White Forest satellite
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The title of this article is unofficial. |  |
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As no official title was formally given for this subject matter, the name used here was created for the wiki. |
This article is about the White Forest device. For the Black Mesa device featured in the original Half-Life, see Black Mesa satellite. |
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| White Forest satellite | |
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| General information | |
| Faction | |
| Type |
Satellite |
- "That must be an ancient entry. There are no backup sites. If we fail, the best we can hope is that the rocket falls on the enemy. Now...inertial navigation systems..."
- ― Arne Magnusson[src]
A satellite located at White Forest is used by the Resistance to shut down the superportal in Half-Life 2: Episode Two.
Contents
Appearances[edit]
Half-Life 2: Episode Two[edit]
Dr. Magnusson had previously wanted to launch a satellite carrying a device known as the Xenium Resonator, a project he has devoted the last ten years to.[1] Once in orbit, the Resonator would activate the old array that had been set up at Black Mesa, of which the satellite launched by Gordon in the original Half-Life is a part.
Using data retrieved by Alyx in Episode One, Magnusson encodes the Combine portal code onto the satellite. After fending off a Combine attack, the Resistance successfully launches the delivery rocket into orbit, activating the array and shutting down the portal.
Related Achievements[edit]
| Half-Life 2: Episode Two | |
|---|---|
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Little Rocket Man (30G) |
| Send the Garden Gnome into space. | |
Behind the scenes[edit]
Unused dialog from Dr. Kleiner reveals that, rather than shutting down the superportal, the purpose of Magnusson's Xenium Resonator to was to create a barrier around the planet. Once in orbital range, the resonator was to activate the old satellite array set up at Black Mesa and turn it into a shield with sub dimensional properties. This would block the Combine's access to Earth even if they did manage to restore their portal network, barring them from the planet permanently.[2]
According to Matt Wright, the team designed the rocket around blueprints from the Titan family of missiles instead of just making up something that fit their fantasies of a rocket. He adds that grounding the details of their world in reality, making them as precise as possible, makes the invented, fantastic elements seem that much more believable.[3]
Trivia[edit]
When Gordon first meets Kleiner and Magnusson in the rocket silo, Lamarr climbs into the rocket compartment after Kleiner releases her. The player can close the hatch; if they brought the Garden Gnome, doing so after putting him inside grants the Little Rocket Man achievement. Shortly before launch, Kleiner notices a "payload anomaly of eight and a half pounds."
Strangely, the hatch has no hitbox, meaning it is possible to insert the gnome or remove it even when closed.
Gallery[edit]
Pre-release[edit]
Kleiner near the delivery rocket.
Ditto.
Retail[edit]
The delivery rocket during the G-Man's speech.
Ditto.
Lamarr hiding in the rocket.
The Garden Gnome put in the rocket.
The rocket in its silo.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Gordon at the launch panel.
Ditto.
The rocket lifting off.
Ditto.
Model of the rocket.
The rocket document from Magnusson's clipboard.
List of appearances[edit]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ The Orange Box Prima Guide, page 26
- ↑ Half-Life 2: Episode Two game files
- ↑ Half-Life 2: Episode Two commentary
