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==Overview==
Regardless of specific rank, all Tau Commanders are consummate warriors and tacticians who have worked hard to achieve their status. The [[Tau'va]] offers no shortcuts to promotion to such a rank, performance and skill are the only methods of success, and all have risen from the lowly rank of [[Shas'la]] and completed multiple [[Trial By Fire|Trials By Fire]]. Depending on the situation, a Commander may be called upon to lead anything from a [[Cadre]] to [[Coalition]].{{Fn|15b}}
There are vast differences in the approach and philosophy between Tau Commanders. Some prefer to lead from the front to push their own Battlesuits to the fullest in an [[XV85 Enforcer Battlesuot|XV85 Enforcer]], while others may prefer to dominate the skies in an agile [[XV86 Coldstar Battlesuit|XV86 Coldstar]]. Commanders from [[Vior'la]], [[Tash'var]], and [[Kel'shan]] are particular noted for their personal skills, and are often accompanied into the thick of battle by a bodyguard guard of [[Crisis Battlesuit]]s. Those from [[Elsy'eir]] and [[T'olku]] are usually more cerebral, ordering their troops from behind the front and only entering the fray upon great need. Despite their skill, there are still times when the hubris of a Tau Commander can get the better of them, and in such situations the [[Ethereal Council]] will rein them in. If a Commander erred in an especially shameful way, an [[Ethereal]] may order a [[Malk'la]] take place.{{Fn|15b}}
===Shas'el===
'''Shas'el''' is the second highest rank which a [[Tau]] [[Fire Warrior]] can attain. A Shas'el usually only gains the rank after years of training and battle experience. A Shas'el will usually command smaller engagements of small Cadres leaving full Cadre and multi-Cadre actions to a full [[Shas'o]].
===Shas'O===
:'''''Shas'o''' redirects here. For the anthology, see [[Shas'o (Anthology)]].''
A '''Shas'O''' is the highest rank in the [[Tau]] army which a [[Fire Warrior]] can attain. Becoming a Shas'O means going through several [[Trial By Fire|Trials By Fire]] and progressing up the ranks from [[Shas'la]] to [[Shas'ui]] to [[Shas'vre]], then becoming a member of another commander's [[XV8 Crisis Bodyguard Team|bodyguard]], to [[Shas'el]] and then finally to Shas'o. After becoming a Shas'O, the only remaining option is to either teach at an academy, become a military advisor to the Shas'ar'tol or join in politics and be on one of the many councils in the [[Tau Empire]]. Besides death, this is the only way a member of the [[Fire Caste]] can leave the Tau military.
Some Shas'O wear armour with inverted colour schemes. For instance, [[O'Shaserra]] and [[O'Kais]] both wore white armour with sept markings picked out in yellow, the reverse of the regular [[T'au]] Sept's colour scheme. [[O'Shovah]] is another example of this. Whether this is the norm for Shas'o is unknown.
===Equipment===