Mithril not realistic? Ha.

[Jae]

I'm not going to get into all the stuff in here, but I'm going to say that the westernized, anti-soviet countries would have a purpose and benefit from assisting, hiring, and (yes) funding Mithril. Being non-national, Mithril can engage in acts of war that countries (with diplomatic ties, obligations to treaties, ect) cannot directly engage in.

In the last story arc of the main series, when Kalanin called a 'high level Mithril officer' to speak with the US Navy captain, it was the president of the US. Also the de Dannan was sent to deal with the terrorist take over of the US base on that island, in the same arc. Clearly Mithril has deep ties with the US, even if the population, and likely the majority or all of Congress, knows nothing about it.

Mithril can also research, design, experiment, and combat-test new equipment that individual nations may not be willing or able to provide for in their own militaries, and later those countries can adopt or adapt that equipment at lower cost and risk.

So, on that one issue- Mithril is practical from the viewpoint of governments. It really depends on how willing various governments are to perhaps break their laws, secretly provide taxpayer money, and hide the activities from their citizenry.

Could Mithril exist entirely and purely independant of any governments? I doubt it. The budget required for their RnD and production needs would be massive, and it seems unlikely any company not willing to make ties with governments would get the contracts and payments necessary to keep operating. No government would be happy with the idea that there was a private company with eq and a force possibly capable of overthrowing them.