With update 20 and season 1 in Fallout 76, not only has the legendary race been added, but Bethesda has also introduced mysterious radio signals into the game.
What’s happening: With update 20, the legendary race and thus season 1 have been released. The race itself, by the way, takes a lot of time and is hardly achievable. A message in the “Out of the Vault” article on Bethesda’s official Fallout 76 page about the update has left the community puzzled:
One last thing: Have you listened to the radio in your Pip-Boy lately? Apparently, a new transmission has infiltrated in the past few days, but we can only hear noise. Perhaps those with a higher perception can understand more and decipher this cryptic message for us.
Bethesda, Source: fallout.bethesda.net
When you log into Fallout 76, you will discover two new radio signals in your Pip-Boy, one of which is encrypted. If your perception skill is high enough, you can better understand the messages being transmitted. In total, there are 5 messages to decrypt.
The Brotherhood of Steel returns to Appalachia
The Brotherhood of Steel is entering the world of Fallout 76. This isn’t surprising, as you have encountered the Brotherhood before. Also in the current roadmap for Fallout 76, it is mentioned that with the start of season 2, the Brotherhood of Steel will come as a new NPC faction. And the encrypted messages announce just that.
This is the Brotherhood of Steel: The Brotherhood of Steel is a faction in the Fallout universe that was founded by United States military officer Roger Maxson after the Great War.
They are a religious, technological organization, almost like a knightly order, consisting of descendants from the military. Their goal is to recover and preserve any technology. As a result, the Brotherhood of Steel is one of the most technologically advanced groups in post-apocalyptic America.
Warning, we are entering spoiler territory!
This is what the messages say: Two new radio stations can be found in the Pip-Boy. The encrypted signal contains 5 messages, and the weak signal from the Brotherhood repeats one message.
These are the 5 encrypted messages
Message 1: First Expedition Team, this is L-H with a recorded Priority Gamma message. Papa Romeo has missed the last four check-ins. No contact since crossing the Rocky Mountains. Writers estimate the unit’s position near Lincoln. The command is to restore communication with L-H as soon as possible and provide a full report on whereabouts and activities since the last contact. Confirmation on coded channel Two Three. L-H out. Message repeats.
Message 2: First Expedition Team, this is Lost Hills with a recorded message with Priority Alpha. No response to previous transmissions from Papa Romeo (Paladin Rahmani) or other unit members. Lost Hills now assumes the unit cannot respond. All surviving unit members are instructed to deviate immediately from the main mission. Confirm on coded channel One Eight. Lost Hills out. Message repeats.
Message 3: First Expedition Team, this is L-H with a recorded message Priority E1. Writers now estimate the unit’s position somewhere east of the Mississippi based on pre-departure schedules. No confirmation from Papa Romeo or other unit members. If a suitable transmission system cannot be secured, the First Expedition Team is hereby instructed to continue the original mission and establish communication from the target location. Confirmation on coded channel Four Seven. L-H out. Message repeats.
Message 4: This is Elder Roger Maxson speaking to Paladin Leila Rahmani over a secure private channel. I have sent the writers away. This message will not be recorded in the logs. I am not speaking to you now as your Elder or commanding officer, but as a friend. Leila, I know you and we have had our differences, but I still believe that you understand the value and purpose of the Brotherhood. You wanted this mission, yet I am sure you have doubts about why you were chosen. I still hope that you simply cannot respond to our transmissions. We may not see eye to eye, but you know the code and are sworn to it. The alternative… I don’t even want to imagine. For now, I have suppressed this proposal among the officials and kept it out of our other attempts to reach you, but if you do not respond soon, I may be overruled. Your mission out there is important, no matter what you think. You are still one of us. Still a Paladin of the Brotherhood. Transmission on any Brotherhood channel, encryption doesn’t matter – just respond. Maxson out. Message repeats.
Message 5: First Expedition Team, this is L-H. Elder Maxson’s recording: Paladin Rahmani, your unit has had no contact with the Brotherhood headquarters for over three months. Our writers estimate that your unit should soon enter Appalachia and approach the ATLAS Observatory. It is imperative that your first task after securing the facility is to restore communication and provide a full report of your activities during the period of radio silence. You now represent the Brotherhood in Appalachia. If you restore contact with us, there will once again be a Brotherhood on both sides of this land, and your actions will be forever written in the scrolls. Adhere to the code. Conduct yourself with honor. Maxson out. Message repeats.
What do the messages mean? The 5 messages indicate that the team led by Paladin Leila Rahmani has lost contact with base for months. They are on their way to Appalachia to take over the ATLAS Observatory as a base.
The second transmitter is not encrypted and plays a message from Rahmani. She announces the takeover of the observatory:
This is Paladin Rhamani of the Brotherhood of Steel speaking. I am transmitting this message to the people in Appalachia. We are on a long-term path to your region. We will take over the ATLAS Observatory as an operational base. Consider this a warning to anyone occupying the facility. It will belong to us. This matter is not up for negotiation. Know that we come in peace. We will offer the people of Appalachia help and protection.
Paladin Leila Rhamani
Supplies for construction and repairs are to be delivered to the Atlas Observatory before our arrival. Your cooperation guarantees our ability to secure a better future for Appalachia. Be a part of this future. Help us.
This was Paladin Rhamani, First Expedition Team. The Brotherhood returns, see you soon. Rhamani out. Message repeats.
What does this mean for the player? You can already see changes to the ATLAS Observatory. It is no longer accessible, and construction robots are roaming around.
In the Summer Update trailer for Fallout 76, you can see at minute 1:12 how the observatory will change:
With update 22 and the start of season 2 in September, you will receive a new quest line “Steel Dawn”, where you will deal with the Brotherhood of Steel.
However, how the story will unfold is still unknown. The connection to headquarters may have been interrupted by an accident, or Paladin Rhamani plans to betray the Brotherhood and establish her own branch.
In season 1, you can already complete 2 community events for the Brotherhood:
- August 8 to August 17: Fortifying ATLAS: Community Project Alpha
- August 29 to September 9: Fortifying ATLAS: Community Project Bravo
It is suspected that you will need to gather resources for these events and deliver them at the ATLAS Observatory so that the construction of the base can progress. This will likely be exactly the help Paladin Leila Rhamani is asking from you in her message.
With the start of season 3 sometime in winter, the faction will have fully arrived in Appalachia and will bring new quests, NPCs, and companions.
Are you already looking forward to the events and the return of the Brotherhood of Steel? Or do you have a certain aversion to this knightly order that will stop at nothing to achieve its goals.
