The Vessel

The Vessel (formerly the USS Democracy) is an unmarked location on the Island in 2287.
==Background==
The USS Democracy, a United States Navy submarine with an uncanny similarity to the Yangtze-class submarines, was dry-docked for repairs and refitting at the Mount Desert Island Naval Facility prior to the Great War. Though the water outside the base may seem too shallow for a submarine to float in, the vessel is attached to a track system that would move it out or pull it in from the main body of water.
The submarine was under the command of Captain Arnold Wabash, and part of a secret plan created by the U.S. naval command targeting Chinese operations in the South China Sea.The Nucleus terminal entries; Captain Wabash's terminal, SUBJ: VR System: "[...] Also, word is command's got some new plans for the Democracy. Sounds like the sub's going to be getting deployed sooner than expected. Contact me if you have any questions once formal orders come through. [...]" Although Captain Wabash had reservations about the plan, Admiral Edward Grath, his commanding officer, ordered him to accelerate repairs on the Democracy, as "the Reds would do as bad or worse if given the chance."The Nucleus terminal entries; Captain Wabash's terminal, SUBJ: VR System: "...Your reservations regarding your orders are noted, Captain, but I guarantee you the Reds will do as bad or worse if we give them the chance. Completing repairs to the Democracy is now of the utmost priority. If that means you have to work your folks around the clock, so be it.""But if the Democracy isn't on its way to the South China Sea within the prescribed window, you'll be the one doing the explaining to command." 
Before the repairs could be completed, however, the Democracy's nuclear reactor developed a containment leak. Its crew and captain were recalled while a hazmat team worked around the clock to clean the facility and make the submarine usable again. However, the process would take weeks to complete. Admiral Grath suspected foul play, and informed Captain Wabash that he would file the court-martial personally if he was responsible.The Nucleus terminal entries; Captain Wabash's terminal, SUBJ: Containment Leak: "... A containment leak on the Democracy? Convenient, Arnold. Well, you got what you wanted. Your crew's been recalled and a hazmat team's been dispatched to clean the facility. It's going to be weeks until anyone can get inside safely, let alone deploy the sub.""For your sake, Arnold, I seriously hope this leak was an accident. Because if it wasn't, I'm going to file the court-martial paperwork myself." However, before the investigation could be conducted, the war struck. Stuck in dry dock, the Democracy played no role in the ensuing nuclear exchange. After Admiral Grath reestablished communications with the naval base at Mount Desert Island, it was discovered that Captain Wabash had disappeared together with the sub's nuclear launch key. Grath considered this an act of treason, believing the submarine could have played a role in disabling Chinese nuclear capability, potentially saving New York City, Washington, D.C., or Boston. He vowed to find Wabash and kill him. Although he was correct in his assessment, as Wabash did sabotage the vessel, the admiral would never have his revenge; the captain died in a safe room at a nearby hotel, betrayed by a Chinese spy and one-time lover, Franny Richardson.The Nucleus terminal entries; Captain Wabash's terminal, SUBJ: Where are you: "... We finally reestablished comms with Mount Desert today and now your XO tells me you haven't checked in in a week. To boot, he says the sub's launch key is missing. I should've thrown you in a cell when I had the chance. The East Coast is gone and if the Democracy was out there, maybe we could've saved New York. Or Washington. Or Boston.""This is on you, Arnold. Their deaths are on you. And if by some sick twist of fate you survived this mess, I'll personally make sure it's temporary."Safe room security tape
Following the war, the base lay idle, the radiation leaking from the docked submarine keeping people away, until around 2178. After DiMA landed on the Island, he found the facility and made it his home. Some time later, after the Children of Atom were exiled from Far Harbor, the congregation led by Confessor Martin were guided to the facility by the Mother of the Fog.The Sole Survivor: "How is it you came to this place?"Tektus: " "(Tektus' dialogue)The Sole Survivor: "What can you tell me about the Mother of the Fog?"Tektus: " "(Tektus' dialogue)Brian Richter: ""The Sole Survivor: "I drank from the spring and a woman led me to this icon. Does this mean something?"Brian Richter: ""The Sole Survivor: "Is there something special about this thing?"Brian Richter: ""The Sole Survivor: "It was... otherwordly. The woman, she was like a living shadow, cloaked in mist."Brian Richter: " "The Sole Survivor: "So what exactly happened to me at the spring?"Brian Richter: " "The Sole Survivor: "So was the Mother real?"Brian Richter: " " Afterward, DiMA departed to found Acadia, entrusting the base to the Children. They renamed the base the "Nucleus", converting it into a holy site of their cult.The Sole Survivor: "The Children of Atom on this island. You were helping them?"DiMA: "Yes. I know their faith in radiation as a type of god is a bit... different, but who am I to judge? I was using a submarine base as a home when Martin and his followers stumbled inside. They had been cast out of Far Harbor for their beliefs. When I left to found Acadia, I knew the base would be in safe hands. They needed a home. A place to belong, just like I did. But now Martin is gone, and his successor, Tektus, wants to finally end the feud with Far Harbor, by letting the Fog swallow them."(DiMA's dialogue) The fanatics seek to use the submarine's intact and functional nuclear warheads to enact a "Great Division."The Sole Survivor: "Great Division? What's that?"Aubert: " "(Aubert's dialogue)The Sole Survivor: "What can you tell me about the sub?"Aubert: " "(Aubert's dialogue) They tried and failed to hack the system, but without the nuclear launch key, they cannot activate the missiles.The Sole Survivor: "What can you tell me about the sub?"Aubert: ""(Aubert's dialogue)
==Layout==
The Vessel shares a similar internal and external layout as the Chinese submarine, Yangtze. The sub has the same body shape, but many of the details of the Yangtze are altered or changed on the USS Democracy. She has two large propellers on either side of the main body (lacking the third propeller under the reactor control room that the Yangtze has) and another smaller propeller near the rudder at the stern of the ship. The Democracy lacks the large dive planes that the Yangtze has on her bow, but has the same four torpedo tubes on her bow, and only four submarine-launched ballistic missile tubes compared to the larger sub which has six. The Democracy's conning tower is a new style, with a large half-circle platform surrounded by a railing just over halfway up the conning tower. Unlike the Yangtze, the Democracy lacks stairs going up to the main hatch, and instead has a simple ladder connected to the platform. The Children of Atom have draped their flag over the railing and have placed a construction light facing it, so it is brightly lit.
Beyond the entrance from the Nucleus is the ship's original control room, which has been converted into a throne room by the Children of Atom. Through the bulkhead behind the throne to the north is the captain's quarters, used by the High Confessor as his personal worship area. 
Down the stairs on either side of the quarters is the irradiated reactor control room, with the two-level reactor room beyond to the north. Between the two stairs returning to the throne room to the south is the sleeping quarters for the ship's original crew, which the Children of Atom now use as a crypt to lay their dead. Short descending ramps on the east and west sides of the reactor control room lead to the propeller drive shafts. South of the lower level of the reactor room is a large two-level room holding many radioactive waste barrels, with Sister Aubert's sleeping alcove on the upper level.
==Notable loot==
* Brother Alders - In the west drive shaft room, on a cabinet.
* Aubert's note - In the east drive shaft room, in a locked footlocker.
* To my "family" - On Sister Aubert's mattress.
* Edgar's note - Under Sister Aubert's mattress. Only present during the quest Witch Hunt.
==Related quests==
* Cleansing the Land
* What Atom Requires
* Witch Hunt
==Notes==
* There are four torpedo tubes on top of the Vessel's south end, but no torpedo room inside the submarine. The points on top of the tubes are extremely irradiated, emitting roughly 70-90 rads per second.
* The ship is poorly lit, with the Children of Atom only using candles for lighting.
* Even after the main story is completed, the player character can launch the active nuclear missile from the ship at any time, provided they have the key to do so.
==Appearances== 
The Vessel appears only in the Fallout 4 add-on Far Harbor.
==Behind the scenes==
The model of the Democracy is kitbashed from the Yangtze, with the hull scaled down to 75% (the conning tower's scale is the same). Due to her smaller size, the Democracy lacks many of the rooms found on the Yangtze.
==Gallery==
FO4FH-Vessel-Throne.jpeg|Throne
FO4FH-Nucleus-Crypt.jpeg|Crypt
FO4FH Nucleus missile launch.jpg|Missile launch
Brother Alders note.png|Brother Alders
Aubert's Note.png|Aubert's note in the footlocker
To my family note.jpg|To my "family"
Edgar's note.jpg|Edgar's note
USS Democracy Iso.png|Game file
NucleusSub01.png|Game file
==References==
Category:Far Harbor unmarked locations
Category:Children of Atom locations
Category:United States Armed Forces vehicles
de:Das Schiff
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