“Forward”
“Back”

Three Tau stood opposite of each other, staring at a small hologram projector. A small army moved around them, preparing to move on their command. That is, if they can decide on a command. Two of Tau wear the standard armour of a fire warrior, marked with the livery of a shas’ui and the main players in the argument. Shas'ui Elsy'er Hova'tin was one of the two arguing Tau, pushing for a retreat to a better position. As usual his counterpart, Shas'ui N'dras Doreth, thought otherwise.

“The Gue’ la forces are in disarray.”

“Giving us the time to move to a more formidable position” Elsy’ er retorted.

They had been going at it like this for a while, but Elsy’er was unable to sway N’dras. The third member of their group remained silent and seemed happy to let them go at it. His armament was meagre compared to the shas’ui; it was what kneeled behind him that made him formidable. An XV-8 battlesuit loomed over the silent shas’o, waiting for its pilot to climb aboard. Its eye lense looked on impassively at the two shas’ui arguing. It was the Tau races most iconic piece of technology. It was a symbol of both power and authority. One day he would pilot one himself, hopefully before N’dras. Elsy’er grew tired of butting heads with his opponent. He turned to his commander.

“Shas’o, we have been discussing this long enough, surely you have come to a decision.” Elsy’er asks.

“You two are the ones who refuse to come to a solution.” The Shas’O glanced up from the hologram to look up at the shas’ui. That look and a few words was enough to shame them both into silence. A smirk crept across his face. “Fortunately I find it both useful and entertaining”. Their Shas’O turned back to the hologram. “Elsy’er has the sounder strategy,” Pride welled up inside him, “any other time I would have chosen it,” and it was immediately dashed, “but the Gue’la soldiers have no qualms imbedding themselves amongst civilian populations, increasing civilian casualties will cripple the efforts of the water caste. We must strike while the field is open.”

N’dras looked at Elsy’er as if he’d already won the entire war himself. The Shas’O shut down the hologram and climbed into his battlesuit. As it sealed shut the machine pushed off from its kneeling position, towering over the two shas’ui. As the battlesuit walked away, the two shas’ui went to prepare their squads for the battle to come. Esly’er donned his helmet, the display flickering to life. If he could not prove himself at the war table then he shall prove himself in the war to come.

I remember first time I stepped in a DevilFish. It was hard, as I was one of the few Tau from my settlement that voluntarily applied to join the armed forces of my sept world, Bork'an. Coming from a noble family, being a member of an Earth caste, I was a subject to various doubts, from members of my own caste, to the shas'ui that gathered us that day. My training was extensive and maybe more severe that other's. I was regarded as someone who shouldn't be there. Someone who should be somewhere behind, doing whatever I was supposed to do. Earth caste carrying a weapon was an unusual sight. I kept going, no matter what.


Our mission was to infiltrate deeply into the very center of the valley, in order to provide reconnaissance for the oncoming attack. As time was of the essence, we were embarked on a transport. Not knowing it is bound to hell. A click before we reached a small cove that would provide cover for us, we were ambushed by Gue'ron'sha. Team of 5 open fire and disabled our starboard engine. We crashed to the rough ground, trying to keep our heads and not fail our mission. We poured out. The blaze of our pulse carabines showed them we are not to underestimate. They kept their ground, and so did we. Pilot crawled out last, holding a EMSM*, keeping his head down, going for the disabled engine. And so did I. Dropping my weapon and going around, to help him before we all stay here, forever. This was our only chance. Within seconds, the roar of engine coming alive became a beacon of hope.


I picked up my gun, but too late. Our pilot was on the ground, head thorn by bolter round, that were about to become my reality as well. I dived down, crawling back underneath the barrage of fire being exchanged between two sides. I went it, saying out loud "to the inside". In panic I sat in pilots place and gave engines a push. Our transport rose once more, now freeing his nose from the ground, and with it our burst cannon. AI picked up hostiles quickly and poured a deadly volume of death screaming rounds. Like a grass under scythe's swing, the Gue'ron'sha went down. Rest of my team embarked and we rushed toward our objective.


It was a battle exercise. A simulation. One of the many that showed us what threat lurk in the mist of Space. What they can do and how they can hurt. Sometimes from the very fist line. After that day,
I wished to become a transport pilot. My knowledge of systems and good judgment were what was needed in a pilot.
I am the servant of the Greater Good. It doesn't matter from which Caste I come. I serve.

Shas'el Au'taal Nar'elo

* = Electromagnetic SynThemomether