In October 3067, a war began that unleashed horrors upon the Great Houses, atrocities thought abandoned with the First Succession War. And for the mercenaries of the Inner Sphere, this war has far-reaching consequences. With the heart and soul of the mercenary trade annihilated on Outreach, the reliability of every mercenary command is called into question. Some Houses now consider their most stalwart work-for-hire commands as enemies, and mercenaries, from the elite to the dregs, are fighting for their lives … and more importantly, their reputations.

Classic BattleTech Mercenaries Supplemental Update™ details the fallout of the opening years of the Jihad and its impact on mercenaries. This product updates all major mercenary commands currently embroiled in the Jihad, covers the various Hiring Halls, and provides details on brand- new mercenary commands springing up from the remains of commands shattered in the opening years of the Jihad. Mercenaries Supplemental includes rules for running mercenary commands during this era and a section describing newly premiered Sample file battlefield units.

©2006 WizKids, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Mercenaries Supplemental Update, Classic BattleTech, BattleTech, Classic BattleTech RPG, BattleMech, ’Mech, MechWarrior, and WK Games are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of WizKids, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Sample file MERCENARIES SUPPLEMENTAL UPDATE

TABLE OF CONTENTS Khasparov’s Knights 76 Killer Bees 77 PAYING DUES 4 Kirkpatrick’s invaders 78 INTRODUCTION 8 Knights of St. Cameron 79 MERCENARIES OF THE JIHAD 10 Kraken Unleashed 80 The Word’s Shell Game 10 The Krushers 81 Chaos Unleashed 10 Langendorf Lancers 82 Mercs Under Fire 13 Langford Wraiths 83 Crisis of Faith 16 Legion of the Rising Sun 84 Age of Uncertainty 19 Lethal Injection 85 FORCE BRIEFS UPDATES 23 Lexington Combat Group 86 The 48th 24 Lone Star Regiment 87 The Arcadians 25 Lone Wolves 88 Avanti’s Angels 26 Longwood’s Bluecoats 89 Bad Dream 27 Medusans 90 Bannockburn’s Bandits 28 Narhal’s Raiders 91 Barrett’s Fusiliers 29 O’Gordon’s Rifles 92 The Battle Corps 30 One-Eyed Jacks 93 Black Angus Boys 31 Pandora’s Box 94 Black Cats 32 Periphery Star Guard 95 Black Heart Roses 33 Prey’s Divisionals 96 Blackhearts 34 Raging Horde 97 Blackstone Highlanders 35 Raymond’s Redcoats 98 Blanc’s Coyotes 36 Redfield’s Renegades 99 Brion’s Legion 37 Reed’s Brew 100 Burr’s Black Cobras 38 Romanov’s Crusaders 101 Camacho’s Caballeros 39 Rubinsky’s Light horse 102 Canned Heat 40 Rubinsky’s Renegades 103 21st Centauri Lancers 41 Sathen’s Snipers 104 Chaos Irregulars 42 Screaming Eagles 105 Clean Kill 43 Simonson’s Cutthroats 106 Clifton’s Rangers 44 Skibinski’s Salvage 107 Crater Cobras 45 Snord’s Irregulars 108 Crimson Crusaders 46 Star Seeds 109 Cuningham’s Commandos 47 Summer’s Storm 110 Dante’s Detectives Sample48 Thor’s file Hammers 111 Devil’s Brigade 49 The Thumpers 112 Dioscuri 50 Tooth of Ymir 113 Dragonslayers 51 Vandelay’s Valkyries 114 Federated Freemen 52 Vanguard Legion 115 Fighting Intellectuals 53 12th Vegan Rangers 116 The Furies 54 Wannamaker’s Widowmakers 117 Golden Boys 55 Wilson’s Hussars 118 Gordon’s Armored Cavalry 56 Winfield’s Regiment 119 Grave Walkers 57 Wolf’s Dragoons 120 Green Machine 58 MERCENARY COMMANDS 121 Green Mountain Boys 59 MERCENARY RULES ANNEX 128 Greenburg’s Godzillas 60 New Creation/Operations Era: Jihad 129 Gregg’s Long Striders 61 Employers in the Jihad 129 Griffin’s Pride 62 New Employers 130 Group W 63 New Mission Type: Bounty Hunting 131 Hampton’s Hessens 64 Dependents 132 Hansen’s Roughriders 65 Housing and Base-Building 133 Harcourt’s Destructors 66 Replacement Equipment Expansions 137 Harlock’s warriors 67 Selling Out 141 Head Hunters68Miscellaneous Personnel Rules 142 Heart of Blake 69 NEW UNITS 144 HeavyHell Raisers 70 Crow scout VTOL 144 Hell’s Black Aces 71 Saxon APC 145 Hsien Hotheads 72 O-66 “Oppie” Hazmat Recovery Vehicle 147 Illician Lancers 73 V4-lNT-K7 Valiant 148 Jacob’s Juggernauts 74 HYN-4A Hyena SalvageMech 150 Kell Hounds 75 Aurora-class DropShip 152 RECORD SHEETS 154

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Writing Special Thanks Herbert A. Beas II To the writers, playtesters, fact-checkers, and fans—as always. Paying Dues To Randall Bills for letting me have just one more Mercs book. I Nick “Gunslinger” Marsala would also like to thank the following on-line personalities who answered the call for rules expansion ideas: “97jedi”, “Adept Additional Writing: Mercenary Force Briefs Dave Baughman”, “Aezar”, “Alain Dumont”, “aser”, “Boilerman”, Randall N. Bills “Boxcars”, “Brainburner”, “Cypher226”, “drae”, “Goose”, “GRUD”, Loren L. Coleman “Hoover28”, “HunterADA”, “Impaler”, “Jal Phoenix”, “jeyar”, “Khan Warner Doles Mallan”, “klingon”, “Kojak”, “munniec”, “PurpleDragon”, Chris Hartford “Sellsword”, “shipmonkey”, “sitTinG dUck”, “Takiro”, Ken’ Horner “TeamNutmeg”, “Wendelboe”, and “Werewolf”. Even if the ideas Kevin Killiany weren’t used, thanks to you guys for providing the input when Camille Klein asked—especially those of you who actually made it one of the Nick “Gunslinger” Marsala only post or two you ever did… David L. McCulloch As always, a huge thanks to the “home support” team: the Ben Rome ever-distracting Rebecca “Beckie” Beas, and the Herblet Four Paul Sjardijn (Annie, Oscar, Merlin, and Meggie) David Stansel-Garner Finally to the proof checkers: Rich Cencarik, Jeff Morgan, Christoffer “Bones” Trossen Patrick Wynne Øystein Tvedten Phaedra Weldon Playtesters and Fact-Checkers Andreas Zuber Brian Alter, Raymond Arrastia, Daniel M. Ball, Ron “Steel Rules Annex Hawke” Barter, Dave Baughman, Paul “Blackhorse” Bowman, Herbert A. Beas II Rich Cencarik, Brent Dill, Bruce Ford, Aaron Gregory, John Ken’ Horner “Worktroll” Haward, John “Bluesman” Hudson, Peter La Casse, David L. McCulloch Rodney Klatt, Edward “TenakaFurey” Lafferty, Edward Lott, Mike Ben Rome Miller, Darrell “Flailing Death” Myers, Louis “Nukeloader” Myers, Nathaniel Olsen, Aaron Pollyea, “Medron Pryde”, Rick Raisley, K. Product Development Searls, Joel Steverson, Rob Strathmann, Geoff Swift, Bruce “Tel Herbert A. Beas II Hazen” Terren, Roland “Ruger” Thigpen, Chris “Chinless” Wheeler, Charles “IronSphinx” Wilson Product Editing Jason Hardy Sample©2006 file WizKids Inc. All Rights Reserved. Mercenaries Supplemental Update, Classic BattleTech, BattleTech, ’Mech, BattleTech Line Developer BattleMech, Classic BattleTech RPG, AeroTech 2, BattleForce 2 Randall N. Bills and WK Games are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of WizKids, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. No part Production Staff of this work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or Art Direction transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior per- Randall N. Bills mission in writing of the Copyright Owner, nor be otherwise cir- Cover Art culated in any form other than that in which it is published. Michael Komarck Version 1.0 (June 2006). Cover Design Michaela Eaves Published by FanPro LLC • 1608 N. Milwaukee • Suite 1005 • Layout Chicago, IL 60647 Michaela Eaves Illustrations Find us online: Robert Atkinson [email protected] (e-mail address for Brent Dill any Classic BattleTech questions) Chris Lewis http://www.classicbattletech.com (official Classic BattleTech web pages) http://www.fanpro.com (FanPro web pages) http://www.wizkidsgames.com/mechwarrior/ (official MechWarrior web pages) http://www.wizkidsgames.com (WizKids web pages) http://www.studio2publishing.com (online ordering, sales and distribution)

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MERCENARIES SUPPLEMENTAL UPDATE

PAYING DUES

Over Franco City worked too well; soon Blakist interceptors were swarming his Liao, Capellan Confederation fighters as they made their attack runs. 2 November 3069 Desperate to keep the pressure up since the ships first appeared on airspace radar, Hohiru started rotating his wings. Perspiration seeped into one of his eyes, stinging it shut Two would engage in space—and, later, in the air—while the third while his bones and muscles cramped up from the punishment would return for a fast refuel and reload. But now, so close above of so many high-gee maneuvers over the last five hours. His the city, the massive air battle crisscrossed the skies with an mouth was dry and tasted of bile, but Colonel Hohiru Tanaga intense pattern of laser bolts, tracers, and missile streaks—so pushed on.This was the apocalypse so far as he was concerned, close, so bloody, that soon his fighters were launching with less but as he squeezed his trigger—sending a dozen missiles than their full loads. All just to keep the tide from turning. The last screaming into a bone-white Zero with a magnificent explosion— line of defense. he realized that he’d stopped caring a long time ago. Yet despite the weariness, despite the heat, despite the pain Thank the heavens for Streaks, he thought, or I’d be running and the stress, Hohiru was home. Inside his sweat-soaked flight on pulses by now. It was his third launch into the same battle suit, encased in a venerable Slayer, he felt more at ease than he today. In the last reload cycle, he had passed on ammunition for ever could on the ground. To him, “Ronin” was sanctuary, the only an extra ton of fuel. Given a missile system designed for ammo one he ever knew. Ronin had been his father’s fighter; and before conservation, he was thankful for his choice. that, his grandfather’s. Passing down BattleMechs and aerospace Despite three sorties, the Blakist fleet had managed to form fighters was a dying tradition nowadays; the last twenty years of an orbital perimeter around the remaining troop transports and advanced production and new and improved designs made sure began to hot-drop their BattleMechs into the spaceport, aiming of that. But Hohiru could not bear to part with Ronin; an upgrade at a beachhead. Their initial thrust against the perimeter had with captured Clan technology was one thing—but accepting one been handily repulsed by Tanaga’s Black Aces, leaving only the of their captured OmniFighters was treason to his heritage. falling ’Mechs for his pilots to concentrate on. The adjustment With a happy bleep, Hohiru’s targeting console picked up a new target, a blinking red dot at twelve o’clock, and he allowed

We got cocky. All of us did. And this was our judgment for it. Our dues, payable upon receipt, payable in blood. No exceptions. Sure, we always talk about having paid our dues to get where we are, but nobodySample ever realizes thatfile we only count from where we started, that we never count all we’d done after we got here. None of us have, not even the best of us. How could we? At a certain point, perhaps after the Fourth War, it became fashionable to be a mercenary. It became cool. Everyone and their mother started up an outfit. CEOs, nobles, movie stars—they all thought it was a shortcut to having it all. Hell, I heard even some of those Clanner toads, the “trueborn” two-point-five-meter-tall mountains of flesh, started up a unit. Imagine that—those who used to call us scum of the universe, lower than the dog shit on the bottom of their boots. Those who used to brag about their genetic heritage, their rituals, their caste system, all so much better than anything we could ever aspire to. Even they want- ed in on the merc action. And in all of the glory and the merc-bunnies, the Inner Sphere just kind of forgot what most of us really are: hired guns who care more about themselves than some abstract principle. How easy it was for us to ignore when we got free dinners at the promi- nent restaurants. Doesn’t matter if the merc’s an A-rated regiment, or if they’re a level-D company of ex-cons on the lam from another House—if the unit name or patch gets known, the guns go to the head of the line. It finally took those damn Blakists to show everyone what we really are at our core. They threw some money around, and look at how many units jumped on their bandwagon. Where the hell are those high-and-mighty Northwind Highlanders now? Yeah, they may claim blockade, but did they call us or the Medusans to come help break it so they can get into the fight? Oh, no! They sit there in the comfort of their homeworld, probably counting the interest they earned from some Blakey’s hush funds while Outreach burned. Hell, and Outreach! I lost count how many of those supposed “Allied” Merc Command units and wannabes switched sides once the shooting started in Harlech. Nobody should have been surprised. Wave a few bills in front of us, and we’ll all dance the puppet dance we rehearse so well for you, mouth your arguments, pretend we care about your little crusade. All just to get our grubby hands on a sweaty wad of cash. Even those who aren’t working for the Blakists are showing just how dirty they can be by jumping borders, switching sides; I even heard some guys even started throwing nukes back at some Periphery guerrillas. Yes, it was a matter of time before our illusion of nobility was shattered. Only a matter of time before we all had to pay up. —From the personal journal of Colonel Hohiru “Great Wyrm” Tanaga, 18 August 3069

4 PAYING DUES

himself a predatory grin. Another Blakie ’Mech cocoon streaking boisterous chatter from earlier worn away by four hours of con- into the atmosphere. Even with Blakist fighters sweeping that stant fighting. Over the din, the cautionary buzz of his low-fuel particular swath of sky, the temptation was too great to pass up. warning was harder to ignore. Hohiru frowned. Hohiru climbed upward and opened up his throttle to close faster. Need to land soon, but not without relief. The cocoon fragmented before he could get within range, flakes “Dark Wing,” he barked, willing his voice not to crack, “report! of glowing We need you up ceramic peeling here!” away, trying to Hohiru silently confuse him, and prayed for a revealing the response, even if it humanoid was bad news. At Wyvern within. least then he’d know Bent over as it someone was still descended, its around. upper torso “Sorry, Ace Actual,” weight balanced Major Windgate’s out the jump jets’ voice finally crackled tendency to flip back. “A white whale the machine onto dropped a load on us its back. But and wrecked the unfortunately for take-offs. We’re the MechWarrior diverting to another within, the profile strip, but it’s adding made him easy time. ETA five min- prey for Hohiru’s utes.” Slayer. Thumbing Five minutes and the triggers, he I’ll be a glider, Hohiru sliced easily into thought. the ’Mech’s torso “Hell, Dodge is with the energy way too hot. We can’t darts of his pulse keep this up forever lasers. The Ace Actual.” Captain Blakist Sample file Bai called out, as if MechWarrior reading his mind. struggled to keep One of the older his bulky members, Bai was machine bal- part of the small anced, demon- group who resisted strating his skill the call to return to simply by main- the CCAF. “We need taining control. to pull out; every sec- But when Hohiru added in a volley of Clan medium lasers and tion of armor on my bird is stripped and I’m leaking fuel like a missiles, the Wyvern finally toppled in mid-air, flipping end over sieve. Requesting order for Clause Black.” Silence suddenly fell end as it plummeted, flailing, to the ground. heavy all around like a dead weight, eerie in its own way. Save An angry alarm wailed at Hohiru as he short past the for a few emergency calls, the entire channel had become quiet, Wyvern’s trail of smoke, warning of multiple target locks. On the awaiting Hohiru’s response. display, he caught the motion on his six; two Blakie fighters, Clause Black. The emergency clause in all their contracts eager to avenge the fallen groundpounder. Hohiru grunted; a where the Hell’s Black Aces could decide to retreat not only from lucky shot had taken out his wingman during a strafing run over the skirmish, but from the system as a whole. And all responsi- an hour ago. There was no one to cover him now. bility. All Aces knew about Black. If broadcast now, their war Hohiru slammed his throttle all the way, pouring on the would be done; they would grab all they could, bug out to the speed to get some distance as hostile tracers and the pulse of transports, immediately abandon Liao and live to fight another laser bolts flew past his canopy. Fearing a trap, the Blakists gave day. Clause Black was the ultimate admission that they were up the chase as he tore away from the drop zone. Hohiru beaten. released a sigh of relief, then mulled his options. How easy it would be to leave now, Hohiru thought to him- Turning Ronin around, Hohiru swung back toward the battle. self. No one could blame us, or even stop us. The birds in the air The radio chatter was a low drone now of clipped commands, the should have enough fuel to cover the airstrip while the Droppers

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