I ran across the rooftops towards the rest of the team. We had left the Dreadnought and the Imperial Guard far behind, but were still heading for the dropship. Ahead of us, I saw the sleek grey form of a Orca Logistical Transport Vessel. The damm Gue'la had called for support however, and I could hear the hum of a skimmer on the street below.

My team were already gathered aboard the dropship. Just before I leapt across the final rooftop, the Orca crew radioed in again.

"Team leader, we have a problem. That skimmer down there is fitted for anti-armour attacks, and we don't have any more time to destroy it. You need to get onboard NOW!"

I grunted in reply and fired my jump pack. I heard a shout from the skimmer below, and the craft accelerated to match my speed. I was just about to enter the dropship at full pelt when a bolter shell exploded next to me, knocking me off kilter. I entered the dropship- but slammed headfirst into the wall. I saw vague shapes swimming before my eyes, and then blacked out.

I woke up in a small bunkroom with my head feeling like a Rak'sha had just danced a six-legged Kais'reka in my skull. I raised my hand and felt around the area that hurt. It was covered in bandages.

"How do you feel?"

I jumped in my bed. Standing in the door was Kais, her usually impassive face curling into a smile. She was holding a tray with a mug of some beverage and some pills.

"Like a dropship hit me," I replied. "That was what I hit my head on, wasn't it?"

She nodded, and offered the mug to me. I looked inside.

"Why is this full of Ky'husa?"

"I though you might want a celebratory drink," she replied. "Your Trial By Fire has been bumped up,"

I gaped. This was definitely a dream.

"When?"

She grinned. "Tomorrow. Today, you prepare for one of the most important days in your Ty'sera.

In Tau culture, the Trial-By-Fire is one of a Fire Caste soldier's most important ceremonies. The circumstances of the Trial are a strictly kept secret. However, the outcome is always the same: promotion. Every four Tau'cyrs, the Fire Caste holds a ceremony for every Shas'la. The ceremony takes place on the world that the recruit is currently situated on, even if it is a world under Tau Siege. However, the trial is always tailored to the individual soldier. It is said that each Tau is personally assigned the situation by a Vesa, but it is unknown what actually happens. But it has not been four years for me. So I ask myself one thing. Why?

Over the next day, I begin preparations for the trial. I spend one last evening as a normal soldier with my La'rua. I get briefed by a Shas'vre on what will occur. Finally, I am taken to a empty and bare room where I am told to meditate on what I have done to further the greater good. I spend the rest of the night in that room, meditating on battles and times past. Not that there is that many.

The next day is a bit of a blur. I remember standing in that room and walking mechanically to a place I do not remember, and meeting with someone who looks familiar, but I do not recognise. Finally, I am lead into the back of a devilfish and strapped to a gurney. I remember bright lights and sterile smells. Finally, I black out. However, when I awaken, I am somewhere strange.

I am back on my home world of Sa'cea V. However, my home town is in ruins. In my hands I clutch a standard issue Pulse-pistol. I check the chamber. It is empty. Suddenly, I hear a roar, and I see a monster charging towards me. I run towards a nearby building and shut the door. I back away, hearing the monster breaking down the door. I look frantically around the room, but only see rubble. I spot a dead Tau warrior, wearing full armour. I myself am only clad in a basic cloth wrap. I strip the clothes off the warrior, and gasp. It is my former Shas'ui. The corpse raises its maggot-encrusted head and speaks, the voice rebounding inside my head like a echo.

"I am dead now. But more death is coming. You must fight. Fight to save the empire, and to preserve the greater good. Fight for your life, and prove you are worthy…"

The corpse collapses, and slowly blinks out of existence, flickering like a lightbulb. I grab the last pieces of the armour, and pick up the pulse rifle my old commander dropped. It has a single round in the chamber.

"One shot, One kill," I chant like a mantra. The door is nearly off it's hinges now. I aim down the barrel, sweat pouring down my face, and also flowing up my face at the same time. The room is now pouring away, like water down a drainpipe. All that remains is the door, and the monster. I feel myself draining away, as the room swirls and turns to fire. I scream as the door shatters into a million shards. Time seems to slow down as the shards knife through the air towards me, and the monster charges. My finger moves like a sha'kra, my mouth dry and waterless. I pull the trigger as a shard slices through my cheek, and the monster jerks and dies. The last thing I see is the shards piercing my chest, and I feel the warm blood pouring down me. Then, there is nothing but fire.

I wake up back in the room I was in. it is now day, and the door is open. I feel my chest. It is clean. I look at my face in a wall-length J'karra that occupies one side of the room. I have a new gash, right where the shard cut my face. the door clicks open, and a Shas'vre I have never seen comes in with a helmet in his hands.

"Shas'ui Sa'cea Mont'yr On'ci."

I wrinkle my brow in confusion. "I am only a Shas'la. I have not taken the trial…"

His impassive face looks stern at this comment. "You have already taken the trial. Unless you do not have any recollection of that last day?"

I frown and tell him of what occurred in my dream. He waits until I have finished, and then nods.

"You have passed your Trial By Fire. Take this. It is your new helmet. Go forth and bring the light of the Greater Good with you, Shas'ui."

I take the helmet. It is like my old breacher helmet, except it is painted a solid black, and has three of my Sept markings instead of two. The communications vane is also painted in my sept colour.

"Report immediately to your squad barracks. You have been given replacements for your losses in the field. You then have three days to whip the new recruits into shape before you move out."

I nod, and salute the officer. He salutes back, and holds the door open for me. I leave and head to my squad barracks, uncertain of what I will find.

Appendix of Tau words. Words I have invented are marked with a *

Shas'ui: A veteran who has passed his first Trial of Fire in the Tau Army. Often a battlesuit pilot or lieutenant in a Tau Fire Warrior Squad.

Kais: A personal name meaning 'Skilful'.

Ka'sti: Orphan, or literally 'Abandoned Child'.*

Shi: A word meaning Victory. Often used as a personal name.

Shas'la: The lowest rank in the Fire Caste. Equivalent of a basic soldier.

Sa'cea: A sept system in the Tau Empire. Known for producing very honourable and loyal soldiers.

Mont'yr: Blooded. Can also be used as a personal name.

On'ci: Hidden. Can also mean Shadowborn when use personal name.*

Mal'ra: A Tau pest simular to a earth Cockroach. Unlike a cockroach, these creatures live for decades. A enemy that cannot be defeated is often known a Mal'ra'shi. Of course, in a universe like the W40K one, every single race is this.

Tor'leks: Meters. The equivalent value in earth measurements is about 5 meters. For example, 100 Tor'leks is about 500 earth meters.

La'rua: A team of about 6 fire warriors. Teams can go as high as 12 fire warriors, but sometimes compose of many more. Sixe La'rua form one Cadre.

Dec: A length of time equal to about a hour.

Gue'la: Human.

Rai'kor. A length of time equal to about one minute.

Rak'sha: A six-legged animal, simular to a Earth Cow. Lives in the Tau plains, and is known for producing a naturally-sweet meat which is considered a delicacy. Weighs quite a lot more than a Earth cow.*

Kais'reka: A dance, literally 'Skilful Grace'. Reka can also be used to express gratitude, e.g. saying Reka when someone has done something for you.*

Ky'husa: A Tau alcoholic beverage. Best drank swiftly before the drink cools.

Tau'cyr: A Tau Year, equal to approximately 297.74 earth days.

Vesa: A AI or a computer. Literally 'helper'.

Shas'vre: A senior officer in the Tau military. Often a battlesuit pilot or a field commander. Translates loosely as 'hero' or 'knight' in Gothic.

Sha'kra: A animal simular to a donkey. Native to the Tau sept world of Sa'cea III. Very slow and plodding, but also extremely intelligent.*

J'karra: Mirror. Can also be used as a personal name.