A mercenary commander in today's Inner Sphere has to concern himself far more with political questions than heretofore. In times past, mercs tended to worry only about payment and contract provision fulfillment. This has changed.
Some of these concerns are readily apparent, such as the, to put it frankly, state-fostered hatred for mercenaries in the Free Rasalhague Republic, where a merc cannot safely leave his compound night or day. It has been suggested, only half in jest, that this attitude is a prelude to a Republic-wide confiscation of mercs' equipment, probably after a series of manufactured 'incidents'. (This scenario needs no elaboration for the seasoned hired soldier.) If indeed such is the case, the resulting bloodbath would be too terrible to contemplate. Given the relative skills of some of the Republic's mercenaries, the Republic might well cease to be.
Another ugly situation could be brewing in the Capellan Confederation. Chancellor Romano's nationalization of virtually the entire Capellan economy may have grave consequences, should her economy collapse. This will inevitably lead to a lack of funds with which to pay her House troops, let alone the proportionally large number of mercenaries she keeps.
The Lady Chancellor is certainly aware of what armies have consistently done throughout history when they were not paid, or when the warriors feared for their families.
Mercenaries serving provincial nobles of the Free Worlds League were specifically exempted from the 3037 Addendum. Many consider this to have been the decisive factor in its passage. However that may be, the Marik has contiguously attempted to bring these formations under League control. The concern here is that should Thomas have his way, these mercenary formations could be forced into the League military. Some of the older members of the LCCC have expressed this viewpoint loudly in Parliament. This issue has generated some of the most ferocious political wrangling in Parliament this century.
Draconis-hired mercs are merged into DCMS formations and presumably are treated as regulars. Since 3030, no unit above the company level has been hired. At one times, there was the remote possibility of civil war between Takashi and Theodore Kurita, but since their reconciliation this mercenary's nightmare cannot become real.
Hired troops serving the St Ives Compact are liable to be asked repeatedly to become House units. These requests are not forcible, nor do they reflect adversely on the merc unit in question; St Ives is quite simply trying to arm itself with experienced troops. The Compact also does not hire extensively, at present fielding only the Kell Hounds 2nd Regiment and a few other, very small, mercenary formations.
ComStar hires fewer mercenaries as time goes on, often using them as swift-reaction forces to deal with raiders, or for truly dirty jobs that ComStar does not want the Corn Guards associated with. Brion's Legion, however, remains as part of the Terran garrison. Almost all other long-term contracts have been allowed to expire, though occasionally ComStar will release a unit early, paying fro the full contract. Otherwise, duty with ComStar is unchanged form conditions of twenty-five years ago.
Perhaps the most stable employer of the Inner Sphere is the Federated Commonwealth. Fielding over one hundred mercenary 'Mech regiments alone, Federated Commonwealth forces have little apparent difficulty in dealing with the hired soldier. Here again, however, are potential problems. Several small but outspoken separatist movements have made themselves known. Non have hired troops openly as yet, or formally seceded, but there is the remote possibility.
As in the Free Worlds League, lesser Federated Commonwealth nobility can and sometimes do hire mercenary troops for varying purposes. These purposes range from escort to riot control to the extreme of private wars, usually carried out as parts of blood feuds. Some of these have gotten completely out of control, much to the dismay of the nobles involved, as their ruling House sharply intervenes.
The various Periphery states and bandit kingdoms surrounding the Inner Sphere are largely beyond the scope of this article. Frankly, they can be of minor importance at best in a discussion of Inner Sphere concerns.
Today's wise mercenary lead should carefully study the political climate of any potential employers before signing on. Now as never before, the Inner Sphere is polarizing. The results of this polarization remain to be seen.
WRITER CRAIG HARRIS IS A MECHWARRIOR SERVING WITH KHORSAKOV'S COSSACKS, WHICH HAS RECENTLY ACCEPTED A CONTRACT WITH THE FEDERATED COMMONWEALTH. THOSE SEEKING EMPLOYMENT WITH THE COSSACKS AMY REACH THEM VIA FCPO Box 18-2, NEW AVALON.
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