Mo'Cal Sept

Symbol of the Mo'Cal Sept

Standard Shas'la

"*War is like the wild, unpredictable and ever changing. However, we are use to such environments and for the Greater Good, we shall master it!*"
— Commander Windroar to the troops
The **Mo'Cal Sept** is a sept of the T'au Empire founded during the Second Sphere Expansion. Colonizing a Jungle World, the sept went through tough beginnings, facing off against various Feral Ork tribes. With the aid of the Kroots, the Orks were eventually exterminated, forging strong bonds between the two allied races. The members of the Mo'Cal sept have developed incredible field combat skills, taking great pride in using the battlefield environment to their advantage.

## History

The Mo'Cal Sept was founded during the early days of the Second Sphere Expansion. The world that would house the sept was a Jungle World, filled with large forests, mountain ranges and natural resources, marking it as a vauled addition to the Empire. Due to the planet's environment, numerous Kroot Warriors were added to the T'au forces in the colonizing efforts, to root out any possible threats.

### The Greenskin Threat

Upon landing on the lush world, it became clear to the Tau that they were not the only sentient species there. Several centuries ago, an Ork warband had crashed onto the planet. The warband eventually fractured and the Orks became feral. Though not technologically advanced, the Feral Orks' large numbers were too much of a threat to ignore.

Fire Warriors quickly moved in to eradicate the Orks. However, trouble arose due to the deep dense jungles the greenskins were in. The clustered forests made it difficult for Tau vehicles to move properly, allowing the Orks to strike while they were vulnerable. Plus, Fire Warriors were not well trained in melee combat, making them quick kills for greenskin ambushes.

To compensate this, the Commander at the time made two decisions that would leave great influences on the newborn Sept: He utilized heavy use of Battlesuits and called in several Kroot Squads to assist in hunting down the Orks. The flexibility of the Battlesuits enabled the Tau Fire Warriors to better combat against the physically stronger Orks, while the Kroot Kindreds, led by their Shapers, provided excellent close-quarter assistance for Fire Warrior Squads. By the end of the year, the Ork menace had been completely removed and Mo'Cal was ready for full colonization.

An agreement was made between the Tau Commander and the Kroot Shapers, overseen by the Ethereal attached to the Sept. The Kroots would be given their own territory to rule and work alongside the Mo'Cal Sept. The Ethereal Council also hoped that this would help in strengthening the bonds between the two races.

## Sept Worlds

* **Mo'Cal**: The Prime Sept and the world that the Sept is named after and holds the largest population of T'au. It is a Jungle World with much of the continents filled with trees, along with large bodies of waters forming lakes and rivers, in addition to several mountain ranges. Kroots make up one third of the population, many settling separately from their T'au allies. Still, it is not uncommon for the two races to interact. The T'au live in cities that are divided between their respective Castes, with the cities themselves connected by made roads that are constantly guarded and patrolled. The only exception are members of the Ethereal Caste, who commonly move about among the others. Much of the wildlife remains intact following the battle with the Orks, with both the T'au and Kroot working together during hunts.
* **Kar'Van**: Like Mo'Cal, Kar'Van is a Jungle World but is also a Mountain World, with much of the planet consisting of large mountains with the tallest reaching the clouds. The trees primarily form on the lower to mid-mountains, or on large semi-flat surfaces on the taller ones, with much of the wildlife having adapted to traversing the rocky terrain and cold climates as they go further up. Because of this, the Sept's Air Caste are primarily recruited here due to the rich resources on the planet that help fuel their ships. Because of this, there are several space ports and orbital shipyards also located above the planet for their space vessels to dock and be constructed. Despite that, members of the Fire Caste come here to test out their Battlesuits, using the mountain terrain as a training field.
* **Bal'Ru**: An Ice Death World, Bal'Ru's only purpose is its near-limitless ore located on it. These metals are used to forge the weapons, armour, vehicles and battlesuits of the Sept's Fire Caste. Thus the only structures on this planet are those built for the sole purpose of extracting the minerals and building future war machines, overseen by the Earth Caste and protected by the Fire Caste. These facilities are built within domes that keep out the freezing winds and wildlife of the planet, and possess several large landing pads for T'au aircrafts to deliver the new weapons.
* **Poy'Leax**: The planet with the second largest population, Poy'Leax is populated only by the T'au. And just like Mo'Cal, it is primarily a jungle world. The difference is that about half of the planet also consists of flat, rocky terrain that is still fertile. The Earth Caste have managed to stabilize the volcanoes while extracting the lava from them as another source of power to fuel their war machines, in addition to mining the metals below to craft more. Plus, the flat land serves as an excellent location for factories to build the Sept's Aircrafts and where they can remain when not in use.
* **Tem'Gost**: The Sept's Ocean World, Tem'Gost also hosts a number of islands that are highly fertile despite not being entirely suitable for colonizing. With that said, the Earth Caste have managed to build large farming structure that help grow an abundance of crops and used to raise animals, including the massive number of sea creatures in the planet's water. Thus, making the planet a vital source of food for the rest of the Sept.
* **Ova'Xio**: The primary Kroot world of the Sept. Ova'Xio has many qualities that match that of Pech, the homeworld of the Kroot. Thus, when the Kroot Warriors came to help the T'au against the Orks, those who chose to remain picked Ova'Xio as their new home, a decision agreed upon by the Ethereal and Commanders at the time as gratitude to their allies. The few T'au who live there are primarily from the Earth and Water Castes, the former there to assist with the construction of the Kroots' new homes, while the latter is there to ensure that a presence for both the Sept and T'au Empire is there.
* **Ia'Presh**: Unlike the rest of the Sept worlds, Ia'Presh is in fact a Gue'vesa World, meaning humans who are a part of the T'au Empire live here. Originally known as Iarak, this Civilised Agri-World was abandoned by the Imperium about a decade before the T'au came due to the overwhelming number of Feral Orks after the original Ork WAAAGH was defeated. When the T'au came during the Second Sphere Expansion, the surviving humans gladly welcomed them after they helped eliminate the remaining greenskins. Order was quickly restored and the many cities and other structures once destroyed or abandoned were rebuilt into an amalgamation of human and T'au design. Now the humans serve as auxiliaries for the Mo'Cal Sept, while also assisting with mining and growing of food. Unlike most other Septs, the Gue'vesa of Ia'Presh are wholly considered a member of the Mo'Cal Sept, with several members having served aboard the Sept's fleet and acting as officers.

## Tactical Doctrines

The warriors of the Mo'Cal Sept are master field specialists. Having trained on their jungle homeworld, the Fire Warriors can navigate through various terrains and fight with little difficulties. Most notably, they make great use of Battlesuits, preferring their mobility and flexibility over tanks and light vehicles. Using them allow the Sept's warriors to fight against races who prefer close combat and against larger or armoured foes. That does not mean they ignored light infantry, who strike from afar while their Battlesuit piloting comrades fight the enemy head on. The Fire Warriors and Kroot will take position in areas where they can better aim at their targets or places that could be used to set up ambushes. The Kroot will also engage enemies in close combat, attacking from the shadows or cornering their pray as they unleash their claws and weapons onto the foe.

This aligns with the Sept's preference for rapid assaults. With their Battlesuits moving in at the front, followed by ground and air support, the Mo'Cal warriors will rush at their foes from all angles, their sudden attack giving their enemies little time to react or prepare a proper defense. Ground vehicles will normally back up the Battlesuits in combat, firing from afar or performing hit & run tactics to confuse the enemy as the infantry moves in to finish them off. Surprisingly, urban warfare is also something the Mo'Cal Fire Warriors excel at, using their infantry and Battlesuits to engage the enemy through buildings and streets.

## Sept Appearance

### Sept Colours

In accordance with their Jungle World, the T'au of the Mo'Cal Sept done green-based colors. Most commonly sage and light green, these two colors have been used on not just the Fire Warrior Armour, but also on their vehicles and Battlesuits, with the exception of a few additional colors to some battlesuits.

## Notable Members

* **Shas'O Fal'shia Irux AKA Windroar**: Commander Windroar is the current military leader of the Mo'Cal Sept. A young warrior, Windroar prefers to fight in close range along Kroot allies, showing no fear against whatever foes he faces. Inspiring his warriors with his bravery, Windroar fights with all his person for his Sept and Empire, with a desire to prove worthy of his newly given rank. Sometimes rash, the young commander is usually reigned in by Aun'La, the old Ethereal serving as an advisor for the still inexperienced commander. To appease his wish for close combat, Windroar uses an XV9 Hazard Battlesuit equipped with Twin-Linked Burst Cannons and Phased Ion Gun, plus a Shield Generator and Target Lock while accompanied by Gun Drones.
* **Shas'El Vash'ya Naseom AKA Darkbark**: The secondary commander of the Mo'Cal sept and Windroar's right-hand man. A veteran Fire Warrior and Pathfinder, Darkbark is the more level-headed of the two, preferring indirect approach to combat, and thus took the role of a Fireblade Pathfinder. Darkbark is a master scout, sniper, trapper, infiltrator, and saboteur, having broken enemy armies before the main force even came. He has on more than one occasion led the Sept's stealth force while Windroar fights alongside the main force. He most notably eliminated a Dark Eldar Kabal from a Tau Colony World. Despite his constant disapproval of Windroar's recklessness, Darkbark knows that the young Commander is the greatest Fire Warrior their Sept has ever produced, and wishes to see him reach his full potential. He was chosen to pilot the new XV22 Stealth Battlesuit, and during the beginning of the Third Sphere Expansion, Darkbark briefly engaged in close quarter combat with then Raven Guard Shadow Captain Kayvaan Shrike before the latter was forced to fall back after the death of Chapter Master Corvin Severax.
* **Shas'El Bork'an Manara AKA Longblade**: When beginning is path as a warrior, Longblade had already shown incredible skills as a marksmen, leading many to believe that he would one day take the duty of a Pathfinder. Instead, Longblade decided to utilize his exceptional accuracy with that of the Battlesuits. Mounting into a XV88 Broadside Battlesuit Pilot, Longblade wields a Twin Heavy Rail Rifles backed up by mounted Missile Pods. This has made a deadly combination, allowing Longblade to neutralize armoured threats from a great distance with pinpoint precision.
* **Shas'El T'olku Tsua'bin AKA Ironmountain**: Ironmountain was an unusual member of the Fire Caste, being slightly taller than most and being slower too. Despite that, he proved a reliable comrade, covering his kin during battle and always supporting the rear. It was no surprise he was chosen to pilot the newly made KX139 Ta'unar Supremacy Armour Pilot, protecting his Sept's forces from the rear and holding the line for retreat with his Battlesuit's Pulse Ordnance Multi-Drive or Nexus Missile System, followed by Fusion Eradicators, Fragmentation Cluster Shell Launcher, and Burst Cannons. During the Third Sphere Expansion on Prefectia, Ironmountain played an important role protecting the flank when he managed to weaken a Warlord-Class Titan enough for it to be cut down by an air strike. It was during this campaign that he become an enemy of Obiden Drachen, head of House Drachen, when he caused significant losses to the House's forces.
* **Shas'El Ho'sarn Nase'par AKA Terrorbreaker**: XV104 Riptide Pilot
* **Shas'El N'dras Hia'gos AKA Whisperclaw**: XV95 Ghostkeel Battlesuit Pilot
* **Shas'El Sha'draig Riaix AKA Thundertide**: XV8 Crisis Battlesuit Pilot
* **Shas'El Es'Tau Gir'dras AKA Earthshaker**: The youngest of the Sept's secondary commanders, Earthshaker served alongside Fal'shia during a grueling battle against a large Ork Horde. There, Es'Tau discovered his skills with heavy artillery. He eventually rose up to Shas'El, and was chosen to pilot the new KV128 Stormsurge during the Third Sphere Expansion. Earthshaker earned his nickname when he fought within the heavy confines of Imperial cities, where he worked alongside Ironmountain in taking down several Imperial Titans with his walking-tank's heavy weapons.
* **Shas'El Pech Vura'me AKA Hardshield**: XV107 R'varna Battlesuit Pilot
* **Shas'El N'dras Nase'dis AKA Bloodcry**: XV109 Y'vahra Battlesuit Pilot
* **Shas'El D'yanoi Vuraina AKA Swiftlance**: XV02 Pilot Battlesuit Pilot
* **Shas'Vre Ka'mais Orna'gri AKA Frostblaze**:
* **Shas'Vre Fi'rios Iniour AKA Quickspear**:
* **Shas'Vre T'olku Rilus AKA Silverbolt**
* **Shas'Vre Ke'lshan Ko'wra AKA Ghostlance**:
* **Fio'O Dal'yth Reshuth**:
* **Kor'O Sa'cea Dia'hin**:
* **Por'O Mu'gulath Fio'nesh**:
* **Aun'La Sha'draig Ashon**: The main Ethereal of the Mo'Cal Sept, Ashon has lived among the jungle world for most of her life, serving a spiritual guidance for the Taus and Kroot allies. Her kindness yet fierce determination has been able to end even the most harshest of conflicts. Though too old to stand at the frontlines, Aun'La assists at the rear, working alongside Sept Officers and giving advice to the young Commander Windroar.