HELIOS One

 is a Poseidon Energy solar plant and a consisting of a large number of mirrors and a collection tower that can generate and provide energy to the Strip and other places. It also contains the control system for a massive space-based laser weapon, Archimedes II.

Background
A pre-War installation, Helios was hailed as the "Dawn of a Golden Age" by Poseidon Energy. The NCR took control of the Helios One from the Brotherhood of Steel by force. However, before the Brotherhood fled, they enacted security measures on the installation to ensure that the NCR would not have much to gain.

Storyline development
At the beginning of the events of Fallout: New Vegas the facility is controlled by the NCR, who have a "technician" named Fantastic working on getting the power plant functioning. Entering the room adjacent to Fantastic you will locate another scientist, Ignacio Rivas, who has the password to the eastern console. Fantastic has the one for the west.

If the Archimedes I plant defense system is activated, killing all NCR troops, the Legion will occupy Helios One two days later, and will hold it through the end of the game. (The ending slides reveal that under certain circumstances the Brotherhood of Steel or NCR will retake it after the events of the main game.)

Layout
Behind the main plant and around the tower are all of the reflecting mirrors. Before you enter you need to connect to the mainframe from both the Eastern and Western reflector control terminals. Both are in the fenced cages within the reflector yard. The eastern terminal is guarded by mines and a rigged shotgun, the western terminal is guarded by attack dogs.

Inside the Solar Collection Tower building, past a small straight path there are three hostile turrets and at least one Protectron on the catwalk leading to other side and down to the lower level which should contain one Robobrain (On higher levels, you may encounter the Robobrain on the catwalk and a Sentry Bot on the lower level). Going straight ahead leads to an unlocked door, (closed) which is defended by two armed mines on each side of a rectangular stone desk. There is a computer behind the desk which can shut off or turn turrets against robots. (If you have ED-E leaving the robot at the door is advised, it can die a lot so it is suggested that the player go solo).

Downstairs is a small room with an average safe with three Pulse grenades and three pulse mine and two pulse grenades on the shelf. It is guarded by a Robobrain (Sentry Bot on higher levels).

Despite almost always heading downstairs when inside the Solar Collection Tower, the player starts at the bottom and upon exit ends at the top. (The Courier takes an elevator up to the tower from the lower part of the bunker)

Notable Loot

 * D.C. Journal of Internal Medicine upstairs, lying on a bed in the same room with holotapes for the east and west terminal passwords. (head to the right from main entrance, through the pool room, and right up the stairs)
 * Programmer's Digest on the upper level before big doors inside the Solar Collection Tower
 * Fixin' Things on the table in the second flight of stairs after the tunnel in Solar Collection Tower
 * Meeting People on one of the troopers stationed outside the entrance to HELIOS One (can be pick-pocketed)
 * Pulse grenade on the shelves behind the desk in main hall. Also on the first floor of Solar Collection Tower in the room with safe

Related Quests

 * That Lucky Old Sun
 * Sunshine Boogie
 * Classic Inspiration

Appearances
appears in Fallout: New Vegas.

Behind the scenes

 * Helios was the Greek god of the sun.
 * This location is based on The Solar Project located in the Mojave Desert.

Bugs

 * Sometimes when leaving the building via the back door, various NPCs, creatures or invisible objects will fall out of the air and will become hostile. These may include Rey, Colmillo, Basura, Old Lady Gibson, Molerats, Radscorpions, barrels and a tin can or a combination of the above. Reloading the autosave made when you exited the door will correct this problem.
 * After exiting via the large metal door, the Lieutenant and accompanying troopers all turned hostile for no apparent reason. Boone and ED-E accompanying at the time. This happens if you entered the Helios plant from the side entrance without talking to the Lieutenant first. Simply exit from the side again and they will no longer be hostile.
 * Floating high above the top of the Solar Collecting Tower there may appear a hostile unnamed turret. It seems not to be targetable, destructible or even visible in normal play. With ED-E's Enhanced Sensor perk however, the turret may be targeted in VATS (appears stealthed) and shot with varying degrees of accuracy (13-20% with Gobi Desert Scout Rifle) although the shots seem to have no effect other than to change the HIDDEN status to CAUTION.

Gallery
Гелиос-1