Mercenaries Refuse to Fight

BattleTechnology News From the Front

by Hilary Ayer

November 1, 3051: Memmingen, Free Republic of Rasalhague

BattleMechs and troops moved warily though the gates leading to DropShips that will take them away from the world they were contracted to defend. Militia units stood guard over the withdrawing mercenaries, alert for any last minute pillaging.

The cause of this tension was the demand of Major Bill Tranger, commander of the company-strength mercenary unit known as Bill's Bullyboys, for a renegotiation of the unit's contract in light of the Clan invasions.

"It's only fair," said Major Tranger just before his last meeting with officials from the department of mercenary relations. "They want us to f ight the Clanners for them, using obsolete junk, while they treat us like drek the whole time! 'Least they could do is pay us a little more!"

Following the heated and unsuccessful negotiations, Overste Franklin Hastelson stated, "The merc's terms were just too outrageous. He wanted well over three times the going remuneration values for this year alone. We tried to compromise with him, but I guess he just doesn't want to face the invaders in combat."

Major Tranger attempted to assault the Overste at this point, and had to be taken into custody by guards. Following his release, the mercenary commander immediately began preparations for his unit's departure.

Ominously, other mercenary units in the FRR and the Federated Commonwealth have also called to question their standing contracts, including several large regiments such as The Green Machine and The Hsien Hotheads.

BattleTechnology News From the Front

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