Black Operatives

"Why do we always have to clean up a mess the grunts can't handle?"

- Half Life: Opposing Force

The Black Operatives are villains in Half Life and its expansion, Opposing Force. They are divided into two groups: Female Operatives and Male Operatives.

Appearance
Every Black Operative is covered in a black suit from head to toe. Each gender's appearance can be distinguished. Female Operatives wear black spandex jumpsuits and carry microphones as headsets. All of them wear night vision goggles. Male Operatives wear black combat gear and balaclavas. Some of them wear night vision goggles while the rest have exposed eyes. Unlike their female counterpart, they wear earpieces inside their masks.

Mission
They are sent by the US Government to place a thermonuclear bomb inside the parking garage of the Black Mesa Compound. The bomb's detonation is activated during the final cut scene in Half Life: Opposing Force.

Tactics
Black Operatives rely on stealth instead of brute force. They are almost completely silent during combat, refusing to yell whenever injured. They are also quick and able to jump very high. Most of them are equipped with SMG with grenade attachments. Some Male Operatives use sniper rifles as an alternative. Female Operatives have cloaking devices to become partially invisible.

Relationship with the HECU
The Black Operatives have a very negative relationship with the HECU. Both sides seem to be allied in the first Half Life game. The Black Operatives' existence and role is expanded in Opposing Force. They are sent to Black Mesa after the HECU fail to contain the Resonance Cascade incident. Upon arrival, every Black Operative kills or interrogates a HECU soldier. This represents their dislike of the HECU. The Black Operatives consider the HECU to be incompetent and inept. One operative even states resentment for taking care of the HECU's responsibility.

Relationship with Gordon Freeman
Their relationship with Gordon Freeman is unclear. They have few encounters with him.