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The pulse is an unknown shockwave found within the mines. It occurs approximately every six seconds, and the only warning given before each wave is a distant flash of light and a build-up of bellowing wind. Objects in front of the wave will be violently blasted away and broken apart, including the protagonist. Sturdy objects and walls are the only methods of protecting against the pulse.

Location[]

The pulse is located within the mines, which is Sector 2 of the facility. It is found in a massive subterranean cavern, large enough to have its own shoreline and beach. The cavern's entrance and interior contain mining equipment and work stations, along with remote albinos dressed in work clothes, suggesting that the vast atrium which holds the pulse was mined out.

Atrium[]

The gate to the atrium is only able to be accessed if the weight of twenty individuals is placed on a pressure-sensitive plate. The protagonist completes this by acquiring a mind control helmet and having the various mining workers around the area follow him.

The atrium's initial area contains sandbags and still-functioning construction equipment as the protagonist progresses, alongside mechanically manipulated blast shields, of which, several seismometers can be seen nearby.

Many fans believe the pulse was designed as a failed sonic-based/seismic weapon. This assumption is supported by the presence of multiple bound crash test dummies in chairs, and a man-portable blast shield that is able to be used for deliberate protection against the pulse. Also, the fact that the pulse can hurl objects, such as barrels or boxes, at speeds that can damage concrete indicates that the pulse is most likely a mass destructive weapon.

Another possible guess is that the pulse was used for mining rock beds like the one seen before reaching the atrium. At first glance the pulse does not seem to indicate any ability to break apart rock or metal, making this guess seem implausible. however, considering that the pulse wave itself has the ability to break rebar-reinforced concrete, and has the ability to rip apart the thick metal supports for the elevator the protagonist takes at the end of the section, it can be inferred that it was used for mining, however it is not capable (be it by design or as a flaw in its creation) of destroying the blast shields or most of the other metal devices within the atrium, which are likely composed of tungsten or titanium, nor is it capable of destroying any rocks stronger than sedimentary rocks. this theory is also supported by the vast amounts of soft sand/dirt at the start of the mine up to the blast door, suggesting that its primary purpose is to test a new way of mining out large spaces efficiently, without compromising the integrity of the ground above.

Perhaps it may have been used to push back the water seen earlier in the depths to prevent any more sectors from being flooded.

Trivia[]

  • In the room above and to the right of the pressure plate, where the immovable body of an albino can be found, there is a large device with a dial and a cylindrical tube which goes through the window and into the atrium. The tube bulges in sync with the pulse, and the needle of the dial sharply points to the right before returning to its original position. This device seems to measure the force exerted by the pulse, meaning the pulse may indeed be intentional and not some accident.
  • The music that plays during the pulse is synced directly with the coming and going of the wave itself. During the second half, the music changes from heavy wind sounds to an electronic rhythm.
    • The shift to electronic-style music may indicate the pulse is electrical in nature, such as an EMP.
    • The electrical nature of the pulse is further supported by the protagonist's mind control helmet fizzling out. It does not break apart or get blown away, it instead "fries" and stops functioning.
  • There is some text near the middle of the movable shield used to protect against the pulse. It reads "Fordsjh Gjfhdfdjfhd Ujhdfr B02."
    • It is unclear what this cipher means.
    • This same text can be seen on the name plaque outside of the CEO's office, though it is considerably smaller and rotated 180°.
    • In the game files, this shield is called a "sonic shield" and multiples of it can be seen again during the Huddle's escape in sector 4 of the facility.
  • The oddly-specific weight of 20 people required for the pressure plate may indicate that the Huddle is composed of 20 bodies, granting the Huddle access to the atrium.
    • Conversely, the Huddle may be less than or more than 20, meaning the Huddle will not be able to activate the pressure plate (assuming the plate does not work with more than 20 bodies).
  • Given the time between the pulse flash to the shockwave that reaches the protagonist, the source of the blast is around 843 feet (256 meters) away from the bridge.
  • In certain situations, the protagonist's mind control helmet will not fizzle out upon entrance to the atrium. In this case, the helmet will stay on the protagonist's head until his first interaction with the Huddle near the end of the game. This is purely a visual bug, as there are no functional changes to the gameplay.
  • If the protagonist returns to the pressure plate after his mind helmet fizzles out from the pulse, the albinos will still assist him in lifting him up and throwing him. Each time, the albinos step forward a short distance. With enough patience, the albinos can be lead into the atrium and the protagonist can be thrown onto the large box before it is destroyed. However, this does not affect anything, and there reaches a point where the albinos no longer step forward (so it is unknown how the pulse would affect them).
    • This bug has since been removed in a patch.
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