5,000xp and 2,000 caps were given to me as a reward for reaching the vault.
And then just as I expected a *ding* occurred and a new quest in the chain popped up.
[Main Quest- The Depths of Vault 120: Investigate the situation inside Vault 120. Reward: ???, 55,000xp, 30,000 caps.]
The main quest had officially begun and this time it looked like I was in for a big reward. But the question marks seemed to indicate I would get something at random, or maybe it could change depending on my choices but either way I was going to get as much as I could from this place.
I wanted all the research and valuable samples this place held and I believe I prepared as much as I could.
So now, it was time to go in. Lady had finished setting traps to secure the area and then slid up to my side.
I pulled the data pin from my pipboy and inserted it into the console. I didnt need to worry about not being able to open a vault door since I had a master code installed that I obtained from my server room.
Even if Vault-Tec sold thier vaults, they would never relinquish thier ability to control the vaults.
As such, each vault system had a backdoor installed that only those with the right code could use.
The button lit up on the console and I pressed down on it causing the vault door opening sequence to begin.
Sirens and lights went off as the hydraulics and gears moved to open the vault door.
The coglike door screeched as it was pulled inward and then rolled to the side to reveal the interior.
"That's interesting..." I mutter after seeing what the interior looked like.
"Are all vaults different, sir? Ours doesn't look like that inside." Lady stated in awe.
As we stepped inside, the circular cog shaped room was lined with marble statues of various aquatic creatures. And in the center of the room was what looked like a large round pool of murky water.
At the edge of the pool was a single red button on a white stand.
I didn't hesitate to push the button and then waited for something to happen.
After a few moments I saw bubbles rising the pool of water and then a round object emerged.
The object was white in color, matching the marble but had noticable rust spots here and then. A hiss echoed and a door hatch opened on the submersible that was in front of us.
I could see the interior had no seating but could probably fit 10 people standing. Another button lay on the center similiar to the one that called it here.
I took some time to give the submersible an inspection to make sure it was safe to use and I determined it likely was.
'It seems this is the Fallout equivalent of the bathyshere from Bioshock. I'm even more anxious to see just how similiar this place is...'
"Ladies first~" I motioned to the door toward Lady with a smirk and she nodded and hopped in. I followed behind her and then gave the interior one last glance before reaching over and pressing the button.
The bathyshere lit up and the door closed and sealed.
After a moment the sub began submerging back into the pool of water and the lights inside dimmed.
One side of the sub rolled up revealing a large window to see outside.
There was no grand speech or propaganda to entertain us like in Bioshock and the scenery left much to be desired.
The ocean water was murky and almost brown but still clear enough to see the area a bit.
I was a little disappointed but I understood this wasn't Rapture we were going to.
Lady and I could only see the murky water outside until finally we saw something else.
'Is that one of those toothed dolphins I always used to see around the beaches on the coast? That thing is ugly...'
The creature was larger than a normal dolphin and has razor sharp teech lining its mouth. It swam passed us completely ignoring our presence.
Since the scenery right now wasn't much, I turned to my companion and made small talk.
"You remember the mission objectives?" I asked her to start the conversation.
"Yes sir. The objective is to secure all research materials relating to genetic breakthroughs made on mutated sea slugs, including live samples if possible. Catalog anything valuable left behind for future ops." Lady stated with a stoic expression.
I nodded in approval. "That's good. And what if you face resistance from a human force?"
"Remain neutral unless provoked. Attempt negotiation before utilizing force. Leave no witnesses if violence is used." She said as if practiced.
I nodded again. 'Her training has reached a good point. If she handles this mission well then phase 4 of her training will end and I can't start issuing her missions to do my grunt work so I can focus on more important things. If she brings in a good candidate for the Winter Soldier program I can have her train them and all I would need to do it the initial C.O.D.E. treatment. It wont be long before I have a full roster of operatives carrying out my will.'
Soon we started seeing plants like towering stalks of dark kelp.
The bathyshere moved effortlessly through it and eventually the scenery opened up to something finally interesting.
On the cliffside of a sea shelf was a huge steel and glass structure that looked like a ring of large corridors with four giant domes on four sides of the ring.
Each of the domes had corridors leading a central dome that was bigger than the others but didn't have any windows, preventing a view inside.
Although, not nearly as impressive or large as the city of Rapture in Bioshock, Vault 120 was still an underwater marvel.
What I found most interesting was the massive amounts of golden glowing coral that grew around the entire structure, that likely house many forms of aquatic life. That was probably the only thing of real beauty we saw on this ride.
The coral glowed dimly but the occasional pulse of brightness would occur creating quite the hypnotic effect.
The bathyshere floated closer and closer until it reached the southernmost dome and a set of solid metal doors opened up allowing the sub to float inside.
Inside was a flooded chamber and the bathysphere stopped in the middle of it before the doors closed behind us.
Then the water in the chamber began to drain letting us see the room outside clearly.
I checked around to make sure there wasnt any hidden enemies in the chamber with us before opening the bathysphere hatch.
I didnt see any so I opened the hatch and walked out.
The chamber we were in was plain and a lone door lay at one side of the room.
"Set the supplies down and get into the power armor." I ordered Lady as I pulled the two sets of T-45 I owned out from my inventory. Both were painted in blue and white colors but werent modified other than that.
With all my other projects, I hadn't really had time to work on making better power armor but it didn't matter.
The T-45 may be an outdated model but it is still power armor. And can even be used as a diving suit, allowing the user to walk at the bottom of the ocean if necessary.
We brought backups like my cave diving suit and the rebreather I bought for Lady, but the power armor was my first choice.
There's no telling what kind of danger is lurking around this place.
Both of us plugged in our fusion cores and hopped into the armor. After which, I tossed her an automatic laser rifle and some fusion cells. Holding and using pistols accurately in power armor is actually a little tricky so I brought these along as well as a few other toys in case things get spicy.
I moved over to the door that leads into the rest of the next area and opened it. As the door opened the two of us moved with precision to clear the area.
"All clear!" I said after seeing no enemies. The room we were in looked like a welcome area. Red carpet ran through an old archway and several tables and chairs filled the place but everything was old and damaged.
At the back of the room on either side were two doors facing eachother and a large glass window that showed the ocean outside.
However what drew my attention was the floor.
Between both the doors, a long streak of somewhat fresh blood was smeared. Like something bloody was dragged through the area.
'That's proof theres still life here... but also something very violent...' I thought solemnly.