[Politics] Vonskar to Counter Tshombesha Mercenaries

Vonskar to Counter Tshombesha Mercenaries

In a shocking move of fighting fire with fire, the Vonskar Coalition has announced that their armies would not be taking part in the retaking of Tshombesha, but rather would be entrusting the mission to the Eclipse private military company. In an unusually terse statement devoid of the Coalition’s usual florid language, they noted that, “with our Army still recovering from its heroic struggle with the Reapers, the subduing of a renegade world is beneath its dignity. We have thus entrusted the securing of Tshombesha to the Eclipse Sisterhood.”

President Joseph Godefroid blasted back, declaring that the Coalition had by hiring the Eclipse proved “its inability to defend its borders on its own, its inability to guarantee its own internal security, all of this is magnificently shown by this immensely hypocritical decision.”

The Coalition did not immediately release a statement replying to Godefroid’s allegations, but the Eclipse released a statement saying that “they had every confidence in the Sixteenth and Twenty-Fourth Companies’ ability to restore law and order to Tshombesha.”

As with the Suns’ unit of choice, the Eclipse elements dispatched proved to be controversial picks---while both are blooded veteran outfits of the Reaper War, the commander of 16 Company is a known war criminal with a record for civilian casualties. If the Coalition was hoping to avoid controversy by hiring on the Eclipse, they have failed spectacularly in this endeavor.

Oh yeah that's smart. And when the enemy makes a better offer don't be too surprised when you find out the Eclipse are going after you. Although something must be said for two merc companies going at each other on the behest of their employers. If they both stay loyal one might just end up absorbing the other. My money is on the Eclipse either way.

I...No, no that's not how it works faceplate. At all. Merc companies that have a reputation for stabbing the guys who are bankrolling them in the fucking back the moment they get a better offer tend tend to die out pretty spiritsdamned quickly. And no matter who wins the other side isn't going to defect. Fucking hells, it would take more than that to get me to put on yellow armor and the Suns aren't fucking likely to offer the guys who lost a place in the company.


One: Fuck no. Two: based on what exactly, you sad excuse for a suit rat? Their numbers, their tactics, their commanders, you flipped a coin, because you like their fucking color scheme better?

You really don't know shit do you?

Why do people keep saying this? The Eclipse is a professional organization that knows how to run business. And one of the number one things you absolutely do not do (unless you are a psychopathic freelancer) is turn on your employers. That is bad business. It makes other potential customers wary of dealing with you and causes them to run to the competition instead.

We are not the shrelling Blood Pack.

and then the blood pack swoops in to complete the trio.

Mercenaries, where would we be without them?

My money's on the Blue Suns (if I was actually going to bet on this thing, which I'm not). The impression I've always had is that, with one or two exceptions, Eclipse looks like the most professional outfit, but the Suns have more of the real thing.

Would you look at that, more chronic misunderstanding of how professional outfits work. One would think their only experience with mercenaries was on the holo, which of course qualifies them to speak on the subject.

Oh wait.

At any rate, I for one am rather looking forward to going up against the Suns. It's been such a long time since I've faced a foe with some real fight in them. The Suns may be brutish thugs, but they've got more bite to them than the usual upstarts I have to destroy.

So, a unit more inclined to fire first and not ask questions at all versus one lead by a known war criminal with a record for civilian casualties.

Sounds like a great place for a vacation.

Well, for one, the Terminus would be even more lawless. Someone has to protect those colonies.

Yeah. Anyone who can afford you.

Because charities are just so good at that kind of shit.

Such ire.

Yes, because colony trained military regulars are so much cheaper and more dependable. And look at those outdated weapons they're sporting!

Also, not all merc outfits charge an arm and a leg for assisting colonies.

No matter what the colony militias are like regarding their military prowness, but they fight for a cause. To keep their families, their friends and their homes safe. If nothing else, that is what they'll fight for if it comes to it, not for their bank account.

They fight because it'd be fucking stupid for them not to, because there are raiders and warlords and nations out there that would eat them alive if they didn't. They don't do it because it's some glorious cause that they believe in, they fight to save their own damn skins, their own shit, and/or because (SURPRISE SURPRISE) they need the fucking money and the militia (or straight up military if it's one of the big ones) will take care of them.


That's a pretty huge thing to just ignore like that. But hey, I get you, who gives a fuck how good a militia is? All that matters is how nice and honorable they are!

I'm sure that'll be a huge comfort to the poor bastards when their colony's burning.

All you Suns reading this? Better bring your A game, boys, cause

You know what that means? We're coming for you. Eat your livers, sunny boys.

Fuck yeah they do. I mean, have you seen our ROE? (Except for Vesh, no you haven't. Heh.) First big op since the War, this shit's going to be glorious.

And would you look at that? Tides, I'm a celebrity now. Heh.

Hey, don't mind me, I could use the target practice. And all that bright yellow armor of yours makes it easier to line up my shots.

Friend Cornfield, perhaps if you were cunningly disseminating many italics into them (like credit chits in a snare for horse-legged suit people) then she would take interest.

ps I, Mega Holovid Superstar John Sackpresident, cannot lend my most premium endorsement to either side because it hell of grieves me when my friends at Cerberus fight each other :(

I think it would be noteworthy to mention that I was encouraged to join the Eclipse Sisterhood multiple times by their members. I turned them down, and there were days when I wasn't getting enough money from regular jobs, and I couldn't put food on the table. On those days, I regretted my decision. What could I have lost out of joining the eclipse? I would have fame, fortune, and glory. Then there are people like you who remind me of what I'm "missing". Murder, war crimes, and the general uncaring attitude for life.

Good luck out there Major. You'll need it.

Fighting for a cause isn't always all it's cracked up to be. If someone is killing me for money there's a chance I can make it worth their while to give up. If the chance of them dying is sufficiently high then no amount of money will induce them to kill me or if I can outbid the other person I have a shot. But there's no way that'll discourage someone who has a cause and wants to kill me. I'm not much of a fan of mercs but I prefer an amoral merc to an uncorruptable believer who thinks all humans must be eliminated. Besides, the mercs here are right that they're typically better armed and trained so when you need someone to defend you they're a better choice than most militias. Thus fighting for money can preserve a good cause better than believers can.

One could also make the argument that tying motivation to a specific cause can be a demerit- if the cause itself is compromised, no amount of encouragement, discipline or professionalism will induce them to keep fighting. We saw this happen on Palaven during the war, when it became apparent to certain turian contingents that their own colonies were to be sacrificed to keep the war going. Morale collapsed entirely!

Mercenaries, on the other hand, have no such vulnerability, since their only loyalty is to the credit and their own professional reputation (among the better outfits, like Eclipse and the Suns.) They will carry out every objective the contractee sets for them as long as they're being paid. But as soon as you can convince the militia of the futility of resistance- that it will only lead to the destruction of their families, friends and homes, and that they might conceivably better preserve these by not fighting at all, your militia is going to melt away to nothing overnight. Yokels they maybe, but colonists are just as capable as you and I of making rational calculations. They're not going to keep fighting once it's clear that doing so will only endanger the very thing they are trying to protect!