Vael'Rothuun observes the natural result of the Toads' reaction, envy. It seems unreal to learn that another intelligent species enjoys such long lives while the Necrontyr's own are cut so brutally short and filled with pain and suffering. Their begging for help was left unanswered by the Toads, and they even threatened the Necrontyr not to approach them, or they would meet them with force.
But as time wore on, further strife came to the Necrontyr. Each dynasty sought to claim its own destiny, and soon the great houses were engaged in all-out conflicts, which would be known as the 'Wars of Secession.' Dynasties attacked and warred against one another. They killed themselves and cut their already short lifespans even further. As the years pass, it is clear to Vael'Rothuun that they won't make it this way, and his plan, if he can go through with it, will have to start soon. So he went out to look for a particular dynasty. One that wasn't so interested in power or immortality and had values that could work for him. Ambition was good, but only to a certain healthy degree.
Had circumstances remained as they were for but a generation more, Vael'Rothuun has calculated that the Necrontyr would have wiped themselves out, as he had seen so many species do before them and shall do in the future. As the Necrontyr's territory grew ever wider and more diverse, the unity that had made them strong was eroded, and bitter wars were waged as entire realms fought to win independence.
Ultimately, the Triach realised that the only hope of unity for their people lay in conflict with an external enemy, but few could prove a credible threat to the technologically advanced Necrontyr. As tragic as they were in terms of life spans, so impressive were they in terms of technology. It was a paradox to Vael'Rothuun to see them being able to travel the galaxy and use such powerful weapons, but none of them could cure their fickle genetic code, filled with mutations. So the Triarch saw only one who could be said enemy, the one the entire Necrontyr race could rally against. The Old Ones.
Only the Old Ones were a fitting foe, powerful enough to unite the warring and heavily divided Necrontyr dynasties to a common cause. Such a war was simplicity itself to justify, for the Necrontyr had ever been angered at the Old Ones' refusal to share the secrets of eternal life. They wanted what the Old Ones had, and they would not yield. Such was the Triarch's arrogance.
So it was that the Silent Kings of the Szarekhan Dynasty, in a typically bitter act of jealousy and resentment for the Necrontyr species, declared war on the Old Ones. At the same time, he offered amnesty to any secessionist Necrontyr dynasties who willingly returned to the fold of the Triarch. He was smart about it and offered great rewards for those who joined, as the spoils were the Old Ones' scientific research and, as such, immortality. Who wouldn't want that among the Necrontyr? Thus lured by the spoils of victory and the promise of immortality, the countless Necrontyr realms abandoned, momentarily, their Wars of Secession, and set out to wage a terrible war against the much older and more advanced Toads. This will later be known as the "War in Heaven". A two-part war that saw the loss and then pseudo rise of the Necrontyr, only to pay the greatest of prices. A conflict unlike any fought before erupted across the stars, yet while the Silent King and the Triarch had succeeded in uniting their hateful people, it was a war the Necrontyr could not win. Not on their own.
.
Vael'Rothuun observes the 1'297'222'710 ships currently attacking the Old Ones' settlements and trying to win a decisive victory. He knows that there is no way they can win, as he has seen what types of weapons the Toads possess. He was there when they created it, improved it, and then stored it until it was old and dusty. Even this dusty and 'old' armoury would be more than enough to put the Necrontyr in their place.
The Necrontyr had 'better' technology if you only looked at the warring aspect of it and the one dealing with the material world. Still, for anything else, like biology and the Warp, the Old Ones were so far ahead that it wasn't even necessary to be that advanced in terms of armoury.
Seeing this, Vael'Rothuun chooses this point in time to start his plan. He has observed the Necrontyr and their vast, canopy-like divided Empire and has found a particular Dynasty, which he chose as the recipient of his 'gift'. When the War of Succession fractured the Necrontyr and the Triarch's authority, countless Dynasties turned on one another, grasping for power, pride, and senseless glory. But not the Akethekh Dynasty.
The Akethekh Dynasty chose non-aggression. They refused to initiate attacks and would only respond when they were attacked, defending their coreworld with all their might. Over the years, this caused them to become very skilled in defending themselves when threatened. Their territory became known as the Veil of Quiet Suns—a zone where many other minor dynasties sought to take advantage of, as each attempt was not answered with aggression. But the Akethekh were not prey; they were simply not interested in expansion and were happy with what they had, valuing preservation over it. As hilarious as it might seem, the Akethekh Dynasty believes that life is sacred, even if it is burdened by a short time frame and terrible pains throughout. They seek restoration, not domination.
Yet, among that belief, rests a constant seeking of progress. The Akethekh are by no means a stagnant dynasty. They put all their effort into creating technology that was meant for defence, rather than offence, and they became truly skilled with it. No other dynasty could contend when it came to defence.
Vael'Rothuun makes his way to Men'karathekh, the core world of the Akethekh Dynasty, located on the western edge of the Segmentum Obscurus. Dense electromagnetic storms from a peculiar rotation and explosion of a star add to the defensive way of the dynasty.
At the centre of the world's largest megapolis, an enormous monolith stands with words inscribed on it.
'Ours is not the age of glory, but of holding together what little we have left'
Close by is the Stillborn Forum, a circular citadel where high dynastic decisions are made by consensus. Named for the painful losses suffered during their early colonisation wars. Instead of ruling via will and dominance, decisions are reached through patient oration and archival references. Still, the Phaeron holds the highest authority and the final say in most matters, but he is more than willing to listen to reason, which makes them slower to respond to threats, but not truly slow. The Phaeron has his dynasty's well-being in mind at all times.
"We can't refuse a call such as this. The Szarekhan Dynasty's Silent Kings have called all of the Necrontyr to arms against the Old Ones. Who are we to remain here and not involve ourselves in this war? What if they finish the war, come home successfully and then look at all those who refused the call? No amount of Necrodermis will save us then," one of the Necrontyr says.
"Koratosar speaks true. Should the Silent Kings return, we shall perish, and that is a simple fact. Also, we won't get to taste the fruits of the war and gain eternal life," another agrees.
"Since when has eternal life truly mattered to us? We of the Akethekh Dynasty pride ourselves on being the only ones among the Necrontyr that have made peace with our past. We may focus on the future, but we live in the present."
"But why would we ignore the call, when we could gain eternal life soon, Obanoekh? We are looking for ways to change and improve our genetic structure, but there has been almost no improvement whatsoever. Helping our brethren is not only loyal towards our kin, but a change and a way for us to grow as a Dynasty."
The discussion goes on like this, and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight. Finally, the Phaeron Simaek puts an end to the discussion.
"I understand the concerns of both sides of this argument. And both sides have points that I consider valid. But let us not forget that while progress and evolution are as essential as life itself, greed is what kills that momentum and causes us to fall into oblivion. We are not weak, nor are we pathetic or cowards for not attending the war against the Old Ones. We are smart," Simaek starts.
"I ask you all, what was it that caused the Old Ones to rise to the top of the galaxy in terms of authority and power? Was it technology? Maybe. Was it their long lives? Probably. Or was it something we don't know yet, because we can't know? Most definitely.
The Old Ones have managed to achieve eternal life through means we don't know. They stand on a different plane of existence than we can comprehend at this point in time. I read the reports and know that they didn't seem to be fully armed or equipped when they met with our envoys. A race that is not scared of what it sees is a race that has no reason to fear us. I don't know what makes them so confident, but I do know that once the Necrontyr find out the reason, it will be too late and the War in Heaven will be lost.
I am unwilling to sacrifice more of our people for a cause that is doomed to fail and has no merit. Therefore, I, Simaek, Phaeron of the Akethekh Dynasty, decree that we shall abstain from entering the war against the Old Ones and will remain here, continuing to prepare for the future."
...
For a moment, the hall is silent. But then, a screeching and twisted voice is heard from all around them.
{A sMaRt DeCiSiOn... PhAeRoN...}
Vael'Rothuun speaks using the energies present to create sound. He hasn't done that yet, so he has little experience. He has to hold himself back constantly, to not destroy the building with his seemingly boundless energetic presence.
"What was that?!"
"Call to arms!"
Chaos ensues in the Stillborn Forum. But before that can get out of hand, the Phaeron calls everyone to calm down.
"Please, calm down. If this voice came from a malicious source, it could have done more than surprise us. So, I would like to know... who are you?"
{yOuR wIsDoM iS iMpReSsIvE, pHaErOn. i BeLiEvE yOu WiLl Do NiCeLy.}
"It is hard to understand you, whoever you are. Do you mind changing it?" Simaek asks.
{i Am sTiLl LeArNiNg tO cReAtE bEtTeR sOuNdInG wAvEs. mY aPoLoGiEs. aS fOr mY nAmE, i aM kNoWn aS vAeL'rOtHuUn.}
"Vael'Rothuun? A strange name, unlike anything I have ever heard. What is it you seek here?"
{I sEeK... fRiEnDs... I sUpPoSe yOu cOuLd cAlL iT. I aM aN eXiStEnCe vErY uNlIkE yOuRs aNd sEeK tO...}
"Forgive me for interrupting you, Vael'Rothuun. But there is nothing free in this galaxy. And if you truly are what you claim... I am sure you may be able to prove it in some way."
{PrOoF, iS iT? vErY wElL...}
Suddenly, a great wind picks up inside the dome, and in the middle of it, at the very centre, an enormous spike in the gravitational force takes place. The weak and strong forces are manipulated, as is the electromagnetic force, to keep all the Necrontyr present from being affected and ripped apart. A second later, in the centre, a small black hole appears.
The Necrontyr observe as the black hole gets smaller and smaller, and gravity shoots higher exponentially. Then, the black hole collapses, and from the implosion... a new galaxy is born from the energy released.
Inside the Stillborn Forum, a miniature galaxy is created, pulling all of the Necrontyr present into a stupor with their jaws hitting the floor. A second later, the galaxy disappears again, as if it had never been there.
...
{Now, hOw AbOut we tAlk?}
.
The terrible war between the Old Ones and the Necrontyr that followed their foolish dream of unification, known later in Aeldari myth as the "War in Heaven," would fill a library in their own right, but the Necrontyr could never win. Their superior technology was consistently outmanoeuvred by the Old Ones thanks to their mastery of the Webway portals and Warp Gates. It turns out that Phaeron Simaek was correct in his assumption and prediction. The Old Ones were superior to the Necrontyr in ways they hadn't accounted for, and now, they paid the price.
The Necrontyr were pushed back on the galactic battlefield until they were little more than an irritation to the Toads' dominance of the galaxy, a silent threat clinging to their irradiated world among the Halo Stars, exiled and forgotten. Looking back at it, it was embarrassing for them, and if the next events hadn't occurred, they might even have been laughed at.
What the Necrontyr don't know as of yet is that they will remain on their irradiated planet for 1000 years to come, and their fury will turn into pure, unadulterated hatred.
There was but one Dynasty that wasn't affected, the Akethekh Dynasty. They had pulled back from the matters of the rest of the Necrontyr Empire and had somehow managed to evade the Old Ones' gaze at the end of the first part of the War of Heaven.
How they managed to do that might never be known.
_______________________
So we are currently amidst this 1,000-year break before the second iteration of the War of Secession starts.