XV22 Stealthsuit

The XV22 Stealthsuit is an experimental Tau Battlesuit that has been recently developed by the Earth Caste of the Tau Empire. Tau Battlesuit technology is constantly evolving as the Tau learn from experience and utilise their technology to overcome those obstacles that stand in the way of the Greater Good. The XV22 is a product of this innovation and has yet to be made use of on a large scale due to its experimental nature. Whilst current marks of Battlesuit are easily mass-produced and are known to be reliable, the XV22 is one of several models that are currently still in development. This is mainly due to the technological developments used in the construction of the Battlesuit that the Earth Caste that has not yet been able to produce on a large scale, for the XV22 carries far more technology and combat systems within its frame than even the XV8 Crisis Battlesuit.

Currently, the XV22 has only been issued to trusted Fire Caste Commanders and in turn, some of their high-ranking subordinates. This way, the Battlesuits' performance can be assessed and analysed on the myriad of battlefields that the Tau fight on. The XV22 Stealthsuit itself is of a similar mass class to the XV15 and XV25 Stealthsuits, and is designed to fulfil a similar role in covert operations that require a high degree of stealth. Indeed, the XV22 was originally designed to replace the XV15 Stealthsuit as the standard Stealthsuit had it not been for the Kappa Mortis Incident, which caused the XV25 to be rushed into large scale production ahead of the XV22. Whether or not the XV22 becomes approved for general use will be determined by its performance in the battles of the Third Sphere of Expansion. Its future relies as much upon its users as theirs does on the XV22.

Notable Users

 * Shas’O’Shaserra “Commander Shadowsun” – Commander Shadowsun is the overall commander of Tau Fire Caste forces after Commander Farsight’s splintering from the Tau Empire. Due to her rank and status, she is one of few Tau Commanders that have been entrusted with the field testing of XV22 Stealthsuits. So far, the XV22 has been used successfully on the battlefronts of the Third Sphere of Expansion which she has been leading.
 * Shas’O Kais – Shas’O Kais was the Tau Commander that led Tau forces during the Dark Crusade. Whilst he was unsuccessful in securing the planet for the Tau Empire, he survived the campaign. He utilised a XV22 Stealthsuit that was aesthetically different to Commander Shadowsuns. His XV22 also mounted numerous Battlesuit Tau Wargears and Tau Wargears that differed from Commander Shadowsun's.
 * Shas’O Or’es’Ka – Shas’O Or’es’Ka was the Tau Commander that led Tau forces during the campaign to take the Kaurava System. It is currently unknown as to whether he succeeded or not. He utilised a XV22 Stealthsuit that was very similar to Shas’o’Kais’, though it made use of several different Battlesuit Weapon Systems and Support Systems.

Armament
The XV22 Stealthsuit incorporates many of the standard features shared by most Tau Battlesuits and is similar in many ways to its both the XV15 and XV25 Stealthsuits. Similarities include the incorporated Tau Jetpack, which combines anti-gravitic and jet propulsion technology. The Jetpack allows the Battlesuit to maintain a stable platform from which to fire its weapons, even when on the move, and provides a great deal of mobility to the user. The Jetpack also allows for the Stealthsuit to be deployed from high altitudes by Tau transports such as Orcas and Mantas, where the Jetpack will be used to safely slow the Battlesuit's descent. In addition to a Jetpack, an XV22 Stealthsuit also incorporates advanced sensors common to all Tau Battlesuits that are built into the helmet. This allows for the user to gather more accurate battlefield data which can assist informed decision-making on where to best deploy themself and their unit to maximise their tactical effectiveness.

The XV22 Stealthsuit, like the other Stealthsuits also possesses the unique capability of camouflaging its wearer through the use of its stealth technologies. The suit's integrated holographic disruption field achieves its effects through a number of disruptor emitters arrayed all over the Battlesuit. This holographic disruption field can operate in two modes. The default, passive mode utilises a range of technologies to dampen the suit’s electromagnetic signature so that enemy scanners are far less likely to detect it. This mode is called "passive" because its use cannot be detected by enemy sensors. Rather than attempting to interfere with enemy sensor systems diectly, it simply masks the suit itself. In "active" mode, however, the suit's stealth field generator comes online. The suit's matte finish ripples and blurs, resolving itself into a nigh-perfect representation of the terrain that lies behind it, making the suit and its wearer all but transparent even to visual identification. In this way, the Stealthsuit's form is blended into the background as if its wearer were a Terran chameleon. In addition, when operating in active mode, the Stealthsuit's systems are actively interfering with and jamming enemy sensor devices. In so doing, the jamming itself will give away the fact that the Stealthsuit is present somewhere on the battlefield, but will make the detection of its actual location nearly impossible.

The actual armaments and equipment that XV22 Stealthsuits carry, however, varies between Stealthsuit to Stealthsuit. This is due to their experimental nature, and as such, there is currently no standard armament. Commander Shadowsun’s  Stealthsuit is armed with two arm-mounted Fusion Blasters which provide short range anti-vehicle firepower. Her XV22 also mounts a Multi-Tracker, a Advanced Target Lock which allows her to effectively target multiple enemies with her two weapons, a Bonding Knife, and a Drone Controller which she uses to control two Shield Drones and a Command Link Drone. Shas’O Kais' XV22 Stealthsuit has been armed with two hand-held weapons out of a Flamer, Plasma Rifle, Fusion Blaster, and a Burst Cannon. His XV22 also is armed with shoulder-mounted Missile Pods, and is equipped with an Advanced Sensor Array that allows him to detect enemy troops that are camouflaged through stealth or technology, and a Drone Controller which he uses to control a Gun Drone and a Shield Drone. His XV22 also has been fitted with Iridium Armour to grant himself better protection from enemy fire. Shas’O Or’es’Ka’s XV22 Stealthsuit has been armed with two hand-held weapons out of a Flamer, Burst Cannon, Fusion Blaster, and Cyclic Ion Blaster. His XV22 is also armed with shoulder-mounted Missile Pods, and is equipped with an Advanced Sensor Array, a Drone Controller which he uses to control a Shield Drone and a Marker Light Drone, and a Shield Generator.