Before I answer that one way or another, let me note a few details I drew this from: the description of the MMRP and the RAF's MOD as described in Field Manual: 3085, and the fact that even in the Dark Age setting, Galatea is never shut down completely. This told me that the mercenary industry remains alive and well throughout the entire Republic period, but that the Republic nevertheless maintains a strict policy of keeping private citizens from owning heavy military hardware. The idea of my approach for this story is to underscore how the surrendering of such weapons in favor of economic and political boons (e.g. citizenship and monetary loans) creates a business unto itself, and by 3095, the RAF is not afraid to outsource to reliable--but ultimately dispossessed--mercenary teams, to gather the surrendered gear for "orderly disposal". (As we also learn in the Dark Age, the factions didn't destroy nearly as many of these machines as they claimed they did; a lot just went into mothballs.)
So, my goal with all that was to work within established canon to have a reason for a mercenary player group to be in Republic employ, so they could misjump onto Terra's doorstep. If I seem to have violated canon in doing so, I ask that you explain where and how.
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