Control Station Enclave

The Poseidon Energy Oil Rig (Control Station ENCLAVE in official Enclave records) was a pre-War deep sea drilling platform, built over the world's last accessible underwater oil field, located 175 miles off the coast of California (N 37° 17', W 124° 23' 24").

Background
In March 2077, with the world heading directly for nuclear confrontation, the President of the United States and other members of the Enclave retreated to various fortified areas around the globe. The Poseidon Oil derrick in the Pacific Ocean was chosen as a secret base from which the USA could continue to exist and wage war on China, with the eventual goal of retaking the continental United States. Some members of the Enclave retreated to remote locations in other parts of the world, but when the bombs hit, they lost all contact with the main group. As the world burned and United States disintegrated, its President and the Enclave, remnants of the pre-War American shadow government, Fallout 3 Official Game Guide Game of the Year Edition p.41: "The Enclave In the recent past, the Enclave—the remains of the United States government—were evacuated to an oil rig off the coast of California. Little is known about what happened to these forces, although the country has a new commander-in-chief: President John Henry Eden. However, recent reports and chatter have pinpointed the resurgence of the Enclave, with their base centered on a secure underground facility known as Raven Rock. Initial contact was made there 35 years ago. ''During this time, the new President Eden has been slowly rebuilding his resources, thanks in part to the technology already available at the Raven Rock military base. Vertibirds, weapons, and robots were easy to construct, but human followers were more difficult to find. The answer was to rely on Colonel Autumn, who controls the Enclave soldier forces, as well as creating a propaganda-spewing series of Eyebots sent to roam the Wasteland, spreading hope. Eden could spout his pro-government rhetoric, and promise a return of the pre-war America of legend: a land of white picket fences, baseball, apple pie, and good, old-fashioned American global supremacy. President Eden's secretive plan all along has been to rule over an America of the "pure," free from any mutation. He has learned of a ridiculously ambitious experiment known as Project Purity, and knew the time to strike had come: His Enclave forces would "reclaim" the Jefferson Memorial. By controlling the purified water, Eden would control the Capital Wasteland, and the rest of the country eventually. What better way to administer modified F.E.V.- which kills anyone infected with any form of mutation-than through the water supply?"'' (Fallout 3 Official Game Guide faction profiles) established themselves as its continuation, claiming authority over the United States mainland.

In late 2077, not long before the Great War, the oil rig received schematics for X-01 power armor and Vertibirds from the Whitespring Congressional Bunker.

In 2242, the Chosen One traveled there via an oil tanker to save his tribe and the previous inhabitants of Vault 13, as well as to stop the Enclave and President Richardson from releasing FEV Curling-13 into the world's jet streams, killing all humans outside the Enclave world wide, in preparation for Enclave's colonization. The Chosen One (aided by Marcus and others recruited to his cause) destroyed the oil rig by overloading its primary reactor and causing a megaton-sized thermonuclear explosion. Enclave survivors never learned the truth behind the rig's destruction.

Overview
The oil rig was, in fact, a disguised, powerful military base with industrial facilities, top notch medical technology, completely self-sufficient and able to provide the Enclave with a power base. Not only was it their main base, it was connected to other Enclave, military, and corporate facilities via PoseidoNet (curiously, it seems the oil rig's PoseidoNet software was a trial version, ending in 2079).

The usual computer unit used on the Enclave oil rig was a DataPlex 2000 SmarTerminal. Operating systems used on the platform included Fenestra '98, Apricot OS, and Vault-Tec proprietary OS.

Power
The oil rig was powered by a Vault-Tec uranium-based nuclear reactor. The entire process was automated, thanks to a supercomputer running recently invented synchronized multi-processors on a tri-processor motherboard, which carefully regulated coolant temperature, intake of sea water for cooling, expending hot water and waste from it, as well as regulating the neutron bombardment on the uranium fuel rods. Seawater was pumped from 500 meters depth, used both to move the turbines and cool the core. Radiated water and miscellaneous toxic byproducts of the operation were disposed off through a waste conduit, terminating one mile south of the rig, causing irreversible ecological damage to coasts of southern California and Mexico. The biggest flaw in the system was that even the slightest disuption in the supercomputer's operations would lead to a 100 kiloton nuclear explosion within two hours, due to an uncontrolled bombardment of the uranium isotopes. The loss of power would also severely cripple the oil rig, as energy intensive systems would shut down (force fields, for example) and watertight doors would close, to prevent any flooding. Power plant operations: "''Vault-Tec's new Uranium Nuclear Reactor has been working to top efficiency so far. With the state of the art computer systems that were made specifically for the task of regulating the coolant temperature as well as many other key functions, we are able to allow the reactor to run with minimal supervision.

''The new Synchronic multi-processors that we had built into the tri-processor motherboard are able to multitask the coolant temperature, the intake of cool sea water, the outtake of expended coolant and waste from the reactions, and the regulation of the neutron bombardment upon the uranium. Without the computer systems, the reactor would go out of balance almost immediately, causing a chain-reaction bombardment of the uranium isotopes. Within two hours, or less, this would result in a nuclear explosion equivalent in the 100-kiloton range.

''The sum of the main portions of the reactor are placed underwater, beneath the station. This arrangement allows the ocean's natural temperature to keep the exterior cooler. Seawater, from 500 meters, is pumped into the coolant chamber. A portion of the cool seawater is diverted to the containment unit, where the core and control rods are. There, it circulates through the core, becoming heated from the nuclear reaction taking place. The seawater reaches the boiling point and the resulting steam is used to turn the turbine generator to create all of our electricity. The steam then condenses and returns to a filter tank. The cleansed water is entered back into a preparation tank, ready to start the cycle all over again.

''Severely radiated water, and miscellaneous toxic materials, are pumped out of the station through a waste-conduit, terminating one mile to the south. Reports from our survey crews state that our effluvia drifts down the coast of southern California and Mexico, causing irreversible ecological damage. Many of the beaches are now saturated with toxic waste, and highly radiated sea life. Fortunately, this doesn't effect us.

''In any case, if our reactor is shut down, we do have some backup batteries that can be used to power vital systems throughout the Enclave until power is restored. However, these do not include extraneous and high energy items such as forcefields. Also, as a safety precaution, certain watertight doors throughout the station, will close when power is reduced (to prevent flooding in case of an emergency). This will restrict movement through the station but movement to the top of the station is still possible, through alternate routes.

''The real problem is that if the computer is shut down or destroyed, unlikely though both of those events may be, the reactor will go critical to the point of meltdown within two-hours. We need to install some sort of a human-maintained backup system. I know that you may think I'm an alarmist for bringing up these provisions for an unthinkable event, however it always pays to be prepared." What's worse, manually retracting the containment rods would trigger the same reaction, with no hope of restoring control, as putting them down to slow down the reaction would overheat the reactor.

Defenses
As a military base, the oil rig was heavily defended, including external guns to protect against seaborne threats (i.e. everything without a Poseidon IFF transponder). The rig also had a significant transport Vertibird fleet. Internally, apart from Enclave soldiers outfitted with advanced power armor, an extensive network of security turrets (dual .223 caliber miniguns) and sentry robots was present, ready to neutralize any foe. Quite probably, the oil rig was the single most well protected location in the entirety of post-nuclear America.

Industrial and scientific facilities
The oil rig's scientific facilities were outfitted with cutting edge pre-War technology. Equipment present in them included infrared spectrometers and gear for synthesizing compounds - in vast quantities, if need be.

Inhabitants
By 2242, the Enclave expanded its operations to the mainland; the amount of permanent residents on the oil rig was between 60 and 80. Taking into account non-permanent residents, the Enclave oil rig was home to between a hundred and as much as a thousand inhabitants.

All inhabitants tended to be pale, due to the lack of natural sunlight. However, they were of good health. Their position in society could be easily determined by their gear. Regular citizens off duty typically wore jumpsuits derived from Vault-Tec designs and didn't carry any weapons. Personnel on duty were usually the science staff (wearing white lab coats and carrying standard issue energy sidearms for personal defense), while soldiers wore power armor and various high end weapons. Lower rank troops stationed on the rig typically wore last generation T-51 power armor and carried M72 Gauss rifles, whereas higher ranking soldiers and members of the Secret Service used advanced power armor and various high end weapons. Finally, the President and Vice-President could be easily identified by their pre-War suits and lack of armaments, save for access cards giving them control over the entire Enclave.

Security drills were a regular feature of life on the oil rig. Evening entertainment usually consisted of various safety movies.

Layout
Located on a massive drilling platform in the Pacific Ocean, the oil rig was fitted with extensive facilities enabling large scale manufacturing and research. Cutting edge technology included infrared spectrometers, chemical synthesis equipment, and other advanced tools. The Enclave also possessed the necessary equipment and knowledge for conducting genetic analysis, engineering and large scale virus synthesizing.

Dock
The docking platform is where all tankers arriving at the platform moor. The docking procedure is fully automated and requires no human oversight. As such, the PMV Valdez can dock unmolested and the Chosen One can infiltrate the station covertly.

Entry hall
Directly beyond the dock lies the entrance hall. It is a large chamber with a relief symbolizing the Enclave embedded into the floor. Turrets equipped with automatic weapons line the wall as the first line of defense, though they are kept dormant under everyday conditions.

The exit to the barracks lies to the east, beyond an open air lock, while a spiral case to the south leads to the detention level and laboratories.

During the final confrontation with Frank Horrigan, the player can enlist the aid of Sgt. Granite and his men in the airlock leading to the barracks section (Speech check required). They can also use the Presidential access key to activate the counter-insurgency routine and have the turrets engage Frank Horrigan.

Guard barracks
The guard barracks house extensive facilities for housing the rig's inhabitants and include a large storeroom and armory, living quarters for troops, a large exercise hall, hygiene facilities, and lounge, as well as administrative rooms and living quarters of the highest ranked officer. A sealed staircase leads directly to the Presidential level.

The player can obtain explosives to blow up the main computer in the armory. This area is also an excellent source of high loot if the player plans on continuing the game after the end.

Detention cells and laboratories
This is the level where the FEV Curling-13 is developed and perfected. The largest feature is the test subject holding area housing test subjects (Arroyo villagers and Vault 13 dwellers), followed by the research and development project area, containing large laboratories and testing facilities. The level also houses the living quarters for scientists involved in the project.

Medical items can be found in the lockers in the laboratories. A staircase in the detention block leads below to the trap rooms.

Access corridor
The access corridor is peculiar area apparently used for hazing fresh troopers, the trap rooms are exactly what it says on the tin. Arranged in a 3x3 fashion, each room has an electrified floor that will discharge at regular intervals, dealing up to ten points of damage to a character wearing power armor. Each room has a terminal that opens other doors and allows the player to navigate the level. The doors are secured with electrical fields and require very high Traps and Lockpick to open (100% and 200% respectively).

There is more to the level than meets the eye. Both rooms have unarmed Enclave soldiers and plenty of interesting loot, including the unique advanced power armor Mk II in the long ammo box in the western one and a GECK in the Survival/Gear Locker in the eastern room.

What's more, in the lower right hand room (number 9), the player can use a tool (not a super tool kit) to cut the loose wires and the electricity supply to the floor (worth 1000 experience points after passing a Repair check). there's also a rather interesting Easter egg connected to the terminals.

Executive office
The heart and soul of the Enclave, the executive office area houses the offices, living quarters, and facilities of the Enclave's top echelon. The center piece of the level is the office of President Dick Richardson, connecting to his secretary's room and the office of Vice President Daniel Bird. The eastern half of the area also houses the conference hall and war room, with living quarters in the south. The western area is dominated by the storage vats for the FEV toxin, a storage room with a nuclear warhead, and Lt. Col. Charles Curling's living quarters. A staircase at the security checkpoint to the north leads below to the reactor level. An emergency spiral staircase is located on the opposite end of the level, leading to the barracks.

Security is provided by Secret Service agents in advanced power armor and carrying pulse energy weapons. They are supported by a number of advanced sentry bots ready to intervene at moment's notice. The player will have to confront them if they kill Dick Richardson through violent means for his Presidential access key. Charles Curling can be convinced to release the FEV toxin into the air system of the Enclave. Resting for ten minutes afterwards will kill unarmored Enclave inhabitants on each map (although the President, Bird, and Tom Murray will be unaffected).

Information and power plant level
At the deepest level of the oil rig lies the Vault-Tec uranium-powered nuclear reactor and the information processing areas. It is operated by a cutting edge mainframe installed right next to it (very susceptible to explosives). The level also houses the aforementioned computer labs, soldier barracks, and the office of Tom Murray, head of the Atomic Energy Commission. Security is tight, provided by power armored troops carrying lethal weapons.

The player has to blow up the computer controlling the reactor in order to trigger the self-destruct sequence. If they have no explosives, Tom Murray can be threatened to lift the control rods and trigger a meltdown. However, if the FEV toxin was released, the only way will be blowing up the computer, as Murray will be unresponsive. Convincing Murray is worth 12,500 experience points, while blowing up the reactor is worth 10,000. What they don't say is that the player can first threaten Murray, then blow up the reactor for a total of 22,500 experience points.

Appearances
appears in Fallout 2 and is mentioned in Fallout Bible, Fallout: New Vegas, Fallout 4, and Fallout 76.