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Mass Effect: Beyond

A City Journal by Huston

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TMW#22 - Kanaze System | "Fire in the Sky"

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Entry posted by Huston · June 8, 2013

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Overview ~

The planet of Kanaze in the Nesu'luun system is a planet profoundly composed of a criminal population. When the world is attacked by the Reapers, people are sent into mass hysteria and the planet's capital, Ark'bor is thrown into chaos and destruction. Does this city, let alone the planet, stand a chance of surviving this invasion?

ggamgus

Thanks a lot

fatjuice888

Thanks

Terring

Thanks Terring

mystic_destiny

Thanks Alec, I think Virmire's coastline appearing like this was originally inspired by Ha long Bay as far as I know

IL. Thanks! I used magic

City_Master

Thanks a lot!

matheuspaulo

Thank you!

Hazani Pratama

Thanks a lot!

Luiz P. Romanini

Indeed, a salute to all Pod-Crabs that died that day.

Forthwall

Thanks Shub

Schulmanator

Thanks, that means a lot

gman28

Not as big as it should be, but it's how the game seemed to intend some of the confrontations Not many altogether but many spread throughout, mostly in small assault groups

RepublicMaster

Thanks a lot Will, always up for nature scenes

KonstantinII

Thanks

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Note: DAMN, it took me the entire day to make this, not so much time well spent, would've loved to do something else, but I really wanted to throw in an update

As always, new personally designed BATs, and Ark'bor revisted. Also, this contains 2 large mosaics and plenty of destruction inflicted by the Reapers. I also spent a little time working on several new graphics, one for the featured image and on the intro banner in the following which now states the "update episode # and title". It'll probably remain the same in this theme for a while, if not permanent. Kanaze has been given a more accurate but still approximated population (93 Million).

Hope you enjoy and appreciate the amount of work that went into this update

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Welcome back to the capital of the independent planetary system of Kanaze. Home to a diverse number of species, merceneries, hideouts and criminals of all backgrounds. The city is a magnet, constantly attracting criminals and low lifes from Omega and like it's Eezo rich Asteroid station counterpart, is at the center of all chaos.

The scum capital is a city sub-divided into districts. These districts are often borders set by local powers, gangs and factions. The districts also are clear definitions between industrial zonage and residential to commerical zonage. Residential and Commercial zones are located mainly in the outskirts of the city's island; these districts and areas are often referred to as Civilian Districts as they're mostly composed of the homes and businesses of local peoples as well as the area being freely accessed by Civilians.

However, Industrial or Privatized districts to be more accurate, are areas of which are restricted to authorized persons. These areas are not typically occupied by any civilians as the areas of industry are of restricted zones, regulated by the ruling coroporations upholding ownership of the district. Tresspassers that are found are often shot on site, or if not, are just "shown the way out" or in any case, detained.

A map illustrating the borders of districts in Ark'bor and the definitions between Civilian Districts and Privatized Districts. You can see which zones are occupied and zoned for Civilians and areas which are under Coroporate ownership, containing mostly industries, factories and scientific labs.

By looking at the map, you can see that most, if not all Civilian Districts make contact with both the East and West Glo'gahn Rivers. All Civilian Districts are located on the outer edges of the island, while the inner city districts harbor dirty corporate industries, with districts names designed by a letter and number with A representing the word "Area" as its title. There are 17 Industrial or Privatized Districts in Ark'bor while the rest consist of 22 sub-divided Factions or Civilian Districts. Tizo District, the area being visited currently is located along the East Glo'gahn River, around the city's northern CDs end bordered by Caleston and Tenzae.

The Industrial/Privatized District coded A4D is under an unknown corporate ownership, likely to be a company located off-world. With no real standards, poor conditions and aiding in destroying Kanaze's natural environment, it really is no place for any civilians to be in. But many of the city's inhabitants are employed here, often desparate when they find themselves in a tight financial situation. The employees are typically only allowed to be on the district premises within work hours and the areas designated for employees. Those who break these regulations are often never heard from again.

The "Inner City's" endless skyline composed of dirty factories and labs with water treatment plants and resevoirs in between. All districts within the inner zone like A4D are composed of this kind of infrastrcuture, exploiting the former eden of Kanaze. Extracting heavy and light metals, minerals and rare ores, refining, manufacturing, testing... you name it, it all happens here.

Meanwhile, along the river, a part of the Tizo District area is a buzz with activity, like all other of Ark'bor Districts. The skyline seems to boast wealth, yet only miniscule population hold that wealth and live luxurious lives on a dying rock.

A metropolis of gleaming skyscrapers, flashing holograms and lights with buzzing sky cars in the foreground. Whilst an endless industrial skyline lies in the background, degrading what is left of Kanaze.

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Tizo District, Ark'bor City, Ilego-Ark'bor Continental Region - Kanaze / Nesu'luun System / Violet Nebula -- 2186 C.E.

...Flashforward...

Through the eyes of a Salarian and a Human

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The Filthy city of Ark'bor and its various districts run through yet another typical day. Carbon Dioxide's in the air, and Ammonia is in the water, and other than the CO2, the Volus would be loving it on Kanaze. In the midst of it all, two friends employed at the A4D district are taking on their usual daily routine occupations in one of the district's underground mining facilities. In a not so well sealed building, they make their way towards the exit and are heading into Tizo for food after a lengthy shift.

Leo (Human) - Damn toxic air, can't breathe properly in all this crap. I can't even believe why I'm still even living here. Living here, we might as well be in merc group, sounds better than this f***ing dead end job.

Nelos (Salarian) - Hey, the money's pretty good, without it, we'd be screwed anyway. It's not like we could go anywhere else. I mean, the people on Illium are so uptight and so "concerend" about security. I'm not living on some planet that's gonna tell me what to do.

Leo (Human) - I guess, if it weren't for all this smog, hell, it'd the best place to live in the galaxy with no laws and freewill. What I think anyway.

Nelos (Salarian) - Damn right.

Leo (Human) - So where'd we park the skycar? I swear it was right over here!

Nelos (Salarian) - It wasn't here, it's on the other side. We parked in Zone 5.

Leo (Human) - Oh.

They took the skycar and took a route over A4D.

Leo (Human) - Can't wait to eat, I'm starving after that shift.

Nelos (Salarian) - Same thing. Hey, did you hear anything about some invasion?

Leo (Human) - Yeah. I heard Earth got hit hard, I was lucky my parents were on Eden Prime, they evacuated. Heard from them a this morning about it. They said they were on the Citadel in a refugee zone. I'm gonna try get there too see what's goin on, make sure they're okay.

Nelos (Salarian) - Damn, sorry. Haven't heard much about Sur'Kesh, seems pretty okay so far.

Leo (Human) - Right. (Looks at ominous Holoboards regarding evacuation) Looks like that invasion's gettin' word around here, they've got holograms goin' about evacuations.

Nelos (Salarian) - Meh, I'm going to get myself some food before I even think about leaving the planet. Even if it kills it me.

They drive through the rest of A4D, and arrive around the outskirts of Tizo. But out of nowhere, without warning, th piercing sound of an ominous siren blares throughout the city. The hazy yellow sky is painted with red lasers, penetrating the city below. Shrills and screams from its inhabitants grow loud as marauder ships rain over the city.

Meteorite like objects pummel the city's surface and the buildings around. Fires rage out of control as the destruction spreads.

Nelos (Salarian) - S**T! WHAT THE F**K ARE THOSE!?

Leo (Human) - I THINK THOSE ARE THOSE REAPERS I HEARD ABOUT! WATCH OUT! LAND THE DAMN CAR. WE'RE GONNA DIE UP HERE!

Nelos lands the skycar while trying to dodge the flying debris, lasers and marauding ships. He crash lands the car into a bar, and the two barely escape with their lives. The city's sky above was turning into a saturated red, while the roads and paths were being painted in a saturated sickly red, full of the blood of the innocents being massacred by the Reaper Destroyers and invading Capital ships. They were obviously coming in force. 93 Million sapients on one planet is a lot to gain for harvesting. Several million in one city makes an even greater target.

Nelos (Salarian) - Dammit, we have to find a way outta here or we're gonna die like the rest!

Leo (Human) - I know! I know! (Looks up at the top of a building) LOOK! At the top, some shuttles! They're takin' people and evacuating! We have to get up there, it's our only chance!

Nelos (Salarian) - This day just gets better and better...first, a long crappy shift, I'm hungry, and now there's buildings exploding above us. And we have to catch up to that shuttle before it leaves us here to die! Ughhh!

Leo (Human) - Just shut up and start runnin', we don't have much time!

Dozens of shuttles like the one above around the city were taking in evacuees. Unfortunately with little time to prepare and little received word of the invasion, has left Ark'bor and the rest of Kanaze extremely vulnerable to Reapers. But people weren't about to stand down and give up without a fight. Kanaze was a planet full of outlaws and criminals. They weren't about to die in vein.

But as one could imagine, survival instincts would tell people to leave the planet ASAP. And that's what many were doing. Jumping at the chance to leave before dying. But many would stay behind and take their chances to save their world.

Even though their city was crumbling at the seams. And even with evac shuttles at the ready, those shuttles weren't guaranteed to leave the planet.

The falling meteorite objects held Reaper ground units, set to overwhelm and kill any Civilians on the ground. A ground assault began as Reaperized beings began to savagely exterminate and round up the population on ground zero. All a part of the plan for the planet's submission to the Reapers. But with an unparalleled resistance, many began to rebel, weapon in hand and killed any Reaper units chasing them down. Thousands who have not been able to reach any evacuation ships have even retreated to the thick overgrown jungles that lie across the river. It would start a length game of hide-and-go-seek with a guerilla war stuck in the middle of it all. A great tactic for such a massive enemy.

Leo (Human) - We're almost up, where's the door to the rooftop!?

Nelos (Salarian) - I see it, that sign, that should take us to the rooftop!

Leo (Human) - Hold up, can you hear that? That growling noise?

Nelos (Salarian) - What !? Are you serious? We can't stop now, we have to catch those evac shuttles!

Then suddenly, behind them appeared an armed Marauder, Cannibals and pack of Husks which sighted them.

Leo & Nelos - Awwwww, S**********T! RUUUUUUUUUUUUUN!!!

The Husks came running towards them through the hall, ready to maul them. The Cannibals were eyeing them, and readying to target and shoot. All until they disappeared behind the walls and out to the door which lead them to the rooftop.

Leo (Human) - There, the shuttles!

Nelos (Salarian) - Hurry up, we need to get to those shuttles! (looks over to the person helping people board) HEEEY!! WAAAAAIT!! We need a WAY OFF-WORLD!

Shuttle Evac Attendant (Turian) - We haven't got any more room!

Leo (Human) - WELL MAKE SOME DAMN ROOM! I AIN'T STAYING ON THIS ROCK for all of this!

They along with the Shuttle Evac attendant squeeze into the already tightly packed shuttle. People were face to face, shoulder to shoulder with barely any room to breathe. The pilots and evacuees were hoping to make contact with the system's several Helium-3 refueling planet's. A short FTL jump to Menera, the closest gas giant to Kanaze would help them escape the system. They were receiving reports that Reapers were being engaged by the Kanaze Defense fleet over Menera's moons, buying time for the precious Helium-3 and Hydrogen refueling stations.

The Shuttles lifted of the building and into the hectic skies above them.

Below them, and endless skyline filled with terror, raging fires and destruction laid the landscape. The city was ablaze and they watched it burn as they left Ark'bor behind. Thousands continued to die every second, thousands more every minute. Even with resistance, they could not be truly stopped. But at least they would manage to survive and hold on to the world. Even though Ships and reinforcement from surrounding regions were en route to the capital, for now the city would lay be sieged.

Leo and Nelos made a narrow escape from Ark'bor and Kanaze. In just a short hour, they managed to run through marauders, laser firing ships and falling skyscrapers. Not to mention face to face with Reaperized beings. But they managed to survive and live another day...For now.

Leo (Human) - Where are we headed?

Shuttle Evac Attendant (Turian) - We'll need to get to a Spaceport at Menera and board another evac ship before we leave the system. After that, we'll likely head for the Citadel. They're advising civilian traffic to head for systems that aren't under Reaper occupation. Don't know exactly where that would be at thsi point but they're sending in info about it.

Nelos (Salarian) - Here I have a vid on my datapad. The Citadel's crammed with refugees.

Leo (Human) - Better headed there than anywhere else, no where else seems as safe. We really just dodge a bullet there.

Nelos (Salarian) - Let's try not doing that again.

As they leave the planet, people begin to converse in a panicked sense as they desparately try to contact relatives in other systems. But with several severed system Comm buoys, they have little option but to wait.

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