Right after dropping out of hyperspace, I felt the heat. Usually, jump exit points are placed far enough from a star, but Lambda Hadrionis is so massive that it hardly helps. Good thing it’s a red giant, not a blue one.

“Melting Point” is a popular spot in this sector. Although the colony has almost no permanent residents, its rich deposits of rare minerals attract both workers and all sorts of traders.

Underground Hangar — spacious, yet probably the hottest area in the entire colony. Constant takeoffs and landings never let it cool down. Maybe that’s why Max Sholar—the dock manager and part-time mechanic—is always in a bad mood.

Crew Quarters — a place where temporary workers and staff can spend the night or simply catch their breath after a shift. The room I rented turned out to be even smaller than the capsule I stayed in back at the “Haven” station: instead of a private shower module in each room, there’s just one shared shower for the entire section.

Bar “Degree of Consequences” — the liveliest place in the colony. It’s always noisy and crowded — thanks in no small part to the charming bartender Mira, who always has something to say, and to the colony’s brightest “star,” the prostitute Zara.

Control center — I wandered in here by accident during my first walk around the station. But the moment I saw the colony administrator, Linda Craven, I knew I’d be looking for excuses to come back. Fortunately, that’s easy — her son Eric runs the local trading terminal. A shy, awkward guy, but I think we’ll get along just fine.

“Melting Point” is a mandatory stop along the routes through this sector. You can always repair your ship here, sell your cargo — and of course, grab a drink at the bar, because no journey feels complete without that.

When I approached the station, it didn't stand out much—an ordinary modular structure, one of hundreds scattered across the galaxy. A bit battered, sure, but still fully functional. Maybe its location on the border between Federation-controlled sectors and unclaimed territory is what makes it so appealing to fugitives like me?

"Harbour" is one of the oldest stations in this sector. The system's resources are scarce, and the station's population has been steadily declining. Over the past decade, it has turned into a hub for smuggling and all sorts of illicit activities.​

Docks — the first thing anyone sees when docking at the station. Dock manager Zoey works here. Open and sincere, she dreams of one day becoming a starship crew member herself.

Capsule Hotel — where I rent a room to rest from long hauls and check my communicator for personal messages or job offers. Hotel manager Marcus is a pretty notable guy. I can't quite put my finger on it yet, but there's something in his gaze that makes me want to keep a close eye on him.

Reactor Room Bar — the local watering hole where you can unwind from the hustle with a glass of "Azurite," chat up the regulars for potential contracts, and admire the charming bartender Annie.

Trading Section — the part of the station dedicated to trade operations. Some areas are just warehouses, but Deck Seven is a full-fledged trading hub. I got lucky meeting broker Dayron here—he really knows his way around profitable deals.

Shipyard — where I can patch up hull breaches on my starship, buy mods, and armaments. Importantly, this is where Selena works—the sharp-tongued mechanic beauty whose look warms you up more than the ship's heating.

Roy, a buddy from the Academy, told me about "Harbour." He said stations like this are perfect for covering your tracks if things go south. There are probably plenty of similar holes on the edge of known sectors, but this name popped into my head when I hacked the onboard AI panel and decided where to point the stolen starship.​