Log 4

Date: 1ST OCT 2186

Location: VANCOUVER, CANADA

The next day I was finally permitted to see the general. As I was being escorted to the main command center, I saw enough of the base to get a rough idea of its structure. There are three main corridors that lead to the surface (we'd come in through one of these when we arrived). These slope steeply downwards so that they converge at lowest level of the bunker. As I had already seen that area was a mess of makeshift barracks and mess halls as well as a sick bay and a main reception area. Everything you'd expect for housing a large number of people in fact. In the center of all this were elevators that went up to the next level and beyond.

The second level was reserved for general utility rooms, mainly supply stores and armories as well as the communications room. On the top level there was a main command center of sorts and a handful of private offices. Despite being the highest point in the complex there was no direct surface access for that part of the base. For security reasons the only way to access that area was from the lower levels via the elevators. Essentially it meant that if the base was compromised the command center was the final fallback position (although if it ever came to that we'd be trapped and facing a fight to the death). One of the escort guards said he avoided going up there whenever possible. Apparently he didn't like the 'noise' up there but wouldn't explain what he meant.

The operations room itself was clearly set up in some old basement or bunker that was far enough underground to be safe from orbital bombardment. The room was strewn with equipment; mainly data feeds and monitors showing the view from the cameras outside the compound. I glanced at a radar map; it looked like two of the smaller Reapers had landed nearby with a third further away to the north. Another screen showed more Husks throwing themselves at the entrance but they were being held at bay for the moment.

I recognized General Coberg from the moment I saw him, his face triggering memories that hadn't registered when his name had come up. It all came back to me in an instant, the broad shoulders, the dark brown hair only just starting to go gray in places (I envied that slightly given he had a had a few years on me) to say nothing of the expression he wore. His features were the same as I'd ever seen them (even during celebrations) set and determined, his broken nose still pushed slightly to one side following an altercation with a rival officer. For some reason he was dressed in the full official dress uniform of the NASDF (the sort of thing normally only used on parades and formal receptions). It certainly made him stand out of the crowd (it actually looked fairly impressive) but it seemed odd given the circumstances.

He was the regional director of the North American States Defense Force. Like most other nations the NAS maintained its own standing army, not directly affiliated with the Alliance as a last fading sign of their independence. Of these Earth based militaries the NASDF was unusually large (most nation specific militaries had been scaled back significantly since the creation of the Alliance). In many ways it was final reminder of America's former power during the 20th and 21st centuries.

I'd only met the man on a handful of occasions (mostly award ceremonies as I recall) but I couldn't deny he'd made an impression. Amongst military circles he had a reputation for strategic prowess and commanding an impressive degree of loyalty from his men. He was often considered directly responsible for the NASDF's notable training and discipline (particularly noteworthy given that Earth militaries rarely see any real action).

Quite the resume but unfortunately he was also considered to be a very difficult man to work with as an equal. He was often described by colleagues as a big fish in a small pond. A person with the talent and strength of personality to land a major position within the Alliance that instead chosen a smaller playground, with less competition. I realized his presence as base commander might make it difficult to establish myself as the leader of a resistance movement. Legally speaking all Earth based militaries are obliged to assist the Alliance in the event of a threat to the homeworld but this would be the first time that law had ever been called upon.

"General Coberg," I said by way of announcing myself.

"I'm Admiral Anderson, we spoke briefly on the radio yesterday."

"Admiral Anderson," he repeated slowly, seemingly using the time to take the measure of me.

"Yes I know who you are Admiral. I take it there weren't any ships available to carry you away?"

Well that cleared up the question of whether he was going make this difficult or not. Still I supposed I had to try and see his point of view. I might have stayed behind but most of the Alliance had retreated from the system (those that were able to at least).

"General I'm exactly where I want to be at the moment, right in the middle of this fight. I'm afraid I'll be sticking around here until we drive out the Reapers."

"Reapers? Those things that Commander- uh whatshisname kept going on about a couple years back?"

To be honest I almost cracked a smile at that. Pretending not to know the name of the most famous soldier in human history was very much Coberg's style. More likely he was better informed than most, taking care to learn all the facts before dismissing the theory out of hand (at least publicly). Still, we didn't really have time for such games at the moment.

"Commander Sheppard? Yes those 'things'. You might want to go back over everything he said about them when you have a minute to yourself. In the meantime what's the situation out there?"

"We've established this base and a kill zone around the compound. Anything tries to get through, we tear it apart but we've had limited success in getting scouting parties out and into the city. From the few reports we are receiving; the initial attack focused on the space port and the Alliance Command Center. They were both were obliterated in the first attack. Then they began landing their ground troops focusing on the perimeter of the city to cut off any avenues of escape. The big ones flew off after shooting up half of the city. Smaller ones are still hanging around, targeting water mains and the energy grid and so on."

"So they're sealing off the city and destroying basic infrastructure," I summarized.

"Probably to make us surrender to their Harvest."

"Harvest? What the hell's that?"

"Doesn't matter right now. Is there any way we can get the civilians here safely out of the city?"

"Not easily. The space port and harbor where you came from have been overrun now so we can't get out by air or sea. Not that it would've been easy in full view of those death machines in any case. What we need is a clear strategy on how we can destroy those ships without committing too many valuable assets at this stage."

"All things considered General I think our efforts would be better spent getting people out of the line of fire. But If you're asking for my advice on how to fight these things, that's simple. Throw everything you have at them General and then throw some more. What assets do we have left in play?"

"We're building up our forces at this base all the time. The enemy outnumber us but we appear to have superiority in firepower; at least on the ground. These Husk things are unarmed so they're easy pickings. Meanwhile we also have several Mako's stored in this bunker, they'll serve as the brunt of my attack force on these 'Reapers' as you call them. Once we've brought them down we can begin sending out squads to clear areas and take back the city."

"I'd say you're seriously underestimating your enemy general. It will take a lot more than a few tanks to take down a Reaper. What else do we have of use?"

"Well we can get you and everyone else coming in armed up easily enough. We've no shortage of small arms, shield barriers or armor so we'll get you all kitted out. We've got a ton of explosives, enough to level the compound if we had to. Oh and we've got a Quantum Entanglement device as well, not that it's much good to us now."

"There's also the-"one of the officers started to say but he was suddenly cut off by a deafening noise that drowned out all others sounds. I found it hard to even think until it finally ceased, even the room seemed to shake slightly.

"What was that?" I asked turning my head in every direction in an effort to locate the source. I realized I was practically shouting, the noise (whatever it was) had left me deafened.

"One of the damn machines," Coberg shouted back before taking some time to collect himself.

"The Reapers keep doing that every few hours," the nearest officer explained.

"The lower levels are deep enough underground to be less affected but we get the worst of it up here."

"Great," I said while still shaking my head in an effort to clear the ringing in my eyes.

"So what was that other thing your officer was about to tell me?"

"That's classified."

The General said, glowering down out the officer that had brought it up. From the look on his face it was pretty clear I wouldn't get anywhere asking about his 'Classified' toy but something else had caught my interest anyway.

"Fair enough. Tell me more about this entanglement device instead. Can you give me access?"

"What for?"

"To get some news from off world. Try and get an idea of the larger picture out there."

Quantum Entanglement devices are a special type of comms system that can be used to send instant and untraceable messages. Don't ask me how it works (the technology is well beyond me, all I know is it involves particle physics). But what I do know is that they're incredibly rare and each one is only linked to a single location. They're also the only safe means of communication we have left (in fact I had pushed for greater use of the technology after I first heard about it). Every time you use a regular radio you're running the risk of alerting the Reapers to your location. Besides I suspect the Reapers will soon destroy all of our comm buoys in orbit. Once they do that the QEC will be the only thing we have left capable of off-world communication.

"If I were you I'd spend more time focusing on the smaller picture Admiral. This planet, this city, this bunker, that's what concerns me at the moment."

Hard to argue with his priorities but having more intel could only improve our odds of survival.

"I understand General but we all need to stand together in this fight. If the Alliance learns anything new about the Reapers we need to know about it."

"Alright. Well look if you wanna waste your time talking to Udina be my guest. Never could stand politicians myself though. Its one of the reasons I never joined the Alliance, too much politics involved."

So I could use it to contact Udina if the General was to be believed. That probably meant it was a link to the Citadel. Afterall the man succeeded me as humanity's representative on the Council and that's where the Council members are normally stationed. Just like Coberg suggested Udina is a political animal. His pompous attitude tends to get on your nerves at times but right now, probably for the first time, I was looking forward to speaking with him. It was time to find out what was going on.