From The Vault
The Chimera is a Chinese mining rig[1] with a mounted laser cannon, acting as a battle tank, that was included in the Anchorage Reclamation simulation created by VSS at the behest of General Constantine Chase. Its actual deployment in Alaska is dubious, as unimplemented voice clips of VSS technicians in the add-on suggest that their presence is an outright fabrication[2] by General Chase.
The Chimera is basically a low chassis propelled by screws, with a laser cannon jury rigged to the drill tower. Originally, it was used for drilling for oil in the Alaskan tundra[3].
This tank is one of the enemies added by the Operation: Anchorage add-on.
[edit] Characteristics
Chimera tanks are roughly on par with Sentry Bots in terms of durability and combat threat, although they are significantly larger and more imposing in appearance. They are equipped with a unique laser weapon similar to Liberty Prime's Eye Laser. Chimeras take slightly increased damage when shot in the treads, and noticeably increased damage when shot in the cannon or radar antenna.
- According to Lieutenant Morgan, Chimera tanks are actually converted Alaskan mining rigs, reinforced by the Chinese with armor and weapons. Live Chimera are encountered during the quest Paving the Way in the Operation: Anchorage add-on pack. There seems to be a random chance of one or two live tanks being present at the depot.
- The Chimera turret can not rotate a full 360 degrees, making the back of the vehicle a weak spot.
- The Chimera Tank's laser weapon is unique, and a weaker variant to Liberty Prime's Liberty Laser.
- The Chimeras are fully automated and so technically robots. Therefore, they can actually be disabled with the Robotics Expert perk.
- The screws spin the wrong way. When its moving forward the screws spin in such a way that the vehicle should move backwards.
- At the Chimera Depot, there are Chimera without lasers with a derrick, probably before being converted.
- Originally cut from the add-on, Holotapes indicated the Chimera Tanks were pure fabrication by the slowly deteriorating General Chase; implemented into the simulation as part of a contingency scenario for training recruits.
[edit] Behind the scenes
- The name "Chimera" comes from Greek Myth. The Chimera is a monster with the appearance of a lion with a snake for a tail and a goat's head sticking out from its back. In biology, the name has also been taken for any organism that appears to have a combination of traits of other organisms. For the vehicle, the name is appropriate, as it is a combination of various pieces of civilian mining equipment and military hardware.
- It may also be a nod to Chimera APC featured in Warhammer 40K universe
[edit] Appearances
The Chimera appears in the Operation: Anchorage add-on for Fallout 3.
[edit] References
- ↑ Mentioned in an intelligence report in the sim
- ↑ See: DLC02HolotapeOfficeRecording02: "Chimera Tanks? Come on, man, even you have to admit these are sheer fantasy."
- ↑ Evident from the way deployed Chimeras look in the depot
