“ You took an extreme risk in coming here . My policy towards trespassers has not been... lenient. ” Elder McNamara

Still in the Dark is a side quest in Fallout: New Vegas.

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Quick walkthrough Edit

Detailed walkthrough Edit

Still in the Dark is a quest obtained inside the Brotherhood of Steel's western compound, the Hidden Valley bunker. To gain access to the interior of this bunker, the Courier needs to either have a Lockpick skill of 100 (Very Hard) or perform certain other actions to be able to interact with the intercom, such as:

Finding any one of the three holotapes on dead Brotherhood of Steel paladins.

Getting far enough in any faction's storyline to be asked to find the Brotherhood of Steel.

Having Veronica as a companion.

Getting two playbacks from ED-E will eventually let Senior Knight Lorenzo manage to hack into ED-E's communication systems and ask the Courier to find a Brotherhood patrol so they can have a look at ED-E's databanks.

Using the BOS password or picking the lock will cause a Brotherhood of Steel squad to appear and confiscate the Courier's entire inventory. A short scene follows in which the Courier is questioned by Senior Paladin Ramos about the password itself. A meeting with Elder McNamara follows and the first quest is assigned.

Note: If entry is gained with Veronica as a companion, certain parts of the quest line are omitted. The Courier's gear is not confiscated, there is no explosive collar, and the first quest is skipped.

The elder will explain the secretive nature of the location. The Courier is fitted with an explosive collar, which will detonate after passing beyond a certain range of the area.

The first task is to remove Ranger Dobson who has set up shop in a nearby bunker. Success is rewarded with a removal of the collar, free movement about the bunker and the next quest. Dobson can be convinced to leave by passing a Speech check (50), and a good reputation with the NCR. The Courier can also ask about his radio, wait until daylight when he leaves the bunker, select his radio and choose the option to smash it. Smashing the radio with Dobson in the room will make him turn hostile. The radio can also be rigged to explode. When he returns, he will go fiddle with the radio and meet a quick death. If the ranger is in the room while the radio is being rigged, he will notice what was done and will confront the Courier. Passing a Speech check (40) will lead to the ranger blowing himself up the next time he uses the radio. Reveal the location of the Brotherhood of Steel to the NCR ranger, and he will then remove the collar from the Courier, but will be ambushed by Brotherhood of Steel paladins. If the ranger is saved, NCR fame is awarded, but the quest will fail. The final option is to kill him.

The second task is to locate several patrols that have gone missing. The paladins (Raseleanne, Hughes and Fairbanks) must be brought back, or if found dead, their mission holotapes returned.

After exiting the elder's chamber, the Courier is confronted by Head Paladin Hardin who believes the elder's policy of keeping them isolated from the outside world will be their doom and wants help in ousting Elder McNamara. He asks the Courier to find out more about what leads to an elder being replaced and requests an update on all the quests given by the elder. These are all marked as optional parts of the same quest.

Obtaining the holotapes Edit

Once finished with the tour, enter the door to the left in the planetarium and up the stairs to get the keycard. Go back to the first room and through the locked door using the card. Find the door to the second floor and take the first door on the left. Hack the terminal (Very Easy), beside a Nikola Tesla and You, and select the first option which gives unlimited access to the second floor. Find the door heading to the third floor and enter. If a Luck (7) or Intelligence (<3) check by a security robot is not passed, it will tell the Courier that they must leave in 30 seconds. Search the paladins near the rubble for the mission statement (Matiz) and leave (there is also a 3rd Level security pass located in Piers Isley's briefcase, next to his skeleton).

The location of the paladin can change from game to game because of the artillery the Boomers fire when the Courier first approaches Nellis. Here is one probable location: After the Boomers stop bombing, stand at the entrance to Nellis. Head south-southwest up the hill and pass between the car and road barricade. There is a bombed house directly ahead. Continue south-southwest down the road to the house next door. There is a backyard behind that house bordered by a wall with ornamental decorations. In the backyard, there is a crater with a car in it. The paladin (Raseleanne) should be in or nearby that crater. Take the mission statement from her.

To pass the bombing, do not do as the note says. Just run left toward the fence staying as close as possible to the rocks and go along the fence to reach the gate.

After exiting the Hidden Valley bunker, aim directly in between northeast and east on the Pip-Boy compass. Follow this to a hole in the fence and follow the trail left to Black Mountain. It is possible to access the cage from Black Mountain with a Lockpick skill of at least 75. The gate is just behind the radio station. This is where Moe and possibly 5-6 additional centaurs are located, in and around an irradiated crater (+1-11 Rad/sec). The paladin (Fairbanks) holding the mission statement is at the bottom of the crater.

Return to the bunker and hand over the tapes to McNamara, or talk to Head Paladin Hardin who will accept the holotapes and use them as evidence to oust McNamara.

Ousting McNamara Edit

(Optional) If the Courier chooses to help Head Paladin Hardin, start by researching previous elders' dismissals in the scribe archive data store. Doing this requires the problem with the Hidden Valley computer virus to be resolved. Speak with Scribe Ibsen about fixing the virus. After the virus is isolated, consult the datastore, then talk to Paladin Ramos about 'The Chain that Binds.' He will authorize access to this information in the data store. Return to the archives and read about 'The Chain That Binds.' Finding the holotapes for Hardin will be required to move forward with the plan. Once the tapes are found, talk to Hardin. He states that the tapes reveal McNamara gave his men new orders without his knowledge, thus breaking 'The Chain That Binds', and is sufficient reason to have McNamara removed. He says the process will take a few days. The screen will go black, and when the scene resumes, he is now Elder Hardin. This will effectively conclude the quest, eliminating the need for further steps. Hardin will give the Courier a key to the Brotherhood of Steel safehouse.

Notes Edit

It is still possible to become a paladin without completing this optional quest: Wait a few days after finishing this quest then speak to McNamara again to be given the quest Eyesight to the Blind.

If McNamara is ousted, it is not possible to peacefully resolve the conflict between the Brotherhood and the NCR during the main NCR quest For the Republic, Part 2. There is a way to oust McNamara and have a peaceful outcome: after talking to Hardin and beginning the process of overthrowing McNamara, simply don't go back to the bunker until after speaking to Moore about the Brotherhood. Hardin doesn't "officially" become elder until the Courier returns to the bunker.

Favoring Hardin will result in lower reputation than favoring McNamara, but all the benefits are still received (safe house, recycling ammunition box, etc.).

The completion of this quest does not reward the Courier with power armor training. The follow-up quest, Tend to Your Business must also be completed.

Scouts Edit

After giving McNamara the holotapes, he will ask the Courier to find 3 scouts.

Head to each scout and start a conversation; the first option should mention "Are the bears still hunting?" Choose this to receive the scouts' reports. Collect all three and give them to McNamara.

The first scout is located on the northeast end of the NCR Correctional Facility, relatively close to the facility, and relatively low to the ground. He is just outside the fence bordering the facility. After asking him if the bears are still hunting, he will report that he's been watching the NCRCF for a while now, and is confused as to how the NCR has let the Powder Gangers remain loose and in control of the jail for this extended length of time without any attempt at retaking the prison. Or, if the NCR has retaken the prison, will express his surprise that it took them so long.

The second scout is on the far northeast side of Nipton, quite far off and very high up. The water tower in Nipton is visible far off ahead on the right side of the town of Nipton. Head north-northeast from the water tower and scale the mountain (between and a little north of the coyote den and the Hidden Supply Cave), and remember that it is not close to the town. When inquired about the hunting bears, he will give his report on the brutal attack on the town of Nipton by Caesar's Legion, and the fact that it happened so deep in NCR territory. With a low reputation with Caesar's Legion, Legionary assassins may spawn around this area.

The third scout is easier to find than the second; he is located to the southwest end of the NCR Camp Forlorn Hope. He is on a rock overlooking the valley on the southern side of the camp, in plain view of the Ranger tower on the far south side of the camp. The rock which the scout is on is not adjacent to the rocks surrounding the camp; there is a large gap in between the rock that the scout is on, and the Ranger tower on the southern side of the camp. The rock is approximately the same elevation as the ranger tower, although slightly higher in elevation. He cannot be seen from the Ranger tower; go up the rock to find him. His report is on the town of Nelson and the NCR defeat there.

Return to the bunker and give the reports to the elder. He will ask the Courier to speak to Senior Knight Lorenzo about repairing the air filtration system.

Fixing the Air Filtration System Edit

Note: Using the elevator in this vault will make traveling much quicker (requires 50 Repair to fix).

The 6 HEPA 20 cartridge filters are in a locker on the 2nd Level - Oxygen Recycling, in the same level where one can find Keely after rescuing her in the side quest There Stands the Grass. The filters are only accessible via the caves because debris blocks the doorway to the room they are located in (through the door that says "key required," with a terminal next to it, one must first acquire the keycard located below).

Firstly, navigate towards the 4th Level - Common Areas. Head into the upper atrium and drop down to the level below. From here, go through the door labeled "Quarters." An Average lock is on this door but can be bypassed by using the terminal in the overseer's office on the 4th floor. Be wary of the corridor, as there are several spore carrier savages. A Vault 22 cave door keycard is in the first room on the left (the one with a baby carriage and crib) with a couple of spore carrier savages. Look on the shelves to the right of the room. The keycard is on the second shelf from the bottom.

When the keycard has been obtained, head back up to 3rd Level - Food Production and enter the room with a terminal and the cave door (the door cannot be lockpicked and requires the keycard). Use the terminal on the left to unlock the door.

Upon entering the cave, take the first right and head up that path. There will eventually be a wooden door labeled Oxygen Recycling; enter this door. The 6 HEPA 20 cartridge filters can be located in a locker here.

Finally, go back into the cave and retrace the Courier's steps to go back to the first level "Entrance Hall," and proceed to the vault exit.

Alternatively, take the elevator down to Pest Control, turn left up to the stairs to a door to Food Production. The Courier will find themself in some caves. Go up the slope taking the first right, following this until the door to Oxygen Recycling.

Upon entering the vault via the control panel next to the door labeled "Vault 3 recreation center," in the South Vegas ruins, the Courier will encounter a Fiend who asks their business inside the vault:

Note: The Vault 3 maintenance key can be obtained from Daniel in the Living Quarters. The maintenance key may also be obtained from Ranger Bryce Anders inside the vault if the Bounty Killer quest has been already activated.

If the player character hasn't yet started Aba Daba Honeymoon (and wants to at some point) it is recommended to refrain from entering the maintenance wing with Motor-Runner due to a bug with Motor-Runner that causes him to initiate his dialogue options only once. Rather, it is recommended that the Courier initiates the quest Aba Daba Honeymoon first and progress to the point of delivering the package to Motor-Runner, otherwise that quest may fail.

If one has already been given a package to deliver to Motor-Runner by Diane as part of the Aba Daba Honeymoon quest and are wearing a Great Khan outfit the Fiend will assume you are there to deliver the next shipment of drugs from the Khans. After a brief exchange, the vault's inhabitants will become friendly and the Courier will be allowed to pass.

are wearing a Great Khan outfit the Fiend will assume you are there to deliver the next shipment of drugs from the Khans. After a brief exchange, the vault's inhabitants will become friendly and the Courier will be allowed to pass. If the Courier can pass the Speech check (64), she will be persuaded that they are a Great Khan selling the Fiends chems. Just follow the main halls and the Courier will end up in Motor-Runner's room. The reverse pulse cleaner will be in a locker in the same room as Motor-Runner and will not be considered "stolen" if taken.

If the Courier cannot pass the Speech check, then the Fiends in the vault will turn hostile. Head to the southern part of the map and look for the door to the Living Quarters. Head left and (after dodging some traps) enter the door titled Recreation Area. After speaking with the ranger either convince him to go help kill the fiend leader or just kill him for the maintenance room key. If the Courier chooses to free the prisoners, one of them will give them the password to the overseer's quarters.

One will find the differential pressure controller in a locker underwater in the flooded section of the lower level. It's helpful to have the rebreather from the Boomers quest Volare! for this. Go towards the overseer's office but before reaching it, take the turn towards the utility room and head down the stairs into the flooded hallway, keep going and take the first room on the right and it's in the locker on the right hand side of the room. See the quest Democracy Inaction for a detailed guide.

Here's a quick run down: When entering the vault open the first door. - Take the first door to the right. - Go right again down the stairs - Walk past the 2 closed doors and go down the stairs - Go straight and follow the stairs downwards into the living quarters. - Follow the stairs down until reaching the big room with 3 routes. - Take the door with admin written on top - At the end of the hall take a right to the overseer's office - Take the door to the lower levels and follow the steps down - Before entering the overseer's office take a right - When there is a sign with utility take a right again and follow to the end of the hall ignoring the 2 doors. - This is the flooded area, yet it is not completely flooded so one can breathe easily by swimming to the top. - Swim down the stairs, take a left and take the first room on the right. In this room, one will find the differential pressure controller in a locker to the right of the entrance. (To the left of the entrance is a first aid box containing random aid items).

Once all three items have been obtained, return to Hidden Valley and tell Lorenzo. He will tell the Courier to return to Elder McNamara. They will receive 1000 XP and a Brotherhood safehouse key in return. Upon re-entering the Hidden Valley bunker the Courier will have access to a special footlocker by the entrance that re-stocks energy weapon ammunition every time one re-enters the room (A Brotherhood scribe will speak to the Courier and tell them, causing a box to appear there).

Quest stages (for use with the setstage console command) Edit

Stage Status Description 1 Player snuck in and got caught by Ramos, who takes him/her to Elder McNamara. 2 Player used a password found on one of the dead patrols, and is now directed by Ramos to speak to Elder McNamara. 3 Player entered with Veronica, and is now directed to see Elder McNamara. 10 Player either snuck in or used a password, and has now been tasked with proving him/herself by dealing with the Ranger who's set up shop topside. 15 The player has dealt with the ranger and returned, and Elder McNamara has asked that he/she come talk to him in the command room about something confidential. 20 Having proven him/herself or entered with Veronica, the player is tasked to find all of the missing Brotherhood Patrols, which are located in Black Mountain, REPCONN HQ, and near Nellis. 30 Now McNamara wants the player to retrieve the reports of scouts sent to investigate the state of the NCR. The scouts can be found near NCRCF, Nipton, and Forlorn Hope. 40 McNamara confides to the player that the bunker's systems are failing, and sends the player to find the components to fix them. 100 After dutifully completing all of McNamara's missions, the Brotherhood decides to once again emerge from their isolation, still led by Elder McNamara. 101 After the player reports the chapter's peril to Hardin, the Head Paladin calls for a vote of no faith in McNamara's leadership, resulting in his demotion into a knight and Hardin's assumption of the title. 200 The quest failed, likely because Elder McNamara died.

Quest stages Edit

Stage Status Description 1 Speak to Elder McNamara 5 Deal with an NCR Ranger who is camping in one of the bunkers of Hidden Valley 40 Speak to Senior Knight Lorenzo regarding the failing air filtration system. 15 Speak to Elder McNamara in the command room. 20 Find the missing Brotherhood patrol at REPCONN HQ and retrieve their mission holotape. 21 Find the missing Brotherhood patrol at Nellis AFB and retrieve their mission holotape. 22 Find the missing Brotherhood patrol at Black Mountain and retrieve their mission holotape. 29 Return to Elder McNamara with the three patrol mission holotapes. 30 Meet with a Brotherhood scout near the NCR Correctional Facility and collect his report. 31 Meet with a Brotherhood scout near the town of Nipton and collect his report. 32 Meet with a Brotherhood scout near Camp Forlorn Hope and collect his report. 39 Return to Elder McNamara with the three scouts' reports. 42 Search the vaults in the region for a differential pressure controller. 43 Search the vaults in the region for a reverse pulse cleaner. 49 Return to Elder McNamara with the news that the air filtration system should be fine. 50 (Optional) Help Head Paladin Hardin find a way to oust Elder McNamara from his position. 51 (Optional) Talk to Senior Paladin Ramos on Hardin's behalf. 52 (Optional) Look at the brotherhood's history files relating to Elders being dismissed from their positions. 53 (Optional) Ask Paladin Ramos about the Chain That Binds. 54 (Optional) Check the datastore for more information on the Chain That Binds. 55 (Optional) Talk to Senior Scribe Ibsen about accessing the Brotherhood's datastore. 60 (Optional) Return to Hardin with the lost patrols' mission discs. 61 (Optional) Return to Hardin with your findings about the Chain That Binds.

Notes Edit

If ED-E has been given to Lorenzo during the quest ED-E My Love, he will disappear, leaving you unable to complete Still in the Dark. One must wait a few days until ED-E returns to Primm.

Elder McNamara holds the key to the explosive collar and can be pickpocketed to remove it. If one decides to set the self-destruct sequence while the explosive collar is still on and leave, it will be automatically removed regardless of whether the key was taken or not.

The reports from the scouts at Camp Forlorn Hope and the NCR Correctional Facility will be different depending on how one completed the quests Restoring Hope or We Are Legion and I Fought the Law.

The NCR Ranger may spawn a little distance outside of Hidden Valley, past the main gate watching the NCR correctional facility. The game acts like he was in the bunker, however. The explosive collar will not kill the Courier if they go to him, should he spawn outside the bunker.

One must first complete this quest before the player character can join the Brotherhood, or recruit their help at Hoover Dam. If one has not completed this quest and then explain to the elder that the NCR is looking to destroy them then he will show no concern and state that it would be difficult for the NCR to locate the bunker.

If any of the Brotherhood scouts are killed by the player character or by other enemies nearby, the player character can still complete the quest by taking their holotape from their body.

Whether one decides to help Hardin or McNamara, the lockdown will be lifted.

Completing this quest will not get the Courier Idolized with the Brotherhood of Steel, one has to play Lonesome Road and prevent the missiles from launching to get Idolized.

Behind the scenes Edit

"Still in the Dark" is a 1950 blues song by Big Joe Turner.

Bugs Edit