Exploring the eastern coast of the Commonwealth in Fallout 4 often leads players to unexpected encounters and fascinating side stories. One of the most unique side quests in the game is Here There Be Monsters, which introduces players to a lingering remnant of the Great War. Completing this mission provides valuable insight into the pre-war era alongside useful strategic rewards.
How to Start the Quest at the Boston Docks
To begin this quest, travel to the docks behind the Shamrock Taphouse near the eastern harbor of Boston. You will notice a young boy named Donny Kowalski looking through a telescope at a strange sea monster in the water. Speaking with Donny updates your map and points you toward the mysterious object submerged in the harbor bay.
Swim out toward the periscope sticking out of the ocean water to discover that the creature is actually a Chinese submarine named the Yangtze. Enter the vessel through the hatch on top of the hull to step inside the long-abandoned warship. Once inside, you will meet the ship's captain, Captain Zao, who remains peaceful despite his ghoulified condition.
Assisting Captain Zao with Vessel Repairs
Captain Zao explains that his submarine has been trapped in the harbor since the nuclear bombs fell two centuries ago. He requests your assistance in gathering critical replacement parts so he can finally sail back home to China. Your primary objective involves securing a dampening coil located nearby in the Saugus Ironworks region.
You must navigate through the hostile raiders occupying Saugus Ironworks to retrieve the necessary dampening coil from their stronghold. Additionally, Captain Zao asks you to retrieve a nuclear warhead stored deeper inside the submarine itself to power the engines. Navigating the lower decks requires caution, as hostile glowing ghouls guard the inner corridors.
Resolving the Lower Deck Threat and Completing Repairs
Carefully eliminate the feral crew members inside the submarine's lower compartments to access the warhead storage area safely. Radiation levels can rise quickly in these flooded sections, so equipping RadAway or power armor is highly recommended. Once you collect the nuclear warhead, return to the upper level and install both components into the reactor system.
Speak with Captain Zao after installing the components to finalize the repair process and receive your rewards. He thanks you for your assistance and grants you tactical homing beacons that call down targeted strike missiles from the submarine. You can also negotiate for additional caps or his unique sword as a bonus reward for your effort.
Rewards and Key Takeaways from the Mission
Completing this quest awards significant experience points alongside three rare tactical homing beacons for ambient artillery support. Throwing one of these beacons outdoors signals the Yangtze to launch a powerful nuclear missile at target locations. This unique ability serves as an excellent tactical asset during challenging open-air combat encounters across the Commonwealth.
Beyond the tangible rewards, Here There Be Monsters stands out as one of the most memorable historical storylines in the game. Helping Captain Zao offers a rare humanized perspective on the conflict that shaped the post-apocalyptic world. It provides a satisfying conclusion to a long-forgotten story arc from the nuclear war.