DisclaimerI am still working on a few (a lot of) details regarding the exact history of this unit, so bear with me while I lay down the general concept of my go-to homebrew mercenaries from my favorite get-off-my-lawn faction. You might find a few logical errors as well; this unit is still in the works, but I feel like this is a good place to lay out the general concept while I try to refine the finer details.
And when the battle's over then, hurrah! Hurrah!
To no one our knees we bend, hurrah! Hurrah!
The Calderon Corsairs, proud and tall,
Will heed the Taurian nation's call
And the Corsairs march back into hell once more...
Tracing their origins all the way back to the infamous Reunification War, the 1st Concordat Corsair Regiment was established in 2581 as a light raider unit, operating independently and deep behind enemy lines for extended periods. As a final act of defiance (to avoid becoming a tithe to the SLDF once the fighting was over), the Corsairs were officially disbanded in 2597, though most of their equipment could not be accounted for.
In 2603, a new mercenary unit stepped into the light, and the Calderon Corsairs, with close ties to House Calderon, were born.
The Corsairs have always maintained close ties to the TDF and House Calderon throughout their long history. While they are not officially part of the TDF, most new companies receive a large proportion of their basic equipment from it. This typically includes at least a lance of BattleMechs, two squads of infantry, and support elements. A dropship is provided either by the TDF or an older Corsairs company. For aspiring commanders in the TDF, the Calderon Corsairs are a popular way to earn valuable combat experience throughout the Inner Sphere. Regular soldiers and pilots might find themselves assigned to certain companies if the contract aligns with the TDF's interests.
Typical first deployments for new companies include low-risk contracts near the Concordat or possibly even within the TC. Pacification or garrison duties, pirate hunts, and similar deployments are not unusual. In this way, the company and its commanders are tested and assessed for their capabilities at low risk.
If the first assignment is considered successful and the company demonstrates its abilities sufficiently, they may earn a biannual allowance from the TDF to cover basic peacetime operating costs and to purchase equipment or hire personnel to bring them up to standard for more serious assignments.
Calderon Corsairs companies can be found all over the Inner Sphere. Mostly acting as independent mercenary units, they retain a strong bond to their homeland, which can act as a secure home base for rearming and recovery if the unit suffers significant losses. In return, they are limited in growth – battlefield salvage can be used to recover combat losses and bolster their fighting strength while on deployment, but once a certain threshold is reached, salvage in the form of spare parts, vehicles, and even full BattleMechs is expected to be sent back to the Concordat itself in exchange for funds, manpower, and whatever else the company might need. Naturally, they are forbidden from accepting contracts that would pit them against the Concordat.
As such, the Corsairs provide the TDF with combat experience for their officers and soldiers as well as bolster their regular forces with "up-to-date" equipment.
Notable Corsairs Companies:L Company - Graveland's Ghosts
Under the command of Simon "the Ghost" Graveland, L Company earned a reputation as a hard-hitting strike force, beating their opposition into submission with extreme prejudice.
(The story for this company is still a work in progress. It is part of my RPG campaign, which will shape the outcome of this notable deployment considerably.)