Protecting the Water Way

 is a Fallout 3 quest that is added to the game in the Broken Steel add-on.

Walkthrough
Scribe Bigsley asks the Lone Wanderer to investigate the organized bandit attacks on the Aqua Pura caravans, directing The Lone Wanderer to speak with Officer Lepelletier of Rivet City to learn more details about the attacks.

Consult Officer Lepelletier
Lepelletier can be found on the ramp leading to Rivet City, and explains that a water caravan heading towards Canterbury Commons that has just left the Jefferson Memorial.You are asked to catch up with it, talk with Officers Davis and Lorin and guard it from attack. Passing an easy Speech check with Lepelletier can net you a plasma rifle before departing to protect the caravan.

Meet Officers Davis and Lorin north of Project Purity
Following the river leads the player to the caravan just as it is in ambush by three bandits. The ambush point seems to be at a constant location, under the large bridge between the Citadel and the D.C. Ruins. If you hurry there you can save the lives of the two guards but the caravan driver will always be dead. There is also a scavenger camped out under the bridge who will help fight the bandits and can be saved as well.

Fast traveling to Dukov's place may cut down on the time available for the bandits to attack the caravan but be wary of the enclave post next to Dukov's place as well as the bandit post in between Dukov's place and the ambush point.

Alternatively, players can leave a heavily armed follower under the bridge near the scavenger, before speaking with Officer Lepelletier to trigger the quest and the ambush. The follower should wipe out the bandits and save the Officers' lives before the player even reaches the location.

Find out who is responsible for the attacks
Upon searching any of the bandits you find a holotape titled New Meeting Place from Split Jack, the bandit leader, instructing the bandits to group at Wilhelm's Wharf.

Deal with Split Jack and his gang
When reaching Wilhelm's Wharf, you can speak to Split Jack (the password is "Mirelurk Stew") and pass a difficult Speech challenge to persuade him to give up. Please note that if the Speech check is passed successfully then Grandma Sparkle is likely to be immediately killed by the bandits. Failing that, Jack has to be killed either simply by attacking him and his men or in a duel for leadership of the gang.

If you elect to join their gang and challenge Split Jack, he lets you choose which melee weapon to fight with (Lead Pipe, Combat Knife or a Nail Board). As long as you fight him with the weapon you chose none of the gang members attack you, instead cheering on the fight. After the duel one of the unnamed bandits approaches you, stating that while they do not want another leader you should speak with Lepelletier about a "protection" contract.

Report to Officer Lepelletier
If you choose not to side with the bandits, Lepelletier thanks you for your assistance, but is unable to reward you. You are advised to speak to Scribe Bigsley in order to receive the reward which consists of some captured Enclave gear - Enclave Power Armor and Helmet, a Gatling Laser, a Plasma Pistol and ammo for the same.

If you choose to side with the bandits, you can go to Lepelletier and blackmail her for 500 caps after passing a Speech check. You can also tell her that you want 500 caps now, and 500 caps after the attacks have stopped. Soon after, she becomes hostile and attacks you.

Bugs

 * After challenging Split Jack to a knife fight for some reason the knife cannot be dropped, fixed or unequipped. It may be due to picking up the combat knife off of Split Jack's corpse. After dropping his knife, it was possible to drop the bugged knife. Other combat knives can also be repaired by the bugged knife without the bugged knife disappearing.


 * After challenging Split Jack to a knife fight and winning his body may not be lootable. Also his three bandits will continue to heckle you even after he is dead. Firing on his corpse with a weapon will result in the bandits attacking you.


 * Split Jack can sometimes spawn in the middle of the river, and will remain there, endlessly treading water. While it is possible to go and speak to him, you cannot begin the meeting as Jack will remain in the river and won't speak to the assembled bandits. The quest can still be completed, by killing Jack and any bandits in the area. Note that Jack can somehow fire a few shots despite swimming - he seems to lunge out of the water and is able to 'stand' midjump to fire a few shots at you before landing in the water.


 * If Grandma Sparkle was killed beforehand by the player, Split Jack will still act as if she was still alive.


 * Sometimes a hostile creature or enemy might appear as you approach the gang (even a Super Mutant Overlord) - the gang will immediately gang up on it and try to kill it. You can help them, but be careful not to shoot one of the gang in the crossfire or they will turn hostile.


 * If you speak with Officer Lepelletier to start the quest but don't immediately go to meet up with Officers Davis and Lorin, they may not be at the marked location later on, which may render the quest uncompletable. In this situation, bandits may no longer spawn either.