My dearest Anule,
I am sorry that I cannot write to you more often. Many times the
message boat is full, and I am unable to send my messages to you. I have
heard that the unidentified force is advancing toward our position. I have
been informed that I will be piloting a hammerhead gunship to support the
fire warriors. I had to write you before then, for I know not if I will
return from this battle. If I do not, I want you to know that I love you,
and I shall fight my best for you and all the Tau tomorrow.
Sincerely, Menathi * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Matuko surveyed the mass of dead Tau strewn across the battlefield. They had been sent to meet the unidentified force and try to negotiate. Matuko's outpost lost contact with them several rotaa ago. "What in the universe could have done this to a hammerhead?" one of the Tau asked Matuko, bringing him out of his thoughts. Matuko examined the hammerhead. It looked as if it has been cut very deep, but the edges of the gash seemed to be melted. "No blade, magical or mundane, could have done this to a hammerhead..." Mantuko said, examining the damaged tank closer. His long, muscular arms searched through the tank. Matuko stood a foot taller than the Tau and, though he was no Tau, was as intent on the greater good as any other. He was a Kroot, a race of carnivores that relish in devouring the meat from the bodies of fallen enemies. He had forsaken his race's barbaric nature thanks to being raised by a Tau family. His hands finally found something in the shattered tank. He pulled it out, and some of the Tau around him gasped. It was a Tau body, burnt but still recognizable. On it's face was a look of the sincerest terror Matuko had ever seen, and the thought of a Tau being that frightened truly bothered him. "My word!" one of the water caste members said, never seeing a dead Tau before. Matuko pulled the body full out of the tank, and started scratching at it's chest. "You barbarian! You can't eat him!" the same Tau said, reaching to grab at the hunched over Kroot. Matuko grabbed his wrist and flipped him over his shoulder, slamming the Tau into the ground. Matuko's hand grabbed the Tau's neck, squeezing strongly. "Never accuse me of such a thing again, or I shall not be so gentle." Matuko said as he released the Tau's neck. He reached back over to the corpse, and continued scratching. Several seconds later, he revealed a name tag under the ash. Though somewhat burnt, it was still readable. "Menathi..." Matuko said aloud, " I shall ask about Menathi when we return. Perhaps we may learn more about our enemy if we know more about this man..." * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Medvedev watched the Kroot talking to the Tau around him. He seemed to have authority over a large portion of the squads assembled there. Medvedev aimed for it's heart, waiting for the perfect chance to shoot. A hand suddenly grabbed his rifle and thrusted it upwards. "Are you a fool? Xel'Fahn may have use for someone like this Kroot!" Dreggen said, his cloak flowing in the breeze. "If this thing has any savagery in it's heart..." He said, licking his dagger-like teeth with his long, thin tongue,"... we can have him bowing before us and Xel'Fahn!" Under his mask, Medvedev smiled. "Yes, perhaps someone like that Kroot could be handy in the destruction of this planet. He may even be able to tell us where the Tau live." "And if we learn that, they will have no place to hide from the Chaos Army..." Dreggen said, his eyes flaring a bright red from out of the shadown of his hood.
Sincerely, Menathi * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Matuko surveyed the mass of dead Tau strewn across the battlefield. They had been sent to meet the unidentified force and try to negotiate. Matuko's outpost lost contact with them several rotaa ago. "What in the universe could have done this to a hammerhead?" one of the Tau asked Matuko, bringing him out of his thoughts. Matuko examined the hammerhead. It looked as if it has been cut very deep, but the edges of the gash seemed to be melted. "No blade, magical or mundane, could have done this to a hammerhead..." Mantuko said, examining the damaged tank closer. His long, muscular arms searched through the tank. Matuko stood a foot taller than the Tau and, though he was no Tau, was as intent on the greater good as any other. He was a Kroot, a race of carnivores that relish in devouring the meat from the bodies of fallen enemies. He had forsaken his race's barbaric nature thanks to being raised by a Tau family. His hands finally found something in the shattered tank. He pulled it out, and some of the Tau around him gasped. It was a Tau body, burnt but still recognizable. On it's face was a look of the sincerest terror Matuko had ever seen, and the thought of a Tau being that frightened truly bothered him. "My word!" one of the water caste members said, never seeing a dead Tau before. Matuko pulled the body full out of the tank, and started scratching at it's chest. "You barbarian! You can't eat him!" the same Tau said, reaching to grab at the hunched over Kroot. Matuko grabbed his wrist and flipped him over his shoulder, slamming the Tau into the ground. Matuko's hand grabbed the Tau's neck, squeezing strongly. "Never accuse me of such a thing again, or I shall not be so gentle." Matuko said as he released the Tau's neck. He reached back over to the corpse, and continued scratching. Several seconds later, he revealed a name tag under the ash. Though somewhat burnt, it was still readable. "Menathi..." Matuko said aloud, " I shall ask about Menathi when we return. Perhaps we may learn more about our enemy if we know more about this man..." * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Medvedev watched the Kroot talking to the Tau around him. He seemed to have authority over a large portion of the squads assembled there. Medvedev aimed for it's heart, waiting for the perfect chance to shoot. A hand suddenly grabbed his rifle and thrusted it upwards. "Are you a fool? Xel'Fahn may have use for someone like this Kroot!" Dreggen said, his cloak flowing in the breeze. "If this thing has any savagery in it's heart..." He said, licking his dagger-like teeth with his long, thin tongue,"... we can have him bowing before us and Xel'Fahn!" Under his mask, Medvedev smiled. "Yes, perhaps someone like that Kroot could be handy in the destruction of this planet. He may even be able to tell us where the Tau live." "And if we learn that, they will have no place to hide from the Chaos Army..." Dreggen said, his eyes flaring a bright red from out of the shadown of his hood.