For over a month, Rhodes stayed with his three wives—two Eldar sisters and the goddess (actually four, including the goddess of love)—on the phantom beast planet.
Life was peaceful. Occasionally, he visited other star systems or hive worlds, holding grand parades so his subjects could meet their true lord and local governors could pay respects.
Rhodes's territory was newly established, and all its colonies were recent, with populations mostly brought in by Guilliman from other Imperial worlds.
Guilliman deliberately avoided moving people from the Ultramar 500 worlds, lest Rhodes's territory become an Ultramarine stronghold, which—no matter Rhodes's title—would not do.
So, from the start, Guilliman never intended for people from his own worlds to settle in Rhodes's territory.
Settlers were mostly from overpopulated hive worlds, or refugees driven out by Ork or Chaos invasions. adaptability was strong; with some terraforming, new colonies could be quickly established.
Within decades, the human population would adapt and build cities.
After visiting the hive worlds, Rhodes went to the forge/industrial worlds.
He'd planned ahead: most Mechanicus personnel under him were arranged by Belisarius Cawl, and later replaced with Salome's apprentices.
These Tech-Priests had adopted new ideas, no longer modifying their bodies with machines, though their worship of the Omnissiah would take time to erase—something the Emperor was also working to diminish, with help from the Ecclesiarchy.
Rhodes's manufacturing efforts, powered by much black technology, had huge capacity: indigenous Titans, Knights, power armor, power weapons, bolt and laser arms—even Pedanium weapons.
For large ships, FTL engines had been reverse-engineered and could be installed on some Imperial vessels. In Rhodes's realm, all ships used FTL engines, with journeys anywhere taking just a few days.
Though a little slower than warp travel, it was safer, and FTL allowed closer ties among his people.
Agri-worlds had the smallest populations—just a few million, each responsible for vast tracts farmed industrially, raising huge livestock, or with crops covering the planet. The environment wasn't always the best.
These worlds provided ample food for Rhodes's territory, and even traded food to other regions.
Over a month, Rhodes only inspected the most important worlds, as he was waiting for a long-expected guest who had arrived at the edge of the star system.
Rhodes boarded his flagship and sailed into the void to meet the Necron Overlord Traveler Anrakyr's fleet.
The Necron tomb world was a green pyramid the size of a planetary moon. Nearby was a small human escort ship—a Blood Angels company vessel.
"Is this the ship of the human Primarch Rhodes? Humans have mastered FTL travel?"
Anrakyr looked at the massive flagship on his radar.
It could travel FTL, and was only slightly smaller than Necron ships—a level of technology that merited respect. Clearly, humanity could not be underestimated.
"Humanity hasn't fully mastered FTL. Only some Imperial ships have such engines, usable within a few hundred light-years.
FTL is safer for short distances, but for thousands, even tens of thousands of light-years, we still use warp travel," said the Blood Angels captain.
Some human ships now had FTL, but production was low.
It couldn't meet the Imperial demand, and for long distances, warp travel was still more practical, despite the risk of centuries-long journeys.
In the future, warp travel would remain, but FTL would tie human worlds closer together and be safer for short trips.
"Humanity is excellent. We Necrons have encountered many galactic civilizations. Aside from the Old Ones, you humans are the most perfect sentient species we've seen," Anrakyr said.
The Aeldari were Old One creations—essentially their pets, hardly worth mention.
Orks were savage, their fighting power immense, enough to force Necrons into slumber.
But in this age, if half of the Necrons awoke, they could wipe out the Orks—assuming the Necrons' minds were still sane, which often they weren't after 60 million years of sleep. Many dynasties had vanished into history, destroyed by Aeldari, Orks, humans, or xenos.
Humanity was the only species to evolve to a level the Necrons respected. Given another ten thousand years, they might reach the Necrons' ancient heights.
At that moment, blue light flashed inside Anrakyr's tomb ship. Rhodes activated teleportation, bringing several gene-sons onto Anrakyr's vessel.
As the saying goes, the skilled are bold; even a Necron tomb flagship didn't scare Rhodes.
With Tartarus and Zog backing him, Rhodes had nothing to fear.
"Thank you for your praise! Humanity has a long way to go, but you're right about one thing.
Humans are not inferior to the Old Ones; one day, we will surpass them," Rhodes smiled.
"Amazing teleportation. Not psychic, nor our phase teleportation," Anrakyr remarked with interest.
He'd planned to use phase teleportation onto Rhodes's ship, but found Rhodes had arrived first.
"Lord Anrakyr, our phase teleportation can't reach his ship. There's a powerful shield we can't breach," a Necron technician messaged the Overlord.
Anrakyr had ordered them to prepare, but found they couldn't penetrate a certain energy shield.
"I see," Anrakyr nodded, turning to Rhodes.
"Welcome! I am Anrakyr the Traveler, Overlord of the XXX Dynasty, sent by the Silent King to visit the Imperium," Anrakyr introduced himself.
"As far as I know, our races haven't been friendly. You Necrons attacked us upon waking. Why should we have peace, or even communicate?" Rhodes asked.
"I come in good faith. Many of our kind did attack, but only because you humans occupied our territory," Anrakyr replied.
"Let's be frank, Anrakyr. I quite appreciate you. Want to work for me?" Rhodes said, catching Anrakyr completely off guard.
"Rhodes, did I hear you right? Or is my neural chip malfunctioning? Could you repeat that?" Anrakyr asked, annoyed.
The Blood Angels nearby sensed tension, quickly moving to Rhodes's side to show support.
Rhodes smiled at the captain, snapped his fingers, and in a flash of blue light, teleported the Blood Angels back to his flagship—some things were best kept from them.
"Let's be honest. You're here to investigate the reawakening of the Trazyn the infinite, right?
I can tell you, you've come to the right place. I do have the ability to resurrect your Necrons, to restore you to your form from 60 million years ago," Rhodes declared.
"You… what? Resurrection?" Anrakyr's face grew grave, staring at Rhodes in shock.
At that moment, Zog and Tartarus struck. The two powerful bosses instantly suppressed the minds of all Necrons on the ship, easily locating the tomb world's core.
Anrakyr never dreamed Rhodes would suddenly turn hostile, and with such speed.