You look out at the collection of people laid out before you. All the people who run the vault in which you were, until yesterday, just a citizen. And now they were all watching you, waiting to see what your effort to lead them would look like.
Taking in a deep breath, you got things rolling. "Before me, I understand Overseer Burdack was the only Overseer any of you worked under. That's just how leadership positions work. You're all used to the way he did things, to what he expected from you. Now you're going to need to learn what I expect from you, and I'll need to learn what you expect from me. Burdack ran this vault smoothly for ten years, at least as far as I'm aware, and I'm going to need your help to keep it running, and hopefully figure out how to run it even better."
"Now, I'm going to hear from each of you in turn about your department's situation and concerns, and spend a bit of time hashing out possible solutions to those concerns, and then I'm going to speak again about a few ideas I want to open the floor to."
Glancing to Allison subconsciously, you notice that she's staring down at her hands with a distant look in her eyes. She happens to be sitting next to you, so you turn to the other side. "Paula, why don't you start us off?"
Paula delivered her report professionally, giving you the impression that she was almost bored with the proceeding. She explained that while the vault had quite substantial manufacturing capacity, the supply of materials was shorter every year. She summarized the way that the vault's recycling program worked, but explained that they lost materials and ended up with weaker products every time they recycled the same set of materials. "We're currently able to keep up with demand, but recycling returns are sporadic and that leads to perennial shortages. And in shortages, we need to prioritize the most essential departments."
Next, her brother Sam spoke up, reporting on the vault's healthcare resources. "We're staffed for a crisis, so we're overstaffed in normal circumstances. As it is, my people are putting in hours with Education to train the next generation." The vault population, he explained, was healthy overall, and their medicine supply was well-stocked. When prompted about the life support systems, he said "It would be ideal to replace the air filters about twice as often, but the current schedule is adequate for air quality from what I've seen."
Dwight says that the upcoming cohort of students, about a three-year spread of the vault population's children, are "performing up to expectations," and updates you that they will graduate in two years. "Realistically the greatest challenge in my department is preserving the education and entertainment materials," he explains in his somewhat nasally voice. "Our holoreels need to be treated with care in order to avoid damage, and even minor wear can add up over the years. A few of our old movies are barely watchable."
Kristine explains that the vault's distribution system is working well enough, with people generally reporting satisfaction with the cafeteria, lounge, and commissary. However, some shortages have popped up recently, straining the system. "We had a one-day shortage of toothpaste, and apparently word got around and people responded of course by all coming in the next day and taking their allowed requisition of it, which meant that we were out for over a week." You notice a look pass between her and Paula, before she finishes with "We were eventually able to get that one under control."
David look a bit more professional today, as he talks up how well his department is doing, how they've consistently harvested a surplus, and he's made a point of storing dehydrated food every year. "We never know when we're gonna need it, so now we have it when we do."
Nichole reports once again that her security teams are in good order and ready to do whatever's necessary to keep the vault secure. However, she says that their equipment is a bit suspect, and their stock of 10MM ammo is low enough that they've only been able to do very limited range training, but that no one's had to actually fire a gun at a vault citizen in years.
Next, Jessica excitedly explains that the vault's power supply is running quite well, and that her fusion cores are good for another century at least. "Our stockpile of spare parts is a little bit low, but I'm sure we can make do with what we have for another year at least!"
Then it's Greg's turn. He immediately launches into a prepared speech, you suspect the very one he'd intended to deliver to you yesterday. He explains that the waste processing systems are woefully in need of an overhaul, and pleads for more parts and personnel. "I've got sewage piping that's been patched three, four times. It just needs to be replaced, but we just don't have the pipe. I need to install proper cleanout valves in half a dozen places, but I just don't have them. And my boys and girls are working around the clock to keep these decaying pipes together."
Fred follows that up, explaining that Water Systems has most of what they need, and somewhat smugly explains that his pipes need priority because they see continuous, high-pressure use, rather than the sporadic, low-pressure flow that the black-water pipes get. This starts an argument with Greg that you have to step in and break up. Changing the topic, he concludes by noting "We've also recently replaced our water purification system's main control chip, and have half a case of spares."
Silence falls over the room as attention turns to Allison. You mention her name to prompt her, and she almost robotically says "Maintenance can keep up with our responsibilities with what we have. I… understand everyone needs resources and personnel. My department is no exception. But we can make it work. We always have." She doesn't look at you as she speaks, and you quickly move on with the meeting in order to keep from embarrassing her.
Diminishing Returns
- The vault hasn't had an injection of new materials in almost two centuries, and it's starting to show. Unless something is done about it, the vault will face more common and more severe shortages over the coming years.
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Hoarders
- Your vault population is prone to reacting to shortages by hoarding necessary supplies. This could quickly cause minor problems to become major problems.
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There's a discussion around the table that quickly breaks down to bickering over the prioritization of different departments' needs, which the shortage issues have exacerbated. When the talks have become fully unproductive, you put a stop to them by changing the subject.
"As Overseer, I believe my most important duty is to prepare for and attempt to prevent crisis scenarios," you open. "On that front, I've been looking into the last major crisis, the disease outbreak fifty years ago. I've been looking through my records, trying to understand what exactly happened. I wanted to get your perspectives on it."
It's obvious that this isn't what your people expected to hear, and it promps a few glances between them. So you turn to Fred. "From what I can tell, it was a problem with the water supply. Can you explain to me what you think happened?"
Fred was a bit taken aback by that, but did his best to gather his wits. "Well, Overseer… I'll have to check my records, but from what I recall, I believe that the water purification system shut down entirely. I… believe my predecessors at the time attempted some form of workaround? He shook his head. "I take it as an object lesson of why not to mess with the systems that Vault Tec gave us."
Greg further adds "The waste treatment system stopped working around the same time. I don't know if it was related, but it must have caused a significant backup and overflow problem. And we'll see it happen again if we don't do something first, it was probably just a series of little problems adding up!"
You turn to Nichole next. "What about the security response at the time? There had to be one, even if it was just keeping people from panicking."
She shakes her head. "I don't remember exactly, but I do remember that my records get really spotty back then."
"Alright, could you please look into that for me? In fact, everyone, I want each of you to put together a report on what your department records say about the events of fifty years ago. I want us all to be fully informed about what happened so we can avoid anything like it happening again."
And with that, you wrap up the meeting. However, you also wanted to talk to Allison, and since she's already here you ask her to stay while everyone else heads out.
Once the door closes, an awkward silence fills the room as you look at her and try to figure out how to shift. She sits in the same hunched over position, looking away from you.
"Allison," you start. "I w--"
"I'm sorry," she interrupts, shaking. "I don't know why I said that last night. It was wrong to ask you to do that." She covers her eyes with her hands. "Do… do I need to resign?"
"Allison, no…" You sigh. You'd hoped to get a chance to talk to her about retirement, about whether she really could manage without Nick, about how to solve the issues with Maintenance's jury-rigged systems. But she was clearly not in a state to think things through right now. "I'm about to lose one valuable member of Maintenance, I definitely can't afford to lose the head of the department."
You pat her shoulder and give her a winning smile. "It's going to be alright," you tell her, making a promise you hope you can somehow keep.
By the time you're done consoling Allison and she leaves, you feel mentally and emotionally exhausted. Hitting your PA, you tell your secretary/security guard that you'd like to take a break and hit the lounge.
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The vault lounge is the primary place where people go to relax and socialize. Moreso than the cafeteria, which tends to be more 'down to business', as it's so frequently filled with people grabbing a meal before a work shift.
No, the lounge was just a place that a vault citizen could spend a few hours, meet friends, chat with the bartender, and generally try to be themself, or at least attempt to be someone popular and likable. The shot of booze that Lynda slipped into each glass of nuka-cola unless you asked her not to helped a lot with that.
The middle-aged woman behind the bar spotted you as you made your way in, and raises an empty glass in the air in a sort of salute. "Hey, everyone, it's the new Overseer!" she calls out, getting the attention of everyone in the lounge. "Let's hear it for the new Overseer, and the next ten years!"
Cheering comes from every side as you made your way forward, and Lynda pours you a glass of nuka-cola, complete with ice-cubes and some booze to give it kick. Feeling a little shy at all the attention, you thank her and do your best to play it off cool.
Between the drink and the open, welcoming atmosphere, it's easy to let go of your troubles for a little while. You've got your work cut out for you as Overseer, having ferreted out all the vault's troubles over the last couple of days.
Then someone puts "Jumpin' Jive" on the jukebox, and the dancing starts. You get pulled into more than one dance, as people seem to just want to be a part of this moment.
Passing from partner to partner, song to song, hours slip away unnoticed. It's only when your Pipboy flashes a 'quest update' that you're pulled out of the moment.
11:45, December 30th, 2249
- Retirement pending: Nick Hesting
- Overseer's attendance is required.
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That brings your mood right down. You look up to see your security guard making his way through the lounge, and make eye contact with him. He nods.
With a sigh, you nod back and follow him out of the vault's hangout place, and out to the entrance, or as it's only been used since the bombs dropped, the exit.
You know you're running late by the way that everyone else is already gathered in place, but at least things don't seem to have gotten too awkward, yet. There Nick stands, surrounded by family and close friends. You're pretty sure those are his two daughters, holding each other and crying. You see Allison, too, doing her best to look strong and in control. She avoids eye contact with you.
It's a simple little ritual. You remember your part in it from the handful of retirements you'd attended: the Overseer's job was to publicly thank the retiree, on behalf of the vault, for their life of service to the community, and to wish them luck in whatever remained of the world above.
The room gets quiet as you arrive and move toward your position. They'd enjoyed the last few minutes extension, but everyone knew what was about to happen.
Except you. You take a breath, and reflect, thinking through what you'd learned in the scant days you'd had to get used to this position. A few options flash through your head, but you know you're going to have to pick one, and live with it. The crowd watches you expectantly.
[ ] Proceed with the retirement ceremony as normal.
[ ] Try to put a stop to the retirement.
[ ] Write in some other option.
