Overseer Albert Christianson is the democratically-elected overseer of Vault 18 in 2260.
Background[]
Born in 2183, Albert Christianson has served as Vault 18's overseer for several years, succeeding the previous overseer, Hoss. Having come to the position and leading the vault in the decade following the vault's second closure from the outside world,[1] his term has largely been characterized by appealing to the needs and caring of the elderly residents that make up 80% of the vault population, fearing the wasteland and outside world, and his inability to handle the growing divide between the vault's adopted tribal kids and the "pureblooded" vault residents.
Both these troubles are compounded by the presence of John and Chevy Bragg, who have been stoking the fears of the populace to position themselves as their defenders, garnering enough support to force Christianson to approve the Patriot Program, also gaining influence with the vault's tribal adoptees. Christianson himself, wary about the dangers of the wasteland and the inability of the vault's aging residents to defend themselves, had no choice but to accept.[2] By 2260, these tactics have raised Bragg to a position of near-equal influence to the overseer, and Christianson is struggling to beat him in the campaign for overseer (although by election night he is still ten points ahead).[3] As described by Dale Norman, Christianson is a good leader in times of peace, but collapses under pressure.[4]
The overseer's personal life is no less complicated. He and his wife Gloria were responsible for raising the Star family following their acceptance into Vault 18 as children, although he only officially adopted Jason Star-Christianson - a decision which strained Christianson's relationship with the Star Player.[5] Christianson has also been struggling with lung cancer for several years, having been informed of it making a resurgence ahead of the election by Dr. Bishop. Though he is aware he does not have much longer to live, he is trying to keep it secret until after the election, but has already updated his will just in case.[6]
As overseer, he is aware of many of the dark secrets uncovered by the Wasteland Scouts, such as the existence of the Enclave, the true nature of Project Brazil, and the truth behind the Star family's parentage. Though he has kept it secret so far, he feels that it is only right to tell his son the truth, and wishes to do so before he passes away.[6]
Events of Act One[]
On the night of November 23, 2260, Christianson survives the initial rebellion of the Enclave Patriots by fleeing his atrium office through the Pipeworks and hiding in the Terrarium, defended by Vault 18 Security. However, his wife and adoptive son are killed in the fighting along with two thirds of the Vault's populace, leaving him distraught.[7] Despairing at the destruction and with nothing left to lose, Christianson activates the vault's self-destruct protocols to prevent the Enclave from controlling it, citing it as fulfillment of Vault-Tec's original intention for the Vault,[8] shortly before the Patriots make their final push against the security forces in the Hydroponics Lab.
Interactions with the player character[]
Quests[]
- Off To See The Wizard: Depending on which path the player is following, Christianson's conditions for the quest will be somewhat different. In either path, no matter which ending choice is taken, there is no actual effect on the following quests in Act One.
- Path of the Warrior: he will announce for the Star Player to visit him in his office after either 3 in-game hours have passed or Report To Vault Security has been completed. Suspicious that Bragg and his Patriots may be planning something, he asks the Star Player to spy on them and report back, earning them the Vault Politician perk. One can refuse/threaten him, agree, or warn him ahead of time with Sweet Talker and by having completed I've Got A Feeling....
- Path of the Scientist: he will announce for the Star Player to visit him in his office after the Enclave hologram is triggered during Fix The Old Computer, having been alerted by the hologram also appearing in his office. He will interrogate the Star Player about what they witnessed, warn them to prepare for the Enclave threat, and keep his son Jason safe. There is no opportunity to earn the Vault Politician perk. However, with Science 50, he will hand over the password to activate the protectrons around Vault 18.
- Save The Vault/Live Free or Die: After defending against the Patriots, Chief Evanson will order the Star Player to check on the overseer, who will ultimately explain that he has triggered the self-destruct and hand over the key to the main elevator. He will then commit suicide if he was not killed by the Star Player.
- Hell To Pay: After breaching the Vault 18 Security blockade, Colonel Bragg will order the Star Player to follow him in confronting the overseer. Refusing to give in, he will be executed by Bragg if not killed by the Star Player, though in either case it is too late to stop the self-destruct.
Inventory[]
Appearances[]
Albert Christianson appears only in Fallout: New California.
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ The Star Player: "I’m pretty sure it was, according to Rossman. Who are the Enclave?"
Albert Christianson: "My God. Do you know what this could mean? The Enclave are a bunch of psychotic pre-war relics that rose up in northern California thirty years ago. They’re hardcore killers, hell bent on restoring their idyllic version of America. At the expense of everyone else, mind you. Vault 18 has been hiding from the outside world for almost a decade. If the Enclave knows where we are, we could be facing an imminent invasion!" - ↑ The Star Player: "If you don’t like Bragg’s Patriots training in defense drills, why’d you authorize it?"
Albert Christianson: "I didn’t. Chevy demanded it. The Wasteland Scouts, Rossman and Yetti, they didn’t sanction it either. When that dry harpy took over, she set her one good eye on making Vault 18 their private fortress. With whatever it was Rossman did to piss off our upstairs friends in the wasteland, the old folks down here have been running scared. We’re an elderly vault, kid. 80% of our inhabitants are in nursing care. They’re afraid. They jump at their own shadow. You tell them all the ghost stories about Vault Vikings and Psychos blowing up the vault door... No wonder they’re out looking for a man like Bragg!" - ↑ The Star Player: "[Star Athlete] Uh, escape the vault and start my own wasteland empire?"
Albert Christianson: "Ha! Such a kidder. Now listen here, kid. I’ve got that Bragg fellow beat in the election by 10 points. But that doesn’t mean he’s out of the game. Bragg offered you that post with his freaky sister down in security. I want to know why. What did he offer you? And what does he expect in return?" - ↑ The Star Player: "So, what do we do?"
Dale Norman: "We have to get you to the Hydroponics Lab. The rest of Vault Security and some survivors from the initial attack fled there. Overseer Christianson lost his wife, and your brother Jason... he's a mess. He's a good leader in peace time but he falls to bits under pressure. I'm worried he's going to do something stupid. Before Rossman ran out on us, he showed me a passage he dug through his bathroom wall. It’s right through that door over there. He always was the smart one of the four of us. Probably saw this coming years ago." - ↑ The Star Player: "What should I do to help?"
Dale Norman: "I need you to go to the Hydroponics lab and see Overseer Christianson. I know you guys have some history, him adopting Jason and not you... But, there's more to it than you know. Here's the key to the Cistern. Take anyone you can convince to go with you. We're gonna stay here and watch your back. Keep Bragg and his brainwashed Patriots from following you in. Good luck." - ↑ 6.0 6.1 Last Will and Testament
- ↑ The Star Player: "Overseer... Are you alright?"
Albert Christianson: "I’m not, kid. Haven’t been for a long time. Been fighting lung cancer for years. Now this? Bragg killed my son, he killed my wife! 200 of us are dead, out of 300 the night before! Even now, there’s gunshots echoing through the walls! We’re finished! Kaput! There’s no beating this... It’s better this way." - ↑ The Star Player: "What are you talking about?"
Albert Christianson: "Hahahaha... you know, it's funny... You know what this giant tomb really was? An experiment. All those big TVs down in the atrium, the cables in the computer lab, all of it? It was a test. A great big ruse. They just wanted to see how long it’d take us to crack. To push this big red knob here, and end the shame of it. Well, here’s your answer, Vault-Tec! 160 years... Then some damn fools gave us a good reason to use it."