Log 037

Log 037

-Author: Rinas Rylos
-Rank: C.E.O.
-Corporation: Rinas' Raiders (R.R.A.S.)
-Date: 115.06.26

So after my log yesterday I couldn't stop thinking about the reasons others fight, and more specifically about what went through their heads during a battle. I mean, most of it would pertain to the situation at hand, but even the most bloodthirsty team still has some time on their hands, usually whenever they're looking for ammo, someone to kill, or are just waiting for the sensors to hit the conclusion that the other side is out of clones. But where to turn to when it came to actually asking about it? Kaz? Pretty sure he was in it for the money too, and also I think he was mildly racist towards the Caldari. The Doc? Like he's gonna know, though...I suppose I could quiz him on some of his other mercenary patients sometime. Chime, eh....something tells me that I'd get about as much new food for though if I talked into a mirror.

So I hit the web. Not exactly the most personal method, but a degree of separation helps ensure better results in any study, or so I've been told. Pretty sure I saw a documentary mention something like that, at least. I looked around, asked a wide variety of people what they were fighting for. It was...an interesting experience, to be sure. A lot of them hadn't even considered the question,  and even the ones that had were still wrestling with it. The whole thing was kind of cathartic, actually, knowing that there were people out there pondering it just like I had.

With that said, there were a number of people who had actual answers for me, with most of them falling into three categories. It should be noted that I'm listing them off in order of the amount of response I got, with number one being the most, though all of them were trumped by people who didn't know by a huge amount. Anyway, here they are:

1. Money. Cash, ISK, whatever you want to call it. They were in it to win it, and by win it, I mean make some bank. A few intended to use it for other purposes, such as funding their corps, or helping out their capsuleer friends, or even to just obtain more equipment for themselves, but it really all just fell down to getting money. A little superficial, but...well, it's not like it's my place to judge them, given that I'm basically the exact same.

2. Honor. Well, honor, glory, etc. A lot of folks fight just to prove that they can, that they're better than other mercs, that they're the best of the best. I can't exactly say I'm not proud when a contract comes back and I saw I whipped more ass than anyone else, but...come on. For that and nothing else seems a little wonky, doesn't it? If you really have such a fucking ego, then go play a video game or something, Jesus.

3. Finally, we have the people that fight for their nations. Not necessarily the ones they hail from, mind you; A lot of folks have been so caught up in the propaganda of their own empire that dealing with folk outside of it drives them to go fight for someone else. Amarr is really bad about this, with a number of folk usually either coming over to fight for the Gallente or Minmatar. Personally it just seems like they're trading one stupid ideology for another, but I suppose I should just be happy my life experiences have given me such a perspective in the first place.

Now, technically this is a fourth one, but it's so small compared to the others that it's hardly worth mentioning. You've got those three up there, but you've also got the mercs that have decided to quit fucking around and have been taking land that the Minmatar were too lazy to keep under control and too stupid to realize handing over to be a bunch of armed mercenaries might not be an entirely good idea. Has crime gone down in the system? Oh yeah. Will the Minmatar get those planets back? Not a fucking chance, and they can go ahead and keep 'em classified as Minmatar planets all they want, it doesn't change the fact that those places are fucking owed by us now, and I downright pity the poor soldiers that try and take it back from us.

So....I guess I pretty much had it spot-on from the beginning? I mean, the whole "glory and honor thing rawrgh" kinda surprised me with how many mercs gave it a answer, but other than that I can't say I was totally surprised. Hooray for meeting expectations!

-End Log