Editing Iron Rangers (section)

==Sacred Band==
The XX Squad of the Sacred Band began tumultuously. The few candidates who were able to accept the gene-seed were considered stubborn and anti-authoritarian at best. The implantation of the gene-seed only seemed to exacerbate these issues. Orders were routinely ignored or simply followed to a definition of the squad's making. Laying out specific orders would result in malicious compliance or simply following the orders given to them while ignoring implied tasks. They were passive-aggressive towards their authority figures. and The Emperor considered abandoning the XX altogether several times. This gave them the nickname "The Tarnished Ten." Ultimately Hektor was given one last chance to prove their worth. Knowing what was at stake he took a personal interest in the squad. He learned their outlooks, how they thought, and why they acted the way they did. Eventually he found the perfect mission to prove their worth as a fighting force.

Early in the conquest of the Merican hives intelligence reported a unique opportunity for the Imperial forces. A resort hotel was located which was frequented by much of the Merican nobility and general officers. A direct assault was unfeasable as it was deep within enemy territory and would be abandoned before a traditional force could arrive. Hektor volunteered the XX to infiltrate and eliminate the hotel and its inhabitants.

A plan was hatched by Sergeant Yon Mikneli of the XX squad to eliminate the resort and all officers located within. It was believed that the resort was nearly inaccessible. The Ten took that as a challenge. The Squad infiltrated the resort in an elaborate and well-planned strike. They were discovered after one of the members of the squad, Neophyte Grueben, began opening fire too early. As the assorted generals and staff ran to the underground bunker for protection they were shot down en masse with volkite chargers. Many still made it to safety and reinforcements were called in. The Ten were now forced to make a decision. Breaching the door would take time they didn't have. Abandoning the mission was not an option. Battle-Brother Agino grasped at a fast plan and began throwing grenades and explosive charges through the bunker's ventilation shafts. The entrances were further rigged for explosives detonated by tripwire. The resulting blasts collapsed the roof of the fortifications and destroyed the entrance, killing all within.

The plan was completed with a total of two casualties. Neophyte Grueben was [[Blam|shot in the back after one of the Mericans wrestled his charger from his hands]], and Neophyte Penikle was killed while holding off the Merican reinforcements during the escape.

The impact on the Merican resistance was immediate and noticeable. A large segment of their forces were left [[Not as planned|leaderless and without orders]]. Nobles started infighting as power vacuums were created in the wake of the slaughter. With the successful mission, the XX Squad cemented their place in future legions. The Tarnished Ten became a term of endearment among the Sacred Band and they started to cement their future reputation as saboteurs, assassins, and guerrilla fighters.

Hektor found great use of the squad throughout his campaign. Mikneli was a natural at infiltration and spotting weak points in enemy defensive measures. They found themselves used increasingly in combat as flanking elements. Often they were put to use as a vanguard force where they would strike an enemy defensive position at their weakest spot and create an opening for their brothers to exploit and overwhelm their enemies. Their excellence in this avenue convinced The Emperor to move forward with their gene-seed. In short time they were approved to become a Legion.