MONTYR’NAN MAL’CAOR CADRE & the SHAS SHA’IS CONTINGENT

The Tau have come to Valorax hoping to use the confusion of the various infiltrating factions to make surgical strikes, wiping out their enemies while they are distracted and weakened. Seeking vengeance against the Chaos forces of the Good People and preventing their rise to power is also a top priority.

Background

Place of Secrets

The Path of Vengeance

The Mal’caor (or Spider) Hunter Cadre originates from N’Dras, a Sept formed during the second sphere of expansion and since abandoned by almost all members of the Tau race. The reason for this has been suppressed but the truth lies in a powerful source of Chaos found by the Tau people as they spread across the planet’s surface.

Without hesitation, Aun’Ko formed a small contingent of Tau hunter cadres to pursue them called the ShasSha’is (or Fire Wind) Contingent, spearheaded by the Mal’caor cadre, itself led by the Crisis Suit Commander O’Ka.

Thousands of Tau were tainted by demonic possession, something at the time they had very little contact with, and the planet was abandoned. A large force of Tau were kept behind on N’Dras however to ensure that this source of power didn’t fall into the wrong hands. The Mal'caor cadre was part of that force. Aun’Ko of the Ethereal Caste was the overall leader of the forces guarding N’Dras and it was his responsibility to ensure that the horrific power never fell into enemy hands, but when the Chaos army known as the Good People attacked, seeking the power for themselves, he was unable to prevent their escape with a critically important artefact.

O’Ka was born on N’Dras and had risen faster through the ranks than any other Shaso, taking operational command of the Mal’caor cadre ten years earlier. The Tau forces tracked the Good People to the Valorax system, meeting up with a much larger force of Sa’Cean Tau already on its way to attempt forcible colonisation. The larger force was codenamed Montyr’nan (or Blooded Sword). Sa’cea is a densely populated Tau world, similar in many respects to an Imperial hive world. The vast population gives more than a little incentive to the world’s leaders to push harder than most for new colony planets and Valorax had come to their notice due to its weakened state in the wake of the Manticore War. Joining with the larger force, Aun’Ko remains true to his original mission, the extermination of the Good People while maintaining the Sa’Cean drive to take full control of the system for the greater good of the Tau Empire.

Supply & Maintenance

Primary Base of Operations

The Tau do not maintain bases of operation beyond short term landing sites for their Manta transports. Their troop and command personnel locations remain fluid, changing from day to day as the Mantas move from one landing site in the deep snow planes of Kaltirey to another. When landed, Devilfish transport teams maintain a wide perimeter, monitoring for enemy troop movement so that the entire force can be withdrawn. No more than one Manta ever shares the same landing zone so that no single strike can wipe out the entire force.

Subsidiary Bases The closest thing to subsidiary bases are the brief stop-over points (for rest) of infiltrating Pathfinder teams scouting for targets of opportunity.

All vehicles are stored, when not in use, aboard the Mantas.

Air Power & Planetary Access The Tau currently have extremely limited air power on Valorax, just three Mantas and no fighter support. As a result, air combat is avoided through forward planning. Each Manta is capable of breaking free of orbit but with the withdrawal of the Custodian carrier vessel to a safe distance, arrangements must be made in advance to get on or off-planet. Having said that, the Tau are currently the most mobile force of Valorax, able to redeploy to any part of the planet relatively quickly.

Starfleet The fleet currently consists of a single Custodian carrier vessel and two Protectors.

Troop Distribution Three Mantas are present on Valorax. Each one has a full complement of Tau warriors and vehicles. The rest of the Montyr’nan force is stationed aboard the Custodian carrier vessel that awaits in space.

Vehicle Storage and Upkeep

Supply Provision The Tau arrived on Valorax with full provisions aboard the Manta transports. These supplies are finite and some on-planet procurement will be necessary for a protracted campaign.

Notable Personages Shas’o N’Dras Ka Fire Warrior Commander – Mal’caor Hunter Cadre Name means Strike

Aun Ko Ethereal Commander – Shas-Sha’is Contingent

Shas’o Sa’Cea Shi Fire Warrior Commander – Montyr’nan Contingent Names means Victory