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[[File:Votf.jpg|thumb|220px|Vault-Tec advert and in-game town map of [[Vault 13]]]] |
[[File:Votf.jpg|thumb|220px|Vault-Tec advert and in-game town map of [[Vault 13]]]] |
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− | The ''' |
+ | The '''Vault''' series of survival shelters<ref>[[Fallout manual]]</ref> is a type of hardened subterranean installation designed by [[Vault-Tec Corporation]] on commission from the [[Federal government|U.S. government]] to protect a selected fragment of the [[United States of America|United States]] population from nuclear holocaust, so that America could be repopulated. Installations built as part of the Vault-Tec Societal Preservation Program commonly claimed to have a chance to fail equal to 1,763,497 to 1; however, reality was a far cry from this bold claim.<ref>[[Vault 101 PA System]]: "Did you know - the odds of a Vault-Tec shelter failing are 1,763,497… to 1?"</ref> |
− | '''For a list of known vaults, see [[list of |
+ | '''For a list of known vaults, see [[list of Vaults]].''' |
==Description== |
==Description== |
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===Construction=== |
===Construction=== |
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[[File:Fo4VW Vault 88 Construction Site.jpg|right|300px|thumb|[[Vault 88]]'s primary construction site, demonstrating typical late model construction efforts: Railway deliveries, heavy equipment, prefabricated elements, and large caverns shored up to withstand intense construction.]] |
[[File:Fo4VW Vault 88 Construction Site.jpg|right|300px|thumb|[[Vault 88]]'s primary construction site, demonstrating typical late model construction efforts: Railway deliveries, heavy equipment, prefabricated elements, and large caverns shored up to withstand intense construction.]] |
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− | A typical Vault is built deep underground in a geologically stable area (typical choices include mountain ranges<ref>[[Vault 13]]</ref> and remote areas away from population centers),<ref>[[Vault 106]]</ref> but |
+ | A typical Vault is built deep underground in a geologically stable area (typical choices include mountain ranges<ref>[[Vault 13]]</ref> and remote areas away from population centers),<ref>[[Vault 106]]</ref> but such shelters have also been built below the foundations of modern cities.<ref>[[Vault 12]]</ref> in order to survive the effects of a nuclear blast.<ref>[[Vault Dweller's Survival Guide]] p.1–2: ''"Vault-13 is designed to provide protection from the effects of a nuclear blast. To better understand the protection provided, we have included a section from the High Energy Weapons FAQ that explains how a nuclear blast causes damage."''</ref> Vault-Tec method was patented as the Triple-S Technology (Safety, Survivability and Sanitation),<ref>[[Museum of Technology]] vault system tour: ''"Triple-S Technology is Vault-Tec's convergence of the three most important parts of apocalyptic endurance: Safety, Survivability and Sanitation!"''<br/>([[Vault-Tec exhibit messages]])</ref> to provide a maximum of comfort to the inhabitants without compromising their safety. Vaults were typically built using reinforced concrete and solid metal sheeting to ensure durability and longevity of the shelter construction.<ref>Vault appearance in the games.</ref> The primary protection came in the sheer amount of earth covering: [[Vault 13]] was shielded by 3 200 000 tons of soil, at 200 feet (60m) of thickness,<ref name="V13 stats" /> while Vault 88 was sheltered by granite deposits common to [[Quincy Quarries|Quincy]].<ref>Location of Vault 88.</ref> |
− | Entrance |
+ | Entrance was controlled by a [[Vault door#External doors|Vault blast door]] and an airlock.<ref>Vault appearance in ''[[Fallout]]'', ''[[Fallout 2]]'', ''[[Fallout 3]]'', and ''[[Fallout: New Vegas]]''.</ref> The Vault doors had a projected 2% failure rate in case of a direct hit by a [[Intercontinental ballistic missile|nuclear missile]].<ref>[[Museum of Technology]] vault system tour: ''"Sleep in quiet comfort knowing that our impenetrable vault doors can withstand a direct hit by an atomic bomb with only a projected 2% failure rate."''<br/>([[Vault-Tec exhibit messages]])</ref> The only shelter hit by a [[Nuclear weapons|nuclear weapon]] is [[Vault 87]] and the blast damaged the door beyond repair.<ref>{{Icon|cut}} [[Vault 87 terminals#Vault 87 overseer's terminal|Vault 87 overseer's terminal]]: ''"The main door to Vault 87 is damaged beyond repair and we are detecting extremely high levels of lethal radiation outside and in the entry tunnel.."'' </ref> Some featured additional protective measures, such as an additional external blast door and reinforced access corridor, like [[Vault 8]], or were accessed vertically through an elevator inside a protective dome that caused to blast wave to sweep over the dome and leave the Vault door intact, as is the case with [[Vault 111]]. Regardless of the presence of these measures, all entry points into a shelter were overpressurized to keep contaminants out.<ref>[[Fallout 4 trailer]]</ref> |
− | The precise method of constructing Vaults evolved greatly as Vault-Tec accumulated experience in constructing these vast underground shelters. The first |
+ | The precise method of constructing Vaults evolved greatly as Vault-Tec accumulated experience in constructing these vast underground shelters. The first shelters were built using contemporary technologies, combining prefabricated elements with poured concrete and modular machines and electronics.<ref>Damaged sections of Vaults clearly show rebar used to reinforce concrete.</ref> The [[Los Angeles Vault|demonstration Vault]] built in [[Los Angeles]] set the standard for this first generation of Vaults built in [[California]], which used the same kind of technology used for military and industrial construction, such as [[Gecko (town)|nuclear reactors]], [[Mariposa military base|military bunkers]], or [[West Tek Research Facility|corporate research facilities]].<ref>Assets used to depict the Vaults in ''Fallout'' and ''Fallout 2'' are also used to depict the Glow, Mariposa military base, the Sierra Army depot, toxic caves bunker, and Navarro.</ref> Vault-Tec quickly started implementing its own, purpose-built technologies. Vaults started becoming more and more modular, using entire prefabricated sections built to spec on the factory floor and assembled on site. Many second-generation shelters exhibited a combination of both old and new technologies, with the only fully next-generation Vaults built on the East Coast, in [[Boston]] and [[West Virginia]].<ref>The evolution of Vault technologies between ''Fallout'' and ''Fallout 4'' follows a path of technological progression and refinement.</ref> These were built entirely using prefabricated sections complete with all the necessary infrastructure, fixtures, and fittings, greatly reducing construction times.<ref>''Vault-Tec Workshop'' components.</ref> |
− | By 2077, Vault-Tec could rapidly construct Vaults, especially in areas where natural or artificial features such as stable cave networks or underground tunnels permitted it. For example, the stability of Quincy's granite quarries and the ground allowed extensive excavation operations, creating a network of natural and artificial caves. After reinforcement, these caves were connected to a temporary railroad that rapidly delivered all the necessary prefabricates, construction equipment, and other necessities |
+ | By 2077, Vault-Tec could rapidly construct Vaults, especially in areas where natural or artificial features such as stable cave networks or underground tunnels permitted it. For example, the stability of Quincy's granite quarries and the ground allowed extensive excavation operations, creating a network of natural and artificial caves. After reinforcement, these caves were connected to a temporary railroad that rapidly delivered all the necessary prefabricates, construction equipment, and other necessities.<ref>[[Vault 88]]'s construction site demonstrates late model Vault construction in practice, see [[:File:Fo4VW Vault 88 Construction Site.jpg|this image]].</ref> |
===Infrastructure=== |
===Infrastructure=== |
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[[File:Fo3 Vault Corridor.png|right|thumb|A Vault corridor: Concrete, steel reinforcements, and SimuSun lighting.]] |
[[File:Fo3 Vault Corridor.png|right|thumb|A Vault corridor: Concrete, steel reinforcements, and SimuSun lighting.]] |
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[[File:Fo3 Vault Piping Detail.png|right|thumb|Infrastructure is designed for durability, but also for convenience. Critical elements are usually hidden behind wall panels so as to keep them out of harms way.]] |
[[File:Fo3 Vault Piping Detail.png|right|thumb|Infrastructure is designed for durability, but also for convenience. Critical elements are usually hidden behind wall panels so as to keep them out of harms way.]] |
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− | In order to power the entire installation, Vaults were provided with a variety of power sources, depending on local geology and the actual size of the Vault (with the average being ~220 dwellers).<ref>Average calculated from known Vault dweller sizes.</ref> The largest of them, like [[Vault 13]], required nearly 3.98 MWh/day for continued operations for its 1000 occupants (housed in a hot-bunking system). In order to meet the demand, the |
+ | In order to power the entire installation, Vaults were provided with a variety of power sources, depending on local geology and the actual size of the Vault (with the average being ~220 dwellers).<ref>Average calculated from known Vault dweller sizes.</ref> The largest of them, like [[Vault 13]], required nearly 3.98 MWh/day for continued operations for its 1000 occupants (housed in a hot-bunking system). In order to meet the demand, the shelter used a geothermal power plant as primary source, with [[General Atomics International|General Atomics]] nuclear power as backup.<ref name="V13 stats" /> |
This was the usual go-to solution was geothermal power, in areas where it was practical. If not, the usual fallback option was the aforementioned [[General Atomics International|General Atomics]] nuclear power plant, often used as the primary power source due to its reliability and scalability. |
This was the usual go-to solution was geothermal power, in areas where it was practical. If not, the usual fallback option was the aforementioned [[General Atomics International|General Atomics]] nuclear power plant, often used as the primary power source due to its reliability and scalability. |
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<br />''Due east from Vault 13, construction on this Vault has gone extremely smoothly. Much work was done to reinforce the walls of the third level of this Vault, to make all the future Vault Dwellers more secure in the knowledge that in the event of even a major earthquake, the regulatory computers of the Vault would continue to function. Recent tours of the newly constructed Vault, have had many a potential Vault Dweller walking away with a new found awe of the improvements done to this already impressive Vault.''"</ref> and other necessary amenities, like a Vault-wide intranet allowing instant access to any entertainment, social, and educational files from any terminal in the Vault.<ref>Vault networks are referred to in ''Fallout'' and other games.</ref> Vaults were also equipped with incinerators for disposal of the dead and likely other waste products.<ref>[[A birthday poem]]</ref> Security was provided by [[Vault door|heavy duty doors]] (which could be sealed by security in case of disturbances) and an extensive network of [[Eye-On-You surveillance camera|''Eye-On-You'' surveillance cameras]].<ref>[[Museum of Technology]] vault system tour: ''"Concerns about security? Our Eye-On-You Cameras enable the Vault's leader to watch your every move. You'll never be alone again!"''<br />([[Vault-Tec exhibit messages]])</ref> The entire Vault was typically managed by a single, centralized computer system, the most advanced of which being the [[ZAX]] series of supercomputers, currently known to have only been used in [[Vault 51]].<ref>See [[ZAX 1.3c]] for details.</ref> The most common brands were [[Brainpower]] and [[Think Machine]].<ref>[[Citadel terminals#Vault-Tec Terminal|Citadel terminals; Vault-Tec Terminal]]</ref><ref name="V13 stats" /> |
<br />''Due east from Vault 13, construction on this Vault has gone extremely smoothly. Much work was done to reinforce the walls of the third level of this Vault, to make all the future Vault Dwellers more secure in the knowledge that in the event of even a major earthquake, the regulatory computers of the Vault would continue to function. Recent tours of the newly constructed Vault, have had many a potential Vault Dweller walking away with a new found awe of the improvements done to this already impressive Vault.''"</ref> and other necessary amenities, like a Vault-wide intranet allowing instant access to any entertainment, social, and educational files from any terminal in the Vault.<ref>Vault networks are referred to in ''Fallout'' and other games.</ref> Vaults were also equipped with incinerators for disposal of the dead and likely other waste products.<ref>[[A birthday poem]]</ref> Security was provided by [[Vault door|heavy duty doors]] (which could be sealed by security in case of disturbances) and an extensive network of [[Eye-On-You surveillance camera|''Eye-On-You'' surveillance cameras]].<ref>[[Museum of Technology]] vault system tour: ''"Concerns about security? Our Eye-On-You Cameras enable the Vault's leader to watch your every move. You'll never be alone again!"''<br />([[Vault-Tec exhibit messages]])</ref> The entire Vault was typically managed by a single, centralized computer system, the most advanced of which being the [[ZAX]] series of supercomputers, currently known to have only been used in [[Vault 51]].<ref>See [[ZAX 1.3c]] for details.</ref> The most common brands were [[Brainpower]] and [[Think Machine]].<ref>[[Citadel terminals#Vault-Tec Terminal|Citadel terminals; Vault-Tec Terminal]]</ref><ref name="V13 stats" /> |
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− | Allegedly, all of the systems were rated to function without failure for nearly 900 years,<ref>[[Vault 101 PA System]]: "''"Did you know - Vault-Tec water and life support systems can sustain a vault for over 900 years, without failure?"''"</ref> though the uneven quality of components would prove this claim untrue. For example, the [[water chip]]s were manufactured by a low-bid contractor, resulting in poor quality and a high failure rate. Such was the case with [[Vault 13]] in [[Timeline#2161|2161]], exacerbated by the fact that the process was too complicated for a workaround system.<ref>The [[Vault Dweller]]: ''"{105}{}{Do you have a water chip?}"''<br/>[[Paul (Fallout)|Paul]]: ''"{134}{}{A Water Chip? The ones from the old Vault-Tec shelters?}"''<br/>The Vault Dweller: ''"{135}{}{Yes!.. Do you have one?}"''<br/>''"{136}{}{No. Those things were junk, they were prone to failure. We don’t deal with purifying our own water here. We have water delivered by caravans from the Hub.}"''<br/>([[PAUL.MSG]])</ref> For resettlement of the surface, |
+ | Allegedly, all of the systems were rated to function without failure for nearly 900 years,<ref>[[Vault 101 PA System]]: "''"Did you know - Vault-Tec water and life support systems can sustain a vault for over 900 years, without failure?"''"</ref> though the uneven quality of components would prove this claim untrue. For example, the [[water chip]]s were manufactured by a low-bid contractor, resulting in poor quality and a high failure rate. Such was the case with [[Vault 13]] in [[Timeline#2161|2161]], exacerbated by the fact that the process was too complicated for a workaround system.<ref>The [[Vault Dweller]]: ''"{105}{}{Do you have a water chip?}"''<br/>[[Paul (Fallout)|Paul]]: ''"{134}{}{A Water Chip? The ones from the old Vault-Tec shelters?}"''<br/>The Vault Dweller: ''"{135}{}{Yes!.. Do you have one?}"''<br/>''"{136}{}{No. Those things were junk, they were prone to failure. We don’t deal with purifying our own water here. We have water delivered by caravans from the Hub.}"''<br/>([[PAUL.MSG]])</ref> For resettlement of the surface, the shelters were provided with complete construction equipment<ref name="V13 stats" /> and preselected installations received one or two [[Garden of Eden Creation Kit|G.E.C.K.s]], intended to help the inhabitants create a viable civilization in the post-nuclear world after the All Clear signal is sent.<ref>[[Vault City central computer]]: ''"{238}{}{According to the archives, there is no GECK currently in stock at Vault City's Amenities Office. The people of Vault City seem to have used the only one they had to help establish the place when they came to the surface.}"''<br/>''"{239}{}{Scroll through the remaining information.}"''<br/>''"{240}{}{From what you can make out in the archives, two GECKs were part of every Vault's standard inventory package. Only one was shipped to Vault 8, however.}"''<br/>''"{241}{}{Cross-reference the GECK shipment information.}"''<br/>''"{244}{}{Due to a shipping error, it appears Vault 8 received a box of surplus water chips intended for another Vault. The other Vault most likely received Vault 8's second GECK.}"''<br/>([[VICENCOM.MSG]])</ref><ref>[[Vault 101 terminals#Letter from Doctor Stanislaus Braun|Vault 101 terminals; overseer's terminal, Letter from Doctor Stanislaus Braun]]</ref> |
<gallery> |
<gallery> |
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[[File:Fo3 Vault Living Room.png|right|thumb|A typical living room in a Vault.]] |
[[File:Fo3 Vault Living Room.png|right|thumb|A typical living room in a Vault.]] |
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− | The total number of inhabitants could be as high as 500 (1000 with hot bunking)<ref>It should be noted that due to scaling, the size of vaults in games shouldn't be taken at face value. None of the explorable vaults in the games have enough space or facilities to actually house 1000 people (or rather 500, as [[Wikipedia:Hot racking|hot-bunking]] is used at maximum capacity).</ref> in installations like [[Vault 13]]<ref name="V13 stats" /> and [[Vault 76]]<ref name="CitTermV76">[[Citadel terminals#Vault 76|Citadel terminals; Vault-Tec Terminal, Vault 76]]</ref> and as low as 100.<ref name="CitTermV106">[[Citadel terminals#Vault 106|Citadel terminals; Vault-Tec Terminal, Vault 106]]</ref> As the government only commissioned 122 Vaults as part of [[Project Safehouse]], only a fraction of the U.S.' 400 million citizens would actually be accepted into the Vaults.<ref name="400mil">[[Fallout Bible 0#Vault system|Fallout Bible 0]]: ''"Basically, the Vaults were never intended to save the population of the United States. With a population of almost 400 million by 2077, the U.S. would need nearly 400,000 Vaults the size of Vault 13, and Vault-Tec was commissioned to build only 122 such Vaults. The real reason for these Vaults was to study pre-selected segments of the population to see how they react to the stresses of isolationism and how successfully they re-colonize after the Vault opens."''</ref> The duration |
+ | The total number of inhabitants could be as high as 500 (1000 with hot bunking)<ref>It should be noted that due to scaling, the size of vaults in games shouldn't be taken at face value. None of the explorable vaults in the games have enough space or facilities to actually house 1000 people (or rather 500, as [[Wikipedia:Hot racking|hot-bunking]] is used at maximum capacity).</ref> in installations like [[Vault 13]]<ref name="V13 stats" /> and [[Vault 76]]<ref name="CitTermV76">[[Citadel terminals#Vault 76|Citadel terminals; Vault-Tec Terminal, Vault 76]]</ref> and as low as 100.<ref name="CitTermV106">[[Citadel terminals#Vault 106|Citadel terminals; Vault-Tec Terminal, Vault 106]]</ref> As the government only commissioned 122 Vaults as part of [[Project Safehouse]], only a fraction of the U.S.' 400 million citizens would actually be accepted into the Vaults.<ref name="400mil">[[Fallout Bible 0#Vault system|Fallout Bible 0]]: ''"Basically, the Vaults were never intended to save the population of the United States. With a population of almost 400 million by 2077, the U.S. would need nearly 400,000 Vaults the size of Vault 13, and Vault-Tec was commissioned to build only 122 such Vaults. The real reason for these Vaults was to study pre-selected segments of the population to see how they react to the stresses of isolationism and how successfully they re-colonize after the Vault opens."''</ref> The duration of stay varied. Some shelters were only intended to stay sealed for ten years ([[Vault 13]], though this directive was overridden),<ref name="FO1Me">[[Vault Dweller's Survival Guide]] p.5–14: ''"'''EQUIPMENT'''''<br/>''Vault-13 comes prepared with the latest in survival equipment. The items in your storage containers will last 1,000 people over 10 years in comfortable and modern surroundings. When it is time to leave the Vault, and return to rebuild America, your friends at VaultTec have provided you with everything that you will need. We have ensured that all of your rebuilding needs will be covered"''<br/>''"Yeah, right. Who wrote this? What budget did they get? We already used most of the equipment on failed attempts to contact an outside civilization. And we’ve been in here a lot longer than ten years. We have little left to give you, but we will give you what we can."''<br/>''"undergone extensive testing to make sure the equipment is reliable."''</ref> while others were designed for 38 years and more, like [[Vault 108]].<ref name="CitTermV108">[[Citadel terminals#Vault 108|Citadel terminals; Vault-Tec Terminal, Vault 108]]</ref> |
− | It is important to note that the [[Enclave]] never intended for the Vaults to save anyone. They used [[#History|Project Safehouse]] and the [[Vault-Tec Corporation]]' network of shelters for a grand social experiment, to test the occupants in unique circumstances.<ref name="testprez">The [[Chosen One]]: ''"{221}{}{What do you mean?}"''<br/>[[Dick Richardson]]: ''"{222}{prs35}{We had a number of sanctuaries that would enable the glorious American civilization to endure. These facilities - the vaults - were part of the great plan.}"''<br/>The Chosen One: ''"{223}{}{Those damn vaults didn't work the way they were supposed to. A lot of people in them died.}"''<br/>Dick Richardson: ''"{224}{prs36}{Actually, they worked almost exactly the way they were supposed to. You might call it a social experiment on a grand scale. }"''<br/>The Chosen One: ''"{225}{}{An experiment?}"''<br/>Dick Richardson: ''"{226}{prs36a}{The vaults were set up to test humanity. Some had not enough food synthesizers, others had only men in them, yet others were designed to open after only 6 months. They each had a unique set of circumstances designed to test the occupants.}"''<br/>([[Qhprzrch.msg]])</ref> However, the Enclave eventually abandoned their goal of settling on another planet, and decided to resettle the one they already had. Vault monitoring and research continued as the Vault Behavioral Project. In order to monitor the populations being experimented upon, the Enclave's oil rig possessed a great deal of equipment that allowed them to observe and control the |
+ | It is important to note that the [[Enclave]] never intended for the Vaults to save anyone. They used [[#History|Project Safehouse]] and the [[Vault-Tec Corporation]]' network of shelters for a grand social experiment, to test the occupants in unique circumstances.<ref name="testprez">The [[Chosen One]]: ''"{221}{}{What do you mean?}"''<br/>[[Dick Richardson]]: ''"{222}{prs35}{We had a number of sanctuaries that would enable the glorious American civilization to endure. These facilities - the vaults - were part of the great plan.}"''<br/>The Chosen One: ''"{223}{}{Those damn vaults didn't work the way they were supposed to. A lot of people in them died.}"''<br/>Dick Richardson: ''"{224}{prs36}{Actually, they worked almost exactly the way they were supposed to. You might call it a social experiment on a grand scale. }"''<br/>The Chosen One: ''"{225}{}{An experiment?}"''<br/>Dick Richardson: ''"{226}{prs36a}{The vaults were set up to test humanity. Some had not enough food synthesizers, others had only men in them, yet others were designed to open after only 6 months. They each had a unique set of circumstances designed to test the occupants.}"''<br/>([[Qhprzrch.msg]])</ref> However, the Enclave eventually abandoned their goal of settling on another planet, and decided to resettle the one they already had. Vault monitoring and research continued as the Vault Behavioral Project. In order to monitor the populations being experimented upon, the Enclave's oil rig possessed a great deal of equipment that allowed them to observe and control the Vaults. For example, the Enclave sent the all clear signal to [[Vault 8]] shortly after the War, prompting them to leave the shelter and build their city. These monitoring tools also let the Enclave see that the population of Vault 13 was largely intact, although this wouldn't become important until much later.<ref>[[Fallout Bible 0#Vault system|Fallout Bible 0]]: ''"Vault 13: Intended to stay closed for 200 years as a study of prolonged isolation, the broken water chip forced the Overseer to improvise and use the Vault Dweller as a pawn. Later study of the Vault 13 records by the Enclave led them to their current plan to end the war."''</ref><ref name="PoseidoNet">[[PoseidoNet]] in ''Fallout 2'' identifies the Oil Rig as "Control Station Enclave" along with many other sites named "Enclave".</ref> |
− | Pre-selected segments of the population accepted into |
+ | Pre-selected segments of the population accepted into Vault-Tec's shelters would enjoy a very high quality of life, though it would be completely different from the free market capitalist consumerism experienced on the surface - a planned socialist utopia underground (giving China the last laugh). As a closed system, the Vaults were designed to recycle and reuse<ref>[[Vault 101 PA System]]: “''Remember - Your Pip-Boy is not a toy. Proper cleaning and maintenance will ensure the device's operation for this, and future, generations.''”</ref><ref>The [[Lone Wanderer]]: ''"It's all right. Seems kind of old, though."''<br/>[[Stanley Armstrong]]: ''"{{Tooltip|Of course it is. Just like everybody else's. They don't make 'em any more now, do they?|with a laugh at your naivete}} That one I've been saving just for you, though. The A series is a bit heavier than some of the fancier models, but it won't let you down. {{Tooltip|I bet you could drop a bomb on one and it would still work. As a matter of fact, I know you could.|emphasis on "know" in last sentence. He's musing to himself about Pip-Boys He Has Known...}}"''<br/>([[CG02Stanley.txt|Stanley Armstrong's dialogue]])</ref> as much as possible and implement a completely planned economy that would maintain the system for the planned duration of the Vault. Every inhabitant would be registered with a unique 11 digit Vault IDentification number (or [[VID]])<ref>[[Vault Dweller's Survival Guide]] p.3–1-2<br/>{{Small|'''Note:''' ''The character bios on the page.''}}</ref> and provided with clothing, bedding, and other accommodations necessary for their life within the Vault.<ref name="VT letter">[[Letter from Vault-Tec]]: “''Vault-Tec provides all clothing, bedding, and accommodations for residents. Personal belongings must be reviewed and approved of by an authorized Vault-Tec hermetics technician before such belongings can be delivered to your reserved quarters within the Vault. In the event of an emergency entrance to the Vault, no personal belongings will be permitted beyond the main door of the facility.''”</ref> |
The only exception was food and water, as these could only be procured with the proper ration coupons (at least in some Vaults).<ref>The [[Lone Wanderer]]: ''"You do look hungry. What, your mom drank up all the ration coupons again?"''<br/>[[Butch DeLoria]]: ''"{{Tooltip|Don't you talk about my mom, you little punk!|enraged}}"''<br/>([[CG02Stanley.txt|Butch DeLoria's dialogue]])</ref> Luxury, non-essential goods were available for purchase in exchange for work credits, a form of currency earned through performing work for the Vault. The aforementioned ration coupons would sometimes also be used as a form of currency.<ref>[[Vault 92 terminals#Intra-Vault Mail 000482|Vault 92 terminals; Supply Shop, Intra-Vault Mail 000482]]</ref> Nourishment would be provided by a combination of food grown in hydroponic farms, like in [[Vault 13]], or food synthesizers, capable of creating a variety of foodstuffs. Water would be provided by purifying liquid drawn from the local water table.<ref name="V13 stats" /> |
The only exception was food and water, as these could only be procured with the proper ration coupons (at least in some Vaults).<ref>The [[Lone Wanderer]]: ''"You do look hungry. What, your mom drank up all the ration coupons again?"''<br/>[[Butch DeLoria]]: ''"{{Tooltip|Don't you talk about my mom, you little punk!|enraged}}"''<br/>([[CG02Stanley.txt|Butch DeLoria's dialogue]])</ref> Luxury, non-essential goods were available for purchase in exchange for work credits, a form of currency earned through performing work for the Vault. The aforementioned ration coupons would sometimes also be used as a form of currency.<ref>[[Vault 92 terminals#Intra-Vault Mail 000482|Vault 92 terminals; Supply Shop, Intra-Vault Mail 000482]]</ref> Nourishment would be provided by a combination of food grown in hydroponic farms, like in [[Vault 13]], or food synthesizers, capable of creating a variety of foodstuffs. Water would be provided by purifying liquid drawn from the local water table.<ref name="V13 stats" /> |
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− | It is important to note that Vault dwellers would be unable to use their own clothing in the long term. While dwellers could arrange to have their belongings sent to their |
+ | It is important to note that Vault dwellers would be unable to use their own clothing in the long term. While dwellers could arrange to have their belongings sent to their quarters in advance, there was a strict policy disallowing bringing baggage along in case of an emergency entrance.<ref name="VT letter" /> The uniform [[Vault jumpsuit]] would replace regular clothes. Manufactured inside the Vault, it was designed for utility and comfort. Enterprising dwellers could, however, customize theirs to add a bit of individuality to the generally conformist design.<ref>[[Vault suit]] appearances.</ref> Planning and conformity also extended to other areas. For example, trash disposal would only be permitted in designated receptacles on pre-set trash burning days. These receptacles would also be used for the disposal of corpses, as there was no space for proper burial in the confined environment of the Vault.<ref>[[Vault 101 PA System]]: ''"Remember - A clean vault is a healthy vault. Please place all trash into the appropriate incineration receptacle on your scheduled burning day."''</ref> Children would also be assigned their first work duties starting with the day after their tenth birthday,<ref>[[Alphonse Almodovar]]: ''"Congratulations, young {{Tooltip|man|Male}}/{{Tooltip|lady|Female}}! I don’t have to tell you how special this day is, do I? Down here in Vault 101, when you turn 10, well, you’re ready to take on your first official Vault responsibilities. So here you are. As Overseer, I hereby present to you your very own Pip-Boy 3000! Get used to it. You’ll be getting your first work assignment tomorrow. Ha ha ha ha ha!"''<br/>([[CG02Overseer.txt |Alphonse Almodovar's dialogue]])</ref> |
− | In exchange for these sacrifices in life style, |
+ | In exchange for these sacrifices in life style, dwellers would receive private quarters provided with the latest in home appliances, including Floorsuck Autocleaner Systems to minimize sweeping,<ref>[[Museum of Technology]] automated vault system tour: ''"The living sections make use of our revolutionary Floorsuck Autocleaner System for those darned messy kids. Never sweep again!"''<br/>([[Vault-Tec exhibit messages]])</ref> Culinator 3000 Kitchen Systems for cooking,<ref>[[Museum of Technology]] vault system tour: ''"Moms will love how our Culinator 3000 Kitchen System makes cooking a breeze. Mmmmm, I can smell the muffins baking now!"''<br/>([[Vault-Tec exhibit messages]])</ref> and access to complete libraries of social and entertainment files<ref name="V13 stats" /> together with the public Entertainotron room.<ref>[[Museum of Technology]] automated vault system tour: ''"Bored? Don't be! Step into our Entertainotron Room and watch the latest holotapes or perhaps listen to a symphony. Another Vault-Tec innovation!"''<br/>([[Vault-Tec exhibit messages]])</ref> A standardized education would be received by all Vault dwellers, including schooling in arithmetic, chemistry, biology, history, and other sciences.<ref>[[Future Imperfect]]</ref> Tertiary education would also be provided and Vault-trained specialists would be highly sought after the apocalypse and count on a stable career in their chosen field, like Doc [[Mitchell]] from [[Vault 21]], who opened a practice in [[Goodsprings]] after the Vault was opened.<ref>The [[Courier]]: ''"Tell me about yourself, Doc."''<br/>[[Doc Mitchell]]: ''"Well, I already told you I came from a vault. After that, was a traveling doctor for a spell. Seemed like a good idea at the time. Most folks out here ain't educated, so people with medical knowhow are hard to come by. Found that I could help a lot of people with what I knew, and that was all right with me. Eventually, I went back and married my childhood sweetheart and that was the end of my traveling days. Didn't miss it none then. Still don't."''<br/>([[Doc Mitchell's dialogue]])</ref> |
− | Their health would be assured by well educated doctors with the access to the latest in medical technologies. [[Auto-Doc]]s capable of performing a broad variety of procedures and manufacturing medical [[drugs]]<ref>The Chosen One: ''"{209}{}{I think endorphine blockers could be used to neutralize Jet once it's in someone's system. I can't test it without some endorphine blockers, though.}"''<br/>Troy: ''"{212}{}{We don't have endorphine blockers here, but I could program the Autodoc to manufacture some. Would you care to explain to me your theory?}"''<br/>The Chosen One: ''"{213}{}{Well, you see Jet's chemical addiction is probably the hardest thing to shake, so I was thinking that if we introduced endorphine blockers into the body we could...}"''<br/>([[VCDRTROY.MSG]])</ref> were standard issue of the Emergency Medical Labs (which were equipped well enough to rival clinics).<ref>The [[Courier]]: ''"Where would I find a diagnostic scanning module?"''<br/>[[Caesar]]: ''"It's been said that Auto-Docs were standard equipment in the underground Vaults where mankind survived when the bombs fell centuries ago. You can search the Vaults, but every Auto-Doc my Legion has run across has been stripped for parts long before we found it. {{Tooltip|Some of my scouts did report an abandoned Vault near Nellis Air Force Base. Overrun by ghouls, they said.|{remembering, feeling hope} }} Maybe the infestation has been there long enough to keep scavengers out. Why don't you go and see?"''<br/>([[Caesar's dialogue]])</ref> Some Vaults were also equipped with facilities for [[cloning]] replacement tissue and organs<ref>The [[Chosen One]]: ''"{290}{}{You mentioned before you were a doctor... I'm something of a doctor myself.}"''<br/>[[Troy]]: ''"{124}{}{You are? It's a pleasure to meet you. If you have the time, perhaps we could compare notes? It is not often that I get the chance to speak to another physician.}"''<br/>The Chosen One: ''"{125}{}{Absolutely. I'd love to learn some of the medical techniques you Citizens use.}"''<br/>Troy: ''"{128}{}{Excellent! Well, first, let me take you on a tour. Over here, we have the monitoring systems...}"''<br/>''"{130}{}{... and that is how we can clone cells to make replacement limbs. We have to be careful that the tissue cultures don't get contaminated, but... in any event, I think I've talked enough... hope it was informative.}"''<br/>The Chosen One: ''"{132}{}{Thanks for the tour, Doctor Troy. It's been very educational.}"''<br/>([[VCDRTROY.MSG]])</ref> To avoid the development of medical problems, |
+ | Their health would be assured by well educated doctors with the access to the latest in medical technologies. [[Auto-Doc]]s capable of performing a broad variety of procedures and manufacturing medical [[drugs]]<ref>The Chosen One: ''"{209}{}{I think endorphine blockers could be used to neutralize Jet once it's in someone's system. I can't test it without some endorphine blockers, though.}"''<br/>Troy: ''"{212}{}{We don't have endorphine blockers here, but I could program the Autodoc to manufacture some. Would you care to explain to me your theory?}"''<br/>The Chosen One: ''"{213}{}{Well, you see Jet's chemical addiction is probably the hardest thing to shake, so I was thinking that if we introduced endorphine blockers into the body we could...}"''<br/>([[VCDRTROY.MSG]])</ref> were standard issue of the Emergency Medical Labs (which were equipped well enough to rival clinics).<ref>The [[Courier]]: ''"Where would I find a diagnostic scanning module?"''<br/>[[Caesar]]: ''"It's been said that Auto-Docs were standard equipment in the underground Vaults where mankind survived when the bombs fell centuries ago. You can search the Vaults, but every Auto-Doc my Legion has run across has been stripped for parts long before we found it. {{Tooltip|Some of my scouts did report an abandoned Vault near Nellis Air Force Base. Overrun by ghouls, they said.|{remembering, feeling hope} }} Maybe the infestation has been there long enough to keep scavengers out. Why don't you go and see?"''<br/>([[Caesar's dialogue]])</ref> Some Vaults were also equipped with facilities for [[cloning]] replacement tissue and organs<ref>The [[Chosen One]]: ''"{290}{}{You mentioned before you were a doctor... I'm something of a doctor myself.}"''<br/>[[Troy]]: ''"{124}{}{You are? It's a pleasure to meet you. If you have the time, perhaps we could compare notes? It is not often that I get the chance to speak to another physician.}"''<br/>The Chosen One: ''"{125}{}{Absolutely. I'd love to learn some of the medical techniques you Citizens use.}"''<br/>Troy: ''"{128}{}{Excellent! Well, first, let me take you on a tour. Over here, we have the monitoring systems...}"''<br/>''"{130}{}{... and that is how we can clone cells to make replacement limbs. We have to be careful that the tissue cultures don't get contaminated, but... in any event, I think I've talked enough... hope it was informative.}"''<br/>The Chosen One: ''"{132}{}{Thanks for the tour, Doctor Troy. It's been very educational.}"''<br/>([[VCDRTROY.MSG]])</ref> To avoid the development of medical problems, shelters were lit using a [[Simu-Sun]] lighting system simulating natural sunlight.<ref>[[Museum of Technology]] vault system tour: ''"Being underground got you down? Smile! Our SimuSun Lighting mimics the feeling of being outside with only a fraction of the sunburn potential."''<br/>([[Vault-Tec exhibit messages]])</ref> It was estimated that living in a properly maintained Vault would result in an average lifespan of 92.3 years.<ref>[[Vault 101 PA System]]: ''"Did you know - the average life expectancy of a resident in a properly maintained vault is 92.3 years?"''</ref> Of course, prolonged isolation, even in generations born after entry, took its toll. [[Vault depressive syndrome]] was a common problem, manifesting as intense depression that could be debilitating. The usual recourse was to prescribe and treat it with anti-anxiety medication.<ref>[[Vault 101 terminals#Freddie Gomez|Vault 101 terminal entries; Vault 101 Medical Data System, Freddie Gomez]]</ref> Furthermore, those who exited successful Vaults seem to have a heightened chance of suffering from xenophobia (fear of strangers) and/or agoraphobia (fear of open places).<ref>Examples include [[Michael Angelo]], who doesn't dare leave [[Michael Angelo's workshop|his workshop]] even for inspiration, the [[Boomers]] who shoot [[Howitzer|artillery]] at anything that comes close to them, and the Vault 101 security, who still don't exit the Vault even after the Lone Wanderer opens its door. ([[Escape!]])</ref> |
Security inside the Vault was provided by its dedicated security force, usually hand-picked by the [[overseer]]. A typical Vault was provided with enough firearms and armor to arm ten men.<ref name="V13 stats" /> Surface monitors and communications systems were designed to facilitate connecting with other Vaults,<ref name="V13 stats" /> though this functionality was either never implemented or failed soon afterwards.<ref name="FO1Me"/><ref>[[Fallout Bible 4#Questions, questions|Fallout Bible 4]]:''"'''7. When thebombs dropped, all communication between the vaults where severed, so if their was no way to communicate with the vaults how did the Enclave send a massage to Vault 13 telling the people its time to go?''"'''<br/>"Communication between Vaults was never in place (it might ruin the experiments), but communication with the government/Enclave/Vault-Tec was a different story... they needed some way of monitoring the vaults."''<br/>''"The Enclave, having access to the Vault-Tec construction plans (not too surprising, considering the fact that the Vaults were funded by the government) had a way of monitoring events taking place within the Vaults... not only could they access their computers and systems remotely, (including PIPBoys and the personal logs of the Vault Dwellers), but the early Overseers of most of the Vaults knew of the ties to the government, and it was part of their duties to download information on the citizens and the Vault into an computer archive that the government could easily access."''<br/>''"Their tie to the Vault computers also gave the Enclave the ability to override any Vault locking mechanism and send an "all-clear" signal to sealed Vaults, coaxing the inhabitants to come outside."''<br/>''"Again, almost no Vault Dwellers were ever aware of this. For some Fallout 2 relevant information on the matter, here's what the player says in Fallout 2, and here's what Lynette says in response:"''<br/> |
Security inside the Vault was provided by its dedicated security force, usually hand-picked by the [[overseer]]. A typical Vault was provided with enough firearms and armor to arm ten men.<ref name="V13 stats" /> Surface monitors and communications systems were designed to facilitate connecting with other Vaults,<ref name="V13 stats" /> though this functionality was either never implemented or failed soon afterwards.<ref name="FO1Me"/><ref>[[Fallout Bible 4#Questions, questions|Fallout Bible 4]]:''"'''7. When thebombs dropped, all communication between the vaults where severed, so if their was no way to communicate with the vaults how did the Enclave send a massage to Vault 13 telling the people its time to go?''"'''<br/>"Communication between Vaults was never in place (it might ruin the experiments), but communication with the government/Enclave/Vault-Tec was a different story... they needed some way of monitoring the vaults."''<br/>''"The Enclave, having access to the Vault-Tec construction plans (not too surprising, considering the fact that the Vaults were funded by the government) had a way of monitoring events taking place within the Vaults... not only could they access their computers and systems remotely, (including PIPBoys and the personal logs of the Vault Dwellers), but the early Overseers of most of the Vaults knew of the ties to the government, and it was part of their duties to download information on the citizens and the Vault into an computer archive that the government could easily access."''<br/>''"Their tie to the Vault computers also gave the Enclave the ability to override any Vault locking mechanism and send an "all-clear" signal to sealed Vaults, coaxing the inhabitants to come outside."''<br/>''"Again, almost no Vault Dwellers were ever aware of this. For some Fallout 2 relevant information on the matter, here's what the player says in Fallout 2, and here's what Lynette says in response:"''<br/> |
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A Vault was designed to provide the best possible protection from nuclear fallout, indirect blast effects, and any unrest that might occur following a global thermonuclear war. Protected by a massive [[Vault blast door]] available in several different variants, from the basic ''Seal-N-Safe'' Model No. 343,<ref>''[[Fallout]]'', [[Vault 15]] townmap</ref> through fortified doors, all the way to the high tech fortified Vault entrances, the entrance area would double as an overpressurized airlock. There future dwellers would undergo decontamination and processing by [[Vault-Tec Corporation|Vault-Tec]] personnel, then change into [[Vault jumpsuit]]s provided in sealed packages before entering the Vault.<ref>[[Vault 111]] procedures, as depicted in [[Out of Time]].</ref> Vault doors would be operated either remotely<ref>''[[Fallout]]'', ''[[Fallout 3]]'', ''[[Fallout: New Vegas]]'', and ''[[Fallout 4]]'' have remotely locked entrance doors.</ref> or from control pods located near the door (both outside and inside the Vault). Specific access codes would be necessary to operate the door.<ref>''[[Fallout]]'' scenery description: ''"{17100}{}{Door Entry Computer}"''<br/>''"{17101}{}{This computer controls the large vault door. You have to enter a specific access code for the computer to work.}"''<br/>([[PRO SCEN.MSG (Fallout)]])</ref> Some Vaults were provided with an external blast door, providing additional protection against the blast.<ref>[[Vault 8]] and [[Vault 111]]</ref> |
A Vault was designed to provide the best possible protection from nuclear fallout, indirect blast effects, and any unrest that might occur following a global thermonuclear war. Protected by a massive [[Vault blast door]] available in several different variants, from the basic ''Seal-N-Safe'' Model No. 343,<ref>''[[Fallout]]'', [[Vault 15]] townmap</ref> through fortified doors, all the way to the high tech fortified Vault entrances, the entrance area would double as an overpressurized airlock. There future dwellers would undergo decontamination and processing by [[Vault-Tec Corporation|Vault-Tec]] personnel, then change into [[Vault jumpsuit]]s provided in sealed packages before entering the Vault.<ref>[[Vault 111]] procedures, as depicted in [[Out of Time]].</ref> Vault doors would be operated either remotely<ref>''[[Fallout]]'', ''[[Fallout 3]]'', ''[[Fallout: New Vegas]]'', and ''[[Fallout 4]]'' have remotely locked entrance doors.</ref> or from control pods located near the door (both outside and inside the Vault). Specific access codes would be necessary to operate the door.<ref>''[[Fallout]]'' scenery description: ''"{17100}{}{Door Entry Computer}"''<br/>''"{17101}{}{This computer controls the large vault door. You have to enter a specific access code for the computer to work.}"''<br/>([[PRO SCEN.MSG (Fallout)]])</ref> Some Vaults were provided with an external blast door, providing additional protection against the blast.<ref>[[Vault 8]] and [[Vault 111]]</ref> |
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− | Several layouts were developed for entrance areas. The earliest |
+ | Several layouts were developed for entrance areas. The earliest designs, derived from the demonstration Vault,<ref>The [[Los Angeles Vault]] contains a prototype Vault door and airlock combination, establishing it as the earliest variant.</ref> had a simple airlock, terminating in a security door fitted with additional armored plating to deter attackers and protect against radiation. This airlock would typically contain a status terminal and a locker for emergency supplies.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxWLbPND5VI The pre-rendered cutscene after the overseer's briefing shows the interior of the airlock in detail.]</ref> |
− | Later, more advanced layouts greatly expanded the airlock into a fully featured processing and decontamination station. Advanced Vault doors and airlocks would funnel prospective Vault dwellers into a decontamination shower and then to a separate area for disrobing and changing into jumpsuits (which would later double as staging area for excursions), before allowing them to enter the |
+ | Later, more advanced layouts greatly expanded the airlock into a fully featured processing and decontamination station. Advanced Vault doors and airlocks would funnel prospective Vault dwellers into a decontamination shower and then to a separate area for disrobing and changing into jumpsuits (which would later double as staging area for excursions), before allowing them to enter the shelter. A separate room to the side would be used for monitoring purposes.<ref>Appearance of airlocks in ''[[Fallout 3]]'' and ''[[Fallout: New Vegas]]''.</ref> |
− | The latest, fortified airlocks seen only in high-tech areas such as [[the Commonwealth]] further iterate on the system. The |
+ | The latest, fortified airlocks seen only in high-tech areas such as [[the Commonwealth]] further iterate on the system. The entry door connects to a retractable catwalk leading into the Vault, monitored by security officers and staff during processing. The entrance area, painted in warm colors with a reassuring corporate slogan prominently displayed (''Welcome Home''), would typically include a security station and an array of radiation scanners that would analyze people entering the Vault proper.<ref>Appearance of airlocks in ''[[Fallout 4]]''.</ref> |
;Basic Vault door |
;Basic Vault door |
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Living quarters were typically located deeper into the Vault and their design varied from installation from installation. A standard level had 20,000 square feet of usable area.<ref>''[[Fallout]]'' manual</ref><ref>[[Vault 15]] worldmap</ref> The standard approach was to provide discrete apartments to Vault couples, provided with a private sanitary compartment, terminal, and a bed, on top of any additional amenities they may require.<ref>''[[Fallout]]'' and ''[[Fallout 2]]'' Vault design.</ref> |
Living quarters were typically located deeper into the Vault and their design varied from installation from installation. A standard level had 20,000 square feet of usable area.<ref>''[[Fallout]]'' manual</ref><ref>[[Vault 15]] worldmap</ref> The standard approach was to provide discrete apartments to Vault couples, provided with a private sanitary compartment, terminal, and a bed, on top of any additional amenities they may require.<ref>''[[Fallout]]'' and ''[[Fallout 2]]'' Vault design.</ref> |
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− | However, different philosophies were implemented depending on the designer and the purpose |
+ | However, different philosophies were implemented depending on the designer and the intended purpose. Some did away with apartments in favor of separate dormitories for genders,<ref>[[Vault 11]]</ref> where multiple dwellers would occupy the same room, or for apartment blocks composed of a bedroom (with one or two beds, the former typically utilized under hot bunking) and a living space, with common lavatories accessible in the corridors.<ref name="GamebryoVaults">''[[Fallout 3]]'' and ''[[Fallout: New Vegas]]'' Vault designs.</ref> |
Other facilities typically located in living quarters include diners, classrooms, and even cigar lounges.<ref name="GamebryoVaults" /> |
Other facilities typically located in living quarters include diners, classrooms, and even cigar lounges.<ref name="GamebryoVaults" /> |
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===Emergency Medical Lab=== |
===Emergency Medical Lab=== |
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− | Typically found on the entrance level, the EML is one of the most important places in the |
+ | Typically found on the entrance level, the EML is one of the most important places in the shelter. Despite its name, a typical EML is a fully featured medical clinic allowing dwellers to undergo medical procedures in a safe and sterile environment. A medic is expected to be present on site 24 hours a day, to respond to any emergencies immediately.<ref>''Fallout'', upon entering the Vault 13 EML for the first time</ref> The EML typically varies in size from Vault to Vault. Some installations abandon the moniker entirely and simply refer to it as the Clinic. |
<gallery> |
<gallery> |
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The origins of the Vault network date back to early 2050s, when the [[Euro-Middle Eastern War]], the [[New Plague]], and the collapse of the [[United Nations]] resulted in a nation-wide scare. In response, the government set Project Safehouse in motion in 2054. This massive national defense endeavor was intended to create shelters that would protect the population in the event of a nuclear war or plague. Breakthroughs in construction technology allow for these gargantuan bunkers to be constructed at a rapid pace.<ref name="FOB0TR">[[Fallout Bible 0#Timeline repair: Second strike|Fallout Bible 0]]: "2054 ''In light of the Euro-Middle-Eastern conflict and the plague scare, the United States sets Project Safehouse in motion. The project, financed by junk bonds, is designed to create shelters, called Vaults, for the populace in the event of a nuclear war or deadly plague. Construction begins late in 2054 and proceeds rapidly due to advances in construction technology."''</ref> The impoverished government is forced to finance the project with [[Wikipedia:High-yield debt|junk bonds]] and even then, only commissions 122 of these shelters nationwide, allowing less than 0.1% of the population to save their life in the event of the holocaust.<ref name="400mil" /> The sheer costs of a single Vault are staggering: The intended budget for [[Vault 13]] was $400 billion dollars, and by the end of its construction the total costs reached $645 billion, well over 150% of the initial figure.<ref name="V13 stats">[[Vault Dweller's Survival Guide#General|Vault Dweller's Survival Guide]] p.1–1: ''"'''Important Vault statistics'''''<br/>''Vault Number ............................13''<br/>''Starting construction date .........August 2063''<br/>''Ending construction date ..........March 2069''<br/>''Starting Budget .........................$400,000,000,000''<br/>''Final Budget, with interest ........$645,000,000,000''<br/>''Total number of occupants .......1,000 (at capacity)''<br/>''Total duration ...........................10 years (at capacity)''<br/>''Number of living quarters .........100 (hot bunking required if at maximum capacity)''<br/>''Door thickness ..........................4 yards, steel''<br/>''Earth coverage .........................3,200,000 tons of soil, at 200 feet''<br/>''Computer control system .........Think machine''<br/>''Primary power supply ...............Geo-thermal''<br/>''Secondary power supply ..........General Atomics Nuclear Power backup systems''<br/>''Power requirements .................3.98mkw/day''<br/>''Stores .......................................Complete construction equipment, hydro-agricultural farms, water purification from underground river, defensive weaponry to equip 10 men, communication, social and entertainment files (for total duration)"''</ref> As a crucial element of national defense, much of the project was classified and protected under the [[New Amended Espionage Act]], encouraging embezzlement and corruption.<ref>[[Vault Dweller's Survival Guide]] title page: ''"NOTICE.––This document contains information affecting the national defense of the United States within the meaning of the New Amended Espionage Act, 50 U.S.C., 31 and 32. Its transmission or the revelation of its contents in any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited by the law."''</ref> |
The origins of the Vault network date back to early 2050s, when the [[Euro-Middle Eastern War]], the [[New Plague]], and the collapse of the [[United Nations]] resulted in a nation-wide scare. In response, the government set Project Safehouse in motion in 2054. This massive national defense endeavor was intended to create shelters that would protect the population in the event of a nuclear war or plague. Breakthroughs in construction technology allow for these gargantuan bunkers to be constructed at a rapid pace.<ref name="FOB0TR">[[Fallout Bible 0#Timeline repair: Second strike|Fallout Bible 0]]: "2054 ''In light of the Euro-Middle-Eastern conflict and the plague scare, the United States sets Project Safehouse in motion. The project, financed by junk bonds, is designed to create shelters, called Vaults, for the populace in the event of a nuclear war or deadly plague. Construction begins late in 2054 and proceeds rapidly due to advances in construction technology."''</ref> The impoverished government is forced to finance the project with [[Wikipedia:High-yield debt|junk bonds]] and even then, only commissions 122 of these shelters nationwide, allowing less than 0.1% of the population to save their life in the event of the holocaust.<ref name="400mil" /> The sheer costs of a single Vault are staggering: The intended budget for [[Vault 13]] was $400 billion dollars, and by the end of its construction the total costs reached $645 billion, well over 150% of the initial figure.<ref name="V13 stats">[[Vault Dweller's Survival Guide#General|Vault Dweller's Survival Guide]] p.1–1: ''"'''Important Vault statistics'''''<br/>''Vault Number ............................13''<br/>''Starting construction date .........August 2063''<br/>''Ending construction date ..........March 2069''<br/>''Starting Budget .........................$400,000,000,000''<br/>''Final Budget, with interest ........$645,000,000,000''<br/>''Total number of occupants .......1,000 (at capacity)''<br/>''Total duration ...........................10 years (at capacity)''<br/>''Number of living quarters .........100 (hot bunking required if at maximum capacity)''<br/>''Door thickness ..........................4 yards, steel''<br/>''Earth coverage .........................3,200,000 tons of soil, at 200 feet''<br/>''Computer control system .........Think machine''<br/>''Primary power supply ...............Geo-thermal''<br/>''Secondary power supply ..........General Atomics Nuclear Power backup systems''<br/>''Power requirements .................3.98mkw/day''<br/>''Stores .......................................Complete construction equipment, hydro-agricultural farms, water purification from underground river, defensive weaponry to equip 10 men, communication, social and entertainment files (for total duration)"''</ref> As a crucial element of national defense, much of the project was classified and protected under the [[New Amended Espionage Act]], encouraging embezzlement and corruption.<ref>[[Vault Dweller's Survival Guide]] title page: ''"NOTICE.––This document contains information affecting the national defense of the United States within the meaning of the New Amended Espionage Act, 50 U.S.C., 31 and 32. Its transmission or the revelation of its contents in any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited by the law."''</ref> |
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− | Following the success of [[Vault-Tec Corporation]]' [[demonstration Vault]] built near their headquarters in [[Los Angeles]] at the time,<ref name="CT">[[Chris Taylor interview for Vault13.net]]:<br/>Saint Proverbius (SP): ''"Which vault number was the Master's base?"''<br/>Chris Taylor (CT): ''"The Master was in the Vault-Tec private vault. This was the demonstration model built for the federal government, it was also very close to the Vault-Tec headquarters."''</ref> the company won the bid for construction the shelters. The building of the shelters proceeds rapidly and most are completed by 2063. The construction of several Vaults is delayed, particularly Vault 13 (which only started construction in August 2063) and the network surrounding [[Washington, D.C.]]<ref name="FOB0 cry wolf">[[Fallout Bible 0#Timeline repair: Second strike|Fallout Bible 0]]: "2063 August ''The construction of most Vaults completed, except for Vault 13, whose construction finally gets off the ground... heralding a development cycle that seems plagued with problems. Drills begin in the other cities with completed Vaults, but the increasing frequency of the drills has a "cry wolf" effect, and the turnouts for drills trickle off as the years go on."''</ref> Some are delayed due to work stoppage.<ref name="CitTermV108"/> Ongoing drills in completed |
+ | Following the success of [[Vault-Tec Corporation]]' [[demonstration Vault]] built near their headquarters in [[Los Angeles]] at the time,<ref name="CT">[[Chris Taylor interview for Vault13.net]]:<br/>Saint Proverbius (SP): ''"Which vault number was the Master's base?"''<br/>Chris Taylor (CT): ''"The Master was in the Vault-Tec private vault. This was the demonstration model built for the federal government, it was also very close to the Vault-Tec headquarters."''</ref> the company won the bid for construction the shelters. The building of the shelters proceeds rapidly and most are completed by 2063. The construction of several Vaults is delayed, particularly Vault 13 (which only started construction in August 2063) and the network surrounding [[Washington, D.C.]]<ref name="FOB0 cry wolf">[[Fallout Bible 0#Timeline repair: Second strike|Fallout Bible 0]]: "2063 August ''The construction of most Vaults completed, except for Vault 13, whose construction finally gets off the ground... heralding a development cycle that seems plagued with problems. Drills begin in the other cities with completed Vaults, but the increasing frequency of the drills has a "cry wolf" effect, and the turnouts for drills trickle off as the years go on."''</ref> Some are delayed due to work stoppage.<ref name="CitTermV108"/> Ongoing drills in completed shelters slowly create a Cry Wolf effect: Turnouts for the drills fall as the years go on, further limiting the Vaults' role in ensuring the survival of humanity.<ref name="FOB0 cry wolf" /> |
Additional problems are caused by the consistent mismanagement, corruption, and embezzlement that seemed to define Project Safehouse before the war. Yet for all these problems, Vault-Tec was able to create a number of miracle technologies and develop shelters that really protected the inhabitants... As long as they worked properly.<ref>[[Fallout Bible 6#Life with the GECK|Fallout Bible 6]]:<br/> |
Additional problems are caused by the consistent mismanagement, corruption, and embezzlement that seemed to define Project Safehouse before the war. Yet for all these problems, Vault-Tec was able to create a number of miracle technologies and develop shelters that really protected the inhabitants... As long as they worked properly.<ref>[[Fallout Bible 6#Life with the GECK|Fallout Bible 6]]:<br/> |
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===The Great War === |
===The Great War === |
||
− | On October 23, 2077, the Great War came. The Vault-Tec air raid sirens blare, but the |
+ | On October 23, 2077, the Great War came. The Vault-Tec air raid sirens blare, but the "cry wolf" effect results in few people going into the shelters. They are sealed and the experiments enter their decisive phase. The control Vaults function as intended and protect their populations. Others... Are not so lucky.<ref>[[Fallout Bible 0#Timeline repair: Second strike|Fallout Bible 0]]: "2077 October 23 ''Great War: Bombs are launched; who struck first is unknown... and it is not even known if the bombs came from China or America. Air raid sirens sound, but very few people go into vaults, thinking it is a false alarm. The Vaults are sealed."''</ref><ref>[[Fallout 4 loading screen hints]]: ''"In the year 2077, the world was destroyed by nuclear fire. Very few managed to escape to the safety of the Vaults."''</ref> |
− | Within the next few decades, many |
+ | Within the next few decades, many shelters would fail as a result of their experiments. The few that did survive would often prosper. In 2091, after receiving the all-clear signal, [[Vault 8]] opened and [[Vault City]] was founded.<ref>[[Fallout Bible 0#Timeline repair: Second strike|Fallout Bible 0]]: "2091 ''Vault 8 opens, and they use their GECK to create fertile ground for their city. This eventually becomes Vault City."''</ref> A year later, the demonstration Vault in the ruins of LA opened. The inhabitants founded [[Adytum]] in what became known as the [[Boneyard]].<ref>[[Fallout Bible 0#Timeline repair: Second strike|Fallout Bible 0]]: "2092 ''LA Vault opens, the Boneyard is founded and attracts survivors."''</ref> Almost thirty years later, in the spring of 2121, [[Vault 15]] opened.<ref>[[Fallout Bible 0#Timeline repair Second strike|Fallout Bible 0]]:<br/>[[Fallout Bible 3#Timeline repair: Second strike|Fallout Bible 3 Timeline repair: Second strike]]: "2141 Spring ''Vault 15 opened."''<br/>{{Small|'''Note''': This date is incorrect and does not follow, as Shady Sands is specifically stated to have been founded by [[Aradesh]]'s ancestor in the game. If it was founded in 2141, then Aradesh would be the founder. There is also no mention of the people of Shady Sands coming out of a Vault, which is inconsistent with the relatively recent founding date. Finally, as the Vipers, Jackals, and Khans emerged out of Vault 15 together, it's impossible for them to raid the Hub in 2125, sixteen years before their emergence. Given that [[Katrina]] specifically states the opening took place during her lifetime (and she's sixty years old), 2121 is the estimated moment of opening.}}</ref><ref>The [[Vault Dweller]]: ''"{108}{}{Tell me a bit about the town.}"''<br/>[[Jarvis]]: ''"{111}{}{Well, Shady Sands was founded by a great ancestor of our current leader, Aradesh. He could tell you more of the story. We have a well and irrigation, so we do well for ourselves.}"''<br/>([[JARVIS.MSG]])</ref> While a large portion of the Vault inhabitants that left the overcrowded Vault would band into raider tribes as the winter of 2121 came (marking the beginning of the [[Khans]], [[Vipers]], and [[Jackals]]),<ref>[[Fallout Bible 0#Timeline repair: Second strike|Fallout Bible 0]]: "2141 Winter ''Raiders begin to form in the region as food supplies run low. The Khans and the Vipers begin terrorizing local settlements."''<br/>{{Small|'''Note''': This date is incorrect and does not follow, as Shady Sands is specifically stated to have been founded by [[Aradesh]]'s ancestor in the game. There is also no mention of the people of Shady Sands coming out of a Vault, which is inconsistent with the relatively recent founding. Finally, as the Vipers, Jackals, and Khans emerged out of Vault 15 together, it's impossible for them to raid the Hub in 2125, sixteen years before their emergence.}}</ref> the remaining vault dwellers would found [[Shady Sands]] in the spring of 2122. The town used its G.E.C.K. well.<ref>The [[Chosen One]]: ''"{117}{}{Do you have a GECK?}"''<br/>[[Mikey Frazier]]: ''"{119}{}{A GECK? Well, that's old history, so what the hell. You mean the old Garden of Eden Kit. We had one - I mean our grandparents had one. Used it when they came out of Vault 15. Got this place started, they say. It's all used up now.}"''<br/>([[Scmikey.msg]])</ref> No one expected that these humble beginning would eventually culminate in the formation of the mighty [[New California Republic]].<ref>[[Fallout Bible 0#Timeline repair: Second strike|Fallout Bible 0]]: "2122 Spring ''Shady Sands founded, wall erected against the raiders."''<br/>{{Small|'''Note''': This date is incorrect and does not follow, as Shady Sands is specifically stated to have been founded by [[Aradesh]]'s ancestor in the game. If it was founded in 2141, then Aradesh would be the founder.. There is also no mention of the people of Shady Sands coming out of a Vault, which is inconsistent with the relatively recent founding date. Finally, as the Vipers, Jackals, and Khans emerged out of Vault 15 together, it's impossible for them to raid the Hub in 2125, sixteen years before their emergence. Given that [[Katrina]] specifically states the opening took place during her lifetime (and she's sixty years old), 2121 is the estimated moment of opening.}}</ref> |
However, there would be a darker side to the Vaults. As protective as they were, they would also ensure that the population within would be kept put for whatever purpose someone with less-than-stellar intentions might have for them. Such was the case in 2155, when the [[Master]]'s forces captured a caravan of vault dwellers from the L.A. Vault. He learned the location of the Vault and moved his base of operations there. Learning of other Vaults in the area, he realized their occupants were perfect subjects for dipping. The super mutants began to scour the region for the Vaults, boosting the output of the Mariposa vats tremendously.<ref>[[Fallout Bible 0#Timeline repair: Second strike|Fallout Bible 0]]: "2155-2156 ''After capturing a caravan of strange-garbed travelers (vault dwellers), Master learns the location of the Boneyard Vault, the future site of the Cathedral. He conquers the inhabitants and sets up operations there, and the human cultists begin to use the Vault as their powerbase. Within the Vault, the Master learns of other Vaults, and realizing their human occupants are ripe for transformation, begins to send out patrols to Vault locations in search of these other Vaults."''</ref><ref>[[Fallout Bible 5#Questions|Fallout Bible 5]]: "2155-2156 ''After capturing a caravan of vault dwellers, Master learns the location of the Boneyard Vault, the future site of the Cathedral. He conquers the inhabitants and sets up operations there, and the human cultists begin to use the Vault as their powerbase. Within the Vault, the Master begins to send out patrols to Vault locations in search of these other Vaults."''</ref> |
However, there would be a darker side to the Vaults. As protective as they were, they would also ensure that the population within would be kept put for whatever purpose someone with less-than-stellar intentions might have for them. Such was the case in 2155, when the [[Master]]'s forces captured a caravan of vault dwellers from the L.A. Vault. He learned the location of the Vault and moved his base of operations there. Learning of other Vaults in the area, he realized their occupants were perfect subjects for dipping. The super mutants began to scour the region for the Vaults, boosting the output of the Mariposa vats tremendously.<ref>[[Fallout Bible 0#Timeline repair: Second strike|Fallout Bible 0]]: "2155-2156 ''After capturing a caravan of strange-garbed travelers (vault dwellers), Master learns the location of the Boneyard Vault, the future site of the Cathedral. He conquers the inhabitants and sets up operations there, and the human cultists begin to use the Vault as their powerbase. Within the Vault, the Master learns of other Vaults, and realizing their human occupants are ripe for transformation, begins to send out patrols to Vault locations in search of these other Vaults."''</ref><ref>[[Fallout Bible 5#Questions|Fallout Bible 5]]: "2155-2156 ''After capturing a caravan of vault dwellers, Master learns the location of the Boneyard Vault, the future site of the Cathedral. He conquers the inhabitants and sets up operations there, and the human cultists begin to use the Vault as their powerbase. Within the Vault, the Master begins to send out patrols to Vault locations in search of these other Vaults."''</ref> |
||
− | Eighty years later, Vaults would serve another nefarious purpose, as the [[Enclave]], the architects of the original experimentation program, raided [[Vault 13]] on March 16, 2242; the |
+ | Eighty years later, Vaults would serve another nefarious purpose, as the [[Enclave]], the architects of the original experimentation program, raided [[Vault 13]] on March 16, 2242; the inhabitants were taken to the oil rig, so that the inoculation rendering humans immune to the FEV-based toxin could be tested.<ref>[[Fallout Bible 0#Timeline repair: Second strike|Fallout Bible 0]]: "2242 May 16 ''Less than a day later, Vault 13 is opened, only to be greeted by two Enclave verti-assault squads. The squads kill three of the citizens who were "resisting capture," and storm the Vault, kidnapping all the inhabitants."''</ref><ref>The [[Chosen One]]: ''"{141}{}{That sounds nasty. Why are they using your people for a test?}"''<br/>[[Martin Frobisher]]: ''"{142}{}{They took us all from our vault because they wanted test subjects for the antidote. They needed people from outside the Enclave, and who were still pure-strain-humans. So they took us.}"''<br/>([[QCMARTIN.MSG]])</ref> |
− | By 2287, almost no functional |
+ | By 2287, almost no functional Vault-series shelters remain. The only only that continues to function in its intended capacity (at least, as far as the dwellers are concerned) is [[Vault 81]]. However, after two centuries of use, it is in a state of advanced disrepair in spite of the maintenance efforts by its inhabitants.<ref>See [[Vault 81]] for references.</ref> |
==Appearances== |
==Appearances== |
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The Vault series of survival shelters[1] is a type of hardened subterranean installation designed by Vault-Tec Corporation on commission from the U.S. government to protect a selected fragment of the United States population from nuclear holocaust, so that America could be repopulated. Installations built as part of the Vault-Tec Societal Preservation Program commonly claimed to have a chance to fail equal to 1,763,497 to 1; however, reality was a far cry from this bold claim.[2]
For a list of known vaults, see list of Vaults.
Description
Construction
A typical Vault is built deep underground in a geologically stable area (typical choices include mountain ranges[3] and remote areas away from population centers),[4] but such shelters have also been built below the foundations of modern cities.[5] in order to survive the effects of a nuclear blast.[6] Vault-Tec method was patented as the Triple-S Technology (Safety, Survivability and Sanitation),[7] to provide a maximum of comfort to the inhabitants without compromising their safety. Vaults were typically built using reinforced concrete and solid metal sheeting to ensure durability and longevity of the shelter construction.[8] The primary protection came in the sheer amount of earth covering: Vault 13 was shielded by 3 200 000 tons of soil, at 200 feet (60m) of thickness,[9] while Vault 88 was sheltered by granite deposits common to Quincy.[10]
Entrance was controlled by a Vault blast door and an airlock.[11] The Vault doors had a projected 2% failure rate in case of a direct hit by a nuclear missile.[12] The only shelter hit by a nuclear weapon is Vault 87 and the blast damaged the door beyond repair.[13] Some featured additional protective measures, such as an additional external blast door and reinforced access corridor, like Vault 8, or were accessed vertically through an elevator inside a protective dome that caused to blast wave to sweep over the dome and leave the Vault door intact, as is the case with Vault 111. Regardless of the presence of these measures, all entry points into a shelter were overpressurized to keep contaminants out.[14]
The precise method of constructing Vaults evolved greatly as Vault-Tec accumulated experience in constructing these vast underground shelters. The first shelters were built using contemporary technologies, combining prefabricated elements with poured concrete and modular machines and electronics.[15] The demonstration Vault built in Los Angeles set the standard for this first generation of Vaults built in California, which used the same kind of technology used for military and industrial construction, such as nuclear reactors, military bunkers, or corporate research facilities.[16] Vault-Tec quickly started implementing its own, purpose-built technologies. Vaults started becoming more and more modular, using entire prefabricated sections built to spec on the factory floor and assembled on site. Many second-generation shelters exhibited a combination of both old and new technologies, with the only fully next-generation Vaults built on the East Coast, in Boston and West Virginia.[17] These were built entirely using prefabricated sections complete with all the necessary infrastructure, fixtures, and fittings, greatly reducing construction times.[18]
By 2077, Vault-Tec could rapidly construct Vaults, especially in areas where natural or artificial features such as stable cave networks or underground tunnels permitted it. For example, the stability of Quincy's granite quarries and the ground allowed extensive excavation operations, creating a network of natural and artificial caves. After reinforcement, these caves were connected to a temporary railroad that rapidly delivered all the necessary prefabricates, construction equipment, and other necessities.[19]
Infrastructure
In order to power the entire installation, Vaults were provided with a variety of power sources, depending on local geology and the actual size of the Vault (with the average being ~220 dwellers).[20] The largest of them, like Vault 13, required nearly 3.98 MWh/day for continued operations for its 1000 occupants (housed in a hot-bunking system). In order to meet the demand, the shelter used a geothermal power plant as primary source, with General Atomics nuclear power as backup.[9]
This was the usual go-to solution was geothermal power, in areas where it was practical. If not, the usual fallback option was the aforementioned General Atomics nuclear power plant, often used as the primary power source due to its reliability and scalability.
Vault | Number of occupants Vaults can hold double the number of occupants under a hot bunking system; Vaults known to use the system are listed |
Primary power supply | Secondary power supply |
---|---|---|---|
Vault 8 | Unknown, estimated at 100-200[21] | Nuclear reactor[22] | None |
Vault 13[9] | 500 (1000 with hot bunking) | Geothermal | General Atomics nuclear power |
Vault 75[23] | 88 | ||
Vault 76[24] | 500, later reduced to 88[25] | LightLife geothermal | General Atomics nuclear power |
Vault 81[26] | 96 (plus unknown number of researchers) | Nuclear reactor | None |
Vault 87[27] | Unknown | General Atomics nuclear power | Versicorps fusion power |
Vault 88 | Construction unfinished, none given | Vault-Tec super reactor | None |
Vault 92[28] | 245 | General Atomics nuclear power | None |
Vault 95[29] | 72 | ||
Vault 106[30] | 107 | Rok-Solid Brand geothermal | General Atomics nuclear power |
Vault 108[31] | 475 | General Atomics nuclear power (designed to fail after 240 months or 20 years) | Steam Whistle mini geothermal |
Vault 112[32] | 85 | Sure Power geothermal | X-Tra Sure Power geothermal |
Vault 114[33] | 120 |
All of that power was necessary to power the facilities necessary to sustain the people living within. Apart from air filtration systems required to keep the air breathable, Vaults also included hydro-agricultural farms and food synthesizers to provide sustenance,[34] water purification systems (able to take even sewer waste and convert it into up to 15,000 gallons of drinkable water each day with no loss of output for 250,000 hours of operation),[35] and other necessary amenities, like a Vault-wide intranet allowing instant access to any entertainment, social, and educational files from any terminal in the Vault.[36] Vaults were also equipped with incinerators for disposal of the dead and likely other waste products.[37] Security was provided by heavy duty doors (which could be sealed by security in case of disturbances) and an extensive network of Eye-On-You surveillance cameras.[38] The entire Vault was typically managed by a single, centralized computer system, the most advanced of which being the ZAX series of supercomputers, currently known to have only been used in Vault 51.[39] The most common brands were Brainpower and Think Machine.[40][9]
Allegedly, all of the systems were rated to function without failure for nearly 900 years,[41] though the uneven quality of components would prove this claim untrue. For example, the water chips were manufactured by a low-bid contractor, resulting in poor quality and a high failure rate. Such was the case with Vault 13 in 2161, exacerbated by the fact that the process was too complicated for a workaround system.[42] For resettlement of the surface, the shelters were provided with complete construction equipment[9] and preselected installations received one or two G.E.C.K.s, intended to help the inhabitants create a viable civilization in the post-nuclear world after the All Clear signal is sent.[43][44]
Vault dwellers
The total number of inhabitants could be as high as 500 (1000 with hot bunking)[45] in installations like Vault 13[9] and Vault 76[24] and as low as 100.[30] As the government only commissioned 122 Vaults as part of Project Safehouse, only a fraction of the U.S.' 400 million citizens would actually be accepted into the Vaults.[46] The duration of stay varied. Some shelters were only intended to stay sealed for ten years (Vault 13, though this directive was overridden),[47] while others were designed for 38 years and more, like Vault 108.[31]
It is important to note that the Enclave never intended for the Vaults to save anyone. They used Project Safehouse and the Vault-Tec Corporation' network of shelters for a grand social experiment, to test the occupants in unique circumstances.[34] However, the Enclave eventually abandoned their goal of settling on another planet, and decided to resettle the one they already had. Vault monitoring and research continued as the Vault Behavioral Project. In order to monitor the populations being experimented upon, the Enclave's oil rig possessed a great deal of equipment that allowed them to observe and control the Vaults. For example, the Enclave sent the all clear signal to Vault 8 shortly after the War, prompting them to leave the shelter and build their city. These monitoring tools also let the Enclave see that the population of Vault 13 was largely intact, although this wouldn't become important until much later.[48][49]
Pre-selected segments of the population accepted into Vault-Tec's shelters would enjoy a very high quality of life, though it would be completely different from the free market capitalist consumerism experienced on the surface - a planned socialist utopia underground (giving China the last laugh). As a closed system, the Vaults were designed to recycle and reuse[50][51] as much as possible and implement a completely planned economy that would maintain the system for the planned duration of the Vault. Every inhabitant would be registered with a unique 11 digit Vault IDentification number (or VID)[52] and provided with clothing, bedding, and other accommodations necessary for their life within the Vault.[53]
The only exception was food and water, as these could only be procured with the proper ration coupons (at least in some Vaults).[54] Luxury, non-essential goods were available for purchase in exchange for work credits, a form of currency earned through performing work for the Vault. The aforementioned ration coupons would sometimes also be used as a form of currency.[55] Nourishment would be provided by a combination of food grown in hydroponic farms, like in Vault 13, or food synthesizers, capable of creating a variety of foodstuffs. Water would be provided by purifying liquid drawn from the local water table.[9]
It is important to note that Vault dwellers would be unable to use their own clothing in the long term. While dwellers could arrange to have their belongings sent to their quarters in advance, there was a strict policy disallowing bringing baggage along in case of an emergency entrance.[53] The uniform Vault jumpsuit would replace regular clothes. Manufactured inside the Vault, it was designed for utility and comfort. Enterprising dwellers could, however, customize theirs to add a bit of individuality to the generally conformist design.[56] Planning and conformity also extended to other areas. For example, trash disposal would only be permitted in designated receptacles on pre-set trash burning days. These receptacles would also be used for the disposal of corpses, as there was no space for proper burial in the confined environment of the Vault.[57] Children would also be assigned their first work duties starting with the day after their tenth birthday,[58]
In exchange for these sacrifices in life style, dwellers would receive private quarters provided with the latest in home appliances, including Floorsuck Autocleaner Systems to minimize sweeping,[59] Culinator 3000 Kitchen Systems for cooking,[60] and access to complete libraries of social and entertainment files[9] together with the public Entertainotron room.[61] A standardized education would be received by all Vault dwellers, including schooling in arithmetic, chemistry, biology, history, and other sciences.[62] Tertiary education would also be provided and Vault-trained specialists would be highly sought after the apocalypse and count on a stable career in their chosen field, like Doc Mitchell from Vault 21, who opened a practice in Goodsprings after the Vault was opened.[63]
Their health would be assured by well educated doctors with the access to the latest in medical technologies. Auto-Docs capable of performing a broad variety of procedures and manufacturing medical drugs[64] were standard issue of the Emergency Medical Labs (which were equipped well enough to rival clinics).[65] Some Vaults were also equipped with facilities for cloning replacement tissue and organs[66] To avoid the development of medical problems, shelters were lit using a Simu-Sun lighting system simulating natural sunlight.[67] It was estimated that living in a properly maintained Vault would result in an average lifespan of 92.3 years.[68] Of course, prolonged isolation, even in generations born after entry, took its toll. Vault depressive syndrome was a common problem, manifesting as intense depression that could be debilitating. The usual recourse was to prescribe and treat it with anti-anxiety medication.[69] Furthermore, those who exited successful Vaults seem to have a heightened chance of suffering from xenophobia (fear of strangers) and/or agoraphobia (fear of open places).[70]
Security inside the Vault was provided by its dedicated security force, usually hand-picked by the overseer. A typical Vault was provided with enough firearms and armor to arm ten men.[9] Surface monitors and communications systems were designed to facilitate connecting with other Vaults,[9] though this functionality was either never implemented or failed soon afterwards.[47][71]
Layout
Due to the nature of the Project, Vaults were provided with standardized facilities and layouts. Some Vaults were built according to an uniform design plan (like Vaults 8, 12, 13, and 15), while others had to be adapted to local geological features. The following section attempts to summarize the most common design features.
Entrance
A Vault was designed to provide the best possible protection from nuclear fallout, indirect blast effects, and any unrest that might occur following a global thermonuclear war. Protected by a massive Vault blast door available in several different variants, from the basic Seal-N-Safe Model No. 343,[72] through fortified doors, all the way to the high tech fortified Vault entrances, the entrance area would double as an overpressurized airlock. There future dwellers would undergo decontamination and processing by Vault-Tec personnel, then change into Vault jumpsuits provided in sealed packages before entering the Vault.[73] Vault doors would be operated either remotely[74] or from control pods located near the door (both outside and inside the Vault). Specific access codes would be necessary to operate the door.[75] Some Vaults were provided with an external blast door, providing additional protection against the blast.[76]
Several layouts were developed for entrance areas. The earliest designs, derived from the demonstration Vault,[77] had a simple airlock, terminating in a security door fitted with additional armored plating to deter attackers and protect against radiation. This airlock would typically contain a status terminal and a locker for emergency supplies.[78]
Later, more advanced layouts greatly expanded the airlock into a fully featured processing and decontamination station. Advanced Vault doors and airlocks would funnel prospective Vault dwellers into a decontamination shower and then to a separate area for disrobing and changing into jumpsuits (which would later double as staging area for excursions), before allowing them to enter the shelter. A separate room to the side would be used for monitoring purposes.[79]
The latest, fortified airlocks seen only in high-tech areas such as the Commonwealth further iterate on the system. The entry door connects to a retractable catwalk leading into the Vault, monitored by security officers and staff during processing. The entrance area, painted in warm colors with a reassuring corporate slogan prominently displayed (Welcome Home), would typically include a security station and an array of radiation scanners that would analyze people entering the Vault proper.[80]
- Basic Vault door
- Advanced Vault door
- Fortified Vault door and airlock
Living quarters
Living quarters were typically located deeper into the Vault and their design varied from installation from installation. A standard level had 20,000 square feet of usable area.[81][82] The standard approach was to provide discrete apartments to Vault couples, provided with a private sanitary compartment, terminal, and a bed, on top of any additional amenities they may require.[83]
However, different philosophies were implemented depending on the designer and the intended purpose. Some did away with apartments in favor of separate dormitories for genders,[84] where multiple dwellers would occupy the same room, or for apartment blocks composed of a bedroom (with one or two beds, the former typically utilized under hot bunking) and a living space, with common lavatories accessible in the corridors.[85]
Other facilities typically located in living quarters include diners, classrooms, and even cigar lounges.[85]
Emergency Medical Lab
Typically found on the entrance level, the EML is one of the most important places in the shelter. Despite its name, a typical EML is a fully featured medical clinic allowing dwellers to undergo medical procedures in a safe and sterile environment. A medic is expected to be present on site 24 hours a day, to respond to any emergencies immediately.[86] The EML typically varies in size from Vault to Vault. Some installations abandon the moniker entirely and simply refer to it as the Clinic.
Command center
The command center is the nexus of Vault activity, where all the computers necessary to maintain the Vault's various functions. Centered around the overseer's office, it typically incorporates the security station, armory, computer core, meeting room, and library, although many variations of the layout have been developed.[87]
The oldest Vault designs usually dedicated an entire floor of the Vault for these purposes, owing to the multiple functions it was supposed to fulfill. One wing of the level would incorporate the overseer's office, a vaulted chamber with a command post equipped with a pair of CZ-53 5mm miniguns designed to defend the overseer, connected to the main processing computers (including the water purification controls)[88] and the security post with the Vault's main armory. A Vault security guard would be posted in the area on watch around the clock.[89]
Later designs would forgo the inclusion of a discrete command post and hall, in favor of a more modest office. The workplace of the overseer would typically be located in an area overlooking the atrium - the center of activity within the Vault, where dwellers would spend their leisure time, socialize, and even engage in sports.[90] The office would typically connect to necessary administrative and security facilities, such as the computer core, security station and armory, laboratories, and the personal quarters of the overseer and their family.[91]
History
Vault construction timetable | ||
---|---|---|
Number | Construction begins | Construction ends |
Vault 13 | August 2063 | March 2069 |
Vault 76 | 2065 | 2069 (planned) 2076 (actual) |
Vault 87 | May 2066 | May 2071 |
Vault 92 | May 2062 | May 2068 |
Vault 106 | May 2064 | December 2069 |
Vault 108 | March 2061 | December 2069 |
Vault 112 | November 2068 | June 2074 |
- See also: Project Safehouse
The origins of the Vault network date back to early 2050s, when the Euro-Middle Eastern War, the New Plague, and the collapse of the United Nations resulted in a nation-wide scare. In response, the government set Project Safehouse in motion in 2054. This massive national defense endeavor was intended to create shelters that would protect the population in the event of a nuclear war or plague. Breakthroughs in construction technology allow for these gargantuan bunkers to be constructed at a rapid pace.[92] The impoverished government is forced to finance the project with junk bonds and even then, only commissions 122 of these shelters nationwide, allowing less than 0.1% of the population to save their life in the event of the holocaust.[46] The sheer costs of a single Vault are staggering: The intended budget for Vault 13 was $400 billion dollars, and by the end of its construction the total costs reached $645 billion, well over 150% of the initial figure.[9] As a crucial element of national defense, much of the project was classified and protected under the New Amended Espionage Act, encouraging embezzlement and corruption.[93]
Following the success of Vault-Tec Corporation' demonstration Vault built near their headquarters in Los Angeles at the time,[94] the company won the bid for construction the shelters. The building of the shelters proceeds rapidly and most are completed by 2063. The construction of several Vaults is delayed, particularly Vault 13 (which only started construction in August 2063) and the network surrounding Washington, D.C.[95] Some are delayed due to work stoppage.[31] Ongoing drills in completed shelters slowly create a Cry Wolf effect: Turnouts for the drills fall as the years go on, further limiting the Vaults' role in ensuring the survival of humanity.[95]
Additional problems are caused by the consistent mismanagement, corruption, and embezzlement that seemed to define Project Safehouse before the war. Yet for all these problems, Vault-Tec was able to create a number of miracle technologies and develop shelters that really protected the inhabitants... As long as they worked properly.[96] Vault-Tec even advertised Vaults in newly annexed Canada, though these were in the early stages of completion.[97] Of course, it was also a tremendous success for the company, allowing it to relocate its headquarters to Washington, D.C.[94][98] and even sponsor a large exposition at the Museum of Technology in the capital, designed to promote their shelters and explain their functionality.[99] Promotional tours and awarding of prizes like the Pressed Vault Suit Award were also used to promote a positive image of the company, regardless of the numerous problems associated with it.[100]
True purpose
The real problem with the Vaults is that the conspiracy never intended for them to be shelters for preserving humanity.[101] After it established control over Project Safehouse, it subverted it for its own ends. Rather than act to save humanity, Vaults were built to test their population as part of the Societal Preservation Program.[102][103] Only 17 of the Vaults were designed to work properly as control Vaults.[24] The 105 other Vaults were featured a variety of scenarios, ranging from annoying to downright lethal, to gauge how humans acted in these scenarios for their own, nefarious purposes.[104] Some were not provided with enough food synthesizers for their population, others had only men in them, or were designed to open prematurely. The purpose of this experiment was to gather data for the Enclave's own projects, the exact purpose of which is unclear.[105]
Additionally, Vault-Tec had its own plans for Vaults, using them as test environments to create technologies that could be used to redefine society. For this purpose, an entire Vault was set aside to act as proving grounds intended to test a variety of prototype devices with the aim of rolling them out through the rest of the Vaults. Once Vault 88 was fully operational, the company expected to roll out new devices every fiscal quarter. Unlike other Vaults, Vault-Tec would send test subjects before any disaster scenario, starting in early 2078. Human lives were considered irrelevant, with quick iteration time given a priority.[106] The prototypes were meant to convert "useless" exercise into a socially-useful activity, manipulate the moods of the dwellers, or even develop crude forms of mind control.[107] Ethical concerns were dismissed as counter-productive and close-minded.[108]
The Great War
On October 23, 2077, the Great War came. The Vault-Tec air raid sirens blare, but the "cry wolf" effect results in few people going into the shelters. They are sealed and the experiments enter their decisive phase. The control Vaults function as intended and protect their populations. Others... Are not so lucky.[109][110]
Within the next few decades, many shelters would fail as a result of their experiments. The few that did survive would often prosper. In 2091, after receiving the all-clear signal, Vault 8 opened and Vault City was founded.[111] A year later, the demonstration Vault in the ruins of LA opened. The inhabitants founded Adytum in what became known as the Boneyard.[112] Almost thirty years later, in the spring of 2121, Vault 15 opened.[113][114] While a large portion of the Vault inhabitants that left the overcrowded Vault would band into raider tribes as the winter of 2121 came (marking the beginning of the Khans, Vipers, and Jackals),[115] the remaining vault dwellers would found Shady Sands in the spring of 2122. The town used its G.E.C.K. well.[116] No one expected that these humble beginning would eventually culminate in the formation of the mighty New California Republic.[117]
However, there would be a darker side to the Vaults. As protective as they were, they would also ensure that the population within would be kept put for whatever purpose someone with less-than-stellar intentions might have for them. Such was the case in 2155, when the Master's forces captured a caravan of vault dwellers from the L.A. Vault. He learned the location of the Vault and moved his base of operations there. Learning of other Vaults in the area, he realized their occupants were perfect subjects for dipping. The super mutants began to scour the region for the Vaults, boosting the output of the Mariposa vats tremendously.[118][119]
Eighty years later, Vaults would serve another nefarious purpose, as the Enclave, the architects of the original experimentation program, raided Vault 13 on March 16, 2242; the inhabitants were taken to the oil rig, so that the inoculation rendering humans immune to the FEV-based toxin could be tested.[120][121]
By 2287, almost no functional Vault-series shelters remain. The only only that continues to function in its intended capacity (at least, as far as the dwellers are concerned) is Vault 81. However, after two centuries of use, it is in a state of advanced disrepair in spite of the maintenance efforts by its inhabitants.[122]
Appearances
- Vault 12, Vault 13, Vault 15 and the Los Angeles Vault appear in Fallout.
- Vault 8, Vault 13, Vault 15 and the Unfinished Vault appear in Fallout 2. Some vaults were also mentioned by President Dick Richardson - some of them had not enough food synthesizers, others had only men in them, yet others were designed to open after only 6 months.
- Vault 87, Vault 92, Vault 101, Vault 106, Vault 108 and Vault 112 appear in Fallout 3. They are also mentioned in a Citadel terminal entry.
- Vault 3, Vault 11, Vault 19, Vault 21, Vault 22 and Vault 34 appear in Fallout: New Vegas. Vault 17 is mentioned by Lily Bowen.
- Vault 75, Vault 81, Vault 95, Vault 111 and Vault 114 appear in Fallout 4.
- Vault 118 appears in the Fallout 4 add-on Far Harbor.
- Vault 88 appears in the Fallout 4 add-on Vault-Tec Workshop.
- Vault 76 appears in Fallout 76. It was previously mentioned in a Citadel terminal in Fallout 3, and also in its add-on Mothership Zeta in an alien captive recorded log, as well as at the very beginning of Fallout 4 by the newscaster.
- Vault 63, Vault 94 and Vault 96 also appear in Fallout 76. Vault 29 is mentioned in the holotape Last day of school.
- Vault 51 appears in the Fallout 76 add-on Nuclear Winter.
- Vault 0 appears in Fallout Tactics.
- The Secret Vault and the Vault prototype appear in Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel.
- In Fallout Shelter, players select a three-digit number to name their new vaults, ranging from 000 to 999.
- Vault 77 appears in the webcomic One Man, and a Crate of Puppets, and a jumpsuit from it can be found in Paradise Falls in Fallout 3.
- Vault 1 appears in the Van Buren tech demo.
- Vault 29 and Vault 70 were to appear in Van Buren, the canceled Fallout 3 project by Black Isle Studios.
- A Vault 69 advertisement appears in Van Buren concept art.
- Vault 74 appears only in the Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas modding tutorial on the G.E.C.K. wiki. It was also included as cut content in Fallout: New Vegas.
- Other Vaults present in this article are mentioned in Chris Avellone's Fallout Bible, Penny Arcade's comic strips, cut content, or other canceled Fallout games.
Behind the scenes
- The Vault experiment was an idea created by Tim Cain and Leonard Boyarsky during the initial stages of Fallout 2 development.[104][123]
- The developers intended for the player to first encounter information about the Vault Experiment as they read the Vault 8 records in Fallout 2. They could discover a classified file (opened with a successful Science skill roll) explaining the purpose of Vault 8 was to be a "control Vault," designed to hold 1000 people and open at a designated time. This file was intended to foreshadow the discovery of the true and sinister purpose of the Vaults.
- The player character was also intended to apply his Science skill to the central computer in Vault 13 to obtain a history of Vault 13, the overseer's involvement in the Vault Dweller's expulsion, and even worse, the true purposes of the Vaults. The overseer was conscious of the true purpose of the Vaults as social experiments on a grand scale, and consequently drove out the Vault Dweller because of fear he would ruin the experiment... or uncover it.[124]
Gallery
References
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