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Tau Stealth Drone Team
After viewing the success of the Remora Stealth Drone in the Damocles crusade the Earth Caste of Bork'an started research into stealth drones of a more conventional size. To this end the Stealth Drone Team was created. With advanced AI and powerful sensors, they are the epitome of tau drone technology. Their size belies their power, being able to wipe out their enemies before they are even sensed. Unlike most drones, these drone are often sent on much more dangerous missions, so the earth caste mechanics made them completely dedicated, and will not flee as other drones do.


Unit Composition
1 Command Drone 46 points
4-12 Stealth Drones 20 points each
0-4 Sabotage Drones 25 points each
The Tau Stealth Drone Team is a Fast attack choice for Codex: Tau Empire

BS WS S T W A I Ld Sv
Command Drone: 3 2 4 4 2 2 4 8 4+
Stealth Drone: 2 2 3 4 1 1 4 7 4+
Sabotage Drone: 2 2 3 4 1 1 4 7 4+

Command Drone:
Wargear:
Stealth Generator
Drone Controller
Homing Beacon
Positional Relay
Blacksun Filter
Multitracker

Weapons
2 Burst cannons
May purchase a markerlight for 10 points.

Special Rules
Bulky
Artificial Intelligence

Stealth Drone:
Wargear:
Stealth Generator
Blacksun Filter
Multitracker

Weapons
2 Pulse Rifles
May replace one pulse rifle with a markerlight for 10 points.

Special Rules
Artificial Intelligence

Sabotage Drone:
Wargear:
Stealth Generator
Blacksun Filter
Multitracker

Weapons
Pulse Carbine
Electromagnetic Pulse Generator
Charge Deployer

Special Rules
Artificial Intelligence

Wargear
Stealth Generator: The model benifits from the Stealth, Shrouded, and Infiltrate special rules.

Weapons
Name Rng S AP Special
Electromagnetic Pulse Generator 12" 2 - Assault 1, Haywire
Another technological marvel from the earth caste, the Electromagnetic Pulse Generator send out an electromagnetic pulse, disabling electronics, and causing meltdowns.
Charge Deployer - 8 1 Melee, Armourbane, Remote Detonator
Built specially for the sabotage drone, the Charge Deployer places photon grenade sized charges, with the power of imperial melta-bombs, that can be detonated remotely. The Tau have been know to place these charges on the underside of bandblade heavy tanks under the cover of night, and then launching an attack. The Imperial Guard battle plans are then thrown into havoc as their mighty heavy tanks fall with no warning.

Special Rules
Artificial Intelligence: This unit may choose to automatically pass any morale tests.
Remote Detonator: The turn after a vehicle or building has been hit with the Charge Deployer, if the Sabotage Drone is no longer in close combat with the vehicle or building, that vehicle or building is hit with a S8 AP1 Armourbane attack on it's lowest armour value.

Added points cost

A quick glance doesn't show any obvious potential for abuse. Best build is probably running them with a commander with drone controller, but even then they don't seem to be that much better than a stealth suit team, commander and marker drones.

What FOC slot do they take?

Artifical Intelligence might be better phrased as 'this unit may choose to automatically pass any morale tests'. Calling it Fearless then adding exceptions to half the rules for fearless seems pointless.

Does the charge deployer get to damage vehicles twice, once when it hits them and then again after leaving combat?

I haven't decided yet for the deployer. I might do a price hike and make it hit twice. (a crisis suit with twin fusion cost 55, and this isn't as good, so maybe 30)

The AI wording change sound good

Silly me I forgot FOC, I'm going to say FA