Dalis, the T'au Empire's most important home world in the Fourth Quadrant, was known for its mild climate and prosperous commerce. But at this moment, the peaceful scene was overshadowed by the clouds of war. In an Air Caste airbase located on a vast plain, a tense and solemn atmosphere replaced the usual tranquility.
Inside the colossal domed hangar, the light was bright and soft, with rows of sleek 'Barracuda' and 'Tiger Shark' fighter jets neatly parked. Hundreds of Air Caste pilots, clad in blue flight suits, stood in impeccable formation, their gaze fixed on the battle-hardened air force commander on the platform ahead.
The commander stood tall, its voice echoing clearly through the amplification system to every corner of the hangar. Its tone was sorrowful, but more than that, it was one of suppressed fury.
"Fellow T'au, warriors of the Air Caste! The fleets of those barbaric races who call themselves 'humans' have invaded our territory. They bring death and destruction; their actions are the most vicious blasphemy against everything we cherish, against The Greater Good!"
Behind it, on a massive holographic screen, edited battlefield footage began to play: planet surfaces scorched to glass by orbital bombardment, the debris floating above the Zel-Kor colony, and… the horrific sight of humans in the Hydass Sector, who had chosen to join the Empire and accept the light of The Greater Good, being incinerated by the artillery of their own kin.
"Look!" The commander's finger pointed at the cruel images, "These cruel and warlike invaders have carried out the most thorough extermination strategy on our planets! They even carried out merciless massacres against their own people in the Hydass Sector! Simply because those people chose a better future! These are our enemies, a group of madmen consumed by hatred and destruction!"
A suppressed stir rippled through the hangar. The pilots clenched their fists, their faces beneath their helmets filled with righteous indignation. The massacre of xenos was barbaric enough, but the slaughter of their own kind who chose progress, in their eyes, was an incomprehensible madness.
The commander raised its hand, signaling for silence. Its tone shifted, becoming firm and powerful.
"But do not be intimidated by their madness! The Imperium of Man is not an unbeatable enemy! On the contrary, they are already at the end of their tether! What we face is nothing more than a decaying, dying vast empire, launching its final frenzy before a complete collapse! Their society is stagnant, their minds are shackled by superstition, and their internal structure has long been fragmented!"
"As long as we follow the teachings of the Ethereal Caste! As long as we hold firm to our faith in The Greater Good! As long as we unite as one, with the diplomacy of the Water Caste, the production of the Earth Caste, the ground forces of the Fire Caste, and us — the sky spears of the Air Caste, tightly bound together, the ultimate victory will surely belong to our T'au Empire!"
Its words were powerfully infectious, dispelling the last trace of doubt in the pilots' hearts and transforming it into soaring fighting spirit.
Finally, the commander's gaze swept over everyone present, its voice as solemn as an oath.
"As members of the Air Caste, as the sky shield of the Empire, we will be the first T'au Empire soldiers to directly face the Human fleet! We will welcome their arrival in the skies above Dalis! Tell them, this is the territory of the T'au!"
It paused, then asked loudly, "What is our answer?"
Below the platform, all the Air Caste pilots sharply brought their feet together and puffed out their chests, their voices converging into a torrent that reverberated through the vast hangar: "For The Greater Good, we will fight to the death!"
...However, compared to the T'au Empire's current unity and high morale, the War Council of the Imperium of Man expeditionary fleet was already on the verge of disintegration. It was like a starship tossing in a storm, its hull riddled with cracks, barely held together by a few fragile cables.
Corvin Greed, the son of rogue trader Lucian, had just publicly declared the formidable power of the T'au Empire on the wide-area channel and hinted that the fleet should consider retreating. This was one of the sharpest manifestations of this profound division.
This was a complete betrayal of the command structure.
After all, even if the expeditionary fleet truly needed to withdraw, it should have been a difficult decision reached jointly by the War Council after intense deliberation and weighing of pros and cons. For Corvin to directly publicize unconfirmed news capable of causing catastrophic panic, spreading defeatist sentiment throughout the entire expeditionary fleet, and attempting to force the War Council to announce a retreat — what was this? This was a coward's blackmail, a political immaturity.
Not to mention, beneath the surface, strong undercurrents had long been swirling before this public rupture. Not long ago, Lucian's daughter, that equally unruly rogue trader heir, even attempted to personally assassinate Inquisitor Grande.
Grande nearly died in that assassination attempt, which made his already suspicious nature even more neurotic. Now, he looked at every council member as if they were a potential heretic or assassin.
On the other hand, Lucian, upon hearing the news, had at one point believed his daughter had died due to the failed assassination. The grief of losing his daughter almost made the rogue trader turn on the Inquisitor on the spot, and the War Council almost completely collapsed then and there.
But Lucian Greed, having traversed the star sea for many years, eventually suppressed his personal hatred and sorrow after the initial rage, deciding to first deal with the common threat of the T'au. This fragile consensus was the only pillar sustaining the War Council's broken ship from sinking immediately.
It was under such disintegrating circumstances that the expeditionary fleet forcibly executed the operation plan named "Project Pluto." Landing craft tore through the azure skies of Dalis, making a bold landing on the eastern coastline of the largest continent.
This area was backed by continuous mountain ranges and faced the boundless sea, making the terrain extremely treacherous. The only route of attack was along a narrow coastal corridor, directly penetrating Dalis' core city — Guelbryn.
This was also the ultimate manifestation of the expeditionary fleet's aggressive operational philosophy. It abandoned all cautious tactical options, like a Redeye gambler, pushing all its chips to the center of the table, placing all its hopes for war on the victory of this all-in battle.