Rivet City

Rivet City is a city located inside a decaying, beached aircraft carrier in Washington, D.C., in 2277. It is the largest, most developed and scientifically-advanced, native settlement in the Capital Wasteland. Its inhabitants live in individual rooms and enjoy relative safety and security inside the aircraft carrier. A number of guards rotate 24 hours a day to protect the ship from raiders, super mutants, mirelurks and any other threats to the city and its inhabitants. Rivet City includes a shopping area, as well as an American history museum, science lab, church, clinic, bar and even a hotel.

Background
Before the war, the ship that ultimately became Rivet City was a massive aircraft carrier, placed in dry-dock at the Washington Naval Yard. The vessel employed a CATOBAR (Catapult Assisted Take-Off But Arrested Recovery) system for launching and recovering naval fighter jets. Starboard aircraft elevators allowed for easy stowage and deployment of these aircraft from the sizable hangar located below the deck. In addition to a sizable fleet of fighters, the carrier was also equipped with a nuclear reactor, desalinization facilities, and on-board hydroponic farms in the aft sections, allowing it to function independently for extended amounts of time. However, the ship was abandoned in the wake of the Great War, most likely after it was beached following a collision with the peninsula south of the naval yard. The impact resulted in the bow section snapping off, allowing the mutated mirelurks to infest the ship's lower sections.

The vessel waited decades for its chance to come again. Around 2237, remnants of the Naval Research Institute under the lead of Horace Pinkerton were looking for new lab space and found the ship, establishing the Rivet Station Science Outpost after clearing out the mirelurks. For years to come they would use the intact science bay as the nucleus of their science efforts. By April 2239, a burgeoning civilian settlement sprung up around the station on the carrier. As a result, on April 25, Rivet City was formally established by Pinkerton, Annette Holmes and Brad Danvers to better protect and organize this growing community. Governance of the City was relegated to a three person Council, staffed by one representative of each "caste" on board the ship: Scientists, civilians, and security personnel.

The settlement prospered and Pinkerton held his seat on the council as science officer until 2258 when Madison Li and her science team arrived at Rivet City after abandoning Project Purity, after the man in charge abandoned the project. Li quickly took over Pinkerton's science teams, with the prospect of reactivating Project Purity as an incentive. Furious, Pinkerton left the city into self-imposed exile in the broken-off bow. What made him particularly angry was the fact that the shift in focus prevented work on more meaningful projects, like defensive systems or even making the carrier seaworthy. Eventually, he abandoned the "treacherous bastards" altogether and went into self-imposed exile in the front bow.

2277
By the time of the Purifier Conflict, Rivet City is the largest settlement in the Capital Wasteland and is the primary supplier of edible, non-irradiated food in the Capital Wasteland, trading it for essential raw materials with other communities. Its scientific prowess is thanks to its aggressive reclamation efforts: anything useful is snatched up and brought to the City. However, it refrains from recruiting scientists from outside settlements, such as the Underworld or Tenpenny Tower, as the vote proposed failed. Anyone trying to pick a fight with Rivet City over this would soon realize his mistake, given that the city has the fourth most powerful military force in the wastelands, right after the Enclave and Lyons' Brotherhood of Steel and Talon Company. Although named as a simple security force, it is trained in combat by veterans (Lana Danvers and Harkness) and equipped with military-grade Army combat armor alongside reliable automatic weapons.

Although it was the most powerful city in the wasteland at this stage, it was not free from problems. The biggest challenges included the fact that it's set up in a derelict aircraft carrier, with ever-present rust causing constant tetanus infections and respiratory ailments among city residents. The city also had to expend resources constantly on maintaining the crumbling structure of the carrier and culling the mirelurk population that lives in the decks below. Even the crown jewel of the city, its science lab, and hydroponic farms caused major problems due to the need for constant oversight and maintenance.

Class divisions were another problem: The society of the City was sharply divided into two classes: the impoverished Hangar Deck denizens and the wealthy Upper Deck citizens, the upper class. The distinction was far from cosmetic: Lower deck residents were especially prone to catching red lung, caused by inhalation of rust particles prevalent in the derelict lower decks, and had to accept poorer accommodations than those in the upper decks. Since they also lived close to mirelurk-infested decks, they were under the constant risk of being killed by rampaging monsters, should the security team lapse in their culling efforts. Still, the lower deck citizens were safer and letter better lives than wastelanders at large, and could always count on the ever-popular Chief Harkness who treated every citizen equally.

Attempts at instituting a bridge tax or exploiting their position by raising prices on exports (eg. fresh produce, by as much as 50%) were repeatedly voted down, keeping the city open to traders and outsiders and fostering a healthy population level. Paladin Danse mentions opening his own junk stand in Rivet City when he was younger. It was at that time he befriended a man named Cutler, and together the two scraped by as traders. They later joined up with the Brotherhood of Steel when they made a recruitment run through Rivet City.

Life alongside the Brotherhood of Steel
Following the conclusion of the Conflict and the activation of Project Purity, Rivet City gained prominence as the Brotherhood of Steel's first trading partner. In return for a share of weapons and other technology salvaged from the Enclave, the Rivet City police force provided protection for water caravans the Brotherhood could not protect themselves. The exchange was mutually beneficial at first, but the increased number of caravans eventually stretched Rivet City's military power to its limits, especially as raider attacks became more organized due to the leadership of Split Jack. The situation got so bad that eventually only one in four caravans made it back intact, draining Rivet city's resources and ranks of veteran security officers at an alarming rate. The losses caused by the raider attacks have led to officers in charge questioning Lyons' policy of giving the water out for free, instead of selling it so that caravan drivers can use the markup to pay for protection.

Location
Rivet City lies in the most southeastern part of the map, near Anacostia. It is easiest to reach by following the eastern side of the Potomac River, crossing near the tepid sewers or at the Citadel or by swimming across from Arlington Library. It is also a short walk from the Jefferson Memorial.

On the steel structure across from the aircraft carrier itself (near Carlos the beggar), there is an intercom box that must be used to extend the bridge. After a brief conversation with Harkness, the chief of security, he will grant entry to Rivet City.

Exterior
Northwest of Rivet City is a super mutant camp. There may be super mutants and sometimes a captive that can be rescued. There is a Lying, Congressional Style skill book by some sleeping mats near several boxes of ammunition.

South of Rivet City, there is a shipwrecked boat surrounded by radioactive waste. The boat contains ammo boxes and a locked first aid box.

Interior
To access Rivet City, climb to the top of the tower near the Rivet City map marker (frequently, there will be a trader waiting at the base of the tower). There is an intercom near Carlos. When activated, a bridge will extend from the ship.

Rivet City contains a large and thriving marketplace, as well as other institutions, such as:
 * A poorly-stocked, yet well-guarded armory.
 * The Capitol Preservation Society with a museum of pre-War historical artifacts and knowledge.
 * The Muddy Rudder bar.
 * The Rivet City science lab.
 * Saint Monica's Church.
 * The Weatherly Hotel.


 * The marketplace

Rivet City is thoroughly signposted, unlike the Citadel.

On the upper deck the Lone Wanderer can rent a hotel room for 120 caps from Vera Weatherly or her robot. After purchasing the hotel room, the player character can access it for free thereafter. This room comes with a bed, which grants the Well Rested bonus effect of +10% experience. If the player character didn't rent the room, they can pick the (Very Hard) lock without losing Karma. Even though the bed inside is called "My Bed," the player character can't use it until they've rented the room.

When the player character gets to the upper deck of the carrier, they can get a look at the aircraft that still remain. These are the same fighter jets that are used in the Operation: Anchorage add-on and were apparently the standard jet aircraft for the U.S military in 2077. The exterior doors in the bridge tower lead to catwalks on the outside of the tower, most of which have either an ammunition box or a first aid box.

The broken bow of the ship was separated from the main carrier hull and half-flooded. The lower levels are inhabited by mirelurks or mirelurk hunters (depending on player character level), while the upper levels contain Pinkerton's laboratory and home. Pinkerton has set up numerous traps throughout the bow, such as rigged shotguns, frag mines, a gas leak and a rigged terminal placed conveniently near the heavy door to Pinkerton's lab.

Notable loot

 * The Bobblehead - Intelligence is standing on a table in the science lab.
 * A copy of Rock-It Launcher schematics in the bridge tower armory (Very Hard lock).
 * Bottlecap mine on a workbench to the right of the Potomac Attire.
 * Three bottles of Buffout can be found on the shelves of A Quick Fix in the Rivet City market.
 * Six boxes of Sugar Bombs can be found throughout Rivet City: One on the tables next to Gary's Galley in the market, two boxes in Staley's room in the midship deck and three more boxes in Belle Bonnie's room in the Muddy Rudder bar.
 * Seagrave's incriminating letter - A holotape, in Seagrave Holmes' quarters on the midship deck, behind the footlocker at the foot of his cot.
 * A3-21's plasma rifle - Reward for The Replicated Man for siding with Harkness.
 * Schematics - deathclaw gauntlet - Reward for the unmarked quest Council Seat by siding with Bannon.
 * Doctor Li's outfit - Worn by Dr. Madison Li.
 * Project Purity journals - Tapes 1, 3, and 5 are located in Rivet City in Doctor Li's personal quarters, which can be found on the Upper Deck directly across from a door to the Science Lab. They are on a table next to her terminal.

Appearances
Rivet City appears only in Fallout 3 and is mentioned in Point Lookout. It appears as a marked location on a map of the Capital Wasteland at HELIOS One in Fallout: New Vegas. In Fallout 4, Danse mentions that he grew up in the Capital Wasteland and owned a junk stand in Rivet City. In Fallout Shelter, it is mentioned in the description for military grade duct tape and occasionally a question in the weekly quest Game Show Gauntlet.

Behind the scenes

 * The Craig Mullins concept art published on May 15, 2007, shows a city with ruined skyscrapers and an aircraft carrier which has run ashore and is connected to one of them by a rudimentary bridge. The aircraft carrier appears to be the USS Oriskany although the image is mirrored, thus placing the island on the wrong side of the ship.
 * During development, there was a quest in which the Enclave would attack Rivet City, and the player character would be tasked with escorting the inhabitants to the Citadel. However, it was vetoed out of the game by Todd Howard, who found it was too big a mission.

Bugs

 * After reaching the end of the Rivet City bridge, and jumping down to the platform below it, there is a place where you can fall through the boat. When jumping off on the right side (or left, but go to the right side) there will be an open "room" with a first aid box and two ammunition boxes. Should you go to the corner past the leftmost ammunition box, you fall through the boat and land in the water. Fast travel to a different location or reload an older save to fix this problem.
 * Dogmeat or his puppies will glitch and land on a catwalk that is inaccessible if you tell it to find anything on the outside of the aircraft carrier.
 * Jumping on the bridge before it stops moving will cause it to clang loudly and move in jumps.
 * Sometimes the entire boat- including people- will become non-collide-able, making it impossible to enter the city. To fix this simply save, back out to the main menu, and load the save.
 * Rarely, when you fast-travel to Rivet City, a friendly Enclave soldier will spawn next to you but will automatically disappear when you enter the city. If you try to speak to them, they will either greet you or threaten you verbally.
 * If Broken Steel is installed, the player may experience crashes near Rivet City after completion of the main quest.
 * After completing the main game, walking or fast traveling to Rivet City or the surrounding area will freeze the game.
 * Going to the Rivet City market or other areas may cause instant crashing. It can be due to Gary Staley trying to interact with Angela Staley if she is missing (enslaved, disabled via commands). The solution is to disable Gary Staley through commands or respawn and re-enable Angela Staley if possible. This may occur for other NPCs.