The Ilium Works is a huge manufacturing complex in Ilium, New York. All the manufacturing is done by the machines, and the plant is run by a few human managers and engineers. There are similar plants in cities across the country.
Most of the people of Ilium, New York, live in Homestead, across the river from the Ilium Works and the large, expensive houses of the engineers and managers.
A bridge separates Homestead, where all the average people live, from the Ilium Works and the expensive houses of the managers and engineers. The bridge is a symbol of the division between the two classes. Usually, it is blocked by a large group of Reeks and Wrecks with nothing much to do.
At an unnamed bar near the bridge between the.....
