Vault 13
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Your family was part of that group that entered Vault 13. Imprisoned safely behind the large Vault door, under a mountain of stone, a generation has lived without knowledge of the outside world. Life in the Vault is about to change.
”— Narrator, Fallout introVault 13 is one of a series of fallout shelters developed by Vault-Tec in southern California beneath Mt. Whitney. This vault is located west of Shady Sands and Vault 15, and east of Mariposa Military Base. It was the home of the Vault Dweller.
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[edit] Pre-war advertising
Located in a scenic mountainous region northwest of Vault 12, this Vault offers an endless supply of pure water to the inhabitants. The rumors that the water table in the area could easily be contaminated in the event of a Nuclear War have been found by the Department of Water and Power to be completely unfounded. In the event that the water in the area were to become tainted, remote even though it may be, Vault 13 has been fitted with the government approved Vault Water Purification System. Rated to work without significant loss of output for over 250,000 hours, prospective Vault Dwellers should have nothing to fear.
”— Vault locations v34.129[edit] Background
[edit] Construction and purpose
Construction of Vault 13 started in August 2063 and was completed in March 2069, which was the last vault on the West Coast to be completed, covering 3200000 tons of soil at 200 feet. The total number of occupants (at maximum capacity) was 1000 and had one hundred living quarters. At maximum capacity, ten people would be assigned to a single living quarter, in a hot bunking system. For Vault 13, Vault-Tec chose the Pip-Boy 2000 as the personal information processor for Vault 13 dwellers over the Pip-Boy 3000.[1] It was also equipped with a unique solar scorcher, a weapon with experimental photo-electric cells allowing sunlight as its energy source, possibly sent to test it in real condition if the vault was opened prematurely as Vault 13 especially count on its water purification system and its water chip to survive.
The purpose of Vault 13 in the vault experiments was at first to stay closed for 200 years, as a study of prolonged isolation. After the water chip event and the exile of the Vault Dweller on May 10, 2162, the vault experiments for Vault 13 changed and the new purpose was to remain closed until the Enclave was required vault dweller subjects, a control group for FEV Curling-13 experiment.[2]
The starting budget for Vault 13 was $400 billion, although it eventually reached $645 billion. It was equipped with a think machine supercomputer acting as a computer control system and powered primarily by geothermal energy, requiring 3.98mkw/day to operate properly. The secondary power source was the General Atomics Nuclear Power backup systems. Vault 13 stored complete construction equipment, hydro-agricultural farms, water purification from an underground river, defensive weaponry to equip 10 men, communication, social and entertainment files (for total duration). It was also supplied with an extra Garden of Eden Creation Kit (which, when added to the vault standard compliment of 2, makes 3 kits in total), instead of the extra water chips that made their way to Vault 8. Due to its late completion, the "cry wolf" effect that hurt the other vaults is not as pronounced in Vault 13.[3]
[edit] Water problems and the Master
Sometime during 2241, the Chosen One, grandson of the Vault Dweller, finds a strange giant time stone portal named the Guardian of Forever in the wasteland. Passing through it, they travel back in time before 2161 and that found in Vault 13 in the command center. The elevator doesn't work, they were obliged to remain at this level. Being empty, the Chosen One began to recover the equipment of the Vault 13 command center, taking the solar scorcher on the floor in the armory and without paying any attention, breaking the only remaining water chip of the vault, comforts him for some reason. After that, they were re-propelled near the Guardian of Forever and in 2241, and they continued their venture to save Arroyo by finding a Garden of Eden Creation Kit.
After the breaking of the Vault 13 water chip and before December 5, 2161, the Overseer Jacoren began to sent out Vault 13 dwellers into the wasteland to find a replacement chip. The first was a man named Ed but, probably not a fighter, he was killed by the giant rats that inhabit the cave outside of Vault 13.
The second was another man named Talius. Supplied with a Winchester Widowmaker and some 12 gauge shotgun shells, Talius searched unsuccessfully for the water chip for some time before hearing of Necropolis's water pump. With the help of the Necropolis ghoul leader Set, he was able to kill some of the super mutants before being knocked unconscious by nightkin, and promptly taken to the Mariposa Military Base. He was dipped in the F.E.V. vats, which led to a rare transformation into a ghoul-like mutant similar to Harold and was rescued under ambiguous circumstances by the Followers of the Apocalypse. He after joined them as a full-fledged member shortly afterwards and remained in the Los Angeles Public Library in the Boneyard, forgetting with his own choice his initial mission.
The third and last Vault 13 dweller selected by Jacoren was a man later know as the Vault Dweller. On December 5, 2161 at 07:21, Jacoren gave the Vault Dweller the location of Vault 15 as a possible location of another water chip and sent him out like the other into the wastes to find a new water chip, with a 10mm pistol and some ammunition, a task finally completed by him on February 2162, the replacement chip was eventually found in Necropolis in Vault 12.
Jacoren was happy to see the Vault Dweller returning to Vault 13, alive and with the necessary water chip. After the report of the Vault Dweller on the wasteland and his venture in the Vault 13 library, Jacoren was distraught and scared at the description of the super mutants encountered in Necropolis. After doing some calculations, he came to the conclusion that the super mutant population was far greater than could be expected by natural growth or mutations and thinking that someone generating new mutants at a startling rate. As long as someone is creating mutants at this rate, Vault 13 safety was at stake and knowing now the wasteland, he tasked the Vault Dweller with a new mission; find and destroy the danger of the mutants, suggesting to concentrate his search to the west. Once again, the Vault Dweller leaves the vault.
[edit] Vault Dweller's exile
Jacoren was right, and the Vault Dweller soon found and killed the source of the Mutant army, the Master, and destroyed his base, the Cathedral in March 2162. On April 20, 2162, he found the Master's second in command, the Lieutenant. He killed him and destroyed the Mariposa Military Base containing the F.E.V. vats used to create the Master's Army. After the defeat of the Master and the Unity, the Vault Dweller returned to Vault 13 on May 10, 2162. Calling to the Vault 13 communicator and announcing his victory, the vault door opened and Jacoren appeared, confronted the Vault Dweller, and told him that he saved the vault, and he was a hero, but he had to leave (thinking he would ruin the vault experiments by convincing people to leave the vault). It's not clear what happens to Jacoren after the exile of the Vault Dweller. Eventually he was tried and sentenced to death for committing a great crime (that can be assumed to be the act of exiling the Vault Dweller). Martin Frobisher, the leader of Vault 13 in 2241 claims this, but he didn't see Jacoren executed personally, and his information comes from the Vault 13 records passed down by his ancestors,[4] Jacoren can also be killed by the hand of the Vault Dweller after his goodbye speech to him (If one has the Bloody Mess perk).
After this event, many people chose to follow the Vault Dweller into the wasteland. Those people who had not left Vault 13 were wary to appoint a new Overseer. To replace the Overseer, they built a mainframe computer, a fully-automated mainframe to control and regulate Vault 13. For the Vault Dweller and the people who followed him, they trekked north and founded a small village called Arroyo. Over the ensuing generations, the people of Arroyo developed a tribal culture and revered Vault 13 as the "Holy Thirteen". Eventually, the grandchild of the Vault Dweller, known as the Chosen One, was sent to find Vault 13 and bring the G.E.C.K. to Arroyo, to save his dying village.
[edit] Intelligent deathclaws
In May 15, 2241, the Enclave sends a coded sequence to Vault 13, activating its central computer and declaring that is time to leave the vault. Martin Frobisher, the leader of Vault 13 gathers the vault dwellers together for the "Leaving The Vault" video, a tutorial movie of Vault-Tec about the rules to follow when vault dwellers left their vault. In May 16, 2241, Vault 13 is opened and greeted by two Enclave squads with vertibirds. The squads kill three of the vault dwellers who were "resisting capture" and storm the vault, kidnapping all the inhabitants. In May 17, 2241, the Enclave drop an intelligent deathclaw unit into Vault 13 from a safe distance to kill anyone investigating Vault 13 and cloak the Enclave's presence. Other intelligent deathclaws are sent into the desert surrounding Vault 13 to check for any escapees or witnesses.
The intelligent deathclaws, lead by Gruthar, begin to make their home in Vault 13. Unlike their objectives given by the Enclave, the intelligent deathclaws allowed many humans to live in relative comfort and safety with them in the confines of the vault, displaying a strong pack mentality. Several humans from the surrounding area moved into the vault to live under the protection of the deathclaws, but not all were pleased with these new neighbors. One human, Matt, struck against the deathclaws by bombing the mother and hatchlings (the deathclaw mother survived, but security was tightened from then on). The deathclaws faced other problems adapting to life in the vault, as well: after the overthrow of the paranoid Overseer, the dwellers of Vault 13 had turned day-to-day operations of the vault over to a Brotherhood of Steel-technology based computer.[5] The only way the deathclaws could interact with it was by voice commands; this became a severe problem when the computer's voice module malfunctioned.[6] Fortunately, a traveling tribal known as the Chosen One had a replacement voice module, and was willing to install his in exchange for Gruthar's help in finding a GECK, one of which Gruthar had within the vault's storage area.
The deathclaws paid a high price for their rebellion, however: an Enclave team, lead by Frank Horrigan, attacked Vault 13 and massacred the deathclaws (and presumably those humans under their protection). Of Vault 13's inhabitants, only Xarn[7] and Goris, both survived thanks to Chosen One actions. When the Enclave Oil Rig was destroyed in Fall of 2242 by the Chosen One, the survivors from Arroyo and Vault 13 re-founded Arroyo with the G.E.C.K.
It is unknown what exactly became of Vault 13 afterwards, if the vault was claimed by the NCR or some other group, or if Vault 13 was simply abandoned.
[edit] Layout
[edit] Entrance (Fallout)
 | Section needed This section is needed but has not been written yet. You can help The Vault by writing it. |
| Loot in Entrance |
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[edit] Entrance (Fallout 2)
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[edit] Living quarters (Fallout)
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[edit] Living quarters (Fallout 2)
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[edit] Command center (Fallout)
The command center who the Overseer Jacoren is located, as well as the vault library.
| Loot in Command Center |
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Magazine:
Armory:
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[edit] Command center (Fallout 2)
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[edit] Inhabitants
[edit] 2161
- Cindy
- Ed
- Jacoren
- Lyle
- Medic
- Officer
- Pat (unnamed in-game)
- Theresa
- Vault Dweller
- Water guard
- Water thief
[edit] 2241
[edit] Related quests
[edit] 2161
[edit] 2241
[edit] Appearances
Vault 13 appears in Fallout and Fallout 2. A rusted Vault 13 flask can be found and given to the Vault Dweller in Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel, mentioning after Vault 13 - "the old vault colors haven't even faded that much". Vault 13 is mentioned by Missionary in Fallout: New Vegas during G.I. Blues and in perk Vault 13's Revenge added in add-on Gun Runners' Arsenal. A Vault 13 flask and the armored Vault 13 jumpsuit of the Vault Dweller appear in the pre-order items pack Classic Pack of Fallout: New Vegas.
[edit] Gallery
[edit] Fallout intro
[edit] Master ending in Fallout
[edit] Fallout 2 intro
[edit] Fallout 2
Vault 13 command center before 2161 seen in the Guardian of Forever special encounter
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ↑ Fallout manual
- ↑ Dick Richardson's dialogue: "{228}{prs37}{Ahh. Vault 13 was a special case. It was supposed to remain closed until the subjects were needed. Vault 13 was, in scientific parlance, a control group.}"
- ↑ Fallout manual
- ↑ Fallout Bible 0
- ↑ Jimmy (Fallout 2)'s dialogue: "{156}{}{I don't know the full story but at one point in the vault's history there was a rebellion. The overseer was either killed or overthrown, I'm not sure which. Anyway, the leaders of the revolution didn't want to entrust the fate of the people to another overseer so they installed this mainframe. The records say it was purchased from... oh, what was that name... Ah, I remember, the 'Brotherhood of Steel.'}"
- ↑ Jimmy (Fallout 2)'s dialogue: "{137}{}{The voice interface to the mainframe has failed so Gruthar can't give the system instructions for running the vault. The food and water processors have already shut down. The power systems could very well be next.}"
- ↑ Fallout Bible 6
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