Satellite communication stations (SatCom Array)
SatCom Array NW-05a
Located between Fort Constantine and the MDPL-05 power plant, the station is home to Talon Corporation mercenaries and a zombie scientist. Three notes are found on the latter's body. Using the first two on the computer at the top of the tower will add markers for two more SatCom stations to your Pip-Boy map.
The third note activates the orbital combat platform...uh...the "Golan" J...essentially, the "Pleasure Pants" combat satellite, armed with nuclear missiles for a strike on Earth. Allusions include the Star Wars Expanded Universe, Babylon 5, and the unfinished Black Isle project 'Van Buren'. For those who enjoy exterminatus, you can upload the code from the note to the nearby terminal, climb the ladder to the very top of the satellite dish, proceed to the eastern part of the service platform, and witness a massive strike of eight micro-nuclear warheads in the vicinity of the station. The explosions leave no craters and are accompanied by very high levels of radioactivity (about 55 rad/sec at the epicenter), which fortunately dissipates quickly.
Loot: in addition to the Talon armor and heavy weapons, the "Chinese People's Army Special Forces Training Manual" and frog mines. Nearby: Raider's Landing (RW) - Nikola Tesla and You in a boat at the pier; Enclave Camp (SW) - three soldiers and a combat robot; a bathtub with a skeleton and a nuclear charge (SW). At the station, you can pick up the MOST SECRET (AND ALSO, THE MOST USELESS) WEAPON in the game: the SatCom nuclear grenade launcher (damage 20+1600, weight 20, repairable with regular grenade launchers).
Despite its appearance being identical to a standard grenade launcher and firing standard projectiles, the inventory displays the message "Name Missing." It cannot be dropped on the ground (it will be impossible to pick it up again, which also applies to Vault 87 and after the Purifier is launched), stored in lockers, or sold. It cannot be removed from the station's interior by conventional means; this can only be done by entering the command player.additem 5deee 1 on the console. The consequences of using this weapon are described above.
SatCom Array NN-03d
Located between Fort Constantine and the MDPL-21 power plant, it's easily visible from the Oasis. It's equipped with three satellite dishes. There's a Raider outpost (lightly armed) that respawns every 72 hours, providing the opportunity to collect easy loot, experience, and take slaves with the Mesmetron. West of the station is a tent with a Brotherhood of Steel Outcast outpost (2 men) with laser rifles.
Loot includes: "The Illustrated Guide to Fistfighting," 2 nukes, a super sledgehammer, and a sniper rifle. To the southwest is an Abandoned Tent (see below); it contains Nikola Tesla and You, and Quantum Cola. The Outcast outpost has a Shishkebab crafting scheme and Quantum Cola.
This station is home to MYSTICAL objects (the Chessboard, the Giant Teddy Bear, and the famous Door in the Rock). The latter is located to the northeast of the station. Upon opening the Door, the protagonist encounters a concrete wall with a MYSTICAL inscription in BIG GREEN LETTERS: "FUCK YOU!" Mounted on the top of the door frame are three missiles, MYSTICALLY balanced on the very tips of their warheads.
Abandoned tent
An unmarked location on the main Capital Wasteland map. It's located south of SatComm Array NN-03d and next to Mason Dixon's Hideout. The tent contains a ham radio, a cot, and a few loot: the book "Nikola Tesla and You," two bottles of regular and Quantum Cola, and a couple of zinc tins containing ammunition. A good place to stop and replenish your health and stamina for free.
SatCom Array NW-07
The station is located directly across the river from the Deathclaw Lair and northwest of Abandoned Machine Fort. Late in the game, the tower is home to an Enclave garrison consisting of an officer, several soldiers, and two or three Scientists. There's also a furnace with zombie bodies piled up nearby. If you manage to reach this station early, it will only contain a single Enclave soldier. Since zombies respawn every 72 hours, the next time you visit, you can witness a horde of zombies attacking and tearing apart Enclave Scientists.
Amusingly, after this, whenever the player character passes by, the zombies will greet them with friendly shouts of "Good morning!" Trophies: East of the tower on the highway is an abandoned prison van. Judging by the papers found in the back, it appears to have transported detained Chinese agents under Marine guard to a filtration camp. The transport order on one of the dead bodies reads:
USMC Private Contract PRVMIL-3482b Official orders from Department of Defense
Contractor's Eyes Only Under Penalty of Treason
In accordance with Executive Order 99066, transport specified civilians to WRA site PA-32. Use of non-lethal force is authorized only when required to enforce this contract. Transport Arrival is required by October 29th, 2077. Present these orders to Chief MP at WRA site perimeter for admission and unloading.
Y.Guo
A.He
HXMing
M.Pang
M.Pang Jr.
R. Chong
HK Tsen
The car never reached its destination; all passengers died under the nuclear bombs (not quite true – one of the Chinese managed to escape, and his remains, as a zombie, can be found in a random location. He is wearing dirty Chinese overalls, a Chinese officer's sword, and a Chinese pistol. If you managed to catch "Chinese Locator Beacon Signal" on your Pip-Boy 3000, rest assured, the corpse is somewhere nearby). In the back, you can find "The Illustrated Guide to Fistfighting," two first aid kits, and some purified water. Under the overpass is a Swampwalker nest (shoot from above!).
Source: stopgame.ru, The Hermithood
See also:
Galaxy News Radio
Fallout 3: Megaton (main quest)
Vault 101, Butch, Amata, and the action