Saul's arrival was like a dose of potent catalyst, instantly transforming an Expeditionary Force bloated and inefficient from factional divisions and mutual suspicion into a war machine running at full speed.
His very first order revealed to everyone a philosophy of warfare utterly unlike that of traditional Imperial commanders-one that could only be called "heretical."
"Blockade."
At the supreme command conference, Saul pointed to the human worlds along the edge of the Damocles Gulf that the T'au Empire had infiltrated, establishing trading posts and diplomatic outposts, and issued his orders.
"Gareth, I need you to mobilize every intelligence analyst and encryption specialist in the Chapter. Before the Expeditionary Force arrives, I want these planets completely cut off from all outside communications. I don't care how you do it, whether you fabricate reports of solar storms or hack directly into their communications relays. For the coming standard week, I need each of these planets to become an island of information. I want the T'au Empire blind and deaf."
"As you command." Gareth bowed as he accepted the order, excitement gleaming in his eyes. This kind of precision intelligence warfare was exactly where he excelled.
"Klaest," Saul said, turning to his other adjutant, "you will lead the Lamenters' 8th and 9th Companies, along with our brothers from the Black Templars and Crimson Fists, to form the first assault group. Your mission is to seize and purge every target."
"With pleasure." Klaest grinned, his expression bloodthirsty.
The plan was executed flawlessly.
When the vast Imperial expeditionary fleet appeared on the outskirts of the Cysel system like ghosts emerging from the void, this prosperous major T'au colony world was still basking in an illusion of peace.
Cysel's Water Caste governor was leisurely sipping alien tea in his sky garden, a tribute from one of