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The Combine Planetary Research Directive
"Apprehend, Ascertain, Assimilate"
"Apprehend, Ascertain, Assimilate"
The Combine Planetary Research Directive, shortened to CPRD, is the leading research division of the Combine's empire upon Earth. From up above, through Breen, came the implementation of a directive that was meant to better understand Earth, and anything on it. While the Combine is far more advanced than the likes of humanity, they are not all-knowing, and each world they conquer yields a bountiful collection of unexplored, and undocumented information ripe for the harvesting. CPRD serves as a means to explore, study, and eventually utilize Earth's contents and creations for use by the Combine.
While the Combine quickly absorbed all the knowledge available in humanities vast libraries of information, they only knew as much as humanity did. They doubted theories generated by a species which, for all intents and purposes, were akin to barbarians compared to the awe-inspiring knowledge of the Combine. Through CPRD, they would give humanity the means to truly understand the world they live upon, all the while benefitting the Combine. Many divisions exist within CPRD, each specialized in certain aspects of planetary investigation and research.
CPRD Divisions
Terrestrial Land Division (TLD)In the densest jungles, in the hottest deserts. Upon the highest peaks, and within the lowest caverns. The Terrestrial Land Division is tasked with the observation, acquisition, and research of all land based native species. From flora to fauna, the smallest insects are dissected, and the largest animals butchered. Ranging from small camps and outposts where scientists reside in the field for days, to massive facilities where primary research take place, the TLD covers it all. Cages upon cages, cases upon cases, hold thousands of species in secure, yet pitiful environments. Often given the bare necessities to survive, animals life in tight quarters with concrete floors and walls, if not straight cages. Plants are kept in vast greenhouses that would remind any human of the lush environments that were plenty within the world. Deep vaults contain enough seeds to bring any species back to life. If it exists on the land, the TLD is keen to have it. Organs, behaviors, social patterns, genetic makeups, and more are all documented for the Combine's grand knowledge
Terrestrial Aquatic Division (TAD)
On receded shores, amid platforms rising above the ocean, on lakesides, and in the deepest of waters, the Terrestrial Aquatic Division is the Combine's answer to the unknown on Earth- the oceans, and other forms of water. Like the TLD, both flora and fauna is researched here. Any fish remaining among native Earth are kept in large aquariums for study and coral life is preserved as they are left to rot upon their natural habitats. Other creatures, such as dolphins and whales, are also found and contained as best as possible. The TAD pursues the same journey as humanity did, involving the investigation of the unknown, that which rests deep beneath the waters of planet Earth.
Combine Technological Adaptation Planning (CTAP)
To merge the brilliant designs of humanity with the technological might of Our Benefactors. CTAP is in charge of cateloging, understanding, and inevitably improving upon that which humanity has already created. Many of the devices and assets seen upon Earth within the Cities was originally developed by the rapid development of CTAP. Scanners, AR2s, and more have all been developed here. If it looks like its design originated from humanity, but it was developed by the Combine, it was most likely made first by CTAP.
Xenian Investigations and Containment Division (XICD)
One of the most illusive of the CPRD divisions, the XICT is tasked with the discovery, containment, and eventual understanding of anomalic entities, Xen flora, and Xenian Fauna. The XICD is less focused on Earth, and more focused on that which is un-earthly. The odd, the weird, the unexplainable. Perhaps most important is their interactions with Xenian influence. During the portal storms that followed the Resonance Cascade, Earth would be subject to the chaotic and often unstable energies of Xen. As a borderworld, many things were thrown onto Earth that came from either the warping tides of Xen's energy, or perhaps even from beyond Xen. The XICD focuses on the investigation, obtaining, and research of these anomalies and invaders. However, the XICD does not exclusively target Xenian anomalies, for all anomalies fall under the XICD, whether they are terrestrial or not.
Combine Advancement Initiative (CAI)
The most prestigious and secret of all the CPRD Divisions, the Combine Advancement Initiative focuses on a much larger picture than that of Earth. There are very few technologies that the Combine do not possess, and it is the CAI's task to make that list smaller and smaller. The projects and experiments ran by the CAI are top secret, and only the most prestigious and loyal of scientists may find themselves here, for the technologies developed here are vital not to Earth itself, but to the Combine as a whole.
CPRD Assets
The CPRD has many assets that are vital for efficient research, ranging from installations, down to personnel.Scientists
Scientists are the most valuable asset of the CPRD. When Earth was conquered by the Combine, individuals who were knowledgable on valuable concepts of science (usually determined by those with a "Degree" as humanity called it), were given an offer: Serve the Combine, or become a Citizen. Even those scientists who were deemed physically unfit had an exception made for them, so that they could avoid the cruel judgement of the Combine. In turn for their service, they were given the opportunity to advance their field of work by margins, given tools beyond their most optimistic dreams, and their families allowed to stay in the most prestigious and luxurious of cities for their service to the Combine.
The scientists that make up the CPRD are humans, just like you and I. Science however, is a cold and calculated practice. Whether it be through a rampaging curiosity, or blind trust in the Combine's words, the scientists of the CPRD are often seen as cold and menacing. Of course, there does exist the scientist with a heart, who hesitates as they take the scalpel in hand, but they are vastly outnumbered. Rumors abound that the Combine have ways of removing this hesitancy, but they are dismissed as falsehoods, destructive thoughts, and nothing more from within the CPRD.
These scientists work day by day, and given some of the most rewarding of living conditions. They often live near their work stations, and are led by compound directors who oversee the operations of their installations.
Installations
Structures exist all across Earth that belong to the CPRD. These structures, known as compounds, hold everything an installation may need to operate in their region. Compounds are the largest categorization of CPRD installations, for they can hold multiple facilities and CPRD Assets.
Compounds are large, walled off installations. They hold multiple facilities within them, each with their own purpose, as well as extra assets within which act as support for main operations. There usually exists one Compound for every region. These compounds are often guarded by automated defenses and detection systems in order to reduce live personnel. When defenses detect significant assaults, the proper response is called in via OCIN in order to secure the location.
Facilities are the next category of installations. A facility is usually a single building, sometimes massive in size, that usually belongs to a certain division of CPRD. Facilities can often connect to each other via additional construction, and in some cases a single building can hold multiple facilities within. For example, a compound can hold a TFaD, TFoD, and TMD facility within it. Facilities should not be mistaked for additional compound assets such as Scientist housing or support structures.
Research Outposts are the smallest category of installations. These are usually in contact with compounds, and act as an expansion. Research Outposts are usually only created in order to better operate within a specific region. For instance, a research outpost could be designated as a containment outpost that holds an anomaly within it that cannot be moved, in which they report to an AICD facility that stands miles away in a compound. Others could exist to hold and research a very specific biome and whatnot. As you may assume, outposts can hold many different purposes, and sometimes may even operate like a single facility that reports to a larger compound.
Finally, some outposts and facilities can be located in or attached to a city. These installations are usually part of HPPSD in order to study social environments and whatnot.
Stalkers
Stalkers are heavily utilized within the CPRD as a servitory asset. Stalkers belonging to CPRD are often modified for whichever facility they may work in, and perform tasks that would otherwise detract from a scientist's work, or would require additional personnel. Traditionally, stalkers can perform maintenance on CPRD assets such as installations and tools. Better yet, they can be modified to carry out more intricate task that fit their area of work.
For instance, a stalker within a TLD installation could be made to tend to animal needs such as food and cleaning, or perhaps the cleaning of containment chambers. They are also capable of watering specimens, as well as transporting said specimens, or the trimming/planting of plants. If a menial task exists in a CPRD Division that requires additional personnel, a stalker can be modified to perform it. These stalkers are often performing their task almost 24/7, and given brief periods of rest for self-maintenance when their body inevitably begins to deteriorate from work.
Some Stalkers may even be made into experiment dummies, such as entering an anomalous area and whatnot that has a low chance of survival. Others may even be made to have a higher mobility in order to handle things such as animal relocating or heavy lifters.
Installation Monitoring and Defense
The CPRD is constantly monitored by Dispatch. In every installation, Dispatch is always present, looking through cameras and tracking all logged data for obvious signs of concern. This proves useful in the defense of these installations. Most CPRD installations do not have guards posted, as defense is highly automated when it comes to light offenses. Cameras can detect incoming threats, along with hopper mine perimeters, turret emplacements, autoguns, and hopper mines. These prove effective against light assaults, which may be somewhat common in certain areas due to high infestation or resistance activities.
There are times however when an offense could prove too overpowering, or are capable of disabling or avoiding automated defenses all together. In these cases, Dispatch is capable of reinforcing the installation via OTA deployment. This is almost always enough to stop any persisting attack.
Another dangerous threat to the CPRD is inner corruption. While most scientists and staff are loyal, there exist some that are perhaps distasteful of the research they carry out, or perhaps have begun to come in contact with resistance figures. It is the leadership's job to root out these corrupt individuals, and order detainment via OTA should they suspect an internal threat.
Some installations of a higher classification, especially CAI installations, may have OTA guards posted preemptively.
CPRD Structure
The CPRD follows a certain command structure when it comes to its personnel. This structure is as follows:The CPRD Head Director is the highest ranking scientists within CPRD. Answering only to Breen, they are the liason between Breen and the rest of CPRD. There exists only one, and they reside within Breen's personal administration. They also act as the Divisional Director for the CAI Division. Where Breen establishes the intents of the Combine, the Head Director breaks it down into a vision.
A Divisional Director is the head of a CPRD division. There exists one for every division, with the exception of the CAI which is led directly by the Head Director. As the Head Director takes in the goals of the Combine, they further disseminate this info to the Divisil Directors, who further break it down for their specific division. Divisional Directors take the Head Director's vision, and narrow it down to a more specific concept that can be sent down.
A Regional Director is tasked with taking the visions of each Divisional Director, and turning it into a mission. This is done by formulating statistics and numbers that need to be met in order to meet these Divisional visions, as well as pushing up findings from their appointed region. Regional Directors can also act as a Compound Overseer for their area of operation.
A Compound Overseer is the head manager of a compound. They are tasked with overseeing operations, and creating compound-wide goals that need to be met in order to satisfy the numbers sent down by Regional Directors.
A Facility Manager is the head manager of a single facility. When the overseer sends them the numbers they need from their respective division, they in turn create the daily quotas that must be met by those under them, as well as overseeing the facility itself to ensure compliance. Where a Compound Overseer gives overall goals, a Facility Manager is important on their own because they are tasked with overseeing the research that is respective to their division and their locality. Facility managers also usually take part in regular research operations.
An Outpost Leader is the head scientist at an Outpost. Research Outposts, being much smaller than an entire compound, are usually only comprised of one division, and thus hold a lower number of scientists. They report to the Facility Managers at their parent compound, and can also act as a Senior Scientists if need be.
A Senior Scientists is the most experienced of the scientists within their respective lab or research projects. They often take the role as Research Lead, and work to meet Facility Manager expectations. They also act as a figure of assistance when those below them are lost or need help. The Research Lead is almost on the same level as a Senior Scientists, but are tasked with running a specific project as tasked by the Facility manager, which may give them slight authority over Senior Scientists.
A Scientist is as it describes, the run of the mill scientists. They perform most experiments, and are the most numerous by far. Some scientists are blessed with an easy job such as plant experimentation and whatnot. Others may take on more risky jobs such as observing live specimens, or dealing with dangerous substances. The life of a scientists is rewarding however, for they are the forefront of discovery, and are rewarded handsomly for their work.
Conclusion
The Combine Planetary Research Directive is tirelessly working to unravel the unknown that Earth, and perhaps even beyond holds. With installations across the globe, they are expansive in their research, and hold vast collections of all sorts of things. While generally unknown to the Citizen populace, they may be heard of in propaganda at times, but nothing more. From the most mundane of specimens, to projects classified for only the highest of authority, the CPRD covers it all. As the CPRD vision states, "Apprehend, Ascertain, Assimilate."
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