Fort Independence

Fort Independence is the headquarters of the Brotherhood Outcasts in the Capital Wasteland, located west of Fairfax ruins and north of Andale. Upon the first arrival, the Brotherhood Outcasts fortifying Fort Independence are being ambushed by raiders from Fairfax ruins.

Layout
The Outcasts have adapted the old fort to their needs and restored much of its internal facilities. All of the technology they gather is stored within the fort, as are their research findings.

By default, the Outcasts inside are hostile to any trespassers. The fort is guarded on the outside by Defender Morgan, Defender Rockfowl and an automated defense turret. After the player character speaks with Defender Morgan about a job, Protector Casdin will open the perimeter fence's gate and encourage the Lone Wanderer to bring scavenged technology to them in exchange for supplies.

In the eastern section (the offices) on the main floor, there is a computer named "Field Reports" with 2 audio logs that can be downloaded (Fort Independence field reports #1 and #2). The first audio log speaks about "the increased raider activity in Fairfax ruins" and the second about "3 entrances into underground utility tunnels and a small weapons cache situated in the southeast section of the tunnels." The voice in the first recording seems to be unique, the other one is that of Defender Sibley.

Notable loot
Once inside Fort Independence, there is nearly no notable loot until one reaches the lower levels. Down the stairs in the room left of the exit door is the entrance to the basement. Inside the desk within the first room is the password to the Hard locked wall terminal which opens the door; continue down until reaching a room full of research terminals. Activating them adds notes on various weapons, namely the missile launcher, minigun, Enclave power armor, plasma rifle, pulse grenade and laser rifle. In this room, there is a Hard locked door, a key to which is available in the bunk bed-filled room nearby within an Easy locked footlocker. Through this door are the unique Miss Launcher and various other loot, including:
 * Miss Launcher in the basement, along with a minigun, laser rifle, scoped 44-magnum, plasma rifle, 6 boxes of ammunition which include quite a number of alien power cells, as well as 2 mini nukes.
 * There is a Nuka-Cola Quantum and a Stealth Boy in the central room on the main floor, next to some bunk beds.
 * Alien power cells can be obtained from ammo boxes in the locked storage room, next to the room with the research terminals.
 * Fort Independence field reports - On a terminal in the Offices section.
 * Six research notes, downloaded from six terminal in the lower level.
 * A rare rake is found in the lower level of the fort. After descending the first staircase encountered, there will be a room halfway down. It is located to the right of some piping, leaning against a bookshelf.
 * A bottlecap mine on the workbench in the room with the chemistry sets and operating tables.
 * Two unusually large empty syringes and one forceps are located in the medical room of the lower level.

Related quests

 * The Outcast Collection Agent

Appearances
Fort Independence appears only in Fallout 3.

Behind the scenes
The name Fort Independence was also the name of a real fort in California, used during the Owens Valley Indian War conflict.

Bugs

 * After bringing Casdin tech to obtain the minimum amount of points for him and the Outcasts to trust you, the doors to Fort Independence will still be locked and red (indicating trespassing). Breaking in will result in only Casdin becoming hostile if you go back outside.
 * A solution is to pickpocket the key from Casdin and use it to gain entry while gaining a small amount of bad Karma.
 * After hacking the turret controls under the bridge to remove its targeting system and then disabling it, sometimes the turret under the bridge will at first look stretched into the ground and allow you to walk through it, and then if reactivated will appear high above the bridge and be hard to see, even if aiming through a sniper scope.
 * Defenders Morgan and Rockfowl will respawn right next to their corpses after you've killed them. This glitch also applies to several of the unnamed Outcasts.
 * When initially discovering the fort, the Brotherhood Outcasts outside may shoot at the player if the player attempts to attack the approaching raiders with melee/unarmed weapons.
 * Sometimes upon discovery of the fort, the Brotherhood Outcasts may be hostile for no apparent reason.

Gallery
Fort Independence Fuerte Independence Fort Independence Fort Indipendence Fort Independence Форт Индепенденс Форт Індепенденс 独立要塞