The third sub-fleet of the Aether Fleet.
Led by a Malanthrope Queen, they had successfully devoured dozens of Tau Empire worlds. Based on this efficiency, the third sub-fleet was set to be the first to approach the core sectors of the Tau Empire.
Until—
In Imperial records, this planet was known as "The Resting Place." Once a battlefield for the Ultramarines and Word Bearers during the Horus Heresy, it was originally a Dead World. Now, the Tau Empire occupied several planets in this sector, turning them into mining worlds due to their rich metallic ore deposits.
Coincidentally, minerals were also food for the Tyranids. Tyranid chitin could be reinforced using various metals, becoming even harder than the metals themselves. Tyranid bio-technology was truly terrifying.
Without hesitation, the third sub-fleet charged toward these industrial worlds. Logically, these worlds should have possessed formidable military strength. However, many of these forces had been redeployed to counter the Imperium of Man. At the same time, some warships that ventured out to intercept the sudden Tyranid threat were crushed in head-on engagements.
There was, however, another reason.
The third sub-fleet noticed strange, fluorescent green glows appearing on these planets, but the Malanthrope Queen paid them no mind.
That is, until dozens of Harpies flying in the sky were blasted down by runic pylons on the ground.
On the surface, Tomb Obelisks rose one after another. Night Scythes ascended from nameless causeways. The Tyranids on the ground encountered countless Necron Warriors awakening from their slumber—undead legions that had just finished destroying the crude factories and colonies of the Tau.
Gauss weapons dismantled the Tyranids directly, leaving behind no organic matter. Meanwhile, the living metal bodies of the Necrons were extremely difficult to consume. In other words, for Tyranids to fight Necrons was no different from a slow death.
It took the third sub-fleet several days to realize what kind of enemy they were fighting, but it was too late. The Necron Dynasty sleeping here activated battle-factories that had been dormant for tens of millions of years. Massive warships began to surface. Furthermore, squads of Deathmarks utilized dimensional corridors to appear on various battlefields, even attempting to assassinate the Malanthrope Queen directly.
These assassins, flickering between different dimensions, plunged the third sub-fleet into a never-ending, bitter struggle.
Thus, a Norn Emissary appeared.
Yuno looked toward the direction of the third sub-fleet. She sensed that something had gone wrong there, but due to the limitations of the physical universe, the third fleet itself hadn't even figured out who the enemy was. Could the Tau have such combat power that the fleet didn't even know what it was fighting?
"What's wrong?"
Yuno answered Yuki, "The third sub-fleet has encountered an extremely troublesome enemy. The Malanthrope Queen over there has gestated a Norn Emissary."
"What enemy? Aside from the likes of Shadowsun or Farsight, the Tau don't have anyone worth deploying a Norn Emissary for, do they?"
"That's the problem. The third fleet hasn't obtained specific data."
"Meaning almost every unit that engaged those enemies was wiped out?"
Yuki had an extremely ominous premonition.
"Yes. There are a few fragments of footage here."
Yuno showed Yuki a segment of visual data. It was footage from a Harpy as it was being shot down. Yuki clearly saw several flashes of green light from the ground before the Harpies fell. There were also glimpses of things appearing out of nowhere to attempt an assassination on the Queen before vanishing upon being repelled.
His heart tightened. Did he even need to keep guessing?
"Isn't that the Necrons? Damn, how can there be a sleeping Necron Dynasty in this sector?"
Yuno was also somewhat surprised. "Are you sure? I remember a Necron Dynasty was awakened when Hive Fleet Gorgon attacked last time. Are Necron Dynasties sold wholesale now?"
Yuki almost couldn't keep it together. According to the lore of certain "Nottingham-based small-town enterprises," Necron Dynasties weren't much different from being wholesale. As long as the writers wanted, they could pull a super-dynasty out of nowhere at any time.
The Necrons. This race, much like the Tyranids, was one of the top contenders to win the galactic battle royale.
"That has to be the Necrons. Those runic pylons left a deep impression on me."
Yuki used to have friends he played Warhammer with. One of them played Necrons and loved to shout, "By order of the Silent King!" during games. Under that friend's influence, his knowledge of the Necrons was second only to his knowledge of the Tyranids.
There was another friend who played Blood Angels, but that guy didn't talk much—he'd just give a war cry when the game got intense, only to be teased by everyone for having a Black Rage episode.
So many years had passed in the blink of an eye.
"Send my consciousness over. We can't fight a war of attrition with the Necrons. Our biomass is finite, but the Necrons' Reanimation Protocols are endless."
Yuno made a quick assessment. "Sending you over will take some time. It's like remote control; it requires a stable psychic connection."
"But the Necrons—"
"Their technology suppresses Warp-based psychic powers, but our psychic energy stems from mental strength and is linked through the Hive Mind. Since I'm personally facilitating the connection, it should be fine."
Yuki could see that Yuno didn't intend to let him go over completely—only via remote control. This concern was understandable. The Necrons were entities that loathed life, former slaves of the C'tan; they truly possessed the black technology to take him out for good.
There was no use in arguing. Yuki complied with Yuno's wishes. Before departing, he reassured her: "I'm going there primarily to disengage. There is no benefit to fighting Necrons on a Tomb World."
"We usually steer clear of Tomb Worlds anyway. Sigh, these guys really are a nuisance," Yuno complained. "What's worse is that they chase you down like madmen, making it a headache every time a Hive Fleet encounters them... Oh, you've already departed."
Yuki regained consciousness. He was now in control of the Norn Emissary just produced by the third fleet.
"We welcome your arrival," the Malanthrope Queen signaled.
Yuki issued an immediate command: "Contract the lines and prepare for retreat. Assemble an elite force for me. I'm going down to the surface to stall them. It would be even better if I can sabotage their tomb."
Since it was remote control, Yuki could act with more abandon. Furthermore, the strength of a Norn Emissary—positioned in the top tier just below the Hive Tyrant's unique forms—gave him the power to take a gamble.
"Necrons? Dammit, if I can't beat the Silent King, you think I can't beat you? Move out!"