(Bonus chapter 1/10, with thanks to Old Fart Li Furiously Screws Nurglings for the donation.)
A T'au Shuttle glided down from space, flew into the grounds of a villa in the Spire, and landed on its sprawling lawn.
A squad of T'au infantry rushed out of the Shuttle and into the villa, stopping before its owner.
"Researcher, sir, by order of Flameburst Commander, you have been designated an elite. Board the Shuttle and come with us immediately. This is the final round of Shuttles!"
The T'au researcher was with his wife, his parents, and his young daughter.
His brow furrowed when he heard the soldiers.
"How is this the final round already? Wasn't the evacuation supposed to last twenty-four hours?"
The squad officer said urgently:
"Our telescopes detected a sudden, massive increase in the human super-battleship's speed. It was originally due to reach Sweet Star in two days, but now it'll arrive in one.
Flameburst Commander has ordered all evacuations to cease after this final round. The warships will fire up their engines and withdraw immediately!"
The researcher had been about to pick up his daughter, say goodbye to his wife and parents, and leave with the squad.
He was the only one in his family designated an elite. He could take his daughter aboard a warship and escape, but his wife and parents would remain on the planet to await death.
But when he heard that the human super-battleship's speed had surged again, he simply sat down on the sofa, wrapped an arm around his wife's waist, and refused to budge.
"Go back. I'm not leaving."
The squad officer froze.
"Researcher, what do you mean?"
The T'au researcher explained to the squad officer:
"At the human warship's previous speed, our three warships could have scattered, heading toward Mandeville Points