The Imperium never frowned upon ordering its subjects to their certain death. Sometimes though, such death isn't merely the somewhat unfortunate side effect of a dangerous mission, but an intended outcome, whether to serve as punishment or redemption, or to maintain secrecy.
The most famous examples of such practices are surely found in the penal legions of the Imperial Guard, some of which have been known to employ whole squads of troopers kitted out as human bombs and literally all of which use suicide devices such as explosive collars to keep their members in line, though other forces have their own use of such practices, such as the Repentia of the Adeptus Sororitas or even the death oaths of various Space Marine chapters. Continue reading →