At the present time, Duke Hassid Ricol is actively seeking mercenaries for both short- and long-term contracts within his own domain along the Lyran frontier. The fiasco on Verthandi has led to serious consequences on the other worlds which formerly belonged to the Tamar Pact.
Castle in the Clouds: The Ricol Estate on Rodigo
Verthandi's near-independence has raised hopes among the resistance forces on all of the old Pact worlds. New Caledonia, with its tough and stubborn inhabitants fiercely set in the mold of their Celtic background, has been reported in open rebellion, and there has been widespread fighting against Kurita garrisons on Basiliano and Dahlgren as well.
With House Kurita line forces tied down by recent Davion maneuvers and raids along the Proserpina front (see: Black Luthien on page 16 of this issue), Ricol's personal troops are hard-pressed to keep local and scattered acts of defiance from exploding into all-out rebellion all along the Kurita frontier. Reliable reports have already been received that at least one mercenary regiment has been hired and stationed on Auric II (Harvest), and that several mercenary companies are scheduled to be deployed within coming weeks to Basiliano and others of the former Tamar Pact worlds now controlled by the Draconis Combine.
There are also reports from several of BattleTechnology's correspondents that Duke Ricol is searching for individuals who can provide him with intelligence about events now unfolding elsewhere in the Inner Sphere. Freelance intelligence agents, bounty hunters, and private observers have been approached by several Ricol agents with offers of money for information. The nature of the desired information has not yet been disclosed.
TICKET DETAILS
Duke Ricol does not maintain mercenary forces under his command as a rule, but hires them for short-term contracts when he has a special need for their services. The current crisis generated by the Verthandian rebellion has created such a special need. The following list of possible missions has been suggested by BattleTechnology's Military Analysis Staff as probable mercenary tickets in Ricol's service.
MISSIONS
COMBAT CAMPAIGN*
- Assaults on rebel military forces (Offensive Campaign)
Invasion of rebel worlds (Planetary Assault)
Operations against Steiner invasion forces and raids (Offensive/Defensive Campaigns, Recon/Objective Raids)
Guerrilla Warfare
TERRITORIAL CAMPAIGN
- Riot duty and crowd control
Siege campaigns against rebel cities
STATIC DEFENSE
- Garrison and security duty on frontier worlds
Training cadre missions with local pro-Kurita militias
* Note that, as of the press date of this issue of BattleTechnology, House Steiner has not mounted any actual operations within Kurita space since the show of force at Verthandi in 3025. The possibility of a major raid or all-out invasion of Ricol's domain remains a constant possibility, however, especially in light of recent unrest on several of the former Tamar pact worlds. Mercenary forces may be hired against this possibility, especially if Ricol's intelligence indicates that a major Steiner campaign is planned for the near future.
INTELLIGENCE+
- One-man/small group intelligence operations
Planetary observation
Company-level intelligence raids
Duke Ricol is aggressively expanding his intelligence operations in regions as far removed from Rodigo as Atreus and Sian. Although no details are available, his interest is rumored to extend from individual freelance intelligence agents willing to observe and report on events on various worlds in Steiner, Marik, and Liao space, to mercenary companies willing to undertake tip-and-run raids against the Commonwealth and the Free Worlds League in order to take prisoners and secure items of military intelligence. Interested mercenaries, individuals and unit commanders, are advised to contact the Ducal Offices in Alexis, Rodigo.
LENGTH OF SERVICE
6 to 12 months
Length of service depends on the nature of the mission. Most merc combat tickets are relatively short-term, ranging from 6 to 12 months. Missions assigned to non 'Mech intelligence-gathering operations are typically longer, lasting from 1 to 2 years or more, depending on the need for agents to develop their covers.
REMUNERATION (per man per week, unless otherwise designated)
Infantry, Armor (per squad):
- Elite: Cb 7,000-10,000
Veteran: Cb 3,500-5,000
Regular: Cb 1,750-2,500
Green: Cb 1,000-2,000
Artillery (per 7-man squad):
- Veteran-Elite: Cb 8,000-12,000
Regular: Cb 2,000-5,000
Green: Cb 1,000-1,500
MechWarriors, AeroSpace Pilots:
- Elite: Cb 1,500-2,500
Veteran: Cb 1,000-1,500
Regular: Cb 600-1,000
Green: Cb 300-500
Support (Tech):
- Elite: 1,500-2,500
Veteran: 800-1,000
Regular: Cb 500-600
Green: Cb 100-250
DropShip (per crew per week):
- Elite: Cb 12,000-14,000
Veteran: Cb 8,000-10,000
Regular: Cb 5,000-6,000
Green: Cb 3,000-4,000
JumpShip (per crew per week):
- Elite: Cb 15,000-18,000
Veteran: Cb 10,000-12,000
Regular: Cb 6,000-8,000
Green: Cb 3,000-4,000
GUARANTEES
Star intermediary: The agreed-upon sum (generally equal to one quarter to one third of the entire sum for the mercenary unit for six months, less ComStar's 5% fee, is placed in escrow at the ComStar offices in Alexis, Rodigo, or at any other bank of the mercenary unit's choice within House Kurita territory. Contractual noncompliance is grounds for release of funds to the aggrieved party, after adjudication by a neutral ComStar precentor. Standard contract clauses may stipulate that both House Kurita and Duke Ricol will be held blameless if "operational necessities force the party of the first part (Duke Ricol) to employ deliberate misdirection for tactical or strategic purposes, resulting in possible loss or casualties among the party of the second part (the mercenaries)." In other words, discovery that the mercenary unit was not fully informed (or was lied to) about its part in an operation is never grounds for a charge of contractual noncompliance against Duke Ricol or House Kurita.
Though not usual in standard contracts with House Kurita or Kurita commanders, there are rumors that Duke Ricol may be willing to offer land grants to veteran and elite BattleMech forces who successfully complete active combat campaigns in forthcoming operations against the Lyran Commonwealth or rebel forces. One common rumor--neither confirmed nor denied at press time--is that mercenary BattleMech companies may be offered individual domains on New Caledonia or Basiliano, where they will be expected to keep the rebellious locals in line.
COMMAND RIGHTS
Individual commanders of veteran and elite units are generally granted a high degree of independence in mercenary and combined forces operations. Regular and Green units will generally be assigned to the operational command of a local House Kurita leader. Unit commanders may be subject to orders from Kurita field commanders at regimental level or higher, or to Duke Ricol himself, or to his staff officers, depending on circumstances and the importance of the mission. On most missions involving non-Kurita mercenary personnel, one or more Liaison Officers will be assigned to the unit to insure compliance with operational orders and political reliability of the unit.
TRANSPORT
The mercenary unit is generally expected to arrange for its own transport to Rodigo. Transport from Rodigo to the unit's final destination is usually provided by Duke Ricol's own transports. In special circumstances, Duke Ricol may arrange for trans- port for a unit at his own expense, or aboard his own transports.
More Hassid Ricol The Red Duke
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