Calhoun gets off the tram to enter the Area 3 Security Facilities, which is basically the security headquarters for Black Mesa. However, he remains stuck on the station platform due to the door not opening for him, which a fellow guard on the other side works to get it open. As Calhoun spots Gordon Freeman riding the tram to head off to the Anomalous Materials lab, the guard eventually opens the door, and apologizes for the wait as it's just one of the many problems working the facility that they've been dealing with throughout the day. Within the Area 3 Security Facilities, Calhoun picks up his security vest and pistol, which the guard at the reception desk informs Calhoun that some of the scientists are having trouble getting the access elevator working for Sector G.
Departing from Area 3 Security Facilities, Calhoun makes his way over to the tram station that will take him to the Sector G elevator, but he's informed by the scientist waiting there that he's better off walking as the trams to reach Sector G are currently not working. Thus, Calhoun has to go the long way by walking on foot along a security maintenance path to reach the station for Sector G. After the station, Calhoun comes across the stuck elevator, which the impatient scientist orders him to get it working so that they can get on with their miserable day. Calhoun proceeds to do so, but as the elevator begins its slow descent to Sector G, the Resonance Cascade goes off. From the elevator's window, Calhoun witnesses the Xen aliens begin to teleport into Black Mesa to begin attacking other employees along with the facility beginning to fall apart. The elevator he's riding then malfunctions, and goes into freefall down the shaft; crashing at the bottom and knocking Calhoun unconscious.
This Chapter contains examples of:
- Antepiece: Similar to the original game, moving around the Area 3 security office along with the long walk to the elevator that Calhoun's been assigned to get working eases the player into navigating more complex environments, with more specific goals, which will help them survive in the coming chapters.
- But Thou Must!: When you try to leave the Area 3 Security Facilities, the guard at the door makes it clear that he's not letting Calhoun through without his armor and pistol.
- Call-Back: When Calhoun is dropped off at the entrance to the Area 3 Security Facilities, he can see a tram pass by with Gordon Freeman riding it as he heads off to work at the Anomalous Materials lab. This shows that the security guard Gordon sees pounding on the door at the very beginning of the original game was this game's Barney Calhoun.
- The Cameo: Several.
- Calhoun can spot Gordon riding the tram, who's heading off to work at the Anomalous Materials lab.
- Within the Area 3 security camera room, Calhoun can spot on one of the video's Gordon walking through the Anomalous Materials lab to work. Another video shows Gina Cross from Half-Life: Decay bringing the "strange crystal" to the Anti-Mass Spectrometer room.
- During the long walk to the elevator that Calhoun has to get working, he can spot the G-man riding the tram. This is the only time that the G-man is actually seen in Blue Shift, and he never looks in Calhoun's direction as if compared to Gordon and Shepard, the G-man has no interest in Calhoun.
- Donut Mess with a Cop: One of the fat Otis guards can be seen in the shooting range trying to eat a doughnut.
- Easing into the Adventure: Similar to the original game, this plays out like the "Anomalous Materials" walking chapter, which consists of a very slow and calm buildup to what's to come.
- Elevator Failure: The end of the chapter has Calhoun's elevator going into freefall until it crashes at the bottom of the shaft.
- Equipment-Based Progression: You can't depart from the Area 3 Security Facilities without the security vest and pistol.
- Gone Horribly Wrong: From the elevator he had to get working, Calhoun witnesses the first moments of everything going wrong as he watches Xen aliens teleport in and begin attacking the employees, along with the facility starting to fall apart, due to the Resonance Cascade.
- Morning Routine: A continuation of Calhoun's morning routine where he equips himself with his pistol and security vest within the Area 3 Security Facilities, and is then handed his first assignment for the day by helping some scientists get an elevator working. This of course ended up being Calhoun's only work assignment due to everything going to hell afterwards.
- Non-Standard Game Over: The game will instantly black out if you're too trigger happy and start shooting employees with the pistol you picked up at the shooting range.
- Scenic-Tour Level: Similar to the original game, this chapter serves as the other half of the Black Mesa Commute's source. This time the player has some degree of freedom to explore a Black Mesa Security Office on foot and meet with everyone else, before they go to their locker to equip the security vest along with stopping by the shooting range to pick up the security pistol. After leaving the Area 3 Security Facilities, there's also the long walk to the elevator that Calhoun needs to get working.
- Sidetrack Bonus: You don't technically need to enter the Security Headquarters' Shooting Gallery, but doing so, you can pick up a few ammo clips for the journey ahead.
- Shooting Gallery: One of the areas in the Area 3 Security Facilities consists of a shooting range to get the hang of shooting with the pistol. Though, it's a lot more common for players to just keep the pistol ammo they can pick up here for fighting enemies later.
- Wham Shot: Calhoun's viewpoint of the Resonance Cascade where he sees everything start to go wrong from an elevator. Said elevator then breaks, which causes it to fall while Calhoun's riding it; knocking him unconscious when the elevator crashes to the bottom of the shaft.
