FACTIONS

A death cult operating in the margins of Tau Ceti IV, Arachne is obsessed with the act of killing and the data it produces. They see violence not as a means to an end, but as a system — a way of measuring who deserves to survive. Their contracts demand Runner eliminations, kill streaks, and presence in the most dangerous zones on the planet. Arachne doesn't build, sustain, or negotiate. They believe the smartest move is to simply be more dangerous than everyone else.

CyberAcme Systems, Inc. sits at the intersection of software, hardware, and identity. They are responsible for the cybernetic infrastructure that allows human consciousness to be transferred into Runner shells — the technology that makes the entire Runner system possible. Their contracts focus on diagnostics, system audits, and resource collection to keep their networks running. In return, they offer Runners practical upgrades: faster cooldowns, larger inventories, and the kind of reliability that compounds over dozens of runs.

NuCaloric Agricultural presents itself as the faction that exists to feed, clothe, and supply humanity with its most basic needs. As major stakeholders in the original colony, their contracts focus on exploration, resource gathering, and uncovering what happened to the Marathon expedition over a century ago. NuCaloric rewards Runners who understand routes, positioning, and terrain — the kind of advantages that win fights before they start.

Sekiguchi Genetics is responsible for the Weaveform technology used to create the shell bodies that Runners inhabit. Where CyberAcme handles the digital side of consciousness transfer, Sekiguchi handles the biological — pushing human bodies past their limits for survival in harsh environments. Their contracts focus on retrieval, experimentation, and endurance in the most punishing zones of Tau Ceti IV. Sekiguchi favors durability, sustain, and survival through attrition rather than quick kills.

The richest and most powerful corporation in Marathon's human history, Traxus OffWorld Industries uses its massive resources to influence Tau Ceti IV from the shadows. Their contracts focus on recovering high-value assets — weapons, mods, and equipment scattered across the battlefield. Traxus makes its money through resource extraction and rewards Runners who are bold enough to go after the most valuable targets on the planet.

MIDA began as a revolutionary movement born from the collapse of the Martian economy, fighting against the UESC's neglect of its colonies. What started as political resistance evolved into something far more radical. On Tau Ceti IV, MIDA operates as a faction focused on sabotage, disruption, and digital warfare. Their contracts involve destroying enemy assets, uploading malware, and ensuring that if they can't win, nobody else does either.