Research lab

The research lab is a section of Mothership Zeta in 2277.
==Background==
The research lab is an area of Mothership Zeta accessible via the cargo hold. It is unnecessary to visit the research lab to gain access to the bridge and further the main questline. However, the area becomes inaccessible after leaving the engineering core and all chance of retrieving captive recordings towards the Alien Archivist achievement/trophy will be permanently lost if not explored before taking the teleporter to the bridge. One should enter the research lab via the door in the southwest of the cargo hold (the door leading to the research lab next to where one first enters the cargo hold will be initially locked. It can be unlocked by pressing the button on the other side of the door - this requires accessing the research lab through the southwest door in the cargo hold).
At first glance, the research lab appears to be where the aliens analyze Earth's vehicular technology. Displays of cars, motorcycles, and Colonel Hartigan's space pod. Deeper in the labs, however, one will discover a warehouse-scale collection of Giddyup Buttercups and related memorabilia in various states of storage. It appears that the aliens are fascinated with the pre-War toy. One room houses a lone Giddyup Buttercup surrounded by dead test subjects with observation rooms on either side. Upon making contact with the dais on which the horse rests, its eyes flash red four times. A workbench can be found with a disassembled Buttercup and some pulse grenades.
==Layout==
The research lab consists of two large main areas that are connected by a hallway. Upon entering, the player character finds themselves in the vehicular research area. This area contains a single large room with various vehicles and mechanical devices. The hallway leading to the Giddyup Buttercup research area is immediately south from the entrance to this room. 
The Giddyup Buttercup research area has two levels and is comprised of a large room with three connected smaller rooms. The southernmost room in this area contains a teleportation matrix that the player character can activate in order to return to the cargo hold.
==Notable loot==
In the first section (vehicular study):
* Alien captive recorded log 13 - Across from the warehouse door.
* 37 toy cars - In the entrance to the hallway that connects the vehicular study area to the Buttercup warehouse area.
In the second section (Buttercup warehouse):
* Alien captive recorded log 21 - Across from the healing archway.
* Buttercup toy - In the larger Buttercup warehouse, southwest corner (across from a work table on the second level of the storage shelf).
==Notes==
* This is one of many areas of the ship that will not be accessible after completing the quest This Galaxy Ain't Big Enough...
* If one tours this area with Elliott Tercorien, he makes observations about Giddyup Buttercup, posters, the Nuka-Cola vending machine in the cargo hold, etc.
* Paulson mentions that he would lose all respect if he were to ride into town on a Giddyup Buttercup. Inside the slaughter room, he will mention that his horse would never do something like that.
* When touching the dais on which the Buttercup rests in the slaughter room, its eyes will flash red four times; it does not do this again.
* There are 114 Giddyup Buttercups in the area.
==Appearances==
The research lab appears only .
==Gallery==
MZButtercupRacks.jpg|Giddyup Buttercup
FO3MZ Research lab horses.png
Test subject.jpg|Test subject
Alien captive recording log 13 research lab.jpg|Alien captive recorded log 13
Alien captive recording log 21 research lab.jpg|Log 21
ButtercupToyResearchLabLocation.png|Buttercup toy
Fo3MZ research lab Buttercup toys.png
Category:Mothership Zeta locations
ru:Исследовательская лаборатория
uk:Дослідна лабораторія