Emissaries were sent to the T'au Empire where water caste diplomats were quick to see the implications of Tarquil's plan. The Tau were desperate to open up lines of supply to their stranded holdings in the Zadoc subsector. If a fresh bridge across the Cicatrix were to fall into their hands they would not only be able to relieve the pressure on their isolated colonies but once more continue their expansion deep into the vulnerable worlds of the Imperium Nihilus.
So eager were the Tau they tasked none other than a member of their Ethereal caste with the completion of the plan and sent with him one of Shadow Strike's elite special operations cadres. It was suicide for the warp blind Tau to attempt to pilot a fleet into the Cicatrix so they would have to be guided through the narrow, labyrinthine backwaters of the webway by Eldar rangers. Travelling light and without the support of large battlesuites and armoured vehicles they arrived on Einmyrria where they were greeted by Tarquil and set about the final leg of their journey through a maze of caves and natural passageways deep into the heart of the Necron tomb complex.
As the Tau cadre took up positions within the vast central chamber they were confronted with the reanimated legions of the Necrons, awoken from their long slumber not so long ago by the clumsy, ignorant intrusions of the mon-keigh.
The Eldar hadn't come so far to see their plan fail at the last moment. Without warning the lurking Aeldari warhost struck from the shadows. Agile jetbikes and flying aspect warriors launched themselves into the flank of the Necron legion, their attack accompanied by the siren screaming of the banshee to signal that death came to claim their ancient enemies.
Although their right phalanx had been thrown into disarray the rest of the Necron legion pressed home their own attack and the Tau cadre's own flank collapsed under the onslaught of destroyers even as the massive glowing form of a monolith slowly crept its way towards the plinth housing the device.
Mobilised to action by the Ethereal's stern gaze and the barked orders of their fireblade the disciplined fire warriors closed ranks and lay down overlapping fields of fire, their storm of pulse rounds lent added potency by Tarquil's magics. The Tau lines held firm and the attack was repelled until finally only the menacing form of the monolith remained, looming over the device. Bereft of heavy equipment it seemed like the massive construct might be impossible to destroy but the Aeldari mystics found the strands of fate that would spell its doom. Suddenly even small arms fire seemed to unerringly strike critical components and key locations. Racked by internal explosions the mighty monolith fell.
As Tau and Eldar alike erupted into cheering Tarquil allowed himself a smile of satisfaction. All had proceeded as he had foreseen. Only one strand of fate was left to be resolved. Wordlessly he drew his shuriken pistol, turned and shot the Necron assassin between the eyes even as he stepped out of the shadows that cloaked him.
It was with a sense of huge relief Tarquil watched the Ethereal Aun Sa'vesh activate the device aided by her team of earth caste scientists. In nearby federal space a huge Tau expedition fleet awaited the formation of the new pathway through the Cicatrix, ladened with re-enforcements and supplies for the isolated Tau colonies. Soon the T'au Empire would once more be able to expand into the galactic north, this time into space deprived of the Emperor's guiding light and far from the focus of the Imperial leadership on Terra. One day, Tarquil hoped, the Tau would establish a galactic empire that would calm the warp, deprive the dark gods of their power and thus ensure the survival of the galaxy.- Rick Lloyd
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