The Mercenary Review and Bonding Commission, an overview (part 2)

While serving the Mercenary trade, the revised, Republic-lead MRBC had also served to weaken the power and influence that the mercenaries held. This, combined with the shrinking size of commands (the multi-regiment commands of the pre-Jihad era being all but extinct) and more commands becoming inactive then new ones registering, had lead to a winnowing of the mercenary trade itself. By 3130, the mercenary trade was at its weakest ebb since the Third Succession war, an objective that the Republic of the Sphere had deliberately worked towards.

The Periphery powers had gotten around their lack of representation by using Herotitus as their main hiring hall. While not controlled by the MRBC, the generally poor quality of the units based there, as well as the limited technology and economies of the Periphery, served as a brake on those commands. The result was again a weakening of their influence, as well as limiting their capabilities. The sole exception to this was the Magestry of Canopus, who would often use the Capellan Confederation as a go-between for hiring units.

Grey Monday and its aftermath, however, destroyed this new stability a number of ways. Almost overnight, innumerable new commands sprang up out of nowhere, registering with the MRBC. While many of these units were dubious at best, often made up of converted InsustrialMechs or infantry, their numbers swelled the depleted ranks of MRBC. Many existing commands also expanded as a response to the growing chaos and uncertainty within the Republic. The rate at which this happened was dramatic; in 3132, many Mercenary Commands boasted a single lance of BattleMechs. A mere five years later, even bottom-tier commands were boasting multiple BattleMech companies.

The Mercenary Review and Bonding Commission, an overview (part 1)

From Mercenaries in the 32nd Century, Galatea Free Press

With breach of contract being a regrettably common (almost inevitable) part of the mercenary trade, the need for a Board of Inquiry to handle such affairs was an obvious necessity. When Wolfs’ Dragoons created the Mercenary Review and Bonding Commission, such a body was created in order to handle such affairs. As originally created, the MRBC Board consisted of eight members; a representative from each of the great houses, as well as ones from the Free Rasalhauge Republic, ComStar and Wolfs’ Dragoons, the latter representing the mercenary trade while also serving as a chair of the board. Between the MRBC’s founding and the dawn of the Jihad, this final position was held solely by Jamie Wolf

An actual commission inquiry panel had four members. Two were drawn from the great houses, as well as one each from ComStar and Wolf’s Dragoons. Neither the employing house, nor any other house that may have been involved in the dispute, could serve as representatives on the panel. Additionally, the unit under review has the right to veto and replace one of the panel members if they feel that member may exhibit undue prejudice against them. The sole exception was the Wolfs’ Dragoons representative, who was to be present for all hearings in their function as chair.

For example, in McKinnon’s Marauders vs ComStar, the Marauders were hired by ComStar. The unit was accused of breaching contract and crimes against humanity (In this case, destroying a HPG on Brerenson in the Free Worlds League) by ComStar. As such, there were no ComStar or Free Worlds’ League representatives on the Inquiry Panel.