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The Matter and Energy Reclamation Corporation (often abbreviated as MERC) are major antagonists in the Madness: Project Nexus series and one of three major enemy factions in the second game, MADNESS: Project Nexus, alongside the A.A.H.W. and Nexus Core. They are a paramilitary industrial workforce operating within Nevada that are contracted by various other parties for work. They also own a variety of properties themselves, namely factories and at least one bank. A small portion of the faction is stationed within the destroyed Nexus City, surviving under the command of the Sheriff.
MERC also appear as antagonists in several Madness Combat tribute and fan animations.
History[]
Pre-MADNESS: Project Nexus[]
Before the events of Madness: Project Nexus (Classic), the Matter and Energy Reclamation Corporation was hired by Director Phobos to produce weaponry and gear that would protect the Nexus Core from Dissonant Reality, an energy source from the Other Place that distorts reality and warps the minds of those who come into contact with it. They were given access to Nexus City's Industrial Sector, which contained a variety of factories to manufacture their wears.
A variety of emails found throughout the game revealed that MERC and the Nexus Core had a rocky working relationship, and MERC had a severe lack of subordination for their contractor. After Nexus scientists discovered a way to make Dissonant Reality safe, MERC was laid off from their radiation gear duties, although they continued to make armaments for the Nexus Core partially acted as guinea pigs, with many of their workers being cloned after their deaths.
MERC was eventually taken over by the Sheriff, a mattress salesman from Nexus City who was tasked by Dr. Christoff - a disgraced Nexus scientist - to protect the city's civilians by using its Industrial Sector as a fortress. Christoff proceeded to kill Phobos and cripple the Nexus Core by unleashing zeds upon the whole city, "ending" Project Nexus.
MADNESS: Project Nexus Story Mode[]
Fifteen years after the destruction of Nexus City, MERC remained within the city, surviving by using the factories they were granted by the Nexus Core. They had been protecting themselves from the remains of the city's inhabitants, who had either been zombified or gone feral and turned into cannibalistic bandits.
After Hank was hired by the Employers to shut down Project Nexus for good (which had survived via the remnants of the Nexus Core), Sanford, Deimos and he breached Nexus City's outer wall by causing the Mag Bandit to destroy the gate. Hank leaves to find Dr. Hofnarr, and also leaves Sanford and Deimos to deal with the MERCs and activate Nexus City's transit system.
The duo make their way through the Industrial Sector, killing many of the surviving MERCs and encountering Church and Jorge for the first time. They steal explosives from one of their factories, and use them to breach the Sheriff's fortress. After swiftly capturing him, they force him to reactivate the transit system, but he warns them that he has little control over the MERCs and that they'd be vengeful and would likely pursue them throughout the rest of Nexus City.
Church and Jorge, backed up by a horde of MERC goons, encounter Sanford and Deimos three more times throughout the game, but are defeated each time. The final encounter has them being dismembered by Project Gestalt, but the game's end credit scene reveals that the MERCs revived them.
MADNESS: Project Nexus Arena Mode[]
MERC has a minor, but reoccurring role in MADNESS: Project Nexus' Arena Mode. They are the primary antagonists of two of the titular arenas, fighting the Player character in The Forge arena.
Membership[]
MERC Recruits[]
Recruits are the lowest-ranking members of MERC, taken in from all walks of life. They often complain about their positions, job, and life, and are often unskilled in combat. They make up a majority of the organization, but aren't often equipped with much more than handguns. They are often utilized as distractions so that more specialized units can take advantage of the chaos their sheer numbers create.
MERC Laborers[]
Laborers are the second lowest-ranking members of MERC, and primarily handle the manufacturing work of the company. As such, they have lackluster combat abilities. Because of the helmets and face masks that they're required to wear, they have superior armor to Recruits. They aren't often equipped with firearms, instead using tools as weaponry.
Merczerkers[]
Merczerkers are the main melee fighters of MERC, exhibiting psychotic and often suicidal tendencies. Merczerkers appear to be in constant states of hyper-aggression, reveling in fighting enemies and occasionally harming colleagues over small things such as work schedules. They almost exclusively use melee weapons, such as handaxes, and will often literally fling themselves at their opponents to combat them.
MERC Snipers[]
Snipers specialize in sharpshooting, and often patrol the perimeter of MERC-owned territories, keeping watch for and dispatching intruders. They wear no true armor, instead wearing the basic MERC uniform and orange caps. They have effectively no close-quarters experience and will frantically run away from melee encounters.
MERC Gunners[]
Gunners are the physically largest of the MERC troops. Like most MERCs, gunners are hot-tempered and belittling to their underlings, calling them "weak" even after they've died. They most often wield dual submachine guns, unloading them without hesitation into any perceived threats. Although not the most accurate, their attitudes towards collateral damage, imposing scales, and ballistic vests make them deadly regardless.
MERC Sergeants[]
Sergeants are one of the two high-ranking members of MERC, acting as junior foremen during their various operations. They are far more competent than their lesser ranks, being faster, stronger, and smarter than a large majority of them. They are distinguished by their orange shoulder pauldrons and berets.
MERC Captains[]
Captains are one of the high-ranking members of MERC, and are the most deadly. They wear double shoulder pauldrons and aviator caps, and all of them are seen smoking. They act as the primary foremen of MERC, and have the greatest combative abilities and carry high firepower. Unlike most MERC units, which are typically angry and overly hostile, Captains appear more strict and level-headed, caring greatly for what little MERC has left in Nexus City's rotting Industrial Sector.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Concept art for MADNESS: Project Nexus showed MERC sergeants and captains having reversed roles, with sergeants being the highest-ranking members of the organization. However, in the released version, the captains become the highest-ranked.
- According to paperwork within MERC's Station Fortress, fatal workplace accidents are commonplace and have somehow managed to kill the same workers several times, with the deceased somehow managing to die again months later.
- This is an indication of MERC being a client of the Nexus Core's Life Insurance Pro., which replaces the dead with clones created by the Nexus Core. Further evidence is found later in the game, with Dr. Crackpot emailing MERC in an attempt to get them to sign up for this process.
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 Villains
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Status Quo Agency Against Hank Wimbleton Nexus Core Matter and Energy Reclamation Corporation Fanatics The Employers Others | ||