The Tau Empire's archival documents, routed through the Eastern Fringe, were being submitted layer by layer.
Unlike the Imperium's artificial wetware used to process documents, the Tau Empire employed artificial intelligence, making its processing remarkably efficient. Every top-secret document was centrally processed by the core AI system at an efficiency beyond quantum bits. Once the central data system had converged its intelligence, the documents were submitted for review.
The Ethereals of the Supreme Council, drawn from the various Sept Worlds, were closely monitoring developments across the different regions. Among them, Commander Shadowsun, a primary commander in the campaigns, had played an immensely important role during the middle and late stages of the Second Sphere Expansion. During that war, the Tau Empire had expanded outward from T'au, claiming more than a hundred star systems and accepting over a dozen new races.
As the Second Sphere Expansion neared its end, they had already made contact with small forces of the Burning Beast Orks of Chalnath. Though it had been difficult, they had ultimately won. In the early stages of their war against humanity in Damocles Gulf, things had likewise begun easily before ending in victory. The facts proved that the Tau Empire was the race chosen by the universe.
Although every diplomatic strategy they had employed against humanity had ended in failure, the war in Damocles Gulf had brought their confidence to its peak.
The successful development of the Horizon Curvature Engine, in particular, allowed them to reinforce battlefields at far greater speed.
As they reviewed this war—
Document after document was delivered before the Ethereals.
Most recorded events worthy of pride.
They affirmed the greatness of the Tau Empire.
Yet two reports forced them to take matters seriously.
Top-secret crisis! Eastern Fringe Ethereal Amon'no captured. Enemy: humans.
``` Top-secret