During one such invasion, the records tell us of a battle of some importance that was fought after most of the Tau invaders had already been repelled by the Imperial Guard defense forces of the planet. Once it was determined by the leaders of the invading forces that the might of the Imperium was too much, the Tau began a quick exodus of the planet and many of thier warriors were left behind to be captured and most likely interrogated or killed.
One small force however, refused to leave the body of a Tau of some importance. An ethereal known as Tun'ovre was killed during a retreat. The body was left and his followers deemed it duty to go and recover his body for proper funeral services.... However, the mission would not go as planned. The Imperium would learn of this situation and they refused to give the Tau any hope of retaining their pride. Why you might ask? Because in the grim darkness of the far future.... there is only war.
The Imperial Guard commander, a Cadian officer named Crelus Amorki, had grown adept at fighting the Tau since the recent invasion and had a thirst for revenge after seeing so many of his fellow men fall in battle. He was fully aware that the force that he was about to clash with had the mobility advantage and that if he allowed the enemy to capture and hold the objective, that it would be out of his reach.
The Tau Shas'o, Daun'sha, was also aware that this mission would not be a simple one. Many human lives were lost at the whim of his command and the enemy was fully aware of that. However, he had known and followed Tun'ovre well during his command and wanted to take his body back home so that he could give him the proper respects that an ethereal deserves.
The Tau infantry were the first to make it to the battlesite. There were 48 Fire Warriors joined by 34 Kroot carnivores. The Shas'vre of the fire warriors peered across the battlefield. What they saw teetered at their hopes for victory. Imperial forces marched onto the battlefield to meet them with their Chimeras rolling behind them. They found cover and dug in quickly knowing that the Tau firepower would rend them apart without protection of the battlefield debris. The Shas'vre sent communications back to Daun'sha and were ordered to proceed with the mission. The battle had begun.
The Kroot emerged from the patch of forest and hesitated as the Imperial line erupted with gunfire.
A Chimera containing one of the Infantry Command Squads drove up on a hill after sighting one of the shrouded body piles. They hurried out of the transport and rummaged through the fallen Tau. No sight of the ethereal however. The officer sighed with dissapointment.
With the Kroot being masters at using woodlands to their advantages, the Imperial volley was not as effective as Calidur would've hoped. But he was certain the enemy would continue to advance and this would make his guardsmen even more deadly. He looked at his men and smiled. "Let's make the emporer proud, my brothers."
"Report!" commanded Daun'sha over the fire warriors radio devices.
"One of the Kroot units are taking heavy fire, my lord. 5 Broadside battlesuits have also arrived to the battle, boosting our forces morale. I think the tanks were frightening the Kroot, m'lord."
"We must hurry and find the objective, tell your warriors to shoot straight and do not allow the humans to engage us"
"It shall be done, my lord. For the Great - - - - - BOOM!
The Transmission was interupted as a great explosion tore through the Fire Warrior unit. The Tau began to worry as they knew the Imperial armour was upon them.
Officer Calidur's chimera rolled through the small stone wall at the front of the battleline and began to unload its vast array of weapons onto the advancing Kroot. No longer in the cover of the woodlands, the Kroot were being ripped apart by the sustained fire of the Chimera. The Shaper was hit, and called for his unit to retreat.
The blast from the Leman Russ battlecannons ripped through the air and silenced half a unit of Fire Warriors and ripping thier Shas'vre to pieces. The other battle tank was just as effective, tearing into the other Kroot unit and causing them to scurry from the battlefield.
Amorki called out to his troops from his radio. "Well done, men. The Kroot threat has been diminished. It is time to advance. May the Emporer have mercy on us."
The words of their commander lightened the Fire caste's worries somewhat. The Tau reinforcements also helped push them forward - - - for joining their leader was a Hammerhead gunship, 3 Crisis battlesuits, and 6 Gun Drones. A handful of Fire Warriors began firing at the Imperial front. Thier pulse rifles struck hard and felled 3 guardsmen.
The Broadsides hurled their railgun projectiles at the enemy. Choosing to concentrate on the advancing Chimeras, they were able to strike both of them, blowing the tracks off of the centrally located tank. The other Chimera was able to withstand the penetrating shot, but Calidur gave the order to his squad to evacuate the vehicle. They rushed out of the rear hatch and dug in to the remains of the wall they had just previously knocked down.
"Press forward brothers!" the Shas'vre told their warriors. Some of the fire warriors entered the complex in the center of the battlefield which seemed to be a farming building of some sort, growing some alien crop of course.
"Sir, more bodies here." one of the Tau warriors said to his leader.
The Shas'vre came over to inspect. The fire warriors let out a collective gasp and knelt briefly as their Shas'vre uncovered the body of Tuno'vre. "Take him" said the Shas'vre." and his men gathered the body of their fallen ethereal.
"We have him, my lord" reported the triumphant Shas'vre.
"Excellent, my son," Daun'sha replid, "Now bring him out of there quickly."
"Yes, my Shas'o" followed the Shas'vre. He seemed confident that they had the victory, but his triumph was soon silenced by the sound of lasgun fire as he noticed an Imperial officer and his squad entering the farm. The victory was far from over.
On other parts of the battlefield, the fight raged on. Imperial firepower continued to be effective. The battle cannons pounded into the enemy, destroying an entire unit of Fire Warriors and leaving a gaping hole, allowing the anti-tank squads to take down 2 Broadside battlesuits. Was the tide turning? An advancing Amorki was pleased.
