diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 927e9ad..00715e7 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -53,6 +53,17 @@ python3 -m http.server 8080
   world. The ship spawns ~150 px (edge-to-edge) off its rim in a
   seed-derived direction, may fly in as close as 50 px from the rim, and
   can never cross it — a planet is solid (tuning in `data/planets.json`)
+- **The tether — your range.** You start with a level-1 tether anchored
+  on the home world: a circular zone, **5120 px from the planet's center**
+  (`data/tether.json`). The ship cannot leave it — anywhere in the union
+  of its tethers' zones is open space (where zones overlap there is no
+  line and no wall), and the rim is a hard barrier rendered as a thick,
+  glitchy, marching dotted line (neon core + RGB fringe + ambient glitch
+  bursts, contact shudder where the ship bumps it). Click-to-fly and
+  autopilot targets are clamped to the union boundary, so a world outside
+  your range is where the ship parks — on the line — until a tether grows.
+  Upgrades and extra anchors (planets/stations) plug into
+  `TetherField.add/setLevel` (tuning in `data/tether.json`)
 - Camera gently trails the ship; the **parallax starfield** streams past
   while it flies and the view slowly recenters (≈1.5 s) once the ship
   comes to rest
@@ -69,6 +80,8 @@ orbit/
 │   ├── menu.json           #   menu text, colors, button layout, seed panel
 │   ├── theme.json          #   shared UI theme: fonts, palette, CRT/glitch tuning
 │   ├── ship.json           #   ship feel: thrust, drag, maxSpeed, …
+│   ├── planets.json        #   home world + system layout + solid-disc rules
+│   ├── tether.json         #   the tether (your range): level radii, barrier line, glitch, contact
 │   ├── galaxy.json         #   galaxy scale & shape (count, radius, spiral…)
 │   ├── systems.json        #   system archetypes: theme, attributes, distribution
 │   ├── settlements.json    #   the lived-in layer: settlement kinds & populations
@@ -85,6 +98,7 @@ orbit/
 │   ├── scenes/             # MenuScene, GameScene (thin, orchestration)
 │   ├── entities/           # Ship (own behavior), Planet (home world, solid)
 │   ├── galaxy/             # Galaxy (seeded world model), SystemGenerator, SystemReport
+│   ├── tether/             # Tether (pure range math) + TetherField (constraint + barrier line)
 │   ├── ui/                 # MenuButton, GlitchText, CyberShape, ActionBar, DiscoveryCompass (reusable)
 │   ├── visuals/            # Starfield, CyberOverlay (CRT/glitch, shared)
 │   ├── utils/              # small pure helpers (Color, Rng, NameGenerator)
@@ -134,6 +148,7 @@ node dev/ship-behavior.test.mjs   # runs the real Ship.update() loop in Node
 node dev/starfield.test.mjs       # runs the real Starfield.create() in Node
 node dev/galaxy.test.mjs          # galaxy determinism, distribution, lazy vs eager
 node dev/discovery.test.mjs       # discovery rules + compass geometry + chip hit test
+node dev/tether.test.mjs          # tether range math: union, clamp, visible arcs (no line in overlaps)
 node dev/research-builds.test.mjs # data contract: research/builds/actionbar shapes + manifest
 ```
 
diff --git a/data/game.json b/data/game.json
index bd6a3d4..f6e3da2 100644
--- a/data/game.json
+++ b/data/game.json
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
   "width": 1280,
   "height": 720,
   "backgroundColor": "#04060d",
-  "hintText": "click anywhere to fly",
+  "hintText": "click anywhere to fly  ·  the tether holds your range",
   "markerColor": "#41c7ff",
   "physics": {
     "default": "arcade"
diff --git a/data/manifest.json b/data/manifest.json
index 23300f9..3913ca5 100644
--- a/data/manifest.json
+++ b/data/manifest.json
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
     "menu.json",
     "ship.json",
     "planets.json",
+    "tether.json",
     "galaxy.json",
     "systems.json",
     "settlements.json",
diff --git a/data/tether.json b/data/tether.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dfdaded
--- /dev/null
+++ b/data/tether.json
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+{
+  "_comment": "TETHER — the player's range. A tether anchors on a world or station and defines a circular zone: radius = distance from the anchor's center. Level 1 = 5120 px (design rule); radius(level) = level1Radius × radiusGrowth^(level−1). The ship may fly anywhere in the UNION of its tethers' zones — where zones overlap there is no line and no wall; outside all of them is a hard barrier, drawn as a thick cyberpunk glitch dotted line along the union's boundary. homeId/homeLevel/homeLabel = the tether the player starts with (anchored on the home world, which sits at the system origin). line = the barrier's look & motion (dash/gap px along the rim, thicknesses, march speed = how fast dashes flow, colors/alphas = the neon passes, glitch = ambient bursts: dash flicker, radial displacement, sparks). contact = feedback when the ship bumps the barrier (pulse = the local shudder of the line; toastCooldown = console warning throttle, ms).",
+  "level1Radius": 5120,
+  "radiusGrowth": 1.25,
+  "maxLevel": 12,
+  "homeId": "home",
+  "homeLevel": 1,
+  "homeLabel": null,
+  "line": {
+    "dash": 26,
+    "gap": 18,
+    "width": 9,
+    "coreWidth": 3.5,
+    "glowWidth": 26,
+    "marchSpeed": 26,
+    "ghostOffset": 3,
+    "colors": {
+      "core": "#eaf6ff",
+      "main": "#00e5ff",
+      "ghost": "#ff2d6f",
+      "glow": "#00e5ff"
+    },
+    "alphas": {
+      "core": 0.85,
+      "main": 0.5,
+      "ghost": 0.16,
+      "glow": 0.09
+    },
+    "glitch": {
+      "enabled": true,
+      "intervalMs": [3200, 8200],
+      "durationMs": [220, 460],
+      "maxDisplace": 26,
+      "dropChance": 0.35
+    }
+  },
+  "contact": {
+    "pulseStrength": 1.0,
+    "pulseDuration": 650,
+    "pulseWidth": 320,
+    "toastCooldown": 4000
+  }
+}
diff --git a/dev/smoke-game.mjs b/dev/smoke-game.mjs
index 1a21a5b..18e3449 100644
--- a/dev/smoke-game.mjs
+++ b/dev/smoke-game.mjs
@@ -8,12 +8,15 @@
  *     --window-size=1280,720 http://localhost:8080/dev/test-game.html
  *
  * Dev hooks (URL params, dev only — ignored by the game itself):
- *   ?ship=<x>,<y>  teleport the ship to a world position after boot
- *                  (screenshots of far-off states — e.g. the off-screen
- *                  compass arrows pointing back at the home world).
+ *   ?ship=<x>,<y>   teleport the ship to a world position after boot
+ *                   (screenshots of far-off states — e.g. the off-screen
+ *                   compass arrows pointing back at the home world).
  *   ?near=<px>      fly the ship to <px> (edge-to-edge) from the first
- *                  system planet — screenshots the discovery moment
- *                  (rim ping + toast) with the world in view.
+ *                   system planet — screenshots the discovery moment
+ *                   (rim ping + toast) with the world in view.
+ *   ?tethers=x,y,level;x,y,level  add dev tethers (union-boundary tests)
+ *   ?homeLevel=<n>  set the home tether's level (bigger/smaller range)
+ *   ?report=1       paint console errors (or "SMOKE OK") on the canvas
  */
 import Phaser from '../js/vendor/phaser.js';
 import { config } from '../js/config/Config.js';
@@ -24,8 +27,19 @@ import { GameScene } from '../js/scenes/GameScene.js';
 const data = await ConfigLoader.load();
 config.init(data);
 const gameConfig = createGameConfig();
-const shipParam = typeof location !== 'undefined' ? new URLSearchParams(location.search).get('ship') : null;
-const nearParam = typeof location !== 'undefined' ? new URLSearchParams(location.search).get('near') : null;
+const params = typeof location !== 'undefined' ? new URLSearchParams(location.search) : null;
+const shipParam = params ? params.get('ship') : null;
+const nearParam = params ? params.get('near') : null;
+const tethersParam = params ? params.get('tethers') : null;
+const homeLevelParam = params ? params.get('homeLevel') : null;
+
+// Dev: capture console errors + uncaught exceptions for ?report=1.
+const __errors = [];
+if (typeof window !== 'undefined') {
+  const origErr = console.error.bind(console);
+  console.error = (...a) => { __errors.push(a.map(String).join(' ')); origErr(...a); };
+  window.addEventListener('error', (e) => __errors.push(String(e.message)));
+}
 gameConfig.scene = [GameScene];
 const game = new Phaser.Game(gameConfig);
 window.game = game;
@@ -43,6 +57,43 @@ if (shipParam) {
   }
 }
 
+if (tethersParam || homeLevelParam) {
+  setTimeout(() => {
+    const s = game.scene.getScene('GameScene');
+    if (homeLevelParam) {
+      const home = s.tetherField.tethers[0];
+      if (home) s.tetherField.setLevel(home.id, Number(homeLevelParam) || 1);
+    }
+    if (tethersParam) {
+      tethersParam.split(';').forEach((triple, i) => {
+        const [tx, ty, tl] = triple.split(',').map(Number);
+        if (Number.isFinite(tx) && Number.isFinite(ty)) {
+          s.tetherField.add('dev' + i, tx, ty, Number.isFinite(tl) ? tl : 1, 'dev');
+        }
+      });
+    }
+    console.info(`smoke: dev tethers ready (homeLevel=${homeLevelParam ?? '—'}, extra=${tethersParam ?? '—'})`);
+  }, 600);
+}
+
+if (params && params.get('report') === '1') {
+  // After boot, paint any captured console errors onto the canvas so a
+  // headless screenshot shows whether the scene is healthy.
+  setTimeout(() => {
+    const s = game.scene.getScene('GameScene');
+    if (!s) return;
+    const msg = __errors.length === 0
+      ? 'SMOKE OK — no console errors'
+      : __errors.slice(0, 3).join('\n');
+    s.add.text(16, 690, msg, {
+      fontFamily: 'monospace',
+      fontSize: '12px',
+      color: __errors.length === 0 ? '#7ce8a4' : '#ff2d6f',
+      align: 'left',
+    }).setOrigin(0, 1).setScrollFactor(0).setDepth(9000);
+  }, 3000);
+}
+
 if (nearParam) {
   const px = Number(nearParam) || 400;
   setTimeout(() => {
diff --git a/dev/tether.test.mjs b/dev/tether.test.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..30fdf48
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dev/tether.test.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,330 @@
+/**
+ * Tether test (dev tool, run with Node — no browser needed):
+ *
+ *   node dev/tether.test.mjs
+ *
+ * Runs the REAL pure tether math (js/tether/Tether.js, no Phaser) against
+ * the real data/tether.json config and asserts the range rules:
+ *   - level 1 radius = 5120 px from the anchor center (design rule),
+ *     radius grows monotonically with level;
+ *   - the ship is allowed anywhere in the UNION of its tethers' zones —
+ *     a point inside one tether is free even when outside another
+ *     (overlap = no wall, no line);
+ *   - outside the union, the clamp lands EXACTLY on the closest boundary
+ *     point (checked against a dense numeric sample of the union rim)
+ *     with the correct outward normal;
+ *   - visibleArcs() = each tether's share of the union boundary, both
+ *     directions: nothing visible is inside another zone, and nothing on
+ *     a rim outside all other zones is missing from the visible arcs
+ *     (no gaps in the line, no line in the overlap).
+ */
+import { pathToFileURL, fileURLToPath } from 'node:url';
+import { dirname, join } from 'node:path';
+
+const __dirname = dirname(fileURLToPath(import.meta.url));
+
+// --- Load the real config (data/*.json) into the config singleton -------
+const { config } = await import(pathToFileURL(join(__dirname, '../js/config/Config.js')).href);
+const fs = await import('node:fs');
+const dataDir = join(__dirname, '../data');
+const configData = {};
+for (const f of fs.readdirSync(dataDir)) {
+  if (!f.endsWith('.json') || f === 'manifest.json') continue;
+  configData[f.replace(/\.json$/i, '')] = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(join(dataDir, f), 'utf8'));
+}
+config.init(configData);
+
+let failures = 0;
+const check = (label, cond) => {
+  console.log(`${cond ? '✔' : '✘ FAIL'}  ${label}`);
+  if (!cond) failures++;
+};
+
+const { Tether } = await import(pathToFileURL(join(__dirname, '../js/tether/Tether.js')).href);
+
+const TAU = Math.PI * 2;
+const wrap = (a) => {
+  const w = a % TAU;
+  return w < 0 ? w + TAU : w;
+};
+const insideArcs = (arcs, th) => {
+  const w = wrap(th);
+  return arcs.some((a) => w >= a.a0 - 1e-9 && w <= a.a1 + 1e-9);
+};
+/** Deterministic PRNG (mulberry32) — stable test points. */
+const mulberry32 = (seed) => () => {
+  seed |= 0;
+  seed = (seed + 0x6d2b79f5) | 0;
+  let t = Math.imul(seed ^ (seed >>> 15), 1 | seed);
+  t = (t + Math.imul(t ^ (t >>> 7), 61 | t)) ^ t;
+  return ((t ^ (t >>> 14)) >>> 0) / 4294967296;
+};
+const rand = mulberry32(20260903);
+const dist = (x, y, t) => Math.hypot(x - t.x, y - t.y);
+
+// --- 1. The level-1 rule: 5120 px from the anchor center ----------------
+{
+  const r1 = Tether.radiusForLevel(1);
+  check(`level 1 radius is 5120 px (got ${r1})`, r1 === 5120);
+  const growth = config.get('tether.radiusGrowth', 1.25);
+  const r2 = Tether.radiusForLevel(2);
+  check(`level 2 = 5120 × growth (${growth}) (got ${r2})`, Math.abs(r2 - 5120 * growth) < 1e-9);
+  const maxLevel = config.get('tether.maxLevel', 12);
+  let mono = true;
+  let prev = 0;
+  for (let l = 1; l <= maxLevel; l++) {
+    const r = Tether.radiusForLevel(l);
+    if (!(r > prev)) mono = false;
+    prev = r;
+  }
+  check(`radius grows monotonically through level ${maxLevel}`, mono);
+
+  const t = new Tether('home', 0, 0, 1);
+  check(`Tether record: id/anchor/level/radius (got ${t.id} @${t.x},${t.y} lv${t.level} r${t.radius})`,
+        t.id === 'home' && t.x === 0 && t.y === 0 && t.level === 1 && t.radius === 5120);
+  const frac = new Tether('x', 10, -10, 2.7);
+  check(`level rounds to an integer (2.7 → ${frac.level}, radius ${frac.radius})`,
+        frac.level === 3 && Math.abs(frac.radius - 5120 * growth * growth) < 1e-9);
+}
+
+// --- 2. Single tether: membership + the barrier clamp -------------------
+{
+  const A = new Tether('home', 0, 0, 1); // r = 5120 at the origin
+  const t = A;
+
+  check('inside the zone: free (clamped: false)',
+        !Tether.clampPoint(1000, 2000, [t]).clamped && Tether.containsAny(1000, 2000, [t]));
+
+  // On the rim exactly: allowed ("within 5120 px" includes 5120 px).
+  const on = Tether.clampPoint(5120, 0, [t]);
+  check('exactly on the rim: allowed, untouched', !on.clamped && on.x === 5120 && on.y === 0);
+
+  // Outside: clamped to the rim, along the ray, with the outward normal.
+  const out = Tether.clampPoint(7000, 0, [t]);
+  check(`outside: clamped to exactly 5120 along the ray (got ${out.x.toFixed(3)}, ${out.y.toFixed(3)})`,
+        out.clamped && out.id === 'home' && Math.abs(out.x - 5120) < 1e-9 && Math.abs(out.y) < 1e-9);
+  check('outward normal is +x (got ' + out.nx.toFixed(3) + ')', out.nx === 1 && Math.abs(out.ny) < 1e-12);
+  const outN = Tether.clampPoint(0, -9000, [t]);
+  check('south approach: normal is −y (got ny=' + outN.ny.toFixed(3) + ')',
+        outN.clamped && Math.abs(outN.y + 5120) < 1e-9 && outN.ny === -1);
+
+  // No tethers at all: free space (seam for pre-tether / debug states).
+  const free = Tether.clampPoint(12345, -678, []);
+  check('no tethers: everything is free', !free.clamped && free.id === null && free.x === 12345);
+}
+
+// --- 3. Overlap = the union (no wall, no line, inside the overlap) ------
+{
+  // Home tether r=5120 at origin + a second tether r=4000 at (6000, 0):
+  // the rims cross; their overlap is fully open space.
+  const A = new Tether('home', 0, 0, 1);
+  const B = new Tether('base', 6000, 0, 2);
+  B.radius = 4000; // (a lower-level-ish radius for a clean test)
+  const field = [A, B];
+
+  // 5500 is OUTSIDE the home tether but INSIDE the second → free.
+  const p1 = Tether.clampPoint(5500, 0, field);
+  check('outside home tether but inside the second: free (union rule)', !p1.clamped);
+  check('…and it really is inside the second tether', Tether.containsAny(5500, 0, field));
+
+  // Deep in the lens: free, even though ~9000 from home's center.
+  const p2 = Tether.clampPoint(6000, 2000, field);
+  check('deep in the overlap (6000, 2000): free', !p2.clamped);
+
+  // Outside BOTH: clamped to the CLOSEST rim — the second tether's, not
+  // home's (500 px gap vs 5380 px).
+  const p3 = Tether.clampPoint(10500, 0, field);
+  check(`outside both: clamps to the nearer rim (10000, 0), id=${p3.id} (got ${p3.x}, ${p3.y}, ${p3.id})`,
+        p3.clamped && p3.id === 'base' && Math.abs(p3.x - 10000) < 1e-9 && Math.abs(p3.y) < 1e-9);
+}
+
+// --- 4. Nearest-boundary clamp — numeric cross-check --------------------
+{
+  const A = new Tether('home', 0, 0, 1);
+  const B = new Tether('base', 6000, 0, 2);
+  B.radius = 4000;
+  const field = [A, B];
+  const SAMPLES = 20000; // rim sampling density (≈1.6 px on the 5120 rim)
+
+  let worst = 0;
+  let worstPt = null;
+  for (let i = 0; i < 80; i++) {
+    const ang = rand() * TAU;
+    const scale = 1.03 + rand() * 0.6;
+    const R = Math.max(A.radius, B.radius) * scale;
+    const px = Math.cos(ang) * R;
+    const py = Math.sin(ang) * R;
+    // Only points truly outside the union.
+    if (Tether.containsAny(px, py, field)) continue;
+
+    const got = Tether.clampPoint(px, py, field);
+    // Dense numeric min over the union rim.
+    let bestD = Infinity;
+    let bestQ = null;
+    for (const t of field) {
+      for (let s = 0; s < SAMPLES; s++) {
+        const a = (s / SAMPLES) * TAU;
+        const qx = t.x + Math.cos(a) * t.radius;
+        const qy = t.y + Math.sin(a) * t.radius;
+        const d = Math.hypot(px - qx, py - qy);
+        if (d < bestD) {
+          bestD = d;
+          bestQ = { x: qx, y: qy };
+        }
+      }
+    }
+    const err = Math.hypot(got.x - bestQ.x, got.y - bestQ.y);
+    if (err > worst) {
+      worst = err;
+      worstPt = { px, py };
+    }
+    if (!got.clamped || err > 2.5) {
+      check(`clamp(×${(px).toFixed(0)}, ${py.toFixed(0)}) → nearest union rim (err ${err.toFixed(2)} px)`, false);
+      break;
+    }
+  }
+  check(`80 random outside points: clamp lands on the nearest union rim (worst ${worst.toFixed(2)} px)`, worst <= 2.5);
+  // And the normal always points from the owning anchor.
+  const chk = Tether.clampPoint(2000, 6400, field);
+  const own = field.find((t) => t.id === chk.id);
+  const dot = (chk.nx * (chk.x - own.x) + chk.ny * (chk.y - own.y)) / own.radius;
+  check('normal is radial from the owning anchor (dot=1, got ' + dot.toFixed(4) + ')', Math.abs(dot - 1) < 1e-9);
+}
+
+// --- 5. visibleArcs — the union boundary, per tether --------------------
+{
+  const soloT = new Tether('a', 0, 0, 1);
+  const solo = Tether.visibleArcs(soloT, [soloT]);
+  check('solo tether: one full-circle arc',
+        solo.length === 1 && Math.abs(solo[0].a0) < 1e-9 && Math.abs(solo[0].a1 - TAU) < 1e-9);
+
+  // B strictly contains A → A's rim is fully covered → no line at all.
+  const small = new Tether('a', 500, 0, 1);
+  small.radius = 1000;
+  const big = new Tether('b', 0, 0, 1);
+  big.radius = 5000;
+  check('fully contained: no visible arcs (no line inside a bigger zone)',
+        Tether.visibleArcs(small, [small, big]).length === 0);
+
+  // B strictly inside A (rim untouched) → A stays a full circle.
+  const inner = new Tether('b', 3000, 0, 1);
+  inner.radius = 1000; // d + rB = 4000 ≤ rA
+  check('inner tether not touching the rim: outer stays a full circle',
+        (() => {
+          const arcs = Tether.visibleArcs(big, [big, inner]);
+          return arcs.length === 1 && Math.abs(arcs[0].a1 - arcs[0].a0 - TAU) < 1e-9;
+        })());
+
+  // Partial overlap — EXACT covered length (k from the circle geometry):
+  //   covered(θ) where cos(θ−β) ≥ k, k = (rA²+d²−rB²)/(2·rA·d)
+  const A = new Tether('a', 0, 0, 1); // r = 5120
+  const B = new Tether('b', 6000, 0, 1);
+  B.radius = 4000;
+  const field = [A, B];
+  const coveredLen = (t, o) => {
+    const r = t.radius;
+    const d = Math.hypot(o.x - t.x, o.y - t.y);
+    const k = (r * r + d * d - o.radius * o.radius) / (2 * r * d);
+    if (k < -1) return TAU;
+    if (k >= 1) return 0;
+    return 2 * Math.acos(k);
+  };
+  const visA = Tether.visibleArcs(A, field);
+  const visB = Tether.visibleArcs(B, field);
+  const arcLen = (arcs) => arcs.reduce((s, a) => s + (a.a1 - a.a0), 0);
+  check(
+    `A: visible = TAU − covered (got ${(arcLen(visA) / TAU).toFixed(5)} of circle, want ${(1 - coveredLen(A, B) / TAU).toFixed(5)})`,
+    Math.abs(arcLen(visA) - (TAU - coveredLen(A, B))) < 1e-6,
+  );
+  check(
+    `B: visible = TAU − covered (got ${(arcLen(visB) / TAU).toFixed(5)} of circle, want ${(1 - coveredLen(B, A) / TAU).toFixed(5)})`,
+    Math.abs(arcLen(visB) - (TAU - coveredLen(B, A))) < 1e-6,
+  );
+  check('partial overlap: visible arcs are well-formed (sorted, in [0,TAU), non-overlapping)',
+        (() => {
+          const ok = (arcs) =>
+            arcs.length > 0 &&
+            arcs.every((a) => a.a0 >= 0 && a.a1 <= TAU + 1e-9 && a.a1 > a.a0) &&
+            arcs.every((a, i) => i === 0 || a.a0 >= arcs[i - 1].a1 - 1e-9);
+          return ok(visA) && ok(visB);
+        })());
+
+  // External tangent (d = rA + rB): a single contact point, no covered arc.
+  const T1 = new Tether('a', 0, 0, 1);
+  T1.radius = 3000;
+  const T2 = new Tether('b', 7000, 0, 1);
+  T2.radius = 4000; // d = 7000 = 3000 + 4000
+  const tangA = Tether.visibleArcs(T1, [T1, T2]);
+  let noInside = true;
+  for (let s = 0; s < 4000; s++) {
+    const a = (s / 4000) * TAU;
+    const px = T1.x + Math.cos(a) * T1.radius;
+    const py = T1.y + Math.sin(a) * T1.radius;
+    if (Math.hypot(px - T2.x, py - T2.y) < T2.radius - 1e-6) noInside = false;
+  }
+  check('external tangent: no rim point inside the other zone',
+        noInside && Math.abs(arcLen(tangA) - TAU) < 1e-6);
+
+  // B's center inside A, partial overlap (k = 0.65): exact length again.
+  const C1 = new Tether('a', 0, 0, 1);
+  C1.radius = 5000;
+  const C2 = new Tether('b', 2000, 0, 1);
+  C2.radius = 4000;
+  const visC = Tether.visibleArcs(C1, [C1, C2]);
+  check(
+    `center-inside overlap: A visible = ${(arcLen(visC) / TAU).toFixed(5)} of circle (want ${(1 - coveredLen(C1, C2) / TAU).toFixed(5)})`,
+    Math.abs(arcLen(visC) - (TAU - coveredLen(C1, C2))) < 1e-6,
+  );
+}
+
+// --- 6. The two-direction boundary property (2 + 3 tethers) -------------
+//   (a) nothing on a visible arc is inside another zone (no line in the
+//       overlap), and
+//   (b) every rim point NOT inside any other zone sits on a visible arc
+//       (no gaps in the line).
+{
+  const A = new Tether('home', 0, 0, 1); // r = 5120
+  const B = new Tether('base', 6000, 0, 1);
+  B.radius = 4000;
+  const C = new Tether('relay', 6000, 3500, 1);
+  C.radius = 2200;
+  const field = [A, B, C];
+  const arcs = Object.fromEntries(field.map((t) => [t.id, Tether.visibleArcs(t, field)]));
+
+  let aOk = true;
+  let bOk = true;
+  const SAMPLES = 6000;
+  for (const t of field) {
+    for (let s = 0; s < SAMPLES; s++) {
+      const ang = (s / SAMPLES) * TAU;
+      const px = t.x + Math.cos(ang) * t.radius;
+      const py = t.y + Math.sin(ang) * t.radius;
+      const inOther = field.some(
+        (o) => o !== t && Math.hypot(px - o.x, py - o.y) < o.radius - 1e-6,
+      );
+      const onVisible = insideArcs(arcs[t.id], ang);
+      if (onVisible && inOther) aOk = false;
+      if (!inOther && !onVisible) bOk = false;
+    }
+  }
+  check('(a) visible arcs are never inside another zone (no line in the overlap)', aOk);
+  check('(b) every exposed rim point is on a visible arc (no gaps in the line)', bOk);
+
+  // And where a rim point sits inside another zone, the union is still
+  // "owned" by the other tether's boundary or interior — i.e. the point
+  // is inside the union (free space), so the wall is nowhere near it.
+  let unionOk = true;
+  for (const t of field) {
+    for (let s = 0; s < 2000; s++) {
+      const ang = (s / 2000) * TAU;
+      const px = t.x + Math.cos(ang) * t.radius;
+      const py = t.y + Math.sin(ang) * t.radius;
+      const inOther = field.some((o) => o !== t && Math.hypot(px - o.x, py - o.y) < o.radius);
+      if (inOther && !Tether.containsAny(px, py, field)) unionOk = false;
+    }
+  }
+  check('covered rim points are inside the union (overlap is open space)', unionOk);
+}
+
+console.log(failures === 0 ? '\nAll tether tests passed ✔' : `\n${failures} test(s) FAILED ✘`);
+process.exit(failures === 0 ? 0 : 1);
diff --git a/docs/PROJECT_NOTES.md b/docs/PROJECT_NOTES.md
index 7261253..1a15bb7 100644
--- a/docs/PROJECT_NOTES.md
+++ b/docs/PROJECT_NOTES.md
@@ -180,6 +180,56 @@ world** — solid, rendered, flyable-to. Rules and seams:
 - Verified: `dev/discovery.test.mjs` (rule, boundaries, per-system
   state, JSON round-trip, layout bounds + determinism, compass geometry).
 
+## The tether — the player's range (important)
+
+The ship starts with **one level-1 tether** anchored on the home world
+(system origin): a circular zone, **5120 px from the anchor's center**
+(`data/tether.json → level1Radius`). That rim is the player's boundary:
+
+- **The union is the space.** The ship may be anywhere inside ANY of its
+  tethers' zones. Where two zones overlap there is **no wall and no line**
+  — the boundary of the union is where the barrier lives, and the line is
+  drawn only on each tether's *visible* arcs (`Tether.visibleArcs` — the
+  rim arcs not covered by another zone).
+- **Outside the union is a hard barrier.** The ship is clamped to the
+  closest boundary point with the outward normal; outward velocity AND
+  acceleration are stripped (same static-resolve pattern as
+  `Planet.constrainShip`, run after the planets in `GameScene.update`).
+  Click-to-fly and autopilot targets are clamped too, so an out-of-range
+  destination becomes "fly to the rim and rest on the line".
+- **Feedback on contact:** the line shudders locally at the hit point
+  (TetherField pulse + radial zap), a small camera kick, and a throttled
+  magenta console toast (`tether.contact` in the config).
+
+**Layering (same rules as everything else):**
+- `js/tether/Tether.js` — PURE (no Phaser): the record (id/anchor/level/
+  radius), `radiusForLevel`, union membership, `clampPoint` (nearest union
+  boundary point + normal), and `visibleArcs` (circle-arc interval math on
+  the unit circle). Node-tested by `dev/tether.test.mjs` — including the
+  two-direction boundary property (nothing visible is inside another zone;
+  nothing exposed is missing from the visible arcs).
+- `js/tether/TetherField.js` — the scene-facing field: owns the tether
+  list, exposes the seam the build system will use (`add(id, x, y, level)`,
+  `remove(id)`, `setLevel(id, level)`, `onChange` → HUD refresh), applies
+  the constraint (`constrainShip`), and renders the barrier: dash dots of
+  constant world size along the visible arcs, on-screen culling only,
+  marching offset, additive glow + RGB ghost fringe under the main pass,
+  ambient glitch bursts (dash flicker, radial displacement, data drops,
+  sparks), contact pulses. All tuning in `data/tether.json → line/contact`.
+- `data/tether.json` — level radii (`level1Radius`, `radiusGrowth`,
+  `maxLevel`), the starting tether (`homeId`/`homeLevel`), and every
+  visual/feel parameter.
+
+**Upgrade economics (planned):** radius(level) = 5120 × 1.25^(level−1) —
+level 4 = 10000 px, which reaches the far system orbit (maxOrbit 8800)
+plus rim clearance. Extra tethers anchored on planets/stations will be the
+"expand your reach" verb; the seams are in place.
+
+**Phaser v4 note:** the barrier is two `Graphics` layers redrawn per frame
+(`clear()` → one `strokePath` per pass) — no textures, no physics bodies,
+no camera math beyond culling. The scene drives `tick()`/`draw()` from
+`update()` alongside the TimeClock/tween stepping.
+
 ## Phaser version
 
 - Pinned: **Phaser 4.2.1** ("Giedi"), vendored in `lib/phaser.min.js`.
@@ -250,6 +300,17 @@ world** — solid, rendered, flyable-to. Rules and seams:
       The scene's click-to-fly guards against deck AND chip clicks
       (`ActionBar.contains` / `DiscoveryCompass.contains`)
       (`js/galaxy/Discovery.js`)
+- [x] The tether — the player's range: a level-1 tether (5120 px) anchored
+      on the home world; the ship lives in the UNION of its tethers' zones
+      (overlap = no line, no wall), the rim is a hard barrier rendered as a
+      thick glitchy dotted line; click/autopilot targets clamp to the
+      boundary; contact feedback (line shudder, camera kick, toast).
+      Pure range math in `js/tether/Tether.js` (Node-tested), visuals +
+      constraint seam in `js/tether/TetherField.js`, tuning in
+      `data/tether.json`
+- [ ] Tether progression: the build/research verbs that anchor tethers on
+      planets/stations and upgrade levels (the `add`/`setLevel`/`onChange`
+      seams are in place; the costs + panel + research gate come next)
 - [ ] Factions & pirates: claim settlements (`owner`), flags, borders,
       and the player's place in a populated galaxy
 - [ ] Landing & exploration: settlements become points of interest you
diff --git a/js/scenes/GameScene.js b/js/scenes/GameScene.js
index 890f4f5..bc1776f 100644
--- a/js/scenes/GameScene.js
+++ b/js/scenes/GameScene.js
@@ -11,11 +11,21 @@ import { Planet } from '../entities/Planet.js';
 import { Starfield } from '../visuals/Starfield.js';
 import { DiscoveryCompass, circleInView } from '../ui/DiscoveryCompass.js';
 import { ActionBar } from '../ui/ActionBar.js';
+import { TetherField } from '../tether/TetherField.js';
 
 const FONT_FALLBACK = "'Segoe UI', 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif";
 const HEADER_FONT = () => fontStack('header', FONT_FALLBACK);
 const BODY_FONT = () => fontStack('body', FONT_FALLBACK);
 
+/** 5120 → "5.1K", 640 → "640" — compact range readout for the HUD. */
+function fmtRange(v) {
+  if (v >= 1000) {
+    const k = (v / 1000).toFixed(1).replace(/\.0$/, '');
+    return `${k}K`;
+  }
+  return String(Math.round(v));
+}
+
 /**
  * The game world (v0.3: the current system — the player's home world at the
  * origin plus the system's other worlds scattered around it, in open space).
@@ -132,6 +142,27 @@ export class GameScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     this.starfield = new Starfield(this);
     this.starfield.create();
 
+    // The TETHER — the player's range. Starts as one level-1 tether anchored
+    // on the home world (data/tether.json): the ship may fly anywhere within
+    // its rim (level 1 = 5120 px from the planet's center); the rim is a
+    // hard barrier drawn as a thick glitchy dotted line. The field owns the
+    // tether list (add/remove/setLevel are the seam the build system will
+    // use later); where multiple tethers' zones overlap there is no line
+    // and no wall — the union is the player's space.
+    this.tetherHudTexts = [];
+    this.tetherField = new TetherField(this, {
+      depth: 6, // above planets (5), below the ship (10)
+      onChange: () => this.refreshTetherHud(),
+    });
+    this.tetherField.add(
+      config.get('tether.homeId', 'home'),
+      0, 0, // home world's center (it sits at the system origin)
+      config.get('tether.homeLevel', 1),
+      config.get('tether.homeLabel', '') || config.get('planets.homeName', 'Terra'),
+    );
+    this.tetherToastAt = null;
+    this.refreshTetherHud();
+
     // Discovery: which objects the player has found (within discovery
     // distance of an edge — data/game.json), tracked per system. Kept in
     // the shared registry so it survives scene restarts; serializable for
@@ -188,7 +219,9 @@ export class GameScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     // already retargeted the ship) — neither is a fly-here.
     // A click inside a planet clamps to that planet's keep-out rim — the
     // ship can stop at the clearance, never inside. (Worlds don't
-    // overlap, so sequential clamping is exact.)
+    // overlap, so sequential clamping is exact.) A click BEYOND the
+    // player's tether range clamps to the union boundary — the target
+    // marker lands on the barrier line itself.
     this.input.on('pointerdown', (pointer) => {
       if (this.actionBar && this.actionBar.contains(pointer.x, pointer.y)) return;
       if (this.compass.contains(pointer.x, pointer.y)) return;
@@ -196,6 +229,7 @@ export class GameScene extends Phaser.Scene {
       for (const p of this.solidPlanets) {
         aim = p.aimPoint(aim.x, aim.y, this.ship.radius);
       }
+      aim = this.tetherField.clampPoint(aim.x, aim.y);
       this.showTargetMarker(aim.x, aim.y);
       this.ship.setTarget(aim.x, aim.y);
       this.hideHint();
@@ -259,6 +293,37 @@ export class GameScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     }
     line(report.summary, { fontFamily: fam, fontSize: '12px', color: '#54608a' });
     line(`seed ${this.galaxy.seed}`, { fontFamily: fam, fontSize: '11px', color: '#3d476b' });
+    this.hudEndY = y + 6; // the tether readout (refreshTetherHud) continues below
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Under the dossier: one line per tether — level, range, anchor. Rebuilt
+   * whenever the field changes (TetherField.onChange), so a future
+   * "tether upgrade" build shows up here for free.
+   */
+  refreshTetherHud() {
+    if (this.hudEndY === undefined || !this.tetherField) return;
+    for (const g of this.tetherHudTexts) g.destroy();
+    this.tetherHudTexts = [];
+    const fam = BODY_FONT();
+    const neon = toCss(themeColor('neon', 0x00e5ff));
+    let y = this.hudEndY;
+    for (const t of this.tetherField.tethers) {
+      const label = t.label ? `  ·  ${String(t.label).toUpperCase()}` : '';
+      this.tetherHudTexts.push(
+        this.add
+          .text(16, y, `TETHER  LV ${t.level}  ·  RANGE ${fmtRange(t.radius)} PX${label}`, {
+            fontFamily: fam,
+            fontSize: '12px',
+            color: neon,
+            letterSpacing: 1,
+          })
+          .setOrigin(0, 0)
+          .setScrollFactor(0) // UI — pinned to the screen
+          .setDepth(30),
+      );
+      y += 18;
+    }
   }
 
   update(_time, delta) {
@@ -274,12 +339,77 @@ export class GameScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     for (const p of this.solidPlanets) {
       p.constrainShip(this.ship, this.ship.radius);
     }
+    // The tether is the player's range: anywhere in the union of its
+    // tethers' zones is space; outside it, the ship is clamped to the
+    // boundary and the line shudders where it was hit.
+    const contact = this.tetherField.constrainShip(this.ship);
+    if (contact) this.onTetherContact(contact);
     this.updateCamera(delta);
     this.starfield.update(); // after the camera, so it sees this frame's motion
+    this.tetherField.tick(_time, delta); // glitch/pulse lifecycle
+    this.tetherField.draw(_time); // the barrier (on-screen dots only)
     this.actionBar?.update(_time, delta); // the deck's living details
     this.updateDiscovery(_time, delta); // last: sees this frame's final camera view
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The ship met the tether boundary: a small camera kick (impact), and a
+   * console warning — throttled so a held push against the line doesn't
+   * spam it. The line itself already shudders locally (TetherField pulse).
+   */
+  onTetherContact(contact) {
+    const cam = this.cameras.main;
+    if (typeof cam.shake === 'function') {
+      cam.shake(80, 0.003 + Math.min(0.004, (contact.vn ?? 0) * 0.00002));
+    }
+    const now = this.time.now;
+    const cooldown = config.get('tether.contact.toastCooldown', 4000);
+    if (this.tetherToastAt !== null && now - this.tetherToastAt < cooldown) return;
+    this.tetherToastAt = now;
+    this.tetherToast();
+  }
+
+  /** Top-center console warning (below the discovery toast, magenta). */
+  tetherToast() {
+    if (Array.isArray(this.tetherToastG)) {
+      for (const g of this.tetherToastG) g.destroy();
+    }
+    const fam = BODY_FONT();
+    const g1 = this.add
+      .text(0, 0, '\u26a0', { fontFamily: fam, fontSize: '13px', color: toCss(themeColor('neon2', 0xff2d6f)) })
+      .setOrigin(0, 0.5)
+      .setScrollFactor(0);
+    const g2 = this.add
+      .text(0, 0, 'TETHER BARRIER  —  RANGE LIMIT  ·  UPGRADE THE TETHER TO EXTEND IT', {
+        fontFamily: fam,
+        fontSize: '11px',
+        color: toCss(themeColor('dim', 0x7d92c4)),
+        letterSpacing: 2,
+      })
+      .setOrigin(0, 0.5)
+      .setScrollFactor(0);
+    const total = g1.width + 10 + g2.width;
+    const x0 = this.scale.width / 2 - total / 2;
+    g1.setPosition(x0, 54).setDepth(45).setAlpha(0);
+    g2.setPosition(x0 + g1.width + 10, 54).setDepth(45).setAlpha(0);
+    this.tetherToastG = [g1, g2];
+    this.tweens.add({ targets: this.tetherToastG, alpha: 1, duration: 180, ease: 'Sine.easeOut' });
+    this.time.delayedCall(2600, () => {
+      if (!Array.isArray(this.tetherToastG)) return;
+      const [a, b] = this.tetherToastG;
+      this.tetherToastG = null;
+      this.tweens.add({
+        targets: [a, b],
+        alpha: 0,
+        duration: 350,
+        onComplete: () => {
+          a.destroy();
+          b.destroy();
+        },
+      });
+    });
+  }
+
   /**
    * The camera chases the ship with a frame-rate-independent ease:
    *   scroll += (shipCenter - scroll) * (1 - e^(-rate·dt))
@@ -368,13 +498,16 @@ export class GameScene extends Phaser.Scene {
       id === 'home' ? this.planet : (this.systemPlanets.find((p) => p.discoveryId === id) ?? this.planet);
     // Approach point: on the rim (clearance + hull), on the side the ship
     // is approaching from (center → ship direction) — it ends up facing
-    // the world.
+    // the world. If the world is outside the player's tether range, the
+    // aim clamps to the union boundary — the ship flies as far as its
+    // tether lets it (and rests on the line) until the tether grows.
     const dx = this.ship.x - o.x;
     const dy = this.ship.y - o.y;
     const d = Math.hypot(dx, dy) || 1;
     let aim = planet.edgePoint(Math.atan2(dy, dx), planet.clearance, this.ship.radius);
     // Belt and braces: no other world may own this point either.
     for (const p of this.solidPlanets) aim = p.aimPoint(aim.x, aim.y, this.ship.radius);
+    aim = this.tetherField.clampPoint(aim.x, aim.y);
     this.showTargetMarker(aim.x, aim.y);
     this.ship.setTarget(aim.x, aim.y);
     this.hideHint();
@@ -468,5 +601,6 @@ export class GameScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     this.starfield?.destroy();
     this.compass?.destroy();
     this.actionBar?.destroy();
+    this.tetherField?.destroy();
   }
 }
diff --git a/js/tether/Tether.js b/js/tether/Tether.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..480493a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/js/tether/Tether.js
@@ -0,0 +1,188 @@
+import { config } from '../config/Config.js';
+
+const TAU = Math.PI * 2;
+const EPS = 1e-9;
+
+/**
+ * A TETHER: the player's range. A tether anchors on a world or station and
+ * defines a circular zone — radius = distance from the anchor's CENTER.
+ *
+ * Rules:
+ *   - radius(level) = tether.level1Radius × tether.radiusGrowth^(level−1)
+ *     (level 1 = 5120 px, per data/tether.json);
+ *   - the ship may be anywhere inside the UNION of its tethers' zones —
+ *     where two zones overlap there is no wall and no line;
+ *   - outside all of them is a hard barrier: the ship (and its click /
+ *     autopilot targets) are clamped to the union's boundary.
+ *
+ * This file is PURE (no Phaser): the record + the geometry the game is
+ * built on — union membership, clamping to the union boundary (nearest
+ * point + outward normal), and each tether's share of that boundary
+ * (visibleArcs — the only place a barrier line is drawn). Node-testable:
+ * dev/tether.test.mjs.
+ */
+export class Tether {
+  /**
+   * @param {string} id — unique within the field (e.g. 'home')
+   * @param {number} x — world x of the anchor (a planet/station center)
+   * @param {number} y — world y
+   * @param {number} level — 1..tether.maxLevel (radius derives from this)
+   */
+  constructor(id, x, y, level) {
+    this.id = id;
+    this.x = x;
+    this.y = y;
+    this.level = Math.max(1, Math.round(level ?? 1));
+    this.radius = Tether.radiusForLevel(this.level);
+    this.label = ''; // anchor name for the HUD (set by the owner, optional)
+  }
+
+  /** radius(level) = level1Radius × radiusGrowth^(level−1) (data/tether.json). */
+  static radiusForLevel(level) {
+    const l1 = config.get('tether.level1Radius', 5120);
+    const g = config.get('tether.radiusGrowth', 1.25);
+    const n = Math.max(1, Math.round(level ?? 1));
+    return l1 * Math.pow(g, n - 1);
+  }
+
+  /** Is the point inside this tether's zone (center distance ≤ radius)? */
+  static contains(t, x, y) {
+    const dx = x - t.x;
+    const dy = y - t.y;
+    return dx * dx + dy * dy <= t.radius * t.radius;
+  }
+
+  /** Union membership: the ship is allowed wherever ANY tether reaches. */
+  static containsAny(x, y, tethers) {
+    for (const t of tethers) {
+      if (Tether.contains(t, x, y)) return true;
+    }
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * The barrier, as a clamp: a point inside the union is returned
+   * unchanged (clamped: false); a point outside is moved to the CLOSEST
+   * point on the union's boundary, with the outward normal there
+   * (the direction from the owning anchor — strip velocity along it and
+   * the ship can never cross the line).
+   *
+   * Closest point on the union = min over tethers of the closest point
+   * on that tether (the boundary point of the tether with the smallest
+   * rim gap), so this is exact for any number of overlapping zones.
+   *
+   * @returns {{x:number, y:number, clamped:boolean, id:string|null, nx:number, ny:number}}
+   */
+  static clampPoint(x, y, tethers) {
+    let best = null;
+    for (const t of tethers) {
+      const dx = x - t.x;
+      const dy = y - t.y;
+      const d = Math.hypot(dx, dy);
+      if (d <= t.radius) {
+        return { x, y, clamped: false, id: t.id, nx: 0, ny: 0 };
+      }
+      const gap = d - t.radius; // distance from the point to this tether's rim
+      if (!best || gap < best.gap - EPS) {
+        const nx = dx / d;
+        const ny = dy / d;
+        best = { gap, id: t.id, x: t.x + nx * t.radius, y: t.y + ny * t.radius, nx, ny };
+      }
+    }
+    if (best) return { x: best.x, y: best.y, clamped: true, id: best.id, nx: best.nx, ny: best.ny };
+    return { x, y, clamped: false, id: null, nx: 0, ny: 0 }; // no tethers → free space
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * This tether's share of the union boundary: the rim arcs NOT covered
+   * by any other tether's zone. The barrier line is drawn ONLY on these
+   * arcs — where two zones overlap, the boundary simply ends where one
+   * zone begins (no line, no wall, in the overlap).
+   *
+   * Math: a point P(θ) = center + r·(cosθ, sinθ) on this rim is inside
+   * another zone o ⟺ |P − o| ≤ o.radius ⟺ cos(θ − β) ≥ k, where
+   *   β = atan2(o.y − y, o.x − x),  k = (r² + d² − o.radius²) / (2·r·d),
+   * d = |center → o|. So each other tether covers the angular interval
+   * [β − arccos k, β + arccos k] (when −1 < k < 1); k < −1 means o
+   * contains this whole rim; k ≥ 1 means no overlap. Union the covered
+   * intervals on the circle; the complement is the visible arcs.
+   *
+   * @returns {Array<{a0:number, a1:number}>} arcs in [0, TAU), a1 > a0, sorted
+   */
+  static visibleArcs(t, tethers) {
+    const r = t.radius;
+    const covered = [];
+    for (const o of tethers) {
+      if (o === t) continue;
+      const dx = o.x - t.x;
+      const dy = o.y - t.y;
+      const d = Math.hypot(dx, dy);
+      if (d === 0) {
+        // Concentric: only a larger (or equal) radius can cover this rim.
+        if (o.radius >= r) return [];
+        continue;
+      }
+      const k = (r * r + d * d - o.radius * o.radius) / (2 * r * d);
+      if (k < -1) return []; // o contains this disc → the whole rim is covered
+      if (k <= -1 || k >= 1) continue; // tangent or disjoint → no covered arc
+      const beta = Math.atan2(dy, dx);
+      const half = Math.acos(k);
+      covered.push([beta - half, beta + half]);
+    }
+    return complementOf(unionOnCircle(covered));
+  }
+}
+
+/** Wrap an angle into [0, TAU). */
+function wrapAngle(a) {
+  const w = a % TAU;
+  return w < 0 ? w + TAU : w;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Union of angular intervals on the circle. Inputs may be unwrapped
+ * (a1 may exceed a0 + TAU); outputs are merged intervals in [0, TAU],
+ * sorted, possibly covering the full circle.
+ */
+function unionOnCircle(intervals) {
+  const pieces = [];
+  for (const [a0, a1] of intervals) {
+    const span = a1 - a0;
+    if (span <= EPS) continue;
+    const s = wrapAngle(a0);
+    if (s + span >= TAU - EPS) {
+      pieces.push([s, TAU]);
+      const tail = s + span - TAU;
+      if (tail > EPS) pieces.push([0, tail]);
+    } else {
+      pieces.push([s, s + span]);
+    }
+  }
+  pieces.sort((p, q) => p[0] - q[0]);
+  const merged = [];
+  for (const p of pieces) {
+    const last = merged[merged.length - 1];
+    if (last && p[0] <= last[1] + EPS) last[1] = Math.max(last[1], p[1]);
+    else merged.push([p[0], p[1]]);
+  }
+  // NOTE: no seam merge. Intervals that touch across 0/TAU (e.g. [5.9, TAU]
+  // and [0, 0.9]) stay two flat intervals: on the circle they are one arc,
+  // but "wrapping" cannot be represented as a single [a0, a1] ⊂ [0, TAU].
+  // The complement (complementOf) handles the seam correctly — merging them
+  // would wrongly report the whole circle as covered.
+  return merged;
+}
+
+/** Complement of merged [0, TAU] intervals → the uncovered arcs. */
+function complementOf(covered) {
+  if (covered.length === 0) return [{ a0: 0, a1: TAU }];
+  const out = [];
+  let cursor = 0;
+  for (const [a0, a1] of covered) {
+    if (a0 > cursor + EPS) out.push({ a0: cursor, a1: a0 });
+    if (a1 > cursor) cursor = a1;
+    if (cursor >= TAU - EPS) break;
+  }
+  if (cursor < TAU - EPS) out.push({ a0: cursor, a1: TAU });
+  return out;
+}
diff --git a/js/tether/TetherField.js b/js/tether/TetherField.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5db4012
--- /dev/null
+++ b/js/tether/TetherField.js
@@ -0,0 +1,419 @@
+import Phaser from '../vendor/phaser.js';
+import { config } from '../config/Config.js';
+import { toColor } from '../utils/Color.js';
+import { Tether } from './Tether.js';
+
+const TAU = Math.PI * 2;
+const EPS = 1e-9;
+
+/**
+ * The player's tether FIELD for one scene: owns the tether records
+ * (Tether), applies the range barrier to the ship each frame, and draws
+ * the barrier — the union boundary — as a thick cyberpunk glitch dotted
+ * line (marching dashes, additive glow, RGB fringe, ambient glitch
+ * bursts, contact shudder where the ship bumps it).
+ *
+ * Layering:
+ *   - model + rules  → js/tether/Tether.js (pure, Node-tested)
+ *   - this file      → scene-facing container, constraint, visuals
+ *   - builds (later) → add() / remove() / setLevel() + the onChange hook
+ *
+ * Rendering: the rim of each tether is drawn as dots (dashes) of
+ * constant WORLD size — `dash` px of arc — only where it is on screen
+ * (cull against the camera rect) and only on the tether's visible arcs
+ * (Tether.visibleArcs — the union boundary, so overlaps get no line).
+ * Cheap at any radius: ~700 dots scanned per level-1 tether, a few dozen
+ * drawn.
+ */
+export class TetherField {
+  /**
+   * @param {Phaser.Scene} scene
+   * @param {object} [o]
+   * @param {number} [o.depth=6] — graphics depth (above planets 5, below ship 10)
+   * @param {Function} [o.onChange] — fired after add/remove/setLevel (HUD refresh seam)
+   */
+  constructor(scene, o = {}) {
+    this.scene = scene;
+    this.tethers = []; // Tether[] — the model this field owns
+    this.onChange = typeof o.onChange === 'function' ? o.onChange : null;
+
+    // ---- line tuning (data/tether.json → line) ------------------------
+    const line = config.section('tether.line', {});
+    this.dash = Math.max(4, line.dash ?? 26); // px of rim per dot (arc length)
+    this.gap = Math.max(2, line.gap ?? 18);
+    this.period = this.dash + this.gap;
+    this.lineWidth = line.width ?? 9;
+    this.coreWidth = Math.max(1, line.coreWidth ?? 3.5);
+    this.glowWidth = Math.max(4, line.glowWidth ?? 26);
+    this.marchSpeed = line.marchSpeed ?? 26; // px/s — dashes flow along the rim
+    this.ghostOffset = line.ghostOffset ?? 3; // px of RGB fringe (radial)
+    const colors = line.colors ?? {};
+    this.colorCore = toColor(colors.core, 0xeaf6ff);
+    this.colorMain = toColor(colors.main, 0x00e5ff);
+    this.colorGhost = toColor(colors.ghost, 0xff2d6f);
+    this.colorGlow = toColor(colors.glow, 0x00e5ff);
+    const alphas = line.alphas ?? {};
+    this.alphaCore = alphas.core ?? 0.85;
+    this.alphaMain = alphas.main ?? 0.5;
+    this.alphaGhost = alphas.ghost ?? 0.16;
+    this.alphaGlow = alphas.glow ?? 0.09;
+    const gl = line.glitch ?? {};
+    this.glitchEnabled = gl.enabled !== false;
+    this.glitchInterval = Array.isArray(gl.intervalMs) ? gl.intervalMs : [3200, 8200];
+    this.glitchDuration = Array.isArray(gl.durationMs) ? gl.durationMs : [220, 460];
+    this.maxDisplace = gl.maxDisplace ?? 26; // px of radial glitch displacement
+    this.dropChance = gl.dropChance ?? 0.35; // max fraction of dots dropped in a burst
+    const contact = config.section('tether.contact', {});
+    this.contactStrength = contact.pulseStrength ?? 1.0;
+    this.contactDuration = contact.pulseDuration ?? 650; // ms
+    this.contactWidth = contact.pulseWidth ?? 320; // px of rim a hit shudders
+
+    // ---- glitch / pulse state -----------------------------------------
+    this.glitchLevel = 0; // 0..1 — ambient burst level (drives flicker/displace)
+    this.burstT0 = null;
+    this.burstDur = 0;
+    this.burstIntensity = 1;
+    this.nextBurst = null;
+    this.pulses = []; // { id, angle, t0, strength } — contact shudders
+    this._arcs = new Map(); // tether id → visible arcs (cached, invalidated on change)
+
+    // ---- graphics: two layers (glow + ghosts under, main + core over) --
+    const depth = o.depth ?? 6;
+    this.gUnder = scene.add.graphics().setDepth(depth);
+    this.gUnder.setBlendMode(Phaser.BlendModes.ADD);
+    this.gOver = scene.add.graphics().setDepth(depth + 1);
+
+    this.lastTime = 0;
+  }
+
+  // ------------------------------------------------------------------
+  // Model (the seam future builds plug into)
+  // ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  /**
+   * Anchor a tether: (x, y) = the anchor's center (planet/station),
+   * level = its level. Replaces a tether with the same id.
+   */
+  add(id, x, y, level, label = '') {
+    this.remove(id);
+    const t = new Tether(id, x, y, level);
+    t.label = label ?? '';
+    this.tethers.push(t);
+    this.invalidateArcs();
+    this._emitChange();
+    return t;
+  }
+
+  /** Remove a tether by id. Returns the removed Tether or null. */
+  remove(id) {
+    const i = this.tethers.findIndex((t) => t.id === id);
+    if (i === -1) return null;
+    const [t] = this.tethers.splice(i, 1);
+    this.invalidateArcs();
+    this._emitChange();
+    return t;
+  }
+
+  /** Upgrade/downgrade a tether's level (radius + boundary update). */
+  setLevel(id, level) {
+    const t = this.get(id);
+    if (!t) return null;
+    t.level = Math.max(1, Math.round(level));
+    t.radius = Tether.radiusForLevel(t.level);
+    this.invalidateArcs();
+    this._emitChange();
+    return t;
+  }
+
+  get(id) {
+    return this.tethers.find((t) => t.id === id) ?? null;
+  }
+
+  /** Is the point inside the player's range (the union)? */
+  contains(x, y) {
+    return Tether.containsAny(x, y, this.tethers);
+  }
+
+  /** Clamp a point to the union (barrier boundary) — see Tether.clampPoint. */
+  clampPoint(x, y) {
+    return Tether.clampPoint(x, y, this.tethers);
+  }
+
+  invalidateArcs() {
+    for (const t of this.tethers) {
+      this._arcs.set(t.id, Tether.visibleArcs(t, this.tethers));
+    }
+  }
+
+  _emitChange() {
+    try {
+      this.onChange?.(this);
+    } catch (err) {
+      console.error('[tether] onChange handler failed', err);
+    }
+  }
+
+  // ------------------------------------------------------------------
+  // The barrier (called by the scene each frame, after the planets)
+  // ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  /**
+   * Keep the ship inside the union: outside → moved to the closest
+   * boundary point, with the outward velocity AND acceleration stripped
+   * (same static-resolve pattern as Planet.constrainShip — the physics
+   * world integrates after this runs, so the inward kick is removed
+   * before it can push the ship back over the line).
+   *
+   * @returns {null | {id, angle, vn}} a contact report (vn = speed into the wall)
+   */
+  constrainShip(ship) {
+    if (this.tethers.length === 0) return null;
+    const p = Tether.clampPoint(ship.x, ship.y, this.tethers);
+    if (!p.clamped) return null;
+
+    ship.x = p.x;
+    ship.y = p.y;
+
+    let vn = 0;
+    const body = ship.body;
+    if (body) {
+      vn = body.velocity.x * p.nx + body.velocity.y * p.ny;
+      if (vn > 0) {
+        body.velocity.x -= vn * p.nx;
+        body.velocity.y -= vn * p.ny;
+      }
+      if (body.acceleration) {
+        const an = body.acceleration.x * p.nx + body.acceleration.y * p.ny;
+        if (an > 0) {
+          body.acceleration.x -= an * p.nx;
+          body.acceleration.y -= an * p.ny;
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+    const angle = Math.atan2(p.ny, p.nx);
+    // A standing push (resting on the line, throttle still aimed out)
+    // keeps the barrier buzz at a low level; a fresh hit buzzes harder.
+    const strength = Math.min(1, 0.25 + (vn > 0 ? vn / 240 : 0));
+    this.addContact(p.id, angle, strength);
+    return { id: p.id, angle, vn };
+  }
+
+  /** Record a contact (merged when close to a recent one, capped). */
+  addContact(id, angle, strength) {
+    const now = this.lastTime || 0;
+    const existing = this.pulses.find(
+      (p) => p.id === id && Math.abs(Math.atan2(Math.sin(p.angle - angle), Math.cos(p.angle - angle))) < 0.15,
+    );
+    if (existing) {
+      existing.t0 = now;
+      existing.strength = Math.max(existing.strength, strength);
+    } else {
+      this.pulses.push({ id, angle, t0: now, strength });
+      if (this.pulses.length > 6) this.pulses.shift();
+    }
+  }
+
+  /** Contact pulses active on this tether right now (decayed). */
+  pulsesFor(id, time) {
+    const out = [];
+    for (const p of this.pulses) {
+      if (p.id !== id) continue;
+      const u = (time - p.t0) / this.contactDuration;
+      if (u < 0 || u >= 1) continue;
+      out.push({ angle: p.angle, strength: p.strength * Math.pow(1 - u, 1.4) * this.contactStrength });
+    }
+    return out;
+  }
+
+  // ------------------------------------------------------------------
+  // Visuals (driven by the scene's update loop)
+  // ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  /** Step the glitch/pulse lifecycle. Call once per frame. */
+  tick(time, delta) {
+    this.lastTime = time;
+
+    if (this.glitchEnabled) {
+      if (this.nextBurst === null) this.nextBurst = time + 900 + Math.random() * 900;
+      if (this.burstT0 !== null) {
+        const el = time - this.burstT0;
+        if (el >= this.burstDur) {
+          this.burstT0 = null;
+        } else {
+          this.glitchLevel = Math.max(this.glitchLevel, (1 - el / this.burstDur) * this.burstIntensity);
+        }
+      } else if (time >= this.nextBurst) {
+        this.burstT0 = time;
+        this.burstDur = this.randRange(this.glitchDuration);
+        this.burstIntensity = 0.7 + Math.random() * 0.5;
+        this.nextBurst = time + this.burstDur + this.randRange(this.glitchInterval);
+      }
+    }
+
+    // Soft tail after any burst/contact.
+    this.glitchLevel *= Math.exp(-(delta / 140));
+    if (this.glitchLevel < 0.003) this.glitchLevel = 0;
+
+    this.pulses = this.pulses.filter((p) => time - p.t0 < this.contactDuration);
+  }
+
+  /** Redraw the barrier (only the on-screen dots). Call once per frame. */
+  draw(time) {
+    const cam = this.scene.cameras.main;
+    const w = this.scene.scale.width;
+    const h = this.scene.scale.height;
+    const M = this.glowWidth + this.maxDisplace + 16; // cull margin
+    const L = cam.scrollX - M;
+    const T = cam.scrollY - M;
+    const R = cam.scrollX + w + M;
+    const B = cam.scrollY + h + M;
+
+    const gl = this.glitchLevel;
+    const quant = Math.floor(time / 80); // flicker hash quantum (~12 Hz)
+    const off = ((time * 0.001 * this.marchSpeed) % this.period + this.period) % this.period;
+    const ghost = this.ghostOffset + gl * 7;
+
+    const glowSegs = [];
+    const ghostSegs = []; // [x0, y0, x1, y1, radiusShift] per dot (red = +, cyan = −)
+    const mainSegs = [];
+    const coreSegs = [];
+
+    for (let ti = 0; ti < this.tethers.length; ti++) {
+      const t = this.tethers[ti];
+      const arcs = this._arcs.get(t.id);
+      if (!arcs || arcs.length === 0) continue;
+      const r = t.radius;
+      const C = TAU * r;
+      const n = Math.ceil(C / this.period) + 1;
+      const pulses = this.pulsesFor(t.id, time);
+      const sigma = this.contactWidth / r;
+
+      for (let i = 0; i < n; i++) {
+        const s = (i * this.period + off) % C;
+        const thMid = s / r;
+        if (!this.inArcs(arcs, thMid)) continue;
+        const cx = t.x + Math.cos(thMid) * r;
+        const cy = t.y + Math.sin(thMid) * r;
+        if (cx < L || cx > R || cy < T || cy > B) continue;
+
+        // Per-dot glitch: radial displacement (hash-driven, ~12 Hz) + the
+        // contact shudder window around where the ship hit the line.
+        const h1 = hash01(i, ti, quant);
+        let disp = (h1 - 0.5) * 2 * this.maxDisplace * gl;
+        let flick = 0;
+        if (pulses.length > 0) {
+          for (const p of pulses) {
+            const da = Math.atan2(Math.sin(p.angle - thMid), Math.cos(p.angle - thMid));
+            const g = Math.exp(-(da * da) / (2 * sigma * sigma));
+            disp += p.strength * 30 * g;
+            if (p.strength * 0.5 * g > flick) flick = p.strength * 0.5 * g;
+          }
+        }
+        const h2 = hash01(i, ti + 100, quant + 13);
+        if (h2 < gl * this.dropChance || h2 < flick) continue; // data drop
+
+        const rad = r + disp;
+        const th0 = s / r;
+        const th1 = (s + this.dash) / r;
+        const c0 = Math.cos(th0);
+        const s0 = Math.sin(th0);
+        const c1 = Math.cos(th1);
+        const s1 = Math.sin(th1);
+
+        const push = (segs, radius) => {
+          segs.push(t.x + c0 * radius, t.y + s0 * radius, t.x + c1 * radius, t.y + s1 * radius);
+        };
+        push(glowSegs, rad);
+        ghostSegs.push(t.x + c0 * (rad + ghost), t.y + s0 * (rad + ghost), t.x + c1 * (rad + ghost), t.y + s1 * (rad + ghost));
+        ghostSegs.push(t.x + c0 * (rad - ghost), t.y + s0 * (rad - ghost), t.x + c1 * (rad - ghost), t.y + s1 * (rad - ghost));
+        push(mainSegs, rad);
+        push(coreSegs, rad);
+      }
+
+      // Sparks: bright radial ticks during a burst (data tearing off the rim).
+      if (gl > 0.15) {
+        const k = 2 + Math.floor(gl * 3);
+        for (let kk = 0; kk < k; kk++) {
+          const hi = Math.floor(hash01(kk, 7 + ti * 3, quant) * n);
+          const s = (hi * this.period + off) % C;
+          const th = s / r;
+          if (!this.inArcs(arcs, th)) continue;
+          const cx = t.x + Math.cos(th) * r;
+          const cy = t.y + Math.sin(th) * r;
+          if (cx < L || cx > R || cy < T || cy > B) continue;
+          const len = 10 + hash01(kk, 91, quant) * 24;
+          const dir = hash01(kk, 55, quant) > 0.5 ? 1 : -1;
+          coreSegs.push(cx, cy, t.x + Math.cos(th) * (r + dir * len), t.y + Math.sin(th) * (r + dir * len));
+        }
+      }
+
+      // Contact zaps: spikes at the exact hit point while the pulse decays.
+      for (const p of pulses) {
+        for (let k = -1; k <= 1; k++) {
+          const a2 = p.angle + k * 0.05;
+          const len = 8 + p.strength * 26;
+          const ca = Math.cos(a2);
+          const sa = Math.sin(a2);
+          coreSegs.push(t.x + ca * r, t.y + sa * r, t.x + ca * (r + len), t.y + sa * (r + len));
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+    // Passes (one stroked path each — the whole barrier is ~5 draw calls).
+    const gU = this.gUnder;
+    const gO = this.gOver;
+    gU.clear();
+    gO.clear();
+    if (glowSegs.length === 0 && ghostSegs.length === 0 && mainSegs.length === 0 && coreSegs.length === 0) return;
+
+    this.strokePass(gU, glowSegs, this.glowWidth, this.colorGlow, this.alphaGlow * (1 + 1.5 * gl));
+    this.strokePass(gU, ghostSegs, this.lineWidth * 0.9, this.colorGhost, this.alphaGhost * (1 + 2.2 * gl));
+    this.strokePass(gO, mainSegs, this.lineWidth, this.colorMain, this.alphaMain * (0.9 + 0.3 * gl));
+    this.strokePass(gO, coreSegs, this.coreWidth, this.colorCore, this.alphaCore * (0.8 + 0.3 * gl));
+  }
+
+  /** One pass = one beginPath…strokePath over a flat [x0,y0,x1,y1,…] list. */
+  strokePass(g, segs, width, color, alpha) {
+    if (segs.length === 0) return;
+    g.lineStyle(width, color, alpha);
+    g.beginPath();
+    for (let i = 0; i < segs.length; i += 4) {
+      g.moveTo(segs[i], segs[i + 1]);
+      g.lineTo(segs[i + 2], segs[i + 3]);
+    }
+    g.strokePath();
+  }
+
+  /** Is angle θ on (or at the edge of) any of this tether's visible arcs? */
+  inArcs(arcs, th) {
+    let w = th % TAU;
+    if (w < 0) w += TAU;
+    for (const a of arcs) {
+      if (w >= a.a0 - EPS && w <= a.a1 + EPS) return true;
+    }
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  randRange([lo, hi]) {
+    if (!Array.isArray(lo)) return lo;
+    return lo + Math.random() * (hi - lo);
+  }
+
+  destroy() {
+    this.tethers.length = 0;
+    this.pulses.length = 0;
+    this._arcs.clear();
+    this.onChange = null;
+    this.gUnder?.destroy();
+    this.gOver?.destroy();
+    this.gUnder = null;
+    this.gOver = null;
+  }
+}
+
+/** Deterministic 0..1 hash from (dot index, tether index, time quantum). */
+function hash01(i, salt, quant) {
+  const s = Math.sin(i * 12.9898 + salt * 78.233 + quant * 37.719) * 43758.5453;
+  return s - Math.floor(s);
+}