Just over 75 miles north of Santiago, near the dead center of the Chilean coastline, lies the "Jewel of the Pacific". Valparaíso, Valpo for short, is the grand port of Chile, and is the center of all of the nation's naval pursuits, be they economic or militant in nature. Though disrupted and perturbed by the changes in the geopolitical order, the vast Chilean maritime industry continues to churn, bringing dwindling income to the city, but endless nets of fish.

Valparaíso itself languishes in the way that only a port city past its golden era can. Many of the city's famed funiculars no longer run; its labyrinthian cobblestone streets are no longer safe to wander. Without any major investment or attention, the city has slid into grime and alienation. With grime and alienation come extremism, and Valparaíso thus serves as the center of the Chilean socialist movement: the dockworkers' union is known to be one of the most volatile and ideologically driven in the nation, leading many strikes and demonstrations.

Amidst the red banners and aging shipyards, ships marked with the white torch of the OFN dock at the city's port daily. To liberal-minded Chileans, this showcases the collaborative relationship between Chile and the United States, and is evidence of strong foreign investment. To Chileans dissatisfied with the status-quo, it is undue American exploitation of Chile's natural bounty. Valparaíso may have lost its luster as a jewel, but it is still a vital center of the Chilean economy and culture; even the most cynical citizen of Valpo still has dreams of a gleaming city.