“Wherever you go - go NExT” - and most people do, because Neocron Exploration Technology Inc. (NExT) is definitely the largest producer of almost any form of vehicle in Neocron. From conventional motorbikes to subways, from cabs to giant generation starships - there are few vehicles on the roads and in the skies of Neocron that have not been manufactured by NExT.

Headquarters

The NExT Systems Inc. corporate headquarters are located in the Plaza, 4th district. It is a large but compact building with a functional and simple design and layout. The entrance proudly displays the company name, on both signs and large glass windows.

Players choosing NExT as their Runner’s faction will start out in an apartment in the Plaza district.

Key figures

The company’s CEO Craig Diggers, 55, originally wanted to participate in the ‘Great Trek’ to Irata III. He was left stranded on Earth after his company glider crashed on the way to the spaceship. A simple engine failure meant the end of his plans and crippled his legs. Thanks to BioTech’s leading-edge prosthetics, Craig was able to begin over again. Since then, he has very successfully maneuvered NExT through all turbulences caused by the trek’s mass emigration. He nonetheless hopes to receive a second chance to leave Earth toward Irata III.

Violet Derix, 62, is NExT’s system admin. Although some believe that she is too old for the job and not completely up to date any longer, there can be no discussion about the elegance and surprising simplicity of her programs. Connoisseurs even claim them to be an art form… She lives a luxurious life in Via Rosso, where one can often see her sitting in a bar with an ancient laptop during working hours, enjoying historical Martinis and stimulating discussions.

History

Craig Diggers founded NExT Inc. in 2723. At that time, its headquarters were located in an old hangar - a suitable place for a group of engineers devoted to the development and construction of spaceships. The company’s first years were cumbersome, and the difficult political situation contributed its part. In order to prevent the company from going bankrupt, its engineers designed the first city glider, called the ‘Butterfly’. This quiet and very mobile vehicle appealed to most customers and became a tremendous success. Its successors were the ‘Sky Cruiser’ and the ‘Windglider’. Finally, in 2732, the company began to generate a profit.

In 2733, a research and production contract was signed with BioTech, and finally, all vehicles could be perfectly equipped. Anything from simple to luxurious was possible now. Then, in 2736, NExT Inc. got into business with StockX. Only one month later, its share prices had quadrupled and NExT’s balance was impressive.

The year 2747 brought many changes, as the majority of the company – including Craig Diggers – prepared for the ‘Great Trek’. The contract with BioTech was passed on to Tangent Technologies, and as the departure date approached in 2749, Diggers sold nearly all of his real estate plus the majority of his shares and transferred his fortune as well as the newest design and development blueprints onto the last spaceship. On its way to the ship, Diggers’ glider suffered an engine failure and crash-landed. Diggers missed the spaceship’s launch and lost his legs, as well as his entire fortune and his secret research plans.

By 2750, he was once again head of the company, with brand-new artificial legs from BioTech Industries. The formerly visionary engineer now is a disillusioned, broken man with only one purpose in life - reviving the Irata III program.

Rumors

There are hardly any rumors about NExT. It seems as if the company has kept out of any shady business, while Craig Diggers never got involved in any larger scandal or the like. NExT is one of, if not the company with the best reputation around.

From time to time, rumors emerge that CEO Diggers supposedly is involved in a secret liaison with either his system admin Violet, his current secretary, or any other woman working for NExT Inc. His reputation as a distinguished gentleman lets some people even believe that he is capable of hiding such an affair from the public. There is, however, no proof, and even if rumors turned out to be true, it would be very unlikely for them to harm NExT in any way.

It is also whispered that Craig Diggers is involved in the alleged secret escapades of Eric Danmund, head of Diamond Real Estate. Supposedly, Diggers wants to revive the official space flight program and uses Danmund’s CityAdmin contacts to set this plan in motion. Skeptics, however, claim that Danmund’s influence with the CityAdmin is constantly diminishing, and it therefore doesn’t make a lot of sense that Diggers should be wasting his time with Diamond‘s CEO.

From time to time, one also hears that NExT secretly supports the Fallen Angels, but this seems rather far-fetched. Why should Diggers risk his standing with the CityAdmin for a bunch of tech freaks?

Friend and foe

In order to let his space traveling dream come true, Craig Diggers knows he needs the government’s support. This is also the reason why NExT Inc. gets on very well with the CityAdmin and all other government-friendly factions in Neocron - or at least nearly all.

The relationship between NExT and ProtoPharm is rather icy, because Sandra Frasier attempted a hostile takeover against NExT by buying up nearly all of NExT’s shares before the ‘Great Trek’, while NExT was busy with preparations to leave Earth. Diggers was able to prevent the takeover at the last moment, but logically this incident led to a drastic cooling in their inter-company relationship. The successful campaign against the Dome of York brought the two rivals back on track, though.

Like nearly all large companies, NExT maintains good relations with CityMercs and frequently entrusts the mercenaries with lucrative jobs.

It is obvious that NExT – the company as well as Diggers himself – has many reasons to work against the Twilight Guardian. One can doubt that the rebels will ever stand a chance as long as the triangle of NExT, CityAdmin, and Tangent Technologies continues its close cooperation.