Overview
The Inner Bay is a region on the southwest of DisSea, bordering Syndicate. The term refers to a small lake area separated from the DisSea proper by a large dam, as well as a former industrial region on its shores. Before the DisSea Explosion in N.F. 84, Inner Bay was described as the "Industrial center of the world," but over time the area has been completely destroyed by the appearance of BR-000 and later BR-002. Spreading contamination made the region almost completely uninhabitable, with 95% of the region contaminated by the time the Broken Frontline was formed. Abnormal phenomena observed in its deep waters include migrating contaminated waterbodies, massive air bubbles, and elusive black shadows. The remaining 5% became a refuge only for those trying to avoid the gang conflicts of Syndicate. It is considered a slum even by the low standards of that district, but is also home to Drifter Camp.
The Inner Bay Rail was a special minecar track for transporting Hypercubes out of the mines of DisSea to the processing and industrial facilities of the Inner Bay and West District. As the Hypercube was the lifeline that allowed for the establishment of DisCity, the Inner Bay Rail is one of the oldest constructions in the city -- predating even Keylan Square by several years. Since the outbreak of BR-002, the Inner Bay Rail was mostly abandoned, and its tunnel network has corroded with rust and contamination. However, it is still used as a means of transport for Rustfire.
After DisSea Explosion
Although on the surface the Inner Bay seemed only mildly affected by the DisSea Explosion, effects from the Black Ring in its deep waters eventually crippled the region's underwater mining industry. In the years immediately following the DisSea Explosion, the Inner Bay workers stayed behind in the disaster zone, forming militias to fight the emerging gangster factions, guard the remaining mines against further corruption, and continue to extract Hypercubes so that the city could survive. These workers are remembered as heroes in Syndicate. Due to their close proximity to the intense Mania of the Black Ring, many of them likely became Sinners, though that phenomenon was not yet recognized or understood.
In N.F. 104, automated mining technology made the workers of Inner Bay obsolete. Nirvana deemed the Inner Bay mines a negative asset due to the cost of outdated equipment and persistent contamination causing large work injury compensation costs. The workers protested against the mine's closure, which would cut off the last economic lifeline to the West District, and as a result of their action the company agreed to hand over the largest, mine W-31, to the people. Three days later, BR-002 appeared in mine W-31. Due to its proximity to the existing Black Ring, BR-000 expanded rapidly and eventually covered all of Inner Bay. The survivors totaled around 200 people, who founded Drifter Camp as a last refuge.
Despite the corruption, Rustfire continued to utilize the infrastructure in the Inner Bay, using old technology to rebuild industrial railways and shelters that predate the Broken Frontline. The Inner Bay has also become an important research base for the Ring Research Institute.