ComStar and Mercenaries

[Neo-Tanuki]

Hi folks. I have a question about ComStar and Mercenaries.

I've been reading the Battle of Tukkayid sourcebook (I love it!) and some of the ComStar upgrades for classic 'Mechs are quite cool. But I was wondering-would these upgraded Tukkayid models stay exclusively in ComStar's hands after the battle?

For example, did ComStar hire or outfit any mercenary units post-Tukkayid to fight or harass the Clans, who might conceivably be issued these 'Mechs?

(TLDR-love the 'Mech stats, but would also enjoy using them outside of a Tukkayid campaign or for non-Com Guards forces, so I was curious if CS supplied any Merc units post-Tukkayid in the fluff.) Thanks!

[worktroll]

Not as such, but look up Brion's Legion on Sarna. They were a merc unit C* hired post 4th SW to provide combat experienced cadres to work with the well equipped but inexperienced ComGuards (see the earlier Jolly Roger incident). When they left C* employ in 3058, they may well have taken some of the cool stuff C* had provided them with, including Star League designs. It'd make sense that a Clanbuster or two got out.

And once they're out there, people may leave Brion's Legion, or salvage may be taken, & so on. Plenty of story hooks available!

[Frabby]

But also remember what a grinder Tukayyid was. Much of the frontline equipment was mauled and blown into tiny bits.
As salvage goes, Operation Scorpion may have left more salvageable material than Tukayyid, at least regarding rare-ish ComStar refits like Clanbusters.

[PuppyLikesLaserPointers]

The 'Heavy Metal Thunder', one of the sample mercenary company on the description of Force Creation in Campaign Operations, is an ex-ComGuard Level II left the order after the Schism and starting a mercenary life. So, a mercenary unit with ComGuard-grade equipments is totally possible.

But yeah, since ComStar was suffered by Schism, Tukayyid was a brutal meat grinder, and ComStar after Scorpion choose to cooperate with Inner Sphere rather than possessing the knowledge by no one but themselves, I don't think that ComStar have the resource and/or reason to play an another puppet. Perhaps they may hire some mercenary to bolster their weakened ComGuard, though, but most of them will have the flag of ComStar openly.

[pat_hdx]

A lot of people left Comstar after Tukayyid.  They may not have taken their mechs with them, but they sure took the knowledge of the variants they drove with them, and could have aspired to upgrade their subsequent rides to said variants.

Some people like the Broadsword legion DID wholesale leave Comstar with their rides.

[Nav_Alpha]

Also, post schism, ComStar was hiring mercs in conjunction with House Kurita as part of its Explorer Corps operations to find the Clan homeworlds. Missions included base defence and garrison on far flung bits of frozen rock ComStar was basking off to track the clans, through to strikes and raids.
It seems reasonable for mercs to be paid at least partially in equipment, if the ComGuards could spare it?
After all - you want your mercs to be able to actually fight off Clanners - why not sell them some advanced tech?

[PuppyLikesLaserPointers]

Also, post schism, ComStar was hiring mercs in conjunction with House Kurita as part of its Explorer Corps operations to find the Clan homeworlds. Missions included base defence and garrison on far flung bits of frozen rock ComStar was basking off to track the clans, through to strikes and raids.
It seems reasonable for mercs to be paid at least partially in equipment, if the ComGuards could spare it?
After all - you want your mercs to be able to actually fight off Clanners - why not sell them some advanced tech?

It makes sense. At least the reserve forces that is prepare to counter an another Clan invasion must be equiped with all ComStar could afford. They put every lostech wonders of the old war they got on Tukayyid, and despite they were victorious they spilled as much blood as their opponents, so it is sure that non-Tukayyid grade equipments are not suited for the same task.

Also the strength of ComGuard to prepare possible invasion was cut in half by the Schism at that time. Consider the origin of ComGuard, that is start with the mercenary company hired by ComStar, it is no wonder that these employed mercenaries are possible candidates of the ComGuard initiates as well.

[Colt Ward]

I still contend the Marauder 5CS could be built off of the Marauder 5M, with ComStar refitting whatever they may have been able to buy from the League over time.  We know somethings like the Black Knight 9 did end up going into production too.

[glitterboy2098]

it is worth noting that as refits, Comstar could convert existing mechs to the new variants, especially those that were based on commonly available succession wars designs. any merc unit working with Comstar (or the WoB) with hardware upgrades in their contract could possibly end up with these.

[Metallgewitter]

I think the Vanguard Legion would be a good example. This unit was hired for Explorer Corps Missions and they got good pay. I think they also got upgrades though I am not sure if they came from the Combine or Comstar.
And I would think that Comstar would include generouts tech support clauses. After all at that time they still had control of Terra and it's slowly awakening military muscles. They could probably do the same thing the Word of Blake did later: sell "outdated" Mechs at preferntial prices for it's Merc units while upgrading their own forces with the best tech possible.

[Wotan]

Beside C3 there is no tech on ComGuard mechs that is not available to every good mech producer. Variant specs might not be open data. But film footage from their fights are comon and a good tech should be able to make a guess on what they did.

So as far as you have enough money to buy the parts and pay good techs and hangar time you should be able to upgrade your mechs similar to the clanbuster variants.

[Metallgewitter]

Beside C3 there is no tech on ComGuard mechs that is not available to every good mech producer. Variant specs might not be open data. But film footage from their fights are comon and a good tech should be able to make a guess on what they did.

So as far as you have enough money to buy the parts and pay good techs and hangar time you should be able to upgrade your mechs similar to the clanbuster variants.

The question is if Comstar has exclusive rights to those Mechs. Sure you can try to copy it but you probably need the specific parts and those might be Comstar exclusive. For example the AC20 in a Demolisher is not the same AC20 in a Hetzer. Or perhaps a better example would be the Blake-designed Nyx. The lore states that the Combine could not produce it despite having the schematics because the Nyx relied on parts which were produced on Terra.

[Colt Ward]

The question is if Comstar has exclusive rights to those Mechs. Sure you can try to copy it but you probably need the specific parts and those might be Comstar exclusive. For example the AC20 in a Demolisher is not the same AC20 in a Hetzer. Or perhaps a better example would be the Blake-designed Nyx. The lore states that the Combine could not produce it despite having the schematics because the Nyx relied on parts which were produced on Terra.

Except in BT abstract terms, the AC/20 IS the same.  Producing the tools that make the parts would be problematic IRL, but not in BT.

But this gets back to where I want to look at the Marauder 5M tech specs right next to the -5CS.  Do they use the same LBX? etc

[Wotan]

Exact. You might not have the same AC20 in your mech, but you will get a AC20 for your mech and your tech should be able to make it fit. The lore is full of such field refits.
Maybe your tech isn't sure about the exact armor allocation or the number and placement of heatsinks. Maybe they fail to have the right number of reloads based on the trivid footage. But your techs will come close enough and there will be noone to sue you for modding your mechs.

[Dayton3]

Jerimiah Rose whom created the Black Thorns mercenary unit (company sized ultimately) was a former member of Comstar who "went mercenary" after his Shootist was destroyed on Tutyavid and it was going to be a long time before Comstar could replace it.

Don't get me started about the Black Thorns demise on Galedon due to a "writers error".

One thing almost universally true in battletech is that 'mechs NEVER remain with the faction that created or modified them to begin with

[Stormlion1]

One thing almost universally true in battletech is that 'mechs NEVER remain with the faction that created or modified them to begin with

Exactly this. A good example is Clan tech and how many worked there way into places like the Magistry by 3060. Not many its true but some will have made there way via sale, salvage, or just through trade.

[Metallgewitter]

Exactly this. A good example is Clan tech and how many worked there way into places like the Magistry by 3060. Not many its true but some will have made there way via sale, salvage, or just through trade.

Wouldn't that depend on the time in which the mercenary unit exists? I mean during the SW era some Mechs can't be maintained when you are not in a specific House's employ (like the Vindicator. Ceres Metal would ask for high prices n regards to spare parts outside the Confederation). In the 3060 you have more manufacturing sites running full speed and the Sharks swimming around selling shiny Clan Mechs to those who have the cash

[five_corparty]

Also, post schism, ComStar was hiring mercs in conjunction with House Kurita as part of its Explorer Corps operations to find the Clan homeworlds. Missions included base defence and garrison on far flung bits of frozen rock ComStar was basking off to track the clans, through to strikes and raids.
It seems reasonable for mercs to be paid at least partially in equipment, if the ComGuards could spare it?
After all - you want your mercs to be able to actually fight off Clanners - why not sell them some advanced tech?

In addition, the merc's handbook says that employers will often pay handsomely or offer great trades for captured clantech: so a unit that takes down a Madcat but loses a heavy in the process might very well be offered a upgraded black knight in exchange for their captured clantech.  The merc unit (seeing the maint heavy requirements on clan stuff at during the 3055ish era) would probably say "done" and both sides feel like they got the better end of the deal. 

[Nav_Alpha]

In addition, the merc's handbook says that employers will often pay handsomely or offer great trades for captured clantech: so a unit that takes down a Madcat but loses a heavy in the process might very well be offered a upgraded black knight in exchange for their captured clantech.  The merc unit (seeing the maint heavy requirements on clan stuff at during the 3055ish era) would probably say "done" and both sides feel like they got the better end of the deal. 

And why wouldn’t you take this deal? Clan tech is unfamiliar and new - hard to work with unless you’ve worked with it before.
As opposed to Star League or downgraded SL gear - techs would be more familiar than working on Omni tech.
Why try and cobble together a Mad Cat, which forces you to buy more expensive Clan tech when you can get a Black Knight and known what you’re dealing with?

[Daryk]

For mercs, the best they can realistically hope to maintain are individual weapons that they capture multiples of.  ER Large Lasers come to mind as the epitome of this type.

[Stormlion1]

Wouldn't that depend on the time in which the mercenary unit exists? I mean during the SW era some Mechs can't be maintained when you are not in a specific House's employ (like the Vindicator. Ceres Metal would ask for high prices n regards to spare parts outside the Confederation). In the 3060 you have more manufacturing sites running full speed and the Sharks swimming around selling shiny Clan Mechs to those who have the cash

Well of course. But the one thing Battletech has always been in the SW era was scavenger tech. The factory might not be selling the parts across state lines but there is a arms dealer somehwere that has that Vindicator part in stock on Galatea who will be willing to sell...for the rihjt price.