"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
- Assassins Are Always Betrayed
- Battle Butler
- Bounty Hunter
- Bringing in the Expert
- Bumbling Henchmen Duo
- Cadre of Foreign Bodyguards
- Carnival of Killers
- Consummate Professional
- Contract on the Hitman
- Corporate Samurai
- Fighting for a Homeland
- Former Regime Personnel
- From Camouflage to Criminal
- Hero Secret Service
- Hitman with a Heart
- Holy Hitman
- Immortal Assassin
- Inexperienced Killer
- Knowledge Broker
- Law Enforcement, Inc.
- Legion of Lost Souls
- Lovable Rogue
- The Magnificent Seven Samurai
- Murder, Inc.
- Mysterious Mercenary Pursuer
- Ninja Maid
- Only in It for the Money
- Privateer
- Private Military Contractors
- Professional Killer
- Psycho for Hire
- Punch-Clock Hero
- Punch-Clock Villain
- Rogue Soldier
- Sociopathic Soldier
- We Help the Helpless
