Area 51 was a location before the Great War.
Background[edit]
Area 51 housed a Flying Saucer, which later crashed.[1] The entrance of Area 51 was hidden beneath sand dunes and a playground. A key was used at the playground's rocket to activate fans that revealed the facility. The facility was used to store numerous items, including those of Alien origin.
In 2296, the Knights of San Fernando chapter of the Brotherhood of Steel arrived at Area 51, mooring the airship Caswennan above it.
By Episode[edit]
S2E2 - The Golden Rule[edit]
Max, now known as Maximus, and a Knight of the Brotherhood of Steel, clears Feral Ghouls from a location alongside a fellow Knight. Busting into an office, they kill one more ghoul before retrieving a device sitting on a desk. Maximus orders his fellow knight to pack the item up and return to the Vertibird.
The group departs, flying via vertibird to rendezvous with the Caswennan. After they dock with the airship, Maximus is greeted by a large group of his fellows, who hail his arrival. On the ground below the ship, two Scribes walk through a playground in the middle of an empty desert, with one opening a rocket-shaped structure in the middle of the area. Inside is a control panel with a port for a Fusion Core, into which one is inserted by the scribes. Back on the Caswennan, Elder Cleric Quintus asks Maximus if they encountered much resistance, and Maximus exclaims that there were "abominations, nothing we couldn't handle"[2]. Maximus delivers the retrieved device to Elder Cleric Quintus, questioning what it is[3]. Quintus responds that it is "the key" to their new home, handing the device to a nearby squire who inserts it into a port on the airship. Quintus informs Maximus that the Brotherhood is scattered, broken into dozens of rival chapters[4]. He reveals that this new home gives them the ability to unify the chapters under one singular banner. The squire signals the scribes on the surface, who activate the control panel. Large fans rise out of the desert, blowing the dunes away and revealing Area 51. Quintus tells Maximus that together, they will "make better this fallen world", before calling him "my son" and walking away, causing Maximus to smile. A Vertibird descends from the Caswennan, depositing a group of Brotherhood soldiers in front of one of the hangars. The group enters the hangar, revealing a vast array of artifacts. The brotherhood begins cataloging the items, with two Scribes opening a freezer to discover the preserved body of an Alien, which is promptly tipped out and broken as they marvel at the real working ice-box.
The Brotherhood continues to cataloge items, with an Aspirant delivering the Pip-Boy Prototype to a Cleric as another examines a shock baton. The Constitution of the United States sits on the ground, as a nearby aspirant attempts to open the Ark of the Covenant with a crowbar. Maximus walks through the warehouse, stopping briefly to tell a scribe to send a cryolator to the clerics for sorting. He then chastises Knights Gnatius and Riley for playing with a plasma grenade inside. The two knights discover a pristine pre-War car, and have it taken outside so they can blow it up with a minigun.
Inside, the Cold Fusion Diode is inserted into a console and powered up as Maximus observes. Dane approaches, standing beside a Young Squire who asks what the Brotherhood will use the Cold Fusion for, to which Dane responds, "Nothing Good."
Later, Maximus washes his face in a basin, attended by a Young Aspirant. The Aspirant asks him why he is doing it. Maximus tells him it is important, and informs him that part of their mission to fix the fallen world is to better themselves, which includes making sure they don't smell bad. Maximus dismisses the aspirant, who takes the basin and leaves. Turning to his power armor, Maximus begins cleaning it before being approached by Dane. They tell him that it is always going to get dirty again, to which Maximus replies with a quote from the Codex: "Better to polish dirty steel than have it stay clean." Dane reminds Maximus that they used to quote the Codex as a joke, to which he responds by informing Dane that based on what he has seen in the wasteland, the Brotherhood is the best there is, and he is doing what he can to improve it. When reminded of Lucy by Dane, Maximus responds that she left, and his duties keep him with the Brotherhood. Dane informs Maximus that they have read communications sent by Quintus, who has called a meeting of Brotherhood chapters without informing the Commonwealth chapter, and that by doing so he is breaking the chain of command. Dane warns Maximus that the Commonwealth won't allow Quintus to seize power without a war. Maximus responds by reaffirming his belief in the Brotherhood cause, as airships arrive bearing members of three other Brotherhood chapters.
Inside Area 51, Quintus hosts a meeting of the four Brotherhood of Steel chapters who answered his call, welcoming the Elders from Coronado, Yosemite, and the Grand Canyon. The Elders dine as members of every chapter stand at attention. The Elder from Coronado questions Quintus about the lack of a Commonwealth representative, saying that they should be there. Quintus responds by pointing out that if the Commonwealth were there, they would take the Cold Fusion Diode and leave them with nothing, asking if that is fair. The Elder from the Grand Canyon says it isn't fair, pointing out that it is taxation without representation and therefore un-American. Elder McRae of the Yosemite Chapter points out that Quintus' actions could lead to a civil war, to which the other elders respond that the Commonwealth would win. Quintus argues they could win if they stand together, especially if they use the power of Cold Fusion. In the audience, Dane motions to Maximus, showing him that Gnatius and Riley have returned to playing with the plasma grenade. Annoyed, Maximus moves through the crowd and takes the grenade away from them, causing Gnatius to sheepishly apologize.
The Elder meeting continues with Elder McRae pointing out the differences in their chapters, and that her chapter doesn't follow the religious system as Quintus'. The Coronado Elder tells her that in his chapter, women aren't allowed to talk, causing the Elder McRae to threaten him. The Grand Canyon Elder informs the group that the Commonwealth allows his chapter to govern itself, to which Coronado Elder responds that he just likes them because they let his chapter have sex with robots. The Grand Canyon elder objects, saying that it was "one Squire, and he was well within his rights." The pair continues to fight until Quintus begins loudly banging his cane on the table. Quintus stands as several squires wheel out crates full of fusion cores, which are given to the elders. When asked how many they can produce with the cold fusion, Quintus responds, "more than all of human history could ever consume." In light of this new development, the elders quickly agree to side with Quintus in exchange for infinite fusion cores. In the hanger, the assembled Elders sit at an elevated table, watching as two Knights in power armor fistfight. A crowd encircles the combatants, cheering them on. Maximus watches disapprovingly, and as one Knight knocks the other out, turns to leave. He is stopped by a Knight from the Coronado Chapter, who asks him if he was the one to kill Lee Moldaver. When Maximus confirms this, the knight challenges him to a non-armored fight, to which Maximus hesitantly agrees at Quintus' urging.
The two enter the ring, with the knight attacking Maximus as he takes his coat off. Thrown to the ground, Maximus throws his coat in the knight's face, blinding him and allowing him to counterattack. The Knight then pulls a knife from his boot, and charges Maximus, with Quintus doing nothing to intervene. Maximus manages to turn the knife around on the knight, stabbing him in the stomach and knocking him to the ground. After a struggle, Maximus stabs the knight through the chest, killing him and winning the fight. As the rest of the chapters cheer, Maximus makes eye contact with Dane, who stares disapprovingly before turning to leave. Suddenly, the wind picks up, and a Vertibird lands inside the hanger, knocking down the banners of the assembled chapters. As the assembled onlookers watch, a man exits the vertibird, identifying himself as Paladin Xander Harkness, liaison from the Commonwealth. He reveals that the Commonwealth is aware of Quintus' plans for civil war, and quips that he must not have gotten his invitation to this meeting. As Xander is welcomed by Quintus, he notices the dead Knight on the ground and gives Maximus an approving nod.
S2E3 - The Profligate[edit]
As Maximus observes, Elder McRae meets with Elder Cleric Quintus. She tells Quintus that the Yosemite Chapter is withdrawing from his alliance, stating that she isn't interested in fighting a rebellion, especially now that Xander Harkness has arrived from The Commonwealth. Quintus tells her that the Brotherhood was built on rebellion, and begins to tell her the story of Roger Maxson, and the Mariposa Mutiny. Quintus speaks of Roger betraying the United States Government in favor of God, whom he believed the government betrayed through their experiments at the Mariposa Military Base. The Elder from Yosemite reiterates to Quintus that her chapter doesn't take the same religious angle as the Knights of San Fernando, and tells him to give the Cold Fusion Diode to the Commonwealth, before leaving.
Maximus offers to murder Harkness for Quintus, who rebukes the offer. He tells Maximus that now that the alliance has broken down, they have no hope of defeating the Commonwealth and that killing Harkness would start a war they could not possibly win. When Maximus begins to say that they could win if their cause is just, Quintus interrupts him by stating that he has no need for the thoughts of a sword, before dismissing Maximus.
Outside the Area 51 hangers, Maximus is approached by Xander Harkness. Harkness observes that his arrival "seems to have put a damper on the conversation", stating that the clerics won't even look at him. Harkness points out that the Knights of San Fernando have a lot of clerics, and mentions that the clerics in the Commonwealth are not in charge like they are here. He then tells Maximus that the Knights of San Fernando "sucks".
Maximus tells Harkness that he shouldn't be talking to him, as it violates the Chain That Binds. Harkness praises him, saying that he is a real soldier, and proceeds to tell him that Quintus is going to make a mistake. He elaborates that the Brotherhood is a bulwark against chaos, chaos which Quintus' civil war will bring. Harkness tells Maximus that back in the Commonwealth, it's soldiers like them who are in command, and that the clerics do nothing but stand around and give speeches while the soldiers bleed. When Maximus asks what he can do about it, Harkness tells him to just talk to him.
Xander tells Maximus that this is not the first time that the Brotherhood of Steel has been on the brink of civil war, and says that if the soldiers figure something out, cooler heads could prevail. Maximus agrees to talk to Xander, with Xander responding "hot dog".
S2E4 - The Demon in the Snow[edit]
Area 51[edit]
Mess Hall[edit]
In the Area 51 mess hall, Thaddeus stands with his food, still disguised in Xander's power armor. After bumping into an officer, he psyches himself up, repeating that he has this and he belongs here. Realizing this is a bad idea, he places his food down and turns to leave. He is intercepted by the Elder from the Yosemite Chapter, who introduces herself as Elder McRae and, believing him to be Xander, asks if she could have a word with him.
Hangar[edit]
In preparation for the fighting, Dane brings all of the aspirants, including the Young Aspirant, into a room and tells them not to leave until the shooting stops.
Meeting Room[edit]
Maximus enters the base's meeting room to find Quintus speaking with some clerics. Quintus dismisses the clerics before asking Maximus what he did. Maximus admits he killed Harkness and draws a Laser Pistol, causing Quintus to deduce that Maximus intends to kill him.
Mess Hall[edit]
As Thaddeus sits on a table, Elder McRae informs him of the ideological differences between the Yosemite Chapter and Knights of San Fernando, emphasizing that even if Xander hadn't arrived, she would still not have gone along with Quintus' rebellion.
The pair is approached by the Coronado Elder, who inquires about what they are talking about. He asks if McRae is making deals, and states that his chapter can also make deals. He offers to put Quintus' head on a spike if "Xander" can guarantee that the Commonwealth Chapter would be willing to provide them 300 Fusion Cores. McRae interjects, saying that her chapter would be willing to do it for no reward, hoping just that Elder Maxson would remember them better moving forward. The Coronado Elder remarks that this is what happens when you negotiate with women, and this is why they aren't allowed in his chapter's ranks. In response to this, the Yosemite elder threatens to stab him in his mouth.
Hangar[edit]
Dane then enters the hangar and approaches the machinery holding the Cold Fusion Diode.
Meeting Room[edit]
As Maximus holds him at gunpoint, Quintus tells him that he was the one who found him in the ruins of Shady Sands. He continues that if Maximus kills him, the world will continue in anarchy, and that he is going to bring order to it.
Mess Hall[edit]
The Elder from Coronado tells "Xander" that his men arrived ready to fight, and he already has two squadrons in position. McRae loudly proclaims that her chapter is ready for war. A panicking Thaddeus tells them that he is having a panic attack, with the Coronado Elder asking what that is. When he explains it, the Coronado Elder says it sounds like a coronary, and that he should just walk it off. McRae offers to open his visor, which Thaddeus reacts strongly to. Realizing something is up, the two elders look at each other before McRae once again offers to lift his visor.
Meeting Room[edit]
Quintus approaches Maximus, asking him what his plan is once he kills him. Maximus admits he has no plan, stating that in the wasteland, you can't have a plan. He says he doesn't choose to do the things he does; they just happen. Quintus, calling Maximus his son, asks him what happened, with Maximus revealing that he killed Xander because he was going to kill children. Quintus does not respond, staring at Maximus, until he continues and reveals that the children were ghouls. Quintus' face shifts as he responds, "What? No." As Maximus attempts to defend his actions, Quintus begins shouting that they were abominations to be exterminated. He tells Maximus that he should never have shown him mercy. Opening a drawer, he pulls out a 10mm Pistol and opens fire on Maximus, who ducks out of the way while returning fire.
Mess Hall[edit]
As McRae attempts to open "Xander's" visor, the Elder from the Grand Canyon enters the mess hall shouting. He informs them that the relic was stolen, asking which of the "back-stabbing motherfuckers" is responsible. At the revelation, the Coronado Elder radios in to his men, telling them to suit up. Believing him to be the thief, Elder McRae fulfills her promise and stabs him through the cheek, causing the Grand Canyon Elder to exclaim. The Canyon Elder admits that the stabbing was cool before firing on McRae and hitting her in the shoulder. As Thaddeus flees, the Grand Canyon Elder rallies the mess hall, firing wildly into the ceiling as the battle begins.
Meeting Room[edit]
Maximus and Quintus continue firing at each other as Maximus flees the room, chaining the door shut behind him as Quintus screams that he is a heretic. As Maximus exits, he witnesses the growing battle and is approached by Dane. He apologizes to them, saying that he couldn't kill Quintus, with Dane responding that he never should apologize for not killing someone. Dane hands him the Cold Fusion Diode which they had taken, instructing him to take it as far from the Brotherhood as possible. After the two embrace, Dane assures him that they'll survive. Thaddeus approaches them, shouting and asking if they can leave now. The pair exits the building, leaving Dane behind.
As Thaddeus and Maximus flee the battle, the Brotherhood airships fire upon each other, resulting in The Caswennan crashing and exploding into the ground.
Items[edit]
- Flying Saucer
- Alien
- Pip-Boy Prototype
- Shock Baton
- Constitution of the United States
- Ark of the Covenant
- Cryolator
- Alien Blaster
- Car
Appearances[edit]
Area 51 is mentioned in Fallout.
Behind the Scenes[edit]
- Area 51 was to appear as a location in Fallout 2, with Lynette's talking head to be used as a spokesperson for a group of scientists living in the ruins.[Pub 1]
- When asked why the base was not included in Fallout: New Vegas, Joshua Sawyer expressed that the land between New Vegas and Area 51 was not close nor interesting enough for inclusion. In addition, he remarked on the popular culture association between the base and extraterrestrials, which had been covered in the Fallout 3 DLC Mothership Zeta.[Dev 1]
- Area 51 is a reference to the real world location of the same name.
Gallery[edit]
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References[edit]
- ↑ "{40000}{}{Dome} {40001}{}{You find a small label that reads: "Property of Area-51. Return if found."}"
(PRO SCEN.MSG) - ↑ S2E2 - The Golden Rule/Dialogue#122
- ↑ S2E2 - The Golden Rule/Dialogue#125
- ↑ S2E2 - The Golden Rule/Dialogue#127
- ↑ Fallout 2 Official Strategies & Secrets, p. 335: "A second set of drafts hypothesized the army of the Master (from Fallout 1) roaming the wastes in a huge, armored land fortress, scooping up muties to use as slave labor. As you can see, neither of these stories made their way into the final game. Although some parts of them did—Lynette's head, for example, was once going to be the spokesperson for a group of scientists living in the ruins of a base in Area 51."
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