[Aftercresent]

The dropship plummeted through the clouds of this "Accursed planet", to quote the Sargeant. Like a red hot sword, the dropship sliced holes and slashed gaping crevices into cloud forms.
Why we're plummeting toward some uninhabited planet at 700mph is unknown, all I know is that our platoon has to find a suitable place for a base.

"Pilot, slow her up, I want a soft touchdown, no guts spilled all over this craft in the first few minutes of a mission, understood?" ranted on our lieutenant. Oh hooray, a greeny just let the bombload go, all over the deck...stupid air pockets.

Man life is pretty tough in the Guard, not to say I'm not experienced, actually I'd classify myself elite, but I've hated every minute of it.

I joined at the tender age of 18, for two reasons, because my girlfriend got horny for me in flak armour, and because I wanted to tone up a bit and look like those picture perfect guardsmen you see everyday.

Well, I'm 34 now, haven't seen my girlfriend ever since and I've never really got muscular. Ah well.
[hr]

"Men, we're touching down in 4 minutes or so," Continued the Lieutenant "Now's a better time then ever to tell you our mission"

"We're dropping on this uninhabited planet, we don't expect enemy resistance, but be ready. Just find a suitable spot for a HQ, and wait for our techies to arrive."

A murmur of voices came from the veterans, they expected it to be routine outpost work.

Yes, I guess this is all in The life of the Ellixian 27th. We're to far from any action planet to find any real fighting, so we do outpost work.

Life sucks.

[hr]

Back up on the Fury of Mars an Imperial Frigate.

"Captain Cassius, your troops have landed and have found a suitable spot for the techies to set up the diplomacy HQ with the Tau, would you like to go planetside, or stay up here?"
reported a ensign.

"There should be few problems with translation, as all Tau know Imperial Gothic"
stated the Captain

"Sir?"

"I'll stay here, I'm finally getting my ship legs"

[hr]

"Sir," reported a private, to his sarge, "Look there"
As he pointed, many could see the faint shimmer of white/blue light.

Looking all around, they could see thousands of shimmers, and glowing red optic lights in the forest.

The sarge replied in a harsh tone,

"Grenades, quickly and quietly."

Almost silent whistles of air were created as dozens of grenades cut through the leaves and trees, with explosions going off ssimultaneously

Screams of dying enemy were heard and guardsmen advanced forward, lasguns blasting at the slightest movement.

Many inspected the dead, there were hundreds of dead in well polished smoothly designed armour.

Tau.

As the Guardsmen advanced forward, through the trees, they stalked their pray into a clearing.

Very few Tau suits were left, only few had enough energy remaining in their suits to go invisible Quickly, the guardsmen shot las bolts through optic sights of the say, silencing what was left of their bitter prayers for life.

Estimated Tau death was around several thousand, mainly of invisibletroopers and warriors of the line.

Diplomatic HQ is under contruction.

Take it away MalVeuX

[MalVeauX]

Devistation.

In a most unfortunate matter, Shas’El Al’Anuk was too arrogant and the resulting situation was proof of this. It was a shame to lose a fine commander, but at what price would it take to make amends for such a catastrophy. This planet was merely a mining planet and the Tau are stripping it for resource, however they are not the only Empire it seems with an eye upon the riches here. As it is, any planet that can support life is precious.

Al’Anuk was lost in the devastation from the surprise attack from the Imperial Guard lead by Captain Cassius. Many Shas’la will morn his passing, but it is not a time of mourning. The real question lies in that this attack was not expected and that means there was a break in the chain that disallowed such information to be gathered, relayed and prepared for. The Imperial Navy must have intercepted those who may have detected them, but how did they arrive planet side unbeknownst to us? There will be further investigation to this matter, as there may have been detachments here all along that were missed.

The current command line has fallen to Cha’Elan, a Stealth Suit pilot with the honor of Shas’vre. Taking the initiative, he and his bonded group of brothers will take several of the local detachments of hired Kroot Mercenaries and meet up with a Pathfinder team which has a bulk of Imperial targets under observation. Deeply saddened with so much loss, Cha’Elan remains stern and shows the behavior of a leader and of a Tau.

The Shas’vre and his newly formed cadre only know of the catastrophe from communications and will be swiftly moving to this position to track the attackers and find where their hidden entry point must have originated in order to better understand what exactly is going on. After all, Cha’Elan does not know if this is an aggressive hostile action or merely a local group of militia, but from the looks of it, it was definitely too large of an attack to be unjustified.

With that, Cha’Elan issued his first order in command:

"Doran, Like the Kor… we must move."

With that, the cadre swept towards the East, in hopes to quickly find this new terror which has flowed through the Tau compound like an ill wind. Not knowing what to expect, Cha’Elan and his squad may indeed face peril, he thought to himself as they moved out to find what had struck them so close to home.

[hr]

Cha’Elan’s cadre approached the Pathfinder team which awaited his orders and the Kroot were already lining the trees and chirping with their excitement for the thrill of the hunt and the trackers were unleashed to pick up any trails which may have been left. Surprisingly, the foolish “humans” which was determined with merely scent, did not bother to cover up their retreat lines in a manner that only seemed arrogant and unjust, cold even. Cha’Elan was very unpleased with this and felt a great despair of a dishonorable foe.

The Pathfinder team took their Devilfish APC, appropriated worded Kunas and quickly dispatched to follow the trail with the Kroot leaping from limp to limp and quickly herding through the underbrush with a silience. Cha’Elan and his brothers silently pushed forward behind them with keen eyes and using their sensor spines to detect any enemy entrenchments or traps.

J’kaara’Ka, Shas’ui of the Pathfinder team flagged Cha’Elan that they had found something just to the North and were quickly issued the order to dismount and infiltrate into position to prepare markerlights. After they setup on a small ridge behind some brush, they gazed with a grimace as they saw an encampment of Imperial Guardsmen lining a cleared area in a crude fasion that is customary to the Gue’la. The small markerlights of the team slowly passed over, seeking out the best targets while all of the Kroot quietly snuk into positions using their quills and hair to vibrate small communications back and forth amongst themselves. Cha’Elan and his team simply stood in a small clearing under the protection of their stealth suits and prepared their weaponry.

"We know what must be done. These Gue’la are dishonorable, but we will show them the true meaning of ambush and surgical presition. Issue a single round of seeker missiles into their transport and hover craft and a single missile into the communications hut with the antennae. The rest will be dispatched of at short range, to prove how blind these creatures truly are. They will not stand in the way of the Greater Good."

With the silence of the wind, missiles were already in the air, whisking towards their destination, which the sloppy ranks of Gue’la didn’t even realize. The seekers slammed into their targets and detonated and where annihilated as the transports split apart and the communication tent was totally vaporized. The Kroot immerged from the ashes, with their rifles raised as they quickly pounced upon the small human creatures which easily where crushed under their slapping muscular motions.

J’kaarak’Ka and his team remained motionless continuing to markerlight targets, one by one with prioritization according to training and he was slightly disgusted by the brutality of the Kroot as a few were ripping open the chest cavities of a few humans and rummaging through the contents with their beaks.

Cha’Elan and his brothers sprung out of their position and formed a firing line and quickly pushed through midst of the brawl, and quickly with Burst Cannons ready and guided by markerlights, landed every single shot with utter accuracy as they remained unseen until it was too late.

Within a few short minutes, the attack was finished and all that remained was a single officer of the humans, who would be spared for interrogation. A deep sense of pride was felt and shared amongst the Tau as they performed with perfection, only interrupted by the gnashing sounds of Kroot feasting on their victims in the smoke and haze of the destroyed encampment.

"What sense will come from this?” Cha’Elan asked himself. “The humans need not attack, when simple words and speech can accomplish far more, even in the language of the human creatures."

[Aftercresent]

"Two whole Companies, just over 2000 men. Destroyed.Annihilated.Dead" thought Captain Cassius

"Two Companies..."

You see, Captain Cassius isn't like your normal Imperial Leader. Many leaders will send thousand of troops on a totally worthless suicidal mission just because they're way more guardsmen out there.

Cassius, he really cared. He had personally met every soldier in his army, every single one! So every death received, was a huge blow to his confidence, and he'll have to be more prepared now.

We know we're facing Tau, what is a Tau's weakness...over glorified communism?Close combat. Yes, close combat.

Cassius push a button in his quarters, and immediately a Ensign came in.

"Sir?"

"Ensign, tell my next Lieutenants going down in the next wave, to have all men more oriented to close combat then shooting, understand? Bayonets before Lasgun. Also, send a few Chimera APC's down, multilaser fire will sure scare the Tau off and really hurt those suits and invisible guys. Lastly, tell my Lieutenants to make an Airstrip and to really fortify their position. Sentry's lots of sentries."

"OK sir, would you like any personal items?"

"My home..."

"Sir?"

"No I'm alright, leave."
[hr]

"Captain on the Bridge!" was the call from shadows, as numerous officers turned and saluted.
"As you were" cried the Captain, slightly embarrassed with all the attention he was receiving.

Captain Cassius quickly strode over to where a Coporal was, manning the ships Vox receiver.

"What is the status of my ground forces in the first wave?"
"Sir, with all due respect, we've already told you, they sent out the distress call, and all we heard were dying guardsmen..."

"...they were unable to make contact with the Tau, but we believe they were hit by the Tau"
Cassius bit back his lip, and strode off the Fury of Mar's bridge.
[hr]

Then it hit him, they've just landed.

"OK boys, get out of this load of c**p," the sarge said as he kicked the edge of the dropship.

All the guardsmen climbed out, and the dropship flew away to make space for the next one, holding a chimera.

As the chimera was rolling out, the Sargeant noticed beady eyes, staring through the undergrowth, they were so well disguised, you'd need to burn the trees away to get a good look at them.

"Men of Squad C, In the chimera now" whispered the sarge as men strolled into the back of the chimera and the dropship soared away. The sargeant, being the final one to enter the chimera (as he's the first one out) unpinned a grenade a rolled it into the bushes where he'd spotted those creepy eyes. He close the hatch before the explosion commenced...

"Sarge!" report the multilaser turret gunner "They're hundreds of these tall brown guys running around with bladed guns and shaking these quill things on their heads."

"Understood, open fire with multilaser, and tell your driver to head East, as that's where our whole army is going"

"Ok, six of you men, take the lasguns" said the sargeant, as the chimera turned and twisted through forest paths and clearing.

Six of C squad's finest marksmen took up the lasgun turrets, sweeping the sides of the chimera with their eyes, sometimes shooting at random things, just to be safe.

"Sir, the brown things have stopped giving chase, most of them are dead. Also, we're about ten Imperial minutes from our rendezvous point"
"Understood" replied the Sarge.

"OK men, bayonets on"
[hr]

On the Fury of Mars.

Why does everything result in war? Tau are great creatures, they seem so smart compared to us, why do we fight? What power do we gain when we kill another? Does it make us a man?
[hr]

"Sarge, we're reached our rendezvous point"

"Understood, men, fan out, cover the perimeter, seek and destroy if needed, all and all, make space and defend our radio equipment will arrive soon."

Go MalVeuX

[MalVeauX]

Confrontation.

Cha’Elan and his cadre lined the a nearby clearing while the Kroot mercenaries spanned out to keep watch, patrol after patrol. It was then that a transmission was received from J’kaara’Ka that the humans were advancing on their location and that it would be time to move soon. Wise from previous battle, Cha’Elan knows the Gue’la are not coming back with the idea of diplomacy, but instead they would come back for vengeance for something they began. The other thing Cha’Elan knew, would be that they would not fight honorably and that the Gue’la would attempt to degrade the battle to something barbaric and probably attack in close quarter combat as the human creature seem to enjoy. The thought of that disgusted him.

“Shas’vre, it is time,” reported the Shas’ui.

Cha’Elan gave the order to move out. But before leaving, he told each Tau to be prepared for an unhonorable battle, but to stay honorable to their training and to hold fast.

“The Gue’la will be rushing for close quarter confrontation. Be prepared for this, and hold to your training. These humans are unhonorable and we will only do what must be done, but no more. Follow the Shas’ui. Be accurate.”

[hr]

J’kaara’Ka immediately sent word to Cha’Elan when the Gue’la were spotted and the coordination was set. Several bands of Kroot were sent to prepare a few ambushes for the Gue’la as it was known they were on foot with minimal armorment and only a few transports, which were nothing to the Tau. The cadre would hit them hard and swift and allow the Kroot to have their way as normal. As for the Kroot sped forward, their chirps and quill vibrations made a mélange with the wind and the sound of the leaves as they blended in with the vegetation and made way.

Cha’Elan and his team moved forward in silence as the Pathfinder team met up with another scout team and setup near the ambush point, with the Gue’la in sight. J’kaara’Ka informed the Shas’vre that the ambush was prepared and that most of the Kroot were in place. The order was made to prepare for a precise cut and to halt the humans on their path in a single salvo.

“Prepare a single round of seeker missiles for their transports. They must be disabled with a single shot, as no more missiles will be authorized. The Gue’la will see an honorable and perfect form of battle in this. The weapon systems must also be disabled so that their turret weapons do not turn upon our ranks. When the Gue’la exit their transports, allow them to exit before attacking. There will be a count.”

[hr]

With that, the markerlights were set, but they waited as the perfect shot was calibrated and prepared. Once ready, each light was fixed upon it’s mark and the order was given shortly after. With a sudden breeze, several explosions ripped through the track and weapon systems on the imperial transports and they grinded to a halt. Apparently, the Gue’la were not expecting to be met, but instead expected to simply find their target? It was obvious to Cha’Elan who the prey was in this hunt.

The transports were followed by several squads of Gue’la, and the light gleemed on their exposed blades.

“What barbarism these Gue’la have.”

Everything was finally in place, and the attack was made. The markerlights from J’kaara’Ka’s team were true to their marks, as several seeker missiles came from behind their position from the near by transport and perfectly disabled the Gue’la transports which grinded to a halt as the tracks and gears fought each other. At the same moment, several pulse rounds were fired into the unsuspecting ground force only seconds before group after group of Kroot sprang from parchments in the canopy and fell from the tree line, with a vibration and hum in the air that was only silenced by the crashing sounds of the Chimera doors falling open. The Gue’la that rushed from the transports were easily shot down as they exited their vehicles, save a few who remained within their armored tank. Many Kroot were gashed and gouged in the battle, though it was that bloody fight that was heard more than anything else.

[hr]

Cha’Elan had a deep sense of pride that the attack only took moments, and that each instant of the attack was well coordinated and precise, with only the barbaric nature of the man creatures and the Kroot who dealt with each other in their own ways.

The air finally grew silent after the chirps and clicks of the Kroot died down and a few Gue’la exited the vehiles, as per normal Tau fashion to speak diplomatically after a very well excuted demonstration of superiority was performed.

With this, Cha’Elan hoped to be able to be able to establish some kind of neutrality, or at least discover the nature of these confrontations between the two. A few officers were amongst the spared, and Cha’Elan was more than willing to have a peaceful solution to this, though his pride was full, his mind was at rest that what had happened did not have to happen.... as there is always another way.

[Aftercresent]

Resolution.

'Bzzt' "Ensign, prepare my dropship, I'm going planetside."

Captain Cassius prepared himself for the decent. He stripped out of dress clothes, and strapped on Imperial Officer battle fatigues, with a flowing crimson cape behind him and a refractor field generator in front. He buckled up his belt, strapped his bolt pistol to his side, 4 clips of ammunition to his side and then finally strapped on his power sword. Cassius strode out of his quarters, and was escorted by his ensign to the dropship.

The trip down was uneventful, with mere drips of turbulence, as the pilot was being extra careful with a Captain on board.

On the ground, he strode into his personal chimera, with his command squad, and the chimera headed East.

"Master Corporal Clayton," instructed Cassius to his Master Voxman "send out a signal to all frequencies, asking for a cease fire and a meeting with the Tau"

"Yessir"

"Good"
[hr]

We are not dishonourable. Are we? How is fighting your own way dishonourable? If it's the only way you know how to fight is it dishonourable?

"Captain, sir?"

"Yes Clayton?"

"The Tau have responded, and will meet us five minutes east of our current position."

"OK, tell the driver the instructions and contact 9th platoon. Tell them to meet there."
[hr]

They had reached their destination, and Cassius and his command squad piled out of the chimera.

Cassius strode forward, into a grass field, followed by his command squad.

He looked left and watched the 9th platoon march forward, looking in disarray. Disgraced, Cassius kept his head down for a few seconds, pondering.

Looking to the top of a grassy hill, Cassius saw a lone Tau figure, in tattered battle robes, standing tall and proud. His robes were swaying and tossing in the strong wind. It looked like something out of a movie.

Most of Cassius's Command squad and himself, knew that there were many more invisible Tau, overlooking the cease fire.

Cassius approached, and greeted the Tau.

"Greeting, I am Commissar-Captain Cassius, of The 27th Ellixian. we have met today, on one purpose, to make peace."

"I am Shas'vre Cha'elan"

Cassius looked at the lone Tau, expecting more.

Cha'elan looked Captain Cassius up and down, surprised to see that this Gue'la was actually a notable individual and well dressed, it was obvious to him that this was no normal Gue'la, and had much power.

"Yes, well," Continued Cassius "we have only come to this planet, to make an diplomatic outpost to contact your race."
"As our Imperium is now under attack from the Tyranids near Gryphonne IV, we want peace with other races"

"Are you implying you and your gue'la won't attack now, and only after the 'Tyranid' threat is destroyed?" questioned Cha'elan.

"That's not for me to decide"

Suddenly, a guardsman from the 9th platoon pulled out a knife, and hurled it out at Cha'elan.
Cassius dove in front of the speeding knife and pushed a button on his neck gorget refractor field.
The knife was deflected in mid air, and was hurled into the ground.

Cassius pulled out his bolt pistol, and put a bolt in the heart, neck and face of the undecided guardsman, who just made a bad choice.

Go Mal!

[pyschomantis]

now thats a good story ;D

[Aquila_XV8]

That was the most awsome story on this entire whole site!!! There was only one fault: IT ENDED!!!
Great work guys.

Aquila

[Aftercresent]

It's not over, MalVeuX has not yet reached his part.

[Wargamer]

An impressive story, nicely done.

[ChaplainThuOok]

Cool stuff lads! Can't wait to read more!

*puts pressure on MalVeauX*

Chaplain Thu'Ook
Promethean Cultist