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The CAV Galaxy : Mercenaries Commerce |
Mercenaries | Psyros
Mercenary outfits have a long tradition of fighting for anyone, any time, anywhere—as long as the price is right. Some may sneer at the thought of mercenaries, but when they require the services of such a group, such reservations usually evaporate. Mercenary groups are in service throughout the galaxy. They range in size from individual assassins and small strike teams all the way up to standing armies capable of going up against even the most powerful governments or UCOR's. To a mercenary outfit, reputation is everything. If an outfit ever betrays an employer, it had better make sure there are no witnesses, since it can be fairly sure that it will never work for anyone else again. Even when the payoff is high enough to make concerns about future employment a nonissue, the vast majority of mercenaries refuse to give even lip service to such traitorous negotiations. After all, if someone is low enough to try to win a battle by means of such bribery, what's to say that he won't turn around and betray the new agreement as well? Smaller mercenary units usually specialize in specific areas of warfare. This includes such services as basic defense, guerrilla attacks, espionage, counterintelligence, kidnapping, and so on. These organizations are generally only good at one or two things, but what they do they do exceedingly well. Their employers often look upon them as expendable, short-term hires made to complete a specific job. Those few long-lived small units that have established a solid reputation are worth their weight in gold. Larger mercenary units have complete combat and logistic capabilities. They're capable of conducting major battles entirely on their own. Some such units have even completed wars almost entirely on their own. Their fees for such operations are astronomical, but when a client is faced with losing everything, he's often willing to pay just about anything. The make-up of most mercenary outfits is far more diverse than that of any UCOR or governmental military. Most mercenary leaders are concerned foremost about their operatives' abilities, not their races. As such, many mercenary units see soldiers from supposedly "enemy" races working side by side. In the current high-tension interplanetary climate, many governments and UCOR's are making use of mercenary outfits to work secretly on their private agendas. Often, only the leaders of the outfits know whom the group is currently working for. The grunts know only whom it is they're working against.
Red Spades
This aggressive newcomer is quickly making a name for itself and is favored to win the Templar Warmaster Mercenary Competition this year. Some competitors complain this is due to the fact that the Templars are secretly the Red Spades' most important client, leading to charges of favoritism in the judging of the games. In fact, it's rumored that the Templars actually financed the start-up of the Red Spades and own a large chunk of the outfit, although this has never been proven. The Red Spades' headquarters are located on Viper, the fourth planet of the Tor-Nor (21) system. Fielding the kind of state-of-the-art equipment you'd expect from the new kind on the block, the Red Spades are a force to be reckoned with and have recently snagged several choice security contracts.
Yellowjackets
The Yellow Jackets are a Cetus system based mercenary unit. Extremely selective about their membership and highly renowned for their combat prowess the Yellow Jackets have gained quit a reputation in the eleven years of their existence. They are currently banned from the Templar Warmaster Mercenary Competition for a surprise attack that destroyed the Red Spade compound during the competition of 2267. The reasons for the unprecedented attack have never been fully revealed but it is common knowledge that Yellow Jackets and the Red Spades have been enemies for several years. The Yellow Jackets specialize in heavy assault missions and accept assignments only through General Drake.
Black Cobras
The Black Cobra organization was recently sold to an unidentified and apparently wealthy buyer. As a result, new equipment and faces have appeared throughout the organization, breathing new life into this group that many observers thought was on its last gasp. The Black Cobras were last year's winner of the Templar Warmaster Mercenary Competition, but they were eliminated this year in an early round. This was before the highly publicized buyout, however, and the organization's new blood has made them an early favorite for next year's contest. Rumors have connected the Black Cobras to a number of covert operations against the Templars, but nothing has surfaced officially concerning these accusations. The Black Cobras have worked very closely with the Templars in the past and would be a particularly deadly opponent against them. Since their business relationship with the Templars ended with the Cobras' loss in the Warmaster Tournament, the Black Cobras would certainly be free to do so for the right price.
Blade
The oldest known mercenary organization, the Blade traces its history back to ancient times, even before the first starship was launched in the galaxy. Recently the Blade has lost several security contracts to the Red Spades, and open hostilities between the two organizations are becoming common. The Blade is a strong contender at the Templar Warmaster Mercenary Competition this year, but recent conflicts have cost the organization some of its best crews.
Kolditz
Kolditz is one of the galaxy's largest mercenary organizations. Some refer to Kolditz as "the Galaxy's Guns." The group's motto is "Hire us or fight us -- either way, you pay." Kolditz maintains its administrative offices and headquarters in Arveni on Avalorr. Their current chief commander is Hans Tolbers, a man born, raised, and trained in the arts of war in his ancestral Ritterlich home. Kolditz hires out and acts as the security force for several corporations and UCOR's. It serves some smaller governments in a strong military support role. This gives those organizations that can afford Kolditz's astronomical prices galaxywide clout and an effective deterrent against most aggressors. Kolditz usually purchases the most modern equipment and skimps on nothing. With the fees it charges, it can afford it. It also pays well and has an aggressive internal security force to keep peace in the "family", as its employees call themselves.
General Drake General Drake is one of those rare individuals who consistently manages to come out on top, no matter what happens. He always seems to specialize in whatever his clients are asking for, and he has friends and contacts spread across the galaxy. He can be contacted through any of the com-nets, but he is rarely seen in person. Even if General Drake can't himself field the kind of force an employer is looking for, he can point you in the direction of someone who can. For these kinds of arrangements, he takes a 10% brokerage fee, paid over and above the billing of the outfit actually doing the work. Some UCOR's work exclusively with General Drake because of his reputation for hiring or recommending only the best people for each and every job.
Commerce |
Mercenaries | Psyros
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