There Stands the Grass

There Stands the Grass is a quest in Fallout: New Vegas.

Quick walkthrough

 * Speak to Dr. Hildern at Camp McCarran.


 * Enter Vault 22 and download the research data found there.


 * (Optional)Find Keely, a researcher who has gone missing at Vault 22.


 * Meet Keely at her base of operations on the second level.


 * Find the vents Keely is pumping gas through and somehow ignite the gas.


 * Return to Keely and let her know the spores have been purged.


 * Return to Dr. Hildern at Camp McCarran with the research data.


 * Return to Camp McCarran and tell Dr. Williams that Keely is safe.

Detailed walkthrough
To start the quest, you have to speak to Dr. Hildern in the Camp McCarran station. After speaking to him, he will give you the location to Vault 22. Make sure to speak to Dr. Williams so you get an optional objective to find Keely, a researcher who went to the vault before and has become missing.

Getting to the vault is pretty easy, just make sure to watch out for the Cazadors who roam around and just follow the marker. Once inside, make your way to the Pest Control level. Inside the Vault are numerous Mantis (Fallout: New Vegas) and what are known as Spore carriers. In the Pest Control there are Spore plant (Fallout: New Vegas) who shoot toxic vomit much like the Centaur (Fallout 3) are known for. Use the computer in the Overseer's office located in the common area to unlock the doors on the Pest Control level. The computer gives an error for the override and unless you have lockpick of 75 or higher (it is a Hard lock) head to Crew Quarters. There is a key card in the first room on the left side of the hall as you enter the crew quarters. Be careful, there are two Spore Carriers waiting inside. With the key climb the stairs or take the elevator to Level 5, Pest Control. Follow the arrow to the door (if you picked up the key card it will just open, otherwise pick the lock).

Finding Keely is a bit more difficult. It is recommended you have followers as the area where she is is littered with Spore plants and Mantis, but a flamer with lots of fuel and a strong melee attack work well too. Keely Turns out to be a Ghoul. Eventually she'll be found on the south end of a cavern sitting down in the corner. She'll talk about a plan to burn all the spores. Follow her to the second floor (Oxygen Level) and make sure you have a Flamer (Fallout: New Vegas) or some sort of explosive/energy weapon. There is a duffel bad with frag grenades beside Keely in the room were you met up with her on level 2 (Oxygen level). Also, on the bottom level of the common area (where you found the overseers office)there is a room marked Utility. It contains a flamer in the far corner. Be careful, there are higher level Spore Carriers here. You are supposed to find two vents next to each other. These are circular vents that are right next to the entrance of the cavern on the Pest Control level. Stand in the computer room where you downloaded the data from and throw a grenade, then close the door quickly. Once the fires stop, it is safe to re-open the door and return to Keely.

When you return to Keely to collect your reward, she'll talk about destroying the files from the computer. She'll discover they were downloaded and you have multiple options from here:


 * Tell her the truth and destroy the codes for good karma. If she lives you will get caps or Karma depending on what you bartered with Dr. Williams.
 * With a sufficiently high Science check(70), you can convince Keely to save the data.


 * Tell her the truth and refuse to destroy where she will become hostile. Killing gives you her password to leave. Make sure to use her computer to unlock the door. This gives you New California Republic infamy.


 * Lie and let her live. You will lose karma for lying but gain it for saving her.


 * If you are on the companion quest with Veronica you will have another option to save the data without bloodshed.

After that, whatever you chose you must return to Dr. Hildern.


 * If you saved the data he will give you 1200 caps and you can get an additional 600 with a high enough Barter or Speech skill.


 * If you deleted the data, the quest will end with you informing Dr. Williams that Keely is safe or dead.


 * If Keely died, you can tell Dr. Williams a lie with a speech check. You get 800 caps and lose Karma this way. If you don't, you won't get anything but you won't lose karma.

Any of the ways gets you a cool 1500 xp if you finish it and your infamy with the NCR will be raised.