Tau under Malkaor drive east

/-- Tau Command centre --/
/-- Elite Commander Rahvan Malkaor arrives on Hexis --/

The murmuring stopped as the new arrivals entered. The dissatisfaction from Tau high command since the Federacy had been routed from Hexis was no secret among the command echelons, and this coupled with the sudden urgency to control the situation with the tunnel to Tau space opening had left many asking how the Empire would respond. Most of those present had hoped not to have to deal with the notoriously insular Commander however.

“He's still wearing the coat then...”

Ethereal Shorio at his shoulder, Malkaor entered the command bunker. The long, scuffed black leather of his coat trailing a little. Those already present declined to comment, but exchanged looks.

/-- --/

“The patient hunter gets the prey, Malkaor” grumbled the old commander at the dais. “With the situation having been so uncertain and out of our favour for so long, biding our time was wise.”

“Patience ceases to be useful at the point when one is fully asleep.” The Etheral, Shorio, had spoken, waiting aside as a statue.

“Our inactivity has become predictable.” Malkaor stated after the pause. “We have let the Eldar decide the direction of the Alliance actions, and we have elected to wait for the situation to improve of its' own choosing. None of these things is acceptable.”

The room stiffened.

“The forces of the twisted enemy have overreached, relying on our lack of action. We can cut off their centre, with a decisive movement, if we act now.” He met eyes with every senior Commander in the room. A few held his gaze.

“I shall take my Cadre to push to the East, relieving the pressure from our flank. I anticipate a change in attitude on my return.”

The words exchanged between those in the room after Malkaor left were deleted from the official transcript by the profanity filter on the observation drones.

/-- --/

The Tau were only beginning to set their forward base when the scouts first reported movement.

“Heavy infantry, Commander. More of the shuffling, green bipedal beasts, and the troops in the ornate armour. The creature in the ridiculous hat is among them. The sensors are reading them as poorly as ever.”

The Tau fell into defensive positions with practised ease, the enemy's slow advance allowing them ample time to select the battleground. The opening volley of fire, hampered by the miasma around the Plaguebearers at the Chaos vanguard, tore most of the creatures down. The few left standing strode forward unfazed. Their willingness to absorb the fire became clear as they parted, allowing the Rubricae of the Thousand Sons through. Guided by Ahriman, they slaughtered the Tau spotters with blazing warpfire, millennia of experience making a mockery of the Tau's attempts to seek cover.  The Tau infantry absorbed the losses with stoic resolve, and surged forward. The Fireblade's orders rang clear as the markerlights mounted on the accompanying drones shone through the distortion conjured forth, guiding the Cadre's shots. Coordinated firepower drove the Rubricae into killing zones, cutting them down steadily. With the enemy advance stumbling, Sub-commander Redwind called a sighting of the Sorcerer out.

“The enemy mystic is there, hugging the rock face. He isn't on his drone, Malkaor.”

“Good. Kill the creature before he can reach cover.”

As the gap in the sorcerous haze widened, Redwind's fusion blasters roarer. Weapons recently calibrated to kill Imperial Knights tore through Ahriman's form, splattering the rock face behind him. Reaching for any lifeline, he pulled himself into the webway.

“Thanks Fateweaver”, he muttered.

/-- --/

The remaining Chaos forces tenaciously held on to the battlefield's midground, but with the Tau's lines unbroken they were driven away, the daemons fleeing to the warp and the Rubricae reduced to dust on the wind.

/-- --/

“The route to the Empire is gone, Commander. We have no more idea where it went than we did where it came from.”

Malkaor was watching his warriors establish a new operating base from atop the old Imperial ruins. The dust stuck to the faded gold trim of his coat, obscuring the lighter section on the lapel where the Aquila had been removed. He turned to the messenger.

“It hardly makes a difference now. We have the forces we need to keep gaining ground, and resupply will get through. The others won't want to be shown up by this today.”