Re: Mercs

Bertil Jonell [email removed] writes:

> Adrian Hurt writes:
> > As far as the Imperium is concerned, none.  The planets in question look after
> > their own defence.  If the "Rules of War" are broken, the Imperium intervenes.
>
>   My question then is: Why does not every criminal organize their jobs as
> tickets, and take advantage of the *repatriation bonds*? Since defeated mercs
> are allowed free passage off planet, one would assume that captured criminals
> would jump on that opportunity!

First, the criminals would have to find someone to hire them and supply the
ticket.  Second, there is no such thing as a "legitimate" ticket - officially,
the Imperium does not allow warfare within its borders.  In practise, the
Imperium can't prevent it, and will turn a blind eye as long as things don't
get out of hand.  But if the Imperium does intervene, a repatriation bond
won't help the mercs - if it's Imperium vs repatriation bond, the Imperium
wins.

Also, remember what a repatriation bond is - a sum of money, held by some
responsible party (e.g. megacorporation, large bank, etc.) to provide the
mercs with a way out if they get stranded.  The employer must find a
reponsible party who will handle the bond, and that party is going to want
to examine the ticket.  Banks are hardly likely to support a bunch of
commandos on a bank-robbing job (unless, of course, it's a rival bank :-)
and neither banks or megacorps are likely to take an interest in a small
outfit like Hickok's 4 commandos.  They also won't want to antagonise the
Imperium, or the governments of worlds they may want to do business with.
Remember, _responsible_ party - they don't get that reputation by dealing
with any bunch of criminals.

- --
 "Keyboard?  How quaint!" - M. Scott

 Adrian Hurt			     |	JANET:  [email removed]
 UUCP: ..!ukc!cs.hw.ac.uk!adrian     |  ARPA:   [email removed]