A mercenary is a Person/Murath/Robot who takes part in an armed conflict who is not a national or a party to the conflict and is "motivated to take part in the hostilities by the desire for private gain".
In short just hire them to shot any one that bothers you.

Their Role?
Well, it depends on your problems...
The enemy is annoying you with their dog-fighters/bombers?
No problem, tell the mercenary to take them out one at a time.

Dog fighters don't annoy you?
No problem, tell the mercenary to focus on the large ships to take down their shields.

You need to kill especific targets?
No problem, tell the mercenary to focus on one ship only.

You just need someone to protect you on your journeys?
No problem, the mercenary will melt everyones faces if they dare to look funny at you.

All this can be manage in the Tactical screen once you have hire a mercenary.

Where can you hire the mercenary of your dreams?
Pretty much on any space station by exception of the Merchants Guild and Mercenary Guild station.

Why can't I hire them at the Mercenary Guild?
Cause the guys who runs the guilds are too cool to drink alcohol.

<But, before we go, there are a couple of things you should know.>
-Keep in mind that you can only hire one mercenary at a time.
-You only need to pay for their services every time you hire them.
-Mercenaries will never die, they just jettison from their ship if their lives are in danger and can be hired again on a space station.
-Mercenaries love to crash on planets, that's what you get for letting them fly drunk.
-If Mercenaries become useless late game (once you get mk6 weaponry), you don't need to hire them anymore. Unless you feel lonely in space.
WARNING: I give them a nickname to each of them.

Garris is the very first mercenary you will meet on your first space station called Rust City.
He might look old, but he sure knows how to fly a small ship and make the enemy beg for mercy.
Garris can also be found on other space stations.

Mercenary: Garris (Oldman)
Cost: 1,500 or more

Ship: Militia Gunship
His turret loadout: 1 Pulse Turret
Damage: He has the lowest damage of all mercs.
Hp: Also the lowest of all mercs.

Tips:
-He is the best starting mercenary until you can hire someone else. Might not look like much, he is cheap, looks like your grandfather, but he can help you stay alive until you can sell that Hammerhead (Rasputin) ship.

Splitter looks like one of the Red Devils Pirates, talks like a pirate, and can fly a pirate ship.
Therefore, he is a Pirate... or Exiled pirate.
This cool dude can be found on any space station, even on Militia space stations.

Mercenary: Splitter (Exiled Pirate)
Cost: 1,500 or more

Ship: Pirate Gunship
Turret Loadout: 1 Pulse turret
Damage: slightly better than Garris.
HP: slightly better than Garris.

Tip:
His ship is very good against dog-fighters.

To be honest I don't know if she is even human. But damn she looks awesome and her ship is awesome. Not to mention she is the best merc you can find in the starting system.
You can find her on only one of the stations in the starting system.
Once you jump to the next system you will find her on most of the stations.

Mercenary: Skiza (Badass)
Cost: 1,700 or more

Ship: Unknown Gunship
Turret loadout: 1 Pulse Turret
Damage: Better than Splitter
HP: Better than Garris.

Tip:
I am pretty sure her ship can deal good damage to capital ships. Sure she can take down dog-fighters, but she is just perfect against capital ships.
(Please tell me if my rumour is correct).

Just cause she is young doesn't mean she can't kick some butt, with her modified militia gunship she can be a good mercenary to keep around.
You will find her on your first jump system on one of the space stations. once you jump away to other systems you can find her on most of the space stations.

Mercenary: Sparrow (Mercenary Rookie)
Cost: 30,000 and more

Ship: Modified Militia Gunship
Turret loadout: HS missiles
Damage: Better than Skiza
Hp: Better than Skiza

Tip:
This is one mercenary that can be equally good against dog-fighters and capital ships.
(Hope my rumour is correct)
<<<Just a bit of warning, she can be annoying every time she talks.>>>

Grud might be the only alien you can hire as a mercenary (since we don't know if Skiza is human or not). He is also a proud Murath, strong of heart and spirit. He also likes missiles as much as the US. loves them.
He can be found for the first time on Mk4 systems.
After that he can be found on most of the space stations. Even on Mk6 systems.

Mercenary: Grud (Furry)
Cost: 70,000

Ship: Murath Gunship
Turret Loadout: 1 Swarm Missiles / HS Missiles
Damage: Better than Sparrow
HP: Better than Sparrow

Tip:
Grud is a very good fighter against capital ships, like Skiza.
(Correct me if I am wrong)

<<<A bit of warning, He can be annoying when he speaks>>>
This is my favorite mercenary of them all, sad there is no Pro-version of him.

Steve is polite and deadly.
Did I say he is polite?
You can find him for the first time on mk5 Systems and on most of the space stations from now on.
He is also the only mercenary I have seen that has 2 turrets on his ship.

Mercenary: Steve (Polite Robot)
Cost: 100,000 or more

Ship: He made his own Gunship
Turret loadout: 1 Leech Rocket and 1 Ion turret
Damage: Better than Grud
Hp: Better than Grud

Tip:
He is excellent for assassination missions, since he can keep the enemy still with his leech rocket.
<<<a bit of warning: He is polite.>>>

Pro Mercenaries are the better version of the starting mercenaries in the first system you started. No need to show pictures of them, they have the same face and the same ship with a new or better loadout.

The Pro Mercenaries can be found in Mk5, Mk6 systems.

Mercenary: Garris Pro (Oldfart)
Cost: 180,000 or more
Ship: Militia Gunship
Turret Loadout: 1 Particle Laser
Damage: Same as Steven (I could be wrong)
Hp: Worse than Steven

Mercenary: Splitter Pro (Scottish)
Cost: 180,000 or more
Ship: Pirate Gunship
Turret loadout: 1 Ion turret
Damage/Hp: Same as Steven (I could be wrong)

Mercenary: Skiza Pro (Even More Badass)
Cost: 180,000 or more
Ship: Unknown Gunship
Turret loadout: 1 Pulse turret / Hs Missiles
Damage/Hp: Better than Steven

There are NO Pro-versions of Grud, Steve or Sparrow.
(I like Grud, and this saddens me)

Tip:
-The nick name for Garris Pro might sound mean, but he is the worst of the mercs you can hire. Sure he has a particle laser, but he can't aim it if he keeps moving around like a drunken fly hitting nothing at all. Also he can't last a minute in Mk6 space.

-Splitter Pro can keep his job as the best anti dog-fighter (I could be wrong).

-Skiza Pro is back and still better against capital ships, specially now that you need the power to take down the new enemy with their mean capital ships (I could be wrong).

WARNING: If you don't like the idea of the mercenaries having a nickname, I will remove it.
Or if you have a better nickname for them, leave it in the comment section.

Please leave a comment and a like if you found this guide useful.
Or tell me how much you hated this guide.
If you got something to share of the mercenaries I haven't mention, feel free to tell me, I will add it to the guide and give you credit for sharing the information.

Have a good day ya all.
☜(Safe Flying)☞