Mister Burke

Mr. Burke is a mysterious man who can be met in Moriarty's Saloon in Megaton. He's the right hand man of Allistair Tenpenny, who wants the town destroyed via blowing up the bomb. He can give the Vault 101 Dweller access to Tenpenny Tower in exchange for installing a Fusion Pulse Charge inside Megaton's bomb. He gives the character the power to push the button to detonate the bomb. Doing so gives the player a Karma of -1000, the lowest possible value in the game. As a Female, you can use the Black Widow Perk to seduce him into changing his mind, which results in him sending you love letters, or persuading him to give you 500 more caps upon detonation of the bomb. He can also be murdered without fear of retaliation from the law in Megaton. (I have found that using the Black Widow Perk to seduce Burke still results in him putting a hit out on you. I received 4 love letters total then while exploring the area southeast of Tenpenny tower was attacked by 3 hitmen. They wore Talon Company Armor but were labeled as regular hitmen.)

After speaking to Burke, a new dialogue option will become available when speaking with Lucas Simms, which can result in him confronting Burke about the plot to destroy Megaton. Burke will deny the allegations, but will eventually agree to be detained and suggest that Lucas "Lead the way." When Lucas turns his back, Burke will attempt to shoot him. You can allow him to kill Lucas, which gives you access to his equipment, or you can try to save him by killing Burke. Neither option will result in a negative reactions from the townspeople. If you kill Burke before he kills Lucas, the sheriff will thank you afterward. There's also a third option when Lucas Simms confronts Mr. Burke that will combine both of the previously mentioned. If you kill Mr. Burke right when he fires, Lucas still dies, along with Burke, but you receive positive Karma. If Lucas dies and you disarm the bomb, you can collect your reward from his son.

Another option will be he kills Simms, and survives. Afterward he gives you a threat and disappears. Later in the game Talon Company Mercenaries will show up at random points, and try to kill you. If you loot their bodies, you will find contracts to hunt and kill you, signed by Burke. He will likewise put a contract out for your head if you refuse his offer in Megaton.

Appearances
Burke appears only in Fallout 3. He is voiced by Wes Johnson, who also voiced many characters in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, most notably Lucien Lachance, who speaks in a manner similar to Burke.

Related quests

 * The Power of the Atom

Corpse Loot

 * 10mm Round (10)
 * Dirty Pre-War Businesswear
 * Pre-War Hat
 * Silenced 10mm Pistol
 * Tortiseshell Glasses

Behind the Scenes
This character is a reference to William Burke, an Irish serial killer who killed seventeen people in Scotland in 1827-28. He may also be a reference to the fictional character, Burke, in the series of novels by Andrew Vachss, a man with a reputation for doing almost anything as long as he gets paid. Finally, he may also be a reference to the fictional character, Carter Burke, in the film Aliens. An unscrupulous company man who orders a family on a remote world to investigate co-ordinates given him by the films protagonist in good faith, in order to discover the aliens and make money for himself. Also may be a reference to William Birkins from Capcoms Resident Evil series.

Alternate versions
Mr. Burke does not exist in the Japanese version of Fallout 3, thus disabling the "detonate the bomb" option in The Power of the Atom as the player cannot get the Fusion Pulse Charge under any circumstances. The player can get the love letters if the Black Widow perk is used.

Bugs
It is possible that after helping Roy Phillips kill the residents of Tenpenny Tower, he will not be among the dead. This itself it not unusual or strange, as he could have gotten away. However it is possible that later, after the tower is restored to its prior state and with Roy living in Tenpenny's suite, that Burke will appear in Tenpenny's suite as well. Also, Roy may not attack him.

Even if Burke is killed before you ever set foot in Tenpenny Tower, such as during the confrontation with Lucas Simms, you may still find that hitmen specifically from the Tenpenny Tower quest possess notes signed by Burke commissioning your character's termination.