Office of Science and Industry

The Office of Science and Industry or OSI, is an agency operating under the aegis of the New California Republic, responsible for research and development of new technologies after breaking ties with the Followers of the Apocalypse.
==Background==
Established in 2275,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."'' the OSI, is the primary research and development agency within NCR. Formed after splitting away from the Followers of the Apocalypse, OSI focuses on finding practical applications for knowledge, rather than research for its own sake. However, many executives at the board of directors back at the organization's headquarters,The 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) still hold the old ideals close to their heart. This reverence for old ideas, such as the notion of a society of equals, are considered obstacles by more ambitious members of OSI, like Thomas Hildern.The Courier: "Doesn't sound like a good place for a person of ambition."Thomas Hildern: " "(Thomas Hildern's dialogue)
The OSI focuses on several fields of research and is the leading technological edge of the Republic. They research and develop practical sciences, such as medicine, engineering, biology, etc.The Courier: "Tell me more about the OSI."Thomas Hildern: "The Office of Science and Industry. That's a rather expansive topic. I could talk for hours, but I'm sure I'd bore you. Suffice to say, we are the leading edge of the NCR. Our work focuses on practical matters. Medicine, engineering, biology. The Dam, for instance. OSI routes its energy supply to our cities in the west. That's only one responsibility of this office."(Thomas Hildern's dialogue) The OSI also provides access to higher education, making it one of the only groups outside the Brotherhood, Institute, or the Followers capable of such a feat.The Courier: "What do you think of Dr. Hildern?"Angela Williams: ""The Courier: "Hildern mentioned the Followers of the Apocalypse..."Angela Williams: "My father used say good things about them, but that was years ago... back when they'd teach farmers and ranchers about crop rotation and the like. Nowadays... they've changed. They're doing what they can to discredit the NCR, give us a bad name with the locals. Dr. Hildern trained with them, years ago. Not me, though. I'm an OSI girl."(Angela Williams' dialogue)
Priorities depend on the specific branch: OSI East is primarily focusing on optimizing the power output of Hoover Dam and other local energy production facilities,The Courier: "Are you a scientist?"Angela Williams: "I know I don't sound the part. Get raised by brahmin ranchers, and you never lose the twang. Drives Hildern crazy. But I know every inch of the power grid from Hoover Dam to Shady Sands. That's what we do here - try to optimize the power output from the Dam. Some of the others are working on an agricultural project, but... truth be told, they aren't making much progress. Not yet, anyway."(Angela Williams' dialogue) supporting the sharecroppers by calculating proper water rations,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)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." and other projects. Unofficially, the director of OSI East is also tackling the problem of food shortages.The 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)The 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)
These food shortages have been determined by the OSI as likely to occur in the next decade (around 2291), due to the rise in population and a lack of a significant increase in food production. The NCR government understands the threats and supports such proactive thought, although military applications are prioritized due to the ongoing war with the Caesar's Legion. As such, while the OSI receives the lion's share of funding, it's primarily allocated to supporting the war effort, with medical sciences underfunded by comparison.Courier: "How long have you been with the Followers?"Emily Ortal: "About five years now. I have family back in Arroyo, but this is where all of the good work is being done, so to speak. NCR taxes and inflation have been hard for a lot of people to deal with, and most of the money is going to the war effort. There's not much funding for medical research with OSI or any other group - not unless it has a military application, anyway."
==Organization==
OSI branches are divided depending on their locations. The main branch, OSI Central, is located in Shady Sands in New California. The OSI facility in Camp McCarran, Mojave Wasteland, is the headquarters of OSI East. Branches are managed by Directors of Operations, subordinated to the Board of Directors at OSI Central. The Board sets policy and priorities for the entire OSI, and takes note of any significant discoveries. The process for nominating board members is not specified, although the President of the NCR has some influence.
Wages at OSI are considered fair, though not a path to riches.Courier: "No. Hildern didn't mention anyone else."Angela Williams: "But now he's hired you. Which means one of two things. Either he heard back from Keely, and she failed, or he's given up on her. Listen. I make a fair wage, but I'm not rich, not by any means. Maybe my kind of money wouldn't appeal to your average merc. But I'm willing to pay you, if you'll find Keely and make sure she's safe. Isn't right leaving her out there, no idea if she's alive or dead." Payment is more competitive for external contractors, and OSI usually provides additional benefits.Courier: "Depends. How much are you paying?"
Thomas Hildern: "Ha ha! A mercenary, is that it? You won't be disappointed, I promise you. The Office of Science and Industry provides highly competitive benefits. So... how about I tell you what we need, and then you can tell me whether you're up to it? No pressure, of course."
 In general, the OSI relies heavily on outside contractors, not just for research work, but routine shipping of equipment: Instead of using military transports, it outsources such deliveries to the Crimson Caravan Company.Crimson Caravan invoice
Many of the executives remain loyal to the old Follower ideals, with independent research not only sanctioned, but encouraged. As such, skilled researchers enjoy a degree of immunity, especially when raising concerns with peers and contractors alike.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) Directors like Hildern consider this to be a lack of direction and want to reorganize OSI in a more regimented way, keeping junior researchers in line to focus research in particular directions. 
The loose organization gives Directors a significant amount of leeway, for example, in requesting personnel,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." addressing complaints related to ongoing OSI projects (including outright dismissing them as mere excuses for incompetence),The 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) and managing branch funds. As the accounts are separate from the government's, this allows for flexibility at the risk of embezzlement.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) 
===Corruption===
The lack of accountability allows ambitious individuals to manipulate the OSI for their own gain: Despite claims to the contrary, Director Hildern doesn't engage in scientific research,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." simply taking credit for Angela Williams' work on the Hoover Dam project. This fact is a public secret at OSI. What's not publicly known is that Hildern's pursuit of a seat at OSI Central has led him to send multiple contractors to their deaths.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." 
Hoping to find a solution to the projected famine and elevate himself, Hildern continued to hire mercenaries to find the source of the floral growth at Vault 22 ever since its discovery 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." All of them have been offered handshake deals without filing the proper paperwork and signing contracts,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: "" including release forms required from contractors.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. " He treats them as expendable tools, steps on the way to power,The Courier: "I'll think about it, and maybe I'll be back."Thomas Hildern: ""(Thomas Hildern's dialogue) and doesn't think twice about stealing credit for their work either.Courier: "Glad to be of service."
Thomas Hildern: ""
The OSI lacks oversight, but it doesn't sanction such activities: Hildern is fully aware that he's embezzling funds earmarked for contract work, which would have severe consequences if the Army learned of the fact. As such, Hildern is ready to use his entire contracting budget as a bribe, to buy a contractor's silence and advance himself at the expense of the OSI.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."
==Appearances==
The Office of Science and Industry appears only in Fallout: New Vegas. The division is also mentioned in the Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide.
==References==
Non-game
Category:Post-War associations
Category:New California Republic
ru:Бюро науки и производства
de:Amt für Wissenschaft und Industrie
es:Departamento de Ciencia e Industria