Whether you can accept it or not, these are all facts.
The Imperium of Man only changed so dramatically because of Rhodes existence—and in just a few short years.
Forget it, I'll let Guilliman handle this guy.
Rhodes shook his head, intending to leave the medbay and let this Primarch rest. Once they returned to Holy Terra, the scholars could defend him in theological debates.
"Wait! I have something to discuss with you," Rogal Dorn, sitting in the med-pod, suddenly spoke up.
"What is it?"
"My injuries and the fact that I was captured—these must be kept absolutely secret. If word gets out, it'd devastate Imperial morale.
You just said you'll soon launch a massive crusade. For that to succeed, morale must remain high. So, news of my capture by the Necrons must not leak." Dorn said.
"Don't worry, I'll handle it. As a Primarch, your return will boost morale. I'm counting on you to lead an army!" Rhodes replied.
He'd already planned for this. Dorn's return would only bring positive news for the Imperium.
"Then I'm relieved. Anyway, thank you for saving me. I owe you a favor," Dorn nodded.
Rhodes waved off the thanks and left the medbay. You owe me much more than that. I even have to prepare a cosmic beast for you!
No sooner had Rhodes stepped outside than Titus rushed over, bowed, and reported:
"Lord Rhodes! Our radar has detected a massive planetary fortress approaching—it's the Necron fortress we attacked before."
Rhodes's battleship could travel at hundreds of times the speed of light. Unless the distance was too great, they cruised in realspace, rarely entering the Warp.
Only Necron ships could possibly catch up to them. Human battle barges hadn't yet been mass-fitted with FTL engines—it was too vast a project, and those engines required tight security.
"Don't worry. Slow down, let them catch up," Rhodes instructed.
As he expected, Trazyn had quickly caught up after barely a day's travel. He'd clearly overestimated the so-called Silent King.
But everything was under control!
"Lord Rhodes! Should we activate the Pedanium main cannon?" Tyberos asked.
A Necron fortress catching up was never a good thing. They had to prepare for battle—the Necron planet-fortress was the largest war-construct humanity had ever seen, even bigger than the Ork Attack Moon from the Beast War.
"No need, everything is in my plan. Return to your posts," Rhodes said.
He entered the command room. The ship was largely automated—crews just maintained systems like radar, warp drive, and void shields all modifications by Belisarius Cawl.
Once inside, Rhodes summoned AsanethAyu from the shadows.
"Father!"
"Stick to the plan," Rhodes ordered.
"Yes, Father! Your will is my purpose," AsanethAyu replied, kneeling in awe.
Rhodes nodded, slowed the ship, and even lowered the shields.
The battleship followed Rhodes's will, barely needing manual piloting. Soon, a communication channel opened.
Rhodes smiled and pressed the comms button—a familiar face appeared.
"Good day, Trazyn the Infinite! What brings you here? Is there a problem?
Our business is done. I even gave you a special bonus gift!" Rhodes said with a grin.
He deliberately emphasized Trazyn's name. Trazyn's expression darkened, but he took a deep breath and suppressed his anger.
"You certainly gave me a surprise, all right. That gift has put me in quite a predicament!" Trazyn replied.
"Oh? Did I trouble you? But I only give gifts—things every Necron dreams of. If you don't want it, I can take it back. Shall I?" Rhodes smirked.
Trazyn's face was grim. Taking the gift back would mean his death.
But could Rhodes really take it back? If so, it meant his life was always in Rhodes's hands.
A deep fear and powerlessness gripped Trazyn. So this is what resurrection meant!
He finally realized Rhodes had done this on purpose. Even resurrected, he wasn't truly free—just enslaved in a different way. Rhodes's words were a threat: What I give, I can take away. I raised you, I can end you—simple as that.
"Lord Rhodes, I appreciate your gift—the joy of rebirth is unforgettable. But you've caused me a huge problem.
Now the entire Necron empire, including the Silent King and all phaerons, will hunt us. Remember—not just me, but us," Trazyn said.
This was no empty threat. The news of resurrection, once spread, would cause unimaginable chaos!
Rhodes chuckled, "Are you sure? Are you sure all Necrons will hunt us and not just you?"
"I'm not joking. You underestimate Necron power. In 60 million years, we've slept and recovered.
If we wished, we could wipe out all human civilization in an instant. Do not anger the Necrons. You made a mistake—you should have wiped those memory backups, or warned me first."
Rhodes smiled, "You mean the news is out, and all Necrons know I can revive them, right?"
"Exactly. You're in big trouble—but we can fix it if you'll work with me. Humanity and the Necrons could even form an alliance," Trazyn offered.
He phrased it gently, but Necron pride meant they'd sooner wipe out humanity and seize Rhodes's tech. At best, humans might become vassals—true alliances were reserved for beings on the C'tan's level.
Rhodes laughed, "Anything you can think of, I've already anticipated. They can spread your image, but not mine."
He wasn't afraid of playing games with the Necrons. Their tech, impressive as it was, was nothing compared to the Absolutians—a multiversal civilization to whom even Necrons were primitives.
"So you blocked all resurrection footage, even my talks with AsanethAyu?" Trazyn asked, stunned.
"Correct. No one saw my methods, no recordings, nothing to leak," Rhodes replied.
"But after you left, my backup broadcast our conversation—and it knows about you," Trazyn said.
Rhodes countered, "How's your reputation in the galaxy? Among your kin?"
Trazyn fell silent.
"As far as I know, Lord Trazyn's reputation is terrible—even among Necrons. You're known as a thief, a robber, a con artist!" AsanethAyu chimed in.
Trazyn's face flushed but he couldn't argue—it was true. Even among Necrons, he was infamous.
"That's not me! I'm a scholar, a historian, a preserver of relics—not a thief or raider. That was the Necron me—a twisted monster!" Trazyn protested.
He tried to distance himself from his own Necron self, disgusted by what he'd become.
"That's not my concern! Tell me—if you spread the news, will the phaerons or Silent King believe you? Won't they think it's a fake video to provoke war with humanity?" Rhodes asked.
The Silent King hadn't yet decided on war with humanity, and Necron unity was shaky—Imotekh was even rebelling.
Trazyn was speechless. As Rhodes said, with only his own confession, it would be hard to convince the other Necrons. More likely, they'd suspect a trick and come after him to extract his secrets.
"You should join me, Trazyn. Think about it," Rhodes grinned.
"You! You—!"
"Trazyn, remember—who resurrected you? What's given can be taken. In a sense, we're all Lord Rhodes's children. You're not who you were—we're all new beings now," AsanethAyu said, shattering Trazyn's last illusions.
"Let your Necron self suffer. Soon, all Necrons will hunt him. He's doomed," Rhodes concluded.