The alliance between the T’au and Kin is tested by the guns of the Adeptus Mechanicus. The integration cadre of Fannor’Arnaðr battles the Rad Maniple 4Δ - “Children of the Atom”.
A Tenuous Alliance
An experimental integration of Leagues of Votann units into T’au formations proved controversial between both groups. The T’au were reluctant to reveal battle tactics and technology to a people who did not embrace the Greater Good, while the Kin were unhappy due to their natural inclination towards isolation (and the casual attitude of Earth caste engineers to their drones did not help when witnessed by the Ironkyn). However, needs must, and once the initial hurdles were overcome the two groups were able to combine into a lethal fighting force named as an Integration Cadre. The hardiness of the Kin alloyed well with the long-range guns of the Fire caste, allowing both groups to cover the others weaknesses.
Rad Maniple 4Δ
Rad Maniple 4 is a specialized Adeptus Mechanicus formation, renowned for their mastery over radiation-based weaponry and technology. Stationed on a desolate forge world, they harness the power of atomic decay to annihilate their enemies, often at great personal cost. Their tech-priests are highly irradiated, viewing their mutations as blessings from the Machine God. Feared across the galaxy, Rad Maniple 4 leaves a trail of radioactive devastation in their wake, their very presence a harbinger of death.
Children of the Atom
The first sign of battle was not as sudden as a railgun shot, or as brutal as a hand-to-hand street fight. Instead, the integration cadre witnessed strange, archaic shells detonating high above their heads, showering them in black dust. Within minutes, sickness began to set in among their ranks - soon after, this became both burns on skin and corrosion on armour. The radiation bombardment of the Adeptus Mechanicus was excellently executed, forcing the T’au units forward from their well-fortified positions into open ground that rapidly became a kill zone. A breakout was attempted by Kroot auxiliaries, supported by Breacher teams moving swiftly in Devilfish transports, but this was quickly blunted by Skitarii troops and the cadre was beset on all sides.
The Kin attempted to rally as best they could, their hardier constitutions helping them against the radiation sickness, but they were no match against the now rapidly advancing Martian forces. The final nail in the coffin was the death of the Hammerhead gunship support, their armour finally giving way to the toxic air and detonating their railgun cores - without heavy fire support, the Mechanicus could advance unhindered and the Cadre were forced to flee the field.