USS Darkstar

"USS Darkstar is a Half-Life mod created by Neil Manke and his team, largely based in Canada."

Black Widow Games·PC Gamer· May 20, 1999· Mod

USS Darkstar is a Half-Life mod created by Neil Manke and his team, largely based in Canada. The mod follows Gordon Freeman and several other scientists on board USS Darkstar in the year 2066, a large exploratory starship that resembles the Nostromo from the movie Alien. USS Darkstar takes place in 2066 on board a Zoological Research Vessel in which they study and investigate various aliens from unexplored sectors of the galaxy. You are Dr. Gordon Freeman, a brilliant researcher who has always had problems waking up on time...

Story

Very early in the game, a security guard is injured on an away mission to a nearby planet and is taken into the sickbay. When scientists are operating on him, a Headcrab bursts from his chest cavity, mirroring a scene from Alien, forcing the scientists to activate an incinerator. The flame jet kills the Headcrab but also detonates a fuel canister, which creates a chain reaction.

This causes a surge that badly damages the USS Darkstar's main computer, deactivating all the force fields and letting loose the aliens which kill most of the crew. However, Freeman manages to reach an escape pod and escape the ship, shortly before it explodes. The game ends with Freeman's pod heading towards a nearby planet, pursued by a large alien vessel.

At least one other scientist also survived the destruction of the USS Darkstar. During Freeman's entering of the labs, a scientist (Named Walter) in an escape pod elevator can be seen through a window. When reaching the escape pod launch room, one of the vehicles has already been launched.