Fallout 2/Sierra Army Depot

Base      Electricity Terminal
 * Rough Map
 * Notable Areas
 * 1) The Sierra Base


 * Notable Characters
 * 1) SkyNet, the security control computer and the NPC
 * 2) Private Dobbs, the stored cadaver


 * Notes
 * 1) Kill the robotic guards guarding the base.
 * 2) Disable the main power.
 * 3) Find a way into the army base. Optionally raid the base. (Raiding isn't covered in this FAQ, BTW)
 * 4) Get SkyNet, the robotic NPC.


 * Quest Experience/Reward Table
 * Kill the robot guards: 1400 kxp
 * Disable the security on the first floor: 200 xp
 * Disable the shock plates on the second floor: 200 xp
 * Install the brain in Skynet: 500 xp
 * Kill the robotic guards in the first level: 2300 kxp

Introduction
Sierra Army Depot is chock full of a lot of good stuff that you can get your hands on. Unfortunately, it is also heavily guarded.

Details
When you go in the depot, take out all of the robotic guns using the super sledgehammer or the combat shotgun. You'll get a good bit of experience. There are also heaps of corpses by the base; one near the west has a sniper rifle nearby.

To get inside the base, go to the west, and use the traps skill on the locked door that leads to the bunker. Alternatively, you can just attempt to open it and lose a lot of hit points in the process. To open the door, use the MKII Electronic Lockpicks that you found at Navarro. After you've opened the door, go and take out the 75 mm shell in the ammo crate (it's a bit heavy at 40 pounds). There are also three small ammo crates; open them using the same process that you used to open the door to the bunker (substitute the regular lockpick set instead of the electronic lockpicks this time). The crates contain some frag grenades and various types of ammo.

Leave the bunker, and go east to a building south of the power generators. Again, you'll find that the entrance is heavily laden with traps. Use the shell on the artillery, and fire it to blow a hole large enough to enter in the base. If you search around the tool benches, you can find some flares, stimpacks, a medkit, and a sledgehammer. After you blow the entrance, go into the manhole near the power generators. Use the switch to knock power down to 50% (it disables some security features). Enter the base afterwards.

When you enter the base, access the computer, and then hack the computer to crash the security program. You're now free to explore level one. Be sure to pick up any extra ammo that you need and also get a combat armor. If you go to the southeast, to the medical lab, you can get some stimpacks, some first aid books, and an intelligence enhancement module. (The module can be used by the Brotherhood's medical computer, which is located at the bunker that Matt was guarding.) Also, there's this interesting item called Dixon's Eye; you have to use it on the retinal scanner on Level 1 if you want to access the other areas. It's only good if you want to explore the depths of the base.

If you did get Dixon's eye, go to the elevator and use it on the retinal scanner. The elevator will open. Go to level 2, and use Dixon's eye (again) on the retinal scanner there. If you want to explore, go to the southeast and hack into the computer there. Be sure that you disable the shock plates. Past the guarded area, there is some ammo, as well as some batons and some armor. If you want, get the combat armor in order to get the implants.

There's also an NPC that you can get in the base. A robotic one at that, too. It's name is Skynet. To get him, make sure that you have 150% Science skill (a lot never hurts...I think the minimum is 127%). (The Science skill is used to get the Cybernetic brain). Go to the third level, using Dixon's eye, and go to the room towards the northeast. Find Clifton's eye, and go back to the elevator. There is another retinal scanner to the left; use Clifton's eye there. Go to the fourth floor. Once you're there, follow the hall on the right-hand side and go to the northernmost room.

You'll be in the biomedical storage laboratory now. If you want to get a Red Ryder LE BB gun, choose the retrieve option, and then retrieve a cadaver. Private Dobbs will be taken out; he'll talk to you but then will suddenly melt down. Access the computer again and choose the 'Retrieve' option. Choose the brain (the best one available) and make the necessary adjustments to retrieve the brain. If your Science skill is high enough, you will be able to get the Cybernetic Brain, which is a must if you want a good NPC. After you've gotten the brain, go back to the third level, and go to the northwest room (it has a robotic body in a nearby storage room). Go to the storage room and scout around the medical table. There should be some bio-med gel. Pick it up and use it on the robotic body. Also, use the brain on the robotic body. After you're done, save the game, and head back to the first level.

Once you're back in the first level, go and use the retinal scanner without the eyes. The security system will be activated and robots will come and attack you. Kill the robots and get a motivation device from the robots that look like they have a brain. After you've gotten the motivation device, use Dixon's eye to gain access again and go to the third level. Go back to where the robot body was, and install the motivation unit. Go to the console next to the robot and activate SkyNet. After Skynet has been activated, the robot will deactivate all security measures in the third level (and successive levels of the base if you take it there).

Anyways, you've done enough for now. Go to the stables in New Reno.