[[Image:Last_Chancers_Series.jpg|thumb|right|150 px|''The Last Chancers'']]The '''Last Chancers Series''' is a series of novels and short stories by [[Gav Thorpe]] featuring the Imperial Guard 13th Penal Legion, or "Last Chancers" under the command of [[Last Chancers#Colonel Schaeffer|Colonel Schaeffer]].
They are set in the perspective of ==Covers=={||+ Series Covers|-|[[Last Chancers#Lieutenant KageImage: 13thlegion.jpg|Lieutenant Kagethumb|center|150 px|Cover art for '''13th Legion''' by [[Gav Thorpe]]]] and take place soon after the destruction of |[[Image: killteam.jpg|thumb|center|150 px|Cover Art for '''Kill Team''' by [[Hive Fleet KrakenGav Thorpe]] at ]]|[[Ichar IVImage: Annihilationsquad.jpg|thumb|center|150 px|Cover art for '''Annihilation Squad''' by [[Gav Thorpe]]]] and its splintering into Hive Fleet Dagon. |}
==DeliveranceBooks in Series==''Deliverance'' is a short story that introduces the Last Chancers series.# [[13th Legion (Novel)|13th Legion]] ©2000# [[Kill Team (Novel)|Kill Team]] ©2001# [[Annihilation Squad (Novel)|Annihilation Squad]] ©2004
The series begins with the short story describing the events on Deliverance. Deliverance is a small, primative world that is home to a [[Sisters of Battle]] shrine. It is also the focus of a Tyranid invasion force.
After hunting Lictors through the various areas surrounding the shrine, Lieutenant Kage and his men are repositioned in at the shrine as the Tyranids finally make planet fall. Combined with the rest of the Penal Legion, the Sisters of Battle, and the primative natives, Kage and his men fight back force after force of Tyranids.
Eventually, reinforcements arrive and help squash the invaders. However, 150 of the Last Chancers died before they come.
==13th Legion==
[[Image: 13thlegion.jpg|thumb|right|150 px|''13th Legion'']]
The ''13th Legion'' is a seven chapter book describing the journey of Last Chancers as they work until they can complete the mission they were created for.
;Chapter One - Chapter Four
1. Leaving Deliverance 2. False Hope 3. Bad Landings 4. Treachery
After the events at Deliverance, Kage starts fighting with Choreks Imperial Guardsmen. However, this does not last long as Colonel Schaeffer comes and forces Kage and the others to leave on a new mission. They are lead back to their transport ship, the "Pride of Lothus", and they are then sent to the Typhon Sector to a system called XV/108. Recently, the base on the deathworld, Lost Hope, has dropped all communication. After landing at the planet, they are attacked by a giant lizard.
They eventually defeat the lizard and make it to the base, discovering only Lieutenant Hopkins. He describes the recent events leading up to the disappearance of everyone else on the base and Colonel Schaeffer decides that they must go to the "Heart of the Jungle", the only other place on the planet mentioned by Hopkins. Arriving there, the area turned out to be controlled by a tyranid-like beast called the "god plant" that has used the commander of the planet's forces, Captain Nepetine, to lure the humans to the area to be devoured. After battling against the plant and cutting their way free, Schaeffer orders a bombardment on the plant before they return to transport.
Their next destination is another penal colony in the Hypernol system. Before they arrive, Schaeffer brings two mysterious, pale twins, named Loron and Lorii. As they approach the planet, their pilot dies and they crash land, bursting into an underground cave. While repairing the ship, Kage and the others are attacked by strange alien bugs. After fighting back the alien warriors, the ship manages to be repaired and they return to their transport once more.
;Chapter five - Epilogue
5. Cold Steel 6. Typhos Prime 7. New Sun
The Last Chancers are sent to the ice planet Kragmeer after a distress call forces them to aid the planet. Orks are attacking the planet, which has vital minerals used in plasma equipment. The Last Chancers are sent out with another Penal Legion commanded by Colonel Greaves, which uses [[Adeptus Arbites]] to keep in line civilians, which are far different than the troops of the Last Chancers. After they fight a group of Orks, Colonel Schaeffer orders a pull out, leaving the planet to return to his main mission.
When they arrive on Typhus, there are only a few of them left and they are surrounded by conflict. Rebels had taken the capital fortress, Coritanorum, and splinters of Kraken, known as Hive Fleet Dagon, are heading towards the planet. As the Last Chancers are being escorted, a few attempt to escape but are quickly stopped. After crossing to the fighting around the fortress, they are attacked and Kage is knocked down. After being left for dead, Kage makes his way across the battle lines trying to escape, but ends up killing patrols. He ends up caught by Lieutenant Martinez and Commissar Caeditz, and, after he gets killed during an attack, is forced to lead the Mordians into combat and aid the Imperium against the rebels.
After being recaptured by Colonel Schaeffer, the remaining Last Chancers are are joined by an ex [[Adeptus Mechanicus]] criminal named Adept Gudmanz. Thus, before their true mission, there is only Schaeffer, Kage, Linskrug, Loron, Lorri, Kronin and Gudmanz. As Schaeffer reveals that they will infiltrate the fortress, Linskrug leaves and is placed in another Penal Legion, where he dies as one of them as a distraction.
The Last Chancers are joined by Lieutenant Striden of the "Emperor's Benevolence" Battleship. He orders an attack on the field infront of the fortress and follows them in. When they arrive, they have to sneak through each layer, killing guards and civilians as they make their way through different security check points. It is here that they learn Schaeffer's plan to blow up the whole fortress via overloading the Plasma Reactors.
After they battle their way to the reactor, Kronin is wounded but they finally manage to blast their way to the reactor. As they make it inside, they are aided by the Inquisitor Oriel, who was secretly aiding them in their journey through the hive. Adept Gudmanz busies himself trying to disable the reactor as the Last Chancers battle against the rebels. During this time, Oriel reveals that the rebel leaders are under the control of Genestealers, and that they are attracting the Hive Fleet to the planet.
Finally, Gudmanz is able to disable the reactor, and as they leave Kronin has bled to death and the Inquisitor disappears. The mission is not over, because the reactors are not shutting down. After Gudmanz reveals that it could be that the cooling system needs to be shut down, he is shot and killed. The Last Chancers waste no time and destroy the cooling area. Immediately, they are under attack and Loron dies. Lorii charges out after those who killed Loron and disappear as the three survivors leave. Then the blast doors across the fortress begin to close and Kage is separated. To make things worse, he is trapped with a Genestealer. After fighting with the creature, the Inquisitor saves him and then Oriel chases after the Genestealer.
Kage uses this chance to kill any in his path to the second to last transport and boards it. After killing the pilot, he hears gunfire and makes the choice to go back and help Colonel Schaeffer make it to the transport. After the Colonel and Lieutenant board the ship, Oriel comes and Kage confronts him. After Kage figures out that Oriel was originally responsible for the Genestealer being on the planet, and in turn, indirectly responsible for its taking over of the rebel leaders, Kage beats up the Inquisitor and boards the transport.
As they escape, the fortress blows up. Finally, Kage has won his pardon and is able to leave the Last Chancers. He decides to join the Troboran Rangers. Kage's problems follow him when, after months of drinking while in his new position, other Imperial Guardsmen start a fight with him on Glacis Formundus. Kage easily manages to beat up and kill the aggressors, but as he slips away, he is caught by Colonel Schaeffer, who brings him back into the Last Chancers.
==Liberty==
''Liberty'' is a short story written to promote the release of the ''Kill Team'' novel.
;Liberty
After being taken by Colonel Schaeffer, Lieutenant Kage is dropped of at Ghovul Vincularum, a prison colony ruled by Governor Skandlegrist. He is placed into a cell with Marn, a massive guy. After starting fights with guards and with prisoners, he ends up eventually killing one. This results in him being punished. Fed up, Kage sneaks a spoon and begins to carve it into a weapon. Using it, he stabs Marn and forces the guards to come to medical assisstance. Kage uses this to kill the guards and to force his way out of the prison. After fighting his way through and killing many guards, he finally escapes, only to find that the planet is barren and that there is no where to go.
==Kill Team==
[[Image: killteam.jpg|thumb|right|150 px|''Kill Team'']]
''Kill Team'' describes the battles of the Last Chancers against the forces of the Tau.
;Chapter One - Chapter Four
1. Prologue 2. Vincularum 3. Laurels of Glory 4. Return
After the events of ''Liberty'', Colonel Schaeffer arrives at Ghovul. He finds Kage kept in isolation under heavy guard. After being released, Kage is ordered to find suitable companions for an important mission. During the search for prisoners, Kage finally picks eight. After one declines and is shot, they agree to go with Schaeffer. Kage trains the seven remaining individuals on the ship "Laurels of Glory" with their special rooms designed for different terrains.
The training is intense and they are informed that their mission is to travel to the Sarcassa sector to assassinate an alien named Commander Brightsword. They resume their training and are given different names based on their duties, Kage's being "Last Chance". Soon after Stitcher, their medic, is accidentally shot. Then, Brains kills Eyes in a fight as part of their training. They are finally ready to complete their mission as Chancers, but Kage suffers from a mental attack which causes him to become unstable.
Taking no chances, Colonel Schaeffer sends Kage back to be imprisoned at the penal colony Destitution. While being transported, Kage breaks out of his bounds, kills those on board of the transport, and forces the transport to take him back to Colonel Schaeffer. As he arrives, he is surprised by the appearance of Inquisitor Oriel, who allows Kage to continue on the mission.
;Chapter Five - Epilogue
5. Me'lek 6. Es'tau 7. Assassins
Inquisitor Oriel briefs the group on their mission. They are to disguise themselves, to be brought to the Tau, and then to assassinate the commander. They arrive on a Tau transport and are guided around. During the tour, their ship travels through the Warp and arrives at Me'lek. It is here that they meet Liason Ambassador Coldwind. While given a tour of the planet, they come under attack. The Last Chancers make their move for their transport to their target, the planet Es'tau, while suspicious that the attack was a show by Coldwind's allies for mysterious reasons.
When they arrive on Es'tau, they pretend to be human traitors who are joining up with Commander Brightsword. This gives them a chance to move in around the planet. After starting a fight in a local bar, they have Kroot warriors come to their rescue. After this distraction, they return to their assigned mission.
The Last Chancers attack and capture a small Tau transport and use it to infiltrate a "Battledome" building that Commander Brightsword would be inspecting. They split up and fight their way through Tau guards. While members of their team go to set up for the assassination, Brains, the mechanically inclined Chancer enters a Tau battlesuit and is fried by its automatic defense. As Kage moves into place, the sniper, Sharpshooter, fails to take the shot when given a chance to kill Commander Brightsword. The commander and his bodyguard are able to enter their own battlesuits and proceed to battle against the remaining Chancers.
After battling, Kage and the others are able to take out a few Battlesuits and Commander Brightsword. All hell breaks loose and Kage is seperated from the others. He works his way around until he finds Coldwind and realizes that they were betrayed by him. After killing Coldwind, Kage returns to the others as they battle. There are more Battlesuits and the Chancers are under heavy attack until a Deathwatch Space Marine enters and destroys them.
With the Space Marine, they begin to battle their way out of the Dome. At one point, Hero is left to defend the rear and is blown up with the many enemies that he faces. As the remaining Chancers get outside the Dome, the planet is under attack. Inquisitor Oriel had arranged Captain Destrien and his men to also infiltrate Es'tau and to attack when given the chance. With the Tau killed and the planet's forces effectively crushed, Inquisitor Oriel feels that the Tau have learned their lesson to not mess with the Imperium. However, as the mission is over, Kage is sent back into prison.
==Annihilation Squad==
[[Image: Annihilationsquad.jpg|thumb|right|150 px|''Annihilation Squad'']]
''Annihilation Squad'' follows the last chancers as they are sent to [[Armageddon]] to join in the 3rd War for Armageddon.
;Chapter One - Chapter Five
1. Punishment 2. Iron Discipline 3. Unhappy Arrival 4. Wrath of Ghazghkull 5. More Bad Landings
;Chapter Six - Chapter Ten
6. Jungle Ghosts 7. Along the Chaeron 8. Death in the Ruins 9. Through the Mountains 10. Ambush
;Chapter Eleven - Chapter Fifteen
11. Across the Wastes 12. The Long March 13. No Light at the End of the Tunnel 14. The Underhive 15. Traitor City
;Chapter Sixteen - Chapter Twenty
16. Evil Awakening 17. The Realm of the Overlord 18. The Mad Court 19. Betrayal 20. Freedom
==Characters==
* [[Last Chancers#Colonel Schaeffer|Colonel Schaffer]]
* [[Last Chancers#Lieutenant Kage|Lieutenant Kage]]
* Clericus Amadiel - Schaeffer's clerk
* Captain Ferrin - "Pride of Lothus" Naval Captain
* Inquisitor Oriel - In constant communication with Schaeffer, planned the original mission on Typhus
* Captain Destrien - Captain of Imperial Guard assigned to transport "Pride of Lothus" in ''Kill Team''
* Liason Ambassador Coldwind - Tau who set up the Tau side of the events in ''Kill Team''
;Last Chancers
This is a list of the more notable of the deceased Last Chancers (in order of appearance):
* ''Deliverance'' and ''13th Legion'': Franx, Gappo, Poal, Kronin, Linskrug, Becksbour, Fredricks, Donaldson, Jorette, Slavini, Thenneson, Lammax, Jorret, Mallory, Kyle, Braxton, Loron, Lorii, Poliwicz, Linskrug, Adept Gudmanz, Rollis (traitor), Aliss, Broker, Roiseland
* ''Kill Team'': Tanya Stradinsk "Sharpshooter" (ex Sniper), Strelli "Flyboy" (ex Pilot, Imperial Navy), Oynas Trost "Demolition Man" (ex Officio Sabatorum), Moerck "Hero" (ex Commissar), Quidlon "Brains" (ex New Bastion 18th), Hans Iyle "Eyes" (ex scout), Pieter Stroninberg "Stitcher" (ex Field Surgeon, 21st Coporan Armoured Cavalry)
;Others
* Typhus: Admiral Beck and Warmaster Menilus (two in charge of Coritanorum attack)
* Kragmeer: Captain Olos, Guide Ekul
* Penal Legion on Kragmeer: Colonel Greaves
* Typhus: Lieutenant Martinez, Commissar Caeditz (capture the escaping Kage)
* Sarcassa Sector: Commander Brightsword/O'var (rogue Tau on Es'tau, part of Farsight rebellion), Kor'el'kais'savon (Tau captain of transport Aslo')
;Regiments
* ''Deliverance'' and ''13th Legion'': Chorek, Kragmeer, Mordian, Typhon, Trobaran Rangers
;Ships
* Pride of Lothus - The Last Chancer's penal transport ship, later commanded by Captain Drestin
* Emperor's Benevolence - Battleship that blasts Coritanorum on Typhus
* Laurels of Glory - Last Chancer's transport for ''Kill Team''
* Sha'korar Aslo' - Tau ship transporting the Last Chancers to Tau territory
==Additional Information==
* 13th Legion
* Kill Team
* Annihilation Squad
;Related
* [[Last Chancers]]
* [[Black Library Publishing]]
* [[Black Library gaming (novels)]]
[[Category:Novels]]
