"The Commonwealth itself is nothing but a war-ravaged quagmire of violence and despair."

The year is 2287, and The Commonwealth stands at a crossroads. The Sole Survivor of Vault 111 has not emerged, remaining frozen in Cryogenic stasis deep within underground Vault above Sanctuary Hills. But the story of the Commonwealth goes on without them.

Deep below the ruins of CIT, The Institute exists sealed in its pristine environment, producing marvels of technology that most people could only dream about. The greatest of their creations, is the Synths: manufactured humans which are indistinguishable from the real thing. Fear of infiltration by these synthetic humans has put many in the Commonwealth in a state of panic, and The Institute is widely dreaded as both a source of terror, and mystery.

Across the Commonwealth, Brotherhood of Steel recon teams scout the region, reporting their findings back to The Capital Wasteland. While their presence is currently limited, reports of The Institute, their synths, and of the Commonwealth mutants have concerned Elder Arthur Maxson, and he has opted to take personal charge of a major offensive operation. The Prydwen has been dispatched along with a fleet of supporting vertibirds and enough manpower and materials to launch what is perhaps the most ambitious military expedition ever conducted by the Brotherhood of Steel: days away from arrival to the Commonwealth.

Within their hidden headquarters meanwhile, The Railroad seeks to free the Synths from the clutches of The Institute, and from the Brotherhood of Steel too if necessary. Reports of the Brotherhood's imminent arrival has distressed Railroad operatives, and soon they might find themselves caught in the middle of a three-way fight. A fight they must win or everything they stand for will mean nothing.

Other groups in the Commonwealth eck out an existence as the looming war approaches. Diamond City remains the 'great green jewel' of the Commonwealth and its largest city, while the outcasts of Goodneighbor continue to do their own thing: and proud of it. The residents of Vault 81 do what they can to maintain their vault and continue their way of life in a vault which has stood the test of time thus far. Rumors of the famed Minutemen returning have begun to spread as well, along with scattered reports of a presence at the Castle. The Gunners, cutthroat mercenaries they are, continue to make their presence known with some of the best firepower short of the Brotherhood. And various raider groups, such as The Scorned and The Forged, continue to be a plague on the peace and sanity of the people of the Commonwealth.

How will the story of The Commonwealth unfold? The choices are up to you.