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Grittysandcrunchedunderfootandacold,stingingwindblewmoreofitintotheirfacesastheystepped
downtothelandingground.Patchworkfiguresofsteelandfleshwererollingtowardsthemonarmored
treads;LakiusandOsilwaitedbytheshipandmadenosuddenmoves.
'Seethere,Osil:theExploratorshaveinvokedalasermeshfortheprotectionofthecamp.How
powerfulwouldyousayitis?'
'Isee
three
transformation
engines
on
this
side
of
camp.
Assuming
the
same
number
on
the
far
side
I
wouldestimate10to20gigawatts,father.'
Thefigurescamecloser.TheywerePraetorians,bionicallyreconstructedwarriorservitorsofthe
MachineGod.Theircadaverousfacesgazedstonilyfromanestoftargetingscopesanddatawires,gun
barrelsandenergytubestrackedLakiusandOsiluntiltheyhalted.Achestmountedspeakeronone
crackledintolife.
'Twolifeformsidentified.Classifiednonhostile.Pleasefollow,FatherLakius,AcolyteOsil.'
Theyfollowedapairoftheheavyservitorsbetweenlowbuildingsofprefabricatedarmourplaspaneling
towardsacentral
command
sphere.
Osil
pointed
to
one
of
the
smaller
structures
which
had
its
panels
foldedbacktocreateaworkshoplitfromwithinbyweldingarcsandshowersofsparks.
'Whatworksarebeingundertakenthere,father?'
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Lakiusrepressedachillsensationofforeboding'Theyarereinitiatingservitors,Osil.Evidentlytherehas
beensomeaccidentormishapwhichhasrenderedtheunitsnonfunctional.'Heforboretocommenton
therowofreadycasketsoutsidetheworkshop,containersfortechpriestswhosebiologicalcomponents
werefitonlyforincorporationintonewservitors.Severalpriestsmusthavediedherealready.
ThePraetoriansmotionedthemintothecommandsphereandremainedonguardoutside.Insidewasa
sceneofbarelyorganizedchaos.Wiringcascadedfrompanelsandconduits,devicesofahundredtypes
thrummed,buzzedandsparked,screenplatesflickeredandscrolledthroughendlesslinesofscripture.A
robedpriestdetachedhimselffromagroupclusteringaroundthecentraldaisandaddressedLakius.
'AdeptDanzager,yourarrivalhasbeengreatlyanticipated.IamAdeptNoam,LexmechanicMagos
Tertius.Ihavethehonorofanalyzingandcompilingdataonthisexpedition.'Noamwasgauntand
emotionless,onlyhislackofbionicenhancementandpriestlyrobesmarkinghimapartfromthe
servitors.Twootherpriestsgatheredbehindhim.Noampointedtoeachinturnandpronouncedtheir
roleswithtonelessefficiency
AdeptSantos,artisan,responsibleforcampconstructionandmaintenance.'Arotundmannodded.He
washeavilyrebuiltwithasubsidiaryliftingarmathisshoulderandamassofdiagnosticprobesinplace
ofhislefthandandeye.
AdeptBorr,runepriest,extrapolationandtheory.'Borrwasslightandnervouslooking,andseemedto
beon
the
edge
of
speaking
when
Noam
cut
him
off.
Noam
and
Borr
evidently
didn't
get
along.
Noam
gesturedtotheotherrobedfigureswithinthechamber.
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AdeptsRenallaird,KostasandAdsoareengineerslikeyourself,theirareasofexpertisecoveringthe
mysteriesofgeneration,auguryandmatriculation.AdeptVirtinnianisabsentia,attendingtothe
servitorsatpresent.'Renaillard,KostasandAdsolookedupbrieflyastheirnameswerementionedand
gaveaperfunctorynodbeforebendingbacktotheirwork.
'BlessingsoftheOmnissiahbeuponyouall,'Lakiussaid.AmItoassumethatyouaretheleaderofthis
expedition,AdeptNoam?'
'No,ExploratorMagosPrimeRestonEgalhasthatblessing.Hewillbejoiningusshortly.'
'CanyoutellmewhyIhavebeensummonedherethen?Iknowthatthisisanimportantundertaking;
afterall,ithasalreadymademelateformyownfuneral.'
IfNoamunderstoodthejokehemadenosign,butBorrgrinnedbehindhishand.Noamreplied,'Yes,
youwerescheduledfordisseminationattheterminationofyourlastassignment.ApostwiththeOfficio
Assassinorum,Iunderstand.Youmustbedisappointedthatyouremgramscannotyetbejoinedwiththe
MachineGod.'
'Intruth,itismybeliefthatIservebetterasalivingbeingthanacollectionofmemoriesandservitor
wetware.'
'Understandable,andverybiological.'SomethingclosetodisdainwaspassedacrossNoam'sfeatures
whenhesaidbiological.'Iseethatyouhaveneverconsideredundertakingtheunctionofclearthought.'
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'Theunctionofclearthought?Whatisthat,father?'blurtedOsil,forgettingthatheshouldbeseenand
notheardamongstsuchadepts.
Noamrepliedsmoothly,apparentlynottroubledbytheacolyte'sgaucheness.'Thefullutilizationof
cerebralmassisasimplematterofisolatingourthoughtsfromtherigorsanddistractionsofemotion
hunger,fear,joy,boredomandsoforth.Thisweknowastheunctionofclearthought.'
'Acommonsurgicalpracticeamonglexmechanics,'LakiustoldOsil,'whoserenownedcognitiveabilities
areenhancedthereby.'Atthepriceofbecominganemotionlessautomatonhethoughttohimself,
beforeadding
more
diplomatically,
'In
my
own
role
as
engineer
Ihave
always
found
crude
emotions
suchas'fear'and'pain'tobeusefulmotivatorsundertherightcircumstances.'
'Indeed?'Noamsaid,warmingtohissubjectmatter.'Studiesofstress
'Splendid!Thismustbeournewexpertincryostasis!
Noamwascutoffbyanewcomerwhohadlurchedintothechamberlikeananimatedscarecrow,all
ganglingarmsandlegs.Hisnarrow,vulpinehead,scrawnyneckandthinbodyconspiredtocomplete
theillusion.HegrinnedvoraciouslyatLakius.'Nowyou'refinallyhere,wecangetonwithit!Splendid!'
Lakiusboweddeeply.'MagosEgal,Ipresume.'
Part1Continued(section2)
'That'sright.Iseeyou'vemettheothersandNoam'sabouttotreatyoutoasermon!'
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MagosEgalwinkedconspiratoriallyatLakius,bouncingupanddownonhisheelsasifhecouldn't
containhisdelight.Lakiuswasastonished.Hewasusedtoacertainamountof...eccentricityamong
seniormembersoftheMechanicus,Exploratorsinparticular,butEgalseemedtobevergingontheedge
oflunacy.
'You
come
highly
commended,
you
know!
Highly
commended!
Two
centuries
of
experience!'
Almostfiftyaboardasinglecraft,servicingasinglesarcophagus,Magos.Admittedly,thatwasofalien
designanditsfailurewouldhavebroughtaboutmyimmediatedissemination butIcannotimagine
howImaybeofservicehere.'Intruth,Lakiushadastrongandunpleasantsuspicionexactlywhycryo
stasiswasofinteresttothisfamedExplorator,buthewishedtohearitsaidoutloud.
'Youcan'tguess?Ibetyoucan,butyouwanttohearitanyway!You'reasharpone!Ilikethat.'Egal
grinnedlopsidedly,'Doyouknowwhatthisplaceis?'Egalthrusthisarmsoutwardstoencompassthe
wholeworld.
'Naogeddon...adeadworld.'
'No!'Egalthrustupafingertomakehispoint.'Notdead,sleeping!Sleepingthesesixhundredmillion
years!'Lakius'sstomachunderwentaqueasylurch.
Egalcomposedhimselfalittleandwenton.'Letmebeginatthebeginning.Oversixhundredmillion
years,ago
arace
we
know
as
the
necrontyr
arose
and
spread
across
the
galaxy.
What
little
we
know
of
thesegiantsofprehistoryhasbeenlearnedfromahandfulofsocalleddeadworlds,likethisone,
scatteredattheveryfringesofthegalaxy.Oneachworldstandvast,monolithicstructureswhichhave
remainedallbutimpenetrabletoeverydeviceatthehandofMan.Theleveloftechnologyevidentin
theirconstructionisalmostincomprehensibletousandmanyExploratorshavebeenlostwinningthe
fragmentaryknowledgewedohave.
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'OnmyfirstexpeditiontoNaogeddon,wegainedcertainmeasurementsandcalibrationswhichare
singulartothedeadworldsoftheouterrim,theseancientseatsofthenecrontyr.Thesehaveenabled
myselfandAdeptBorrtofashionadevice...akey,ifyouwill,whichcanunlockthesestructureswithout
awakeningtheiroccupants.'
AdeptBorrhadgrownincreasinglyagitatedasMagosEgalspokeandnowheinterjected,'Magos,the
lastattemptcausedanexponentialjumpinattacks'
Noamcuthimoffsmoothly.'AdeptBorr,thoseprojectionshavenotbeenverified.
AdeptSantoshasconfirmedthecurrentthreatiswellwithinthecapacityofourdefensestocontain.'
'Thecurrentthreat,yes,butifthingsgowrong'
AdeptSantosseemedaffrontedbyBorrsimpliedcriticism.'Wehaveafifteengigawattlasermesh,
twentyarmedservitorsandstormbunkersbuiltoutofcubitthick,Titangradearmourplaspanels.What
couldpossiblygowrong?'
Egalhadpassivelywatchedtheexchangewithfatherlyhumorandaslightgrin,butnowhebecame
animatedagain.'Ahyes!Speakingofwhich,Ibelievethey'reduetoattackanytimenow.Stations,
everyone!'
Lakius'squeasystomachlurcheduptowardshismouth.Sirenswailedsecondslater.
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'Youmeantheyattackatthesametimeeveryday?'
'Well,everydusk.Strictlyspeaking.'
Lakius,OsilandBorrwereinanobservationgalleryatthetopofthecommandsphere.Asarunepriest
adept,Boffwastrainedtopiecetogetherfragmentaryinformationandmakespeculativetheorem,
somethingakintoblackmagictomosttechpriests.Assuch,Borrhadexplained,hewasdetailedtomake
observationsoftheirattackers,trytounderstandtheirtactics,strengthsandweaknessesandthenfeed
effectiveprotocolstothePraetorians.
'Ithoughtitwasalreadynight,'Osilsaid.
'No,Osil,it'salwaysthisdarkbecauseofthedustintheatmosphere,mostofthesuns'lightisreflected
backintothevoid,'Lakiusreplied.AdeptBorr,whataretheseattackers?DespiteAdeptSantos's
reassurances,Inoteanumberofcasualtieshavealreadybeenincurred.'
'Theyappeartobemechanisms:humanoid,skeletal,mostassuredlyarmed.Wehavenotbeenableto
secureoneforstudy,despitestrenuousefforts.'
AndIdidnotnoteanastropathadeptamongthosespokenofsofar.'
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Hesitantly,BorrlookedupatLakius.Histattooedfacewasunderlitbythegreenlyglowingglassofthe
augursbeforehim,buttoLakiusthesicklypallorwasunderwrittenbyadeeperfear.'AdeptArraius...
disappearedpriortotheveryfirstattack.I IfearMagosEgalhasnotfullythoughtthroughthe
implicationsof
this
site.
There
are
machine
spirits
here
which
have
functioned
continuously
for
six
hundredmillionyears.'
Borrwouldhavecontinuedbutanalarmbeganchiming,quietlybutinsistently.
Theaugurscreenflashedanddisplayedagridwithmovingicons,Borrglanceddownandsaid,'The
Praetorianshave
spotted
something.
We
should
have
it
at
any
moment.
There,
eight
energy
sources
six
hundredmetersoutonthewestside.We'llhavevisualsoon.'Anotherglassflashedanddisplayedicons.
Borrwasallbusinessnow,hisfearsforgotteninhisdevotiontohiswork 'Eightmore,atsixhundred
andclosingfromthesoutheast.They'retemptingustosplitourfire,Iexpect...yeshereitis,athird
groupatsixhundredmetersnorthwaitingtoseewhichwaywego.'.Outside,thedarkskieshad
deepenedtoanimpenetrable,inkyblacknesswhichthepowerfularclightsofthecampbarelykeptat
bay.
BorrfedattackvectorsandcoordinatestothePraetorianswhileLakiusandOsilclusteredaroundan
augurglass.ThelasermeshwasshownasaraggedlineofXsrepresentingthegroundbasedrefraction
spines.Redtrianglesapproachedinserriedlinesfromtwodirectionsandheldbackonanotherangle.
ThePraetorianswererepresentedbycogshapes,inrespectfortheirselflessdevotiontotheMachine
God.
ThePraetoriansweremovingsouthwestandanexchangeoffiresoontookplaceacrossthelasermesh.
The
tiny
bolts
flying
back
and
forth
on
the
glass
was
eerily
echoed
by
the
flashes
visible
through
the
observationports.Morefrighteningwerethesnapsandboomslikedistantlightningthatcamerolling
acrossthecompound.
ThemassedfireofthePraetorianswasoverwhelmingthesouthwestgroup,theredtrianglesdimmedin
quicksuccession,somedisappearingaltogether.OnlytwoofthePraetoriancogsshowedthesolidblack
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ofnonfunction,butevenasLakiuswatchedoneoftheredtrianglesbrightenedmomentarilyandits
shotturnedanothericonsolidblack.Onthewesttheenemywasatthelasermesh,advancingthroughit
inatightwedgeanddestroyingthespineswithtightlycontrolledsalvoes.Redlinesflickeredacrossthe
interloper'sprogressasdetectionbeamswerebrokenandthecontinuousenergyflowofthemesh
jumpedtofulloutput,searingthroughtheranks.Timeandagaintheiconsdimmedbutrecovered,they
wouldsoon
break
through.
The
northern
group
began
to
move.
'Thenorthgrouparecoming,'Lakiussaid.
'Isee
them.'
MostofthePraetoriansturnedwest,leavingasmallgrouptofinishoffthetatteredsoutherngroup.
Theartificial
lightning
storm
was
getting
closer.
Osil
was
not
paying
attention
the
Rlass
anymore.
The
scenesunfoldingoutsideinplainsightfrozehim.Strayshotsflashedintothecamp,explodinginsparks
orgougingglitteringweltsinSantos'sstormbunkers.
SeveralPraetorianswereinview,drivingparallelwiththelasermeshandfiringatsomethingoutof
view.Morecameintoviewfromthecamp,closinginaroundthespectralaliencohortforcingitswayin
fromthewest.Thefoewasterribletosee,theirshiningmetalskullsandskeletonstoosymbolictobe
missed.Here
is
Death,
they
had
been
built
to
communicate,
in
any
language,
across
any
gulf
of
time
and
toanyrace.
Thatwasnottheworstofthem.Theseharbingersseemedinsomehorriblesensetolive.Eachwasa
mechanism,tobesure,butonewithafierceanime,liketheidolofsomeferocious,primitivegod.Not
onlyweretheydeath,buttheymanifestedahorriblesenseofpassion,evenjoyintheirwork.As
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machinespiritstheywerethemostobsceneperversionsLakiushadeverseen,andinwardlypartofhim
wepttoseesuchthingscouldstillexist.
'Father,'Osilsaid,'thenortherngroup...
LakiuscouldnttearhiseyesawayfromthebattlebetweenthePraetoriansanddeathmachinesbelow.
Theenergyweaponsofthealienswerefrighteningintheirpotency,theiractinicboltsvisiblyflaying
throughwhatevertheystrucklayerbylayerlikesomeobscenemedicalscancompressedintoa
heartbeat.Thewarriorservitorsfoughtbackwithplasmafireandarmorpiercingmissiles,cuttingdown
theskeletal
apparitions
one
by
one,
but
four
more
servitors
had
been
cut
down
by
the
enemies'
deadly
accuratefire.
Borrusedthesametacticagain,thebulkofPraetoriansbrokeoffandwheelednorth.Asmallgroupwas
lefttofinishoffthealienmachineswhichkeptstubbornlyrisingafterhitsthatwouldhavestoppeda
dreadnought.LakiuswasgratefulforBorr'sobvioustacticalskill.Ifeitherthewesternorsouthern
groupswerenotcompletelyeliminatedthefoewouldundoubtedlygetafootholdinsidethecamp.The
troublewas
the
Praetorians
moving
north
to
parry
the
third
thrust
numbered
only
six;
for
the
first
time
theywouldnotoutnumbertheenemy.
'Borr,setthenorthernfaceofthemeshtomaximumsensitivity,'Lakiussaid.
'Butthespineswillfirecontinuously,dissipateintothewindblowndust!'
'Micadust,'Lakiuscorrected.
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Borrgrinnedandbeganariteofsupplication.
THEPRAETORIANSfoughtwellonthenorthernside.Theyusedastormbunkertonarrowtheanglesso
theyonlyfoughtpartoftheenemyatonce.Clatteringforwardonarmoredtreads,asalvoofmissiles
scorchedacrossthevoidblackskyandcutdowntwoenemymachinesastheyemergedfromthelas
mesh.Lightningcrackdischargesofplasmaburnedanother,butacriticaloverheatdamagedoneofthe
servitorsashisshouldermountedplasmacannonsufferedmeltdown.
Fivefacedfive.Thestormbunkerwasbeingtorntopieces,itsadmantiumsheathimpossiblyburning
withmetalfires.Withagroanitcollapsedinonitself,revealingmoreofthefoeattheinneredgeofthe
mesh.ThePraetorianslosttwooftheirnumberforonlyoneoftheenemy.Threearmoredservitors
wereleftagainstfourskullfacedkillers.Thealiensgrinnedtheirhideous,fixedgrinsastheystepped
forward.
Withoutwarning
the
laser
mesh
crackled
into
frenzy
of
discharges.
Gigawatts
of
energy
were
dissipated
intotheswirlingdustparticles,pointlesslyscatteringtheirpowerinflashesofheatandlight.
Theflasheswereharmless,butpowerfulenoughtotemporarilyblindtheopticsofthenearbyskeleto
machines.TheirfireslackenedmomentarilyandthePraetoriansusedtheopportunitytohaltandletrip
witheveryweaponintheirarsenals;boltershells,missilesandplasmacarvedthroughthesilhouetted
enemy.
Osilgapedatthescopes.Amomentagohehadthoughthewasgoingtobekilled,butinsteadtheyhad
won.
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pursuitofsacredknowledge;theindividualweighednothingagainsttheCultMechanicus.Butwasthis
sacredknowledgeorsomethingancientandtainted?
Allset?'MagosEgaltrilledtoRenaillard,whonoddedhisassent.'Placeseveryone!Lakius,youstand
withmeandwecanallchanttheliturgyofactivationtogether'Chantinginchoraltones,Egalmadea
seriesofconnectionsandstaticstartedtojumpfromthegenerator,accompaniedbyarisinghumming
noiseandthereekofozone.Theblackstoneshimmered,glitteringlikequicksilverasitstartedto
deformawayfromthespiraledneedleofthegenerator.
Anarchwasappearing,tallandtapering,ofperfectdimensionsandstraightness.Withinitsanglesthe
stonewrithedandcoiledlikealivingthingbeforefadingawaylikemisttorevealthemouthofa
corridor.Theperfectaliensymmetryofitwasmarredonlybytheheadandshoulderofapraetorian
whichappearedtobesunkintothewallonthelefthandside mutetestimonytothepreviouslyfailed
attempttopenetratethestructure.
Unperturbedbyitssilentbrother,thefirstPraetorianmovedintothecorridor,itspowerfulfloodlights
piercingthedarknesswithin.Osilgasped,theoutershellofthestructurehadmadehimimaginethe
insidetobethesame,unadornedstone.Butthelightspickedoutcomplextraceriesofsilverymetalset
intoeverysurface;walls,floorandceilingtwinkledwithcapturedstarlight.Amurmurofwonderrose
fromthegatheredtechpriests.MagosEgalgrinnedwithdelight.
`Yousee!Asimpleadjustmentofthreedegreeswasallittook!Quite,quitefascinating!Ihaven'tseen
anythingquitelikethissincethemoonsofProximaHydratica!hechuckled.Lakiusfeltrelieved;the
Magos,wasevidentlymoreaccomplishedthanheappeared.Onebyone,tradingsensorcablesand
power
threads
behind,
the
techno
magi
entered
the
alien
structure.
Thecorridorwithitsrichsilverfiligreesslopeddownandaway.Afteradozenmetersitdroppeddownin
kneehighstepsforanotherhundred.ThePraetoriansstruggledtonegotiatethegiantsteps,laboriously
erringthemselvesovereachone.TheslowprogressgaveLakiusampletimetoexaminethesilvertraced
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corridorwalls.Theywereundoubtedlydepictingscriptinalanguageofsomeform.Spinesandwhorls
marchedinapparentlyformedfromcontinuousdualstrands.Thelinesandstrandsofciptcrossedand
recrossedupanddownthewalls,acrossthefloorandonhighinfrozensinewaves,creatingthe
sensationthatthealienlanguagewassomehowconveyedbythetotalityofwhatwasbeforehim,rather
thanitsindividualelements.
AdeptNoamwastakinginputfromacadaverouslookingscanningservitor,alongumbilicalconnecting
itsoversizedeyelensestoasocketinthelexmechanic'schest.
Borrwasnearby,puzzlingoverahandheldauspex.
'Canyoumakeanythingofit,AdeptBorr?'Lakiuswhisperedtotherunepriest.Thesepulchralquietof
thenecrontyrmonolithseemedtodemandsilence,asifnoisewouldmanifestallofitsinvisible,crushing
weighttopunishtheimpudentinterlopers.
Byunspokenagreementnoneofthepartyhadbrokenthatbroodingsilencewithmorethanaharsh
whispersincetheyhadentered.
No,I'mnotsurethatit'ssupposedtobereadinthehumanopticrange.Setyourviewpiecetoread
magneticresonanceandyou'llseewhatImean.'
Lakiusfumbledwiththefocusingknobontherimofhisartificialeye,tuningittoscanelectromagnetic
frequencies.The
corridor
was
bathed
in
it,
every
whorl
and
spine
was
atiny
energy
source
which
glowed
withmagneticforce.Theoveralleffectwasdizzying,likewalkingthroughaglasscorridoroveraninfinite
gulffullofstars.AfteratimeLakiushadtoresethisvisiontoblankitout.
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Afteranhourofdescentthecorridorflattenedoutandthentwistedsharplytotherightbeforebeing
blockedbyaportalofblackmetal.ThetwoleadPraetorianshaltedbeforeit,theirfloodlightsdarkly
reflectedintheglossymetaloftheobstacle.Threegeometricsymbolsweremarkedonitatknee,waist
andshoulderheight.
'Shouldweuseweaponsfire,Magos?'OneofthePraetoriansasked,itsplasmacannoneagerlyswiveling
intothereadyposition.MagosEgalshookhishead,steppinguptothedoorwithNoamfaithfully
shadowinghimwithhistraifingservitor.
'No,no,'
Egal
muttered
'I'm
sure
it's
asimple
matter
of...'
He
touched
the
metal
of
the
portal.
Lakius
flinchedslightly,fearingsomeancientnecrontyrdeathtrap.Nothinghappened.'...understandinghow
totriggerthesesymbols.'
ApregnantsilencefellbehindEgal'swords.Noambegananalyzingthesymbols,crossreferencingwith
allthedatahestoredinhismachineenhancedbrain.
Lakiussoftlyletoutabreathhebeenholdinguntilheheardanewsound,alowbuzzwhichrosequickly
toahighpitchedwhine.Itsoundedhorriblylikeaweaponchargingup,itscapacitorsbeingfilledto
maximumbeforeitunleashedanatomizingblast.
HairsroseonLakius'sneck.Thesigilswereflickeringwiththeirownlightnow;theirghostlyfingersof
energycouldbefelttangibly.ThePraetorianssensedittooandwenttoathreatresponse,readyingand
chargingtheirownweaponswithahissofservosandwhineofcapacitors.
Lakiusfeltasurgeofpanic,asifhestoodbeneathagianthammerwhichwouldsmashdownatany
second.Hewantedtorunbackupthecorridorbuthiswaywasblockedbythetworearmost
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Praetorians.Theywereagitatedlyswivelingbackandforthwiththeirbalefultargetingeyeslitasthey
searchedforenemies.Oneofthemturnedfarenoughtospotitscompanionanditsrubyeyeirises
downintoapinpointasitlockedontarget.ThePraetorian'splasmacannoncrackleduptoafullcharge,
acompressedlightningboltwhichwouldannihilateanythingwithinmetersofitsimpactpoint.
Osilwasgibberingwithfear.
Lakiuswasshoutingoutcommanddogma:'Praetorians!Audioprimuscommand!DeusexTerminusest.'
Thecannonfired,asearingflashandthunderclapwhichtorethroughtheotherPraetorianandsent
whitehotshrapnelscythingdownthecorridor.OsilbravelyshoulderedLakiustooneside,savingtheold
engineerfromafierydemise.Shoutsandanotherroarechoedfromneartheportal,awavefrontof
scorchingheatwashedbackupthecorridor.ThenearbyPraetorianswiveledroundandtrainedits
plasmacannononLakiusandOsil,itseyeglowedwithsinglemindeddeterminationtodestroyasit
narrowedatthem.
'ErgosVeriatexcommen!'Lakiusshoutedhoarsely'Shutdown!'
ThePraetoriansaggeddownonitschassislikeapuppetwithitsstringscutandthecrisiswasoveras
suddenlyasithadbegun.Theeeriesilencefelllikeacurtainwhichwasbrokenbythecrackleoftiny
fires,the
pfink
of
cooling
metal
and
the
groans
of
Osil
as
he
writhed
on
the
blood
slick
slabs.
Metal
splintershadstruckhiminhissidewhenhesavedLakius.BytheblessingsoftheOmnissiah,thewounds
werenottoodeepandAdeptBorrshrivedthemwithasomaticwelder.
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AdeptRenaillardhadnotbeensoluckyandashardofsmolderingcasinghadstruckhiminthethroat,
almostshearinghisheadoff.SmokerosefromthesmolderingremainsofthetwoPraetoriansnearest
theportal.Noam'sservitorhadbeendestroyedintheexchangeoffireasthetwodestroyedeachother
butMagosEgalandtheLexmechanicwereunharmed.
Asophisticatedformoffaeranfield,'Noamexplaineddispassionately.
'ItwascutoffwhenIcompleteddecryptionoftheportallocks.'Afaeranfieldinterferedwithbrain
functions,inducing,amongotherthings,extremefearresponsesandseizures.Lakiuscouldn'thelpbut
thinkthe
lexmechanic
sounded
alittle
smug.
Clear
thought
indeed.
Beyondtheportalthecorridorappearedtocontinueasbefore.OsilwassorelyhurtinspiteofBorr's
ministration,andLakiusundertooktheritualstorebootthesolitaryremainingPraetoriansothatitcould
carryhimbacktothesurface.Osilprotestedweakly,butLakiusspokeafewquietwordstohimbefore
sendinghimonhisway.TheyoungacolytelookedverymuchlikeachildclingingtothePraetorian's
widebackandLakiusprayedthatnothingwaswaitingbackthereinthedarknessforthem.Withonly
fourtech
priests
left
in
the
expedition
it
seemed
dangerous
to
Lakius
to
push
on,
but
the
Magos
insisted,convincedtheywereatthevergeofabreakthrough.
PART2
EGALSBREAKTHROUGHprovedtobealabyrinth.Thecorridorsplitandthensplitagainandagain
tobecomemany.Thedifferentwaysslopedsharplyupanddown,somenarrowingtoslitstoosmallfor
evenaservomat
to
enter.
Within
three
turns
Lakius
felt
thoroughly
disorientated.
The
marching
hieroglyphsonthewallsseemedtohintatothercorridorsIyingjustoutofsight,showingoutlinesof
otherlabyrinths,turnings,deadendwhichwerejustoutofphasewiththemselves.IntheMechanicus
doctrinetheportalalonewouldhavebeenthesubjectofmonthsofcarefulstudybeforefurther
advancewasmade.Thetwistingsofthisalienmazewouldconstitutealifetimesworkwithstudiesof
geometryandnumerology.
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MagosEgalwasinnomoodtolinger,though,andhesetNoamandBorrtocalculatingapaththrough.
AdeptNoam'svastanalyticpowerwasdirectedentirelyontobuildinganaccuratemapofthe
interweavingpassagestheymovedthroughusingdirectobservationphasicscanning,micropressure
evaluationandtactileinterrogation.
AdeptBorrusedhiscarefully,learnedartsconjectureandintuitiontounderstandtheunderlying
structureofthemaze,andtodeterminewhatkindofxenomorphiclogicwouldguidethemthroughit.
Lakiuswasreducedtodoingtheworkofaservitor,spoolingoutpowerthreadandinvokingmarker
pointsateachjunctionsothatNoamcouldtickthemoffonhismentalplan.Thespool'smetriculator
showedlessthanathousandmetersleftofitsfivekilometerlengthwhentheyfoundanotherportal,
thoughthetermseemedinappropriateforthegargantuanmetalslabsconfrontingthem.
Thegleaming,baroquelyetchedmetalstretchedupintothedarknessfurtherthantheirhandlights
couldreach.Thecorridorangledawayineitherdirection,followingsomeinnerwallbutleavinga
sizeablevestibulethatthefourExploratorsnowoccupied.Theyweredwarfedbythenewbarrier,
renderedsoinsignificantthattheopeningofthosetitanicgatescouldonlyforetelltheirdoomatthe
handofsomethingancientandmonstrous.AdeptNoamdidnotevenflinchashesteppedforwardto
begindecipheringthelockingglyphs.
Lakius'smouthwasdrywithfearastheadeptbegantracingthefirstglyph.Helookedbackalongthe
corridor,surehehadheardsomescuttlingnoise.Thetwinklingsilvertracerieshurthiseyes,mechanical
andorganic.Ittookhimamomenttorealizethatshapesweremovingacrossthem.Silvery,glittering
shapes.
'Watchtherear!'Lakiusshoutedandheftedhispersonalweapon,anancientandbeautifullycrafted
lasermadebyOrtisianofArkeness,whosespirithehadlongtendedto.Itsangryredlashwassharpand
true:itcaughtashape,whichblewapartinablindingflashwhichspokeofminoratomics.Theothers
crouchedon
their
spindly
legs
and
then
leapt
forward,
buzzing
down
the
corridor
like
aswarm
of
metallicinsects.
Eachwasthesizeofaman'storso,flattenedattheedgeslikescarabsandfringedwithviciouslooking
hooksandclaws.Theywerefastbutsoaggressivethattheyimpededeachother'sprogressasthey
rattledandbouncedoveroneanother.Borr'sboltlauncherjoineditsroaringsongtothehissofLakius's
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laser.Theircombinedfireclaweddownthreemoreofthesteelyscarabs.Nonetheless,LakiusandBorr
hadtobacktowardsthedoorstokeeptheirdistanceasmoreswarmedforward.
'Keepthemback!'shoutedEgal.'Noamalmosthasit!'
Theirbackswerealmostagainstthedoorsalready.Lakiusfocusedallhisattentionontrackingand
eliminatingthemachinescarabs,hislaserflickeringfromonetoanotherinadeadlydanceof
destruction.Buttheywerestillgettingcloser.Onescarabduckedbetweentwoofitsfellowsatthepoint
oftheirdestruction,andsurgedforwardwhilethetechpriestswerehalfblindedbytheexplosions.The
machine'sscrabblingclawsrippedBorr'sbolterfromhishandsbeforeitsmomentumcarrieditover
Lakius'shead.Itbouncedoffawallandarroweddownamongstthepriests.
LakiusflinchedawayandsawitclampontoAdeptNoam'sbackevenashecompletedthelastsigil.
Surgicalsharphooksrippedintothelexmechanicasthetwinportalsbegantoslowlyseparate.
'Couldsomeoneremovethis?'Noamaskedcalmly,likeamanbeingtroubledbyawasponasummer's
day.I
Thescarab
exploded
like
aminiature
nova
and
Adept
Noam
was
gone,
consumed
in
an
actinic
fireball
whichknockedLakiusflat.Herolleddesperately,purpleafterimagesflashinginhisvision,earsfilled
withtheroarofdetonation.Heexpectedtofeelthedreadweightofoneofthemachineslandingonhim
atanysecond.
OSILLAYGRIPPEDtoanoperatingtablebysteelbands,thearmsofanautochirurgeondelicatelysliced
athisskin,pullingforthsteelsplintersandsuturinghistornfleshtogether.Painblockersnumbedhis
bodybuthismindwasracing.FatherLakiushadtoldhimtopreparetheirsacredcargoforrelease.Such
adangerousundertakingwasnormallyonlymadeinresponsetoasignalfromtheAdeptusTerraon
distantEarth.
To
begin
the
investiture
of
the
living
weapon
the
ship
carried
in
cryo
stasis
without
the
initiationcodewastantamounttosuicide.Iftheassassin'scryptwasopenedwithoutreceivingthe
preparatorymnemonicsandemgramsspecifyingitstargetitwouldkilleverythingitfounduntilitwas
destroyed.
FatherLakius,heconcluded,mustprivatelybelievethingshadgonevery,verywrongindeed.
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LAKIUSFLINCHEDassomethinggrippedhisshoulderandstarteddragginghimbackwards.Herealized
someonewastryingtopullhimtosafetyandkickedhislegstoscrambleacrossthefloor.
Momentslater,Lakius'svisionclearedenoughtoseethathewasbeyondthedoorsandthattheywere
closing.Thedarkslitofthecorridoroutsidenarrowedrapidlyastheysmoothlyswepttogether.He
pointedthelaserstillgrippedinhisshakinghandbutnoscarabmachinescamethroughthegapbefore
itsealed.
'Splendid!Theyarewithoutandwearewithin,'MagosEgal'svoicesaid,closetoLaidus'sear.
Hescrambledtohisfeetasquicklyashecould,fearfullylookingaround.Egalstoodnearbyandbeyond
himthechambertheyhadenteredcouldbeseeninitsfullmajesty.Huge,angularbuttressesmarched
awaydowneitherwall,thefloorslopedgentlydownward.Frostypillarsofgreenishfightshonedown
fromanunseenrooftorevealrowuponrowoftaHblockscoveredinangularalienscript.Theairhelda
chillandthesilenceofthelabyrinthoutsidehadgivenwaytoagentlesusurrationlikewavesagainst
distantshore.
'Where'sAdeptBorr?'Lakiusdemanded.Egalturnedawayfromhisaccusinggaze,lookingoffdownthe
cyclopeanchamber.
'I'msorry,Ihadtoshuttheportalorthescarabswouldhavekilledallofus,'Egalseemedgenuinely
repentant.HecouldnotevenmeetLakius'sgaze.
'Youjustlefthimoutside!'Lakius'sangrywordsrangholloweventohim.Theyoungrunepriestwas
deadandrecriminationswouldnotbringhimback.Theyweretrappedatthecentreofthemonolith
now,the
heart
of
the
ancient
structure.
The
Mechanicus
trained
academic
in
him
was
already
studying
thechamber,tooawedbythestorehouseofalienarchaeotechtogivethoughttothecostalready
incurred.Therowsofmanhighblocksseemedfamiliar,somethingaboutthem...understanding
blossomedwithanowfamiliartangoffear.
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'Thesearecryostasismachines,'hewhispered.Metriculationmemochipsinhisopticviewercalmly
extrapolatedthatthechamberheldoveramillionofthem.
'It'swhatIbroughtyoutosee.TheyresemblethecryocryptoftheAssassinorumvesselyouarrivedin,
dotheynot?Thebestisatthecentre,thesearejust...servants.Comeandwemaylookuponasightno
livingthing
has
seen
in
six
hundred
million
years.'
EgalmovedoffdowntheslopeandLakiusnumblyfollowed.Theypassedblockafterblock,each
glitteringwitharimeofancientfrost.Thefloorgotsteeperuntiltheyhadtocrawlonhandsandknees,
grippingtheblockstolowerthemselvesdowntoaflatcircularsectiondominatedbyanimmensestasis
crypt.Itwasasarcophagusinform,itstopmoldedintoarepresentationofwhatlaywithin.Lakius
expectedtoseeamaskofdeathlikethemachinewarriors,butinsteadfoundvividliferenderedin
polishedmetal,beautifulbutinhumanandcruel.Rowsofsigilsaroundthefidshonewithaninnerlight,
anditfeltwarmtothetouch.
'Itsalreadybeenopened,'saidLakius.'Helpmemovethelid.Ineedtoseeinside.'Betweenthemthey
managedtoturnthehuge,heavylid,swivelingittorevealtheinterior.Thesarcophaguswasempty.
Egalseemedunsurprised;infact,hewasdelighted.'Splendid!JustasIhadhoped.'Hereacheda
ganglingarmintothesarcophagusandbroughtoutasilvery,metallicstaff.
'LakoniusdescribedanartifactlikethisintheApocryphaofSkarros.Hespokeofasymbolofmastery
bornbythelordsofthenecrontyr,calledthe'staffoflight".'Heheftedtheornatedeviceinbothhands.
Ashedidso,anintensebluewhitefightflaredinthesymbolatthetopofthestaff.'Withthis,weneed
fearnodenizenofthisedifice;withtimetheycanevenbetamedandmadetoserve.'
'Butwhatoftheoccupantofthecrypt?'Lakiusasked,nervouslynotingthemaniacalgleaminEgal'seye.
'Thelordandmasterofthisplacethatwe'replunderingfrom?Ifearinourcurrentcircumstanceswe
could
scarcely
fend
off
any
kind
of
attack
and
that
artifact
is
more
likely
to
draw
one
to
us,
we
should
go
whilewestillcan.'
'Verywell,butthestaffoflightcouldbeoursalvation.Itwouldbemadnesstoleaveitbehind.'
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OSILLIMPEDtowardsthelandingfieldwheretheirshiplay.Hehadagonizedgreatlyaboutwhetherto
accedetohismentor'srequest.ByImperialandMechanicuslaw,theactivationofoneofthelethal
membersoftheOfficioAssassinorumwithoutproperauthorizationwastreasonofthehighestorder.
Deathofthefleshwouldbeasecondaryconsiderationbesidetheterriblepunishmentsthatwould
entail.
ButOsilhadspentalmosttwentyTerranyearsinthecompanyofLakiusDanzager,studyingthetaskshe
wouldonedaycontinuewhenthefatherwasgatheredtotheLibrariumOmnissiah.Hehadimaginedhe
wouldspendtherestofhislifeaboardtheageingcutter,maintainingitssystemsandpreparingitscargo
ofImperialvengeancewhenitwasrequired.Thatwasnotgoingtobethecasenow.Osilhadlearned
enoughofLakius'sclaritytounderstandthattheExplorator'sexpeditionwaswoefullyinadequateinthe
faceofthealienterrorsofNaogeddon.FatherLakiusfearedtheworst,thattheywereaboutto
unwittinglyunleashsomethingsoterriblethathebelievedonlyanadeptoftheEversortemplewould
haveachanceofstoppingit.Andsotheassassinmustbeprepared.
LasteditedbyTallarn;12102008at11:24PM.
Part2Continued(theend)
MAGOSEGALstrodeaheadconfidentlythroughthelabyrinth,thrustingoutthestafflikeatorch,its
fiercelightburningbacktheshadowsandsettingthehieroglyphsaflamewithbluewhiteflashes.Lakius
scuttledalongbehindhim,jumpingateachnewscraping,slitheringnoise,jabbinghispistoltowards
eachnewvagrantglitterofsteelasitflickedoutofsightbehindacorner.Thedenizensofthelabyrinth
weredogging
their
heels,
giving
back
before
the
circle
of
light
from
the
staff
and
closing
in
behind.
Afterwhatseemedlikeaneternitytheyreachedthefirstportalwheretheyhadfallenfoulofthefaeran
field.ThemeltedwreckageofthePraetoriansandRenaillard'sbodyweregone,thecorridorclearexcept
forthepowerthreadstrailingoffintothedarkness.MagosEgalwantedtostopandinvestigatebut
Lakiusfearedsomeassaultwouldtakeplaceiftheylingered,andurgedhimtopresson.Thesoftscrapes
andscratchesofmovementwerebehindthemnow,butfollowingcloselyallthetime.Astheystartedto
climbthestepsLakiuslookedbackandcaughtsightofdozensoftinylightsfloatinginthegloom.They
looked
like
blue
fires,
seemingly
cold
and
distant,
but
drifting
forward
in
pairs,
the
twin
eye
lights
of
murdermachinesontheirtrail.
Thecoolgreylightoftheoutsideseemedblindingaftertheblacknesswithin.Theedgesofthephasicrift
inthestructure'soutersheathwerewaveringalarminglyandtheyranpasttheentombedPraetorianto
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stumbleoutontothegrittydustofthesurface.IttookLakiusamomenttogainhisbreathandhelooked
uptoseeEgalmakingadjustmentstothephasegenerator.
'You'reshuttingitdown,Itrust,'said,Lakius.
'Quitethecontrary;I'mstabilizingitsowecanusethesameentrywaytogobackin.'
'ThatswhatIthought,'Lakiussaid,andfiredhislaser.
EGALDARTEDAWAYfromLalkius'slaserwithinhumanquickness.ButLakiushadbeenaimingatthe
phasegenerator'spowercouplings,andthehitwasmorespectacularthanhehadimagined.The
keymachinedetonatedandthenimploded,ahaloofwhitehotflameflashingoutwardsforamoment
beforeitwasdraggedback.Araggeddistortionveilskatederraticallyoverthemachine,crushingit
smallerandsmallerasittriedtosuckeverythingnearbyintoit.Egalhadbeenblownclear,butwasleft
wrestlingtoholdontothealienstaffoflightasitwasdrawninexorablytowardstherift.
'Helpme,Lakius.Ican'tholdit!'Egalshoutedoverthepiercingshriekofairbeingannihilatedinthevoid.
LakiusleveledhislaserattheMagosandshothimintheheadwithoutreplying.Egalfellbackclutching
hisface.
The
staff
plunged
into
the
rift
and
exploded
with
acrack
of
lightning.
Ozone
hung
heavy
in
the
airasLakiusbackedawaythroughthelasermeshspinestowardsthecamp.Hesparedaglanceforhis
treasuredweapon'sindicatorjewel,andsawitwasdim.Hislastshothadbeenatfullstrength,enough
topunchthroughplasteel.MagosEgalwasstillmoving,standingup.
'Haveyouanyideahowharditwastogetthistextureright?'hedemandedindignantly,indicatingthe
sideofhisfacethathadbeencaressedbyasteelburninglaser.Charredweltsrevealedglitteringmetal
beneath,quicksilvercurvesthatbetrayedaninhuman,yetfamiliar,anatomy.Lakiuskeptmovingback,
thefigureofthethingthathadpretendedtobeEgalwasgettingreassuringlydistant,dwarfedbythe
solidblack
base
of
the
alien
structure.
A
pair
of
Praetorians
came
rattling
forward
from
amidst
the
storm
bunkers,balefullyscanningLakiuswiththeirtargets.
'Onelifeformidentified.Classifiednonhostile,'oneconcluded.
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Themagosthingwasatthelasermesh.Itleaptsuddenly,astoundinglycoveringthehundredmetersto
LakiusandthePraetoriansinasinglesomersaultingbound.
'Onelifeformidentified.Classifiednonhostile,'theotherpraetorianstated.
'Surelyyoudidn'tbelievetheseclatteringtoyswouldbeabletoidentifyme?'theEgalthingsmiled.'I
hadthoughtyouoneofthemoreintelligentspecimens.'
Lalkius'smouthwasdrywithfear,buthemanagedacurtnodofacceptancebeforecryingout
'Praetorians!Audioprimuscommand!Overwatch!'ThePraetorianslockedtheirweaponsontothealien
witheyeblurringspeed,theirsimplebrainsentirelydevotedtoobliteratingthefirstrapidmovement
theysensed,
'YouforgetthatIspenttimerepairingservitorsafterthelastbattle.Itookthelibertyofupdatingtheir
commandprotocolsatthesametime,'Lakiussaidwithmorecouragethanhefelt'
Thethingsmiledmorebroadlystill,andslowlycockeditsheadtooneside.ThePraetorians'weapons
trackedtheminutemovementfaithfully.'Goodforyou,LakiusDanzagerYoureallyareacleverone.
HowdidyouknowIwasn'thuman?'
Lakiushesitatedforamoment.Thethingbeforehimexudedanalmostprimalsenseofpoweritwasat
hismercyforthepresent,buthisinstinctstoldhimitcouldpounceonhimatanymoment.The
Mechanicusinhimyearnedtolearnwhathecouldaboutitwhilehishumanityscreamedouttodestroy
it.Hiscuriosityoverpoweredhisinstinctsforamoment.
Iwasntsure,buteitheryouwerethethingfromthecryptoraninsaneExploratorwhowasbenton
unleashingsomethingunspeakableupontheworld.WhenIunderstoodthat,mychoicesbecameclear.
Howdid
you
replace
Egal?
Did
he
wake
you
in
there?'
Icy
daggers
caressed
Lakius's
back
as
he
talked
to
thething.Itssilverandfleshsmilewidenedevenfurther.
WhatmakesyouthinkIreplacedhimatall?Ihavetravelledagreatdistancesincemyfirstwaking,
walkedinmanyplacesthathavechangedsoverymuchsinceIsawthemlast.''Whatwereyouseeking?'
whisperedLakius.
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Thething'sferocioussmilewasspreadalmosteartoear.'Knowledge,mostly.Iwantedtoknowhowthe
galaxyhadfared,whowasleftaftertheplague.Youcan'timaginemysurpriseonfindingyourkindand
thekrorkscatteredeverywhere.I'veseenyouhumanstryingtoforgeanempireinthenameofacorpse;
Ihave
seen
your
churches
to
the
machine.
Racially,
your
fear
and
superstition
are
most
gratifying.
You
makeexcellentsubjects.'
'Youarenecrontyr,then.Youwentintostasistoescapeadisease.'
'No,yourlanguageisinefficient.Theplaguewasnotadiseaseanditcouldn'tharmus,but...'The
necrontyrlifteditsheadbackasifdreamingoflonglosttimes.'Itwaskillingeverythingelse.'Itlooked
backatLakius.Andno,IamnotaNecron.Youmistaketheslaveforthemaster.Youllunderstand
betterwhenItakeyoubackinside.'
Itleapt.ThePraetoriansblazedintoitwithlasersandplasma,theirboltslashingatthethinform.Lakius
wasmomentarilyblindedbytheorgyofdestruction,andhefledtowardsthecommandcentreinthe
hopeoffindingreinforcements.Helookedbacktoseeasilveryfigurerippingpiecesoutofonethe
Praetorians.Theotherbattleservitorwassmolderingnearbythefigurewavedapieceofcarapace
jauntilyatLakius.
'Sorry,Lakius,Icouldntresistit,'thethingcalled'Myraceraisedwhatyoucall"melodrama"toahigh
artformbeforeyouwereevenevolved.ItchuckledandtoevisceratingthePraetorian
LAKIUSWASspinningthelocksshutonthecommandcenterhatchwhenhesensedapresencebehind
him.Heturned,tooterrifiedandwearytofightbutwantingtoseehisnemesis.Healmostdiedofrelief
whenhesawitwasOsil.
Osilits
'Iknow,father,Iwaswatchingonthemonitor.'
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Therewasaflashoutside,andsecondslateratitanicroar.TheblastwavefromtheAssassinorum
vessel'sPlasmareactorgoingcriticalwasasecondbehindthat.
'Don'tworry,Icansaveyou.'Thethinggrinnedagain.
Noneed,'gratedLaldusanddosedthelastconnection.
Adomeofshimmering,bluishlightsprangintobeing.ItfilledthehatchwaywiththeNecronmaster
frozenatitscentre.Itwasacharcoalblacksilhouetteintheglareoftheplasmaflashbeyondthefield.
Therestofthearmoredcommandcentreshookandrattledalarminglybutheld,itsvulnerablehatch
protectedbyLakius'simprovisedstasisbubble.
AftertheblastwavehadpassedtherewasalongmomentofsilencebeforeOsilasked.'Father,won't
theOmnissiahbeangrythatyoumistreatedallthoseMachineSpiritsmakingthefield?'
'Letitbeoursecret,Osil.DeusExMechanicus.TheEmperorwatchesoverus.'