The non-aligned bit in the grouping title feels nice and expansive: not just mercenary companies, but other sorts of groups could be included. I really wonder if we'll ever see a list with a bunch of renegade aliens races or individuals. We've got Le Muet, Krakot, and the new Cube Jaeger already, and some of those might make sense to include... but I bet there's a few renegade Exrah, etc. running around out there too. Exrah scum as the backbone of such a force would be awesome. It would be a cool way to give us exposure to a new race without having to give them a whole army, too...
My guess would be that O-12 is very likely to end up in NA2, since there's little reason for O-12 to be as big of a faction as any other of main factions, but in NA2 they would have a good fit of an army combined of some units from other factions and a bunch of O-12 specific models.
I don't see a reason why not. I'm sure CB sees the demand - it's not the first time people ask about more alien factions or alien mercs. I think an alien mercenary company, or a non-aligned faction of various deserters, renegades, refugees, people otherwise not fitting in neither EI or Tohaa societies, is perfectly viable. I imagine a wide array of races an consequently access to mixed-type fireteams, similar to Druze/Brawler one. Mostly light units, maybe some decent repurposed HIs. No idea about characters, and ultimately it depends on the theme and vibe CB would want such army to have. There's a whole spectrum from band of cutthroats and bounty hunters, to Guardians of the Galaxy.
I think the only units we have an sliver of a clue of belonging to O-12 were Sun-Tze and Aleph's Remotes, thanks to a piece of fiction in (I think) one of the Dire Foes background text. While I'm positive that means Rebots and Probots (S3 and baggage common remotes), I'm not totally sure if that would also include Garudas and Dakinis, which is relevant because we saw this Druze merc faction after the Druze received a resculpt, so we could expect that soon after a video with a 4 Dakinis (with support weapons) the O-12 could be released... or Vedic, in that case.
I actually hope that we'll see some Tohaa defectors too, the one that doesn't go full Sygmaa at least. But i think it'll still be dominated by human mercs. At best these aliens are joining other merc companies rather than be an unified force...
I also wouldn't be surprised to see Tohaa/Sygmaa independent sectorial. It reminds me a bit about the relationship between Eldar/Dark Eldar, and Harlequins.
Tohaa's Triumvirate has been so far explained as a Tohaa Sectorial... but who knows, maybe they'll fit it here, as they are suposed to be Mercenaries+some Tohaa.
I would love to see more CA stuff in a Merc force as some sort of resistance. Combine them with existing Mercs/discontent groups to make an anti-CA Merc force sounds fun to me. Use existing models with new rules if needed to reduce the model requirements for a new faction. O-12 seems an obvious Merc faction using normal troopers instead of more irregular troops plus the option for some more unique options. I really excited by the idea of the Merc faction even if I am unlikely to use it.
There are canonically renegade Exrah who escaped the EI's purge of the Concordat playing pirate around the Human Sphere. They'd make a great unaligned army. (Hint hint, cb ;-)
I would LOVE this... some alien space pirates, just trying to make their way and stay hidden from the EI. Hell... there's even a SLIGHT chance the Shasvastii could get on board (literally) in an effort to spread the seed.
"10 years ago, a crack Exrah commando unit was sentenced to execution by the EI for a crime they didn't commit. These aliens promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Human Sphere underground. Today, still wanted by the EI and O-12, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire... the E-Team."
Hell yeah! I've been thinking the same thing (and know quite a few players who proxy their Exrah using the Sygmaa profiles in the meantime). And given their trader (traitor too?) proclivities, they could definitely be the type to mix with other species in a single force. Maybe a couple of rogue Shasvastii, playing the survival odds on all sides at the same time. but that would seem more like a unique chracter kinda thing, kinda like Le Muet ends up in all those human forces. Haahahaha, YES! Exrah really did lack personality: if you gave them a couple wacky characters that would go a long way to making them more approachable despite being giant roaches. The E-Team... perfect. If CB never makes this army, Im definitely going to have to houserule it for a local campaign or narrative event or something.
