Drone
Drones are AI-controlled light hovering vehicles that perform a variety of civilian and military roles for the Tau. Unlike the Imperium of Man, the Tau make extensive use of these and other machine intelligences.1,2
Contents |
Overview
Drones are conventionally disk-shaped, equipped with an anti-gravitic generator and jet motors for propulsion. Their advanced processor unit has only a basic intelligence, similar to that of a small animal, which requires regular orders from their masters.6 It is also programmed for self-preservation, and will typically flee in the face of danger. However, Drones can network together, increasing their intelligence and procession speed.6 This allows them to operate in groups independent of a controller for long periods of time.1,2
Typical civilian jobs for Drones includes message delivery or domestic service, as well as dangerous or tedious duties. This latter ability makes Drones popular for use by the Tau military in support of their organic forces. Despite this, the Tau do not treat their military Drones as expendable forces, instead as a way to augment and support their Fire Warriors in the field.6
Drones by Type
Gun Drone
Gun Drones are armed with twin-linked Pulse Carbines and controlled by a Fire Warrior team leader or Battlesuit through the use of a Drone Controller, which may or may not be hard-wired. Their primary use is to augment their unit's firepower or provide protection.1,2
Gun Drone Squadron
Gun Drone Squadrons are formed of between 4 and 8 Gun Drones, which have networked their intelligences together in order to act independently for long periods of time. Their primary mission is to act in support of Fire Warrior teams by pinning the enemy down with their weapons, allowing the Tau additional time to take further shots at them.1,2
Vehicle
A pair of Gun Drones are often fitted to some Tau vehicles (most notably the Devilfish and Piranha). These drones, when not using their firepower in support of their parent vehicle, will often detach themselves to support the embarked Fire Warrior squad in combat, as well as scout and protect exposed flanks from enemy actions.4
Sniper Drone
Sniper Drones are Drones which are armed with a Rail Rifle and equipped with a Target Lock system, Targeting Array and stealth field generator. Sniper Drones operate in teams of three, directed by a single Tau spotter equipped with a pulse pistol, Networked Markerlight and Drone Controller. For best results, two to three of these teams will work together to provide pinpoint anti-personnel fire.2
Escort Drone
Escort Drones are a type of small drone that often accompany Tau Water Caste negotiators and as such incorporate both defensive as well as minor offensive capabilities. They are nimble and compact which make use of small efficient anti-grav units which are similar in design to the larger drones. They do not only act as protectors for their charge but as tools for trade as they are programmed to record and deliver complex messages. They are also used to guide prospective clients to the Water Caste negotiator and record every exchange that takes place. This information is then used for later study and dissection in order to better tailor the individual in question.
To serve them in their role, the escort drone makes use of a simple projector array that displays information on a flat screen. They are also equipped with twin pulse-pistols which take up a majority of the space in the small drone.5
Shield Drone
Shield Drones are unarmed Drones equipped with a shield generator that usually accompany commanders and Battlesuits, although they sometime accompany Fire Warriors and Pathfinders.1,2
Command-link Drone
Command-link Drones accompany commanders into battle. They allow the commander to better direct the battle by networking them to the squad leaders and other officers under their command. Only Shadowsun is known to have access to a command-link drone.2
Heavy Gun Drone
Heavy Gun Drones are one of the largest Drones yet identified by Imperial forces. Their size allows them to carry multiple heavy weapons, typically twin-linked burst cannons. They operate in squadrons of two to six Drones.6
Marker Drone
Marker Drones are unarmed Drones equipped with a Networked Markerlight and a Targeting Array.1,2 Heavy Marker Drone are the same size as Heavy Gun Drones but, replace one of their Burst Cannons for a Markerlight.3,6
Earth Caste Builder
The Tau made use of a drones as construction tools when producing their bases on planetary environments. These were defenseless and incapable of fighting against an attacker. (Dawn of War: Dark Crusade)
Remora Drone Stealth Fighter
The Remora Drone Stealth Fighter is an unmanned stealth fighter aircraft utilized by the Tau military.7
Sources
- 1 Codex: Tau (3rd Edition)
- 2 Codex: Tau Empire (4th Edition)
- 3 Forgeworld Site (accessed 2007.02.20)
- 4 Warhammer 40,000: Wargear
- 5 Tau Water Caste Envoy profile for Inquisitor
- 6 Imperial Armour Volume Three - The Taros Campaign, p. 184
- 7: Drone Stealth Fighter
