D'Shas'Ka 4
| Map | Tau Sept Data | Planetary Image | ||
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Name | D'Shas'Ka 4 | 
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| Expansion: | Third | |||
| Location: | Eastern Fringe |
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D'Shas'Ka 4 (Seraph 131 to the Imperium) is a T'au Empire Sept World that is part of the Velk'Han Sept. D'Shas'Ka means "Twin Suns" in the T'au Lexicon and is the name of both the world and its binary star system comprising six planets found within the Canis Salient region of the Jericho Reach.[1]
Overview
Located spinward of the Greyhell Front, D'Shas'Ka 4 is several weeks travel from any other world in the Velk'Han Sept, and represents the furthest extent of Tau dominated territory from the Black Reef and Tsua'Malor. However, in spite of such claims, D’Shas'Ka 4 is not a world entirely under the peaceful rule of the Greater Good. While largely unperturbed by the Imperium, D’Shas'Ka 4 is a world pressured by invasion from another front—the Chaos-tainted legions of the Stigmartus.[1]
While clashes between the Tau and Stigmartus forces are not unheard of, they are rare, with the Stigmartus typically content to turn their fury upon other humans, particularly the Imperium. The Stigmartus do not regard the Tau as particularly significant when compared to their loathing for the Imperium, and tend only to attack Tau worlds when provoked or when some ulterior motive drives their cruelty. The binary system of D'Shas'Ka seems to be of some significance to a faction within the Stigmartus, driving their urge to stain its worlds and stars with the blood of the Tau. The eventual goal of the Stigmartus on D'Shas'Ka 4 remains unknown, in spite of careful scrutiny by the Inquisition.[1]
Government
Inquisitorial intelligence-gathering has determined that the world’s government is referred to as the D’Shas’ka Shan’al, or “Twin Suns Coalition”, which is ruled over by the highest-ranking Tau of the Fire, Water, Air and Earth Castes, presided over and advised on the true course of the Greater Good by a senior Ethereal. The specific identities of these individuals are unknown, but it is believed that they are not actually on D'Shas'Ka 4 at all, but rather upon an orbital station above it.[1]
Geography and Demography
D'Shas'Ka 4 is described by the Imperium as being temperate/wet and an extremely verdant world, covered in an extensive variety of indigenous flora and fauna but no native sentient life. No prior human colonisation attempts have been made, for reasons unknown, though it is speculated that D'Shas'Ka 4 should be classified as a Death World.[1]
Tau facilities on D'Shas'Ka 4 are thinly scattered fortified compounds, defended by Tau warriors, supported by Kroot auxiliaries and drone-controlled auto-defences. The fortifications are somewhat uncharacteristic of Tau settlement, as the Tau are known to dislike defensive warfare, and are believed to exist primarily to fend off the intrusion of aggressive native flora and fauna.[1]
A significant Kroot presence has been established on D'Shas'Ka 4, primarily because of the sheer density and aggression of the indigenous creatures. These Kroot have thrived on the verdant world, and continue to do so, with a fourth generation of D’Shas’Ka Kroot beginning to appear in the last year. The Tau colonists, however, have not been as successful. Earth Caste xenobiologists struggle to catalogue the sheer quantity of species to be found on D'Shas'Ka 4, and rigorously drilled Cadres of Fire Warriors are on constant alert to repel attacks from particularly tenacious wildlife or from Stigmartus forces making planetfall, seldom staying in one place for more than a few weeks at a time.
See also
Sources
- 1: Deathwatch: The Jericho Reach, pgs. 69 - 71
