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Jagged Alliance 3 has quite a few mercs you can get to work for you at no cost but most of them are lacking in various aspects.
This is not the case with Major Spike Scallion, who comes with very high stats but you will have to work a lot to get him as Haemimont Games placed him on the opposite side of the map from where you start the game.
How to recruit the Major
If it wasn't clear up to this point, he is "The Major" that commands the Legion. In order to recruit the character, you will need to get to him first and then pass an influence check.
Spike is located in the top right corner of the map, in sector A20.
It is a fort with elite Legion troops and to spice things up, the moment he gets into a firefight with your team, he will tell others to kill President LaFontaine. The easiest way to avoid the president's death is to bring two squads along.
First, clear out the spearhead of the Legion's forces with a sneaky merc.
Use the assault squad to launch an attack on the western side of the map. This squad should have a lot of long-range capability, mostly with assault and sniper rifles.
The other team should sneak up on the eastern side, close to where you climb to The Major's tent.
Initiate the assault with the western team and wait until the Brutes and the Sniper clear out from the eastern side. If you eastern team gets spotted by the enemy's movement, just assault them from that side as well.
In any case, The Major and his personal guard will get aggroed to whichever mercs are visible. Therefore, they will not attack the President. Clear out the enemies and make sure you hit the Major in the arms every turn. He is extremely lethal otherwise.
When you win the battle, talk to the Major and you will need to pass an influence check. Ask why he attempted to kill the President and say "You were a merc like us, Spike". DO NOT suggest that Biff is his friend, you will lose influence this way. Also, avoid the "You will answer for this" option as that's the path that leads to his incarceration.
After those lines, you should get the "What if WE hire you?" option. Take it and Spike will be a new member of your crew.
He is a very capable merc, with high Leadership, Marksmanship and all the attributes.
