Whhooooowee. Sorry about the massive delay. A resurface of Covid and now massive wild fires caused some serious issues for me over the last couple months.
BUT I'm still ahead on chapters, so should be able to it in the next week. Aiming to have a few chapters done by the end of this week, and then its up you guys? Do you just want me to load what I have written? Or would you prefer them spaced out? Think Netflix binge vs NBC weekly episodes. Anyway, let me know.
Chapter Ten: The Vice in Vancouver (Part One)
The hover truck ride from Montreal to Vancouver was relatively brief. While the journey had traditionally taken several hours by plane or days by car in the 21st century, advancements in aerodynamics and the non-combustion engine had made ground, or close-to-ground transport, a relatively quick affair, even in the months after the war. Following the route of the old I-90 West, they had passed over the remains of Ottawa and Seattle before reaching Vancouver. Both cities had changed immeasurably over the war, with neither remaining the seats of power or population that they had been previously. Now, along with the relatively small city of Yakima, Washington and its smaller McAllister Field airstrip were used as refugee camps and medical staging posts for the surrounding counties, keeping the remaining civilians away from the destroyed cities.
Vancouver, on the other hand, had retained some semblance of city life, despite the destruction the Reapers had caused.
In the 21st century, the relatively small Vancouver proper had been surrounded by the separate municipalities of Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, Coquitlam and Abbotsford. These individual cities had merged over the prevailing years, and the newly formed Coalition City of Vancouver had seen a huge explosion in population and wealth between 2045 and 2149. This had expanded and increased further over the transition to space flight. The SpaceX and Boeing programs, which lead the way for public space flight, required a more convenient take-off and landing location for its wealthiest, Vancouver-based benefactors. They had settled on the appropriately named Mission as a new staging ground, and with the new high-speed rail that took over the original West Coast Express Line, the local population hadn't taken long to expand East and north beyond Chilliwack and Hope.
In 2149, with the discovery of the Charon Relay, more and more people had moved to Vancouver, with the hope of visiting the stars and seeing the mysterious artifacts on Mars for themselves. While Mission had remained a mostly private space-flight terminal, the System's Alliance, seeing the sudden potential of recruiting in an area densely populated with such idealistic individual's, had soon set up a base and recruitment centre across the water on in North Vancouver, turning the lower mountains into a sprawling military installation with take-off pads running along the water and up into the Indian Arm of the Burrard Inlet.
By 2073, Vancouver's city limits had more than doubled, swelling to include the smaller townships across the Northern edge of Washington, and merging with Blaine and Sumas to form Canadas first cross-border city, spanning from North of the Fraser River to Bellingham.
The wealthiest residents had wanted an area for their very own, and it didn't take much persuasion to allow them to take over Sea Island, the less populated Burkeville and the now-defunct airport at YVR. This class of citizens was made up truly wealthy elite, who's son's and daughters attended Ivy League schools, and enjoyed all the rich trappings of the ultra-wealthy. If Miranda Lawson had been born in Vancouver, Sea Island would have been her home.
The expansion of Vancouver was drastically halted during the Reaper War, with the near-constant bombardment of the city, and targeted attacks on the space-fairing infrastructure at both Mission and North Vancouver Alliance Military Base. Both locations took heavy losses to both military and civilian personnel, but the real casualties were the ordinary Vancouverites. Millions were harvested during the invasion, taking the 67 million residents in the combined cross-border area down to just over 35 million on the first day alone. By the time the war was over, Vancouver was a husk of its former self, with close to three-quarters of its residents dead or missing.
Despite this, the unparalleled resiliency of Vancouver and her people were on full display in the months after the war, with local survivors banding together to rebuild and redistribute. Doctors were seen helping those in need, while the remaining military and police forces tried to maintain order. The builders and carpenters who had remained on earth during the war, built new structures to keep the rain at bay, while clothing and food retailers shared their wares to stave off the chill of winter in Vancouver.
However, these golden days didn't last.
Local gangs and smaller, militia-like offshoots started to move in, and the tired and beaten remaining army had no chance to repel the local guns for hire that stole supplies and weapons. The city, which had always had a penchant for drugs, was gripped once again by the tide of addiction, with Red Sand streaming its way back into the poorer areas. Once home to a large homeless population, Vancouver was once again in the grip of despair and disease.
The rich and powerful of Sea Island had their fair share of struggles during the war, but their losses were more minimal. The Reapers had been focused on densely populated areas, rounding up as many warm bodies as possible for their harvest. While the Reapers focused on the Downtown core and sprawling eastern part of the city, these wealthy and well-defended individuals escaped in their private shuttles. Upon returning to the city, after the war, these individuals hired mercenaries to defend their borders and set about rebuilding their extravagant homes and lives. They closed off access through Templeton and across the Moray and Arthur Laing Bridges, forcing those who needed to cross the Fraser River into Richmond to use the Oak or Knight Street Bridges, both which had become havens for gang-controlled violence and militia enforced tolls.
Luckily for the Shepard, Rachel and Zaeed, the Volus' trust in his Montreal contact had not been misplaced. The transport pod landed in between the still standing, remains of several buildings near the old water docks, now transformed into a staging ground for personnel and cargo air transport ships alike. In the early 21st and 22nd centuries, this area had been used as a warehouse district and was referred to as The Block by local inhabitants. During the invasion, due to its relatively low population, it had been mostly ignored by the Reapers and so only a few buildings had obvious physical damage, most of which had been caused by errant shells and missiles from Alliance soldiers.
The Block was now a bustling trade hub, with Humans and Aliens alike battering goods and services for food and minimal credits chits. Those that had nothing to trade, offered themselves, their bodies, their ability to work, to those that needed capable help. Those who could not offer anything begged on street corners or signed on with the protection gangs that offered hired muscle in exchange for food or money.
All in all, the place had a distinct Omega-esque vibe about it, with people moving around in small groups, and talking in low, hushed voices. Despite this, many looked fairly well fed. Most had shelter, such as it was, and while they had to deal with the constant presence of mercenary forces, most seemed to be scratching out a life in the remains of the city.
"Apparently it's worse across the bay in the North," Zaeed said, returning from his conversation with another Volus ordering the removal of steel beams from the transport ship.
Rachel's nose flared in disgust.
"These people need help," she began before Zaeed interrupted.
"Not here." He gestured to a pair of red-armoured mercs who were eyeing the trio as they stood by the transport.
Zaeed already had his shotgun drawn, cradling in loosely in his hands. Shepard rested his hand on his pistol grip, not drawing his weapon, but readying himself should he need to. Rachel snorted and folded her arms, before lowing her voice and saying,
"These people need medical attention and a reliable source of food that doesn't involve indentured servitude."
"And we need to get out of here without bringing this brave, new world crashing down on our heads," Zaeed responded.
"Doc, in this, I agree with Zaeed." Rachel looked quickly around at Shepard, "We can't help these folks if we're dead, and while this isn't an ideal life, it's possibly the only one they have access to right now."
Rachel glared at Shepard, her hand resting on her pistol, but she made no move to draw.
"Fine." She spat finally, "but when this is over, when we find someone with the authority and resources to help, we get these people help, agreed?"
"Agreed," responded John, "but for now, let's try and get out of here without starting another war. Zaeed, did your friend have any insights on getting into Vancouver proper?"
"Yeah, he had some things to say about it." Zaeed gestured with the barrel of his gun towards a road, flanked on both sides by hastily built, pre-fab tower units. "He says it's about an hour down here. We're looking for the square outside the old Alliance Building. He did say there was a sort of path into the city, but that it wasn't the safest route to travel. Nothing we can't handle of course, but still."
Shepard sighed. "Is it too much to ask, that once in my life, someone just says, 'Sure bud, it's just down here on the left. You shouldn't run into any trouble.' Is that too much to ask?"
Rachel and Zaeed shared a look full of raised eyebrows and resignation behind Shepard's back as the trio started down the remains of East Hastings Street.
They managed to get about two-thirds of the way through their journey before trouble found them. They had just clambered over the remains of a steel and concrete structure that had fallen across the road, getting down onto what remained of the road, when a group of seven or so individuals spilt out from the empty buildings flanking their position.
The group was all humans, a mixture of men and women, and all armed. As the shifted their weapons it was clear they shared some training, and by their matching insignia, they all belonged to a group unknown to Shepard and his teammates. They stood in a loose semi-circle, blocking access forward just as the pile of rubble blocked access backwards.
Simultaneously, Shepard and Zaeed raised their shotguns, while Rachel drew her pistol, her hand glowing blue as she flared her biotics.
"Now, now." Said a smooth but not comforting voice, as the group of mercs parting to allow a single figure to step forward. The voice belonged to a tall, slender male figure, with loosely, swept-back hair, and olive skin. His facial hair had once been well-manicured and maintained, but now his goatee and moustache were flanked by a clear five o'clock shadow. He held an M-96 Mattock loosely in his hands, and his upper arm carried the chevrons of a Force Master Chief Petty Officer but the military insignia was unknown to Shepard. "Let's not let this get out of hand." He gestured to Rachel's blue glow.
"You approached us," Shepard responded.
"That we did." The smooth voice replied. "Now, all we want is your valuables. Weapons, armour, food. Some of each, all of one, I'm not picky really."
"Uh-huh," Zaeed responded, "Well, I rather like my valuables where they are, thanks."
"Why are you doing this?" Shepard interjected. "There are people back there who could use your help?"
"This is a changed world. Idealism won't save it."
"But you will?" Shepard responded, surreptitiously looking around, looking for any advantage in the upcoming, apparently unavoidable firefight.
"Us. And others like us. We will pull humanity out of this, and into the new age, where we can stand above that what we once were-"
"Uh-huh." Zaeed responded again, "Shepard, I think these are members of the resident crazy party."
Shepard nodded slightly, not taking his eyes away from the man, who was now pacing backwards and forwards.
"Humanity has forgotten what it means to be great. We have relied on alien technology, on alien science. We have wandered from planet to planet, searching for our place in the Universe, constantly beset by hurdles and blocks imposed by the Council. But obstacles do not exist to be surrendered to, but only to be broken, and not all who wander are lost."
Shepard blinked, and time seemed to slow. He heard the words as if from across a great distance, and he heard himself reply before he was fully aware of his mouth moving.
"What did you say?" The words felt slurred and heavy in his mouth as if he was talking in slow motion while the world around him exploded. He saw the man smile, saw the contraction in his forearm as the muscles in his fingers tightened around the trigger, saw the flash of a bullet leaving the barrel.
"Shepard!" Rachel shouted, throwing herself into him, and pushing him behind some nearby rubble.
Time sped up then, with the scratching and crunching of metaphorical gears Shepard was once again present in the moment.
"What the hell happened there, Shep?" Zaeed shouted over the hail of gunfire. He had thrown himself into a doorway of an old building.
"You know what," he complained, while Rachel fired rounds from her pistol over the top of their improvised defences, "Fuck this guy. Rachel, you think you can give me some cover?"
"What do you think I'm trying to do here, Shepard?" She complained as multiple bullets whizzed overhead, "I'm not crouched behind this stylistically placed concrete block for the wonderful view."
There was a brief lull and she risked raising her head above the edge of the block, pulling back with her left, blue-glowing hand and shooting a man that was hoisted into the air.
"Got one," Zaeed shouted, as another thud denoted a second body hitting the floor.
Shepard saw his chance, and he took it, completing a diving roll the ended with him on his feet, he started with the assailant closest the left edge of the previously formed semi-circle. As he came out of his roll, using his momentum to push himself forwards, he fired a blast from his shotgun, straight into the mid-thigh of the unsuspecting ambusher. As he threw his body into the doorway of an empty building, he flexed his muscles and let adrenaline course through his system. Time seemed to slow for the second time in as many minutes, only this time, Shepard retained control, he retained his ability to think.
Clambering through the remains of a broken window on the wall perpendicular to the doorway he had entered through, he came upon the second member of the ambush team. This time, he wasn't so lucky. He managed to pull his gun up, but before he could fire, the assailant swung the butt of her gun around and caught him in the jaw. He grunted, letting the power of the blow push him into a crouch before swinging him in a full three-sixty and unloading three rounds from his shotgun into the chest of the attacker.
"Another one down, Shepard." Called Rachel over the remaining gunfire. "I think there's only a couple more."
Suddenly, over the edge of the building, a UT-47 Kodiak Drop Shuttle appeared.
"God damn it Doc, why did you jinx us like that?" Zaeed called, as more bodies poured into the ambush zone. But these bodies were different, they were more organized, better trained, and they were dressed in blue.
"Everybody fan out. I want that Preacher found." The voice of James Vega called out over the gunfire, before Shepard saw the man himself, standing in the middle of the clearing they had just been defending.
He looked over and saw Shepard, his face breaking out into a grin.
"Commander." He said, walking over the Shepard, "You think you can come to my city, and not say hi? That's cold, Loco, real cold." He looked down at where Shepard was crouching by the body of the recently deceased merc.
Vega stretched out his hand and Shepard allowed himself to be pulled to his feet.
"James Vega." The two clasped hands, "What in God's name are you doing here? I thought you were in London?"
"God's got nothing to do with it Jefe." Vega turned as an Alliance soldier jogged back into the clearing.
"He's gone, sir, no sign of him." The soldier saluted before jogging back to the shuttle
"Damn it," Vega said under his breath. "Come on," he turned back to Shepard, "you must have a lot of questions, and I'm sure the boss will have a few for you too."
Shepard followed Vega back to the shuttle, introducing his companions as they approached the shuttle.
"Vega, meet Dr Rachel Josephs, and Zaeed you know."
"Massani, Doc." James nodded to the pair, "come on, the Block isn't a nice place to be after dark."
"You called that man The Preacher?" Shepard asked, as the trio and the rest of the Alliance marines pilled into the Kodiak.
"Yeah. Like I said Commander, you got a lot of information coming your way. Things have changed." It was at that moment that James looked older, more so than during the Reaper invasion. He sighed, and looked over his shoulder, making sure the rest of his unit was out of earshot before saying in a hushed voice, "I just thought it would be over, you know? Once we stopped the Reapers. But it isn't, and now we're fighting each other, instead of flying sabandija. But what do I know, I'm just a soldier."
The Kodiak ride to downtown Vancouver proper was relatively quiet. The military had taken over the area surrounding the waterfront and old convention centre. It looked different to its 21st and 22nd-century counterparts. In the early part of the 21st century, the Vancouver convention centre had been a hub for group gatherings and conferences from everything from fashion to dentistry. It rose up from the pier as the first site many cruise ships saw when docking in Vancouver harbour. In the 22nd Century, an earthquake had levelled the Convention Centre, and many of the surrounding buildings, allowing the Systems Alliance to take over the area with a sprawling command centre and civilian offices, partnered with their Alliance Navy counterparts on the opposite shore.
They were dropped off at Jack Poole Plaza - renamed Tadius Ahern Plaza after the Alliance Admirals death - right outside the remains of the old Alliance building, and currently home to the bustling remains of the Vancouver based Alliance Navy.
"Once we got London under control, we headed out here to try and rebuild the space flight programs in North Vancouver," James explained, ducking under the wind generated by the Kodiak's landing. He started to walk towards the centre of the plaza, motioning for Shepard, Zaeed and Rachel to follow him, offering a quick "they're with me" to the guards flanking the fortified entrance. "But as you can see, that didn't go so well."
Everywhere Shepard looked, there was hustle and bustle. Military personnel running left and right, some with weapons, some clutching datapads, and through it, all James Vega led them to a central tent comprised of old tarp and concrete blocks, but the inside was all electronic tech and the buzzing of voices.
"They're gonna wanna see you first, Shepard. Come find me after, I'll be up by the Old Art Gallery. Got some R&R after that mission."
"Will do James. Take care of yourself."
As James took his leave, Shepard looked over at the leader of the remaining Earth forces, and there, stood before him, eyes scanning a map of the area, was Admiral Steven Hackett.