MERCS

As RUBICORE develops public support and PROJECT systematically assaults their resources, an enigmatic organisation known only as the **MERCS** (Mercenary Elite Reconnaissance and Combat Specialists) emerges and thrives in their unusual brand of warfare. These elite operatives are a force to be reckoned with, working outside the realms of traditional combat. The MERCS negotiate the dangerous world of global intrigue and danger with their specialised skills, cutting-edge technology, and unflinching resolve.

During the events of *Lost Light*, MERCS inevitably divided after the Gucci Intermittent defeated them. This resulted in the formation of the OCTO Coalition and NONA corporation, the mercenaries picking sides and turning against each other as a result.

After the disastrous operation to take the down the agency once and for all, the group disbanded and soon divided in two sides. In their division, the two groups soon discover that the "bright" agency is FAR more evil than anticipated, the Drashktarr.

Despite their disbandment, MERCS has a long lasting impact.

## History

### Origins

RUBICORE founded MERCS after PROJECT exploited them by attacking their primary vehicle manufacturers. As a result, their first member was Lockdown, who was dispatched alone to neutralise megacorp forces to disable their threats while continuing vehicle production. Following that, the group becomes a specialised unit of the RUBICORE forces, acting as a counterpart to the Gucci Intermittent. It didn't take long for them to grow, but the unit is known for its small roster, emphasising their specialised skill over quantity.

It has been confirmed that they fought throughout the *PROJECT-G/NEX War*, tasked with protecting all territories of allied forces, whilst neutralising enemy territories, particularly PROJECT themselves.

### PROJECT-G/NEX War

MERCS have been pivotal in keeping RUBICORE in their apex as they do everything to protect the military's vehicle manufacturers to keep their firepower at peak. Notably, Lockdown was the most recognised member, and known for his straightforward approach compared to the rest of the mercenaries, whom are specialised in various fields and weaponry. They also helped the feeble, numerous G/NEX rebels that strive to follow the footsteps of their superiors as they slowly progress to victory.

### Bygone: The Uprising

MERCS have done some minor work throughout the war, preventing the Corporate Renegades from taking over lesser known countries, as they have concluded that mercenaries should sometimes become true heroes in order to get respect and earn the fear of their enemies. However, they later caught the attention of the Gucci Intermittent, which in return, someone has soft launched a proxy war between the two factions. As a result, they have secretly fought in uncharted territories.

This would soon involve OMAR-CONSTRUCT and cause an entire incident known as "Lost Light".

### Lost Light

#### MERCS v GI

According to Monark and Seven, the Gucci Intermittent has evolved into a formidable corporation in its own right, having travelled the globe to create its "virtual" battles and establishing multiple headquarters next to the arenas. Both snipers targeted a big number of agents in order to thin them out and prevent the GIs from discovering their existence on the deserted lands of Masada. As a result, they later dispatched the rest of the mercenaries to accompany their snipers, only to withdraw, with the exception of Monark and Seven, when they realised they had stumbled across Masada, Veil's homeland. Some were nearly killed by the sandstorm caused by the same powerful woman.

After the incident, MERCS was identified and all retreated from Masada. Seven was also a prime target due to her failed assassination of Veil.

#### The Division

The Gucci Intermittent then proceeds to divide MERCS through their tactical manipulation, causing them to lose their battle against the agency, and turning their own mercenaries against each other. OMAR-CONSTRUCT later vouched for the group to protect them, as they are subject to being a threat in the GI agency, to which they provided them protection as the GI continues to create virtual battlefields for simulated combat to test their skills, which means, no one actually dies in the proxy wars as it is basically a realistic video game.

The **MERCS** had assaulted the main office, and Nemesis was giving them instructions on how to deal with them. Monark then exerts his authority over them, shooting the remaining clones with his pistol as the agents simply aim their rifles at him, waiting for the command to fire. The mercenaries then rallied around him, demonstrating clearly that the adversary is outmatched right in their headquarters. The enigmatic commander shrugged and fired an EMP to disable their suits, but Tackleman took advantage of the chance to build a Shield Dome to defend themselves from the agents' gunfire.

However, Coldcast freezes them after the shield, allowing the agents to have their own advantage. Fortunately, Seven threw a tracking knife to the ground at the wall, which perfectly tracks their position. Monark then faces Nemesis, only for the fight to end in a stalemate as Veil used the Starcore to defeat them, sending the mercenaries into a retreat. Everyone has escaped with some injuries, but Seven was left behind. She was declared KIA as the group now suffers from its downfall.

## Downfall

Due to the catastrophic failure of their grand operation, MERCS began to suffer from a failing command structure. As a result, MERCS contractors began pulling from their active contracts, subsequently abandoning their posts in the process. One notable pull-out was a MERCS security detail at the Mt. Kessler Observatory in Kilgrove, leaving the facility open for a Drashktarr assault and forcing a squadron of Panamoan soldiers to establish it as their own base under MERCS' request, but has made an agreement to them to avoid interfering in their conflict against the Drashktarr, deciding to fight them in their games, knowing that they do have the element of surprise, but they soon disbanded and their ultimate goal left in a state of unknown.

It is clear that after the  *PROJECT-G/NEX War*, the once-united MERCS (Mercenary Elite Reconnaissance and Combat Specialists) found themselves at a crossroads. The tide of global conflict had shifted, and the trend of mercenary warfare was on the rise. It was this changing landscape and a failed offensive against the Gucci Intermittent that ultimately led to the division of the MERCS into two distinct entities: OCTO, a formidable mercenary group, and NONA, a powerful private military corporation.

As these two factions emerged, their rivalry ignited. Both OCTO and NONA, born from the same crucible of combat expertise, now compete fiercely in wargames and shadowy operations. The competitiveness between them knows no bounds, as they vie for supremacy in a world where mercenaries hold the balance of power.

Tensions will ONLY escalate.

## Structure

MERCS (Mercenary Elite Reconnaissance and Combat Specialists) evolved over time from its initial formation as a specialized group under the umbrella of RUBICORE into an independent and formidable force in its own right.

MERCS was initially assembled by RUBICORE to address a specific threat posed by PROJECT, targeting RUBICORE's manufacturing facilities and vehicles. Composed of highly skilled mercenaries, their primary objective was to serve as a deterrent and counterforce against PROJECT's actions. They were tasked with protecting RUBICORE's interests and assets through unconventional warfare tactics and advanced technology.

The "Lost Light" war marked a significant turning point for MERCS. The division within the group led to its eventual disbandment. As a result, two distinct entities emerged from the remnants of MERCS: OCTO (Orion Combat Tactical Ordinance) and NONA (NEXUS Operatives for Neutralizing Adversaries).

* **OCTO - Chaos and Unpredictability**: OCTO embraced chaos and unpredictability as their guiding principles. They became known for their unorthodox tactics and a willingness to introduce mayhem into any conflict. However, their real-world combat operations were limited at the time of their formation.

* **NONA - Precision and Order**: In contrast, NONA valued precision and order in their approach. They established a proven combat record outside of simulated wargames, showcasing their ability to neutralize adversaries with a calculated and methodical approach. NONA's combat experience and focus on real-world missions set them apart.

Following the disbandment of MERCS, NONA transformed into a privately funded and fully independent private military corporation. Their headquarters found a welcoming home in the city of Nanopolis, located in the country of Roji. Here, they continued to expand their operations and resources, gaining a reputation for providing security, stability, and expert military services to clients worldwide.

In conclusion, MERCS' journey from its formation as a specialized unit to its transformation into independent entities OCTO and NONA reflects its resilience and adaptability in the ever-changing landscape of mercenaries and private military contractors. While OCTO and NONA may have inherited some of MERCS' legacy, they have also evolved and carved out their own distinct identities and operational philosophies.

### Members

MERCS has a total of eleven (secretly twelve, Big Joe) including mercenaries, all of which suffered no casualties at all since the *PROJECT-G/NEX War*. In *Lost Light* however, the mercenaries were evenly spilt into two separate teams, OCTO and NONA. Oddly, the latter became instantly militarised and housed a secret city in Roji that serves as their base of operations.

#### OCTO

* Monark
* Sarge
* SW1FT
* Tackle
* Shinobi
* Boxhead
* Crimson Punisher
* Kitty
* Boxhead

#### NONA

* Ironhead
* Rose Slinger
* Seven
* Blaze
* Hound
* Chapka
* Kulto
* Ghost
* Khan

#### Independent Contractor

In the rise of OCTO and NONA, Lockdown's approach to his work became even more pronounced. He, alongside another lesser-known mercenary named Big Joe, sought contracts from the highest bidders, prioritizing monetary gain over allegiance to any particular faction or cause. This pragmatic outlook made Lockdown a sought-after asset in the world of mercenaries, as clients valued his unwavering dedication to completing contracts and securing his pay.

* Lockdown
* Big Joe

## Trivia

### General

* MERCS consists of skilled mercenaries with a unique skillset, gear, weaponry and equipment. This allows their unique special skills to be used when the job demands it.
* Lockdown is an independent contractor, evidenced by his neutrality over *Lost Light*.
* Doombuck was a failed PROJECT recruit.
* It is confirmed Seven had numerous cybernetics stolen from the megacorporation, she used it to restore someone else, that soon became Boxhead after MERCS was unsuccessful on their use of cybernetic parts. As a result, this inevitably dragged MERCS into the war against PROJECT, occasionally fighting them in terms of taking control of territories.
* Crimson Punisher uses a modified version of the MK160 rifle. Courtesy of CTH Armaments.
* Seven is clearly alive, despite being deemed as "KIA" before the group's disbandment.

### Developmental Notes

* MERCS was created in lieu of COALESCENCE having armed mercenaries.
* Lockdown was the first character created to jumpstart the faction.
* Monark was originally written as the leader.
* MERCS was supposedly enigmatic, but was later chosen to be heroic.
* It is clear that MERCS did not abide with the *Future Weapons Withdrawal Act*. They can only employ cutting-edge weaponry because of a contract with the company that sponsors them, CTH Armaments.
* MERCS' character designs clearly reflect their culture as gun-for-hire mercenaries, with every operative looking distinct, and sporting varied personalities. This also reflects their weapons and mannerisms, which they all made them stand out from one another.
* Every member is distinct. Most of them have varied nationalities and ethnicities.
* Only 40% of MERCS operatives are Panamoan. The rest are varied.
* OCTO has the Watchtower, while NONA has Nanopolis HQ. These are their respective headquarters.