| abstract | - Squad 13 was the name given to designate a small group of select mercenaries that fought for the Galactic Empire during Operation Bad Neighbor. The name was something of a joke as it held a few meanings. It was not, as the name implied, the thirteenth squad to receive a designation, instead the number thirteen came primarily from the fact that the squad had an irregular number of members. Instead of the standard twelve, Squad 13 had thirteen instead. The number thirteen was also used as the universal symbol of bad luck since the squad was often sent on the toughest missions available, usually without backup. The members of the squad took a strange sort of pride in defying the bad luck connotations of their name, boasting a high success rate on their missions. The leader of Squad 13, Solan Phota, even managed to keep the position from the formation of the squad to its eventual dissolution following the end of the Xen’Chi War. This was despite often leading Squad 13 from the front during missions and having an open policy that any of the other members could lead if they bested him in combat. Considered to be the best of the best out of all the mercenaries used during Operation Bad Neighbor, Squad 13 was often given a lot of leeway by Imperial High General Teron Helstone, who spearheaded the initiative, because they so often emerged victorious. It was because of this that Squad 13 usually operated separately from the rest of the mercenaries of Bad Neighbor. It is thought that much of Bad Neighbor’s success can be attributed to Squad 13.
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