RE: Re: [SG] Mercenary Mission Motivation

From: Ground Zero Games jon@gzg.keme.co.uk
>I'd expect units like Japanese Corporate Troops to have a fanatical
loyalty
to their Corporation, for example, including laying down their lives for
it; "cheap" Merc cannon fodder units from certain other nations (I'm NOT
opening this particular thread again....) may have very little staying
power.

Since you mention it...  :-)

IMHO, the Islamic Fed produces several types of merc units.
a. independent gang--these usually start out as groups of armed
teenagers.  Sufficient to strongarm civilians and may beat militia, but
no match for properly trained troops.  Probably Green 1 and 2's with
medium/high mission motivation, although Yellow/1/High is a possibility.
 Weapons are rifles (often obsolete), a few SAWs and IAVRs, sometimes
other direct fire weapons.  Usually hired as a "lesser of two evils" to
hold off bandits, or paid to attack someone else as a method of getting
them to go away.  

b. co-opted warband--usually a gang which has recruited ex-military
personnel or survived contact with regulars and see the benefit of
organization and training.  These often get coopted by an ambitious
local vizier or sheikh and used as auxilliary forces for light infantry
missions.  
Use standard issue rifles, SAWs, mortars, IAVRs; sometimes GMS (P, L, or
AA); and captured equipment.  Sometimes they think consider themselves
independent but are being supplied by outsiders and used as proxy
forces.  Mission motivation is usually medium to low, quality anywhere
from Green to veteran, and the likelihood of treachery is fairly high.

c.  deniable regular forces--when an amir or the Sultan wishes to meddle
in a neighbor's politics, the fledgling Islamic party on the neighbor's
planet often receives "donations" from "concerned citizens who wish to
support their oppressed Muslim brethren"; these "donations" are used to
hire an "independent professional self-defense force" composed of
"volunteers with prior military service."  This is usually a
thinly-disguised first rate Regular battalion, equivalent to a Guards
unit if provided by the Sultanate.  These units are usually proud, tough
and nasty, not bound by Merc Code conventions, and always remember they
follow their employer's orders only when those don't conflict with the
amir's or Sultan's orders
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