The 13th Penal Legion of the Imperial Guard, also known as the “Last C

The 13th Penal Legion of the Imperial Guard, also known as the “Last Chancers,” is a special regiment composed of Imperial criminals and convicts. All the men and women of the Last Chancers are hand-picked by the fiercely uncompromising Colonel Schaeffer for the performance of suicide missions on behalf of the Imperium of Mankind throughout the galaxy. However, rather than being simply a general punishment unit aimed at achieving the redemption of all the souls unlucky enough to enter its ranks, the 13th Penal Legion is specifically used to create elite squads of soldiers for use in extremely hazardous, top-secret special operations missions. It is particularly notable for achieving the destruction of Coritanorum, the assassination of Tau Commander Brightsword and also the assassination of the traitorous Overlord of Armageddon, Herman von Strab. Members of the Last Chancers are all convicted criminals facing various punishments. While most of those inducted into the 13th Penal Legion are done so at the deliberate behest of Colonel Schaeffer, a small minority are random transfers. All are given one ‘last chance’ at redemption by fighting in the worst combat zones possible. If they manage to survive an unspecified number of these missions, they earn a pardon, being forgiven their crimes in the eyes of the Emperor. A Last Chancer who dies fulfilling his duty is pardoned posthumously by the Colonel, who takes it upon himself to provide redemption to all of his troops, sometimes by his own hand.  Legion is composed of a motley assortment of criminals, recidivists, malcontents, madmen, and assorted detritus from the most hardened military prisons kept by the Imperial Guard. Every one is hand–picked by Colonel Schaeffer himself and each has some outstanding skill or natural ability that sets them apart from their comrades. Upon accepting Schaeffer’s offer, each new recruit is whisked off to a private, secret penal colony administered by Schaeffer for the sole purpose of raising his 13th Penal Legion. Once there, the recruits spend months training for every kind of mission in every kind of environment imaginable. If the recruit survives with body and wits intact, he is assigned to one of the many small clandestine units organised under the 13th Penal Legion’s aegis.  Unlike the majority of Penal Legions, men and women belonging to groups like Colonel Schaeffer’s 13th Penal Legion and other, similar organisations are remarkably well equipped for groups of incorrigible criminals. Given that such groups are frequently used by their commanders to carry out deadly covert strikes, assassinations, and other underhanded tactics that more conventional regiments would never even attempt, the weapons they carry often pack an incredible punch in a small package, and are well suited to their stealthy and clandestine assignments.  -- source link

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