O'Shaserra
This article is about the Tau character; for the Novel by Braden Campbell, see Shadowsun (Novella). |
O'Shaserra, also known as Commander Shadowsun, is the current Tau Empire supreme commander.
Contents
History
She was selected to replace the former commander, Commander Farsight, and was one of the top students of Commander Puretide, displaying her skill during the Damocles Crusade and battles against Orks in the K'resh Expansion during the Great War of Confederation[3]. It is on the K'resh that O'Shaserra acquired her nickname - Shadowsun - as she used an eclipse to ambush and destroy a vast Ork horde.[5] Shadowsun seems to be a more steadfast leader, more suited to the job of overseeing the Third Sphere of Expansion. It was Aun'Va who selected Shadowsun, in hopes of replicating the strategic brilliance of Puretide. Aun'va recognized that disciples of the aging Puretide were indispensable, and Shadowsun was among those students put into cryogenic stasis for future expansion campaigns that would occur beyond the natural lifespan of the Tau. Shadowsun was unfrozen during the Great War of Confederation, and was instrumental in the Tau victory over the Orks.[3] When she learned of the betrayal of Commander Farsight, she went into the training dome of the Mont'yr, destroyed there the last statue of the Farsight with the twin Fusion Blasters of her XV22 Stealth Battlesuit and sweared to spread the Greater Good with pride and honour. Shadowsun became known as the master of the Kauyon tactics.[5] She also led several raids against a Tyranid splinter fleet and managed to do so much damage to the hive ships that the Tau fleet was able to fully engage the Tyranid fleet, without losing any ships.[Needs Citation]
Under her leadership, the Tau Empire has again grown with the Third Sphere of Expansion, formed five colonies in a halo around the original Sept worlds, including in the Damocles Gulf, Perdus Rift and much further afield. This success was due in part to the Imperium being distracted elsewhere and the Tyranids and Orks being temporarily contained. Shadowsun went on to score a decisive victory over the Imperium in the Battle for Mu'gulath Bay, one of the greatest Tau victories over the Imperium.[1]
However it was at Mu'gulath Bay that Shadowsun encountered Kor'sarro Khan of the White Scars, who inflicted horrendous casualties upon her command staff and drove the normally calm Tau Commander into a fury. In her rage and overconfidence, Shadowsun led an offensive that resulted in a stinging Tau defeat. Having barely escaped the Imperial ambush with her life, which was only thanks to the brave sacrifice of her personal retinue, Shadowsun swore to redouble her efforts in the Third Sphere of Expansion. This led to her initiating the Prefectia Campaign.[3] Though succesful at Prefectia, Shadowsun was surprised when the Imperium used the war as a distraction to strike at Mu'gulath Bay once more. During the second battle for the world, Shadowsun led an effective resistance but could not stop the destruction of Mu'gulath Bay or the death of Aun'va at the hands of the Officio Assassinorum. Shadowsun herself only survived the destruction of Mu'gulath Bay due to her earlier wounding at the hands of a Callidus Assassin, which forced her to recover aboard a Tau starship. Free from the restraint of Aun'va and grateful to O'Shovah for aid during the battle, Shadowsun secretly leaked information to her former ally that the Ethereal Council had ordered her to capture him.[4]
Later, Shadowsun was taken out of cryo-stasis to command the newly christened Fifth Sphere of Expansion on the other side of the Startide Nexus. During the fighting, Shadowsun expressed frustration with Fourth Sphere Tau led by Surestrike, which displayed excessive brutality and xenophobia. Shadowsun, with the cooperation of the Ethereal Council, eventually disciplined the Fourth Sphere commanders.[6]
Weargear
Commander Shadowsun wears an XV22 Stealth Battlesuit into battle incorporating both a stealth generator and a jump pack. She is accompanied by a Command-link Drone and two MV52 Shield Drones and is armed with dual Fusion Blasters which enable her to take on enemy heavy armour, she also carries a Bonding Knife.[Needs Citation]
Images
Sources
- 1: Codex: Tau Empire (6th Edition), pg. 29
- 2: Games Workshop Blog
- 3: War Zone Damocles: Kauyon, pgs. 6–7
- 4: War Zone Damocles: Mont'ka — pgs. 105–110
- 5: Codex: Tau Empire (7th Edition), pg. 38, Commander Shadowsun
- 6: Codex: Tau Empire (8th Edition) pgs. 22–25
Uncited
- Tau Empire miniatures gallery (accessed 2007.02.20)
- Codex: Tau Empire (4th Edition), [Needs Citation]
Tau Empire Forces | |
---|---|
Leadership | Ethereal • Tau Commander • Fireblade |
Troops | Fire Warrior Team (Strike Team • Breacher Team) • Pathfinder Team • Stealthsuit Team • Drone Squadron |
Battlesuits | XV8 Crisis (XV8 • XV8-02 • XV81 • XV84 • XV85 • XV86 • XV89) • XV15 Stealth • XV22 Stealth • XV25 Stealth • XV95 Ghostkeel • XV88 Broadside • XV9 Hazard XV46 Vanguard • XV104 Riptide • XV107 R'varna • XV109 Y'vahra • KV128 Stormsurge • KX139 Ta'unar |
Vehicles | Devilfish • Drone Harbinger • Hammerhead • Piranha • Sky Ray • Tetra • Swordfish |
Aircraft | Barracuda • Manta • Orca • Sun Shark • Razorshark • Tiger Shark • Remora |
Auxiliaries | Kroot Shaper • Kroot Carnivore Squad • Kroot Hound • Krootox • Knarloc • Great Knarloc • Vespid Stingwing • Gue'vesa |
Special Characters | Aun'va • Aun'shi • Shadowsun • Farsight • Darkstrider • Longstrike |