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Mentor Legion

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Basic Information

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The Mentor Legion

The Mentor Legion was formed in the 26th Founding, during the middle part of the current millennium, they received the number that previously belonged to the Star Scorpions Chapter: 888. The Star Scorpions were a Chapter of the Twenty Fifth Founding and had the misfortune of producing redundant gene-seed and being lost to the Warp when the Chapter's Fleet became trapped in Warp-space. The exact fate of the Scorpions is not known. However, the Emperor decreed that the chapter be considered dead.

The redundant gene-seed hampered Imperial efforts to rebuild the Scorpions Legion and eventually the Bio-engineers and Chem-architects of the Adeptus Mechanicus were forced to concede defeat. For a time it seemed that the number 888 would never be raised again, but some years later, the Priesthood to revisit the chapter regalia and the Mentors were born. They received the uniforms and number of the extinct Star Scorpions chapter but instead of the redundant seed, they were given an entirely new generation of genetic material collated from the storage banks of the Earth laboratories.

Organisation

The new chapter is highly unusual and their modus operandi is quite different from that of the bulk of the Legiones Astartes. The Mentors have an extraordinary capacity for learning, particularly of military matters. Because of this, the chapter's main pursuit is perfecting the fusion between science and art of war, and military technology. The Mentors do not engage in campaigns or wars as other chapters do, but instead 'loan' squads of Marines to other Imperial military bodies. Squads of Mentors may be found fighting alongside the Imperial Army or even other chapters throughout the galaxy.

The Chapter is roughly organised in much the same fashion as the Ultramarines. However the bulk of the chapter are never seen, the location of their headquarters and Monastery-Retreat being an absolute secret. Only the very highest strata of the Priesthood are aware of its exact location. Here the Mentors perform their rigorous training and disciplining. The massed ranks of the chapter are exhaustively trained in the art of war and in the use of Imperial military hardware, both old and new - the Chapter acting as a test bed for the latest Imperial technology. While a large proportion of the chapter is permanently based at their secret HQ, the balance of the chapter are sent out on missions, including the elite Brethren.

The basic rationale behind squad loaning is that the Mentors are able to extract the maximum amount of information regarding the fighting prowess and techniques of just about any Imperial military organisation. 'Loaned' squads returning to chapter HQ bring with them an invaluable record which is without parallel in the galaxy. The chapters and armies to whom these squads are sent benefit from having these superior warriors join them for a campaign or battle. An extra benefit to the Mentors is that they are also able to claim and maintain an honourable record of real combat experience. Even in the short period of the Chapter's existence, they have amassed an enviable Roll of Honour.

Squad Composition

The following units are all typical examples of squads sent out to other armies by the Mentors. The total chapter will never be put into battle. These units will only ever be found serving under other commands.

At any given time, the Mentors are likely to have as many as 25 Tactical Squads out on-loan to other commands, and there are usually at least 10 squads of the Mentor Elite Cadre on missions. The rest of the chapter remains hidden, forever engrossed in the training and experimentation program. Any army unit or chapter may include a single squad of the Mentor Chapter in their battle orders. This squad can be either one of the Mentor Tactical squads or may be a group of Mentor Elite Cadre.

Tactical Squads

These are organised around the typical Imperial system of the ten man squad. In addition, they uphold the tradition of splitting into two groups of five men each when in battle. There is no Sergeant in the Mentor squad, as each man holds the same rank and any of the ten may be nominated the leader (or two leaders, if the squad splits into battle units of five).

Elite Cadre

The Elite Cadre of the Mentor Chapter are the most advanced warriors of their kind in the galaxy. It was originally envisaged that the Elite Cadre would perform a number of important semi-military roles, from counter-terror operations to complex undercover missions.
There are two ways Marine or Army commanders can use them on the battlefield when they are loaned to them. First the cadre element may simply be used as a powerful squad, gaining the benefits of their special equipment; alternatively, they may become leaders for other units. The latter is preferred by Army Commanders as the Elite Cadre make especially good leaders for units of normal warriors.

Known members of the Mentor Legion

  • Nisk Ranthawll 1

Sources

1: Warhammer 40,000: Compendium

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