latest ubuntu 18 release upgrade failed completely

[Zaphod]

installed systemd-shim package post-removal script subprocess returned error exit status 2

the upgrade has been aborted the system could be in an unstable state. how can i force a complete upgrade. there is nothing on this system I need to save

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 18.04
Package: ubuntu-release-upgrader-core 1:18.04.25
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.15.0-33.36-generic 4.15.18
Uname: Linux 4.15.0-33-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.2
Architecture: amd64
CrashDB: ubuntu
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
Date: Mon Sep 3 16:37:45 2018
InstallationDate: Installed on 2013-09-15 (1813 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Kubuntu 13.04 "Raring Ringtail" - Release amd64 (20130424)
PackageArchitecture: all
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: ubuntu-release-upgrader
Symptom: dist-upgrade
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
VarLogDistupgradeTermlog:

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[FrankJPost (fjpost)]

Upgraded from 16.04LTS to 18.04 (followed published instructions
  - https://linuxconfig.org/how-to-upgrade-to-ubuntu-18-04-lts-bionic-beaver).
Upgrade failed (dpkg: error processing package systemd-shim (--remove)
Upgrade was aborted (error processing packages executed)
System basically unusable after completion (many pgms/services failed, unable to open new terminal).
System would not reboot successfully.
Rebooted to Recovery Mode, attempted to fix (apt-get) - no change.
Restored to back-up state.
(Upgrade Terminal Session attached.)