46,538
edits
Changes
no edit summary
{{TauPortal}}
[[Image:Orca.jpg|thumb|right|Orca Dropship]]
The '''Orca Dropship''' is a dedicated orbital transport vehicle of the [[Tau Empire]]. Used for moving equipment, supplies and troops from orbiting spacecraft to a planet's surface, it is not a combat vessel, primarily armed for self-defense only. Orcas are sometimes use used to accomplish special missions on the field of battle, and includes include advanced equipment for monitoring the progress of operations.
==History==
On [[Taros]] , over two hundred Orcs were estimated to have been used by the Tau to ferry supplies and troops to and from combat zones. A number of modified variants were also used to insert [[Tau Pathfinder]]s and [[Stealthsuit Team]]s deep behind enemy lines, including [[Shas'el]] [[K'irri]] and his raiding force which severely damaged the [[Imperial Navy]] airbase.{{Fn|1a}}
Prior to the Tau invasion of [[Pavonis]], an Orca Dropship delivered envoy [[Aun'rai]] of [[Dal'yth]] along with a [[Hunter Cadre]] under the command of [[El'esaven]] for a meeting with [[Governor]] [[Koudelkar Shonai]], his aunt [[Mykola Shonai]] and [[Administratum]] Observer [[Lortuen Perjed]]. However, the meeting was broken up by the arrival of [[Space Marine Captain|Captain]] [[Uriel Ventris]] and the [[Ultramarines]], and the Orca was destroyed when grenades fired by one of the Governor's [[skitarii]] bodyguards exploded within the troop compartment.{{Fn|4}}
===Command and Control===
The Orca's [[Air Caste]] pilot sits within the armored armoured nose cone at the front of the shuttle, along with avionics processors, navigational, engine and fuel control systems. His cockpit also doubles as an escape pod, allowing him to jettison away from the craft should it be heavily damaged, and includes an automated location beacon. Information is fed to his flight control panel through the primary sensor bay, a squat dome located on top of the Orca, along with twin secure communications arrays located in the rear of the craft. These also contain an exterior air data sensor and attack warning systems.{{Fn|1}}
Located behind the nose cone is the tactical command center, controlled by two [[Fire Caste]] operators, which allows a [[Tau Commander]] or [[Ethereal]] to oversee operations from within the transport. The command center is connected to the main transport bay by access steps.{{Fn|1}}
===Transport Capacity===
The transport compartment of the Orca takes up the majority of the dropship's space and is accessible through a rear drop-down ramp. Seating is provided for twenty-four [[Fire Warrior]]s or equivalent-sized troops such as [[Kroot]], along with a separate command chair and transportation rack for eight [[Drone]]s. Additional standing room allows for another twenty-four Fire Warriors or Gun Drones, or up to six [[Crisis Battlesuit]]s or three [[Broadside Battlesuit]]s secured to an automated transportation rail. Other alternative loads include six [[Drone#Heavy Gun Drone|Heavy Gun Drones]], four [[Drone Sentry Turret]]s, two [[Tetra]]s, six [[Krootox]] or a dozen [[Kroot Hound]]s.{{Fn|1}}
==Ordo Xenos Classification==
==Sources==
*{{Endn|1}}: [[Imperial Armour Volume Three - The Taros Campaign]], Pgpgs. 202-207*{{Endn|2}}: [[Imperial Armour - Apocalypse]], Pgpg. 77*{{Endn|3}}: [[Imperial Armour - Apocalypse Second Edition]], Pgpg. 77
*{{Endn|4}}: [[Courage and Honour (Novel)]] by [[Graham McNeill]], Chapter Nine
{{TauForces}}