Fallout 3: Vault 101: Trouble on the homefront - walkthrough, side quests Fallout 3 Guide

Last update: 02 November 2022

Vault 101: Trouble on the homefront

Received from: automatically during exploration of Capitol Wasteland, but only if you're a few miles away from Vault 101 [Capitol Wasteland]

Solution: The important thing for you to know about is that you'll only be allowed to participate in this assignment after leaving the Citadel (once you've completed Waters of life quest).

Head over to the area where you've started the game (for example - to Megaton). Once you've arrived you should notice that your Pip-Boy has caught an emergency transmission. Open the Pip-Boy and choose radio from the menu. You'll notice that Vault 101's emergency frequency (screen) has been added to the list. Click on it and listen to a transmission from Amata. It would be wise to comply to her request and to return to your place of birth as soon as possible. Choose Vault 101 from your personal map to fast travel to that location. Enter the vault and approach the control panel to open it. Kill a radroach and proceed to a door located in front of the entrance.

You'll be stopped by an officer (Armstrong or Gomez) in the next room. You can ask him to guide you to certain areas of interest. You'll find out that rebels are raising against the Overseer. If you want to end this quest quickly, you can also ask the officer to keep your appearance a secret. You would then have to leave Vault 101 without anyone else knowing that you've visited this place. Obviously I wouldn't recommend ignoring this quest, because you won't receive any bonuses for exiting the vault and leaving its inhabitants with their problems. You can also make a similar decision later on - after talking to the Overseer or Amata. You don't have to ask the guard to guide you anywhere, because you're not far from your objectives and you should still remember the layout of the vault from the tutorial section of the game. Find a door leading to Vault 101 - atrium. Once you're there, ignore other guard firing at a citizen and turn left. Use the stairs to get to the upper balcony. Start moving towards Overseer's office. Be careful, though. Officer Wilkins will attack you in the server room and you must get rid of him (screen) before moving on. Check his body and you'll find a password to a prison cell.

You should consider visiting cells on your way to Overseer's office. This is the area where Amata was interrogated during the tutorial section. Notice that Mr Brotch is being held against his will. Use the newly obtained password to free him. Otherwise you would have to hack into the terminal or use a bobby pin directly on his cell. Rescuing Brotch won't interfere with the possible endings of this quest. Instead you'll find out that some of the guards are planning to deal with the rebels using brute force. Go back to a nearby security terminal and click on a TOP SECRET message (screen). Open your Pip-Boy and read plans of the raid.

Meeting the Overseer:

There are two opposing sides of this conflict - the Overseer and the rebels led by Amata. The Overseer can be found in his quarters. You've been there before, so you shouldn't have any major problems navigating your way through tight corridors. The easiest solution to the problem is to kill him, so the rebels will automatically seize control over Vault 101. After that you would have to inform Amata that you killed her father (or another Overseer - if her father is already dead). She wouldn't be pleased with the outcome and you would also lose a lot of karma points. The best possible solution is to convince the Overseer that he should agree to what the rebels are planning to do and to step down from command. There are two ways for you to achieve this goal - you can be very persuasive or you can inform the Overseer about what the raid planned by some of the guards (screen). Go to rebels base to share good news.

Meeting the rebels:

In order to get to Amata and other rebels you would have to choose one of a few available passageways leading to Vault 101 - lower level. Explore the northern area of the map and eventually you'll find a corridor leading to their outpost. You're going to be stopped by Butch along the way, however you may ignore him entirely if you want to. Amata can be found in the clinic, near your father's office. Your choices are to convince Amata and her friends to stay inside Vault 101 (screen) or to oppose to Overseer's wish and leave the vault or sign treaties with nearby settlements. It's much easier to suggest Amata that she should stay put if you've managed to hack into Overseer's terminal and if you've read messages he received from the Enclave.

Ending the quest:

It doesn't really matter which side you'll decide to help, because either the Overseer or Amata will banish you from Vault 101, even if you manage to find a positive solution. If you agree to help either side you will receive a reward - a modified utility jumpsuit. You may leave Vault 101 and once you've stepped through the door leading to Capitol Wasteland you'll also complete this quest.

Alternative solution:

If you plan on choosing the worst possible ending you can obviously start killing all the inhabitants, but there's also an easier way to make them leave Vault 101. Proceed to Vault 101 - lower levels, but ignore rebel's outpost. Instead locate the stairs leading to the lower floor and eventually you'll find an entrance to the reactor chamber. Explore your surroundings. You must get to a large console (screen). You've got two choices here - you can access the system with a key stolen from Stanley or you can become a hacker and break into the computer system. Once you've gained access to the main computer activate the water chip, switch to manual control and initiate cleaning procedure.

The consequence of your doings is that Vault 101 has been put into critical status and all the inhabitants are forced do evacuate it. Obviously you'll lose a lot of karma points by doing this. You may start moving towards the exit. Soon you'll encounter the Overseer. You can convince him that someone else has sabotaged the vault (screen) or you can confirm that it was you who damaged the reactor. If you're straight with him he'll attack you once the conversation is over. Amata will be waiting for you near the main exit. You can also lie to her, but she won't attack you even if you tell her the truth. Make sure that you're the last person to leave Vault 101.