| ||
- "The Xen’Chi will be doing the Empire a favor by eliminating all this scum and the scum will be contributing to a worthwhile cause for once in their miserable lives. It’s win-win as I see it."
- — Teron Helstone to Solan Phota
Operation Bad Neighbor was conceived by Imperial High General Teron Helstone during the first year of the Xen’Chi War after it became apparent that the Xen’Chi Dominion were threatening to overwhelm the Galactic Empire and the rest of the galaxy. Ostensibly, the official strategy behind Operation Bad Neighbor was to use mercenary forces to supplement the beleaguered Imperial Military. In reality, the mercenaries were largely seen by Helstone as meatshields to take the brunt of Xen’Chi firepower while his forces moved in after they were weakened and mopped up whatever remained of the enemy.
In order to lure mercenaries to sign up for Operation Bad Neighbor, Helstone offered to pay them exorbitant sums for each battle they participated in. However, due to the ferocity and number of the Xen’Chi, there ended up being a high turnover rate with very few mercenaries managing to survive past a few battles; usually getting killed or dropping out and cutting their losses. The most notable mercenaries of Operation Bad Neighbor were Solan Phota and the members of Squad 13, who Helstone considered to be the best of the best. Phota himself managed to survive from the start of the operation until it ended with the conclusion of the war at the Battle of Chil'a'Chin, a feat few others achieved.
While not the most noteworthy operation in the war, Bad Neighbor was ultimately responsible for the defeat of Overseer Lor'Zryn and his forces.