Thanks Wolf, you bring up some really good points. The only thing I might clarify is that they are definitively not Dark Eldar- The Tau at this point have had dealings with Eldar raiders (although they don't differentiate between Eldar and Dark Eldar much like the Imperium). The events that take place in the Dark Eldar Codex would be a few years further down the line.

But I got it- one vote for Talking their way until the Shuttle arrives.

Ps: I've been thinking more about the Mass Effect analogy. I'm wondering if I keep it a 'choose it' adventure or if you guys want to, perhaps, start a "Monat" "Ko'vash"/Renegade, Paragon list of points. Could be interesting but it would be too early to effect anything. Thoughts are welcome. /

Very interesting. The aliens are very different to what I was expecting, always fun to be surprised.

There is no guarantee that the 3 aliens that have revealed themselves are the only ones within the colony. In fact there are a couple things in the piece that would indicate that they aren't. With their cloaking technology, the fire team could be surrounded by aliens and we wouldn't know it. The Aliens don't seem overtly aggressive but they are very clearly hostile (freshly collected finger trophies don't scream diplomatic mission).

I keep going back and forth with my vote on this one. On one hand, the team are facing an unkown enemy of unconfirmed size. They would also seem to be highly skilled soldiers. attacking the aliens could get the whole team killed.
On the other hand, they have just finished slaughtering around 200 Tau non combatants. They wouldnt bat an eyelid at the chance to kill fire warriors (probably even make a good trophy in their minds). Even if the team decides to talk, they may end up getting attacked themselves anyway. Atleast if the team decides to shoot, theyll be the ones to get the first shots in.

I hate to say it, but I cant seem to work my way down off the fence.

One question calmsword. say we make the "wrong" choice, is it possible for us to get Vel'ar killed?

Hey Shadow Kat,

I'm glad that the aliens offered a surprise, there will be more I promise.

You bring up some really good points. There could be more, the three that have shown themselves are unperturbed by the fact that there are 8 Firewarriors aiming weapons directly at them. Additionally getting your shots in first is always a plus.

As to 'wrong' choices. First off, there are no 'wrong' choices. But I take my writer's que from George RR Martin and so none of my character's are ever safe. Vel'ar has put himself in front of his unit to try and reason with an unknown enemy that has effectively wiped out an entire Tau community. This is a window into who he is and why he was chosen for this mission- but at the end of the day he's a soldier, and a high-ranking one at that. He's no bumpkin nor is he fragile by any means.

You should make your choices based on what you would do in Vel'ars position and I'll worry about the other character's choices (having fun is the emphasis).

I'll hold off until tomorrow just in case anyone needs time to vote and spend time tackling all those little 'their' 'they're' 'there' issues my grammar teacher always warned me about.

Er... Talk?

If nothing else because there is always the option of shooting later. Still, I hope to learn more from talking. It was hard coming off the fence though, kat has my sympathies.

Alright, Ive made my choice and made a pact with myself not to touch the edit button.

Talk

Like Gogo said, cant pass up the opportunity to learn about these aliens.

*braces self*

A very good story so far and developing your tale based on audience reponses has always been a technique I enjoy.

I would say talk.

The Tau have always been a race where communication should come before combat, it's true that combat has occured but that could be a misundertanding, better to try and resolve this with words rather than pulse fire. There is also already a situation where communication has been established.

I would have to agree with the others talk.

... "It is no less than what your Empire has done to mine." The lead alien gripped it's bone blade and stamped it's foot against the ground.

Vel'ar paused, then took a step forward. "Who am I addressing?"
The alien took a moment before straightening to it's full, impressive height.
"You speak to the Hive Master's First Claw."
"And your people, you speak for them, First Claw?"
"I speak for those who shall survive the tribulation ahead. I speak for the Strong."
"I have never heard of your kind, First Claw."
"I do not expect you to, slave of the Ethereals. I do not expect the Empire to remember the civilizations it has brought low."
Vel'ar realized how out of his element he was. The 'Strong'? Perhaps that was a mistranslation. A Firewarrior was trained against every possible enemy the Empire had faced and yet the one before him was a mystery for it certainly knew about his own race.
"I and my people have no wish for further hostilities-"
"Leave the lies for those you bred to do so. Your weapons, your lives and the treasure beneath this colony belong to us now." The four cruel eyes burned into Vel'ars.

"No!" A Fio technician, one of the surviving civilians, shouted from the doorway. He stood, defiant, as the aliens turned on him. "The Devvot colony holds a medical supplies, resources and weapons for the Bork'An Shas'ar'tol, Shas'El.You cannot let these... this scum take it!"
There was a blast of electronic language, like a converter overloading, from the First Claw. The aliens seem to tense under their armor, like predators ready to leap.

Ali'yan stepped in front of the technician, shielding him. "The Fio'La is right, sir. The Center serves as a hub for supplies to this part of our Sept."
Vel'ar held his breadth, fighting the urge to just start shooting. "First Claw. If we leave you this colony and the supplies, will you let us go in peace?"

"This will cripple us-" Ali'yan restrained the protesting Fio'La.

"Peace?" The word seemed like a curse in the alien's filtered voice. "There can be no peace in such times. It is our right to claim what the weak cannot protect!" The two flanking aliens suddenly had knives in their claws. "You have seen too much, Tau. Die well, make your ancestors proud!" The alien raised it's bone sword and inhaled through it's face mask's grill to scream.

Two things happened at once. A terrifying avian call screeched overhead and the First Claw's head exploded like an overripe fruit all over the courtyard.

The two flanking aliens were good, their reflexes kicked in and they lept in acrobatic leaps away from their fallen leader even before it's body hit the ground, calling out in their own binary language.
Vel'ar threw himself into a roll back over the wall just as his unit raised their weapons and opened up on full auto.

A veritable wall of pulse fire flashed across the courtyard, obliterating the residential buildings walls, nothing could stand before such an onslaught. And yet, the aliens remained standing. Vel'ar saw that each had a reinforced vambrace that they held up against the Tau firepower. Each pulse round splattered off, harmlessly, or exploded in blue white fire that briefly outlined the extent of the defensive field.

"Shields!" Vel'ar roared, checking his aim, "Concentrate fire-" The breath was forced out of him as impacts crushed his chest plate. Ghel'uun was on him in a flash, Ali'yan stepping over him to take his place on the firing line.
"Sniper!" Sia't shouted. "Third rooftop!"
Jeth glanced up, brought his weapon to bear, and unleashed a volley worthy of a burst cannon. Debris and smoke kicked up around the cloaked form of one of the aliens, but it leapt back out of harms way.
"Shtlk'an are fast" Was all Jeth grunted.

Vel'ar looked down, confused, and saw a burning, chemical stain spreading all over his armor. "Wha-?"
"Be still, Shas'El." There was a whine as the medic activated a series of drills and began removing the chest plate. "Some kind of acid. Be still and let me work." Four seconds later the plate was off just as the blob burned a hole right through to the other side. "You're good, get back in there, sir!"

Vel'ar pulled himself up, grabbing his rifle. For the briefest moment he was reminded of his first mission on Dal'Yth. It was disorienting and the strangeness quickly left him.

"Orders, sir?" Sia't yelled.

The two original aliens had cloaked and disappeared but now were joined by their brethren who fired from rooftops and window portals. It was impossible to see how many there were, but that didn't change the Firewarriors tactics. Using their semi-fortified position they fired in long bursts, stopping only to reload in sync with one another so that there were always at least two warriors shooting.

In response, the aliens were shooting acid filled bolts from wrist or shoulder mounted cannons. They were deadly but were almost useless against the low wall protecting the Tau.

"At least we know they bleed." Ghel'uun chuckled, eyeing the rag doll body of the First Claw as it lay twitching on the ground. The thing's head, neck, and the uppermost part of it's chest were completely vaporized.

"Who took that shot?" Vel'ar yelled over the cacophony of fire.
Sia't crouched low as a blob of acid splashed over her part of the wall, "Only a rail rifle does that kind of damage. I can't reach him and his comm."
"They're jamming us. Nuu'l almost whispered. The tech was calmly reloading, his DX drone hovering just under the lip of the wall. "It's pretty heavy too."
"How are we talking Cubor then?" Sia't asked, blasting a window portal. There was a bark of the aliens language and Vel'ar hoped it died slow.
"He's flying over it. Who are these guys?" Nuu'l was up again, shooting at anything that showed it's face.

Vel'ar saw a blur detach itself off a nearby building and drop three stories to the courtyard.

"Enemy!" He bellowed and fired from the hip at the silhouette. It was already running toward him, his pulse rounds ricocheting of it's outstretched shield hand and armor. Ghel'uun added his pistol fire into the alien, but it came on even as it's cloaking shattered away revealing it fully. They were so fast!

"shtlk" Ghel'uun gasped as the alien lept right over the wall, Vel'ars head, and behind the Tau unit. It had a long, scimitar-like weapon that had folded out of it's wrist. With a roar of static it raised it over it's head to strike Ghel'uun in half when just as quickly the Kroot finally showed up.

Green spotted brown skin garbed in the tatters of hide, the big Kroot male leapt down from wherever it had been perched and caught the alien's blade with it's own primitive bladed musket. Vel'ar had never been so happy to see the savage Kroot before.

Caught off guard, the alien somersaulted back, flinging another of it's blades at the newcomer. The Kroot batted the projectile aside with a spin of it's rifle and lept after it. It raised it's shield hand defensively but the Kroot sidestepped and lashed out with a kick, catching the alien full in the chest and slamming it against the doorframe. The civilians cowered, fleeing back into the Center.
Stunned, the alien shook it's helmeted head and looked up at the Kroot. It raised it's weapon but the fight had left it. The Kroot spun it's rifle, separating first the right, bladed, arm at the elbow and with the same strike the shield bearing left arm at the forearm. The alien gave a squeal in binary and then gurgled as the Kroot spun low and opened it stomach from the groin up. Red gore fountained everywhere.

"We fight for the Tau." The Kroot squawked in the guttural Tau'sia their race spoke. Vel'ar offered a quick salute.
"The Tau thank you."

Kroot were leaping from nearby buildings to scramble up and engage the aliens. Almost immediately killing three cloaked enemies, as though they could see them as clear as day. They squawked and cawed in victory, driving the survivors back with musket shot. The aliens in turn reacted by pulling back, away from the supportive Tau fire, and engage in close quarters. Individual melee's broke out all over the rooftops, but with the Kroot's sudden arrival the aliens were forced to show their numbers.
All over the colony they flashed into existence. Running from cover to cover they rushed upwards to attack the Kroot, now ignoring the Tau and even their firepower, as though hatred had suddenly blinded them. The Firewarriors finally landed solid kills as the aliens de-cloaked, but still the Tau were ignored.

"Cubor's here!" Sia't shouted, stepping over the wall and firing all the while blowing the leg off of an alien as it grappled up the side of a building. Sure enough, the drop ship circled the colony in a pass then began descending with a whine from it's turbine nacelles.
"Sorry I'm late," Cubor's voice was strained as it came over the comm. "Tell me wear to put this thing."
Vel'ar highlighted an area a few feet from the wall on his HUD and forwarded it.

"It's just good to see you." The landing zone appeared to all the Tau on their helmet screens as a bright yellow graphic.
"Get the civilians out of the Center, form a perimeter, we're getting out of here." Vel'ar shouted. He looked at the Kroot, seeing for the first time that it was wounded. It's leg had been sliced open, then bandaged with leaves and pulp.

"Jikita nhka vak T'au." Vel'ar croaked in the Kroot tongue. "Thank you, warrior of Pech. Get your people off the roof and we will cover them." The male shook it's quills making a threatening rattle.

"Ko'vash Tau'va, Firewarrior. It is we that brought this death to our Tau brothers and sisters. Withdraw from this place and we will buy you time."

The shuttle descended, it's hull mounted burst cannons opening up on the aliens that were still running toward the fight on the rooftop. Not even their advanced shielding could protect them against such firepower, their bodies exploding under the hail of pulse fire.

The Shas charged, forming a ring about the embarkation ramp as it opened. Ali'yan grabbed a civilian and shoved him forward as Ghel'uun herded the rest toward the shuttle.
"Where's Kro'le?" Jeth shouted.
Sia't scanned the courtyard but saw nothing, "Nuu'l, try and boost the comm through the shuttle's antenna.
"Copy!"

The Kroot were beginning to lose. The technological edge was cutting through the odds in favor of the aliens. Wrangler nets, sprays of acid and simple numbers were wiping out the Kroot. Yet still the avian carnivores fought, refusing to break.

"We can help you!" Vel'ar insisted to the male. An alien appeared on top of the center, aiming it's wrist bound weapon. Vel'ar fired two rounds at the creature before a supersonic round blew it apart.

"Kro'le, here." The sniper shouted, both hands holding his smoking rail-rifle. He was making his way through cover toward the shuttle from a building just to the right of the Center. "Need some help." Vel'ar could see that the Shas'La was hurt, holding his side.

Sia't flashed two hand signs. Jeth and Nuu'l ran forward, covered by the rest of the team.

The Kroot gave another shake of it's quills. "Go to the world of my people called Seko. Tell them all that has happened. Tell my Master that the Past Walkers have returned." The Kroot tore an amulet off it's neck and pushed it into Vel'ars hand. More and more of the aliens were leaping down, fresh Kroot blood covering their armor, concentrating on the Tau now.

Jeth cried out as a smear of acid caught him in the shoulder guard. He let go of his carbine and drew his pistol as Nuu'l grabbed Kro'le and began dragging him back to the shuttle. A Fio'La crumbled as a knife seemed to grow from his chest, he died screaming. The situation was deteriorating.

"I will." Was all Vel'ar could say as he ran toward his unit. "Everybody in!" He shouted, adding cover fire as Kro'le was ushered into the shuttle. Ali'yan had grabbed the dead Fio'La and was dragging the corpse into the shuttle hold. Vel'ar almost chastised her, then reconsidered. He grabbed the dead Tau with one arm and carried it to the hatch.

"By the numbers, people!" Sia't yelled. One by one the Shas position folded back into the shuttle. Sia't was the last living Tau on the Devvot, firing unrelentingly into the pack of aliens, forcing them into cover. As the shuttle cycled up over the rooftops of the colony she saw, with a mix of pride and guilt, as the remaining Kroot rushed forward against the aliens. They held them off for exactly two seconds before they cut them to ribbons in a flurry of attacks that she could barely track.
The shuttle door closed and with a rumble, the dropship blasted upward and through the atmosphere.

Oh man, that was intense! Poor Kroot. I'm curious to find out where these Past Walkers come from and what the Tau or Kroot did to anger them.

As for your mention of a good or renegade path, I think it would be interesting, as long as it doesn't get too black and white. Farsight's defection seems largely about a Commander doing what he feels is in the best interests of the Empire; so there is some nobility there. Anyway, I'm sure you could pull it off!

Intense indeed.
To Seko with all haste!!

I had a feeling id like Kro'le when you first introduced him. Despite only having two or three lines of dialogue so far, he's still managed to become one of my favourite characters. just something about him I like

Well done calmsword, you have us hooked so keep em coming

Chapter 4: Journey into the Rift

Two days after the retreat from the Devvot Colony, aboard the Strident

There was no official war room on board the Strident so Pavol suggested they use the lounge in the forward section for Vel'ar's council. Set in the forward tier of the third uppermost deck, it was one of the few areas, besides the bridge, that offered a view into space. A long, circular chia'gor glass table was set in the middle of the room, the spherical symbol of the Empire inlaid with silver. Every vessel in the Fleet had such a place and table in times of peace and war where the Castes could hold council as equals. Plants and holo-projected art lined the walls while a solid piece of rock cut from a Fal'Shian asteroid served as the floor.
Sia't and Cubor sat on one end of the table with Vel'ar on the other. Ali'yan had chosen to stand, her arms folded as she stared off into space. Pavol was 'present' in the form of the rooms camera pods. Vel'ar had called the meeting to discuss what had happened on Devvot and as well as to determine what to do next.

A Messenger class ship had jumped into the system as part of it's regular route and had been intercepted by Pavol. These lonely ships were the strands that connected star systems, worlds, and entire Septs to one another. Vel'ar knew that the Imperium of Man used genetically modified or mutated individuals that could somehow transmit information cerebrally.The Earth Caste was still working on that one. Until then, communication within the Empire was accomplished via Messanger ship; small single-piloted interstellar craft that constantly patrolled the space lanes.

"An entire colony's disappearance warrants action. I recommend we detail a report and send it directly to T'au." Vel'ar could hear the bitterness in the woman's voice.

Her team had been hurt; Jeth had suffered acid burns on his right shoulder and was still recovering despite the big warrior's insistance that he just needed to sleep.
Kro'le, meanwhile, was a mess. Vel'ar had reviewed Kro'le's helmet footage and seen first hand what had happened.

From his position, Kro'le had seen the aliens reenter the Devvot colony and had attempted to warn the rest of the team, jamming had prevented that. Sacrificing his own safety he had climbed to the top of the colony's sensor tower and broadcasted an open signal. The aliens heard him and chased him into a residential building where he made his stand.
They surrounded and attacked by dropping in from a skylight. Kro'le had fought, blowing a hole through one of the aliens with his rail rifle before he was almost cut in half from behind. By all accounts the sniper should be dead and it was a wonder he had made it to the Center at all.
Kro'le had slipped into a coma shortly after getting on board the shuttle and had been in such a state since. Ghel'uun, a Por'Ui scientist that had survived Devvot and the Strident's medical facility hadn't stopped working to save him.

"And what I am trying to say is we must be discreet." Vel'ar insisted. "Warning T'au of this threat will summon a Shan'al and we don't need an army, not yet. His excellency, D'teylioc, insisted that this mission remain covert."

"Which makes absolutely no sense!" There it was again, that quick defiance that betrayed her as an Aun'qath. "We follow the First Contact Protocol. Contact T'au, relay all information regarding this threat and we conclude the mission."

"And what do we know, Shas'Ui? A piratical enemy that clearly has advanced knowledge of the Empire, with some kind of relationship to the Kroot, attacked a nearly defenseless colony and has raided it for supplies. We do not know their disposition and we do not know their capabilities."

"So, what? We leave the border unguarded so that more colonies may fall?"

"No." Vel'ar tried to think as to what D'teylioc would want. The Ethereal had stressed the tenuous nature of the Empire. An unknown threat would cause panic and draw soldiers and material from other warzones.

"Firstly, we send the Fio and Por civilians to the Messenger ship and have them delivered to Bork'An. The message buoy will contain details regarding everything we know about these aliens and we will let the Bork'An Sept Council to determine what steps to take. We go to Seko."

Sia't looked as though she would make further protest but then Cubor put a hand on the Shas'Ui's shoulder. In this simple, restrained action, Vel'ar learned more about the quiet second in command than any report or suspicion he might have made. The two were lovers. Sia't leaned back, flushed.

"Pavol?" Vel'ar said looking at a camera pod in the corner of the room.
"Yes, Shas'El?" Pavol's voice emitted from speakers inlaid in the table.
"How's, Kro'le?"
"They're doing the best they can with our facilities but Shas'La Kro'le needs major surgery."
Vel'ar cracked his knuckles, a bad habit, "How long does he have?"
"Not long, Shas'El. And the Messanger ship doesn't have the means of keeping him alive, however, we could put him in a cryo pod and but there's no guarantee he'd survive. He won't make it to Seko."
The room was uncomfortably silent as Vel'ar deliberated.

Sia't spoke up, "Is there a station enroute?"
Pavol took exactly two seconds to mentally scan the Strident's entire database. "There is a Fringe settlement named Cerax that is a viable option."
"A Fringe colony? No. My bondmate will not die in some backwater hospital."
"There are you options, Shas'Ui." Vel'ar could hear a note of annoyance in the shipmaster's tone.
"I'll consider it..."

Vel'ar shifted to Ali'yan.

"You are not a part of this unit, Shas'La, the Messanger ship can take you home as well." Ali'yan was still filthy from the retreat. Half her face was bruised and he knew she must be suffering from shock. Yet there was a spark of defiance in her orange eyes.

"With permission, sir, I would request going with you. Davvot was my first mission, Shas'El, me and my unit grew up together from the creche to our graduation. They'll transfer me to something quiet if I go back to Bork'An. I want to be somewhere to hurt them like they've hurt my Sept."

"Personal vengeance is not how one serves the Greater Good." Sia't said, rounding on the younger woman.

Vel'ar nodded. He had expected as much from the young woman. The Fire Caste differed from planet to planet but upholding one's honor was seemingly bred into them, a dangerous aspect to the normally logical Tau. "Then you'll report to Sia't, Shas'La."

Sia't shook her head, "There isn't any room for a rookie, not in my unit. I won't have her tripping us-"
"That is an order, Shas'Ui T'au Sia't. I will not have it questioned or I'll throw you into the Messanger ship myself." Sia't's fist clenched, then she let it go.
"Yes, sir."

"Check the status of your operating team members. Shas'La Ali'yan is not unblooded, I expect you to train her as part of your unit's routine exercise regime. Now go." Sia't stood and saluted, walking out with Cubor.

"Thank you, Shas'El." Ali'yan said, saluting, and followed her new team leader out.

When he was alone, save for the omnipotent presence of Pavol, he let himself slacken in his chair.
"She's a difficult one, isn't she." It wasn't a question. "I've seen you Shas bicker amongst yourselves but she seems to make this personal."

Vel'ar shrugged, rubbing his eyes. He needed sleep and badly, but there was work to do. "Pavol, can you open the vid captures I've highlighted for the Messanger?"

Photon emitters answered from the ceiling, projecting a paneled 'screen' that floated before him. Vel'ar keyed the recording to begin. It was from Jeth's helmet during the initial standoff with the aliens.
"Aliens. We're going to have to come up with a name for them I suppose." Vel'ar mused, mostly to himself.
"Yes, and I don't think Sia't would like it if we called them 'the Strong', sets a bad precedent."
He zoomed in on one of the vanguard creatures. On closer inspection, details in the armor began to appear. To begin with, no two aliens were the same, with customized holsters, sheaths, weapons and armor placement. The armor itself was a cream colored non-reflective alloy with what must have been holo-emitters placed strategically all over the frame.
"And I don't want to start calling them Ghosts." Vel'ar said, coming to the alien's necklace of freshly butchered Tau fingers. "They're a hunter species, each one of these things has been allowed to modify their gear. We also know they're scavengers, stealing our technology. The killings were in reaction to being denied the prize."

"Which you left to them."

Vel'ar grimaced. It was true. They had had to leave the supplies to the aliens and after Vel'ar had a look at the manifest he had balked at the loss. Hundreds of power cells for heavy vehicles, five hundred pulse rifles and pistols. Photon grenades, EMP satchel charges, and enough crystalline fio'tak to build a starship. It was a grievous loss to Bork'An and would effect the readiness of their border colonies.

"I know." His mind drifted back to Por'La Av'wol who was being prepped for transport, restrained on a hoversled. "He called them ghosts and the Kroot called them Past Walkers. For now, we call them the Var'Oni." It was old Vior'La'sia
that roughly translated to 'Raiders' in the bandit or cowardly sense. Pavol took a moment to respond, probably looking up the word, before speaking.
"Logical. I'll notify the Messanger pilot."

"Good."

"What about Kro'le, sir. Do we try for Cerax or do we put him in the cryo tube?"


///
Kro'le has suffered massive internal damage from being stabbed. He is under observation by Ghel'uun and the ship's medical MI drones.
He has a 60% chance of surviving cryo freeze and being taken care of on Bork'An.

He has a 80% chance of making it to Cerax but this will slow the Strident's progress toward Seko.

No! Don't you kill that sniper! Send him to Cerax!

I agree, get him immediate medical attention! The dude took out the enemy leader and fought his way back to the group. He earned this.

Really excellent update as always. I like the all-seeing eye of Pavol; it must be very disconcerting to know that the crew is essentially 'inside' him.

Noooooooooooooo! Kro'Le!!

To Cerax! We risk the Var'Oni reaching seko before Vel'ar but we cant simply let Kro'le sit in a tube with a paltry 60% chance of survival.

3rd vote for Cerax

Everyone- thanks so much for staying interested. It's funny, you sometimes don't know which character is going to be a hit.

Alright, we're going to Cerax. I'll update tomorrow.

If anyone has any questions PM me or post.

Perhaps a little late, but I'll put my vote for Cerax too.

Great story Calmsword! It's really sucked me in.

Thanks Aun Tier!

This update might be a little slower- during upload my browser crashed, so I'm just in the process of rewriting it.

More soon!

Do you write your stories into the browser? I'd advise writing them in a text file or a word document first, it'll prevent browser crashes forcing you to rewrite the story and all you have to do is copy and paste it from the document to the browser when you want to post. It you save frequently when you're writing then it will eliminate the need for you to rewrite when a program crashes

Chapter 5: Warp Transition

Vel'ar eased onto the cot, wincing as his knees popped. It was the first time he had relaxed since Devvot and he was determined to, finally, get some sleep. His quarters consisted of a single chamber that had been built at the base of the bridge tower, across the hall from the lift. Because of it's position, Vel'ar was afforded a modest amount of seclusion, unusual for an Air Caste ship.

The Air Caste had evolved, along with their bodies, to live in the resource scarce void of space. The crew of sixty operated so that half of them could use their barracks, set near the power generator in the rear of the ship, and the other half was active performing their duties. Pavol was the obvious exception as the shipmaster preferred to stay in the Chair. Every aspect of Air Caste society was based on community and the maximization of the functionality.

This meant that the single cabin was reserved typically for dignitaries or men such as himself. The bed took up most of the room with a footlocker that could disappear under the frame as need be. A modest work table with a built in data terminal and an ergonomic seat furnished the other side of the cabin. Next to this was a display closet with a built in suspensor field that housed his armor, slowly rotating in the anti-gravity.

There was a chime from the intercom. Vel'ar bit back a curse.

"Shas'El Vel'ar?" It was Pavol, his voice emitting from everywhere at once.
"By the sands, Pavol! Yes?"
"Don't blame me, sir. You're Caste mates are at it." Unbidden, the shipmaster opened Vel'ars terminal and projected an image of the hangar bay. Pushing himself up, but staying in bed, he looked disinterestedly at the unfolding drama...

The Strident's Hangar Bay

During a faster-than-light jump through the subdimensional realm of warp-space a vessel needed to be sealed. As a result, most of a ship needed to be shut down both to power the enormous needs of the warp drive, which meant much of the forward sections of the ship were 'dark' during transit. The largest of these areas were typically hangar bays and weapons ports as combat was impossible the warp as was leaving a ship until it finished transitioning.

The hangar was shaped like a wide 'U' with a launch bay on the port side and a docking bay on the starboard side. In the U's 'arch' a wide platform served as a cargo and materiel hold with the Strident's shuttle and four interceptors stood dormant on their landing struts. The Firewarriors had commandeered the hanger, barely asking the Kor'Ui in charge, for their practice and drills.

Jeth had his arm swathed in sh'tak bandages and a sling, yet he was still giving Nuu'l a challenge as they grappled in loose fitting fatigues stripped down to the waste. Ghel'uun and Cubor competed at shooting target drones that they had released into the vaulted ceiling with low-level practice lasers. When either of them hit a drone it was create a holo graphic, yellow for Cubor and orange for Ghel'uun, the objective was to turn all targets into your color.

Ali'yan ignored the other Shas, her focus directed entirely on the training droid in front of her. She, like the other warriors, had shed her armor and wore her camouflage fatigues, tide at the waste. Sia't observed her in silence, her own fatigues a sharp contrast with the Shas'La.

The droid was not unlike a typical support drone. It had the large, processing disk that drones had, except that for the droid it was set on it's side, making up it's center mass. Two arms and legs sprouted from this to make it roughly the same height and width of a Tau but could be programmed to mimic a variety of species in and outside of the Empire. A 'dummy' head sat atop the disc and looked at her with dull, sightless eyes who's only function was to represent a typical xeno anatomy.

In addition to it's physical composition, it projected holo images of hard and soft points that Ali'yan was supposed to strike with the baton to score damage and kill points. The droid wasn't easy, though, and had a stun baton of it's own that Sia't had dialed up so that it caused real pain when Ali'yan failed to evade or block an attack.

Ali'yan was starting to wonder if Sia't was trying to killer her since the Shas'El had commanded her to train her. She had had only a few hours sleep, a blissful reprieve from her memories of the horrors she had witnessed on Devvot before the Shas'Ui had ordered her and the rest of the team up an hour before they were technically supposed to on the day/night regulated ship.

She had known from her studies at the War Academy on Bork'An that other species regularly suffered from subconscious visions as they slept of traumatic or confusing events. Her teachers had put her and her creche mates through something they called a 'dream simulator', to understand the experience. Almost all of them had thrown up.

Staying active kept the images of the dead from haunting her and drove out the fear that every shadow would spring into the murderers that had killed her friends.

The droid came at her again, tossing the baton from hand to hand in a manner that made it seem almost biological. At the last moment the baton was in it's left hand and it was crashing down on her. She skipped back, hooves scratching the deck, and lashed out but the droid blocked it easily with it's right hand. Brief electrical discharge stormed off it's metal skin and it jumped forward, barreling into her, knocking her off her hooves and out of the practice ring.

She gasped, rolling over, and spat.

"You're not using your whole body to fight, Shas'La." Sia't said calmly from the side lines. "Instead you're relying on speed and the baton."

"The droid... It's- it's too fast!" Ali'yan pulled herself up, glaring at the now inert droid.

"Too fast? Is that your excuse?"

"It's not an excuse, I, I just don't see the point of this." She stood back up, pointing at the droid. "Conventional tactics dictate that close quarters combat are to be employed only in the most dire of confrontations! I would just shoot this piece of-"

"Ar'cea sha'is'la!" Sia't's pistol was in her hand so quickly it was as if it materialized there. The droid's limbs elongated suddenly and it's baton extended to something like a sword.
"Maximum lethality!" Sia't shouted. She fired almost at point blank into the droid.

The droid brought it's weapon up and, impossibly, absorbed the pulse rounds onto it. Sia't kept up the barrage, walking toward the droid. It danced back, blocking each round or evading them entirely. As Sia't walked forward and into the ring the droid sprang forward, sacrificing a round getting through to glance against it's midsection.

The droid swung it's baton into the Shas'Ui who ducked just in time, sweeping with her leg to try and trip it. The droid lept completely in the air with such grace as to be almost balletic. Sia't drew her own baton, simultaneously bringing her pistol up as the droid landed.

It kicked, knocking the pistol out of her hand then slashed with it's baton in a flurry that drove Sia't back, electrical discharge almost blinding. Ali'yan knew Sia't wouldn't be able to fight the droid, not at this rate. But Sia't's face was set in a determined scowl.
The droid struck again and again, finally driving Sia't to her knees. Raising it's weapon with both hands, the droid plunged the baton directly into Sia't's chest. Sia't blocked it with her baton, over and over until Sia't finally could not maintain her guard. The baton fell on Sia't, striking her in the stomach. She crumbled, doubling over, but then her hand shot out and she grabbed the droid's wrist.
It jerked back, but Sia't held on, pulling herself close to the droid. Her baton flashed, striking so hard that the droid's holo projections flickered and died as Sia't struck it's 'heart' region. The droid deactivated, it's legs folding beneath it.

Sia't was breathing hard, sweat gleaming off her body. She turned to Ali'yan.

"Do you see?" Sia't asked.
"It... It would have killed you."
"Yes. But even with the dying breath of a Firewarrior it may still be used to serve." Sia't reached down and hit the restart graphic on the droid. "You must always fight with the understanding that the enemy will attack you where you are weakest. Learn to shorten your reach and you will surprise them."

The droid stood back up, a dent in it's frame. Sia't took a step back, limping only slightly, as Ali'yan stepped back into the ring.

"Gue'la kar'la. Regular lethality." At Sia't's command the droid reduced itself and it's weapon back to Ali'yan's original opponent. "Now, fight!"


Vel'ar's Cabin

Vel'ar watched as Ali'yan leapt back into combat against the drone with new motivation. This time, when the droid struck out with it's baton, the Shas'La took the slash on her empty hand, shouting in pain, but then scored her first hit against the droid with the other. Vel'ar could see Sia't's mouth twitch in the briefest of smiles.

"She know's what she's doing." Pavol said over the intercom. "I was worried she would break Ali'yan."
"You have your ways of training raw Kor'La, we have ours." Although, Sia't's use of the droid was someting Vel'ar had never seen. "What was she fighting?" He asked. There was a pause as Pavol accessed the databanks.

"It's part of the imported data Sia't brought on board. The droid was mimicking an Eldar warrior from data collected during their engagement on S'luss't. They are considered to be a member of the elite, for their race." Vel'ar nodded. And Sia't had 'killed' on in close combat, albeit at the sacrifice of her own life.

"How long until we reach Cerax?" He said, easing back onto the cot.

"Four days."

"How is Kro'le?"

"He'll make it."

"Good. Then, kindly, let me get to sleep and don't wake me unless the ship is crashing or we're being eaten by a void whale. Copy?"

Pavol laughed, the intercom clicking off. It took four entire seconds for Vel'ar to drift into deep, wonderful sleep.

It would be the last time he was afforded such luxury.

I am loving this story I'm on chapter two reading onward! Great i really like the images your words evoke, and I like the narrative, you use it well.

Also i am currently writing a Tau themed story which is also on the newsfeed, any feedback that you could give me on that would be much welcomed.

Thank you goodsir!