The Glow, also known as West Tech Research Facility, West Tek, the Great Glow, the Ancient Order[1] and the Hot Spot[2] is a location in Fallout.
Background
It was established in 2055 as the primary biological research installation for West Tek.[3] Located near San Diego, West-Tek was divided into two divisions, "Advanced Weapons" and "Biomedical Sciences Research."[Pub 1][4][5] In 2069 it became the single largest private contractor of the United States Government with the T-51b power armor project.[6] It also worked on the Pan-Immunity Virion Project, later known as the Forced Evolutionary Virus (FEV).[7][8] The PVP project was transferred to FEV initiative and transferred to the Mariposa Military Base in 2077.[9] Roger Maxson worked as security at the location before transferring to Mariposa.[10]
The Glow
The Glow is highly irradiated. A few moments' exposure is enough to give a lethal dose of rads, and Rad-X is required to traverse through the area. Ghoul survivors from Necropolis settled northwest of the Glow, and founded the town of Dayglow, whose inhabitants formed partnerships with scavenging companies from Adytum and the Hub.
Location
The Glow can be found eight squares east and twenty-four squares south of Vault 13.
Layout
Exterior
| Name | Description | Loot |
|---|---|---|
Exterior
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Three charred corpses lie around the crater. The location is extremely irradiated and a rope can be attached to the steel beam in order to enter the facility. | None |
Level 1.png)
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The body of Sergeant Allen is found here in a suit of T-51b power armor. On his person was a holodisk that the Vault Dweller can use to become an initiate of the Brotherhood of Steel. | |
Level 2.png)
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On a burned corpse in the northeast corner, a red pass key can be found, granting access to other levels. | |
Level 3.png)
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This level connects two different lifts providing transportation between the levels of the facility. |
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Level 4.png)
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This level houses the mind of The Glow, ZAX. This supercomputer oversaw all research and development that took place in the base, in addition to performing the routine checks. The body of Charles Ringhold lies in one of the laser labs, carrying a blue pass key. | |
Level 5.png)
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The labs are sealed and protected by three robot checkpoints. |
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Level 6.png)
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One of the power generator's fuses have failed, powering down the entire base. The body of one of Allen's comrades lies in one of the rooms. |
Inhabitants
Related quests
Notes
- Some doors need a Strength of 8 or higher to be opened.
- When one first gets to the crater from the world map, they will receive the message "you receive a large dose of radiation" twice. With a radiation resistance stat of 12%, this will give the player character 28 rads. Sleep for a day with the same resistance stat will net over 16,000 rads.
- The name of the facility is spelled both West Tech and West Tek.
- Suze mentions the Glow after being rescued from the lower levels of PMV Valdez.[11]
Unused Content
- GLWALIEN.MSG - "This body might be some kind of genetic experiment."
- GLOWCAGE.MSG - "It appears as though this cage contained lab animals for testing. Somehow, the bars have been torn off."
- GLWBOX.MSG - "This looks to be the footlocker of some guards."
- GLOWDESK.MSG - a lock desk of papers
- GLOWTABL.MSG - a table in a mess
Appearances
The West Tek Research Facility appears in Fallout and is mentioned in Fallout 2 and Fallout 3.
Gallery
Yellow pass key and Ancient Brotherhood disk, level 1
Red pass key, level 2
Blue pass key, level 4
Big Book of Science and Dean's Electronics
Dean's Electronics, level 4
Guns and Bullets, level 5
FEV Experiment Disk, level 5
Alpha experiment disk, level 5
Delta experiment disk, level 5
References
- ↑ Vault Dweller: "{155}{}{No... I'm going to the Ancient Order.}"
Darrel: "{159}{}{Glow, Ancient Order it's the same thing. It's still not a good place to visit.}"
(Darrel's dialogue) - ↑ Vault Dweller: "{162}{}{Why the two names?}"
Darrel: "{171}{}{Most topsiders think that it is just a big Radioactive hole. Thus the name became the Glow or some even call it the Hot Spot. We in the Brotherhood know the truth. According to the ancient writings this place was the source of all our technology. And who knows what may still be there.}"
(Darrel's dialogue) - ↑ The Vault Dweller: "{112}{}{Tell me about this installation.}"
ZAX: "{117}{}{This installation was established in 2055 as a biological research facility for experimental cures of the New Plague. However, in 2071, this facility was placed under United States military command.}"
ZAX: "{118}{}{Research into possible cures for the New Plague created the Forced Evolution Virus, which was further developed in an attempt to create a transmittable genetic-engineering virus -- in effect, infectious evolution.}"
(ZAX's information) - ↑ Vault Dweller: "{190}{}{Where did the Followers start?}"
Nicole: "{193}{Nic_30}{Far to the south, near the Great Glow. The times were hard, but we managed to survive. We realized then the Great War must never happen again.}"
(Nicole's dialogue) - ↑ West Tech Records
- ↑ GPWRTERM.MSG: "{241}{}{ In 2069, West Tech was the single largest contractor for the United States government; its largest contract being Powered Infantry Armor Model T-51b. }"
- ↑ Huntersville memories
- ↑ Return to Appalachia
- ↑ FEV Experiment Disk; Log Date January 7, 2077
- ↑ Citadel terminal entries; Citadel A Ring terminals, Maxson Archive terminal, Maxson Family Dossiers, Roger Maxson
- ↑ Chosen One: "{119}{}{Where are you from?}"
Suze: "{121}{}{I'm from a place south of the Boneyard and south of the Glow. We're not too far from the sea. I used to be a nanny, but then the kids mutated into monsters.}"
(Suze's dialogue)
- ↑ Fallout Official Survival Guide p. 84: "The Followers of the Apocalypse: A small group of peace-lovers from San Diego. They are enemies of the Children of the Cathedral, and may provide help and information to the player."
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