Does such a beast exist IYTU? What does it take to be an Imperium recognized Merc or Merc unit?
Mercenary Guild and accreditation
- Thread starter Spartan159
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GypsyComet
SOC-14 1K
Opinion:
That's up to local planetary and Imperial governance, but is almost never going to apply to individuals.
A planet or large company hiring a "security company" may want resume's, references, and insurance, and a Count might conduct a background check on your Merc Company, but solitary gun-for-hire types are cheap, plentiful, expendable, and often deniable.
The mercs within a Company will be subject to as much or as little enlistment scrutiny as the Captain wants. This will be influenced by clients, both prior and desired.
Bonding and professional organizations will rise or fall based on local custom and need.
In short: It Depends.
That's up to local planetary and Imperial governance, but is almost never going to apply to individuals.
A planet or large company hiring a "security company" may want resume's, references, and insurance, and a Count might conduct a background check on your Merc Company, but solitary gun-for-hire types are cheap, plentiful, expendable, and often deniable.
The mercs within a Company will be subject to as much or as little enlistment scrutiny as the Captain wants. This will be influenced by clients, both prior and desired.
Bonding and professional organizations will rise or fall based on local custom and need.
In short: It Depends.
I'd say very little.
If you intend to do business as a private security contractor, you will set up on a world where the law does not restrict you. As far as the Imperial authorities go, as long as the people running the outfit aren't wanted for any crimes, and as long as the outfit is a legit business -- meaning it has bank accounts, an address for its offices, etc. -- then you're good to go. The Imperium does not care.
If you intend to do business as a private security contractor, you will set up on a world where the law does not restrict you. As far as the Imperial authorities go, as long as the people running the outfit aren't wanted for any crimes, and as long as the outfit is a legit business -- meaning it has bank accounts, an address for its offices, etc. -- then you're good to go. The Imperium does not care.
Enoki
SOC-14 1K
I think there's different "flavors" of mercenaries running around. You have a range from something akin to the Foreign Legion that is government run, to private contractors and businesses that hire people for various types of armed work from security to military operations, to independent contractors both legal and illegal that set up mercenary operations, and you have the equivalent of Ronin who are working for themselves.
In between there are legal, quasi legal, and illegal mercenary operations going on. In a "universe" as big as the one Traveller has, there's no way that the government, central or local, is going to have a handle on the whole use of mercenaries thing. That doesn't even extend to what's beyond the Third Imperium's borders where the rules can radically change.
In between there are legal, quasi legal, and illegal mercenary operations going on. In a "universe" as big as the one Traveller has, there's no way that the government, central or local, is going to have a handle on the whole use of mercenaries thing. That doesn't even extend to what's beyond the Third Imperium's borders where the rules can radically change.
mike wightman
SOC-14 10K
If you can get a bond from Hortalez et Cie, LIC or Instellarms, LIC you are a mercenary.
My question was provoked by MgT's Central Supply Catalog, where there are categories of availability; Unrestricted, Civilian use, Paramilitary use, Military use, Restricted Military use and Prohibited.
My take on that is, with the exception of very powerful weapons the Imperium reserves for its own use (e.g., nukes), the Imperium does not care.
Worlds set their own rules which can sharply limit availability.
The Imperium tolerates mayhem because it justifies taxation.
GypsyComet
SOC-14 1K
A MegaTraveller era article or two on starmercs and an NPC in that profession are what started the licensing idea of starmercs being different from groundpounders. Taken as a point of data, fielding the big guns as part of a planetary "defense" force is local sovereign right. Doing so in space requires convincing the *local* Imperial Navy command structure to let you roam around on a for hire basis. Convince the Navy that you aren't just a pirate, *by whatever process they require* and you are a fully capable starmerc outfit.
LeperColony
Traveller Card Game Dev Team
The Imperium is so large and information moves so slowly that I would think any kind of guild could only exercise any exclusionary authority (the heart of a guild's function) over localized and highly integrated environments.
kilemall
SOC-14 5K
That is my answer as well, licensing being effectively outsourced and not licensed or sanctioned by the Imperium, deniability and action against merc companies therefore having no barriers.
Very much the 'situation is fluid' ethos of the setting.
Which reminds me, should be a bond for performance to the contracting party too- can't see the bond companies missing an opportunity for profit coming AND going, and whatever government/corporate/rebel entity probably has twice the need to leave the planet if they lose.
"I'm from the Baldwin-Felts Agency, a private security contractor with offices on Wurzburg (LL = 0). Yes, we keep records of our business activities. I'm here to renew our status as accredited dealers in mayhem."
"Okay. Have fun."
I really don't see a complicated process here. A legitimate business keeps records of how much they're paid, for what purpose, and by whom. The Imperium is not in the business of restricting trade, and this is a form of trade.
I'm not kidding when I remark that mayhem justifies taxation. The official, glossy explanation for the Imperial Rules of War is that little wars provide a "safety valve"; a better explanation is that the Imperium needs violence to justify its Navy's existence.
Condottiere
SOC-14 5K
My take on it would be that beyond a certain size and power, you can't operate a mercenary organization interstallarly without a patron or a charter.
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With the Confederation, I arbitrarily set the limit at battalion.
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With the Confederation, I arbitrarily set the limit at battalion.
Timerover51
SOC-14 5K
With respect to a large-scale mercenary guild, given the communications lag in the Imperium, one does not exist. Planetary mercenary guilds do exist, covering registered mercenaries and mercenary units from the planet.
Also, in my universe, independent planets will rent out military units to other planets and groups if the pay is right and up front.
GypsyComet
SOC-14 1K
That might be all it takes in one Admiralty, but the next subsector over has had too many over-armed pirate reports, so that background check might be a bit more involved.
Condottiere
SOC-14 5K
You do want to know how reliable the people are that you're entrusting lifes and interests to.
Like armament companies, governments like to know that they have both the capacity to supply, and are unlikely to go bankrupt during the course of the contract.
Like armament companies, governments like to know that they have both the capacity to supply, and are unlikely to go bankrupt during the course of the contract.
