Fated Meeting

(Weklor, Honored Apprentice of the Webweaver, POV)

After spending 93 years on Tera, seeding a self-sustaining ecosystem and terraforming the planet. Weklor received a notice via the psychic communication network that he should deviate from his immediate return and investigate a species recently discovered. There was an exploratory vessel of this species whose empire was comparable to their own.

Weklor accepted the task immediately since he himself was curious and he had always had a proactivity in his actions among the Great Counsel. They would tend to present new tasks to him first as a priority.

He dropped out of the Webway and in front of a large alien-looking exploratory vessel. It contained many emerald green markings and the energy readings he received from scans indicated it was full of toxic levels of radiation. Just this alone gave him a feeling of disappointment for the aliens he was about to meet. Its entire ship was flooded with poisonous radiation.

*Beep*

"They are hailing our communications." The Bridgemaster stated to Weklor.

"Connect us," Weklor said, tiredly.

A holographic feed emerged from the floor in front of Weklor and stood just as a normal person would stand. It was entirely bronze-red in color and very detailed. The Necrontyr shown from the hologram was decrepit looking and suffering from what looked like severe radiation sickness. Its skin was knarled and flakey, with knots and mutations spread across its open skin. It was humanoid but with a slightly hunched back, its left arm was replaced with a mechanical arm, once again powered by that same harmful radiation.

"GGyis Iom *cough*," The Necrontyr said, bowing slightly.

With a flash of psychic power, Weklor obtained and cross-referenced the language section of the Necrontyr's brain with the same brain patterns of the Old Ones, successfully translating the language for himself and implanting it into his own mind.

"Greetings, foreigners, *cough*," The Necrontyr said, sickly.

Weklor frowned slightly. What kind of first meeting among races is this? Why does this alien seem like it is about to die?

"Greetings, I can't help but notice. Is your ship leaking radiation? You have high levels of dangerous radiation throughout your ship." Weklor said, with the diplomatic tact of a politician.

"We are aware of it." The Necrontyr said, breathing heavily.

" Let me introduce myself, I am Apentet, Leader of this Exploration Vessel, Huroia. " Apentet stated sadly.

" I am Honored One, Weklor, Member of the Great Counsel, Apprentice of the Webweaver. " Weklor said, a hint of arrogance leaking out.

"Shall we consider further friendly introductions in person?"

Apentet glanced back behind him in his hologram, seemingly talking to someone, before turning back to Weklor.

"Then, we of the Huroia, welcome you, Honored One, Weklor" Apentet offered, before the hologram closed and boarding instructions were sent to Weklor's ship's computer.

"Sir... the radiation levels." The Bridgemaster spoke, hesitatingly.

"That level of radiation won't affect someone of my level," Weklor stated, bluntly.

Weklor boarded the Necrontyr exploratory vessel safely along with a small diplomatic convoy of lower-ranked Grand Archons, who were the royal guards of the Honored Ones and also had powerful title technology applied to them. The Grand Archons wore small radiation shield devices on their chests, typically used for exploring radiation-rich environments. They needed to use them here, just to enter the ship safely.

The Necrontyr ship was filled with coffins, skulls, and black metal that contained vein-like living tissues throughout the visible areas. Necrontyr ship members met them halfway upon entering and escorted them to the bridge where Apentet awaited them. The Necrontyr were even more sickly when viewed up close, with many hose-like apparatuses sicking into their bodies or heads to keep them functioning.

Eventually, they reached the bridge and Weklor was able to sit and a table alongside Apentet, and formally begin diplomatic introductions. Weklor began with his race's introduction and the gloriousness of their empire spanning the opposite side of the galaxy from here. The Great Counsel picked a good representative this time as Weklor was very familiar with his own race's various achievements and glories. He even 'mistakenly' gave out some information about the Old One's immortality technology as an act of trust. And it seemed to have a good effect, at least in the beginning.

Apentet, now much more excited than before, proceeded to explain to Weklor about his race's harsh infirmities and birthplace. The young are born radiation sick from genetic decay and secondhand contact radiation poisoning. Their livespans were usually around 23 years with no member ever living past 30 years old. They have suffered much and their race's greatest hope is to reverse the decay their homeworld sun had wrought them. But no matter what they had done, they had not succeeded.

However, this was where the diplomatic discussion turned cold. Apentet bluntly asked if the Old Ones would be willing to give their immortality technology to the Necrontyr people, even at a high price.

"It's not that we don't want to help you. But our technology won't work for you. Since your species has yet to encounter the Immaterium, I can only assume that your race does not possess psykers." Weklor said, truthfully.

"Our Old One's diplomatic policy is to help bring honor to all life. We believe that all life has its niche to fill. " Weklor said, with some faux kindness in his tone.

"*cough* I see," Apentet said, coughing.

"May I ask that you come back for a diplomatic discussion with our Triarch?" Apentet asked.

"I can do this," Weklor said, his voice rising in delight.

It was one thing to be the representative honored with first contact with a civilization, but it was another to meet the head of that said civilization as if they were a meeting among equals.

"Good, we can set a course now. We are not far off and will arrive in about two months' time." Apentet said, thinking out loud.

"Two months? Oh... right" Weklor asked, confused.

Through the use of the Webway, the Old Ones could arrive at any place in the galaxy in only a matter of hours, but since the Necrontyr lacked any information about the Immaterium they had to do things the slow way. Weklor then left the Huroia and returned to his ship along with his guard of Grand Archons. He decided it would be for the best if he kept the Webway as a hidden trump card, in case anything happened to cause negotiations to break down.

So he played the waiting game, following after the Huroia for two months until they finally arrived in front of the Necrontyr homeworld and its sickly green star.