ZOAT MERCENERIES

by George Spiggott

Introduction

This article reintroduces Zoats into Warhammer 40,000, allowing Zoats to be used as mercenaries who will fight along side the Eldar, Tau, and Imperial Guard.

+++ Collossus M38 +++

+++ Several large nomadic fleets of conch-like spacecraft apparently grown from stone were sighted through the Segmentum Tempestum and Ultima late in the 38th millennium, bearing many similarities to the hive fleets. The centauroid creatures aboard them were known to communicate, albeit telepathically with other races - unlike other Tyranid organism before or since. The denizens of Collossus claimed to be slaves escaping their oppressors, but their frequent contacts with other alien races and attempts to settle in Imperium space caused them to be declared Xenos Horribilis early in the 38th millennium. +++

+++ The xenocidal fifty-year Zorastra-Attila war followed as the entire race hurled itself against Humanity with terrifying ferocity, revealing their true, murderous nature. The last known Collossus vessel was destroyed by orbital defences above Zorastra in 226.M39. The impact of its shattered remains rendered the northern hemisphere uninhabitable until late in the 41st millennium. Only now are Explorator expeditions beginning to piece together the truth +++

Zoats in Warhammer 40,000

Zoat mercenaries can be included in any of the following armies: Imperial Guard, Craftworld Eldar, Dark Eldar and Tau Empire as an Elites choice.

0-1 ZOAT MERCENARY SQUAD

	Points	WS	BS	S	T	W	I	A	Ld	Sv
Zoat	30	4	3	4	4	3	3	2	9	4+
Zoat Leader	+30	4	3	4	4	3	3	3	10	4+

Zoat mercenaries are occasionally seen in the employ of xenos such as Eldar or Tau, the relationship between these races is unknown. No Imperial commander known to traffic with them has ever been caught alive. In battle they form small tribal groups, often armed with weaponry similar in function to Tyranid weaponry although it is clearly of their own construction.

Squad: The unit consists of between three and eight Zoats.

Weapons: Each Zoat is armed with a Fleshborer.

Character: One Zoat may be upgraded to a Zoat leader equipped with a Power Fist and Flamer for +30 points.

Options: Up to two models can be armed with a Venom Cannon at +15 points.

Zoat Armoury

Weapon	Range	Str	AP	Notes
Fleshborer	12"	5	5	Assault 1, Living Ammunition*
Venom Cannon	36"	6	4	Assault 2**
Flamer	Template	4	5	Assault 1

* Any failed roll To Wound made by a weapon with Living Ammunition may be re-rolled.

** A Venom Cannon can only achieve glancing hits against vehicles that do not have the open-topped characteristic.

'Collossus M38' extract from Warhammer 40,000 Tyranids Codex copyright Games Workshop 2004

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