Thomas Hildern

Thomas Hildern is the Director of Operations for the eastern branch of the NCR-aligned Office of Science and Industry (usually known as OSI East) . He can be found in his office located inside the terminal building of Camp McCarran, in the southeastern area on the ground floor of the terminal. 
==Background==
A highly intelligent administrator in charge of OSI East, Hildern was part of the Followers of the Apocalypse. Fixated on personal advancement, he pretended to agree with their ideals in order to gain a proper education.Courier: "So who *did* train you?"Thomas Hildern: "Before the bombs, I might have studied at any number of colleges, universities. They gave a man a chance to advance himself... or so I've heard. But after the bombs - until a few years ago - anyone with half a brain had one choice. The Followers of the Apocalypse. Didn't matter if you agreed with them or not. You either played along or you were turned away."(Thomas Hildern's dialogue) He disagreed with their firm belief in a society of equals and the idea of knowledge for knowledge sake. To him, it was old-world dogma spouted by fools,Courier: "And what do the Followers believe?"Thomas Hildern: "Knowledge for knowledge sake. A society of equals. They purport to be intelligent people, and then they spout this old-world dogma."(Thomas Hildern's dialogue) unfit for the wasteland. Hildern joined like-mined people in founding the Office of Science and Industry in 2275, as an officially government-backed research and development agency.Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide Collector's Edition p.458: "Important Dates2275 Camp McCarran is established as NCR Headquarters in the Mojave. Sporadic fighting begins with the Mojave Brotherhood of Steel. The NCR government withdraws official support from the Followers of the Apocalypse and founds The Office of Science and Industry."'' For Hildern, the goal was to put the knowledge the Followers gained to work, with OSI members properly motivated and working towards a single, unified purpose. The OSI fell short of this ideal, as many of the executives who joined the board of directors kept the Follower ideals close.The Courier: "Doesn't sound like a good place for a person of ambition."Thomas Hildern: "[SUCCEEDED] Exactly right. Imagine what the Followers could have accomplished if they were properly motivated... if they had a unified purpose! Those of us who founded the OSI... we wanted to put our knowledge to work. And we have, to some degree. But the execs at OSI Central... they're still bound to the old ideas. Society of equals, and all that. There's still too little direction. If I can make real breakthroughs here... show the President what can be done when junior researchers are kept in line... kept focused on task... Who knows. Maybe I'll be sitting in OSI Central, in a few years time. And there'll be no more coddling of "free spirits" like our friend, Williams."(Thomas Hildern's dialogue)
Hildern considers this to be a problem, as he believes the "old ideas" of free research and equality prevent the OSI from realizing its full potential. What he desires is a hierarchic system where a director sets the goals and junior researchers are kept in line, focusing on their appointed task and keeping any concerns to themselves. Lacking the pull necessary to gain a seat at the board, he has accepted the position of Director of OSI East, supervising operations to optimize the output of Hoover Dam.Courier: "You said you were the Director of OSI?"Thomas Hildern: "Director of the entire OSI? Me? If I didn't know better, I'd say you were trying to plant seditious ideas in my head. Ha ha ha. No, I direct our eastern operations. I've been responsible for squeezing unprecedented levels of power from the Dam. I'm also confronting the problem of food production, in what little spare time I have. But I've found some promising leads."(Thomas Hildern's dialogue) He elected to bring Angela Williams with him to Camp McCarran, placing her as lead researcher on the project.Courier: "That's not much of an endorsement. What do you *really* think?"Angela Williams: "[FAILED] Wouldn't be right for me to say. He's my boss... and he took a chance, bringing me out here as lead researcher." 
Over time, his office also picked up additional responsibilities, such as aiding the NCR sharecropper program, by providing computer calculations determining water rationing and crop quotas. Despite persistent complaints from sharecroppers,The Courier: "Trent Bascom says he's not getting his full allotment of water."Romanowski: "The Office of Science and Industry has carefully calculated the amount of water needed for these crops. The whole thing is handled by computer. Besides, most of these crops look fine to me. If the farmers can't handle the job, they shouldn't have signed up in the first place. If there really is a problem, they can take it up with Lieutenant Boyd at McCarran. Farming isn't my department."(Romanowski's dialogue) Hildern ignored the issue,Courier: "Why is this work a bum deal?"Trent Bascom: "Bad soil and rationed water. It's to be expected around here, but the rationing's off. Worst part is NCR won't admit it. Pretty hard to meet their crop quotas with twenty percent less water than we're supposed to be getting. Not that OSI cares about any of this." dismissing the reports as mere incompetence,Courier: "What other responsibilities does this office have?"Thomas Hildern: "We aid some programs the Republic has sponsored involving sharecropper farms in the area, but those haven't panned out too well from what I hear. There've been complaints about the amount of water we're supplying, but those are just excuses for lack of diligence, I'm sure."(Thomas Hildern's dialogue) unintentionally sabotaging the program.Sharecropper farms are abandoned unless the water levels are restored at Vault 34.
His primary focus in the Mojave is finding a way to ingratiate himself with the President of the NCR, Aaron Kimball. He wants to demonstrate the viability of his management style by achieving breakthroughs, claiming credit for them, and gain a seat on the OSI board of directors with the President's backing. His current plan is to unlock the secrets of Vault 22, discovered in 2280,Courier: "Yes, I'd say so."Thomas Hildern: " But what if I was to tell you that the wasteland can yield an endless bounty, and that the secret may lie a mere few miles from where we stand… We need only reach out and take it. And for that, I need you." and achieve breakthroughs in agriculture: As OSI projects food shortages in the NCR by 2291, due to its expanding population, providing a convenient solution in advance would surely elevate him in the eyes of the authorities.Courier: "NCR has a food shortage?"Thomas Hildern: "Not yet. But our government understands the value of proactive thought. Our studies project an imbalance between production and consumption. Or, for a layman such as yourself - not enough food, too many mouths to feed. Mass starvation. In a decade or so."(Thomas Hildern's dialogue)Courier: "No problem. I can wait."Thomas Hildern: " Here, then... as promised. An agreeable sum, payable upon delivery of the data. You've more than done your part."(Thomas Hildern's dialogue) 
===Controversy===
However, his single-minded focus on the big picture has led him to forget about the concept of the common good, reducing people and resources to numbers in a ledger.Arcade Gannon: "Hildern is a good example of "big picture" obsession gone too far. At some point he became so fixated on large scale results that he lost the concept of "the common good" along the way. It's an inhumane kind of public service when people and the basic resources they need become numbers in a ledger."(Arcade Gannon's dialogue) His dismissal of Follower ethics as old world nonsense resulted in an unethical approach to science work: He does no research of his own, instead taking credit for Williams' work on optimizing the Hoover Dam power output. The fact is an open secret, and Williams resolved to let it go and focus on the science until the project ends.The Courier: "He seemed focused on results. Maybe not so much on people."Angela Williams: "[SUCCEEDED] He's not what you'd call... warm. Unless he wants something from you. And even then, it's kind of a cold warm. Most of the time, I focus on the science and try to forget him. He doesn't get mixed up in any actual work. Though he tells people that he does."The Courier: "So Dr. Hildern takes credit for your work?"Angela Williams: "He sure does. Everyone knows it. I've just got to endure this job until the project is finished. But abandoning Keely... he crossed a line. Taking credit for other people's work is one thing. Sending people to die in the waste is another. If Hildern tries to recruit any more mercs, I'm going to warn them. What can he do to me? I'm the only one who can run this lab."(Angela Williams' dialogue) 
However, in the pursuit of unlocking the secret of the Vault, Hildern has sent multiple mercenaries out to their deaths, with the latest being Keely, a genius scientist and an ancient ghoul. This lack of concern for lives has crossed a line with Williams, who resolved to warn future mercenaries about working for Hildern. While the Director hates her interference, he is dependent on her due to OSI policies and her being the only person capable of managing the project.Courier: "What's your opinion of Williams?"Thomas Hildern: "Williams is an admirable researcher. If she wasn't, I'd have terminated her contract, and she'd be begging for work from my former employers."Courier: "Why terminate her contract?"Thomas Hildern: "Williams has a tendency to feel before she thinks. Not in the lab. But everywhere else. That might be forgivable if she kept her concerns to herself. But she doesn't. Not in front of her peers, not even with contractors like yourself. That kind of behavior can undermine morale. She convinced my last contractor to quit. Same way she tried with you. Probably didn't tell you that, did she?"(Thomas Hildern's dialogue)
The expeditions to Vault 22 are also done off the books, without any paperwork filed. All are handshake deals done under the table, using OSI funds. As Office accounts are separate from the government's and OSI has little to no oversight, Hildern uses them as his personal budget,The Courier: "All right. I'll do it."Thomas Hildern: " Download all the information on the central server to your Pip-Boy. And you'll be certain to bring me any notes or samples that you find, won't you?"(Thomas Hildern's dialogue) and is willing to spend his office's entire contracting budget to buy the silence of anyone who realizes he's embezzling funds.Courier: "...and make sure you have some healthy competition."Thomas Hildern: " Now, I've... got to get back to work. I'm sure you understand. Exit's over there, you can show yourself out." In particular when Colonel James Hsu might become involved: The military investigating misappropriated funds in wartime strikes genuine fear into Hildern.Courier: "What contract? You cut an under-the-table deal with me."Thomas Hildern: "[SUCCEEDED] You're saying that I didn't file the proper paperwork, is that it? I suppose you're an expert on NCR procedures?"Courier: "Then it wouldn't matter if I mentioned our deal to the colonel?"Thomas Hildern: ""(Thomas Hildern's dialogue)
===Personality===
Highly intelligent, knowledgeable, and with a high self esteem, Hildern is a cold, direct person who only changes whenever he wants something from someone, be it a regular employee or a contractor working under him. He doesn't concern himself himself with scientific work as a director, instead directing the efforts of others towards a goal of his choosing. In his mind, scientific discovery is simply a matter of providing the right incentives to achieve a specific goal.Courier: "Scientific discovery is never so simple as that."Thomas Hildern: "Isn't it? One directs one's efforts - or the efforts of others - toward a goal, and progress is made. It's a matter of incentives, nothing more." He rejects the notion of equality, free inquiry, or the idea of gaining knowledge for knowledge's sake, considering them silly old world notions. He prefers a strictly authoritarian approach, where priorities are dictated from above and junior researchers toe the line, staying confined to their pay grade,Courier: "No, this is the first I've heard about Vault 22."
Thomas Hildern: "No, they wouldn't have briefed you, would they? Probably better that our junior fellows stay within the bounds of their pay grade, anyway." with independence and free thinking stamped out.
His preoccupation with the big picture and social advancement has led to him adopting a ruthless mindset, pursuing his goals with single-minded dedication. However, while he does show a casual disdain for the lives of the mercenaries he indirectly killed by sending them to Vault 22, his motivation appears to stem from genuine concern about the future of the NCR: He hopes to use the data to prevent mass starvation and simultaneously "prove that scientists could be more than a bunch of useless idealists." Its loss is the only thing that can throw him into genuine rage.Courier: "Keely wiped the data. It's gone."Thomas Hildern: " "
At the same time, seeing himself as a savior of the NCR and OSI has resulted in him adopting an "ends justify the means" attitude. To achieve his goal, he has mastered the art of persuasion, demonstrating ample showmanship and practicing his speeches extensively,Courier: "<Lie> Yes, that's right."Thomas Hildern: "Wonderful! Straight to it, then. Have you signed the release forms? No? Doesn't matter - we'll keep that to ourselves. " especially when Vault 22 is concerned.Courier: "Yes, I'd say so."
Thomas Hildern: " But what if I was to tell you that the wasteland can yield an endless bounty, and that the secret may lie a mere few miles from where we stand… We need only reach out and take it. And for that, I need you." He will readily abuse his position to embezzle funds and straight-up lie to others, ranging from lies by omission to barefaced lies about the value he places on contractorsThe Courier: "I'll think about it, and maybe I'll be back."Thomas Hildern: ""(Thomas Hildern's dialogue) or promising to mention them in his final report, while intending to take full credit for their work.Courier: "Glad to be of service."
Thomas Hildern: ""
At the same time, he isn't in perfect control. The underlying contempt for people he sees as beneath him regularly shines through, and he can't help subtly insulting them, even if they're a newly hired contractor.Courier: "Tell me more."Thomas Hildern: "" He tries to mask it with a fake smile, but the sheer size of his condescension makes it difficult,Courier: "Anything else I should know?"
Thomas Hildern: " " though it makes for an effective part of his pitch.Courier: "Nothing is impossible."
Thomas Hildern: "Precisely. Science has proven that truth a thousand times over, but how many wasteland savages believe it? Present company excepted, of course. The bounty I described to you is no idle fantasy. It exists, in primitive form, only a few miles from where we stand. We need only reach out and unlock its secret. For that, the OSI needs you."
===Relationships===
Hildern has no meaningful friends or relationships. He's obsessed with his duties and saving the NCR, to the point of barely leaving his office.Courier: "Need help with anything?"Angela Williams: "You mean... give you work? No, that'd be up to the administrator. Hildern. He's back there in his office. Between you and me, I don't think he ever leaves. Plenty of mercs go in to see him, though." His closest associate, Angela Williams, is grateful to him for taking a chance and taking her on as lead researcher, but they are not on friendly terms otherwise. Aside from stealing credit for her work, she finds his callous attitude to human lives (ghouls included) horrifying and resolved to warn any mercs about the risks involved if Hildern won't.
She tries to avoid badmouthing her superior otherwise,Courier: "What do you think of Dr. Hildern?"Angela Williams: "The Director? He's... very well-spoken. And... knowledgeable." despite knowing she's irreplaceable. Hildern appreciates her research skills, but despises what he calls her "free spirit", mostly not keeping her concerns to herself and speaking up.
Hildern's nemesis is Keely, an ancient ghoul and a genius scientist. Despite working for Hildern as a contractor for a little over a week, Keely clashed with the director numerous times, making him look like a fool in front of various important NCR figures. Keely's contempt is rooted in her opinion: She considers Hildern a politician, a pompous little pedant,Courier: "Yes, Angela Williams asked me to come find you."
Keely: "Ah, she's such a dear. Not like that pompous little pedant she works for." rather than a scientist, and one who gets in the way of true discovery. The two are described as a pair of deathclaws when they lock horns.Courier: "How do Keely and Hildern get along?"
Angela Williams: "Like a brahmin and a deathclaw. Though I'm not sure which would be which. Bad analogy, maybe - they're both deathclaws, in their way. Keely hates Hildern. She says he's more politician than scientist, and gets in the way of true discovery. And Hildern hates Keely because... well, because every time they meet, she makes him look like an ass. In front of important people, usually."
 To Hildern, Keely is a "rotting old bitch", waging a war against the OSI in general and him in particular,Courier: "Believe whatever you want. It's the truth."
Thomas Hildern: " " especially due to her willingness to destroy data, rather than let it fall into the wrong hands.Courier: "The plants in that vault were dangerous. We destroyed the data."Thomas Hildern: " " Hildern's hands are the wrong ones, especially since Vault 22 data, if replicated without concern, could lead to a disaster.Courier: "I need those files. Dr. Hildern specifically sent me here to find them."
Keely: "Don't you realize what those files represent? If they get into the wrong hands, this could happen all over again." Hildern dismisses her concerns with his practiced smile, considering the OSI's affiliation with the NCR government as proof of competence and promising any doubters that the OSI would never cut corners and deploy a technology that wasn't fully tested.Courier: "I'd be careful with that data. You didn't see those plants in the Vault."Thomas Hildern: "Your concerns are perfectly understandable, but I assure you, they're entirely misplaced. We would never use a technology that wasn't fully tested. "(Thomas Hildern's dialogue)
==Interactions with the player character==
===Interactions overview===
===Quests===
* There Stands the Grass: Hildern sends one to Vault 22 to retrieve some data that no one else has been able to.
* You Can Depend on Me: Alice McLafferty sends the player character to deliver an invoice to Hildern.
* ED-E My Love: Talking to Hildern is one of the triggers for ED-E's first audio log.
* For Auld Lang Syne: Talking to Hildern and completing the quest in his favor is one of the triggers needed for Arcade Gannon to begin the quest.
** If the Courier chose to destroy the data in There Stands the Grass, Hildern will not offer any dialogue thus making it impossible to use this as a trigger for the quest. The same result will happen if the quest is previously completed.
===Effects of the player's actions===
* Thomas Hildern will comment on the various outcomes to That Lucky Old Sun.
** If the player completed That Lucky Old Sun having done want Fantastic wanted, Hildern will comment about how one of their contractors got HELIOS One up and running, but can't remember their name. The player can tell Hildern it was Fantastic, which he will confirm, or they can tell him it was them, which he will humor.The Courier: "Do you control the Dam from here?"Thomas Hildern: "Directly? No. But we attempt to maximize its output. You have no idea how difficult it is to provide power to an entire nation. Fortunately, we also have the HELIOS One facility. One of our external contractors recently got the station up and running."The Courier: "Fantastic."Thomas Hildern: "Yes! That was it, exactly."ORThe Courier: "No, that was me. I fixed HELIOS One."Thomas Hildern: "I... see. Of course you did. {doesn't believe the player, but humoring him.}"(Thomas Hildern's dialogue)
==Inventory==
==Notable quotes==
* 
* 
==Appearances==
Thomas Hildern appears only .
==Behind the scenes==
* Hildern's lying and manipulations are noted in several script notes, with one summarizing him as "He is completely full of shit."
* His personality, in particular the amoral approach to contractors and willingness to embezzle funds, combined with high self-esteem, coldness to others, and manipulative behavior align with the dark triad theory of personality.
==References==
Non-game
Category:Fallout: New Vegas characters
Category:Fallout: New Vegas human characters
Category:Fallout: New Vegas scientists
Category:Fallout: New Vegas NCR characters
Category:Followers of the Apocalypse characters
Category:Camp McCarran characters
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