Alright, Kill Team fans, let’s dive into the latest buzz (pun intended) about the Vespid Stingwings, the T’au Empire’s insectoid warriors that are finally stepping into the spotlight. These guys have been lurking in the background since 2006, but in Kill Team: Hivestorm, they’re front and center, ready to show the galaxy what they’re made of.
The Vespid Stingwings: A Brief History
The Vespid Stingwings first appeared in the 4th edition Codex: T’au Empire, way back in 2006. They were only the second client race to join the T’au on the tabletop, right after the Kroot. These guys were designed as fast-moving, lightly armored shock troops wielding deadly neutron blasters. But what made them really stand out was their reliance on a Strain Leader’s communion helm. This helm allowed them to communicate with their T’au allies, translating their unique language—think wing vibrations, pheromones, and maybe even some telepathy—into something the T’au could understand.
The T’au-Vespid Connection
When the T’au first arrived on the Vespid homeworld, they had a tough time communicating with these bug-like aliens. The Vespid were naturally aggressive, and the Water caste envoys couldn’t get through to them. But once the Earth caste whipped up those communion helms, things started to change. The Strain Leaders could finally communicate, and soon enough, the Vespid were fighting alongside the T’au, proving themselves with their speed and self-reliance on the battlefield.
However, there was always this lingering question among the Fire caste commanders: What can the Stingwings do that Crisis Battlesuit teams can’t? It wasn’t until T’au strategists started getting creative that they realized the potential of these natural-born warriors.
A New Age for the Vespid
As the T’au began to experiment, they found that with the right support—like a Fire caste advisor linked to the Strain Leader—the Vespid could handle much more complex missions. The introduction of the MV44 Oversight Drone was a game-changer, allowing Stingwing kill teams to operate independently for weeks. And thanks to their ability to digest almost any organic matter, these guys are basically built for long-term operations behind enemy lines.
Advancements in Neutron Technology
The Vespid haven’t just been improving their teamwork; their gear’s had a serious upgrade too. New advancements in neutron crystal technology have given rise to some truly lethal weapons. We’re talking about grenades that emit bursts of deadly radiation, cooking enemies from the inside out. And since the Vespid are immune to this radiation, they’re the perfect troops to wield these terrifying tools of war.
These upgrades are so significant that the Fire caste has even started equipping Vespid squads with the T’au flamer, a weapon that was previously reserved only for the vaunted battlesuit teams. The new Swarmguards have already made a name for themselves, using these flamers to great effect against hordes of enemies.
On the Battlefield of Volkus
Right now, the Vespid Stingwings are being deployed in critical operations on Volkus, a world that’s basically a fortress of air defenses. Their speed and resilience make them ideal for infiltrating these defenses, and their warlike ways will be put to the test against the Tempestus Aquilons. But the Fire caste has full confidence in their bug buddies—these battle-hardened auxiliaries are expected to win the day.
What’s Next?
We’re just scratching the surface here. Later this week, we’ll get a closer look at how the Vespid work on the tabletop in Kill Team: Hivestorm. So stay tuned, and if you haven’t already, subscribe to the newsletter to make sure you’re up to date on all the latest intel. The Vespid Stingwings are about to show the galaxy what they’re really capable of!
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