The Epsom system lies on the far eastern borders of the Outer Rim systems, far from the galactic core and thus far from most of civilization. One of the oldest systems in the sector, the Epsom system is home to a brown dwarf near the end of its life cycle. Reduced to a fraction of its original size, the star at the heart of the system produces minuscule quantities of light and heat, making the system inhospitable for natural life. With reduced lighting available from the dying star, navigation in Epsom is more challenging. Pilots must rely almost entirely on sensors to find their way through the void of space. While direct collisions with other starships are rare, rogue asteroids ejected from the nearby asteroid belt are nearly impossible to track within the infinite void and pose a constant threat.

Mining and geological surveys of the singular remaining planet and its astrological bodies suggest, however, that the Epsom system may have been once teeming with life, but what remains is now outright hostile to it. The failing star sends out rare but violent solar flares that can destabilize shields and environmental systems, leaving vessels even more vulnerable in an already violent place. Updated astrogation charts are broadcast on a regular basis from a local station within the system, showing the last known location of derelict wrecks, asteroids, and other astrological debris that may pose a risk to pilots entering the system—the system's first and often only courtesy to the unprepared.