Blazing Star Coalition

The symbol of the Tau homeworld and the Empire's capital Sept

The **Blazing Star Coalition** is a new force created by the Ethereal High Council. This coalition is overseen by Aun'Yan and is populated mostly by new recruits with a handful of veterans in key positions. Their current purpose is to patrol the Empire's outskirts and react to any threats that arise. The commanders are taking this opportunity to learn one another's idiosyncrasies and styles of warfare, as well as to test their respective cadres' mettle before they are committed to an ongoing warzone.

## History

For some time after the 13th Black Crusade and the formation of the Great Rift, the Tau Empire experienced increasing incursions from numerous hostile races. There was also unrest rising on peripheral worlds. Strife had erupted between the Empire's various client races as well as between them and tau colonists, fuelled by rumours of Fire Caste atrocities committed against non-tau auxiliaries. On a more practical scale, the diversion of numerous fleets and cadres to the Zone of Silence in anticipation of a Death Guard invasion via the Nem'yar Atoll had come at a cost to the Empire's internal security.

Seeking to remedy this, the Ethereal High Council sanctioned the creation of new battlegroups. Among them was a new force known as the Blazing Star Coalition under the command of Shas'O T'au Shamasa - Commander Bravesword. This coalition was granted special permission to requisition auxiliary forces from across the Empire, including *gue'vesa* populations outside of the T'au Sept, for the purpose of showcasing the Fire Caste's ability to cooperate with their allies, as well as to reassure the occupants of planets on the fringes of the Empire that they were well-protected against any threats that might arise.

As a result, this coalition has received more attention and been the subject of propaganda like few others before it. This is thanks to Aun'Yan who is taking the initiative in healing any inter-species divisions which might threaten the Greater Good.

## Notable Members

**Aun'vre Ren'as (Aun'Yan)** - The senior Ethereal, he serves as the coalition's spiritual and overall leader, ensuring that all actions are directed towards the *tau'va*.

**Shas'o Shamasa** - The overall commander and most senior Fire Caste member of the battle group, she favours the Kauyon metastrategy.

**Shas'o Uvasha** - The commander of the Silent Step Infiltration Cadre, he leads in the field where he makes prolific use of Mont'ka tactics.

**Shas'el Lor'ma** - The head of the Death Strike Hunter Cadre, Lor'ma is the newest member of the command echelons. As such he is under the tutelage of Aun'yan.

**Shas'nel D'tano** - A grizzled veteran, D'tano keeps his Fire Warrior brothers and sisters alive with his decades of experience, his quick mind and quicker temper.

**Shas'la Loressa** - A Firesight Marksman whose skilled and creative operation of sniper drones saw her earn accolades at the Fire Caste academy on T'au.

## Forces

### Death Strike Hunter Cadre

This force, consisting predominantly of Fire Warrior Teams and heavy Battlesuits is led by the newly-promoted Commander 'El Lor'ma supported by the veteran Fireblade, D'tano.

### Silent Step Infiltration Cadre

The Fire Caste of this cadre are a mixture of Pathfinders (including Tetras) and veterans in Stealth & Ghostkeel Battlesuits. This cadre is led by Shas'o Uvash'a - Commander Darkstrike.

### Alien Auxiliaries

The tau warriors in the Blazing Star are bolstered by the presence of other races who support the Fire Caste in battle.

**Kroot:** Several dozen kroot clans have joined from their homeworld of Pech and associated colonies. They have brought with them many beasts such as kroot hounds and krootoxes; even a Greater Knarloc. Because no Warspheres are currently available, the Kroot have been granted certain sections on the larger tau vessels.

**Vespid:** A noticeable number of the insectoid vespids have enlisted with Blazing Star forces, led by their Strain Leaders. Some have been assigned to the Hunter Cadres while others have been assigned to act as shock troops in Infiltration Cadres.

**Gue'vesa:** Human auxiliaries have been drafted from gue'la settlements and planetary garrisons across the Empire. These auxiliaries are in some ways the most politically important but also the most difficult to manage, owing to humanity's penchant for xenophobia that not even generations of living under prosperous Tau rule has managed to completely eliminate. To reduce the chances for conflict, volunteers were drafted from gue'la regiments with consistently good inter-species cooperation records. When the 'human helpers' are not undergoing drills, they spend much of their time consuming Water Caste media which emphasises how the Greater Good benefits from their service and their good relations with non-human allies of the tau. Limited socialisation with non-humans has been permitted under controlled conditions, though few in the Fire Caste are participating in this programme.

## Notable Battles and Campaigns

Here follows a list of noteworthy engagements made by the forces of this Coalition; either in whole or in part:
(To be added to)