THE OUTPOST

Four Plague Marines moved swiftly along the deserted woodland surrounding the Tau outpost. Champion Faikion, chosen for his infiltrating abilities, gave a single hand gesture as he crept to the edge of the wood. Glancing around though the visor of his helmet, his vision tinted yellow from the vile ichor that oozed from a head wound. 'Enhance' whispered Faikion as his helmet adjusted for distance and the picture zoomed in. He watched, two Tau Fire Warriors, dressed in mainly black but with grey highlights, stood to attention, and watched as their Ethereal gave them the look to be dismissed. Thinking to himself, 'and they thought we could never find him!' thought Faikion to himself.

Slowly taking his bolter from beside him, and sliding it up to where he could use the targeting device that he had stole and aimed. The gunshot rang through the trees, but he continued to watch from his position as the Fire Warrior's that had just attended to the Ethereal gasped in horror and disbelief, then made a bolt for the nearest warrior garrison. 'Creeping advance' whispered Faikion down the comm channel as he ushered his Plague Marines forward.

As they slowly made their way through the woods, Faikion watched as the entire camp was put on alert and how the Fire Warriors were both dismayed at the deeds of an unknown killer. Commander Oh'Shuiy ordered his Fire Warriors to made area sweeps of the surrounding area. 'Faikion, we cannot stay here we will be discovered!' prompted Plague Brother Gydron, his voice also a whisper. 'If we move now, our real objective will not be met and we will be discovered if we move now.'

'We must move out now, but not back, forward, deeper into the outpost.' ushered Faikion to his squad. 'I don't see what could be more important then leaving the Tau leaderless?' enquired one of the Plague Marines. 'Do not question mine or Lord Damius' decisions!' spat Faikion as he gazed back at his underling.

Creeping on along the tree line, the green forms of the Plague Marines hid them well against the evergreen of the woodland they were pushing their way through. Stopping suddenly as the scream of engines roared overhead, two Wave Serpents shot into view above them. Then dropping suddenly, to near the tree-line, the rear ramps opened upon touch down as the alien craft came to hover about a meter above the ground. Crouching out of sight, the five Plague Marines listened intently for clues as to what the xenogens were doing. Perching forward for a clear view of the Eldar, Faikion noticed that the Eldar were not alone. With them was another Tau Ethereal, his black clothing clashing harshly with the white and blue of the Cha'Los Eldar. With the Tau was not only Farseer Tyross, but also several Warlocks and a Warseer. Supporting them was a defender squad, numbering six in total and a six man Fire Warriors squad. 'That is our prize, Tyross himself!' The four Plague Marines waited a further four minutes more, until the sleek Eldar transport had departed.

'Attack!' spat Faikion as he unsheathed his sword, a fine example of rotting metal coated in virulent puss. The five Plague Marines got up as soon and pushed their way out of the forests. Bolter shells rained upon the Eldar, causing one of the Guardians to be confined within his spirit stone. Returning fire, the Guardians and Fire Warriors spat death to one of the Plague Marines, his armoured husk dropping to the ground. As the Plague Marines broke their lines, Guardian Tallack begun choking as his breathing gear was unable to keep out the evil toxins surrounding Faikion. Saying but one word, Tyross called forth a an aura of pure Warp energy, striking all of the Plague Marines. However, the vast form of the Plague Marine absorbed his attempt, barely. As the Guardians leapt forward to protect their master, but it was too late. Casting himself forward into the fray, the Tyross faced death without fear. Slicing left then right with his long shafted weapon power weapon. The first of the Plague Marines fell to Tyross' blade whilst the others stabbed at Tyross' clothing with their small but sharp knifes. One of the Marines bit deep into his flesh, but was quickly put down as Tyross unleashed a mental mind attack. Moving faster then normal, Tyross brought up his weapon to bear against Faikion's plague sword.

Tyross struggled against the daemonically enhanced Faikion, he was brought down by the massed Guardians, their ceremonial knifes stabbing into every available weak point in his armour. Glancing around to find the last Plague Marine, only to find that he had already been dispatched by the Fire Warriors, supported by the more combat capable Warlocks. 'Burn their bodies!' gasped Tyross as the stench of the Plague Marines finally hit is nose...