The Great History of Phaeron Akhen-menes

Act XIV - Finale

Akhen-Menes stood alone atop the highest tier of his pyramid. It was dark and the sky was full of stars. He thought back on the frantic weeks that lead to this tranquil moment.

Something had happened on Garavon. It must have been important since all his enemies, all the invaders gathered most of their forces and converged at this one spot. A massive battle took place, but the Necron phaeron could not say who the winner was. Probably not the humans in black, since they all seemed very much dead. The Aeldari were all gone too, not a single one of them had the decency to stay behind and let the Necrons kill them. The orks and humans lingered longer, fought a bit between themselves and finally tried resisting the tide of his Necron warriors.

The Phaeron still flinched a bit at the image of his army. So many had fallen to the destroyer cult. The once proud warriors now nothing more than bloodthirsty slaying machines. That was a stain he desperately wanted to remove.

Once the planet was competely under control of his undying legions he gathered them all under a promise of more destruction to be done and, along with a few never-do-wells sent them on an important "mission". To be honest, he had pointed his finger at a random system sufficiently far away from Garavon and declared it of an utmost importance to their whole race. It was not barren, that would be a tad bit too easy and even such simpletons as H'Tan or Hashe'esh could smell something fishy about that. No, it was a system with enough resources that in case his expeditionary force of exiles actually managed to conquer it, he would find some use in it.

He raised his eyes again and looked at the departing Necron ships. He raised his arm in a silent salute and whispered: "Good riddance."

It was time to oversee the final sweep of the planet and then move onto the next part of his grand and glorious plan.

Act XIII - Out of the Loop

"What was that?" he asked anxiously as the whole massive chamber was shaken with an extremely loud *ding* sound.

"Is that the sound it makes when H'Tan dies?"

"No, sir," if he could, he would have cleared his throat before speaking. Akhen-Menes turned around, surprised to see his advisor right behind him. Curiosity prevented him from striking his head off.

"What is it then?"

"It is the sound of a break-loop condition of an ancient cycle having been triggered," H'Tan explained with a flat voice that betrayed none of his feelings.

"Well, of course I knew that," said Akhen-Menes somewhat believably, "but what cycle are we talking about? Is that good?" He knew it would not be good. No recent events have been good. He had ordered his forces north to reclaim their ancient site there and in the meanwhile, Hashe'esh, the overlord in charge of his southern campaign, somehow managed to lose the southwest.

"Let me look into that... well, sir, it seems the ancient bond of friendship was broken."

"Wait, so the Aeldari no longer hold the Cake of Error?" Akhen-Menes asked surprised. This might actually be good news after all!

"Yes and no sir. The Circle of Friendship -"

"Which we call the Cake of Error since that's what is has been!" corrected him his Pharoe. He was against its creation from the get go and when the original owners died he advocated for its destruction but the preatorians prevented him from doing that, some mythological nonsense.

"... of course, the Cake of Error, appears to no longer be in the possession of anyone. Not the Aeldari, not the orks, no one. Its final command protocols have been executed. It seems, it has been destroyed."

"Does that mean, we don't have to play nice any more?" Akhen-Menes asked but he knew well the answer and so ignored whatever lecture H'Tan was now giving him. New options. He had so many new options. His whole metallic body was filled with a warm feeling of happiness. He might even spare Hashe'esh.

"... and as I was saying, the number of woken up necrons with the destroyer cult madness has risen dramatically since the awakening procedures were so rudely-"

Akhen-Menes stopped him with a wave of his hand, "We will deal with that later. Call Thoth. We march now. Let's end this long and bothersome squabble and reclaim the planet. It might have been a nice indulgence at first, but now I have no reason to stay my hand. The Legion marches today!"

Act XII - Memories

Thoth was just about to finish the groundwork for the next stage of their military campaign when he received some very disturbing news. A signature, unknown for untold millenia, appeared in their systems.

The Warden requested a direct link to one of the crypteks and asked him about the signal's origin, "What is that and should it concern us?"

The cryptek was taking ages to answer and Thoth got an inkling as to why his master had such a ... troubled relationship with the chief cryptek. Eventually, he learned what he wanted, not that it made him happier.

"A Cell-disintegrating virus? Is the effectivity confirmed? Does it affect our living metal? How long does it remain active?" The cryptek was unable to keep up with the pace of the incoming questions, but he tried his best.

"Yes, sire, a cell-eater. We thought they had all been used and we no longer possess the original virus to recreate it. Therefore it is a loss of immense magnitude. With that virus, our reconquest of the galaxy would have been all so much easier. It would leave their cities empty of all biological matter and would not harm us. After the very active first 3 hours, the virus eventually breaks down and there is nothing left. It is one of our greatest weapons."

"Maybe, but it found its way to the hands of our enemies. Luckily it seems, they have used it against the Aeldari," there was a small pause, before he continued, "I wonder if any of their leaders we have been dealing with survived. Anyways, do you think the Black Legion has more of it?"

"The probability is low, sire. They must have discovered a hidden cash from the ancient times. The virus was usually stored in containers of a size which fits its current spread. There were never two containers at the same place, because that proved to be ... somewhat impractical."
Thoth heard enough and was not interested in any more science talk. He had a campaign to plan and a very demanding master to please.

Act XI - Hell Unleashed

"You can just replay my last answer. My Will Be Done!" Akhen-Menes set his speaker to a booming voice quality and was pleased by how the sound waves bounced off the pyramid walls. He was not very happy. Yes, the battle with the so-called Black legion was won without much of a sweat, but the planet was still swarmed by the lesser life forms and his own awakening program was going very slowly. They sub-kryptek who suggested it may have somehing to do with H'Tan, the main kryptek overseeing the process, being often somewhat... preoccupied by putting himself together, was now well and truly atomised. To make matters worse, his idiotic advisor did not even have the decency to die during the last skirmish.

The overlord set his eyes on the small group of advisors in front of him and slowly, coldly announced: "Speed it up to 2.11. Anyone to ask a question will follow that fool," He pointed at the small pool of radiation next to him. The krypteks bowed their heads and went to set the new awakening protocols in motion.

Act VIII - We Need More

The Overlord asked again as he paced from one end of the grand chamber to the other, "H'Tan, come here and listen to my newest grand ideas!"

"My liege," the servant said with a voice that did not even hint on any discontent for having to repeat the same message over and over again, "your Cryptek is not yet reconstructed. The process is not 87.7% done."

How could the Cryptek not deal with two stupid orks? wondered Akhen-Menes. Maybe I should make one of my Lychguard into a cryptek. Would that be possible? Would that work? It most certainly would if he willed it. Nothing stands against his will.

The overlord paused for a moment and reviewed the recent meeting with the ork invaders. He replayed the events in his mind as they unfolded.

Ineffective shooting of his warriors. The screaming Shrouded Harvester providing air cover. The green tide of orks charging their lines. The warboss dueling him and his, erm... timely escape to safety. No, his elegant strategy that enabled him to avoid the big stupid brutal weapons of the big ork whilst his lychguard cut him to pieces. The Mekboy refusing to succumb to his wounds. Oh and he must not forget H'Tans tête-à-tête with the kommandos. That was just shameful. And the warriors. They died to quickly.

The analysis of the latest skirmish was soon ready.

"H'Tan! Come here and listen to my newest grandest ideas of all!"

"Yes, -ir?" The Cryptek answered with a still only partially functioning voice-box.

The overlord focused on the form of his advisor and said: "We need more warriors. Like now. No, now is late. We need them before now. We actually need them for the battle yesterday. Do it!"

"Of course, my most honored liege, your Will Be Done."

Akhen-Menes smiled, for that was exactly what he wanted to hear.

Act VII - A New Threat

Akhen-Menes surveyed the reports from the Doom Scythe's systems after it returned from its sortie. The long column of humans was attacked multiple times before it reached the relative safety of the Rat God's minions' domain. Both the attackers and their prey were welcome targets for the machine. With the Pylon project going well, the overlord could not be more satisfied. Which was, of course, the exact moment things went south.

---one hundred and fifteen enemy vessels detected in orbit---

If he could, the overlord would have raised an eyebrow. He replayed the message. Twice.

"H'TAN!!!" He almost overloaded his speaker box and the digital shout was even more impactful as all the Necrons within miles winced. Most of them all, the old cryptek, H'Tan.

...

"My master, the system is not ready, to put it in operation now would endanger the whole-" Akhen-Menes slammed his staff in the ground, instantly silencing his advisor.

"I care not, they are landing, they are claiming our land. OUR LAND! These are no small ships like those vermin here already, these can delay us by centuries!" He made a few steps then turned and said with a tone that made it absolutely clear there would be not objections this time, "Begin. Start the network. Before it is too late."

Act VI - Under Attack

His reactor was running quietly as he observed the ranks upon ranks of the lowly warriors as they readied for their march to the Blood Angels' territories. It was nowhere near a full show of force of course, most of his servants are only slowly being woken up, but it was still pretty impressive he would say.

The thought of the awakening processes irritated him, it was only after a long discussion that he gave in to H'Tan and the other crypteks who argued in favor of going slow. So far their record with the destroyer madness was very good, probably the best of all the dynasties in the galaxy and in the end he decided it was likely a better way to try and keep it as such. Anyways, the forces that were already up and ready were more than enough for what he was facing.

He never enjoyed new variables being introduced to his calculations and the attack on his expeditionary force in the far north-west was exactly that. The warp entities of the so-called Rat God entered his territory and that was not to be ignored.

He summoned Thoth, gave him a simple order "take the land, slay all the living", and left North in the company of H'Tan and a small group of warriors and immortals.

...

The canoptek machines were mangled and destroyed, most were reanimating as he watched, but the damage was substantial. He needed more data and ordered his troops to collect any evidence of the recent attack by the warp fiends.

"Master, we have noticed enemy movement to the North of our positions," H'Tan dared to interrupt the overlord.

"Good! Let's deal with them. H'Tan introduced me formally to our soon-to-be-dead adversaries."

"Yes, lord," the technomancer cleared his vocal speakers, set the highest volume and began as the enemies appeared in the distance: "You have crossed Akhen-Menes, the overlord of the Garavon Dynasty, the Death of the Krork Empire, The Undying Commander of the -"

The enemy had the audacity to attack before his servant could finish introducing him! And anyways, how were they able to cover so much ground so quickly? Akhen-Menes willed his scarabs to fly and meet the foe. the clouds of the little insects slowed them considerably and his forces were able to fire at close range. The salvo was devastating and most of the charging deamons vanished back to where they came from. The biggest one remained though.

'Quite fitting,' thought the Necron leader and hacked his way to meet his target.

...

<<Restoration process - 65.7 % complete. All major functions operational. Do you wish to analyze the recording of your latest destruction?>>

Akhen-Menes dismissed the information along with the offered captured video of his latest dismantling at the hands of the Rat-warp-monstrosity. He had no need of watching it again and anyways it was him who had the last laugh in that skirmish. The deamons vanished to wherever they've come from and gave him time to finish his business there.

He had to speed up the project, having deamons walk on his Tomb world was not good for his reputation. Well all the other armies camping on his porch were not great either and he had to personally issue a command to securely store away all information about them so that nothing escapes to his Necron rivals.

Suddenly he had a bright idea - a quick evaluation of the deamon hordes revealed they were all focused on slashing their enemies into particles up close and personal - the key to victory was to put some distance between them and his warriors. The issue was the deamons were incredibly skilled at crossing that distance in no time. Yet... what if that distance was not horizontal, but vertical?

The Overlord played a recording of a diabolical laugh from his speakers and called for Thoth.

"Secure all our lands and call everyone available back, I need everyone we can spare to finish the first part of our project. There will be no conquest for some time."

Act V - The Experiment

Akhen-Menes had decided to push his project and experiment on some locals. The first stages went well, the technology worked just as H'Tan had promised, that is, it did not malfunction and nothing exploded this time. There was still the question if it had any effect on the humans. The collection of the data had proven to be a bit problematic, since the target area was soon overrun by orks. The timing was unfortunate, had the greenskins arrived a bit sooner, they could have served as the subjects, now they were just complicating things.

The first assessment showed that the subjects were indeed affected as they were docile enough to let the orks butcher them without any opposition. H'Tan informed the overlord that they had hoped the greenskins would just move through the area, kill some or most of the humans and still leave enough to be studied more thoroughly. Yet when the orks found out how impotent the humans have become, they have changed their plans, apparently, butchering those was not "fun enough" and they instead decied to take them as slaves or targets for shooting practice.

"We need the data, my lord!" H'Tan pleaded.

"All right, technomancer, I will get you your data, but you will come with us to collect them yourself!"

"Thoth!" The overlord summoned his royal warden, "you will lead our armies west to destroy the ork nests on the coast while we deal with this."

"Yes, my lord. I shall not disappoint. However, there is still one matter at hand - a triarch pretorian has come to check on our progress with the project."

This was not good news, Akhen-Menes had little love for those obnoxious bastards who enjoyed nothing more than sticking their data cords into what's none of their business. 'Well,' he decided, 'let's try and make the most of it.'

"Tell him to join us on the field of battle, for to oversee the project he has to wade through a mob of greenskins."

...

The humans were troublesome. They did not respond to danger and so threats were useless and they had a tendency to wander away if not restrained. Overall it looked like the project is a success but before more could be determined, the green horde arrived no doubt keen on finally finding a challenge. Well, Akhen-Menes was determined to give them more than they could chew, in other words feed them his warriors until they choke to death. This masterplan has never failed him.

The Triarch Stalker's salvo signalled the proper beginning of the battle. The overlord just managed to spot some strange orkish contraption in the distance that roughly resembled a wingless plane but soon it disappeared in a cloud of green and red. "Pity," he thought having hoped the orks would be able to rid him of the troublesome praetorian.

"My lord?" H'Tan asked.

"I said it's a pity there were not more of them, the honored praetorian will win this skirmish all on his own," Then he signalled his warriors to move forwards to where the human subjects were.

Soon, the green horde was on them as Akhen-Menes expected. He was ready and sent a pulse through his weapon. The cold throb of the weapon calmed him and soon he sent his orders.

<Clear me a path to that strange ork then go and dump yourself on the warboss until he can't move anymore and then stay there until I say otherwise>

Just as he retrieved his blade dripping with orkish blood his occulus recorded an explosion further to the east a quick check with his data field confirmed it was the stalker. 'Oh my, everything is going splendidly,' he thought.

"My lord!" Exclaimed H'tan worried and made him miss the calm and collected Thoth. "The praetorian and his stalker have fallen, we must go there and avenge them!"

'If only they were truly gone,' he thought sourly, 'they will no doubt be reforged soon enough.'

"Great idea, my dear cryptec. Go, secure the humans and avenge our dear praetorian."

Akhen-Menes savored the distressed look on H'tan's face. To his credit, he wavered for but a second. As he disappeared in the direction of the mega-armored nobz the overlord wondered how long it would take to reforge the cryptek and into how many pieces the orks will tear him. A loud crashing noise made him look back. The small hill of Necron bodies was still moving as the warboss struggled to get out.

Akhen-Menes collected a few more humans, killed some orks who had the audacity to come within striking distance and signalled his warriors to return East. All except the dozen or so on top of the warboss, they could stay a bit longer.

...

The overlord observed the displayed visual of the planet, his planet, with codes signalling who controlled which area and where battles were being fought. Most interestingly, the forces of the chaos worshippers have been pushed back to almost present no danger to them. Thoth had informed him of his successful campaign in the North alongside their allies. This in fact troubled him. Their allies did possess Iola-Bra'niv, the ancient artifact of friendship, yet something was awry here. His data from before the great slumber have not survived without issues, still he could trace notes about this artefact and its history. It had been given to this race for the role their played in defeating the star gods. Especially appreciated were the 'weavers' - a specific caste or maybe subspecies who were able to channel great energy. Akhen-Menes had seen the reports of how they controlled the great cosmic flows with intricate gestures of their three hands. He is yet to see an Aeldari with three hands. Maybe this subtype died out over the millenia? Possibility.

He summoned his court, their campaign needs some re-evaluating to be done.

Act IV - Border Skirmish

The S-pa-ce ma-rines. Interesting race these humans. Healthy bodies they have and still they seek to modify them and make them better, It is so familiar yet alien. A race gifted with vigour still being unhappy with what they have. Akhen-menes wondered if the Necrontyr would have been the same, then again, they never had the chance to find out.

"Send them an order to move west, we will go east!" the Overlord said as he watched the columns of the Emperor's soldiers move their way. They have already communicated out their intentions. There will be no clash today. His armies were preparing to support the awakening in the north-west and the humans were simply in their way. It was strategic and tactically wise to avoid confrontation with too many foes at once. Not until all is ready.

The phaeron looked at the squads of enemy soldiers moving closer and examined their blood red armor. As the setting sun hit it with its rays it seemed to shimmer and dance. He was about to order his warriors to start moving when he remembered what the sight in front of him reminded him of - fire.

His warriors immediately obeyed the order and starting shooting at the space marines in the distance, most of their shots never reaching their intended targets. Some managed to scorch the blood red armor.

"My phaeron!" The cryptek yelped surprised, "I thought there was to be no conflict!"

Akhen-menes immediately regained his regal composition, checked his ingram that he indeed sent his remark as an order then he eliminated any traces of befuddlement, shock or anger from his expression or voice and turned to H'Tan "I had ... a change of ... heart," he told his advisor and since that did not reach the intended levels of confidence he adjusted and followed, "let's have a little tête-à-tête."

...

Bolters barked in the distance and bullets came like a torrential horizontal rain from the forest located between the two groups. Some of his warriors fell. And then rose again. Still unhappy about how things turned out, Akhen-menes ordered his warriors to move to the east to avoid direct confrontation. Now that the fight started, he was determined to see it to such an end that would satisfy his ego.

"Priority target for annihilation," he began his command looking at the hulking space marines with swords and shields, "the big marines with swords!" Let's see what those shields are made of and how much they can withstand. After a while he had to turn around as there was no fire raining at his target and his lychguard weren't charging them either. He saw them further away slicing and dicing some regular space marines with swords that hapenned to find themselves at the wrong place in the wrong time. He shook his head in disbelief.

"I said, priority target for annihilation," he paused thinking how to specify it better in case there were some more of the smaller sword-marines around and realized that words can only get you so far. He pointed at his soldiers making a motion that made it clear he meant all of them, "shoot there!" he pointed with his staff at the location the target was last seen. At about the same time a hulking machine came charging at them shooting eighty seven massive reactor bullets every second and raising its big fists. His lychguard moved to it, shields shimmering. This time, Akhen-menes wasn't even that angry. He even decided to join in the fight and it was only thanks to his amazing weapon skill and precision strikes that the machine was soon wrecked. He turned back and saw the marines stomping around like crazy. 'What code possessed them?' he wondered before spotting a few squished scarabs lying around them.

"Third time's the charm - priority target for annihilation, those three space marines in that red armor with big swords that just hacked ScS#12a222561f into pieces at these coordinates," finally, it worked. He surveyed the battlefield and saw the enemy commander walking the other way in the distance. He waved at him and continued on his march north.

Act III - Preparations

The Krorks. Potentially the greatest of problems his planet and plan faced. Not in the short term, for that there were others, but in the long term, should they be left unchecked. He studied all the information gathered by his court and surveyed the data from the armed conflicts of the greenskins when they fought the chaos-men. After a while, Akhen-menes went inside his throne room. Surrounded by the still blackness of the stone he felt calm and his thinking had become sharper still. He closed his eyes and thought about a potential confrontation.

He envisioned the two forces arrayed on the hilly plains ready to fight. No. Unsatisfactory. Krork's attitude must be taken into consideration.

His forces were now defending an ancient obelisk rising high from the ground. The enemy encircled them and prepared to attack. No. Unsatisfactory. Multiple hostile threats on the planet would likely make the encounter way more chaotic. Their forces would be cut from each other.

New scenario. The Necron forces had been delayed by dealing with a minor threat, say the armored men, and some of their elements got far too ahead and got separated. They were about to regroup when a horde of Krorks descended on them from two sides. Yes. Satisfactory. Proceed.

They would not wait, the attack would be swift and ferocious. Maybe a little too rushed, as the data suggested. Their machines would come first, being faster. If he waits, then the chances of victory diminish. He must act. Destroy one enemy before the rest close down. His legions should have no issues with the rank-and-file Krorks. Their living metal bodies should withstand the punishment the greenskins can throw their way, yet the close-combat could be problematic. Note - acquire the Orb of Eternity, that should solve the issue. Threat detected - his warriors locked in combat can have troubles with organized withdrawal. This is far beyond him to deal with though, he has more important stuff to take care of. Solution - request the presence of his royal warden, Thoth. He can take care of that.

So, his warriors expertly fall back from combat shooting with their gauss weapons reducing the enemy to particles. Yet there will be more combat still. His place to shine. Literally. Slicing the ordinary Krorks would be no problem and they will likely just run away after they suffer any losses. The leader. A big, muscled monstrosity with that ugly piece of a claw.

Akhen-menes imagined him fighting this opponent. Swirling around him with his warscythe, cutting him, bleeding him, felling him. Too easy. Make him stand up and attack. Strong, ferocious, brutal. The power of his weaponry very formidable, but he would be blinded by the phaeron's light and would not land more than a single blow. It would be damaging, yes, but nothing his living metal body could not deal with. No reanimation would be necessary. No.

What was left? The massive walker, surrounded by flocks of scarabs. Nothing his warriors could not deal with.

He noticed Thoth back in the room. Oh yes, his loyal royal warden. He would probably kill a unit or two as well.

Review. This was not their ancient enemy, not as the Phaeron remembered them. They did look similar, yes, but their tactics were not the same, their weapons were not the same, the threat was not the same. The differences were so vast he decided they are a different species now. Not as dangerous as the Krorks of before (yet still a threat), something a little bit less though still resembling the original. Let's call them just orks.

Act II - Observing

The whole western hemisphere was a mess. According to the most recent data, there were no less than five warring sides and that was not counting the humans who have landed here earlier. In their desperation to slaughter each other, they had little appetite for strategy it seemed. There were no established lines, whenever one side made a successful push, it immediately found itself beyond its own supply lines and besieged from all sides. It was madness. It was chaos. What a way to wage wars. The new races seemed to have learned nothing.

Akhen-menes studied the map vision and saw rifts in the materium had been spotted in the north and also west. Followers of the new gods have made their way onto their planet. He knew not why this happened, he cared little for it. What mattered was that it made everything more complicated and he could not focus on the project at all. Not before everyone is killed or forced out of their planet.

His servants have been diligent and so there was an abundance of data to study. The main western continent has already become a great battlefield of the two warring human armies. Black versus red. That suited him well. He should make sure not to disturb them. It would be a shame if such good and practical deeds as the enemies killing themselves were interrupted. It seemed though that that was exactly what the Krorks were about to do, ever a nuisance. These degenerate descendants of that ancient race had lost almost all of their forbearers intelligence yet their aptitude to multiply has remained and that could mean complications in the long run. Speaking of degenerates, there were the other humans too. Fewer in numbers than the black or red ones, they ranks bolstered by beings from the immaterium, these biological mistakes were now controlling vast swathes of their planet. Of his planet!

And then there were the Eldar. In the dead center of it. What were their motives? Why did they risk coming here? How were they not all dead already? He studied all the information he had about their forces and their dispositions and decided to test his mind with a little exercise. What if they somehow gathered enough courage to launch a surprise offensive? What if his forces were unable to stop them and got close to him and his personal guard? They would have to be fast and no doubt led by their spiritseer leader. How would that play out?

His personal guard is not equipped to deal with heavily armored vehicles so that would be a problem. The enemy infantry would not survive for long of that he was sure. His cohorts might damage their great walker to not pose such a threat a be an interesting foe in close combat. Yes, he would have to take care of it himself. He was certain that would not prove to be an issue what-so-ever. The only damage the Eldar would do, would be to his pride. Not that that would be nothing, almost the opposite. Yet between the abilities of his guard to slaughter infantry units and his vehicle-killing skills, no enemy would stand a chance. He nodded to himself and made a personal not to call up some Lych Guard and anti-vehicle weapons. Just to be sure.

Act I - Awakening

The wait was over. The time that was prophesized has come. Their time has come.

The air was cold and full of potency. It had a distinctive feel to it. Age. Depth. Death. A tomb.

He was glad the confusion of the early days that followed his awakening was over. It felt like he had lost himself during the great slumber and he had to re-know himself, re-learn who he was, recollect his whole history. It was greatly unpleasant and it felt like sifting through rooms filled with sand up to your hips trying to find some long lost object forgotten on the floor. An object that you couldn't even remember the shape of.

He walked slowly on the vast ramp leading towards the distant singular point of light. Though he had been awake for some time already and emerged from the depths of his own resting place, visiting the great central tomb of Garavon undid all the mental progress he had made since the end of his slumber.

He had to find his bearings soon as all depended on him. It hadn't taken long for him to realize that it was the time of the Great Plan and he had to act. Raising his servants was not that simple either, some of them had apparently lost their minds and would not be brought back, some changed and had to be deactivated for ever. Still, most were responsive to his commands and obeyed them to the letter just as they were supposed to.

The situation was not ideal. The universe was full of upstart races and what was worse, his own tomb world seemed to be filled with them if Thoth and his reports were to be believed. They were there when he awoke and now they are here as well. The vermin just got everywhere and had to be dealt with. He shouldn't have ignored them back at Urthes, yet they did look so inconsequential, a fly to be killed whenever one finds the time to do it. If his consciousness was full back then, he would have no doubt ordered his legions to kill them all... but there is no point bemusing the ifs and what's of the past.

He could feel the air change, it was warmer, drier, more active. The air of a desert storm.

His goal is waiting for him but first he must scour the planet of the aliens. He wanted it done as soon as possible but there were complications. Several of the tombs on this world were unresponsive and yet more had their denizens trapped inside under tons of sand.

Sunlight touched his face as he laid his eyes on the barren landscape of Garavon's eastern hemisphere. He stood there for an hour or more, lost in thoughts, reviewing the situation and the facts. It will take a long time before his forces are up to anywhere near full strength. Fact. Most of his forces are occupied by the project. Fact. The whole western hemisphere of the planet is currently occupied by invasive species. Fact. Sitting and waiting it out might be a viable option. Fact. The forces of the dark star gods must not be allowed to exist. Fact. Their presence on the planet is a smear to his honor. Fact. Unacceptable fact. Result; waiting is not acceptable.

Akhen-menes called on his warden. I need to summon my royal court. See to that and also feed me information about the disposition of the alien life forms.

Thoth bowed his head and retreated from the great throne room. No words were uttered. Nothing dispelled the silence.

Waiting for the answers or his belated crypteks was not an option, the great Phaeron decided, he has to visit the western part of this world and see for himself.