A Spacer's Guide to the Reach
Black Reach is ancient. Nobody knows exactly how ancient.
Once a massive generation ship, the Reach has spent centuries growing into a sprawling independent station. Old habitation decks have become neighborhoods, cargo holds have become markets, and derelict ships have been permanently attached to its hull.
Black Reach has a reputation for neutrality, opportunity, and questionable legality.
Station saying: “Everything has a price.”
The Docks
Where most visitors first encounter Black Reach. The docks are crowded with freighters, prospectors, salvagers, couriers, and independent ships. Fuel, repairs, cargo handling, and storage are readily available.
Known for: Ship services, dockworkers, cheap food, questionable “fees.”
The Spine
The main thoroughfare running through much of the old generation ship. Shops, apartments, bars, restaurants, street vendors, and businesses line the kilometers-long corridor.
Known for: Shopping, food, crowds, street entertainment.
The Bazaar
Black Reach’s famous marketplace. Merchants sell everything from electronics and ship components to clothing, food, salvage, and imported luxuries. Some merchandise is more legal than others.
Known for: Bargains, rare goods, contraband, pickpockets.
Local advice: Haggle.
The Broken Compass
A legendary spacer bar near the docks. Its walls are covered with photographs, ship patches, plaques, and souvenirs left by generations of crews. Captains looking for crew and spacers looking for work frequently meet here.
Known for: Drinks, rumors, jobs, spacers.
Auntie’s
A tiny noodle shop operated by an elderly woman everyone simply calls Auntie. The noodles are decent. The tea is terrible. The information is excellent.
Known for: Food, gossip, introductions, information.
The Exchange
Black Reach’s commercial trading floor. Cargo contracts, passengers, salvage rights, mining claims, and shipping jobs can all be found here. Independent captains looking to make money usually visit the Exchange before leaving the station.
Known for: Cargo, passengers, jobs, business opportunities.
Reach Salvage & Recovery
Several enormous warehouses filled with centuries of salvaged machinery. If you need an obsolete component for your ship, there’s a good chance somebody here has one.
Finding it may take a while.
Known for: Used ship parts, salvage, repairs, strange discoveries.
Calder’s Yard
One of the busiest repair and cargo-handling operations around the docks. The Dockside Cooperative operates from here and can arrange mechanics, cargo crews, fuel, storage, and other services.
Known for: Repairs, dockworkers, ship services.
Lucky Thirteen
The station’s largest casino. Cards, dice, electronic games, betting, private tables, food, and alcohol are available around the clock.
Credit is also available.
This is not necessarily a good thing.
Known for: Gambling, high rollers, entertainment.
The Rusty Airlock
A loud, crowded spacer bar where drinks are cheap and arguments occasionally become recreational activities. Popular with miners, dockworkers, salvagers, and ship crews.
Known for: Cheap drinks, live music, fights.
The Lantern District
Black Reach’s primary entertainment district. Bars, restaurants, dance clubs, theaters, gambling halls, virtual entertainment, and numerous other establishments operate throughout the district.
Some places never close.
Known for: Nightlife, music, dancing, trouble.
The Velvet Void
One of Black Reach’s most fashionable clubs. Getting through the door can be difficult unless you have money, a reputation, or know the right person.
Known for: Dancing, expensive drinks, celebrities, wealthy criminals.
The Pit
Black Reach’s notorious fighting arena. Professional and amateur fighters compete in boxing, martial arts, zero-gravity combat, and other contests.
Betting is encouraged.
Known for: Fighting, gambling, questionable medical decisions.
Zero
A large zero-gravity neighborhood built inside several former cargo sections. Many Belters and spacers call Zero home.
Visitors unfamiliar with zero-G should watch where they’re going.
And what they’re grabbing.
Known for: Belter culture, workshops, unusual bars, zero-G sports.
Old Earth
One of the original generation ship’s agricultural habitats. Trees, ponds, gardens, and actual soil survive beneath an artificial sky. Some of the trees are rumored to be centuries old.
It’s one of the quietest places aboard Black Reach.
Known for: Parks, gardens, relaxation.
Saint Miranda’s
A hospital and free clinic serving anyone who comes through the doors. The staff has a reputation for asking very few questions.
Known for: Medical treatment, emergency care, discretion.
The Furnace
Black Reach’s industrial district. Reactors, machine shops, fabrication facilities, recyclers, and heavy industry occupy enormous sections of the old ship.
Visitors should pay attention to warning signs.
Known for: Engineering, fabrication, heavy repairs.
The Crown
Black Reach’s wealthiest district. Corporate representatives, successful merchants, station officials, and other wealthy residents live here.
The gravity works. The corridors are clean. The air doesn’t smell like machinery.
These things cost money.
Known for: Luxury, expensive restaurants, business.
The Cathedral
The generation ship’s enormous original observation chamber. At scheduled times, armored shutters open to reveal a spectacular view of space.
Weddings, funerals, ceremonies, and important meetings frequently occur here.
Known for: The view.
Cost: Free.
The Memorial Wall
An enormous collection of names commemorating the generation ship’s original passengers and crew. Visitors traditionally touch the wall before departing Black Reach for a long voyage.
Known for: History, remembrance.
The Archive
Black Reach’s historical records repository. Hundreds of years of station records are stored here using an assortment of ancient and modern technologies.
Researchers are welcome.
Patience is recommended.
Known for: History, ship records, old maps.
The Graveyard
Old spacecraft and abandoned docking structures surround this portion of the station. Many ships have been permanently incorporated into Black Reach and converted into homes and businesses. Other vessels remain abandoned.
Salvaging without authorization is prohibited.
Known for: Derelicts, salvagers, old ships.
The Undertow
You’ve probably heard of it.
Nobody seems particularly interested in explaining where it is.
Known for: Depends who you ask.
Below
“Below” is the local term for the sealed and abandoned portions of the original generation ship. There are hundreds of old corridors, decks, machinery spaces, and habitation sections down there.
Possibly thousands.
Public access is prohibited.
STATION ADVISORY: DO NOT ENTER BELOW.
Seriously.
Black Reach Station Authority assumes no responsibility for injury, disappearance, decompression, radiation exposure, structural collapse, getting lost, or anything you might encounter in unauthorized sections of the station.
The Door
Deep within the oldest known sections of Black Reach is the Door—a massive, seamless barrier of dark metal set directly into the original hull.
There are no controls, markings, hinges, access panels, or visible means of opening it. Even the station’s oldest surviving schematics show only a blank space where the Door stands.
No one knows what lies beyond it, who built it, or whether it was ever meant to be opened. Scans have produced contradictory results, and attempts to cut, drill, or otherwise penetrate the surface have left no lasting mark.
For generations, Reachers have left small offerings before it: flowers, coins, photographs, handwritten messages, even children’s toys.
Ask why, and most locals give the same answer:
“It’s always been done.”
Things Visitors Should Know
Weapons: Carrying personal weapons is tolerated in many parts of Black Reach. Brandishing them is another matter.
Gravity: Gravity varies considerably between districts. Pay attention to warning markings.
Air: If a pressure door closes, don’t interfere with it.
Money: Most major currencies are accepted. The Bazaar prefers cash or verified transfers.
Maps: Public station maps are reasonably accurate. Mostly.
Docking: Keep your docking receipt.
Local authorities: Black Reach has several.
Emergencies: Follow illuminated evacuation markings and instructions from station personnel.
Exploration: If someone offers to sell you a map of Below, assume it’s fake.
If it isn’t fake, that’s probably worse.
Best Advice for Newcomers
Keep some money in your pocket. Know where your ship is. Don’t gamble more than you can afford. Don’t insult dockworkers. And don’t ask someone where they got their merchandise.
Welcome to Black Reach.
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