Black Mesa Research Facility
- For other places called Black Mesa, see Black Mesa
The Black Mesa Research Facility is a fictional complex located in the desert of New Mexico, and is the setting for most of the events of the computer game Half-Life and its expansions.
Research and facilities
The Black Mesa facility is built over a decommissioned missile silo complex, which has been converted into a vast civilian institute for the research of every conceivable scientific discipline. Much of the work undertaken at the facility involves fairly standard scientific research, such as radiation, rocketry, theoretical physics, lasers, experimental propulsion, hydraulics, robotics, hydroelectricity, magnetism, and a very wide spectrum of research into chemistry and all manner of physics research. The facility also serves as a base for decommissioning nuclear weapons. In addition to this legitimate research, several secret projects are also carried out at Black Mesa, which are deliberately left vague and kept strictly secret. As the player progresses through the game, it becomes evident that a great deal of highly classified research is carried out, including the development of high-tech weapons and defence systems, and research into extra-dimensional travel, teleportation, and the study of extra-terrestrial creatures. 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. Black Mesa, as the same announcement states, is an equal opportunities employer.
The opening sequences of Half-Life and its expansions reveal much about the facility. Apart from hinting at the enormous size of Black Mesa, it is revealed that the facility is very high-security, as each employee is required to undergo a series of rigorous security checks as they travel around the complex. Black Mesa is dominated by a bewildering number of laboratories, test areas, and administration offices. These, along with cavernous storage facilities, take up most of the underground areas of the complex. Despite being located in the middle of a desert, the underground and indoors sections of Black Mesa are maintained at 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) at all times, enabled by Black Mesa's sprawling network of ventilation ducts.
As employees are required to live in the complex itself, Black Mesa contains many personnel facilities, including laundries, recreation and sports areas such as lounges, basketball courts, swimming pools, a video rental outlet (as seen in Blue Shift), fast food outlets, food courts, cafeterias, and at least one bar serving alcoholic beverages. The facility is well-populated by vending machines and rest areas. As Dr. Eli Vance reveals in Half-Life 2 that his daughter lived in Black Mesa with him, it can be inferred that employees' families reside in the complex as well. The complex may also have its own newspaper, The Mesa Times, although this may be an outside publication. The Blue Shift manual reveals further details about the facility. Barney Calhoun's duty rota is printed in French, suggesting that the facility recruits international personnel. Included in Calhoun's papers are several pages describing bizarre animals, claiming that the facility houses strange specimens from across the globe (they are, in fact, Xen aliens). 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 before. Possibly to deal with potential escaped specimens, or perhaps as a leftover from the facility's days as a military missile complex, Black Mesa contains many automated machine-gun turrets, which, when activated, will emerge from armoured cupolas and fire upon any moving object in its line of sight.
The logo of Black Mesa (seen on the map on the picture above) depicts a mesa mountain against the sky. The logo appears throughout the facility; on walls, windows, papers, coffee mugs, flags, radiation suits, and on the uniforms of security personnel. Interestingly, the logo also appears on the G-Man's briefcase.
Black Mesa's motto, as seen in the Blue Shift manual, is: Working to build a better future for all mankind.
Size
The physical range of the facility is, from an in-game perspective, nothing short of massive, large enough that the surface area is divided into both seven lettered sectors and upwards of nine numbered areas. Most of the facility is located underground, where vast concrete-lined caverns and old ICBM silos are linked by a network of electric trams. Black Mesa is apparently self-sufficient, housing its own ventilation, plumbing, sewage, and power generation systems including a hydroelectric dam and multiple types of electrical generators and reactors. The facility is filled with all kinds of laboratories and testing areas, most of which contain very high-tech equipment. The complex also features multi-story car parks (complete with Black Mesa four-wheel drive SUVs), arsenals of nuclear and conventional weapons, a local electric rail transport network, laboratories housing the latest equipment for every conceivable high-tech scientific discipline (including a powerful anti-mass spectrometer), and even its own rocket launch site. Black Mesa is kept supplied by a rail link to New Mexico. It can be inferred that the facility is relatively old considering that some areas are described by in-game characters as "old" or "abandoned." Several areas of the complex are badly run-down despite the obvious fact that they are still in use. The surface of Black Mesa features more modern construction.
Employees
The facility is populated by two main groups - the "science team," and the Black Mesa Security Force, along with various other inhabitants including maintenance personnel and employees' families (as stated by Dr. Eli Vance in Half-Life 2). The science team, which conduct experiments and run Black Mesa, appear to be recruited largely from academic backgrounds. Members of the science team are dressed in blue shirts, white trousers, white lab coats, and ties (a common complaint amongst the scientists). The Black Mesa Security Force is composed of security guards dressed in blue, and equipped with metal helmets, kevlar body armour, and pistol sidearms. All facility personnel wear identity badges, and the automated tram announcement at the beginning of Half-Life reminds staff that they must display their badges at all times. As Blue Shift demonstrates, tensions in the facility can sometimes run high. As a result, scientists and security guards frequently get on each others' nerves and can be surprisingly rude to each other (though this provides much of the humour in the Half-Life series).
"The Black Mesa Incident"
The events of the Black Mesa Incident are triggered by a seemingly routine experiment carried out by the Anomalous Materials team in Sector C. When research associate Gordon Freeman pushes a crystalline specimen into the beam of an over-charged anti-mass spectrometer, a resonance cascade occurs, which triggers severe structural damage to the entire facility. In addition to this, dimensional seams are ripped open, forcibly teleporting intelligent creatures and wildlife from the bizarre world Xen into Black Mesa. The confused Xen creatures begin attacking the facility's personnel, prompting Black Mesa's inhabitants to hide or try and flee the facility by any means available. Soon after the resonance cascade, soldiers from the Hazardous Environment Combat Unit (HECU) appear in Black Mesa, under orders to cover up the incident by killing the Xen aliens and silencing the civilian personnel. Whilst the soldiers are at first successful, their advantages are gradually lost as they come under incessant attack by Xen creatures, the Black Mesa Security Force, and Gordon Freeman. Helped by Black Mesa's personnel and protected by his HEV suit, Freeman is able to fight his way across the facility, killing many members of the HECU and destroying a large amount of military hardware. As the Xen creatures gain an advantage over the military, the HECU evacuates Black Mesa as highly-trained Black Ops appear, who try to silence the remnants of Black Mesa's personnel and abandoned HECU survivors. The Black Ops, though, sustain heavy casualties from the newly-arrived Race X creatures. Throughout the earlier stages of the incident, several members of Black Mesa's science team, operating out of the relatively undamaged Lambda Complex, attempt to close the dimensional rifts between Black Mesa and Xen by launching a geo-stationary satellite into orbit. Ultimately, Dr. Freeman reaches the fortified Lambda Complex and, after bringing Black Mesa's nuclear reactor online, is teleported to Xen.
The Black Mesa facility itself is badly damaged during the resonance cascade and the resulting Xen invasion, and sustains severe damage during the military occupation. Although the ultimate fate of Black Mesa is unknown, it appears that most of the facility is destroyed by a nuclear device at the end of Half-Life: Opposing Force.
Whilst most of Black Mesa's personnel are killed in the facility itself, several members of the science team and security force survive the incident and escape. Dr. Gordon Freeman is teleported to Xen by the Lambda team and does not return to Black Mesa, instead being employed by the mysterious G-Man and put into stasis. Dr. Wallace Breen, the facility's Administrator, escapes by unknown means. Dr. Isaac Kleiner, a member of the Lambda team, also escapes by unknown means. Dr. Eli Vance, a member of both the Anomalous Materials team and the Lambda team, is badly injured by a Xen animal but ultimately escapes, carrying with him his young daughter Alyx. Security officer Barney Calhoun and three Lambda team scientists escape in a Black Mesa SUV relatively early in the Incident. In Half-Life: Decay, Dr. Colette Green, Dr. Gina Cross, and Dr. Richard Keller escape before the Black Ops' nuclear device is detonated. It remains unknown if any other personnel escaped Black Mesa.
It is unclear whether or not the actions of the Lambda team, in particular their launching of the satellite, actually helped to close the dimensional rifts. Ironically, it is possible that the satellite actually worsened the effects of the incident; it has been repeatedly theorised that the satellite provided spatial co-ordinates to Combine forces on Xen, informing the Combine of Earth's location and prompting the resulting invasion. This, however, cannot be verified.
Featured areas
Black Mesa contains a bewildering array of laboratories, storage areas, personnel facilities, and abandoned sectors. Some of the facilities encountered in Black Mesa include:
- Training Facility (Sector A) - Encountered during the game's tutorial, Sector A contains physical training facilities for HEV personnel and security officers. Demonstrations are provided by high-tech holographic figures, whilst participants are constantly monitored by training officers. The Hazard Course appears to be built over old, disused industrial sectors of the facility.
- Test Labs & Control Facilities (Sector C) - One of many laboratory complexes, Sector C is Dr. Freeman's workplace. This underground area is fitted with a large test chamber built inside an old missile silo, ionization chambers, and several offices containing high-speed computers. Sector C also houses an HEV suit storage facility and laser research areas.
- Coolant Reserve Facility (Sector B) - The reserve complex stores industrial coolant for Black Mesa's thousands of computers and machines. It is first seen by Gordon Freeman when he tries to escape from Sector C, and is forced to take a route through the coolant facility. Barney Calhoun also encounters the complex in Blue Shift, when he is forced to activate the old generators for the disused teleporter labs.
- Administration (Sector D) - Seen early in the game, Sector D houses administration offices, materials storage areas, and personnel facilities such as cafeterias, kitchens with large cold-storage freezers, recreation areas, and employee lounges. Although parts of the Sector D Administration Complex are modern, above-ground suites, the areas passed through by Freeman are decidedly older. The low ceilings and lack of windows suggests that much of Sector D is based deep underground. Judging by the shabby appearance and depressing feel of these subterranean offices, it can be assumed that the administration suite is a relatively old part of the Black Mesa facility.
- High Security Materials Storage - This large storage area is encountered early in the game. It is comprised of several large concrete storage chambers fitted with fire-proof blast doors.
- Hydroelectric Dam - Part of the Sector G Hydro-Electric complex, the dam is Black Mesa's primary power source, responsible for providing electric power to the whole facility. The dam is heavily damaged by military bombardment during Opposing Force.
- Biodome Complex (Sector E) - A very high-security and high-tech section of the facility, the Biodome houses a variety of laboratories and test chambers for experiments on captured Xen creatures. Located deep underground and sealed off with heavy steel blast doors, the Biodome also features artificial habitats for aliens, complete with observation areas. It appears that areas of the Biodome are still under construction when the resonance cascade occurs. Based on statements by surviving scientists after the resonance cascade, and the disturbing appearance of some Sector E laboratories, it seems that much of the biological research is unethical. Following the resonance cascade, many of the alien specimens escape and turn on the trapped Biodome personnel.
- High Altitude Launch Complex - Reached via the decommissioned rail system, this facility houses the launching equipment for satellite delivery rockets. A converted ICBM silo provides storage for a large rocket. Dr. Gordon Freeman launched one of the delivery rockets from here after the resonance cascade.
- Area 7 Recreational Facilities - Whilst not seen in the game, a map of Black Mesa's tram routes in Blue Shift mentions Area 7. As Black Mesa's employees are required to live in the facility itself, it can be assumed that Area 7 contains comforts and diversions such as sports areas, cafeterias, and other personnel facilities.
- Infirmary - At the beginning of Opposing Force, Adrian Shephard wakes up in the damaged Black Mesa infirmary, which appears to still be under the control of Black Mesa personnel, who are caring for wounded soldiers and studying zombies under the protection of security officers. The infirmary is equipped with CAT and MRI scanners, which are still functional. Some areas of the infirmary, though, have been abandoned due to parasitic infestation, and have been blocked off with furniture and hospital beds.
- Experimental Propulsions Lab Silo (Silo D) - Located deep underground in a cavernous and deserted sector, this facility uses an old rocket silo which has been converted into a propulsion test laboratory. Two other silos house the power generator and fuel/oxygen transfer facilities. Following the resonance cascade, the blast pit is inhabited by a bizarre and terrifying sentient alien plant, which is able to catch prey by listening for movement.
- Disused Rail System - Spreading deep underground is the old Black Mesa rail system, which is apparently decommissioned and mostly abandoned, judging by the state of most facilities. However, some areas appear to still be in use, as power generators are working, and the old trams are still on the tracks. Most of the old rail system, though, has been replaced with a high-tech modern electric tram network. The modern tram system is administered by the Black Mesa Transit Authority.
- Lambda Complex (Sector F) - A very high-security area, the Lambda complex houses Black Mesa's nuclear reactor and secret teleportation labs. The complex is fortified with concrete ditches and walls, and can be fully sealed off with very thick reinforced steel blast doors. The Lambda complex apparently survives serious damage from the initial resonance cascade, and becomes the last refuge for surviving personnel fighting off the aliens. It houses the Lambda Reactor Core, taking up 4 levels of the Lambda Complex, and is used to power the Teleportation Laboratories and the Main Displacement Field Generator
- Section A-17 Prototype Laboratories - Revealed in Blue Shift by Dr. Rosenberg, these abandoned labs lie deep underground and house early prototypes of teleporter machinery. By the time the game is set, these labs have been boarded up and concealed by new construction, even though they still contain a lot of high-tech equipment. A sign implies this was once part of Sector A.
- Train Yards - A large hub of railway lines meets at the Freight yards, which also act as a storage facility for the vast quantities of materials shipped in to Black Mesa. A rail link to the New Mexico civilian rail network ensures that Black Mesa is kept well-supplied.
- Hydrofauna Studies Laboratories - Seen in both Half-Life and Opposing Force, these labs are part of the Biodome complex and allow scientists to observe the aquatic life of Xen. A large flooded chamber in the lower levels of Black Mesa holds an Ichthyosaur and shark cage. A damaged laboratory in Opposing Force contains glass-fronted tanks and various observation areas inside the tanks, reached via teleporters. It appears that much of the Hydrofauna complex is damaged during the resonance cascade, flooding several areas and releasing specimens.
- Dormitories (Level 3) - Seen only in the PlayStation 2 version of the game, this area contains living quarters for facility personnel, along with a library, a swimming pool, and various other recreational facilities. This is the area where Gordon Freeman lived while working at Black Mesa. His suite can be explored, and indicates that the average dormitory room is furnished with a bed, entertainment centre (with television) and a small bathroom with shower.
- Military Facilities - In addition to various defence mechanisms around the facility, including automated machine-gun turrets and bomb-proof blast doors, there is substantial evidence suggesting that a military base or installation is located on or near the Black Mesa compound. The soldiers in Opposing Force are able to storm the facility within minutes of the resonance cascade, whilst Black Mesa itself contains a nuclear warhead storage facility, a mechanized infantry repair bay, several arsenals full of military equipment, and facilities accommodating aircraft and tanks. A military helicopter accompanied by soldiers is also seen in the opening tram rides of Half-Life and Blue Shift. An additional suggesting factor is the clear fact that the facility was once a missile silo complex.
- Level 1 Main Facility Entrance - Never physically seen within any of the Half-Life games, the Level 1 Main Facility Entrance heavily implies that it used as a central entrance checkpoint for all the facility personnel. The facility was only seen written on a tram route's picture near the Sector G Main Access Lift, in Half-Life: Blue Shift.
- Ordinance Storage Facility - A vast storage facility, which takes up a considerable amount of space on Black Mesa's surface, the facility is used primarily for the storage of explosives ranging from small arms ammunition to nuclear missiles.
- Track Control Facility (Sector E) - A moderately sized facility that joins with the old Black Mesa rail system, this facility provides the power needed to activate and run the rail system. Two generators are located at the bottom of the facility which runs power to the rail line.
- Area 3 Security Facilities - Located just down the rail line from the Area 3 Dormitories, Area 3 Security Facilities is the central security checkpoint for Area 3 and Sector C. The facility is adjacent to the High-Energy Particle Labs, and encompasses a central lobby, personnel facilities, video surveillance, and an armoury.
- Black Mesa Central Complex - Not very much of this area of the Black Mesa Facility is seen in any of the Half Life games. It is, however, presumed to be the central command point for the Facility, where computer scientists monitor the day-to-day activities within the Facility. It has also been assumed that the Administrator's office is located here. The Central Complex runs off from Lambda Bunker.
- Canal System (Sector G) - Possibly located at the deepest point at the Facility, the canal system is the main transport system for waste processing that is soon shipped off to the Waste Processing Plant. The canal system features a wide range of ventilation ducts, canals, waste processing, and runs off from the Freight Warehouse on the surface. Not very much of this facility, it would seem, was damaged during the Black Mesa Incident.
- Black Mesa Waste Processing - Visited in both Half-Life and Opposing Force, the Black Mesa Waste Processing is the central Facility for the containment of biohazardous materials and chemicals within waste-products and used water. During Opposing Force, one part of this facility houses the Race X creature known as the "Pit Worm".
- Area 8 Topside Dormitories - One of the many topside dormitories on the Black Mesa surface is the Area 8 Topside Dormitories. A transit system begins not too far ahead of the apartments, with the Black Mesa East Personnel Entrance a little up north. Barney Calhoun lived in this area.
- Area 9 Transit Hub - The Area 9 Transit Hub, which is located in the Base's sub-levels, acts as one of the many transit security checkpoints throughout the Black Mesa Research Facility. Trams that pass through the Area 9 Transit Hub can be rerouted to both the Sector E and C transit lines.
- Freight Warehouse - Located on the surface of the Facility, the Freight Warehouse is another one of the many storage facilities in the Black Mesa Facility. The Freight Warehouse stores Level 4 clearance documents, materials, and equipment, that are shipped in or transported out of Black Mesa by the New Mexico Railway, which is accessible from the Freight Yard.
- High Energy Particle Labs - Seen briefly at the beginning of Half-Life: Blue Shift, this sector appears to be directed at research into high energy particles, with possible weapons applications.
- Advanced Biological Research Laboratory - The Advanced Biological Reserach Laboratory is a secondary-level sector which doubles as the mains lobby for the Biodome Complex. It is located on and below the surface, situated near the Sector G Hydroelectric Dam. The first level acts as a biological research lab, where scientists conduct experiments, exploratory surgery, and dissections on live Xen animals, as well as observing their natural habitats, diet, characteristics, and survival skills. The second level is used as an experimental weapon reserach lab, which is used for the development of high-tech weaponry, possibly directed at the production of weapons tailor-made to bypass the defences of Xen creatures.
- Rocket Test Labs (Silo E) - Located in Sector E and accessed via the disused railway system, are the Rocket Test Labs, including Silo E, where the Lambda Satellite is housed. During the Black Mesa Incident, Dr. Gordon Freeman launches the satellite into a geo-stationary orbit, as part of an effort to close the dimensional rifts plaguing the Facility.
- Gamma Complex - Next to the Lambda Complex, the Gamma Complex is one of the most secretive and advanced sectors of Black Mesa, and may be a sub-division of the Biodome Complex. Gamma sector houses a number of quarantine laboratories, which are used to study the biological processes and physical properties of live Xen organisms. The Gamma Complex also houses generators for the Prototype Displacement Beacon, which generates strong displacement fields and opens miniature dimensional rifts between Earth and Xen, for the safe and easy collection of alien life. It was used by Dr. Richard Keller in Half-Life: Decay to stop the effects of the resonance cascade and produce a "resonance reversal."
- Area 2 Satellite Operations - This area is next to the topside Sector A Training Facility and houses storage areas and a large satellite uplink dish. Seen only in Half-Life: Decay when Dr. Colette Green and Gina Cross escort Dr. Rosenberg to contact the military in order to clean up the aliens.
- Black Mesa Air Control Building This building is adjacent a large airstrip, and is used to monitor and direct activity in the airspace above Black Mesa. Special clearance codes must be entered at this building before any rocket launch can take place in other areas.
Inspiration
The US Military Area 51 research facilities at Nellis Air Force Range in the Nevada desert could have possibly served as inspiration for the Black Mesa facility.
Additional screenshots
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