The Slag Slayers

## Summary

As the Unum Vires continued to grow in numbers and firepower, a wide variety of specialized divisions began to form. One of these was the *Slag Slayers*, independent platoons of soldiers that were akin to mercenaries. Utilizing equipment and weaponry that was untested, dangerous, or impractical for large-scale military combat, these discreet bands of 10-20 soldiers proved especially effective for "purifying" smaller colonies and settlements that suffered slagic corruption.

One element of the Slag Slayers that set them apart was their non-discrimination policy: while traditional Unum Vires battalions virtually never aided non-Keonic nations, the Slag Slayers had free rein to accept jobs from the highest bidder. The stipulation for this was that 50% of all profits would be shared with the Keonic Research and Development Division. These non-Keonic jobs provided excellent opportunities for testing experimental KRDD weapons, and the colonies in need of assistance were rarely in a position to argue against it. Understandably, the Slag Slayers became a controversial force, even among Keonic citizens - many argued that they were greedy and destruction-obsessed, with little regard for protection or rescue efforts. While there was some truth to this blanket statement, there has certainly existed platoons of Slag Slayers that defied the stereotype.

### Notable figures

#### Troy Thornton AKA "Top Trooper"

In the year 3019, the *Ivory Bishops* battalion contributed its own platoon of Slag Slayers. Leading the team was the youngest Lieutenant to command a Slag Slayer platoon on record - Troy Thornton, age 27. While he was exceptionally skilled and displayed notable acts of courage, his comrades insisted that he was particularly "protected" by Keo. This was due to a shocking number of occasions in which Troy survived profoundly deadly or risky circumstances. Soldiers started to joke that he was Keo's "Top Trooper", drawing influence from his initials, "T.T."

In some ways, Troy's luck was a blessing and a curse. In the year 3030, his team was decimated by a catastrophic equipment malfunction while experimenting with a new explosive weapon. Unsurprisingly, Troy survived with only minor injuries. After that incident he retired and moved to a small (Keonic) colony on Kynon.

#### Daniel Olson

A member of the Iron Guard battalion Slag Slayers, Daniel Olson is considered by many to be the most brilliant U.V. combat tech in Keonic history. Despite serving for only 6 years due to his untimely corruption in the year 3017, his contributions to slag combat tech changed U.V. strategies forever. Among these contributions were the controversial self-detonating helmets of the Iron Driver Shock Trooper suits (that were set off if the soldier was corrupted) and the limb-severing suits famously worn by the Iron Guard Sanctified company. While his inventions were harsh, they were certainly anti-slag.

Throughout his service, he developed a notorious reputation for tinkering with experimental equipment while in the field. In one instance that became the stuff of legend, he created an improvised beamer cannon by connecting 3 beamer batteries to a modified turret. It fried out after firing twice, but not before taking down an enormous "giant" runner in one shot.