while other soldiers stay out in the open to pressure targets. At close range, they kick or strike them with the butt of their weapon. Some Grunts that wear bodypacks with air canisters strapped on their back are prone to explode if the red valve is shot. Although they are the easiest opponents to face, they can quickly overwhelm Alyx with their strength in numbers. Despite the light-armored appearance, their uniform provides resilient protection, capable of withstanding numerous headshots. Combine Ordinals are the commanding officers of the Overwatch Commando forces stationed within the Quarantine Zone, tasked with the protection and secrecy of The Vault. They have authority over other Combine forces and typically act as team or squad leaders in command, usually heading a squad of Combine Grunts alongside Combine Charger or Combine Suppressor units for support. They are visually distinct to Combine Grunts, and more similar to Combine Soldiers in standard-issue armor and gear. They wear a dark blue heavy fatigues-like outfit with body armor over the upper-body sections with paddings on their arms, thighs and knees. They carry a backpack with what appears to be a portable radio transceiver. Ordinals can deploy Manhacks to flush out hiding enemies. If an Ordinal is killed in combat, his remaining squad members will report to Overwatch over the radio that their leader is down, rendering their team tactics disordered and disorganized from then on. They carry what seems to be a predecessor of the Pulse Rifle, the IR1. (Although the Ordinal seen during the safehouse raid wields an SMG), Manhacks, and a pistol magazine on their vest, indicating they carry a sidearm, however they never use it. An Ordinal is seen equipped with a grenade in the announcement trailer however they are not equipped with them in-game. Their armament and armor make them threatening foes, but they are still weaker than Chargers or Suppressors. The Combine Charger are much larger compared to other units. They are distinguishable by their heavy padding giving them a more sizable look. A teal combine emblem is painted onto the right shoulder pad of the armor. Along with their armor, they also come equipped with a shotgun and a shield. Suppressors are similar to Combine Chargers in that they are very heavily armored; however, while Chargers attempt to get close to enemies, Suppressors stay at a distance and provide covering fire with the Pulse Minigun. Like Chargers, they are extremely hard to kill and can be a serious threat to an exposed or unready player. When the Suppressor sees an enemy, they will begin to fire and will stop at nothing until their target is dead. They will stand their ground from a distance, occasionally relocating in case of grenades or other immediate threats. However, they are vulnerable when reloading, and for a couple seconds between minigun bursts. Suppressors wear a very large flak jacket with the Combine logo on the left side of the chest. Their name comes from their strategy of keeping a target pinned ("suppressed") with their minigun while other soldiers (mainly Combine Grunts) flank them. All Overwatch soldiers follow similar code names with them having their code name and three numbers after. These code names are slightly different being: Sword Omega Echo King Hero Bulk Seek

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