Tor'Vash'Por (5)

 Luna: Welcome back you're watching Tor'Vash'Por, I'm Luna Samara bringing you the latest news stories at the top of the hour, beginning with the latest developing story out of the Penros system.. 

BREAKING NEWS

Luna (cont.): .. reports are coming in that Tau expeditionary forces in the system have launched a major offensive against the local Ores'la on Penros VII. This marks the largest ground operation mounted by the Tau expeditionary forces since their arrival in the Penros system, our correspondent Farrier Seyburey has more for us now from Penros VII. 

(A Scorpionfish superheavy missile gunship sits parked on the ground of a rugged windswept plain of tussock grassland, its onboard lights creating an island of illumination in the cold dark pre-dawn gloom. A second Scorpionfish can just be made out in another tiny island of light far in the distance)

Farrier (VO): After weeks of intense and careful preparations.. 

(with a tremendous explosive roar an enormous missile erupts from the roof of the Scorpionfish in a brilliant burst of boiling light and fire, casting the landscape into harsh shifting illumination, and races into the dark grey sky on a strobing multi-pointed teardrop of burning white atop a spire of grey-white smoke. A distant shooting star can be seen leaping from the distant Scorpionfish as it launches a second missile)

Farrier (VO, cont.): .. Tau forces on Penros VII have launched their largest ground offensive so far in the conflict. 

(One by one a series of enormous missiles rise into the air from the tall vertically-pointing launch tubes of a cluster of massive Tau missile carriers, parked in a roughly circular pattern amidst miscellaneous sensor and support vehicles in open rolling wilderness. Each missile hangs in the air for an instant before twisting itself towards the left in a flurry of flame and smoke and racing into the distance on a crisp white contrail)

Farrier (VO, cont.): Acting on intelligence from Air Caste Command tracking the class-8 space hulk KVX-721 as it passed close to Penros VII, Tau Fire Caste Command Penros staged a massive attack on the local Ores'la forces as they attempted to board the space hulk from a network of ground-based matter transmitters. 

(Seen from the cupola of a Tau grav-tank, a Hammerhead gunship speeds across the wilderness beneath a sky crisscrossed with spidery white missile contrails)

Farrier (VO, cont.): Sources within Penros Coalition Command have reported no fewer than eight battle-level formations were involved in the operation, which coalition leadership has called Operation Ol'Vre-5..

(A relentless stream of burning orange lights plunge through the dark pre-dawn sky like meteors, slamming into the horizon in a series of rippling angry orange flashes that cast the hilly landscape into silhouette) 

Farrier (VO, cont.): ..  along with extensive missile and air support, with the aim of decapitating the Ores'la command structure while the aliens were preparing to migrate. 

(A river of Tau vehicles screened by drones glides past the field of view and pours down a deserted highway cutting through the countryside)

Farrier (VO, cont.): The offensive was centred around what Penros Coalition Command has named Operation Argon-7, a full scale assault on the city of Lucia deep in Ores'la held territory where reliable intelligence sources reported a gathering of key Ores'la leadership figures, including many of the planet's most notorious Ores'la chieftains. 

(A staggered formation of Devilfish troop carriers and Hammerhead gunships sweep across rolling temperate wilderness. Large plumes of black smoke stain the distant horizon)

Farrier (VO, cont.): Other major attacks, Operations Xenon-2, Krypton-9, Neon-18 and Radon-0 allowed the Tau penetrate deep into Ores'la territory and assault Lucia with a strike force reported to consist of elite guards cadre Fire Warriors as well as large numbers of reserve troops. 

(A team of Fire Warriors in full combat gear wait poised in the passenger compartment of a Devilfish, cast into a crimson glow from the interior combat lighting. Harsh white daylight can be seen through the passenger vision blocks)

Farrier (VO, cont.): The Ores'la forces encountered in Lucia are believed to have comprised warbands from multiple Ores'la tribes affiliated with the Snake Bites paramilitary.. 

(On the outskirts of a war-torn Imperial city, Broadside battlesuits are carefully unloaded from the open rear hatch of a landed Orca dropship, sliding off the central conveyor one by one and striding forward, while Fire Warriors and gun drones fan out around the landing site)

Farrier (VO, cont.): .. Large bands of Ores'la fighters were reportedly encountered with extensive artillery support alongside heavy cavalry and mechanised combat walker elements. 

(Viewed from above, a pair of Hammerhead gunships glide across a war-torn Imperial cityscape, their turret-mounted railguns tracking and firing on some distant target. A corkscrew of dust and debris is wrenched up along the path of each railgun shot fired)

Farrier (VO, cont.): Tau forces entered the city from two sides, concentrating their mobile elements on the southern approaches.. 

(A trio of Broadside battlesuits stand in a large room of a ruined Imperial building. Fingers of light stream in from the shattered windows in front of them. The battlesuits sway from one side to another as they track unseen targets with their shoulder-mounted railguns. At once the Broadsides fire their railguns, buffeting the world with the force of their recoil and sending a whirlwind of dust into the air from the floor. Then the machines unlock their foot stabilisers and shift their position, carefully shuffling around the room like elephants)

Farrier (VO, cont.): ..while air-landing infantry and heavy battlesuits were deployed along the eastern districts to hold Ores'la fighters in place against the main push, with medium battlesuit units being kept as an immediate reserve.. 

(Viewed from above, a Hammerhead gunship swoops down to an war-torn Imperial city intersection, its turret-mounted railgun turning to aim at some unseen target around the left corner and firing as it clears the side of the adjacent buildings)

Farrier (VO, cont.): ..Coalition officials have so far neither confirmed nor denied that a Tau Ethereal Caste representative was also involved in the operation. 

(Viewed from above in monochrome through a Tau gun camera, hulking figures crawl over the front prow of a Hammerhead gunship hovering on a war-torn Imperial roadway, wildly hacking at the machine with various implements. At once a corkscrew of dust and debris whips up around a flash of brightness along the road from the right to the stricken Hammerhead and a rippling series of explosions rake across the Hammerhead's prow, covering it in flame and dust and sending a shower of fragments from the grav-tank. As the dust clears the Hammerhead's prow is now clean of figures, the remaining pieces of its assailants sloughing off the prow as the Hammerhead moves forward)

Farrier (VO, cont.): Argon-7 encountered fierce resistance in the city. Almost immediately the Tau advance was compromised by ambushes from forward-deployed Ores'la special forces units.

(A Tau Fire Warrior talks into a microphone held from just out of sight)

Tau Fire Warrior: Ores'la M'yen'ka Run'vral'vre Ka[The Ores'la caught us by surprise with their special forces teams. We were operating without support from our own counter-infiltrators, so the Ores'la operators were able to get inside our lines well past our forward security screens. They hit my team's flank really hard, and almost came close to overrunning us. We had to redirect our drone support to cover that flank because the Ores'la were dangerously close to taking out a critical asset, and that ended up containing them] 

(A mass of Fire Warriors hug the ground of a war-torn Imperial plaza amidst a number of pixel-blurred bodies strewn across the pavement, firing off sporadic bursts from their pulse rifles in between bracing themselves as an unrelenting torrent of violent explosions and tracers rains down all around them. A pair of Devilfish hover in front of them, shifting forward and back and swooping down and up again as they manoeuvre to ward away other threats)

Farrier (VO): Ores'la artillery also proved lethally effective, inflicting major losses on the primary assault force as they reacted to sophisticated Ores'la counterintelligence efforts. 

(Another Tau Fire Warrior talks into a microphone held from just out of sight)

Tau Fire Warrior: Ores'la M'kna, Ores'la Kais'va Sa'J'cha M'ye[The Ores'la were very clever. They did a very smart piece of military deception, which led us to deploy on the ground too early and too far away. We had planned to set up ahead to ambush the Ores'la as they came through the city, but it was a trap and the Ores'la managed to ambush us instead. The Ores'la artillery was especially deadly, it was lethally accurate and continuous so we spent a lot of decs pinned down under heavy fire until we were finally able to break off and withdraw. We lost a lot of good guys out there, I just have to trust it was all for the Greater Good in the end] 

(Viewed from above in monochrome through a Tau gun camera, we follow a wave of hulking Orks riding on massive boars as they barrel down a large wide war-torn Imperial roadway. As they continue forward a stream of small flickering flashes dart across the field of view and slam into them, consuming the wave in blossoming flashes and dark clouds)

Farrier (VO): Nonetheless Tau forces were ultimately able to complete their primary mission, with Penros Coalition Command announcing the confirmed destruction of multiple key Ores'la chieftains in precision missile strikes and the decapitation of key levels of the Ores'la leadership and command structures. 

(A third Tau Fire Warrior talks into a microphone held from just out of sight. A Hammerhead gunship is parked on the ground behind them)

Tau Fire Warrior: Mont'ka'shi Kor'mont'sta[The gunships were the decisive force. Their mobility and heavy firepower smashed the Ores'la. The TX-7s hammered the Ores'la on the southern flank, the Ores'la had most of their troops concentrated there with almost no anti-tank weapons, so the TX-7s had perfect targets for their cluster shells. The TX-7-6 we had also did a great job, it was out of position for a while but it managed to neutralise the Ores'la cavalry force that's been a really dangerous threat before and would have ripped the heart out of our guys otherwise. Our gunships rampaged through the south, and if the Ores'la artillery hadn't destroyed too many of them they would have probably cleared the whole city. I'm really proud to have served alongside those guys] 

(Farrier stands in front of a roadway curving away through tussock-strewn wilderness. A pair of Tau sentry gun turrets flank the roadway, each next to a large signpost with the message "DANGER! RESTRICTED AREA - NO CIVILIAN ACCESS PAST THIS POINT!" printed in large bold letters in Tau'sia, human Gothic, and several other alien scripts) 

Farrier: Tau forces were forced to withdraw from Lucia with heavy casualties, but not before inflicting major damage on the Ores'la in turn and completing their main objectives. They have failed to prevent the Ores'la from escaping the planet.. 

(A Hammerhead gunship glides into view and carries on down the road, passing by behind Farrier with a screaming roar of jet turbines)

Farrier (cont.): ..but the Tau were successful in completely severing almost every level of the Ores'la chain of command on Penros VII, and that means two key things. First, the Ores'la migration was significantly disrupted, with the result that only a relatively small fraction.. 

(A pair of Devilfish troop carriers glide into view one after the other and carry on down the road, passing by behind Farrier with a screaming roar of jet turbines)

Farrier (cont.): ..of the aliens managed to leave the system and second, that the Ores'la remaining on Penros VII are now significantly weaker with reports.. 

(Another Hammerhead glides into view and carries on down the road, passing by behind Farrier with a screaming roar of jet turbines)

Farrier (cont.): ..already coming in that Ores'la warbands on the ground are quickly falling into fierce internal fighting. The Ores'la on Penros VII are far from gone, but they are for the moment no longer a major threat. 

(Viewed from above in monochrome through a Tau gun camera, bright flickering flashes blossom across a rugged rolling wilderness as two jagged lines of roughly-hewn trenches and fortifications exchange heavy gunfire and artillery shelling)

Farrier (VO): The aftermath of Operation Ol'Vre-5 has already seen dramatic results, coalition intelligence confirming the formation of a power vacuum among the Ores'la on Penros VII with splinter groups vying for control. 

(Viewed from above, we follow along a sprawling Ork shantytown. The streetways are littered with craters and burning wreckage. Streams of tracer fire pour across open spaces from one building to another. Thick clouds of black smoke pour from numerous huts and structures)

Farrier (VO, cont.): As early as 48 hours after the operation's conclusion Ores'la advances across the planet's primary continent have become paralysed, with witnesses from Ores'la occupied regions reporting intense firefights breaking out among Ores'la warbands.. 

(Massive plumes of smoke rise into the sky from a sprawling mass of Ork fortresses and buildings, illuminated by raging fires. Streams of tracer gunfire erupt into the air from amongst the skyline in wildly twisting patterns, crisscrossing the dusk sky)

Farrier (VO, cont.): ..and orbital and covert surveillance indicating dozens of known Ores'la strongholds now embroiled in full-scale warfare between local tribes. 

(In the dark of midnight at a Tau airbase illuminated by apron lights, the silhouette of a Barracuda races into the air with teardrop plumes of brilliant violet flame fountaining from its engines)

Farrier (VO, cont.): Meanwhile Tau Air Caste assets have been heavily involved in covering the escape of coalition forces incolved in Ol'Vre-5.. 

(An enormous Moray assault ship hangs serenely in the air high in the upper atmosphere. A massive missile lances out from its underside in a burst of flame and races away on a trail of white smoke)

Farrier (VO, cont.) .. as well as conducting targeted strikes against key Ores'la weapon sites.. 

(Viewed from above in monochrome through a Tau gun camera, a gargantuan Squiggoth plods forwards across the wilderness. A series of small bright flashes dart across the screen and slam into the side of the creature, consuming it in bright flashes of flame and sprays of debris before the beast collapses to its belly and keels over. Smoke and flame pour from the howdah on its back)

Farrier (VO, cont.): ..war machines.. 

(Viewed from above in monochrome through a Tau gun camera, several rows of captured Imperial tanks line a courtyard beside a sprawling roughly-shapen citadel inside a perimeter of jagged palisade fences. A tiny glob of light darts towards the centre and the whole compound is engulfed with a harsh fireball and clouds of smoke and dust) 

Farrier (VO, cont.): ..and command centres to prevent the Ores'la reorganising and to minimise the threat their internal conflict poses to civilian areas. 

(Aboard a Tau starship humans, Tau and various aliens move past a large set of doors emblazoned with the Water Caste logo)

Farrier (VO, cont): Water Caste Command Penros has issued a statement commending the professionalism, skill and bravery of the Tau forces on Penros and indicating cautious optimism about the Penros expeditionary mission. 

(Por'vre'T'au Sa'yio'Or'es'Kaara is addressing an out-of-sight crowd from a gleaming podium crowned with an array of microphones. The backdrop behind him is adorned with an array of hanging flags and banners emblazoned the emblems of Tau, Kroot, Gue'vesa, Nicassar, Naga, Sea'shi, Ich'khula and several others)

Por'vre'T'au Sa'yio'Or'es'kaara: ... the forces arrayed against us in this sector are a great abyss, the Ol'Vre mission was just a point of starlight. But it is a point of starlight that can show the way forward. The Ores'la plaguing Penros VII have been thrown into chaos, and their advance contained, but they are not gone and there remain many more dangers still at large. The task of stabilising the Penros system, and indeed the wider sector, and of bringing peace and well-being to those who live there, is far from over. 

Make no mistake, this is not the end, nor is it even the beginning of the end. But it is, I think, the end of the beginning. Our expeditionary forces have many more battles ahead of them, but it is safe to say that thanks to the monumental sacrifice of our military forces, we are one solid step closer to making Penros a safer, happier part of the galaxy... 

(A Manta missile destroyer comes in to land at a bustling Tau starport, gently and smoothly lowering itself to the ground beneath a radiant crimson sunset)

Farrier (VO): In the meantime, coalition forces on the ground are now licking their wounds, reorganising their battered forces and planning out how to keep the Ores'la civil conflict contained while pivoting to focus on other pirate and terrorist threats in the region. From Penros System this is Farrier Seyburey, Tor'Vash'Por. 

Luna: And to shed more light on the story we have standing by for us Payal Sarkar, special advisory liaison to the Dal'yth Sept Council Gue'vesa delegation, Pavel Titov strategic analyst at the Lambada Centre and Tim Colquhoun, senior fellow at the Miranda-Yamato Academy of Political Studies and author of 'Centre Of Gravity: The Changing Balance On The Eastern Fringe'. Payal I want to start with you first, just how is this latest offensive on Penros VII likely to be viewed by the Tau leadership? 

Payal: Well Luna I think the Tau are likely to be very cautiously optimistic about this latest development, we need to remember that it is still a very limited success and a portion of the Ores'la that managed to escape the system aboard the space hulk is not insignificant, which is going to cause problems in other regions they might resurface in, but that being said it is also the biggest success the coalition forces have had on Penros VII so far and it has effectively knocked out what was by far the greatest threat in the Penros system not just to the expeditionary mission but also to the local residents and I think that is going to cause some reevaluation with the Ethereals around salvaging the Penros mission. 

Luna: Alright Payal I can see Tim nodding along with you there Tim what are your thoughts on this? 

Tim: Thank you Luna yes I want to say I agree with most what Payal here is saying but it's also worth keeping in mind where the Penros Coalition is coming from. The Ores'la, we need to keep in mind, the Ores'la were threat number 1 on Penros VII by a huge margin right, these Ores'la were by far the single largest and most formidable force on the planet, they weren't just driving back our coalition forces but they were also keeping the Gue'la Imperial invasion effort bottled up too, they were not just threatening to break out and start threatening the wider system right, and the Tau have now just stopped all of that in its tracks, and I think that's very significant. 

Payal: Yes to add to what Tim is saying there this does also put the entire world of Penros VII in a very unpredictable place right now because of course the Ores'la had grown to such a large and entrenched presence and now that they've been plunged into this infighting it's going to create a power vacuum across the entire planet, which could take an already unstable situation and turn it into total chaos. 

Luna: Alright now that sounds like a pretty good place to bring you in Pavel, how would you describe the strategic situation for the Penros Expeditionary Mission right now? 

Pavel: Thank you Luna. I would describe the Penros expedition's strategic situation as extremely precarious right now, the expeditionary forces are in a very fragile condition right now with a lot of threats still facing them. On the one hand you have all these various other Mont'au'gue'la terror groups and pirate groups still active, and now they'll be looking to grow their presence and power without the Ores'la holding them back, like Payal was saying the collapse of the Ores'la is going to create a power vacuum that these other pirates and terrorists will rush to fill.. 

Tim: Now-

Pavel (cont.): .. On the other hand there's also the Gue'la Imperium presence in the system, and now they're also going to be emboldened to be more aggressive now for the same reasons.. 

Tim: Hold-

Pavel (cont.): .. and finally you have the Ores'la themselves, let's remember that yes their leadership structure has been destroyed yes they're no longer going to be pushing out and making cohesive strategic moves but the individual Ores'la warbands are not gone! There are still a large number of Ores'la forces still on Penros VII.. 

Luna: Pavel- 

Pavel (cont.): .. and they are only going to emerge from this infighting stronger if left to their own devices. 

Luna: Alright Pavel I am noticing Tim trying to come in there with some of his thoughts. 

Tim: Yes that's right, I'm not so sure I see things so pessimistically on my end here, from what I can see the Penros expedition still has some strong assets going for it. This operation has shown that even though the Tau have taken some heavy setbacks on Penros VII, that they were able to put this offensive together and carry it out still shows that they are able to make strong decisive plays and can still shape the conflict in big ways. 

Pavel: The trouble is this operation has also highlighted the vulnerabilities the Tau have on Penros VII, they threw this huge amount of force at the Ores'la, including a lot of their carefully collected heavy equipment, their carefully husbanded reserve troops, and even with all that they were still only able to achieve limited success, and they sustained heavy losses even just managing that much. That highlights to me just how much of a knife's edge the expedition is currently resting on right now. 

Luna: Payal you have something you want to add? 

Payal: Yes Luna I think the key word here surrounding the current situation in the Penros system is uncertainty. There's much more uncertainty now than there was even a few weeks ago with the space combat actions that occurred in the system, and that goes for both the Penros expeditionary mission and the Penros system, even the wider Penros sub-sector itself. Now that's certainly going to be very concerning for all involved, but we also need to keep in mind that uncertainty does not necessarily mean all bad. 

Tim: Thank you for bringing up an excellent point Payal, you're right that there's both a lot of risk and a lot of opportunity now for the Penros expedition. I think the most interesting opportunity right now to me at least, is the opportunity to cement some real legitimacy to the Tau claim to the system. Remember the Penros expedition was sent to the Penros system in the first place because the local governor there requested Tau assistance and support in maintaining security in the system and especially on Penros VII itself. Right now the Tau have just decapitated the Ores'la leadership, they've plunged the Ores'la that had Penros VII under their boot into infighting, they've taken that threat out of the fight, and they can take credit for that achievement. And I think that could go a long way into cementing the Tau as credible brokers of security in the system and in the wider sub-sector. 

Luna: Pavel what course of action do you think the Penros Coalition should pursue moving forward then? 

Pavel: My biggest recommendation Luna would be one of consolidation and caution. Right now the Penros Coalition is stretched very thin, dangerously thin even. You already have a very tenuous situation for coalition troops on the ground even before this latest offensive, and with the heavy casualties they've taken in this latest battle the coalition ground forces of Penros VII are boing to be taxed even further, and now the aerospace forces are being stretched out hunting down this Mont'au'gue'la pirate fleet that had entered the system, so the coalition military is stretched very thin right now and really needs to use this time to consolidate and regroup and reorganise their forces. 

Luna: Alright now Payal you work with the Ethereal caste, how threatened do you think the Tau are likely to feel in regards to the Penros system right now, and how likely are they to invest more resources into the Penros system as it stands now? 

Payal: That's a good question Luna I think the Tau are going to be feeling at least a little more confident about the Penros mission now they've gotten some kind of visible result. There have been rumblings within the Tau government about a complete withdrawal from the Penros system for some time now, and I would not be surprised to see that change. We know there are still additional Kor'vattra ships en route to reinforce the Penros Coalition right now, and I suspect that the Tau will be most likely to feed in just enough troops and materiel to keep their ground forces topped up and maintain the ability to project some kind of presence on the ground, while focusing on really reinforcing their aerospace hold over the system where the aerospace theatre has seen their greatest successes so far. 

Luna: Alright we are not starting to run out of time but I do want to hear from all of you now what do you think the implications are for the local civilians on Penros VII? 

Tim: I think the people of Penros VII have cause to be more hopeful than they've been in a long while now. Before they were facing the real prospect of indefinite domination by the Ores'la, possibly permanently, with all of the enslavement, violence and displacement that comes with that. Now, because of this operation Ol'vre, that outcome is suddenly a lot less likely, and they're a step closer towards being able to enjoy a normal life. 

Pavel: I'm not sure I fully agree with that assessment Luna, I think the civilian populace faces a lot more hardship to come now. Not only is the world far from secure, with many dozens of other pirate and terror groups besides the Ores'la, but there's also the Gue'la Imperium to deal with and the Ores'la themselves, and the violence of their internal conflict is going to be a very grave danger for civilians still trapped in those territories under Ores'la occupation. 

Payal: I think the most notable development for the local populace concerns the civilians trapped in Ores'la controlled territories. The coalition forces on Penros VII worked hard to evacuate as much of the civilian population as they could when the scale of hostilities became apparent, but the rapid advance of the Ores'la left a considerable number of civilians trapped under their occupation. Now those locals will be seeing a chance to escape the oppression of the Ores'la holding their lands, but they will also face a very serious risk of being caught in the crossfire of the Ores'la internal conflicts, and I would not be surprised if the Penros expeditionary mission plans to try and assist those local civilians where they can. 

Luna: Alright I'm afraid we are going to have to leave it there as we are out of time now but thank you all for taking the time to speak with us. 

Payal: Thank you Luna. 

Pavel: Thank you Luna. 

Tim: Thank you Luna. 

Luna: Alright moving onto some other news now it has been two weeks since Tor'Vash'Por correspondent Audra Vega was kidnapped and detained by Gue'la Imperium secret police. Tau and Gue'vesa authorities are continuing to demand her immediate release and there are now grave concerns over her treatment and the conditions in...

Intelligence Report - Eyes Only (2)

--TO: Shas'O'T'au Kais'ka'Eoro'Da'Anuk, Aun'El'T'au Or'res'Cea, Gue'El Santiago, Penros Coalition Command--

--SENT: T'au'Il'fannor'Vre'Shi'B'Ko--

--AUTHOR: Por'Vre'T'au Bentu'Doran--

--SUBJECT: Intelligence Update: Bandit Group S-- 

-- CROSS-REF.: Penros Campaign, Pirate Activity, Mont'au'Gue'la, Terror Activity--  

Tau'fann, 

My work with Kor'Vre'T'au Sa'Kunas to track and observe the activities of the local Mont'au Gue'la terror group designated Bandit Group S continues apace. Since our last report the terror group has largely gone underground on Penros 7, and consequently the Penros Air Caste Command has downgraded their threat status and corresponding target priority in the ongoing KIR'LA-6 operation. 

Nonetheless Sa'Kunas's teams have continued to monitor and observe the activities of Bandit Group S as constantly as possible, a task complicated by the terrorists' proficient skills in fieldcraft and stealth. While major actions and concentrations of troops and equipment are easy to identify, the smaller dispersed activities of Bandit Group S terror cells are becoming more challenging to track with aerial and orbital surveillance assets alone. 

Despite this Sa'Kuna's teams have managed some level of success and we can present a broad overview. Based on available data it would appear that Bandit Group S has spent some time and effort regrouping and rebuilding their forces to an extent, and most core cells appear to have been restored to their nominal strength. Current recruitment sources for Bandit Group S is at present unknown, but most likely theories suggest access to reinforcing troops from outside the system through as yet unidentified means. It is also speculated that the terror group may have procured or be seeking to procure some form of genetic replication technology as a long-term solution to manpower requirements. 

In any event Bandit Group S appears to have grown confident enough to begin attempting serious destabilising activities once more, and affiliated Terrorist cells have been observed concentrating their efforts on the Penros 7's northern reaches. We were forced to abandon much of this territory during our initial encounters with the system's local Ores'la, and various local pirate and terrorist forces have battled across the expanse ever since. 

While the Ores'la appear to be focused elsewhere for the moment, Bandit Group S has instead most recently come into contact with another recently emerging Mont'au'Gue'la terrorist group, which Coalition Intelligence has designated BANDIT GROUP T. Coalition assets have thus far observed two incidents involving combat between these two armed groups. 

1. BANDIT GROUP S - UPDATE MEMORANDUM 

(i)

The assets of Bandit Group S that were observed during these incidents have changed little since the last report on the terrorist group, and so for the sake of brevity will not be repeated here. For a comprehensive overview of the combat structure and elements involved refer to file B3952 INTELLIGENCE REPORT - BANDIT GROUP S. 

(ii)

What is of note is that of the Bandit Group S assets observed thus far not all were observed present during INCIDENT 1 - Bandit Group S CELL 3 was notably absent from this engagement, appearing in combat only some time later. The reasons behind this temporary absence are unknown to us at this time, but based on communications intercepts and psych profiling we believe the most likely cause to be some form of political or theological disagreement based around Cell 3's known theistic beliefs surrounding so-called 'Nurgle' worship. 

Given this fact and the confirmed presence of terrorist elements within Bandit Group T that share similar theistic practices, it seems probable that the operatives of Cell 3 were hesitant to fight their fellow worshippers of the same religious order and could not be persuaded to take up arms against them until later. This evidence lends further support to the potential for inciting or inflaming a political schism within the Bandit Group S organisation along sectarian lines - further investigation into efforts to exploit this opportunity are recommended. 

Alternate theories include issues with supply or technical malfunctions in the exotic etheric-powered equipment favoured by Cell 3, or extended convalescence from earlier combat wounds, but these all remain speculative and unsubstantiated. It is the team's belief that the theological-political friction outlined above remains the simplest, best-supported and most likely explanation. 

(iii)

In any event Cell 3 was observed in combat with Bandit Group T forces during the later INCIDENT 2 - it is believed that their intervention was a result of their fellow worshippers taking up arms against their comrades or the emergence within Bandit Group T of fighters observing opposing theistic practices, with either event being perceived by Cell 3 as a betrayal worthy of direct action. Both events being causes is considered likely. 

2(a). BANDIT GROUP T - INITIAL OVERVIEW 

(i)

While Bandit Group S remains the primary focus of my team, in the absence of a dedicated intelligence team assigned to monitor them it is necessary for me to include in this report a brief primer on the nature of the Mont'au'Gue'la terrorist group designated Bandit Group T. 

Bandit Group T represents the newest Mont'au'Gue'la terrorist organisation to be identified in the Penros system. Much like Bandit Group M the organisation appears to be primarily comprised of Gue'la terrorists with few Gue'va operatives thus far observed. The group appears to be a civilian-rooted insurgency, as the bulk of fighters thus far encountered appear to be militia or levies recruited - willingly or otherwise - from the civilian population with little in the way of formal military training, formation drill or equipment being observed. Most notably, virtually no heavy weapons have been identified in any meaningful number among the group's fighters, which is at the time of writing the primary weakness of Bandit Group T terror cells, though at the rate they appear to be acquiring additional weapons this disadvantage is unlikely to last for long. 

(ii)

Nonetheless it would be a serious mistake to dismiss Bandit Group T as a mere rabble. Indeed, the group appears to command a tremendous technical capability with bio-genetic research and modification, as well as highly advanced genetic manipulation technologies. It would appear that the bulk of the organisation's resources has been concentrated in these fields, and the results are nothing short of astonishing. The group employs extensive genetic modification across virtually all of its fighters and operatives, with many examples pushing the envelope on the known limits of Gue'la anatomy and biochemistry. 

Most notably the main front-line fighters that comprise the bulk of the group's terrorist cells appear to have had their physiology altered in ways that dramatically improve tissue strength, skeletal strength, cellular stabilisation in the face of extreme trauma as well as dramatically dampening nervous response to adverse stimuli. The result is combined with physical modifications to the subjects' epidermal tissues - most commonly in the form of hardened scales or wart-like lesions of hardened ionised tissue - to produce gene-edited Gue'la that are vastly more resilient to physical harm. 

(iii)

Most worryingly, this has the effect of making these Gue'la militants all but impervious to small arms and anti-personnel firepower - including that of our own pulse weapons. The appearance of these gene-edited Gue'la terrorists represents the first major instance of common foot soldiers being unaffected by plasma pulse impacts, requiring concentrated fire to even have a chance of stopping them. Up until now the only adversaries with this capability were Gue'va shock troops encased in powered battle armour exoskeletons, who have been not been encountered in any significant numbers. These gene-edited Gue'la employed by Bandit Group T are deployed in significant numbers however, and the results are already being felt - the sight of masses of these Gue'la walking through the concentrated storms of firepower laid down by our Fire Warriors has had a disastrous impact on our troops' already fragile morale. 

(iv)

Perhaps even more fantastically, the group appears to have devised some cheap and practical means of resuscitating Gue'la bodies well past the point of being medically dead. Large numbers of the group's front line forces have been observed to comprise of what can by all scientific metrics be considered cadavers reanimated by as-yet unknown means. The subjects appear to have extremely limited neurological and mental capacities, with all subjects observed being incapable of much more than animalistic intelligence and limited ambulatory skills, but the fact that even such limited faculties can be gleaned from such advanced states of decay is astonishing. Some genetically engineered biological vector is considered the most likely avenue for this capability, based on observed behaviour of subjects and observational data of the condition appearing to be transmissible via biting. 

It should be noted that this is not the first time such capabilities have been observed in the hands of Mont'au'Gue'la terrorists, as similar cases have been documented in operations [ D A T A  R E D A C T E D  -  C L A S S I F I E D  M A T E R I A L  -  A C C E S S  I S  R E S T R I C T E D  T O  C L A S S  8  A U N ' O  S E C U R I T Y  C L E A R A N C E]  during [D A T A  R E D A C T E D  -  C L A S S I F I E D  M A T E R I A L  -  A C C E S S  I S  R E S T R I C T E D  T O  C L A S S  8  A U N ' O  S E C U R I T Y  C L E A R A N C E] as referenced in [ D A T A  R E D A C T E D  -  C L A S S I F I E D   M A T E R I A L  -  A C C E S S  I S  R E S T R I C T E D  T O   C L A S S  8  A U N ' O  S E C U R I T Y  C L E A R A N C E]. Presumably Bandit Group T has managed to access the same technology by as yet unknown means. 

(v)

Bandit Group T's political doctrine remains unknown as of this time. At first it was initially believed that the group represented a large-scale following of the monotheistic 'Nurgle' religion. This was based on early reports and surveillance data showing a large number of 'Nurgle' monotheist figures present within the organisation. 

Later Air Caste signals intercepts and further surveillance data suggests this theory was erroneous however, with Sa'Kunas's teams having identified at least one major terror cell practicing a conflicting monotheistic practice of 'Slaanesh' religious observance. Further analysis of Air Caste signals intercepts indicates additional large cells observing monotheistic 'Khorne' death cult practices, as well as polytheistic religious observances referencing all three theistic figures. 

It is possible that the group represents a patchwork of multiple political and theological factions, which would indicate the possibility of of a potential schism between them - creating or exploiting such division could significantly weaken the organisation's power base and threat level, and additional investigation into efforts towards this end is advised. 

2 (b). ORDER OF BATTLE (CONFIRMED) - BANDIT GROUP T 

COMMANDER (Ass. Second-In-Command): Unidentified Mont'au'Gue'la agent, observed directing local cells in combat and believed to be primary officer commanding front-line Bandit Group T assets. Recommend prioritising tracking of this individual with surveillance and observation assets when dedicated intelligence team is assigned. 

Genetic-physiological derivations are currently unknown. Suspected Gue'va former shock troop. 

Observed equipment includes: 

- Experimental etheric weapon 

This device resembles a primitive sword murder implement, and data indicates a number of similarities to the gruesome powered energy swords favoured by the Gue'la. It is possible that this weapon represents an advanced prototype of a next-generation model stolen from a Gue'la R&D institute, or an extensively modified variant. 

In any case this device is based on etheric technology, possibly even incorporating metacreative composites in its construction, and appears to employ or channel etheric energies into its disruption field to provide tremendous amounts of destructive force. Fortunately, in addition to the obvious shortcomings of its non-existent striking range, the weapon has a catastrophic design flaw - energy signature and pattern analysis indicate that the weapon is dangerously unstable, making it more dangerous to its user than to its user's adversaries. 

- Subject is also accompanied by two 'vesa, who appear to be diminutive Gue'la of some variety. Their purpose as of this writing remains unknown. 

SUB-COMMANDERS (Ass. Subordinate to Commander): Three (3) unidentified Mont'au'Gue'la agents, observed managing local cells directly as well as engaging in destabilising and provocative activities. These figures are currently believed to operate freely within the organisation, assigning themselves to specific cells as they see fit. 

All three agents have been observed with extensive bio-augmentation. This includes: 

- Significantly augmented arm structures including etheric bio-technologies to impart shearing-force strength far beyond normal biological limitations. 

- Suspected etheric conduit biotechnic implants. 

In addition to this observed equipment includes: 

- full complement of Gue'la manufactured grenades including fragmentation, shaped implosion charge and thermo-molecular reactive explosives.

CELL T-4: Five (5) Gue'va shock troop operatives specialised for close quarters assault. 

Observed equipment includes: 

- Five (5) Gue'la light bolt drivers (Model type unknown)

- Five (5) suits of Gue'la manufactured powered battle armour. Confirmed to feature etheric enhancements and extensive techno-organic modifications. 

Armour capabilities include: 

- Integrated assault weapon system (unidentified energy weapon based on metacreative technology) 

- greatly enhanced user strength 

- onboard shield generators

Communications intercepts indicate the operative believed to lead this particular cell holds deep theistic beliefs venerating a deity-like figure known as 'Slaanesh'. This particular religious practice has been observed consistently across a large (approx. 20% of all groups encountered near Tau Space) section of Mont'au'Gue'la terrorist and pirate groups. The other Gue'Va cell members appear to share these theistic tendencies. 

CELL T-0: Four (4) genetic-augmented Gue'la agents. Significant and extensive genetic bio-augmentation observed. 

This includes: 

- Significantly increased size and body mass 

- Significantly increased muscle mass and physical strength 

- Significantly increased skeletal density 

- Significantly increased tissue density 

- Significantly dampened pain sensitivity 

- Significantly increased aggression impulses 

Observed equipment includes: 

- Assorted collection of crude bludgeoning implements and repurposed heavy industrial tools 

CELL T-1: Twenty (20) reanimated Gue'la. All cell members identified as deceased Gue'la cadavers resuscitated with unknown bio-genetic vector. 

Observed equipment includes: 

- Assorted Gue'la clothing in varying states of disrepair. 

CELL T-2: Fifteen (15) genetic-augmented Gue'la. Significant genetic bio-augmentation observed. 

Bio-augmentation includes: 

- Gene-edited epidermal tissues, including additions of armoured scales, chitinous lesions and wart-like lesions across much of the body. 

- Enhanced tissue mass 

- Significantly decreased sensitivity to pain. 

Observed equipment includes: 

- full complement of Gue'la manufactured grenades including fragmentation, shaped implosion charge and thermo-molecular reactive explosives. 

- Assorted collection of improvised bludgeoning and stabbing implements 

- Assorted Gue'la clothing in varying states of disrepair. 

CELL T-3: Fifteen (15) genetic-augmented Gue'la. Significant genetic bio-augmentation observed. 

Bio-augmentation includes: 

- Gene-edited epidermal tissues, including additions of armoured scales, chitinous lesions and wart-like lesions across much of the body. 

- Enhanced tissue mass 

- Significantly decreased sensitivity to pain. 

Observed equipment includes: 

- full complement of Gue'la manufactured grenades including fragmentation, shaped implosion charge and thermo-molecular reactive explosives. 

- Assorted collection of improvised bludgeoning and stabbing implements 

- Assorted Gue'la clothing in varying states of disrepair.

- MCW T-1: One (1) Mal'Caor autonomous heavy combat walker. 

Observed armament includes: 

- One (1) heavy tank gun of Gue'la design (120mm Gue'la spec calibre), modified for indirect fire

- One (1) twin-linked heavy automatic cannon of Gue'la design (estimated 37mm - 57mm Gue'la spec calibre) 

- One (1) bio-mechanical close combat device ('Scourge' type pattern based off Gue'la torture device design) 

- Two (2) heavy mechanised powered claw appendages 

Observed modifications include: 

- Enhanced armour protection (suspected etheric or techno-organic technologies incorporated) 

A complete inventory of all identified equipment and its quantities can be found in attached data file BANDIT GROUP T - PRELIMINARY EQUIPMENT INVENTORY AND TABLE INDEX. 

(ii)

The Mal'Caor heavy combat walker appears to be the most recent addition to Bandit Group T's arsenal, and its appearance came as a surprise to both us and Bandit Group S as it was initially believed that Bandit Group T's doctrinal focus was concentrated solely on bio-genetic research and technology as well as bio-genetic enhancement of common foot troops, and that this extreme focus would leave no resources for the procurement of heavy weapons or heavy equipment. The presence of such sophisticated equipment indicates Bandit Group T's funding, black market contacts and resource pool are far more extensive than initially believed. Further investigation into these areas of Bandit Group T should be given immediate priority. 

(iii)

It is also noteworthy that procurement of Mal'Caor combat platforms was given first priority by Bandit Group T leadership. Out of all the various Gue'la and Mont'au'Gue'la combat platforms presumably available to them, they favoured procurement of the Mal'Caor over even the readily available B'Elan'gu'cha combat platform with far greater utility to such an infantry-focused insurgency with limited resources. 

This is not an isolated case either -  mission data from Air Caste assets engaged in Operation KIR'LA-6 shows confirmed kills on dozens if not hundreds of Mont'au'Gue'la vehicles, including both B'Elan'gu'cha and Mal'Caor platforms and many more besides, yet the various terrorist groups operating on Penros 7 continue to field Mal'Caor combat walkers even if they cannot deploy any other kind of vehicle. That the various Gue'la terrorist groups active on Penros 7 are able to continue fielding the combat walkers in spite of such staggering attrition rates is a compelling testament to the value these terrorists place on the Mal'Caor design. 

(iv)

Decrypted Air Caste signals intercepts suggest that the core leadership of Bandit Group T is something of a 'tiered diamond' in structure. Four major figures have been identified directing Bandit Group T cells in field operations. All four are suspected to be Gue'va former shock troops, but if so all of them typically operate outside of the powered exoskeletons usually issued to Gue'va shock troops, which makes definitive identification difficult without closer inspection. 

In any event three of these individuals appear to be largely subordinate to the fourth, managing smaller scale operations and personally directing individual terrorist cells while the fourth figure manages larger scale command. Signals intercepts also suggest an as-yet unseen fifth figure with total authority over the entire leadership structure, but we have been unable to conclusively identify any further information about this fifth leader and details remain sketchy at best. 

This leads Bandit Group T to have what appears to be a particularly decentralised chain of command, and as such termination of senior leadership figures is unlikely to disrupt their terrorist activity to any significant degree. The entire organisation will, it seems, have to unfortunately be dismantled completely. 

3. INCIDENT REPORT - DEPOT 262

(i)

The Incident at Depot 262 represents the first major action by Bandit Group S since their ill-fated attempt to capture Outpost 515 some 20 rotaa ago, as well as the first major action by Bandit Group T we have observed. Depot 262 itself is comprised of a subterranean installation located in the northern mountains of Penros 7's primary inhabited continent and was one of the sites used to store the heavy equipment of the Fire Caste Command deployed to the planet. The site was completely evacuated 18 rotaa ago and is now empty of any significant Tau equipment. It can be assumed that Bandit Group S was attempting to capture the installation for use as a robust shelter from our Air Caste assets and a hidden base of operations. It is also assumed that Bandit Group T was seeking to capture the depot for similar purposes. 

(ii)

Unlike the attack on Outpost 515, this time the Bandit Group S strike force waited until nightfall before commencing their attack. We had anticipated that Bandit Group S would make frequent use of night-time attacks to sow confusion amongst their adversaries and leverage their excellent night-fighting skills common to all Es'Mont'El'Da terrorists, and were surprised to see their earlier attack during daylight hours. It would seem that the terror group had like us underestimated the ferocity of the local pirate and terrorist groups in the system, and has adjusted their tactics accordingly. In any event the Bandit Group S strike force clearly anticipated using the surprise and confusion of a night-time attack to aid in demoralising and intimidating the Gue'la irregulars opposing them into retreat, in accordance with known Es'Mont'El'Da combat doctrine. 

(iii)

As best we can determine, the operational plan employed by the Bandit Group S strike force (approximately cadre level in strength) was to use the superior stealth and fieldcraft skills of its main infantry cells to closely shadow the approaching Bandit Group T force (also cadre level in strength) and closely observe the force disposition of the Bandit Group T elements. Once the weaker Bandit Group T elements were identified, the Bandit Group S infantry teams would forward-deploy to concentrate on the opposing force's weakest flank with Cell 2 while the smaller Cell 1 acted on the opposite flank as a diversionary force to draw the bulk of Bandit Group T assets away from the main attack. At the same time the motorised Cell 4 would use their speed to rapidly reinforce Cell 2's attack while Cell 0 covered the push with long range fire support. 

Fig. 1. Initial deployment of belligerents

(iv)

Initial deployment of Bandit Group S forces in the area would appear to corroborate this. Once again the initial Bandit Group S deployment was concentrated around a reverse-slope defence of key high ground overlooking the primary above-ground entrance to the depot, albeit this time featuring Cell 0 deployed conventionally - it would appear that the force commander did not wish to risk a matter transmission insertion after the disastrous outcome in their last engagement. Once again our surveillance assets were largely unable to locate Cell 1 and Cell 2 until they broke cover at precisely D-Dec + 01:00:00, with Cell 2 appearing on the left flank of Bandit Group T (or the right flank of the Bandit Group S position) and Cell 1 appearing in front of the opposing flank along with the presumed Bandit Group S commander. 

Fig. 2. Bandit Group S deployment detail - note reverse-slope deployment and concealed ambush positions 

(v)

The Bandit Group S attack was fatally compromised by the complete and utter refusal of Cell 0 to engage any hostile targets, or even open fire once throughout the entire engagement. This bizarre behaviour remains a complete mystery that has left us baffled. Analysis suggests that the Cell 0 operatives may have failed to acquire or identify any targets under night fighting conditions, but historical data regarding the notorious proficiency of Es'Mont'El'Da terrorists with nighttime operations calls this conclusion into question. The other highly intriguing possibility is that this action was a deliberate act of insubordination motivated by some kind of internal power struggle or political rift within the Bandit Group S organisation- additional investigation into current internal political dynamics of the group may be necessary. 

Ultimately the lack of heavy fire support from Cell 0 left the Bandit Group S force without an effective answer to the significant mass advantage enjoyed by Bandit Group T, which combined with ineffective fire from Cell 2 resulted in Cell 2 and Cell 4 - which had as planned moved up for close support - being overrun and the attack collapsing with Bandit Group S forces withdrawing after a protracted Six Dec engagement having suffered considerable casualties once again. 

Fig. 3. Bandit Group S Cell 0 in the field. Despite commanding field of fire this unit was completely inactive for the entire battle

Fig. 4. Bandit Group S Cell 2 in combat. This flanking attack proved ineffective due to lack of fire support from Cell 0

Fig. 5. Bandit Group S Cell 1 in combat. Note: the smaller lifeforms in contact with Cell 1 are an anomaly. They have been present in all Bandit Group T attacks thus far, typically employed as screening or spoiling elements as seen here, however their nature remains unknown. Believed to include small Etheric Lifeforms, suspected close cousins of otherwise unique Type-7S Etheric Lifeform. 

(vi)

A critical point of the incident occurred at D-Dec + 03:47:51. Multi-spectral data indicates some kind of energy spike emanating from one of the Bandit Group T sub-commanders leading a counter-offensive launched against Cell 2. The energy signature appears similar to that of a matter transmission beam, but localised entirely on the precise position of the sub-commander himself. It should be noted that this event occurred after the sub-commander appeared to suffer critical injuries, and it is believed that whatever device triggered it was rigged to some manner of dead-man switch. 

Immediately following this energy spike we were able to identify the arrival of one (1) Type-7O Etheric Lifeform. As you will no doubt be aware this unprecedented event marks the first confirmed presence of an O-class Etheric Lifeform of any kind anywhere in the system. O-class Etheric Lifeforms are of course exceedingly rare, and have only been observed anywhere within Tau space on a handful of known occasions. The implications of this event are startling to say the least. 

The presence of a Type-7O Etheric Lifeform indicates that Bandit Group T must have considerable etheric infrastructure in place, given current hypotheses that O-class Etheric Lifeforms are the most vulnerable and least able to survive in a conventional matter environment. O-class Etheric Lifeforms are of course believed to be highly intelligent and command tremendous leadership authority (roughly equivalent to Aun caste), which would indicate tremendous influence of the 'Nurgle' type theistic sect within the Bandit Group T organisation - it is this observation that contributed to earlier erroneous assumptions that the group was entirely devoted to 'Nurgle' type theism. Because of these factors it can also be assumed that the Type-7O Etheric Lifeform identified likely commands a major leadership position within the terrorist group. 

The appearance of a Type-7O Etheric Lifeform also presents an opportunity for further observation and study of O-class Etheric Lifeforms, being as they are the rarest and least documented variety of Etheric Lifeform, which is already a form of life that we know very little about. 

Fig. 6. Confirmed presence of Type-7O Etheric Lifeform. This is the first O-class Etheric Lifeform observed anywhere in this region of space. 

(vii)

Additional note should be made to the Bandit Group S commander leading the attack. This individual fought with a level of tenacity surprising by Es'Mont'El'Da standards, continuing to fight on after Cell 1 had been broken and ultimately tying up a large portion (estimated to be approximately 25-45% of total Bandit Group T forces committed) virtually single-handed. Indeed, most shockingly this individual even displayed something that can only be considered a twisted kind of valour as he fought a delaying action alone against much of the Bandit Group T forces and managed to hold up their advance by himself for almost 4 Decs while the rest of the Bandit Group S force withdrew. Only after all other friendly assets had cleared the area of operations did the commander disengage, vanishing from our surveillance at D-Dec +06:89:34.  

His actions undoubtedly brought valuable time for the forces under his command and almost certainly allowed the force to evacuate much of their casualties in good order, preventing a rout and complete massacre. Such selflessness is virtually unheard of among Mont'au'Gue'la, especially Es'Mont'El'Da terrorists, and an anomaly well worth investigating further. It is very possible that such acts are a key factor in this commander's ability to maintain political cohesion among Bandit Group S and secure his leadership position against internal threats to his power. Certainly he does not appear to have been removed yet despite leading two failed operations. 

Fig. 7. Remains of Bandit Group S cell 1 in combat

Fig. 8. Bandit Group S Commander in combat. This individual is believed to be in command of Bandit Group S, and fought on unassisted for several Decs to buy time for his forces to escape before disengaging

(viii)

Depot 262 remains under Bandit Group T control as of this writing. An attempt to investigate the incident further and retake the facility by Fire Caste forces was made in the aftermath of the engagement but ultimately failed to shift the terrorists - for further information refer to attached data file COMBAT REPORT - DEPOT 262 INCURSION. 

4. INCIDENT REPORT -  LISSELTON 

(i)

The settlement of Lisselton consists of a relatively small (pop. 700,000 according to latest available census data) Gue'la town situated in the mountainous northern reaches of Penros 7's primary continent. The town was the sight of considerable conflict with the local Penros security forces (or PDF in their native Gue'sia) and encroaching Ores'la tribes prior to our invitation into the system, and still featured a considerable amount of leftover equipment and supplies from the local Penros security forces that was abandoned following their defeat and withdrawal from the area. 

It would appear that following their earlier setbacks Bandit Group S forces designated the town of Lisselton as a rallying point and chose to regroup within its former central districts, motivated mostly by the settlement's proximity and abundance of cover within the urban ruins. The abundance of salvageable Gue'la supplies and equipment appears to have been unexpected and surveillance data suggests it was seen as a pleasant windfall rather than an operational priority. 

(ii)

At the same time, Bandit Group T appears to have somehow gleaned intelligence on the leftover supplies and equipment in the area - we believe the most likely source of information to have been former Penros security force personnel, either divulging the information willingly after defecting to the terrorist group or from the terrorists extracting it under duress. In any case the group appears to have dispatched a strike force to recover the leftover equipment and supply caches after securing the Depot 262 facility. It is speculated that further persecution of Bandit Group S to prevent Bandit Group S forces regrouping was a secondary objective. 

(iii)

As best we can determine, the primary objective of Bandit Group S was to defend their perimeter against the Bandit Group T incursion, with a secondary objective of recovering the unclaimed supplies and equipment to further aid in the reconstruction of their forces. Certainly decrypted signals intercepts suggest that Bandit Group S fighters considered the battle to be a struggle for their very survival and consequently fought all the more fanatically as a result. 

(iv)

This incident marked the first use of heavy equipment by Bandit Group T, in the form of a Mal'Caor autonomous heavy combat walker, as well as the return to action of Cell 3 of Bandit Group S. 

(v)

Unlike the previous incident, the action within Lisselton occurred during daylight hours. This is notable because available data indicates that Bandit Group S forces were able glean an effective early warning of the incoming attack and were aware of the Bandit Group T force's route of march and intentions well in advance. By all accounts Bandit Group S had every change to launch a counter-attack at night to leverage their night-fighting skills, yet appear to have purposefully chosen to wait, allow the Bandit Group T force to enter the town and engage them under daylight conditions. 

It is believed that the Bandit Group S commander was drawing from recent experience, and thus not only wanted to ensure the availability of fire support from Cell 0 but also did not deem Bandit Group T fighters as having enough ranged firepower to constitute a threat in daylight conditions - in other words, we believe the Bandit Group S commander deemed the superior firepower of his forces enough of an advantage to render the cover of darkness unnecessary. As mentioned earlier in this report, the presence of heavy combat walkers does not appear to have been considered by the Bandit Group S commander. 

(vi)

As best we can determine, the operational-tactical plan employed by Bandit Group S appears to have been something of a refused-flank defence, using a concentrated coordinated ambush by Cell 1 and Cell 2 on the weakest identified flank of Bandit Group T force while Cell 0 anchored the opposing flank and Cell 4 and Cell 3 acted as an immediate reserve. 

This is supported by initial Bandit Group S deployment, with Cell 0 sited on a building rooftop commanding the force's left flank and central approaches to the town centre, while Cell 3 and Cell 4 deployed centrally in the remains of the town hall to reinforce as necessary. Cell 2 and Cell 1, lead by the Bandit Group S commander, broke cover at D-Dec + 01:00:00 on the Bandit Group S right flank. 

Fig. 9. Bandit Group S activity on right flank. Cell 1 is just visible on right. Note Cell 4 has already been dispatched to opposite left flank

(vii)

The majority of Bandit Group S efforts focused on their right flank, which appears to have been deemed the weaker flank due to the commitment of Bandit Group T elite soldiery and heavy armour to the opposite flank. Both Cell 1 and Cell 2 launched a co-ordinated ambush and swift assault on the Bandit Group T left flank, presumably seeking to quickly eliminate the lesser Gue'la fighters present there before rolling up the flank alongside Cell 3. 

This was aided by some astonishing fortune when the opening salvo from MCW T-1's main gun deviated off-target, with the shot impacting directly to the right of Cell 2 and inflicting only a single casualty. This would prove to be the Mal'caor Combat Walker's only activity of note with its main gun, as subsequent targets quickly closed under the weapon's minimum effective range. 

Thus undeterred, Cell 2 and Cell 1 persecuted rapid attacks against their respective targets, one of the Gue'la infantry cells and the enhanced Gue'la of Cell T-0. Cell 2 engaged in an intense one-sided firefight with Cell T-3 at D-Dec + 01:50:32 that lasted 20 rai'kor and inflicted a number of casualties on the Gue'la troops, but failed to break them. Most notably Cell 2 suffered one casualty in the attack when one of their medium plasma accelerator rifles overheated, crippling the operator in the resulting critical meltdown and plasma detonation. This is highly indicative of the poor state of maintenance and upkeep observed with many Mont'au'Gue'la terrorist groups, of which Bandit Group S appears to be no exception. 

Fig. 10. Bandit Group S Cell 2 in combat, Lisselton

(viii)

Cell 1 then launched a close quarters assault on Cell T-0, but despite tremendous skill at arms was able to inflict only a single casualty at the hands of the force commander. This in turn caused the close quarters battle to stall long enough for the remainder of Cell T-3 to reinforce Cell T-0. 

In response to this Cell 2 appears to have switched focus and swung towards the centre with the goal of rooting out the entrenched Cell T-2 which had dug into a building opposite the town hall, while Cell 3 moved forward to reinforce the Bandit Group S right flank. Note that Cell 1 and indeed the Bandit Group S commander appear to have been abandoned to their fate, with no noticeable effort appearing to be made to come to their aid - rather the Cell 3 deployment appears to have been made in an effort to contain the Bandit Group T counter-attack while Cell 2 pressed onward. 

This lack of effort to relieve Cell 1 appears to have not been in vain however, as while Cell 1 itself was overrun by the overwhelming numbers of bio-enhanced Gue'la, the Bandit Group S commander himself nonetheless managed to hold up the counter-attack almost completely unsupported over the course of the following Dec, managing to not only eliminate the remainder of Cell T-0 in close quarters combat but also eliminate the sub-commander leading Cell T-3, all while suffering only superficial damage in return. 

Fig. 11. Bandit Group S Cell 1 in combat. Note casualties already sustained - this close assault would quickly stall out despite best efforts

(ix)

A first critical point of the incident occurred over the course of the second Dec. At D-Dec + 02:15:34 we detected an energy spike indicative of long-range matter transmission, with an EM profile matching that observed during the battle around Outpost 515. Once again we also observed the appearance of no fewer than five (5) Type-7U Etheric Lifeforms in close proximity to Cell 3. Presumably these Etheric Lifeforms are of the same unit that assisted Cell 3 in the Outpost 515 engagement, and it is likely that they represent the primary liaison between Bandit Group S and their Etheric Lifeform allies. 

Some time later however, at D-Dec + 02:47:51 we also detected a second energy spike, this time emanating from the Bandit Group T sub-commander leading Cell T-3 and matching the EM profile of the Depot 262 incident. This was immediately followed by the reappearance of the Type-7O Etheric Lifeform affiliated with Bandit Group T. It is believed that this being was acting as a reserve and deployed to reinforce the threatened flank - our own forces observed Bandit Group T employ a similar tactic of leaving a flank deliberately weakened only to rapidly reinforce with their Type-70 Etheric Lifeform benefactor during our own incursion at Depot 262. 

The appearance of the Type-70 Etheric Lifeform appears to have finally been enough to discourage the Bandit Group S commander, who promptly disengaged combat and fell back towards the far edge of the area of operations. It is believed that he was attempting to draw the Bandit Group T forces away from his main strike force. If this is true then he was also successful, as the Bandit Group T forces pursued him closely and re-engaged close assault no fewer than 45 rai'kor later, though with the ultimate result being that the entire left flank of Bandit Group T was left out of position. 

Fig. 12. Appearance of Type-7U Etheric Lifeforms. Note Bandit Group T Cell T-3 has reinforced close quarters battle between Cell T-0 and Bandit Group S Cell 1, with only Bandit Group S commander still combat-effective. This individual would later draw Bandit Group T forces across entire flank in diversionary action

(x)

Meanwhile combat on the opposite flank was largely defined by the presence of MCW-T1. After failing to eliminate Cell 2, the Mal'caor combat walker moved forward to attempt to engage Cell 0. It is believed that the modifications to the combat walker's primary weapon system to allow for indirect fire prevented the weapon from engaging directly at closer ranges, as the Mal'caor combat walker spent the remainder of the engagement attacking Cell 0 with its secondary weapon system. The automatic cannon armament proved ineffective against the armoured protection of Cell 0's heavy battlesuits, but Cell 0's return fire was also ineffective - despite landing several hits on the heavy combat walker with heavy anti-armour laser weaponry, Cell 0 was unable to penetrate the enhanced armour package of MCW-T1. After 3 Decs of exchanging fire ineffectually, Cell 0 proceeded to switch targets and begin laying heavy fire on Cell T-1 with heavy automatic bolt-driver weaponry, though they were unable to inflict enough casualties to render the cell combat ineffective. 

Fig. 13. Bandit Group S Cell 0 in combat. Note Mal'caor Autonomous Heavy Combat Walker MCW-T1 in background. These two elements exchanged largely ineffective fire for much of the battle

(xi)

Meanwhile Cell 4 proceeded along and around the left flank of Bandit Group S. It is believed their orders were to encircle the Bandit Group T position and destroy the Mal'caor combat walker with thermo-reactive explosives. If this is true then Cell 4 failed to reach their target, as they were intercepted by Cell T-4 as they broke cover at D-Dec + 03:45:26. Notably Cell 4 seemed unfazed by the attack and displayed expert rapid response skills, immediately launching into a well-timed and well-ordered rapid counter-attack that caught Cell T-4 by surprise. Ultimately Cell 4 was overrun, but not before delaying Cell T-4 in reaching their presumed intended target of Cell 0, buying precious time for their compatriots to complete their fire support mission. 

(xii)

The key decisive point of the engagement came at D-Dec + 03:86:55. After re-engaging with the Bandit Group S commander Bandit Group T forces managed to surround the individual and eventually overrun his position, but not before the commander managed to inflict noticeable damage on the Type-7O Etheric Lifeform. No sooner had Bandit Group T forces consolidated their position than the Type-7O Etheric Lifeform appears to have spontaneously disintegrated and dematerialised. We believe that the Bandit Group S commander must have somehow damaged the creature's life support apparatus, leading to a catastrophic breach of conventional matter into its local environment. Other possibilities include that the hits damaged some kind of power-core on the creature's person, triggering a catastrophic meltdown, as available data indicates a tremendous concentration of energy present at the centre-mass of most O-class Etheric Lifeforms encountered. 

In any case the disappearance of the Type-7O Etheric Lifeform threw the entire Bandit Group T flank into complete disarray, which Bandit Group S forces quickly exploited. Cell 2 swung back and launched an immediate counter-offensive that saw Cell T-3 completely routed and the entire flank in total collapse, before turning back and linking up with Cell 3 to push into the centre. The following band of Type-7U Etheric Lifeforms was left to mop up and secure the flank while the Gue'va fighters pressed the attack. 

(xiii)

It is at around this time that Cell T-4 reached contact with Cell 0 and launched a close assault, however faced extreme difficulty in negotiating the ruined structure to reach Cell 0's rooftop position. This difficulty critically robbed the assault of its coherency and momentum, with the result that it ultimately failed with the Cell T-4 fighters being destroyed piecemeal by defending heavy battlesuits using their integrated close combat weapon systems, though not before disabling two of Cell 0's heavy battlesuits in the process. 

(xiv)

The final major point of the incident occurred at D-Dec + 05:03:15 when Cell 2 launched a close assault action on the Mal'caor combat walker, which had moved forward to intercept their attack on the centre. They were followed shortly by Cell 3, and together the two units managed to fight the combat walker to a standstill over a protracted 3 Dec engagement before one of the Cell 3 operatives finally managed to destroy the machine by plunging their polearm clean through its power core. 

Fig. 14. Mal'caor Autonomous Heavy Combat Walker destroyed by Bandit Group S forces

(xv)

Following the destruction of the Mal'caor combat walker Bandit Group T forces pulled back to a renewed perimeter, absconding with approximately 50% of the abandoned equipment in the immediate area of operations. Bandit Group S in turn consolidated their own holdings and recovered their dead and wounded. It should be noted that especial priority and attention went to the recovery of their fallen commander - evidently the anonymously selfless actions and twisted valour of this individual have earned him the respect of his fighters. 

The settlement of Lisselton remains actively contested by both terrorist groups. 

CONCLUSION 

As predicted, Bandit Group S appears to be rapidly adapting to operational conditions on Penros 7, and is quickly refining their tactics against the local terrorist and pirate forces they have encountered. Additionally, Bandit Group T is quickly emerging as a formidable new threat on Penros 7. These terrorist groups appear to have currently fought each other to a temporary standstill, and they appear to be developing a close and fierce rivalry with one another - further investigation is required into the possibility of exploiting this potential animosity. 

Unfortunately, given both terrorist groups contain practitioners of 'Nurgle' type theism, it is highly likely that this emerging feud will lead to both sides escalating to the widespread and reckless use of biological weapons of mass destruction, including indiscriminate biological warfare against civilian targets. Rapid distribution of additional medical supplies and equipment to endangered sectors, as well as mass distribution of additional vaccines and antibiotics to the civilian population, is now critically imperative. Additional outbreak containment drills and quarantine protocol tests will also be necessary. We absolutely MUST move quickly to ensure this nightmare scenario does not come to pass. 

Priority assignment of [D A T A  R E D A C T E D] to search-and-destroy missions to locate and dismantle any laboratories or production facilities for biological weapons and any existing stockpiles of biological weapons of mass destruction is also highly recommended. 

These are two highly dangerous terrorist organisations. Neither can be allowed to gain significant power. Neither of them should be underestimated. 

--FILE CLOSED--