Wurrshuv's Revenge - Week 3

Wurrshuv's Revenge - An ATT Campaign 

Week 3 

Tragedy has befallen the Tau on M-88. While touring the embattled planet to raise spirits amongst its defenders, the Tau Ethereal Aun'el'Sa'cea Ol'Bentu'B was brutally murdered while inspecting a forward operations centre in the Empire Sector. In the early afternoon the renowned and cherished leader was viscerally ripped apart in the middle of a public address he was giving to an assembly of Fire Warriors, with the unidentified assailant taking the Ethereal's head and attached spinal column with them as they fled. The assassin is believed to have used Tau cloaking technology to infiltrate the facility and get within striking range of the Ethereal, as well as evade pursuing guards. After inflicting several more fatalities on the Tau security forces the assassin managed to escape into the wilderness of M-88. The exact means by which this was achieved are not yet clear, but initial investigations suggest that a poorly guarded waste conduit was used to facilitate the assassin's flight. Needless to say Ol'Bentu'B's shocking and graphic demise has been a devastating blow to Tau morale. 

In space much needed naval reinforcements have arrived in the form of Operational Group Or’res’tel’K, which has since begun convoy escort and search-and-destroy missions against the marauding wolf-packs of Ork Freebootaz. This has taken considerable pressure off Kor'vattra fleet K-42, which is now able to focus all of its efforts in locating and destroying incoming Ork Roks. No additional Roks have thus far reached the surface of M-88, and more and more convoys are reaching M-88 intact. 

Situation Updates - All Sectors 

He'Sho Seas - ORK CONTROLLED 

Acting on intelligence gleaned from rescued Tau stragglers, the Tau landing forces in the He'Sho Seas region have attempted a major breakout from their landing zones. Almost all remaining mercenary forces were marshalled for the offensive to bolster the critically low amounts of Tau manpower, and extensive air support was called in from any available Air Cadres. With the dual objectives of breaking through the Ork cordon and destroying additional nearby Ork oil infrastructure, the plan was a dangerous gambit, but the embattled Tau commanders at the beachhead felt they had little other option in the face of the relentless Ork siege. 

Unfortunately the operation has proven inconclusive. Heavy damage has been inflicted to Ork oil refineries and storage sites in the areas surrounding the Tau beachhead at FFG355Y, but the Tau forces have failed to break out and expand their foothold in the region with fierce Ork counterattacks forcing the Tau breakthrough forces to fall back to their landing sites under heavy attack. Lack of effective air support was a major factor in the Tau's lack of success in this area. Faulty Tau intelligence vectored much of the air support assigned to the breakout attacks through areas the Orks had recently turned into air defence kill-zones, with the result that many of the Tiger Shark flights deployed in support of the operation were downed by Intacepta Rokkits or Fighta-Bommers flown by veteran Ork pilots before they could lend their support to the fighting. 

With their plans for a quick decisive breakthrough dashed, the situation is continuing to grow increasingly dire for the Tau forces embattled in the He'Sho Seas region, and Tau Commanders at the FFG355Y Beachhead are desperately calling on Enclave Command and the ATT Shas'ar'tol for immediate reinforcements. 

Ork Points: 84 

Tau Points: 16 

"It was an oil derrick too many." 

- Shas'Ui'Vior'los Kles'ro'Kunas, commenting on the He'Sho Seas breakout operation 

Mo'Hav Plains - ORK CONTROLLED 

As Tau airstrikes grow fewer and fewer, the numbers of Ork warbands pouring through the Mo'Hav Plains towards battle in the Saal'vesa training grounds have swelled to ever larger proportions. For every Ork army defeated in the Empire Sector, it appears two more are gathering in the neighbouring Mo'Hav plains to take its place. With the Tau forces occupied in containing Ork offensives into the Empire and Enclave sectors, or in the desperate combat in the He'Sho Seas, Ork activity in the Mo'Hav plains has been left almost completely unchecked. 

Like the neighbouring Ork-held territories in the He'Sho Seas and around Wurrshuv's Krunch, the Mo'Hav plains are showing extensive signs of complete Ork colonisation. Numerous Ork settlements have sprung up throughout the region to provide supporting infrastructure to the constant Ork traffic, alongside countless smaller refueling and resupply outposts referred to by the Orks as 'Trukk Stopz'. Large fungal forests have begun to invade the local ecology, supplanting the native ecosystems with ruthless abandon, aided by the vast quantities of toxic byproducts and pollutants from Ork industry in the He'Sho Seas and Wurrshuv's Krunch regions, which is beginning to inflict significant damage on the local fauna and flora of M-88. The once open skyline of the Mo'Hav Plains has become broken with the jagged silhouettes of gargantuan Ork idols constructed at major staging grounds. 

Ork Points: 81 

Tau Points: 19 

Wurrshuv's Krunch - ORK CONTROLLED 

After weeks of attrition and in light of the important role Tau air support has played in a number of Tau victories, the Orks have determined that the time to strike in force is right, and have unleashed a massive all-out aerial offensive of unprecedented scale and ferocity. Referred to by the Orks as 'Roll'n Thunda', the air offensive has focused on decisively eliminating the Tau air threat, and has decimated Tau airbases and air-defence sites across Tau-held territory. Based on observations from the field and reconnaissance from orbital and aerial platforms, it is estimated by the Tau that the Orks are able to deploy an entire squadron of Fighta-Bommers for every individual combat aircraft the Tau are able to get in the air. This deficiency in force correlation has only been compounded by 'Roll'n Thunda', which has seen hundreds of Tau aircraft destroyed on the ground by intensive Ork air raids, guided to key Tau targets by the efforts of infiltrating Spektas, and the tempo of attacks shows no sign of slowing. 

In addition to the widespread destruction of  Tau airbases, a key component of 'Roll'n Thunda' has been the destruction of Tau air-defence systems. It appears that Wurrshuv is concerned the Tau may adopt a countermeasure against the Beepy Gubbinz countermeasures that have proven so successful against them, and has ordered his Flyboy warbands to dismantle as much of the Tau air-defence network as possible while they still retain this decisive advantage. The primary element of this endeavour have been flights of Fighta-Bommers entirely equipped with Beepy Gubbinz to close in on Tau air-defence systems and long-range sensor arrays unmolested and escape once they have destroyed their targets. Referred to by the Orks as 'Savage Squig' missions, these suppressive air-raids have been highly successful, and the Tau air-defence network has been critically compromised. 

As their number of aerial victories grows, More and More Ork Flyboyz are attaining ace status against the Tau. Those Ork pilots with more than 15 confirmed kills against Tau aircraft are now known as 'Axe Eataz' (Axe Eaters) to the Orks, in reference to the AX designation for Tau aircraft, and the image of an Ork devouring an axe (often with a head shaped like a Tau airframe) is a common recurring motif in the decorative artwork adorning their Fighta-Bommers. A growing number of Ork Fighta-Bommer squadrons are entirely made up of these Axe-Eatas, though typically a Fighta-Bommer squadron will only sport one or two such aces among its number. 

The Ork countermeasures known as Beepy Gubbinz continue to provide Ork aircraft equipped with them near impunity to Tau air defences and many Tau air-to-air systems employed against them, with an effective counter remaining elusive. Some Ork pilots have grown so confident in the safety the Beepy Gubbinz grant them that they have outfitted their Fighta-Bommers with high-powered speaker systems with which they loudly broadcast music in the Greenskin genres known as 'Evy Metal' and 'Goff Rok' during their attack runs. Demand for Beepy Gubbinz has skyrocketed amongst the Flyboyz on M-88, and furious brawls regularly break out in Ork settlements as Ork pilots and vehicle crew alike attempt to gain enough teef to purchase them. Their construction has consequently become an exceptionally lucrative enterprise for Wurrshuv and his Mekboy followers. 

Ork Points: 100 

Tau Points: 0 

Note: Due to heavy Ork defences and overwhelming numbers of Orks in the area, Tau players may not report games in this region. 

"You'z gotta be zoggin me..." 

- Flyboss Blitzgul, on being assigned to a Savage Squig mission

Training Ground Saal'vesa - TAU CONTROLLED 

Tau morale in the Empire Sector has crumbled with the assassination of Aun'el'Sa'cea Ol'Bentu'B and the horrific devastation inflicted by Roll'n Thunda. The skies over Tau territory have become riddled with the dark trails left by Ork Fighta-Bommers, while the sight of Tau aircraft intercepting them is growing rarer and rarer. Tau forces face merciless bombardment from Ork airstrikes and superheavy artillery firing out from the neighbouring Krunch region. As ambushes and raids by Ork Spektas continue and contact is lost with more patrols and run'al observation posts, many Tau warriors are beginning to grow paranoid. 

If there is one thing the Tau can point to to raise their spirits, it is their success in battles on the ground. In a series of well-planned ambushes and counter-attacks, Tau hunter cadres have achieved victory after victory over the Speed Freak warbands, and begun to push their advance back. Of particular note is the performance of the ATT battlesuit cadres, which in one especially decisive engagement succeeded in repulsing an attack by Ork heavy armoured formations. Though the Tau commander responsible for the defence was forced to resort to calling in whatever orbital support was available, the Tau were nonetheless able to scatter the assaulting warbands and hunt the survivors down at their leisure. In their pursuit the Tau were even able to capture a number of devices created by Wurrshuv and his Mekboy apprentices, and the confiscated technology is now under Earth Caste scrutiny. The Water Caste has begun an extensive propaganda campaign highlighting these successes in an attempt to bolster the deteriorating spirits of the Tau on M-88. 

Ork Points: 33 

Tau Points: 67 

Training Centre Or'vesa - TAU CONTROLLED 

While the Empire leadership has been paralysed by the death of Ol'Bentu'B, Enclave command has acted. Unfazed by the loss of an Ethereal, the Enclave Tau have continued to battle the Orks with no pause or withdrawal, and their continued action has been instrumental in keeping the Tau position on M-88 stable. Indeed, the considerable efforts of the Enclave Tau forces have been almost the only thing preventing the Or'vesa region from being completely overrun, and their sacrifices have given many of the Empire forces fighting alongside them a newfound respect for those previously thought to have abandoned the Tau'va. 

Taking advantage of the lack of Empire activity and consequent reduced oversight, Enclave Command has seized the initiative and salvaged the earlier Tau plan to undermine the Ork attacks in depth with a series of air-landing missions. Mobilising as many reserve forces as they could, the Enclave forces successfully staged a number of air-landing missions behind the main Ork front lines, with the scattered remnants of Auxiliary forces trapped in Ork occupied territory aiding the air-landing forces. The surviving Kroot kindreds in the area have been particularly useful in this regard, staging a series of lethal guerilla raids that compromised much of the Ork defences ahead of the landings, and continuing to provide support to the landing forces following their arrival. After Tau cadres moving over land successfully linked up with the air-landing forces a number of sailents have been opened up in the Ork lines, and a number of Tau forces are pushing further into enemy territory. 

Ork Points: 37 

Tau Points: 63 

Fio Starport - TAU CONTROLLED 

The death of Ol'Bentu'B has stunned the ATT Shas'ar'tol, and much of the Tau forces stationed around Fio Starport. Many have questioned how such an act could have been allowed to happen, and a full-scale investigation is underway into the Sa'cea forces who were responsible for the Ethereal's security. Shas'O'T'au Kais'Ka'Eoro'Da'Anuk, commander of the 42nd T'au Guards Cadre, has placed much of the blame on a breakdown in communications among the Tau leadership, citing several instances of Tau commanders failing to communicate and work together for the Greater Good. The veteran Shas'O has once again called for greater communication amongst Tau commanders active on the surface of M-88. 

Under the onslaught of 'Roll'n Thunda' the Tau air forces have been stretched past breaking point, and the Orks have managed to secure air superiority in the skies of M-88. This culminated in the Orks doing what was previously thought impossible by the Tau - launching attacks on Fio Starport. With little remaining resistance in the air, and protected from ground-based defences by Beepy Gubbinz, several Ork airstrikes have hit targets around Fio Starport, One particularly reckless squadron of Fighta-Bommers even performed a suicidal air raid on the starport itself, inflicting considerable damage on the starport facilities before being shot down. The actions of the Earth Caste active in the Fio Starport region have been invaluable in limiting the extent of the long-term damage. Earth Caste teams have acted fearlessly to perform damage control, extinguish fires and incendiary attacks, clear debris, remove undetonated ordinance, conduct repairs, rescue survivors and provide medical aid to casualties. These courageous Fio have worked around the clock in the face of grave danger, often starting their duties moments after the Ork munitions have landed, and powered through their overwhelming grief at the loss of Ol'Bentu'B. "The Ores'la destroy, we rebuild," the Fio say, "The Oresla destroy, we rebuild anew." 

Ork Points: 0 

Tau Points: 100 

Note: Due to the extensive Tau defence networks in place within this region, Ork players may not report games in this territory.   

"More fighters inbound, heading 6-3-0-niner at 800 tor'kan. Grey 4 and 6, peel off, try to draw them away, Gry 3 and 8 form up and engage them from behind. Watch your fuel levels too, we're all running near critical. How many more can they have..." 

- Kor'vre'Tau'n Doran'Shi'va, in combat over the Or'vesa training grounds

Ork Campaign Points: 4 

Tau Campaign Points: 4

As another week of bloody conflict comes to a close, yet another disturbing mystery has reached the ATT Shas'ar'tol. Less than 20 decs ago all contact was lost with Outpost 84U, a forward operations centre established in the north-east of the Sal'vesa region. With no warning the base ceased all communications and all outgoing signals from the installation disappeared. It is as if the base simply vanished. The only clue the ATT Shas'ar'tol has as to the fate of the complex and the Tau present within it was the last known situation report from the area, which reported two unidentified sensor contacts at high altitude over Outpost 84U before contact was lost. Long-range reconnaissance units have been scrambled to ascertain what has happened to the base. 

+++INCOMING TRANSMISSION+++
+++TRANSMISSION RECIEVED+++ 

TO: ATT Shas'ar'tol 

AUTHOR: Fio'vre'Dal'yth Ko'Kaara 

SUBJECT: Analysis Report on Captured Ores'la Technology 

Tau'fann, 

I have compiled the following report based on the recently completed analysis my team has performed of the Ores'la devices recently captured by our forces fighting on the surface of M-88. As you know, Battlesuit cadres recently routed an Ores'la armoured spearhead pushing through the Empire Sector, covering the Saal'vesa training grounds south-west of the Ores'la landing site known as 'Wurrshuv's Krunch'. During the battle our troops were able to recover a number of unidentified devices abandoned by the Ores'la that have never before been encountered in our engagements with the Ores'la. I must commend our brave Fire Caste warriors fighting on the ground, they have proven to be tenacious defenders of our empire and have shown great skill and valour in the face of horrors I do not believe I would ever be able to stand before. After our analysis of the technology captured, I am not sure I would want to either - if these captured devices are anything to go by, the Ores'la we are fighting are a force to be reckoned with. 

There are three kinds of Ores'la technology that have been recovered from the fighting in the Saal'vesa training grounds, and multiple examples of two of these kinds were captured. All three varieties are weapon systems of some variety, and all three are based on the tractor-beam and gravitic repulsor technologies employed by particularly advanced Ores'la warbands. We have identified these three devices as the 'Pulla-Aparta', the 'Traktor-Grappla' and the "Grav-smasha", based on their mention in intercepted Ores'la transmissions. 

Pulla-Aparta 

The Pulla-Aparta is a particularly inventive application of Ores'la tractor-beam and gravitic manipulation technology, closely related to the superheavy Ores'la energy weapon known as the 'Lifta-Droppa'. Like the Lifta-Droppa, the Pulla-Aparta appears to have begun life as engineering and construction equipment before being re-purposed for battlefield use as an offensive weapon. My team received examples of this weapon mounted on both static and mobile platforms recovered from the Saal'vesa training grounds. 

Regardless of the platform mounted, the design of the weapon and its function remains the same. Unlike similar Ores'la weapons, the Pulla-Aparta features two sets of beam emitters and armatures mounted in parallel, linked to a central assembly of servos and hydraulics and aligned to converge on a single point in front of the weapon. When activated, the weapon fires two magneto-gravitic tractor beams with complementary polarities, both of which strike the target simultaneously. The operator then turns the armatures in opposite directions, and as the beams move with them the resulting forces rip the target apart, almost as if it were pulled in opposite directions by two invisible and enormously strong hands. 

It is believed that the Pulla-Aparta played an instrumental role in Wurrshuv's initial successes in capturing and analysing Tau technology. The weapon would be ideal for salvaging technology after a battle, as its non-explosive nature leaves the vast majority of the target's smaller components largely intact (larger components and connections between components suffer the most damage as the target is violently ripped apart), while being powerful enough to dismantle even our largest vehicles and battle-suits. Armour density appears to offer little to no effective protection from a Pulla-Aparta attack, as the beams are able to energise metallic objects regardless of density or thickness, and can even dismantle reinforced Iridium plating. Fortunately the twin beams have only a very narrow focus, and can only lock onto a single object at a time. Our tests have determined that they also have only a negligible effect on organic matter, making them non-lethal to living organisms. This makes the Pulla-Aparta a highly dangerous anti-armour and anti-battlesuit weapon, but ineffective in an anti-personnel role, and it is thus our recommendation that any Pulla-Apartas encountered in the field be engaged with light infantry fighting dismounted to neutralise them before they can be brought to bear on heavy equipment. 

Traktor-Grappla 

The Traktor-Grappla is another application of Ork tractor-beam technology, and is a direct descendent of the Ork energy weapons identified as the 'Traktor Kannon' and the 'Magna-Kannon'. The key difference between the Traktor-Grappla and its siblings is that it features a different power modulation architecture that allows it to fire for longer durations of time, at a reduced power level. We suspect Wurrshuv may have derrived the power modulation design from captured examples of our plasma rifles, or otherwise been inspired by observations of plasma rifles in the field. That both our plasma rifles and this Traktor-Grappla technology both follow the same principle of trading energy yield for safer firing at sustained rates appears, to us at least, to be beyond coincidence. 

The reduced power output of the Traktor-Grappla precludes its use as an anti-aircraft weapon, as the beam it produces is incapable of reaching an altitude useful for anti-aircraft work, and leaves it incapable of dealing direct damage to targets or lifting them more than a few dozen tor'lek from the ground, which again leaves it ineffective as an offensive weapon in its own right. Instead the Traktor-Grappla fulfils an extremely useful niche as a support weapon. Once its beam has been locked on, the Traktor-Grappla lifts the target a short distance into the air for ground clearance and then simply pulls the target directly towards the weapon itself. This has the practical effect of dragging a targeted object much closer to nearby Ores'la forces, where it can then be engaged in the close quarters combat Ores'la excel at. 

The Traktor-Grappla thus provides the Ores'la with an effective counter to the superior range of our weapons and the stand-off attacks that are central to much of the Fire Caste's combat doctrine. A high-energy power supply gives the weapons a range that matches our heaviest tactical-level armaments (testing has shown the Traktor-Grapplas examined to remain effective at distances equal to an RX-58 railgun's maximum effective range), allowing Ores'la forces equipped with the Traktor-Grappla to neutralise our own long-range units by pulling them out of position or forcing them into ambushes and short-range engagements. 

Like the Pulla-Aparta outlined above the Traktor-Grappla is suspected to have played a key role in Wurrshuv's earlier successes in capturing Tau technology. Neither of these two weapon systems have been observed in other Ores'la warbands thus far encountered, and it is suspected that Wurrshuv is the first and possibly only Ores'la engineer to have conceived of them. The limitation of Pulla-Apartas and Traktor-Grapplas to only those Ores'la warbands loyal to Wurrshuv also leads us to speculate that Ores'la warlord has restricted their proliferation, jealously guarding the knowledge behind their construction to prevent them from being used by rivals or rogue warbands against his own forces. 

It is our conclusion that the Traktor-Grappla provides a serious force-multiplier to Ores'la forces equipped with them, and Fire Caste warriors should consider them priority targets, especially if using tactics where long-range combat is key. 

Grav-Smasha 

Unlike the other two Ores'la technologies recovered from the Saal'vesa training grounds, only a single example of this device was captured by the victorious Fire Warriors. It is believed to be the only example present in the Ores'la armoured force that was defeated, and we suspect that the device is a prototype given to the Ores'la force by Wurrshuv for field-testing. Unfortunately, the device was also damaged to the extent of rendering it non-operable, so we can only speculate on its nature. 

The device was enclosed within an aerodynamic casing, and although the casing itself was damaged, its overall shape suggests that the device was intended to be an artillery munition fired from a very large calibre gun (though it is certainly possible that the device could just as easily be attached to a suitable rocket motor and be used as a missile warhead instead). The device itself consisted of a strange combination of components from various advanced Tau defence systems. My team identified components from both the drone-mounted grav-inhibitors issued to Pathfinder teams and the Repulsor Impact Fields being issued to high-ranking Fire Caste commanders in increasing numbers (presenting an interesting case of the Ores'la adapting a foreign adaptation of their own technology) used in the device's construction. In addition to these parts were a number of Ores'la energy weapon components and subsystems. The lack of standardisation in Ores'la technology makes their exact nature difficult to discern, but similar subsystems have been seen in various force-field and tractor beam weapons used by the Ores'la (especially those identified as the 'Shunta' and 'Smasha Gun', but also the 'Bubblechukka' and 'Pulsa Rokkit'). 

Our current theory is that the device uses some combination of gravitic and force fields to produce a localised pocket of space in which trapped gravitons are forced into a cycle of constant collapse, ultimately resulting in a small artificial gravitational singularity. This gravitational singularity would be far too small to be sustained for a considerable length of time, and would quickly radiate its collected energy and dissipate. Needless to say, the immense gravitational forces of such a singularity and the blast-yield from its rapid energy radiation would be cataclysmic, easily able to annihilate an entire city within a few rai'kan. 

If our theories are true, then the Grav-Smasha would be a horrific weapon, matching both our own developmental Nova munitions and Gue'la Vortex weapons in destructive power. This would mark a critical threat to the continued security and even survival of the Tau Empire and is a clear indicator of the severe danger these Ores'la pose. Our only comfort is that these devices make use of a number of exotic components that are extremely scarce, making them mercifully limited in number. It is unlikely that Wurrshuv has constructed any more than a small handful of these devices, likely as a strategic deterrent against attack from Nova or orbital weaponry, and we believe the chances of their use at the tactical level of warfare to be remote at best. 

This concludes our analysis of the Ores'la technology captured in the Saal'vesa training grounds. 

+++UPLINK CLOSED+++

Wurrshuv's Revenge - Week 2

Wurrshuv's Revenge - An ATT Campaign 

Week 2

The storm on M-88 has broken in earnest. After months of preparation the Tau and Ork counteroffensives have been unleashed, running into each other head on. The result has been a blood-drenched stalemate with neither side able to gain ground against the other. Tau firepower and mobility is being offset by Ork mass and low cunning. Both sides have suffered heavy losses, with thousands of Ork warbands destroyed and hundreds of Tau cadres rendered combat ineffective by attrition. The Tau leadership now fears that further Orks may be drawn to news of the battles and may escalate the conflict even further. In an attempt to quickly gain the upper hand, the ATT Shas'ar'tol is seeking to hold the Orks in place with their current front-line forces while marshalling further Tau reinforcements for a series of massive air-landing operations that, it is hoped, will catch the greenskin hordes in a vertical envelopment. The plan has significant risk however, as it will denny immediate reinforcements on the front lines and could leave the Tau vulnerable should the Orks manage a successful breakthrough. 

Tau naval forces are beginning to trickle into the system, but not at the same rate as the Ork Freebooter fleets lured by bloodshed and Wurrshuv's promises of riches for any that fight for him. This deficiency is further compounded by the exponentially growing numbers of Ork Roks approaching M-88, filled with new Invasion forces and carrying the threat of opening up additional fronts on the surface. Kor'vattra fleet K-42 has shifted focus primarily on hunting down the encroaching Roks, deeming them to be the greater threat. The Tau fleet has seen considerable success in this endeavour, and thus far no additional Roks have made it to the surface of M-88, but this has come at the cost of leaving the Tau reinforcement corridors vulnerable. Already a number of Tau convoys carrying fresh troops and supplies have been lost to roving wolfpacks of Ork freebooter warships. 

Situation Updates - All Sectors 

He'Sho Seas - ORK CONTROLLED

The Tau beachhead in the He'Sho Seas region continues to hold out against massive Ork counter-attacks, but they remain cut off and losses are mounting. Only a steady trickle of Mantas and Orca dropships making their way through the formidable Ork air defences in the region is preventing the Tau landing forces from being annihilated. A number of raids against nearby Ork mining operations and oil infrastructure have been attempted, but all have thus far ended in failure with the Tau forced to fall back under heavy enemy attack. Without further reinforcements, and with the unrelenting Ork pressure on the Tau landing zones, the Tau have simply been left with too few warriors to spare for these missions. 

The Orks' Intacepta Rokkit networks in the He'Sho Seas have been instrumental in their defence efforts, and the Orks do not hesitate to pound the Tau positions with long-range Intacepta Rokkit fire when there are no Tau aircraft operating in the area. The allies and mercenary forces that arrived with the Tau air-landing troops have thus far suffered the worst losses, being placed in the highest-risk sectors by the Tau commanders. Morale amongst these mercenary elements is low, due to spiralling casualty rates and growing fears that Wurrshuv may retaliate against them personally should they continue to fight against him. The Big Mek has a notorious reputation amongst the outlaw underworld of the Eastern Fringe, and this has not gone unrecognised by the mercenaries and pirates fighting alongside the Tau, with many questioning whether the rewards promised by the Tau outweigh the grave risks involved. 

Amidst the dire situation for the Tau landing forces, one small silver lining can be found in an unexpected area. Scattered Tau remnants are beginning to find their way back to the Tau landing sites in the He'Sho seas. A combination of survivors from the initial Ork assault on the region and surviving elements from Operation FARSIGHT, these Tau are found approaching the outskirts of the Tau beachhead at erratic hours, often waiting until nightfall to complete their journey. Occasionally they arrive in ragged bands of three or four, but more often they come in pairs or, most common of all, lone warriors who are the sole survivor of their unit. Fire Warriors and Pathfinders in these remnants frequently have at least their basic kit and weapon still with them, and occasionally FARSIGHT remnants will still have functional Stealthsuits, but more often than not these survivors arrive with little more than the combat armour on their bodies, all other equipment having been irreparably damaged or lost in their desperate flight to safety. Nonetheless, these remnants are a welcome source of extra manpower for the Tau landing forces, and the Tau commanders at the He'Sho Seas beachhead are eagerly collecting every scrap of intelligence they can gleam from the survivors for use in planning their next move... 

Ork Points: 84
Tau Points: 16

Mo'Hav Plains - ORK CONTROLLED

The Ork Speed Freak warbands have now largely left the Mo'Hav Plains region, but this area remains no less heavily populated by Ork forces. The extensive network of roadways the Orks have constructed in the area continues to function as a major supply artery for the Ork invasion, channelling war materials, supplies, spoils and Ork warbands between the Ork-occupied sectors and the front lines, and as the road system reaches maturity more and more effort is being put towards security, with increasingly elaborate defences beginning to spring up across the region to guard the vital roadways against intruders. 

In the wake of the Speed Freaks come hundreds of thousands of regular Ork warbands and Wurrshuv's own armies, forming a second echelon of the greenskins' southern offensive and acting as a follow-on force to the Speed Freaks to exploit any breakthroughs the speed-crazed Orks may achieve. Orbital imagery and footage from high-altitude surveillance drones shows unimaginably vast plumes of impenetrable black smoke blotting out the surface of M-88 as these forces flood the staging grounds and roads of the Mo'Hav Plains in preparation for their attacks on the Tau in the west. 

Ork Points: 81
Tau Points: 19

Wurrshuv's Krunch - ORK CONTROLLED

Flying out of their airbases in the Krunch region, Ork flyboyz continue to wage a relentless air war in the airspace over the Tau controlled sectors. Though they have suffered considerable losses against the Tau air cadres, the Ork pilots are quickly learning Air Caste tactics and adapting to them. A number of fighta-bommer aces have emerged from the fighting and are now feared across M-88. It is believed that the significant disposition of the Ork air forces works to their favour in this regard, as their numbers leave more room to adapt and experiment with their tactics - any failures are simply absorbed as acceptable losses that the Orks can take. The Tau air cadres, with their limited numbers and much less expendable assets, do not have such a luxury. 

On the ground, Wurrshuv has taken keen note of the success the Tau have had with their stealth technology in previous conflicts, and has started using it against his enemies in earnest. The heavy losses of Operation FARSIGHT combined with plundered Tau technology from battles in the west has left the Big Mek with an ample supply of salvaged stealth field components, which he has used to expand the ranks of his Spektas. Instrumental in the initial Ork victories in the He'Sho Seas, these feared Kommandos use looted stealth field generators to devastating effect. Newly formed Spekta mobs have been deployed to all major fronts, and have thrown many Tau forces into chaos with their deadly raids. It would also appear that the Tau are not the only ones to have fallen in the cross-hairs of the Spektas - several dissenting Ork warbosses have suffered gruesome 'accidents' after refusing to provide suitable tribute to Wurrshuv or challenging his authority. 

Ork Points: 100
Tau Points: 0

Note: Due to heavy Ork defences and overwhelming numbers of Orks in the area, Tau players may not report games in this region. 

Training Ground Saal'vesa - TAU CONTROLLED

In the south the Speed Freaks have struck the Empire Sector in full force. Thousands of speed-crazed warbands have descended on the Saal'vesa training grounds in an orgy of high-speed destruction, with the fighting becoming a grim reflection of the initial Ork landing. The Speed Freaks have lost none of their cunning or ferocity, and the week's combat has seen heavy damage inflicted on the southern Tau forces. The Tau's salvation thus far has been the lack of unity amongst the Speed Freaks - with individual warbands operating on their own leadership, no central coherent strategy has been followed by the Speed Freaks, allowing the Tau to redirect them with relative ease and defeat them piecemeal. 

The end result has seen the Speed Freak assault blunted, but has also left the Empire Tau forces unable to push into the neighbouring Mo'Hav plains. The front line in the Empire Sector has been left a fractured mess as the belligerents have become locked in a vicious cycle of swirling manoeuvre warfare and mobile combat, with mechanised Tau hunter cadres chasing Speed Freak warbands in inconclusive running battles that leave the two forces increasingly intermingled. The ATT Shas'ar'tol remains confident that they can contain the Speed Freaks, but there are growing concerns about whether this can be done before the second echelon of Ork forces massing in the Mo'Hav Plains hits the Empire Sector in strength. 

Ork Points: 34
Tau Points: 66

Training Centre Or'vesa - TAU CONTROLLED

The Tau have been dangerously slow to respond to the operational and strategic opportunities presented to them in the Enclave Sector, with Tau forces in the north paralysed as their commanders debate how best to exploit their regained initiative. The Orks, however, have been equally indecisive, making piecemeal attacks at both the Or'vesa training grounds and at targets outside the training areas as individual Warbands and warbosses direct their forces on the course of action they deem most suitable. 

The result is another chaotic stalemate, further compounded by logistical complications as Tau Empire forces are moved back to the southern regions in order to engage the Ork assaults there, or moved up from the south to assist the Enclave troops. Renowned Guards Cadre commander Shas'O Da'Anuk is calling for the Tau to establish a clear and unified strategy immediately and with all due haste. In the meantime, the combat in the north continues to reach unprecedented levels of bitterness and savagery. Several longstanding hatreds and grudges have now formed between veteran forces who have fought each other on multiple occassions, and fighting between such rivals has become notorious for the scale of horror involved. The Enclave forces have gained particular infamy in this area - unfettered by the civilian control of the Ethereals and with a longstanding history of violence against the Orks, the Enclave warriors are continuing to attack the invading Orks with a level of brutality that has shocked observers from the Tau Empire. 

Ork Points: 38
Tau Points: 62

Fio Starport - TAU CONTROLLED

With aircraft losses continuing to grow, the Tau are turning more and more to ground-based air-defence to protect against the incessant Ork fighta-bommer raids. The Tau have already established an impressive integrated air defence network in their occupied territories, and additional contingents of Tracer Missile batteries, Stingrays, Skyrays and Angelfish have been deployed to the surface to strengthen the Tau air defences. Though boasting formidable firepower, the ground-based efforts continue to be hampered by Ork aircraft carrying Beepy Gubbins, restricting the amount of weapons that can be brought to bear on them. The Ork countermeasure systems have become especially feared and hated by the Tau, and a number of research efforts have been initiated to develop an effective counter. 

With the advent of increased Ork Spekta activity, the Tau have turned their attentions to counter-intelligence and counter-stealth capabilities. A significant quantity of advanced sensor equipment has been requisitioned by Tau forces on M-88, and many Pathfinder and Stealth Teams are being recalled to Fio Starport to receive additional training in counter-infiltration methods and tactics. It is believed by the Tau that these forces will then be able to hunt down the elusive Spekta mobs with the support of widespread gun drone patrols. 

Ork Points: 0
Tau Points: 100

Note: Due to the extensive Tau defence networks in place within this region, Ork players may not report games in this territory.   

Ork Campaign Points: 4 

Tau Campaign Points: 4 

Some disturbing reports have begun to filter through to the ATT Shas'ar'tol from Tau elements in the field. In a number of incidents in Tau controlled sectors contact has been lost with isolated Run'als and outposts. Investigating teams have found the installations reduced to blood-soaked abattoirs, their occupants massacred. No survivors have thus far been found, and no evidence of the identity of the attackers can be ascertained, save for crude Ork glyphs written in blood at each site and the missing heads and spinal columns of the Tau victims. 

It is suspected that these attacks are related to a number of similar incidents that have also begun to surface. Isolated patrols and teams of Tau and auxiliary troops have, from time to time, disappeared into the wilderness of M-88. In all such cases contact is never reestablished and search parties have found only mutilated remains of the team members scattered over their projected route of march. Again, all victims have been found missing their head and spine. 

The ATT Shas'ar'tol is convinced that the same party is behind all of these attacks, and a full-scale investigation is underway. The Tau leadership only hopes that the culprits can be found before they cause more serious damage... 

Gogsnaga remained motionless in his perch on the rough knobbly branch of a tree, carefully positioned so that none of the leaves peeling off it would land on him and betray his location. He had learnt the right way to do so long before, after it ruined an ambush against some Humies he was a part of. He had been the only survivor of his Kommando mob that day, and he was determined not to see it happen again. He would have preferred to have taken position in a tree that wasn't shedding anything at all, but that was not an option for him. All of the trees in this copse of woodland were deciduous, and leaves continued to swarm and dance in the air like a flock of birds. Not that Gogsnaga could see them at the moment, seeing the world through the lurid oranges of the false-colour sensor readout his goggles were showing him. What was visible, however, was the brightly glowing radiation signatures of his quarry... 

Shas'Ui'Sa'cea Rra'Myr stalked along the winding woodland path, focusing on any detail that might seem out of place, his pulse carbine raised as he scanned the surrounding trees. The rest of his team of Fire Warriors advanced cautiously in front and behind of him as they too scrutinised the foliage for any danger to the convoy they were escorting. Rra'Myr struggled to listen over the heavy scream of turbine engines from the Devilfish and gunships that crept alongside their dismounted escorts. The Shas'Ui would have preferred to keep moving while mounted, but knew that an advance on foot gave them the best chance of flushing out any ambushes the Ores'la might have set up. Rra'Myr hated these woods. The trees pressed in on both sides, and left him feeling suffocated. Still, the trip through them had thus far been uneventful. The Pathfinders at the head of the column had reported nothing out of the ordinary, and even the sensors on the cadre's battlesuits had not detected any enemy presence yet... 

Gogsnaga noiselessly slunk down from his perch in the trees, carefully lowering himself to the ground so as not to disturb any of his surroundings. All around him the world was a riot of acid oranges, an alien vision to his eyes, but one he knew was necessary in order for him to see at all through the looted Stealth systems he and his fellow Spektaz wore. Wurrshuv had explained to them that the invisibility afforded by the Tau gubbinz made everything invisible to them too, and the only way to see while they were cloaked was through the use of special kustom goggles Wurrshuv had provided them with, fashioned from looted stealthsuit optics. The stealth gubbinz, Wurrhsuv had shown them, would hide them on every colour save one, which was whatever colour they set the goggles to using a toggle on the side. Gogsnaga had discovered that Orange was a colour the Blue gitz didn't usually see at first, so that was the colour he had ordered his Boyz to use. Even now he could see the shapes of the Spektaz as they crept out of the woods with him. Gogsnaga slowly, purposefully stepped closer to the nearest unit of Tau warriors... carefully... closer... quiet now... closer... yes, that's it... he was very close now, almost able to reach out and touch the diminutive alien, and still they were completely oblivious... closer... 

Shas'Ui'Sa'cea Rra'Myr stood poised as he waited with the rest of his team while the Pathfinders returned to the column from their advanced scouting of the path ahead. What unnerved Rra'Myr most was his inability to hear anything over the noise of the vehicles' engines. Without a good set of ears the Shas'Ui felt like he had an arm tied behind his back. He had no way of hearing an approaching adversary, nor could he tell if any of the woodland's natural life had fled or made some kind of response to an intruder. He doubted he would even be able to hear an incoming Ores'la fighter-bomber. It was why Rra'Myr had chosen to leave his helmet clipped to his utility belt, leaving him free to taste and smell the air. It wasn't ideal, but it was better than relying on vision alone. The Shas'Ui just wished he had more of a basis of comparison to know if any scent was different. Still, despite his gnawing unease, Rra'Myr could at least take solace in the fact that nothing had happened yet, and it seemed like nothing would as he turned to start walking forwards. Before he could begin to take a step, however, he felt the strangest sensation on the back of his scalp, a gust of warm moist air that blew forth in an oddly rhythmic pattern, almost like... breathing! 

The Fire Warriors watched as their Shas'Ui froze. They watched as their Shas'Ui whirled around on the spot and levelled his pulse carbine at the space behind him. Then they saw their Shas'Ui knocked reeling by nothing, his arm twisting on its own until it broke in two with a sickening crack. The blue-spattered black blade of a massive wickedly-fashioned knife sprouted from the Shas'Ui's torso, just below the shoulder, and hoisted the screaming Tau into the air before ripping him apart in a shower of cyan gore. The azure blood washed over a rippling shifting silhouette of a monstrous Ork warrior that immediately ducked to one side and rolled into thin air, leaving behind only a staccato beat of deafening gunfire as it unloaded a slugga into the Tau ranks and a single tumbling stikkbomb that struck the ground with an ear-splitting blast and a whirlwind of jagged shrapnel. The Firewarriors responded immediately, training their weapons in the most likely direction their assailant had travelled in to lead the target. It was already too late. Before a single trigger could be pulled the rest of Gogsnaga's mob attacked, butchering the Tau where they stood. Some were stabbed in the back, others had their throats split open. A couple of unfortunate ones were torn limb from limb. More still were struck down by slugga fire or blown apart by stikkbomb explosions. 

The struggle had not gone unnoticed, and already the rest of the Tau were scrambling into defensive positions or training their weapons on the lopsided melee. As they did, one of the Devilfish towards the front of the column spontaneously detonated, erupting into a brutal fireball that scattered burning debris across the woodland trail. The surrounding Fire Warriors immediately turned at the sound, and were immediately caught in a hail of high-calibre bullets as a pair of unseen big shootas opened up on them at point blank range, the survivors also being slaughtered as the second mob of Spektaz pressed their attack. 

The Tau grav-tanks pirouetted where they hovered in search of the invisible tormentors. A Skyray loosed a volley of smart missiles from its forward turrets, the guided munitions twisting and weaving through the air in search of targets before plunging down and detonating harmlessly on an empty section of leaf-strewn pathway. A Hammerhead had much better success, its target-lock guided burst cannons spraying the vicinity of the wrecked Devilfish with searing plasma pulses that systematically ripped apart one of the attacking Spekta mobs in a tempest of deep green blood, dirty yellow bone and burning brown earth. While the Hammerhead's target-lock dealt with that threat, the gunship's main turret swung around to the side and fired a submunition round from its railgun, smashing apart the side of the trail in a tremendous blast that left a series of dark green smears and sparking components where it had caught another mob of Ork ambushers. 

A moment after the railgun fired, two screaming rockets erupted from the air on trails of thick black smoke behind the Hammerhead at point-blank range. One fractured apart in flight and corkscrewed wildly into the trees. The second impacted the grav-tank right in the side of one of its auxiliary fuel cells, detonating the vehicle's hind-quarters in a blistering explosion. menacing shapes shimmered in the burning wreckage as the Spekta mob swarmed over the ruined Hammerhead to tear open hatches and slaughter the surviving crew. 

A trio of Broadside Battlesuits turned and shifted themselves back-to-back, then poured rockets into the surrounding woodland to clear it of any further attackers. They were too late to catch the mob of Spektaz that had crept up on them. Two of the Orks systematically dismembered one of the battlesuits with the high-powered cutting fields of their burnas. The Nob leading them tore open the chest of another with his power klaw. The final one was set upon by the remaining Spektaz in the mob with krak stikkbombs. 

A psychotic grin filled Gogsnaga's face as he walked amongst the carnage. This was one hunter cadre that would not reach the Or'vesa training grounds. 

Wurrshuv's Revenge - Week 1

Wurrshuv's Revenge - An ATT Campaign 

Week 1 

A week on from the start of the Tau counteroffensive has seen little movement of the front lines, with both sides instead seeking to consolidate their own holdings before pressing further on. Combat has thus far been limited to only a few major battles and several dozen low-intensity raids and skirmishes as the Tau and Orks probe each other's forces for weaknesses and opportunities to exploit. Aerial and long-range engagements between high-level operational and strategic assets have also intensified, and the skies over the warzones of M-88 have become crisscrossed with trails from aircraft and long-range missiles. Electronic warfare efforts have also intensified on both sides in an attempt to further disrupt the enemy's command and control capability. 

More and more Roks continue to stream into the inner regions of the system, leaving the Tau fleet increasingly stretched. As news spreads about the growing conflict in space, Ork Freebootas have begun to flock to the system in search of battle, further strengthening Wurrshuv's space forces. So far the valiant efforts of Kor'vattra fleet K-42 have managed to keep the Tau reinforcement corridors open, but it remains to be seen how long this can be sustained. 

Situation Updates - All Sectors 

He'Sho Seas - ORK CONTROLLED 

Tau forces have scored one of their first major victories in enemy territory in the He'Sho Seas region. In a daring air-landing assault planned by Enclave Command, Tau Hunter Cadres staged an attack on an Ork oil refinery complex designated FFG355Y by the ATT Shas'ar'tol. Allied forces played a key role in the operation, with the Tau commanders calling in every single mercenary and free agent contact they knew of to bolster their numbers and ensure mission success. It is believed that Enclave Command may even have called on the services of pirate warbands through ties established by the mercenary and piracy operations conducted by the Farsight Enclaves in the wider Eastern Fringe. 

Regardless of their nature, these additional auxiliary forces proved an immense help in countering the overwhelming numbers of Greenskins sent against the landing forces, and the operation has been a success with the oil facilities destroyed by Tau airstrikes and a small beachhead established in the He'Sho Seas. Nonetheless, while an important step the attack has thus far been but a pinprick. Numerous other Ork settlements and resourcing operations continue to work unimpeded, and Ork reinforcements are beginning to flood into the region in preparation for counter-attacks. The Tau landing forces are now cut off behind enemy lines, reliant on continued Air Caste missions for support, reinforcement and resupply. The allies with them are thus far aiding in the defence of the beachhead, but there are concerns among the ATT Shas'ar'tol as to how reliable they may prove to be in the long-term, especially over an extended campaign. 

Ork Points: 84 

Tau Points: 16 

Mo'Hav Plains - ORK CONTROLLED 

As part of the second stage of Operation FARSIGHT, the Tau attempt to comprehensively assess the Ork invaders, the Tau have begun dispatching long-range patrol forces into the Ork occupied Mo'Hav Plains, with the objectives of probing Ork defences and forces in the area, analysing Ork offensive and defensive capabilities and reestablishing contact with any surviving Tau forces in the area. Several scattered parties of survivors from the initial Ork attacks and the remnants of Stealth teams and special forces inserted into the area during earlier stages of Operation FARSIGHT are known to still be present in the region, desperately struggling to survive as the Orks mercilessly hunt them down, and the ATT Shas'ar'tol wish to save as many of these lives as they can. 

Thus far all such efforts from these long-range patrols have ended in failure. The Vior'la forces sent to the surface of M-88 have spearheaded the operations, and numerous Vior'la cadres have found their patrols annihilated by fast-moving Speed Freak warbands or locked in bitter skirmishes with Greenskin patrols. Little headway has been made, while the spoils of M-88 continue to pour back to Wurrshuv's Krunch along the miles of crude roadways created by the Orks, with vast convoys delivering hundreds of tons of looted Tau items to Wurrshuv and his followers, where they are a converted into new weapons and wargear with which to equip the Greenskin hordes. 

Ork Points: 81 

Tau Points: 19 

Wurrshuv's Krunch - ORK CONTROLLED 

Plundered Tau technology and vast quantities of raw materials continue to stream into the fortresses and Mek workshops surrounding Wurrshuv's Krunch, where Wurrshuv and his Mek acolytes use them to create ever more diabolical devices to arm the greenskin hordes with. Recent evidence has suggested that the notorious Bad Dok known only as 'Orkanik' has resurfaced on M-88 and pledged his allegiance to Wurrshuv. What fiendish designs Orkanik might have on M-88 none can say, but Deff Dreads and Killa Kans have already begun appearing in larger numbers amongst the Ork invasion. 

As the conflict escalates Wurrshuv has begun to make increasing use of high-level assets to undermine the Tau forces arrayed against him. Batteries of extended-range Soopa Gunz have been deployed on the edge of the Krunch area and now bombard concentrations of Tau troops and vehicles in the neighbouring sectors with relative impunity. An expanded network of Ork airbases now honeycombs the region, and in addition to patrolling the Mo'Hav plains squadrons of fighta-bommers now constantly strafe and bombard Tau forces in the nearby Or'vesa and Saal'vesa regions, often prioritising supply depots and convoys. Several squadrons of fighta-bommers have been ovserved using captured Blacksun Filters to stage effective night-time raids on Tau positions, while the ever-present Beepy Gubbinz or 'Shoot-me-not devices' continue to complicate Tau air-defence efforts. 

Ork Points: 100
Tau Points: 0

Note: Due to heavy Ork defences and overwhelming numbers of Orks in the area, Tau players may not report games in this region. 


"It's dark, so you usually hear them first, a kind of cross between a roar and a howl that sounds like an electric whirlwind. Then somewhere close to the horizon they vomit out a cascade of hot bright orange-white tracers into the ground ahead of them. That's when they drop their payload. You learn quickly how to tell apart each kind - regular rockets ripple out in swarms, tank-buster rockets always come in pairs and sound like a thunderclap when they strike the ground. The incendiary bombs are the most impressive, erupting into giant fans of fire and smoke that can burn for hours on end. 

Sometimes you'll see a pair of missiles rise up to chase them, or a bright blue stream of fire from an Angelfish somewhere nearby, but all too often the only sight at the end is bright flares from their afterburners. And Come morning there'll be another supply convoy wrecked on a sea of craters." 

- Shas'Ui'Fal'shia Kar'J'kaara, on the efficacy of nighttime Ork air attacks 


Training Ground Saal'vesa - TAU CONTROLLED 

The first lead elements of the Speed Freaks sweeping westwards have begun to enter the Saal'vesa training grounds, and have met with swift Tau counterattacks. Engaging in force, the Tau have defeated many of these early forrays in an ironic mirror to their setbacks in probing the Mo'Hav Plains. One particular incident saw the destruction of a number of mobile oil platforms the Orks had set up to facilitate the rapid refuelling of their follow-on forces. The mobile oil platforms represent an intriguing new example of the ways in which Wurrshuv's forces have prepared for a protracted conflict and their attention to logistics support, and Earth Caste science and engineering teams are eagerly examining their remains. 

The Tau have held the line thus far, and morale is high in the Saal'vesa training grounds. As the Speed Freaks continue their race westwards, and more conventional Ork forces beginning to stream forth from the Mo'Hav Plains, the conflict in the south is only just beginning. 

Ork Points: 34 
Tau Points: 66 

Training Centre Or'vesa - TAU CONTROLLED 

The Tau leadership has decided that their first step should be to strengthen their defences. Thus, the bulk of the Tau military efforts have been focused in the region surrounding Training Centre Or'vesa, aiming to contain the attacks of the Northern Raiders. Responding to requests from Enclave Command for more reinforcements, Tau Empire troops have been redirected from the Empire Sector in the south to aid their Enclave allies in the north. 

Thus far the additional forces have tipped the balance in favour of the Tau, and strong counter-attacks in the areas surrounding the Or'vesa training centre have managed to stabilise the front lines in this region. Tau Empire forces fighting here have made good use of the local training grounds, where their intimate familiarity with the terrain and environments of the grounds gives them a decisive edge in combat. This has presented the Orks with a fork - either attack the training grounds in force where the Tau hold a key advantage, or bypass the training grounds and press onward in the region, which in turn has presented the Tau with an opportunity to finally gain the operational initiative in an active theatre. 

Ork Points: 38 
Tau Points: 62 

Fio Starport - TAU CONTROLLED 

With command and control fully established, Earth Caste engineering efforts have recently been focused on expanding the medical and repair facilities at the Fio Starport complex. Since the fighting escalated a steady stream of damaged equipment and wounded Tau and auxiliary warriors has begun to filter back to the region from combat in other sectors. In many cases evacuation off-world is required, but with more aid stations and repair bays in place and additional equipment and supplies for them, a large number of more moderate casualties can be returned to active duty much more quickly, and the number of equipment write-offs can be significantly reduced. 

The Air Caste have continued their bombing campaign over the He'Sho Seas and Mo'Hav plains, but their resources are beginning to stretch thin. Mounting losses from intercepta rokkits and defending fighta-bommers over Ork territory are starting to take their toll on the Air Cadres deployed on M-88, and increasing Ork air-raids put further pressure on the Tau air forces. Additional Tracer Missile batteries have been forward-deployed to nearby warzones in order to strike at Ork airbases in the Krunch area as an attempt to compensate for this. 

Ork Points: 0 
Tau Points: 100 

Note: Due to the extensive Tau defence networks in place within this region, Ork players may not report games in this territory.  

Ork Campaign Points: 4 

Tau Campaign Points: 4 

Away from the conflict on M-88, an unusual incident has occurred aboard the ATT Orbital. Less than two Rotaa ago ATT Security teams encountered an unknown life-form roaming the corridors of the station. The creature then proceeded to rampage around the Lower Concourse of the station, killing 3, wounding 7 and inflicting considerable damage to a number of conduits and sub-systems. Security Drones managed to eliminate the alien, which was then identified as an Orkoid Squig. 

Exactly how a Squig managed to reach the ATT Orbital is unknown at this time, but subsequent investigations have suggested the life-form may have originated from one of the station's refuse pods. The module has since been jettisoned as a precaution and tracked. 

+++Priority Address+++ 

+++TO: All Tau forces, Empire Sector+++ 

+++AUTHOR: Shas'O'T'au Kais'Ka'Eoro'Da'Anuk, Hunter Cadre Da'Anuk (42nd T'au Guards Cadre)+++ 

+++Standby+++

Well then.

To all those Tau and allied forces in-theatre, I bid you welcome. Whether you've just arrived in-system or you've been fighting the Ores'la alongside my forces since they first landed, it's certainly good to have you here. Some of the forces I see under my command I do not recognise, but I look forward to working with you. Some names I am very familiar with, and to those I say that it is certainly good to serve alongside you once again. We need all the help we can get on M-88 and I could not have asked for better comrades in this dangerous time. 

When I first defended the ATT Orbital against the forces of the Mont'au, I never once imagined it would have come to this. These invaders have dealt us a humbling defeat, and now they have made their stronghold in the very heart of our planet. I suspect after the last Incursions some may have thought us invincible. Recent events have proven that to be an illusion, and a grave misjudgement. 

But we have survived nonetheless, and that has given us a chance to learn from our errors and correct our mistakes. If we can do that, we may have victory yet. The forces gathered here on the surface are considerable. They include warriors of excellent calibre, and our equipment is second to none. Though they may stray from the path of the Tau'va, the denizens of the Gulf have returned once more in our time of need, and stand ready to lend their aid as well. If we remain united, and we retain our wits, we will surely triumph. 

But remember warriors, do not become overconfident. I've fought Wurrshuv before on T'suam'Or'Sha'is, and he is a cunning and deadly adversary. The armies he has brought with him have already shown considerable power, and if the latest reports are to be believed his own forces are formidable indeed. It seems he has developed a keen understanding of both our technology and our way of war, and there is no telling what other tricks he may have gleaned on the Eastern Fringe. 

It is certainly a mighty conflict that is set before us, but I feel confident about our chances. Trust your brothers and sisters, and the auxiliaries who stand shoulder to shoulder with you, and may the Ethereals watch over us. It's time we hit back. 

Let's hunt some Ork, 

- Da'Anuk

Wurrshuv's Revenge - an Advanced Tau Tactica Campaign

In case you didn't know it already, for some time now I've been a member of Advanced Tau Tactica, the premier online forum for high-quality content regarding the Tau in Warhammer 40,000 (and Battlefleet Gothic), run by none other than tabletop hobby rock-star Sebastian 'Tael' Stuart (if you were following GW games around 2005-2007 you may have seen some of his models featured in White Dwarf). Over the last few months I've been working with the ATT moderators and admins on a very special project - the first ever ATT global campaign, Wurrshuv's Revenge.

It works in much the same way as most other big global map-based campaigns in the past, drawing a lot of inspiration from the legendary Eye of Terror and Third War For Armageddon campaigns run by GW, but also more recent campaigns such as Battlefront's Firestorm: Red Thunder and its sequel Firestorm: Stripes. The mechanics are fairly simple, with each territory on the map having 100 points split between the Tau and Orks fighting over them. Reporting games moves points from one side to the other, depending on the game results, and whoever has a majority of points controls that territory. Hold enough territories for long enough and your side will win the campaign.

You'll need to have an account on Advanced Tau Tactica, as that's where all the game reports are being tracked, but due to site access being restricted for unregistered guests I'll also be hosting campaign updates on here as well. You won't really be able to contribute much, but you will be able to follow the campaign along as it unfolds.

Thus, I present to you...

WURRSHUV'S REVENGE - AN ATT CAMPAIGN 

Opening Stages 

Almost one Kai'rotta after the initial Ork landing on M-88, the Tau are finally in a position to begin decisive counter-attacks. Hundreds of cadres from across the Empire have been sent to the planet to aid the ATT forces fighting on the surface against the Ork invaders. The Greenskins themselves have not been idle either and continue to hold the strategic and operational initiative, keeping pressure on the Tau forces with powerful offensives to the north and south of the main concentrations of Tau. 

New waves of Ork Roks have arrived in the inner biosphere on approach to M-88, alongside the occasional Freebooter warship. The Tau fleet has engaged these Ork reinforcements with great success, but more Ork space forces continue to arrive from the system's outer reaches, and much of the Tau fleet has been occupied in hunting down incoming Ork Roks before they reach the surface of M-88. This has left the Tau with only limited aerospace support from the fleet. 

The two belligerents begin to enact their next moves, and in the process burn their names into history... 

Situation Updates - All Sectors 

He'Sho Seas - ORK CONTROLLED 

Since conquering the region in the early stages of the invasion, Wurrshuv's forces have made the He'Sho Seas secure territory, and permanent Ork settlement is thriving in the area despite Air Caste interdiction missions and Stealth Team raids. Vast armies of Gretchin and slaves now toil in labyrinthine mines torn into the face of the world, excavating thousands of tons of metals, chemical salts and crude fossil fuels with which to feed Wurrshuv's war efforts. Recognising the strategic value this mineral rich region holds and responding to the Tau efforts to disrupt the mining operations, Wurrshuv has ordered the construction of extensive defences in the region, including a full network of Intercepta Rokkit batteries. Airbases have also begun to spring up in the area, allowing Ork Fighta-bommerz to provide more comprehensive air cover over the territory. 

The He'Sho Seas region has also begun the process of colonisation by Orkoid lifeforms. Freshly seeded fungus farms have begun to spring up between mining forts, while Squigs and Snotlings have been observed roaming the wilderness in increasing numbers. To support the mines, numerous Ork settlements have been founded in the region and their size and population density is growing rapidly. 

Ork Points: 85 

Tau Points: 15 

Mo'Hav Plains - ORK CONTROLLED 

Though subject to frequent Tau airstrikes, the Orks retain a strong hold on the Mo'Hav plains and the routes between Wurrshuv's Krunch and the He'Sho Seas. Hundreds of miles of roughly hewn roads cut into the landscape now run between the Ork strongholds in the Krunch and the mines in the He'Sho Seas. Large convoys ply these crude roadways, transporting goods between the Ork territories. Convoys leave the He'Sho Seas carrying cargoes of raw materials and return with fresh supplies and equipment produced in the Krunch. 

Tau long-range reconnaissance elements have begun to map this Ork road network, but the immense size and chaotically tangled nature of it has made progress slow. That new roads are created daily, and older ones are frequently abandoned has not made the task easier. 

Ork Points: 80 

Tau Points: 20 

Wurrshuv's Krunch - ORK CONTROLLED 

The site of the initial Ork Rok landing, Wurrshuv's Krunch has become the clanking smoke-belching heart of Wurrshuv's nascent empire. Under the protective cover of massive crackling force-fields, the Orks have thoroughly infested the region and the territory is now strewn with titanic sprawling Ork fortresses, bristling with firepower and crammed with murderous Ork warriors. The Ork defences in the area, already formidable even in the early stages of the invasion, have been constantly expanded and reinforced, and many among the ATT Shas'ar'tol fear they may be impenetrable. 

Ork reinforcements from further in the system continue to pour through the internal tellyporta array within Wurrshuv's Rok by the hundreds of thousands, and hulking foundries and crude industrial plants churn out an endless supply of weapons, vehicles and munitions from the raw materials mined in the He'Sho Seas. 

Ork Points: 100 

Tau Points: 0 

Note: Due to heavy Ork defences and overwhelming numbers of Orks in the area, Tau players may not report games in this region. 

Training Ground Saal'vesa - TAU CONTROLLED

The front line of the Empire Sector, Training Ground Saal'vesa has become a staging ground for the upcoming Tau counteroffensive. Temporary bases for Hunter Cadres litter the area, and the forces of the Empire have been training intensively under the supervision of ATT veterans. Supply dumps also permeate the region, established in anticipation of the counteroffensive. 

With the defences around Wurrshuv's Krunch proving too strong, the Tau have had to adjust their plans, and their new strategy calls for a bypass of the Ork stronghold to attack its supporting infrastructure in other territories. Given the likely axis of advance southwards and eastwards for the Empire forces, they are likely to encounter the approaching onslaught from Wurrshuv's Speed Freaks head on. 

Ork Points: 35 

Tau Points: 65 

Training Centre Or'vesa - TAU CONTROLLED 

The Ork forces comprising the Northern Raiders have pushed deep into the region surrounding Training Centre Or'vesa. The fighting has been bitter and bloody, with quarter neither asked for nor given, but the Tau forces here have managed to hold the line and stabilise their control of the territory. The Auxiliary forces have suffered the worst losses, with many Kroot Kindreds cut off from friendly forces and fighting for their lives as the marauding Ork warbands ruthlessly hunt them down. 

The Enclave Tau operating in the area have launched a full-scale counter-attack against the Northern Raiders and have made several attempts to link up with the scattered Kroot forces, though none have thus far yielded success. 

Ork Points: 40 

Tau Points: 60 

Fio Starport - TAU CONTROLLED 

Tau troops and supplies continue to filter through to Fio Starport from the ATT Orbital and Tau starships in orbit. With most of the Tau fleet otherwise occupied, the starport has become the centre of Air Caste activities in support of the Tau operations on M-88. Large numbers of Air Cadres have been forward-deployed to the starport, and it is from here that long-range airstrikes and reconnaissance overflights in Ork-held territory are coordinated. 

The Earth Caste has outdone themselves in the expansion of Fio Starport, and the Tau complex has grown to be one of the largest permanent installations on the planet, almost approaching a small colony in size. Extensive command centres have been established alongside field training facilities and temporary academy campuses. Life in Fio Starport has almost become a mirror of life on the ATT Orbital above in miniature. 

Ork Points: 0 

Tau Points: 100 

Note: Due to the extensive Tau defence networks in place within this region, Ork players may not report games in this territory. 

Ork Campaign Points: 4 

Tau Campaign Points: 4 

And there you have it for the start of Advanced Tau Tactica's first forum campaign! There is a ton of background lore that's also been written covering the backstory behind the campaign. There was talk about making a PDF out of it, so I'm waiting to see where that goes before I post it here because a post on here containing it would be gigantic (seriously, it may rival an actual GW codex in length). 

If you know anyone who is a member on Advanced Tau Tactica, encourage them to join in! And if you want a piece of the action yourself, sign up on the site! Ork players are especially welcome for it (and you can always leave afterwards if you have no interest in the Tau). Just remember to keep to ATT's rules and guidelines - we're very serious about them.