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Kroothawk wrote:
Or good Sith Lords in Star Wars?

Bam.

OP, what I think pretty much everyone here is trying to say is that Tau can side with the Imperium, but it is pretty much impossible for a Tau to become part of the Imperial Cult.

As for the matters of Space Marines, a a rouge chapter could seek refuge in Tau space, in return for their valuable job skills and nice-looking resumes. They may even be granted their own planet to recruit from. That they are renegade and working with the Tau doesn't automatically make them fall for the Tau ideals, but over time it may creep in (in fact they may quickly replace veneration for a single Emperor figure with the Greater Good). The Tau on the other hand, would never be welcomed into Imperial Space, even if they rebelled against the larger Empire.

KamikazeCanuck wrote:

camboyaz wrote:No, Farsight and his people didn't.

They've fallen out of favor with the Etherals and vice versa but they have never done anything to harm their people. In fact a tau may not have killed another Tau in the last 6,000 years. They are fiercely loyal.

As oppsed to Space Marines. In one decade over 50% of all Space Marines betrayed The Emperor.

This may be true on paper, but it's certainly not in reality.

While they may not have actually done the deed, the Tau have orchestrated the assassination of their own. I would like to refer you to the Last Chancers series, specifically the second book, 'Kill Team', in which they are contracted by loyalist members of the Tau to assassinate Commander Brightsword, protege of Farsight, because it's believed his aggresive military tactics could take him down the same path as his mentor. I would like to exaggerate, just to make sure it's clear, that these are loyalist Tau, not Farsights rebels, doing it for 'The Greater Good' and may or may not have had Ethereal sanction, I cannot remember.

---

While it would easily be possible for the Guard to join up as a Gues'va warrior under the Tau, and remotely possible even for a renegade Space Marine chapter to hide out in Tau space (Although it's unlikely, as renegade chapters are hunted fiercely, and staying in one place wouldn't be the smartest of ideas, and that supposes that it's a renegade Chapter that has rebelled against the Emperor, yet not far enough to turn to Chaos, and doesn't turn to a stronger race such as the Eldar, or simply attemt to flee beyond the reach of the Imperium), it's far more likely that Tau mercenaries exist and sign up with a radical Inquisitor than Astartes joining the Empire... perhaps they found out about the Ethereal caste and their pheramone production, and thus became disenchanted with 'The Greater Good' and the closed-mindedness of the other Tau in ensuring that the Ethereals will was carried out... it took less than realising you were essentially being 'mind-controlled' for the Horus Heresy to begin.

In the end however, it remains the OPs 'little plastic men' to do with what he will. Whether or not the background is feasibly possible, that's another story.

If you were a non-chaos CHapter, the best place you could look for a save haven would be the Tau Empire (or some equivalent acceptive upstart race) as Eldar are far too weak and divided to offer refuge even if they wanted to. Of course, they could just head for the Halo Stars, but few people seem keen on that.

Commander Endova wrote:I'd think it'd be hard to justify. Biologically, the Tau are engineered to be easily controlled by the Ethreals, and thus susceptible to being brainwashed into believing whole-heartedly in the Greater Good.

Only Commander Farsight has splintered off from the main Tau Empire, and he's certainly not pro-Imperial.

However, humans allying with the with the Tau, and taking up the call of the Greater Good Is common.

They're engineered? I thought they evolved and just happened to be weak to it? Is every single Tau engineered? Otherwise, genetic mutation could cancel the weakness to the pheromones out and if Farsight is somehow able to resist it isn't impossible.

Now as to why they're following the imperial cult is something that's baffling to me. From my knowledge that's a similar position as a Jewish Nazi.

Luco wrote:
They're engineered? I thought they evolved and just happened to be weak to it? Is every single Tau engineered? Otherwise, genetic mutation could cancel the weakness to the pheromones out and if Farsight is somehow able to resist it isn't impossible.

I don't think Tau are engineered. Ethereals may be, or it could be natural. Unless you believe that tosh about the Tau being created by the C'tan there is nothing to explain any engineering in the race.

Now as to why they're following the imperial cult is something that's baffling to me. From my knowledge that's a similar position as a Jewish Nazi.

Actually, those existed. But this isn't relevant to the OP.

Emperors Faithful wrote:

Luco wrote:
They're engineered? I thought they evolved and just happened to be weak to it? Is every single Tau engineered? Otherwise, genetic mutation could cancel the weakness to the pheromones out and if Farsight is somehow able to resist it isn't impossible.

I don't think Tau are engineered. Ethereals may be, or it could be natural. Unless you believe that tosh about the Tau being created by the C'tan there is nothing to explain any engineering in the race.

Now as to why they're following the imperial cult is something that's baffling to me. From my knowledge that's a similar position as a Jewish Nazi.

Actually, those existed. But this isn't relevant to the OP.

Willingly joined as opposed to doing it to avoid being detected? PM link? But if they lose the ability to be mindcontrolled by the Etherials and were prejudiced against because of it wouldn't it possibly be enough for them to try to escape and join the Imperial Cult for only they know what reason?

Imperial Tau warcry: "For the Greater Emperor! Um... not quite. For the Emperor's Good! erm... what was it again?

Er...are we talking about Nazi Jews or Tau here?

Jewish nazi for the link. Tau for the rest. Sorry, back to sci-fi!

Emperors Faithful wrote:OP, what I think pretty much everyone here is trying to say is that Tau can side with the Imperium, but it is pretty much impossible for a Tau to become part of the Imperial Cult.

That was the correct part and I did expect it goes on but...

Emperors Faithful wrote:
As for the matters of Space Marines, a a rouge chapter could seek refuge in Tau space, in return for their valuable job skills and nice-looking resumes. They may even be granted their own planet to recruit from. That they are renegade and working with the Tau doesn't automatically make them fall for the Tau ideals, but over time it may creep in (in fact they may quickly replace veneration for a single Emperor figure with the Greater Good). The Tau on the other hand, would never be welcomed into Imperial Space, even if they rebelled against the larger Empire.

Ok these ROUGE chapters are annoying and will seek refuge there.
Now any other bunch of space marines ,
(of any allegiance, no matter loyalist, traitor or renegade ),
sticks with killing xenos. Some chaos-marines tend to employ xenos as distraction or cannonfodder.

One must wonder where EF gets these ideas from?

The Space marines follow the Emperor ( who protects a whole race from chaos ) or Chaos itself but never any xenos.
See, the moment the AL listened to the cabal, their future was screwed.

The issue with Tau, is IMO they believe in their own superiority and expect others to join but would never join somewhere themselves.
Are you sure the mechanicum would not welcome some Tau who offer presents ? Last I've heard the cogboys like any find of Tech....

Emperors Faithful wrote:

Luco wrote:
They're engineered? I thought they evolved and just happened to be weak to it? Is every single Tau engineered? Otherwise, genetic mutation could cancel the weakness to the pheromones out and if Farsight is somehow able to resist it isn't impossible.

I don't think Tau are engineered. Ethereals may be, or it could be natural. Unless you believe that tosh about the Tau being created by the C'tan there is nothing to explain any engineering in the race.
.

Codex Tau Empire page 20. Report of a gentor secundus about Tau. Found synthetic proteins and other hints on artificially sped up evolution.

The Emporer doesn't protect Chaos humans from Chaos.

1hadhq wrote:
The issue with Tau, is IMO they believe in their own superiority and expect others to join but would never join somewhere themselves.
Are you sure the mechanicum would not welcome some Tau who offer presents ? Last I've heard the cogboys like any find of Tech....

the adepts of mars see xeno tech in the same vain as chaos tech, pure evil, they hardly like new human tech.

Indeed. New human tech is merely semi-evil.

1hadhq wrote:

Emperors Faithful wrote:
As for the matters of Space Marines, a a rouge chapter could seek refuge in Tau space, in return for their valuable job skills and nice-looking resumes. They may even be granted their own planet to recruit from. That they are renegade and working with the Tau doesn't automatically make them fall for the Tau ideals, but over time it may creep in (in fact they may quickly replace veneration for a single Emperor figure with the Greater Good). The Tau on the other hand, would never be welcomed into Imperial Space, even if they rebelled against the larger Empire.

Ok these ROUGE chapters are annoying and will seek refuge there.
Now any other bunch of space marines ,
(of any allegiance, no matter loyalist, traitor or renegade ),
sticks with killing xenos. Some chaos-marines tend to employ xenos as distraction or cannonfodder.

One must wonder where EF gets these ideas from?


The Space marines follow the Emperor ( who protects a whole race from chaos ) or Chaos itself but never any xenos.

Warriors, throughout history, have rarely fought for ideals or cuases in the heat of battle. Instead they fight for the man beside them, the unit or squad, not the country. It is all too easy for Space Marines, even considering the conditioning) to develop the same mentality and to put loyalty to the Chapter (and its survival) over loyalty to the Imperium, espeically if the Imperium has declared them excommunicate traitoris (especially if the accusation is unjust). Hunted down in Imperial Space, this rouge chapter will often turn to the warp, and thus CHaos, for refuge out of spite or a sheer wish for survival. It's not implausible that a chapter may flee out of Imperial Space rather than venture into the Eye of Terror or other Traitor refuges, hiring themselves out to an alien race to sustain themselves. Indeed, so long as they are not fighting the Imperials in the aliens service they may justify their existence with the arguement that they are still fighting the enemies of the Imperium.

After that, with the Tau's persuasive idealogy, it's only a matter of time before the Chapter becomes more comfortable with their situation.

As for these ideas, one must know the mind of the enemy if you wish to defeat them.

ROUGE chapters are quite disturbing, I hate Space Marines with make-up

just call PunHawk

... jumping from an Eldar Flacon tank to help the Rouge Traders

have mercy on us sir!

GalacticDefender wrote:At first I thought "Wow, this is a totally ridiculous idea. Then I thought "Well, if imperials sometimes change their allegiance, why couldn't another race?" This could apply to Tau or pretty much any other race. If some humans follow the greater good, why couldn't some Tau follow the Imperial cult?

Because the Imperial Cult says "DEATH TO ALL XENOS"