Vault 101

Vault 101 is a Vault-Tec Vault located in the Capital Wasteland, near the ruins of Washington, DC, specifically in the ruins of Reston, Virginia.

Vault Experiment
The purpose of Vault 101 in the Vault Experiment was not only to test the results of indefinite isolation, but also had a greater purpose of testing the role of the Overseer. This Vault was sealed before the bombs ever even hit, and the residents were kept in the dark as to the true nature of the aftermath, receiving fake radio transmissions which painted a far bleaker picture than even the Wasteland offered. It was the Overseer's job to keep this secret and make sure the Vault stayed sealed, and the first Overseer was actually a trained Vault-Tec official. The second Overseer (who was trained by the first) decided to let a select few of the adults in on the secret to help keep it from the children, and over the years each subsequent generation had more and more residents who knew the truth about the Vault. Also, the Overseer was able to communicate with, and even visit, the outside world by using the secret tunnel in the Overseer's office.

History
After the Great War, this Vault was sealed for 200 years, until one young Vault 101 Dweller discovered that the only family he had - the father, suddenly disappeared from the Vault. The Vault 101 Dweller was forced to flee and seek his or her father in the outside world for answers when the overseer's security forces were ordered to detain him for interrogation.

Upon meeting with Madison Li, the Dweller learned that Vault 101 had previously been opened prior to the start of Fallout 3, as the Dweller had in fact been born outside the Vault; she had been present at the birth. The Dweller's father took the infant Dweller with him into the Vault during the short period that the Overseer permitted exploration of the wastelands. After the death of several citizens, the Vault was once again sealed and those involved swore to never reveal it had ever been opened. The fiction was then maintained that the Vault was meant to stay locked permanently to prevent the next generation from wanting to leave.

There are also reports on the Overseers computer that describe the explorations of the outside, hinting that the Vault has indeed been opened before.

Further investigation reveals more than just the father of the Vault 101 Dweller have escaped in the past. Numerous characters in Megaton recall people who have previously escaped. Moira Brown recalls a girl who escaped "10 or 12 years ago", while Colin Moriarty recalls someone escaping 5 years ago, who told him of the brainwashing that occured in the vault.

Even further investigation reveals that the vault itself performed "Excavations" to scout the surrounding areas. Evidence of this is in the Overseers personal desktop.

Appearances
Vault 101 appeared in Fallout 3 as the Vault where the main character was raised by his/her father until the age of 19. The quest Trouble on the Homefront allows you to re-enter Vault 101 after leaving.

Families
Almodovar family:
 * The Overseer
 * Amata Almodovar - daughter of Alphonse

DeLoria family:
 * Butch DeLoria
 * Ellen DeLoria - mother to Butch

Mack family:
 * Wally Mack and Steve Mack, brothers
 * Allen Mack - father to Wally and Steve
 * Gloria Mack - mother to Wally and Steve

Hannon family:
 * Paul Hannon Sr., Vault 101 security chief
 * Vikki Hannon, his wife
 * Paul Hannon Jr., his son

Gomez family:
 * Herman Gomez
 * Freddie Gomez

Kendall family:
 * Christine Kendall
 * Kendall

Holden family:
 * Tom Holden
 * Mary Holden

Palmer family:
 * Jonas Palmer
 * Old Lady Palmer

Other

 * James
 * Andy
 * Stanley Armstrong
 * Brotch
 * O'Brian
 * Richards
 * Floyd Lewis
 * Grandma Taylor
 * Wolfe
 * Park

Radio
Vault 101 residents broadcast their own radio station, which can be reached only inside the Vault, or when standing in the entrance.

It apparently has a stronger emergency signal, which can be broadcast outside of the vault and in the general Megaton area.

Related quests

 * Baby Steps
 * Escape!
 * Following in His Footsteps
 * Future Imperfect
 * Trouble on the Homefront
 * Growing Up Fast

Bobble Heads
The Medical Bobblehead is in James', or more likely known as your Dad's office. You only have three chances to obtain this bobble head. When you're about to take the G.O.A.T., when you escape the vault you'll come through his office, or when you return in the "Trouble on the Homefront" quest.

Schematics
There is a schematic for the Rock-It_Launcher that can be found in the "Framed Quote" within James' Office.

Random Encounters
At higher levels, four or five Deathclaws will sometimes spawn down the hill from Vault 101. Jump up on the rocks in front of the Vault entrance and they cannot reach you. Pick them off at your leisure. Unfortunately, if Dogmeat is waiting for you there, attacking the Deathclaws will mean certain death for the canine. If this happens, sneak, tell Dogmeat to follow you and back away from the Deathclaws.