Post by seraphim on Oct 1, 2007 7:19:54 GMT
This is a story that hit me over the head a few days ago. Having started it, I now will have to finish it ;D
Just some notes of the Tau, I'm no expert, If I've made any mistakes in the story, please tell me, I'll greatly appreciate it.
Feedback would rock, remember, to see the end, I need to keep writing
I'm not much of a writer, so any comments or suggestions would be really help.
Finally, a shortened Tau glossary for some common words.
Lar'shi: Hero, also a Cruiser
Il'Fannon: merchant, also a starship, smaller with lighter armaments than the Lar'shi
Gal’leath: Explorer, also a starship, very large, but not a combat vessel by design.
Ol'Yanoi: Brightmoon, personal name of a character
Be'Gel: Ork
Gue'la: Human
Vash'aun'an: Warpspace
Decs: Hours equivalent
Tau'Cyr: Years equivalent
'La, 'Ui, 'Vre, 'El and 'O are ranks, in increasing order. The caste of the Tau is Shas (fire), Kor (Air), Por (Water), Fio (Earth) and Aun (Ethereal). Each caste is very different, breeding between them doesn't happen. Each caste has their own role to do, with almost no crossover. Shas are the warriors, no one else fights. The Fio are the workers, engineers, ect. Por are the diplomats, reporters and envoys, the Kor are the messengers and the navy equivalent. Finally, the Aun are the leaders.
Tau ships are named World of Origin, Class, Personal name of First Captain, Personal name of current captain Not all have been shown with the name of the current commander, assume the ship is under the name of the first commander, or I haven't been bothered figuring out a second name.
So, the Vash’Ya Lar’Shi Eldi’Is Kor’Yon was constructed at the world of Vash'ya, is a Lar'shi class cruiser, First captain gave it the name Eldi'Is (trans, cold wing) and its current captain carries the name Kor'Yon (trans, air hunter)
Anyway, disclaimer aside, here's the story.
Prologue oops...
The three crisis suits ran as quickly as they could through the cramped metal corridors. The Gue’la ship was a veritable maze, but a maze that had to be navigated.
“Shas’El, the beacon is within 0.4 Tor’kans. Continue dead ahead, keep looking for the brig”
“Thankyou Shas’vre, keep moving team.”
Suddenly the corridor opened up into a much larger area, gantries and cranes criss-crossed the giant space and colossal shells for the battleships cannons were swung perilously from huge chains. The constant ‘clack-clack-clack” of giant gears perverted the senses.
“Contact! Multiple targets, bearing at zero-four degrees.”
Two of the Crisis Suits opened fire and dove towards cover; the third activated its jet pack and disappeared into the darkness above.
“Imperial Stormtroopers, keep firing, keep them pinned down. Vre’M’Yen’Ka will get them,” suggested Shas’vre Ar’Shi.
“Shas’vre Vior’la M’Yen’Ka Mont’yr, Certainly lives up to his name, that young one.” The Shas’el seemed very at ease considering the importance of the situation.
The two veterans kept up their fire, hundreds of pulse rounds blew red hot chunks out of metal containers serving as cover to the bewildered humans.
A missile streaked down, deflected by the Shas’el’s shield generator.
“We should keep moving, these Gue’la are dumb enough to use high explosive warheads in a magazine.”
“And while their attention is diverted, you pounce.”
The Shas’vre almost questioned the Shas’el’s enigmatic reply, then Vre’M’Yen’Ka reappeared, raining down fire upon the humans from above. In seconds it was over, his surprise tactic had caught them completely by surprise, and they had paid the price.
“Shas’el, up here, this way.”
A few seconds later, the three crisis suits had regrouped next to the broken human bodies.
“First, this would be adequate place for the Pel'tor charges, or more accurately, in that magazine below us.”
“Secondly, Aun’Vre Ke’lshan Kai’cha is this direction.”
Less than thirty seconds later, the crisis team was moving again, and a small flashing blue light illuminated a tiny hidden corner in the magazine.
++++
Vre’Ar’Shi, cover Aun’vre! Vre’M’Yen’Ka, try to eliminate those heavy weapons! NOW!
The Manta was just at the next docking bay, but that was a tricky situation, this one was well over 200 metres long. The Imperials had managed to bring up some heavy bolters, and were putting them to good effect.
The Crisis suit dived from the roof once again, Burst cannon spitting out a constant rain of blue plasma, carving apart human flesh and armour alike.
“Shas’el, move now, your way is clear!”
He landed next to the last human, his lasgun failing to do anything at all to the armoured suit. A second later he was dead, a searing plasma bolt sending his burning body spinning off the platform.
The Crisis team was now hampered by the Ethereal they were escorting. Their jet packs were no option, as they would leave the vulnerable Tau behind.
“Shas’Vre, behind you! Astartes!!
A hail of bolter fire almost tore Vre’M’Yen’Ka to pieces; only his reflexes, a metal pillar and the commander’s quick warning saved his life.
Two and a half metres of power armoured xenophobic aggression was a frightening prospect at any time. While escorting an Ethereal, it was about as badly as events could go.
“Shas’el, move around the perimeter, I’ll try to occupy their attention.”
The Shas’vre jumped from behind the pillar, both the burst cannon and the plasma rifle firing as fast as they could. The pulse fire blew fist-sized pieces out of the ancient armour, but for the dozens of shots, none penetrated the ancient armour. The plasma rifle was more effective; one marine fell as the super heated bolt tore his chest armour apart, finding soft flesh beneath.
Mass reactive high calibre bullets tore the air, but the Tau was fast, and behind cover before the genetically engineered super-soldiers could hit at him.
“Keep moving Shas’el, you’re almost safe, I’ll keep these marines occupied until your escape.”
“Don’t let them get too close, Shas’vre, we all know your lack of close combat abilities.”
Vre’M’Yen’Ka grinned, and jumped out again with all weapons firing. The pulse rounds tore blue flashes through the air, dozens finding their targets. Two more marines fell, a pulse round had blown a sizeable chunk off a helmet, and the head beneath it, clean off, while a searing plasma bolt had bisected a second.
But this time the surviving marines were ready. The fusillade of bolter fire found the crisis suit. Armour cracked and groaned as the thick plating deflected the shots, fortunately, the damage was only superficial.
Activating his jet pack, the Shas’vre launched himself into the sky, to seek whatever cover he could amongst the fighters and their gantries. He looked down, the Shas’el had the Aun almost into the next docking bay, and nothing was in their way.
An echoing crack filled the room as a blast door in front of the rest of his team was driven off its hinges by a massive armoured fist.
Vre’M’Yen’Ka dived towards the Ethereal, disregarding his safety; the situation was too dire for him to be concerned about trivial things such as survival. Tracer rounds from the Marine squad followed him like super sonic demons.
The terminators followed their leader through the destroyed doorway, storm bolters and assault cannons pointed point-blank to the Crisis suits, and fired.
Faced with such a huge amount of firepower, there was nothing the crisis suits could hope to do. The massive amount of fire tore through shields, armour and into the Tau beneath, the commander only had time for a few shots, which failed to do any damage. The only things shielding the unarmoured Ethereal were the rapidly disintegrating bodies of the command team.
The Shas’vre swooped down, armour cracking and groaning as it took a hail of fire. He grabbed the Ethereal, shielding him with his arm and body. His opened fire with his plasma rifle, and while the flaring beams sliced through the terminator armour like paper, none of them fell.
His fire was cut short by the fusillade of bolter fire; the shots tore his weapon clean off its mounting.
Once again, his jump packs fired, spinning him and the Ethereal straight at the bulky armoured warriors. Then they were gone, speeding upwards towards the waiting Manta.
But the Marines were fast, a stream of fire from the assault cannons tore into the suit, ripping through the back armour like paper. The sensors on the shoulder were destroyed, and the jet pack caught fire, spinning the suit crazily. The damaged arm and one of the legs disappeared at the knee in a shower of hydraulic fluid, coolant and sparks.
The damaged crisis suit continued upon its path, crashing into the Manta’s hold. The ethereal was lucky; he managed to twist out of the Shas’vre’s grip just as they crossed the threshold, battered and bruised, but not suffering a major injury.
Shas’Vre M’Yen’Ka was not so lucky, the ruined and burning crisis suit continued across the hold, crashing first into the roof, then into bulkhead at the other end with bone-shattering force.
Moments later fire suppression sprinklers came alive, dousing the hold to prevent further damage. The rear ramp closed and the flight engines fired up, propelling the Manta out into the void.
++++
A series of rippling explosions tore through the side of the Oberon Class battleship as the bomb placed in the magazine exploded. With much of its armament disabled, and half its launch bays out of action, the burning battleship was forced to disengage. It activated its warp drives and left reality, the flash of the transition lit up the entire system, the moon that the fleets were fighting for briefly shone pure white like a second sun.
++++
“Fio’ui, will he survive?”
The injured Shas’Vre lay on a bed in the Medical bay of the Lar’shi cruiser. His face was a horrible visage of burns and cuts, several of his ribs and an arm had been broken by his impact with the Manta’s bulkhead.
“Yes, Aun’vre, he should, but it will be many Kai’rotaa until he is ready for duty. The Skin grafts will take many rotaa alone, but I’m confident to say he will serve the Tau’va again.”
Aun’vre Ke’lshan Kai’cha had no doubt that the Shas’vre’s actions had saved his life, without his quick actions and sacrifice the Astartes would have killed him. The ethereal cast his gaze out the window, the bright face of the moon glowed beneath him.
Part One
Brightmoon
Chapter One
The Last Waystation
Shas’El Vior’La Ol’Yanoi M’Yen’Ka Mont’yr stood on the viewing deck, looking out into the void that was the Perdus Rift. The cruiser Vash’Ya Lar’Shi Eldi’Is Kor’Yon was a ship designed for one purpose, battle. Massive railgun batteries and ion cannon turrets were visible before him, ready to tear opponents apart with their fury, while the bulky structure of the launch bays were behind, capable of launching entire squadrons of Barracuda superiority fighters and Manta Missile destroyers. Such firepower could destroy any enemy of the Greater Good, be it the foul green-skinned Be’Gel or the misguided Gue’la.
Beyond the cruiser the rest of the fleet could be seen, hovering in formation around waystation. The Lar’shi cruiser was the biggest by far, dwarfing the nearby Il’Fannor class starship, even with the two Kass’L gunships held up against its hull. The rest of the fleet, 4 Kir’Quath starships, 4 Kir’shas’vre heavy escorts and a Skether’Qan starship, were small in comparison. Several small shuttles could be seen, crossing the distance between the various starships and the waystation, ferrying Tau and information.
“El’M’Yen’Ka, our Sho'aun or'es has completed its recharge. In a few decs, we shall once more dive into the Vash'aun'an, I suggest you make yourself ready.”
El’M’Yen’Ka looked at the figure who had spoken. Kor’El Kor’yon was shorter than he was, and far smaller of stature, as was common with members of the Air caste. A thin membrane stretched between his hands and the side of his body, wings of a long-forgotten ancestor. A proficient and clever captain, he was in charge of the small fleet and getting El’M’Yen’Ka and the Hunter Cadres to their destination.
“Thankyou, El’Kor’Yon, I gather we are approaching our destination?”
“Yes, this should be our last dives before arriving. The Kir’shas’vre and Kir’Qath escorts have just joined up with us, they will be accompanying us to out destination, whatever is there.”
Neither of the Tau knew exactly what was at their destination. The Co-ordinates of their jump-point corresponded with no Sept, no Kroot world, nothing. All they had were their enigmatic orders.
“Any thoughts on what we may find there, El’Kor’Yon?”
“Rumours say there once was a Fio research facility, hidden in the asteroid field. That whole area is rampant with Be’Gel, so it is unlikely that it is still there. Analysis of the logs contained within the waystation should provide a better insight”
“Still, does it merit an entire task group and 2 Hunter Cadres?”
“The Aun believe so, if they believe it requires a Lar’Shi, an Il’Fannor, several transports and 11 escorts, who are we to question them?”
“True, I just believe it is excessive, our orders seem unlikely too require such force.”
The smaller Tau laughed; the sound ringing in the almost empty chamber.
“Our mission is to protect the transports from whatever threatens them. They are to extract or salvage whatever Tau forces and technology is there. If there is any Tau forces in the area, we are too assist them however is necessary, and aid their evacuation. If there is nothing, there is nothing to extract. If there is a Gue’la fleet there, we are to engage and ensure that the transports can complete their mission.”
“And the likelihood of the Gue’la having a battlefleet in the Perdus Rift, waiting for us is?”
Once again, the Tau laughed.
“Zero, this mission will be a milk run. We will be in and out so quickly that even the Be’Gel will not bother us.”
“El’Kor’Yon”, came a voice on the intercom. “Ke’lshan Il’Fannor Kel’Qan, has sent a message, Kor’el, I suggest that you hear it. They have completed the analysis of the waystation’s logs. Apparently, the drone intelligences their have documented some interesting things.”
“Oh, I hope that doesn’t prove you wrong.”
++++ 2 Dec’s Later ++++
“Your findings, Kor’El? Were you proven wrong?”
The Captain looked at the assembled Tau, the important members of the fleet. El’M’Yen’Ka was present, along with Shas’El Vior’la Kunas’Yon, a noticeably older and more decorated commander, leading the fleets second Hunter Cadre. Also present was Kor’El Kel’Qan, the captain of the Il’Fannor and the command crews of the escort squadrons.
“Well, collegues, the Drone intelligence on the waystation have told us many things. This waystation leads nowhere, it is within jump range of one other, where we came from, and there is none beyond it. It is a dead end.”
“This waystation has seen very few ships, ever. The first was the Vash’ya Gal’leath Lynu, accompanied by several transports. The Lynu task group past through here almost 20 Tau’cyr ago, and is yet to return. The Lynu left this unmanned waystation here, and continued on its journey.”
“Three other fleets have passed through here, nothing much, a few transport fleets. The cruiser Sa’cea Lar’Shi Aun’Kar’Tyr, one of the first of that particular variant, is notable, as is the Ke’lshan Il’Fannor Doran’Cha. One fleet has returned, 6 Tau’cyr’s ago, containing mainly transports and the Doran’cha."
“Apart from that, the only other starships this station has seen has been message boats, and not many. Far less than the 20 Tau’Cyr’s would suggest.”
“The message boats are entirely automated; they jump from their destination, arrive here, then jump further in and are collected near Ke’lshan.”
“Where they are sent from corresponds with our co-ordinates, where they come from, we are going. Only 8 have ever been recorded going the other way, through here.”
“Curiously, arrival of these message boats seems disjointed, as if many more have failed to arrive. At one point, there was almost a 2 Tau’Cyr silence, and some of the message boats have been recovered damaged. The most recent was about half a Tau’Cyr ago, I assume that it was a call for help that we are now answering.”
“Whatever is out there, we are now tracking the Lynu, and it is the only lead we have on what we are after.”
“Something is out there; the damaged message boats are proof of that. What that is, I don’t know, but it looks like its trying to cut off the Lynu from help. It could be trouble, yet again; it could just be the anomalies of the Rift. I hope for the latter, but the former is much more likely.”
“Prepare to leave, fellow Tau, the Perdus Rift is a big place, and we have a single ship to find in it. Our co-ordinates are confirmed by the message boats departure locations, and that is where the Lynu must be.”
“So correct me if I’m wrong, Kor’El”, interjected El’Kunas’Yon, but this waystation has seen nothing but the Gal’leath that left it here, 3 supply fleets, a battlecruiser and a handful of message boats coming back, and now, their sending us into an area infected with the foul Be’gel, to find the ones that haven’t returned.”
“Well, Shas’el,” the Kor paused a few moments, as if thinking about it, “Yes, that’s about it.”
Next part will happen when I finish editing it.
~Seraphim
Just some notes of the Tau, I'm no expert, If I've made any mistakes in the story, please tell me, I'll greatly appreciate it.
Feedback would rock, remember, to see the end, I need to keep writing
I'm not much of a writer, so any comments or suggestions would be really help.
Finally, a shortened Tau glossary for some common words.
Lar'shi: Hero, also a Cruiser
Il'Fannon: merchant, also a starship, smaller with lighter armaments than the Lar'shi
Gal’leath: Explorer, also a starship, very large, but not a combat vessel by design.
Ol'Yanoi: Brightmoon, personal name of a character
Be'Gel: Ork
Gue'la: Human
Vash'aun'an: Warpspace
Decs: Hours equivalent
Tau'Cyr: Years equivalent
'La, 'Ui, 'Vre, 'El and 'O are ranks, in increasing order. The caste of the Tau is Shas (fire), Kor (Air), Por (Water), Fio (Earth) and Aun (Ethereal). Each caste is very different, breeding between them doesn't happen. Each caste has their own role to do, with almost no crossover. Shas are the warriors, no one else fights. The Fio are the workers, engineers, ect. Por are the diplomats, reporters and envoys, the Kor are the messengers and the navy equivalent. Finally, the Aun are the leaders.
Tau ships are named World of Origin, Class, Personal name of First Captain, Personal name of current captain Not all have been shown with the name of the current commander, assume the ship is under the name of the first commander, or I haven't been bothered figuring out a second name.
So, the Vash’Ya Lar’Shi Eldi’Is Kor’Yon was constructed at the world of Vash'ya, is a Lar'shi class cruiser, First captain gave it the name Eldi'Is (trans, cold wing) and its current captain carries the name Kor'Yon (trans, air hunter)
Anyway, disclaimer aside, here's the story.
Prologue oops...
The three crisis suits ran as quickly as they could through the cramped metal corridors. The Gue’la ship was a veritable maze, but a maze that had to be navigated.
“Shas’El, the beacon is within 0.4 Tor’kans. Continue dead ahead, keep looking for the brig”
“Thankyou Shas’vre, keep moving team.”
Suddenly the corridor opened up into a much larger area, gantries and cranes criss-crossed the giant space and colossal shells for the battleships cannons were swung perilously from huge chains. The constant ‘clack-clack-clack” of giant gears perverted the senses.
“Contact! Multiple targets, bearing at zero-four degrees.”
Two of the Crisis Suits opened fire and dove towards cover; the third activated its jet pack and disappeared into the darkness above.
“Imperial Stormtroopers, keep firing, keep them pinned down. Vre’M’Yen’Ka will get them,” suggested Shas’vre Ar’Shi.
“Shas’vre Vior’la M’Yen’Ka Mont’yr, Certainly lives up to his name, that young one.” The Shas’el seemed very at ease considering the importance of the situation.
The two veterans kept up their fire, hundreds of pulse rounds blew red hot chunks out of metal containers serving as cover to the bewildered humans.
A missile streaked down, deflected by the Shas’el’s shield generator.
“We should keep moving, these Gue’la are dumb enough to use high explosive warheads in a magazine.”
“And while their attention is diverted, you pounce.”
The Shas’vre almost questioned the Shas’el’s enigmatic reply, then Vre’M’Yen’Ka reappeared, raining down fire upon the humans from above. In seconds it was over, his surprise tactic had caught them completely by surprise, and they had paid the price.
“Shas’el, up here, this way.”
A few seconds later, the three crisis suits had regrouped next to the broken human bodies.
“First, this would be adequate place for the Pel'tor charges, or more accurately, in that magazine below us.”
“Secondly, Aun’Vre Ke’lshan Kai’cha is this direction.”
Less than thirty seconds later, the crisis team was moving again, and a small flashing blue light illuminated a tiny hidden corner in the magazine.
++++
Vre’Ar’Shi, cover Aun’vre! Vre’M’Yen’Ka, try to eliminate those heavy weapons! NOW!
The Manta was just at the next docking bay, but that was a tricky situation, this one was well over 200 metres long. The Imperials had managed to bring up some heavy bolters, and were putting them to good effect.
The Crisis suit dived from the roof once again, Burst cannon spitting out a constant rain of blue plasma, carving apart human flesh and armour alike.
“Shas’el, move now, your way is clear!”
He landed next to the last human, his lasgun failing to do anything at all to the armoured suit. A second later he was dead, a searing plasma bolt sending his burning body spinning off the platform.
The Crisis team was now hampered by the Ethereal they were escorting. Their jet packs were no option, as they would leave the vulnerable Tau behind.
“Shas’Vre, behind you! Astartes!!
A hail of bolter fire almost tore Vre’M’Yen’Ka to pieces; only his reflexes, a metal pillar and the commander’s quick warning saved his life.
Two and a half metres of power armoured xenophobic aggression was a frightening prospect at any time. While escorting an Ethereal, it was about as badly as events could go.
“Shas’el, move around the perimeter, I’ll try to occupy their attention.”
The Shas’vre jumped from behind the pillar, both the burst cannon and the plasma rifle firing as fast as they could. The pulse fire blew fist-sized pieces out of the ancient armour, but for the dozens of shots, none penetrated the ancient armour. The plasma rifle was more effective; one marine fell as the super heated bolt tore his chest armour apart, finding soft flesh beneath.
Mass reactive high calibre bullets tore the air, but the Tau was fast, and behind cover before the genetically engineered super-soldiers could hit at him.
“Keep moving Shas’el, you’re almost safe, I’ll keep these marines occupied until your escape.”
“Don’t let them get too close, Shas’vre, we all know your lack of close combat abilities.”
Vre’M’Yen’Ka grinned, and jumped out again with all weapons firing. The pulse rounds tore blue flashes through the air, dozens finding their targets. Two more marines fell, a pulse round had blown a sizeable chunk off a helmet, and the head beneath it, clean off, while a searing plasma bolt had bisected a second.
But this time the surviving marines were ready. The fusillade of bolter fire found the crisis suit. Armour cracked and groaned as the thick plating deflected the shots, fortunately, the damage was only superficial.
Activating his jet pack, the Shas’vre launched himself into the sky, to seek whatever cover he could amongst the fighters and their gantries. He looked down, the Shas’el had the Aun almost into the next docking bay, and nothing was in their way.
An echoing crack filled the room as a blast door in front of the rest of his team was driven off its hinges by a massive armoured fist.
Vre’M’Yen’Ka dived towards the Ethereal, disregarding his safety; the situation was too dire for him to be concerned about trivial things such as survival. Tracer rounds from the Marine squad followed him like super sonic demons.
The terminators followed their leader through the destroyed doorway, storm bolters and assault cannons pointed point-blank to the Crisis suits, and fired.
Faced with such a huge amount of firepower, there was nothing the crisis suits could hope to do. The massive amount of fire tore through shields, armour and into the Tau beneath, the commander only had time for a few shots, which failed to do any damage. The only things shielding the unarmoured Ethereal were the rapidly disintegrating bodies of the command team.
The Shas’vre swooped down, armour cracking and groaning as it took a hail of fire. He grabbed the Ethereal, shielding him with his arm and body. His opened fire with his plasma rifle, and while the flaring beams sliced through the terminator armour like paper, none of them fell.
His fire was cut short by the fusillade of bolter fire; the shots tore his weapon clean off its mounting.
Once again, his jump packs fired, spinning him and the Ethereal straight at the bulky armoured warriors. Then they were gone, speeding upwards towards the waiting Manta.
But the Marines were fast, a stream of fire from the assault cannons tore into the suit, ripping through the back armour like paper. The sensors on the shoulder were destroyed, and the jet pack caught fire, spinning the suit crazily. The damaged arm and one of the legs disappeared at the knee in a shower of hydraulic fluid, coolant and sparks.
The damaged crisis suit continued upon its path, crashing into the Manta’s hold. The ethereal was lucky; he managed to twist out of the Shas’vre’s grip just as they crossed the threshold, battered and bruised, but not suffering a major injury.
Shas’Vre M’Yen’Ka was not so lucky, the ruined and burning crisis suit continued across the hold, crashing first into the roof, then into bulkhead at the other end with bone-shattering force.
Moments later fire suppression sprinklers came alive, dousing the hold to prevent further damage. The rear ramp closed and the flight engines fired up, propelling the Manta out into the void.
++++
A series of rippling explosions tore through the side of the Oberon Class battleship as the bomb placed in the magazine exploded. With much of its armament disabled, and half its launch bays out of action, the burning battleship was forced to disengage. It activated its warp drives and left reality, the flash of the transition lit up the entire system, the moon that the fleets were fighting for briefly shone pure white like a second sun.
++++
“Fio’ui, will he survive?”
The injured Shas’Vre lay on a bed in the Medical bay of the Lar’shi cruiser. His face was a horrible visage of burns and cuts, several of his ribs and an arm had been broken by his impact with the Manta’s bulkhead.
“Yes, Aun’vre, he should, but it will be many Kai’rotaa until he is ready for duty. The Skin grafts will take many rotaa alone, but I’m confident to say he will serve the Tau’va again.”
Aun’vre Ke’lshan Kai’cha had no doubt that the Shas’vre’s actions had saved his life, without his quick actions and sacrifice the Astartes would have killed him. The ethereal cast his gaze out the window, the bright face of the moon glowed beneath him.
Part One
Brightmoon
Chapter One
The Last Waystation
Shas’El Vior’La Ol’Yanoi M’Yen’Ka Mont’yr stood on the viewing deck, looking out into the void that was the Perdus Rift. The cruiser Vash’Ya Lar’Shi Eldi’Is Kor’Yon was a ship designed for one purpose, battle. Massive railgun batteries and ion cannon turrets were visible before him, ready to tear opponents apart with their fury, while the bulky structure of the launch bays were behind, capable of launching entire squadrons of Barracuda superiority fighters and Manta Missile destroyers. Such firepower could destroy any enemy of the Greater Good, be it the foul green-skinned Be’Gel or the misguided Gue’la.
Beyond the cruiser the rest of the fleet could be seen, hovering in formation around waystation. The Lar’shi cruiser was the biggest by far, dwarfing the nearby Il’Fannor class starship, even with the two Kass’L gunships held up against its hull. The rest of the fleet, 4 Kir’Quath starships, 4 Kir’shas’vre heavy escorts and a Skether’Qan starship, were small in comparison. Several small shuttles could be seen, crossing the distance between the various starships and the waystation, ferrying Tau and information.
“El’M’Yen’Ka, our Sho'aun or'es has completed its recharge. In a few decs, we shall once more dive into the Vash'aun'an, I suggest you make yourself ready.”
El’M’Yen’Ka looked at the figure who had spoken. Kor’El Kor’yon was shorter than he was, and far smaller of stature, as was common with members of the Air caste. A thin membrane stretched between his hands and the side of his body, wings of a long-forgotten ancestor. A proficient and clever captain, he was in charge of the small fleet and getting El’M’Yen’Ka and the Hunter Cadres to their destination.
“Thankyou, El’Kor’Yon, I gather we are approaching our destination?”
“Yes, this should be our last dives before arriving. The Kir’shas’vre and Kir’Qath escorts have just joined up with us, they will be accompanying us to out destination, whatever is there.”
Neither of the Tau knew exactly what was at their destination. The Co-ordinates of their jump-point corresponded with no Sept, no Kroot world, nothing. All they had were their enigmatic orders.
“Any thoughts on what we may find there, El’Kor’Yon?”
“Rumours say there once was a Fio research facility, hidden in the asteroid field. That whole area is rampant with Be’Gel, so it is unlikely that it is still there. Analysis of the logs contained within the waystation should provide a better insight”
“Still, does it merit an entire task group and 2 Hunter Cadres?”
“The Aun believe so, if they believe it requires a Lar’Shi, an Il’Fannor, several transports and 11 escorts, who are we to question them?”
“True, I just believe it is excessive, our orders seem unlikely too require such force.”
The smaller Tau laughed; the sound ringing in the almost empty chamber.
“Our mission is to protect the transports from whatever threatens them. They are to extract or salvage whatever Tau forces and technology is there. If there is any Tau forces in the area, we are too assist them however is necessary, and aid their evacuation. If there is nothing, there is nothing to extract. If there is a Gue’la fleet there, we are to engage and ensure that the transports can complete their mission.”
“And the likelihood of the Gue’la having a battlefleet in the Perdus Rift, waiting for us is?”
Once again, the Tau laughed.
“Zero, this mission will be a milk run. We will be in and out so quickly that even the Be’Gel will not bother us.”
“El’Kor’Yon”, came a voice on the intercom. “Ke’lshan Il’Fannor Kel’Qan, has sent a message, Kor’el, I suggest that you hear it. They have completed the analysis of the waystation’s logs. Apparently, the drone intelligences their have documented some interesting things.”
“Oh, I hope that doesn’t prove you wrong.”
++++ 2 Dec’s Later ++++
“Your findings, Kor’El? Were you proven wrong?”
The Captain looked at the assembled Tau, the important members of the fleet. El’M’Yen’Ka was present, along with Shas’El Vior’la Kunas’Yon, a noticeably older and more decorated commander, leading the fleets second Hunter Cadre. Also present was Kor’El Kel’Qan, the captain of the Il’Fannor and the command crews of the escort squadrons.
“Well, collegues, the Drone intelligence on the waystation have told us many things. This waystation leads nowhere, it is within jump range of one other, where we came from, and there is none beyond it. It is a dead end.”
“This waystation has seen very few ships, ever. The first was the Vash’ya Gal’leath Lynu, accompanied by several transports. The Lynu task group past through here almost 20 Tau’cyr ago, and is yet to return. The Lynu left this unmanned waystation here, and continued on its journey.”
“Three other fleets have passed through here, nothing much, a few transport fleets. The cruiser Sa’cea Lar’Shi Aun’Kar’Tyr, one of the first of that particular variant, is notable, as is the Ke’lshan Il’Fannor Doran’Cha. One fleet has returned, 6 Tau’cyr’s ago, containing mainly transports and the Doran’cha."
“Apart from that, the only other starships this station has seen has been message boats, and not many. Far less than the 20 Tau’Cyr’s would suggest.”
“The message boats are entirely automated; they jump from their destination, arrive here, then jump further in and are collected near Ke’lshan.”
“Where they are sent from corresponds with our co-ordinates, where they come from, we are going. Only 8 have ever been recorded going the other way, through here.”
“Curiously, arrival of these message boats seems disjointed, as if many more have failed to arrive. At one point, there was almost a 2 Tau’Cyr silence, and some of the message boats have been recovered damaged. The most recent was about half a Tau’Cyr ago, I assume that it was a call for help that we are now answering.”
“Whatever is out there, we are now tracking the Lynu, and it is the only lead we have on what we are after.”
“Something is out there; the damaged message boats are proof of that. What that is, I don’t know, but it looks like its trying to cut off the Lynu from help. It could be trouble, yet again; it could just be the anomalies of the Rift. I hope for the latter, but the former is much more likely.”
“Prepare to leave, fellow Tau, the Perdus Rift is a big place, and we have a single ship to find in it. Our co-ordinates are confirmed by the message boats departure locations, and that is where the Lynu must be.”
“So correct me if I’m wrong, Kor’El”, interjected El’Kunas’Yon, but this waystation has seen nothing but the Gal’leath that left it here, 3 supply fleets, a battlecruiser and a handful of message boats coming back, and now, their sending us into an area infected with the foul Be’gel, to find the ones that haven’t returned.”
“Well, Shas’el,” the Kor paused a few moments, as if thinking about it, “Yes, that’s about it.”
Next part will happen when I finish editing it.
~Seraphim