Unit Description
Not all mercenary units are created equal.
In 3077, Dwayne Bishop, a former Outworlds Alliance officer turned treasure hunter returned from a supposedly fruitless LosTech search in the Periphery. Rumors persisted he'd found something however and a short time later he acquired a rundown dropship, the Huntress and filled it with a company of outdated mechs. Formed around the core of his treasure hunters, the Deuces Wild were soon taking small time contracts in the Periphery.
After a few low key contracts the Deuces first came to the spotlight while working for the Capellan Confederation. In a series of pitched battles, the outnumbered mercenaries defended the world of Ward from an incursion by the Taurian Concordat.
In the aftermath of the victory however, commander Bishop was hospitalized with a rare and difficult to treat illness. He was sidelined for nearly a full year, during which time the Deuces returned to obscurity in the Periphery.
Bishop’s return signaled a change in the small time, hard luck unit. In the past few years, the Deuces Wild, nicknamed the ‘Periphery Bad Boys’ and the ‘Fortunate Sons’, have fought for or against every major house in the Inner Sphere. They again gained notice during the fierce campaign on Ares, where they recaptured the world for the Federated Suns.
Never the most glamorous nor best equipped unit, the Deuces Wild gained a reputation as a haven for those with a questionable past. Always rough and tumble, usually just shy of bankrupt, they persisted through a combination of skill on the battlefield, ingenious salvaging and tech work and creative, if not always legal, side jobs.
The renegade reputation of the battalion was further reinforced in the wake of the Department of Mercenary Management's dissolution. DJ and his battalion opted to not join the new Mercenary Review and Bonding Commission, truly operating as independent agents until their retirement in 3090.
It seemed the days of the battalion were over and most of the unit settled down or signed on with other commands.
Then came a bombing in Merope that left DJ missing and presumed dead. Jason Tian, former lancemate to DJ, called what elements of the unit he could find and launched a rescue mission, dropping two lances of mechs onto a world moments from open rebellion.
By the time the mercenaries were ordered from the world, the insurrection was all but crushed and DJ was found. Though he'd survived and even fought during the incident in Merope, DJ opted to turn the mercenary unit over to Jason, promoting him to Major.
Now under new management, the Deuces Wild are back in action. Already a new generation of scoundrels and rogues with hearts of gold have signed on, ready to live down to the reputation DJ and his treasure hunters set twenty years ago.
The unit makes use of predominately older equipment, which is easier to maintain, scattered with a handful of upgraded machines. They have a small tech crew, but most of the maintenance is performed by the pilots and troopers themselves. The majority of mechs are jump capable, making the Deuces a highly mobile force. |
