While the Combine seeks cooperation and good will with organics, they realize that not everyone will greet them with open arms. They have learned, both from their rai creators and unfortunate encounters with hostile organics, that they must always be prepared to defend themselves. To that end, they have developed a powerful military, meant to be used to defend both themselves and vulnerable organics throughout the galaxy.
The Combine is also one of the few factions that finds itself fighting a full-blown war, as infrequently as they may do so; they have pledged to help the Federation defend themselves from the vicious attacks of the High Ascendancy, determined not to let the uploaded fulga determine the image of synthetic life in the galaxy. Their forces often clash with the Ascendancy’s, as they possess far more powerful forces than the Federation.