There Stands the Grass is a side quest in Fallout: New Vegas.
Quick walkthrough[]
| Side Quest: There Stands the Grass | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reach Camp McCarran and speak with Doctor Thomas Hildern in the terminal building; agree to help OSI improve their farming technology. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Optional) Speak with Doctor Angela Williams and agree to find the missing researcher Keely; speak with Dr. Hildern after and pass a 40 Speech skill check to negotiate increased payment upon completion. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reach Vault 22 west-northwest of Westside. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Acquire the keycard from the residential quarters on level 4 to access the caves and reach level 5. | Pass a 50 Repair skill check to fix the Vault's elevator connected to all levels. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Locate and interact with the terminal to download the research data on level 5. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Optional) Search for Keely in the caves connected to level 5. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Optional) Agree to meet with Keely at her lab on level 2 to deal with the infestation in the Vault. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Optional) Use fire, explosives, or lasers to ignite the gas vent on level 5 and destroy the fungal spores. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Optional) Return to Keely. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Optional) Agree to let Keely erase the research data. | (Optional) Refuse to erase the research data (turns Keely hostile) or start and progress I Could Make You Care up to acquiring the data with Veronica, then convince Keely to let the Brotherhood take possession of it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Return to Camp McCarran to inform Dr. Williams that Keely is safe/dead; pass a 50 Speech check to convince her to give payment if Keely died. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Return to Dr. Hildern to give him the data/tell him the data is lost | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reward: 1200-1500 XP 1200-2600 caps (varies with skill checks) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Detailed walkthrough[]
The quest is started by traveling to Camp McCarran and entering the terminal building, then turning left while staying on the first floor; enter the room to the south beneath the escalator, serving as the laboratory and office of the local branch of the Office of Science and Industry (OSI). Of the two occupants in the two-room space, the one to talk to is Doctor Thomas Hildern in the rear office. Speaking to him, he will introduce himself and then question if they came to him to discuss a project involving Vault 22; if one shows interest, Hildern launches into a speech about the miracles of advanced farming technology, culminating in stating his belief that the residents of Vault 22 developed and achieved a method to grow vast amounts of crops with minimal resources and effort, due to reports of the Vault's exterior being choked by excessive overgrowth, and OSI wants to acquire their research data in order to apply it as a solution to the NCR's impending food shortage (one has the option just before his speech to tell him to skip to the end). Hildern then asks them to breach the Vault's lower levels and locate the servers housing the experimental data for downloading onto their Pip-Boy.
As one is heading to the door, they will be intercepted by Doctor Angela Williams, Hildern's subordinate, who reveals that they are not the first that the branch leader has sent on this exact mission; Hildern had previously contracted several mercenaries to investigate Vault 22 but none have ever returned. A short time before their arrival, Keely, a ghoul scientist with OSI, went on her own to the Vault as well and is now missing too; Angela's fondness for Keely compels her to offer a reward if they can find and rescue her colleague. One can also ask additional questions on OSI and about Hildern, the latter of which one can pass a 25 Speech skill check to learn a bit about him including that he's sort of a glory-hog that takes credit for others' success.
Note: If one came to Camp McCarran to bring the invoice from the Crimson Caravan to Hildern during You Can Depend on Me, it is advisable to choose the dialogue option when first speaking with him to deliver it, otherwise after completing this quest, there will be a risk of bugs preventing the objective from completing and advancing that quest, which in turn prevents starting/advancing Heartache by the Number and gaining Rose of Sharon Cassidy as a companion (see the Bugs section).
Note: After learning about Keely and the previous hires, one can go back to Hildern and demand answers, though he will dismiss their concerns, followed by passing a 40 Speech check to negotiate doubling the promised caps to find the data.
Data storage[]
The surface entrance to Vault 22 is located north-northwest of Westside, tucked in between the cliffs. One may encounter a swarm of 3-4 cazadores that often roam the area nearby. The valley leading to the vault will be recognizable by the faint green tiny, and deeper in, the large and colorful plants and an old metal sign reading "Stay Out! The Plants Kill!" Outside the Vault's entrance will be four giant mantises hiding in the thick foliage. Once they're dealt with, enter the overgrown ruins.
The interior of Vault 22 is composed of five levels, with levels 1 and 2 devoid of enemies. The latter levels 3, 4, and 5 contain both more giant mantises and a unique type of enemy only found in the location, spore carriers. These blend in with the vegetation of the plant beds they reside in and will not show up as enemies on the compass until they are disturbed (even with ED-E's Enhanced Sensors perk). On Level 5 - Pest Control in particular, one will come across spore plants who spit spike projectiles. On every floor of the Vault, one can find elevator doors that are initially inoperable; passing a 50 Repair skill check at any of them will successfully repair the elevator and enable faster access to the Vault's lower floors. If one cannot repair the elevator, the only option is to go through the top four levels of the Vault to reach the bottom level 5 where the data is stored.
Eventually, one will reach the sealed bulkhead door leading into the cave system connected to the Vault, however, trying to undo the security lock gives a message: “Override engaged at door site." Undoing the lockdown will require locating the Vault 22 cave door keycard, It can be found in the crew quarters (unlocked either by using the terminal in the overseer's office or picking the Hard-locked door), in the first room on the left side of the hall as one enters the hallway, on a shelf to the right of the entrance. The room is also occupied by three spore carriers including one spore carrier runt. Note: One may encounter a glitch with the metal shelf where the keycard should be, where it will be invisible and only the item identification will be shown upon scrolling over where the object should be. In this case the key card will be on the bottom shelf in the right corner next to a couple cans of purified water.
With the keycard in hand, return to the bulkhead on level 3 (the stairs from level 4 to level 5 are blocked by debris) and use it to access the adjacent terminal, where the lock can be disengaged. A few giant mantises will reside right behind the security gate. The cave system forks shortly afterward with two routes: turning right leads to a door into the sealed-off section on Level 2 where one can find the six HEPA 20 cartridge filters as part of Still in the Dark. Turning left leads to a crossroads with three more routes: going right leads to a larger group of mantises including a female guarding the pile of giant mantis eggs found as part of Bleed Me Dry, going forward leads to a collapsed tunnel, and going left leads to the entrance to Level 5 - Pest Control.
Once on Level 5, skirt past the furniture barricades and multiple spore carriers and plants. The server room with the terminal to access the data archives can either be opened by picking the Hard-locked door or disengaging the lock from the overseer's office on level 3. At this point, one can finish the quest by downloading the data and returning to Hildern; this will miss out on opportunities for additional XP, caps, and potential Karma changes by continuing to look for Keely as Williams requested.
Rescue mission[]
The missing Keely is located in the second cave system connected only to level 5, with two separate entrances/exits. The shortest route is through a room behind a Hard-locked door that one passes by to reach the server room. If it cannot be opened, the room adjacent to the server room door has another cave entrance, partly concealed by a computer wall panel that has been moved slightly from the wall; this one is a bit longer to navigate to reach the cavern and ends in an irreversible dropoff.
The cavern is occupied by multiple giant mantises and spore plants who will use their ranged spit attack from afar. Once the cavern has been cleared of enemies, Keely can be found in an alcove at the south end. She will be thankful if the player character says that they came for her at Williams' request, then asks them to meet her in her lab on level 2, so they can plan on disposing of the fungal spores infesting the Vault. She will stand up and run out of the cave, opening the previous Hard-locked door covering the short route to the cave and go through Level 5 to the elevator. If the elevator was not repaired by the player character earlier, Keely will do it herself.
Upon returning to level 2, go to the lab section to find Keely. Speaking with her, the ghoul scientist reveals her plan for eliminating the infectious spores in the Vault: she rigged the ventilation system to pump a flammable gas into Level 5 where the spores are most concentrated; to completely eradicate the spores, she asks the player character to locate the vents and ignite the gas, without dying in the process. Keely will suggest the use of incendiary weapons or explosives, even recommending a laser weapon. If one lacks anything viable, she will offer a supply of 6 frag grenades in the duffel bag just to the right of the door into the lab.
Kill the plants[]
With a viable weapon, return to Level 5 and locate the rigged vents, which one can identify by the fuzzy distortion of the air. The vents can be found in an area at the end of the hallway containing the server room and the door to the cave entrance behind the disturbed computer panel. In addition to igniting the gas, one must also be able to survive the resulting blast. This can be done either by hiding in the reinforced data room with the door closed (then moving to the far corner opposite the door, by the terminal), by making it to the elevator before the blast reaches the player character (see below), or by simply surviving the substantial fire damage that the blast causes. The following methods are ranked by the chances of minimizing or escaping damage entirely (easiest first):
- Placing a C-4 plastic explosive near the vents, then detonating it while standing next to the elevator or from within the data room.
- Placing a time bomb by the vents, then running for the elevator or taking shelter in the data room. If running for the elevator, wait for the thump of the explosion before using the elevator to get credit for the quest step.
- If one chooses to use explosives to ignite the gas, long-fuse dynamite will provide the most time to get to safety. The six-second fuse allows enough time to run back into either the data room or the room across the hallway, close the door, and move as far away from it as necessary.
- Using a 25mm grenade APW with a timed grenade from within the data room, followed by quickly closing the door. Alternatively, consuming turbo, firing a Timed grenade from the far end of the hallway, and running for the elevator.
- Consuming Turbo, then shooting a laser at the vent from the far end of the hallway and running to the elevator (as the flames are slowed considerably by its effect).
- Shooting an energy weapon or throwing an explosive from the data room and then closing the door and backing up farther into the data room should prevent all damage from the blast. Closing the door quickly enough to avoid damage is difficult, and it is entirely possible one will take damage depending on the timing.
- Another method is throwing an explosive toward the gas vents from the opposite side of the file cabinet blockade right next to the data room door. Immediately run to the room directly behind the player character with the purple lights, closing and moving away from the door.
- Yet another method is standing near the room with the cave entrance, at the end of the hall opposite the vents. Ignite the gas and then turn and run out into the cavern.
- Consuming an atomic cocktail and/or a Fire ant nectar can help one withstand the flames, although keep in mind any followers may be momentarily knocked unconscious, or even killed if one is playing on Hardcore mode.
- Standing behind the gas, right where the vent is, does not subject the player character to as much damage as standing in the hall—a high level character can survive this.
- Stocking up on stimpaks will let one outpace the damage being done but will burn through quite a few stimpaks, depending on one's Medicine skill. With the Lonesome Road add-on, the use of auto-inject stimpaks may be extremely helpful in surviving the blast.
- It's also possible to crouch in the gap between two main frames, to the right of the main terminal in the data room and fire an appropriate weapon for setting off the gas, but the blast will definitely still affect the player character since the door is not closed.
Keely' dilemma[]
After wiping out the fungal infestation and surviving, upon returning to Keely on level 2, Keely is thankful and states that she intends to erase the research data to prevent any potential revival of the experiments that destroyed Vault 22 originally. If one used the terminal in the data room beforehand, she'll figure it out and first ask them how they knew about the data, then to let her access their Pip-Boy to erase it. Several different options for concluding this part of the quest become available:
- Avoid talking to her. One can unlock the door by pickpocketing her password, then use the terminal to unlock the door and leave.
- Tell her the truth and destroy the codes for good Karma. If she lives, one will get caps or Karma depending on what was bartered with Dr. Williams.
- Tell her the truth and refuse to destroy the data, which turns Keely hostile, and she must be killed, which garners NCR infamy.
- Tell her the truth and refuse to destroy the data, then flee the area. Go back in and she should be non-hostile again, then pickpocket the password from her to unlock the door via the terminal.
- Lie and let her live. One will incur Karma loss for lying and Karma gain for saving her, with a net gain of +50 Karma.
- Pass a 70 Science check (the numerical value is hidden) to convince Keely to save the data by suggesting that science learns from failure as much as from success, and with the data intact, its mistakes won't be forgotten or repeated, which also garners Karma gain. This option is only available if one was truthful with Keely that Dr. Hildern sent them to retrieve the data.
- If one started I Could Make You Care with Veronica and chose the NCR farming technology option from the terminal at Gibson's shack, then tells the truth to Keely about getting the data, a unique option is available to convince her that their ally and her organization can use the data to help others, which Keely will accept and unlocks the door without turning hostile.
Note: if one already handed in the data to Dr. Hildern and then returned to rescue Keely, she will tell the player character that the data should be deleted but will not confront them, resulting in a situation of being locked in the vault with no way to convince Keely via dialogue; the only way to escape now is to either pickpocket or kill Keely for her password and then use her terminal to open the locked door.
Results[]
The outcome of the return to the OSI lab at Camp McCarran will depend on whether one kept or deleted the data, and if Keely is alive or dead.
If Keely survived, Dr. Williams rewards 800 caps and one garners Karma gain. If Keely died, telling the truth results in no reward from her or Karma change, while passing a 50 Speech check to lie still earns the 800-caps reward, but garners Karma loss.
If the data was saved, Dr. Hildern rewards 1200-2400 caps (depending on the earlier Speech check) with an additional 600 via passing a 50 Barter/Speech skill check. If the data was deleted, the quest will complete after informing Dr. Williams about Keely's survival, while speaking with Hildern has him suspect that Keely was responsible for the data being lost and that the player character was an accomplice, then angrily demands that they leave the lab.
Quest stages[]
Notes[]
- If this quest is completed before starting I Could Make You Care, one will lose the option to retrieve the Vault 22 data as part of that quest, as there is no option to ask Dr. Hildern to give the data back even if that outcome was chosen.
- If one completes There Stands the Grass before ED-E My Love and destroys the research rather than giving it to Hildern, one may not be able to trigger ED-E's audio log, or the dialogue on Hildern with Arcade Gannon. If one wishes to trigger either companion's dialogue, do so before completing There Stands the Grass.
- The Vault has several exposed gas pipess, so one must be wary when using a flame-based weapon such as the flamer or Shishkebab.
- If the data has been downloaded before receiving this quest, one will be able to give Dr. Hildern the data immediately upon speaking to him. The best way to go would be speaking to Dr. Williams after receiving the quest to be able to look for Keely, speaking to Dr. Hildern, giving him the data, and bartering the additional caps out of him. After that, the quest will be marked as finished. It is still possible, though, to get caps for rescuing Keely by returning to the vault once more. Some things like the quest logs might not trigger correctly. It could also be necessary to pickpocket the passcode from Keely because the door might not open even after helping her. Be sure to return to Dr. Williams afterward to receive the caps.
- The act of killing Keely does not result in Karma loss, while lying to Dr. Williams about her safety does.
- Keely may not spawn unless the optional quest to find her is accepted from Dr. Williams. Even after downloading the data, one can still go back to Dr. Williams and receive the optional quest, then head back to Vault 22 and rescue Keely.
Behind the scenes[]
The quest name is a reference to and play-on-words of the 1953 country song "There Stands the Glass," originally performed by Webb Pierce.
Bugs[]
Completing this quest will result in all dialogue options with Thomas Hildern not appearing afterward, and one can only select the dialogue-end option. This affects the ability to complete You Can Depend on Me as one will not be able to give the package from Alice McLafferty and advance that quest, and as a result, Rose of Sharon Cassidy becomes unobtainable as a companion. [verified]- One may experience problems in Vault 22 completing Keely's quest igniting the gas if one has already cleared Vault 22 and retrieved the data before starting the quest, as there may be a bug in that if the data has already been obtained prior to starting the quest, at the end of Keely's dialogue she goes through the data deletion dialogue meaning one cannot give it to Dr. Hildern. It may be fixed by shooting the gas with a laser, then proceeding into other levels and returning, where one will automatically witness an explosion of the igniting gas. [verified]
- ED-E might disappear in the explosion and be lost indefinitely. To prevent this, save before lighting the gas and make sure any companions are in a safe location. [verified]
- If one has ED-E when starting, and have not gotten the second (possibly first) record log from ED-E, it may begin to play after talking to Dr. Hildern as one leaves his room and before Williams talks, causing one to freeze in place and only able to look around. [verified]
- Veronica, Boone, ED-E (unless ED-E has vanished by being caught in an explosion like the one in Vault 22), Arcade Gannon, Rose of Sharon Cassidy, Lily Bowen, and Rex turn up by the elevator every time after using it, even though they had been told to wait. [verified]
- When detonating the gas, it is not necessary to close the door to the computer room. The fire does not enter, even though it is wide open. [verified]
- Sometimes it becomes impossible to reach the Fifth level to burn all the spores. Every time the elevator is used to the Fifth level the game crashes to the desktop. The solution is pretty easy, leave any companions on the second level and complete the quest alone. That should prevent the game from crashing. [verified]
- After rescuing Keely and going through the dialogue in which she tells the player character to meet her in her lab on the second floor, sometimes she will run to the elevator and go through an animation in which she is attempting to repair it. When she is engaged in dialogue, she notes the good work the player character did in repairing it, but then instead of entering it, she walks into the food production tunnels nearby, and then aimlessly runs throughout them. If approached, she will engage in dialogue normally as if she is in her lab. If other bugs result in her disappearing (see above), one may want to check the food production tunnels for a possible location. This can also just be fixed by reloading a save twice after restarting the game. [verified]
- Occasionally, Keely may get stuck beneath the floor in 2nd level for no apparent reason. Using console commands seems to be the only remedy to this. [verified]
- The gas may not ignite or only ignite the space surrounding the collapsed door, preventing the quest from progressing.
- Sometimes, even if the door is closed, the explosion will still kill the player character, or it may only knock humanoid companions unconscious. [verified]
- The controls to close the Data Room door may be invisible, though the activate prompt will still appear if the cursor selects it. [verified]
- if you shut both doors in the 5th level of the vault when igniting the gas, the flames will go through the door and you will die. Closing ONLY the door closest to the gas will keep you safe. [verified]
- If one obtains the research data before starting the quest, giving the research data to Hildern upon starting this quest to complete it without leaving the room will result in the player character from being unable to move or interact with anything upon leaving the room and having Dr. Williams start up conversation, however she will not mention Keely as scripted because the quest has already been finished. This can be avoided by talking with Dr. Williams before completing the quest. [verified]
- Sometimes the game glitches and one can continually pass Williams' Speech check (25) for infinite experience by asking about her feelings on Dr Hildern. [verified]
- After speaking with Dr. Hildern, while leaving his office one may get stuck in place and can only look around. [verified]
- It is possible to rescue Keely, and after meeting her on the second level to kill her, leave the vault and come back, THEN destroy the spores, and the game registers her as still alive. When going to talk to Hildern at Camp McCarran, one will have a forced conversation with Williams that confirms this. After this exchange though, the player character will be stuck in cinematic mode and cannot move. Thus, this quest becomes impossible to complete. [verified]
- Companions may enter attack mode even though no enemy is visualized in the vicinity in the vault. [verified]
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