| Fort Baxter Air Base | |
|---|---|
| |
| Appearance(s): | Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories |
| Location: | Escobar International, Vice City |
| Controlled by: | Military |
Fort Baxter Air Base is a military base that appears in both Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories. The military installation is located on a peninsular bordering the grounds of Escobar International Airport to the south. The base is primarily located in the Escobar International district in Vice City, while in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, it's located in it's own independent district, simply as Fort Baxter.
Description
The military base is a multirole installation that provides accommodation and training for recruits. The base also stores various military equipment, mostly military vehicles, and serve as a operations center for military deployments from Vice City. In both Vice City and Vice City Stories, the base contains barracks, huge hangers, large military tents, and a large administration building. The layout of the buildings inside the base differ in both games, although the base still maintains it's large square layout area.
Security
- -Main article: Military
Soldiers and a Rhino at Fort Baxter
The Military itself provides protection for the base, and the only place in the game where they can be found. There is a large number of soldiers armed with M4s guarding the area making it extremely dangerous to gain access into the base. The soldiers don't tolerate trespassing at the base, and will attack Tommy Vercetti if he is seen inside the base. Its also worth noting that soldiers not only spawn inside the base, but can also be found outside as well, and will still attack player even though they aren't technically trespassing on the base itself, and regardless whether or not the player is armed. The soldiers also behave as a hostile gang, so attacking one soldier will cause any soldiers in the immediate area to attack the player. For this reason, extreme caution should be used when in the area. Soldiers will also kill any gangs found inside and around the base.
The player can enter the base freely if they are wearing the cop outfit, allowing the player to easily get inside and access the vehicles within. However, the player should be careful as attacking soldiers while wearing the outfit will still cause all soldiers within the same vicinity to attack the player, so the outfit doesn't grant complete immunity from attack. Another strange note is that soldiers will never participate in law enforcement activity. If the player enters the grounds of Fort Baxter with a wanted level, only cops outside the base will enter and try arresting or killing the player.
In Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, the behavior of the soldiers remains the same. However, they will only attack Victor Vance if he should trespass within the walls of the base, as soldiers are never seen outside of the base. However, just like in Vice City, Victor can avoid being attacked if he's wearing the army fatigues, a similar outfit to the cop.
Appearances
GTA Vice City
The base plays no prominent role in Vice City's storyline, serving more as a curiosity for players who are exploring the city.
The layout of the base is summarized as it follows: the base is square in shape, with a large tan wall surrounding the area. The base's main courtyard is located directly behind the main entrance, with the administration building situated along the western wall. The base's military hangers can be found sitting in the southeastern portion of the base, while two military barracks buildings can be found north of this. Also in this area is a military training and obstacle course. These facilities are separated by fences, which can only be crossed by walking around them or finding a gate. Three tall and heavy reinforced guard towers can be seen in the compound; two located at the base entrance and one in the center of the entire base.
Except for one behind the main sign, there are no hidden packages located within the base. The player can also find a body armor and an M-60 machine gun, one in each of the front guard towers.
GTA Vice City Stories
Set two years earlier, the internal layout of the base has been redesigned. Early in the game, corporal Victor Vance was stationed at the base (living in a barracks) until is dishonorable discharge, when Sergeant Peppah found marijuana hidden under Victor's bed. After re-unlocking the Army Fatigues, the player can enter the base at any time and gets the same treatment as he did when he was in the army, that includes aiming at the soldiers and killing them until the limit of 3 is reached and then every new set of soldiers spawning will start shooting at him.
The layout of the base has been virtually redone, providing the player easier accessibility around the base. Six newly designed barracks are laid out in two rows on the northeastern and southeastern sides of the base, while three hangers, with one being accessible, are sandwiched between the barracks. An infirmary, where a health pickup can be found, is located in the barrack in the southeastern corner of the base. A warehouse is also placed on the west side of the southeastern barracks. The only building in the base, in which it's position hasn't been unaltered is the administration building. The building received cosmetic improvements, with redesigned facades and furnishing on the roof (featuring massive satellite dishes and a radio communications tower).
In addition, security at the main entrance of the base is more substantial and cannot be broken through. The breakable pole gate that was featured in Vice City is replaced by two large indestructible steal gates that will only open to the player if the player is while wearing the appropriate uniform, and newly improved guardhouse. The watchtowers at the base are also generally smaller and less bulky in design.
Military vehicles can also be found spawning inside the base and are available at the start of the game as the player starts on the side of the city that the base is located in. The only exception is the Rhino, which is available to the player after completing "Last Stand".
Ghost Tower
- -Main article: Ghost Tower
In the beta version of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Fort Baxter had its own runway air control tower. Before the games release, the editors decided to take out the runway and its tower and replaced it with a road that leads up to the airbase. Even though the tower is gone, it can still be seen in the distance from Washington Beach as well as the old layout of the map. This tower can still be seen in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories through the same manner.
Vehicles
GTA Vice City
- Rhino (unlocked after collecting 90 hidden packages.)
- Hunter (unlocked after collecting all the hidden packages)
- Barracks OL (x2) - two located in the same area the the Rhino is located. One at the entrance and one in the back. (PC version only)
- Patriot - one located in the same area as the Barracks OLs. (PC version only)
GTA Vice City Stories
- Barracks OL
- Patriot (2 are available until Conduct Unbecoming, then only one will spawn)
- Green Mesa Grande
- Green Streetfighter (available until after the mission Conduct Unbecoming)
- Rhino (locked until after completing Last Stand)