The Doomed Parley at Shadrack Valley

Inquisitor Yossarian arrives for a meeting with Tau Commander codename 'Coldwind', arranged through servo-skull to vid-drone contact. This will be his first mission on Doric-ar1 in conjunction with the Deathwatch. He had hoped to simply divert the opposing army away from the secrets locked in the planet's core, perhaps securing some useful tech or information in the process. However, Watch Master Turenn would not so easily allow even the most trusted Inquisitor to treat with the enemy in such a craven way.

This is a grim, dark world after all.

Battle WILL be joined.

Here Yossarian arrives at the predetermined meeting place. Upon arrival, however, the Inquisitor's too-obvious double cross proves to be an inverse double-double cross. Within moments, the ambassador and his retinue dissolve to reveal a handful of holo-projector drones. After absolutely blasting the drones into their constituent circuitry and housings, the Inquisitor calmly shuffles behind his line of henchmen in the most brave and dignified way possible. The tenuous peace has broken.

Luckily, an encamped combat squad of Red Hunters has his back.

The reverse double-triple cross trap is sprung. Furor Kill-Team Dysmas teleports in front of the Fire Warrior Team, instantly destroying it with frag shots and special issue bolter rounds.

Dreadnought Bezios makes a long charge through spraying energy shots to get in close with one of the aliens' monstrous battlesuits.

And he proceeds to make quick work of it. The next turn he would make another long one to eliminate the xenos' leader.

By the end of turn 5 the Tau ambassador team, under-strength to begin with, is reduced to harassing seemingly random targets with air to surface fire. They seemed especially intent on eliminating Yossarian's favorite jokaero.

Yossarian makes good his escape, leaving Watch Master Turenn to scour the valley. The research on the underground bunker can continue. Though the delving and hauling schedule may need to be sped up. Between the xenos and traitors, this planet is getting very crowded. The archeotech team will need to find what they are looking for soon.