There was plenty going on in the Commonwealth even before the events of Fallout 4. One example of this is the Broken Mask incident, which occurred long before the Sole Survivor escaped from their cryogenic sleep. It was crucial in shaping the Commonwealth’s perspective of synths — primarily for the worse.
There are multiple perspectives on the Broken Mask incident in Fallout 4. The player can read in-game texts or collect holotapes on the matter. They can also raise their affinity with Nick Valentine, who mentions the incident and can be prompted to explain more about it.
The Broken Mask Incident in Diamond City
In the year 2229, Diamond City was already a bustling settlement in the heart of the Commonwealth. Though, at the time, the town’s centerpiece wasn’t Takahashi’s Power Noodles store but a bar. It was manned by a man named Henry, who served Nuka-Colas, stiff drinks, and other such refreshments to citizens and travelers alike.
In May of that same year, a man named Mr. Carter entered Diamond City, claiming to have come from somewhere out west. According to Eustace Hawthorne — one of the few eyewitnesses who’d lived long enough to tell the story — Mr. Carter was an amicable man. He made everyone feel at ease, so when he took a seat by the central bar, many of the residents crowded around him, wanting to ask about his travels and the state of the greater Commonwealth.
Mr. Carter was happy to answer everyone’s questions. This went on for about three hours, with the crowd at the central bar, talking, drinking, and generally making merry with the kind visitor. Then suddenly, his smile disappeared. Mr. Carter’s cheek started twisting strangely, then he reached into his coat, took out his weapon, and shot the bartender, Henry, in the head. Mr. Carter showed no emotion — no surprise, nor remorse — but his cheek never stopped twitching.
After killing Henry, Mr. Carter shot three or four more before the guards tried to apprehend him. It took some time as the man never stopped shooting and was able to throw people aside effortlessly. When the guards finally killed Mr. Carter, people thought he was just a crazy man who needed to be put down — then they saw what was inside him. Mr. Carter may have looked human on the outside, but his insides were filled with plastic and metal. He was a synth, and not only that, but he was also the first hostile synth to wreak havoc in Diamond City.
Some believe that Mr. Carter was sent to Diamond City on purpose, perhaps to test how well he could blend in with real humans as well as his combat effectiveness. Others believe that the synth’s rampage was nothing more than a malfunction. The twitching cheek could have very well been proof of this. Whatever the case, Mr. Carter has left his mark on the Commonwealth and its people.
The Broken Mask Incident’s Effects on the World of Fallout 4
Since the Broken Mask incident, people have been afraid of synths, and of the Institute that was manufacturing them. This is ever-present in Diamond City, where people fear getting their loved ones taken away by synths — something which has been happening since the incident. Becky Fallon of Fallon’s Basement, for instance, had her husband taken away from her. She believed that it was the Institute’s doing and went to Diamond City security for help, but they turned her away.
Others are more afraid of synths replacing them or their family. This, too, has been happening in the Commonwealth, and the Institute uses them to keep an eye on the people. This has caused even more paranoia to spread. Take Myrna of Diamond City Surplus as an example. When the player first meets her, she is hesitant to transact with them because she doesn’t know them. They could be a synth!
While this initial conversation doesn’t have much bearing on the main story, it’s interesting to note that Myrna has plans for her anti-synth beliefs. In her personal computer terminal, the player can find entries about how Myrna intends to form a group that will push for anti-synth measures to be implemented within the city. She even has a list of suspected synths, which includes names like Mayor McDonough, Piper, and Moe Cronin (because only synths like baseball).
Outside of Diamond City, there are others who are vehemently against the existence of synths. When the player undertakes the quest “Human Error” in the town of Covenant, they can meet a scientist named Roslyn Chambers. She reveals that she and her parents were present during the Broken Mask incident and that Mr. Carter killed both her mother and father. Since then, she’s dedicated her life to creating a test that can pinpoint synths among the crowd, so that they can be extinguished permanently.
The Institute’s Side of Things
All that said, what was the reason for Mr. Carter’s rampage in that May of 2229? The answer can be found within the Institute’s lab, specifically in a box sitting in the Director’s Quarters. A holotape labeled Recording #108 reveals that Mr. Carter was merely a prototype, likely of the humanlike synths.
In the audio recording, the director of the time is lambasting another scientist named Galton, who had released the synth to the Commonwealth. The director is angry at the scientist because Mr. Carter simply wasn’t ready for field deployment. Moreover, the “screw-up” made plenty of people more cautious of the Institute, thus wasting “decades of work” that kept the organization under wraps. What happened to the director and Galton is unclear. Though it’s obvious that the Institute didn’t want the spotlight on them.
Overall, the Broken Mask incident was an extremely costly mistake for the Institute. It led to the deaths of multiple people in Diamond City, which then spurred the ever-growing anti-synth propaganda. Additionally, it threatened the Institute’s anonymity, which ultimately led to the locals viewing them as a sort of bogeyman of the Commonwealth.
Fallout 4 is available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
