Suppression Device

From Combine OverWiki, the English Half-Life Wikia

First Seen: Half-Life 2, Chapter Twelve, "Follow Freeman!"

• Health total: N/A (cannot be destroyed, only disabled)
• Weapon damage: Pulse Mortar (instant death or splash damage)
• Entity: func_tank_mortar; brush entity, cannot be spawned from console during play.

The suppression device, also referred to as the suppressor, is a stationary Combine weapon, which functions much like a large mortar except instead of firing shells it fires an extremely powerful and concentrated pulse. This slams into the ground, destroying objects, and disintegrating living beings within a 3-5 metre (9-15 foot) radius from the impact. The suppression device has to "warm up" before it can fire the pulse and the ground where the pulse will land begins to glow blue. This allows the next target of the pulse fire to be ascertained, and thus avoided.

The suppression device is powered by a series of Combine generators and possibly forms its ammunition from them as well. A suppression device was installed onto the roof of the Overwatch Nexus in City 17. During the game, Gordon, Barney, and a small band of Resistance fighters are required to disable all the generators in the building in order to power down the device in order that the Resistance on the streets can move more freely. The suppression device only appears once in the game but it is likely that the Combine may have installed similar devices in other parts of City 17 where there are large numbers of Resistance personnel.

It is unknown whether the suppression device functions on its own, or whether it has an operator, but the small interface and the binocular-like lenses suggest the latter, who is most likely a trained Overwatch soldier. No operator is seen during the game but it may be that he left the scene after the suppression device was disabled by the Resistance. Also, Combine personnel on the roof of the Overwatch Nexus suggest that they may have been guarding the operator, as well as the device itself.

The suppression device is not to be confused with the suppression field, which has a different function. The two are not linked to each other in any way.