The player uses the I.M.P. site to build a custom mercenary character for use in the game. The commander can only do this once and the whole process costs $3000. I.M.P. mercs have no upkeep cost over the course of the campaign, and hold no relationships with any and all other mercenaries and recruitables. It is loosely implied that the I.M.P. merc functions as the player's in-game avatar or stand-in, though there is no penalty if an I.M.P. merc is killed, and an I.M.P. merc can be fired at any time without consequence, fanfare or fuss.