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...

Tor'Vash'Por (4)

Idris: ... moving onto other news now and Tau forces in the Penros system have successfully repelled a surprise attack by pirate forces believed to be affiliated to Mont'au'Gue'la terror groups. The attack occurred on a Tau staging post above Penros X and marks the second major space combat by Tau expeditionary forces in the Penros system, coinciding with the appearance of a Class-8 space hulk in the system that now threatens to stretch Tau naval forces even further. Correspondent Farrier Seyburey has more for us now. 

(In a massive cavernous launch bay a Manta loaded with enormous underwing missile pods tears past our field of view and zooms into space through a vast gaping opening) 

Farrier (VO):  No rest for the weary as Tau aerospace forces in the Penros system continue to face mounting pressure from rapidly escalating terrorist activity.. 

(The missile-laden underside of an SX-06 Barracuda covers the top corner of view as we see a vast cavernous rectangular launch bay rapidly shoot back and downwards, followed by the vast launch bay entrance and enormous shape of an Explorer class starship falling into the distance as the Barracuda takes off and races away on its launch trajectory)

Farrier (VO Cont.): .. The latest attack has seen a major raid on the primary Tau staging point above Penros X by Mont'au'Gue'la pirate forces believed to be affiliated with the same terror group that launched an attack on Tau forces above Penros VI earlier this week.. 

(A relentless stream of missiles leaps upwards from a cluster of vertical launch cells amongst the sprawling hull and superstructure of a Tau starship)

Farrier (VO Cont.): .. The terrorist flotilla, believed to have comprised no fewer than six capital ships and six frigates of Imperial design, staged a surprise attack on the staging point while a major Tau action group was undergoing replenishment in preparation for further deployment throughout the Penros system.. 

(Stars wheel and whirl around the front underside of an SX-06 Barracuda, jutting across from the top corner of view towards a distant speck of light fixed in the centre of view. After a few moments of chasing a large missile flings itself from the Barracuda's underside just out of view and then hurtles off towards the distant speck)

Farrier (VO Cont.): .. Sources indicate that the Mont'au'Gue'la were initially able to achieve complete operational surprise, with only the local defensive patrol of Kir'qath class starships on alert at the onset of the attack.. 

(Stars wheel around the massive sprawling hull of a Merchant class starship as it manoeuvres) 

Farrier (VO Cont.): .. however Tau fleet intelligence was able to correctly predict the most likely avenues of attack and had the squadron positioned to quickly intercept the attacking ships.. 

(Viewed in monochrome through a Tau weapon seeker, the distant shape of a Styx class heavy cruiser slowly begins to grow out from the centre of view, wiggling to and fro as the missile tracks to keep it in the centre of vision. A stream of flashes races forwards from the ship before sweeping up and under out of view. At once the Styx rushes forward into the camera, zooming straight into a section of its hull before the image abruptly cuts)

Farrier (VO Cont.): .. This allowed the Tau fleet enough time to activate its ships in holding, and the Tau were then able to hold their own in an 8 dec engagement that ultimately saw the surviving Mont'au'Gue'la forced to retreat after being outmanoeuvred by Tau ships exploiting the gas giant Penros X itself to attack the terrorist formation from their rear aspect.. 

(Viewed in monochrome through a Tau gun camera, a Dreadclaw pod hangs in the middle of view as it hurtles through space at an oblique angle. At once a small flickering flash of light zips up on a smooth intercept trajectory and slams into it from beneath, consuming the pod in a bright flash that leaves behind a spiraling cloud of glittering debris)

Farrier (VO Cont.): .. Air Caste Command Penros has praised the professionalism of its pilots and starship crews in quickly responding to the emerging threat and repelling the attack despite continued use by the terrorists of advanced short-range etheric drives and self-repair capability onboard several warships.. 

(The top rear of a Manta sprawls across the bottom of view, furious coronas of light blasting from its engines as it speeds away from a distant speck of light in the centre of view. At once the entire vision is consumed by a searing unbearably white flash that dissipates in a moment, leaving behind a growing cloud of burning iridescent light where the speck once was)

Farrier (VO Cont.): .. Tau officials still refuse to confirm or deny unsubstantiated claims that these capabilities may be somehow connected to so-called etheric lifeforms, but have confirmed the destruction of at least two such modified cruisers.. 

(The superstructure of a Tau starship sprawls across the bottom of view, a distant speck of light slowly drifting past where a horizon might be. At once the entire vision is consumed by a searing unbearably purple flash. A twitching visual glitch runs across the camera's view and the flash dissipates, leaving behind a swirling mass of burning iridescent light where the speck once was. A tiny visual glitch persists at the very epicentre of the light mass)

Farrier (VO Cont.): .. from catastrophic damage to their plasma drives and etheric engines, as well as the loss of no fewer than three Mont'au'Gue'la torpedo frigates. Tau sources have also reported that the confirmed command ship of the attacking terrorists suffered crippling damage during the battle. 

(A Tau Air Caste pilot, holding her helmet in one hand by her waist, talks into a microphone held from just out of sight)

Tau Air Caste: Mont'au'Gue'la Vattra Mont'[These Mont'au'Gue'la starships are tough, they've been modified with powerful short-range ether drives and sophisticated self-repair systems, and when they use those two together it makes them really hard to destroy because if you don't destroy the ship in one pass it will jump out of space and then return when it's self-repaired all the damage. Normally our guys will fly in multiple smaller forces to cripple many adversaries quickly, but doing that with these ships just lets them escape and self-repair. So instead we started concentrating our guys into single larger strike packages and then we started getting success and destroyed two of their capital ships. It means we hit fewer targets, but the targets we do hit, we destroy for good. I know we lost a lot of ships this time, but I'm still feeling good because we're learning how to beat these Mont'au'Gue'la and we're adapting to beat them]

(Farrier walks down a crisp white corridor aboard a Tau starship) 

Farrier: The Tau ended the battle controlling the field and so have been able to keep open their main supply lines through the system, especially in preparation for additional ships en route to the Penros sub-sector - it's an important victory, but the Tau have paid an extremely heavy price for it, with Air Caste Command reporting the destruction of fifteen escort ships of various classes now that's already seriously heavy losses, but worse still is the reported destruction of two capital ships, the first such vessels lost by the Tau in the Penros system, including a Gal'leath class starship and that's a staggering blow, because these huge carrier starships are the backbone of the Kor'vattra the Tau navy, they're used for logistics, for command and control, for transporting and housing ground forces as well as being the primary offensive striking power of the Tau fleet so even losing just one of these starships is a massive setback for the Penros Coalition. Now, the good news is that the Gal'leath is reported to be relatively intact and in salvageable condition, but the other capital ship lost, which sources indicate to be a smaller Il'fannor class starship, did suffer a catastrophic plasma drive overload and will need to be replaced with another ship from out of system. Tau officials have reported investigations have been launched to determine why these ships were lost, as they were reportedly given multiple direct orders to disengage before suffering catastrophic damage, but in the meantime the Tau Air Caste will be stretched extremely thin across the Penros sub-sector. 

(We focus in on a still frame from a Tau sensor readout, showing a massive contact in deep space)

Farrier (VO): The losses have further compounded the Penros Coalition's increasingly fragile state in space, coinciding with the detection of a massive class-8 space hulk in the system.. 

(Viewed in monochrome through a Tau imager, an enormous roughly shaped mass hangs in the cosmos)

Farrier (VO Cont.): .. currently being tracked by Air Caste assets and projected to pass close by Penros VII later in the month.. 

(The superstructure of a Tau starship sprawls across the bottom of view. A distant speck of vividly bright light hangs in the centre of view, keeping pace with the Tau ship as it moves through space at speed)

Farrier (VO Cont.): .. It's a glaring example of the growing holes in the coalition's blockade of the system, as more and more fleet assets are committed to hunting down the emergent Mont'au'Gue'la threat to coalition space superiority.. 

(A gleaming four-armed Tau orbital hangs in space above the vast face of a planet covered by oceans, landmasses and clouds)

Farrier (VO Cont.): .. With Tau Air Caste assets further depleted, the coalition aerospace forces are now having to compromise in some areas.. 

(Digital contact icons shift and dance across the screen of a Tau sensor readout embedded in a cool grey workstation)

Farrier (VO Cont.): .. shifting priority from containment measures for hazards like space hulks.. 

(A Barracuda soars across a twilight sky, teardrop plumes of brilliant flame fountaining from its engines as it cruises on afterburners high above the clouds. The body of its wingman is just visible along the bottom of view)

Farrier (VO Cont.): .. as well as aerospace support for coalition ground forces embattled on the surface of Penros VII, and renewed talks of the possibility of escalation by the Gue'la Imperium in the region could now push the expeditionary mission to its breaking point.. 

(Neat slim white contrails arc across a cloudless midday sky across open rolling countryside)

 

Varrier (VO Cont.): .. Meanwhile on Penros VII coalition ground forces have shifted to a more aggressive posture.. 

(Rolling wilderness rushes past the underside of a Barracuda tearing along at low level. The Barracuda's central missile bay drops down and a pair of burning orange lights leap from the front of it one after the other before the Barracuda wrenches upwards and away from the world)

Farrier (VO Cont.): .. with missile and airstrikes intensifying around known Ores'la strongholds.. 

(In the middle of a bustling Tau starport, beneath a cold blue-grey-orange dusk, Tau, humans and drones hastily unload cargo and supplies from the open cargo hatches of landed Manta and Orca dropships and onto rows of Tau grav-tanks and troop carriers under the illumination of floodlights)

Farrier (VO Cont.): .. and reports of large numbers of Tau reserve units being mobilised.. 

(An orderly column of Tau vehicles screened by drones moves past the view down a desolate countryside roadway)

Farrier (VO Cont.): .. in preparation for what is anticipated to be a major offensive operation in the coming weeks.. 

(Viewed in monochrome through a Tau docking camera, the vast ruined shell of an Explorer class starship stretches in all directions as far as the eye can see, slowly growing closer and closer)

Farrier (VO Cont.): .. Salvaging operations are also underway to restore the derelict Gal'leath starship lost in combat operations to restore key fleet capabilities.. 

(Humans clad in Tau body armour and undersuit clothing swarm along a length of shattered, ruined Tau starship corridor, pulling battered Tau Air Caste from wreckage, working to repair the cataclysmic damage and moving loaded casualty grav-stretchers back out of view and fresh supplies and equipment out from view to where it's needed)

Farrier (VO Cont.): .. while the coalition awaits the arrival of additional reinforcements. It's now a race against time for the Penros Coalition to shore up its operational situation, but there remains a sense among Coalition Command that this conflict, is not yet over. From Penros System this is Farrier Seyburey, Tor'Vash'Por. 

Idris: Imperial authorities on Lysander have launched a brutal crackdown on civilian protestors calling for more equitable living conditions as well as diplomatic and trade ties with the Tau and Gue'vesa Federation. The demonstrators, only one day after their first mass action have been met with lethal force from local Arbite police units with the death toll currently at...

Tor'Vash'Por (3)

 Idris: ... Good evening welcome back to Tor'Vash'Por, I'm Idris Zhaan joining you now at the top of the hour. We begin with our top story tonight in the Penros system where Tau warships have engaged several pirate spacecraft above Penros VI. The action marks the first large scale space combat by Tau expeditionary forces in the system and represents a major escalation of the Penros conflict, our correspondent Farrier Seyburey has more now. 

(The cool white armoured prow of a Hero class starship sprawls across the bottom of view, arcing out towards an endless field of stars, with a massive rectangular gun barrel stretching into the cosmos even further)

Farrier (VO): The day the Tau coalition always knew would come... 

(The enormous gun fires in total noiselessness at some unseen target. As it does the stars in the distance ahead twist and swirl inwards towards the front of the ship, stretching out as the universe scrunches towards the gun muzzle. Almost immediately after the gun fires the starscape swims back to its normal state) 

Farrier (VO cont.): ... the Penros Coalition's first space combat. 

(Inside a vast cavernous rectangular launch bay, a Manta laden with enormous underwing missile pods sits poised for takeoff. Tiny figures scatter away from it to their flight deck stations before the machine lurches into life and tears off past the camera in a tremendous rush of speed) 

Farrier (VO Cont.): Tau fleet elements today undertaking routine anti-piracy operations in the vicinity of Penros VI came under attack from human warships under the command of Mont'au'Gue'la terrorist forces.. 

(Inside a vast cavernous rectangular launch bay, an SX-06 Barracuda with a bundle of missiles slung underneath races across the flight deck, roaring burning plumes of bright flame blasting from its engines, before rocketing off through the launch bay door and into deep space)

Farrier (VO Cont.): ..in what has become the first major space combat in the Penros System since the arrival of Tau expeditionary forces several weeks ago.. 

(The rear underside of a Manta sprawls across the top of view as we see a vast cavernous rectangular launch bay rapidly shoot back and downwards, followed by the vast launch bay entrance and enormous shape of an Explorer class starship falling into the distance as the Manta takes off and races away on its launch trajectory)

Farrier (VO Cont.): .. The Tau flotilla, comprising of several escort ships and four capital starships including the expedition fleet's flagship, encountered six unidentified escort ships that refused to respond to hails and opened fire with torpedo strikes.. 

(Missile after missile after missile leaps upwards in a relentless stream of bright burning plumes of flame from a cluster of vertical launch cells on the massive flank of a Tau starship, which sprawls across the bottom of view and stretches into the distance)

Farrier (VO Cont.): ... The ships are believed to have been manned by Mont'au'Gue'la fighters belonging to one of the local terrorist groups active on Penros VII, but latest intelligence indicates a possible connection to the Word Bearers Gue'la terror group.. 

(Viewed in monochrome through a Tau weapon seeker, the distant shape of an Idolator class raider slowly begins to grow out from the centre of view, wiggling to and fro as the missile tracks to keep it in the centre of vision. A stream of flashes races forwards from the ship before sweeping up and over out of view. At once the Idolator rushes forward into the camera, zooming straight into a section of its hull before the image abruptly cuts)

Farrier (VO Cont.): ...While engaging the initial hostile ships the Tau formation came under attack from multiple capital warships of modified Imperial design, which materialised directly from warp space in support of the attacking Mont'au'Gue'la.. 

(Viewed in monochrome through a Tau gun camera, an Idolator class raider hangs in space, bright spheres of light radiating from its engines. A trio of small flashes zoom across the screen and straight into the middle of it. The ship is engulfed in a series of brilliant white flashes before snapping in half at the middle of the hull, a sea of glowing molten fragments spilling away from it in a fan pattern)

Farrier (VO Cont.): ..These ships made numerous small-scale etheric jumps over the course of the battle and Tau fleet analysts believe them to have been equipped with highly sophisticated warp drive and self-repair technology. Rumours that the warships were manned with or supplied by so-called etheric lifeforms remain unsubstantiated.. 

(A rugged stocky rocketship hangs in the middle of view as it hurtles through space at an oblique angle. Hideous dull red sigils are painted across its surface, and tiny lights can be seen from cabin windows aboard it. One by one, it slams into first one, then two then three passing cruise missiles, leaving a trail of debris pouring from gaping holes in its hull and cabins) 

Farrier (VO Cont.): .. The terrorist ships also made extensive use of manned suicide vehicles to intercept incoming Tau fire, succeeding in downing a large number of anti-ship missiles and tying up interceptor squadrons with an appalling loss of life. It is not yet known whether the suicide vehicles were carrying willing fighters, or civilian hostages forced into the line of death against their will..

(Viewed from above in monochrome through a Tau gun camera, an Idolater hangs in the void, silhouetted by spheres of light from its engines as it points away from view. A trio of small flashes zoom across the screen and into the port side of it. The ship is engulfed in a series of brilliant white flashes before spiraling out of control, breaking apart into a mess of debris and glowing molten fragments)

Farrier (VO Cont.): ..After a hard-fought engagement lasting eight decs, Tau fleet elements were forced to disengage and withdrew from the area in good order after inflicting considerable damage on the Mont'au'Gue'la terrorist forces.. 

(The huge form of a Merchant class starship hangs in the void, starlight occasionally curving around the perimeter of its gravitic shield. At once its forward gun turrets fire in a rippling pattern)

Farrier (VO Cont.): .. Air Caste Command Penros has confirmed at least one Mont'au'Gue'la capital ship destroyed along with all of the initially detected escort ships in return for no Tau capital ship losses and only 5 escort ships reported downed.. 

(Viewed from above in monochrome through a Tau gun camera, the menacing form of a Chaos cruiser hangs in the cosmos. At once a series of brilliant white flashes ripple across its surface, tearing huge chunks from its hull in sprays of debris and molten fragments)

Farrier (VO Cont.): .. The Tau admiralty strongly condemned the use of manned suicide vehicles and reckless disregard for life displayed by the Mont'au'Gue'la, while praising the discipline of its starship crews in timely use of emergency brace measures to avoid catastrophic losses, as well as the skill of its attack wing pilots in inflicting far greater damage on enemy shipping. 

(A Tau Air Caste pilot, holding his helmet in one hand by his waist, talks into a microphone held from just out of sight)

Tau Air Caste: Kor'Tau Y'eldi Ko'va[Our guys did really good out there today, really good. The Manta crews did a really great job on their bombing runs and landed some really good hits on the opposing starships. We inflicted crippling damage on a lot of them, but they had some really unusual capabilities that let them make lots of little warp-space jumps around us while repairing their hulls, so we only managed to destroy one of their capital ships for good. Still, I'm really pleased with how my guys performed out there today] 

(Farrier stands in a crisp white corridor of a Tau starship, star-strewn space visible in a large rectangular viewport behind him) 

Farrier: The Tau coalition leadership is putting a lot of focus on the discipline and coordination of their starship crews, going on well-timed emergency brace orders to avoid the worst damage while inflicting heavy losses on the Mont'au'Gue'la ships in return, but the fact remains that the Tau fleet was ultimately forced to retreat, and that's a cause for serious concern behind closed doors. Initial reports seem to indicate that the Tau flotilla was caught unprepared - they had adopted a wide search pattern to patrol for minor pirate threats, and that left their two main formations out of position to support each other and vulnerable to the Mont'au Gue'la ships concentrating on them piecemeal, with the Tau admiral giving the order to withdraw after the flotilla was in danger of being defeated in detail. In any case the outcome of this battle remains indecisive, on the one hand the Tau did manage to inflict greater damage than they received, but they also failed to contain the Mont'au'Gue'la incursion, and it is believed three highly dangerous cruiser-class warships remain at large in terrorist hands. 

(The frontal prow of an Emissary class starship sweeps across the bottom of view, a tiny point of light maintaining precise echelon formation ahead of it in the starry distance)

Farrier (VO): The remaining Mont'au'Gue'la warships are believed to have left the vicinity of Penros VI shortly after the engagement, and additional Tau ships arrived not long after to carry out search and rescue operations.. 

(The forward underside of a Manta sprawls across the top of view, the top of a Tau escape pod just visible at the bottom of view as the distant shape of an Emissary class starship draws closer)

Farrier (VO Cont.): .. with sources from Air Caste Command Penros claiming the bulk of downed crew and pilots were successfully recovered.. 

(The massive form of a Messenger class starship powers across space, light pouring from its engines)

Farrier (VO Cont.): .. Meanwhile remaining Tau Kor'vattra forces in the system have been placed on full alert.. 

(Nestled in a workstation, a Tau Air Caste diligently watches over the readout on the display screen of a sensor console)

Farrier (VO Cont.): .. and extensive search operations are currently underway to hunt down the elusive Mont'au'Gue'la starships and neutralise them quickly before they can cause more harm.. 

(The huge form of a Merchant class starship powers forward through space, framed in a halo of light from its engines)

Farrier (VO Cont.): .. while additional Tau warships are being mobilised for the Penros system.. 

(Tau Earth Caste and drones scurry back and forth along a ruined starship corridor, replacing cables and welding panels and components back into place)

Farrier (VO Cont.): In the meantime, the race is on to get these wounded starships fully repaired, and back in the fight. From Penros System this is Farrier Seyburey, Tor'Vash'Por.

Idris: And joining us now to shed more light on the story we have Kor'El'Tau'n Shovah'Y'eldi'B'kyse, former Tau fleet commander and current instructor for the Leonov Naval Academy, on live feed, Kor'El just how concerned should we be about the Penros Expedition given this defeat in their first major space combat? 

Shovah: ..... Well Idris the first thing you need to understand here is that the coalition's situation in space is very different to what's happening on the ground at the moment. As we're all aware the expeditionary ground forces landed have been on the.. on the... the back foot, almost since the first Rotaa in system, but the expeditionary force's position in space has been formidable for the same time- 

Idris: Righ- 

Shovah (Cont.): -which is after all why the Gue'la fleet, why they abandoned the system almost immediately- 

Idris: Hang on hang on- 

Shovah (Cont.): after landing the Gue'la Imperial invasion force on Penros VII, after a few shows of force it was very apparent that they would have no hope of challenging the Kor'vattra forces deployed- 

Idris: OK but it's all well and good to say that the coalition fleet is this massive juggernaut of force, yet as we've clearly seen they've had their first real combat action in the system, and it ended in a failure for them. I mean they've already acknowledged losing five escort starships and being forced to retreat, so how capable can the Tau fleet in the Penros system really be? 

Shovah: Yes it's true they have suffered a setback here, but this is also only one relatively small operation in a wider campaign here, and I would say fixating on the outcome of this one specific engagement is going to be missing the... to be missing the... missing the... the trees... missing the trees for the forest... the forest for the trees rather. 

Idris: So you're saying there's a bigger picture here that we're missing? 

Shovah: Right, exactly, you need to account for the strategic situation and the strategic situation for the Penros coalition fleet right now is still very strong, yes they have taken losses but as bad as those losses might have been they are survivable. The capital ships that were damaged can be repaired, while the destroyed Mont'au'Gue'la starship cannot, and in the meantime the coalition fleet still heavily outnumbers these raiders and is still maintaining control over the Penros system. 

Idris: But what about the advanced technical characteristics displayed by these Mont'au'Gue'la warships, I mean they can clearly outmanouevre the Tau ships in battle, so what's to stop them from just doing that again and again? 

Shovah: Well nothing really, but as we've seen from this very engagement they're also not invincible, and our ships can catch and destroy them. And that goes back to my point, if the coalition fleet can continue to just catch and destroy even one of those starships every time they're encountered, that's a rate of loss that's unsustainable for these Mont'au'Gue'la, whereas with the logistics base behind the Penros Coalition we can sustain a few starships crippled here or a few escort ships lost there. 

Idris: So would you say then that you don't think there's any danger here for the Penros mission? 

Shovah: I wouldn't say that exactly, no. 

Idris: Alright so what would you say is the greatest concern facing the Penros Coalition fleet at the moment then? 

Shovah: Right now I would say that the biggest threat for the Kor'vattra in Penros is the strategic precedent. Up until now the fleet has been acting almost as a fleet-in-being, where you have this situation where the Kor'vattra is.. where it's almost that the THREAT of the fleet is more potent than it's combat power, like for instance where the threat of interdiction was enough to drive off the Imperial Gue'la invasion fleet from the system, and the Kor'vattra retreating from this engagement, it... it undermines that. 

Idris: So hang on, just before you were saying how strong the coalition's position in space was, and now you're saying this battle has weakened it? Which one is it here? 

Shovah: I would say the coalition's position in space is still strong, but now it's fragile. Up until now it's been able to command unchallenged control over Penros System space, and now that control has been challenged, and that sets a precedent for other forces to start making bolder actions, there's now concerns among the Kor'ar'tol for instance that the local Ores'la might start taking bolder actions against coalition space assets, and that Imperial Gue'la naval forces might return to the system in greater strength, and while all of these various powers don't necessarily pose a threat individually, if they all start attacking at the same time it could quickly see the Kor'vattra in the system overwhelmed. 

Idris: Alright so how would you suggest that the coalition might be able to rectify that issue? 

Shovah: Well the Kor'ar'tol is reinforcing the system and I think that's already a good move to make sure that we retain at least local space superiority over some of these potential adversaries, and especially that we outnumber them in ships and tonnage, and the local coalition command taking the initiative in tracking down these Mont'au'Gue'la warships is also a good move since they need to be neutralised quickly while the coalition fleet still has that advantage in numbers and logistics over them and has the luxury of focusing down on one threat at a time, so they're off to a good start already. Beyond that I think it's mostly going to be a matter of choosing their battles wherever possible, and trying to gain more leverage on the ground so that the Penros Coalition has more options for power projection beyond aerospace control. 

Idris: Right, now unfortunately we are just about to run out of time but one final thing I do want to ask you about Kor'El is what do you make of the suicide vehicles we've seen used by these terrorists here?

Shovah: I am sickened to my core, I cannot find any other.. any other words for it. It's already fairly well known that these Mont'au'Gue'la terrorists they don't normally have any regard for the sanctity of life, but deliberately putting hundreds if not thousands - and that's something we have to remember there, these vehicles, they're modified boarding torpedoes that they accommodate hundreds if not thousands on board - but deliberately putting all those hundreds if not thousands directly in the way of.. 

Idris: Kor'El-

Shovah (Cont.): .. ah, not one but many many incoming fusion missiles, this is just a total atrocity no matter how you put it, and I'm just ah... I'm just... ahhh... it's barely... it just doesn't comprehend just how a sentient spacefaring people.. 

Idris: Kor-

.. could not... not just take the option of that but, you know, willingly and gladly go along for it.. 

Idris: Kor'El I'm sorry-

Shovah (Cont.): .. as if purposefully killing that many people achieves any good purpose.. It's just horrifying, it's something out of our Mont'au. 

Idris: Alright Kor'El'Tau'n Shovah'Y'eldi'B'kyse I'm afraid I am going to have to leave it there as we are running out of time but thank you for joining us we are very grateful to have your expertise on the matter. 

Shovah: Thank you Idris.  

Idris: Meanwhile now Tau authorities are growing increasingly alarmed at escalating tensions in the Ferndel sub-sector. Imperial Gue'la forces have managed to repel an attack by Mont'au'Gue'la terrorists on the fourth moon of Sturges Maxima. The fighting has caused significant damage to the civilian settlements on the moon and represents a serious escalation in the region, correspondent Zara Abdi has more for us now. 

(We see a sweeping vista of lush rugged woodland. Thick black plumes of smoke rise from numerous points along the treeline. Automatic gunfire echoes across the landscape.) 

Zara (VO): Fierce fighting broke out today on Sturges Maxima's fourth moon, as Mont'au'Gue'la terrorists launched an attack on the ancient city of Ostroglamesh, a renowned cultural heritage site in the system.. 

(Explosions echo along a rugged tree-covered mountain valley) 

Zara (VO, Cont.): .. The armed group is believed to have been roughly Cadre sized and comprised of heavily armed Ores'la'Gue'la fighters, thought to former Imperial Astartes shock troops with links to the notorious Night Lords terror group.. 

(A sprawling woodland rushes past the view from the roof of a speeding ground-car, beneath a brilliant sunset. The gas giant of Sturges Maxima fills the upper sky. The sky is smudged with thick black funnels of smoke pouring up from beyond the tree line) 

Zara (VO Cont.): ..Sources indicate these fighters were equipped with a range of advanced Imperial weaponry including a number of heavy powered combat armour suits.. 

(In the dark of night, the black hulking shapes of Rhino APCs can be seen rolling through the deserted main street of an Imperial town)

Zara (VO Cont.): The armed group occupied the Ostroglamesh ruins at dawn, where they were met with a reinforced cadre-strength force of Imperial Astartes shock troops belonging to the elite Dark Angels Brigades of the Gue'la Imperial Army, supported by heavy combat walker.. 

(In a shaky view of pre-dawn darkness the silhouette of a Land Speeder can be made out, speeding across the countryside at the head of a plume of bright purple-blue flame)

Zara (VO Cont.) .. and light skimmer assets.. 

(In the midday sun a vast towering gothic palace of marble and alabaster adorned with Imperial iconography dominates the skyline of a small stone cityscape)

 

Zara (VO Cont.): .. Gue'la Imperial authorities are reporting that the Dark Angels Brigade force managed to decisively rout the Mont'au'Gue'la terrorists after a brutal nine hour battle.. 

(We see an entrance to the palace up close, filling the background with its ominous might. Tiny figures move up and down two vast sets of stone steps flanked by two colossal statues of grey stone, a roaring lion on the left and a tall proud-looking woman, clad in flowing robes and an archaic helmet holding a spear and shield, on the right)

Zara (VO Cont.): .. but sources indicate the Dark Angels shock troops suffered heavy losses in the fighting, with estimates claiming as high as a fifty percent casualty rate..  

(We see a still image of a large complex of white stone ruins nestled amongst lush green woodland threaded with roads and pathways, viewed from above. Craters, scorched ground and other signs of battle are everywhere. The view zooms in on a section of ground, focusing on the wrecked form of an archaic Imperial Dreadnought adorned with winged sword iconography. One leg has been blasted clean in half, and a series of jagged gaping holes have been punched across its rear engine block. 

Zara (VO Cont.): ..and the confirmed loss of at least one heavy combat walker, showing signs of catastrophic damage from heavy laser and automatic cannon impacts.. 

(Viewed from behind the windshield of a moving ground-car, a group of figures clad in black body armour, their faces concealed, patrol a distant checkpoint, slowly getting closer as the ground-car moves along a stretch of road through deep green forests. At once the ground-car stops at the sound of a series of crackling pops, the windshield cracks from an impact and the ground-car frantically turns around and drives back from whence it came)

Zara (VO Cont.): .. Imperial officials have denied claims that so-called etheric lifeforms were present in the fighting and that they managed to overrun the ruined temple at the heart of the Ostroglamesh site. They have also refused to comment on speculation that the Ostroglamesh site has some form of undisclosed etheric resonance, although the ruins remain under strict quarantine by Imperial secret police elements..

(An Imperial settlement burns in the night, fire blazing from much of its buildings. The night sky is painted in a bloody red-orange glow)

 

Zara (VO Cont.): .. The aftermath of the battle has seen no end to the fighting, with remaining Mont'au'Gue'la terror cells launching a series of brutal reprisal attacks on outlying civilian settlements. Well over a dozen towns and villiages have been razed to the ground, and there are unconfirmed reports of chemical weapons being deployed against more still. 

(Zara walks along the street of a small village of Imperial buildings)

Zara: The threat of widespread use of weapons of mass destruction by the terrorist forces in the Sturges system is a very real threat for civilians on the ground - analysts in the Tau intelligence community believe there is credible evidence that the particular armed group active here is armed with a considerable stockpile of chemical and biological weapons, and it is thought that they would have no hesitation of deploying them against civilian targets to undermine resistance against them. These are ordinary human citizens now fearful for their lives, yet the Gue'la Imperial authorities have yet to make any public acknowledgement of the danger facing them, much less take any action at all to ensure their safety. 

(Plumes of thick black smoke rise from a ruined Imperial settlement)

Zara (VO): Instead Gue'la Imperial forces have launched a widespread and repressive crackdown on the civilian populace. Locals from around the Ostroglamesh region have reported Imperial Astartes shock troops sweeping through their towns and villiages and burning their homes to the ground.. 

(A stampede of humans clad in Imperial peasant attire flee in terror down a street from the sound of automatic gunfire a few blocks away)

Zara (VO Cont.): .. Many have been killed by Imperial Astartes death squads, while many more have been abducted by Dark Angels Brigade fighters, never to be seen again.. 

(A long column of humans in ragged Imperial clothing trudge down a road through the countryside, clearly unkempt and weary. Some of them pull crude handcarts behind them loaded with goods, others simply hold a few boxes or cartons in their arms)

Zara (VO Cont.): .. Streams of refugees are now a common sight among the countriside of the Ostroglamesh region, desperate for respite. 

(A hardy-looking human civilian aged in his mid 30s talks into a microphone held from just out of sight)

Local Civilian: They came to our town at night, they burned everything. They shot my brother and my nephew in the street, there was nothing left but bloody shreds of flesh. I do not understand what we have done wrong? 

(A distraught human villager in her mid 20s talks into a microphone held from just out of sight)

Local Villager: My children! My children! Why did they kill them, they were innocent! 

(A gnarled sun-kissed human elder in his mid-to-late 60s talks into a microphone held from just out of sight)

Local Elder: Every day we pray to the Emperor for Him to keep us safe! He sends us His angels, we are told his angels are beings of mercy for man, yet they come and destroy everything! They came for my wife, she disappeared! The Emperor's angels, the traitors, they are all the same! All the same! 

(Skimmer traffic moves back and forth past a large dome adorned with the Tau Empire insignia, nestled in the middle of a compound of gleaming futuristic structures)

Zara (VO): The Tau embassy mission in the Ferndel sub-sector has expressed strong alarm at the deteriorating situation, and Tau authorities are urging both sides to show restraint and avoid civilian casualties at all costs.. 

(Streams of skimmer traffic move past a massive dome adorned with the Tau Empire insignia, nestled in the middle of a dense bustling Tau city)

Zara (VO Cont.): .. Despite increased calls for Tau peacekeepers in the region, Tau leadership remains hesitant to commit a larger military presence in the Ferndel sub-sector, and high-ranking Sept Councils are believed to be in heated debate over the subject.. 

(Masses of supplies, including large piles of full grain sacks, stacks of water and fuel tanks, and towering piles of cargo crates, are loaded into the open rear hatch of a large Tau cargo lander at a busy Tau starport)

Zara (VO Cont.): .. Tau officials have announced that plentiful humanitarian aid support is available for dispatch to the sub-sector at immediate notice should the local government request it.. 

(Imperial civilians are seen hard at work building up and reinforcing the buildings in their settlement. Some have had sandbags piled around them while others have their windows boarded shut)

 

Zara (VO Cont.): .. In the meantime the people of the Sturges System can only prepare for the worst, and wonder if the bloodshed will reach them next. From the fourth moon of Sturges Maxima I'm Zara Abdi, Tor'Vas'Por. 

Idris: And to talk more about this story correspondent Lindsay Black has prepared this for us, from the Tau Sept world of Dal'yth Prime. 

(Lindsay stands in front of a vast bustling Tau cityscape of gleaming white and grey. Orderly streams of skimmer traffic can be seen moving back and forth in the distance behind her) 

Lindsay: We've been told that local Sept Council leaders here are still going back and forth between both their counterparts in T'au and numerous allied governments including the Gue'vessa Federation, and it's believed that the Dal'yth Sept will be receiving delegations from T'au, Pech and the Gue'vessa Federation amongst numerous other alien representation to discuss possible action plans for the Ferndel situation. Now Tau leadership appears to still be very hesitant about direct military commitment to the Ferndel subsector, not least due to unstable situations in several other regions much closer to Tau space including the Penros sub-sector, and consensus seems to be that these other crises would need to at least be stabilised first given that any large scale mission to the Ferndel sub-sector would need to pass through a number of those other threatened regions of space first. 

The other factor at work here of course is that so far none of the local authorities in the Ferndel subsector have made any formal requests for Tau assistance, unlike in the Penros region where there was a very emphatic call for help, and Tau leaders seem to feel that as much as they would like to help their hands are tied as they don't want to directly violate galactic law unless they have no choice, which would require louder voices than the fairly low-level ones coming from the citizens on the ground. 

It's a very complex cosmopolitical situation, but the offices of the Tau Ethereal Caste have announced that they are greatly saddened at the pain of the civilians affected by this conflict, that their suffering is irreconcilable to the Tau'va, that's of course the greater good, and that they desperately hope to be able to do something more to help as soon as possible. 

Idris: Moving onto other news now and preparations are underway on Iris to host the upcoming All-Federation Leadership Summit. Delegations are underway from across the Gue'vessa Federation and are expected to discuss coordination in social welfare, interstellar trade and collective foreign policy plans, with top issues expected to be...