The excitement of the Tau Empire's Second Fleet was beyond words.
The Ethereal, who had been stationed deep in the rear of the Eastern Fringe, had actually come to their battlefield to cheer them on.
The Fire Warriors who received the news were further swept up by their fervent faith.
Their intense emotions even made them want to immediately devote themselves to the Greater Good.
Fi'rios.
He was unlike those young Fire Caste warriors.
Though he was also somewhat excited, he was not so carried away.
He was a senior commander among the Fire Caste, had received commendation from the Ethereal Council, and had been granted the authority "staff." As a commander—or a commander-in-training (Shas'el)—he was of the same rank as the ground commander, Mo'ta Rui. However, in wartime, his authority surpassed Mo'ta Rui's. Above him was the supreme commander, also known as the full commander. Noah was the full commander of the Eastern Fringe (Shas'o).
A Fire Warrior had only two ways to leave the Fire Caste warrior corps in their lifetime.
One was for their entire family to die and for them to perish in battle.
The other was to become a full commander.
Only after becoming a full commander could one cross the threshold into the Ethereal Caste, becoming a military adviser or entering one of the Tau Empire's many councils as a council member.
The one who had arrived now—
was no ordinary council member, but one of the High Council of the Ethereal Caste, second only to the Great Teacher, Father of All, and Supreme Ethereal Aun'va.
He was the highest administrative authority in the entire Eastern Fringe, as well as the Supreme Ethereal standing at the very pinnacle of power there.
Every word and deed of his was justice.
Every movement he made was