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| + | {{Fallout 3 locations project}} |
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| − | {{Infobox |
+ | {{Infobox location |
| − | |name =Maxwell |
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| − | | |
+ | |games =FO3 |
| − | | |
+ | |type =settlement large |
| − | |image = |
+ | |image =SatCom Array NW-05a.jpg |
| − | | |
+ | |map marker image =SA NW 05 loc.jpg |
| + | |map marker ='''SatCom Array NW-05a''' |
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| − | |affiliation =NCR |
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| − | | |
+ | |quests = |
| + | |factions =[[Talon Company]] |
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| − | |location =Shady Sands |
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| + | |cell name =SatComArray01b (exterior)<br />SatcomArray01a<br />SatcomArray01bb |
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| − | |alignment =Good |
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| + | |refid ={{ID|001328}} (exterior)<br />{{ID|00064BF0}}<br />{{ID|00082DF9}} |
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| − | |tag skills =[[Energy Weapons]] 100 |
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| + | }}{{Games|FO3}} |
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| + | '''SatCom Array NW-05a''' is a satellite communications array, part of the [[SatCom Array (Capital Wasteland)|SatCom Array]] in the northwest of the [[Capital Wasteland]]. It is located further west of [[SatCom Array NN-03d|NN-03d]], between [[Fort Constantine]] and the [[MDPL-05 Power Station]]. |
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| − | [[Explosives]] 100 |
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| + | ==Background== |
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| − | [[Science]] 100 |
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| + | NW-05a is populated by members of the [[Talon Company]] and a [[ghoul scientist]]. On the scientist's body you will find three notes. The two [[SatCom Array Coordinates]] will mark the other two SatCom arrays on your map when used with the computer at the top of the tower. The [[Highwater Trousers' Activation Code|third holotape]] will activate "Highwater Trousers", an orbital micro-nuclear weapons platform (basically a satellite armed with nuclear missiles that can hit targets on the ground) that will drop several small tactical nuclear missiles around the tower. The scientist's [[SatCom Array NW-05a terminal entries|notes]] indicate that while the orbital platform's missile payload is still intact, the rotors which change the targeting position of the array need to be replaced. There does not appear to be a replacement component at any other array. |
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| − | }} |
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| + | ==Layout== |
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| − | {{quote|Thus your argument "it would take a while" falls flat on its face, suffers a heart attack, withers into dust and is blown away by the desert wind.|[[User:Tagaziel|Tagaziel]]}} |
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| + | The SatCom Array's interior opens into a large room with a staircase that leads up to a second floor with nothing notable other than a [[workbench]] with a [[Bottlecap mine (Fallout 3)|bottlecap mine]] on it. The stairs also lead to a small alcove with a ladder. Climbing the ladder will bring you onto the satellite dish at the top of the array. |
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| + | ==Notable loot== |
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| + | * [[Chinese Army: Special Ops Training Manual (Fallout 3)|Chinese Army: Special Ops Training Manual]] found near a terminal towards the left upon entering at the ground level. |
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| + | * There is a [[workbench]] with a [[Bottlecap mine (Fallout 3)|bottlecap mine]] on it inside on the upper level. |
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| + | ==Notes== |
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| − | {{Userbox|bg=#EEEEFF|left bg=#CCCCFF|left image=NCRReputation.png|text=This user helps [[NCR]] on sight.}} |
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| + | * There are four armed frag mines positioned near the exterior entry door at ground level. |
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| + | * For your amusement, upload the Highwater Trousers activation code taken from the dead scientist into the nearby terminal, and at your own pace move up the ladder to the top of the dish (note that nothing will happen until you move from your spawn point). The explosions are ten times bigger than a mini-nuke and leave no craters, but cause fairly high, quickly decreasing radiation (above 40 rads a second, near the center of impact). They can kill followers if you station them near a location where a missile falls. |
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| + | * The scientist cannot be enslaved using the Mesmetron - instead, she will frenzy. The resulting fire-fight typically ends with her death. |
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| + | * One of the Talon Company sentries is on an upper catwalk that is not accessible from within the tower or by exterior ladder. The sentry gets up there by climbing the tower itself. Shooting him stops his climbing script, allowing you to kill him. |
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| + | ==Appearances== |
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| + | The SatCom Array NW-05a appears only in ''[[Fallout 3]]''. |
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| + | ==Behind the scenes== |
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| + | * While the name itself is not a real world link, the station is: Highwater Trousers is a FOBS, a Fractional Orbital Bombardment System. These systems were originally developed by the Russians in the 1960s, banned by international treaty (which banned weapons in space) and evolved into the silo-launched versions, though only a variant of the R-36 "city buster" was fielded before the SALT II treaty explicitly banned such weapons. The theory (and fear) was that such weapons could be put into orbit indefinitely and launch their payloads from any distance, and any direction, even through holes in the enemy's early warning defense systems. The Highwater Trousers satellite could also reference a related weapons system developed by the US, which involved orbiting weapons clusters operating like the Minuteman silos do on the ground. This idea was echoed decades later in some of the Star Wars defense concepts. |
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| + | * It's also possible that the ghouls' implied plan (to void the United States' orbital nuclear arsenal), is a reference to the canceled [[Van Buren]] project, the plot of which involved a scientist using the United States' orbital nuclear arsenal to purge the wasteland. |
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| + | * The code Highwater Trousers is another way to say 'flood pants' though no link to bombs, nuclear codes or the apocalypse were found. |
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| + | ==Bugs== |
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| + | * It is possible to encounter a random creature stuck in the entry hallway between the exterior door and the door to the main room. {{verify|03:13, June 10, 2012 (UTC)}} |
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| + | ** There is another random spawn point at the top of the tower. |
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| + | ==Gallery== |
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| + | <gallery> |
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| + | NW-05a Boat & Wharf.jpg|Wharf near the SatCom Array |
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| + | </gallery> |
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| + | [[Category:Fallout 3 locations]] |
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| + | [[Category:Military and research facilities]] |
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| + | [[Category:Fallout 3 radio facilities]] |
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| + | [[ru:Станция сети СатКом NW-05a]] |
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| − | |||
| + | [[de:SatCom Schaltmatrix NW-05a]] |
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| − | |||
| + | [[es:Grupo de satélites de comunicación NW-05a]] |
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| − | Well, that's all for now, my sweet darling America. |
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| + | [[zh:SatCom Array NW-05a]] |
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Revision as of 03:13, 10 June 2012
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Fallout 3 locations project
This article is within the scope of the Fallout 3 locations project. This project is dedicated to standardizing Fallout 3 location articles. For participation, please check the project page.
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SatCom Array NW-05a is a satellite communications array, part of the SatCom Array in the northwest of the Capital Wasteland. It is located further west of NN-03d, between Fort Constantine and the MDPL-05 Power Station.
Background
NW-05a is populated by members of the Talon Company and a ghoul scientist. On the scientist's body you will find three notes. The two SatCom Array Coordinates will mark the other two SatCom arrays on your map when used with the computer at the top of the tower. The third holotape will activate "Highwater Trousers", an orbital micro-nuclear weapons platform (basically a satellite armed with nuclear missiles that can hit targets on the ground) that will drop several small tactical nuclear missiles around the tower. The scientist's notes indicate that while the orbital platform's missile payload is still intact, the rotors which change the targeting position of the array need to be replaced. There does not appear to be a replacement component at any other array.
Layout
The SatCom Array's interior opens into a large room with a staircase that leads up to a second floor with nothing notable other than a workbench with a bottlecap mine on it. The stairs also lead to a small alcove with a ladder. Climbing the ladder will bring you onto the satellite dish at the top of the array.
Notable loot
- Chinese Army: Special Ops Training Manual found near a terminal towards the left upon entering at the ground level.
- There is a workbench with a bottlecap mine on it inside on the upper level.
Notes
- There are four armed frag mines positioned near the exterior entry door at ground level.
- For your amusement, upload the Highwater Trousers activation code taken from the dead scientist into the nearby terminal, and at your own pace move up the ladder to the top of the dish (note that nothing will happen until you move from your spawn point). The explosions are ten times bigger than a mini-nuke and leave no craters, but cause fairly high, quickly decreasing radiation (above 40 rads a second, near the center of impact). They can kill followers if you station them near a location where a missile falls.
- The scientist cannot be enslaved using the Mesmetron - instead, she will frenzy. The resulting fire-fight typically ends with her death.
- One of the Talon Company sentries is on an upper catwalk that is not accessible from within the tower or by exterior ladder. The sentry gets up there by climbing the tower itself. Shooting him stops his climbing script, allowing you to kill him.
Appearances
The SatCom Array NW-05a appears only in Fallout 3.
Behind the scenes
- While the name itself is not a real world link, the station is: Highwater Trousers is a FOBS, a Fractional Orbital Bombardment System. These systems were originally developed by the Russians in the 1960s, banned by international treaty (which banned weapons in space) and evolved into the silo-launched versions, though only a variant of the R-36 "city buster" was fielded before the SALT II treaty explicitly banned such weapons. The theory (and fear) was that such weapons could be put into orbit indefinitely and launch their payloads from any distance, and any direction, even through holes in the enemy's early warning defense systems. The Highwater Trousers satellite could also reference a related weapons system developed by the US, which involved orbiting weapons clusters operating like the Minuteman silos do on the ground. This idea was echoed decades later in some of the Star Wars defense concepts.
- It's also possible that the ghouls' implied plan (to void the United States' orbital nuclear arsenal), is a reference to the canceled Van Buren project, the plot of which involved a scientist using the United States' orbital nuclear arsenal to purge the wasteland.
- The code Highwater Trousers is another way to say 'flood pants' though no link to bombs, nuclear codes or the apocalypse were found.
Bugs
- It is possible to encounter a random creature stuck in the entry hallway between the exterior door and the door to the main room. [verification overdue]
- There is another random spawn point at the top of the tower.
Gallery
Wharf near the SatCom Array