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A Vespid Squad

In the table-top wargame Warhammer 40,000, Vespid is a world home to an insectoid race of the same name, who are allied with the Tau Empire. They were included in the new revised Codex: Tau Empire.

The Vespid are a humanoid insectoid species from the planet Vespid, a gas giant three light years to the galactic south of the D'yanoi sept. The violet hued, storm wracked stratosphere of the world provides a shallow layer within life has managed to survive. The Vespid live on floating mountains held aloft by the lighter-than-air gases trapped within air pockets inside the rock. They possess reasonably advanced technology but no interstellar travel.

Vespid Stingwings use a 'neutron blaster' which is designed to be a Space Marine killer. The blaster uses Tau technology combined with a type of crystal that only the vespid females can venture down to the planets surface to collect, that are unique to the planet Vespid.

In Tau armies, the Vespid are organized into Stingwing Teams and are led by "Strain Leaders" who are equipped with what are described as a "communion helm". The helm is designed to facilitate communication between the Tau and the Vespid, but is described in Warhammer 40,000 Codex: Tau Empire (Hoare, 2006) as "it has been whispered that [the integration of the Vespids into the Tau Empire] is linked to the fact that all of the race's leaders wear the interface helmets given to them by the Tau, but no explanation has proved forthcoming." (page 16). However, in UK White Dwarf 312, Hoare told WD interviewer: "Kroot are essentially mercenaries, [...] whereas the relationship the Vespid have with the Tau is more of an ideological investment. So, unlike the Kroot who fight because they're paid, the Vespid fight for the Greater Good."

In the Tau language, they are called "Mal'kor". This derives from the Tau words for 'insect,' "Mal," and 'air,' "Kor."

The Vespids appear in the Dark Crusade expansion pack to Dawn of War, where they are praised by the Tau (and cursed by the Imperium of Man) as they are known for their rapid quick attacks which brings chaos into enemy lines. In the game they are known to be particularly brutal when attacking buildings, which they literally shred with their diamond hard claws, and then use the material to heal themselves should they be wounded.

• Hoare, Andy (2006). Warhammer 40,000 Codex: Tau Empire. Nottingham: Games Workshop. ISBN 1-84154-712-3. 

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