Mercenaries in T2K: Thoughts and Questions

[jester]

The role of mercs on the frontlines would be very useful!


In areas where a truce has been enacted, but the enemy is still the enemy, and more importantly trade or resources. So, all manner of dirty tricks and black ops could be done against one side or the other. And they would employ mercs since they are easily denied.

This could also be done to help destabilize new governments or just to combat them in guerilla war, raids, or whatever their method is to do them damage, keep them off balance and to undermine their ability to effectively control a region thus tipping the scale out of their balance.

And then we also have other blackbag operations like kidnapping, political assasinations, espianage, bribery and sabotauge.

And if the troops are proffessional whcih they would have to be to cary out some of those missions they can not be from the neighboring community for fear of opening up open warefare once more which could destroy all in the region as things escalate. But, troops who are trained, proffessional and not directly traceable to you are an asset.

[Abbott Shaull]

The Black Baron in the Warsaw modules, he had 4 Companies or more what one would pass off as Mercenaries. The military force of the 14th Polish MRD in southern Poland, there was an Austrian 'Colonel' who commanded smaller infantry battalion made up of mercenaries that acted as the protection for the former Commander. In the Free City of Krakow there is Lt who commands a Platoon size element or so that protect the City Council....

With Mercenaries in T2K you really have to think outside of the box. Food, shelter, supplies, and fuel are as good as gold/money in keeping on service. Remember the basic means of life could be use to entice a force to stay loyal to community or militia commander.

Yes, many marauders have turned more or less mercenaries as they find towns they thought they could control for a while before moving on, to only stay. So yes the difference is very thin line.

[sglancy12]

Originally Posted by jester

The role of mercs on the frontlines would be very useful!

In areas where a truce has been enacted, but the enemy is still the enemy, and more importantly trade or resources. So, all manner of dirty tricks and black ops could be done against one side or the other. And they would employ mercs since they are easily denied.

This could also be done to help destabilize new governments or just to combat them in guerilla war, raids, or whatever their method is to do them damage, keep them off balance and to undermine their ability to effectively control a region thus tipping the scale out of their balance.

And then we also have other black-bag operations like kidnapping, political assassinations, espionage, bribery and sabotage.

And if the troops are professional which they would have to be to carry out some of those missions they can not be from the neighboring community for fear of opening up open warfare once more which could destroy all in the region as things escalate. But, troops who are trained, professional and not directly traceable to you are an asset.

Pretty much everything you've listed here is the sort of stuff the intelligence agencies and special forces are supposed to do: screw with the enemy without drawing them into an open conflict. The remnants of NATO and WP forces wouldn't have any use for mercenaries doing these kinds of operations during the Twilight War because they've already got folks on the payroll who can do it. AND they are patriots and are not merely motivated by money, thus more likely to turn coat.

Maybe after things have really broken down, like post Summer 2000, maybe then mercenaries might be employed in front line actions. After all, the attrition rate is pretty high among special forces. It takes a lotta years to make one and only one second to unmake one. To perform the kind of missions you are talking about might require the use of mercenaries... which is probably where the players come in. I mean, TW:2000 works best when the players have some military discipline and order, but aren't having to be part of a larger unit that micro manages their every action. Players would rather come in, do a mission, and move on to the next place where they get to do the next mission, AND retain their independence.

Frankly, that sort of a set up is unlikely unless the players are playing a group of Post Apocalyptic mercenaries. I mean, if the players find a repairable M1 Abrahms Tank, and they are part of the 100th ID in Colorado, they are going to have to turn it over to higher command who will decide what to do with it. If the players are freelance, maybe they trade information on the whereabouts of the tank for something they need, like food or fuel. Or the players get all giddy about having their very own, fuel guzzling, maintenance hog to ride around in so they can feel just like Odd-Ball in Kelly's Heroes.

In any event, the players often want to feel as if they are in control of their own destiny. So playing mercenaries... even if they are patriotic mercenaries... more like privateers... would be a good fit.

Still, if I were refereeing I would have more than a few encounters where regular military officers treat them with suspicion or even outright hostility because they see the players are little more than deserters.

A. Scott Glancy, President TCCorp, dba Pagan Publishing

[pmulcahy11b]

It just seems to me that the idea of a mercenary might become superfluous in T2K. Military forces don't need them -- you just put them in your own military forces. Marauders are basically predatory criminals, not mercenaries. Maybe if some town hires a bunch of armed people from outside you might be able to term them mercenaries. Or maybe just hired muscle.

[jester]

Mercinaries, I was actualy thinking of the mercenary of old, such as durring the 100 years war and such, since that is what Europe would have devolved into, lots of independant cities, a return of the city state. With these cities siding with PACT or NATO or even declaring their own independance or as free cities such as Krakow. And it is in these instances when a non descript group who seems to be on no ones side would be useful, and deniable.

As for payment, return to subsistance, giving them room and board and a basic materials to do what they are assigned to. But also gfiving them a choice in spoils or a certain amount of whatever that area produces.

[sglancy12]

Originally Posted by jester

Mercenaries, I was actually thinking of the mercenary of old, such as during the 100 years war and such, since that is what Europe would have devolved into, lots of independent cities, a return of the city state. With these cities siding with PACT or NATO or even declaring their own independence or as free cities such as Krakow. And it is in these instances when a non descript group who seems to be on no ones side would be useful, and deniable.

I agree with you on this. These regional powers may declare broadly for NATO or the WP, but their problems are going to be local ones and they are not going be able to count on the assistance of NATO or the WP to help solve them.

Someone earlier (stainlesssteelcynic) mentioned the "free companies" of the late middle ages. I think that's an excellent example. Check out the wikipedia listing for John Hawkwood.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hawkwood

While the remnants of NATO and the WP wouldn't necessarily have as many reasons to employ mercenaries, these semi-independent city-states would. While the remnants of the various national governments try to maintain control of their armies, local governments, strongmen and warlords are always going to be in the market for muscle. Sure it can come in the form of hiring individual deserters, stragglers, and marauders into your force, but if you need a big force for a big job, but don't want them hanging around afterwards eating you out of house and home, you hire a free company.

They go in, do the job, get paid, get lost.

Back to business as usual for your TW2K city state.

A. Scott Glancy, President TCCorp, dba Pagan Publishing

[Legbreaker]

Is it a valid to assume Martial Law would exist in areas controlled by military forces?
If so, how are mercenaries dealt with? Are non-military personal allowed to carry firearms, drive vehicles (and thereby use fuel the military need), carry anything even vaguely related to combat?

[sglancy12]

Originally Posted by Legbreaker

Is it a valid to assume Martial Law would exist in areas controlled by military forces?
If so, how are mercenaries dealt with? Are non-military personal allowed to carry firearms, drive vehicles (and thereby use fuel the military need), carry anything even vaguely related to combat?

I think we'd have to assume that in many MilGov or CivGov (or really ANY government controlled areas) there are going to be serious restrictions on what folks who are not members of that government's armed forces can own.

Any resource the players have might be confiscated under some vague "emergency powers" proclamation. Small arms (in America, at least) would be difficult to round up. Too strong a cultural attachment. But if the players drive into town towing a 155mm howitzer, they may not get a chance to sell it to the army. It might just be "commandeered." That's what they call it when the lawful authorities steal from you.

The UK, Canada and (to my understanding) Australia have all enacted extremely limiting laws concerning personal firearms, but except in Australia (which didn't get pranged as bad as the other countries) I can't imagine the authorities being successful confiscating weapons. It would just cause unnecessary fighting at a time when everyone needs their guns to hunt and protect themselves.

Australia wouldn't be in the same position since their national government never collapsed and regional and local governments only temporarily failed and only small areas remain uncontrolled. As such, not everyone in Australia needed a firearm to make sure their bread crusts didn't get stolen by the Smegma Crazies and the Gay Boy Berzerkers. (extra points if you can cite the reference on those!)

But Canada, the UK and the USA are wrecked. Self defense is mandatory so, I can't imagine the governments trying to disarm the population completely.

Big military hardware like tanks or armored vehicles or artillery and mortar, and even belt-fed machine guns... sure, I can imagine the authorities confiscating them for official use only. Guys like Jacques Littlefieldhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Littlefield (who collects and restores tanks and armored vehicles) are going to be very sad when MilGov shows up and makes off with their museum pieces... so long as they still run.

I think that any "Free Company" is going to have to camp outside the castle walls, both literally and figuratively, or face being disarmed and their vehicles and equipment confiscated. Choosing to be in a free company is going to be a hard road. While people may need your services, they are going to covet your gear and fear you. So most arrangements are going to be exectuted at arm's length.

A. Scott Glancy, President TCCorp, dba Pagan Publishing