A T'au Earth Caste Builder Drone
An Earth Caste Builder Drone is a type of T'au Drone (small, disc-shaped, semi-sentient machine) employed extensively alongside T'au Earth Caste teams operating in the field. Builder Drones consist of an advanced processor unit, which individually has only a basic intelligence (approximately equal to that of a small animal such as a pterasquirrel), and moves about by way of a compact anti-gravitic generator and much modified variant of T'au Jetpack. This allows the Drone to hover over the ground and skim over most obstacles.
Earth Caste Builder Drones are designed specifically for the construction of T'au buildings and facilities. They are capable of performing this function as long as there is a readily available supply of building supplies and equipment, and can erect T'au structures relatively quickly for their size. They are equipped with three small arms for the manipulation of materials and tools, and also a specialised cutting torch. Earth Caste Builder Drones are also capable of repairing T'au vehicles in the field, but are completely defenceless due to their lack of offensive armaments.
Earth Caste Builder Drones often operate alone, although multiple Drones can network themselves together to complete a single construction task faster than would otherwise be possible. Note that due to their independent nature, Earth Caste Builder Drones cannot be controlled by T'au Fire Caste units via a Drone Controller device. However, it is likely that they can assist Earth Caste construction teams in the field.
Ordo Xenos Departmento Analyticus Technical Specifications[]
The technical specifications for this T'au unit have not been obtained or released by the Ordo Xenos.
Sources[]
- Codex: Tau Empire (4th Edition), pp. 25, 31, 35
- Imperial Armour Volume Three - The Taros Campaign, pg. 282
- Deathwatch: Mark of the Xenos (RPG), pg. 12
- Dawn of War - Dark Crusade (PC Game)