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| “ | A good soldier obeys without question. A good officer commands without doubt. | „ |
| ~ Lukas Bastonne quoting the Tactica Imperium |
Lukas Bastonne is a highly celebrated and skilled Cadian Shock Trooper with an incredible reputation of bravery, and a passion for his duty that seemingly borders of fanaticism.
Lukas Bastonne was featured prominently in the 5th Edition Codex: Imperial Guard expansion book for the Warhammer 40,000 tabletop game.
Biography[]
Cadian Shock Troops Service[]
In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war. Lukas Bastonne was born at some point in late M41 on Cadia, the most important Fortress World in the Imperium of Man. Born to wealthy nobles, Bastonne was set for a life in the prestigious officer corps of the Cadian Shock Troops, the most exemplary regiment of the Imperial Guard. However, Bastonne rejected such privileges and instead joined as an enlisted guardsman, opting to earn his rank the hard way.
Over his career, Bastonne displayed incredible tactical skill, along with photographic memory, which combined to let him memorize tactical priorities, positions, and situations that could be applied elsewhere. This allowed Bastonne to lead many victories in the name of the Emperor, and he was quickly promoted to sergeant. Bastonne would serve on a number of other successful campaigns, with Bastonne's heroism and courage quickly building his fame across Cadia. Soon, his visage was recognized by practically the entire population of the Fortress World, and his image became the public trademark of the Cadian regiments.
While Bastonne was a paragon of professional soldiery, self-sacrifice, and bravery, a role model for all aspiring Cadians, Bastonne was constantly plagued by his own photographic memory, recalling each and every soldier who died under his command, their faces haunting his nightmares. He did not publicly show any signs of discomfort from this, but in private, rumors circulated that he tattooed the faces of his dead allies on his body, always hidden by his uniform, so that he wouldn't forget them if his mind were to one day falter. His devotion to his men drove him to pursue a standard of ethos and honor far beyond what was expected on the battlefield, and to never leave a man behind.
At some point in his career, Bastonne's excellent combat record prompted his superiors to task him with rescuing the Planetary Governor of Agripinaa from an invasion of Plaguebearers, Lesser Daemons of the foul Chaos God Nurgle. Accompanied by a squad of trusted veteran soldiers, Bastonne led the daring rescue through the plague-ridden streets, slaying any Daemon in their way as they extracted the governor from the crumbling capital hive city. However, one of Bastonne's men got trapped within the city during the escape, and Bastonne, stubbornly refusing to leave the soldier behind, rushed back and personally rescued the trooper. However, the trooper had been wounded by Plaguebearers, and on the return voyage, he displayed signs of Chaos corruption, forcing Bastonne to execute him before the man could be converted to a Poxwalker, making the soldier yet another face to mourn and avenge.
Regardless, news of Bastonne's heroism and successful salvation of the governor was broadcasted across the sector, and when Bastonne returned to Cadia, he was met with a parade and was awarded the Star of Terra, the greatest possible achievement for a guardsman.
13th Black Crusade[]
In the last year of the 41st millennium, Abaddon the Despoiler, Warmaster of Chaos Undivided, launched his 13th Black Crusade towards Cadia. Over 12 previous campaigns, he had gradually chipped away at the Imperium's hold of the Cadian Gate, a stable route leading to the Eye of Terror Warp rift, guarded by the stalwart world, and the time had come to finish the job. Abaddon invaded Cadia with the Black Legion, his army of Chaos Marines, bolstered by Daemons and mortal cultists. However, Cadia stood against the tide of darkness, and at the forefront of the defense was none other than Lukas Bastonne.
Cadia held together through an assault of apocalyptic proportions, aided by Space Marines and even an intervention by the enigmatic Necron Overlord Trazyn the Infinite. In the face of insurmountable odds, Bastonne held his ground against the Archenemy of mankind, and like many of his fellow guardsmen, Bastonne was slain in the line of duty. While Trazyn and Archmagos Belisarius Cawl were able to activate ancient Necron Pylons on Cadia to seal the Eye of Terror, Abaddon rammed a Blackstone Fortress space station into Cadia, breaking the planet in half and destroying the Pylons. The Eye of Terror then burst out into the Great Rift, a Warp storm that cleaved the Milky Way in two. However, as the galaxy burned, Bastonne's power sword was retrieved from the ashes of Cadia, and became a legendary relic among the Cadian survivors, a symbol of defiance in defense.
