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==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'Elel]] [[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 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}}
