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 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 Report no.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.

Related quests

 * The Outcast Collection Agent

Notable loot
Once inside Fort Independence, there is nearly no notable loot until you reach 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 you reach 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 this is available in the bunk-bed-filled room nearby within an easy locked footlocker. Through this door is the unique Miss Launcher and various other loot.

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 conflicts such as the Owens Valley Indian War.

Bugs

 * After hacking the turret controls under the bridge to remove its targeting system and then disable 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 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.