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{|hspace=5 VSPACE=5 align=right cellpadding=3 cellspacing=3 style="margin:5px; border:1px solid #090909"
|colspan=2 align="center"|'''Tau Empire'''
Over the next thousand years the Tau empire experienced an unprecedented period of scientific discovery and philosophical advancement. The Tau empire continued to expand its border at a fast rate through a series of Expansion Phases. The Tau empire has gone through 3 phases of expansion. These phases are a period of several Tau military campaigns during which nearby worlds are colonised, conquered, or sometimes peacefully persuaded to join the [[Greater Good]]. Therefore, apart from the star systems of the Tau, which are called [[Tau Sept|Septs]], the Tau Empire also incorporated worlds and star systems belonging to the [[Kroot]], [[Vespid]], and the [[Nicassar]]. It is currently unknown if the [[Demiurg]] are full members, allies, or mere trading partners. The empire is composed by over twenty fully developed septs and around one hundered settled worlds, but the exact number and most of their names are unknown.
At some point, the Tau sent an expeditionary force to the planet [[Malbede]] where they came into [[Battle of Malbede|conflict]] with the [[Ultramarines]] [[Chapter]] in 936.M41. However, the world proved to be cursed when their fighting awakened the sleeping [[Necron]]s from their tomb beneath the surface. In an effort to combat this threat, the Tau and the Ultramarines combined forces to defeat the Necrons. Once the conflict was over, the Tau were allowed to evacuate their forces by [[Marneus Augustus Calgar|Marneus Calgar]] who proceeded to destroy Malbrede through an [[Exterminatus]].<sup>5</sup>{{Fn|2}}
In [[M41|966666.M41]], the Tau fought against the [[Space Marines|Adeptus Astartes]] of the [[Space Wolves]] [[Chapter]] during the War for Kvarium Alpha. On that water-clogged world, drop pods landed deep in the oceans where their occupants made a move to engage their enemy. On the surface, the battle was fought between the two sides with an equally deadly conflict erupting in the depths of the sea between the Space Wolves and Tau Battlesuits. [[Thunderhawk]] Gunships were used to great effect against Hammerhead tanks and Manta gunships with torpedoes, prop-bombs and missiles being used against the Tau. Ultimately, the Space Wolves proved to be the victor in the conflict where hundreds of Tau and Space Wolf corpses floated to the surface. With their mission complete, the Space Wolves made the long trek back to land across the sea bed.<sup>4</sup>{{Fn|1}}
===Damocles Crusade===
{{main|Gorgon (Hive Fleet)}}
The Tau Empire was invaded by [[Hive Fleet]] [[Gorgon (Hive Fleet)|Gorgon]] in 899.[[M41]]. Gorgon was exceptional for its ability to quickly adapt on a biological level to new circumstances of battle, such as evolving immunities to Tau weaponry. This rapid pace of adaptation may have been unique to Gorgon, or it may have been a response to conflict with the Tau, who are also highly adaptable but on a technological level. The combined forces of the Tau and the [[Imperial Guard]] destroyed Gorgon in 903.M41, albeit after losing several trading partners and colony worlds.<sup>6</sup>{{Fn|3}}
==Society==
===Vespid (Mal'kor)===
[[File:Vespidwarrior.JPG|thumb|right|100px|A Vespid warrior.]]
The Vespid warriors, called ''Stingwings'', form tactical units referred to as ''Strains''. Each Strain is lead by a Strain leader.<sup>{{Fn|1</sup> }} Because the Vespid language is so complex (presumably because of their complex mouths) and only the Strain Leaders are given the apparatus to translate their language to their Tau allies, Vespid Strains are very close knit and a lot of reliance on Strain Leaders come from both sides.
Stingwing Strains are highly sought after in Tau [[Fire Warrior]] [[Cadre]]s because of their high level of maneuverability. They are often used by Tau commanders alongside [[Battlesuit#Crisis Battlesuit|Crisis Battlesuit]]s or used in a scouting role, backing up [[Tau Pathfinder|Pathfinders]]. In the Tau language they are referred to as "Mal'kor," which comes from "Mal" meaning insect and "kor" meaning air.
===Other Races===
*The [[Nicassar]] are a highly psychic race and were the first alien species assimilated into the Tau Empire.<sup>7a</sup>{{Fn|4a}}*The [[Demiurg]] are a mining species that has allied itself with the Tau.<sup>7b</sup>{{Fn|4b}}*The [[Galg]] are green, scaled, frog-like creatures that often form into mercenary bands which often fight for the Tau.<sup>8</sup>{{Fn|5}}*The [[Tarellian]] are dog-like aliens who often work as mercenaries for the Tau.<sup>9</sup>{{Fn|6}}*The [[Ji'atrix]] are ethereal aliens skilled in void-faring.<sup>10</sup>{{Fn|7}}*The [[Morralian]] are auxiliaries that employ Deathsworn to the Tau.<sup>11</sup>{{Fn|8}}*The [[Ranghon]] are a race which has bowed before the Empire.{{Fn|129}}*The [[Hrenian]] are auxiliaries that employ Light Infantry to the Tau.<sup>11</sup>{{Fn|8}}
==Military==
==Sources==
* [[Codex: Tau (3rd Edition)]]* [[Codex: Tau Empire (4th Edition)]]* <sup>1</sup> Aun'va's declaration of the Third Sphere from [[Codex: Tau Empire (4th Edition)]], p.42. The date of the Third Sphere's inception is drawn from multiple sources: ''5th Edition Rulebook'', 129; ''Codex: Space Marines (5th Edition)'', 48; ''Planetstrike'', 57.* <sup>2</sup>[[Kill Team (Novel)]] by [[Gavin Thorpe]], {{Cite ThisEndn|1}}, p.137* <sup>3</sup>[[Imperial Armour Volume Three - The Taros Campaign]]* <sup>4</sup>: [[Planetstrike]], pg . 56, * <sup>5</sup>{{Endn|2}}:[[Warhammer 40,000 4th Edition Rulebook]], pg . 128 * <sup>6</sup>{{Endn|3}}: [[Codex: Tyranids (5th Edition)]], ppgs.18-21* <sup>7</sup>{{Endn|4}}: ''To Unite the Stars: Tau Vessels'', [http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/content/article.jsp?catId=cat1490025&categoryId=1100007§ion=&aId=4300022 Battlefleet Gothic Resources]** <sup>7a</sup>{{Endn|4a}}: pg. 107** <sup>7b</sup>{{Endn|4b}}: pg.109-111* <sup>8</sup>{{Endn|5}}: [[Kill Team (Novel)|Kill Team]] by [[Gav Thorpe]], {{Cite This}}* <sup>9</sup>{{Endn|6}}: [[Warhammer 40,000 3rd Edition Rulebook]] , pg. 116* <sup>10</sup>{{Endn|7}}: [[Deathwatch: The Achilus Assault]], pg . 130* <sup>11</sup>{{Endn|8}}: [[Apocalypse]] p, pg.157* {{Endn|129}}: [[Warhammer 40,000 6th Edition Rulebook]] , pg.213 ===Uncited==={{Uncited}}*[[Codex: Tau Empire (4th Edition)]], pg. 42 (Aun'va's declaration of the Third Sphere) *[[Warhammer 40,000 5th Edition Rulebook]], pg. 129[[Codex: Space Marines (5th Edition), pg. 48*[[Planetstrike]], pg. 57*[[Kill Team (Novel)]] by [[Gavin Thorpe]], {{Cite This}}:, pg. 137*[[Imperial Armour Volume Three - The Taros Campaign]], {{Cite This}}*[[Codex: Tau (3rd Edition)]]*[[Codex: Tau Empire (4th Edition)]]
{{Tau}}
[[Category:Tau Empire| ]]
[[Category:Tau Worlds|*]]
[[de:Sept]]
