Editing Oestalan Sector (section)

==Minor Xenos Powers==
The term "Minor" mislead the forces of the Crusade into initialy thinking the xenos that had infested the sector were weak, and small in number. In truth, the term "Minor" instead refers to the relative threat posed by the xenos to the Imperium as a whole. Thus, each of these groups of xenos is nothing to the entire Imperium, but are all threats to the Oestalan Crusade. The issue of terminology is currently under consideration for appeal for approval by an adjucnt assistant to a senior member of the Adeptus Administratum.

===The Otroki Dominion===
Avian/Raptor Xenos from a multi-system empire somewhere in the Halo Stars. In their first ever movement beyond the Halo Stars, they have expanded opportunistically into the Oestalan Sector. Their Dominion is comprised of several minor Xenos races and even human worlds, one of which is in the Oestalan Sector. As a result of these mighty conquests, the Otraki view themselves as the largest superpower in the Galaxy, completely ignorant of the size of the Imperium and their own insignificance. Eager to slay Warmsith Sternsides and claim his technology, and ready to stare down the full might of the Crusade, the Otraki Dominion is prepared to send its slave-legions to battle.

Many worlds have already fallen to the Otaki, many of them human. This has built up the Dominions expectations, making it believe that it is the sole power in the whole of the Galaxy. In reality, it is not much larger than twice the size of the Tau Empire, and with greatly inferior tech. The advantage the Otroki have is that they can throw immense masses of soldiers and shoddy ships at their foes till they overwhelm them, and leave none alive. When they meet the crusade, it is likely they will be routed after a single battle, unless they can defeat Sternsides and take his fortress-system as their own. The defences that Tyranus has established could allow even the poorly equipped slave-legions to hold Sternsides Eyes with ease, giving them an impregnable base from which to assault the rest of the sector.

Back to work slave-meat! The Dominion needs-wants more fighting!

===Zsc-boteh===
This xenos race is a paradox, large, swift, quadrupedal and viciously brutal, sporting sharp claws and a mouth full of spiked teeth, yet they are xenophobic to a degree that even the Imperium would find excessive, and seem to instinctively fear even breathing the same air as another sentient species.

The race is known for its rows of infrared sensitive spots running along the body from head to tail, giving the Zsc-boteh 360 degree awareness of their surroundings, and the two tendrils, much like the ancient Terran anglerfish, that extend from the head and serve as psychic foci. The Zsc-boteh use these feelers as Warp-radar, sensing hostile presences even through walls in a limited radius.

Heat is known as "painlight" to these xenos, for their infrared sensors are exposed and easily damaged by infrared radiation, and they have developed many brilliant infrared laser technologies for waging war against each other. The best of these guns are a prized commodity among Rogue Traders, easily outclassing all but the most advanced meltaguns available.

Unfortunately, the Zsc-boteh are a nomadic people, never remaining on one planet for very long in case outsiders learn their location, and their warren-hives are deadly, unlit (because they use IR and Warp-sense to see, not visible light) mazes within which the monsters control the flow of battle.

Nevertheless, a small handful of examples of their weaponry have been seen in high ranking Imperial hands, and rumor has it that Rogue Trader Pavel has managed to build peaceful trade relations, though none can say how he gained these paranoid xenos' trust.

All that is known is that the Zsc-boteh's original homeworld was in the Halo Stars, and whatever they still flee and fear must surely have originated there...

===The Dance-Lights===
A cluster of eight hot, young stars ranging in size from one to two Solar masses move through the cosmos as a bound cluster. Millions of years from now, random perturbations will separate the cluster, but for now, they orbit together.

An empire of minor xenos has established itself within the cluster, for its blistering light and radiation helped to push back the Great Storm. Massive beasts forged of diaphanous currents of energy tracing itself through colossal spheroid bodies, they feed off the energy of the stars and ride currents of magnetism from star to star at tremendous speeds.

They are shockingly peaceful, for they need nothing of planets and know nothing of war, content to live in their own unique habitat, contemplating the cosmos.

Rogue Traders have made peaceful contact with them, and the nameless species, for they are of one communal mind in many bodies, has shared much information about the Oestalan Sector. These luminous beings cannot see small things like people, but they are sensitive to magnetic fields of spaceships, planets, and especially stars, and can read the motions of most of the sector's large bodies.

The Imperium has benefited from their presence, and having no particular reason to kill them, has let them be, pursuing more immediate threats. Conversation continues with the orb-creatures, and though their perspective is very non-human, they have assisted certain Mechanicus Explorators in developing a few innovative plasma containment technologies, which have been dutifully sent back to Mars under the guise of being holy relics recovered from ruins. 

Only one unfortunate accident has marred the peace, when a single overenthusiastic Magos tried to siphon one of the orb-creature's energy and bottle it for study. His destroyer-class vessel was later found drifting in the void, twisted neatly in half.The Magos, who survived the death of his ship, has reaped great rewards, left behind at his personal request by Rogue Trader Pavel. Though he has re-established peaceful accord with the xenos, he is paranoid that his secret may be found out. He considers himself the equal of Arkhan Land, and is building great renown for himself, but though his inventions may benefit the Imperium greatly, to the dogmatic Mechanicus, they are Heretek through and through. So long as none discover the lie, all will be well.