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One upon a time, the Combine Empire invaded the Vortigaunts' home world and enslaved them.
The Vortigaunts fled to Xen, a border world that can be used to cross dimensions, and
resided there until the events of Black Mesa.
On Earth, Black Mesa is experimenting with teleportation technology with crystals retrieved
from Xen. Their competitor, Aperture Science, is also developing portal technology aboard
various facilities including the Borealis, a research vessel that mysteriously vanishes
probably due to portal experimentation.
Years later, Gman submits specific test samples to Black Mesa to be used for experimentation
and triggers The Resonance Cascade, a cataclysmic quantum event that creates an inter-dimensional
rift between Earth and Xen. The Vortigaunts, viewing the rift as an escape from the Combine,
pass through to Earth along with other alien species. The Gman takes interest in Gordon
Freeman as he demonstrates proficiency in dealing with and dispatching Xen beings and
U.S. troops alike. Black Mesa is eventually destroyed by nuclear detonation to quell the
incident and Gman gives Freeman an ultimatum: work for him or death. Freeman relents and
Gman puts him into a stasis until he is needed again.
The events at Black Mesa did not go unnoticed by The Combine Empire and they set their sights
for Earth. The Combine invade Earth and install the Overwatch to enslave the human race. The
Gman pulls Freeman out of stasis and he eventually leads the resistance to the downfall of the
Citadel in City 17. The Combine decide to destroy the Citadel to create a super-portal
in order to send a transmission to their home world requesting reinforcements. Freeman intercepts
a second transmission detailing the coordinates of the lost Borealis vessel and the resistance
eventually shuts down the super-portal, leading us to the events of Episode 3.
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