SatCom Array NW-05a is a satellite communications array, part of the SatCom arrays in the northwest of the Capital Wasteland in 2277. 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 female ghoul wastelander.
Layout
The SatCom array's interior opens into a large room with a staircase that leads up to a second floor with a workbench with a bottlecap mine on it. The stairs also lead to a small alcove with a ladder. Climbing the ladder will lead to 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.
- A bottlecap mine on top of a workbench inside the upper level.
- On the wastelander's body are three notes. The two SatCom array coordinates will mark the other two SatCom arrays on the map when used with the computer at the top of the tower. The third holotape will activate the "Highwater-Trousers" orbital weapon platform.
- Midway to the MDPL-05 power station to the west is a raider wharf with one mini nuke.
- There is also a Nikola Tesla and You at the raider wharf, on the roof of the boat. Inside the boat is a Stealth Boy.
Notes
- There are five armed frag mines positioned near the exterior entry door at ground level.
- The wastelander cannot be enslaved using the Mesmetron, she will frenzy instead. 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 him to be killed. Should he reach the upper catwalk, it is possible to reach him by dropping through the dish above.
- Sometimes, after The Waters of Life, the Talon Company will be replaced with Enclave troopers.
- The interior is very similar to that of Old World Blues's X-2 transmitter antenna array, with the same escalating stairs form and ladder/exiting hatch to the dish.
- The locations of the two other SatCom arrays NN-03d and NW-07c (mentioned in the wastelander's notes) will be put on the map in the Pip-Boy upon decryption using the computer terminal in the tower above.
- A short way to the southwest is a radioactive depression. After The Waters of Life, within the depression should be a few Enclave troops.
- Near the entrance, there is a sign indicating that the SatCom array is a fallout shelter, even though it is above ground.
Appearances
The SatCom Array NW-05a appears only in Fallout 3.
Gallery
Ghoul with Chinese Army Special Ops Training Manual
Highwater Trousers activation chamber
Raider wharf near the SatCom array
