AWOL Station

Type: Hotel

Rating: ★★★

Price: ¥25 - ¥400

Location: Tule Lake Road South & Spanaway Loop Road South, Parkland

Description: Located next to the new IMA offices in Fort Lewis, AWOL Station resembles a small resort/hotel that caters not only to SMAF members but private military contractors in general. 

The building itself is 7 stories tall and has enough lodging for approximately 400 guests. It also features several conference rooms for rent which already have been used extensively by IMA representatives and members for meetings and recruitment drives. 

Rooms range from cheap coffin-style setups to relatively extravagant four-person extended-stay suites.

AWOL Station is currently owned and run by Connie Bordeaux, a recently retired combat magician from Combat Inc. who also lives on site. Bordeaux is also the widow of Jack “the Knife” Hogan, a cousin of Dona Rowena O’Malley. Multiple rumors surround Bordeaux and Hogan, the most popular indicating that she married then killed him for the nuyen as part of some convoluted scheme to claim a bounty on Hogan in order to build AWOL Station.

Fort Lewis Visitor's Quarters

Type: Motel

Rating: ★★

Price: ¥80

Location: 41st Division Drive & Pennsylvania Avenue, McChord Airfield 

Description: Visitors to Fort Lewis planning on staying overnight have to stay at this facility, which is essentially a decent hotel run by civilians under military authority.

This place is pretty stark, a little too much barracks in their hotel mix, so the only people who really stay here are the ones who haven’t got much choice. They’re either at the mercy of the post’s brass, or required by their corporate employer to stay close by due to security concerns. 

If you are planning an extended visit to the district, you may wish to consider one of the nearby hotel options in Tacoma, unless prohibited by contract requirements or the like.

Parkland Gala Inn

Type: Hotel

Rating: ★★

Price: ¥85

Location: 119th Street South & Sheridan Street South, Parkland

Description: Conveniently located near McChord Airfield, this mid-size economy hotel is a good alternative place to stay on the edge of Fort Lewis for those with plans in the district, particularly the Air Force Base. The amenities are average, but the prices are reasonable and its main selling point is its location. 

Civilian contractors and consultants not staying on base often end up here, as said location is also close to off base entertainment like the Soft Landing and some local bars, too.

Angela's

Type: Italian Restaurant

Price: ¥¥

Location: Yakima Avenue South & 134th Street, Spanaway

Description: While the surrounding view might not be much (Angela’s is across the street from a garbage dump), the interior of this family-style Italian restaurant is warm and inviting, complete with checkered tablecloths and candlelight (albeit from LED “candles”). 

Angela’s serves a wide menu of natural and soy Italian dishes, some so clever you may even prefer the healthier soy options!

Golden Soy

Type: Chinese Restaurant

Price: ¥¥

Location: 123rd Street South, Parkland

Description: Located near McChord Airfield, this family-friendly Chinese restaurant serves (as the name implies) mostly soy-based dishes. 

The food is somewhat uninspired, but plentiful for the price.

The Shy Giant

Type: Sioux Restaurant

Price: ¥¥

Location: 129th Street South & Park Avenue South, Parkland 

Description: Carlos Wissinger, the owner and chef of the restaurant named for this soft-spoken troll, serves up a delectable menu of California and Sioux cuisine with an excellent range of vegetarian options. 

The Giant is a popular place for the NAN citizens who work in the district to have lunch or dinner, and it is where a lot of “water cooler” conversations go on outside of the workplace. A free round at the bar has been known to net some useful information from time to time.

House of "O"

Type: Brothel

Location: 165th Street South & A Street, Spanaway

Description: Originally known as “The Big O,” the House of “O” was purchased from its previous owner Karl Nelson approximately six months ago and (slightly) re-branded. 

Like its predecessor, the House of “O” is a high-class strip and kink club. Billed as “a place where anything can be found,” the House of “O” caters to and attracts a wide variety of clientele. However, nothing at the House of “O” comes cheap. Clients can expect to pay up to five hundred nuyen for a mere half hour of play, depending on what the client wants. 

The House is known to throw parties on the regular, with tickets starting at 5,000 nuyen. Despite the high prices, the House continues to see a steady stream of business.

Its also a major Triad stronghold and one of their main metahuman trafficking hubs, so naturally its also the Vory's primary target in the distict.

The Drunken Non-Com

Type: Bar

Location: Loop Road South & Old Military Road, Lake View

Description: This small nightclub is on the seedy side and, as the name suggests, draws mainly military personnel looking to knock back a few while off-duty. Unless you are interested in the cheap drinks and appetizers for happy hour, there are better choices for nightlife in the district.

The DNC (as it is known) is a Yakuza front in Fort Lewis, and the Yaks sometimes take opportunities presented by drunk military personnel to introduce them to any of the gracious “hostesses” working the place. The poor slobs work up quite a bill for the ladies’ company, which the Yaks then demand be paid back. In order to keep the matter off their record, some guys will do favors, which only tightens the gumi’s grip on them. 

The PX

Type: Bar

Location: Tule Lake Road South & Spanaway Loop Road South, Parkland

Description: Located on the first floor of AWOL Station, the most popular location in the building is known simply as The PX.

The PX is a massive bar and entertainment hub that offers everything one would expect in such an establishment.

Its popular with SMAF personnel who have a bit more of a head on them (and aren't new recruits with new recruit paychecks) but its really loved by the local IMA-certified mercenaries.

The Lost Unicorn

Type: Bar

Location: Woodbrook Road & 150th Street, Madigan Housing

Description: According to the story, this bar’s name comes from a unicorn that wandered into the area and got hit by a car right outside the door. 

The unicorn’s ghost is said to haunt the place, showing up from time to time, and strange stuff happens around the bar: like four different players drawing a straight flush in the same game of poker, or two people who haven’t seen each other in years meeting up in the place, when neither one had plans to go there. 

Magicians in the district like to congregate at the unicorn; that includes some who work at the Zoological Gardens, by the way. Be warned, they like to play practical jokes on newbies and tourists by casting illusions of the unicorn.

The Soft Landing

Type: Brothel

Location: 121st Street & Sheridan Street South, Lake View

Description: This small bar near McChord Air Field is just a cover for the real business that goes on in back and in the rooms upstairs, where you’ll find one of Fort Lewis’ longest-running houses of prostitution. 

Unlike the bunraku parlors or some of the more modern sex-clubs or whatnot, the Soft Landing does things old school. It’s a fairly simple matter of picking out your partner(s) and paying your tab. The sex-workers are mostly women, but some guys as well, most of them young and in need of the money. 

With Puyallup nearby, the Landing will never lack for employees. There’s a slightly greater number of elves than you might expect (Puyallup again), but they’re generally the only metahumans you’ll find. A woman named Leah runs the place, and has for the past 14 years or so. She’s quite familiar with military jargon and protocol, but doesn’t care to discuss her background. A lot of people think she served, although not necessarily in the UCAS or SMAF.

The Terrible Taps

Type: Bar

Location: 174th Street South & A Street, Spanaway

Description: One of numerous hole-in-the-wall bar & grill joints that service the post and its off-duty personnel, the Terrible Taps has a variety of draft beer, a decent speaker system and music selection, a working trideo, and patrons interested in meeting off-duty soldiers. 

Pay for a few drinks, and you might be able to pick up some useful information in exchange.

McChord Airfield Visitors Center

Type: Museum

Location: Colonel Joe Jackson Boulevard, McChord Airfield

Description: If you are interested in modern aircraft or aviation history, then the Visitors Center at McChord Airfield offers both in abundance. 

Visitors are treated to a variety of full-immersion VR experiences based on real military and corporate flight simulators, along with displays of military aircraft past and present. 

The Center schedules regular airshows, with Metroplex Guard pilots showing off their skills and the latest military hardware. Check their site for updates and times.

Fort Lewis Zoological Gardens

Type: Zoo

Location: Stryker Avenue, Fort Lewis Zoological Gardens

Description: “The Gardens,” as it’s often called, was established in 2023 as a research facility to study newly Awakened animals. It was eventually handed over to the Metroplex Guard, who quickly turned it into a semi-public preserve to educate the populace about para-naturalism, as well as turn a tidy profit.

Animals are housed in natural habitats maintained with invisible sonic and electrical “fences” along with AR tags that create visual- and sensory-cued barriers. AR-enhanced tours are available with information on the various specimens, including imperial eagles, cockatrice, phoenix, and much more. Plan on spending at least half a day appreciating the Zoological Gardens’ various attractions, and you can get lunch or a light dinner on site or at one of the small restaurants nearby.

Visitors to the Gardens can make use of the numerous trails to explore without disturbing the more sensitive and restrictive areas while attending any number of shows featuring exotic paranatural animals.

Aside from the scientific research conducted there, the Gardens was known for its extensive breeding programs. Up until about 2075, clients could purchase any number of paranaturals for hefty prices. When the original Metroplex Guard was decommissioned, no one else wanted to keep the programs running, so the breeding programs were shut down and all remaining animals were allowed to roam free within the confines of the preserve. No official reason was ever given, and records relating to it have been reported as “lost.”

Fort Lewis Sauna & Holistic Rest Center

Type: Spa

Location: 140th Street South & Yakima Avenue, Parkland

Description: Need a break from day-to-day stress? You can relax and unwind at this picturesque Fort Lewis spa, featuring cedar wood saunas, steam beds, and a full menu of spa services, including massage and a variety of holistic and all-natural skin treatments. Same-day appointments and walk-ins are welcome, or you can book in advance.

Although they do make some money from tourists, locals, and off-duty soldiers looking for a massage, the real moneymaker here is the body shop hidden in the basement. It is clean and efficient and the place in Fort Lewis to get some work done on the sly. They’re very careful when it comes to screening prospective clients, since they want to avoid military CID sniffing around, so they tend not to take on soldiers. Their focus is on implants and mods rather than patching people up; don’t show up here looking to get stitched up or anything, or they’ll probably turn you away at the doo

Fort Lewis District Hall

Type: District Hall

Location: Nevada Avenue & 15th Street, McChord Airfield

Description: Fort Lewis’ District Hall is unique in that the “mayor” of Fort Lewis is the commanding officer of the Seattle Metroplex Armed Forces rather than an elected official. 

Otherwise, the District Hall serves much the same administrative functions as its counterparts in other districts of the metroplex, and most of the staff is made up of civilians, along with some military officers as liaisons with General Charles Causey and his staff.

Fort Lewis Stockades

Type: Correctional Facility

Location: Coolidge Avenue & Adams Street, McChord Airfield

Description: The stockade is a military prison run by the Seattle Metroplex Armed Forces for military and federal prisoners only. 

It is a “hard labor” prison where inmates are sent out in teams to do public works projects, mainly maintenance work on the I-5 (often after dust-ups between the SMAF and the local gangers). 

Otherwise the stockade primarily sees temporary prisoners there for disciplinary issues, mostly SMAF soldiers tossed in the drunk-tank to dry out.

Urban Combat Simulator

Type: Military Training Facility

Location: 213 West Outer Drive, McChord Airfield

Description: Located south of McChord Airfield, the Urban Combat Simulator (UCS) is still considered to be the pinnacle in modern warfare training technology thanks to continuous upgrades in its 50 year existence. First completed in 2038, the original UCS was designed to mimic downtown Seattle (minus a few landmarks), and used then-state-of-the-art ASIST technology in conjunction with closed-circuit cameras to give the illusion of movement throughout an urban landscape while also simulating weapons fire.

In 2070, the UCAS government authorized a massive upgrade and expansion of the UCS. These upgrades were finally completed in 2079, resulting in a near complete overhaul of the UCS and representing a quantum leap in technology and training doctrine.

The current UCS is now a series of buildings that use a combination of modern ASIST, AR/VR, and holographic technologies but are also backed up by new Modular Building and Structure Simulators (MoBSS) and Environmental Simulation Systems (ESS). When used in conjunction with each other, the digital systems overlay on the MoBSS can be used to literally recreate any location or environment on the planet complete with weather conditions thanks to the ESS. Each building is typically used for a specific kind of terrain (urban, jungle, desert, arctic, etc.). Each building can be run independently from its own command and control center, or in cases of massive war exercises; training operations can be coordinated through the main command center located in the main complex (the first UCS building). Known as “Space Fleet HQ,” this command center also doubles as the UCS’ cybercombat training hub.

Blue Forest Gardens

Type: Apartment Complex

Location: South Tacoma Way, Lakeview

Description: Originally conceived as an inexpensive alternative to base housing in order to alleviate overcrowding, Blue Forest Gardens is a subdivision of townhouses and apartment buildings located two kilometers north of the main SMAF HQ complex. 

When the UCAS pulled out the entire project was ninety percent completed but abandoned. When the SMAF was formed, however, the project was restarted and eventually finished, providing much-needed housing for new personnel. 

Even then, SMAF buyers and leasers weren’t enough to fill all vacancies. 

So the decision was made to open them up to the general population, which resulted in the desired effect and created a small civilian community within the district.

International Mercenary Association Offices

Type: Regional Headquarters

Location: Tule Lake Road South & Spanaway Loop Road South, Parkland

Description: In order to swiftly fulfill manpower and materiel needs, the new Seattle Government approached the International Mercenary Association, which in turn assisted with the contracting of several mercenary units and scores of individual contractors.

To “further assist with mercenary government relations,” the IMA also set up a regional office within Fort Lewis. While the current command sees no difference between regular and mercenary forces on an operational level, most mercenary units are still assigned to auxiliary defensive posts and stations throughout the Metroplex.

The IMA was created in the wake of the Ghost Dance and enhanced after the Euro Wars. It’s recognized by both the United Nations and the Corporate Court as the governing body that handles legal contracts and matters pertaining to mercenary or private military contract work. 

Those who are members in good standing with the IMA and are operating under a sanctioned contract are afforded certain rights and legal protections under current international law - that is, if certain rules and conduct are maintained. Should crimes be committed or if a complaint or charges are filed against a specific mercenary or unit it’s the IMA’s mandate to investigate and if necessary take the proper legal actions as defined by their charter and established contract terms.

Miller-Forest Computers

Type: Computer Shop

Location: Alaska Street South & 120 Street South, Parkland

Description: Miller-Forest Computers' main room displays a typical array of powerless corporate suit machines but the right connection or the right price can get you into a back room where the really hot items are kept.

The store is also known for renting "hot" cyberdecks, which is pretty unusual. Besides having to put up a large chunk of credit for the machine, the renter must agree in writing to give the store a percentage (usually one-third) of any nuyen obtained through the use of the deck. 

There are security procedures built into the decks themselves, such as an old-school location beeper that no one under the age of 60 (or a Miller-Forest employee) can even recognize as well as some pretty gnarly self-destruct mechanisms to dissuade anyone from stealing the decks.

Pacific University

Type:

Location: 121st South & J Street, Parkland

Description: This school, formerly Pacific Lutheran University, is one of the Seattle metroplex’s finest private institutes of higher learning. It is known for its arts education programs, including its Music and Magic programs, and for its schools of Business, Education, and Nursing. 

The campus is divided into two, separated by Hinderlie Hill. Upper Campus has University Center and the administration building, chapel, and concert hall. Lower Campus includes the science center, observatory, auditorium, gymnasium, and golf course. 

The school’s colors are black and gold. Tours and introductory meetings with student academic advisors can be arranged through the Admissions Office.

PU made a lot of early inroads with their Magical Studies Program, but have lagged behind schools like Seattle University and UW in recent years. They’ve had a difficult time balancing the need to raise tuition and attract the best professors with maintaining their student population. There’s a fair amount of pressure for the school to produce some attention-getting research, publications, students, or all three.

Parkland Mall

Type: Shopping Mall

Location: 116th Street & 19th Avenue Court South, Parkland

Description: With the age of the mall having long since died and many shutting their doors or renovating into mixed-use, the Parkland mall somehow has managed to avoid the necrotic touch by simply being a shopping mall right next to a military base.

Anchored by a sizeable Lordstrung’s, the Parkland Mall offers two floors of shopping with a variety of stores, attracting many of the local military personnel as well as visitors and residents from nearby districts.

Parkland had almost anything an average trooper could want without having to venture too far from post. Many Parkland shops (such as weapons and surplus stores) recently lost a lot of business, however, since AWOL Station opened its doors. Still, for basic needs, Parkland remains a viable option.

The Vory are looking to take advantage and start setting up shop in Parkland to help facilitate sales of red items. And with the Triads looking to settle scores, Parkland is poised to become another front in that little war.

Shooty McBangface's

Type: Gun Shop

Location: Tule Lake Road South & Spanaway Loop Road South, Parkland

Description: Located on the first floor of AWOL Station, Shooty McBangface's is a privately owned shop which caters to traveling military types (especially IMA mercenaries) and bills itself as a shop where they can purchase new weapons and gear or have their current arsenals serviced or repaired.

The Vaults

Type: Storage Facility

Location: Tule Lake Road South & Spanaway Loop Road South, Parkland

Description: Located in the basement of AWOL Station, traveling mercenaries can make use of The Vaults - as long as they have International Mercenary Association membership or are willing to pay out the nose and have a discreet look about them.

The Vaults are specially designed storage rooms to secure normally forbidden/restricted items such as weapons, gear, and (for an extra fee) explosives.

Madigan Army Hospital

Type: Hospital

Location: 3954 West Wilson Avenue, Madigan Housing

Description: It was the best military-run hospitals in the UCAS until Seattle's independence and now it's the best military-run hospital that the UCAS dearly misses as Madigan does have an interesting nuclear medicine program focused on the targeted use of radiation to treat various ailments, particularly different forms of cancer. 

Madigan was opened to the public in the early 2040s and has since served both Fort Lewis and the Seattle metroplex in general. 

The hospital still gives priority to Seattle Metroplex Armed Forces personnel and their families, but provides excellent care to all patients. 

All major HMOs and health plans are accepted.

McChord Hospital

Type: Hospital

Location: Battery Road & 4th Street, McChord Airfield

Description: Another military hospital opened to the public, McChord specializes in emergency medicine and tissue regeneration and transplant treatments, particularly with regard to burn victims. They provide emergency-room services for the surrounding area.

McChord started up a huge cell-bank for skin grafts forty years ago which has grown into a substantial DNA/tissue bank not only for cultivating skin but also growing replacement organs. Of course the cultured organs require more time and money to produce than transplants so the facility still sees only limited use.