Vault 92

Vault 92 was one of the Vaults created by Vault-Tec, and part of the Vault Experiment. The world's best musicians were invited to this vault to "preserve artistic talent" during the War. In reality, the vault was geared specifically for experimenting on the vault's population through the use of noise generators, implanting subliminal messages. It is located North West of the Deathclaw-infested ruins of Old Olney.

History
The true purpose of Vault 92 was an experimental study in the creation of "super soldiers" by way of subliminal suggestion. By exposing the citizens of the vault to white noise that contained hidden subconscious messages, the Vault Overseer hoped to create soldiers that could be controlled basically through a form of hypnosis. This research was then to be used for a project to create super soldiers who would be completely obedient and fight far more ferociously than normal humans. Though the experiment showed great promise initially, the most promising subject suddenly went insane and tore three people apart before finally being taken down by the security after being shot 23 times. The vault doctor was initially unaware that the overseer intended to use their work to create soldiers. He thought he was researching their musical talents, etc. This is made clear by a series of his recordings you can pick up throughout the vault.

This case of insanity soon appeared in other subjects. One computer terminal contains the diary of one of the inhabitants, Zoe Hammerstein, who went mad because of the white noise. The diary shows her writing (specifically her spelling and grammar) degenerate, until her in her final entry she begs her friends for help in a sentence that is barely comprehensible.

Attempts by the Vault Overseer to contain the situation (such as by programming code words into the subjects' implants in order to stop them) only worked briefly. Professor Malleus, the expert in charge of the white noise experiment, soon lost hope in the project and attempted several times to convince the Overseer, Richard Rubin, to take the situation more seriously and even consider abandoning the vault in light of the violent and savage behavior of the insane residents, not realizing what Rubin had done until it was too late. However it seems that Rubin had Professor Malleus killed, based on evidence from his computer terminal.

About one third of the vault population eventually became violently unstable and began slaughtering the rest of the vault. A note titled "Feedback Loop" explains that the "normal" survivors of Vault 92 made one last push for the escape, possibly explaining why the vault door was left open. The "normal" vault citizens made an attempt to stave off the crazed group, so there are Frag Mines scattered around the vault. Sadly, the skeletons of the presumed young lovers Hilda Egglebrecht and Parker Livingston can be found locked into the Recording Studio, a place where they once enjoyed accompanying each other greatly, according to notes left by Parker. It is logical to assume at least some of the "normal" residents survived and escaped into the wasteland, as the character Agatha is a direct descendant of Hilda Egglebrecht.

The presence of the Mirelurk is explained by a computer terminal in the lower, flooded parts of the vault. Apparently, shortly before the "Crazies" incident, there was an issue with one of the walls in that area, which had cracked because of some body of water nearby. The wall was repaired and given some minor reinforcements, but the Chief Engineer of the vault, Carl Maynard, stated in this terminal that the repairs were only temporary and that a serious approach needed to be discussed. However nothing was done because of the mad inhabitants, and the wall there eventually broke, allowing the Mirelurk to gain access to the vault.

Enemies
This vault's upper levels are populated by an ample supply of Bloatflies, which are easily dispatched. The lower levels, however, are home to much more formidable opponents: Mirelurks. Depending on your level, this could include Mirelurk Hunters and even Mirelurk Kings.

If you activate the terminals in the Living Quarters and select "Noise Flush" it will instantly kill all of the Mirelurks in the area. NOTE: You do not get any experience for doing so.

Vault Characters

 * Overseer Richard Rubin
 * Professor Malleus
 * Parker Livingston
 * Hilda Egglebrecht
 * Zoe Hammerstein
 * Carl Maynard
 * Jon Adiglio
 * Gordie Sumner
 * Dan Kobachesky

Vault 92 Entrance

 * Laser Pistol: Laying on a desk right at the entrance to the Vault, along with ample Energy Cells. One can also be found in the Sound Test room.
 * Two First Aid Kits: Laying on the same desk as the Laser Pistol.
 * Pre-War Book: on a table in the vault entrance area, next to Professor Malleus Audio Log V92-01.
 * A 10mm SMG: In the Atrium, in the supply shop. This room is upstairs, in a room on the balcony, north of the room where you enter the Overseer's Office, behind an Average locked door. The weapon is hidden between a wall and a book case, on the ground, left of the door.
 * Gatling Laser and Scoped .44 Magnum (depending on your level) in a locked safe in the supply shop. The safe is located under the counter where the computer terminal is situated.
 * Tales of a Junktown Jerky Vendor: Second floor. On the bottom level of a shelf behind the counter of the supply shop. There are two ammo boxes on the middle shelf.

Overseer's Office

 * Pre-War Book: On a shelf near the entrance to the overseer's office itself.
 * Duck and Cover!: On the same set of shelves as the pre-war book.
 * Stealth Boy: On Overseer's desk.
 * Laser Rifle: On the top shelf to the right when entering.

Sound Testing

 * 3X Pre-War Book: The first one is on a shelf in first room on right. The second is to the far east of this section, in the same room as a computer marked "Zoe Hammerstein's Terminal." A third is in a room north of the room where you find the Soil Stradivarius. It is close to where the Stealth Boy is located, in the room with a Nuka-Cola Machine.
 * Nikola Tesla and You: On desk in Studio Control Room.
 * Soil Stradivarius On desk in Recording Studio.
 * Stealth Boy: To the west of this section behind an Average locked door, in a small room with an Average random loot safe, Jet, Psycho, Stimpaks, and lots of ammo, including Microfusion Cell bundles.

Living Quarters

 * A random armor in a locker right before the surgery where you can find the DC Journal.
 * D.C. Journal of Internal Medicine: To the very south of the area, in a room which looks like an operating bay, on a desk next to a computer.
 * Nuka-Cola Quantum: In a small room, on a desk next to a computer. You will see it through a glass window before you enter the room.
 * Sheet Music Book: in a toilet in the bathroom just like your mom.
 * There is a "Key Code to Data Storage" next to Jon Adiglio's Body in the Male dorm closet.

Reactor Room
Aside from a couple ammo boxes, nothing to note.

Nearby Locations of Note

 * Raider Farmhouse: Due west of the entrance to Vault 92. It is guarded by several Raiders and houses a nice stash of chems, a copy of Dean's Electronics on the metal shelf (far right, middle), and a Mini Nuke.  A number of chems are also inside the overturned silo nearby, which serves as their bedroom with 3 mattresses.


 * Old Olney: A bit South-East of Vault 92; on the world map they are both in a "Brighter square" than the rest of the world (similar to the D.C area). Old Olney is infested with deathclaws, as are its sewers, which contain the Prototype Medic Power Armor.


 * Major Enclave camp directly south of Vault 92's entrance on a road with a trailer. Consists of 2 officers and around 4-5 soldiers. Also has terminal governing Enclave interaction with the general populace.

Appearances
Vault 92 appears only in Fallout 3.

Related Quests
Agatha's Song

Trivia

 * Richard Rubin is likely a reference to producer Rick Rubin; an intra-vault email from Professor Malleus refers to Richard Rubin as "Rick".
 * Professor Malleus' name could be a reference to the bone in the ear, more commonly referred to as "the hammer".
 * Parker Livingston's last name is perhaps a reference to Jay Livingston, a famous composer who created music for a variety of films and television.
 * Zoe Hammerstein is undoubtedly a nod to the famed Broadway lyricist and songwriter Oscar Hammerstein II. The GNR song "I'm In Love With A Wonderful Guy" is from the Rogers & Hammerstein musical South Pacific.
 * Hilda Egglebrecht may be a reference to the real life violinist Renate Eggebrecht.
 * Gordon Sumner is the real name of the musician Sting.
 * Carl Maynard could very well be a reference to Maynard James Keenan - vocalist for hard rock bands Tool and A Perfect Circle, or to late jazz master Maynard Ferguson of "Birdland" fame.
 * The phrase "Sanity is not statistical", is a reference to George Orwell's book 1984. This phrase is the codeword used to stop the "crazies", and is found on the Overseer's terminal.
 * The incident in Vault 92 is somewhat similar to the events that occur in the novel 'CELL' by Stephen King, in which a majority of the population has their brain 'reset' to a violent and insane state by a signal sent through the mobile phones, causing the collapse of the entire world.
 * The vaults residents going insane may also be a reference to George Romeros film, "The Crazies," where a third of a town goes crazy after being exposed to an experimental chemical weapon.
 * Arts-oriented Vault 92 is just outside of Old Olney. Real life arts school James Hubert Blake High School is located outside of Olney MD.

YouTube Videos
Walkthrough for Vault 92 EEHDr0aMNS8