Chapter 4: Testing the Waters

"LACE!" I woke up with a start as I fell from my desk chair. I looked up and saw Marrick looking annoyed. "I've been calling you for the last five minutes, why are you sleeping at your Workshop again?" I rubbed my eyes, "Sorry man, I was up all night studying the Dawn Blade."

He looped his arm around mine and pulled me up. And dragged me outside, where he sat me on a matt. It was beginning to hit noon and the sun was bright out. "You shouldn't press yourself so hard Brother." He handed me a data pad and I began reading.

It's been several months since arriving here and I am still getting used to being on an alien world and dealing with aliens. This world is dubbed a tau word that I have trouble pronouncing, but the humans call it New Sights.

The world has been attacked several times in that time frame. Mostly by no one that was important. None of the main factions that is. I managed to invent several useful weapons to help us. One thing was the DFG, Diamond Fragmentation Grenade. We had to use a powerful force field to stop them.

They come in several sizes, and the 'Diamonds' can come in several colors. I like the Rainbow one, I chuckle every time I use it. I even have a dust version, breathing that shit in will kill just about anyone.

Next was the weapons from the Mass Effect series, then Fallout and so on. I even managed to make the Omni-tool. I thought that the Fire Caste were going to go crazy with them but surprisingly the Earth Caste were overjoyed to have them.

They love the portable scanners and radio aspect. Among other things, the biggest thing that I was commanded by Farsight himself was to create a Tau Astartes. A whole new caste sub-system was created for them.

There are currently only 10 of them… of me, training and testing the new equipment and bodies. I knew training youths were only going to end with many deaths. So I came up with a way to speed up the process.

By cloning Champion and copying his/my mind onto the clones we will get the new Inferno Caste. While the Clones grew in the tank, the Water/Earth Castes scientist got to study how the organs grew and the Gene-seed changes them.

Making the Armor was a lot more difficult than I thought it would be. I mean I knew it would be difficult but it took me three whole months to crack it. But combining Tau Tech with Astartes was a highlight of my new life here.

I even made a Bolt-Lancer, basically a fat lancer in the shape of a Bolter. The armor will have everything it'll need to fight off whatever comes their way. Need to Fly? A powerful Gravity Jump Pack is built into the power armor itself.

Need to sneak around, the entire armor is made to absorb sound and cloak. The helmet has every type of visual enhancement that they'll need. Using quantum-entanglement, they will be able to communicate with us anywhere in the galaxy. Not in the Warp though, for obvious reasons.

I looked up from the pad and saw a number of other Clone subjects. The New Asari and Krogan are learning how to be them. Unlike Champion I could just clone young children to make a race. And thanks to Greymatter I could give Krogan a Female equivalent.

Sole-Choir had to get the same Treatment as Champion but now we have several dozen colonies underneath the New Sights earth. I haven't made any of the Physic Aliens. Fearing what would happen if the Gods catch wind of them.

I made clones of most of the Ben 10 Aliens, though unsurprisingly The Rock types are unclonable, as well Heatblast. However aliens like Greymatter, Upgrade and Brainstorm were a Godsend to have around.

Though most of them have been shipped across the Farsight Enclaves to help out where they can. Most of the Xcom races were cloned as well, Though I made Trogen to help out in the defense of this world. Arrogant bastard that he is.

I hear Marrick humming a tune, as he types equations. I got up and stretched, "Hey I'm going to get something to eat. Do you want anything?" Rubs the back of his neck, "How bout some of that Pop that you made the other week." I nodded and walked off to the Crystal Storage Area.

Among the many creatures and tech that I help invent. I made food from my world, or at least my timeline, still not sure about that. I reached the door when the Horn sounded. I sigh deeply and pull up my armor. Battle again.

A pair of holographic wings appear and using my grav-pack I jump into the air. I fly to the combat station on top of the canyon lip. Landing and entering I made my way to the command room. Sarge and the other Fire caste members were called and answered numerous calls for a report.

I got into my own chair and began to look for what was attacking us. I design a telescope that helps with inner-solar system observation. I found who it was and it sent a shiver down my spine when I saw it was an Eldar fleet which was being attacked by Chaos.

It was a Slaanesh fleet, I hate those fuckers. I felt a hand on my shoulder, I looked to see sarge. "We got a communication from Central. They say that the Eldar requisitioned the Farseer that sided with the us." Looked at him in surprise, "Then we need to get rid of the Chaos Fleet."

He nods, heads to the back of the room and gets into a chair as a visor lays over his face. I hear confirmations from all stations. The chair was based on the control chair from Stargate. The planet itself had only a dozen. But it allows whoever gets into one control a swarm of missiles.

By swarm I mean thousands of missiles that are designed to obliterate the opposition. I even designed several chairs to control fighters and bombers. I watched the attack as the Eldar began their descent to the planet as their ship lost their engines.

The missile swarm made their way to the chaos ships, however they launched a series of fighters..? My eyes widened, "Chaos fleet is launching ground forces!" I watch as the corrupted thunderhawks fly down to the planet.

Several of them are destroyed by the missile swarm. But most of them made it through and they appear to land in the desert of the planet. My com-watch alerts me to get going. I stood up and made my way out of the combat station.

A Tau version of a thunderhawk lands in front of me and I transform into Champion. The doors opened and I walked into the see the other Tau Asartes. I nod at them and take up our spots. I check the coms to talk to our pilot Kai'rue hissed out a confirmation.

"We fly into battle to bloody ourselves. Let the enemy feel our fire in eternal inferno!" Kai'rue really has the battle speech down. The Inferno's have fought before but this will be the first time we fought Chaos. It only takes the ship several minutes to get to the battle, when the doors opened we were immediately peppered with bolter and regular auto-fire.

We ran out with our Bolt-Lancer disintegrating the less fortunate. Our own energy shields holding up against the attack. I can hear a Chaos Marine, laughing maniacally. I turned to see a champion of Slaanesh running at us, with a wide eyed smile.

Inferno 3 turns and opens fire with the heavy lance-Bolter. Like in Fallout with the Heavy gatling laser, several dozen beams of blueish green light fire and hit the marine. His cursed armor held up for a couple minutes. Before he too turned to dust. I looked through my scanner to find another enemy before I saw a light of pink explode out of the ground.

Several dozen minor demons of Slaanesh came through. Realizing that we will need heavier support I transformed into Trogen. I smiled with glee as my body was filled with power. But I didn't stop there, with all this power, I pushed my transformation to its limits.

I now shine in glittering Onyx, I then began to fire on the hoard of monsters. My own Ki blast was black with a purple center. When several of the pathetic monsters made their way to me, I brought out my own martial arts.

Each of my superior blows sent any monster back to their hell. I felt danger behind me and I turned to see another 'champion' walking up to me. "Ah, to walk in the midst of glorious carnage."

I then realized he was a minor chaos lord, I sneered at him. "Fu hu hu hu, you don't get to be happy." Before he could talk I did my favorite move, Emperor's Death Beam. I riddled him with holes and he fell back smoking. "Fu hu hu, Pathetic."

I turned to kill more when I heard him laughing. I turned back to see him getting back up. "I am blessed by the Prince! You bug bites are no match for me." I then fired more of my Ki blast making sure to keep my distance, I don't want his filth on me.

He fired his plasma pistol at me while trying to get close so he can use his corrupted chain-sword. I, using my genius, made sure that when he fired or swung he would kill his lowly servants. I flew up and saw that this incursion was barely contained. I then did an altered Death beam attack.

I fired a huge vollie of Ki blasts to kill any and all enemies. It took a lot out of my form. I landed near the other infernos. They put up a defensive stance to protect me. Several of the Chaos marines rallied next to their Lord.

He laughs at me, "Ah it seems the little worm is all tuckered out. Shall we put him to bed?" I snarled and transformed again. I looked human, but I was tall gray skinned and the whites of my were black. My iris was a dull blue and I wore simple gray robes. I had become the Force-Bender.

At that moment they charged and I reached out with the force. I could hear the thirsting monsters in the dark, so I pushed them away. I then close my hand into a fist and crush them in their armors. I wasn't good at that, as the lord used his broken arm to drag himself to us.

All the while he cackled through a broken jaw, I waved my hand down and caused him and the other corrupted to ignite in fire. As pure as I could make it, soon there would be nothing but ash. I turned back to the wounded as the fire caste members began triage.

I spent several hours healing the less injured. The great thing about being a Celestial from Star Wars is the fact that healing someone is easy. They put the less fortunate in another room while the Medics and doctors work on them.

After I was done, I transformed back and walked out of the building and saw Sarge and an Eldar. She was talking about something about how it's impossible to fake one of her kind. I saluted my sergeant.

"Lace this is Farseer Kalm Elm. She wishes to see your transformation." She sneered, "So a filthy Mon Keigh is your shapeshifter?" I turned to her, "Ma'am I don't care for your tone." Again she sneered, "You Mon Keigh think you know better than those who've been around for far longer than you. You may have tricked these tau but I know you're not the Farseer I've seen in my visions."

I transformed and turned into Free-Seer, I was a head taller then she was, and I wore a tau version of Eldar armor. She stepped back and started to stammer. I took that moment to speak my mind. "You Eldar think you are so high and mighty. That you know better, but you're the ones that gave birth to that thing."

She recovers and tries not to look ashamed. I know she is, I feel it too. I then walked to the edge of the former battle zone. She followed and I sat on the ground cross legged. She sat on her knees, "Why have you come to find me?" She turns her head to me, "I saw a vision of a Tau Farseer saving my people. Not just the ones that are here now, but the whole of the Eldar race."

I nod for her to continue, "The vision showed me that the Eldar would make a final stand against She who thirst. But the Tau Farseer would be the deciding factor if we win or not. I couldn't see beyond that."

I sighed, "I honestly don't know if I can help you. But I have ideas that may be put into use. It'll take some time to figure them out. Will you stay or head off?" looking off in the distance she too sighed. "My people knew this would be one way. But now that I've found you we must make due."

She stood up and I did too. "Our ship crashed into a small canyon. We will make our home there for now." She walks off to her small vessel that brought her here. Sarge came up to me, I transformed again. He raised an eyebrow, "A possible friend? Or Ally?"

I shrugged, "She is hoping upon a hope. A frayed string that will either snap on her or help her out of the dark." he gives me another questioning look. I shake my head, "Sorry some of the aliens have an after effect."

He nods and gets a call, "Yes, I know why they are here, No don't interact with them. Yes, very good." He ends it, "I'm going to send you back. The local commander is asking you to speed up your Asartes project. He fears that now that the Eldar are here chaos or other enemies will see them and by extension us as a target."

I saluted and made my way back to the shuttle, the other Tau Asartes have been waiting by the shuttle. Kai'rue was chewing on a milk bone(?) and when noticing me, she goes to the front to start the engine. The downside of a thunderhawk is that it's made for giants.

I went to the front with Kai'rue, we strap ourselves in and she takes off. "Good blood?" She asked while checking on her instruments, I made a click and hissed. "Not so, Chaos, very bad meat." She sends me the same click and hiss, "Them kill me great brothers. Glad them dead."

She reaches into a pouch and pulls out a jerky. "You blooded today, need to eat." I take and eat it, meanwhile she continues to take us home. She began to hum and tune though it sounds more whistling then humming.

We landed in a few minutes and went to our respective homes. I see Marrick and another water caste member. He saw me and met me halfway. "Jack, are you okay? I heard we had our first Chaos incursion."

I nod and stifle a yawn, "I need to get to the lab, Commander Gora wants the Inferno Caste up and running sooner rather than later." He looked unsurprise at that. "I figured, Are you going to activate the Biotics or Psionics?"

I nodded, "I'm going to have to, if we don't have the fire power then we don't have a chance." I move to the lab, where there are a dozen clones of Champion. They must've finished during the night or morning. I walked to a small section of them.

Four of them were labeled, two Biotics and two Psionics. The two Psionics had a special clone chamber to shield them from the Warp. From what I can tell Psionics and Psykers are similar but one came from pure genetics and the other from the soul.

Still I won't be taking any chances, Marrick was looking over some readings. I turned to him, "Hey sorry for not getting you the Pop. But you know, War doesn't wait." He waves me off, "Don't worry about it friend. We're in this together."

I then thought of something, "Hey what happened to Trogen? Why wasn't he around to help?" He shrugged, "Something about helping those 'knife-ears' land somewhat presentable." I nodded, wondering if the Eldar would appreciate the arrogance thrown back at them.

I then went to a chair that would download a copy of Champion's mindset. I transformed into Champion and sat into the chair. It takes only a few minutes for the Current scan to download. Afterward, it'll take another few minutes to settle in the New Infernos.

I stood and waited for it to complete. When it was done, the pod's lights flickered from a dull blue to a bright green. Soon they were drained of fluid and the clones wake up with barely a hint of 'sleep.' They stepped out of the pod and looked at me.

All of them walked to the large elevator and headed up to the gear room. I followed, when we got there they were getting geared up. However the Biotics got new armor, Light for a Marine armor but was laced up with biotic amps.

It was the same for the Psionic Marines, both should be able to do more with their powers. For instance, Biotics have the singularity and the Psionics have Rift. At full upgrade both are large enough to pull and rip apart the enemy, At least in game.

After they were suited we went to the Playground. Just a giant version of various training gear. One area of the Playground was the Holo-Warzone. With a 97.7% accuracy, we can safely train them against various enemies.

The Normal Marines went to train, as the new Standard Operating Procedure. However the special units went to the Holo-Warzone. Though both the side of the Biotics and psionics can do the same thing. I made two pairs for a reason, One to cause damage and one to help others.

For the Biotics one was a Nemesis and the other a Bastion. The Nemesis' role is to be the 'Psychotic Biotic' and the Bastion is able to create barriers and give those around them barriers to protect them.

The Psionics have the same way but slightly different style. One to Inspire and one to cause Terror. The psionic bastion sole purpose is to help those around them to keep fighting. While the Nemesis has the most offensive abilities.

But they don't just have that, The nemesis should be able to raise the Dead to fight for them. We can't really test that till we get them on the battlefield. I watch on as they test their abilities and new skills. Psionic Marines weapons will be different then the normal Marines.

A high powered Melta Lance Pistol with a power sword. I made the sword look like Skyrims Imperial steel sword. Only it was as tall as a regular person and half as wide. I always like that blade.

The Biotics will have the regular weapons but with a blue flame on their pauldron and Psionics will have a Purple one instead of the normal Red Flame. After about a half an hour I was called away to deal with the new residents.

On my way to the Tau-Hawk again. I turned back into the Free-Seer, once in the Hawk I sat next in my seat again. And Waited for Kei'rue came in and looked at me with a slight start she rolled eyes. "Shifter shouldn't look that bad, you smell bad too."

I leaned back into my seat and meditated. Kei'rue kept making comments on how I should look and smell. Saying that Her litter would be gagging by now. "Shifter need to look like you work. You won't find women if stay clean."

I chuckled and she looked at me again with a start. "You sound like glass." I shrugged, "Kei I doubt women would find me attractive due to the fact that I am a shapeshifter." She snorts, "What of Marrick?" I looked at her curiously, "Shifter and Marrick closer than most."

Again I shrugged, "He does have an appeal to him but I'm too focused on surviving this universe. I don't want to make people wait on the flag." She picks at her teeth, "What you mean on 'Wait on Flag?'" I sighed, "A loosely based term on a family waiting for their family members to come home from war only to get news that they have died. They are presented with a Flag."

She growls a bit, "Don't want a flag, Want a body." I nodded, "Indeed." We flew in silence till we got to the edge of the Canyon which had been fortified already. Before we landed Kei'rue made a circle passing to find the landing pad.

Only to find that there isn't one, I sighed, "Just land near the edge, I'll walk." She does so and we landed near one of the outposts that they've set up. As I got up and headed out Kei'rue called out, "Kick Feathers." I laughed.