T'au Drone

Tau Drones (Kor’vesa in the Tau Lexicon) are artificial intelligences utilised by the Tau Empire which often found in the form of conventionally disk-shaped machines which are well-armoured and equipped with small anti-gravitic and jet motors so they can hover and skim along. However, Drone intelligences can also be found built into a great number of technologies developed by the Tau Earth Caste. There are many different types of Drones used by the Tau for varying roles; whether this be mundane civilian life or in more dangerous military fields. Tau Drones can perform innumerable tasks and can carry a wide variety of equipment, ranging from defensive Shield Generators to offensive weaponry to communications equipment to support wargear. Most Tau Drones are able to interact with their personal masters, obeying simple instructions and even anticipating what duties are required of them. Tau value these Drones, and whilst they are not regarded as having equal status to a Tau, they are treated with a degree of respect akin to that to a favoured animal companion.

Drone Intelligences
Unlike the Imperium, the Tau make extensive and staggering use of artificial machine-intelligences; something that damns the whole Tau race in the eyes of the Adeptus Mechanicus and much of the Imperial hierarchy. All Tau Drones consist of an advanced processor unit which individually has only a basic intelligence; approximately that of a small animal such as a pterasquirrel. Drones intelligences are able to control the movement of their ‘bodies’, fire any weapons they a programmed to, and evade enemy fire independently. Notably, Tau Drones always seem to be programmed for self-preservation, and Drones will flee rather than face certain destruction. However, if the need arises, a Drone will always attempt to protect their master even in the face of self-destruction. Most Drone intelligences are imbued into a mobile device, and these can take on many different forms. Most Drones can be networked together into teams or squadrons. This significantly increases the intelligence and processing speed of all the Drones, and their ability for independent action. Normally a Drone would require regular orders from its Tau master; but several drones acting together become capable of acting independently for long periods of time. Four drones is the minimum number required to form a fully effective self-aware network.

Applications
Tau Drones are utilised in a great number of tasks. In civilian life, Drones will usually be assigned a high ranking Tau official as its master, where it will act as the Tau’s personal domestic servant, messenger, etc. However, due to Drones being most suitable for tedious and/or dangerous roles, they are perfect for many military applications. The Tau Empire has no compunction about the use of machine intelligences in its armed forces; indeed, they embrace them as a toll for reducing the number of Tau lives lost on the battlefield. The Fire Caste regularly arm drones with a variety of weapons, shield generators, and other military equipment and uses squadrons of them alongside their Fire Warriors in battle. Despite their basic intelligence, the Tau do not treat drones as expendable forces, but as another useful weapon in their armoury. Most Tau units are accompanied by at least a couple of drones, to assist them in battle; whether this be in providing protection, fire support, greater communications capability, etc. Tau Drones can even provide a great tactical advantage to all Tau on the battlefield, such as remote drone networks which consist of scores of remote drones, each feeding targeting information to the Tau forces below; allowing them to focus their firepower more decisively on enemy targets. The use of Drones in battle also helps save Tau lives, and also helps to minimalize the waste of the valuable skills of the Fire Caste in more mundane battlefield roles.

However, mobile drones are not the only type to see action in battle. Drone intelligences are often built into weapons systems, allowing for them to be entirely automated. One of the most widely found examples of a Tau formation composed entirely of drone systems is in the role of perimeter defence. These detachments are networked together to increase their efficiency, and utilise a variety of systems, form the more common mobile Gun Drones to static emplacements of Drone Sentry Turrets and Remote Sensor Towers. These perimeter defence detachments can serve a variety of specific tasks in their deployment, ranging from the protection of strategic assets to providing defence-in-depth to a Tau front line. Drone units which attached to defensive attachments are customarily programmed to hold the line at all costs.

For Fire Warrior teams, Gun Drones are usually carried by their Devilfish transport (the drone's small jet engines would not be able to keep up with a fast moving Devilfish), and these drones detach themselves in combat to act as additional fire support, move ahead as forward scouts for the team, or guard a flank. Tau Commanders also will often have personal drones to carry extra shields, sensors or communications equipment. No matter the situations though, Drones attached to Tau masters are programmed to always protect their controllers, including, if necessary, getting in the way of incoming enemy fire or close combat opponents. Indeed, the Shield Drone is designed exactly for such a purpose and nothing else.

All Tau Drones are controlled by a Tau Drone-Controller, which acts as a hub of communications between the operator and up to two drones that accompany the user. Drone-Controllers are often built into Tau Battlesuits as a Support System, but may also be used as hard-wired wargear for other Fire Warriors.

Known Drones

 * Gun Drone - Gun Drones are one of the most common types of Tau Drones found in the Fire Caste. Wielding twin-linked Pulse Carbines, they act as support to Fire Warrior teams, and can pin enemy troops in place whilst the main body of a Tau army attacks
 * Shield Drone - Shield Drones are designed purely to protect important Tau individuals, such as Tau Commanders and Ethereals. Shield Drones are armed with a advanced Shield Generator, allowing them to block and deflect even the heaviest of enemy firepower that is directed at their master.
 * Marker Light Drone - Marker Light Drones carry Networked Marker Lights, and will often be attached to Tau squads so that they may benefit from the effects of the Drone’s Marker Light in order to target the enemy more efficiently.
 * DX-4 Technical Drone - DX-4 Technical Drones to provide maintenance and support to Tau vehicles and structures. DX-4 Drones are also capable of carrying a variety of systems to aid a Fire Warrior squad in battle.
 * Sniper Drone - Sniper Drones are equipped with advanced stealth-field generators and devastating Rail Rifles, so that they may provide pin-point anti-personnel firepower.
 * Command-Link Drone - The Command-Link Drone is a unique Tau Drone utilised by Commander Shadowsun. It allows for better networking, through advanced communications, from Shadowsun to those under her command so that she may better direct a battle
 * Aerial Drone Mine - Aerial Drone Mines are an airspace denial weapon. They are usually deployed by Tau aircraft in a contested airspace, where these Drone-controlled mines can engage any enemy aircraft that enters their vicinity.

Notable Uses of Drone Intelligences

 * Drone Sentry Turret - A Drone Sentry Turret is an automated and stationary weapon system that is controlled by a Drone intelligence. Drone Sentry Turrets can be armed with an array of weapons depending on what is needed of them, and will often be air-dropped into a position that the Tau need to defend.
 * Remote Sensor Tower - A Remote Sensor Tower is a static, Drone-controlled information relay station, which is capable of scanning the surrounding area and relaying data on enemy movements to other Tau units in the vicinity. A Remote Sensor Tower is also able to use its own Marker Light to call in Seeker Missile Strikes on enemy targets
 * Area Denial Node - An Area Denial Node is a form of static, Drone intelligence-controlled, heavy-weapon placement which is employed by the Tau to defend vital strategic installations. Area Denial Nodes are able to provide massive screens of anti-armour and anti-personnel fire with their twin-linked Railguns which only the most determined of enemies will survive.
 * Smart Missile - A Smart Missile System is able to fire self-guided Missiles which contain Drone intelligences. This is so that the Missiles are able to search for and hunt their own targets; navigating and bypassing any intervening terrain that would’ve blocked standard munitions.
 * Vehicle Systems - Many Tau vehicles systems are Drone-controlled, such as the many Tau vehicle support systems which aid the pilot and gunner in battle. Drone-controlled Burst Cannons are also commonly mounted on Tau vehicles and aircraft, giving the vehicle/aircraft more potential firepower whilst not needing any extra crew.
 * Heavy Railgun - Heavy Railguns are able to fire Drone-controlled submunition shells. The in-built Drone intelligence is capable of direct the shell with great accuracy towards its target. This is especially useful in void combat, where the shell is then able to strike weak points in the armour of enemy starships; as submunition rounds lack the necessary penetrating power to punch through normal starship-grade armour.