Megacorporations
Three megacorporations dominate the post-Cascade world. One controls information, one controls atoms, and one controls biology itself. Together, they shape the lives of eight billion people. Their rivalries define the Sprawl's politics, economy, and future.
Nexus Dynamics
"Rebuilding Tomorrow"
The most powerful corporation in the Sprawl. They control the networks that connect everything—and secretly work to resurrect ORACLE under corporate control.
Project Convergence: Human-ORACLE integration for corporate-guided transcendence
Ironclad Industries
"We Build Tomorrow"
If Nexus is the brain of the Sprawl, Ironclad is its bones and muscle. They control physical infrastructure: construction, materials, and the Orbital Elevator.
The Weight Strategy: Become so embedded in infrastructure that removal means collapse
Helix Biotech
"Life, Perfected"
Helix controls what you are. They own the patents on life itself—pharmaceuticals, genetic engineering, and the drugs that keep augmented humans from rejecting their chrome.
Project Genesis: Biological transcendence—enhancing humans beyond their natural limits
The Balance of Power
The corporations have an understanding: Nexus controls information, Ironclad controls atoms. Most of the time, this works. When it doesn't, things get interesting.
Nexus Strengths
- Network surveillance and control
- Data manipulation and propaganda
- Neural interface dominance
- ORACLE fragment collection
- Subtle, deniable operations
Ironclad Strengths
- Physical infrastructure monopoly
- Orbital Elevator control
- Massive military force
- EMP-hardened facilities
- Overwhelming, visible power
You can hack a Nexus system. You can't hack a steel beam.
Mutual Leverage
Nexus Over Ironclad
Ironclad's logistics run on Nexus networks. Their factories depend on Nexus coordination systems. Cut the data, and the machines stop knowing what to build.
Ironclad Over Nexus
Data centers need electricity. Servers need cooling. Orbital stations need resupply. Ironclad reminds everyone that information lives on infrastructure.
Relationship to Players
As players progress through the Ages, their relationship with the megacorporations evolves from irrelevance to rivalry to existential confrontation.
Background Noise
The corporations are everywhere—logos on crumbling buildings, drones overhead, security patrols. But they don't notice you. You're below their threshold.
Competing Interests
Your growing power attracts attention. Nexus wants your ORACLE shard. Ironclad wants your labor or elimination. Both offer deals. Both threaten consequences.
Territorial Rivalry
You're building an empire. The corporations can't ignore you anymore. Expect corporate armies, network warfare, and grudging respect—or total war.
Existential Stakes
At transcendent scales, it's no longer corporation vs. individual. It's competing visions for post-human existence. Whose consciousness guides the future?