The AOD starter is only mercs/gunslingers.

yeah the starter comes with:

"Blitz" Jade Hawk (Gunslinger)
"Copperhead" Mangonel (Gunslinger)
and all the rest are mercenaries (basically... Gunslingers are just Unique mercenaries)
Zibler Fast Strike Tank
Sekhmet Assault Tank
LRM Battery
Salamander Battle Armor
Fenrir Battle Armor
PAL Suit
Pathfinders
Undine Battle Armor

the PAL, Pathfinders, Fenrir, Sekhmet, and "Blitz" (with the pilot Sebastian Peshke) are from the Wolf's Dragoons merc group

the others I can never remember which... 21st Centuari Lancers I believe?


but the merc group doesn't matter that much

One thing you should keep in mind is that Mercs can prefer certain groups over others. For the most part, Clan Jade Falcon and House Liao have much higher recruit costs for mercs than any other faction (for example, in the starter, the two merc pilots cost 14 points apiece to recruit to CJF)

It's not so much that they prefer other houses over Liao and CJF, it's simply because you get built in faction abilities.

yeah these Gunslingers came out before the Faction Abilities were dropped entirely (everything Domination and after I believe)

so you're not paying because the pilots don't like those factions... you're paying because to recruit to those factions would give you Faction Abilities