Protecting the Water Way

 is a Fallout 3 quest that is added to the game in the Broken Steel downloadable content pack.

Walkthrough
Scribe Bigsley will ask the Lone Wanderer to investigate the organized bandit attacks on the Aqua Pura caravans, directing The Lone Wanderer to speak with Officer Lepelletier of Rivet City to learn more details about the attacks.

Lepelletier can be found on the ramp leading to Rivet City, and explains that a water caravan heading towards Canterbury Commons that has just left the Jefferson Memorial. The Lone Wanderer is asked to catch up with it, talk with Officers Davis and Lorin and guard it from attack. Passing an easy speech check with Lepelletier can net you a plasma rifle before departing to protect the caravan.

Following the river around will lead the player to the caravan as it is in ambush by three bandits The ambush point seems to be at a constant location, under a bridge. If you hurry there you can save the lives of the two guards but the caravan driver will always be dead. There is also a scavenger camped out under the bridge that will help fight the bandits and can be saved as well. A good strategy is to use A3-21's Plasma Rifle or Lincoln's Repeater from a distance in vats to snipe the bandits before they can do much damage.


 * Rather than taking the long way to reach the ambush point, fast traveling to Dukov's place may cut down on the time available for the bandits to attack the caravan but be wary of the enclave post next to Dukov's place as well as the bandit post in between Dukov's place and the ambush point.

Upon searching any of the bandits the player will find an audio log titled New Meeting Place from Split Jack the bandit leader, instructing the bandits to group at Wilhelm's Wharf. When reaching Wilhelm's Warf, the Lone Wanderer can either speak to Split Jack (the password is 'Mirelurk Stew') and pass a difficult speech challenge to persuade him to give up or else kill him (killing the three bandits with him is optional for the quest). Please note that if the speech check is passed successfully then Grandma Sparkle is likely to be immediately killed by the bandits.

Lepelletier thanks the player for their assistance, but is unable to reward them. The wanderer is advised to speak to Scribe Bigsley in order to receive the reward - some captured Enclave gear - Enclave Power Armor and Helmet, a Gatling Laser, a Plasma Pistol and ammo for the same.

Alternatively, you can join the bandits. All you have to do is speak with Split Jack. He will give you Metal Armor and a Metal Helmet. He will then ask you to put them on because if you want to be in the gang you have to wear Metal Armor. He then asks you to speak with Lepelletier about a protection contract. You can then go to Lepelletier and blackmail her for 500 caps after succeeding a speech check. You can also tell her that you want 500 caps now, and 500 caps after the attacks have stopped. She will soon after become hostile and attack you.

If you join their gang you can talk to Jack and challenge him, he will give you the option of what weapons melee weapons to fight with (Lead pipes, combat knives, and a few others). So long as you fight him with the weapon you chose none of the gang members will attack and will cheer on the fight. When you win they will say that they dont want to have another leader but want you to ask Lepelletier about the protection contract.


 * NOTE - If you have followers, they will join you in the fight with Jack, causing his crew to attack as well. Tell them to wait FAR AWAY or they will rush in and start shooting.  Also, the Mysterious Stranger counts as an ally, and if he appears in V.A.T.S., the rest of the gang will attack you.


 * NOTE - The reward for completion of this quest is a meager 100 XP (not the posted 300). Although it should be noted that killing all of the bandits will yield 20 XP each, so it may be advisable to take the violent approach when dealing with Split Jack and his bandits.


 * NOTE - If you choose to extort Officer Lepelletier for 500 caps, she will become hostile the next time you attempt to engage her in conversation.

Bugs

 * After challenging Split Jack to a knife fight for some reason the knife cannot be dropped, fixed or unequipped. It may be due to picking up the combat knife off of Split Jack's corpse. After dropping his knife, it was possible to drop the bugged knife.


 * After challenging Split Jack to a knife fight and winning his body may not be lootable. Also his three bandits will continue to heckle you even after he is dead. Firing on his corpse with a weapon will result in the bandits attacking you.