Cao Quo
Cao Quo is a former Sept World of the Tau Empire.[1]
| Map | Tau Sept Data | Planetary Image | ||
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Name | Cao Quo | 
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| Expansion: | Fifth | |||
| Location: | Eastern Fringe |
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| Markings: | Unknown | |||
| Armour Colours: | Unknown | |||
The former Imperial world was claimed by the T'au Empire's Fifth Sphere of Expansion, but an insurrection against the Xenos later erupted on Cao Quo. It was led by the Raptors Sergeant Artamax and rose to threaten the T'au's grip on the world. This led the Ethereal Aun'Yor'i to organise an Elemental Council to defeat the uprising and bring stability to Cao Quo. However even more enemies would emerge during their war, which endangered both Artamax and the Elemental Council's efforts to claim the world.[1]
History
Cao Quo and its moon Thapes Quo was originally a Human planet of the Imperium, but the disgruntled Human population was exploited by the Water Caste into rising up against their Imperial rulers. In the War of Day and Night, the Tau invaded as Human allies rose up and the planet was swiftly conquered and assimilated into the Tau Empire.[2a] Imperial Admiral Hillae surrendered the planet in exchange for some local amnesty, but this was soon revealed to be a lie and the Tau began to act just as tyrannical as the Imperium had been.[2b] Soon enough, the Raptors Space Marines had deployed a squad to the world under Sergeant Artamax, which fostered the Human population to rebel against the Tau.[2e] Artamax's forces also provoked Tau Inter-caste disharmony through his agent in the Syra group.[2c]
As the Tau war effort begins to fall apart, the Ethereal Aun'ui Yor'i reveals at Thapes Quo forward operating base that to rescue the missing Ethereal Aun'ui Kir'qath, an Elemental Council would be formed with Ke, Swordlight, Orr, Sei, and the Human Gue'vesa agent Jules Rare.[2c]
During their mission, they learn from Commander Nobledawn that the missing Ethereal is likely at an abandoned Imperial factory district in Dai-Quo Magnus and offers assistance, Yor'i declines, and serious animosity is observed between the two.[2d] It is soon revealed that the Elemental Council is facing the Syra, a seditious Tau movement that the missing Ethereal was investigating, and they come into battle with their own kind at Dai-Quo Magnus.[2e] Breaching the vault inside, they discover Aun'Kir'qath just as Human rebels led by a Raptor Space Marine attack the complex. As fighting breaks out and Swordlight comes into battle with Raptors Sergeant Artamax, Jules is revealed as a spy and that he came to kill Yor'i. After being fatally injured helping the Ethereal escape, Jules tells Kir'qath to live and trust no one.[2e]
The battle ends when Nobledawn arrives with reinforcements and informs the group that Artamax and his squad have disappeared. Yor'i declares that Artamax captured Kir'qath, much to the suspicion of the rest of the group. Yor'i again rejects the idea of Nobledawn using her forces to rescue Kir'qath, stating instead that she is to focus on combating the Human insurgency.[2e]
As the Council continues to search for clues as to Kir'qath's whereabouts with the aid of both the Human Red Society pro-Tau crime syndicate and Kroot mercenaries under Ghodh, they come into continual conflict with Aratamax and his rebels, who are stoking not just Human discontent on Cao Quo but also Inter-Caste harmony amongst the Tau. It is revealed that Kir'qath had uncovered a conspiracy that the Syra are receiving support from elements in the highest levels of Tau command.[2f] In a subsequent battle, Kir'qath is discovered alive at the floating "sky fortress" Tau base and Artamax willingly allows himself to be captured and put into stasis for later interrogation, but this is a ruse to allow him into the Tau aerial forward operating base, which is soon attacked by Imperial forces which use Valkyries as Fireships.[2g]
Artamax is able to escape in the ensuing chaos, and he and his rebels manage to link up and cause havoc throughout the floating base, which begins to crash towards Dai-Quo Magnus. Orr, seeking to come to the aid of Kir'qath, finally discovers who is behind the conspiracy as he is struck down.[2g] Kir'qath and the rest of the council become highly suspicious of Yor'i, who is revealed to be the traitor undermining the Greater Good on Cao Quo and the source of the Syra. However thanks to the efforts of Ghodh, Yor'i is revealed to have in fact been a Callidus Assassin imposter working with Artamax.[2h] Artamax plans to use the Assassin posing as an Ethereal to instigate not only Tau atrocities against the Human population of Cao Quo, but also to poison the greater Empire. Realizing the scale of his plans, Swordlight and Ke become determined to put a stop to Artamax. Ke is able to interfere with Artamax's Power Armour interface while Swordlight slashes his throat.[2i]
After dealing with Artamax, Ghodh, Swordlight, and Ke battle the Imperial assassin and manage to wound it.[2j] The base crashes into Dai-Quo, killing Kir'qath, but the Assassin miraculously survives. Ghodh finds the wounded Human and possibly consumes her.[2k] Meanwhile, Sei gives his life to stop a bombing run on Dai-Quo Magnus ordered by the imposter Yor'i in order to stoke insurrection amongst the Humans.[2l]
In the aftermath of the incident, it is revealed that the real Yor'i is alive, having survived the Assassins attack that saw them switch places due to the aid of local Humans. Realizing that the wounding of an Ethereal would cause great suffering for the Human population in the subsequent Tau retribution, Yor'i orders that the Empire withdraw from the world and give it independence. However, its future is still uncertain as it faces possible future Imperial or Tau invasion.[2j]
See also
Sources
- 1: Warhammer Community: Top T'au specialists battle insurrection in a new Black Library novel (Saved archive page, dated October 23, 2024, last accessed 23 October 2024, original link: https://www.warhammer-community.com/en-gb/articles/ggrqjw3e/top-tau-specialists-battle-insurrection-in-a-new-black-library-novel/)
- 2: Elemental Council (Novel)
