Seattle

Seattle Skyline

Map of the Seattle Metroplex

Seattle refers to the last UCAS territory on the west coast of the former United States of America. Officially, Seattle refers only to the Downtown area, but as a whole can refer to the entire Seattle Metropolitan area and the State of Seattle (formerly part of the US state of Washington).

## Districts

The Seattle Metroplex covers nearly 4,000 square kilometers around Puget Sound, making it the second smallest UCAS state after Rhode Island. It is divided into ten districts, including Seattle City, which is the downtown area, formerly the city of Seattle in old Washington State.

### Downtown

Downtown Seattle, also known as Seattle City, is the heart of the metroplex. The main business district is also filled with shops, parks, theaters, museums, hotels, and restaurants. A wide variety of local attractions like the Space Needle are also Downtown. It is also home to examples of the metroplex's diverse culture, from the International District to the Elven District, the Ork Underground, and the Capital Hill neighborhood. You can see the Arcology Commercial and Housing Enclave (formerly the Renraku Arcology), one of the world's largest buildings, as well as the Aztechnology Pyramid.

### Bellevue

Located across Lake Washington from the Downtown district, Bellevue is the favorite retreat for Seattle's well-to-do white collar community. Even before the Awakening, the area's wooded hills and lakeside view made it a popular place for real estate and home development. Even though manicured parks and condoplexes have replaced most of the woods, Bellevue retains a serene air of natural and architectural beauty. Bellevue's main industry remains Matrix hardware and software, with boutiques selling the latest commlinks, AR wearables, and grid-gear. It also offers fine designer fashions, primarily for the business-conscious consumer.

### Tacoma

Tacoma was once considered Seattle's poorer southern cousin, and its heavy industry often led to jokes about the "Tacoma aroma". Since the formation of the metroplex, however, Tacoma has seen considerable technological and economic development, while preserving its charming turn-of-the-century downtown area. The district boasts busy docks and new corporate business centers, but the attraction is its downtown and various shopping centers, including Tacoma Mall and Villa Plaza. Tacoma is also where the bullet train disembarks at Charles Royer Station as well as a train south to San Francisco.

### Everett

The northernmost district of Seattle has long been known for "ships, planes, and stormy weather", as Everett is located along the northern part of Puget Sound, bordering rural Snohomish and the Salish-Shidhe Council lands. It is famous as home of both Everett Naval Shipyard (UCAS Navy) and Federated Boeing's aircraft construction facility. With the Snohomish River cutting through the district's northeastern sector, Everett is also an area of natural beauty.

### Renton

Although Renton has a reputation as a sleepy bedroom suburb off the metroplex, the discerning visitor should not write it off. Renton offers both a pleasant environment, combining natural beauty with modern architecture and communities, and wonderful retail opportunities, with shopping centers, specialty boutiques, and high-end stores. It features a spur of green hills and ridges, including Cougar Mountain and Tiger Mountain, along with a chain of small mountain lakes.

### Auburn

Auburn is Seattle's industrial heart, home to many of the metroplex's factories, refineries, and other manufacturing plants. It's a blue-collar district, but don't think that means it has nothing to offer. Auburn is home to plenty of local attractions and entertainment, including the district's minor league baseball and urban brawl teams (The Auburn Cardinals and the Auburn Rumblers), and a day at the races at the Seattle International Raceway. In the evening, the district's restaurants, bars, and nightclubs offer a wide range of nightlife.

### Snohomish

Although known for urban sprawl, Seattle is not without its greener pastures. Snohomish is the metroplex's breadbasket, with numerous aquaculture and agribusiness farms along the Snohomish River and in the surrounding countryside. This makes Seattle farm country the ideal place to visit for a quick getaway from the hustle and bustle of the metroplex. You can take a picnic lunch or purchase one at many of the fine local restaurants and food co-ops. There are also plentiful opportunities for dining and shopping for gourmands. There is also the Blackstone Museum and Zoo, a privately owned attraction with a variety of paranormal animals, most of them in free-range natural habitats.

### Fort Lewis

Although treated as just another district of the greater Seattle Metroplex, Fort Lewis is a UCAS Military Reservation, housing the Seattle Metroplex Guard, McChord Airfield, and the UCAS Army Pacific Command, Joint Task Force Seattle. This means much of the area is restricted, although tours of some of the military facilities are available. Contact the *Fort Lewis Public Relations Center* for information and times. The two main attraction for visitors, however, is the Fort Lewis Zoological Gardens - acres of managed wilderness with well-established trails and habitats for a wide variety of paranormal animals. Invisible ultrasonic fences and AR tags keep the animals in their established habitats and allow visitors to see them in their natural environment. You can easily spend a day or more walking the trails of the Gardens and seeing their impressive collection, which changes slightly year-round. The Zoological Guards work cooperatively with Blackstone's Zoo in Snohomish as well, loaning out parts of their collection.

### Redmond

Looking for something a little different from your Seattle experience? Head down the 405 and get off the exit at Redmond for a walk on the wild side. While local authorities and UCAS travel advisories warn against going too far off the beaten track in this district of the metroplex, along the 405 bordering Bellevue you can find some of the most exciting nightspots in Seattle, and other cooperative businesses run by local residents, some dating back thirty years. Just be sure to check in with Knight Errant traffic and activity updates on *KnightWatch* before you make your plans.

### Puyallup

The eruption of Mt. Rainier in 2017 devestated much of what is now the Puyallup district of the Seattle Metroplex; lava flows and heavy ashfall from the volcano changed the course of the Puyallup River, wiped out real estate, and created the vast lava plains that now cover the area. Even today, Puyallup is subject to occasional tremors, geysers, and ashfalls from the still-active volcano and "Smokin' Rainier" looms large over the horizon. Hiking and even camping is permitted on the lava flats of Puyallup, but visitors must sign a special waiver due to the dangers associated with geysers, boiling mud, and similar hazards. For the less adventurous of us, businesses like Hell's Kitchen Tours and Ashland Air offer spectacular aerial tours of the lava fields and geysers, with a view (on clear days) of Rainier and Salish-Shidhe territory to the south.

### Council Island

You don't have to leave the metroplex borders to get a taste of the cultural and history of the Native American Nations; it's available right in the heart of Seattle on Council Island, situated in Lake Washington. The Treaty of Denver ceded the island to the newly formed Native American Nations in 2018, and it now serves as an embassy and tribal enclave in the Seattle Metroplex. The Salish-Shidhe Council also maintains the island as a nature preserve, allowing visitors to enjoy the unspoiled wilderness alongside displays of Native American culture. Visitors' passes and tour information is available through the Grand Council Lodge.

## Travel

### Interior

Downtown Seattle is pedestrian friendly, but outlying areas are dependent on public transit and road vehicles. Unlike many cities in the UCAS, Seattle does not have a metro system.

#### Pedestrian

Because of Seattle's numerous hills and surrounding mountains, foot traffic is common, but it is recommended to have supportive and comfortable footwear.

#### Public Transit

The Metro Transit Company runs Seattle's public transit system. Bus routes run throughout the metroplex, with schedules available from the public Grid. There is no charge to ride the bus in the downtown "free zone". Trips outside downtown cost $4 (2¥). Seattle also has a monorail system, updated and expanded several times. The monorail loops around the downtown district on elevated tracks, with stops at Seattle Center, the ACHE, King Street Station, and many other places along the way. Riding the monorail costs $2 (1¥).

#### Car

Seattle's main streets and highways are gridded for electric cars, which make up the bulk of traffic. The GridGuide™ system provides safe traffic flow management. Electric cars are not recommended in the Barrens, as the GridGuide system is often damaged or non-existent. Travel at night on any major highway or through the Barrens is heavily discouraged, and it is recommended to check GridGuide and any metroplex warnings prior to embarking.

Several taxi services operate in Seattle, including Emerald City Cabs, Yellow Cabs, and GridCab, with its remote and GPS-piloted vehicles. A number of private limo services are available for charter. WP Express operates two limo routes from the airport, and their brands A2D (Airport to Downtown) and A2B (Airport to Bellevue). Seattle is also home to a thriving KeyCar™ franchise. By waving a KeyCar-enabled commlink over the dash or touch the virtual switch over the driver's side door will unlock the vehicle. Charges are automatically made to the user's account, with charges rounded up to the nearest half-hour.

#### Ferry

The Seattle Ferry System runs boats of varying sizes up and down the waterfront and to and from the islands in Puget Sound, with Pier 66 downtown as the hub of the system. Ferries leave on the hour from 6 am to 9pm daily for Tacoma, Everett, and the islands, costing $10 (5¥) for a passenger trip and $24 (12¥) to take a vehicle on board. Large vehicle ferries are equipped with mobile Matrix nodes, allowing passengers to remain online during the trip. Small passenger ferries cost $4 (2¥) or $10 (5¥) for the express hydrofoil. A trip by ferry takes approximately 40 minutes to or from downtown or 15 minutes by hydrofoil.

#### Air

Many corporate and government facilities in Seattle having landing pads for helicopters, tilt-rotor aircraft, and small lighter-than-air vehicles. Five main air-taxi services operate in the metroplex: Emerald City Air, Renraku Air, Sea-Tac Express, Quetzal Shuttle Services, and Federated-Boeing Air Carriers. They fly tilt-rotor and VTOL aircraft to and from Sea-Tac Airport and the major corporate traffic centers. Travel by air-taxi is expensive, costing around $200 (100¥) for a short hop from the airport or $300 (150¥) for a cross-town flight. Tour packages are also available for $300 to $400 (150¥ to 200¥) per person with stops at several points around Seattle.

### External

Seattle is the largest non-contiguous part of the UCAS, so travel to the metroplex can be more involved than visiting other parts of the country, even for UCAS citizens. Visiting Seattle as a non-native citizen is similar to visiting the UCAS proper, and travelers should observe the same rules and restrictions provided by the UCAS State Department. UCAS citizens visiting Seattle still need proper documentation, and it is recommended visitors update travel information and check for any trip advisories put out by the UCAS government.

#### Land

The Native American Nations sanction three major traffic routes into and out of Seattle, known as the North, South, and East Roads. The North and South Roads follow the track of the old US Interstate Highway 5. The East Road is the old I-90 and leads to the Yakima Trading Center Complex at Ellensburg, where it joins up with I-82/84. Vehicles must pass through a security checkpoint to enter or leave the metroplex borders.

A sealed-tube high-speed maglev train runs from San Francisco to Seattle through Tir Tairngire and the Salish-Shidhe Council. It is the only passenger rail-service into the metroplex. The trip takes about two hours and is primarily used by tourists and employees of corporations with interests in both cities. The maglev-tube is opaque and large portions of it are underground.

#### Sea

The Port of Seattle remains one of the most active on the Pacific coast of North America, and various passenger and commercial vessels dock in the harbor daily. Visitors to the metroplex must report to the Port of Entry Complex to have their transit information checked and updated before entering the city proper.

#### Air

The main air traffic hub for the metroplex is Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, known locally as "Sea-Tac". Flights arrive there from all over the world. The metroplex also has numerous smaller airports, many privately owned and operated. Federated-Boeing operates its own airfield just north of Sea-Tac, and the UCAS military operates an airfield of VTOL, VSTOL, and cargo-lifting aircraft in Fort Lewis.

## Government & Public Services

### Seattle City Services

GridGuide™
Healthcare
Matrix Service
Police
Power
Prisons
Public Works
Sanitation
Mitsuhama Computer Technologies
City Health Services
NeoNET
Knight Errant
Gaeatronics
Lone Star Security Services
Shiawase Envirotech
Eta Engineering

### Law Enforcement

Local law enforcement in the metroplex is contracted to Knight Errant, a private security company. Uniformed officers patrol the streets and are available to answer emergency calls via the PANICBUTTON™ system from a commlink or public terminal located throughout the metroplex.

##### Private Security

A number of other private security providers operate in the Seattle Metroplex, mostly handling corporate properties and private communities. In accordance with UCAS and metroplex law, the jurisdiction of these security providers is clearly posted, most often with AR tags and signs to indicate off-limits areas or additional restrictions that may apply. Visitors should comply with all such posted signs in order to avoid legal penalties. If any questions of security jurisdictions arise, contact Knight Errant Customer Service.

### Medical Facilities

Seattle has state-of-the-art medical facilities, with a total of 88 hospitals and clinics throughout the greater metroplex area. Seattle is number one in the UCAS in trauma and emergency care. Downtown Seattle has twelve hospitals and clinics, including Harborview, Seattle Health Maintenance Organization, Seattle General, MCT Public Health, and University Hospital. There are also a number of body shops like Executive Body Enhancements, Nightengale's Body Parts, and Body+Tech boutiques. DocWagon™ also maintains a clinic downtown for its clients.

Bellevue has eleven hospitals and private clinics, including Overlake Medical Research Center and Cougar Mountain Hospital. Six major hospitals operate in Tacoma, including Doctor's Hospital of Tacoma, Humana Hospital, Margaret Bridge Child Health Hospital, and Tacoma Charity General. MBCH Hospital is well known for its research into the effects of childhood diseases on metahuman children, along with the mural in the hospital's main lobby commemorating the victims of the Night of Rage.

Everett has fifteen hospitals and clinics, including Billing's Medical Services, Everett General, Travis Memorial, and Everett Naval Hospital, which has been open to the public since 2040. The dictrict also has a DocWagon™ clinic serving the HMO's customers. Renton's thirteen hospitals and clinics include Auburn General, City Health South and Maple Valley General. Most are corporate owned, including a DocWagon™ clinic.

Auburn has seven hospitals and clinics. They include Algona Community Hospital, Community General, and Lake Wilderness Hospital. Community General sees numerous emergency cases from Puyallup, and their trauma trams are some of the best in the entire metroplex. Lake Wilderness is located in a secluded, wooded area near the lake, and specializes in rehabilitation and reconstruction work. Snohomish's eight hospitals and clinics include Mountlake Veterans Memorial, Snohomish Medical Center and the Turner Clinic. Fort Lewis' four hospitals include McChord Hospital and Madigan Army Hospital. Although Redmond and Puyallup have six functioning hospitals and clinics each, visitors are recommended not to go to either area without a DocWagon™ or other long-range HMO contract to ensure continuity of care.

## Neighbors

Seattle is unique in that, although part of the United Canadian and American States, it is located inside the Salish-Shidhe Council.

### The Salish-Shidhe Council

In the Treaty of Denver in 2016, the land surrounding Seattle was ceded to the Native American Nations, particularly the newly founded Salish-Shidhe Council; "Salish" from the majority Salish tribe of the Pacific Northwest, and "Shidhe" from the large number of elven tribal members at the time, many of whom went on to form the elven nation of Tir Tairngire. The treaty reserved Seattle as a United States, and later UCAS, territory and port.

For more than 50 years, Seattle has maintained friendly relations with the Council and the NAN, and this relationship is reflected in the undercurrent of Native culture visible in the metroplex. The Salish-Shidhe Council maintains a diplomatic mission on Council Island, and visitor visas are available for day-trips and other short visits into NAN territory.

### Tir Tairngire

Seattle's other neighbor to the south is the elven nation of Tir Tairngire, a valued trading partner of the metroplex. Seattle is the premier place in North America to find genuine elven crafts, artwork, and other imports, and the close proximity of Tir Tairngire contributes to the metroplex's cultural life. Despite the close relationship, trips into Tir Tairngire can involve lengthy delays and difficult-to-navigate entry requirements.