Warhammer 40K: Commander Shadowsun – O’Shaserra
Come Loremasters and learn of the T’au Empire’s Supreme Military Commander – Shadowsun.
O’Shaserra, also known as Commander Shadowsun, is the current Tau Empire supreme commander.
Early History
She was selected to replace the former commander, Commander Farsight, and was one of the top students of Commander Puretide, displaying her skill during the Damocles Crusade and battles against Orks in the K’resh Expansion during the Great War of Confederation. It is on the K’resh that O’Shaserra acquired her nickname – Shadowsun – as she used an eclipse to ambush and destroy a vast Ork horde. Shadowsun seems to be a more steadfast leader, more suited to the job of overseeing the Third Sphere of Expansion. It was Aun’Va who selected Shadowsun, in hopes of replicating the strategic brilliance of Puretide. Aun’va recognized that disciples of the aging Puretide were indispensable, and Shadowsun was among those students put into cryogenic stasis for future expansion campaigns that would occur beyond the natural lifespan of the Tau. Shadowsun was unfrozen during the Great War of Confederation, and was instrumental in the Tau victory over the Orks.
Betrayal by Farsight
When she learned of the betrayal of Commander Farsight, she went into the training dome of the Mont’yr, destroyed there the last statue of the Farsight with the twin Fusion Blasters of her XV22 Stealth Battlesuit and sweared to spread the Greater Good with pride and honour. Shadowsun became known as the master of the Kauyon tactics. She also led several raids against a Tyranid splinter fleet and managed to do so much damage to the hive ships that the Tau fleet was able to fully engage the Tyranid fleet, without losing any ships.
3rd Sphere Expansion
Under her leadership, the Tau Empire has again grown with the Third Sphere of Expansion, formed five colonies in a halo around the original Sept worlds, including in the Damocles Gulf, Perdus Rift and much further afield. This success was due in part to the Imperium being distracted elsewhere and the Tyranids and Orks being temporarily contained. Shadowsun went on to score a decisive victory over the Imperium in the Battle for Mu’gulath Bay, one of the greatest Tau victories over the Imperium.
Against the Imperium
The Imperium Strikes Back
However it was at Mu’gulath Bay that Shadowsun encountered Kor’sarro Khan of the White Scars, who inflicted horrendous casualties upon her command staff and drove the normally calm Tau Commander into a fury. In her rage and overconfidence, Shadowsun led an offensive that resulted in a stinging Tau defeat. Having barely escaped the Imperial ambush with her life, which was only thanks to the brave sacrifice of her personal retinue, Shadowsun swore to redouble her efforts in the Third Sphere of Expansion.
This led to her initiating the Prefectia Campaign. Though succesful at Prefectia, Shadowsun was surprised when the Imperium used the war as a distraction to strike at Mu’gulath Bay once more. During the second battle for the world, Shadowsun led an effective resistance but could not stop the destruction of Mu’gulath Bay or the death of Aun’va at the hands of the Officio Assassinorum. Shadowsun herself only survived the destruction of Mu’gulath Bay due to her earlier wounding at the hands of a Callidus Assassin, which forced her to recover aboard a Tau starship. Free from the restraint of Aun’va and grateful to O’Shovah for aid during the battle, Shadowsun secretly leaked information to her former ally that the Ethereal Council had ordered her to capture him.
5th Sphere Expansion
Later, Shadowsun was taken out of cryo-stasis to command the newly christened Fifth Sphere of Expansion on the other side of the Startide Nexus. During the fighting, Shadowsun expressed frustration with Fourth Sphere Tau led by Surestrike, which displayed excessive brutality and xenophobia. Shadowsun, with the cooperation of the Ethereal Council, eventually disciplined the Fourth Sphere commanders. Shortly after she engaged in overseeing the defense of the Startide Nexus against Death Guard forces. After the mysterious conclusion of the battle, Shadowsun directed Fifth Sphere campagins at the Chalnath Expanse and Astorgius. She is currently organizing a defense of the Fifth Sphere against a massive Ork horde threatening the Chalnath Expanse and the Nem’yar Atoll.
Personal Wargear
Commander Shadowsun wears an XV22 Stealth Battlesuit into battle incorporating both a stealth generator and a jump pack. She is accompanied by a Command-link Droneand two MV52 Shield Drones and is armed with dual Fusion Blasters which enable her to take on enemy heavy armour, she also carries a Bonding Knife.
Learn More of the T’au Empire
Lexicanum
