G-7-D, a world that was once a dead rock, had been completely revitalized. Yet, beneath the surface, strange details lingered. No large animals could be seen on this planet. No birds crossed the sky, and no beasts roamed the forests; only the occasional small insect crawled among the leaves.
"The large animals for our settlements are specially bred through genetic modification," Yuki explained to the Tau accompanying him on the inspection. "Furthermore, while these plants look harmless, they all possess a degree of lethality. Your colonists must be careful when they settle down."
A technical expert in Earth Caste attire nodded in response. "Our pioneer colonists have already noted the unique nature of these plants. Some species secrete corrosive liquids, while others release hallucinogenic spores at night." He added with confidence, "However, none of these are insurmountable problems. Our protective gear and purification systems are more than capable of handling them."
Yuki nodded slightly, his gaze shifting to the Water Caste diplomat standing nearby. The diplomat was reviewing colonial reports on a data slate, a satisfied expression on his face.
"Although there are still many areas on this planet that require refinement," the diplomat began, "everything is currently functioning normally. The expansion speed of the colony has exceeded our expectations. Lord Yuki, on behalf of the Ethereal Council, I wish to express our most sincere gratitude."
"And then? What lies beyond gratitude?"
The diplomat cleared his throat with slight embarrassment. "The Ethereal Council hopes to discuss the possibility of more planetary transformations with you."
Yuki flashed an inscrutable smile. "I would be happy to help, but our reserves of biological materials are severely depleted."
"This..." The diplomat calculated quickly in his mind. It was true that the amount of biomass they had handed over to Yuki was astronomical, but compared to the long-term benefits these transformed planets could bring, the deal was still highly profitable. "I will convey this requirement to the Ethereal Council," the diplomat promised, before shifting the topic. "By the way, the Ethereals wish to invite you to visit our homeworld. They desire to personally hear you describe this miraculous technology in their presence."
Yuki did not immediately respond to the invitation. Instead, he brought up something else. "Do you know what the best method to control a person has been throughout history?"
The diplomat blinked. "What is it?"
"A meeting." Yuki's vertical pupils constricted slightly. "As long as you lure the other party onto your own turf, you can easily restrict their freedom and seize the initiative."
"You mean..." The diplomat's face instantly paled.
"What if I accept the invitation only to be detained by the Ethereals?"
"The Greater Good would never allow us to commit such a treacherous act!"
"Yes, the Ethereals wouldn't 'force' me; they would only 'persuade' me. In short, until a deeper trust is established, let us maintain our current state of cooperation."
The diplomat remained silent for a moment and eventually dropped the subject. Yuki then turned to Osh, who had been following quietly.
"By the way, I heard you've been at war with the Imperium of Man recently. Is that true?" Yuki asked casually.
"This..." Osh instinctively looked at the diplomat, uncertain whether he should reveal military secrets to an alien ally.
After receiving a silent nod of approval from the diplomat, Osh explained, "Yes. The Imperium of Man has gathered a fleet of unprecedented scale and launched an offensive against our border worlds. But there is no need to worry; the Tau Empire will never yield to any oppressive power."
"How long until the flames of war spread to my location?" Yuki pressed.
"Judging by the frontline reports and the speed of the enemy advance," Osh chose his words carefully, "it could be months at the earliest, or years at the latest."
Yuki nodded thoughtfully. "How is the current war situation? Do you need any help from me?"
"It is not necessary for the moment, but if you insist on helping, we would be happy to accept."
"I see—"
Yuki appeared to be an outsider, but in reality, he knew the frontline situation inside out. He had already scattered dozens of camouflaged Tyranid scout ships along the edge of the war zone. These small bio-vessels blended perfectly into asteroid belts and nebulae, observing every detail of the battlefield.
Through the shared senses of these living probes, Yuki observed an intriguing sight. Although the Tau military was steadily retreating, every withdrawal seemed like a carefully designed trap. In a skirmish near the edge of the Kaos Rift, the Fire Caste warriors had cleverly planted explosives within the infrastructure before abandoning their positions, forcing the occupying Imperial forces to pay a heavy price.
"Interesting."
From a tactical perspective, the Tau were clearly implementing a classic "trading space for time" strategy. They abandoned peripheral colonies that were difficult to defend, concentrating their main forces in several key systems. Whenever an Imperial fleet launched an attack, the Tau were always able to retreat in an orderly fashion after inflicting certain casualties on the enemy.
More brilliantly, as the front lines stretched, the Imperium's logistical problems began to surface.
"Human supply lines have extended to a dangerous degree," Yuno said, leaning against Yuki. "Meanwhile, the Tau are fighting with their backs to their homeworlds; their supply hubs remain within a safe distance."
"Theoretically, in this situation, the scales of victory should gradually tip toward the Tau Empire... right?" He fell into contemplation. According to the Warhammer universe settings he knew, the Tau Empire could never be eliminated so easily. Those Ethereals surely had some trump cards hidden. But on the other hand, since he was now personally intervening in this universe, would the "Great Hand" of the Nottingham township enterprise still favor the Tau as it did in the original destiny?
Recalling the incredible comeback records of the Imperium of Man throughout history—it often managed to mysteriously turn the tide of battle in seemingly hopeless situations—Yuki had to admit that even if the Tau held a tactical advantage now, there was no guarantee they wouldn't be caught off guard by a human counter-offensive at a critical moment.
However, the reality before him left him puzzled. Through the images sent back by the scout ships, he saw another Imperial offensive fleet being bloodied and broken against the Tau's defensive network. Those XV battlesuits moved with mobility far exceeding human heavy armor, and the Tau's pulse weapons always seemed capable of piercing the power armor of the Space Marines.
"This defies common sense," Yuki muttered to himself. "The Imperium is bleeding on every battlefield, yet the Tau war machine seems never to stop."
Yuki tried to analyze the situation with pure rationality, but the conclusion he reached surprised even himself:
The Tau are... too strong!