Solaris City Zone - Black Hills

A Brief History of Solaris VII Solaris VII A Primer for Solaris Games A Whistlestop Tour of Solaris VII The Game World Solaris City A Tour of Solaris City International Zone Black Hills Cathay Kobe Montenegro Silesia Solaris City Location Index

Sunnyside Drive, Frances Avenue and Victory Way are the major thoroughfares crossing from the International Zone into the Federated Suns’ Black Hills sector, an area where mansions rise up next to wide expanses of slums.

This sector’s stubborn attitude is indicated by the fact that they refer to their patron state as House Davion’s Federated Suns, when in fact the ruling family is now the Steiner-Davions. Even though the Black Hills is one of Solaris City’s worst sectors, its residents have always looked down upon Silesia and their Lyran in-laws. The residents here have been fully won over by Victor Steiner-Davion, whom they regard as Hanse Davion’s true heir.  To these supporters, Katrina Steiner-Davion stole the throne while Victor was fighting the Clans, and they seek to show their support for their returned Hero.

The Drive-By

Framed against the sector’s eastern border by Oak, Markham and Auton, the Lowlands are an eyesore and should be a constant embarrassment to the Federated Suns sector. Proof of Davion superiority is lacking here, as the slum-filled area is indistinguishable from the slums of nearby Cathay—though Cathay’s slums are not quite so extensive. Sitting up in the hills above the Lowlands, the Federated Commonwealth Police Department (though this is its official designation, it is commonly referred to as the Federated Suns PD, a discrepancy that is true of all organizations still retaining the Fedcom moniker) houses over a thousand police officers and a lance of light BattleMechs specially modified for crowd control.  Civil disturbance defenses have been necessary of late, as the anti-Steiner demonstrations have gotten out of hand for even the tolerant Chief Wyant Graceson.

The Federated Commonwealth Information Center will happily provide the inquisitive with information on the Federated Commonwealth and its many virtues. Staffed with some of the friendliest people to be found on Solaris VII, they will even assist in filling out the mountain of paperwork that allows one to apply for citizenship.  A few blocks further north are the main news media of the sector, Federated Commonwealth Broadcasting and FedCom News Service. The broadcasting services are still hurting from the earlier dissolution of the Federated Commonwealth, having come to rely heavily on their Steiner counterparts.  However, the News Service is still one of the most respected sports reporting authorities in the Inner Sphere, always with a sharp eye for talent—in the games or on their own staff.

The Sun and Sword Hotel sits along the west-central border of this sector, just over the border from the International Zone’s Hotel Row. Near the Freedom Gate archway and not too far off from the Information Center, the hotel is surrounded by luxury commercial interests and the sector’s few well-maintained parks and estates.  The Sun and Sword charges between ninety and two hundred fifty D-bills per night’s stay, and for that you will be completely immersed in Davionist culture. For the complete pro-Davion package, one should dine at the Silver Swan (five blocks north) and try to wrangle entrance into the elite Running Fox Country Club (by invitation only).

The most popular of the Open Class arena, the Davion Arena of Boreal Reach, resides in this sector, loved for its infinitely variable terrain and conditions.  Covering four square kilometers of old industrial real estate, Boreal Reach routinely fills its acres of parking lots as fans flock to the technological wonder of this holo-arena. Boreal Reach was recently the center of some local controversy when the arena managers simulated a city scene for a fight between two top Federated Suns MechWarriors.  Many fans soon recognized the setting as the palace quarter of Tharkad City, capital of the Lyran Alliance, and the finale of the battle was fought amidst the ruins of the palace itself. Steiner bashing has since grown to be a popular draw for all sectors but Silesia.

Black Hills

Neighborhoods
The Lowlands	Northeast section of Black Hills	Large-scale slums
Government Buildings
FedCom Police Department	Sunnyside Dr & Hanse Davion Dr	Large, well-equipped police force
Sortek Building	Beane Dr & Halloran St	Administrative offices for the Black Hills
Information
City Tours	Princeton St & Halloran St	Bus tours of Solaris City
F-C Broadcasting	Princeton St & New Avalon St	Largest single broadcasting company
F-C News Service	Greenway Ave & Halloran St	Publisher of printed media
F-C Information Center	Fontaine St & Halloran St	Information and propoganda center
First F-C Bank	Preslynn St & Hanse Davion Dr	Caters primarily to F-C citizens
Mainline MechWarriors	Pine St & Ash St	Brokerage house for F-C MechWarriors
Hotels
The Sun and Sword	Wheaton St & Halloran St	High-Class hotel; strictly Davion guests only
Attractions
All Saints Cathedral	Sunnyside Dr & Halloran St	Mammoth Gothic masterpiece
Callista’s Bluff	Stallman St & Hanse Davion Dr	Home to the owner of White Hand Stables
Davion Arena (Boreal Reach)	Marx Way & Fisher Rd	House Davoin’s Open Class Six ‘Mech Arena
Davion Arms	Frances Ave & Hanse Davion Dr	High-class condos
Freedom Gate	Winchester St & halloran St	Monument to Federated Suns’ victories
Green Mansion	St. Helens Ave 7 April St	Home to Drew Hasek-Davion
Guzman Park	Halstead St & Autoni St	Black Hill’s residential centerpiece park
Marina	North American St & Solaris River	Exclusive wealthy Davion dock
Mirabilis House	Sunnyside Dr & Hanse Davion Dr	Home of former Count Danning of Doneval II
Starlight House	Minos Dr & April St	Home of Starlight Stables
The Running Fox Country Club	St. Helens Ave & Ragian St	Exclusive country club
Viewpoint	Laurel Ave & Robinson Ave	Secluded viewpoint of Solaris River
Winged Victory	Halstead St & Amel Way	Fourth Succession War memorial
Restaurants
The New Avalon	Arbogast St & Halloran St	Large restaurant; allows anyone with money
The Silver Swan	Beane Dr & Halloran St	Large restaurant; most exclusive in Solaris
Bars & Nightclubs
The Pelican	Frances Ave & Era St	Caters to MechWarriors and their guests
Seventh Heaven	Minos Dr & Hanse Davion Dr	Caters to techs; techs can be hired here
Transportation
Luxury Transport	Fountain St & Hanse Davion Dr	Elite, luxury car dealership
‘Mech Tech
‘Mech Sales	Winchester St & Garibalo St	Sells high-quality rebuilt ‘Mechs
New Avalon Technologies	Regency St & New Avalon St	Sells to everyone, cut-rate price for Davion
Medical Facilities
Davion General Hospital	Porter St & Halloran St	Accepts all patients, regardless of pay