Lukas Bastonne

"A good soldier obeys without question. A good officer commands without doubt." - Sergeant Lukas Bastonne quoting from the Tactica Imperium Sergeant Lukas Bastonne is one the most highly regarded and capable soldiers within the ranks of the Cadian Imperial Guard regiments.

History
Lukas Bastonne was born to one of Cadia's noble families, his lineage guaranteeing him a prestigious position as an Imperial Guard commissioned officer. However, the young Bastonne eschewed a life of privilege and wealth and instead embraced the hard knock life of a common Guardsman. Soon his driving passion, that bordered on the fanatical, would propel him to a meteoric rise within the ranks of the fable Canadian Imperial Guard Regiments. It was readily apparent that Bastonne was gifted with a brilliant sound tactical mind which enabled him to assess and adapt his squadron's movements on the fly and target priorities on a continuous basis. His gifts as a capable tactical leader soon saw him promoted to sergeant. Sergeant Bastonne led his men to many heroic victories during a score of high profile battles throughout his career.

Possessing an eidetic memory which enables Bastonne to have extraordinarily detailed and vivid recall abilities, he is both blessed and cursed. He has the innate ability to recall past battlefield situations and combat experiences with absolute clarity, enabling him to use his tactical knowledge and readily apply it to any given situation. But with this gift comes a dreaded curse, for he can also recollect each and every Guardsman who has ever died under his command. He gives no outward sign that these deaths effect him, but some whisper that the faces of his dead troops torture him in his nightmares. It is even rumoured that beneath his neatly pressed, high-collared dress uniform that his skin is riddled with tattoos -- the names of every fallen comrade inscribed unto his flesh. A lasting tribute to those brave souls' sacrifice and the events that led to their demise. Bastonne has taken this last, drastic measure in case his uncanny memory ever fails him.

Personality
He is the epitome of a professional solider, willingly able to make self-sacrifice and providing a role-model that all Cadians aspire to emulate. His chiseled features are the public image of the Cadian Shock Troop regiments and his face is the most recognisable on the world of Cadia. Sergeant Bastonne's attitude of leading by example, combine with his courage and valour have earned him the unconditional respect of both his superiors, peers and subordinates alike. Sergeant Bastonne follows an nearly unsurpassed warrior ethos of duty and honour that both impresses and intimidates his comrades. This has enabled him to carry out every single order and complete every mission he has ever been tasked with.

Source

 * Codex: Imperial Guard (5th Edition), p. 59