Mercenary

From Mass Effect Wiki

Mercenary bands operate throughout the Attican Traverse and the Terminus Systems. They are usually hired by criminal organisations that require "heavy muscle", or by individuals who want protection or assassination services. Sometimes euphemistically referring to themselves as 'private security organisations', mercenaries will commonly raid remote outposts or unprotected starships when unemployed.

Mercenaries hail from all races and backgrounds, though are most commonly turians, humans, batarians or krogan. Given that their occupation requires them to be efficient and capable, mercenaries tend to use superior weapons and armor, meaning their equipment is usually produced by a variety of manufacturers (unlike military forces, which prefer to select equipment from a single company). Mercenaries are usually found at their bases on remote worlds, or protecting their employer's investments or operations.

[edit] Mercenary Forces

• Mercenary. The standard mercenary, usually equipped with an assault rifle or a shotgun. They often have the ability to use Immunity. Krogan mercenaries regenerate their health particularly quickly.
• Mercenary Sniper. Mercenary Snipers take cover or wait in sniper towers, and line up for an Assassination shot; they are usually lightly armoured.
• Mercenary Anti-Tank. Some mercenaries carry a rocket launcher, and focus on the Mako.
• Mercenary Adept. Very occasionally, a biotic can be found amongst mercenary bands. Their use of Throw and Warp makes them dangerous, but they are not robust and only carry small arms.
• Mercenary Turret. Some mercenary bases are protected by turrets that fire rockets at intruders.

Spoiler warning: plot and / or ending details follow.

[edit] Notable Mercenaries

• Aleena - an asari commando turned mercenary.
• Blue Suns - a 'private security' firm hired by Edan Had'dah.
• Commander Vyrnnus - a turian biotic who fought in the First Contact War, later hired as an instructor at BAaT.
• Dahlia Dantius, the asari leader of a mercenary band in the Artemis Tau cluster.
• Eclipse - a major mercenary corporation active in the Terminus Systems
• The Grim Skulls - a minor and inexperienced mercenary band, mostly wiped out by Saren Arterius.
• Groto Ib-ba - batarian Blue Sun employee, killed by Saren.
• Grunt - known for being reckless, unpredictable and irrationally violent.
• Skarr - krogan battlemaster hired by Edan Had'dah.
• The Talons - a turian group based on Omega.
• Urdnot Wrex - famed battlemaster and mercenary, most recently hired by the Shadow Broker.