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Atillan Auxillaries, bearing the Sep't of Atilla Communique From Shas’Vre’T’au’Watana M41 --Begin Communique-- From T'au Command To Commander Gu'Mo of Graia in The Ghoul Stars: Greetings Commander, Under normal circumstances, this communique would be to congratulate you for your decisive progress in the Ghoul Stars. However, the purpose of this communique is not to celebrate your accomplishments but admonish you for behavior that has come to our attention. We have received disturbing reports regarding your behavior with Auxillaries. The Director, in particular was greatly displeased with your shortsighted, and dangerous reforms to the force loaned to you on behalf of The Greater Good. Make no mistake, Commander, this action of yours is of a grave and scandalous matter, which is why I hope you receive this letter of warning and benevolence with the gratitude it deserves. The Great Director, in his wisdom and magnanimity, has looked upon your otherwise treacherous actions in light of your past loyalties and great achievements for The T’au’va. We are more than aware that deviations are to be expected when in combat. The Great Leader said as much: “If a general who confuses a parade march for a battle march is deaf to the music of war.” This is of course true, but we would also remind you to think upon his wisdom when he also says. “The Successful general is one who acts as the conquered’s first diplomat and first Governor.” It is in this aspect, we find your behavior lacking, Commander. Battlefield innovations must be subordinate to the long term wisdom of governance. And creating Plasma Rifle divisions out of your Atillan auxiliaries is an ‘innovation’ whose possible repercussions are not worth the price of victory. For as the Great Leader says, "Victory at any Cost, is the most costly defeat." You can not make your Gue'Vasan auxiliaries into Fire Warriors because The Gue'vasa is not equal to a T'au. The Mind of The Gue’va is one addled by desires outside of his control They cannot perceive the greater good as we can, because they are so beset by their immaterial passions. This sometimes manifests itself as what our Eldar allies call “Psyker energy,” but it appears in more subtle ways as well. This be seen by the frequent revolts and uprisings so many Gue’va undertake for various myopic reasons, or their sensitivity to superstitions brought about either from their own hallucinations or through the immateria. These natural tendencies the Gue’va have towards chaos must be limited, and if they cannot, then their capacity to derail the Greater Good must be instead. We have spent considerable time, effort, and resources towards the cultivation of Atillan nation, guiding their cultural development towards one attuned to The Greater Good. They have gone from primitive tool working to star-faring warriors exclusively under our care and guidance, lacking many of the more problematic aspects suffered from the rest of their species. Nearly every aspect of their way of life has been guided by us, and there is not a tradition they have that has not been approved to bring about a higher purpose. The use of archery is one such tradition we’d prefer not be discarded out of inconvenience. Primitive as it would seem, the Bow and Arrow is a proud tradition of the Atillan people, and one that takes years to refine and develop. The Atillan soldier is taken from their families at an early age, trained for use with the bow and to use it in all manners of conflict situations. The Atillan absorbs the traditions of their elders and the caste to hone their abilities. The Atillan mind is honed to think of all aspects of archery, focusing their mind and clearing it of potentially disruptive distractions. Duty to hierarchy, sacrifice, self-discipline, and obedience are necessary habits to instill in the Gue’va, in order to harmonize them with The Greater Good. Without them, they are little more than those Savage brutes polluting the Easternmost fringes of the galaxy. Which brings us to the second aspect, Atillan weapons and requisitions are not to be treated as interchangeable. The Atillan bow is an excellent demonstration of Tau harmony. On its own, the Gue’va weapon is archaic, primitive, and useless; yet with the Supply of the Earth Caste, the Conduction of the Air Caste, and the Leadership of The Fire Caste, the Atillan transcends his primitive nature and becomes a formidable warrior. The Atillan bow is only as useful as the unique and specialty arrows that his leader sees fit to supply him. Without the benefits of the Tau`va, the Atillan returns to primitive helplessness the moment his quiver runs out. This is a harmonious relation that is to be encouraged of the Gue’va. The Plasma and Scoped Rifle’s are not his to understand, rather to be understood as the dominion of the superior race. We know you understand there unique capabilities on the battlefield. In particular, your exploits with the Atillan volleys against The Dragon have impressed many in the highest levels of military command. However this current action of arming Gue'vasa with T'au armaments could betray an imprudent trust of your Auxillaries. You understand their purpose tactically and strategically, so we ask you to understand it intuitively. The role of the Gue’vassa, and indeed all Auxilaries is to reflect Tau’va Harmony at all times; such discord and disharmony will have reverberations few will recognize, and fewer still can repair. Perhaps it may not appear to be an issue for you, since your combatants are mostly among the unique problems of the Ghoul Stars, but that is no excuse for such behavior with Auxillaries. Encouraging familiarity with plasma weapons among the Gue’vasa opens them to influence and exchanges with more rebellious members of their species. The hordes of Gue’va are looking for any chance they can to lure our noble Gue’vasa away from higher pursuits. Their siren songs will only be made more potent if they can easily use Imperial weapons. In our hands the Atillan is a delicate tool of The Greater Good, with a rifle, they become a brutish mercenary, no different if they are fighting for us, or against us. Your numerous and frequent requests for additional Fire warrior divisions have been noted. When coupled with the fact that you were foolish enough to report on your dangerous actions yourself, the Director has determined your crimes were of naiveté rather than treachery. The Ho'Sen Lar'Shi Khas'atah will be arriving near your current base of operations within 21 days. In his benevolence and wisdom, High Command has saw to it that 3 Divisions of Fire Warriors as well as additional Atillans will be on board for your command. Accompanying them will be Shas'ui Atilla U'lso. He has been instructed to release these divisions to you provided he is satisfied with your compliance with our requests. Additionally you will surrender all of your “modified” regiments to him for assessment and re-education. Please use your Atillan Auxillaries in more conventional manner. Do not worry about the dangers that you may put them into, that is what they are trained for. Furthermore, the Gue'va's mind does not seem capable of resting thought and thus it is best utilized when placed in dangerous situations. Should we have some assurance that you be more prudent in future, you will not be lacking in armaments and soldiers. The powers that be are watching your career with great interest, and see much promise in your work. It is for this, that you have been gifted additional resources, a gentle warning, and an lesson. We anticipate you will take all three with open ear, and open mind. May you continue your work towards The Greater Good both on the battlefield and off. Take the great leader’s benevolence into your heart and remember that the greatest wrath is reserved for those first shown mercy. --End Communique-- So this is a fragment of a larger project, for those of you more knowledgeable about the tau, I would love some advice and criticism. What should be elaborated on? What impression do you get of the Tau here? Should I go into more detail about the armaments? More detail in general? Criticism on art piece also welcome, its mostly there to give an impression of what these auxillaries look like. Should I do more stuff like this, or would I be better to write actual stories.