Sovereign - Culture: Since the completion of the Exterminatus, there are no Loyalist Humans surviving upon Sovereign. The entire Human population was completely exterminated. None were capable of surviving the devastation. The world is effectively abandoned, save for irregular patrols by Deathwatch assets.Not even a garrison is maintained upon Sovereign. In the Imperium's absence, others have begun to encroach upon the abandoned world. While its atmosphere is toxic and its soil is inhospitable, Sovereign does offer one thing of value to its visitors -- privacy.Few have visited the world, for any reason, since its devastation. The pollution-choked atmosphere is impenetrable to visual sensors and can even block more complex active and passive sensor systems outside of the visual spectrum.A group that seeks complete isolation could scarcely find a world better-suited to their shadowy purposes. Key among these visitors is a substantial group of Dark Mechanicum Hereteks and their followers. Taking advantage of the world's isolation, these Chaos-corrupted technologists initially came to Sovereign in search of resources.The absence of any Imperial influence and its effective isolation made it an ideal place to create a Hell-Forge devoted to the Stigmartus cause -- if they could find the necessary minerals. In the course of their first visit, they discovered a complex series of caverns beneath the planet's surface.These were exposed for the first time in millions of standard years after the Inquisition's bombs cratered the surface. As they investigated these tunnels, the Hereteks were surprised to discover evidence of an ancient xenos culture. The first caverns they explored, nearest the planet's surface, showed ancient inscriptions and artistry.As they descended ever deeper beneath the planet's crust, the Hereteks first discovered complex security systems, which utilised technology that pushed the boundaries of their understanding. Taking great care to avoid tripping these systems, over the course of several years the Traitors discovered how to disarm these traps.Eventually, they discovered a vast complex storing thousands of inanimate mechanical humanoids -- Necron Warriors. Clearly of xenos origin, the Hereteks soon began the process of investigating this ancient xenotech in the hopes of seizing control of it to exploit its power. The research was conducted under the strictest of conditions.With the utmost care, they began by attempting to master the inscriptions and language used throughout the complex, even before they tampered with any devices.This was in part so that they could avoid inadvertently activating anything. This study lasted several years, during which time an extensive base camp was established within the caves, near the world's surface.Before the Hereteks could complete their analysis, they were shocked when many of the ancient devices suddenly activated. Confident that they had done nothing to trigger the activation, they initially attempted to continue their survey.Elsewhere within the vast tomb complex, thousands of Canoptek Scarabs also returned to awareness. Their first command was to identify the intruders who had taken up residence within another of the stasis crypts.In short order, a small swarm of robotic scarabs descended upon the Hereteks and their servants. The ensuing conflict was brief, but definitive. The Hereteks were able to maintain a foothold within the xenos crypt, but they sustained substantial losses in the process.A vessel was immediately dispatched to obtain reinforcements -- the potential knowledge was far too vast to so easily surrender. The Necrons of the Suhbekhar Dynasty, in contrast, had awakened in response to a signal received from their crownworld.They knew that the time to awaken from their sleep of aeons had finally come. However, they were also aware that another intelligent species had intruded upon their sleeping chambers.Fearing what might be lost, they began to activate additional defenders at the same time as they attempted to identify the severity of the intrusion.As soon as additional forces can be prepared, the Necrons plan to extract the most severe payments from those who would dare to disturb their rest.