"Private military companies are best known for their bodyguard work. It's a big part of their business, but it's not the only part. For a big enough check, they'll rain hot lead down wherever you want. It's not work that attracts "service-with-a-smile" types."
— Burn Notice, "Breaking and Entering"
Also known as mercenaries (mercs for short), soldiers of fortune, and a dozen other names. These characters can have a wide range of personalities, some with honor, or codes, or limitations, and others who will kill anybody to get the job done. The only common thread is that whatever they're into, it's a job, and they're getting paid.
Tropes:
- Ambiguously Trained
- Army of Thieves and Whores
- Bantering Baddie Buddies
- Battle Butler
- Bodyguarding a Badass
- Bounty Hunter
- Bringing in the Expert
- Bumbling Henchmen Duo
- Cadre of Foreign Bodyguards
- Consummate Professional
- Corporate Samurai
- Evil Minions
- Former Regime Personnel
- From Camouflage to Criminal
- Hero Secret Service
- Hunter of Monsters
- Indispensable Scoundrel
- Knowledge Broker
- Law Enforcement, Inc.
- Legion of Lost Souls
- Lovable Rogue
- The Magnificent Seven Samurai
- Mysterious Mercenary Pursuer
- Ninja Maid
- The One with a Personal Life
- Only in It for the Money
- Price on Their Head
- Private Intelligence Agency
- Private Military Contractors
- Professional Killer
- Psycho for Hire
- Punch-Clock Hero
- Punch-Clock Villain
- Rogue Soldier
- Sociopathic Soldier