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Tau Portal

This article is about the Tau drones, for the Chaos Blight Drone see Blight 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.^[1a][2a]

Overview

Drones are conventionally disk-shaped, well-armoured and 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, often through a Drone Controller. 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. This allows them to operate in a group, independent of a controller for long periods of time.^[1a][2a][5a]

Typical civilian jobs for Drones include message delivery or domestic services, 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.^[5a]

Drones by Type

Command-link Drone

Command-link Drones accompany commanders into battle. They allow the commander to better direct the battle by networking them to squad leaders and other officers under their command. Only Shadowsun is known to have access to a command-link drone.^[2d]

Escort Drone

Escort Drones are a type of small drone that often accompany Tau Water Caste negotiators and incorporate both defensive as well as minor offensive capabilities. They are nimble and compact, making use of small efficient anti-grav units which are similar in design to larger drones. They 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 to 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.^[4]

Earth Caste Builder

Earth Caste Builders are drones used by the Earth Caste to erect structures and perform repairs on damaged buildings. However they are unarmed and unable to defend themselves against an attack.^[6]

Earth Caste Builder Drone

Grav-Inhibitor Drone

Grav Inhibitor Drones are often utilized by Pathfinder Teams. These drones are equipped with Gravity Wave Projectors.^[12]

Grav-inhibitor Drone^[12]

Gun Drone

Gun Drones are armed with twin-linked Pulse Carbines and often serve along side Fire Warriors in battle.^[1a][2a][5a]

Gun Drone Squadron

Gun Drone Squadrons are formed of 4 to 8 Gun Drones which have networked 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 warriors additional time to engage.^[1b][2b]

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.^[5a]

A Gun Drone

Heavy Gun Drone

Heavy Gun Drones are one of the largest Drones currently known to 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.^[5a]

Heavy Gun Drone

Interceptor Drone

Interceptor Drones are aerial fighter drones typically deployed from Tau aircraft such as the Sun Shark Bomber to intercept incoming enemy flyers. They are armed with twin Ion Rifles.^[13]

Interceptor Drone^[13]

Shielded Missile Drone

Shielded Missile Drones excel at both offense and defense. They use a cohesive energy field generator to absorb incoming shots, and are also well-armed with Missile Pods for retaliatory fire. They often deploy alongside the XV104 Riptide Battlesuit.^[14]

Shielded Missile Drone

Marker Drone

Marker Drones are unarmed Drones equipped with a Networked Markerlight and a Targeting Array.^[2a] Heavy Marker Drones are the same size as Heavy Gun Drones but, replace one of their Burst Cannons for a Markerlight.^[3][5a]

Marker Drone^[9]

Pulse Accelerator Drone

Pulse Accelerator Drones are frequently used by Pathfinder Teams. They are equipped with Pulse Accelerators, which allow for the range of Pulse weapons to be extended.^[12]

Pulse Accelerator Drone^[12]

Recon Drone

Recon Drones typically accompany Pathfinder teams and can also be mounted on Devilfish APC's. Specializing in reconnaissance missions, they are armed with a Burst Cannon.^[1]

Recon Drone^[12]

Remora Drone Stealth Fighter

The DX-6 Remora Drone Stealth Fighter is an unmanned stealth Drone fighter aircraft utilized by the Tau Air Caste. Packed with advanced equipment, including a Blacksun Filter, Targeting Array and stealth field generator, it is armed with a long-barreled Burst Cannon and two Seeker Missiles, which it can aim and fire itself with a Network Markerlight. Remoras were first encountered during the Tau raid on the Imperial penal world of Typha-IV, and can be carried into battle underneath a modified Tiger Shark or launched of the back of a Manta Missile Destroyer, which can then control the craft from high altitude. They can operate in flights of up to five drones.^[7b][8]

Remora Drone Stealth Fighter

Shield Drone

Shield Drones are unarmed Drones equipped with a shield generator that usually accompany commanders and Battlesuits, although they sometimes accompany Fire Warriors and Pathfinders.^[1a][2a]

Shield Drone

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.^[2c]

Sniper Drone with operator

Technical Drone

The DX-4 Technical Drone is used by Tau commanders and Fire Warrior teams on the battlefield as a mobile engineering unit. In place of weaponry each Technical Drone carries repair and sensor equipment, and can be used to fixed damaged or destroyed equipment in the field.^[7a]

Technical Drone.^[9]

Exploratory Drone

The DX-11 Exploratory Drone is a derivative of the DX-4 Technical Drone used by the Tau for space exploration operations, frequently operating alongside XV46 Battlesuits on Space Hulks. They are fitted with limited armament and an array of sensory and high-powered communications equipment, and are typically sent off to roam an area autonomously, searching for anything of interest while an operator views their findings and makes command decisions. If threatened the drone is programmed to conceal itself, transmit an alert, and await instructions, reserving its limited firepower only for moments of absolute necessity or when operating in direct support or defense of its operator.^[15]

Drone Sentry Turret

Drone Sentry Turrets are automated weapons systems that contain an advanced processor, giving it basic intelligence much like a standard drone. A team of turrets are then networked together to form a defensive perimeter, making decisions independent of Tau operators. The turret itself consists of an armored hull with a pop-gun turret that may consist of either Burst Cannons or Seeker Missiles. Drone Sentry Turrets are used widely by the Tau for defensive operations.^[11]

Drone Sentry Turret^[10]

Sources

• 1: Codex: Tau
  • 1a: Pg. 18
  • 2a: Pg. 28
• 2: Codex: Tau Empire
  • 2a: Pg. 31
  • 2b: Pg. 38
  • 2c: Pg. 40
  • 2d: Pg. 47
• 3: Forgeworld Site (accessed 2007.02.20)
• 4: Tau Water Caste Envoy profile for Inquisitor
• 5: Imperial Armour Volume Three - The Taros Campaign
  • 5a: Pg. 184
  • 5b: Pg.
• 6: Dawn of War: Dark Crusade Manual, pg. 18
• 7: Imperial Armour - Apocalypse
  • 7a: pg. 80
  • 7b: pg. 81
• 8: Imperial Armour - Apocalypse II, pg. 83
• 9: Forge World
• 10: Forge World
• 11: Imperial Armour Volume Three - The Taros Campaign pg.187-188
• 12: Games Workshop
• 13: Sun Shark Bomber
• 14: Codex: Tau Empire (6th Edition) pg.69
• 15: Deathwatch: Ark of Lost Souls pg.122-124

Uncited

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