Chapter 913 - 912

Several years later.

The outer reaches of the Xendu System.

The entire western expanse of space was consumed by war. The battlefield was no longer chaotic. Over the years, the conflict had developed into an increasingly ordered struggle, with both sides alternating between offense and defense.

Inside the Departmento Munitorum's command fortress.

"Khan, you must hold the cyclonic torpedo platform positions. We can't afford to keep losing them at this rate!"

Guilliman stood before the holographic strategic display. The past several years had left even more signs of exhaustion on his face.

Whenever his brothers launched boarding actions, he remained inside the command hall, never leaving his post.

There was no other choice. This battlefield could not function without its acting supreme commander.

Perhaps only when the final offensive began would Guilliman have an opportunity to personally enter the decisive battlefield.

He gazed at the holographic display. A blazing line stretched across the star map, clearly marking the front.

The human-led coalition was fighting the Necrons in the western Pariah Nexus, creating an immense battlefront that extended across hundreds of sectors.

In practice, humanity was primarily fighting a defensive war.

Using colossal megastructures as their anchors, the human armies had established one void fortification after another west of the Xendu System.

From those positions, they battled the Necron fleets that periodically launched attacks.

After all, the Silent King controlled a terrifying ancient celestial weapon. Humanity did not dare advance recklessly, lest its armies suffer a catastrophic strike.

But they could not retreat, either.

According to the strategy devised by the Savior, humanity's objective was to coordinate with the Lord of Hope's dynastic armies and attack the Xendu System from two sides.

By creating pressure across multiple fronts, they could prevent the Silent King from responding effectively to every threat.

In simple terms, the human forces would maintain a distance from which they could either attack or retreat, constantly pressuring the Xendu System while remaining prepared to launch the final offensive at any moment.

As for exactly when that offensive would begin, that depended on the Savior.

Their brother was currently leading the Ramses Dynasty steadily forward, compelling the Necron dynasties along his path to submit.

He was also continually attempting to neutralize the threat of the Celestial Orrery.

The final offensive could begin at any time.

Rumble!

Sudden flashes of fire illuminated the void.

"They launched successfully. It seems the Khan's forces stopped the Deathmarks' attack..."

Guilliman turned his head.

In the distance, flames erupted from the massive launch silos built into several floating platforms, each more than ten kilometers long.

Dozens of colossal cyclonic torpedoes streaked toward the Xendu System, leaving long trails of fire behind them.

Each torpedo was several kilometers in length, making the sight quite spectacular. Their specialized pulse warheads were capable of inflicting significant damage upon Necron units and structures.

Of course, most of these modified cyclonic torpedoes would be intercepted.

But if even one struck its intended target, the expense would be more than worthwhile.

And this was only one platform array.

Every day, thousands upon thousands of specialized cyclonic torpedoes were launched into the Xendu System at random and irregular intervals.

In short, the humans appeared to be fighting defensively, but they were actually bleeding the Xendu System with constant torpedo bombardments.

The attacks left the Silent King struggling to keep up.

That was why the xenos ruler periodically dispatched tomb fleets or raiding parties to destroy the cyclonic torpedo platform arrays and reduce the pressure upon his defenses.

From humanity's perspective, however, the platforms were expendable.

If they could defend them, they would. If the platforms were destroyed, they would simply tow in another batch and replace them.

Humanity possessed more than enough industrial capacity, and cyclonic torpedoes were hardly advanced weapons.

No matter how the exchange played out, the Silent King was the one who lost.

"Lord Guilliman, the Departmento Munitorum can guarantee a steady supply of cyclonic torpedoes for as long as necessary.

"No matter how many you need, we'll deliver them. We could keep firing for another hundred years without a problem!"

Popov from the logistics division had once thumped his chest and made that promise.

As long as the human forces could contain the Silent King's armies within the Xendu System and prevent the war from spreading into the Imperium's major industrial regions, there would be no problem maintaining the supply lines.

They could keep fighting for as long as necessary.

In fact, the Silent King had repeatedly attempted to dispatch small raiding parties over the past several years. Those forces used dimensional translocation to infiltrate industrial worlds and sabotage them from within.

It was the cheapest method available for causing widespread disruption.

Unfortunately, the raiding parties were completely overwhelmed by the forces stationed there.

Some Necron raiders had barely reached the entrance of an industrial complex before vast crowds of security troops swarmed them and pinned them to the ground.

They never even had a chance to begin their sabotage.

"We need to launch the final offensive as soon as possible. Otherwise, the situation will begin turning against us."

Guilliman reviewed the battle reports arriving from across the front, troubled by a faint but ominous premonition.

Something was changing.

The Necron Empire was rapidly becoming more united. Increasing numbers of xenos dynasties were converging on the Xendu System.

Even the Stormlord appeared to have reached an agreement with the Silent King. His armies were steadily withdrawing from the rear battlefronts and redeploying to the Xendu System.

There was no question that the Silent King was gathering his strength.

The counterattacks launched from the Xendu System were growing visibly stronger.

Once that strength crossed a certain threshold, the Necrons might break through the defensive lines humanity had constructed. The Imperium would lose its strategic window, and the flames of war would spread into its core territories.

If that happened, this total war would drag on indefinitely instead of ending swiftly as planned.

After all, there was nothing unusual about a war between galactic hegemonies lasting thousands, tens of thousands, or even millions of years.

But for humanity, such a war would demand an unimaginable sacrifice. No one knew how many generations would have to be fed into it.

Perhaps humanity would ultimately emerge victorious, only to find itself as crippled as the Necrons had been after their ancient victory.

"I hope Brother Eden can solve the problem and launch the final offensive soon..."

Guilliman's concern deepened. Three pronounced lines formed between his brows.

At the same moment, alarms began sounding one after another.

The Necrons had launched another wave of attacks.

Soon afterward came news that Rogal Dorn had been wounded.

The pressure on the front was growing.

...

The Tombstone Council Chamber.

High above the chamber hung the perpetually operating blackstone nexus, immense as a planet. Its shadow blanketed the entire region.

The sight inspired a profound sense of oppression.

A low hum filled the ancient council chamber.

One towering azure projection after another appeared.

The Phaerons had answered the summons, gathering for this crucial Triarchal Council presided over by the Silent King.

With the exception of those absolutely loyal to the Lord of Hope, nearly every remaining ruler of a Necron dynasty was present.

That included the Stormlord.

Even several Phaerons nominally aligned with the Lord of Hope, but whose loyalties had begun to waver, had secretly joined this supreme session of the Triarchal Council.

It was rare for so many Phaerons to appear together. Their collective presence suggested a growing unity among the Necrons.

The last time so many Phaerons had assembled was during the Wars of Secession. At that Triarchal Council, the Silent King had unified the dynasties and launched the War in Heaven.

As the present war continued, more and more Phaerons had recognized the magnitude of the threat.

They were willing to set aside their differences and discuss the future of their species.

Naturally, neither the Lord of Hope nor his most loyal supporters had been invited to this Triarchal Council.

The Phaerons increasingly regarded him as a threat to the Necron Empire that could no longer be ignored.

Unlike the Silent King or the Stormlord, who merely sought to rule, the Lord of Hope intended to completely reshape or dismantle the Necron Empire.

Many of the assembled rulers could never tolerate such a thing.

"This war will finally reunite the Necron Empire."

The Silent King watched one high-ranking Phaeron after another arrive, deeply satisfied by what he saw.

Since the Wars of Secession, the Necron Empire had remained unstable. Many dynasties existed beyond the authority of the Triarchal Council.

The War in Heaven had temporarily united the empire, but the weakness that followed the war, combined with the threat posed by the Aeldari, had robbed Szarekh of his opportunity to consolidate that unity.

By the time he returned from beyond the galaxy, the Necrons had become even more divided.

Beyond the Stormlord's open defiance, many other Necron dynasties had also refused the summons of the Triarchal Council.

The council controlled only slightly less than half of the dynasties within the Pariah Nexus. It had almost no authority over the remainder or the Necrons scattered throughout the galaxy.

However, after several years of negotiation and persuasion, the Silent King had finally convinced the Stormlord to cooperate and had won over a great many dynasties.

More were already on their way back to the Pariah Nexus.

They were willing to consider returning to Triarchal rule. Whether they ultimately did so would depend on the outcome of this council.

If the negotiations proceeded smoothly and the Silent King persuaded most of the Phaerons to surrender their command protocols, he would once again consolidate an immense military force.

Not only could he utterly destroy the Lord of Hope's conspiracy, but he could also break through humanity's blockade.

The course of the war would be completely reversed.

"It is time to extinguish the human Savior's ambitions, along with the Lord of Hope's foolish religious beliefs," the Silent King thought.

The humans' ceaseless torpedo attacks had enraged him.

Those specialized torpedoes were like the most irritating mosquitoes imaginable, yet he was forced to intercept every last one.

The Lord of Hope's advance from the opposite front was equally infuriating. He continued to prowl around the outer reaches of the Xendu System, watching and waiting like a predator.

The Silent King could neither lead his forces out to destroy him nor afford to leave the system undefended.

The strain of being trapped between two enemies had left him exhausted, while the Xendu System continued to bleed.

Fortunately, he now had a solution.

In a rare gesture, the Silent King descended from the Dais of Dominion and stood before the Stormlord and the assembled Phaerons.

It was a display of respect, as well as a calculated attempt to win their loyalty.

"Szarekh, I trust that you will honor the promises you made and lead us to victory in this war," the Stormlord said.

After weighing the advantages and disadvantages, Imotekh had decided to accept a ceasefire with the Silent King.

The Lord of Hope and the humans had become far more intolerable enemies.

Imotekh's hatred of those creatures of flesh had only grown after he realized that humanity had manipulated him.

The humans who had claimed to be his auxiliaries had revealed their ambitions and destroyed many of his tomb fleets.

They actually intended to challenge the Necrons for dominion over the galaxy.

What unparalleled arrogance!

As one of the conditions for the ceasefire, the Silent King would be forbidden from forcing any Necron to undergo reverse biotransference. Every Necron would have the freedom to decide whether to retain the power of living metal.

Of course, if circumstances changed in the future, Imotekh and his armies retained the right to withdraw from the alliance.

Nor would he surrender all of his command protocols.

The Silent King raised no objection.

He needed the Stormlord's reputation to persuade the other dynasties to join him.

Whether it involved experimenting with reverse biotransference or pardoning rebels, everything Szarekh did was merely another means of consolidating his authority.

The Silent King nodded slightly in response to the Stormlord.

Then he turned and silently regarded the hundreds of Phaerons before him.

They had come from the Pariah Nexus and distant regions throughout the galaxy. Each represented a powerful tomb fleet.

They were his hope of ruling the galaxy once more.

If their strength could be brought together, no enemy could withstand them.

This council was itself a decisive strategic battle.

"Ah, my noble Necron kin. What a heartening display of unity..."

As always, Hapthatra the Radiant served as the Silent King's mouthpiece and spoke on his behalf.

"The creatures of flesh are invading and defiling Necron territory, while the Lord of Hope seeks to offer our people to his hideous god once more.

"This is something no member of our race can accept. None of us can remain uninvolved. None of us will be safe."

Mesophet the Shadowed Hand followed in an icy voice.

"If the Xendu System is destroyed, the Necrons will face a counterattack from the Warp and countless species of flesh.

"We will lose this precious homeland. Creatures of flesh and daemons will steal our wealth, and that is without even mentioning the insatiable Great Devourer beyond the galaxy.

"We must unite and annihilate the god-fawning wretches led by the Lord of Hope as quickly as possible!"

"Hmph. We cannot permit creatures of flesh to defile this sacred land. Their presence is an insult to the Necrons," the Stormlord said.

Imotekh made no attempt to conceal his disgust for humanity. As far as he was concerned, humans belonged at the same table as the foul-smelling greenskins.

In fact, many high-ranking Necrons had already begun to view humanity as no different from the other species of flesh.

The Imperium was conquering those species, clearly positioning itself to become the galaxy's next dominant power.

Humanity had to be suppressed.

Preferably, it had to be exterminated.

Throughout the Tombstone Council Chamber, the Phaerons voiced their opinions and gradually reached a consensus.

Some minor disagreements remained, particularly concerning whether they should restore their souls and flesh, and how such a restoration should be performed.

But they were largely united.

They were willing to accept the unified command of the Triarchal Council and resolve the crisis currently facing the Necrons.

This was exactly the result the Silent King wanted.

The next step was to receive their command protocols and assume authority over their tomb fleets.

Only an immense, centrally commanded network of tomb fleets could unleash the Necrons' true and terrifying strength.

"This will be yet another great victory for Szarekh. As always, there can be no other outcome. I was born to triumph..."

The Silent King was filled with exhilaration, his gaze radiating boundless authority.

His absolute confidence spread throughout the chamber.

Wherever his baleful green gaze passed, the Phaerons bowed their heads in acknowledgment.

The Silent King signaled Hapthatra the Radiant to formally request the submission of their command protocols.

Before Hapthatra could speak, a violent hum shook the chamber.

The Tombstone Council Chamber had suddenly come under attack.

It was not a physical assault, but an extremely powerful pulse intrusion.

A formidable signal tore through the Necrons' interception systems and penetrated the chamber. Two azure holographic figures appeared before the assembled Phaerons.

Hundreds of gazes immediately focused upon the two uninvited guests.

Several Phaerons' expressions darkened.

"The Lord of Hope!"

The Silent King and the others glared at that familiar, towering figure, practically grinding their teeth in fury.

There was no question what had happened.

Their enemy had used some kind of device to force his way through the signal blockade.

He had come to disrupt the council.

"So everyone's here. My dear kinsmen..."

Eden's gaze swept across the assembled Phaerons with effortless familiarity.

As the Lord of Hope and Phaeron of the Ramses Dynasty, his voice was affectionate and filled with delight.

He was dressed in magnificent ceremonial robes. Fahela, equally splendidly attired, had linked her arm through his.

Together, they resembled a royal Necrontyr couple from before biotransference.

The image was strikingly authentic.

Their appearance and posture stirred fragmented memories within the Phaerons, plunging the chamber into silence.

They stared at Fahela's blissful expression and the hand resting protectively over her belly.

For a moment, they could only stand there in bewilderment.

"This... is impossible!"

The Phaerons realized what they were seeing.

A collective hum of shock swept through the chamber. Their expressions changed drastically, their faces filled with disbelief.

"Yes, my dear kinsmen. We're having a child."

Eden wrapped an arm around Fahela as though announcing joyful news to the entire gathering.

This was the contingency plan he had been preparing all along.

The Lord of Hope was having a baby.

More precisely, he was about to become the father of the Necrons!

(End of Chapter)