Red Cadre

"While the races of the galaxy tear one another apart, the Tau grow stronger and stronger. On the Eastern Fringe, far from the power of Terra, world after world has fallen to their dynamic advance. At the forefront of this rapid expansion are the warriors of the Fire Caste. Unfettered by Mankind's superstition and fear of technology, the Fire Warriors go into battle carrying weapons of immense power, encased in battlesuits that can withstand the fiercest of attacks."

Warhammer 40,000, Games Workshop

The Shikha'Sei Hunter Cadre was founded in the Third Sphere Expansion of the Tau Empire. Compared to most other Cadres, the Shikha'Sei Tau are eccentric and malicious but still fighting for the Greater Good, regardless of any criticism the Water Caste members may give them. The legions of Fire Warriors and the armoured columns of skimmer tanks that soar over the battlefields are painted in a dusty red with highlights of brighter reds and purples that contrast with the white and gold of the higher ranking officers. A Soldier of the Cadre may add more white and/or gold to their uniform with each promotion.

Representing their relative embracing of individuality compared to the other Cadres, the units have un-uniform colour patterns, yet still with the same basic colours of red-white-gold. Each Fire Warrior may pick their own colour of shin armour, which sometimes makes their lower legs contrast with the rest of their uniform; with some enemies and fellow Tau giving the Shikha'Sei the derogatory name of "The sock troopers".

The Shikha'Sei has been deployed on the planet of Usha, also known by the Imperium of Man as 'Charon IV'. Despite being a relatively small planet, it is the subject of interest for the fascist Imperium of Man, the barbaric Ork hoards and now the Tau Empire, seeking to "liberate" the human population of Usha into the Empire and enlighten them with the "Greater Good".

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Advancing across the grassy planes of Usha, Shas'la Daichi'aval, a young and proficient Fire Warrior of the Shikha'Sei Hunter Cadre (Oo……omg, the Tau do like their apostrophes don't they…) patiently waits with his unit inside their Devilfish armoured transport as it flies them towards their destination, confident that the area has been cleared of any Ork threat….

"This area has been cleared, right?" says an anxious Fire Warrior named Ishan, trying to speak above the smooth but ever-present hum of the Devilfish engines keeping the craft flying just a few feet above the ground.
"Of course it is! I'm sure the Shas'o would have given us some more supporting units if this place was nasty. In a way, I almost want this place to be higher on the Fire Cast's agenda, as I really want to see those Stealth Suits…" said Daichi'aval, seemingly slipping into a daydream about being a Stealth Suit pilot.
"Believe me, you really don't want to see those Stealth pilots, they are so full of themselves…" says an obviously irritated Ishan. "They think they're so smart, jumping around, making themselves invisible to the enemy but all-too visible to the girls…"
"Looks like someone's jealous…" said Daichi with a flashy grin.

The Fire Warrior's chatting stopped as a voice shouted down from the commander's cupola in the roof. "Slow down, I see someone… they're one of ours…" The Fire Warriors inside felt the Devilfish slowing down as the humming of the engines lowered to a lazy pulse.