Tali with three freighters moved to the 'civilised' planet. The planet used to house millions before the Reapers took it over. Now the question was what happened to the people. From the Intel Ashley had given, was more or less accurate as recent reports from the planets just showed what she had said. Few survivors and plenty of salvage her team of engineers where ready for anything.
OOOOO
John looked at the latest report, the population was being to have problems across the different sectors. Food, production and everything in between, this was a problem. Even the condition's in the sector settlements where falling. But as he looked at the report, one of the suggestions was there was large sections in China that where still habitable. This was an idea, creating multiple cities where everyone could be policed was the best idea. That it would also encourage community and set a capitol for his empire.
He stroked his chin as stubble began to appear due to a lack of shaving. China and Europe where both badly affected from the attack but area's where still ok like the rest of the world. He didn't want to use Africa as the continent had it bad and could use a few good years without human intervention. He leaned back, the sectors which produced food was mostly in Eurasia a good place if they planed to move to China.
Leaning back in his chair he just looked at the screen thinking. If they where planning to move they needed to salvage and clear an area of the nation. Sighing, he then issued his orders. Chose the best province of China, salvage what they could before setting the foundations for a city. With that he relaxed. Sighing he got up and went for a shower.
OOOOO
In the gym Ashley and Miranda where doing a bit of a workout. Miranda was doing some push ups while Ash was doing a bit of running on a treadmill. She looked to the Science officer before hitting the stop on the machine and walked over to her and looked at her.
"Yes?" Miranda said.
"I need some fashion advice." Ash said almost making Miranda fall. "Why?" she asked as she moved to a seated position.
"I have no fashion sense, and while uniforms are ok they are not good for social occasions."
"Ah, right. Well once the city is built we can go shopping."
"Wait." Ash did a double take. "City? What city?"
Miranda looked at her for a moment before hitting her head. "Right, yeah you didn't get the message. John ordered for a city to built somewhere in China, as such plans where sent to me to overlook."
"Ah ok, thanks Miranda." she said before leaving making the science officer look at her with a raised brow.
Ever since that dream she had Ashley had been very self-conscious around Miranda and Liara. When she talked to them her face slowly turned red and she noticed the thing about them that she never realised. Miranda's cute smile and the way how Liara can be nivie about humans, she found it attractive. In a way she found it embarrassing she never considered herself bisexual but those kisses may have done something to her and she didn't know what to think.
"Ash, please come to the captains quarters." EDI's voice echoed.
"Ok," she said stopping and took a deep breath. "Calm down and relax."
She then walked over to the lift and rode up to the cabin and walked in. inside was Liara and John sitting by his desk.
"Ash take a seat please." Liara said and Ash did. "I just brought some problems to John's attention."
"Yeah, multiple problems such as the Asari and tanks."John said as he slouched in his chair.
"Why Asari?" Ashley asked.
"Liara has pointed out something that I didn't consider. The asari live long lives and when they reach maturity are able to have children early on, but that's not the point. They only produce asari no matter who they have children with. While there is a majority of people on earth are human the second are mostly asari." John said.
"Asari are natural xenophiles, as such we seek to mate with other races for new genetic material. You can see the problem." Liara said.
"Yeah." Ash said as she stroked her chin. "In no time the Asari would be the dominate race on earth. Sounds like we need to restrict asari children."
"I don't want to admit it but I agree. I would suggest one child for each asari at least until we start colonising and have a stable population."
"I agree, I mean I don't like it but still." Ash muttered.
"I know I feel the same way but the thing is the lifespan, if anything it will hopefully not be an issue. Hopefully, but other then that we have another problem military might, while we may be able to salvage makos and other tanks but it will not be enough. With the ME AK's it would be the best idea to salvage tanks from Russia, China and North Korea. Well the ones from the abandoned bunkers, but then we can always repuropse them, if not for war machines then at least construction ones." John said then looked at Ash. "What was the situation in North Korea during the war?"
Ash took a sharp breath and leaned back. "Not too sure, all I know is that alliance forces and part of the Chinese defence group moved in to help. However from what I know was that the Reapers landed in South Korea due to the tech and production they had, it's possible that Kim jun Sung survived but we have no idea. We have sent people in but from what we heard most of the buildings where intact but abandoned, given their…. Ahem history they likely left the people to die while the rest are in Pyongyang." Ash said making John nod.
"Ok, it maybe best if we send groups into Pyongyang first to establish if anyone is alive. After that we can set up command and control in the city and begin scavenging operations."
"Agreed, Liara?" Ash asked.
"I agree too, we do have makos at command so we can use them." Liara said.
"Then it's agreed, I'll get the orders sent. By the way, what's peoples problem with scavengers?"
As he said that the two looked at each other for a good moment before nodding. "Well, that's a little hard to explain, the horror of war is one thing but the emptiness of space is another. After the war people where cut off and ships where drifting. We had food shortages in the early days as the Reapers took them out early on. As such those on space stations and ships had to resort to..." Liara trembled at the thought.
"Eating each other." Ash continued. "They had too like savages, they where cut off from the rest of the galaxy. In the end they slowly changed to semi mindless cannibals. Only a few had their minds remain. Eezo exposure, it may create a node for people to control the stuff but it can also, cause the mind to fall apart. But those who have biotics where more or less immune so the Asari more or less control them. However they are split up into different clans, each scavenger clan has it's own policy's and take prisoners as slaves and… food."
John just remained silent for a good five minutes before speaking again. "Shit, ok every transport, civilian, cargo, military, secret or not will have a military escort. No questions, at least until we stop them."
Ash and Liara nodded at that.
OOOOO sector 15 South Korea, Seoul.
Before the war South Korea was a prosperous city of research, technology and advancement as a ruin like all the other cities. However unlike some other cities the survivors camped outside the cities perimeter in makeshift tents and structures made from wood and steel. A few shops, and bars where made using wood and steel as was the local military command. Inside the local team leaders where gathered for an upcoming mission. They didn't have to wait long as a male commander walked in.
"Ok people listen up we have orders." he said standing up to a table. "Command has just issued orders to move up into Pyongyang."
"What?" called out one leader. "Why?"
"Sating that we will not be able to make tanks any more we are ordered to such for tanks for which we will use for our purpose."
The leaders looked to other another slowly before back at the commander. "Do you know what North Korea will be like?" one of the asked.
"No, I don't. This is primarily a recon mission, not a combat mission this is something we have to do. For the betterment of earth, I don't like it either but if there id equipment there and people we have to know." he said.
Three of the team leaders left but the other 11 stayed. "Ok, grab your teams and weapons, we leave in one hour."
OOOOO one hour later.
12 teams dressed in 21rst century digital uniforms climbed into six buses that where modified as troop transports. After they loaded the beacons onto the transports they drove off into the city heading for North Korea. The drive took a good 1 hour and a half due to the debris on the road. The buses where outfitted to be all terrain but even then they had to make a few detours. Soon they made it to the DMZ, on the North side it had been turned to a concrete wall that spanned the border of the peninsula nations. Once they arrived the teams got out and looked at the barrier across the way decorated with North Korean flags.
The remains of people could be seen on the top of the concrete walls, those who tried to escape the war it was horrible and a sad reminder. One of them sighed before opening up their omni-tool and scanned the area.
"Ok defences are down." he said.
"Target the gate." the commander said as three rocket troopers came up an aimed their weapons at the gate opposite them.
They then fired and three rocket hit the same target and the gate blew up. Once it was gone the teams got back in the buses and then took off into North Korea. They moved slowly as they crossed the mine field. The lead bus has someone up front next to the driver allowing them to avoid the mines. The buses behind them followed slowly and soon they made it onto the soil of the hermit nation and they headed for Pyongyang. As they followed the road the city of Kaesong came into view, the city was abandoned for years well before the war and still looked as out of place as ever.
After three hours they reached the edge of Pyongyang, they stopped and from each bus four troopers exited and the convoy moved into the city. They moved down the silent street as they did the Ryugyong Hotel came into sight the commander looked at the pyramid like structure. It would be a good place to set up shop, he held up his hand and stopped the convoy. He then claimed out as did the other team leaders and the 12 moved up to each other.
"Ok boss what's the plan?" asked a blue haired female team leader.
"Ryugyong hotel, it's the best place to set up command and control. I'll take teams one and two and set up on the highest level. The rest of you split up, this place is a little too quite for my liking." he said.
They then split and moved off to their transports before splitting up and moving off.
OOOOO
The command team moved up to the hotel, the bus stopped in front of the hotel and the troopers jumped out weapons ready. The ME AK's they had where all equipped with 21st century reflex sights with flash lights attached to the side. Once out the two teams moved inside the hotel leaving four people outside to guard the transport. The commander took the lead and moved up flights of stairs slowly they didn't have time to check every room so the two at the back had to keep out. If anyone was alive, who knows what could have happened.
Even after first contact North Korea was always isolationist even in trade. After their 'friendship' with China ended neither nation renewed it as such they built a wall across their boarder also but kept trade ties open. As such the people inside the nation, didn't know what was outside their nation or did but to a limited degree. Soon they reached the top and then began to set up.
Outside the hotel one of the soldiers noticed something out of the corner of his eye. He turned to the trees and shouldered his rifle. He moved over to the trees slowly and carefully the something moved into them he ran disappearing into them before coming back out and bringing a soldier with him. He struggled before being thrown to the floor.
"Ahh please!" the soldier yelled. "Don't shoot!"
"Who are you?" the trooper asked.
"Sun.. Sun lee." he said. "Private of the KPR."
"Ok, I'm Jeagu Choi, Sargent of the Solar Empire. Here let's help you up." he said helping Sun up and brought him over to the bus. "Now what happened?"
"It happened three years ago, a massive creature, a machine twice the size of a mountain." as he said that one of the troopers brought him something to sit on. "Our tanks, aircraft even the alliance and Chinese had little effect on it. They slaughtered nearly everyone, there are a few survivors. They're in the buildings."
"Sir." Jeagu said tapping his ear bud. "We found a survivor."