The following article does not necessarily represent the official editorial opinion of BattleTechnology Magazine. Since the end of the Fourth Succession War twenty-two years ago, some interesting trends would seem to be noticeable in the mercenary trade. This article will study some of the more prominent ones. Many of the larger and more reputable mercenary units (most notably the Eridani Light Horse, and Wolf's Dragoons) have sought to remain with a single employer for longer and longer terms. The Eridani Light Horse has remained with the Federated Suns/Commonwealth nearly fifty years now. Wolf's has stayed with the same employer since mid-3028, an unprecedented step. This same tendency is observable in other Houses, for example House Liao continues to renew charter arrangements for Marshigama's Legionnaires, among several other long-time units. In many instances, these mercenaries are treated almost as House troops. Marik, which has added more mercs to its forces than any other of the Great Houses, has retained, again, many of its'old guard' mercenaries. The Free Rasalhague Republic has retained no longterm units, for both economic and social reasons. The Draconis Combine, at the end of the Fourth Succession War, either absorbed or drove off its mercenary forces. It no longer hires mercenaries, at least in its own name. Smaller units tend to emulate the larger ones with varying degrees of success. For formations of battalion size and smaller, life and the hiring market haven't changed so greatly. The employment picture grows grimmer for the newcomer or the group with a record of failure, disobedience, atrocities and mayhem. No names will be named here, but certain units are well-known for occasional barbarities. Some make a habit of it. Such units find employment more and more difficult and less and less profitable. Some mercs are making a conscious effort to improve their public images, often using surprisingly sophisticated tactics. Many organisations employ full-time public affairs personnel, while others make use of professional agencies. Publicized incidents of wrongdoing are on the downswing. Whether this reflects actual improved behavior or better media control is yet to be determined. Some units, notably Little Richard's Panzer Brigade, actively suppress independent (non-Panzer or non-Capellan) reporting from on or near the battlefield. (The Panzers are still under suspicion for a number of thefts from the Lyran Commonwealth.) This trend seems to have been instigated largely by House and ComStar actions during the last 20 years. in which minor offences such as light-finger discounts on parts and vehicles are less tolerated than before, when House officers seemed to expect that mercs would pick up loose items and make them disappear. Tighter control at nearly all levels is making this a far less profitable course. Even trusted units are caught up in this harsher atmosphere, to varying degrees. Quite a number of merc units have affiliated themselves permanently with a House. This has often been done to units in the past (the 'Company Store' operation,) but of late many units are voluntarily signing on as regulars. In most cases they are negotiating conditions regarding leadership, deployment, and other factors. As a prime example, the Wild Geese Battalion, a medium-weight 'Mech force specializing in raiding, was turned over by its commander to Melissa Steiner Davion at her wedding. It is used as a training cadre for LCAF light raiding forces. The unit retains its severely plain uniforms and internal rank structure. Many other forces have done the same, for varying reasons. Some to requite debt, as punishment for acts against an employer (usually as a sentence imposed by ComStar arbitration) or as in so regrettably many cases, when a unit is so batted and beaten as to be beyond self-repair. The 3039 War was rife with this sort of case. For example, the Kolchak Guards Tank Regiment (FC-employed) attached itself to the First Robinson Heavy Tanks as a four-lance company at war's end, where it remains to this day. Command in that company is hereditary in the Valdemare family of New Valencia Province of Robinson. Many other mercenary formations have 'gone House' voluntarily within the last six years. Inter-unitf euds and rivalries seem lately to be maintained for form's sake, with only two real hatreds remaining. Waco's Rangers continue to swear the 'Death Oath'. Last year, when a training unit of Wolf's Dragoons hired out for garrison duty on Andurien, House Marik almost lost it's long-term contract with the Rangers. It's said that small units of the Rangers took semi-official leave in spring of 3047 to make a non-official raid on the Dragoon's World of Outreach. Rumor further holds that the units were never heard from again. And the Fifth Syrtis Fusiliers continues to loathe things Capellan, especially MacCarron's Armor (The Big Macs). This feeling seems to be returned with interest. Conversely, other feuding pairs and units appear to have gained a strong empathy, even a fellow-feeling, forone another. Usually this happens where the formations have shared a garrison together, or been alongside each other in combat. It can also happen between units who have never served together, though this is rare. To sum up, today's mercenary leader has to be: 1) willing to sign up for longer hitches, if he goes on a retainer, 2) far more careful about his troop's actions on and off the field, and 3) more willing to consider the possibility of going regular, at least temporarily. These trends reflect tighter market conditions, more careful House supervision, fewer potential employers within the Inner Sphere, and a perceived need for long-term security in the years to come. There are fewer and fewer options open, as Houses turn less of a blind eye to past mishaps and show far more willingness to eliminate a really bad outfit. (See BattleTechnology for November 3029 for the article on the destruction of the reconstituted Greenhaven Gestapo by combined forces of the Federated Commonwealth, ComStar, and the Capellan Confederation.) It therefore remains to be seen what the future holds for mercenary troops in the Inner Sphere. In this writer's opinion, there are storm clouds on the mercenary horizon. CRAIG HARRIS IS A MECHWARRIOR ATTACHED TO KHORSAKOV'S COSSACKS, A MERCENARY BATTALION (SEE BATTLETECHNOLOGY# 13) WHICH HAS RECENTLY COMPLETED A CONTRACT ON GALATEA AND IS LOOKING AROUND FOR OPTIONS. INTERESTED EMPLOYERS MAY CONTACT THE COSSACKS THROUGH BATTLETECHNOLOGY, DEPARTMENT HH-1003. WATCH FOR PART Two OF THIS SERIES IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF BATTLETECHNOLOGY. Back to BattleTechnology 14 Table of Contents Back to BattleTechnology List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 1990 by Pacific Rim Publishing. This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com