Commander Jabsco

Commander Jabsco is a leader of the Talon Company. He operates out of Fort Bannister, from the CO bunker, and is protected by crack Talon Company operatives. Unlike other Talon Co. NPCs, he wears Metal Armor and the Talon Combat Helmet for protection (which, interestingly, actually equals less protection than simply wearing Talon Company Armor and the helmet) and uses a Missile Launcher in combat, falling back to a Chinese Pistol sidearm and his Occam's Razor combat knife for close combat or if his Missile Launcher is destroyed. He carries a key to his personal footlocker, safe and to the metal bunker door (just to the right after you come in the south gates). If he is not carrying Occam's Razor after his death, it could be in the footlocker, safe or on the body of a nearby henchman.

Commander Jabsco is perhaps one of the game's toughest NPCs. With the exception of General Jingwei, Super Mutant Behemoths and Giant Ant Queens, no enemy has more health than him.

Amusingly, however, Commander Jabsco only has average morale, and will often cower and flee after taking serious damage, making him rather easy to finish off. Additionally, destroying his missile launcher or simply running too close to him for him to use it forces him to switch to his weak Chinese Pistol or Occam's Razor for combat.

At the beginning of the fight he will run to a computer and activate a Mr. Gutsy to assist him. He is also supported by a pair of automated turrets in his lair. Also, there's a high chance that a group of Talon Company Mercs will appear to help him.

Occasionally, in his attempt to activate Mr. Gutsy, or maybe to flee, he will run straight through a wall, never to be seen again. If you get close enough, Dogmeat will growls, and you cannot wait in the area, due to a enemy being nearby.

Killing him can be made easier by removing the targeting parameters for the two turrets in his lair at an avg. computer terminal.

Despite his importance to Talon Company, killing him has no effect on the spawning of the mercs.

Strategy
One method is to try and save a Missile Launcher for the Commander. Duck in and out where possible and use the environment to your advantage. If your're out of missiles try pulling him towards you and use whatever mines you can when he runs towards you. Watch your back as 2-3 henchmen may appear behind you during the fight.

If you don't have any missiles, you can always try and destroy his missile launcher through V.A.T.S. to help take the edge off the fight. Or you can take out the turrets and robots in V.A.T.S. and then get close enough to him so he takes out Occam's Razor, at which point he tends to flee after taking a few hits.

If you just want to end it quickly, the Fat Man is a good choice. If you're feeling particulary sneaky (a Stealth Boy helps), you can drop a live grenade in his pocket, which will take him out in one blast. The battle also becomes easier if you are accompanied by Fawkes or Charon.

Another quick-kill method: if you have the Victory Rifle, sneak in as close as you can to get a sure shot without alerting him. One sneak V.A.T.S. head shot will knock him down and take a little over half his HP. Just as he starts to get up, give him a second head shot and he's dead. Just be sure you're in a position that you'll be able to see his head when he hits the ground after the first shot. Note: using this method on the PC, the Mr. Gutsy will still activate, even though Jabsco never had a chance to hit the panel.

In addition, be wary of the combat robot he activates- either shoot him before he hits the panel, or sneak around and mine the panel. Pulse Grenades or Pulse Mines work as well, although it's less subtle. Then again, neither is the Fat Man.

The Alien Blaster can take him out in a single round of V.A.T.S with a high Energy Weapons skill.

If you take care of the talon mercs. before you reach Jabsco you can sneak in without being detected by the sentry bots or Jabsco himself. if you have Sniper Rifle with you, you can easily take Commander Jabsco out with a single head shot. (warning this may only work if you have your game set to "very easy")

Appearances
only appears in Fallout 3.