Wednesday 11 July 2018

Summersun Mercenaries 01

In this post I'm showcasing four mercenary figures who belong to the Summersun Mercenary Co-op, who operate out of Summer IV (Summer) in the Byte starsector. This organisation was originally detailed in GURPS Space Atlas  Volume 1. They were briefly mentioned in my first The Ace of Spades Campaign scenario - Raid on Stirling.
Summer is the headquarters and base planet of the Summersun Mercenary Co-op, the most prominent mercenary company in the Old Frontiers and surrounding starsectors. The entire population of Summer is made up of combat troops, support personnel or dependents. However, well over two million of those "support personnel" are not military at all, but farmers employed by the various mercenary units. And several of the larger units are building up their own arms industry. Thus, the planetary economy is becoming increasingly self-sufficient.
Summersun mercenaries are widely employed throughout the Old Frontiers, serving as corporate security forces on several worlds, including Bollux and Byte, as well as in other private capacities. The Co-op, partly because of its "understanding" with the stellar authorities and largely because of the quality and efficiency of its units, has a virtual monopoly on mercenary services in the sector and many other sectors as well.
Summersun is ruled by the Co-op Council, composed of the commanding officers (or, more often, their representatives) of the mercenary units. Only a couple of dozen units are large enough to be represented on the Council, but there are hundreds of smaller units, whose leaders vote on a single Council representative. The Co-op is currently able to field more troops than many planetary defence forces. Although the majority of Summersun mercenaries are human, several regiments are either mixed human/alien or all-alien in nature, giving the Co-op a wider range of conditions under which it can successfully field troops. Many of the aliens, by their natures, make excellent special-duty troops.
Infantry, mechanised, air-support or ocean-going units can be provided by the Co-op for nearly any condition. Several hostile environment training facilities have been leased on other worlds, so the Summersun units are experienced in a wide variety of environments. Also, the mercs have their own system defence naval force that can be contracted out and that protects Summer itself.
Wherever there is a demand for trained fighting men anywhere in the Old Frontiers or its surroundings, the Summersun mercenaries are ready for action. Although there are a number of different units within the Summersun Co-op, all nominally independent, the Co-op Council considers each hiring offer. Under no circumstances will Summersun enter both sides of the same conflict.
At the far left is Lieutenant Jaren Leveridge, leader of Leveridge's Leathernecks. He is armed with a 12mm Slugger Rifle, two Frag Grenades and a Knife (kept in a boot sheath). He is wearing Vector Armour-Piercing Resistant Body Armour Mk.2 and Helmet with Blast Shield. His unit is just a small force but has a good combat record. Leveridge was born on Summer to parents who were also mercenaries. He is fascinated by military history, particularly the first three Interstellar Wars. His figure is an old OOP Grenadier Miniatures Shadowrun Mercenary.
Next to him is Private First Class Hollis Vanstone who always looks for the worst in people. He is armed with a 10mm Slugger Rifle and a Knife. He wears the same armour as Lieutenant Leveridge. His figure is another OOP figure, this time a Ral Partha Miniatures Shadowrun Mercenary.
Third in line is Private First Class Radnor Aspell who is afraid of insects. He is also armed with a 10mm Slugger Rifle and Knife. His figure is also a Ral Partha Shadowrun Mercenary. The two figures were sold together in a blister pack.
At the far right is Corporal Verrel Siddons who is a sniper for the unit. He does not have a sense of humour. He is armed with a Ballistic Sniper Rifle with Scope-sight and a Knife. He also wears the same armour as his colleagues but has replaced his helmet with a baseball cap, which offers no protection at all. His figure is really old. I think, but am not 100% sure, that he was produced by Asgard Miniatures. If you recognise him please let me know and I'll amend this post accordingly. I converted him by adding his armoured vest, shoulder pads and boot knife, all made out of Milliput.

10 comments:

  1. Fantastic camo pattern on the figures Bryan, the company names are a blast from the past, Grenadier, Ral Partha and Asgard. I think I've still got some of the first two companies work but don't have anything by Asgard. Great work as always

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    1. Many thanks indeed, Dave. Yes, those names are a real blast from the past, all of whom produced some superb figures.

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  2. Fabulous looking group of mercs that at first glance look as though they're all from the same range!
    Great job on tying them together Bryan, especially with the mods to Cpl Siddons and the brushwork on them all :-)
    Love the camo pattern too btw!

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    1. Very much appreciated, Greg. It is amazing how similar the Grenadier and Ral Partha figures look. I suspect they were based on the same source material from the "Shadowrun" rulebook, which would make sense. The camo pattern was inspired by one used by American forces in the Vietnam War.

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  3. Well they are undoubtedly eye-catching minis, Bryan. Elegant sculpts and a first-rate campo paint-job. Hopefully we’ll be seeing them on the tabletop soon - and wouldn’t look out of place in a “Judge Dredd” or even “Necromunda” AAR.

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    1. Cheers, Simon. I totally agree with you about "Judge Dredd" where they'd make great Citi-Def troops. "Necromunda" possibly but certainly GW's upcoming "Kill Team" which I will admit, I do like the look of.

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  4. Lovely brushwork on the camo dude.

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  5. As dGG said you've made a good job of the cameo.

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