Shas’Ui Fi’Rios Lu’Ur’Na

Hive city Kepru: housing 7 billion human lives, and recently, an occupying cadre of Tau warriors, diplomats and engineers. The city had surrendered to the overwhelming might of the Greater Good. Well, part of it had. Many of the noble families had surrendered, looking to their own survival and gain, and many of the wealthier citizens had followed. Unfortunately, the lower classes were split. Some looked towards at the Tau for their salvation, a way for a better life. Others, faith in the God Emperor of Mankind, opposed the xeno’s and their heretical subjugation of humans. Sections of the planets PDF, bolstered by zealous citizens and spurned by hellfire preachers, waged a brutal guerrilla war in the depths of the hive. The Tau commanders, hesitant to commit to conflict in the densely populated, cramped, lower hives, were stymied. Any conflict in the lower hives would result in large numbers of Tau casualties, not to mention the high risk of collateral damage to the civilian population. Desperate for a solution, the Tau leadership quickly accepted when a renowned Earth Caste Engineer made a proposition.

The Earth Caste Engineer had been working on the hive city support systems, including the gargantuan ventilation network that supplied ‘fresh air’ to many in the lower hives. With some work, the air flow to the lower hives could be replaced with the toxic output with some of the cities manufactoriums. In low doses, the gas should be enough to reduce humans to a state of unconsciousness. The Tau commanders were ecstatic. Targeted and non-lethal, the tau forces could simply walk in and find the insurgents. The order was given.

-- --

“Shas’O, I am ready to divert air flow in the ventilation system.” The Fio’el’s nervous face filled the screen, glimpses of barbaric Gue’la technology in the background.
“Our Warriors stand ready. Initiate the plan, Fio’el.”
“For the Greater Good.” The response from the Earth Caste Engineer was almost drowned out by the oppressing thrum and whirs of the Hive city’s ventilation system changing.
-- --
“No major issues so far, scrubber has been bypassed.” The Fio’el muttered to himself, before turning to the transmitter.
“Target toxicity reached, reverting air flow. Fire warriors are cleared to go, Shas’O.”
The Shas’O nods, and swaps channel, broadcasting to the assembled Fire warriors.
“All units are authorised to enter the lower hive levels. Remember, the Gue’la should be unconscious. Triple check your helmet rebreathers, and focus on finding and eliminating the insurgents. Civilian casualties are to be avoided if possible. For the Greater Good!”
The Shas’O closed the channel, and looked to his own elite force of battle suit clad warriors. However, a blinking red light caught his attention, the Fio’el had signalled an emergency.

“Shas’O! Something has happened! I don’t understand! The machinery isn’t responding to my commands! The hive level is being flooded with toxic gas, I can’t revert it!”
“Will our Fire warriors be fine?” The Shas’O asked, the immediate concern the troops under his command.
“What? Oh, yes, they should be fine. But the Gue’la civilians! We need to evacuate them! If we delay, they could lose many live!”
“No. If we evacuate civilians, we put our troops at risk from the insurgents. There’s a good chance they could escape, or even ambush our forces.”
“Shas’O! The lives of those Civilians! Surely we cannot simply leave them to die!”
“Fio’El, would you willingly surrender your life to bring a whole planet into the Greater Good?”
“Well, yes, but…”
“Then don’t take this opportunity away from them. With their sacrifice, this world will be finally free! We continue as planned.” The Shas’O stared firmly at the Fio’El, before closing the channel.

-- --

Shas’La Fi’Rios Lu’Ur’Na, or Ur’Na, as she prefered to be called, stepped over another body, her team of fire warrior breachers following behind her, cramped in the tight alleyways of the Imperial hive city. They had inserted into this level of the lower hive, near one of the estimated insurgent bases, and were carefully navigating the winding back alleys.
“These gue’la bodies are creeping me out.” Muttered one of the newer squad members.
“They’re just unconscious. See the black soot on the floor? The Earth Caste apparently swapped some pipe around or something.” The Shas’Ui responded. Ur’Na smirked, the Shas’Ui had been coddling some of the new blood. The talk about the bodies had directed her attention though, and she noticed something. Well, the absence of something.
“Shas’Ui, they’re not breathing. None of them.” Ur’Na commed, a tinge of concern evident in her voice.
“Ridiculous, we were expecting some collateral damage, but they all can’t be dead.” The Shas’Ui leant over to examine one of the bodies. Each body was like the last however, devoid of life.
“I don’t.... I’m reporting this to command. Spread and prepare to search, we’re near the insurgent base.”
Ur’Na, with the rest of the team, uneasily dispersed into defensive positions in the surrounding buildings. Looking to take what little height advantage was available, Ur’Na clambered onto the roof of a nearby building. A cry, full of surprise, cut across the comms. A voice, thick in the guttural tones of the local Gue’la dialect, asked one simple question:
“Why?!”
One of the breachers backed out of building he had taken refuge in, weapon hanging on it’s sling and hands raised in a gesture of peace. Following the Tau was a human, slouched, blood flecked cloth covering his mouth, and a gue’la pistol wavering in hand.
“Why did you kill us all!?” The man asked in low Gothic, before pausing to cough wetly into his hand. “We wanted to join you! WHY?!”
Ur’Na had been trying to get a clear shot at the man, but her teammate was foiling the shot. Luckily, the Shas’Ui had a clearer shot with his pistol, and fired. The gue’la, torso a mess of blood and guts, fell forward onto the breacher he had just threatened. In the silence after the shot, the gue’la asked once more, the wet gurgle somehow easily understandable, “Why?”

With a sigh, the Shas’Ui went and offered support to the blood drenched Breacher.
“I talked to command. The Gue’la systems failed, and flooded this level with gas. Our orders haven’t changed, find and make sure the insurgents are dead.” There was a level of sadness in his voice. One that Ur’Na felt just as keenly. Most of the local populace had supported the occupying Tau force, and it was a tragedy that saw such wide devastation among the populace. The entire breacher team was in some degree of distress. Which is why noone noticed the soft thump of boots rounding the corner.

“Xeno Scum! Your betrayal of these people was inevitable! Men of the Imperium, Attack!” With cries muffled by improvised gas masks, men surged towards the tau squad. Rifles and pistols snapped and crackled, and shovels and clubs brandished. The breacher squad reacted with admirable speed, and the sound of pulse blasters tearing into flesh echoed in the alleyway. Despite the superior training and technology the Breacher team possessed, the sheer fury of the gue’la carried the charge into the disorganised ranks of the breacher team.

The resulting brawl was brutal and disorganised. Tau breachers sold their lives dearly, swinging with the butts of their guns, and firing point blank into the melee, but the ferocity of the gue’la was hard to match. The Shas’Ui attempted to provide some order, shouting orders across the bin of battle. Ur’Na took advantage of her height, situated on a roof, and maintained a steady stream of fire upon the enemy. For a split second, it looked like the Tau fire warriors would hold and break the wave of Imperial insurgents, but then disaster struck. A gue’la managed to slip past the Shas’Ui’s guard, and had forced him to the ground. Cries of anger turned to anguish as the human gleefully stabbed his knife into the weak points of the Tau armour.

Ur’Na felt angry, an anger born of guilt and shame. Launching herself off the roof, Ur’Na charged towards the Shas’Ui, barreling over all in her path. Elbows, knees and even the stock of the pulse blaster, found purchase on gue’la bodies. At some point, Ur’Na lost her weapon, a jarring impact forcing from her grip, but Ur’Na no longer cared. As she bludgeoned her way through the combat, she finally saw her Shas’Ui, pinned under the gue’la. A primal cry escaped from her lips as she lowered her shoulder and charged at the guel’la. A crunch and cry of pain as Ur’Na’s armoured shoulder connected, freeing the Shas’Ui. With surprising dexterity, Ur’Na forced the gue’la in the ground, his face snarling into hers, a reversal of his previous position.

“Filthy Xeno!” The man screamed, knife hand flailing dangerously. Ur’Na caught the hand and twisted the knife towards his face. “Your sins against the people here shall not stand!”

Ur’Na grunted, and forced the knife downwards. The flicker of surprise across the gue’la’s face was ended as the knife stabbed directly into his left eye. Adrenaline left Ur’Na as the man died, and she slumped over the body. It took a couple of seconds to realise that the sounds of the combat had died. She pulled the knife from the face of the man she killed, and looked up. The breacher squad, now severely understrength, stood around her. Their enemies lay dead around them. The Shas’Ui took a step forward, blood seeping from fresh bandages and streaming down his torso.

“Shas’la Lu’Ur’Na, I believe you saved me.” He said, sombrely. He gestured to the remainder of the squad, “Apparently you saved many of us with your charge. You gave us the chance to fight back,” Many of the squad nodded and murmured in agreement. Some, however, glanced apprehensively at the bloody knife in her hands. Her display was quite unlike the normal Tau method of war, even for Breachers.

“We killed them, Shas’Ui.” Ur’Na croaked, “The civilians.”
“Yes, it was unfortunate. There was nothing we could do. They gave their lives for the Greater Good.” The Shas’Ui smiled sadly, and offered her a hand. Ur’Na accepted and stood, other hand gripping the knife.
“For the Greater Good,” She repeated softly.

Por'vre Fi’Rios Bentu'Erra: Water Caste Historian (Friendly)
The soft patter footsteps heralded the arrival of the venerable historian, and one of the few people who Ur'Na considered a friend. Ur'na, however, was not in a friendly mood, and kept her eyes firmly in her book. The footsteps stopped nearby.

"Why did you give me this blasted name?" Ur'Na asked, morosely, eyes staring at unread words.

"What bothers you about the name?" responded the stately voice of Bentu'Erra. The soft rattle of cups filled with warm water infused with fragment leaves being placed next to Ur'Na, mollified her somewhat. This 'tea', a favourite of the old water caste member, had become a guilty pleasure of hers. With a thankful nod, and a apologetic smile, Ur'Na took one of the cups and sipped gently.

"It's old, Bentu'Erra, an old name not suited for one such as me."

"It does suit you, Lu'Ur'Na. It is a good name, and one that I believe describes you well." The old Tau, nearing almost 40 years of age, took the seat opposite hers. Ur'Na grimaced.

"I'm not old. I have little experience. I cannot give honour to the name you have given me. And I am certainly not graceful." Ur'Na spoke the last statement with some vitriol.

"As a warrior, I believe you will grow into the name. You, as a person, match the name quite well. You are quick to action, and often take the shortest route to a solution. Also, you are more graceful than you think. At least, when you want to be." Bentu'Erra smirked. Ur'Na was notorious for acting abrasive and uncouth, although less often as she matured. "And you forget. I came up with the name after reading those poems of yours."

Ur'Na groaned, "I wish you hadn't found those horrible things. I don't know why you think they are any good at all."

"Well, they're better than most written work from a Shas that I've seen." The smirk changed into a full blown grin, "Filled with great lines of literacy genius like: 'We were only provided 45 out of 50 required crates of food and thus were not able field the full complement of our warriors.'"

Ur'Na snorted and then sighed. "Look, Bentu'Erra, we leave soon. Next week."

"I know. Here. A gift for you." Bentu'Erra offered a book, a collection of prose, wit and psalms from many of the Tau Empire's finest minds. "I hope you enjoy it on your journey."

Shas'Ui Ksi'm'yen Su'Saum: Reaper Two Pathfinder (Neutral)
A Pathfinder that Ur'Na met as part of her Reaper training. At first, the similarities are striking. Both are skilled at disappearing into shadows, and often end up closer to the enemy then most tau would prefer. They often trained together, and the combination of markerlights on key targets and unforeseen pulse blaster shots did surprisingly well.  However, their differences are stark in contrast. Where Su'Saum is cautious, Ur'Na is impulsive. Ur'Na follows Mont'Ka, whereas Su'Saum prefers Kauyon. Su'Saum enjoys company and will talk with anyone. Ur'Na prefers to spend her time doing things.

Given their differences, their interactions have always been strained. While their actions in the field as Reapers have not suffered, some people say it's only a matter of time.

http://orokos.com/roll/593223
http://orokos.com/roll/593224
http://orokos.com/roll/612209
Name is wrong for the earlier ones, sorry.

400 XP & an Urn containing the ash-remains of something or someone. Who this was will require a much more detailed examination.