The Institute

Overview

The Institute is an advanced scientific community headquartered in the Commonwealth. Falling back in that of legend and myth, there are many who still know the truth about the shadowy organization. They are best known for their creation of synthetic humans - also known as synths - humanoid artificial intelligence that are able to pass as real humans.

History

The Institute traces its origins back to before the Great War at Commonwealth Institute of Technology, a world-renowned university in Boston, Massachusetts. During the war, many CIT personnel survived by taking refuge in the underground levels of the campus. In 2110, the survivors and their children officially founded the Institute as an organization dedicated to furthering advance pre-war science.

Divisions

The Institute is divided into divisions, each one with a specific area of expertise. All divisions answer to the Directorate, a overruling body composed of the four division heads and the Director, who is the official leader of the Institute responsible for ensuring cooperating between the divisions so that the goals of the organization are met.

Advanced Systems

Advanced Systems is the division working on applied physics and advanced weaponry, as well as several classified special projects. After developing the teleportation system used by the Institute to travel throughout the Commonwealth, their current focus is the completion of Phase Three - a massive fusion reactor to provide power for the organization for the foreseeable future.

BioScience

Headed by Dr. Clayton Holdren, BioScience studies the fields of botany, genetics and medicine. They specialize in the creation of biomechanical life, bridging the gap between organic life and robotics. The division is also responsible for the health and well-being of everyone in the Institute. Currently exploring the idea of synthetic animal life, their pet project is a group of synthetic gorillas.

Facilities

As it name implies, Facilities is in charge of maintenance of and upkeep of the facilities and building as a whole. The staff is responsible for life support, security systems, power, food, and housing. Unlike the other divisions, the employees in Facilities do not have specialized work quarters.

Robotics

The Robotics division is presides over the manufacturing of synths. While their current focus in on the mass production and introduction of the 3rd Generation Synths, they are also responsible for upgrading existing synths so that they perform at optimal capacity. The long term plan of the division is to replace all 1st Generation synths with 3rd Generation counterparts.

Synth Retention Bureau

Often referred to as SRB, the Synth Retention Bureau is in charge of tracking down and retrieving escaped synths. Completely obedient 3rd Generation Synths, known as Coursers, are the field agents who operate above ground in the Commonwealth in search of the lost synths. They use "recall codes" to wipe the memories of escaped synths and bring them back to the Institute.