Chapter 38: First Steps Beyond the Vault

October 26th, 2274. 

Today was not just another day. Victor had taken his time, casually blending into the usual Vault life. But beneath the surface, a monumental change was taking place. He had successfully implanted the neural interface and connected it seamlessly with his upgraded Pip-Boy, his secret weapon for the world outside. Now, everything was set for the next phase of his plan—exploring the wasteland.

Victor's Hidden Lab:

The dim lights of the hidden lab cast long shadows over the various advanced pieces of technology that filled the room. Victor stood over the table, inspecting the armor he had been working on for months. The nano-polymer alloy plates, combined with elastic polymer layers, had passed all performance tests for protection against physical projectiles and energy blasts. However, plasma rays presented a unique challenge—the intense heat transfer could overwhelm the materials.

That's where Victor's latest innovation came into play: interconnected capillaries running through the armor, designed to quickly disperse heat away from critical areas. These capillaries were filled with a specialized liquid that absorbed and transferred heat, preventing the armor from overheating or melting under sustained plasma fire. But it became a bit stocky as a small pump, compressor and power distribution had to be installed for heat dissipation.

"AZ, what's the status of the heat dissipation tests?" Victor asked, his eyes still focused on the armor.

"Tests have shown a 32% reduction in heat retention when exposed to sustained plasma fire. The capillary system is functioning as expected," AZ responded smoothly.

"Good. Ensure the liquid cooling system remains stable during extended use. We'll test it in the field soon."

"NIM, start new project for liquid cooling system, we need micro sized motors to function at high intensity , liquid for efficient heat transfer, compressor for heat dissipation, micro controller for the unit, along with power distribution, we can power it with fission cell or connect it with fission battery." instructed Victor.

He would need it later, but for now, his immediate task was to gather intel on the area surrounding Vault 101. His reconnaissance bots—R-bots—Recon had already been deployed.

Reconnaissance: The Ruins of Springvale

Victor accessed the feed from the R-bots through his neural interface. The data flowed seamlessly into his brain, displayed on a virtual screen in front of his eyes. Springvale appeared as a desolate, broken town, its structures barely standing after decades of abandonment.

The Springvale ruins were a tragic reminder of the world before the bombs. Once a peaceful suburban town west of Washington, D.C., it had been reduced to nothing more than a shell of its former self. The roads were cracked, and most of the houses were in shambles.

"Let's go over the details of Springvale," Victor said, scanning the data as the R-bots relayed it to him.

AZ responded promptly. "The town is largely deserted. The only notable inhabitants are a few raiders holed up in the Springvale School, and a resident, living in an intact ranch house. The Red Rocket gas station remains intact, as does a small playground near the center of the town."

Victor zoomed in on the Springvale school, its derelict walls now serving as a base for raiders. The school had seen better days, but the raiders had managed to fortify it enough to make it a difficult target for scavengers or small groups of wastelanders.

"Anything else of interest?" Victor asked, narrowing his focus on the residential areas.

"There's the Gomez residence, House 6, near the north end of town," AZ continued. "It was once home to a family who tried to get into Vault 101 before the war. The house is relatively intact, but there's no sign of current inhabitants."

Victor noted that the R-bots had detected increased raider activity near the school. The raiders had been using Springvale as a staging ground, launching attacks on passing caravans and any unfortunate wastelander who came too close.

The Playground and Gas Station:

As the R-bots floated through the ruins, they passed by the playground, surprisingly well-preserved compared to the surrounding buildings. A merry-go-round, swing set, and other pieces of play equipment sat eerily untouched. It was a haunting reminder of the children who once played there, now long gone.

Across the street stood the Red Rocket gas station, still bearing the familiar red-and-white logo. A Nuka-Cola vending machine remained by the entrance, likely looted long ago. The station itself was structurally sound, but there were no signs of activity inside.

"Nothing here that hasn't already been scavenged," Victor muttered to himself, keeping his focus on potential threats.

The R-bots swept around the perimeter of the town, scanning every structure. House 1 through House 6 were mostly shells of what they had been, with only scattered fragments of pre-war life remaining. A few houses had intact safes or cabinets, but they were either empty or contained minor loot, nothing worth risking a confrontation over.

Recon Bots' Final Report:

AZ summarized the findings as the R-bots/Recon finished their sweep. "Springvale is largely abandoned except for the raiders and Silver. No immediate threats detected beyond the raiders, though the school could become problematic if left unchecked. The town remains a potential resource for supplies, but most valuables have already been scavenged."

Victor leaned back, satisfied with the information gathered. Springvale had little to offer beyond the raiders and a few minor resources, but its proximity to Vault 101 made it important to keep an eye on.

"We'll need to keep the Recon patrolling the area," Victor said, mentally marking the school as a location to revisit. "Send a drone to monitor the raider activity and report back if there's any movement toward the Vault."

"Understood," AZ responded.

Back in the Vault:

Victor returned to his room without anyone noticing his absence, slipping back into the daily routine of Vault 101 life. As he lay in bed, his mind raced with thoughts of the wasteland beyond the Vault's walls. The information from Springvale was useful, but it was only the beginning.

Tomorrow, he would start testing the heat-dissipating armor, and soon after, he would be ready for more serious operations outside the Vault.

The wasteland awaited, and when the time came, Victor would be ready for it.