The Lancers ambushed and defeated in detail the merc contingent of the Red Duke's strike force. Their leader, Colonel Arkham Stone, was captured, injured but alive, as were a number of mechwarriors. Takari promised them safe and free passage back to the IS, and even offered to hire any man who would pass the BWL muster.

The mercs were made up of four companies that had fallen on hard times, and been forces to seek employment outside the MRB. They included:

Blue Tigers: Once a fairly successful company, the Blue Tigers almost reached regimental size twenty years ago, before dwindling into obscurity and bankruptcy. it wasn't so much a fall as a slow, wasting illness.

Willard's Marauders: This company was made up of former AFFS servicemen. Served for about a decade in Davion employ, guarding unimportant worlds along the Taurian border. Dismissed after they were found to be dealing with pirates. Banned by the MRB, they went into the Periphery in search of work.

Killson Company: The most famous of the four, the Killson Company was once an elite unit, made up mostly of men with experience from the Solaris arenas. They erned fame and fortune in some truly daring raids back in their heyday. It's been nearly ten years since their last contract, so they were pretty much assumed to be nonexistent at this point.

Argus Irregulars: Comprised mostly of Terrans, the Argus Irregulars tired to employ combined arms tactics. They would have been more successful if they hadn't tried to do so with far too few and too light mechs. Took several MRB black marks for being understrength during (the board was probably tipped of, as they rarely launch investigations without good intel).

GM notes: Feel free to make up some mechwarriors with backgrounds from these 4 extinct merc companies.