Vault 101

Vault 101 is a Vault-Tec Vault located in the Capital Wasteland, near the ruins of Washington, DC, specifically in the ruins of Reston, Virginia. According to the official Fallout 3 strategy guide, the purpose of Vault 101 in the Vault Experiment was not only to test the results of indefinite isolation, but also had a greater purpose of testing the role of the Overseer. This Vault was sealed before the bombs ever even hit, and the residents were kept in the dark as to the true nature of the aftermath, receiving fake radio transmissions which painted a far bleaker picture than even the Wasteland offered. It was the Overseer's job to keep this secret and make sure the Vault stayed sealed, and the first Overseer was actually a trained Vault-Tec official. The second Overseer (who was trained by the first) decided to let a select few of the adults in on the secret to help keep it from the children, and over the years each subsequent generation had more and more residents who knew the truth about the Vault. Also, the Overseer was able to communicate with, and even visit, the outside world by using the secret tunnel in the Overseer's office.

After the Great War, this Vault was sealed for 200 years, until one young Vault 101 Dweller suddenly found out that the only family he had - the father, suddenly disappeared from the Vault. The Vault 101 Dweller decided to emerge from his home and look for his or her father in the outside world.

It is later revealed that Vault 101 had previously been opened prior to the start of Fallout 3, as both the Vault 101 Dweller and his father were originally from outside of the vault. It was later sealed due to the loss of vault citizens to the dangers of the wasteland. To prevent the next generation from wanting to leave, the adults swore to never reveal the vault had been opened and maintain that it was to stay locked permanently.

Further investigation reveals more than just the father of the Vault 101 Dweller have escaped in the past. Numerous characters in Megaton recall people who have previously escaped. Moira Brown recalls a girl who escaped "10 or 12 years ago", while Colin Moriarty recalls someone escaping 5 years ago, who was apparently so brainwashed all he could repeat were phrases such as "all hail the overseer" and "we live in the vault, we die in the vault".

Appearances
Vault 101 appeared in Fallout 3 as the Vault where the main character came from.

Residents

 * Vault 101 Overseer
 * Amata
 * Butch DeLoria
 * Jonas
 * Ellen DeLoria
 * James
 * Hannon
 * Paul Hannon
 * Wally Mack
 * Old Lady Palmer
 * Andy
 * Stanley
 * Gomez
 * Freddie Gomez
 * Christine Kendall
 * Kendall
 * Brotch
 * Tom Holdan
 * Mary Holdan
 * O'Brian
 * Richards
 * Allen Mack
 * Floyd Lewis
 * Allan Mack
 * Gloria Mack
 * Grandma Taylor
 * Wolfe
 * Park

Radio
Vault 101 residents broadcast their own radio station, which can be reached only inside the Vault, or when stood in the entrance.

It apparently has a stronger emergency signal, which can be broadcast outside of the vault and in the general Megaton area.

Related quests

 * Baby Steps
 * Escape!
 * Following in His Footsteps
 * Future Imperfect
 * Trouble on the Homefront
 * Growing Up Fast

Bobble Heads
There is Medical Bobble head in James', or more likely known as your Dad's office. You only have three chances to obtain this bobble head. When you're about to take the G.O.A.T., when you escape the vault you'll come through his office, or when you return in the "Trouble on the Homefront" quest.