Outer region, aboard the Stone Mound warship-
A figure in a Hazardous Environment Suit hurried inside, a scepter still clutched in his hand.
"Amarkun, those humans won!"
"Good heavens, I can't believe it. They actually won!"
"I'm going salvaging! Good heavens, the remains of a forward synapse vessel of the Tyranid Swarm! The museum has never had one before!"
The moment Trazyn entered, he stared in bewilderment at Amarkun kneeling on the floor.
A second later, he saw a familiar figure sitting in what had been Amarkun's seat.
Silent King Szarekh.
Trazyn's face instantly went from white to red, and he slid to his knees.
"Great king, I had no idea you were visiting. Forgive me for failing to welcome you."
Szarekh looked at him and waved irritably. Taking the cue, Trazyn retreated with a grin.
Once the annoying fly had left, silence fell over the room again.
"My king, those humans succeeded. Even now, it seems rather unbelievable."
"Unbelievable indeed. I had expected them to need our support."
In truth, the Necron fleet had always had ample strength to spare to support the humans. The Tyranid fleets that had rushed back in a panic to defend their mothership were utterly vulnerable.
The reason they had remained inactive was the Silent King's order.
Amarkun did not understand why the king had done this. Even considering only the Necrons' own interests, if the humans had failed, they would have had to pay a price to kill that colossal beast. The only reasonable explanation was that the Silent King intended to attack the humans, yet he continued to hold his forces back.
"My king, should we attack the humans now?"
Szarekh shook his head.
"Punishment King, what do you think matters most in a king?"
Amarkun looked at the Necron sovereign in