I hate to admit it, Tribesman, but the fact that you're so dismissive of the merc option makes me suspect it's viable.
How many mercs do you know ?
How many of them would you trust to run a school crossing service without scamming both thekids crossing the road and the drivers using it ?
I laughed like hell when one of them turned up for his pre-deployment induction in Texas for his new job at Baghdad airport , and got slammed in jail for an old job in Guatemala

Though I did know a decent one , an old Black Watch fellow with a Belgian MC from an earlier esxapade in this country in question . nice bloke , said he was an evil murdering bastard back then (a well paid EMB though), but not anymore as he didn't have any eyes .

Dismissive of Mercs ..... too bloody right I am .