Fallout: Vault 76
Chapter 1:
Vault 76 was finished being constructed on October 23rd, 2069; eight whole years before the Great War struck the Earth. Aside from a missing Vault Tec official from the Vault Site, it was a green light for inhabitants in case of emergency.
What caused the 'disappearance' is known only to few, the Lone Wanderer being one of the few. The Vault was described as an average old Vault in the Pentagon's files, but that was because it covered up it's Secret Experiment in the dark. Alien Technology was found near Fort Constantine sometime in 2064, and what was found was really quite amazing.
The vessel was a small... Community Ship, by the remains of it. It was largely unsalvageable, save for two strange devices exactly like the 'Storage Devices' near the Captain's Chair in Mothership Zeta. Pre-War American scientists uncovered the potential underneath the device, finding it to be a Matter Replicator (Basically an advanced version of the Sierra Madre Vending Machines)
One was kept at the Military Base, Home to Vault 76. There, it was implemented along with a single Geck and a modern Hydroponics Farm. 500 Civilians were selected, many the finest Mechanics, Diplomats, Researchers and families of current Soldiers based in Fort Constantine. It's maximum capacity was 1,000, and the 350 soldiers and 100 officers based there made adequate living space.
Technology aside, it was deemed by the US government to be one of the many actual safe Vaults for American Survival. It was kept a large secret, files in the Pentagon only barely mentioning the Vault. It was supposed to open 20 years after the Great War, and was officially sealed on October 21st, 2277; with the General breaking down near the end and engaging the security systems to kill all on site. Military Forces were largely armored in T-45 D Power Armor, though unable to access the legendary T-51 B Power Armor; with it's solid lock system.
Life inside the Vault was luxurious, and with the citizens all local to the DC Area, it was exceedingly well funded. What went wrong was it's structuring in the Fort, being built underneath the already underground Military Base. It was opened 20 years after the Great War, and the search group was ultimately sabotaged upon getting into the fort.
Though unable to retrieve the T-51 B, they had the keys to do so. Their Security Force was upgraded to a small militia, under some ACTUAL Military professionals. Sadly, the small recon team was lost forever, their more diverse yet loyal members scattered throughout the Wasteland; along with the various keys to the advanced armor.
Staff Sergeant Michael Strayer held one vital key, a civilian by the name of Mikhail Gorbachev (Dukov's ancestor) held another, Captain Daniel Smith ( Dave, of the Republic of Dave's ancestor) held the last. They split, knowing the Vault was sealed and them lost forever. The Captain was a true patriot, promising to being Democracy and bringing a bulk of the group North-East to scavenge. Staff Sergeant Strayer rallied the rest (discluding Gorbachev) to head into DC, wanting to find tech to make suitable living. Gorbachev became a wanderer, keeping his fellow Russian followers in tow as they headed into the Central DC outskirts.
The Vault was panicked, and unable to send reinforcements as the door leading outside the elevator room was blocked by concrete. They called together their ragtag cabinet, the President at the time calling a mass yellow alert. The General's mad plan worked, though twenty years late. 2297 Vault 76 was crazy, and the Soldiers there were on leave to ease the already stressed Vault. They decided to continue trying to contact any teams topside, though thick Vault Walls would ensure radio silence...