On the far western side of the Combat zone there is a bar called the Bitter Sea.  This bar has been a popular hangout for people living on the edge since before Marsten was walled off.  Netrunners, techs, combat medics, nomads solo’s all came here, as did Fixers and Corporate headhunters in need of the type of people who would hang out here.  The bar is owned by an old Marine veteran named David Ranch.  His son and two granddaughters help him run the place, and they have made it a home away from home for people who don’t have homes. 

 

When the walls went up, David and his family could have fled the Zone, but it was really all he had, and he decided to hold on to it with all he had.  Luckily he had help, as 7 of his regular patrons realized the value of the place, and the service it provided… and none of them liked the music at the Forlorn Hope.  So they stayed and helped defend the place.  When Carnival was over, David and his customers set to work in the surrounding neighborhoods, putting out fires, getting people food and medical care, and keeping things in their small slice of the Zone from going completely to shit.

 

Since Carnival, the bar continues in much the same way as it always has.  Pros on the edge still come here looking for work or hang out here in between jobs, and while Corporate headhunters don’t come around as often, several fixers with varying specialties still make this place their office space.

 

The only difference is that now the patrons actively keep the bar, and the streets surrounding, free from gang activity.  Originally it was just the street the bar was on, but as bar patrons began living in the area they were able to push the major gangs out to the south almost entirely.  Their territory now extends from the borders of the Yellow Moon Societies turf, all the way down to 61^st street.  The used to control all the way down to the wall, but they have been pushed back by 2-3 Set as the gang has moved in an attempt support Stomp and catch Slaughterhouse in a crossfire.  While so far Hard 8’s patrols have been able to keep 2-3 intrusion contained, 2-3 is pushing hard, and Hard 8 may not have the resources to push back for much longer.

 

Collectively, while protecting the neighborhood, the patrons simply refer to themselves as Hard 8, in tribute to Ranch and the original 7 regulars.  And while they keep the larger gang presence out of the area, the streets are still awash with crime.  Individual criminals and small groups of thugs flourish here, and the neighborhood is by no means safe.  And as much as they have tried to prevent it, the Dead Zoners occasionally make raids into the territory.

Every person who signs up for the Hard 8 is an experienced pro and knows how to handle themselves.  They are also very well armed and often armored.  In exchange for their services in keeping the major gangs out, Ranch gives them a choice between one of the 8 spare rooms above the bar whenever they are available (he and his family take up the 4 rooms on the top floor of the four story building) or help in finding suitable digs somewhere in the controlled area.  It’s also the only way to open a tab at the bar.  The actual members of Hard 8 fluctuate rapidly, as they are only able to do anything for the bar between duties.  Still the regulars of the bar who make up Hard 8 are incredibly loyal to Ranch and the bar. 

 

It’s not all altruistic on Hard 8’s part.  They collect protection fees from the businesses in the area.  Hotels and apartment buildings in the area that want Hard 8’s protection are also required to set aside 20% of their living space free to Hard 8 members.   They are also known to shake down individuals and families who have run afoul of the gangs or local criminals for protection fees.  There are rumors that some of these incidents have been staged just to get money out of people.

 

Hard 8 has no colors, but they use wind chimes made of bullet shell casings as their tag to mark their territories and protected buildings.  At any given time there are between 15 and 25 active members of Hard 8 in the zone, with another 25-50 who can be called in within 3 days if things start going bad.

HARD 8 TERRITORY