Nemesis Group

The **Nemesis Group** is a megacorporation headquartered in the Free City of Nemesis, where it serves as the city's government. It is a collective of powerful companies that invested in Earth following the Lesson in an attempt to revitalize the planet; in doing so, they have constructed the largest - and last - megametropolis in Earth's history. Despite the Nemesis Group being the highest authority in Nemesis City - serving as overseers of the city's civilian government, police force, military and media - its board members have never publically revealed themselves, only acting through proxies and leaving no one to question when the corporation acts outside the law. Its *de facto* autocratic rule over Nemesis City has given rise to a counterculture made up of netrunners, rockers, criminal gangs and independent journalists seeking to expose the Nemesis Group's true goals.

## History

### 2435-2441

The Nemesis Group's origins are shrouded in mystery, and there is no record of their founding on Earth or anywhere in the colonies. Nonetheless, by 2435, they had grown into a massive financial power capable of exerting influence over entire governments.

In the aftermath of the Lesson, the terrorist attack that destroyed Luna, Earth lay in ruins; centuries of climate engineering had been undone in moments, and billions of lives were lost. With Earth's political influence nulled and its economy in ruins, the Earth Directorate - the U.C. member responsible for governing Earth - turned to the Nemesis Group for aid; the corporation readily offered their resources and asked for one thing in return: their own sovereign territory that would be independent of the Directorate. With little choice, the Directorate agreed; by 2441, as the Great Galactic War brought ruin to the Settled Systems, the Nemesis Group had laid the foundations of Nemesis City.

### 2467-2469

Following an internal schism within the Free Economic Zone, the salvage company Sedna entered open conflict with Cronos Incorporated, triggering the Fifth Corporate War. As they considered the Zone - and thus Cronos Incorporated - their enemies, the Nemesis Group pledged its aid to Sedna and drafted many Nemesis citizens into Nemetech with the promise of wiping their corporate debts.

## Public Relations

Public relations have been problematic for the Nemesis Group since their sudden arrival in 2435. Despite attempts to cast the best light possible on itself - extolling the virtues of its security department, touting the philanthropic work of the bank, explaining its manufacturing arm and subsidiaries, and sponsoring many festivals or expos that are the backbone of Nemesis City's economy - the corporation continues to suffer under an image of brooding, ominous power. A few N.C. citizens respect them, but most fear them, especially the black-clad Nemetech soldiers that enforce the corporation's rule throughout the city. The fact that the corporation's Board of Directors has never publically revealed themselves also adds to their ominous grip over the city and its inhabitants.

Like most megacorporations, the Nemesis Group is frequently accused of unethical practice such as blackmail, bribery, extortion, and hiring mercenaries for covert, illegal operations. These mercenary operations include suppressing legal demonstrations, assassinations, and abductions of high-level corporate experts and officials.