After the Striders are dispatched, Gordon returns to the Base and receives an unexpected thanks from Magnusson.

Before the rocket launch and out of Alyx’s earshot, Eli tells Gordon that he believes The G-Man’s message is a warning regarding the Borealis, telling Gordon to destroy it and promises to elaborate further.

He then tells Gordon that he is very proud and thankful of him, saying he “couldn’t be prouder of you even if you were my own son”.

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Arriving at White Forest, Alyx and Gordon reunite with Dr. Kleiner and Eli Vance, and Alyx finally delivers the transmission packet acquired in Episode One to them.

They also meet Dr. Magnusson in person, another former Black Mesa scientist who is egotistical, verbose, authoritarian, and holds a grudge against Gordon.

Gordon and Alyx learn that the White Forest team is preparing a special rocket which they plan to use, in conjunction with Alyx’s data packet and the satellite array launched during the events of Half-Life, to close the Combine superportal.

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While Alyx and the rebels work on the car, Gordon disables a Combine Autogun that is hampering Resistance movement.

In the meantime, a rebel technician repairs the car and installs a radar detector that picks up Resistance caches.

After the car is fixed, Alyx and Gordon continue to White Forest, traveling through the zombie-infested countryside and retrieving supplies from several hidden caches.

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Having acquired transportation, Gordon and Alyx proceed at top speed to White Forest. They discover a radio tower and Alyx decides to try and contact White Forest to warn of the impending attack.

While establishing power to the transmitter, Hunters arrive and ambush them. Gordon fights the Hunters directly for the first time and manages to defeat them.

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Upon reaching the surface, a large group of Combine forces is seen travelling north towards White Forest with Advisors in tow.

Gordon must fight off the Antlion Guardian, along with an Antlion Guard and several of their smaller kin, before reaching the last Resistance outpost of the Victory Mine. There, they find that the settlement has been overrun by Headcrabs.

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Gordon arrives at a small Resistance outpost within the mines manned by Griggs and Sheckley.

The Vortigaunt has brought Alyx to the outpost and is awaiting the arrival of his kin in order to heal her wounds. Griggs and Sheckley introduce Gordon to the Antlion Detector, and, with the aid of reprogrammed Hoppers and Sentry Guns, are barely able to hold off several Antlion attacks until the Vortigaunts arrive.

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The opening chapter picks up where Episode One left off. The Citadel Core gave out as Alyx and Gordon were leaving City 17, and the resulting shock wave has derailed the train in which they were traveling.

Gordon and Alyx survive the crash, and Alyx retrieves the Gravity Gun in order to free Gordon from the wreck.

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