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.

History
Vault 92's true purpose, however, was an experimental study in the creation of super soldiers. By exposing the citizens of the vault to white noise, the Vault Overseer and the vault doctor induced a trance-like state. While in the trance, the citizens were turned into potent warriors; one report states that the security detail shot one man 23 times before he died, ending his rampage. Though the experiment showed great promise initially, the most promising subject suddenly went insane and tore three people apart. About one third of the vault population 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" third, so there are mines scattered around 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. Come prepared; bring a weapon with fire damage (such as a Flamer, a Shishkebab, or an Alien Blaster), or lure them onto your own Frag Mines.

Alternatively, if you activate the terminals in the Living Quarters and select "Noise Flush" it will instantly kill all of the Mirelurks in the area. Sadly, you do not get any experience for doing so.

Vault Characters
Overseer Richard Rubin was in charge of Vault 92. He and Professor Malleus began the experiment by piping white noise into the recording studio while the musicians were listening to their recorded performances. He stepped up the experiment according to Vault-Tec's instructions without informing Malleus, however, and the two of them argued about the situation. Rubin decided he would be better off having Malleus killed to get him out of the way.

Professor Malleus was in charge of implementing the experiment of Vault 92. He was initially intrigued and optimistic about the results of the test. When the killings began, however, he quickly got to the bottom of the situation and discovered that Rubin had been brainwashing the musicians without controls or safety measures, turning them into violent, primal animals.

Parker Livingston was the recording studio supervisor for Vault 92's musicians. He was one of the first to uncover clues as to the real purpose of Vault 92, though he never knew it. He had quickly uncovered a rogue element in the sound studio that was leaking into the recording banks, but never identified it as white noise used for the purposes of brainwashing. He and Hilda Egglebrecht were involved in a relationship and were meeting in the recording studio when they were both killed by brainwashed citizens.

Hilda Egglebrecht was a renowned violinist whose Soil Stradivarius is the Player's reason for visiting Vault 92. She brought her violin in its protective case with her to a meeting with Livingston in the recording studio when they were both killed.

Zoe Hammerstein was a promising young violinist invited into the vault. She was excited and a little bit out of her league with the other, more accomplished, musicians. She was one of the first to feel the effects of the uncontrolled white noise brainwashing implemented by Overseer Rubin. After being assured by the vault doctor that she was just stressed, she lost her mind completely.

Carl Maynard was the chief engineer for Vault 92. He and Parker Livingston were working on cleaning up a leaking signal corrupting the recording, though neither identified it as the white noise. Maynard's logs reveal that an underground lake or spring applied pressures to the buried walls of the vault until they caved in, flooding the entire bottom level. It is through this breach that Mirelurks came to infest the vault.

Jon Adiglio was one of the last few citizens left alive and sane. Instead of fighting in the corridors, Adiglio locked himself in a closet and hid. While there, he wrote a note to his wife and children telling them that he had died with dignity and not gone insane. He then killed himself with a laser pistol.

Gordie Sumner was a resident of Vault 92 and possibly its supply manager. He stashed weapons when he realized that the other residents were going insane. Gordie's name is possibly a reference to rock musician Sting, whose given name is Gordon Sumner.

Vault 92

 * Tales of a Junktown Jerky Vendor: Upstairs, in a room on the balcony, north of the room where you enter the Overseer's Office, behind an Average locked door.
 * Laser Pistol: Laying on a desk right at the entrance to the Vault, along with ample Energy Cells.
 * Two First Aid Kits: Laying on the same desk as the Laser Pistol.
 * A 10mm SMG: In the Atrium, in the supply shop. The weapon is behind a book case, on the ground, left of the door.

Overseer's Office

 * Pre-War Book: On a shelf near the entrance.
 * Duck and Cover!: On a shelf near the entrance.
 * 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 room to the south of one of the entrances and 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 safe.

Living Quarters

 * 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 one of the bathroom stalls, next to a toilet in the Male Dorms.
 * There is a "Key Code to Data Storage" next to Jon Adilgio's Body in the Male dorm.



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 and a Mini Nuke.

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 perhaps a reference to the Hammerstein Ballroom, where several famous musicians have performed, or to famed Broadway lyricist and songwriter Oscar Hammerstein II.
 * Hilda Eggebrecht is a reference to the real life violinist Renate Eggebrecht.
 * Gordon Sumner is the real name of the musician Sting.
 * Carl Maynard's last name is perhaps a reference to Maynard James Keenan, a rock singer from a band Tool or more likely Maynard Ferguson, a famous Canadian trumpet player, or even more likely, no one in particular.