THE NEW XV-22

Putting the XV-22 (now XV-2) battlesuit into full production led to radical changes in the way the Tau wage war. The venerable XV-15 stealth battlesuit design was phased out completely, along with the newer but still flawed XV-25. XV-8 "Crisis" battlesuits became a much rarer sight in the battlefield due to the XV-2's increased maneuverability and similar payload on a smaller, stealth-capable frame. As a whole, the XV-2 opened way to many new groundbreaking tactics and made the Fire Caste a much more subtle yet devastating force against the enemies of the Greater Good.

The XV-2, however, was not without its flaws. By using weapons designed for the more massive XV-8, the XV-2 had alarmingly frequent balance problems even when fitted with improved grav systems and leg structure. The helmet/cowling assembly was also troublesome and unwieldy, prone to locking up and requiring external help to remove. In their constant search for improvement, the Earth Caste issued an order to the Sa'cea Fio Labs. The Labs, led by the legendary Fio'O Zyde, soon put forth a new battlesuit prototype which fixed the XV-2's problems and added new features to the design.

Using a modified XV-2 chassis, the new XV-22 is 10% smaller and lighter, but manages to keep the same armour protection as its predecessor by using an improved high-density crystallic lattice in its armour plating. Two miniature Sho'aun'or'es in the jetpack feature new high-power energy couplings that provide energy directly to the suit's weapons, eliminating the need for the large and dangerous capacitors Plasma and Fusion weaponry usually require. The new universal power linkages, combined with a revolutionary micro-cooling system mounted in suit's the arms allow for weapons to be heavily miniaturized and internalized without losing their modular aspect.

Another interesting technology showcased in the XV-22 is the Active Camouflage System. Consisting of a thin layer of color-changing polymer underneath a transparent plastic layer coating most of the suit's armour, the ACS provides the battlesuit with real-time camo capabilities and allow it to change color and pattern as needed or desired. Combined with the suit's integral Stealth Field Generator, the Active Camouflage System allows XV-22s to go undetected even in plain sight of the enemy.

The XV-22 is already undergoing field testing.in a few select cadres. While an extremely new design for which replacement parts are still relatively hard to acquire, the XV-22 is proving to be a very popular design with commanders of Mont'ka-aligned Cadres. The future seems bright to this daring new battlesuit design.

More reports next cycle, in the Future of Tau Warfare.

Tau'va!

~Por'vre Bork'an M'ka'loak


_{Art (c) ~OmegaTwo
Tau, XV-22 and related material (c) Games Workshop}