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 became susceptible to mind control and were thus manipulated for research. This research was then to be used for a project to create super soldiers who would be completely obedient and fight far more ferociously. Though the experiment showed great promise initially, the most promising subject suddenly went insane and tore three people apart before finally being taken down by the security after they shot him 23 times.

This case of insanity soon appeared on other subjects as their minds deteriorated. One computer terminal contains the diary of one of the inhabitants, Zoe Hammerstein, who went mad because of the white noise. The diary shows her writing (specifically her spelling and grammar) degenerate, until her in her final entry she begs her friends for help in a sentence that is barely comprehensible.

Attempts by the Vault Overseer to contain the situation (such as by programming code words into the subjects' implants in order to stop them) only worked briefly before failing. Professor Malleus, the expert in charge of the white noise experiment, soon loses hope in the project and attempts (several times) to convince the Overseer (Richard Rubin) to take the situation more seriously and even consider abandoning the vault in light of the violent and savage behavior of the insane residents, not realizing what Rubin had done until it was too late. However it seems that Rubin had Professor Malleus killed (as is evident from his computer terminal).

About one third of the vault population eventually 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. Sadly, the presumed skeletons of the young lovers Hilda Egglebrecht and Parker Livingston can be found locked into the Recording Studio - a place where they once enjoyed accompanying each other greatly, according to notes left by Parker.

The presence of the Mirelurk is explained by a computer terminal in the lower, flooded parts of the vault. Apparently, shortly before the "Crazies" incident, there was an issue with one of the walls in that area, which had cracked because of some body of water nearby. The wall was repaired and given some minor reinforcements, but the Chief Engineer of the vault, Carl Maynard, states in this terminal that the repairs were only temporary and that a serious approach needs to be discussed. However nothing was done because of the mad inhabitants and the wall there eventually broke, allowing the Mirelurk to gain access to 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
 * Professor Malleus
 * Parker Livingston
 * Hilda Egglebrecht
 * Zoe Hammerstein
 * Carl Maynard
 * Jon Adiglio
 * Gordie Sumner

Vault 92

 * Laser Pistol: Laying on a desk right at the entrance to the Vault, along with ample Energy Cells. One can also be found in the Sound Test room.
 * Two First Aid Kits: Laying on the same desk as the Laser Pistol.
 * Pre-War Book: on a table in the vault entrance area, next to Professor Malleus Audio Log V92-01.
 * A 10mm SMG: In the Atrium, in the supply shop. This room is upstairs, in a room on the balcony, north of the room where you enter the Overseer's Office, behind an Average locked door. The weapon is hidden between a wall and a book case, on the ground, left of the door.
 * Laser Pistol and Scoped .44 Magnum in a locked safe in the supply shop. The safe is located under the counter where the computer terminal is situated.
 * Tales of a Junktown Jerky Vendor: On the bottom level of a shelf behind the counter of the supply shop. There are two ammo boxes on the middle shelf.

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 random loot safe, Jet, Psycho, Stimpaks, and lots of ammo, including Microfusion Cell bundles.

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, a copy of Dean's Electronics, and a Mini Nuke.  A number of chems are also inside the overturned silo nearby, which serves as their bedroom with 3 mattresses.

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 undoubtedly a nod to the famed Broadway lyricist and songwriter Oscar Hammerstein II. The GNR song "I'm In Love With A Wonderful Guy" is from the Rogers & Hammerstein musical South Pacific.
 * Zoe Hammerstein - specifically the Z in the name - might remotely be a conjoining on the names of Hammerstein and Hans Zimmer. Hans Zimmer has composed orchestral music for a number of blockbuster movies in recent times.
 * 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 progressive-rock singer from the band Tool or more likely Maynard Ferguson, a famous Canadian trumpet player.
 * The incident in Vault 92 is somewhat similar to the events that occur in the novel 'CELL' by Stephen King, in which a majority of the population has their brain 'reset' to a violent and insane state by a signal sent through the mobile phones, causing the collapse of the entire world.