Hurston is a hot, arid planet that orbits closest to the sun in the Stanton system. Discovered in 2851, it was sold by the United Empire of Earth (UEE) government to the company Hurston Dynamics in 2865. Unrestricted industry and mining, especially of antimatter precursor, have heavily polluted the atmosphere of the planet since the company took possession. Inhabitants are kept up to date on atmospheric conditions by a public air quality index. Lorville, the oldest and most populous city on Hurston, is home to Hurston Dynamics' headquarters, a towering structure nicknamed "Central" that casts a permanent shadow on the buildings below.