Concept of a Tau divide that isn't Far'Sight

[chapter master 454]

So as a bus driver, your thoughts are your only companion really so often I think of wild things and one of those concepts was of a divide in the Tau Empire that actually is among the Etherals.

 

The idea is more harking back to when tau when considered "clean" good versus "shade of dark grey" where a number of Etherals are just looking to maintain and gain power, while guising it as "for the greater good" while others are genuine about trying to improve the galaxy. The story wouldn't be "the empire is now divided in two" and more "there is a distinct difference in the Etherals of each sept and now even the castes of the septs" that causes friction. Those that want power need to maintain some sense of Status Quo to hold their positions while those that want to follow the "greater good" need to alliance to hold as to not shatter the empire as a whole, having seen the detriment it causes with Far'Sight.

 

The story wouldn't be too bold but the two major factions here that start it are the T'au and Vior'La. With both Legendary leaders Aun'Va and Aun'Shi sharing the battlefield. Truly an inspiring sight to behold.

The fighting would be intense and as expected of Aun'Va, he fights just as boldly as Aun'Shi does; both at the front though one could call attention that Aun'Shi invokes through actions while Aun'Va invokes with his oratory. While chaos does swirl around these figures, battlesuits coming screaming into battle along side both to protect. It is during the final climatic moments of the battle, when the Tau near breaking the enemy and the fight crescendos Aun'Shi is the only to notice a minor detail of his fellow Etheral: a shot that should of killed phases right through him, or he appears to flicker out before reappearing and without pause continues his bellows of command. He could not be? A fake?

 

Aun'Shi does not challenge this openly. Instead he catches his "fellow" commander while it is only Aun'Shi, "Aun'Va" and his guards that now it seems a little strange that they are never far or away from the Etheral for any reason. Despite even Aun'Shi commanding them to stand aside they do not, though clearly they are conflicted and not comfortable. Aun'Shi opts to quickly put down down with no injuries, he has fought fiercer. Now stepping onto the hover chair of Aun'Va he finally sees the truth: Hardlight projectors. It starts to run through his head, this would be why Aun'Va is able to be in so many places at once but he doesn't know the real truth...yet. He just assumes this is a measure the Etheral took to aid the empire and needed the secret kept from enemies and allies to maintain the effect.

 He wanted to discuss this with the real Aun'Va...not a mimic.

 

This would lead to him eventually challenging the T'au Etherals as to where Aun'Va was. Clearly, he isn't out on the battlefield anywhere. Where is he? Despite all their prowess in speech and manipulation, they never had to contend with another of their kind before...other tau were easily dealt with or calmed but this was another Etheral AND it was the legendary Aun'Shi Vior'La. After long arguments and one Etheral being held at blade point, the truth was given to him: Aun'Va was dead. By all accounts, the eerie part for this now secret meeting was how calm Aun'Shi takes it, almost at this point expecting that answer.

He leaves and returns to his own matters, for despite all the fear of the Tau Etherals, Aun'Shi does not reveal the truth to the Empire but is embittered by it. It didn't take much logic to see what they were doing, using a dead etheral of great repute as a puppet so they can stay in the shadows. Aun'Shi would thus instead take a different approach, redoubling his method of command: leading from the front and making a direct effort to show how real he was. Ether by showing his various scars, or even changing his attire. Simple things and even his chants reflect this notion of "dispelling lies and mistruths", "breaking mirrors and blowing away smoke". For all intents, he started a variant of the greater good without knowing it. He made sure to encourage his fellow Etherals of Vior'La to ensure they lead by example, not command by presence. To Inspire with action, not Encourage with words. These teachings weren't hard for Vior'La Etherals to follow as is their nature already of the hot blooded Vior'La.

 

Over time, this would see other septs adopt this style as well while others would call it foolish and almost as a challenge to it, change their method of command to stand in opposition to it.

Aun'Shi in time would also gather his own "shadow council", a group of Etherals across various septs who believe in his methods he deems trustworthy and able to learn the secret he did. While they were all sworn to secrecy (as they were all well aware it would cause mass panic, confusion and strife through the empire), they would all be changed by this truth.

It is almost like their desire to tell the truth in found in their method of command and battle. A hint to others to open their eyes but at their own pace and time.

 

 

Maybe? Not sure but I personally would like to return some element of tau being actual Good and not murky. We have enough of that with the Imperium. I find the idea of them being good fun, a way to play on a young race being naive about the universe which would further create parallels between dark age of technology man and tau.

Then again I am always an outlier for what I like...

I personally want Melee Crisis suit variants (call them Dire suits or something) and even melee riptides with Fusion Scythes and Rail Bunker Piles! (see I am nuts!)