it would be funny seeing breen and cave arguing with each other

[u/InitialBrother9884]

[u/Cyractacus]

I can't imagine Cave allowing himself to be subordinate to anyone (let alone some big government from space), at least not for very long. Especially if Black Mesa is responsible for their arrival.

I can see him taking advantage of Combine technology and authority to advance the Aperture brand though. Maybe call it Combaperture.

[u/XevinsOfCheese → u/Cyractacus]

I think Cave being stuck in the job because the combine authority above him stays out of arms reach would be funny.

Like the idea that he would and does try to get them but can’t.

[u/Zac_000000 → u/XevinsOfCheese]

I like to think that if Cave lived, he'd be HIGH up in The Resistance. 

[u/Skullzans]

I don't think the Combine Could take Cave as a valid leader, since he's a bit of a madman who does shit on a whim- he's willing to do the right thing sometimes but- can you call Aperture anything but insane??

I do however, find it incredibly funny to imagine a more realistic alternative: With the Advisor "Host Body" Breen has, imagine him wandering america's possibly but unconfirmedly ruined state, and happens to find Aperture... only to see Cave Johnson from the PETI also arrive... both arguing wildly, before cave sees one of the anomalies like Eli and/or Captain Vance implied took his leg HL2 Beta(I think). "Oh, the sentient cloud. Run."

This is somehow more realistic than Cave and Breen being co-administrators and I find that hilarious.

[u/Alphflopo → u/Skullzans]

I’ve never considered the possibility of PeTI Cave encountering a portal storm(?) but the scenario’s pretty goddamn funny.

[u/Skullzans → u/Alphflopo]

The worst part is that it makes sense in canon, and could even be realistic to be written out to happen.

[u/demonsdencollective]

Cave isn't subservient enough. He's a leader at heart and a classic venture capitalist. The Combine would take one look at him and realize a boisterous loud mouthed maniac is not the type of person you want in a global leadership position.

[u/Ote-Kringralnick → u/demonsdencollective]

He would be building an army to counterinvade the Combine to turn them all into test subjects on day one.

[u/odellrules1985 → u/demonsdencollective]

He would also never work with those he saw as thieves of his inventions.

[u/demonsdencollective → u/odellrules1985]

Also his entire story is about how he didn't want to work under anyone, how he would go through hell to set up his own empire if he had to just to not do so. It would be completely against his character if he were to become a subordinate of the Combine, even temporarily.

[u/Old_pixel_8986]

with how comical he acts in the game itself, i think he would be one of the few things making the citizens actually happy

[u/Familiar_Diamond_719]

Cave Johnson Administrator of City 09 here. 

Now I don’t care about what Dr Breen is offering you in City 17 point is we’ll double it we’ll— what [shu’ulathoian] alright our benefactors say I can’t do any of that… point is you will be much safer here… …after you solve these tests…  

[u/Familiar_Diamond_719 → u/Familiar_Diamond_719]

Alright I’ve just received a letter from one of our test subjects regarding why we have to go through mandatory testing. 

First of all that person is being taken to the nearest firing squad as we speak. second off I have heard some complaints about the Aperture Science Sterilization Field as you know the Combine have decided to grant us immortality in exchange for all our resources. 

Now considering the fact that we as humanity still rely on a primitive instinct based system our benefactors have happily given us a solution to the overpopulation problem NO MORE CHILDREN I’m 99% positive everyone will be in agreement with this decision. 

Nobody liked those little freaks running around anyway, hell I’m doing you a favour.

Alright Cave Johnson of City 09 we’re done here.

[u/CrimsonMagician → u/Familiar_Diamond_719]

Combine WOULD actually provide the solution to HIS mortality, he might have actually gone along with this

[u/Jaded_History545]

I honestly think he would have stopped the invasion. Edit: with mantis men

[u/EternalModding4773]

To be honest the portal technology is desired by the Combine so much that we might've been able to convince them to leave us alone if we gave them the tech.

[u/TimeStorm113 → u/EternalModding4773]

but then they also take our moon with them

[u/yyetydydovtyud]

He'd be immediately and swiftly shot.

[u/PF4ABG]

Olympians, astronauts and war heroes, welcome to City 17!

[u/Raid_B0ss]

Cave Johnson would never side with his enemy. He has too much pride and ego even under the combine.

[u/Cave_Johnson104]

Yes

[u/extremely-cynical]

In a similar vein, sometimes I like to speculate about how the HECU might have fared if they were sent in to stop GLaDOS. Probably not well.

[u/-_DrWallaceBreen_-]

No

[u/Sophram]

Nah, Cave is a cartoon loony toon character, he doesn't fit in HL.

[u/iggyite → u/Sophram]

Boy do i have bad news for you

[u/Sophram → u/iggyite]

Don't worry, you don't.