Chapter 1 - The Incident
December 3rd, 2299
Quebec Holotape Archive: Section D
"They told us it was safe. They were wrong! What fools they were, curse them, damn them to hell! They've sealed the Institute, they wont help us; I'm heading to Black Row." - Recovered Holotape 34-D
"Where are they!? The old bastard said they would show but they didn't. Has this damned cold consumed the entire Commonwealth?" - Recovered Holotape 35-D
"[heavy breathing]I should've known! They're gone... all gone. It consumed the Vault [coughing]..Black Row is lost...[heavy breathing] Boston is lost.[coughing]." - Recovered Holotape 36-D
"That's it."
"[sigh..] Just as I feared. What of Vault 119?"
"We have a few recovered audiotapes but they predate the incident."
"Play them."
"Yes Mr. Azarov"
Quebec Holotape Archive: Section V
"Overseer Mark Simon, Vault 119. November 23rd,2299. Our technicians report some high radio frequency interfering with our communications system throughout the vault. When I asked them to locate the source they said it was an above-ground signal. Bizarre... The only thing capable of producing any signal is the Institute, but that's all the way in New Boston. This vault is driving me crazy. [sigh] I'll have a team assembled to the Institute by tomorrow." - Recovered Holotape 16-V
"Overseer Mark Simon, Vault 119. November 29th, 2299. The entire communication system for levels 1,2,and 3 are down and my technicians can't fix it. We've had a power outage the other day and the vault residents are starting to panic. To make matters worse we have 15 people come down with some sort of sickness[Sigh] and I may have relocate the residents to the lower levels. Winter is settling in and with these damned power fluctuations we may have no heating system. My Recon team is still missing and I may have to send another.[Sigh] I've lost all connections with the Institute, something's wrong." - Recovered Holotape 17-V
"Stop."
"But..."
"That's enough professor. Thank you, you are excused." Yuri kicked his feet up on his desk and pulled a holotape from a drawer. Professor Andrew's footsteps faded in distance as he waited to ensure he was alone. The words "Vault 119" glistened on the top left corner of the holotape and the symbols 18-V scribbled on a piece of tape covered the front. He wanted to be alone for this, What a tragedy, he thought. Yuri fed the audio machine the holotape.
"This is the audio recording of CWPD Patrol Officer Rico Montgomery. December 2nd, 119 is gone. Upon our arrival, Level 1 was found breached, No survivors found, and the Overseer is missing. We've managed to barricade the entrance but Black Death is hostile. The institute is sealed and contact with Black Row is lost. We're headed to the Trade Line, we'll warn them off. AUDIO STORAGE FULL – Recovered Holotape 18-V
Yuri sank back into his seat and tapped his pen on his desk. He let his mind wrap around the words as he collected his thoughts. Black Death is hostile? Never in his career had he stumbled upon a case of this magnitude. New Boston "consumed" by a "Black Death"? The concept was laughable but he needed to prove the existence of these patrol officers to make the case to his superiors. Yuri powered up his terminal and requested to see Doctor Li.
"You wanted to see me Mr. Azarov?"
"Ah yes Doctor, sit down please. What news from the Trade Line?"
"[clearing throat] Well, it's not good and you won't be thrilled to hear it."
"I'm listening."
"Well, it appears all contact with the Boston area has been lost including Black Row. I've managed to recover a Common Wealth Police report from the two patrol officers 3 days ago.
The caravan was warned away but the two officers asked me to deliver this report straight to you. They say it's the only contact they've had with Black Row in two weeks."
"Hmm.. Can I see the report?"
"Here you are."
The report read:
Police Chief Richard S. Harlan
Common Wealth Police Department Headquarters, Black Row, New Boston
December 1st , 2299
Report # 237
Cannot manage to contact the Institute! Every damned terminal in this place keeps saying "broken connection"! Shit has hit the fan big time, half the city has frozen over and we haven't received a damned supply shipment from New Quebec or Vault 119 in over a week! I've lost 5 patrols already and if we don't get food shipments by tomorrow we'll have riots in the streets. We've also had to deal with some power outages recently which has put even more pressure on my men. To make matters worse we've managed to defuse a small pipe-bomb in munitions storage, probably planted by the railroad. I guess the Institute doesn't care about it's people anymore?
Yuri shifted in his seat. His stomach turned to ice as the gravity of the situation weighed down on his mind. The report erased every bit of doubt he had about the legitimacy of the recovered holotapes. The report, along with the holotapes, was the evidence he needed to reinforce his case. He knew what he had to do.
"Thank you Dr. Li. Your work is imperative to this investigation. I'll have this sent to Chief Velasco as soon as possible. Anything else?"
"Yea, two words of advise: Don't Go."
Yuri smirked as he held the door opened for Doctor Li. Her warm smile had melted the ice in his stomach as she walked out the door. Li's return from D.C. 21 years ago was accompanied with a change of heart. Her long years of food engineering and scientific study had wore her down, so much as to render her 'unmotivated' by anything she describes as 'adventurous'. This recent trip to New Boston and the investigation had seemed to at least light a spark of interest. Yuri returned to his terminal and scanned the report to his hard drive. After an email to Security Chief Velasco about his investigation and the report, he ventured over to his office window. Ruined steel towers laced the landscape of New Quebec City as does many of the neighboring cities. The dusk created a haze over the city as the sun settled over the horizon. Men and Caravans roamed the streets, lighting torches for the long night of trade. New Quebec was considered the trading capitol of the North-East counter to its rival to the West, Crimson Caravan Company, which had established a monopoly over its expanded land. The New California Republic, which housed the company, is rumored by travelers to be twice its size since the annexation of the Mojave Wasteland 18 years ago. This presented a major problem because the eastern chapter of the Brotherhood of Steel has tripled its membership and has now become the largest military force in the east. Some of it's scouts have even reached Boston and here in New Quebec. War will come, soon. Evidence of the winter frost settled in, collecting frozen vapor on his window. Yuri made up his mind. He would convince Chief Velasco to let him pay a visit to the Institute.