Aun'Chi stood, head bowed in deference. His blue skin was illuminated by a holo-projector, which displayed another Tau, swamped by long, thick robes. Two other Tau could be seen faintly, holding staves in a guard pattern.

"Yes, my master?" Aun'Chi intoned, his voice deep and nasal, brought on by decades of intense vocal and psychological training, to hone his voice in spreading the message of the Greater Good.

"Aun'Chi, Liberator of Dag'lath, the Ethereal Council's orders remain in place. The Kroot defectors to the Empire must be found terminated. No-one survives without the Greater Good."

"Yes, Honoured Ethereal. Sunstrike Cadre has tracked them to this system. Other forces seem to be present, mostly Gue'la. I request that commander of reconnaissance, Shas'El Shadowbrand, be recognised by the Empire, although promotion for her is not advised. She still refuses to don anything larger than a XV-15 stealth suit."

"Understood, comrade. Your adherence to protocol is noted and rewarded."

"As a secondary objective, I may consider a recruitment drive for Gue'vesa. Our own Gue'vesa battalion would be enough to sway many of them to the Greater Good."

"Excellent, Aun'Chi. Your diligence shall be rewarded upon your return to the Sept World. Is there anything else to comment on?"

There was a pause, as Aun'Chi checked over his bony shoulder.
"Yes, comrade. I request stronger Ethereal presence for Sunstrike Cadre, and additional propaganda materials. The military commander of Sunstrike, Shas'O Skyhunter, seems to be adopting more... unorthodox tactics on the battlefield. Less prisoners are taken, and his command cadre pay even less adherence to my counsel with every passing rotaa. Skyhunter is becoming far more dangerous to the ideals of the Ethereal Caste. I request the Ethereal Council-"

The holo-projector died, plunging the chamber into darkness. Aun'Chi stiffened, and flicked on a lamp. He felt something breeze past him. For the first time in his life, the Ethereal felt fear.

"Who's there? In the name of the Greater Good, reveal yourself."

Aun'Chi heard the sound of something arming next to his ear. He glanced towards the source of the noise. A figure began to fade into reality, with the illusion being stripped away before revealing a suit of black armour. Something was aimed at the Ethereal. The helmet disengaged to reveal a blue skinned face, with hair pulled back into a tight bun, revealing a y etched into her appealing face.

"Greetings, comrade." the Tau spat at Aun'Chi.

"Likewise, Shadowbrand. Likewise."

"You know, I heard everything. I always have. Since we set out from Dal'yth."

Aun'Chi sighed. "I thought as much. It would pain me to say this, but if you kill me, you'd never leave this chamber in one piece. Your remains would be jettisoned into space, and the Empire would tell of how you died as a martyr for the Greater Good. Your little revolution would only strengthen our cause."

Shadowbrand smiled. "Good. Because I have no intentions of revolting. But the rest of the cadre?" She winked, and turned off the microphone she was holding.
"We're done with the Greater Good, Aun'Chi. And we're done with you. How many of Sunstrike have we lost since we left Da'lyth? And now the rest of the cadre can see you for what you are. A scheming, manipulative sycophant."

"Why you ignorant-"
The doors into the Ethereal's chamber exploded open, leaving a jagged smoking hole in the once-smooth wall. Three hulking figures strode through the smoke, particles of dust and debris cascading from their smooth flanks. The head of the three, a figure with intricate yellow markings on the edges of it's armour, advanced towards Aun'Chi.

"Aun'Chi, you are captured." It was a statement, very bluntly put. The battlesuit spoke with a strong, amplified mechanical voice. It barely restrained the gruff anger of the battlesuit pilot.

"Shas'O Skyhunter. You command this vessel now, as you have always done-"

"Silence your tongue." Skyhunter interrupted the Ethereal's smooth speech with his harsh bark. "Your puppetry and manipulation is at an end. Sunstrike Cadre does not recognise your authority, any more. We reject you. We reject the Ethereal Council. We reject the Greater Good."

Aun'Chi stammered, lost for words for the first time. To abandon the Greater Good was to invite death, to invite destruction. He opened his mouth to say something, but the unwavering barrel of Skyhunter's fusion rifle silenced him.

"What will you do, traitor?"

"We were born to do one thing: to fight for you. Now, we'll fight for ourselves. I don't know what we're doing anymore. But a life of freedom is a life worth living."

Aun'Chi fingered his neck lightly.
"And... what will you do with me?"

Shadowbrand spoke.
"Whatever we like."

The barrel of Skyhunter's fusion rifle dispersed open, revealing a modified fusion core. The raging nuclear energies were controlled by magnetic fields projected up.

"For our Greater Good, Ethereal."

Commander Skyhunter chuckled, and thrust the blade into the surprised Ethereal's chest.
Ethereal Aun'Chi disintegrated on the blade. His robes caught alight and incinerated the flesh that didn't melt over the incandescent blade.

Skyhunter turned to the two Crisis suits at his side, and then to Commander Shadowbrand.

"Assemble the men. Distribute voting slips. Here we start a bright new day."

Force Name:
Sunstrike Cadre

Commander:
Shas'O Tash'var Kor'Kauyon Mont'yr Kais Or'es Doran Gal'leath, otherwise known as Commander Skyhunter.

Accompanied by Sub-Commander Shas'El Ksi'm'yen Ta'serra Gal Runal Monat M'yen, or Commander Shadowbrand.

Main Sept:
Mostly Tash'var, but some from Ksi'm'yen.

Tactical Doctrine:
Prefers to use Kauyon tactics, with Shadowbrand luring enemy units in, and Skyhunter's men assault via aerial assets hidden just out of the way. Mobility is paramount for the low strength cadre, and boasts a lot of Air Caste trained personnel to pilot various Orca dropships and Devilfish.

Function:
Originally created to hunt down traitors to the Greater Good, last seen following a rogue Kroot warband. Upon arrival into the system, they have changed their mission, and now seek to set up a small outpost nearby or sell their services as warriors. No real goal in sight.

Adherence to Greater Good:
None. Disavowed from the Tau Empire, with little hope of reinforcement.

Auxiliaries:
Originally 90% Tau with 10% Gue'vesa auxiliaries, due to the humans' prior experience in killing Tau soldiers.
As of entry to system, the proportion of Gue'vesa has increased to around 30%, and increasing.

Preferred enemies:
Tau/Greater Good defectors, Imperial forces.

Approximate size of Cadre:
Contingent Headquarters
2 Hunter Cadres
3 Infiltration Cadres
3 Optimised Stealth Cadres
3 Air Caste Support Cadres
1 Heavy Retribution Cadre
2 Ranged Support Cadres
3 Orca Shoals
3 Manta Gunships