If you wish to leave a comment on anything in this thread, please feel free to post it here.
To read the project log from the beginning, check here.

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Greetings Tau’faan.

Here you will find the collective information on the cadre known colloquially as the ARC-16’s. Their history is filled with daring raids and grueling battles against an enemy that threatens to swallow the galaxy whole. But not all of the ARC-16’s deeds are noble. Indeed, one cannot be expected to follow the rules against an enemy that knows nothing of honor or of the greater good. The question truly is then, when do the ends stop justifying the means? Perhaps, the greater good is simply a matter of perspective?

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Unit Profiles

++++ [HQ] ++++



Shas'El Sa'cea Ro’Yon Mont'yr Lar’shi
---PROFILE ACCESS: [GRANTED]---


Master Shaper Natar Luco
---PROFILE ACCESS: [GRANTED]---


Monat Counter Assault Unit
---PROFILE ACCESS: [GRANTED]---


Bodyguards & Tactical Advisers
---PROFILE ACCESS: [GRANTED]---


++++ [Elites] ++++


Knarloc Riders
---PROFILE ACCESS: [GRANTED]---


Crisis Team Yan'tak
---PROFILE ACCESS: [GRANTED]---


Crisis Team Mont'mesa
---PROFILE ACCESS: [GRANTED]---


Stealth Team Mesa'ko
---PROFILE ACCESS: [GRANTED]---

++++ [Troops] ++++


Fire Team Doran
---PROFILE ACCESS: [GRANTED]---


Carnivore Squad Kortu
---PROFILE ACCESS: [GRANTED]---


Carnivore Squad Vok
---PROFILE ACCESS: [GRANTED]---


Saro Mercenary Guild
---PROFILE ACCESS: [GRANTED]---

++++ [Fast Attack] ++++


Gue'vesa'Kor
---PROFILE ACCESS: [GRANTED]---


Pathfinder Squad Mont're
---PROFILE ACCESS: [GRANTED]---


XV9 Support Detachment
---PROFILE ACCESS: [GRANTED]---

++++ [Heavy Support] ++++


Broadside Support Team O'ran
---PROFILE ACCESS: [GRANTED]---


TX-6.2 "Assassin" Hammerhead
---PROFILE ACCESS: [GRANTED]---


Skyray Ko’Vah'cha
---PROFILE ACCESS: [GRANTED]---

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Cadre Background Information

The Sa'cean Advanced Recon Cadres
-The origin and purpose of the ARC's among the Sa'cean Shas'ar'tol. Also details the structure of the ARC-16s.

Blood Quills Background
-The origins of the mercenary Kroot who have found their fates bound with the ARC-16's.

The Battle for Ge'nesha (46% Complete)
-The battle that formed the ARC-16's into what they are today.

Custom's and Ritual’s in the ARC-16’s
-Learn what practices make the cadre unique.

Annexation of Solun IV
-A Genestealer cult is discovered and scout elements of the ARC-16's are sent to investigate. The Pathfinders of team Mont're are introduced.

Disaster at Kor'Nars
-The hibernating Tyranid fleet of Reclaimer is found and Lar'shi directs the Tau forces to attack while there is still time. But could his desire for revenge have clouded his judgment? Carnivore Squad Vok is introduced as well as a Broadside pilot, Shas'Ui Iur'tae'mont.

The Investigation
-An eager young Por digs a little too deeply in the mystery surrounding the cadre.

Discovery at Se'hen'Vash
-Faced with a rampaging Carnifex, all seems lost for two Firewarrior's until a discovery is made that changes everything.

Loose Ends (30% Complete)
-After fulfilling a mercenary contract, the Blood Quills are betrayed. But Lar’shi makes sure that those killed are avenged.

For the Greater Good (65% Complete)
-Lar'shi meets with his old friend, Shas'Vre Kais'lar, who has been reassigned back to the ARC-16's. Lar'shi feels that now is the time to let her know the truth.

Unit Profile: Shas'El Sa'cea Ro’Yon Mont'yr Lar’shi


Lar’shi - Equipped in his XV-9 Command Suit
(Click here to see other Gallery images)



Shas'El Sa'cea Ro’Yon Mont'yr Lar’shi
The Hero of Ge’nesha

Given Names: Ro’Yon Mont'yr Lar’shi
Serial Number: S'ARC-2X1022//1-851002
Rank: 'El
Caste: Shas
Sex: Male
Age: 31
Place of Birth: Sa’cea Prime
Known Kin: Shas'Ui Sa’cea V’ena [Sister, Deceased], Shas'Vre Dal’yth Ell’y [Mother, Deceased], Shas'vre Sa’cea Rona [Father, Deceased]
Known Affiliates: Master Shaper Natar Luco, Shas’Vre Kais’Lar, Drill Shas’Vre Yan’Tak , Shas’Ui Bentu’Ro, Shas’Ui Doran, Fio'El Sa'cea Ro’Va

Appearance:
He is of average height and slight of build for a Shas. He has numerous scars on his body and bionics to replace lost appendages. Most noticeable is his missing left eye, left arm and right leg, parts he lost during a vicious battle in close quarters against Genestealers that boarded his ship. After Ge’nesha, Lar’shi cut off his top knot, stating:


Training:
During his Saal training, Lar’shi excelled in tactical thinking. His adept planning skills enabled him to quickly devise a strategy to overcome the obstacles his squad faced on the variety of simulated battlefields they encountered in training. His intelligent approach to hunting earned him his name. However, his own physical abilities in combat were average and held back his advancement after he and his fellow Saal’s had completed training. This was always something of a sore subject for Lar’shi. When he failed his trial by fire to rise to the rank of Shas’Ui, Lar’shi was indignant. He felt that his mental prowess deserved recognition and found himself lectured more than once about the dangers of pride.

As time went on, Lar’shi seemed to have humbled himself and honed his skills enough to allow him to earn the rank of Shas’Ui. For 3 Tau’cyr, he led his squad under the command of Shas’El Sa’cae Yr'Yon Mont'yr Suam. Seeing the tactical abilities Lar’shi possessed, the Shas’El approved for him to become a Battle Suit pilot, a role he served in for an additional 2 Tau’cyr before he earned the rank of Vre. Upon completing several successful missions, Lar’shi was invited to partake of the Ta’lissera with the Commander and to serve as his new bodyguard. The Shas’El taught Lar’shi much about command and helped him to gain a balanced view of his abilities; despite the stubborn Lar’shi’s resistance.

Current Role:
Shas’El Lar’shi is the current leader of the ARC-16’s, a cadre which specializes in combating the Y’he threat. Shas’El Lar’shi has been in command of the cadre for 10 Tau’cyr since his promotion after the battle for Ge’nesha. At first, it was questioned whether he was adequately qualified to lead the cadre. Before Ge’nesha, Lar’shi teetered on the brink of Battlesuit Neurosis. His pride continued to be an issue and threatened to lead him down the path of the Monat. This background made many in the Shas’ar’tol unsure whether he was prepared to take on this responsibility. But the brutal battle on the jungle world of Ge’nesha tested Lar’shi to his limits. It was a trial by fire like no other and in the end, he earned his command.

At that time Lar’shi was serving as the Commanders bodyguard, a role he took very seriously. Shas’El Suam was a charismatic leader, one who inspired loyalty, courage and acted as somewhat of a father figure to those in his command. Lar’shi looked up to his Shas’El and was deeply affected by his death during the initial Tyranid attack. His loss almost made the survivors give up hope. But in those desperate moments, Lar’shi found a power inside of him that he previously seemed incapable of. He called to mind all the lessons his Shas’El had tried to teach him and he did his best to emulate them. With the assistance of his trusted confidant, Shas’Vre Kais’Lar, Lar’shi was able to organize the survivors into an effective fighting force that proved invaluable to the efforts on Ge’nesha.


But after the battle, Lar’shi was wracked with guilt. As the bodyguard for his Shas’El, he should have been the one killed, not the commander. He has never fully come to grips with the events and has shifted much of his self loathing toward the Y’he.

During the conflict, Lar’shi and the other survivors were rescued from death by the Mercenary Kroot Kindred, the Blood Quills. The Master Shaper, Natar Luco, worked closely along with Lar’shi. Together they organized their forces to defeat both the Y’he and the Be’gel they encountered. The struggles on Ge’nesha bound these two leaders together and they now share an inseparable bond. While Lar’shi can be harsh and abrasive, Luco is good humored and pragmatic, often times ending Lar’shi’s tirades before they begin. In a strange way, they tend to balance each other. Luco is a skilled negotiator and charismatic speaker, yet the facts and figures of battle tend to elude him; something Lar’shi excels at. Together they have effectively bound their forces to further the Greater Good.

Personality Profile:
On the surface, Lar’shi seems confident and cocky, but inside he is a rolling sea of insecurity and conflict. As previously mentioned, Lar’shi continued to view his own abilities as superior to his peers and bristled at the lack of recognition from others, despite his Commanders guidance. His former commander described Lar’shi as, “A taciturn, calculating individual. One who understands strategies and numbers well, but knows little of the way to stir the hearts of others to action.”

Shas’El La’shi considered Lar’shi perfect for the position he was currently in: serving as a bodyguard to the Commander. This allowed him to utilize his calculating nature to advise the commander, but would not put him in a position where he had to motivate others; something which appeared to make him uncomfortable. It is noted that Lar’shi has always had difficulty socializing; something observed while he was still a Saal. To make up for his discomfort, he often resorted to sarcasm, something which put him at odds with many of his peers. While his attitude has tempered as time went on, other Cadre’s participating in the same theater will no doubt find Lar’shi rather abrasive. Lar’shi is always confident in the abilities of his cadre and is impatient and uncooperative when they are not being used to the greatest effect. Many formal complaints have been filed against him, but they have yet to make any impact.

It must be noted, that Lar’shi’s current mental state is less then ideal. Constant battle against the Tyranid has led many Tau serving in the ARC-16’s to suffer from iur'tae'mont. And Lar’shi, like any other Tau, is not immune to the maddening effect the Y’he have on ones psyche. Always a reserved individual, Lar’shi has done his best to cut himself off from feeling any emotion at all. The Y’he do not let emotion cloud their judgment and Lar’shi is determined to do the same. This has turned him into a rather unpleasant individual to be around. But for one who has gone face to face with millions of Y’he horrors and survived, most can understand his lack of courtesy.

Beliefs/Fears:
Lar’shi believes passionately in the Tau’va. Yet, his experiences with the Y’he have taught him much in the way of sacrifice and endurance. Lar’shi believes that only united can the galaxy stand against the Y’he; which he perceives as its greatest threat. But as for those who resist the Greater Good, they are simply obstacles and will be hunted down and eliminated as quickly as possible. Lar’shi knows that with each passing rotaa, larger Y’he fleets approach Tau space. So every available resource has to be used properly.

This has given Lar’shi a unique view on galactic diplomacy. As new species and peoples are added to the Empire, Lar’shi’s hope grows. Every able bodied being is another defender of the Empire and should be respected. But while Lar’shi is happy to see other species join with the Tau, he is hesitant to trust them fully until they have proven themselves in battle. Lar’shi believes that only in combat can a truly unbreakable bond be formed. Among his cadre, Gue’vesa, Kroot and Tau are treated as equals; having proven themselves in battle with the Y’he and other enemies of the Empire.

In regards to Kroot in particular, Lar’shi feels that they are an honorable and courageous species. Their adaptability (both in tactics and in gene manipulation) proves that they are valued members of Tau society and deserve the same level of respect as other Tau. In regards to Gue’vesa, Lar’shi prefers the company of the humans that originate on the planet D’artol; the inhabitants have since formed the Gue’Vesa’Kor. Lar’shi fought alongside them for some time prior to Ge’nesha and has always admired them for their boisterous, yet kind hearted nature (qualities Lar’shi is painfully aware that he is lacking).

Due to the unpredictability of some Y’he attacks, swift actions must be taken. This means that the ARC-16’s have been forced to intervene in the affairs of various newly discovered alien species and has done much to help and to harm Tau relations with them. More often than not, however, Lar’shi has managed to get his cadre on the good side of several factions; all of which owe a large debt of gratitude for the ARC’s assistance in repelling the Y’he invasion. This has sparked some rumors that Lar’shi is conscripting many of these grateful races into service with the ARC’s. Reports of mercenary bands joining Lar’shi in combat have been heard as well as reports of unauthorized trade between species, but any evidence to this end has never been able to reach the proper authorities; disappearing before any investigation can be performed.

But while he and his cadre have proven themselves brave and courageous warriors, Lar’shi cannot help but feel fear for those under his command. Each time they are sent out on a mission, there are some who do not return. Lar’shi understands this and accepts that it is the nature of battle. But he tends to feel personally responsible for the loss of each warrior under his command, feeling that their deaths must have been due to some tactical failing on his part. This is something which would have broken his sanity were it not for the practical outlook of Natar Luco and Shas’Vre Kais’Lar. Clearly, his tough exterior hides a leader with a variety of insecurities. But Lar’shi desires to honor and live up to the memory of his Shas’El and strives to do his best to lead his cadre to victory. Lar’shi still finds it difficult to give the kind of motivation that Shas’El La’shi was able to provide during battle. So instead of being what he is not, Lar’shi uses the memory of their once great Shas’El to encourage them. Still, Lar’shi is a very conflicted individual. He struggles to balance his more solitary and calculating nature with the charisma and leadership qualities needed to effectively lead the cadre just as the Shas’El would.

Lar’shi believes that every victory against the Y’he is a victory for the Empire, for if he fails in his mission to destroy the Y’he, the Empire will fall. And Lar’shi will give everything he has to stop that from happening.

How does he lead:
A thinker and a planner, Lar’shi is known best for his tactical approach. In the field, he equips himself with a Positional Relay to better coordinate his troops. Equipped with Iridium Armor, his Battlesuit is often seen alongside whatever unit is currently under fire; the suits massive bulk and armor protecting whatever troops he assists. Lar’shi coordinates strategic drops that allow his forces to best utilize the element of surprise and minimize casualties. In battle, Lar’shi is calm and calculating. He always knows the best times to strike and has adapted sort of a sixth sense to Tyranid movements.

A stern and merciless leader, Lar’shi demands perfection from those he commands. Where his former Shas’El was a kindly father figure, Lar’shi is cold and harsh. Yet he does genuinely care for those under his command. His brutal training regiment may be difficult, but it is for the good of the cadre. One cannot argue with the results as the ARC-16’s have the lowest casualty rate among any other ARC cadre.

His cadre has implicit trust in him and would follow their Shas’El to the ends of galaxy and back. And if that’s what it takes to find and eliminate every last Y’he, then Lar’shi is more than willing to do so.

Unit Profile: Master Shaper Natar Luco



(Click here to see other Gallery images)


Master Shaper Natar Luco

Appearance:
Natar Luco is a Kroot of average height, but with a heavily muscled build. Unlike many Shapers who have long, thicker quills, Luco maintains a relatively small bundle. It is something his lineage is genetically predisposed for and is often the source of jokes among his peers. Since his time serving with the ARC-16’s, he has become more and more used to advanced technology and is often seen wearing the XV-1 armor developed for the Kroot. Among his many possessions, Luco is proud to wear a variety of quill decorations; each one of them given to him by varying members of his kindred for deeds of great valor.

With combat being fought against the Tyranid on a regular basis, Luco has recently fashioned a y’he’myr from the talon of a particularly fierce Alpha Warrior. It has become a symbol of the kindred’s battle against the Tyranid threat and holds great significance to the Blood Quills.


Background:
When the former Master Shaper, Mataba, was killed during an attack on an Ork logging facility, Natar Luco was the logical choice for the new Master Shaper. His affinity for technology and his keen sense of genetic awareness made him a perfect leader for the resourceful Blood Quills, despite his young age.

But despite his natural prowess, Luco has always felt somewhat inadequate to fill the role of the former Master Shaper. Since his kindred had come to reside on Ge’nesha when he came of fighting age, Luco had never taken part in the profession of his ancestors. Mercenary work defined many Kroot kindred’s and to have an inexperienced leader could often lead to tragedy.

But to assume that lack of experience in this area made Luco unqualified for the role was far from the truth. When the Orks arrived on Ge’nesha, Luco was a fast learner. As a young Shaper, he approached every combat situation in a calm and calculated manner. He was confident that his people could overcome this threat, but after seeing the ferocity of their opponent, he knew that they would have to be smarter if they wanted to survive. During the years that followed, Luco’s forged those Kroot under his command into the most deadly guerilla fighters on the planet. His many victories proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that Luco was indeed a fine candidate to one day lead the kindred. And after many glorious victories and agonizing losses, Luco rose to be one of the most respected of the kindred’s Shapers, earning himself a place on the Shaper Council.

After the successful but tragic offensive against the Ork invaders lead to Luco inheriting the mantle of Master Shaper, he quickly saw a need to prepare his people to leave the then Ork infested Ge’nesha. Countless sleepless nights were spent by Luco and his counsel as they organized and prepared whatever was needed to allow their people to escape. But when the Tau arrived, things took an unexpected turn. Luco did not desire to have his kindred found by the Tau, since they had no experience with the Empire and feared that their freedom would be restricted by serving these alien masters. But after being forced to rescue the beleaguered Sa’cean cadres from the new Tyranid threat, the Blood Quills found their fates inexorably tied to the Tau.

Through many difficult battles and after countless sacrifices on both their parts, the Tau that would become the ARC-16’s and the Blood Quills were forever bonded. Upon recovery by the rest of the Tau forces, Luco and his kindred were given a choice. They could remain a free roaming mercenary group if they wished, but under the agreement reached with the Kroot at the great Oathstone on Pech, the Blood Quills would have to stay outside Tau controlled space. This would mean that the kindred would be forced to venture further into the unknown, something that would be difficult, given their current state.

The other option was to join the Empire and become proper auxiliary units. But to do this, they had to agree to be in exclusive service to the Tau. That meant that they would have to give up their old mercenary ways. While this may seem like an easy compromise to make, mercenary activity was one of the main ways that Kroot were able to acquire rare genetic material and advance their species. And even though the Blood Quills had spent much time out of the mercenary field, they still had a strong desire to return to the work. Many in the kindred feared that without that avenue, they would soon begin the decline toward genetic stagnation. To add to this, the Blood Quills were a kindred that valued their freedom above all else. After all, they left Pech specifically to avoid becoming servants to the Tau!

But Luco was an extremely loyal individual. On Ge’nesha, the Tau had faced many horrors right alongside the Kroot and yet they never faltered. For instance, during their final moments on the planet the survivors were forced to flee from a vicious Tyranid counter attack. As all the survivors made their way to rescue, a surprise ambush separated a full half of the Blood Quills from the main group. To rescue them would mean that they would have to turn back and face the vicious monsters that were chasing them; a daunting proposal considering that rescue from their nightmare was just over the hill.

After realizing what had happened, Luco was quick to arrange for his own people to make the rescue. Although he could have asked for the cadre’s assistance, he felt it wrong to deny the Tau their rescue, since they had repaid their debt to the Blood Quills several times over. This was the kindred’s problem and would be handled internally, regardless of the cost. With that in mind Luco told the Tau that they could leave without them and that the Kroot would find their way to their abandoned battle sphere and try to leave on their own.

Lar’shi, however, was unwilling to leave any of his new allies behind. Immediately upon being informed of what happened, he contacted the Orca’s and told them that they would be receiving a few of the survivors who were too hurt to go on, along with the slow moving elements of both the cadre and the kindred. The rest of the mobile elements would backtrack to find and rescue the remaining Kroot.

Even though Luco adamantly refused the assistance, Lar’shi ignored his objections and ordered all his remaining Devilfish to empty their occupants at the Orca’s and prepare to head back to take on Kroot survivors. This touched the hearts of all in the kindred and together they were able to fight through the Tyranid advance and rescue almost all of their people. So committed were the Tau to their allies that during the fighting, an experienced XV8 pilot sacrificed himself to distract the Tyranid long enough to allow the rest to escape. With such a history between them, Luco felt it would be wrong to just abandon these Tau. He felt that rejecting the offer would dishonor their ancestors since without the help of the Tau, the kindred would have died on that planet; their genetic information lost forever. With this in mind, Luco accepted the Tau’s offer and became an official part of the Empire.

This is not to say that all of the Blood Quills were in agreement. Many felt that Luco was making a hasty decision and that they should just continue along their own path. Even two members of the kindred’s Shaper Council challenged Luco’s decision; questioning whether he was even fit to lead. The Master Shaper though, did not take such words to heart. He could understand his kindred’s reluctance, but he reassured them that this was the only way their people could survive. If they would venture out on their own, it would only take an attack from a pirate race or from marauding Orks to wipe them out entirely. So while they may not like it, their only real chance would be with the Tau.

This reasoning calmed the detractors in the kindred, for a time. Yet Luco knew that the independent streak of his people was bound to surface again and he was going to have to take matters into his own hands to ensure that it did not boil over into mutiny.


Current Role:
As Master Shaper, Luco is in charge of all the Blood Quills that serve with the ARC-16’s and there is no activity involving the kindred that Luco does not know about. Being the representative of his kindred, Luco is always serving full time with the ARC’s on each of their campaigns and acts as an advisor for Shas’El Lar’shi. His insight on guerilla warfare has provided the cadre with experience needed to effectively combat a numerically superior foe like the Tyranid.

For a Kroot, Luco is a highly respected leader by the Tau in the cadre. It is a rare privilege for one of his kind to lead Tau troops into battle, but after proving his abilities time and time again, he has earned his commanding role. Many new recruits to the ARC-16’s are surprised to see the Shaper in this role and many express their discomfort at following a Kroot into combat. Yet Luco does not take offense to this. In fact, he will often respond that he never expected to be leading Tau either! But after serving alongside the Master Shaper for even a short amount of time, most recognize his courage and skill, quelling any dissension among the ranks.

But while Luco serves alongside the cadre happily, he has arranged for a way for the Blood Quills to sate their desire for independence. Approaching Shas’El Lar’shi, he explained his kindred’s position on mercenary activity. He requested that a portion of his kindred be allowed to accept mercenary contracts. If this was granted, any money or alien technology that was received or discovered on such excursions would be returned to the cadre for study. The only real thing they needed was the genetic information they would acquire in combat.

Initially, the Shas’El was reluctant. He worried that such activity would not be for the greater good and might lead the cadre down a path focused on personal gain and self aggrandizement. But Luco reasoned with him and explained that their purpose was only for the greater good of the Kroot species which would in turn lead to a benefit for the Tau and for other species as well. The Tau under his command didn’t have to get involved at all and the only ones at risk would be his own people; a risk they were willing to take.

Lar’shi could not deny that he owed a debt to these Kroot and that by restricting them, he would be denying them something essential to their culture. With that in mind, the Shas’El eventually conceded and agreed to allow Luco to accept a few mercenary contracts. Obviously, this would have to be something kept away from the eyes of the Shas’ar’tol. But being somewhat of a rebel himself, Lar’shi had little issue with keeping things from his superiors; as long as it would not endanger the Empire or impede the Greater Good in any way. After being given approval, Luco reestablished his kindred’s old contacts throughout the system. Even though much in the galaxy had changed since the Blood Quills last roamed the stars, there were still places where the kindred could find a lead on mercenary work. This led to several minor contracts for various factions and helped to promote the name of this kindred amongst underground circles.

As their influence began to spread, Luco received a message from one of the original Blood Quill Warsphere’s that parted ways with the larger kindred when they settled on Ge’nesha. The meeting of the two long lost Kroot tribes was a time of great feasting and rejoicing for the Blood Quills. Luco felt that this was a true gift from their ancestors and proved to him that they were on the right path. After all, if they had not joined the Tau, they would have likely never reestablished contact with their brothers. As such, Luco’s dedication to the ARC-16’s was strengthened. As an added bonus, their missing people had been doing their own share of mercenary work in the area and were able to provide the Master Shaper with much valuable information and contacts. Faced with the increasing scope of managing his responsibilities with the ARC-16’s and mercenary work, Luco passed on command of the later to Shaper Vok, a Kroot he trusted could handle the responsibility of organizing the kindred’s mercenary contracts.

Taking command of the two Warsphere’s they had at their disposal, Vok would recruit a full half of the current kindred to take part in mercenary work. The other half would remain with the ARC-16’s to fulfill the terms of their annexation. Vok would then be responsible for actively pursuing contracts, which in turn would have to be approved by Luco, who would first check with Lar’shi to determine if it would interfere with any Tau activity in the area. Any payment that was received would be kept carefully inventoried and reported to the Shas’El and the Master Shaper. But to avoid raising any suspicion, the materials were always kept on board the Warsphere’s.

For many tau’cyr this arrangement continued with great benefits for both the Blood Quills and the ARC-16’s. The Kroot often times received payment in the form of exotic weapons or other technologies which were quickly studied and reverse engineered by the cadre’s resident Fio. Such acquired technology led to discoveries which helped advance Tau weaponry, construction materials and opened many doors in the medicinal field. For a time, this seemed like an ideal arrangement for all involved. Yet, such good things rarely last.

The increased Tyranid activity, especially the attack of Hive Fleet Gorgon in the Kel’shan Sept, moved Luco to search for some way to effectively combat this threat. But it was not until the discovery of the Projector technology that Luco had any success. These devices held in them the potential destruction of the Tyranid species and Lar’shi became obsessed with finding out how to make them work.

While the Fio furiously sought to understand how the machine worked, the Blood Quills continued accepting mercenary contracts. Their journey’s eventually brought them into contact with the leader of a small pirate fleet named Haman Nulvar. Haman wished to execute a raid on an Imperial storage facility that was too strongly defended for his own forces to overcome and requested the help of the kindred. Shaper Vok attended the negotiations on board the pirate’s flagship. While terms of acceptable payment were being discussed, Vok noticed one of the Projectors in the flagships hold. He immediately reported the find to Luco who instructed him to request the device as payment for their work. Vok knew of course that the human pirates would likely try to extort more service out of the Kroot if they expressed interest in the artifact, so he casually asked about its origins.

Haman told him that this was one of several of the same devices that had been discovered during a raid of a Mechanicus convoy long ago. Haman’s fleet, along with several other pirate groups, united their forces for this one big job which allowed them to capture, among many priceless treasures, the Projectors that had become so valuable to the Tau. After the raid was complete, each group went their separate ways and each took one of the Projectors with them.

This was a huge find for the Kindred. If they could track down the rest of these pirates, then hopefully they would be able to obtain the Projectors and increase the chance of discovering the secret to their operation. So as not to raise suspicion, Vok mentioned that such devices were valuable to his kindred as the particular field they emitted helped to attract a specific prey beast on one of the kindred’s colony worlds. The Shaper offered his peoples services and he would even limit their payment to simply being the bodies of the dead along with the ancient device. Naman, not knowing fully what he had in his hold, agreed to the terms and arranged for the transfer of the device upon the missions’ successful completion. Luco then informed Lar’shi of the situation. The Shas’El agreed that they needed to fulfill the terms of the contract if they were going to get the Projector. He then requested the mission specs that the pirates had given them. After careful deliberation, Lar’shi concluded that the installation Naman wanted to assault would require more firepower than the kindred could provide. This left both Lar’shi and Luco at an impasse.

If they wanted to defeat these Imperials, they were going to need the heavy firepower of the Tau. But they couldn’t actively involve cadre elements without getting the unwanted attention of the Shas’ar’tol. If his superiors found out that Lar’shi had allowed the Kroot to break the terms of their annexation, he would likely be removed from his command position. To add to that, Lar’shi’s generally unpleasant attitude had led him to have many enemies among the Shas’ar’tol who wouldn’t hesitate to recommend his removal. Of course, this was unacceptable to the Shas’El who would not allow anything to take him away from his crusade against the Tyranid.

With this in mind, Luco suggested a compromise. Considering the kindred’s needs in the battle to come, the cadre’s Stealth Suits would be the most useful in infiltrating and sowing confusion amongst the Imperial troops. The rest of the heavier weapon roles could be filled by the kindred’s Knarloc Riders who had recently been outfitted with experimental harnesses which would allow them to utilize Tau weapons.

Lar’shi realized that this was the only way to ensure that they would successfully be able to complete the job. So both he and Luco began reviewing personnel files to determine who would be able and willing to handle this unsanctioned military action. There were many in the cadre who did not know about the Blood Quills mercenary work. Lar’shi felt that it wasn’t something all the ARC-16’s needed to know besides the officers in the cadre, since he knew that most of the new recruits would have difficulty accepting the arrangement that had been developed between the kindred and the Tau. Many would undoubtedly see this as not working in line with the Greater Good, an argument that would not be easy to settle.

Eventually, the long list of candidates was narrowed down to six Stealth pilots who were each approached individually on the circumstances of this mission. The two commanders had chosen their pilots well as not a one of them declined the offer. These pilots had served with the ARC-16’s for some time and trusted both commanders. Of course, Stealth pilots in the ARC-16’s are often made up of misfits from other cadres, so Lar’shi knew he could count on their willingness.

Once the military aspect of the mission was out of the way, they needed someone to make sure that the device would be delivered intact and usable. To accomplish this, Lar’shi turned to the head Fio, Ro’va. The Fio is as focused and proper as any Sa’cean and under normal circumstances would not sully his hands with anything related to mercenary work. But Lar’shi knew he could count on the Engineers wonder lust to convince him. Any chance the Fio of the ARC-16’s could get to examine the Projectors they would take, so he quickly agreed to do it. However, he requested a body guard of at least one Tau as he found the Kroot somewhat distasteful. For this role, Lar’shi turned to his trusted filed medic Shas’La Bentu’cal. The serious and somewhat sociopathic Tau agreed to the role without question.

The final thing now needed was a way to prevent the pirates from recognizing these “allies” to the Blood Quills as Tau. So Ro’va set his Fio to work crafting old XV15 suits to unrecognizable as Tau equipment, yet still retain their abilities. The changes were mainly cosmetic and proved to be an easy task for the eager Earth caste. With the equipment all ready, the Blood Quills moved out to join the pirates.

The mission proved to be a huge success and the Blood Quills were able to obtain the Projector in working order while Haman made off with tons of valuable Imperial equipment. Following their payment, Vok asked Haman for information on the other pirates who had taken the devices with them. Haman was happy to oblige and provided Vok with a list of pirate fleets that had them. Of course, it would be impossible to know the exact location of each of these fleets, but at least they had some leads.

These events proved to be the beginning of the ARC-16’s slow involvement in mercenary work. Since the pirate’s need places to sell and trade the good they loot, the Blood Quills have to stay regular in the underground markets throughout the galaxy. If they are to obtain the devices from the pirates on Haman’s list, they have to make a name for themselves, so each contract they take must be fulfilled completely. This often leads to the Kroot being in over their heads when tasked with an extremely difficult mission. So when the situation calls for it, Luco commandeers the needed cadre elements to ensure victory. This arrangement has enabled the Tau to obtain four out of the nine Projectors on their list and hopefully will lead to them finding the others.

While Luco had not anticipated getting the Tau involved in their work, he is grateful for their support. Each and every mission increases the potency of his kindred and has enabled the ARC-16’s to obtain many allies. Shaper Vok continues to head up the kindred’s mercenary activity, but now with greater involvement from both Lar’shi and Luco.

So far, by utilizing their carefully cultivated contacts or through lies and misinformation, they have escaped detection from the Shas’ar’tol. However, recent events have threatened to destroy all that Luco and Lar’shi have built. There are forces in the galaxy that have the same goals as the ARC-16’s, yet pursue them through different ends. But no matter what forces come their way, the wise Master Shaper will not allow his people, be they Tau or Kroot, to give their lives needlessly.

It is almost ironic now, that for all the time the Blood Quills have spend avoiding the Greater Good, they have found themselves becoming an intrinsic part of it.


Personality Profile:
Despite his fierce appearance, Natar Luco is good humored. Like most Kroot, he is able to jump between complete calm and raging predator in a heartbeat; whatever will achieve his desired ends. Luco is also a master of negotiation, being even a challenge for the most silver tongued Water caste diplomat. His charisma is infectious and has often charmed many a Tau into following his lead. Unswervingly loyal, Luco has proved himself to be a trustworthy and skilled commander.

The Master Shapers relationship with Lar’shi is close. The pair understands each other in a way that few can relate too. Perhaps it was they each of them had large responsibilities thrown on their shoulders after the deaths of the leaders they admired, or maybe each of them saw a focus and determination that could only be matched by the other. Whatever their bond was, their shared struggle on Ge’nesha cemented their friendship.


Beliefs/Fears:
Like most Kroot, Luco initially viewed the Greater Good as an amusing concept. By no means would he ever fight against it, since he can see the advantage in following it, but he is not a full believer as some other auxiliary races are.

Eventually though, Luco began reconsider. Lar’shi was possessed of a single minded focus when it came to the Tyranid. He perceived them as the greatest threat to all living beings; something that needed to be wiped out as quickly as possible. At first, Luco viewed Lar’shi’s thoughts to be little more than a Tau’s natural obsession. But after having regular conflicts with the beasts, he began to see them as a much greater danger than he had thought before. While Ge’nesha had been almost over run, it was eventually saved from the jaws of the Tyranid. Yet during his service with the ARC-16’s, Luco saw world after world wiped clean of life. These horrific events changed him.

He began to reflect on the threat posed to his entire species and it terrified him. The Tyranid could not even be safely consumed by the Kroot; something which shook them all on a fundamental level. In Kroot society, it is an honor to consume the flesh of a creature since it means the potential advancement of the Kroot species. So a creature that inedible simply because of its overwhelming complexity, was a repulsive thought for a Kroot. Luco began to see that something did indeed need to be done about this threat. After discovering the Projector technology, Luco saw to it that his kindred did what they could to help the Tau learn the secrets of these devices. And when it was discovered that various pirate factions had such devices, Luco zealously began the search. Because of the success his kindred has had while serving with the ARC-16’s, Luco is convinced that this course is one blessed by his ancestors. His loyalty is unswerving and he is dedicated to Lar’shi’s goal of wiping out the Tyranid once and for all.

Because of his great respect for the Tau, Luco has allowed for a ceremonial uniting of the two factions, known as the Kroot’mon’taal. Similar to bonding, this allows for Tau who have passed the Y’he’Mont'yr’mesa (surviving three encounters with the Tyranid) to become honorary members of the Blood Quills. This entitles the participant to refer to the Kroot as part of his ‘kindred,’ as for all intents and purposes, they are united as a family. While most Tau refrain from using the term, there are several of the ARC-16’s who have taken to the concept heartily.


How does he lead?:
A ferocious warrior, he is often the first to lead the charge in battle and can usually be found where the fighting is thickest; the roar of his Knarloc matched only by his own fierce battle cry. Often, Luco leads the kindred’s Knarloc riders, making best use of their speed and skills at hit and run tactics.

While he can be put in command of Tau units, Luco always defers to Shas’El Lar’shi’s authority and submits to the leadership of the Tau. This has led to a smooth transition between him and the officers of the ARC-16's. All Tau can see his willingness to do any job he asks of others and this has helped him to gain respect from even the harshest of his detractors. Leading all his troops with confidence, he is convinced that his blessed path with eventually lead to ultimate victory and this confidence transfers to all those under his command as well.

Unit Profile: Knarloc Riders


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--UNIT QUERY, DESIGNATION: Blood Quills, Knarloc Rider's--
The ARC-16’s are made up of mostly veteran Shas that have either been with the cadre from their beginnings on Ge’nesha, or have been re-assigned to it because of special skills. As such, the standard composition of the cadre can change according to the circumstances. The ARC-16’s focus on guerilla operations; utilizing the skills of the numerous Kroot carnivores attached to their main force. One of the unique units utilized by the Cadre are the Kroot Knarloc Riders.

Unlike most seen operating with other Tau cadre’s, riders in the Blood Quills have been trained to utilize their mounts to perform amazing feats of agility. Because of their speed, many are able to avoid damage and injury by weapons or enemies that would normally be more than a match for such a unit. The riders themselves come equipped with a variety of weapons; many of those weapons being pilfered Imperial weapons. Meltaguns, Plasma Guns, Missile Launchers and Flamers are favored weapons by the riders. Each rider displays a grace and agility once thought impossible for such a mounted unit. Their skill is so impressive, that Knarloc Riders function very similarly to the XV8 Crisis suits the cadre operates. The Riders often take the role of objective clearing; utilizing their short ranged weapons to maximum effect. However, long range missile fire is utilized to eliminate transports or keep the enemies head down while the Riders approach.

Among the Blood Quills, the Riders hold a position of high esteem. To tame and control a Knarloc in so skillfully a way is a testament to their abilities. A Knarloc Rider is bound to his mount as long as either lives. If killed on the battlefield, the rider and the Knarloc are to be consumed by the Riders replacement. As such, bodies of dead Riders are extremely important to the Kroot culturally and genetically, since consuming the DNA of a successful Rider and his mount will allow the next generation to increase their natural riding ability.

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--Knarloc Riders--
>Shaper Nori<

Background:
While the Blood Quills have an amiable relationship with the Tau, some members are less than trusting. It is still common for Blood Quills to keep their distance and avoid associating with Tau while off duty; whether they are of the ARC’s or not. But some Kroot tend to go a step further. While they would never break the sacred oaths of their ancestors and fight against Tau, some enjoy nothing more than making the life of a Tau miserable by non-violent means.

Nori is one such Kroot. He has been cited on several occasions for disruptive and unprofessional behavior. Letting wild Ja’ko lizard into the hab domes, greasing the inside of Firewarrior helmets with koora root (which has the delightful smell of rotting flesh), planting mal’yr pheromone pods on XV8’s before training missions (a harmless but filthy swarming insect that has the habit of finding its way into every crack and opening of a structure), just to name a few of his tricks.

Any Tau who attempts to settle the score with Nori after falling victim to one of his pranks will often find themselves coming face to face with a wall of Kroot, ready to defend their brother. Obviously, Nori is not the most popular member of the kindred to outsiders.

His only redemption is seen on the battlefield. Utlizing his keen eye with a missile launcher, Nori has scored over half a dozen Carnifex kills in his career with the ARC-16’s; something he is very proud of (and quite vocal about too). It’s good that Nori has the skills to make himself useful, since Lar’shi has commented more than once that, “If he wasn’t such a good shot, I would have killed him myself long ago.”


--Knarloc Riders--
>Shaper Herok<

Background:
Herok has never been one for subtlety. While many Kroot would choose to stalk their prey, Herok attacks without hesitation. Some would call his ways suicidal. But to Herok, it’s called “getting things done.” Herok’s impatience and temper have gotten him in difficult situations in the past, but they have also saved the lives of many in his kindred. Herok came of age to be a rider sometime after Ge’nesha, so he did not take part in that major battle. But he has faced his fair share of battles against the Tyranid already.

Choosing the weapon that best fits his personality, a flamethrower, Herok is often charged with clearing buildings, tunnels or anything that Tyranid creatures can hide in. His fearless assaults often leave the enemy off balance and help pave the way for any secondary attacks to proceed unhindered. This ferocious approach has won many battles and Herok’s courage has been praised by his Tau comrades many times.


--Knarloc Riders--
> Shaper Runah<

Background:
To many Kroot, technology is a necessary evil. Preferring to stick to the “Old Ways,” most reluctantly use the equipment gifted to them by the Tau. But for some Kroot, especially those of the Blood Quills kindred, careful use of technology is essential to their continued survival.

Shaper Runah was born on board a traveling Blood Quills Warsphre, one of the vessels that were separated from the larger kindred on Ge’nesha before their alliance with the ARC-16’s. His parent’s diet consisted of regular Ork Mekboy meals, giving Runah an affinity for technology at birth. As he grew older, Runah continued to tinker with the limited equipment on board the Sphere, but it was only when his family was reunited with the larger Blood Quill kindred that Runah really began to shine.

He learned of the battle on Ge’nesha and the alliance made between his kindred and the ARC-16’s. Runah was eager to examine these aliens firsthand and see what they had to offer. Upon his first visit to a Tau vessel, Runah was astounded at the plethora of lights and sounds that assaulted him. In awe he stared at the XV8’s as they nimbly made their way around the hangar bay and the superbly equipped Fire Warriors in their efficient armor. Inspired by what he saw Runah quickly approached his Master Shaper, Natar Luco, with a request to work alongside the Tau on a project to better equip his people. Luco agreed and was able to arrange for him to work alongside the chief Fio attached to the ARC-16’s, Fio’El Sa'cea Ro’va.

The Fio was skeptical at first as to whether this Kroot could think as creatively as one of his own caste, but felt he could at least humor the alien. Yet, to his surprise, Runah proved quite capable and was able to quickly adapt all the information Ro’Va gave him on basic Tau technology. Working together, the pair was eventually able to adapt some heavy armor that could be equipped by the kindred’s Knarloc Riders to better protect them in combat. The projects proved quite successful and eventually the designs first thought of by Runah have become standard equipment on all Knarloc Riders of the Blood Quills.

But like all things related to the Tau, progress must continually be made. Runah is equipped with the latest in Kroot Armor technology: The XV-1 Striker Armor. The XV-1 Armor allows for the Kroot to utilize his own portion of the Tau battlenet and communicate more effectively with other Tau units. Given only to the Shapers who have proved to be the most cooperative with Tau commanders, the suit allows for the Shaper to more effectively use Tau markerlights and utilize more advanced weaponry. The attached Missile Pod being a new feature, allowing the Rider to provide more accurate long range support while wielding another weapon.

Runah continues to prove himself a favorite among the Fio and they rely on him for approval of many of the newer Kroot designs being incorporated into the auxiliary units of the ARC-16’s.

Unit Profile: Crisis Team Yan'tak


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--Crisis Team Yan’Tak--
>Shas’Ui Sa’cea Lar’Vash<

Background:
Lar’Vash was trained in one of the many academies on Sa’cea. She distinguished herself alongside her flesh and blood sister, Yan’Tak. Together they made a formidable team and they both rose through the ranks quickly. During her training, Lar’Vash earned the later part of her name because of her subdued and shy personality.

Lar’vash and her sister latter served with the 4th Sa’cean Rapid Insertion Force alongside Lar’shi’s cadre during the campaign on Ge’nesha. When the Tyranid attacked, Lar’Vash’s cadre was one of the only in the area that was able to preserve most of their XV8’s. This made them invaluable during the first crucial moments of the battle. Alongside her sister, Lar’Vash struggled to keep the Tyranid horrors at bay.

After the survivors were able to escape, the then Shas’Vre Lar’shi ordered he sisters’ to take a team to recover whatever survivors could be found from a nearby listening post, whose distress signal had just activated. When they arrived, the structure was eerily quite. Fire Team Sor’To entered the structure while Lar’Vash and her sister waited outside with the Devilfish. The Firewarrior’s kept in communication the whole way through until they reached the main control room. Suddenly, the comms erupted into screams and the Fire Teams vitals flat-lined.

Before Lar’Vash could react, the ground erupted from beneath her as a massive Trygon burst from the ground. Her sister reacted in time to avoid it, but Lar’Vash was thrown back by the beast. The Tyrgon wasted no time in pursuing her sister, leaving Lar’Vash and the Fire Team’s Devilfish to deal with the Ravenors that traveled with it. Pushing away her fears, Lar’Vash charged her suit forward to engage the snake like assailants.

The beasts dove at her and peppered her suit with its bio-weapons, but she focused her fire unabated. Targeting two beasts at a time, Lar’Vash dove and bounced, never staying in one place long enough for the Y’he to get a clean hit with their talons. Eventually, with the help from the Devilfish pilot, she was able to destroy the last of the creatures and sped off to help her sister. Initially she feared the worst, but found her sister alive, her suit jumping furiously between massive trees, barely avoiding the Trygon’s sharp talons.

With little options in front of her, Lar’Vash fired her Missile Pod at the creature’s back which, while being enough to get its attention, left her now to deal with the angry beast. Yan’Tak ordered her to leave with the pilot and go back to their camp, but both Lar’Vash and the pilot refused. The Trygon, oblivious to the drama unfolding between the Tau, roared its anger and fired a bolt of electricity generated from its body. The bolt barely missed Lar’Vash, but gave the Trygon the distraction it needed to close the gap between them.

Just then, the voice of a Kor pilot was heard through her comms. The pilots were out on a scouting run to see what had become of the forward cadre’s and arrived just in time to be of some use in the battle beneath them. Firing their Ion Cannons, the Barracuda’s tore into the Trygon and knocked it off its path. Combining their fire, all the Tau engaged the beast at once, pummeling the Trygon with Missile, Pulse and Ion fire until the creature was dead.

Saved from an early death, the Tau returned to their camp, but not before they ordered the Barracuda’s to destroy the listening post. As the flyer’s attacked, Lar’Vash could hear the screams of the beasts inside. She stood there, watching the flames engulf what was left of the facility. In that moment the true extent of the horrors she witnessed that day hit her. Inside, she felt an extreme in emotion she had never felt before. For the first time, she found it difficult to keep her feelings neautral. Her hatred for the Tyranid began to grow and that hate kept her going through some of the worst combat on the planet. After surviving the conflict, Lar’Vash earned the first part of her name for her courage in the line of duty.

Recently, Lar’Vash undertook her Trial by Fire to rise to the rank of Vre, but unfortunately failed the test. Her skills as a pilot are superb, but her tactical sense is lacking. She found this hard to accept initially and was determined to pass her next trial. But it is still clear that she harbors some resentment about her failure. After the trial, a progressive change in her behavior began to be noticed. Her once mild demeanor has given way to an aggressive streak that had not been seen before. This behavior has been noted by both the Fio physicians and the Por psychologists, but as of yet it has not been determined to be an issue. Mental instability is not uncommon among the ARC-16’s, so time will tell if this aggressive new Lar’Vash will really serve the greater good.


--Crisis Team Yan’Tak--
>Drill Shas’Vre Sa'cea Yan’Tak<

Background:
Battle with the Y’he tests the fortitude of any warrior. The ability to maintain ones calm against the unfathomable horrors of the Hive Mind is a rare quality. But for warriors like Drill Shas’Vre Yan’Tak, they are simply another obstacle in the way of the Greater Good. And like all obstacles, they can be overcome.

Yan’Tak is a primary example of the discipline common among the Sa’cean warriors of the ARC-16’s. During her training, Yan’Tak displayed herself to be a competent and skilled leader. While serving as a line warrior, she naturally fit into the role of Shas’Ui, consistently leading her squad to success. Normally, it is rare for siblings to be assigned to the same cadre, let alone squad. But Yan’Tak has served alongside her sister Lar’Vash, since they were Saal’s. Where her sister is calm and soft spoken, Yan’Tak is loud and short tempered; a quality which earned her her name. A serious minded soldier, Yan’Tak value’s hard work and competence; qualities which she demands from those that serve under her.

On Ge’nesha, Yan’Tak was a part of the 4th Sa’cean Rapid Insertion Force. At Golto Ridge, the then Shas’Ui Yan’Tak and the other Crisis Suit pilots were preparing to drop into a heavily populated Ork center when the Tyranid burst from the ground. Through the nimble piloting common among Sa’cean XV8 pilots, every one of Yan’Tak’s RIF survived the initial attack. But other cadre’s weren’t so fortunate. Many lost their XV8’s right in the opening moments of the battle, which left those of the 4th RIF to fill the gap.

Pushed to their limits, the pilots were forced to fight almost constant battles for hours on end. For every Y’he they killed, ten more took its place. But throughout the brutal fighting, Yan’Tak and her fiery words could be heard throughout the comms. Her motivating calls and sharp tactical know-how gave her team what they needed to hold the line against their ravenous foe. Whenever the Y’he seemed that they were breaking through their lines, one of Yan’Tak’s XV8’s was there, pouring hot death on their enemies. Jumping from combat to combat, Yan’Tak fought with such ferocity that she accounted for over two hundred kills on the Golto Ridge alone. Eventually though, even her and her seasoned pilots began to wear down. Thankfully, the seemingly endless tide of Tyranid was broken by the timely intervention of the Blood Quills and the scales were tipped in favor of the Tau and allowed the survivors to escape.

Throughout her time on Ge’nesha, Yan’Tak could always be counted on to steady the minds of terrified Shas and move their hearts to recognize their service to the Tau’va. In recognition of her abilities, Yan’Tak was promoted to Drill Shas’Vre. She takes great pride in her new rank and does her utmost to teach every Shas who comes into her training dome what it really means to serve among the ARC-16’s. New recruits often joke that after you go through training with Yan’Tak, unspeakable insectoid horrors don’t seem so bad.

--Crisis Team Yan’Tak--
>Shas’Ui Sa’cea Aloh’Cha<

Background:
Like many of the ARC-16’s, Aloh’Cha was transferred from another cadre after accomplishing some feat which caught the attention of Shas’El Lar’shi. Aloh’Cha’s was part of a Mission Denial Force tasked with defending a captured manufactorum from falling back into Imperial hands. Hoping to keep the structure intact, the Imperials avoided using large explosives, but they kept the Tau busy by sending waves of Chimera’s, pouring out infantry. The Farstrike team fought back with calm discipline, carefully eliminating the most important targets first before worrying about the simple infantry swarming about them. But the Imperials were not blindly throwing bodies at the Tau. They were playing to their strengths and not allowing the XV8’s to have the range they preferred.

As the battle raged on, the numbers of the Farstrike team began to drop. Both the Broadsides had done their job by eliminating the vehicular threats, but soon they were cut down by waves of Lasgun and Melta fire. The other XV8’s fought back ferociously, but a sudden arrival of a team of Storm Troopers saw the Tau lose two vital suits. Eventually, the last Tau left was Aloh’Cha.

He had earned his name for his cold and ruthless demeanor. That day, he earned that name. One of the Imperial sergeants carrying a power sword succeeded in severing Aloh’Cha’s Plasma Rifle from his arm, denying him the use of one of his weapons. Eventually his Missile Pod, while helping him to finish off the Stormtroopers, ran out of ammunition and left Aloh’Cha with nothing but his size and enhanced strength. And the grim Tau was determined to use them. Pushing full power to his engines, Aloh’Cha rushed the Imperials, crushing several of them with his powerful legs and arms. The Gue’la had the advantage of numbers, but they couldn’t crack the powerful armor of the XV8.

When the Tau forces arrived to seize the facility, they found a damaged and wounded Aloh’Cha, still in a vicious melee with the Gue’la. His left arm had been severed and his jetpack was damaged, but Aloh’Cha kept on smashing at the last few Imperials who resisted. With a stomp of his armored hoof, Aloh’Cha eventually crushed the last of the Imperials and fell to his knees. The Fio medics rushed to the scene and were able to stabilize his condition.

Upon waking up in a Fio medical facility, Aloh’Cha could see the Ethereal who conducted his Farstrike ceremony, speaking with a tall Shas. They Shas spoke fervently and kept pointing at Aloh’Cha and eventually the pair made their way to his bedside.

Straightening up as best he could Aloh’Cha listened eagerly to the Ethereal who explained to him that this Shas was El Lar’shi of the ARC-16’s. He was impressed with Aloh’Cha’s skills during his mission and requested him to join the elite cadre. Aloh’Cha was filled with pride as the Ethereal praised him for his skill and bravery and recommended that he use those talents to best help the Empire by joining the ARC’s. Without hesitation, Aloh’Cha joined the cadre and has served loyally ever since.

Unit Profile: Crisis Team Mont'mesa


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--Crisis Team Mont'mesa--
>Shas’Vre Sa’cea Mont’mesa<

Background:
Among the ARC-16’s, the crisis team led by Shas’Vre Mont’mesa have developed quite an illustrious reputation. The bonded warriors were transferred from their original cadre to reinforce the ARC-16’s during a defense of a Sa’cean research station that had come under attack by a Y’he splinter fleet. The beasts had used large amounts of Gargoyles to overwhelm the defenders. While Stealth and Firewarrior teams fought to thin the hordes of winged monstrosities, something was needed to eliminate the powerful Synapse creatures directing the swarms. Mont’mesa and his ta’ro’cha were one of the teams selected to hunt these beasts. Using superb coordination, Mont’mesa’s team succeeded in eliminating all their targets and enabled the Tau to gain a foothold against the Y’he. After that battle, the team was assigned to work with the ARC-16’s permanently.

Mont’mesa is a highly skilled pilot and a brilliant commander, but his skills have made him cocky. His team has also never lost a member; something which they have often bragged about in the past. This attitude has made them somewhat unpopular among the ARC-16’s; something which suits them just fine.

To add to that, Mont’mesa has been regularly outspoken about Shas’El Lar’Shi’s mental state. He feels that the commander is ruled too much by his emotions and has become obsessed with finding the remnants of Splinter Fleet Reclaimer. He has also raised suspicion about the Blood Quills and their seeming continuation of mercenary activities with the knowledge of the ARC-16’s. He feels that Lar’shi is no longer fit to command and that leadership should be turned over to him. Both Mont’mesa and Lar’shi have exchanged some very heated words on those subjects and if Mont’mesa was not such a skilled pilot, he would have been transferred a long time ago.

It is yet to be seen what trouble Mont’mesa may cause for the cadre. But one thing is for sure: he will be patiently watching and waiting for Lar’Shi to slip up and give him something to bring to the Shas’ar’tol. And when that time comes, Mont’mesa won’t hesitate. The ARC-16’s do deserve a good commander after all…


--Crisis Team Mont'mesa--
>Shas’Ui Sa’cea Kles<

Background:
Kles is an aggressive Shas who seems more like the hot headed Vior’lans than a Tau from the disciplined Sa’cea Sept. Having his team transferred to the ARC-16’s was not something he was pleased about. Shas’El Lar’shi’s unorthodox tactics and strategies don’t strike Kles as genius, but as sloppy. Obviously, Kles support’s his Shas’vre’s opinions on the need for new leadership and is always at Mont’mesa’s side during a debate.

Among the ARC’s themselves, Kles has made several enemies; his greatest being Drill Shas’vre Yan’Tak. During an engagement to repel Imperial forces, Kles was tasked by the Drill Shas’vre to locate and eliminate the enemy transports. Feeling that such a role was better suited for the Pathfinders, Kles openly challenged her decision right in the middle of the briefing. He insinuated that she was better suited for training new inductees than leading such a crucial mission. The gathered crisis teams sat silently and waited for a response. For her part, Yan’Tak performed admirably and brushed the comment off, carefully explaining her strategy and saving face.

After the briefing, Yan’Tak found Kles in the hangar bay to discuss what had happened. When all the pilots gathered later to be suited up for battle, both Kles and Yan’tak showed up with a few bruises they had not had before. Of course, neither would ever admit to any wrongdoing, but it was clear that the tension between the two would not go away any time soon.


--Crisis Team Mont'mesa--
>Shas’Ui Sa’cea Tash<

Background:
For Tash, transitioning into the ARC-16’s way of war has been difficult, even though he has performed admirably during his team’s first deployment against the Y’he. The difficult and moody Shas’El Lar’Shi was nothing like his old commander and dealing so closely with the Kroot made him uneasy. Normally a strong, silent type, Tash prefers to stand on the sidelines when Mont’mesa carries on one of his debates with ARC personnel. Only on a few occasions has he stepped in and that usually was after the debate became physical.

While it’s likely that Tash simply doesn’t wish to involve himself in the drama his team mates cause, experience on the battlefield have given him a very different view of some of the ARC-16’s. Despite their occasional instability, they all genuinely care for each other and are willing to give their lives for those in their cadre. Tash cannot help but admire that. And since he has been on the receiving end of some ARC assistance in combat, he knows he owes many in the cadre his life.

But what the ARC-16’s don’t know is that Tash has learned much about the cadre’s mercenary activity. And while he could bring this information to Mont’mesa and provide him with the ammo he needs to bring the Shas’El down, Tash holds back. There have even been several occasions where Tash has foiled Mont’mesa’s plans or mislead him in order to keep the ARC-16’s secret. Perhaps one day Tash will come clean and expose the info to his Shas’Vre or even to the Shas’ar’tol. But for now, he sees the ARC’s and even their commander as an essential part of the Tau’va, so he will bide his time and gather whatever information he can.

After all, who knows when it might come in handy?

Unit Profile: Fire Team Doran


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--Fire Team Doran--
>Shas'La Sa'cae Ko<

Background:
Shas'La Ko is the newest member of the ARC-16's. He was transferred directly from Sa'cae upon completion of his first combat mission. Ko earned his name for his part in repelling an attack by Ork raiders on his convoy. An excellent marksmen, Ko took the initiative to seek out the Ork leadership among the raiders and focus his Lar'ua's fire, thus throwing the Ork's into disarray. Ko is eager to prove his worth to his new cadre and hopes to continue to live up to his name.


--Fire Team Doran--
>Shas'La Sa'cae Re'Y<

Background:
Shas'La Re'Y is a veteran member of the ARC-16's. Being one of the original Firewarriors present on Ge'nesha, Re (as he was then known) was part of a scouting cadre that was ambushed by Tyranids. Every member of his cadre was killed, yet miraculously he survived. For 7 rotaa Re dodged Tyranid and Ork forces until he was able to meet up with the Sa'cean survivors. For his actions acting alone on Ge'nesha and for his somber and solitary nature, he earned the addition to his name of "Y."


--Fire Team Doran--
>Shas'La Sa'cae Shovah'Ka<

Background:
Shas’La Sa’cea Shovah’Ka joined the ARC-16’s after serving in the 2nd Sa’cean Forward Reconnaissance Cadre that had just finished a campaign against the Nashir Raiders that were harassing supply lines in the area. Shovah’Ka is known for his keen sense of observation; a quality which served him well during the boarding actions on Nashir outposts.

During one conflict, Nashir and his Lar’ua were chasing down stragglers from a recent firefight, when they walked right into a trap. The fleeing Nashir brought them down to one of their emergency hangars which contained a room full of Nashir warriors. Out manned and out gunned, a split second decision had to be made; run or fight. Shovah’Ka chose to fight, but on his own terms.

Firing a single shot past the gathered Nashir, Shovah’ka aimed for a crude airlock control panel. His shot damaged important systems and resulted in a sudden decompression of the room. Fortunately for the Firewarrior's, the outposts systems were designed to instantly close the doors to the entrance of the hangar upon any decompression. Shovah’Ka’s wave goodbye was the last thing the Nashir saw.

Shovah’Ka had studied Nashir systems before their mission and was praised for his farsightedness. Shas’El Lar’shi selected him personally after reviewing his actions during the conflict. And after saving the commander himself from a charging squad of Gaunts by a strategic shot against an overhanging rock formation, Lar’shi knew he had chosen wisely.


--Fire Team Doran--
>Shas'La Sa'cae Vior<

Background:
To Shas’La Sa’cea Vior, the only good Tyranid is a dead one. Vior was originally station on the colony of H’ten where he served for 2 Tau’cyr, protecting the Fio research teams studying the planet. But when a small Tyranid Splinter Fleet attacked the colony, Vior’s world changed. Holding out with the few cadre’s present on the planet, the Sa’cean’s fought a desperate battle to hold back the invaders. During this conflict, Vior earned his name by volunteering for every dangerous mission he could.

The colony had sent a distress signal, but it was clear that this world would be destroyed if the Tyranid were not stopped quickly. During a mission to repair a damaged communications system, Vior and his Lar’ua found themselves surrounded by a Tyranid swarm. A sudden attack killed his Shas’Ui and pushed Vior to command. Ordering his Lar’ua to escape with the Fio, Vior charged the Synapse creatures, firing his rifle as he ran. But just as death seemed imminent, a hail of missile fire wiped out the Tyranid Warriors, throwing the smaller beasts into confusion. A team of Battlesuits landed right next to him as a Manta began to appear overhead. The distress signal had been received and the ARC-16’s answered.

Following that miraculous rescue, Vior and the other Sa’cean’s followed Shas’El Lar’shi without hesitation. Bringing with them other Tau cadre’s, the ARC-16’s lead the charge in wiping out the remaining Tyranid. After the planet was deemed sterilized, the Shas’ar’tol sent a message to the survivors of the colony. They had a choice: reassignment to another cadre and planet or reassignment to the ARC-16’s. Most of the survivors chose reassignment elsewhere. After all, joining the ARC-16's would mean regularly facing overwhelming odds, hideous monsters and near death experiences each and every battle? Who would want that?

Vior was the first to volunteer.


--Fire Team Doran--
>Shas'La Sa'cae M'yen'Y<

Background:
Tau do not believe in such foolish things as luck. Some people are just in the right at the right time and vice versa. But if there was one Shas who could be called lucky, it would be Shas'La M'yen'Y. M'yen'Y has served in over three different Lar’ua during his lifetime. Each one of those teams have ended up being killed or wounded on one battlefield or another, yet in each instance, M'yen'Y has been the sole survivor or been completely unharmed. What’s even more amazing about this is that for all intents and purposes, M'yen'Y is one of the most average soldier’s on the field. His scores on all aptitude tests have been completely standard and yet he has survived situations that would kill the best Firewarrior.

For instance, during the annexation of Primus II, M'yen'Y’s Lar’ua was tasked with holding down an old building near one of the entrances to the city. As the team took their positions, a Gue’la Valkryie flew overhead and deposited its cargo: a full team of Storm Troopers. Taking the initiative, the Storm Troopers advanced through the building, wiping out every Firewarrior they came across. The remaining Tau regrouped and pushed them back, but they were soon bested by the armor piercing rounds of the Gue’la.

Eventually there was only one Shas left and that was M'yen'Y. Scrambling to reach the door, M'yen'Y ran across the room, and threw a Photon grenade behind him. The pursuing Troopers aimed their rifles and just as they pulled the trigger, the floor beneath the running M'yen'Y cracked and broke. M'yen'Y fell through and landed on an old couch, which softly broke his fall. The Troopers above however were blinded by the Photon blast and one of the Gue’la was knocked down. His gun still firing, the Trooper managed to hit a barrel of fuel which was being kept on that floor. The resulting explosion wiped out 3 of the squad members as it went up. But unfortunately for them, the barrel that exploded was situated right near a support beam that the old building desperately needed to stay up. Already strained and cracked floor boards and building material broke loose and the building around them started to crumble.
Recovering from his fall, M'yen'Y fled through the back entrance of the building, just in time to watch it collapse on the Gue’la. When the support teams arrived, they found M'yen'Y standing alone by the rubble, his armor completely covered in dust. He had survived completely unharmed.

Maybe M'yen'Y is the most highly skilled Firewarrior in the Empire, or maybe he is just “lucky.” But whatever the case may be, everyone assigned to M'yen'Y’s Lar’ua, can’t help but feel a bit nervous that one day, they too will share the fate of those who have served alongside this odd Firewarrior.


--Fire Team Doran--[/u]
>Shas'Ui Sa'cae Doran<

Background:
Shas'Ui Doran is the oldest member of the ARC-16’s, having served alongside Lar’shi since the Shas’El was new to the cadre. His progression to Battlesuit pilot was halted when a strange neurological condition was discovered which left Doran vulnerable to the Ho'or-ata-t'chel (Sympathetic Ghost Pain), a serious form of Battlesuit Neurosis. Because of this, it was deemed in his best interest to stay out of a Battlesuit. This suited Doran just fine, as he always saw his position in the cadre as a mentor to the younger La's; sharpening the skills and abilities of the newly inducted. Doran is indeed effective in this role. Even Lar’shi defers to his judgment completely when making reviews on the Firewarrior's in his command.

During Ge'nesha, Doran’s twelve Tau Lar’ua was taking position among a tree line, preparing to engage the Ork threat when the first group of Tyranid emerged from underground. Finding themselves facing a very different enemy than the Orks, Doran ordered his team to fall back, but a newly emerged Trygon halted their retreat. The massive beast went off to attack larger targets, but from the hole it emerged from came a group of Tyranid Warriors.

The leader beasts raised their weapon symbiotes to attack, but Doran was not going to give them that chance. Having drilled his squad to split their fire effectively when facing a superior foe, the Tau under his command were able to direct their attacks on each target; the hail of pulse fire eventually dragged the beasts down. With the Synapse web in that area broken, the attack from the lesser Tyranid creatures lost its focus which most likely saved the lives of several key members of the cadre during those crucial first few minutes of the attack.

If there is one quality that could accurately describe the Shas'Ui, it is calm. During every crisis, during every emergency, Doran has never once lost his cool.


Doran is 41, running near the end of his life. He knows that soon his body will give out on him and his usefulness on the field will end. But he takes comfort in the fact that he has given his all to the Tau'va and hopes that the lessons he has learned will be passed on to each of the Tau under his command and that those lessons will live on.

---

---

--Fire Team Doran--
>Shas’La Tau’shan Eoro (Communications Specialist)<



Background:
Eoro is a Tau of the Tau’shan sept, having joined the ARC-16’s in connection with the Tau’shan Exchange Program. The program was designed to allow Shas from other Septs to gain first-hand experience among the best Y’he hunters in the Empire. With Tau’shan acting as a harbor for 3rd sphere cadres, this allowed many different Septs to take advantage of the training. Shas’El Lar’shi was not too happy with this arrangement. He was concerned that the inexperienced Shas would be a liability on his forces. After all, any Shas invited to join the ARC-16’s were handpicked by Lar’shi himself. But the decision to go ahead with the program came from the Shas’ar’tol itself and could not be entirely rejected. Eventually, they were able to make a comprimose. Tau from other Septs could join the cadre, so long as Lar’shi or one of his officers could pick the individuals.

Shas’La Eoro was one Firewarrior that caught the attention of Lar’shi’s second in command, Shas’Vre Kais’Lar. During his training, Eoro displayed an affinity for handling electronics. His reliability as a guide earned him his name and made him a valuable asset in the field. He was known to take apart his equipment and recalibrate it to his likings, enabling him to overcome many of the jamming frequencies employed during some training missions. After being selected to serve with the ARC-16’s, Eoro has made many efforts to put his talents to good use, and during a recent battle against infiltrating Y’he scouts he was given the perfect opportunity to do so.

On the newly colonized world of Or’Taun, several Y’he scout organisms were detected. The ARC-16’s were sent to investigate and eventually came across a small Y’he hive. The beasts had taken up living inside a small mountain near the Tau settlements and had regularly been venturing into the colony to kidnap and any Tau unlucky enough to be exposed. The ARC’s knew all too well what happened to those that were captured by the Y’he and expected to find all the bodies with Feeder Tendril wounds in their heads.

But when they made their way into the cave, they found that a few of the colonists were still alive, albeit cocooned along the walls of the cave. Before they could signal the colony to send support, an ear splitting shriek was heard along all channels and persisted till radio communications were shut off. Knowing they were being blocked, Kais’Lar ordered Eoro to find a way to get in touch with the colony and request support. The Y’he infiltration had succeeded in bringing more than just scout life forms to the colony. It seemed that the beasts had developed a series of tunnels throughout the mountain and had slowly been growing their numbers. The colony had to be alerted to the threat before it could fully awaken.

While the ARC-16’s fought to keep the Y’he back, Eoro struggled to find some frequency not affected by the alien signal. Knowing that time was short, Eoro decided the best strategy was an offensive one. The source of the jamming had to be found and the ARC’s made their way into the caves in search of the cause.

Using his knowledge of communication systems, Eoro was able to triangulate the location of the signal. The cadre eventually came to a vast cavern and located the source. It was a bloated, wormlike beast, attended to by swarms of smaller, beetle like creatures. The ARC’s wasted no time in attacking, showering the area with Pulse rounds and flamethrower fire. The Y’he swarmed at them from all sides and many of the attendant creatures covered their leader with their bodies. Kais’Lar noticed not a single Synapse creature among them and ordered someone to make the shot that would kill the massive worm which she hoped would slow the tide down.

Eoro was the one who made the shot, firing a Pulse round right into the beasts eye. The shot caused the creature to screech in pain, emitting a sound so high pitched that it threatened to burst the ear drums of every Tau in the cadre. Kais’Lar focused her attack and launch a pair of Missiles straight into the creatures open mouth, exploding its head and killing it instantly. With the Synapse web broken, the beasts fell into a disorganized frenzy and enabled the ARC-16’s to gain an upper hand.

Eventually, the cadre made it to the surface and called for reinforcements to sterilize the mountain. Upon arriving at base, Eoro was commended by Kais’Lar for his quick thinking. A reluctant Lar’shi also congratulated the Shas on his victory, handing him back his helmet. When Eoro examined it, he saw a blue sept marking along the right cheek. Previously, Lar’shi had ordered that all Sept markings be kept to Sa’cea colors to keep consistency among the troops. Most recognized this as the temperamental Shas’El’s way of expressing his frustration at having outsiders as part of his cadre.

With a smile, Eoro knew what this small gesture meant. He was no long the outsider from Tau’shan, but had been accepted as a true member of the ARC-16’s.


--Fire Team Doran--
>Shas’La Sa’cea Cova (Demolitions Expert)<


Background:
Standard ARC-16 military doctrine requires one demolitions specialist in each squad. But Shas’La Cova is not just a demolitions expert, he is a demolitions artist.

On one occasion, a massive Hierophant bio-titan was stopped dead in its tracks when a series of Cova’s carefully laid explosions triggered a massive avalanche which pinned the beast before it could escape, leaving it easy pickings for the cadre’s railguns. At another battle, a particularly loud and boisterous Ork Warboss was making a passionate and hate filled speech to a group of Tau defenders, with his boyz gathering behind him; promising to crush their bones into dust among other unsavory acts. Punctuating his threat with a stomp of his foot, the Ork expected to hear the loud yell of his Boyz in agreement, but instead the Warboss was engulfed in a massive explosion from a booby trap placed by Cova, which killed the Ork and many of his Nobz. With their leader gone, the Orks attack lost its momentum and allowed the defenders to gain the upper hand.

These stories and others like it are all examples of the mastery Cova has developed for his craft; something he is most proud of. Cova is always happy to see enemies of the Empire defeated. But nothing makes those victories sweeter than to see them defeated in a fiery ball of destruction.


--Fire Team Doran--
>Shas’Ui Sa’cea Bentu’Cal (Medic)<


Background:
Bentu’Cal serves as one of the many medics in the ARC-16’s. With the help of his DX-1 medical drone, he has saved the lives of dozens of Shas and helped to secure victory and minimize losses for the cadre on multiple occasions. But Bentu’Cal is more than just a simple field medic. He is a trusted companion of Lar’shi, having served for many tau’cyr alongside the Shas’El, being one of the original members of the commander Ta’lissera.

On the battlefield, the welcome sight of the small buzzing drone has comforted many warriors as they struggled to cope with their wounds. Being a medic requires nerves of steel, as one must focus on helping his team mate, while slavering monsters are only feet away. On one occasion, Bentu’Cal attended to the wounds of the three injured Shas’La, while a rampaging group of Tyranid Warriors clashed with ARC forces directly behind him. His assistance has allowed many Tau to stay in the fight and see it through to the end. But not all of what Bentu’Cal does involves healing.

Rumors have circulated that Bentu’Cal is the cadre’s interrogator. Using his knowledge of physiology, he is able to achieve the desired results by applying the right amount of force in just the right locations. Of course, these rumors have never been confirmed, but certain circumstances still leave it up to question.

Captured Tyranid specimens have been known to get out from their cages and into the rooms of reluctant prisoners conveniently leading to the prisoner giving vital information. Some captured soldiers have supposedly escaped from their holding cells, but just after the ARC-16’s were able to get the data they needed from them. And several prisoners have died from “self inflicted wounds” just prior to their release to Por interrogators. Perhaps these events are just coincidental, or maybe they point to something more devious going on in the ARC-16’s than anyone expects…

What is also curious is that Bentu’Cal has retained his rank of Shas’Ui for much longer than would be expected from one with his skills and service record. His records show that he failed his first Trial by Fire and made no attempt to repeat the trails after that. Among the cadre, Bentu’Cal will often be seen carrying out tasks from place to place, his faithful drone right behind him. His response to any questioning is usually met with a grunt that he is following orders directly from the Shas’El.

Bentu’Cal has always been somewhat of an outsider. His psychological profile reports him as having sociopathic tendencies, which often puts him at odds with other members of the cadre. This has led Bentu’cal to establish a closer relationship to the Kroot, since their social interactions usually lack the need to relate to others on an emotional level. Being a Ge’nesha survivor, Bentu’Cal has been marked with the kroot’mon’tal and is considered a full member of the Blood Quills, something which he takes great pride in. When it comes to mercenary activity, Bentu’Cal regularly partakes in missions, firmly believing that this course of action is vital to the advancement of the fight against the Tyranid. With his acceptance of the mercenary lifestyle, Lar’shi as seen to it that Bentu’Cal has been moved out of his normal role amongst the line warriors and has become a part of Lar’shi’s inner circle. The cold and detached Firewarrior making a perfect tool in whatever unsavory assignment Lar’shi may have to take part in.

Unit Profile: Carnivore Squad Kortu


(Click here to see other Gallery images)

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--Carnivore Squad Kortu--
>Shaper Kortu<

Background:
Kortu is a tragic figure among his kindred. He has served alongside the ARC's since Ge'nesha and was one of the Kroot that saved the Sa'cean cadre's from death when the two groups first met. Newly appointed a Shaper, Kortu saw Ge’nesha as a chance to prove his worth in his kindred’s time of need.

During their first run in with the Tyranid, Kortu's squad fought to keep a swarm of Termagants from overwhelming the Tau flank. Fighting with ferocity common among his people, over two dozen Termagants were wiped out, allowing them to secure the area. Satisfied with this victory, Kortu allowed his squad to eat the flesh of the dead Gaunts. But as Kortu was about to eat, he realized his mistake. The Tyranid flesh was tainted; its DNA far too complex, too varied. It was like a perverted version of Kroot DNA, aggressively consuming and destroying, bringing any genetic variation into the Tyranid form. Kortu was able to stop himself from eating, but it was too late for those in his squad; they had all been tainted.

Kortu alerted Master Shaper Luco of the situation, hoping the veteran Shaper could do something to help. Luco could sense that there was something very wrong with the Kroot who had eaten. He knew that there was nothing that could be done for them. While they appeared normal now, they would soon begin to change. And at the moment, the Kindred was far too close to synapse creatures to risk their brothers defecting.

Luco turned to Kortu, apologized, and informed the tainted Kroot that due to their infection, they could not be allowed to continue with the kindred. Luco ordered them to advance in front of the Tau lines and cover their retreat. While this would allow the survivors to escape, it would most certainly result in their deaths. The kindred was informed that the flesh of these Kroot was not to be eaten and if their bodies were to be found, they must be burned. Such a fate is the absolute nightmare of any Kroot.

The infected carnivores followed the orders, much to the protest of Kortu. He desperately pleaded with Luco to allow him to go with them. But Luco would not allow it.


Kortu accepted the council and survived Ge’nesha, but the guilt has continued to eat away at him till this day. As such, he refuses to attach any piece of a Tyranid to himself as many Blood Quills have become accustomed to.

But if there is any good that could have come from this, his obsession with keeping free of the Tyranid taint has made him the kindred’s official detector of such genetic infection. Kortu is honored to serve his kindred in this way, yet no matter what feats he or his squads accomplish, Kortu will never forgive himself for the terrible mistake he made on Ge’nesha.


--Carnivore Squad Kortu--
>Kemri<

Background:
Kemri is a Kroot who recently reached adulthood. He is eager and ferocious, qualities that have made him somewhat of a handful among his own Kindred. While he has much to learn, Kemri is mostly interested in absorbing some unique genetic trait to advance his species; a dream many Kroot share. Whether he will be able to accomplish that is yet to be seen, since his recklessness leads many to wonder whether his next battle will be his last.


--Carnivore Squad Kortu--
>Nabat<

Background:
After a particularly fierce encounter with a Tyranid swarm, Nabat’s father was killed. The Tyranid were quick to consume his flesh and left nothing for the kindred to recover. To a Kroot, this is a fate worse than death and was a profound loss for Nabat’s family line. This terrible loss enraged young Nabat and he has trained harder than ever to increase his skill and hunt down the Tyranid. While he knows that his father is lost forever, Nabat will not rest until every one of those creatures is eradicated.


--Carnivore Squad Kortu--
>Orona<

Background:
Orona is a masterful tracker; he has been able to find and capture any prey he has been assigned too. He once led a group of his people in an ambush on a small force of Eldar that had infiltrated deep into the woods of a Tau outpost, despite the well-known stealth abilities of the Eldar Rangers. Orona’s skills are needed especially during rescue missions into Y’he territory. Since the sheer mass of sensory data within Tyranid infected areas can mask the scent of any being needing rescue, Orona’s abilities have been tested to their limits several times, each ending with him tracking down his prey.


--Carnivore Squad Kortu--
>Dezba<

Background:
When a Splinter Fleet of Leviathan was discovered on a world being contested by the Eldar, the ARC-16’s were called in to eliminate the threat. Dezba’s kindred was tasked with defending the cadre’s flank as they advanced. During the fighting, a large wave of Gaunts began advancing near the Kroot’s position. First they engaged the Gaunts from their treetop positions. But when the beasts were close, the dropped down to finish the job with their rifle blades. During the fighting Dezba was separated from his kindred and was forced to fight furiously with an unending sea of Gaunts until Crisis Suit support could help eliminate the threat. The fact that Dezba could survive such an onslaught is a testament to his ferocity in combat.


--Carnivore Squad Kortu--
>Dyami<

Background:
Dyami is the oldest member of his squad. He acts as a second in command to Shaper Kortu; giving him sage advice over his many years as both a mercenary and Tyranid hunter. Dyami can be seen carrying a y’he’myr. The weapon is made from the talon of a Tyranid Warrior and is attached to a traditional Kroot knife handle. The weapon is only made by those who have survived the initial battle on Ge’nesha; Dyami being one of the few Kroot veterans still around.


--Carnivore Squad Kortu--
>Nwan<

Background:
Nwan is a Kroot with the rare ability to purge himself of the Tyranid genetic taint. While all Kroot have this capability to a degree, to fully cleanse oneself requires the innate knowledge of genetic manipulation that lends itself to Shapers. This would indicate the Nwan has a potential to become a Shaper one day; a future he hopes he will be able to reach.

Nwan’s abilities are currently being carefully watched by the Kindred’s Shaper Council. His offspring have already shown resilience to Tyranid gene’s, a trait which makes Nwan’s bloodline very attractive. With continued efforts, this trait is hoped to be passed on to all Blood Quills within two generations.


--Carnivore Squad Kortu--
>Yanlo<

Background:
Yanlo is the kindred's expert marksmen; his abilities are such that he can hit something as small as a Ripper from maximum range, even while running. Yanlo claimed his piece of carapace from a Ravenor of Splinter Fleet Reclaimer. Just as the beast was about to pounce on a disabled Firewarrior, Yanlo put a round directly through the creatures eye, piercing through to its brain and killing it instantly. Serious minded and focused, Yanlo makes the perfect sniper.


--Carnivore Squad Kortu--
>Hokan<

Background:
Even though the Blood Quills make great use of technology, there are still some who resist. Hokan has always felt that the old ways served their people the best and he sees the inclusion of so much Tau equipment as dangerous to his people. Of course, there is little he can do to convince the kindred of this, but he is determined to stay as true to his heritage as much as possible.


--Carnivore Squad Kortu--
>Lanu<

Background:
A private and insular Kroot, Lanu chooses to keep his distance from the Tau. While he harbors no bad feelings toward them, Lanu worries that the Tau may change the culture of the kindred. Yet Shas'El Lar'shi has proven himself to be a skilled leader and Lanu is willing to cooperate...for now.

---

--Kroot Hounds--

Background:
Kroot Hounds are notoriously ill tempered creatures. Unlike the slow-witted, but lovable Krootox, Hounds possess a somewhat aggressive, bully-like personality. While they lack the higher reasoning functions of the Kroot, Hounds are quite perceptive of emotion. So when most Tau get nervous or uncomfortable around them, the Hounds tend to get riled up, eager to pick a fight.

Among the ARC-16’s however, Kroot Hounds seem much more amiable with the Tau. Some Fio theorize that prolonged exposure to Kroot pheromones might permeate the skin of a Tau and thus make him smell more familiar to the Hound. But whatever the case may be, veteran ARC Firewarrior’s are commonly seen with a Kroot Hound following closely behind; observantly watching the surroundings in case some danger may threaten its new found pack member.

Unit Profile: Gue'vesa'Kor


(Click here to see other Gallery images)

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--UNIT QUERY, DESIGNATION: GUE’VESA’KOR--
--PROCESSING...--

The Gue’Vesa’Kor of the planet D’artol are relatively new members of the Empire. Seventy tau’cyr’s ago, Tau forces came across an Ork held world near the edge of Sa’cean space. Upon its analysis, the Fio discovered that the planet seemed to have been victim of a bizarre plague which killed most of the life on the planet. Now a desert world, D’artol offered the Tau little strategic value, but its large expanses of desert and abundant mineral deposits made a perfect testing ground for large scale weapons testing.

The only animal life remaining on the planet were creatures that thrived in a desert environment. However the chief threats were large, powerful lizards and massive snake-like creatures who were constantly competing for territory. Of course the Ork's, a species known for survival despite all odds had gained control of a large portion of the planet. It would seem that this particular band of Ork’s had been on D’artol when the plague hit. While it is unknown how many losses the Ork’s had taken, they seemed the better for it. Surviving in conditions that would kill most species, the Ork’s grew in strength and resilience.

The only thing that stopped them from being a major threat on a galactic level was their lack of technical understanding. Being mostly feral in nature, the Ork’s seemed content to stay on their planet, fighting whatever species rose to challenge them. Yet despite this harsh environment, some ever persistent Gue’la had survived.

While the exact nature of the disease is unknown, seeming to have died off several hundred tau’cyr’s ago, it appears that only a few who are born with a unique gene were able to survive and reproduced. After several generations, the harsh environment of D’artol shaped the residents into hardy and resilient beings.

The Gue’la set up their homes high in the mountainous areas. This was necessitated by the constant attacks from feral Ork’s and large, aggressive predators. To combat the Ork’s, the Gue’la made use of a highly toxic plant which flourished only near the mountain caves. The plants seeds excrete an acidic substance which allows it to work its way deep into the rocky soil. The Gue’la seemed to have discovered a way to extract the seed and repurpose it into a weapon. Utilizing primitive technology, the Gue’la were able to fashion a mechanism which would squeeze the seed and spray the acid in a focused blast.

Forced to escape from their predators more often then naught, the Gue’la had developed into fast runners. Taking advantage of their natural speed and agility, the Gue’la began a series of hit and run attacks, which weakened the Ork presence near their homes. Later utilizing more guerilla tactics, the Gue’la were able to keep the Ork’s off balance and away from their homes. For a time, it seemed that the Ork’s were really pushed back. But the Gue’la did not realize that the major threat lay just beyond their mountain homes.

Back in Ork country, a new Warboss was gaining power and influence. Known simply as “Da Big Boss,” he brought a focus to the Ork’s on D’artol: Kill the humans and take back the entire continent. A Waagh! began to form and the Ork’s moved all their forces toward the Gue’la settlements. At this crucial moment, a Tau expeditionary fleet arrived. Scanning the surface, the large Ork army was discovered. It did not take the Tau long to determine what the main threat was and they wasted no time bombarding most of the forces from orbit. Of course, the whole continents could not be blanketed and several cadres were dispatched to deal with the Ork’s that survived.

The cadres soon came into contact with the mountain dwelling Gue’la. Initial contact was complicated by the two groups having no interpreter but soon a Water caste emissary was contacted and a proper meeting could take place.

Eventually the two groups were able to see that they wanted the same thing: an end to the Ork threat. But despite the success during their first contact, regular translation between the Gue’la and the Tau proved far more difficult then expected. As such, cooperation between their forces in fighting the Ork’s could be potentially disastrous. To avoid this, the Por worked diligently to orchestrate a consistent means of communication. The Por called upon the help of one of the Kroot Shapers attached to the Cadre, since Kroot have an innate ability to grasp language quickly. After much discussion, the Kroot were able to fill the role of an interpreter.

With this is new alliance in place, the Tau worked to eliminate the last of the Ork resistance. The Gue’la proved to be a valuable asset as they hunted down any Ork escaping the main battle; the acid from their weapons even melting the spores from the Ork bodies.

As the end of the war neared, the Tau surrounded the final Ork encampment. As a gesture of goodwill, the Por instructed the Shas to leave the Warboss for the Gue’la to defeat themselves. As an honor bound society, this gesture would go far into solidifying the relationship between the Tau and the Gue’la. Utilizing their best warriors and best weapons, the Gue’la finally succeeded in defeating their arch rivals, spelling an end to the long war.

The speed and agility of the Gue’la allowed them to find use in the Empire similar to the role fulfilled by the Vespid. The Fio were able to construct a jump pack for their troops, something these Gue’la seemed naturally adept at using. The corrosive acid of their seed pods were adapted with Tau technology, enabling them to be fired more efficiently; albeit still at close range. The relationship between the Tau and the newly dubbed Gue’vesa’Kor has proven to be a benefit to both species and the future of this alliance continues to look brighter.

--UNIT QUERY, DESIGNATION: GUE’VESA’KOR: REPRID TRIBE – ARC-16
--PROCESSING...--

At Ge’nesha, Shas’El Lynu’Nan (former commander of what is now the ARC-16’s) was given command of elements from the Reprid Tribe, prior to the disastrous battle of Golto Ridge. The first field assignment of this tribe was on Ge’nesha, where they provided the fast armor piercing support so sorely needed by the Fire Caste. After the death of the Shas’El, the Gue’vesa fought fearlessly by the side of the Sa’cean survivors until they were finally rescued. After the battle, Chief Samir Tella swore his tribe’s loyalty to the newly appointed Shas'El Sa'cea Ro’Yon Mon'tyr Lar’shi and have been working together ever since.

---

--Gue'vesa'Kor--
>Gue'vesa'La Akim<

Background:
Since he was a child, Akim has dreamed of serving with the Tau. Fighting alongside the saviors of his people was an honor which drove him to overcome any obstacle during training. During his first combat drop, Akim and his unit were praised for their destruction of a Y’he Brood Nest and the elimination of a key synapse creature; allowing the Tau to gain the edge they needed. Highly energetic, Akim constantly pushes himself harder and harder so he can prove that his is truly qualified to be a member of the Empire.


--Gue'vesa'Kor--
>Gue'vesa'La Urim<

Background:
Like most D’artolian's, Urim is an incurable optimist. Though he is new to the cadre, he can always be counted on for a joke, even when it might not be appropriate. Currently, Urim has yet to encounter Tyranid directly as most of the ARC-16's action as of late has been to assist in repelling Imperial attacks. It has yet to be seen if an encounter with the Y'he will change his sunny demeanor.


--Gue'vesa'Kor--
>Gue'vesa'La Noro<

Background:
Noro’s first encounter with the Tyranid was during the sterilization of a polar facility after a Tyranid presence was detected. While Firewarrior and Stealth teams cleared the structure, the Gue’Vesa’Kor were tasked with supporting the Crisis Suits as they pursued any Tyranid found on the surface.

While tracking a group of Warriors, Noro’s squad and the ARC Crisis Team took a position on top of a hill to better see their quarry. As the squad scanned the expanse, Noro noticed slight movement near one of the icy pillars. Without waiting for authorization, Noro fired his weapon. A sudden screeching noise and splatter of alien blood revealed a Lictor that was about to pounce on the unsuspecting Tau. The beast jumped at Noro, but was obliterated by the hail of Pulse fire from their accompanying Crisis Team.

Noro now serves as the spotter for his fellow Gue'Vesa'Kor before they make a combat drop. Observant and calculating, Noro has proved himself to be an invaluable asset to his squad.


--Gue'vesa'Kor--
>Gue'vesa'La Makar<

Background:
Loyal to both his Empire and his tribe, Makar is the squads second in command. During Ge’nesha, Makar and his squad were assigned to provide rapid support for the Firewarrior line cadre’s. When the Tyranid attacked, the Cadre they were assigned to protect was completely destroyed by a wave of Tyranid beasts as they surged from underground. Enraged at the loss of their Tau allies, Makar’s squad chief ordered them to attack the closest target: a massive, scything talon equipped Carnifex.

With their fast reflexes and armor piercing weapons, the Gue’Vesa jumped in and out of close range, firing their weapons with each bounce. Even as some from their squad began to fall, they continued to attack the beast unrelentingly. Eventually the massive Carnifex was halted when the dozens of holes made by the acidic weapons caused its leg to break from the weight. At that moment, an Armored Interdiction Cadre was able to reinforce their position and finished off the massive Tyranid. During the battles to come, Makar and the other surviving Gue’vesa’kor proved invaluable and continue to fight loyally alongside the ARC-16’s till this day.


--Gue'vesa'Kor--
>Gue’vesa’la Torin<

Background:
Torin is a veteran in his squad, having served alongside the Tau of the ARC from Ge’nesha on. He is unswervingly loyal to the Tau’va and has proved his worth several times over. During one especially tense mission to eliminate a key Imperial Commander, Torin was captured. Tortured for hours by his captors, Torin refused to give away the location of the Tau forces. As a result, he was marched in front of a gathered assembly of Guardsmen to show them the penalty of consorting with xenos.

Just as the trigger was about to be pulled, a Rail Rifle took out the Commisar and threw the assembly into disarray. Kroot teams had covertly infiltrated the camp during the assembly and sprung from their hiding positions. Stealth teams opened fire on the gathered Guardsmen, careful to target the leaders first. Eventually the command staff was killed and surviving Guardsmen were surrounded.

A wounded and exhausted Torin stood at the top of a wrecked Chimera and called for survivors to lay down their weapons. Despite his heavy accent, Torin spoke passionately about the Tau’va and what it did for his people. He spoke with conviction for 20 minutes, and in the end almost all of the demoralized Guardsmen surrendered.

For the few that refused, Torin gave a nod to Shas’El Lar’shi who brought them out beyond the boundaries of the camp. Lar’shi gave them one last chance to change their minds, but still they refused. With a sigh he gave authority over to Master Shaper Luco to do with the Gue’la what he saw fit.

Needless to say, none of those Imperialists were seen again.


--Gue'vesa'Kor--
>Gue’vesa’Ui Jarel<

Background:
Jarel is famous in his tribe for being a true survivor. On Ge’nesha, he single handedly held two Ork Nobz at bay while the rest of his team secured the objectives. During a recent battle against the Tyranid, Jarel fought in hand to hand with three Warrior’s and survived. But his most famous encounter was with a Space Marine of the Jade Serpents chapter.

While the Tau were attempting to annex an Imperial world, a Tactical Squad attacked the Tau landing zones, in an attempt to disrupt their supply lines. The marines hit hard, landing in their drop pod and laying waste to many of the defenders. But one of the newly landed cadre’s were the ARC-16’s and they were eager to engage the enemy after their long time traveling. The Marines were caught off guard by the ferocity of the ARC-16’s attack, but quickly regained their control over the battle.

As the combat raged, Lar’shi ordered Jarel and his squad to drop behind the Marine’s defensive line and eliminate their sergeant. Trusting in the wisdom of his Shas’El, Jarel and his team launched themselves toward their target. The team landed accurately and they poured fire into the unsuspecting Marines and felled two of the remaining eight. But one of the Jade Serpents who survived the attack was the squad Sargent and he wasted no time counterattacking.

The powerful Or’es Gue’la charged, his power spear cutting down two of Jarel’s squad before they could react. The squad attempted to fall back, but the swift footed sergeant slammed into Jarel. The Marine hacked at Jarel as he bobbed and weaved to avoid the power weapon. Eventually the Marine caught him with a backhand and knocked him to the ground. The giant was about to drive the spear through Jarel’s chest when the quick thinking gue’vesa activated his jet pack. The thrust pushed Jarel right through the legs of the Marine, but not before he fired off a shot that hit him directly in the head. The shot melted through the armor and killed the Marine instantly. The loss of the sergeant didn’t stop the Marines completely, but did succeed in lowering their numbers enough that the survivors chose to retreat and fight another day. For his bravery, Jarel was considered a hero among his people and took the fallen Or’es Gue’la’s melted helmet as a souvenir.

Jarel is patient, yet fierce on the attack; qualities that make him an excellent Squad Chief. Many in his tribe look up to him for his skill and seek to learn his techniques. But while others try, none can match the speed and reflexes of Gue’vesa’Kor’Ui Jarel.

Unit Profile: Broadside Support Team O'ran


(Click here to see other Gallery images)

---

--Broadside Support Team O’ran--
>Shas'Ui Sa'Cea Iur'tae'mont<

Background:
The Sa’cea Sept is known for its highly disciplined line warriors. But Sa’cea also produces a large amount of skilled and effective Broadside pilots. The Tau known as Iur'tae'mont is no exception. Originally a member of a cadre under the command of Shas'El Ko'vash M'yen, he earned his fame fighting the Ultramarines and was given the name which means "Shellshock" for his pinpoint accuracy and ability to identify weak points in enemy armor. In one battle alone, he succeeded in destroying more Or’es Gue’la’s vehicles than any other XV88 in the cadre, even disabling one of the powerful Land Raiders.

But during a battle to repel Y’he invaders, Iur'tae'mont was overwhelmed by the sheer mass of foes to be defeated and was forced to retreat. As he made his way back to the Orca, a winged beast attacked and punctured his armor, infecting him with a deadly poison. Iur'tae'mont was a personal friend of his old cadre’s Shas’El and they tried desperately to save him. But whatever toxin the bio-form had, it was killing the young Tau and with their limited knowledge and experience with the Y’he, there was nothing that the medical staff could do to stop it.
Being far away from any larger Sept medical facility, the Shas’El desperately contacted the Shas'ar'tol to see what could be done. Fortunately for them, the ARC-16’s had recently joined in the battle and could provide more resources and needed experience in dealing with Y’he poisons. Iur'tae'mont was transferred to ARC’s till he could be treated. But the Shas'ar'tol determined that because of his stellar record he would, upon recovery, serve alongside the ARC-16’s and pass on his skills to the Broadside pilots there. Ko'vash M'yen was pained to think of losing his friend, but agreed if it would save his life.
Iur'tae'mont eventually recovered from his injury and has served with the ARC-16’s for over two Tau’cyr. During that time he proved his abilities in several battles, but in the hangar bays of the Sa'cea Il'Porrui Oi’Siral, he cemented his place in the cadre forever.

(For more info, see The Disaster at Kor'Nars.)


--Broadside Support Team O’ran--
>Shas’Vre Sa’cea O’ran<

Background:
Shas’Vre O’ran was a trusted friend of Shas’El Suam, the old commander of what would eventually become the ARC-16’s. A distinguished and respected XV88 pilot, O’ran quickly rose through the ranks to become the Team Leader of his Lar’ua. His focus and calm under fire helped to steady the nerves of many Tau who served under him.

Having known the commander since they were Saal’s, O’ran was deeply pained at the loss of his friend during the disaster on Golto Ridge. Fighting through his grief, O’ran refused to allow his will to be broken. He took command of the two remaining Broadside teams and focused them to target the two on Primes that were leading the swarm. O’ran had had some experience fighting the Y’he from a training session in the battle dome, so he was familiar with the races reliance on the larger creatures to lead them.

Blasting through the its tough carapace the teams made short work of the first Prime. But before the second could be targeted, a large Mawloc burst from the ground and swallowed O’ran whole. Shocked, the rest of the XV88’s were about to re-direct their fire to the new threat, when they all received a message from Vre’O’ran.

“Focus Shas’Ui and eliminate that Prime! Don’t think I am done here yet!

His cool and collective words surprised the pilots, but they knew they had a job to do. Combining their fire, they ignored the threat of the Mawloc and targeted the massive leader-beast. The cumulative fire of five Broadside railguns was enough shatter the beast bring it down for good.

Just as the last shot was fired and the Prime’s head was removed from its body, the Mawloc next to the group exploded in a shower of ichor. The Broadside pilots hesitated for a moment; unsure of what just happened. But their hearts were suddenly lifted when they heard the familiar voice of the old veteran.

“I don’t think on old Tau like me made for a tasty dish.” said O’ran, his recently fired weapon systems sizzling as the alien blood began to burn off.

After his miraculous return, O’ran organized his pilots and was able to communicate with the then Shas’Vre Lar’Shi. The new commander ordered the Broadsides to target other key threats which eventually allowed for the Sa’cean’s to fight off their attackers and make it to safety.

Having been so close to the old commander, O’ran found it difficult to take orders from Lar’shi. Having been privy to El’Suam’s thoughts, O’ran knew much about Lar’Shi’s rebellious nature and his arrogance. But he put such concerns aside, feeling that if his old friend saw fit to add Lar’shi to his personal bodyguard, then he must have been qualified to lead the cadre. And during the battles to come, all Tau who served under Lar’Shi would be grateful for the support and guidance of the veteran Shas.
Currently, O’ran is still in charge of all XV88 pilots that become part of the ARC-16’s. Being second to the Drill Shas’Vre Yan’tak, O’ran has become an invaluable asset to the cadre and teaches discipline under fire; guiding the new recruits on proper target priority in the face of overwhelming odds.
In regards to the cadre’s current indiscretions, O’ran is completely aware of their involvement in mercenary activity. While he knows that the old Shas’El, a staunch traditionalist, would have been appalled at such actions, he feels that the current state the Empire finds itself in calls for drastic actions. Having seen the destruction that the Y’he can cause, O’ran is determined to not allow them to encroach on Tau territory anymore. Something needs to be done to eliminate this threat and if that means breaking a few rules, then so be it.

Unit Profile: TX-6.2 “Assassin” Hammerhead



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---

--Mobile Gun Platform--
>TX-6.2 “Assassin” Hammerhead<
>Shas’Ui Sa’cea Dak’e – Tank Commander<
>Shas’Ui Sa’cea Aloh – Pilot<
>Shas’Ui Sa’cea Dua’vre – Co-Pilot<

Background:
To operate the war machines of the Tau Empire is a considerable honor. The exploits of the mighty Hammerhead Gunship are renowned to all enemies of the Tau; its powerful railgun able to sweep aside even the heaviest of armor or hardiest of foes. But at times, even the strength of the Hammerhead can be found wanting.

Such was the case during the campaign to sterilize the ice world of Tun’dara. The Y’he on the planet had been driven there by an Eldar fleet, who mysteriously vanished once the beasts made planet fall. The Tau, who only had a few research teams and their defending Shas on the surface were caught off guard and forced to flee underground while their ships in orbit retreated, sending a distress call to any nearby cadre’s. Fortunately for them, two ARC’s were operating in the area and were able to quickly come to their aid.

Requisitioning any nearby vessels, the ARC’s headed straight for Tun’dara. Shas’El Lar’shi of the ARC-16’s prepared to spearhead the assault, executing a powerful Mont’ka right into the heart of the Tyranid invasion. The ARC-15’s led by Shas’El Nem’ro, were to be positioned behind the 16’s, playing the role of the patient hunter for any Y’he that would pursue. It was hoped that this swift attack would limit the spread of the Y’he and contain them.

As the ARC-16’s neared their insertion point, they were shocked at what they now faced. Five Hierophant bio-titans strode across the frozen wasteland, surrounded by millions of smaller creatures. Realizing that a direct, close range attack would prove disastrous against such a massive foe, Lar’shi wisely opted to abort the mission and reconsider a plan of attack.

But that was not the only complication. The surface of the planet was experiencing a massive blizzard which made flight extremely difficult and the Kor were reluctant to send in their pilots as Tyranid air assets could still operate with some efficiency. The local Fio also reported that valuable relics had been located beneath the surface of the Tyranid invasion point and were of great importance to the Empire.

With their options limited, the two commanders coordinated their Hammerhead assets to provide the heavy support needed. But upon examining the data they had gotten on the swarm, they soon found that there were far too many large Tyranid that would require railgun rounds to bring down. If the heavy support focused on the Carnifex’s and Trygons, the Hierophants would do far too much damage and vice versa. With no chance of getting reinforcements soon, the commanders knew that something would have to be done quickly, lest the Tyranid gain too much of foothold.

It was during the planning meeting that a Fio spoke up. Fio'El Fal'shia He'Bentu B'Ga, a lead engineer who had been temporarily working with the newly formed ARC-15’s on upgrading their weapon systems, offered a solution. One of his pet projects had been a modified Hammerhead chassis which he designed to handle larger weaponry. Along with that, B’Ga had been working closely with Fio’El Ro’Va of the ARC-16’s on a new, heavy Railgun system which was capable of delivering special ammunition. Of course, none of this equipment had actually seen combat, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Reluctantly, Lar’shi gave the go ahead for the Fio to make the preparations.

---

The experimental TX-6.2 was designed to provide a cadre with specialized heavy support when faced with LSA’s (Large Scale Aggressor’s). Gue’la Titans, Be’gel Stompa’s and all sorts of superheavies had become a great threat to the Empire’s expansion. And while air assets were usually available to eliminate these threats, there were some instances where they would not be available (the situation on Tun’dara is a perfect example). The TX-6.2 would then be able to fulfill their role by providing heavy railgun support, but could also easily work alongside the cadre against standard foe.

To add to its versatility, the Railgun itself is designed to use several types of ammunition, similar to the Pulse Submunitions Rifle used by the famous Shas’O R’alai. Toxic Covix rounds to combat biological foes, powerful Submuntion Clusters to cut through infantry, area effect EMP rounds for handling multiple vehicles and of course the standard railgun round. With the tank being able to change its load out depending on the enemy faced, it was given the nickname “Assassin.”

Structurally, the tank was much wider than a normal Hammerhead to compensate for the mass of the weapon. Instead of only having the usual two rear engines, the tank was equipped with an additional two front engines, which would improve the forward acceleration of the vehicle. The back engines were then repositioned to compensate for the wider size. A larger, anti-grav generator was then installed, giving the tank the needed lift.

While the results of these modifications would make the vehicle slower than its standard counterpart, its increased killing power was deemed a fair trade off.

---

While elements of both ARC’s were sent out to hold back the Tyranid tide, the Fio furiously worked to prepare the tank for battle. It soon became clear though that only a veteran crew could handle such a unique vehicle. This task fell to Tank Commander Shas’Ui Dak’e, pilot Aloh and his co-pilot Dua’vre. These three Sa’cean’s were the last surviving tank crew of the ARC-16’s who fought on Ge’nesha. Their skill was renowned and they were the perfect fit for such a dangerous assignment.

Dak’e and his crew have served together since their first assignment inside a Hammerhead. Over time, their bond has become stronger; each member knowing the habits and idiosyncrasies of the others. They have become so in synch with each other that they have been able to defeat enemies that would have overcome a normal crew. It is not doubt their strength as a team which allowed them to survive the horrors on Ge’nesha during the final push to eliminate the remnants of the Tyranid swarm. The crew had requested to man a Hammerhead that would operate on the front lines, despite having fought against the Tyranid non-stop for an entire week. The situation, though, was desperate and command needed every resource they had.

Using superior coordination, the crew was able to send their vehicle into the heart of the Tryanid assault, destroying several of the monstrous creatures before they could fall upon the Tau lines. The most notable kill can be seen in this snapshot taken at the battle.


Here, Dak’e and his men killed a particularly large Trygon just as it emerged near Tau lines.

How they survived the subsequent counter attack is nothing short of amazing. Weaving in and out of the swarm, pilot Aloh maneuvered the large vehicle right in the path of some of the more vicious Tyranid bio-forms. When the beasts would charge them, Aloh would quickly fell back, his other crewmen firing the Hammerheads weapon systems as they retreated. This tactic was copied by other tank crews and succeeded in removing the close combat creatures early on, thus allowing for the Tau long range weapons to destroy the more advanced bio-forms. Following the battle, Dak’e and his crew were highly commended for their bravery and were among the first to agree to the cadre’s new assignment to operate as one of the newly formed Advanced Recon Cadre’s.

Their bond, however, does have its negative aspects. The crew is the most insular and withdrawn of all the ARC-16’s, rarely choosing to associate with anyone except for Lar’shi. This has led to many others in the cadre developing a dislike for their strangely distant ways. Many claim that they have succumbed to their own form of the iur’tae’mont and that their disconnect with reality is only beginning. Whether this is true or not has yet to be determined. But one thing is for sure. Where one would expect such a crew to be jovial and bonded like a family, looking into the eyes of these Tau reveals a cold, emotionless acceptance of their role; almost as if each member knows they are only one mission away from death.

---

When the preparations were finished, the TX-6.2 “Assassin” pattern Hammerhead was unveiled to the tank crew and the two ARC commanders. While the ARC-15 commander Nem’ro was impressed by the design, Lar’shi was doubtful of its effectiveness. He felt that it was too ungainly to operate with any efficient speed or maneuverability, remarking,

“The love child of a Hammerhead and Piranha has no place on the battlefield.”

Fio’El B’Ga, however, saw it as a step forward in the Empire’s use of the Hammherhead gunship and he was not about to be discouraged by the commanders rude comments. Ignoring Lar’shi, he walked the crew through the new additions and how to use them effectively. With a little practice, Dak’e was confident his men could handle it. With that, the ARC commanders ordered all of their assets to converge on the Tyranid location and prepare to attack.

The cadres had succeeded in containing most of the Tyranid, the severely cold weather contributing to their success. Upon receiving their commanders request, the forward elements began pulling back to meet with their main forces, the Y’he hot on their hooves. The plan was simple: execute a Kau’yon against the bulk of the Tyranid forces, using the now retreating forward elements as a lure. Once the position seemed like it would be overwhelmed, the Tau would fall back to the next defendable position which would already be occupied by the other cadre. This would hopefully continue till the Y’he could be whittled down enough to allow for Mont’ka strikes on their flanks.

Lumbering from the backlines, the Assassin loomed over the other Hammerheads, its crew preparing the railgun with the experimental Covex Toxin round, a chemical weapon designed to disrupt the Tyranid nervous system. The other Tau prepared their weapons and obliterated the first swarms of Y’he to appear from the icy storm. Soon though, the Tau became hard pressed to hold back the tide.

But through the sea of chitin Dak’e spotted a large Hive Tyrant that was controlling most of the Gaunts on the left flank. Spinning the railgun about, the Assassin targeted the beast and fired a round, striking it dead center in the chest. The round passed through, but also released the toxins into the creatures body. Within moments, the monstrosity fell to its knees and collapsed dead. Seizing the initiative, Lar’shi personally lead several squads of battlesuits into the now disorganized left flank and quickly eliminated the large group of disorganized Gaunts.

The Tau plan was working, but would soon be put to the test when the first Hierophant reached their lines. With its massive bio-weapons ripping apart battlesuits and tanks alike, it was clear that it needed to be eliminated as soon as possible. With a steady hand, Dak’e aimed the Railgun at the first monster and fired. The round hit the creature in its chest, shattering through its carapace and coming out the other side. But instead of collapsing like the Tyrant had done before it, the beast continued unabated.

The cadre began falling back, struggling to keep the swarm at bay. Pulse weapons chewed through seas of Gaunts, missiles and plasma destroying swaths of Warriors and Genestealers. The mighty Railguns though, were being taxed to their limits. The appearance of the Hierophants forced the heavy weapons to focus on such a dangerous target, preventing them from providing the support for the cadre that they needed. It was hoped that the Assassin would be key in overcoming this expected disadvantage. But it now appeared that they would have to find a new way to kill these monstrosities.

But as they were falling back, the Hierophant that was hit began to slow down, struggling to keep its balance. The poison was working, albeit slowly. Without hesitation, the Assassin jetted forward, requesting a squadron of Piranha to provide protection for it. Using the same techniques as they had on Ge’nesha, the crew hoped to locate and infect every bio-titan as soon as they would appear. The poison would not kill them outright, but it would effectively remove them as being a threat for now.

However, despite his prolific piloting skills, Aloh found that this new design was not as nimble as their old Hammerhead and soon found themselves being overcome by the swarm. But his co-pilot Dua’vre was not sitting idly by and coordinated with the Piranha to make best use of the squadron’s flechette dischargers to thin the mass of creatures before they could get too close. This tactic helped to keep the tanks in the clear till each of the Hierophants could be hit.

With the largest threat out of the picture both the ARC’s, along with the local defense cadre’s, continued their mobile warfare till the swarm was eliminated piece by piece. Once most of the Y’he were neutralized, the Assassin led the cadre’s Hammerheads and Broadsides toward the poisoned Hierophants. Together they obliterated the beasts one by one, the tank getting to experiment with several other types of ammunition along the way.

With the last bio-form dead, the research teams had been saved and the Assassin’s performance received high marks by the crew and even from the reluctant Shas’El Lar’shi. B’Ga could not have been more pleased and made sure to collect every piece of data the battle had given him. Armed with this new information, he would submit it to the Fio’ar’tol for consideration. Hopefully, his experimental design would see more use by other cadre’s in the near future.

The Fio was of course eager to approach Shas’El Lar’shi to get his opinion of this vehicle that had “no place on the battlefield.” The reluctant Shas’El grumbled that he may have been a bit too quick to write the design off so soon and agreed that it did perform well above expectations. With his pride intact, B’Ga made a deal with Lar’shi. He could keep the Assassin for regular use in his cadre, as long as combat data would regularly be sent to back to him to further his research. Lar’shi could see the value of this new weapon and agreed to his terms.

When it came time to choose the crew that would be assigned to this behemoth, there was little choice to be made. Dak’e and his men have been operating the Assassin ever since, proving themselves to be the scourge of many Y’he invasions; the lumbering form of the tank a welcome sign to any beleaguered cadre that the ARC-16’s have come and no Y’he will stand in their way.

Unit Profile: Skyray Ko’Vah'cha


(Click here to see other Gallery images)

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--Skyray Defense Support & Group--
>Skyray Ko’Vah'cha (“Worthy Aim”)<
>Shas’Ui Sa’cea Kan – Gunner<
>Shas’Ui Sa’cea Sua – Pilot<

Background:
Shas'Ui's Kan and Sua served in two different Skyrays for three tau’cyr after they joined the ARC-16's. Each of them, along with their respective co-pilots, grew to be highly skilled at operating their vehicles; their careful markerlighting or pinpoint seeker missile strikes many times turning the tide of a battle. Kan, a gunner, was loud and opinionated. She cared little if other’s had differing opinions, since in her mind whoever argued the loudest, won. Sua, a pilot, was not as boisterous as her rival, but was more quite and contemplative. She was not shy by any means, but rather she often thought of herself as better than her fellow tank drivers and had become quite the snob. During their time in the cadre, the pair had developed somewhat of a rivalry, often times pushing the limits of their skills in battle so as to outdo the other.

But tragedy struck when an ambush from a group of Lictors saw both of their vehicles destroyed. Even though the beasts were eventually driven off, Kan and Sua were the only survivors. In their anger, each blamed the other for failing to provide proper support during the attack. The argument escalated into a full on fist fight and resulted in both being detained during the course of their recovery period.

Upon being released they were met by Shas’El Lar’shi who explained to them the current needs of the cadre. Skyray’s were a valuable asset to the ARC-16’s, since mobile markerlights can provide a valuable edge against the fleet footed Y’he. Of course, Lar’shi did not hesitate to make it clear that their foolish argument was robbing the cadre of something they could desperately use: two extremely skilled tank operators. As such, the commander was assigning them both to work together on one of the remaining Skyray’s available to the ARC-16’s, the Ko’Vah'cha. Swallowing their pride, they both accepted the assignment.

As can be expected, there was still much tension in the close confines of the tank and both of the Tau had to adjust to working with a new partner. While many simulations ended in arguments, the pair eventually developed a level of cooperation. But it was during the evacuation of the Li'tas colony that the duo was finally united in purpose.

As the colony was assaulted by a massive Y’he fleet, the ARC-16's fought furiously to hold back the hordes along with several local cadres. The Ko’Vah'cha and her crew were assigned as tank commander of three other Skyrays and they had orders to keep the skies clear so that all the non-combatants could be evacuated.

Just as the shuttles were full and ready to leave, a swarm of Harpies made their attack run. Kan directed the squads to Markerlight their targets and begin a seeker attack. But the presence of a massive Harridan complicated matters. If the gargantuan Y’he was allowed to make it near the shuttles, then there would be no way they could be saved.

Seizing the initiative, Sua pushed her vehicle forward as fast as she could and ordered the other Skyray’s to continue focusing on the Harpies. Sua hoped to bait the Harridan their way, so that the shuttles could have more time to take off. Kan protested at first, but then saw an opportunity. The large beast didn’t have any smaller escorts surrounding it; evidently the creature wanted to conserve its Gargoyles till the time was right. Aiming her markerlights right at the beast, she unleashed her full payload of Seeker Missiles. The winged Y’he saw the incoming barrage and banked left to avoid it. Yet despite its impressive flying skills, it was still too large to avoid the missiles. They impacted all along its right side and severely damaged its wing.

With its focus now on the small Skyray, the beast turned and began swooping down; its descent sped up by its failing body. The monster unleashed every Gargoyle it had and fired its bio weapons at the Ko’Vah'cha. Sua’s piloting was now truly tested. Zigzagging across the open plain she barely avoided the corrosive weapons of the Y’he and did her best to stay one step ahead of the swarm of Gargoyles that fast approached. Knowing she needed to avoid the small creatures, she directed the tank into a narrow pass which would help them avoid being surrounded from all sides.

The Harridan now could no longer keep itself in the air and began falling faster to the ground. Sua pushed the vehicle as fast as it could go and did her best to escape the plummeting behemoth. As the beast crashed into the ground behind them, the little Skyray darted from side to side, trying to avoid the numerous rocky obstacles that blocked their path. Finally the massive body of the creature came to a stop, but the fight was far from over. The Gargoyles finally caught up with the Ko’Vah'cha and the stubborn Shas were forced to make a stand.

Wheeling the craft around Kan focused the tanks SMS on the swarm. A flurry of missiles flew forward and killed several of the creatures immediately. But there were still too many to handle. Firing their corrosive weapons dove, the beasts crashed into the tank and scrambled to rip open the hull. Activating the tanks flechette dischargers, several of the Gargoyles were killed. Yet many managed to escape and cling to the tank.

Knowing they could not fire their weapons at that range, Sua pushed the vehicle forward once again, picking up speed as fast as she could. Telling Kan to hold on tight and prepare to fire, Sua quickly hit the brakes. The whole vehicle lurched forward and stopped quickly; the sudden shift in momentum flung the Gargoyles from the tank and put them right in line with the Skyrays SMS. Quickly firing, Kan was able to eliminate the cluster of Gargoyles in one salvo.

After taking a moment to recover from the incident, Kan contacted the other Skyrays to check their status. They were indeed successful in eliminating most of the Harpies before they reached the shuttles and fortunately a pair of Barracudas was able to get in range and eliminate the ones that made it through. With their path clear, the shuttles were able to escape and allow the rest of Shas to begin their own evacuation.

With the mission a success, the pair finally felt like they were able to overcome their past rivalry. Seeing what they could do together, they knew that such petty squabbles had to be put in the past. Upon exiting their vehicle back in the hanger, they were met by Shas’El Lar’shi. He commended them for their actions, acknowledging how impressive their take down of Y’he gargantuan creature was. After a slight pause, he gave them the greatest compliment he knew:

“We could have used you both on Ge’nesha.”

It was a rare moment of kindness from the stern and serious commander; something that didn’t happen often. With his words in their ears, motivating them on, Kan and Sua have worked together ever since. Their skills have saved the lives of many from the Y'he threat and hopefully will continue to do so.

Faced with such massively powerful foes that inhabit our galaxy, it is a testament to the efficiency of the Greater Good that the Tau have been able to expand their Empire at all. But victories are won, not by the actions of only one caste, but by the cooperation of all in the name of the Greater Good.

The Earth caste produces the weapons, tools and other equipment needed to feed the growing Empire. The Air caste pilots the starships of the Tau, carrying with them the resources needed to conquer a given world. The Fire caste brings those resources to bear, eliminating any who would stand in the way of progress. The Water caste facilitates the smooth running of the different Castes, as well as actively promoting the benefits of joining the cause to potential vassal races. And above all, it is the Ethereals who guides the different castes on the path that would accomplish the most good. All these factors have allowed the Tau to achieve things that many, lesser races would find impossible.

But time and again, the Tau have found that the galaxy is not always welcoming of progress. War surrounds them and victories are rarely won without great cost.

---

Boasting a higher percentage of Fire Warrior than any other Sept, the heavily populated worlds of Sa’cea are a sterling example of what can be accomplished when all castes work together. Where one would expect dirty, crowded streets or disease and poverty, a walk through any Sa’cean city reveals a highly disciplined and orderly populous, busy at work to advance the Greater Good.

To a Sa’cean, efficiency is valued above all else and because of this they are often viewed as humorless sticklers to Tau of other Sept’s. Yet for the people of Sa’cea, they view their straight laced mindset as an advantage over some of the more, emotive Septs. Their clear, logical thinking allows them to have a sense of finesse and articulation that others fail to grasp. Indeed, this viewpoint cannot be entirely discounted as opinion, seeing as Sa’cean troops excel in urban battlefields that would test the sanity and nerves of any warrior. To the Sa’cean there is always a right tool for the job, but one must be clear of any clouding emotion to see it. This thinking has led many Sa’cean Shas’O’s to develop specialized squads or formations to overcome specific obstacles in times of need. In fact it is this desire for specialization which prompted the Sa’cean Shas’ar’tol to consider forming specialized cadre’s designed to combat specific threats to the Empire.

Many times, commanders have found it difficult to overcome enemies such as the enigmatic Eldar, when they regularly face a more mundane foe like the Be’gel; of course, even the Greenskin’s have a layer of complexity to them that warrants special consideration. So to compensate for this, the Sa’cean Shas’ar’tol, after getting the proper authorization from the Sept’s Ethereal Council, saw fit to form a group of cadre’s that would focus on combating specific alien threats. The twenty four specialized formations that were initially created were classified as Advanced Reconnaissance Cadre’s or ARC’s.

While the use of ARC’s is nothing new to the Tau way of war, the Sa’cean Shas’ar’tol sought to expand the function and purpose of this type of formation.



ARC’s are designed to go out on deep penetrating reconnaissance missions to gather intelligence on a specific alien threat. The goal is to gauge strengths and weaknesses - without committing forces to prolonged engagements. With such experience, the ARC’s can then provide tactical data on specific weaknesses and strategies employed by a particular enemy and assist the local Fire Caste commander to eliminate the threat.

Of course, with the Tau being unable to utilize the galactic shortcut that is warp travel, moving from planet to planet can be slow. So if faced by an unexpected enemy attack, the normal Shas commander can rarely expect the quick arrival of an ARC to bolster his ranks. While there have been occasions in which an ARC was nearby when their help was required, more often than not they are out of reach. This might initially seem like an inherent flaw in the ARC system, but directly assisting local Tau forces is not their primary goal.

As implied by their reconnaissance role, ARC’s spend a great deal of time studying the enemy and learning of its weaknesses. Their missions take them to remote areas in the Empire, or systems just out of reach of Tau boundaries, so they are often the first to encounter new threats. These experiences are then gathered and sent to the Shas’ar’tol and other caste branches of the Sept to be sorted and added to the collective knowledge of the Empire as a whole. This data has proved invaluable to Tau battle plans, as understanding one’s enemy can be just as potent a weapon as any technological marvel the Fio can create.



While the new ARC system has expanded in the tau'cyrs since its inception and includes many more than the ones listed here, the twenty four original ARC’s were divided in the following manner:

ARC-1 - 4: Or’es’gue’La (Space Marines)
ARC-5 – 8: Be’gel (Ork)
ARC-9 – 12: Mon’tau (Forces of Chaos)
ARC-13 – 16: Y’he (Tyranid)
ARC-17 – 18: Mont’ray (Necron)
ARC-19 – 20: Ar'cea (Eldar)
ARC-21 – 24: The Inquisition and other Specialized Forces of the Imperium

Each cadre would be given equipment that current data showed was best suited to combating their particular foe. From there, the ARC would regularly report back suggested refinements to tactics, modifications to weapons or equipment and other valuable information gained on their specified xeno threat.



Tau that currently make up the ARC’s were chosen because of their experience against a certain foe. Often, these are the survivors of particularly vicious engagements or veterans of long campaigns against an alien threat. It is not uncommon for an ARC to be made up entirely of the surviving members of several cadre’s recovered from battle. Their already prodigious experience allows them to have an edge against their enemy that a normal cadre may lack.

Of course, loses need to be replenished and even an ARC veteran will eventually meet his end on the battlefield. So to ensure that the cadre consistently has skilled warriors to draw upon, the Sa’cean Shas’ar’tol has given the ARC’s the authority to review the combat data of all Shas participating in a battle where their assistance was required. Depending on the needs of the cadre, a team of Water and Fire caste advisers will carefully look over each report to find any exceptional Tau who would be of benefit to the ARC’s in any way. Once their selections are made, a request is submitted to the local commander who can then approve or deny the transfer. After a request is approved, the ARC is now responsible for the chosen Tau and will arrange for their transportation to ARC facilities.

Those Tau which are then chosen will meet with the ARC’s Shas’El and other officers, who will brief them on their new assignment. Each ARC has their own version of this initial briefing, often tailoring it to familiarize the new recruits with what will become their permanent enemy.

For instance, the ARC-9’s, being a cadre which regularly combats the forces of Chaos, recognizes the maddening effects of regular exposure to such an enemy. To combat this they begin with a historical lesson on the Mon’tau and how it almost destroyed the Tau people, followed by a breakdown of the various factions they face and how that branch of Chaos could lead to the downfall of the Tau race if allowed to influence them. This approach has steeled the minds of many new recruits and allowed them face their new enemy with confidence that the very act of fighting Chaos is one of the truest actions to advance the greater good. Among the ARC-16’s, live Y’he specimens are brought into the room, usually under some restraint. After a brief lecture on the seriousness of their assignment, the Shas’El hands each new recruit a pistol and has them kill their first Y’he as members of the ARC-16’s. The ARC-2’s, who face the mighty Or’es’gue’la, bring their new members to a Fio lab where a dead Space Marine is dissected and studied before their eyes. Their known enhancements are then explained and ways in which to counter such advantages is discussed. This is all to take away the seemingly invincible nature of this threat and prevent any member from panicking when facing the enemy.

Whatever the custom may be, each ARC remembers the words of the venerable Commander Puretide: “For the enemy to truly be defeated, he must first be understood. Ignorance is the deadliest weapon the enemy can use against us.”





First initiated by Commander Brokensword of the Tau’shan Sept and the ARC-16’s, the Tau’shan Exchange Program was designed to allow Shas from other Septs to gain first-hand experience fighting among the best Y’he hunters in the Empire. With Tau’shan acting as a harbor for third sphere cadres, this allowed many different Septs to take advantage of the extensive training given to ARC’s. The program allowed for a select number of ARC-16 veterans to be sent out to train other cadre’s, usually ones that found themselves regularly facing Y’he assault. In turn, those cadre’s would send a few of their own members to attach themselves to the ARC-16’s for two tau’cyr, allowing them to gain the full experience of what it means to be an ARC. They would of course bring this training back with them to their home Septs or cadre’s and could pass along the valuable information they learned.

Initially Shas’El Lar’shi, the commander of the ARC-16’s, strongly expressed his disapproval of this arrangement. He was convinced that the inexperienced Shas that would be transferred to his cadre would be a liability. After all, any Shas invited to become permanent members of the ARC-16’s were handpicked by Lar’shi himself. He also expressed concern on losing his own valued experts. Yet, despite his objections, the decision to go ahead with the program came from the Sa’cean Shas’ar’tol itself and could not be entirely rejected. Eventually, they were able to make a compromise. Tau from other Septs could join the cadre, so long as Lar’shi or one of his officers approved the warrior in question.

In its four tau’cyr’s of operation, the program has allowed several dozen cadre’s to gain valuable experience in fighting one of the most truly horrifying enemies of the Empire. The data gained from those cadre’s that have either been trained by ARC-16 veterans or have had members return from service with them have shown a marked increase in combat effectiveness and longevity. Most famously, two cadre’s that had been trained by ARC-16 veteran Shas’Vre Sa’cea Olku, survived a suicidal manta drop deep into Y’he territory during the attack to retake the planet Bur’eeo. Their tactics, while putting them face to face with some of the swarms most vicious creatures, allowed them to eliminate all of the Tervigons which were producing the unending sea of gaunts that plagued Tau forces.

While only a fraction of the two cadre’s were able to survive, their daring raid broke the back of the Y’he assault and allowed the Tau to gain an upper hand. As for the survivors, they were then formed up and attached to other ARC veterans to form the ARC-15’s; the former holder of the title having been lost to a Tyranid assault. The survivors viewed such an assignment as an honor and have already proved themselves to be a force to be reckoned with.

With such successes to its name, many other ARC’s are accepting the program, sending detachments to the Tau’shan system, allowing Tau from all across the Empire to benefit of the skill and experience that can only come from being one of these elite warriors.



When examined in detail, the term ‘cadre’ can be somewhat misleading when considering the new ARC system. With their missions carrying them so far from the Empires territory, the size of the cadre must also grow, since reinforcements would not always be so easily attainable.

With this increased size and with the broad scope of their mission, ARC’s need access to a variety of resources. Research from Fio engineers and scientists may be needed to examine captured aliens or recovered technology. Transporting the ARC’s from planet to planet requires Kor vessels as well as fighter escort and support in battle. And the Por are needed to negotiate with aliens encountered during their journeys as well as facilitating the smooth transition of power when an ARC must requisition other cadre’s to support their mission. The only missing caste is an Ethereal; but the dangerous nature of these missions would put the great leaders of the Tau in harm’s way on far too many occasions and have been deemed unnecessary.

With all these needs considered, the Sa’cean Shas’ar’tol, with the approval of the local Ethereal Council saw fit to assign Fio research teams as well as Air caste assets to regularly accompany ARC’s in their missions. A Water caste Por’El will also serve as the cadre’s representative, along with a small retinue of assistants. This allows for ARC’s to have a certain level of autonomy when compared to other Tau forces. However, the construction and repair abilities of the Fio work teams have been limited. This is in place to prevent ARC's from being entirely self sufficient, in the unlikely event that they were to go rogue.

To transport the ARC’s, a heavily modified Emissary class carrier has been provided for each cadre’s permanent use. While normally a merchant or diplomatic vessel, the Emissary was chosen because of its flexibility. Seeing as it is often viewed as a simple diplomatic ship, this can be used as a cover to get within a planet's outer defenses, prior to stealthily deploying the ARC to provide long-term pre-engagement intelligence for follow-on forces weeks or even months down the road. Another reason is the advanced cloaking technologies that allow them to either remain undetected in space for long periods of time, or disguised with the various BVR spectral signatures/IFF codes/etc. of existing enemy/neutral ships to aid in initial deception. Lastly, they are small and light enough to rapidly redeploy, well-armed enough to fend off many common attackers and carry a complement of fighters that could be used in naval engagements, transport escort, and close air support operations for the ground troops.

While normally their weapon systems provide mediocre offensive abilities, recent modifications have given these Emissaries a deceptive amount of strength. Still, plunging headlong into an enemy blockade would usually spell doom for the ship. Onboard, room has been made to accommodate both Earth caste medical teams, as well as engineering teams. On the bridge, a place is set for the Por’El and his team to handle any situation that may require diplomatic or administrative solutions. Armories, shooting ranges and meditation chambers are available for all and are usually where the Fire caste can be found. In addition, external docking bays have been added to accommodate two Mantas for use by the cadre.

With all the castes working together in one ship, ARC’s actually resemble small Coalitions in their makeup. Normally such organizations would be presided over by an Aun, but in the case of the ARC’s, the ultimate authority rests with the Shas’El. Of course, the other El’s of the other castes can object to his plans. But since any mission undertook by the ARC must be approved by the Shas’ar’tol, such disagreements are rare. This shows the implicit trust put in any member of an ARC, as they will essentially be operating beyond the boundaries of the Empire’s control. As of yet, no major issues of inter-caste difficulty have been reported.



Standard Tau cadres usually keep a large stockpile of weapons and vehicles which allow them to be prepared for whatever role the mission requires them to fulfill. The same can also be said for an ARC. But unlike the standard cadre, an ARC is usually grouped into what can almost be considered two separate elements: the Attack and Stealth Contingent. (Hereafter referred to as AC and SC respectively.)

Stealth Suits, Pathfinders, Sniper Drones and other infiltration or recon units are separated from the other cadre elements and treated as a forward reconnaissance unit. In any battle situation, even if it is simply scouting out enemy positions, the SC will always be the first on the scene, relaying all data on enemy positions and strength to the rest of the cadre in the staging grounds. They are led by a Shas’El, often equipped with an upgraded stealth pattern suit. This ‘El remains subordinate to the Attack Element commander, who is the overall leader of the cadre. The Stealth Commander will also have at least two other Shas’Vre under him; usually equipped in XV15 or XV25 armor.

The AC is then led by the senior ARC Shas’El, the overall commander of the entire cadre. This part of the cadre is usually heavily dominated by XV8’s, Broadsides, Hammerheads and a large amount of line warriors. Their job is to respond to the data collected by the SC and at times provide the needed force to support them in case their location is compromised. As in other cadre’s Shas’Vre bodyguards accompany the commander, but they too will often serve as the leaders of other ta’ro’cha, or may even be given command over smaller combat kau’ui’s.

The notion of “sub-commander’s” is something used heavily in the ARC’s. This serves the purpose of providing necessary command in case of causalities and also prevents the ARC Shas’El from having to micromanage his forces. In addition, when ARC’s must take command of other cadre’s, strong leaders are readily available.

ARC’s usually consist of 250-400 combat effective Shas and auxiliary warriors, with enough resources to equip all of them and vary their load out and configuration depending on the mission requirements. In battle, though, many will stay in reserve to reinforce the cadre, should they need it. Their equipment is similar to any standard Tau force, but will usually have access to experimental weapons, vehicles or battlesuits. Auxiliary units, such as Kroot, can fit into either element of an ARC and will be assigned depending on their skills and/or the mission requirements.

Normally, auxiliary forces are kept separate and assigned by the commanding Shas’O. But within the ARC structure, auxiliaries are allowed to become a permanent part of the cadre itself, establishing habitats aboard the ARC ship. This often cements a strong bond between the vassal races and their ARC comrades, as long term exposure to the Tau and their philosophy turns many into strong adherents of the Greater Good.

The most obvious example of this can be seen in the ARC-16’s who have attached to their cadre an entire Kroot kindred known as the Blood Quills. Stranger still is the inclusion of the kindred’s Kroot Sphere’s to the ARC-16 naval assets, which are maintained entirely by the Blood Quills themselves and serve as their living quarters. Having this large of a Kroot auxiliary force is uncommon and it is still unknown how Shas’El Lar’shi received authorization to have the entire kindred accompany them.

As for other mercenary forces, ARC’s are given freedom to choose how they will interact. Some do hire local mercs, but such actions can be risky. As such, the Shas’ar’tol requires that every ARC wishing to hire mercenaries, for any length of time, get approval from the Shas’ar’tol first.



When an ARC Shas'El has to interact with local commanders he, along with a Water Caste representative, will act as a special adviser (of course, if the ARC Shas’El is the highest ranked officer during an engagement, he will then take command of local forces - but such occurrences are rare and usually occur only if the command staff has been killed in action). Upon their arrival in the current battle zone, the Water Caste representative will contact the local Por to transfer needed logistical data. This allows the local commanders to know exactly what resources the ARC has to offer.

The ARC Shas’El will then meet directly with the local Fire Caste commander to review battle plans. In their advisory role, an ARC Shas’El is responsible for ensuring the commanders’ current tactics are sufficient for facing the enemy at hand. Usually, upon reviewing previous battle plans, adjustments to cadre positioning, resource management and target priority are changed to whatever would be most effective. Ultimately though, the final decision on what will be done in a battle zone rests solely with the local Shas’O. The ARC commander, while highly experienced and respected, does not have ultimate authority over other Tau forces. With the flexible nature of any Tau Command structure, power struggles between the ARC ‘El’s and the local Shas’O are uncommon.

However, there is one resource on the battlefield which is controlled directly by the ARC Shas’El: a Mission Group (similar to the Imperium’s Kill Teams). These are formed entirely by members of the ARC and are used to pinpoint and take advantage of a key enemy weakness. Seeing as the ARC’s would have the most experience, this dangerous and often crucial role is played solely by these veteran warriors.




While an ARC is powerful and highly skilled, they are too small to ensure victory all on their own. It is then a necessity that they work alongside other Tau forces to achieve victory. Once successfully integrated into the local Tau military structure, Shas’O’s can utilize them as they see fit. While their exact usage can vary greatly depending on the situation, there are three basic utilizations:

1.) Operate as an elite Hunter Cadre used to execute particularly dangerous missions where their expertise is required.

This is often the case when the ARC’s preferred enemy appears while the majority of Tau forces are engaged with another foe. This allows the ARC’s the most freedom as they are able to eliminate the threat however they see fit, as long as it does not interfere with the overall battle plans of the local commander.

2.) Provide reconnaissance information on enemy activity.

The ARC usually stays forward of local Tau forces and relay any important strategic information; this is where the SC is utilized heavily. Often, the AE will operate as the Kauyon lure for the local cadres, their experience against the enemy giving them excellent insight on how to maneuver them into a trap that will be the most effective.

3.) Spread their seasoned veterans throughout the local cadres to assist all Tau in combating an incoming threat.

In some instances, an enemy can be detected well before it reaches Tau boundaries. The ARC’s can then provide training to the local cadres, preparing them to repel the would-be invaders. ARC officers can also be assigned to local forces as squad or cadre leaders, lending their substantial experience to assist. However, the luxury of time is rarely on a local cadre’s side and allowing ARC veterans to take command and train their troops cannot be done gradually.

In those instances, veteran ARC Shas’Vre’s are briefed on the current situation and then shipped out to take command of select cadre’s. Usually those cadre’s are ones that are going to face the brunt of enemy attack or be sent on crucial missions in enemy territory. To facilitate a smooth transition, the normal cadre leader is kept in an advisory role to the ARC veteran. This allows for normal cadre activity to continue and prevents any difficulties from arising that are normally associated with a sudden change in leadership. The ARC vet in charge of the cadre will then report directly to the local Shas’O, with the ARC Shas’El being constantly kept up to date on the battles progress.

The dual elements of the ARC’s allow for more flexibility, regardless of their deployment on the battlefield. At times the AC can support the local forces, allowing the SC to perform hit and run attacks on targets of opportunity. In some situations, an AE will be the first to engage the enemy, drawing their fire and distracting them while the SC infiltrate. Then when the larger Tau forces arrive, the SC can provide excellent intel and even spring from their hiding places to eliminate key threats and then link up with the rest of the ARC forces. When combat operations come to an end, the ARC’s collect their resources and head back to their attendant space craft. Many times after a local cadre encounters an ARC’s specialized foe, the ARC Shas’El will debrief those involved, using this as an opportunity to instruct the cadre on how to improve in future engagements.



The true scale of the galaxy, with its various and deadly inhabitants, is slowly being revealed to the Tau. As such, it is nigh-impossible to train to meet every threat in every possible situation. By repurposing the ARC system, enough Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) will be present in the Empire to alleviates some of those training impossibilities by allowing the specialists to maintain an advisory role in combating their designated foe, while the General Population (GP) Tau military can be more broadly trained and focus on waging conventional warfare, thereby maintaining the strategic and operational flexibility that an ARC may lack on a wider scale.

After its initial creation by the Sa’cean Shas’ar’tol, the new ARC system has seen much success and has been adopted by Tau commanders across the Empire. This of course leads to even more variation and refinements to the system. For instance, the high profile commander Shas'O Viorla Ol'nan, has already begun to apply some of the "new age" ARC specialist principles to his own general forces in an effort to better wage war against a primarily human enemy. This has allowed him to successfully requisition Tau forces that have recently seen far more combat action against a particular xeno force and simply dispatch ARC liaisons to these Cadre Commanders to "prime" them in the best way to wage war against human opposition in the galactic vicinity, rather than let them learn the hard way through excessive casualties and unforgiving trial and error.

The new ARC system thus provides a way for Tau of all castes to better defend and prepare the Empire against the many alien threats it is pitted against.

---

--UNIT QUERY, DESIGNATION: BLOOD QUILLS KINDRED--
--PROCESSING...--

The Cadre of El Lar’shi is unique in its close association with the Kroot of the Blood Quills Kindred. After the events of Ge’nesha, the Tau of the 16th have become inseparable to their Kroot allies. The Shas’ar’tol and the Ethereal Counsel have reviewed this bond and have deemed it as an acceptable example of what can be accomplished when all species act together for the Greater Good.

Currently lead by Master Shaper Natar Luco, the Blood Quills have a long history on Pech. Their ancestors were among the first Kroot to venture into the stars and the desire to explore and adapt more genetic material burns in the blood of every member of the kindred. After the covenant was made with the Tau at the Oathstone, the Blood Quills were among the Kroot who did not take well to being in exclusive service to the Tau. Desiring to expand their race, the Blood Quills felt that giving their services solely to the Tau would lead their race into stagnation. So taking command of a Warsphere, the Blood Quills kindred made their way to seek the infinite variety of the galaxy.

During that time, the Blood Quills served as mercenaries for various Imperial factions and even worked alongside Eldar for a time. Throughout the generations, the kindred’s Master Shaper’s lead them down a dietary path that focused on enhancing the Kroots natural survival abilities. Stealth, speed, ingenuity, all these qualities were needed for the Blood Quills to survive in their journeys and finding creatures with those abilities were given top priority.

Years of traveling the galaxy had left the Blood Quills with quite a large stock of supplies. Unwilling to just abandon such precious material, the current Master Shaper, Mataba, agreed to find a planet that would serve as their base of operations. That planet was Ge'nesha, 110 kai’rotaa before the Tau discovered it. But not all Blood Quills thought that they should settle on a planet, seeing the disaster that befell their ancestors as reason enough to avoid staying in one place. This led to a division amongst the Blood Quills and resulted in a small number agreeing to take one of the warsphere’s and continue on their path in the stars. It was hoped on both sides that the two would eventually meet again, but for now, they had different goals.

Those that decided to stay on the planet landed their Warsphere in the dense forests, using its maneuvering thrusters to bury the vessel. With their ship safe the Kroot took to searching the countryside. On Ge'nesha, they found an abundance of life and the Kroot were content to adapt from these creatures till it would be time to return to Pech with their stored genetic data. But 20 kai’rotaa after their initial settlement, Ge'nesha was invaded by the Orks. Knowing that they would be unable to flee in their ponderous Warsphere, the Blood Quills did what any self respecting Kroot would do: they hunted.

They came to discover that two very different Ork warbosses had taken their fight to Ge'nesha. Bringing their intergalactic rivalry with them, the Orks seemed intent on wiping each other out; much to the relief of the Kroot. But Mataba, having fought the Orks on Pech knew of their violent nature. Eventually, one Ork would be able to defeat his rival, and then they would go looking for another opponent. It would only be a matter of time before that target was the Blood Quills. Utilizing their skills of speed and stealth, the Blood Quills raged a guerilla war against the Orks, picking off targets deemed too dangerous and sabotaging Ork effort to keep them off balance.

During the next several kai’rotaa’s, each respective Ork Warboss began building his empire. Stripping the forests of their trees, the Kroot found less and less cover to hide in. As the Ork’s continued to expand, the main Kroot base camp, along with their warsphere was in danger of being discovered. Knowing that this would spell the end for the Kindred, Mataba led a daring raid into Ork territory to find and kill the lead Mekboy who was behind the southerly advance. But any direct action by the Kroot would no doubt raise suspicions about the attackers, so Mataba arranged for a large portion of the entire kindred to attack along the northern boundary. Utilizing stolen Ork weapons, the Kroot hoped to fool the ‘Ead ‘Unta clan into thinking that their rivals were taking the offensive. To further ensure that their presence would not be discovered, the kindred managed to bait several Skull Crusha’ border patrols to cross into the area after the attack.

The northern attack went off without a hitch. The Kroot attacked quickly and with full fury, catching several Ork camps off guard. In the south, scouts had located the Mekboy’s position and Mataba’s raiders mounted their Knarloc’s and headed out to eliminate him. Over 30 Knarloc’s were used in the raid and each were equipped with a mixture of silent, stealthier weapons for the initial attack and the loud Ork weapons to cover their tracks. The plan was clear, get in, kill the Mekboy, and then get out.

Initially, the attack was going as planned. The Kroot advance managed to avoid most patrols and any that were engaged were dealt with swiftly and silently. When they arrived at the Ork camp, the Kroot wasted no time advancing toward their target, the element of surprise being their greatest ally. But eventually the Orks got organized and fought back. Despite their casualties, the Kroot pressed on. Mataba eventually located the Mekboy and took the youngest member of his council, Natar Luco, to eliminate him.

The Ork was heavily armed and put up quite a fight. But through the combined efforts of Mataba and Luco, the Ork was brought down. As Mataba approached the corpse to take some its flesh, the Ork quickly shot his arm up and caught the Master Shaper in his power claw. Before Luco could react, Mataba was dead. Luco stepped in and with one swift motion, brought the blades of his rifle down onto the Orks head. Taking the body of Mataba and part of the Mekboy with him, Luco fled and ordered the rest of kindred to gather the dead and leave. To cover their tracks, the Kroot planted explosives and escaped as they detonated.

The plan was a success. ‘Ead ‘Unta’s believed that the Skull Crusha’s were responsible for the attacks and their feud continued on with their efforts focused in the north. For now, the Blood Quills were safe. With Mataba dead, the role of Master Shaper was passed onto Luco. Despite his young age, Luco was well known for his affinity with technology and his keen sense of genetic awareness; excellent qualities for a Master Shaper. But Luco came to realize that they were only delaying the inevitable. The Orks would attack again and again and eventually the kindred would be discovered. For their continued survival, they had to leave Ge’nesha.

During the decades that followed, Luco lead his Kindred to great developments. They were able to amass a large stockpile of Ork weapons and through knowledge gained from consumed Mekboys, they were able to build hidden bases throughout the continent. Eventually, after several Kai’rotaa’s of preparing and planning, the Blood Quills were ready to leave. A distraction was organized to allow time for the Warsphere to lift off and escape to Pech. But before any plan could be initiated, the Tau arrived.

Their time spent as mercenaries did not mean that the kindred were ignorant of the affairs of their people back home. Through contacts in the Empire they were able to get a full picture of the Tau advance throughout the galaxy and the prosperity of their own brothers. But initially, the Blood Quills were reluctant to contact the Tau. Knowing that their presence would raise questions, Luco hoped to be able to remain hidden long enough to allow them to get in contact with their fellow Kroot and get back to Pech. But the emergence of the Tyranid changed everything. The Kroot knew that they had to ally with the Tau or all would be lost. But a proper first contact was not to be. As a large Kroot hunting squad left the camp, they came across the Sa’cean cadres, desperately fighting back wave after wave of Gargoyles.

Seeing that the winged swarms were being spawned by a nearby nest, the lead Shaper ordered his Krootox riders to fire their guns at the structure. The heavy weapons were able to shatter much of the dense musculature of the nest and succeeded in sealing it up. The other Kroot then charged the other capillary towers, killing any Hive Guard that stood nearby. Attaching melta bombs to the base of each tower, the Kroot then disappeared quickly into the forests they came from. The resulting explosions destroyed the towers and sent them toppling to the ground, flattening many Gargoyles as they fell. Using their in depth knowledge of the surrounding terrain, the Kroot were able to lead the Tau to a more defendable area. When the Tau were safe, the kindred went back out and eliminated any of the surviving Gargoyles, utilizing their various booby traps that they had laid for the Orks.

From then on, the Blood Quills found themselves bound to the Tau survivors. Their field craft and supplies were crucial in helping the Tau to eliminate key Tyranid strong points and allow the main Tau force to defeat the monsters. [For a detailed account of the war, see the main article on Ge’nesha] The struggles and horrors faced by both the Sa’ceans and the Kroot had forged a very strong bond between them. Several of the Tau officers made specific requests to be assigned to work exclusively with the Blood Quills upon cadre reformation. The kindred too had formed a bond with the Tau. Several times, the Tau were unwilling to abandon the Kroot and they fought courageously to allow every member of the Blood Quills to escape. Through such strength and determination the Kroot viewed them as worthy allies.

After much deliberation between both Por and Kroot diplomats, the Blood Quills were made full fledged members of the Empire. It is acknowledged that this Kindred has no record of ever serving with the Tau and sightings of them had been traced to mercenary groups throughout the sector. But somewhere in the Shas’ar’tol, this was willfully overlooked and permitted with little investigation. The mysterious circumstances of this union have caused some to raise suspicions, but upon seeing the enemy faced by the ARC-16’s regularly, most are just grateful to have the ARC’s between them and the Tyranid.

Kroot do not consume Tyranid flesh. The genetic material contained inside Tyranid organisms can override a Kroot’s natural abilities at genetic selection. But despite this, the Kroot choose to stay with the ARC’s. After living so close to destruction during their Kai’rotaa’s on Ge’nesha, the Blood Quills were more willing to take risks then most. Luco has noted that the varying battle zones offer his kindred a wide range of genetic samples. Often times, Tyranid attacks wipe out entire species; their precious genetic materials, lost forever. To prevent a potential loss to his people, Luco is willing to go to great lengths to procure such species. To him, high risk equals high reward.

But above everything, the Tau of the ARC-16’s and the Blood Quills genuinely admire and respect one another. Their bond is truly an example of the uniting power of the Great Good.

The Battle for Ge'nesha (46% Complete)

Custom's and Ritual’s in the ARC-16’s

The Y’he’Mont'yr’mesa (Mark of a Tyranid war veteran):
Newly transferred Shas must prove themselves worthy of trust by participating and surviving three encounters with the Tyranid. After their third mission, the Shas is to cut off a piece of carapace from one of the beasts and replace his right shoulder guard with it. The carapace can then be decorated as the Shas likes. Many choose to keep the original color of the carapace, while other paint it black and put the color of their home Sept on it. But all have the custom of marking it with the names of fallen members of their teams on it. A Shas’Ui commonly replaces their left shoulder guard with a much larger piece of carapace, but that is not necessarily the standard.

The Kroot’mont’taal (Remembering fallen Kroot):
The other custom involves a Shas’ relationship with the Kroot. Survivors of Ge’nesha are treated as honorary members of the Blood Quills kindred. To show their solidarity, those Shas (or Gue’Vesa) paint on part of their equipment a red stripe the same color as the quills of the kindred. This custom is viewed similar to bonding, but focuses more on mutual respect and brotherhood. As for those who have joined the cadre following those initial events, they must first prove themselves by passing the Y’he’Mont'yr’mesa.

The Ta’lissera:
To the Tau of the ARC-16’s, bonding is essential. Fighting the Y’he means facing the things of nightmares and it helps to know that the Shas beside you will have your back, come what may. Because of this, upon successful completion of the trials a Shas can choose to be bonded to their entire cadre. The rituals of the Ta’lissera remain the same as in other cadre’s, except Kroot and Gue’vesa are allowed to be present. However, only Tau engage in the bonding ritual. Despite the cadre’s open mindedness, a Tau’s bonding to another species is viewed as unnatural.

For some Tau, bonding more than once is not common. Since such a vow is not to be taken lightly and has great emotional significance, re-bonding is not forced upon a new member of the ARC-16's. Yet after many battles it is not uncommon for those initially reluctant to reconsider. Such union among all the Tau in the cadre creates a strong sense of family. This causes the Shas to be more protective of their brothers and sisters. This usually means that most ARC members remain distant and aloof to other Tau, adding to their negative reputation among other cadres.

Kroot Hazing Rituals:
As regards the Blood Quills, they hold Ge’neshan survivors in high regard. But new members to the cadre are viewed with a bit of suspicion and are not fully accepted until they pass The Trials. Until that time, new recruits are often victims of Kroot hazing rituals. These usually involve Kroot mimicking sounds of weapons or creatures to terrify unsuspecting Shas or assaulting them with odors of various types to see how long they can last. Worse yet, some Shas’la are rudely woken in the night by some kind small lizard or insect released into their bunks. Ro’Yon and other officers in the ARC-16’s allow such behavior; feeling that in the end it fosters unity. But in the meantime…it is pretty funny.

The Annexation of Solun IV

Solun IV was an Imperial world captured by the Tau of the Ka’ros Sept during the Third Sphere. During the conflict, the Tau forces found their efforts being hampered by regular terrorist attacks. It was soon discovered though, that these incidents were happening at Imperial sites as well, each attack leaving evidence that would implicate that the other side was responsible. The Shas’O, having seen tactics like this several times before, concluded that this was the work of some manipulative third party and sent scouting cadres to investigate.

One of the cadres made a startling discovery: a large underground Genestealer cult at an abandoned Imperial mining facility had been responsible for the attacks. Word was sent back to the Shas’O who requested specialists to deal with this threat. The Imperials were making aggressive attacks along the front lines and the cadres involved could not be spared. The ARC-16’s were en-route to a nearby system to test out prototype weaponry recently developed by the Fio when they were contacted by the Shas’ar’tol to divert to Solun IV. Lar’shi wasted no time gathering information on the underground facility. Sending Pathfinder, Stealth and Kroot teams inside, Lar’shi hoped to seal the cultist in and bring the ceiling down around them. One of those Pathfinder teams was lead by Shas’Ui Sa’cea Mont’re.


--Pathfinder Team Mont’re--
>Shas’Ui Sa’cea Mont’re<

Background:
Being a Pathfinder requires nerves of steel. Not all Tau are able to keep their cool under fire like a well trained Pathfinder team. Self preservation can be a hard instinct to ignore, but Pathfinder teams regularly have to keep their focus on their targets and trust in the cadre that they will deal with any threats closing in on their location.

Mont’re was not present on Ge’nesha, but he earned both of his marks during his service with the ARC-16’s. During the defense of Kol’Um, when Mont’re still served with a local cadre, his team was tasked with targeting enemy armor for Seeker Missile strikes. As the battle reached its climax, the Mont’re’s squad was hit by an artillery shell. The explosion killed every member of the team except Mont’re, who was merely a La at the time. Half deaf and injured, Mont’re kept focusing his Markerlight, enabling local Skyrays to hit vital points in enemy armor.

As the Imperials noticed they had not eliminated the threat, Rough Riders were sent to clear the area. Undaunted by the charging Gue’la, Mont’re saw past them and focused as best he could on a command vehicle which was just passing by. Seconds felt like hours as the over head Barracuda’s got his information and eliminated the target.

The second his work was done, Mont’re used his carbine on the closest rider, who was just raising his arm to strike. The melee was fierce and saw Mont’re utilizing every one of his Photon Grenades to make his escape. The teams Devilfish managed to pick him up before the Riders could reach him and Mont’re finally allowed himself to pass out from the wounds.

After the battle, a recovering Mont’re was met by Shas’El Lar’shi in the medical bay, who offered him a position among the ARC-16’s where he would serve as Shas’Ui for his Pathfinders. Mont’re agreed and has served for over eight kai’rotaa.


Mont’re and his squad were veteran Pathfinders and were among the first Tau to infiltrate the facility. Splitting their group in two, Mont’re’s had himself and two others tasked with identifying structural weak points and planting explosives, while the other team mapped out the tunnels and marked entrances and exits. The Kroot assisted the Pathfinders while the Stealth teams searched for targets of opportunity.


--Pathfinder Team Mont’re--
>Shas’La Sa’cea Len’ra<

Background:Len’ra has been with his Mont’re since he first joined the ARC-16’s, serving as the teams demolitions expert. His is cautious by nature, always striving to use the exact amount of force needed to achieve the greatest effect. He is often in competition with Shas’La Cova of Fire Team Doran. This file photo shows Len’ra equipped with a common fragmentation explosive used by Pathfinders of the ARC-16’s. It contains a rudimentary Drone intelligence which detonates upon breach of its proximity field.

During the Solun IV mission, Len’ra demonstrated his skill in his craft by setting several of his explosives near the multiple choke points in the tunnels. This would ensure that when the charges went off, enemy casualties would be high. He also place more powerful anit-armor explosives along several of the entrances to block any enemy pursuit. At the time, these were standard precautions, but would later prove invaluable.


--Pathfinder Team Mont’re--
>Shas’La Sa’cea Nem <

Background:Reserved and focused, Shas’La Nem is the team’s sharpshooter. He was assigned to Mont’re’s squad after surviving an encounter with the nemesis of the ARC-16’s, the Y’he of Splinter Fleet Reclaimer. There he helped take down a Hive Tyrant by his adept use of a Markerlight; calling in Seeker Missile strikes that eventually felled the beast.

In the tunnels of Solun IV Nem provided cover for Mont’re and Len’ra as they planted the explosives. While the team kept silent, Nem was forced to kill three patrolling mutants who wandered too close to their activity. This interruption forced the team to work faster, fearing that more would soon be on their way to look for the missing patrols.

While the Shas’Ui and his team set the explosives, the other four Pathfinders, lead by Shas’La Savon, split to map out the tunnel.


--Pathfinder Team Mont’re--
>Shas’La Sa’cea Savon<

Background:Savon serves as Mont’re’s second in command. His keen observation skills singled him out for Pathfinder duty earlier in his training. He was quickly assigned to the ARC-16’s after his first mission found his cadre face to face with a Y’he invasion. Although the planet was lost, Savon proved himself capable and has continued to be an asset to his team.

On Solun IV, his skills were indispensable as the Pathfinders quickly mapped out the area on the Cadre’s battle net. They determined that there were sixteen smaller tunnels in and out of the main facility with three other larger exits leading to the outside, one on each end and one in the middle. Savon determined that they best possible exit for the team was at the southern tunnel, which appeared to be the least traveled and most lightly defended.


--Pathfinder Team Mont’re--
>Shas’La Sa’cea Oni<

Background:Shas’La Oni worked alongside Savon as they explored the tunnels. Oni is possessed by a spirit of curiosity, always longing to search a little deeper or go down the path a little farther than any sane Tau would.

During their mission, Oni noticed a large open door where many of the cultists were regularly coming in and out of. Carefully moving to a better position, he was able to use his Markerlight to see though an opening. Inside, the cultists could all be seen bowing to something. Desiring a closer look, he contacted one of the Stealth teams in the area to see if they could get close enough to see what was going on inside.

Risking detection, the Stealth’s managed to get themselves close enough to the large vault to see the object of the cultists veneration. It was a Drone sized, beetle like Y’he creature. It pulsed a strange red glow which would brighten every time it was approached by one of the mutants.

The information was relayed to Shas’El Lar’shi who saw this as a rare opportunity to study a new Y’he species. Lar’shi ordered that all infiltrating units should conceal themselves as close to the veneration chamber as possible and hold off on all detonation of the explosives they had planted. He and the rest of the cadre outside were going to attack the middle tunnel entrance. This would likely illicit an immediate response from the mutants and would send them charging at Lar’shi and his cadre. The Stealth team stayed where it was and the Pathfinders and Kroot crept their way into a ventilation duct near the southern exit which would hopefully conceal their position until the time was right.

When everyone was in position, Lar’shi ordered the attack. Picking off the guards that had been identified with loud missile fire, he waited for the full enemy response. As expected, the mutants began to pour from the tunnels, firing weapons or charging blindly ahead in a taloned frenzy. Even purestrain Genestealers were present, which proved how advanced this cult was. But despite their ferocity, the Tau were lying in wait and they mowed them down with disciplined volley’s of fire. For now, the enemy was being kept at bay.

Inside the infiltrators seized the opportunity to get past the distracted mutants and capture the Y’he. Using the ventilation shaft to reach the room, Mont’re and his team along with several Kroot waited for the signal from the Stealth team. But something must have alerted the Genestealers to the Tau presence and they attacked the Stealths. While they managed to get away from the initial attack, the Stealth team was now faced with a swarm of mutants eager for their blood. Even though they were heavily armed, it was only a matter of time before they were dragged down. Knowing time was short, Mont’re ordered his team to attack and they burst from their hiding place, guns blazing.


--Pathfinder Team Mont’re--
>Shas’La Sa’cea T’suam<

Background:Shas’La T’suam has been with the cadre since Ge’nesha. He has never attempted to take his Trial by Fire to rise to a higher rank, feeling that he is most needed in the position he is in now. This is viewed as laziness by some of his peers, but on the battlefield he is anything but. His close bonds to his Pathfinder squad have been strengthened from mission after mission with eventually the entire team taking part in the Ta’lissera. This bond was magnified by his attachment to his bond sister, Shas’La Res. There was much speculation among the cadre as to their relationship, but it was clear to anyone that they shared a strong affection for each other.

During the counter attack on the cultists, T’suam and Res fought back to back, eliminating any enemies who tried to outflank them. The Kroot fought ferociously to put down any who got to close, but even their close combat prowess was no match for the Genestealers and the team knew they had to get out fast. Mont’re ordered Res to grab the Y’he creature and prepare to leave through the ventilation system they came in through.

Outside, Lar’shi had begun a tactical retreat, using his entire cadre as a Kau’yon lure. The mutants took the bait and followed them out. But once the Y’he they worshipped had been captured inside, all the cultists were instantly alerted and began to charge back into the facility. It was then that Lar’shi ordered the explosives near the main tunnel entrance detonated. The explosions killed many of the mutants and cut off the rest of them from supporting their broods inside. Lar’shi immediately attacked and wiped out the dumfounded mutants that remained outside the facility.

Inside, the infiltrators were fighting a desperate battle to their fallback point. The explosives furthest away from the team were detonated first, hoping to throw off the enemy and fool them to think that they were being outflanked. As the explosions went off in order, the mutants were thrown off balance and gave the teams precious time to escape. But they were still being pursued heavily. Littering the pathways with whatever remaining explosives they had, the mutants were slowed but only temporarily.

But despite their superior armor and technology, the odds were beginning to become stacked against them by the sheer number of enemies. The Kroot had lost all but three of their starting number and the four strong Stealth team had lost one. Mont’re was grateful that the losses were not higher and ordered everyone to make a run for the tunnel exit. The Kroot led the charge, watching expectantly for any ambush. There were a few mutants in the tunnel, but were easily dispatched.

But just as the exit was within sight, the wall in front of them exploded, pouring out purestrain Genestealers. The entire team fired everything they had at the beasts, but couldn’t prevent them from getting progressively closer. The Kroot took their stand alongside Res, hoping to protect her from any Y’he that might get close as she held the squirming creature they had captured. The Stealth Teams poured fire into the opening, but the Genestealers just kept coming. To make matters worse, the mutants were beginning to get through the rubble the team had left behind them. Their inhuman shrieks were growing louder and louder and Mont’re knew they would not make it out alive without any reinforcements. He requested support from Lar’shi, but was met with a reply that made his stomach drop. It seems the Imperials were approaching their position and had already engaged the cadre elements outside. While he would send support as soon as it was available, the infiltrators were on their own for now.

Mont’re ordered that the team push forward, despite the charging Genestealers. There had to be an end to them eventually and they needed to gain ground if they were going to make it out. Using his last Photon Grenade, Oni gave the team a small opening against the Genestealers and they pressed forward. The temporarily disoriented beasts were easy prey for the Tau guns and allowed them to pass the breach. Eventually, the Genestealer tide ended and it seemed that the team was safe from that threat. Behind them though, the mutants had managed to get through the rubble, firing Lasguns wildly as they ran.

Res handed the Y’he creature to T’suam so she could kill the mutants that were getting through. Mont’re ordered that T’suam stick with the Kroot and get to the exit as fast as possible. While he was reluctant to leave her, Res assured T’suam that she would be fine. They all knew that the mission was important and that creature needed to be secured. As if on cue, the rest of the mutants burst through the rubble with mining tools and charged the Tau. Filled with a sense of looming dread, the Tau ran, firing as they went.

With ammunition running low, the situation was getting desperate. The Stealth Teams were proving to be the greatest asset, but they too were running low on ammo and their armor was being dented and broken from taking hits by the cultist weapons. But with only a hundred meters to go, things looked hopeful. It was then that the greatest threat emerged.

At first the Stealth Team Leader thought it was a Genestealer, but it was clear that this was much bigger: a Broodlord. The giant beast slammed any cultist that got in it way to the ground and was quickly gaining on the Tau. The Stealths turned to fire, and were suddenly caught by the lightning fast reflexes of the Y’he. Its diamond hard claws ripped the Burst Cannon apart on one of the suits and smashed the optical cluster of another as he slammed it against the wall. The two fallen suits were quickly overwhelmed by the charging mutant horde and the Team Leader fell back as quick as he could, hoping to avoid the same fate. Yet despite their Pulse fire, the Broodlord seemed unhindered by its numerous wounds and pressed on.

Res turned and saw the desperate struggle the Stealth leader was fighting and stopped to aim at the Broodlord. Her shot hit the creature in its right eye and enabled the XV25 to escape past her. But a Las bolt from the mutants hit her right knee, causing her to lose her balance. The Stealth suit didn’t have time to turn around to notice the fallen Shas’La and continued jumping forward. Res tried to get up, but the wound was worse than she thought. As she looked up she could see the beast charging. Firing directly into it did nothing and she called out for T’suam, knowing full well that there would be nothing he could do. Suddenly, she was grabbed by the beast and thrown into the air by the Broodlord.

When he turned around, T’suam saw her being thrown into the wall. The force had knocked her helmet off and for a few moments, time stood still. The impact had clearly broken bones, but she was still alive. He could see her turn to him and mouth what he could see was a cry for help. T’suam’s arms were full with Y’he creature, so he couldn’t draw his Pulse Carbine in time to do anything, even though it would do no good at this point. The Broodlord was charging on, but the mutants were almost upon her. Their unnaturally wide mouths were open, shrieking in anticipation of feasting on the fallen Tau’s flesh.

Mont’re had seen Res fall as well. Being bonded, he wanted nothing more than to save her. But after fighting the Y’he for so long, he knew when someone was lost. Aiming his Pulse Carbine, he did the only thing he knew would spare her the agony of being ripped limb from limb. He shot a Pulse Round right through her head. T’suam was frozen were he stood. His Kroot body guards tried to get him to move, but were forced to carry him out. The rest of the Pathfinders hadn’t seen what had happened, but knew that Res was dead, her vital signs having flat lined.

Swallowing their grief, the beaten team made it to the surface. When they exited the tunnels, they were met by Lar’shi himself. There was no time for greetings; Lar’shi yelled for them to duck and he fired a volley of missiles through the tunnel entrance. The explosions collapsed the tunnels and launched pieces or rock mutant viscera into the air. One of the things to land at the Shas’El’s feet was the top half of the Broodlord. Its arms had been severed and it was reduced to a roaring torso. Lar’shi turned to it and crushed its head under his foot.

The Imperials outside had been dealt with. The cadre was regrouping and Orca’s were landing to recover them. A Specimen Collection Drone hovered quickly towards the Pathfinders, its metal claws grabbing the Y’he creature and securing it for transfer. The surviving infiltrators boarded the Orca in silence. The Kroot were, as usual, unaffected by the carnage. The surviving Stealth suits met up and went their separate ways. But every Pathfinder was clearly shaken and T’suam could only stare at Mont’re after what had happened.

In the end, the remaining Imperials surrendered and the mining facility the Y’he had taken over was destroyed by a Manta bombardment. Solun IV now belonged to the Tau.

The captured Y’he was studied by the ARC-16’s expert Xeno Biologist Fio'El Sa'cea Ro’Va. He was able to determine that the beast was a type of Y’he communication organism. But studying the wave lengths it produced, the Fio hoped it would provide them with valuable information on how to monitor and quite possibly disrupt Y’he communication. To assist him in this endeavor, a leading Fio from the Ka’ros Spet was invited to work alongside Fio’El Ro’Va. Her research on Y’he communication methods would hopefully speed the research along.

As for Pathfinder Team Mont’re, rocky times were ahead. Although they had been screened and found clean of any Genestealer infection, the events on Solun IV had shaken the bond between them. The loss of Res was hard for the squad to take, but what caused the most conflict was Mont’re’s hand in her demise. T’suam resented him for what he had done, regardless of the reasons. For his part, Mont’re was racked with guilt, but he was still convinced that he did what was best. Among a bonded group of Tau warriors, these conflicting feelings were dangerous and could lead the squad being disbanded and reassigned to ensure they would be able to function properly.

It took much counseling from Por psychologists, but it seems that the team has somewhat settled. Mont’re and T’suam still keep their distance from each other. Although T’suam can now understand his Shas’Ui’s reasons for what he did, he still cannot stop seeing her face every time he looks at him. Mont’re has since dropped the issue and focused on getting the team back in the fight against the Y’he. Yet despite his strong exterior, he is still greatly pained. He lost his team once before, during his time in another cadre and the thought of losing any more of his brothers is almost too much to bear. But still the team presses on, proving themselves to be among the best Pathfinder teams in the ARC-16’s.


--Pathfinder Team Mont’re--
>Shas’La Kar'os Jil’harre<

Background:Shas'La Jil'harre has become part of the team through the Tau’shan Exchange Program. The relationship between the Ka’ros Sept and the ARC-16’s have been strong since the Solun IV campaign and a few Ka’rosian Tau can be found working with ARC teams.

Jil’harre was an experienced Pathfinder in his own cadre. But during his training he excelled most as a combat medic. He is a peculiar Tau in that he has a large fascination with the living machinery that composes all organisms. In the past, he has expressed his reluctance to kill other sentient beings and such views have kept him from any command roles.

His abilities put him in frequent contact with Fio doctors to improve battlefield first-aid techniques and technology. One of those newly developed medicines is called Opt’ikan, a powerful cocktail of antibiotics, painkillers, disinfectants, clotting agents, repair nanobots, and more. In clinical trials it worked remarkably well, and Jil'harre was sent to the ARC-16s to test it against the claws and toxins of the Y’he threat.

Outside of combat, Jil'harre is somewhat of a happy-go-lucky type. His association with the Fio has had him shipped from assignment to assignment to develop medical practices; preventing him from getting very attached to anyone. But now he has found a home amongst Pathfinder Team Mont’re. Unfortunately for him, he now walks into his new squad among the ARC-16’s with a large amount of resentment toward him. The pain of losing a member of their bonded team has subsided, but they do resent having what they view as a rookie on their team. And while all Tau are taught to view each other as equals, Tau from other Septs are never exactly welcomed among the ARC’s.

But in their first three deployments against the Y’he, Jil’harre has proven his worth, even earning the Y’he’Mont'yr’mesa, something he displays proudly. But this has led to many conflicts between him and an increasingly bitter T’suam. Jil’harre only seeks to please and has tried many things to get on the teams good side, even going so far as to remove his traditional Kama to fit in better with his squad. But so far, the team’s reception continues to be cold.

Jil’harre’s respect for life has been challenged much during his time with the ARC-16’s. The Y’he destroy not only people, but plants, animals and even the planets themselves. This mind numbing horror of life gone wild has weighed heavily on him. And it is yet to be seen how this will affect his outlook in the future.


--Pathfinder Team Mont’re--
Team Devilfish B’Shi, “Guided Victory”
>Shas’La Sa’cea Var<

Background:
Shas’La Var has always been the pilot of the B’Shi, or “Guided Victory,” one of the few Devilfish to survive the events on Ge’nesha. During the conflict Var ran a dangerous mission to rescue three ejected XV8 pilots who were on the run from pursuing Harpies. Although only one of the pilots managed to survive, the bravery and skill Var displayed during the entire operation earned her a very special place in Shas’El Lar’shi’s eyes. The Shas’El knew that her skills as a pilot could best be used by the Pathfinder teams given the dangerous nature of the position. Var was quick to jump at the opportunity to serve in that role and has done so ever since.

The B’Shi is an old vehicle and Var has grown quite attached to it. She refuses to upgrade to a newly built chassis, feeling like the old ‘Fish has become a part of her. She knows everything about the vehicle and can tell when even the slightest setting is off. (No member of Pathfinder Team Mont’re can forget the explosive rant that erupted when a member of the team had readjusted Var’s seat.) This has enabled her to not only detect problems before they start, but to push the vehicle to its limits without compromising its stability.

Var is also very close with the squad she transports. During the team’s infiltration of the Genestealer cult on Solun IV, Var was busy ferrying demolition teams to the various entrances and exits around the facility. Upon hearing of how Shas’La Res had died, Var was heartbroken. She had become very close to her and could understand the pain that her love interest, T’suam, felt. It was Var who broke up the initial fight that erupted between the Shas’Ui and the grieving T’suam after they returned to base. While the wounds have slowly begun to heal, there is still time needed till the team will fully bond like they did in the past.

Resourceful and calm under fire, Var is a valued member of the ARC-16’s and Pathfinder Team Mont’re. With her calming voice and unfaltering bravery, she is a solid source of encouragement and strength for the entire team.


--Aronoc the Tracker--
>Pathfinder Team Mont're<
Background:
Aronoc is a member of the Blood Quills kindred that had separated from their people and traveled the stars. While they were eventually reunited, the Travelers (the name the Blood Quills use for these rediscovered relatives) have developed their own genetic quirks. The one that is most obvious is their natural affinity for technology. Because of this, the Fio of the ARC-16s have taken the time to equip the most ambitious volunteers with modified Tau equipment, even having some train in the Tau way of war.

Aronoc had always been a good hunter, yet he excelled in tracking prey in a variety of conditions. These skills got him noticed by Shas’Ui Mont’re, leader of the ARC-16’s top Pathfinder team. On several occasions, Mont’re would invite Aronoc to their training sessions in the battle dome; at times allowing him to run a few exercises with the squad. His performance far exceeded the Shas’Ui’s initial estimates and before long he was at every training session. Monr’te even requested some modified Pathfinder gear be constructed for him.

In time, Mont’re felt that Aronoc’s skills would greatly augment his squad and allow them to perform their duties more efficiently. So the Shas’Ui took the information to Shas’El Lar’shi and requested that Aronoc be assigned to his squad. The Shas’El agreed without hesitation, feeling that the arrangement would be an excellent example to the rest of the cadre. After getting the final okay from the Master Shaper, Aronoc was then made a permanent member of the Pathfinder team.

With as much exposure as the team had with Aronoc, fully integrating him into the squad was effortless. He quickly picked up on the subtle hand signals and other formation or threat indicators used by the team, enabling him to operate in combat situations almost immediately. On the battlefield he has proved his worth over and over, helping the squad track particularly dangerous Tyranid bio-forms or locate wounded personnel. And his physical prowess has also proven beneficial, saving the team from any beasts who make it past their guns.

With the transfer being such a success, plans are being made to include a Kroot tracker in each Pathfinder team and possibly expanding that to other Tau formations.

---

The Rail Rifle and its use among the ARC-16’s:

To the ARC-16’s, the powerful Rail Rifle finds a place in covert assassination missions, a task which more often is needed when facing a foe other than the Y’he. At times when the Or’es’gue’la or the forces of the Mon’tau threaten Tau troops, a few well placed Rail Rifle rounds can eliminate a leading or inspirational soldier, often sapping the momentum of an invasion force. On the regular battlefield, specially trained sniper units will accompany a Pathfinder team, picking out targets of opportunity while the rest of the squad focuses on using their markerlights.

Disaster at Kor'Nars

---

Following a series of successful campaigns against the Union of Ruuo, an alien species that opposed the Tau in two star systems, the victorious Vior’lan colonization fleets begin settling in on the newly concurred worlds. But the Tau proved so successful in their campaign that they risked spreading themselves too thin. So while colonization efforts could proceed, the Fire Caste presence needed to be increased to ensure the safety of the colonists planet side and in orbit. The Ruuo fleets, while unable to stand up to the mighty Tau vessels, had recently taken to suicide attacks and chemical warfare in a last ditch effort to stop the Tau.

The Vior’la Shas’ar’tol requested reinforcements, but with increased activity from the Be’gel in Vior’lan space and with the new colonies being so close to the edge of Vior’lan territory, none could be spared. The request then went out to the neighboring Sa’cea Sept. The call was answered and a small fleet was gathered to relieve the Vior’lans. But just as preparations were underway, the Sa’cean cadre’s received an urgent message from the colonies: Y’he scout lifeforms had been detected on a moon closest to one of the systems largest planets.

The Sa’cean Shas’ar’tol determined that swift action needed to be taken to root out any infection before it could spread and attract the attention of a large Hive Fleet. To determine what kind of threat they were facing, the ARC-16’s were attached to the relief fleet, staying on board the Emissary class vessel Sa'cea Il'Porrui Oi’Siral. The fleet made good speed toward the colonies, stopping only briefly to re-charge their ether drives as needed.

During one routine stop, the fleet found themselves close to a nearby asteroid belt. Normally, such things would not merit any note. But whether it was good fortune or bad, the Tau arrived precisely at the time when the residence of the asteroid field were awakening from a long slumber.

The Tau sensors picked up frenzied movement from inside the field. It was odd enough to warrant a probe being sent out to investigate. When the probe arrived in range, a swarm of Y’he beasts engulfed it. The voracious swarm then began its move toward the rest of the fleet. But the Kor’vattra vessels were not going to be taken easily. All guns fired in a hail storm of destructive energy and chewed through any Y’he vessel that approached; yet more and more kept coming.

Eventually, through careful maneuvering, the Tau vessels caught all the approaching aliens in a deadly crossfire. Faced with such inevitable destruction, the Y’he swarms fell back into the asteroid field.

Old Enemies

On board the bridge of the Sa'cea Il'Porrui Oi’Siral, Shas’El Lar’shi was summoned to advise the Kor’El in charge on how best to dispatch the swarms. Lar’shi was at first hesitant to pursue, but as the battle commenced, he noticed the carapace color on the Y’he vessels were the same as the colors of the Splinter Fleet known to the Tau as Reclaimer. That was the same hive of Y’he that had almost killed every Tau on Ge’nesha. As the realization that they had found their most hated enemy washed over him, Lar’shi ordered that the Kor’El pursue the remnants and destroy whatever was left.

The Kor’El took Lar’shi’s advice and ordered a careful approach near the field. Fearing a trap, the Tau cautiously sent probes into the belt. The probes discovered that the field contained several large Hive Ships which seemed, at the moment, dormant. It was hypothesized that what attacked the fleet was a group of newly awakening Y’he, desperate to eat anything after such a long time. Lar’shi saw an opportunity to destroy this hated swarm before they could fully awaken and advised the Kor’El to attack while they had a chance. The Kor’El agreed that time was of the essence and ordered an advance into the asteroid belt.

Using their weapons to bat the most dangerous rocks out of the way, the Tau soon came into weapons range of the large Tyranid vessels. Firing volley after volley into the massive ships, the Tau felt assured that they had caught the enemy off guard. Even the Tyranid counter attack was not able to repel the Tau advance. But it was the sense of inevitable victory and Lar’shi’s blind hatred for this swarm that caused the Tau to ignore the asteroids that were slowly surrounding them, seemingly moving all on their own.

Suddenly, what was once a massacre of Y’he vessels became a deadly trap for the Tau. The Y’he had seeded the field with strange spore chimneys which acted as propellant for the asteroids. Pointing in the direction of the Tau vessels, the chimneys all ignited and plunged toward them rom every direction. As the Tau fought to defend against the massive rocks, other, larger asteroids began splitting open to reveal more and more Hive ships.

Trapped

The Tau had to choose which to target first. If they focused on the rocks, the Y’he would get through. But if they focused on the swarms, then they would be smashed by the asteroids. Seeing that this was a no win scenario, the Kor’El ordered all ships to fall back and prepare to jump out of system. But the beasts had already begun to envelope the fleet and their retreat was cut off. To make matters worse, Ether drives were still not at maximum charge and would need time. Forced to make their stand, the Tau fired with everything they had.

Although effective in wiping out many of the first waves, the Tau numbers began to dwindle. Asteroids and bio weapons smashed into the Tau, taking a few ships with them. Eventually, the Y’he got close enough that they began boarding the Tau vessels; firing mycetic spores through the decks. As the beasts tore through the crews, many captains chose to self destruct rather than be devoured.

Yet, for their part, the Tau were not completely defenseless. Aboard the Sa'cea Il'Porrui Oi’Siral, the Kor’El managed to organize several ships to destroy two of the larger Hive vessels and any Narvahl’s they could find. The destruction of these targets gave the Tau some respite from the constant attack and allowed them to fight their way out of the asteroid field.

At this point, only three ships remained and all of them were in desperate need of repairs. As they exited the field, the Ether drives were charged enough to jump and the Tau were able to escape their terrible fate. The survivors hoped to arrive at their rendezvous point to regroup and make repairs. But only a few decs before they could jump, the Sa'cea Il'Porrui Oi’Siral was breached by mycetic spores.

What should have been a sigh of relief from escaping the Tyranid, was changed into a gasp of horror. Unleashing its voracious contents onto the surprised Kor, the creatures tore through the decks they emerged into. A damage report revealed that four pods were able to breach the outer layers. One of the pods happened to smash directly near the med bay that contained Shaper Vok and the recovering Kroot. Two of the other pods landed close to the hangar bays, with the last one smashing dangerously close to the bridge.

Desperate Defense

On the bridge, Lar’shi was in shock. How could this all have fallen apart? Snapping himself from any self pity or regret, the Shas’El realized that time was of the essence. If the Y’he could gain a foothold in the ship, then their chances of survival were slim to none. An emergency comm message was sent to all security personnel and ARC warriors to arm themselves and prepare to repel the boarders. Lar’shi ordered one of his senior members of the cadre, field medic Bentu’Cal to join him on the bridge. Together with the nearby security team, they began making preparations to defend the bridge at all cost.

The majority of ARC units were in the hangar bay, prepping their equipment for the battle to come. Out of all the Tau on board, they were the most prepared, but would also be the ones to face the greatest threat. Of course, that left the unfortunate Kroot that were still asleep in the med bay with only a handful of defenders to stave off the ravenous inhabitants of the newly landed mycetic spore…


--Carnivore Squad Vok--
>Shaper Usura Vok<

Background:
Vok, had just risen to the rank of Shaper in the Blood Quills when the Be’gel first descended on Ge’nesha. During the occupation and the subsequent carnage from the Tau invasion and Y’he attack, Vok found himself thrust into more and more commanding roles; something which he showed great potential with. Following the Ge’nesha conflict, Vok was promoted to the Shaper Counsel. He was put in charge of organizing mercenary contracts for the Kindred while they served alongside the ARC-16's.

For years he was separate from the Cadre, doing work for various Imperial factions, Eldar pirates and even a few Ork Raiders. Upon his first mission serving with the cadre, Vok and his squad were ambushed by a group of Hormagaunts. Vok and a few other Kroot barely survived; all suffering terrible injuries.

At the end of the battle the Tau were able to recover the injured Kroot and they were sent to the Sa'cea Il'Porrui Oi’Siral to recover using experimental the Opt'ikan drug. The procedure was a success, but the celebration was short lived. Vok, along with Shas’La Jil’harre and two Fio technicians were all that were available to defend the vulnerable Kroot when the Tyranid boarded. The team quickly got to waking up the other Kroot; unfortunately, many of them were still badly injured and needed time to be fully revived, so choices were limited.

The first Kroot to be woken up was named Tnal.


--Carnivore Squad Vok--
>Tnal<

Background:
Tnal, was a close friend of Vok and fought alongside him during many of their contract jobs. When the Kroot were ambushed by the Y’he, Tnal was right by Vok’s side, hacking and slashing at the beasts; trying to keep his Shaper safe. But a scything talon from the assaulting Hormagaunts eventually found a hole in his defense and sunk deep into his belly. Vok fought with renewed vigor to defend his wounded friend and it is likely that without the Shapers intervention, Tnal would surely have died.

Upon awakening, Tnal was slightly disoriented, yet he quickly came too. Vok filled him in on the details and pair quickly searched the room for any available weaponry. Most of the weapons were kept at the armory and all that was available for the Kroot to use was their various knives and a few Kroot-made pistols. Jil’harre was not defenseless either and offered his Pulse pistol to the tiny armory.

Info then began coming in from around the ship about the hull breaches and where the swarms were headed. The computers showed that a pod had impacted near the med bay. Just then, a pair of Hormagaunts came slamming into the bay doors. The doors biometric scanners detected the alien life forms and would keep the door sealed, but they wouldn’t hold forever. The Gaunts continued to slam themselves into the doors over and over again, desperate to reach their prey. Vok knew that the Gaunts would only attract more if they were allowed to keep up their attack. Ordering the Fio techs to continue with the revival process, Vok positioned Jil’harre near the back of the room, center to the door. Tnal and Vok would wait on either side of the doorway, ready to pounce. With knives in hand, the two Kroot readied themselves and Jil’harre activated the door remotely, Pulse pistol at the ready.

As soon as the doors opened, the two Gaunts came bounding in. Jil’harre quickly put one of them down with a perfect Pulse round through the head. The other Gaunt proved far quicker and had its talons mere inches from Jil’harre’s face when the Kroot leapt from their positions and caught the Gaunt by the tail. With their incredible strength, the Kroot pulled it back and Tnal finished it with a knife to the back of the head. Jil’harre quickly closed the door again and went back to waking up the patients.


--Carnivore Squad Vok--
>Greeo<

Background:
Greeo was the next Kroot to wake up. His first sight upon opening his eyes was Tnal shoving his blade into the head of the Gaunt. Oddly enough that was the last thing Greeo had seen before he was knocked unconscious in the last battle. His injuries were mostly slashes and bruises from when his body was knocked around the battlefield. Yet the Opt’ikan did its job and he was back to fighting shape.

Greeo was fighting alongside Vok for the first time before their ambush. Being one of the younger members of the kindred, Greeo was eager to show his abilities the respected Shaper. But he wouldn’t get the chance as he was taken down almost immediately as the fighting began. Fortunately for him though, he was simply unconscious. The other Kroot that were at his side were not so lucky.

Upon rising from the med bay tube, Vok gave him a brief overview of their situation and tossed him a Kroot pistol. Before he could speak, the senior Shaper ordered him to stand guard near the door in case the Y’he tried to get through again. Although he wanted to help Vok in waking the others up, he knew better than to question his orders. As he walked to his post, two more Kroot were awoken from their sleep.


--Carnivore Squad Vok--
>Honcol<

Background:
Honcol is another old Kroot and served alongside Vok in many mercenary contracts. It was Honcol’s actions that led to the kindred capturing a rare breed of hunting animal used by Norian poachers during their employ with some Eldar pirates. The beasts DNA proved very valuable to the kindred and to the Kroot in general. The creatures’ natural affinity for tracking by detecting the slightest warp presence would greatly improve the Kroot people’s ability to track foes.

But despite his prowess Honcol was eventually taken down by the Gaunts; their talons removing his hand at the wrist and smashing him under their hooves and claws. Knowing this injury and despite Opt’ikan’s amazing ability to mend severed limbs, Vok felt it best not to risk Honcol damaging his hand at a crucial moment if he were given a blade. So he assigned him to guard the door alongside Greeo.


--Carnivore Squad Vok--
>Ungo<

Background:
Ungo was newly assigned to Vok’s kindred when they were ambushed. He courageously held his ground as the Gaunts attacked, carefully aiming and killing four before he was knocked to the ground and had his lungs pierced by the vicious beasts.

When he awoke, he instinctively took a loud and deep breath, startling the Fio technicians who opened his pod. He barely had time to speak, when a warning sound beeped through the room and the door to the med bay was again attacked by Gaunts, this time there were easily a dozen. It was obvious that the Y’he now knew for sure that there were many warm bodies to be found inside this room and they were determined to get in. Over and over they threw their bodies against the door; slowly slicing through the tough crystalline alloy and chipping away at the doors integrity. If the door would break open, then everyone inside would be extremely vulnerable.

Vok threw Ungo the last pistol and told him to take a position in the back left corner of the room, facing the door. Honcol would take the other side and Jil’harre would stand in the middle with Greeo. Both the Shaper and Tnal would position themselves to the sides of the doorway again and prepare to ambush the advancing Gaunts.

Each of the Kroot readied themselves and Jil’harre hovered his hand over the door controls on his wrist consol. Vok looked into the Tau’s eyes and could see what it was that was concerning him. They both knew that all the newly awoken Kroot, and even Vok himself, were not in 100% physical condition. But they all understood immediately what was at risk. If they didn’t try and fight, then every living thing in this room would be devoured. Vok took a deep breath and then gave the signal for Jil’harre to open the doors…

---

While Vok and the other Kroot fought in the med bay, every Shas in the hangar bay was moving to eliminate the Y’he threat from the ship. Regularly practiced drills and the ARC’s natural hatred for their enemy saw each Tau operating at peak performance. Of course, such highly destructive weapons like Missile Pods and Railguns could not be used inside the ship, so the ARC’s quickly set about equipping their suits with the appropriate armaments.

Not being able to use Railguns was especially difficult for the Broadside pilots. They had to rely on their secondary equipment to effectively take down targets. One such pilot was a transfer from another Sa’cean Cadre.


--Broadside Support Team O’ran--
>Shas'Ui Sa'Cea Iur'tae'mont<

Background:
The Sa’cea Sept is known for its highly disciplined line warriors. But Sa’cea also produces a large amount of skilled and effective Broadside pilots. The Tau known as Iur'tae'mont is no exception. Originally a member of a cadre under the command of Shas'El Ko'vash M'yen, he earned his fame fighting the Ultramarines and was given the name which means "Shellshock" for his pinpoint accuracy and ability to identify weak points in enemy armor. In one battle alone, he succeeded in destroying more Or’es Gue’la’s vehicles than any other XV88 in the cadre, even disabling one of the powerful Land Raiders.

But during a battle to repel Y’he invaders, Iur'tae'mont was overwhelmed by the sheer mass of foes to be defeated and was forced to retreat. As he made his way back to the Orca, a winged beast attacked and punctured his armor, infecting him with a deadly poison. Iur'tae'mont was a personal friend of his old cadre’s Shas’El and they tried desperately to save him. But whatever toxin the bio-form had, it was killing the young Tau and with their limited knowledge and experience with the Y’he, there was nothing that the medical staff could do to stop it.

Being far away from any larger Sept medical facility, the Shas’El desperately contacted the Shas'ar'tol to see what could be done. Fortunately for them, the ARC-16’s had recently joined in the battle and could provide more resources and needed experience in dealing with Y’he poisons. Iur'tae'mont was transferred to ARC’s till he could be treated. But the Shas'ar'tol determined that because of his stellar record he would, upon recovery, serve alongside the ARC-16’s and pass on his skills to the Broadside pilots there. Ko'vash M'yen was pained to think of losing his friend, but agreed if it would save his life.

Iur'tae'mont eventually recovered from his injury and has served with the ARC-16’s for over two Tau’cyr. During that time he proved his abilities in several battles, but in the hangar bays of the Sa'cea Il'Porrui Oi’Siral, he cemented his place in the cadre forever.

When the mycetic spores impacted on the ship, two of them hit near the hangars and disgorged their frenzied contents. From one of the pods stepped a Y’he Warrior with a larger than normal crest. One of its four arms had a long, almost sword like appendage at the end that coursed with alien energies. On its other arm a long whip like creature flailed eagerly at the end.

Near its feet swarmed smaller Termagants; each holding their Fleshborer weapon symbiotes at the ready. Their movement was limited; being slaved to the synapse web of the Alpha Warrior. With a thought the larger Y’he moved them out of the way to make room for the other pods occupant. On the decks above and below the Alpha Warrior could sense other kin, all of them hungry. In an instant the Warrior connected to the Hormagaunts attacking the medbay. They were all hungry and had found a large source of food, but there were some defenders. The leader beast sent a synaptic signal to press the attack even more and increased the frenzy of the Hormagaunts. Eventually, they would be able to break the doors.

For now all the Alpha Warrior could think of was cracking open the hangar bay doors and killing whatever was inside. From behind it the walls of the hallway were buckled and split as a massive Carnifex struggled to get through the narrow passage. Linking its mind to the giant beast, the Warrior sent the Carnifex smashing into the hangar doors, ready to charge once they were down.

The Carnifex smashed into it once and cracked it open in several spots. But instead of waiting for the creature to completely get its way through, every Tau in the hangar fired their weapons on the beast. Its second attempt brought the doors down, but in seconds the combined pulse, plasma and fusion weapons melted the Y’he into a pile of burning flesh, even as the Alpha Warrior sent its large swarm of Gants charging forward. They too met with a wall of Tau weaponry that knew exactly where to shoot. As the Gants were getting picked off quickly, the Warrior quickly made its way into the hangar, determined to cause the most damage before it died. But as it turned the corner, Iur'tae'mont stood in its way.

Having just equipped his suit with plasma rifles, he began rapid firing into the oncoming Warrior. The beast took the fist two hits in its upper body and had its lash whip and one of its scything talons blown off. But still it kept coming, jumping left and right to avoid the plasma; all the while swinging its bonesword at Iur'tae'mont. But even with death mere inches away, the Tau didn’t falter and kept on shooting. But the agile Warrior managed to close the gap and swung its bonesword at Iur'tae'mont, cutting his right leg off at the knee. The massive Broadside suit fell heavily to the ground and landed on its side. Iur'tae'mont struggled to prop himself up, but that gave the Warrior an opportunity to attack.

The beast leaped and prepared to bring its sword right down on his chest, but Iur'tae'mont raised his free arm and fired the final fatal plasma shot, taking off the creatures head. It’s death caused any remaining Gants to lose their connection the synapse web and revert to their instinctive behaviors, making them even easier targets for the ARC’s.

For his bravery, Iur'tae'mont was later honored by having the mark of the Kroot’mon’tal painted onto both of his shoulders; a great privilege by ARC standards.

With the hangar secure, the Shas spread out throughout the ship, searching every hallway and room to ensure no Y’he remained. But back at the med bay, the Kroot were facing their own challenges.

---

As Jil’harre pressed the button to open the door, the defenders were greeted with a blinding flash and the sound of pulse weapons. Outside, a group of the ships security forces, led by Shas’Ui Doran had arrived just in time to provide needed rescue. It was also at that precise moment that the Alpha Warrior was killed in the hangar, breaking the synaptic bond and throwing the Hormagaunts into confusion. The defenders quickly got their senses back and fired their weapons into the mass of claws and teeth. Within minutes, the once deadly swarm was eliminated.

Shas’Ui Doran quickly stepped forward from the group, taking the time to fire one last shot into a Gaunts head before he walked over to speak with Jil’harre. From his security team stepped two Kroot, both clutching several Kroot rifles in their hands. As they passed out the weapons, one of the new Kroot, known as Allu approached Vok and grabbed his shoulder tight.


--Carnivore Squad Vok--
>Allu<

Background:
Allu and Vok had known each other since childhood and had always had something of a friendly rivalry between the two of them. When Vok was promoted to Shaper, Allu felt that there was little he could do to match such an accomplishment. He simply did not have the Shaper gene, so he conceded himself to serve his people in the best way he could and requested to be put in a squad alongside his long time friend. Fortunately, that request did not go through and Allu was able to avoid the fate of most of Vok’s squad after the ambush.

Seeing Vok in the med bay was the first time either Kroot had seen the other since the day they parted ways to serve in separate forces, Allu serving alongside the ARC-16’s and Vok fighting as a mercenary. Although a Kroots display of emotion is usually done more through scent, the silent stare that they both shared made it obvious that they both were glad to see each other.

The other avian newcomer, known as Skiranna, filled the other Kroot in on the current situation. The Y’he in the hangar bay had been wiped out by the troops inside and other areas of the ship were quickly being secured. Unfortunately, the only place left to clear was the bridge where a large group of Genestealers were attempting to get in to slaughter its occupants. Lar’shi and the bridge crew were locked inside. And Lar’shi did have his bodyguard with him, it was only a matter of time before the beasts would get through. The security team Skiranna was a part of was making their way to the area when they came across the med bay.


--Carnivore Squad Vok--
>Skiranna<

Background:
A veteran of many battle’s alongside the ARC-16’s, Skiranna distinguished himself among his kindred by leading a vital countercharge against Ork raiders as they attempted to overrun the Tau position. His bravery slowed the Ork advance and allowed the Tau precious time to regroup and reposition their fire teams, quickly enabling the Tau to get the upper hand and eliminate their attackers. Sniper Drone teams then eliminated the Ork’s engaged with Skiranna one by one, till the Carnivore’s could get the upper hand. Skiranna’s name is now synonymous with such brave charges and he continues to live up to his reputation to this day.

After all the Kroot were armed, Doran turned to the group and organized them to rescue the Shas’El and bridge crew. He ordered Jil’harre to stay in the medbay with a few of the Drones and continue treating the injured as well as prepare the pods to receive any new patients. The rest of the Kroot and the Tau security teams headed up toward the bridge as fast as they could run. Time was running out and they all knew it.

---

On the bridge, Lar’shi had established a solid perimeter and had each of the three doors and all the ventilation grids covered. The Kor that could be spared were armed and tasked with defending the various posts in the room essential to the ships operation. The Kor’El and any other Air Caste member that wasn’t given a Pulse Pistol was busy hailing the other vessels, enacting ship repairs or trying to organize the survivors.

Lar’Shi, equipped with his carapace armor and brandishing his customized pulse pistol carefully monitored the progress of his people throughout the ship. He was well aware of the Genestealers that had infiltrated his part of the ship and waited expectantly for them to attack; he was eager to exact some revenge for all the fallen Tau today. When the first Genestealer managed to tear a hole through main doors, Lar’Shi quickly put it down with a Pulse round right between the eyes. But as soon as that one was down, two more began attacking the other two doors.

Bentu’Cal, having made it to the bridge with an escort of three Kroot, quickly took up a good firing position and pumped shots through any of the openings the beasts created. Lar’shi ordered the bridge security to hold their positions and eliminate any threat that made it past the initial volley. The Genestealers quickly tore through the door on the far right and five of the Y’he ran through, flailing their claws and roaring their terrifying cries.

Just then, the door on the far left burst open as well and more of the creatures poured in. The Kroot quickly jumped into action to defend the bridge.


--Carnivore Squad Vok--
>Lurcal<

Background:
Lurcal was one of those brave Kroot. He earned the right to wear his piece of carapace during the battle to repel a massive Tyranid invasion on the ice world of Bol’syu. Lurcal and his squad were tasked with defending a Sniper Drone team as they did their work. The Y’he eventually took notice and a group of Gargoyles were sent to deal with them. Lurcal and his squad shot down most of the beasts as they approached, but had to eliminate most of them in hand to hand combat.

Eventually the Gargoyle’s were fought off and the Sniper teams remained safe and were able to continue eliminating key synapse creatures from the battlefield. Because of their support, the Tau were able to gain the upper hand on the Tyranid and bring victory to the Tau that day.

On the bridge of the Sa'cea Il'Porrui Oi’Siral, Lurcal was a flurry of blades; hacking and slashing at the Genestealers in a desperate attempt to keep the agile creatures from getting through. At his back was the fierce Kebu, who proved his worth killing two of the beasts at once by artfully slamming either end of his rifle into the heads of two of the Genestealers.


--Carnivore Squad Vok--
>Kebu<

Background:
Kebu is an arrogant youngster, something which his Shaper’s have warned him about on several occasions. But his attitude is not without reason, as Kebu has proven himself a skilled warrior. In one battle alone he went toe-to-toe with an Ogryn, finally felling the giant after driving his knife deep into the back of its neck. On the bridge he displayed similar skill against the Tyranid threat, killing more Genestealers than most around him.

The Tau were quickly eliminating the threats on their end and the Kroot were holding their own, but soon, they knew that they were going to be overwhelmed. Shas’Ui Doran commed Lar’Shi to report that they were on their way, but the Shas’El knew they would not arrive in time. Slamming another clip into his pistol, he ordered one of the Kroot to follow him and ran towards the far left of the horde, hoping to draw their fire.

His plan worked and four of the Genestealers ran after him. The Kroot who accompanied him was known as Torva and he was not about to let the respected Shas’El be killed here today.


--Carnivore Squad Vok--
>Torva<

Background:
Torva is another young Kroot, yet he is of a calmer nature than Kebu. Torva has always had great respect for his elders and found himself deeply attached to the Shas’El after seeing his willingness to put his life on the line for his people. Finding himself on the bridge, defending one of the beings he admired most was a great honor for him.

With carefully aimed shots, both Lar’Shi and Torva took down a few of the Genestealers that approached them. The rest of the Tau seized the opportunity and began pushing the Y’he back through the doors. With their numbers dwindling, the creatures ran from the room; but Lar’Shi knew that it was not out of fear: they were merely regrouping.

Lar’Shi, however, was not about to give them that chance. Splitting their forces into two groups, the Tau went through the doors the Genestealers had exited from. Expecting a counter-attack, the Tau were able to handle the Y’he when they quickly turned on their pursuers.

With the last Pulse round fired, it seemed that against all odds the threat had been eliminated. The bridge was secure and besides some damaged equipment, none on the bridge were lost. Soon after the last Genestealer was dead, Doran and the rest of the squad arrived and Lar’Shi began contacting his people throughout the ship. But as he passed by a group of charred Y’he corpses, one of them sprang to life and attacked him.

Lar’Shi barely had time to draw his weapon and was knocked to the ground. The creature’s claws ripped into his face and tore out his left eye. The beasts lower scything talons also cut deep into his right leg and severed it at the knee. Despite the horrific pain, Lar’Shi managed to draw his pistol with his free left arm and fired a shot into the creatures’ abdomen, blasting off one of its talons. In retaliation the Genestealer turned and bit off the arm that was holding the gun.

The monster then raised its arm and was about to strike the final blow when it was torn in half by the combined pulse fire of the rest of the Tau. At last, the last Y’he on the ship was dead, but at a high cost. Lar’Shi was barely clinging to life and the fleet has suffered massive losses. But for the ARC’s on the bridge, their Shas’El was all that mattered.

Quickly, Bentu’Cal utilized his med Drone to begin working on Lar’Shi’s wounds. The stubborn Shas’El stayed conscious for a few more agonizing minutes before he passed out from the blood loss. Thankfully, the ARC’s were able to get their Shas’El to the med bay in time, but his recovery would be a long one.

Aftermath

Upon emergence from the pod, an entire Kai’rotaa had passed. Lar’Shi had been given prosthetic limbs to replace the ones torn off by the Genestealer. His real ones could not be used because of the venomous saliva of the monster.

Lar’Shi didn’t care about his body. All he was shame at what a massive failure the attack turned out to be. Thousands of Tau were dead because he could not detect the Y’he trap. Lar’Shi latter learned that with the loss of so many vessels, the fleet was not able to provide much help to the Vior’lans who had to divert their attention from hunting the remnants of the Union of Ruuo to supporting the crippled Sa’cean fleets. This prevented the Vior’lans from quickly eliminating their last strongholds and gave them time to escape. The Union of Ruuo continues to be a persistent danger in the sector to this day.

As for the Y’he that were detected in the region, the ARC-16’s, working alongside the Vior’lans, were successfully able to eliminate them. Yet the Shas’ar’tol was less than pleased at the losses that were sustained before the main battle was even commenced. While not the cadre’s original mission, the battle in the Kor’Nars asteroid field was a colossal failure and Lar’shi has dealt with the guilt for some time. After many long inquiries by the Shas’ar’tol, Shas’El Lar’shi has been cleared of any wrongdoing, but there were many repercussions that would be felt later.

While no one doubts the skill of the ARC-16’s when it comes to Tyranid hunting, some wonder if seeing the Tyranid of Reclaimer may have driven Lar’shi to attack with a mind set only on vengeance. This has shaken the confidence of many commanders and has colored their view of the already disliked Lar’shi. Several times, other ARC’s have been requested to remove Tyranid infection instead of the 16’s; many desiring to work with what they feel would be a more stable commander.

As time has gone by, this infamous account haunted Lar’shi, serving only increase his hatred for the Tyranid as a whole and motivating his desire to hunt down whatever remains of Splinter Fleet Reclaimer. And Lar’shi is willing to do whatever it takes to make this happen...