Type/Unit Level/Size: "Bounty Hunter Guild"/Private Military/Battalion and smaller
CO: Lady Marina Mantis
Base: Santarine
Mission: High-risk special operations
Affiliations: Independent
Zone of Operations: Sarin Sector, Outer Rim Territories
Success Rate/Threat: 85%/High
The "bounty hunter guild" known as the Mantis Syndicate is a private army/security force of special operatives, until recently under retainer to High Lord Jaris Affric. The Syndicate specializes in collecting bounties on groups of people and can field up to a partial battalion of bounty hunters. These hunters operate in small groups of four to eight.
Not particularly subtle, Mantis Syndicate operatives were frequently employed to capture or otherwise eliminate criminal organizations, pirate gangs, and Alliance units operating in Sarin Sector, especially those groups whose operations ran counter to Lord Affric's interests. As Affric controlled several corporate and criminal interests, had considerable hereditary holdings in Sarin sector, and was the Imperial governor of Santarine, there were quite a number of such groups, and Affric issued bounties in each guise.
Mantis also hired out small units, up to company size (three to five squads ??) for other bounties. The Mantis hunters were generally looked on by other guilds as a mercenary unit, but were tolerated as a guild with a specialty in acquiring large groups. The squads are made up of highly trained specialists, and resemble special operations units.
As the war in Sarin sector heated up, Mantis found itself being used for Affric's special military operations, both in special operations and in regular combat. During this period, it clashed with Churhee's Riflemen (in an attempt to capture Maydla Churhee), and against Alliance regular troops. When the war began to go badly, Affric began to accumulate debt to Mantis. This was only briefly tolerated, then Lady Mantis pulled her hunters out. Affric howled in protest, then cannily switched sides to the newly declared New Republic. Affric has lost a great deal of power and influence, but remains free.
Lady Mantis, deprived of much of her income, has been forced to hire Mantis hunters out much more widely than before, and for somewhat lower fees. The local New Republic sector government has hired Mantis hunters for certain jobs (including retrieval of wanted Imperials), and is satisfied with the guild's ability, professionalism and political disinterest. However, there is ample evidence that Lady Mantis' personnel are available for whomever has the money to pay for the services.
Projection: Lady Mantis is amoral and mercenary, and likely to hire her hunters out to whoever can pay her price. Lord Affric wasn't very concerned with legality, but Mantis will conform to her employer's wishes &mdash as long as the hunters are monitored, they will likely obey New Republic law.
Typical Mantis Syndicate Hunter. All stats 2D except: Blaster 4D+2, dodge 4D+1, grenade 4D, melee combat 4D+2, melee parry 3D+2, cultures 3D, streetwise 3D+2, survival3D+1, Perception 3D+1, investigation 4D+1, search 3D+2, sneak 4D, Strength 3D, brawling 4D, demolitions 2D+2, security 2D+1. Move 10. Blast vest (+1D physical, +1 energy), heavy blaster pistol (5D), blaster rifle (5D), hold-out blaster (3D), grenade (5D), vibroknife (STR + 3D).