Disclaimer: I do not own Warhammer 40,000 it is owned by Games Workshop.

Disclaimer: The Roboutian Heresy is a FanFiction penned by Zahariel. I have received permission from him to set this piece within the universe of The Roboutian Heresy.

Blood of Ignorance

Chapter 3

An operator held up a picture for his fellow operator to see. On the picture there was a smiling woman in a smock on a hospital bed, holding a pair of swaddled babies in her arms. "Wow," the other operator said. "Twins, congratulations man…! You're a father now."

"Yeah, and thanks." The man with the picture said as he tucked it back into his pocket. "But I won't really feel like it until I hold them in my arms. Ah, I can't wait to finish my posting here and get back home to Tijuana."

The other operator laughed and patted him sympathetically on his back. "Yeah I get what you mean." He said. "Just hang in there it's only a few more months and…"

The man's words were cut off as alarms suddenly screamed in the space station's control centre. At once everyone rushed back to stations, the Earth Caste overseer shouting orders. Back when Tijuana had belonged to the Imperium, tech-priests had overseen the space station from which fuel collection was conducted over the system's gas giant, but when the Tau took over, their role had been supplanted by the Earth Caste.

In some ways it was better, the Tau for one were more attentive to personal comforts and similar ideas than the Mechanicum's tech-priests were, but it was still uncomfortable if not difficult – or outright intolerable for some – to work under the direction of xenos. Many had been replaced, with Earth or Air Caste workers, though most of the space station staff and the crews of the tankers which brought the collected fuel to Tijuana were Human. Even so, there was still ample discomfort for the Humans present over the Tau.

Now however, all that was forgotten as the alarms screamed and crew rushed to stations. After all, if the newcomers were hostile, the space station was undefended. A Tau relay station was nearby, also in orbit over the gas giant, but the stationed Orca was out on patrol and the relay station lacked any offensive weapons of its own.

"Multiple unidentified vessels closing from…from the planet's direction." one operator reported and his voice heavy with controlled panic. "They appear to be on a flyby course, but still their speed is…!"

"Send out a warning! And contact Tijuana and inform them of the situation!"

"Yes. This is Tijuana Fuel Collection Centre Control: to approaching vessels, identify yourselves and slow to cruising speed. I repeat this is Tijuana Fuel Collection Centre Control: to approaching vessels, identify yourselves and slow to cruising speed. I repeat: This is Tijuana Fuel Collection Centre Control: to approaching vessels, identify yourselves and slow to cruising speed. I repeat…"

"It's no good!" the operator manning the communications console shouted. "We're being jammed!"

"W-w-what?" the Earth Caste overseer stammered out. "But this is, we are, this is a civilian facility. Why would…?"

He was still stammering when the first torpedoes slammed into the space station. Shields meant to keep out radiation and debris didn't even register the sleek projectiles, which ripped through the outer hull and into the critical pressure hull inside before exploding, sending corpses, thrashing bodies, debris, and burning air erupting into space.

Secondary explosions rippled across the space station as volatile plasma erupted from damaged power conduits, the prelude for an even bigger explosion as collected fuel ignited and blew the space station apart. Solar sails flashing as they sailed in the sunlight, the two Eldar Dragonships and their Shadowhunter escorts gracefully flew past, having 'dived' into the gas giant's upper atmosphere to get to firing range undetected, and fired torpedoes even as they burst out of the clouds.

Other Shadowhunters flew rings around the Tau relay station, hammering at it with their weapon batteries. Laser blasts collapsed the shields before pummelling the station, its armour collapsing under sheer weight of fire and allowing the laser fire from the Eldar ships to gut the station.

Burning gusts of escaping atmosphere belched from the wrecked station, its orbit beginning to decay as the Shadowhunters soared away like a school of brightly-coloured fish. Only instead of re-joining their fellow Eldar, this squadron of escorts followed a different course, off to hunt the sole Orca in-system.

The Swordwind had been drawn.

The wraithbone doors silently slid open, iris-like, allowing the shipmaster to enter. He bowed in respect, Macha returning the gesture from where she was seated on her knees on the floor. In front of her, wraithbone runes continued to fly slowly and elegantly through the air over a low table.

"The mon'keigh space station and the Tau relay station have been destroyed, honoured farseer." Shipmaster Camriel of the Eternal Wind said. "Furthermore, Shipmaster Laureal and his squadron are in the midst of hunting down the Tau's sole warship in the system."

Macha nodded and then tilted her head. "Well done shipmaster," she said. "But you did not come visit me to simply report this in person. Speak what is on your mind, my kin."

Camriel hesitated, and then nodded. "Honoured farseer," he began. "I must express my concern at your decision not to have our ships in system lie in wait for the mon'keigh. Would not their presence prove detrimental to our efforts against the Primordial Annihilator in this system?"

"I understand your concerns, shipmaster." Macha said with a nod. "And indeed, in many threads of fate, the mon'keigh's interference led to failure in this system."

Camriel stayed silent, but lowered his face ever so slightly. "However," Macha continued. "In just as many threads wherein we succeed do we cooperate or at the very least avoid hostilities with the mon'keigh."

"Furthermore," she paused as she gestured, pointing at the rune of the Slumbering King in Crimson. Camriel had walked the Path of the Seer before, more than once in fact, and he recognized the rune in but a moment. "Failure exists less in threads wherein the Anathema's descendants take part. And also,"

Macha paused again, and briefly closed her eyes. "Casualties are inevitable." She said. "I would reduce them if I could, and so I must choose the threads of fate that lead to success at the least possible cost to our people."

Camriel nodded in understanding. All Eldar could. As bitter as the thought of fighting alongside or even tolerating mon'keigh was, if it led to success with the least possible precious Eldar lives lost, then it would and must be swallowed.

"I understand honoured farseer." He said. "However I would suggest that while we would neither intercept nor engage the mon'keigh as they emerge from the Sea of Dreams, we should at the very least keep an eye on them."

Macha considered for the moment, past experience of wars and other dealings with the mon'keigh weighing with the threads shown by the runes. After several moments she nodded. "Yes," she said. "We should keep an eye on the mon'keigh. It would allow us more flexibility in dealing with things as they develop."

Macha raised her face and locked eyes with the shipmaster. "However," she said. "We must not provoke the mon'keigh in any way. That is my condition for allowing this."

The shipmaster nodded. "I understand, honoured farseer." He said. "I will consider that matter upon the mon'keigh's coming."

Macha nodded. The shipmaster bowed and left, while the farseer returned to her runes. After a moment, she lifted her head and glanced at the eldest of her warlocks present. "Maelor," she said. "You have a concern?"

"You did not inform the shipmaster of the runes being obscured."

"Indeed I did not." Macha admitted. "There is no need to unnecessarily concern him, is there?"

"Indeed there is none, honoured farseer."

Macha nodded, and once more returned to her runes.

"What?" Shas'O Har'rax said. "We've lost contact with the outer system. Has this been confirmed?"

The commander's subordinate nodded. Unlike with the orbitals, everyone in the Planetary Defence Command Centre was a Tau, all from the Fire Caste. "It's been six cycles since contact's been lost. Furthermore, no abnormal solar or cosmic activity has been detected by the Earth Caste. Therefore, as per standard procedure, I've dispatched a fast cutter to recon the outer system, specifically the gas collection facilities and the relay station. In the meantime we're attempting to restore communications, as the possibility remains that this could all be just the result of technical difficulties."

Har'rax hummed unhappily for a moment before nodding. "It is possible I'll admit, Shas'la." He said. "However the patrol, the gas collection facilities, and the relay station going dark all at the same time? That strikes me as rather suspicious."

"Then…?"

"It's likely the Eldar." Har'rax said darkly. "It fits with what we know of their combat doctrines. It is difficult to admit, but the Eldar unlike the gue'la have a mastery of the kau'yon and the mont'ka rivalling our own. Not for them the brutish, frontal attacks of the gue'la or the Orks or even the Y'he, mindlessly drowning their enemies with their own corpses."

Har'rax shook his head. "No," he said. "They will strike from the shadows, at our flanks and rear, aiming not to achieve victory in one blow but to sap our strength and our resolve, to throw us into panic, and so draw us into where they may deliver the killing blow."

Har'rax glanced at his subordinate. "It goes without saying I have no intent of falling into their trap Shas'la." He said.

The other Tau nodded. "However," he said. "Though it might seem presumptuous of me…"

"Speak what's on your mind, Fire Warrior." Har'rax said with a reassuring smile. "A true warrior never need fear reasoned exchange. The fresh perceptions of the young may see that which an older, set mind may not, while the wisdom of the older will only serve to guide the younger."

"Yes commander." The Shas'la said. "However considering the number of Eldar ships that arrived recently, would we not be at a disadvantage?"

"We certainly cannot contest control of space for long that is true." Har'rax said. "We'll make them pay for it, but the outcome will be decided here on the surface."

"We will be outnumbered will we not, commander?"

"Indeed," the commander said with a nod. "We cannot hope to deliver the mont'ka by ourselves. Instead, with proper application of the kau'yon, we will deny the Eldar decisive battle, contest what mad purpose they may have on this world, and buy time for the empire to send reinforcements."

"Then…?"

Har'rax nodded. "If the Eldar are behind the communication disruption," he said. "It is only a matter of time before the silence leads our superiors to determine our situation, and proceed as per standard procedure. And then…"

Har'rax paused and smiled wolfishly. "Once the fleet arrives, we can attack the Eldar from the front and back, and deliver the mont'ka." He finished.

The Shas'la immediately drew himself up and saluted. "Sir!" he said. "I apologize for having wavered in my faith in the triumph of the Greater Good."

"It is of no great import, Shas'la." Har'rax said. "You are young, and it is to be expected that you resolve will be tested. There is no shame in wavering, and by overcoming such tests will your resolve be made all the greater in the end."

"Sir, I am thankful for your words, and will meditate upon them upon the completion of my duties."

Har'rax nodded, and dismissed the Shas'la. The moment the younger Tau had left, and his expression grew troubled.

He had said what he had needed to say, and bolstered his subordinates' resolve. He had answered their concerns, and shown them the way of the battles to come. If only it as simple as that for him, however.

After all, the gue'la forces were still massing in the adjacent region of space. And while their irrational hatred for all sapient life not of their kind should preclude any alliance (even one of convenience) between them and the Eldar (whose arrogance would have a similar effect), Har'rax had no doubt the Eldar could simply avoid the gue'la's brutish technology and strategies and instead take advantage of the chaos caused by the Imperial invasion to accomplish what mad goal they sought.

"We have to finish dealing with the Eldar before the gue'la strike." Har'rax thought. "We can't fight the Imperium and the Eldar at the same time. But to do that, I can only hope a reinforcement fleet is sent and arrives before the invasion begins."

Har'rax worriedly stroked his chin at yet another worrying consideration. Even should they manage to defeat the Eldar, if the Imperium struck while their forces were still recovering from the battle with the Eldar (at least in this system), then it was likely that it would give the gue'la Emperor's forces an overwhelming advantage.

"The gue'la's combat doctrines and technologies might be brutish, not very much above those of the Orks," the commander thought. "But they are effective. And should they have the numbers, metal, and resolve to win…"

Har'rax sighed and directed his mind to more pertinent matters. "There's nothing more I can do about that." He thought. "I should focus my attention on problems I can find solutions for. Apart from placing all air defence assets on high alert, I'll need to increase pathfinder patrols, and organize rapid response teams. I could use more battlesuits, but I'll have to make do with mechanized Fire Warrior squads. Potentially anaemic against Eldar forces, but we'll have to make up for a shortfall in firepower with fighting spirit. We can't hope for more than this, and the reinforcement fleet."

Har'rax sighed. "And," he thought bitterly. "Considering the value of this world, it's likely the fleet's role will only be to buy time for an evacuation of critical personnel and anyone else that can be evacuated on short notice. When all is said and done, this world's strategic value isn't particularly worth much."

Shas'ui Nar'us led her fellow pathfinders through the badlands, nimbly skipping over and past the broken rocks and yellow sands that surrounded the bleak peaks of the El Santa Clara mountains. It was a harsh place to live in, with only a bare few mountain streams for water (apart from the deep wells sunk by the few settlements in the region) while the arid clime and parched earth were unsuitable for agriculture of any form.

Indeed, if not for a major railway junction between two railways that crisscrossed the region through the outer third of the badlands, and a few mining settlements that dotted the foothills and slopes of the El Santa Clara, the region would be desolate save for the few flora and fauna that could survive the harsh climate. The small population – the rare earth deposits tapped were only ever so profitable and the junction town was largely populated by maintenance workers, their families, and those who supported them – of the region was such that only a small force of Gue'vesa militia were deemed sufficient to hold the region, along with Nar'us and two other pathfinder squads. They had some reconnaissance drones for long-range patrol duties, but no heavy weapons or vehicles.

There should have been no need for them.

And that was the whole damn point: there should have been no need for them. But anything that could take out (and would want to take out) reconnaissance drones over the past several days wasn't something to be sanguine over. Especially given the loss of contact – word had quietly spread among the ranks of the military and the higher ranks of the civilian leadership – a few days ago.

"Is it the gue'la?" Nar'us thought as she cautiously took cover behind a boulder, and used her helmet's built-in sensor suite to sweep a shallow defile just past it. "Or the Eldar? Probably the latter: the gue'la Imperium is much too brutish for something as subtle as this. Though it begs the question: what could the Eldar be after here?"

A scratching sound briefly startled her, but she quickly realized it was just her communication channel. "This is Squad Nar'us." She said. "Shas'ui Var'dis, what is it?"

There was no reply. "Shas'ui Var'dis, what's your status?" Nar'us asked. Again, there was no response, only dead utter silence over the channel. "Shas'ui Var'dis please respond. Var'dis, can you hear me? Are you there? Please respond!"

No reply. Nar'us began to grow worried, though like the professional she was she fought it down and rationalized the situation. It could just be interference, or possibly technical failure. Surely there was no need to assume the worst, was there?

It seems too much of a coincidence though, that I can't contact them and their signal has vanished from the tactical display.

Nar'us switched channels to try and contact the other pathfinder squad, led by Shas'ui Wua'xo. "Shas'ui Wu…" she began only to break off at the sound of battle from the other side.

She could hear the high-pitched whine of burst carbines roaring away, the panicked shouts of her fellow Tau, and most chillingly, the sound of fire cutting off one by one until there was only silence over the channel. At the same time, Squad Wua'xo vanished off the tactical display.

There could be no further doubt.

"Home One," she said, trying to reach their base. "This is Squad Nar'us. We have indications that Squads Wua'xo and Var'dis have been ambushed and lost to enemy forces. We will attempt to investigate and confirm, but I advise immediate defensive…"

Nar'us was no greenhorn. She'd fought no less than six major campaigns, five against the Orks and once against the Y'he, and had even participated in an abortive infiltration attempt against one of the Gue'la Fortress Planets that surrounded the so-called 'Ruinstorm'. She'd participated in countless lesser skirmishes too, and from her experiences she'd gained sharp discernment, perception, and sense for battle and death.

And that saved her life in the next moment. Moving by instinct, she moved her head by a small fraction, a hypersonic round that would have punched through her head instead shredding the antenna assembly mounted to the side. "SNIPER!" she shouted. "TAKE COVER!"

Veterans all, her squad followed her lead, taking cover behind boulders, trees, and anything that could cover them. Even then it wasn't enough. Fralux fell, his head erupting like a crushed fruit from a hypersonic round. Arish died when three hypersonic rounds punched through his torso armor, ripping through his body cavity and reducing internal organs to bloody mush.

"Photon grenades now!" Nar'us ordered. "It should buy us some time!"

Nar'us and her pathfinders detonated all their photon grenades at once, and it seemed to have succeeded. The sniper fire cut off at once, no doubt because the cowards had been blinded with the photon grenades' effects focused through their scope.

Making use of hand gestures – radio communications could be intercepted after all – Nar'us dispersed her squad and ordered them back to base.

It couldn't be doubted. Somehow, the Eldar had managed to deploy infiltrators on the planet's surface, probably while all eyes were focused on their 'delegation'.

Those pointy-eared gue'la lookalikes planned all this! They probably never expected us to come to terms! Damn them!

Nar'us skid down a hillside, and taking a circuitous route entered a shadowed defile that led several kilometers further south. The shadows would help her camouflaged armored suit blend into the surroundings. She'd probably have to wait until night before attempting to make the cross-country trek from the defile's end back to base though.

I don't know what they plan to achieve with just infiltrators, though they're probably just an advance force for a much larger Eldar force on the way…

Nar'us thoughts came to abrupt and painful halt as her knees and then her right elbow came apart in a shower of blue blood. Falling forward, she gasped and barely succeeded in rolling onto her back just in time to see a dark-cloaked figure clutching an elegant pistol in one hand, and a power sword in another. Nar'us' eyes widened as the figure raised his sword, and swung it down in a gleaming arc.

And then darkness fell.

Shas'el Miraish looked stonily at the tactical displays. Everything around him in the orbital control center was complete chaos. Fire, Earth, and Air Caste personnel, along with Gue'vesa milled about or busied themselves at the stations.

Both orbitals were on full alert, shields up, defense turrets active, and ion cannons primed. The orbital docks' own shields were up, and defense turrets active. Under the Imperium it had mounted macrocannon batteries for limited offensive capability, but those had been removed in preparation for replacement with more efficient railgun batteries. Unfortunately, replacement had been delayed by a variety of factors, in particular the incompatibility of Tau railgun batteries to the gue'la construction of the orbital docks.

They weren't without bite however. Already a squadron of Barracudas was out on patrol, and more could be launched within minutes' notice, along with Mantas for anti-ship roles. The Eldar might outnumber and possibly outgun them, but orbit would not be given up without a fight.

Right now though, Miraish felt utterly helpless, though he didn't let it show. He couldn't.

The tactical displays showed a picture of complete chaos. All around the planet law enforcement, civilian communications and transport hubs, financial centers, and even government buildings had been attacked with explosive results. Thankfully the key members of the planetary government had been evacuated to a secure location, and the military's precautions over the past days had deterred any attacks against them, but with their hands full containing the chaos hunting down the perpetrators – who were clearly too skilled for the matter to be entrusted to already-decimated law enforcement forces – would prove an impossible task…for the moment at least.

Justice will be served, sooner or later.

Miraish shook his head in disbelief as the reports flooded in from the planet's surface. To think he had allowed Eldar infiltrators – there was simply no way the gue'la could have been behind this – to infiltrate unhindered. Considering what they knew of that ancient race, it was probably inevitable, but the shame remained and stung.

Miraish clenched his fists, the only visible sign he would show that the attacks had affected him. If the infiltrators thought their actions would allow them to smoothly pave the road for their invasion, then they were wrong. Between Har'rax on the surface and Miraish in orbit, they'd make the Eldar pay for every step they took on this world, every life they took be it gue'la or Tau, and see that justice be done in the end.

None can stand before the Greater Good.

Yltari was a ranger. He'd walked the Path of the Wanderer (which wasn't really a path per se) for several centuries, and seen much of the horrors and wonders the galaxy had to offer. He'd experienced much that he could never have had he remained on his home craftworld, and had fought and encountered many lesser races and the major players of the galaxy: the mon'keigh Imperium, the slaves of the Dark Gods, the heathen Orks, the Great Devourer and even once the Ancient Enemy, and more than a few times the Kin of Commoragh.

He had encountered the Tau only a few times in the past though, and this would be his first battle with them. He looked forward to the coming experience, and the Eldar grinned ferally. Perhaps it was his mother getting to him, though it had been centuries since he had last met her. She had since become one of the Exarchs of Khaine, and he knew not whether she still lived or had achieved a glorious death in battle against the enemies of the Children of Isha in the centuries since.

A matter for another time.

Yltari looked around the chosen site, nodding with satisfaction at the large-scale holo-field generators they'd deployed to mask the area. It rendered the site invisible to all but the sensors of their kin and most likely the Ancient Enemy – though there was little risk they would come here – and even to sharp Eldar eyes nothing could be seen of what lay within, until one passed the perimeter.

Located high on what the mon'keigh had called the 'El Santa Clara Mountains', the site overlooked a dry but broad river valley, offering relatively easy descent and ascent to the site. And any enemy would do so under fire: Yltari and his rangers had set up energy shields before predetermined sites, where Guardians would later deploy Shuriken Cannon, Brightlances, Scatter Lasers and missiles to rain death on any who would approach with hostile intent.

If any could find them, that is. If they couldn't detect their infiltration on the relatively-obvious Vampire Raiders, then they should have no chance detecting this site.

Yltari blinked and turned as another ranger approached him. Her name was Liriel, and she was young, barely two centuries old. Apparently she'd led a sheltered existence back on the craftworld, making her somewhat easy to lead around. She'd certainly shared his bed more than a few times, and probably would tonight, if circumstances permitted.

The needs of war came first, especially against the Primordial Annihilator.

"Is it done?" he asked.

Liriel nodded. "The Webway Portal is ready and active." She replied. "Khelgil has already sent the signal, and we've received word that our kin are due to arrive shortly."

Yltari nodded. "Very well," he said, leading the way back to the Webway Portal. "Let us go meet the honored farseer at her arrival."

Liriel nodded, falling into step behind Yltari as they made their way through site. They encountered several rangers along the way, and after exchanging nods most returned to their assigned tasks while a few fell into step with Liriel and Yltari. Finally, they reached the Webway Portal, the wraithbone frame a solid contrast to the water-like curtain that was the entry and exit point into the Webway.

Though the Eldar had lost the secret of building new (and permanent) Webway Gates and tunnels during the Fall, they still possessed the knowledge to build and use temporary tunnels and portals, though regrettably the craftworlds' skill in that matter were inferior to those of the Kin of Commoragh. More importantly, Yltari and his party's arrival was just in time, as just moments later the Webway rippled, and a tall, feminine and redheaded figure emerged from its depths, clad in the white and green armor of Biel-Tan.

Farseer Macha had come, and stepped forth onto Tijuana not as an envoy of peace, but as the bringer of war.

A/N

Personally I have mixed feeling on the Eldar. On one hand, they're elves, and I've a soft spot for elves (plus the whole dying race tragic aspect though I imagine being pitied by a Human would be seen as an insult by Eldar in general). On the other hand, when they fight the Imperium they can be so damn infuriating.

With that said, I do enjoy having them brutalize the Tau. I really, REALLY, REALLY hate the space commies.

Beta'd by Zahariel, thanks, and thanks again for letting me set this in your ATL.