The Vault of Pansophicality

Chapter #1: Ruptures

Hekehtar was an elder, rusted Cryptek. Known for being one of the foremost servants of the Stormlord himself, Hekehtar proved valuable when it came to all matters C'tan. As a result of this, the hunched Plasmancer was gifted with his own cabal of Crypteks, and their servants, to aid him in his scientific faculties and pursuits. Now Hekehtar, known as the Alkahestor, finds himself in the arid ruins of Naogeddon sent to disptach another ruinous congregation of explorators from the notorious, Adeptus Mechanicus. Grasping tightly of his modified Eldritch Lance, he used it to move his Necrodermal form as sand particles accumulated on his feet. A loyal subject of his, a Technomancer by the name of Galvetryze, approached Hekehtar. Galvetryze was a brilliant Cryptek, yet the Great Sleep had its toll on him, and thus the Technomancer developed a fixation with all things bizarre and exotic. Galvetryze now spoke up.

"Your eminence, celestial scannings dictate that the fleshling hive lurks north. I suggest we make haste to their outpost as to complete this operation efficiently and quickly. I have Canopteks back on the cruiser I need to be attending to and Szephrul has proven to be an impatient lord and he's known for enacting punishments such as disintegration."

Hekehtar looked to the Technomancer, the name Szephrul reminded him. A brilliant tactician for a Necron who is but a lord. However, Szephrul was known to prefer direct command over his assigned detachments, never wishing to work with another. Hekehtar, in a low tone befitting of an elder, replied to his follower.

"Galvetryze, our orders originate from a source that is far more paramount than Szephrul, so you mustn't fear imposing his wrath, for even he comprehends how grave a miscalculation such a course of action would be. Nevertheless, speed would empower our own detriment. These beings possess an intelligence exceeding other life-forms within their Imperium and thus caution is key here."

Galvetryze was always something of a wildcard amongst Crypteks, argumentative and prone to outbursts of animosity. However even he wouldn't question the rule of a Cryptek as old as Hekehtar. Galvetryze now responded, holding in his infantile irritation as he did.

"Of course, your eminence. Your wisdom is of bounds unfathomed by these wretched hybrids of foul metal and rotting flesh..."

Galvetryze reunited with the rest of the Hektarus Conclave, the name Hekehtar devised for his followers. Hekehtar looked back as he began to trot to the rest of his conclave, seeing Galvetryze now speak to his resident Psychomancer, Umbrahktep. Umbrahktep was another peculiar Cryptek, one of great intelligence but even greater curiosity. Umbrahktep's unnatural fascination with organics made him a figure of controversy, which was only heightened by his discomforting demeanor. Despite this, Hekehtar saw the value within Umbrahktep, and thus the Pyschomancer remained in the ranks of his conclave. Hekehtar now united with his troops as they disembarked towards the Mechanicus outpost.

They clambered onto a ridge; their Skorpekh Destroyer accomplices barely being held back by external protocols installed by Galvetryze. Umbrahktep was the first to begin reconnaissance, but another came to his side. Kaermohn-keht, the Hektarus Conclave's Chronomancer. Kaermohn-keht was old, almost as old as Hekehtar himself and nearly as potent. Kaermohn-keht walked with a staff of his own creation, the Conflux Stave, which could manifest different possibilities and actions that overlapped with himself, making any future attack with the hyperphase-blade mounted staff nearly impossible to predict. Kaermohn-keht spoke now, in his characteristically cold and logical tone.

"Umbrahktep, the skeins here fluctuate, and the threads are tampered. Is that which we've titled the 'Interloper,' perhaps meddling with our technology here?"

Umbrahktep turned, readjusting his ocular apparatuses as he did. He replied in a discomfortingly expressive tone.

"Ooh! What a fascinating discovery. A true shame that Subject #9 isn't here to join us, is it not? Nevertheless, the 'Interloper,' always took a fascination in the temporal-warping our engines could achieve, or at least that's what my observations decree. I say we should pay the good Archmagos a visit, I've longed to see him again!"