Alien Aircraft

The Manta Ray is a flying alien creature from the border world of Xen.

Physical description
Manta Rays are named because of their body structure: a large alien with the shape of an underwater manta ray. Oddly enough, there are two types. One type, encountered only once in the Half-Life chapter "Interloper", has a pointed head and a single tail. The other, which is encountered in all Half-Life games, has a V-shaped head and two tails. The outer hides of both are impervious to damage even from the RPG, and are seemingly aerodynamic, giving aid in flight.

Abilities
These aliens have a fairly large variety of abilities. Firstly, said aliens are capable of controlling their flight very easily by unknown means, reaching the speed of even a military fighter jet, evidenced by the shock waves created as they zoom past; In addition, the mantas are capable of generating an orange beam of energy from their similarly colored underside, Most notably seen in the beginning of Opposing Force, where several take down US Ospreys Goose 7 and 3 using the same beam. (Need help on this), it could increase the player's health to 200%.

Uses
The double tailed manta is used widely for other Xen aliens, usually for transporting Alien Grunts, somewhat imitating deployment of US Marines from Ospreys several at a time, as well as the troop transport structures commonly carried by Combine Dropships. However, as they pass by, it is notable that these soldiers appear through violet flashes from its skin, suggesting that it merely teleports them from other places. They are also used to gain air superiority for the Vortigaunts and Alien Grunts, shown when a group of Ospreys are attacked by Mantas at the beginning of Opposing Force.

Trivia

 * In Half-Life Decay, a double-tailed Manta serves as the game's final boss, and bears slight differences (though this may just be how the Source high-definition pack portrays it.) to their counterparts: A scarlet red underside with a slit down the middle, and faint yellow stripes on its outer skin.


 * This particular Manta appearance is the only one that can be destroyed by rockets. Its arrival's purpose is to destroy the "Displacement beacon" set up by Dr. Richard Keller, meant to create a "Resonance reversal".


 * The Mantas that destroy "Gooses 3 and 7" are also colored differently than their normal appearances.


 * In the "USS Darkstar" mod, a few scientists study some Manta Rays in flight. (A chumtoad is also seen here.)