Your shuttle slowly docks with the Tau ship, named the Blah Blah Blah Blah Nonsense Bullshit Weird Alien Language, or something like that. The Staine Siblings, Captain Hayes and Fay are with you.


"So, you're sure you don't what to tell me what to expect here?" you ask Kyros' surviving lieutenants.


"Kyros kept his dealings with these Xenos hidden from us," Durge says, staring at you. "He didn't tell any of us, and I doubt he told Rebecca. He kept his information to the Magos and the Taj."


You look at Hayes, who raises an eyebrow.


"Shit, seriously? Is that why you made me come to this?" Hayes asks. "Karth, I don't know what fucking deal you made with the the mutant hermit guy, let alone the deal Kyros made with the Tau. Shit, I'm not even sure what the deal is between you and me. Are you paying me? Do I get a share in the ship's profit, or some bullshit like that? Fuck if I know."


You sigh, as the shuttle doors open. A dozen tall, slender blue-skinned Tau stand there, wearing red robes. They all smile as they see you, with the one in the middle stepping forward.


"Hello, Karth of the Uwais Tribe of Rama! I am Flo'O Vior'La Vin Dorn Varoh. Please, call me Varoh for short. I recognize all your esteemed lieutenants and companions. The powerful warrior Fay of the Azajaja Tribe of Rama, Ex-Captain Jon Hayes of the 22nd Regiment, Elizabeth Staine of the One-Eyed Crows, Durge Staine the Ever-Rotting of the Black Rats and Elios the Perverted of the Shrieking Harpies."


"Terrific. Now that the names are out of the way, shall we get to business?" you ask.


"If that is what you wish, Karth," Varoh says. "Before we begin, we have gifts for you."


The other Tau negotiators step forward. One offers you a large copper and bronze staff topped with a human skull that seems to have been forged into the staff. 


"For Master Karth, we have a gift of the Staff of Acetabularii," he, or she, it's not exactly easy to say. "It is an ancient bronze and copper staff millennia old excavated on a recently colonized world that ancient Shamans used with their magic."


You take the staff, and channel a burst of psychic energy through it. From the top of the head bursts a jet of flames as purple flames dance around the skull itself. Perhaps a useful artifact and a tool for less trained psykers, but for you, it seems unnecessary. The negotiators look extremely shocked and surprised at this, to which you frown.


"Sorry?" you say.


"Uh, no, not at all! We're glad you like it!" Varoh says. "It's just fascinating you can do that."


You wonder what he means, as this was far from a psychic achievement, before remembering Primus' briefing you on how the Tau aren't a psychic species, and have no psykers.


"Ah, OK," you reply. 


You look at all your lieutenants as they receive a gift from the Tau Empire. Fay gets a flamethrower-type weapon from some Xenos species, Hayes gets a set of dark green and golden Carapace Armor, Elizabeth gets a large tome with a bestial skull seemingly built into the cover, Elios gets a strange device with a long of needles, and Durge receives a rotting skull covered in fireflies in a glass, clear box, which the negotiator handles very carefully.


"Thanks," you say. "Can we go?" 


"Of course," Varoh replies, as he and his negotiators lead your crew down the hallways to the meeting room.


You all sit around the table, with you facing Varoh at the head of the table.


"Can I smoke in here?" Hayes asks, already lighting the cigarette between his lips. 


"Of course," Varoh says. "So Karth, I assume you're here to renew the deal we made with Kyros, yes? We offer you the same terms."


 "Yeah, about that. We're not exactly sure what deal you actually had with Kyros," you say.


"Oh," Varoh says. "Did he not tell any of you? One would think he would trust his lieutenants."


"Yeah, whatever. So tell me, what was this deal you had?"


"Military assets are hard to find in this area. Kyros was a prominent war-band that raided the sector, so we made a deal with him. Kyros had a habit of raiding worlds, so we made a payment to him in order for him to make several promises. For our continued payment, he avoided raiding any Tau assets or engaging any of our assets, and he would take our advice in which worlds to hit. If a trade convoy was bringing weapons to the front to fight off our advances, Kyros would target it for us. Additionally, he'd also place us as his prime client for mercenary work and would sell us what he raided."


"How much would that deal earn us?" you ask, raising an eyebrow.


"Twenty million Thrones," Varoh says, as you grin.


"Ah, that sounds... acceptable," you say.


"What if we refuse?" Elios asks.


"We have other offers," Varoh says. "If that's too much, we simply want a non-aggression pact, and to have a small group of a half dozen Tau on your vessel to make the voice of the Tau Empire known. You avoid attacking our assets, and we pay you ten million Thrones."


"Is that all the offers?"


"Well... we had offered Kyros a better offer, but he refused."


"What was the offer?"


"For thirty million Thrones, we become allies. We'll offer you our support when needed, and we expect you to offer yours. The terms are similar to the twenty million Thrones offer, except except instead of our advice, you will assist us when we demand. Please know, we will must definitely not be unreasonable. If you find we are taking advantage of you, we are more than happy to rearrange the deal. We'll even give you a small portion of Tau forces to assist you in your mission."


Hmmm... the deal they're offering is an interesting one. There seems to be dangers with the thirty million offer, but that money could be essential. The ten million offer most definitely will be accepted if the others aren't, as harming the Tau wasn't really on your list anyway, and you could use the funds.

You take Kyros' deal

You extend your hand, smiling.


"Alright. What's good enough for Kyros is good enough for me. I'll take the deal you had with me."


The Tau negotiator smiles and nods, shaking your hand.


"Please, don't even pause in talking to us for support. If you ever find yourself tiring of the life of a rover, we'd be more than happy to find you a position in the Empire."


"Great," you reply. "Well, I suppose that's all we have to discuss. We're ready to go." 


You quickly say your goodbyes and head back towards your shuttle.