HECU Marines

Black Mesa Archive Suggestion Box
#1

Hey guys, long time visitor and fan, finally decided to sign up. I just have a few minor suggestions for my favorite enemy AI to this day, the HECU Marines. As a US Marine myself, I’ve always thought they were the most badass, and intelligent AI. When most other enemies would stay put when you retreated o find health, the Marines would follow you and ruin your day.

But like the original HL, there are some small suggestions for added realism and gameplay.

1: Marines dont wear berets, they wear the 8-point covers (hats). If there could be a model of those, that would be epic.
2: Adding the weapon of the element of the USMC fireteam i usually fill, the SAW gunner.
3: Marines yelling “Doc!” or “Corpsman!” instead of medic (Marines don’t have medics, they’re Navy Corpsmen)
4: Oakley sunglasses, perfect fit for the desert-bound HECU Marine
5: Keep doing an amazing job :slight_smile:

#2

Good suggestions but make sure you check your info first.

#3

While you do have legitimate suggestions for marines, the HECU aren’t marines. They’re (probably) an elite special forces squad that draws from all the different streams of the military, including the marines, navy, air force, and regular army. Shepard was a marine before he joined, but it was never stated in the official canon that he still was in his current assignment. The HECU being their own force was a conscious decision by Valve, (they were never referred to as marines in HL) and it let them use whatever equipment they wanted. BM is going for this as well.

#4

I thought the covers aren’t worn in the field…?

#5

Actually in OP4 soldiers yell “Lets go Marines!” a lot. OP4 still had Medics though, and Medics are called for when you hurt a Soldier in HL. VOX is also heard directing Medical Teams to casualties.

#6

Neither are berets, but I think they’re still great. And yeah, I was running under the assumption that they were Marines from opposing force, and them yelling “Hey Marines!” and what not. I just think it would be an awesome touch, even though I know that its not likely.

#7

I’ve always seen the opposing force references to be one of the non-valve approved additions by gearbox. Anyway, whether or not the HECU are marines or not, they’re their own specialized unit, and the only addition the developers are adding that wasn’t in HL is medics.

#8

OP4 is not canon, etc etc etc. I could swear that I posted in this thread yesterday; did he make another one with the same subject? Anyway, whether you think OP4 is canon or not (it’s not), the devs have “largely ignored” Gearbox’s contributions to the HL universe.

#9

Well I do think OP4 could quite easily be cannon.

I’ve always thought that the majority of the Marines at Black Mesa were simply marines, whilst there was a specialist unit sent to secure the ‘alien’ areas ( HECU ).

Anyway, good suggestions. Although I always like to see some soldiers with berrets in my games, simply because they look awesome.

#10

Dear god. OP4 has been officially announced to be non-canon AND canon at the same time.

Regarding berets… Mind you, I’m not that familiar with US Marines or the US army, or any branch of the US military force really. However, berets are widely used by many military forces across the world. One example would be the Swedish army that wears green berets if they are paratroopers, and black berets if they are allowed to use lethal force upon civilians abroad.

The use of berets are usually to represent status, mission or rank since it offers no protection and very little camouflage. It would seem logical that the HECU would fashion berets since they are a private military force sent in to eliminate a threat with no regard to the lives of civilians.

#11

Wait… so HECU is a PMC?

That actually makes a ton of sense.

#12

I would reckon they are. But it’s merely an assumption based on observation. But I might be severely mistaken.

#13

I think the HECU are a little over-equipped to be just a PMC. Not only that but an Operation on the scale of Black Mesa would cost them billions. All the uniforms and vehicles they own, and lose, would be a tremendous expense.

Oh, and in Half-Life the Apache Helicopters clearly say “ARMY” on the back, and VOX Announcements refer to themselves as the Military.

#14

The general consensus is that the HECU is a specialized force with members from all branches of the US Military.

#15

Everybody got his own theory 'bout them. It doesn’t help either when HL make them look like Army dudes and OP4 as Marines.
But one thing is sure, they’re not PMCs because they belong to the US military (and in 1998-2000, PMCs weren’t common outside South Africa).

#16

HECU came from OP4, so we can assume their being marines is also carried over.

#17

I kinda like the PMC idea though- I’d always thought the Army/Marines/HECU response was a bit overkill. “Kill everyone on the base and nuke it” seems like the kind of morally ambiguous orders best suited to a black op or a PMC. It could just be my modern sensibilities that lead me to this conclusion, however, and I’m not trying to dispute the canonicity of the US Military being the cleanup crew in the storyline.

But if I were to rewrite Half Life, I’d probably consider making that storyline change.

#18

I would venture to guess they were more common than you think. PMC’s tend to act in situations that the government doesn’t want to be link to. The missions are often morally questionable. Most conflicts have not been as televised as the one in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is very possible that PMC’s have been around and much more common than one might think however they were successful and remained a secret.

#19

As for the aircraft support, PMCs do sometimes maintain their own fleet, but they could potentially borrow the equipment from the military to cut down on costs. Not sure if that really happens though…

#20

^For all I know PMCs don’t have heavy equipment (aside transport helos) but use government hardware (like russians and ukrainians mercenaries piloting ethiopian or angolan fighters during conflicts in the 90’s).

Most of the time PMCs are supporting governmental troops or working as private security. But you’re right they’re also called in when a state don’t want to be publicly involved like keep fighting after UN ceasefire, supporting civil war in neighboring countries or questionable operations (various operations in Sierra Leone around diamond mines for example).

But trust such organization for dealing with a sensitive issue like a research facility gone “rogue” or a possible alien invasion is far-fetched when you can use your own specops.
Its like asking Xe to take out Bin Laden in Islamabad for the US gov.

Founded in 2004, Leakfree.org became one of the first online communities dedicated to Valve’s Source engine development. It is more famously known for the formation of Black Mesa: Source under the 'Leakfree Modification Team' handle in September 2004.