Vespid (Warhammer 40,000)

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. The neutron blasters themselves cannot be used by the Tau or other aliens due to the unstable radiation qualities of the weapons, the Vespids themselves protected because of their wings which control the emanated radiation.

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 evidence of this claim 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."

Other information
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. In a recent patch however this was scrapped, the Vespids instead having a similar ability where they would use sound harmonics to destabilize structures. The destabilization would allow all forces to deal double damage to it briefly. In addition they could release a huge sonic pulse, knocking back all infantry enemies.