Vespid

Please note that Vespid are not really this good looking from a mammalian perspective - indeed, like all arthropods, they do not have mammary glands (breasts). Not that this would stop anyone...

Vespid 101. Not as charming as they look.

THIS PAGE IS COVERED IN BEES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But in all seriousness, the Vespid (Vesparum mors) are an insectoid alien race allied to the Tau Empire. The reason for the above comment about bees covering this page is mostly due to the fact they resemble bipedal, semihumanoid bees (although they much more closely resemble wasps, which they are named after). They do not, however, have yellow or black stripes and are not known to make anything equivalent to space-honey. In-game, their stinger is inexplicably not venomous. Due to Games Workshop's usual incompetent understanding of basic evolution, they have different eyes for seeing in different spectra based on whether or not the light would be absorbed by Earth's atmosphere; look up the mantis shrimp for a good example of how a real arthropod evolves multispectral vision in an alien environment.

Overview

The Vespid, or space bumblebees, as said, are allied with the Tau Empire. The reason why the Tau sought out such an unusual race is mostly due to the fact that the Vespid are one of the relatively few sapient species in the galaxy capable of flight, as well as their crystal-based technology and the fact that their native society greatly resembles the "Greater Good". Vespid sergeants wear communion helms to communicate with their Tau superiors, which are basically just radio headsets paired with translators and a chemical sensor/suite, allowing the wearer to speak and listen in the Vespid's native olfactory language to a Tau speaking and listening in the Tau's native vocal language.

The initial violence with which they greeted the Tau and the ease with which peace was established once the helm was invented and given to all their major leaders to wear has led to ominous implications that it might do more to the Vespid than just translate for them. But, as with all ambiguously grimdark things the Tau do, the truth will probably never be known. The new Vespid Killteam rule's has some unusual implications with regard to 'mind control' or not. Mechanically the Vespid are unusually ,for lack of a better word,'animalistic', only able to shoot and charge nearby enemies and unable to do objectives unless told to by off map T'au liaison. Which might suggest mind control or even that vespid are naturally not that intelligent or just naturally exist in "murder mode".

The Vespid are from a purple-colored gas giant with the same name as their species, Vespid. On the upper cloud layers of the planet, the Vespid made homes on floating islands of rock and built hives made of the islands themselves and the crystals they found.

Vespids are shown to have an understanding of companionship and friendship, even if the mind control implications are true. This comes from Liber Xenologis where the Kroot mercenary Dahyak Grekh relays a story to the rogue trader in which a Vespid saved his life at the cost of his own. Manly fucking tears are required: anything less is Heresy.

Equipment & Technology

The Vespids' technology is based around exotic crystals which are only found on the bottom of the floating islands of their homeworld, which they manipulate with the ultrasonic sounds manipulated from their wings.

The Neutron Blaster which the Vespid Stingwings carry, is a unique blending of Tau technology and the unstable radioactive crystals that the Vespid mine. The energy harnessed from the crystal allows the weapon to strip atoms off of the target. Due to the Vespid's wings creating different harmonic resonances within the crystal, they are the only creatures able to effectively wield the Neutron Blaster. That is not all they utilize, however, as the new Kill-Team set for the Vespid displays some more esoteric gear such as a railgun and grenade launcher that also meshes these crystals with Tau tech.

In terms of their own technology, the closest thing that has so far been recognized is their own wings. It is unclear yet just how their wings are used, whether they are flexible enough to oscillate fast enough or are capable of ejecting fluid or plasma to produce lift, is yet to be ascertained. In either eventuality they are capable of flight and are often deployed onto the battle field from the air, enabling them to join the battle in the most suitable location.

External Links

• A little tease showing the terrifying buzzing noises of the Vespid
• The Vespid making their glorious return in this Kill Team cinematic