The game is a first-person shooter, where the player takes the role of a Tau Fire Warrior named Shas'la Kais, seeking to rescue his leader and defend his race from the aggressive Imperium of Man and forces of Chaos.

As the Orca dropship begins docking with the Tau Emissary class cruiser, it is attacked by an Imperial Battleship, and boarding pods are launched.

Kais then fights a desperate battle against a force of Storm Troopers as they try to disable the cruiser's engines, and assassinate the Captain.

After Kais fails to rescue the Captain, he and several teams of Fire-Warriors are launched, by boarding pod at the Imperial ship.

The game ends with Ardias ordering that the planet should be destroyed to prevent the taint of Chaos from spreading.