T'au Commander - Notable Tau Commanders: Each of the Tau Empire's Spheres of Expansion campaigns had its notable Tau Commanders -- great heroes whose teachings are still used at the Fire Caste academies. Many Tau Septs also have famed Commanders whose deeds their warriors seek to emulate. A notable summary of some of the greatest Tau Commanders includes:Tau CommanderSummaryCommander Brightsword (Shas'O Tash'var Ol'nan B'kak)Commander Brightsword was a student of Commander Farsight's and led Tau forces in the taking of the planet Nimbosa and then the Tau's defence against the Imperial invasion of that world which soon followed. Brightsword was considered to make use of more ruthless combat tactics than was the norm amongst the Fire Caste, and was eventually assassinated by members of the Imperial Guard's 13th Penal Legion.Commander DawnstrikeCommander Dawnstrike, also known as the wily Desert Beast, has many exploits of feigned retreat attributed to him; feats that are often emulated but never bettered.Commander Farsight (Shas'O Vior'la Shovah Kais Mont'yr)Commander Farsight was a former Tau Commander during the Tau's Second Sphere Expansion campaign. During that time, he served as the overall commander of Fire Caste forces across the entire Tau Empire. Now, Farsight leads his own break-away faction of Tau in an area beyond the bounds of Tau space that are known as the Farsight Enclaves. The reasons for his desertion are unclear, except that it occurred after the loss of all the Ethereals who had been present in his expeditionary force.Commander Flamewing (Shas'O Vior'la Suam Eldi)Commander Shas'O Vior'la Suam Eldi, or to give him his more commonly used Low Gothic title "Commander Flamewing," is the leader of a Fire Caste Hunter Cadre currently operating on the outskirts of the Zurcon System of the Jericho Reach against the Tyranid threat. Flamewing is a comparatively young Tau Commander, yet he has seen more combat in the last standard year than many of his rank expect to experience in a lifetime.Commander Longknife (Shas'O R'myr)Commander Longknife was the Fire Caste's commanding officer on Taros during the Taros Campaign. He did not lead a Cadre in the field, but was the supreme commander for an entire Fire Warrior Command, coordinating the entire campaign to take that desert Mining World and its precious mineral resources for the Tau Empire.Commander QuickstrikeCommander Quickstrike is a Tau Commander and hero of the Bork'an Sept.Commander PuretideCommander Puretide was a Tau Commander who led the armies of the Dal'yth Sept to many victories during the Tau Empire's Second Sphere Expansion campaign. Many of the Second Sphere Septs owe their very existence to the campaigns planned and carried out by this brilliant strategist and battlefield commander. After being grievously wounded towards the end of his life, Puretide became a hermit, committed to transmitting his accumulated wisdom and experiences concerning the arts of war to new generations of Tau warriors. He deeply wished that those who might learn to emulate his uniquely balanced style of warfare might continue his work on behalf of the Greater Good. Many Fire Warriors came to study under Puretide, though few, if any, proved capable of fully grasping his teachings. Many of his students went away understanding only one aspect of Puretide's teachings, and a number of different schools of thought based on these singular aspects of his knowledge came to centre on one of these individuals. Both Commander Farsight and Commander Shadowsun were once students of Puretide, and both took one aspect of his teachings and mastered it to the exclusion of the others. Some among the Fire Caste now suggest that the two Tau Commanders are opposites in other ways, as well, and that confrontation between their ideals in Tau society is ultimately inevitable.Commander Shadowsun (Shas'O Shaserra)Commander Shadowsun was the overall Tau Commander of all Tau Fire Caste forces during the Tau Empire's Third Sphere Expansion. She was chosen to take on this role by the leading Ethereal Aun'Va himself, after Commander Farsight deserted the Tau Empire to form the independent Farsight Enclaves. So far, she has led the Tau Empire to expand significantly and a string of success is accorded to her name. Commander O'Shaserra utilises a XV22 Stealthsuit rather than the standard XV8 Crisis Battlesuit.Commander Skyroar (Shas'O Ja'Vra) Following her successes in the Second Sphere Expansion War, Ja'Vra was promoted to Shas'o and given command of a Breakthrough Contingent involved in the fighting in the Jericho Reach, under the oversight of the Ethereal Aun'Roh. Commander Skyroar's tactical acumen and dogged determination saw her gain a great many victories, but also her greatest defeat.Commander Sternshield (Shas'o T'au Ta'Sar) A master of adaptive defence and a deft hand in breaking his foes before they even realise battle has been joined, Commander Sternshield has proven himself invaluable to Commander Shadowsun. He is a level-headed traditionalist driven by a simple, abiding love of his people, and has proven a dangerous foe to the warriors of the Imperium.Commander Swiftflame (Shas'o Vior'la Shalas) Speed, destruction, and a flair for the dramatic are the trademarks of the hot-blooded Commander Swiftflame. Properly known as Shas'o Vior'la Shalas, this hero of the Third Sphere Expansion is young for a Commander. Ever since his first days in the academies of Vior'la, Shalas has proven decisive and forthright in all his dealings, and quick to assert his ability to meet every challenge set before him. Those who questioned his rapid advancement through the ranks were proven wrong, and often looked foolish when his grand strategies became clear. Infamous for his conviction and self-confidence, amongst another people, Commander Swiftflame might have been considered arrogant. Despite outward appearances, however, it is not pride that drives O'Shalas, but total surety of his importance to the Greater Good and a fear of falling short of his potential. O'Shalas knows that he is a talented, swift-thinking tactician, as well as an excellent marksman and a convincing orator. All of this has come naturally to the Commander, and he has always been painfully conscious of the value of such gifts to the Greater Good. The simple truth is that every achievement in his career, every victory won and trial passed, has been motivated by Shalas' fear of failing to make the fullest use of his talents, and in doing so, failing in his duty.Commander Swiftwing (Shas'O Shien)Commander Swiftwing is a Tau Commander of the T'au Sept.Commander TruestarCommander Truestar was a famed female Tau Commander whose brilliant military career was marred by a single tragic error.Shas'El CourraShas'El Courra lead a Manta Death Blow Hunter Cadre during the Nimbosa Campaign.Shas'El K'irriShas'El K'irri led a night attack on a forward Imperial airbase during the Taros Campaign. Whilst successful in destroying the facility, his whole strike force was either captured or killed. His Hunter Cadre operated under Contingent El'Shi'Eldi.Shas'El Kai'AunShas'El Kai'Aun led a Hunter Cadre during the Taros Campaign. His Hunter Cadre operated under Contingent El'Shi'Eldi.Shas'El Kai'unShas'El Kai'un leads the Pathfinder Hunter Cadre known as "the Vengeful Death."Shas'El LushaShas'El Lusha led Tau forces during the campaign to take the world of Dolumar IV from Imperial and Chaos invaders. He deployed himself and his Battlesuit Teams during the closing stages of that conflict, and rescued Shas'La T'au Kais after he defeated the Lord of Change Tarkh'ax.Shas'El Phor'YinnShas'El Phor'Yinn led a Hunter Cadre during the Taros Campaign. His Hunter Cadre operated under Contingent El'Shi'Eldi.Shas'El Ryn'YaShas'El Ryn'Ya led a Hunter Cadre during the Taros Campaign. His Hunter Cadre operated under Contingent El'Shi'Eldi.Shas'El Shi'EldiShas'El Shi'Eldi was part of the Tungusta Station counterattack during the Taros Campaign. He was also identified by Imperial forces to be active in subsequent actions across the entire campaign. He was the commander of Contingent El'Shi'Eldi and directed 5 lesser commanders and their individual Hunter Cadres.Shas'El Sua'NiShas'El Sua'Ni led a Hunter Cadre during the Taros Campaign. His Hunter Cadre operated under Contingent El'Shi'Eldi.Shas'El SuvasShas'El Suvas led an XV9 Hazard Battlesuit Swift Protector Wing during the Second Defence of Nimbosa. Alongside Kroot irregulars, his force held off invading human forces for two hours whilst the main Hunter Cadre successfully redeployed. Sixty percent casualties were sustained.Shas'el VedaiShas'el Vedai is a Tau Commander of the Sa'cea Sept.Shas'O KaisShas'O Kais was the Tau Commander who led the Tau forces during the Dark Crusade. Whilst he was unsuccessful in securing the planet of Kronus for the Tau Empire, he survived the campaign. Shas'O Kais utilises an XV22 Stealthsuit rather than the standard XV8 Crisis Battlesuit.Shas'O MaisosShas'O Maisos is a Tau Commander of the Vior'la Sept. She pilots an XV86 Coldstar Battlesuit.Shas'O M'yenShas'O M'yen, also known as Commander Scornfoe, is a senior tactical advisor and member of the Mal'coar Shi High Command of Tau forces operating in the Jericho Reach.Shas'O Or'es'KaShas'O Or'es'Ka was the Tau Commander who led the Tau forces during the Tau Empire's unsuccessful campaign to take the Kaurava System. Shas'O Or'es'Ka utilises an XV22 Stealthsuit rather than the standard XV8 Crisis Battlesuit.Shas'o Sa'cea Tsua'mShas'O Sa'cea Tsua'm was a Tau Commander who led Tau forces to the Sept world of Kel'shan. There, he made one of the first recorded Tau encounters with Chaos forces, and defeated them. He personally killed the Chaos army's warlord whom he mistakenly believed to be named Slaanesh.Shas'O Tash'var D'ka Cha'roShas'El Tash'var D'ka Cha'ro is a Tau Commander who serves under Shas'O Tsua'Malor'Aloh'shas Elan'nan in the D'Shas'Ka System of the Jericho Reach.Shas'O Tsua'Malor'Aloh'shas Elan'nanShas'O Tsua'Malor'Aloh'shas Elan'nan is a young and promising Tau Commander born of the Velk'Han Sept's capital world. He is currently leading Tau forces in the D'Shas'Ka System of the Jericho Reach.Shas'O Vesu'r Ra'laiCommander Vesu'r R'alai has become a legend among the grim Fire Warriors of Ke'lshan, and is one of the Tau Empire's most experienced Battlesuit pilots. It is his leadership and innovation that has successfully led the way in the controversial tactics associated with the new XV9 close support armour, and he is a strong advocate for the Fire Caste adopting more ruthless tactics against the Tau Empire's growing legion of deadly foes. Shas'O Ra'Lai utilises an XV9 Hazard Battlesuit rather than the standard XV8 Crisis Battlesuit.Shas'Vre Tsua'Malor Ren'A This Tau Commander is a rising star in the Velk'Han Sept's Fire Caste. The Ethereal Aun'Kar hand-selected this warrior at a young age and has helped him advance rapidly. As a result, Shas'Vre Ren is unceasingly loyal to Aun'Kar above any other and full of pride to have such a renowned Ethereal's trust. Shas'Vre Ren's Battlesuit was commissioned specifically for him. The glossy instrument of war hasn't so much as a scratch on it and bears the Tau word for "victory."Shas'Vre Vior'la Ahu MaauLeader of the mixed Tau and Ghanathaar infiltration force deployed against Watch Fortress Erioch, Shas'Vre Maau is atypical for a member of the Fire Caste. Lean and compact with a quiet grace, he is deeply sardonic and has a dark intensity about him which unnerves even his closest acquaintances. While still young as far as Tau go, Maau has made a name for himself as a consummate warrior and master of reconnaissance and guerrilla warfare. With a hand-picked team of steady and quietly professional guerrilla fighters armed with Stealth suits, Maau has time and again foiled the forces of the Achilus Crusade by attacking supply lines, destroying infrastructure, assassinating important Imperial officials, and generally making a nuisance of himself and his team in the Canis Salient.Wise HunterWise Hunter was a great commander and conqueror of new territory during the initial expansions of the Tau Empire.