At the end of Fallout season two, we head back to the Brotherhood for the first time in quite a few episodes. In this Fallout season two finale post-credits scene, we see a Quintus who has definitively chosen violence. Granted, he didn’t try the alternative for very long, but hey, what’s Fallout without Brotherhood of Steel problems? Quintus has brought out the plans for a superweapon on Fallout, a weapon whose name Fallout game fans might recognize, at least in part. Let’s learn more about Fallout‘s Liberty Prime robot, the nuke-throwing, commie-hating, laser-shooting mad lad… And then ponder what Liberty Prime Alpha might be in the Fallout TV series world. Join us.
What Is Liberty Prime in Fallout‘s Games? And Who Originally Built It?
In the Fallout games, well—once he opens his mouth, you can probably guess for yourself—good ‘ol Liberty Prime has such classic catchphrases as “Death is a preferable alternative to communism!” That’s right, homegrown Americana. That robot there is a patriot! Even if the United States military was never actually able to get the damn thing working.
But what is Liberty Prime in Fallout‘s world? In collaboration with General Atomics International and RobCo, Liberty Prime was originally built to push back the People’s Republic of China from the front in Alaska. Liberty Prime was the ultimate weapon, a giant combat robot designed to crush its opponents. At a height of 100 feet, Liberty Prime was designed to catch nuclear bombs and toss them at opponents like a football. It was supposed to be equipped with energy beams and endless explosives. Unfortunately, while ambitions were great for Liberty Prime, no one was able to figure out how to supply a machine that’s Kaiju-size with a reliable amount of power for any length of time. When the bombs dropped in Fallout‘s world, Liberty Prime was sitting in the Pentagon, as of yet unused,
Liberty Prime’s Appearances in the Fallout Games and Its Connection to The Brotherhood
Now, with Quintus’ secret project revealed, all uses of Liberty Prime have been by the Brotherhood on Fallout. Liberty Prime has appeared on Fallout 3, Fallout 4, and now on the Fallout TV series. Let’s take a deeper look at all of Liberty Prime’s appearances in Fallout‘s history
Liberty Prime in Fallout 3: Liberty Prime, Dr. Li, and Project Purity
Many moons ago, a Brotherhood chapter left the West Coast to travel across the country and establish itself on the East Coast, in Washington DC. The Brotherhood set up shop in the Pentagon, clearing rubble and cleaning out the place of the various monsters that had moved in over the centuries. In the heart of the Pentagon, the Brotherhood hit the jackpot in Fallout 3: a giant goddamn battle robot—yes, Liberty Prime! And that’s the kind of stuff the Brotherhood really gets out of bed for. They immediately began work on Liberty Prime in Fallout, determined to learn how it worked and how such a large machine could have a compact enough power source to be viable.
Project Purity Led to The Brotherhood Resolving Liberty Prime’s Issues on Fallout
This chapter of the Brotherhood was different from the others for a number of reasons. While its initial goal was the same as that of the West Coast chapters—secure, contain, and protect pre-war technology—upon their arrival in DC, Elder Owyn Lyons realized just how badly the region needed help. Help the Brotherhood could provide. Super Mutants, Centaurs, and Feral Ghouls had overrun the DC ruins, making most of the city impossible to pass through. Life was just barely clung to in the Capital Wasteland.
So help they did—this Brotherhood chapter deemed their new headquarters the Citadel, and began trying to turn the tide in DC. This was so out of character for the Brotherhood of Steel at the time that a separatist faction broke off, naming themselves the Outcasts and insisting they were focused on the Brotherhood’s true mission, while Lyons was faffing about with ‘the savages’. Part of the Lyons Brotherhood’s attempt to make the Capital Wasteland livable was Project Purity. They’d made a deal with the scientists attempting to build a water purifier in the Jefferson Memorial. They would protect them, and help them distribute the purified water should the project come to fruition. In exchange, the Brotherhood got guaranteed shipments of the clean water for themselves.
Through a series of unfortunate incidents, Project Purity was put on hold for twenty years. In 2277, an attempt by the lead scientist, his child (the Lone Wanderer), and Dr. Madison Li was made to resume the operation. When the Enclave seized control of the purifier, still not functioning, they killed the lead scientist. Dr. Li, the Lone Wanderer, and the rest of the survivors from Project Purity fled to the nearby Citadel to regroup. Dr. Li was a generational talent, and in barely any time at all, she was able to solve Liberty Prime’s power issues.
Liberty Prime Was an Incredible Weapon and Helped The Brotherhood Defeat The Enclave
When the Lone Wanderer returned from Vault 87 with the Garden of Eden Creation Kit, the key to saving Project Purity on Fallout 3, Liberty Prime was ready to go. The Brotherhood of Steel sent out a special unit called Lyons’ Pride—captained by Owyn Lyons’ daughter Sarah Lyons—along with the Lone Wanderer, and Liberty Prime. For the first time, Liberty Prime was used in a live combat situation.
It worked, if you’re wondering. It worked REAL good. The Enclave were sent packing, at least from DC and its immediate surroundings. Over the next few months, the Brotherhood would defeat them at almost every turn—except for one. Unbeknownst to the Brotherhood at the time, the Enclave had access to a missile platform, located at their headquarters, Adams Airforce Base. Due to this, Liberty Prime was destroyed at an Enclave satellite relay station. This happens in front of the player character during the events of Broken Steel, one of the five DLC available for Fallout 3.
Liberty Prime in Fallout 4: Maxson’s Brotherhood and the Liberty Prime Mark II
Fast-forward ten years to 2287 and Fallout 4. If the Sole Survivor decides to throw in their lot with the Brotherhood, eventually Elder Maxson will request that you help fix Liberty Prime in order for it to be redeployed, but this time against the Institute.
Aside from collecting the things that Liberty Prime needs to get its second chance and an upgrade in Fallout 4, you’re also sent to collect the most important thing of all—Dr. Li, who has been missing since the successful launch of Project Purity. Dr. Li took up a standing offer from the Institute after the fact, and was never seen in the Capital Wasteland again. She can be found working as a division head for Advanced Systems in the Institute, once the player character gains access to the subterranean retreat.
It Seems Only Dr. Li Knows How to Fix Liberty Prime in Fallout‘s World
It is not easy to convince Dr. Li to go back to the Brotherhood and fix Liberty Prime in Fallout 4, especially now that Elder Maxson is in charge, rather than Elder Lyons. Maxson is in his twenties, a dangerous mixture of zealous and callous. The DC chapter has been under his control for some time, since Sarah Lyons was killed in action. Needless to say, her father’s been gone for years. He had to at least be in his seventies during the events of Fallout 3.
So we’re left with Arthur Maxson, descendant of the Brotherhood’s founder, Roger Maxson. His blood isn’t considered royal per se, but his name will always hold weight in the Brotherhood. And Arthur Maxson needs that big fucking robot, which means YOU need to talk to Dr. Li and get her to fix Liberty Prime in Fallout 4. She’ll be resistant, but with a high enough Charisma stat, all things are possible. Or you can just threaten her. Either way, you bring her back to Boston Airport, where the Brotherhood is headquartered in the Commonwealth.
Liberty Prime Returns to the Action in Fallout 4
With Li’s help, you can get Liberty Prime back online for round two in Fallout 4, this time to fight against the Institute instead of the Enclave. Liberty Prime blows open a hole into the Institute and allows the Brotherhood to stream in, taking out scientist and synth alike as they destroy the Institute once and for all. They’re the only fascists allowed in this neighborhood! The Institute aren’t as evil as the Enclave, but they’re still super-duper bad, and the Brotherhood is kind of justified in wanting to smash it all to bits. Still, it was a tremendous waste of advanced technology that could have been used to truly get humanity back on its feet in a lasting way.
Fallout Season 2’s Post-Credit Scene Reveals Liberty Prime Alpha
Anyhow, given that the Brotherhood APPARENTLY still has Liberty Prime… or at least a version of it. In the Fallout season two finale post-credits scene, we see The Brotherhood has plans for Liberty Prime Alpha. Liberty Prime Alpha is not a phrase we’ve heard before. So, we’ll be curious to see if this is just a fancy new way of referring to the Liberty Prime robot. Or whether Liberty Prime Alpha is something else altogether in the Fallout series. It looks like General Atomics International and RobCo are still involved. And could The Commonwealth Brotherhood have a role to play here?
Showrunner Geneva Robertson-Dworet told Nerdist, “Quintus tried a Civil War in order to gain power. Nothing will stop this man. Liberty Prime Alpha is one of the most powerful weapons in the Wasteland. What would he be willing to do with it in order to empower himself further and guarantee his own success? I’m scared to think about it, and I hope viewers are as well.”
So—what will Liberty Prime’s directive be now? I’m eager to find out. Next season can’t come soon enough.