Serious [WIP] COTA Logistics.

[aphoticDeception]

Spoiler: Sources

https://nebulous.cloud/threads/overwatch-important-information.27609/
https://half-life.fandom.com/wiki/Overwatch_Soldier
https://half-life.fandom.com/wiki/Overwatch
https://half-life.fandom.com/wiki/Overwatch_Elite
https://half-life.fandom.com/wiki/Combine_Guard
https://half-life.fandom.com/wiki/Combine_Synth_Elite_Soldier
https://half-life.fandom.com/wiki/Combine_Super_Soldier
https://nebulous.cloud/threads/overwatch-artificial-intelligence.2802/
https://nebulous.cloud/threads/sol-3-a-timeline-of-events.35688/
https://nebulous.cloud/threads/trans-human-loyalism-act-of-2012.8372/

https://nebulous.cloud/threads/passed-proselyte-minimalist-augmentation-bill-2017.25112/

https://nebulous.cloud/threads/passed-unethical-human-experimantion-act.27369/

Image Credits-


Thanks to MedicManTom and Slim, as well as Hoovie and any other key creators for assistance.

So, this thread is very much a work in progress, but is essentially me compiling as much info about the combine overwatch I can from both canon and the server's lore, as well as putting my own spin on things. This will be largely technical, with some story sprinkled in. Furthermore, sorry for any wonky formatting/image sizes. With all that in mind, let's begin.

PART 1- HISTORY AND TIMELINE
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While a complete history of the Combine Overwatch as a presence on Earth is difficult to pin down, we can come to some consensuses about some general times. What follows is a noncanon nonnecessarilylorefriendly timeline of Nebulous events relating to the organization of the Overwatch. This timeline will be updated as necessary. The format is as follows-

IC DATE - Event Name/Description - (OOC DATE IF APPLICABLE)

2012​

Sometime May 2012- Black Mesa Incident.
Sometime July 2012- Seven Hour War. The first sight of any Combine military presence, it is almost certain that no transhumans were present in this engagement, as the augmentations, chemicals, and memory replacement would likely all have to be purpose built. It was likely largely Synths, most likely resembling creatures like the cut Combine Super Soldier, as well as the more traditional striders. After this event, UU is established on earth.
Septemberish 2012- Dr Wallace Breen issues a mandate for soldiers of the nations of Earth to come forth to undergo transhumanization. It takes a month, but the first stable soldier is indeed created. It likely resembles the cut Combine Guard, messy and unrefined. Conversion en masse begins.
Sometime Later 2012- The Transhuman Loyalist act is passed in City 8, calling people to volunteer for transhumanization.
Probably December 2012- The Overwatch AI is converted for use with humanity.

2013​

Januaryish 2013- The Dispatch AI is created.
Augustish 2013- The UIL is formed first.

2014​

Januaryish 2014- The APC is created and sees widespread use.

2015​

Julyish 2015- The OTA as we know them today are perfected, and become the standard transhuman infantry.

2018​

Sometime 2018- "The Transhuman Crisis", an event that sees a surge in recruitment to the Transhuman components, often with less than desirable results.

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PART 2- Medical Procedures.

In canon, we have next to 0 information given to us about the specific surgical procedures, so I did my research, and this is an approximation of my take on the surgical procedures specifically for OWS units.
NOTE: Extra super duper big thank you to @Gino :3 For his help with this part. He gave the procedures some real world context and used big ol' science words.

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Feeding Ports- 1 Inch Radius, coated in a thin layer of carbon based synthetic skin. Essentially a large IV port that allows nutrients and immunosuppressants to be delivered directly into the bloodstream, that target MHC receptors, as well as carbon based substrates that enzymes from immune responses can bond to. The nutrients injected are a cocktail of various proteins, vitamins, as well as energy dense saccharides and carbohydrates.


The surgery is as follows- first, a heavy dosage of immunosuppressants are applied to the unconscious patient. The entire Intestinal tract, stomach, testes/ovaries, and any external reproductive organs are removed. A tracheostomy is performed, and another metal port is installed on the trachea, with integrated air filters. Then, the Feeding port is installed on the left side of the midriff abdominal area, connected to the abdominal aorta. Electrical switches are installed in the spine, and special chemicals are applied that permanently damage the C fibers, inhibiting pain responses. The eyes are also completely transplanted, and alterations are made to the frontal lobe and amygdala. Finally, bones are grafted, sometimes replaced with titanium.

After the subject wakes, intense gene therapy begins to stimulate lactic acid to enhance musculature, production of calcium is increased, as well as artificial growth hormones. Immunosuppression continues for several weeks after the procedure, until the unit begins active duty. Changes to the nervous system are calibrated properly. The surgeries yield approximately a 10% mortality rate due to complications. After this, however, the surviving units are fitted for armor, receive training and memory replacement, and deployed.
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The process for a stalker, if you can’t guess, is a bit different. With such a complete butchering of the human anatomy, it’s really hard to pin what exactly is done, but we can be certain of some things. Note that this isn’t going to be as technical as the OWS guide cause A) I don’t feel like it and B) I don’t feel like it.


-So, it is obvious that amputations are performed on all four limbs, which are replaced with crude metal prosthetics. A face mask is also implanted onto the face through an unknown mean, and it gives them lasers for some reason. The discoloration of the skin could be a result of little to no sunlight combined with some sort of vitamin deficiency, and of course another feeding port is placed on the creature, digestive and reproductive system removed, and likely extensive alterations to the brain, and maybe vocal cords in order to produce the inhuman screeches stalkers are infamous for.

PART 3- Training​

This part was one of the most difficult to actually properly nail down, but we can divine some things about how the OTA are most likely trained based on a combination of their equipment, roles in combat, and the actual behavior we see of them in HL2 and the episodes. To begin, they are a traditional land army. Though recruitment, weaponry, many tactics, support, enemies, etc are all non conventional, they still follow many of the norms of any well funded army. As such, we can expect OWS rank and file to be trained in things such as-

• Basic Hand to hand.
• Weapon Maintenance
• Marksmanship
• Proper Conduct
• Basic Combat Life Saving
• Basic Driving
• PT (No shit)

However, the many nonstandard parts of being an OWS troop then arise. What about necrotics? Search and destroy or recovery missions? Offworld assignments? Exogens? The Combine soldiers have to equipped to deal with these threats and others. As such, they may be given additional lessons including but not limited to the following-

• Basic Necrotic Biology
• Basic HAZMAT training.
• Combat in low gravity/orbital situations.
• Operation of various restrictors (Most notably thumpers.)
• More advanced close combat training.

And finally, there are many specialized varieties of OWS, with skills and training that would be more appropriate to their disciplines. These are fairly simple, such as an overwatch sniper receiving advanced marksmanship, spotting, recon, survival, and ballistic mathematics training, a CQC soldier receiving training in breaching tactics, the use of a shotgun, etc. In addition, it is likely that EOW have undergone some form of special operations training.

Though these things are all well and good, what about the things that are specific to being a transhuman? Their augments are an inherent difference to the average soldier today, and as such specialized training must be given. For this, we could look at things such as-

• Extensive memory replacement
• Calibration of Augmentations/learning to work with new strength.
• Training to work with overwatch AI/dispatch.
• Specific Field Discipline
• Special group tactics.

I really have to apologize, as this section is with certainty the most bullshit one. However, it should eventually improve as I consult with people. I hope it wasn't too hard to sit through, and please feel free to criticize/question/comment on/help improve/roast it below or in my PMs.

PART 4- Weapons, Armor, Equipment.​

For this section, I will attempt to keep things limited to the BDU and standard kit of your everyday OWS. Going into the specializations and the permutations in their armor and weaponry would prove redundant and unnecessary, in my opinion. With that being said, these are also some rough estimates. However, we can give a pretty good estimate as to the standard gear of a soldier as Synthetic Leather, Steel toed Boots. Heavy Duty Nylon Pants, Shirt, with circulation of air. Heavy Kevlar/Steel Vest, Steel plating on arms, knees. Custom Built helmet With lit lenses featuring HUD, integrated radio, vocoder, gas filter. Total weight, 90 lbs. Gloves have built in biosignal readers, etc. This is very incomplete (as with most of the guide) and in the future I hope to do some specific weight calculations and figure that out in conjunction with the augmentation guides. As for weapons, the Hekler and Koch MP7 submachine gun is the favored weapon of many OWS, as many are not entrusted with an OSIPR. The MP7 weighs approximately 4.2 lbs, fires HK 4.6*30mm rounds, and fires with an approximate muzzle velocity of 2,411ft/s, and is effective up to approximately 219 yards. It’s a solid little weapon to be certain, but it truly does not have shit on the Overwatch Standard Issue Pulse Rifle. This item is going to be another WIP, and I have to take some liberties on it, but we can say some things. First, the ammunition fired is actually dark energy. Thus, the weapon is unlikely to have kickback as the ammunition has no mass (even though this is not reflected in the games, so either the ammunition has a component of mass or HL2 didn’t take the time to rigorously analyze every detail.) This makes it a highly effective and accurate weapon at range. In addition, it has the ability to launch a “Ball” of dark energy, disintegrating anything it touches. I’d go more into dark energy, but that is so beyond my scope of knowledge that even if I googled what I’d need, I’d almost surely piss off some theoretical physicist. However, basically it is a theoretical “Anti-energy” that is hard to detect and would likely react violently with conventional energy. The weapon is also often fitted with a biolock that, should its intended user die or lose the weapon, renders it inoperable. This is useful for ensuring it does not get into the wrong hands. There are other weapons and stuff but ehhhh.

PART 5- Statistics of Deployment​

There comes a part in The Mys’ COTA megathread. A part with so little knowledge about the subject, both in server and in the games, that it is believed that the entire section was fabricated through an ancient pagan ritual. A part believed to be so full of speculation and bullshit that it has become “anti-canon.” These things were all just rumors. That is, until today. Welcome, everybody, to the statistics of deployment.

As previously stated, we have almost no way of knowing exactly how many active duty units are around in the Combine Overwatch. However, with the help of some folks (@key and @Hoovie in particular) I’ve been able to nail down a KIND OF ok number for our reasons. So, let’s begin.

In total, we can assume there are about 10 million active duty overwatch functionaries globally across all cities. These are likely to be most concentrated either in extremely unstable areas or political centers, such as C78 and C08 respectively. In these areas, there is a strong need for a military presence, so recruitment is likely way higher and not as regulated. Potentially, there are tens of thousands of new transhumans per day. Many of these are processed in facilities like Nova Prospekt, but some may be outsourced offworld for augmentation. These soldiers take a couple weeks to months to train, and are then deployed, keeping numbers pretty stable to compensate for losses. However, in C17, there are likely less than ten thousand active duty OWS due to the transhuman crisis. However, this is slowly being rectified. Of the approximately 10 million active duty Overwatch soldiers, I would say less than 30,000 are EOW, maybe 1,000,000 are CQC specialists, and maybe 500,000 are trained snipers. To complement them are probably around 200,000 APCs. If these numbers seem large, they are. However, you have to realize the combine is a multidimensional entity with massive resources and an equally massive population to control. As a global government, they are in charge of keeping the peace in every city globally, as well as putting down insurgencies abroad. As such, they must field a truly massive army. OK OK WE ARE DONE WITH THE BULLSHIT FOR NOW!

PART 6- Other Synthetics​

So I have talked at length about the transhuman element of the combine overwatch and empire as a whole, and touched on stalkers. However, they are only half of the puzzle. In this section I will be doing my best to take a look at the various other synths we find ingame.

To begin, let us speak of the Striders. If you can’t tell, they aren’t human. Shocking, I know. However, if not humans, what are they? Well, we can make some assumptions and important observations based on their designs. First, they are tripedal. Second, they have slow metabolism and cell activity due to their massive size. Third, much of their body is covered either by a strong chitinous material or a synthetic armor. Fourth, they possess combine weaponry that they can fire. This is attached to their body, and fired through an unknown mechanism. However, my inference is that it is attached with synthetic skin and muscle, and then linked to the nervous system, allowing the organism direct control. As for the slow metabolism, this is to keep the creature from overheating, and means it can use less energy. We are not certain that striders naturally have 3 legs, but by the way they appear to be oriented and implemented, it is a safe bet. It is hard to tell, but I haven’t observed any eyes on the strider’s body, so either they are small, I am blind, or there is an alternate primary way of discerning location. Regarding armor, however, I am fairly certain that it is mainly combine implemented, due to the markings put on and the general strength and resilience of the creature.
[STILLWIPTHOSTILLWIPTHOSTILLWIPTHOSTILLWIPTHO PROBABLY WONT BE TOO MUCH LONGER THAN THIS BECAUSE SYNTHS ARENT THE FOCUS OF THIS THREAD MAYBE ILL MAKE THEIR OWN BUT ALSO WIPWIPWIPW]

PART 7- Other Information.
[WIPWIPWIPWIWPWIP]

PART 8- Overwatch and Dispatch AIs.
[WIP WIP WIP WIP WIP WIP]

PART 9- AIRWATCH, APCs, other equipment.









PART 10- CONCLUSION

[WIPWIPWIPWIP]


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[aphoticDeception]

Thanks again to @Gino :3 For like the 20th time but whatever.

 

[aphoticDeception]

So I am updating this guide, but if you guys think you have anything to contribute whether it be regarding something I missed in the official lore of either the server or the games, or some of your own expertise on any part of the guide please feel free to comment or DM me. I put a lotta work into this and I want it to be as perfect as possible. Thanks :)
(Also special thanks to Hoovie and Key again.)

 

[aphoticDeception]

Another big thanks, this time to @Erkor for his excellently composed article on OTA emergency protocol.