Version
This article is for the PC version of Stellaris only.
Event chains
Hidden Vault is a lengthy and highly interactive colony event chain that has a very small chance to trigger 4 years after any colony has been founded. It can only happen once per game.
Hidden Vault
During a standard reconnaissance of [colony name], the planetary exploration unit came across a massive door that apparently leads directly into the interior of a mountain range. It appears that the strong magnetic field produced by some sort of cloaking device hid it from our ship's sensors, and the camouflaged entrance remained invisible to the autonomous research probes mapping the surface.
On the other hand, more specialized tests have shown that delivering a steady stream of energy should make the door operational again, eventually allowing us to open it and see what's inside.
Trigger conditions:
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Mean time to happen:
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 Provide the energy. | |
Darkness Awaits
As energy flowed through the circuits, the entrance came online, and with additional tinkering, we quickly discovered how the door worked. Additional topographical research revealed the interior to be a large underground vault. Alien infrastructure covered every square centimeter of the walls - even the huge pillars supporting the ceiling showed faint energy signatures. Given the energy readings and vague similarities to our technology, it appears to be an underground manufacturing facility.
Trigger conditions:
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Mean time to happen:
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We will learn it secrets.
We can't risk it, place explosives. | |
Mountain Blast!
 Those far from the vault could feel the ground shake. Those closer could see a large chunk of the mountainside fly off into the air, creating a huge crater filled with rocks, debris, and twisted machinery. A quick guess as to what could have gone wrong led to the conclusion that a chain reaction was set in motion inside the vault when the initial explosion breached the door.
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Disappearances!
 The initial phase of research on [colony name] was largely focused on mapping the entrance. The first room within the vault is a giant hall, stretching deep into the mountain, with several branching corridors pushing even further into the depths. Various ornate plaques decorate stone chiseled pillars, each depicting the alien race that presumably built this place. We can't decipher their language, but the story told by those art pieces are centered on warfare, struggle, and grandiose projects.
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Workers Rescued
 Given the enormous search team, it didn't take long to find the missing workers. The last of them were discovered trapped in a square prison-like structure made of articulated and self-moving walls. It appears that the security systems within the vault are still operational. Given this, we will be more prepared to counter such contraptions in the future. Nonetheless, the population is angry that the workers were not provided with proper safety measures in the first place.
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Workers Found
One of our security teams reports that the missing workers have been found. It turns out that this vault still has operational traps and devices that were programmed to trap unwanted visitors within "boxes" comprised of dislocated and moving walls.
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Workers Found
The missing workers were found in a grotesque contraption that imprisoned them between four movable walls. Unfortunately, these individuals are no longer of any use to the empire, but at least their sacrifice revealed the existence of the trap. Work continues without any further disturbances.
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Remembrance Hall
We delved into the corridors at [colony name] and discovered a large hall, which is strangely devoid of the pipe machines covering every other hallway and wall. It looks like whoever built this place took special care of it - there are many statues here in excellent condition, depicting bipedal individuals. With some traces of detail they have mostly a uniform appearance. Unfortunately, there is no evidence of what this hall was, other than some monumental tribute to probably historical figures.
Earthquake Incoming!
Our seismographs have detected an impending earthquake on [colony name]. Most of the workers have found safety, but one group is in a remote hall that could be at risk of collapse. They reported two distinct, ancient machines there - one being a bulky contraption connected to the ground, and the other attached to the walls via a series of pipes. We can't say if they are anything important for the facility. The workers have estimated that may be possible to use one of those machines to reinforce the ceiling and walls against the quake.
Trigger conditions:
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Mean time to happen:
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Use wall pipes. Use the bulky one.   Rely on their expertise. The hive will find solution. | |
Hasty Construction
Our workers were able to properly assess the situation and managed to repair and strengthen the supports without destroying the ancient machinery.
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Safe and Sound
Our workers managed to disassemble the machinery and have successfully bolstered the strength of the supports and ceiling. However, this effort exposed extensive piping in the walls, from which a hissing noise escapes. Right now, it's impossible to assess the potential losses.
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New Approach
Gathering the sense impressions of various drones, a better solution was found: the hall has been strengthened to a safe degree at the cost of a few menial drones.
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Insight
Our exploration on [colony name] finally yielded some insights. Our first assessment turned out to be correct. The vault is in fact a giant foundry. Further analysis of the alien language reveals that it was referred to as a King-Forge. However, the Forge was never operational - its builders apparently lacked the technology to see the project through to completion.
It should be possible for us to finish their work as long as we can get into the heart of the foundry. Although the way is blocked by heavy doors, our engineers insist they can be overcome. However, as the doors don't have any obvious locking or opening mechanisms, a certain application of force will be required before we can proceed.
Trigger conditions:
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Mean time to happen:
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Open the doors gently. Blast the doors.   Examine the doors more. Look for other routes. Drill through the doors. | |
Meditation
Whether by luck or divine intervention, the same door that blocked the way forward responded to our morning rituals: a faint harmonic resonance was detected, a resonance we were eventually able to manipulate. The correct set of gestures made in front of a small marking that concealed the lens of a camera ensured that we gained unobstructed entry.
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Gas
After forcing the doors, the machinery covering the walls started to leak hazardous gas. Unfortunately, this happened too quickly, and the result was further casualties. The entire facility needed to be evacuated, and will have to be left for some time before we can safely reenter.
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Third Way
After additional research, we quickly recognized something in the door that served as a security camera or scanner. Hacking into it was a more difficult task, but we were able to decipher its programming and basic functions - thus gaining access to the door without further complication.
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Foundry Heart
The heart of the foundry on [colony name] is a twisted machine room full of pipes, conveyor belts, and what looks like workstations. Our initial scan and a quick survey revealed that power, maintenance, and key systems are missing. It also looks like our exploration of the vault may have some effect on the internal workings of the machine. We can try to repair it, though it will be time consuming - we can always set up a scrapyard and dismantle the entire machine.
Trigger conditions:
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Mean time to happen:
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Dismantle.
Repair it.
 Repairing it is our duty.
   Fix and learn.
  It will serve the hive.
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Powered Up
Energy flows through the hungry machines on [colony name]. With a deafening roar, the pipes began to transport the liquefied minerals, brightening and heating the entire facility. The raw materials were delivered to the workstations where operators can form them into alloys of the desired shape and density. It looks like every part of the foundry was made with just this one purpose in mind. Even the pillars have more to do than support the ceiling.
Trigger conditions:
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Is triggered only by:
Finishing the Power Up Foundry special project |
Go on. | |
Work Conditions
There is some concern that toxic gases are building up in the main chamber of the [colony name] vault. The gas is non-lethal, but it can be hazardous to anything that operates workstations. If we want to make full use of this place, we should put some safety measures in place.
Recycling Center
The [colony name] foundry has a dedicated recyclable processing chamber that uses post-production waste to increase production efficiency. It might be beneficial for us to get it up and running again.
More or Less?
Work on the [colony name] foundry is almost complete, but there are still places where we could improve on the original design and work. It is estimated that by increasing the amount of minerals input, we could increase the production of the alloy.
Grand Opening!
It's finished! The foundry on [colony name] is fully operational, perhaps not like its original Builders designed it, but it's still a sight to behold, and a more-than-efficient way to produce alloys. All that's left is to reap the rewards of our determination and ingenuity.
Trigger conditions:
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Mean time to happen:
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Great day!
Good.
 We need an overseer.
 Appoint executive.
   What about the Builders?
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