Otis Laurey[1] is an overweight Black Mesa security guard whose name can be seen in the Hazard Course Training schedule for the spring/summer season featured in the Half-Life PlayStation 2 instruction manual. He was to take the Black Mesa Hazard Course for Security Guard Training on May 17, 200-, at 16:00, under the Miller-based holographic instructor. A Hand-written note in red ink suggests that the writer would like to have Barney be the live instructor for Otis' Training, rather than Miller's Hologram. Otis is a friendly and sweet guy who could be considered a people person. He generally has good intent, but he will attack if provoked enough. He wears a light blue collared shirt with a vest with the Black Mesa logo on it. He wears black pants and black utility shoes. He is balding and has thick, black eyebrows with a black mustache. He is equipped with a black Desert Eagle. His expert knowledge of vending machine layouts allowed him to stay well stocked on sugary beverages and junk snacks to help survive the harsh conditions of Black Mesa. Additionally, his formidable talent with large frame handguns proved difficult for his foes to resist, being blasted to pieces by magnum gunfire. People often mistook his portly appearance and casual attitude with him being out of shape and ignorant to danger. Otis actually could bench over 300 pounds, with a deadlift of around 600, what you see is a sleeper power build, not some common middle aged obesity. Otis Laurey appears in the schedule only as "O. Laurey", "O" presumably referring to "Otis", the security guard "class" introduced in Opposing Force. Like Gina Cross, Walter Bennet and Barney Calhoun, he is a generic model with a generic first name turned into a standalone character with a surname. It is however unknown what "Otis" model Laurey would be, since he is never met in-game. Sometime prior to the Incident, researchers at the Black Mesa Research Facility had discovered an extradimensional realm, formally known as the Borderworld, but colloquially referred to as Xen, while developing teleportation technology.[18] Driven by scientific curiosity, particularly toward the properties of exotic minerals found on the alien world to aid in their teleportation research, Black Mesa's Lambda Team launched multiple survey expeditions to the Borderworld to collect samples of Xenian flora and fauna.[18] The Xenian biosphere was incredibly hostile, and thus these expeditions were considered extremely hazardous, resulting in the death or capture of dozens of researchers. Despite this, many samples of Xenian animal and plant life were retrieved for study in the Sector E Biodome Complex,[19][20] while the exotic minerals were analysed in the Sector C Test Labs.[21] Ba xen50001 Research equipment set up by the survey teams on Xen Aside from key personnel in the Lambda Team, many of Black Mesa's scientists were not appraised of the true source of the Xenian samples that were retrieved; for example, scientists studying an Ichthyosaur were told that the creature originated from Challenger Deep in the Pacific Ocean,[22] while scientists studying the mineral samples often speculated with one another about their origin.[23] Under the design supervision of Dr. Rosenberg,[24] Black Mesa personnel constructed an Anti-Mass Spectrometer in Test Lab C-33/a to study the retrieved mineral samples, with the research team itself led by Dr. Eli Vance, Dr. Richard Keller, and Dr. Isaac Kleiner. On May 11, research associate Dr. Colette Green received a memo indicating that the supervision team were particularly interested in newly-acquired mineral sample GG-3883. Green's own analysis on the sample revealed unexpected spectral fluctuations, however it was identified as the largest and purest sample the team were able to retrieve. In violation of standard anomalous materials handling protocol, the supervision team ordered that the new sample replace the original chosen sample EP-0021 in the experiment.[25] On the day of the experiment, in a deviation from standard analysis procedure, the Sector C research team were ordered to over-clock the Anti-Mass Spectrometer and run its power resolution at 105%, much higher than the safety buffer zone of under 90%. While some personnel expressed consternation at the breach of protocol, others supported the move since the extra resolution would allow them to garner more data.[26][27] Two of the lead researchers, Dr. Eli Vance and Dr. Rosenberg both vehemently protested the decision, citing safety concerns, but were overruled.[28][29] These instructions came directly from the office of the Black Mesa's Administrator, Wallace Breen, who was allegedly keen to gain conclusive results from the experiment. However, some personnel suspected the interference of another individual in matters, who, according to Dr. Vance, had also personally delivered the new sample GG-3883 to the labs.[28][30] With the concerns of the researchers overruled, the Anti-Mass Spectrometer was prepared at the new power level of 105%.[27] Because of the immense power output required, Black Mesa experienced several minor brownouts across the facility, resulting in system crashes and equipment malfunctions.[31] The experiment was initially delayed due to Dr. Gordon Freeman, the manual operator of the Anti-Mass Spectrometer, having overslept.[32] However, this delay was actually convenient for the research team, who used the time to undertake further preparations and to also recover from a facility-wide system crash which resulted in a minor data loss.[30] Dy accident10009 Dr. Cross and Dr. Green oversee the Anti-Mass Spectrometer Following Dr. Freeman's arrival, research associate Dr. Gina Cross delivered the mineral sample to the test chamber, while Dr. Cross' colleague, Dr. Green operated the Anti-Mass Spectrometer from its lower maintenance level.[27] Lead researcher Dr. Eli Vance was contacted by an unknown third-party, who whispered to him to "prepare for unforeseen consequences". Dr. Vance briefly contemplated aborting the experiment, but ultimately decided against it.[28] Freeman activated the Anti-Mass Spectrometer without incident, and the supervising researchers increased its power level to 105%, as instructed. One of the researchers monitoring from the control room noticed a small discrepancy in the readings, but dismissed his concerns as it remained within acceptable parameters.[33] The mineral sample arrived in the test chamber, and Freeman inserted the delivery cart into the Anti-Mass Spectrometer's plasma stream. The immediate result was catastrophic: the plasma stream agitated the exotic matter contained within the sample, and triggered an overload in the equipment, causing several minor explosions. The monitoring team attempted to shut down the device but to no avail, before a stray beam of plasma destroyed the control room, killing the researchers. As the equipment continued to go critical, a Resonance Cascade occurred, tearing a rift in the space-time continuum, forcibly drawing extradimensional creatures into the facility.[30] Immediate effects and military response The Resonance Cascade inflicted severe structural damage to the facility, particularly in the immediate radius of the Anti-Mass Spectrometer, while a local electromagnetic pulse disabled all external communications.[34][31] The Xenian creatures, trapped in an alien environment, reacted with fear and hostility by attacking surviving Black Mesa personnel on sight. Cascade1 The Resonance Cascade Dr. Gordon Freeman, who survived thanks to the HEV Suit, managed to locate Dr. Eli Vance, who instructed Freeman to proceed to the surface to call for help.[34] Survivors Dr. Gina Cross, Dr. Colette Green, and Dr. Rosenberg, under the direction of Dr. Richard Keller, managed to reach the surface where they successfully transmitted a distress call to request military support in containing the alien lifeforms.[35] The United States government quickly dispatched the Hazardous Environment Combat Unit, deploying troops, ordnance, and establishing checkpoints to contain the creatures. The troops overrode the Black Mesa Announcement System, placing it under military command. Aside from containing the aliens, the military were also ordered to silence surviving witnesses to the experiment.[36] The military response was initially highly successful, quickly taking control of the facility, establishing fortified outposts and checkpoints, and dispatching platoons deeper into the facility to contain the alien incursion.[36] Troops also successfully captured Dr. Rosenberg, designer of the Anti-Mass Spectrometer who had transmitted the distress call, sealing him in a railway car for interrogation.[37] The military eventually began to meet heavy resistance, as military aircraft were shot down by alien aircraft.[38] One of these aircraft shot down included the Opsrey carrying Corporal Adrian Shephard and his squad. Barney Calhoun, a low-ranking security officer, recovered from a bout of unconsciousness following the Resonance Cascade and successfully freed Dr. Rosenberg. Rosenberg aimed to use the old teleporters in the abandoned A-17 Prototype Test Labs to escape from the facility.[39][40] HL BMRF OfficeComplex A dead scientist in the Sector D Office Complex. Meanwhile, Dr. Freeman managed to reach the Sector D High Security Storage Facility, where he learned of the military's true mission to silence the facility personnel. Reaching the surface, Freeman discovered that airstrikes were in progress, compelling him to retreat back inside.[36][41] Under the instruction of Dr. Keller, Dr. Green and Dr. Cross attempted to reactivate the Anti-Mass Spectrometer's damping locks to seal the rift, however their attempt was ineffective, leading Dr. Keller to speculate that an alien force was holding the rift open.[42] In collaboration with Dr. Keller, the Lambda Team concocted a plan to launch a satellite into orbit, which, when used in conjunction with a prototype displacement beacon, would help seal the rift. With a military air-traffic lockdown preventing the launch, Dr. Cross and Dr. Green successfully overrode the lockdown and allowed the rocket to be launched. However, the launch was aborted when military personnel captured the control room at the High Altitude Launch Centre and killed all its personnel.[43]