Fallout location West Tek Research Facility
	Site map marker The Glow Segments sections Subterranean: Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 (Weapons Research) Level 4 (Biology-Physics Research Labs) Level 5 (Secure Testing Labs) Level 6 (Barracks and Operations Center) People factions U.S. Army (pre-War) leaders Colonel Robert Spindel (pre-War) ZAX 1.2 Other quests Become an initiate Turn on power for the Glow Disarm Traps for the Facility cut The Search for the Glow cut

"Radiation Storm"

The West Tek research facility, colloquially known as The Glow or Great Glow after the Great War, was founded in 2002 as the primary research installation for West Tek.

Contents 1 Location 2 Background 2.1 The Glow 2.2 Dayglow 3 Layout 3.1 Exterior 3.2 Level 1 3.3 Level 2 3.4 Level 3 3.5 Level 4 (Biology-Physics Research Labs) 3.6 Level 5 (Secure Testing Labs) 3.7 Level 6 (Barracks and Operations Center) 4 Related quests 5 Inhabitants 6 Notes 7 Appearances 8 Behind the scenes 9 See also 10 References

LocationEdit

The Glow can be found eight squares east and twenty-four squares south of Vault 13.

BackgroundEdit

Initially divided into two sections, "Advanced Weapons" and "Biomedical Sciences Research",^[1] by 2069 it was the single biggest private contractor of the American government, with its biggest project being the T-51b power armor for use by infantry soldiers on the frontlines. Its second-largest was the Pan-Immunity Virion Project (PVP), later known as the Forced Evolutionary Virus (FEV). In 2076, the research facility was secured by a military contingent for fear of international espionage, shortly afterwards, the PVP research was moved to the Mariposa Military Base^[2] where experimentation on human subjects would continue. Several other projects were also being pursued, including energy weapons and upgrading existing armor.

The GlowEdit

The West Tek research facility was destroyed in the nuclear holocaust of 2077. During the Great War the surface of the installation took a direct hit from a nuclear warhead which left a gaping hole exposing the subterranean installation, shattering the FEV containment tanks and releasing the irradiated virus into the atmosphere.

Mutated by radiation, the airborne FEV strain did not have the same mutagenic abilities as its counterpart at Mariposa, but still complicated things for The Master later on. Due to its high radiation, the facility came to be known as the Glow, surrounded by legends among the people of New California. In 2134, a faction within the Brotherhood of Steel led by Sergeant Dennis Allen gained strength, and they urged the Elders to let them explore the ruins of the West Tek Research Facility, now called the Glow, for artifacts. The Elders refused, so Allen and his group split away from the Brotherhood of Steel, taking some technology and weapons with them. Other members of the team included Soto, Jensen, and Camarillo. Unfortunately for them, they were killed by security robots and radiation.^[3]

The Brotherhood of Steel used to send unwanted applicants to the Glow on a "fool's quest", referring to it by the moniker the "Ancient Order", just to laugh about it later when they ended up dead because of the high amount of radiation in the area. They were quite surprised when one known as the Vault Dweller actually made it back, bringing with him a holodisk that recorded the fate of Allen's expedition, and earning him a place in the Brotherhood.

It is important to note that the Glow, true to its name, is one of the most highly irradiated locations in the Fallout universe. A few moments' exposure is enough to give the player a lethal dose of rads. Use of Rad-X to boost Radiation Resistance to 100% is widely considered absolutely necessary to survive a trip to the Glow.

DayglowEdit

Some time after 2162, some ghoul survivors from Necropolis settled north and west of the Glow, and founded the town of Dayglow, whose inhabitants formed partnerships with scavenging companies from New Adytum and the Hub and have built quite a profitable corporation from their salvage efforts.

LayoutEdit

ExteriorEdit

Little remains on the surface of the Glow - just a gaping crater where once the heart of the American research effort laid. Three charred corpses lie around the crater. The location is extremely irradiated - radiation levels shoot up when one is able to see the giant crater, and it only gets worse afterwards.

Level 1Edit

This was where the offices and other administrative sections of the facility were, before the destruction of the building. The atomic bombing obliterated much of the level and scorched what survived. The body of Sergeant Dennis Allen lays in the conference room, encased in a defunct suit of T-51b Power Armor. On his person was a holodisk which the Vault Dweller used to become an initiate of the Brotherhood of Steel.

Loot in West Tek Level 1
Rad-X 2 RadAway Stimpak 150 .223 FMJ Motion sensor Big Book of Science Brass knuckles Tool Hunting rifle 2 assault rifle 2 14mm pistol Yellow pass key Ancient Brotherhood disk

Level 2Edit

The second level of the facility has been affected by the nuclear blast also, yet more survived, most notably, the security bots of the facility. The exact purpose is unknown (ZAX does not provide a description), but it was likely a section devoted to blueprints and design, as a lot of computers and tables are present.

Loot in West Tek Level 2
2 AK-112 assault rifle 3 frag grenades 2 explosive rockets Leather armor 20 flamethrower fuel Pulse grenade Dynamite Plastic explosives Red pass key

Level 3Edit

This level connects two different lifts providing transportation between the levels of the facility. Apart from that, it housed the facility's weapons research and development laboratories, indicated by the twin robot security checkpoints, secure labs and a stash of lockers with weapons and ammunition, likely held for research purposes.

Loot in West Tek Level 3
2 10mm JHP 14mm AP 100 5mm AP .223 FMJ .44 magnum JHP 40 small energy cells 2 stimpaks First aid kit 2 Mentats Buffout

Level 4 (Biology-Physics Research Labs)Edit

Every base needs a brain, and this level houses the mind of The Glow - ZAX. This supercomputer oversaw all research and development that took place in the base, in addition to performing the routine checks etc. Ever since the nuclear holocaust, he idled, biding his time, frustrated at his inability to perform even the most basic of routines.

In addition, the most advanced research labs in the country were located here, most notably physics and biology laboratories, allowing for breakthroughs to happen in science.

The body of Charles Ringhold lies in one of the laser labs, carrying a blue keycard.

Loot in West Tek Level 4
AK-112 assault rifle Geiger counter First aid kit Tool Dean's Electronics RadAway Rad-X 3 pulse grenades 50 5mm AP Explosive rocket Rocket AP Blue pass key

Level 5 (Secure Testing Labs)Edit

The core of the facility, by far the most secure and least accessible, are the testing labs. Sealed, protected by three robot checkpoints, these laboratories witnessed the development of FEV and advanced weaponry, including the Winchester P94 plasma rifle. Here, surviving records of the FEV development can also be gleaned.

Loot in West Tek Level 5

2 DKS-501 sniper rifle 20 12 gauge shotgun shells Shotgun Alpha experiment disk Delta experiment disk FEV experiment disk 3 stimpaks First aid kit 2 RadAway 200 5mm JHP 150 5mm AP 60 14mm AP pulse grenades 2 plasma grenades 3 frag grenades Minigun 3 AK-112 assault rifle 2043B radio 150 microfusion cell 80 small energy cell Geiger counter Motion sensor Stealth Boy Wattz 1000 laser pistol Colt 6520 10mm pistol 14mm pistol P94 plasma rifle Combat armor Guns and Bullets

Level 6 (Barracks and Operations Center)Edit

The deepest level housed the living quarters of the essential research personnel, along with the primary power generator for the base and the operations center. After the Great War, the power generator's fuses got stuck in the locked position, powering down the entire base.

The body of one of Dennis Allen's comrades lies, horribly burned, in one of the rooms.

Loot in West Tek Level 6
DKS-501 sniper rifle Stimpak Small energy cell Knife RadAway Rad-X Glock 86 plasma pistol .44 magnum JHP 50 5mm JHP Colt 6520 10mm pistol

Related questsEdit

• Become an initiate
• Turn on power for the Glow

InhabitantsEdit

• Floating eye bots
• Robobrains
• ZAX 1.2

NotesEdit

• The name of the facility is spelled West Tech a few times in-game, but West Tek is more common usage of the name.
• The corpses outside the facility, around the crater, are deemed "Losers" upon observation. Whether they failed the Brotherhood's initiation or were just losers isn't clear.
• You will need a rope to enter the crater.

	The following is based on Fallout cut content and has not been confirmed by canon sources.

Major

• GLWALIEN.MSG - "This body might be some kind of genetic experiment."
• GLOWCAGE.MSG - "It appears as though this cage contained lab animals for testing. Somehow, the bars have been torn off."

Minor

• GLWBOX.MSG - "This looks to be the footlocker of some guards."
• GLOWDESK.MSG - a lock desk of papers
• GLOWTABL.MSG - a table in a mess

	End of information based on Fallout cut content.

AppearancesEdit

The West Tek research facility appeared only in Fallout. It is also mentioned in The Armageddon Rag, Vol. 3.

Behind the scenesEdit

• Its name in the original Scott Campbell design documentation was FSEF.
• It appears to be near Pine Valley, California.

See alsoEdit

• Alpha Experiment Disk
• Delta Experiment Disk
• FEV Experiment Disk
• West Tech Records

ReferencesEdit

1. ↑ West Tek records mentions Research Head of Laser Development and Research Head of FEV. [1]
2. ↑ FEV experiment disk - Log Date January 7, 2077. [1]
3. ↑ Ancient Brotherhood disk. [1]

v·d·e Locations in Fallout In game Vault 13 · Shady Sands (Entrance, Brahmin Pen, Garden) · Vault 15 · Raiders · Junktown (Entrance, Crash House, Gizmo's Casino) · Hub (Deathclaw's Lair, Downtown, Old Town, Heights, Water Tower, Hub entrance) · Boneyard (Adytum · Downtown · Fortress · Library · Warehouse) · Necropolis (Vault 12, Hall of the Dead, Watershed) · Lost Hills · Mariposa Military Base · The Glow · Cathedral (Los Angeles Vault) Not in game Scrapheap (demo) · Burrows cut