Vibrations of the Past

 

Side Mission: "Vibrations of the Past"

Mission Overview: In "Vibrations of the Past," players will embark on a journey to uncover the secrets of a long-abandoned military research facility hidden deep within the wasteland. This mission combines elements of exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat as players navigate the facility's treacherous halls, facing remnants of pre-war experiments and uncovering a forgotten chapter of the world's history.

Mission Start:

• Location: The mission begins in a small, unmarked settlement called Whispering Pines, where a local named Sarah, a former historian, approaches the player with a request.
• Introduction: Sarah tells the player about strange signals she's been picking up on an old military frequency. She believes these signals are coming from an ancient research facility known as Fort Horizon, rumored to house pre-war technology and secrets.
• Objective: Investigate Fort Horizon and uncover the source of the mysterious signals.

Phase 1: Journey to Fort Horizon

• Travel: The player must travel across the wasteland to reach Fort Horizon, encountering various obstacles such as raider ambushes, hostile wildlife, and environmental hazards.
• Discovery: Along the way, the player can find clues and notes left by other explorers who attempted to find Fort Horizon, providing hints and backstory.

Phase 2: Exploring Fort Horizon

• Entrance: Upon reaching Fort Horizon, the player finds the entrance sealed. They must find a way to bypass the security system, which involves solving a series of puzzles based on the facility's old protocols.
• Environment: Inside, the facility is a mix of high-tech labs and decayed infrastructure, with remnants of experiments and old terminals providing lore and context.
• Enemies: The player encounters various enemies, including malfunctioning security robots, mutated creatures that were part of experiments, and possibly remnants of the original research staff who have gone feral.

Phase 3: Uncovering the Secrets

• Main Lab: The player eventually reaches the main lab, where they find a central terminal that can access the facility's data. However, it's guarded by a powerful, experimental robot.
• Combat: Defeating the robot requires strategic combat, using the environment and available resources.
• Data Retrieval: After defeating the robot, the player can access the terminal and retrieve data logs that reveal the true nature of the experiments conducted at Fort Horizon. The facility was working on a device capable of manipulating time, which explains the strange signals.

Phase 4: The Echo Device

• Discovery: The player discovers the prototype of the Echo Device, which is partially operational. They must decide whether to activate it and see its effects or shut it down permanently.
• Consequences: Activating the device causes a temporary distortion in the area, bringing echoes of the past into the present. This results in a chaotic fight with phantoms of soldiers and scientists. Shutting it down reveals more about the facility's history and the ethical dilemmas faced by its researchers.

Phase 5: Return to Whispering Pines

• Report: The player returns to Whispering Pines to report their findings to Sarah.
• Outcome: Depending on the player's choices, Sarah may reward them with unique gear or knowledge about other hidden locations in the wasteland. The player’s actions can also affect the settlement, such as improved defenses if they chose to share technology or a new threat if echoes persist.

Rewards:

• Experience Points: Significant XP for exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving.
• Unique Gear: Experimental weapons, armor, or gadgets from the facility.
• Lore: Additional backstory and insights into the pre-war world and its technologies.

Potential for Replayability:

• Different Choices: Players can experience different outcomes based on their decisions regarding the Echo Device.
• Hidden Secrets: Multiple paths and hidden areas within Fort Horizon encourage exploration and replayability.

This side mission would provide a rich and engaging experience, blending Fallout's signature exploration and storytelling with unique gameplay mechanics and moral choices.