[Being a study on the methods and culture of the ancient Necrontyr race]
Transmitted: Magos Biologis Research
Station: Denebar
Received: Nallisea III
Date: 8629999.M41
Astropath: Prime Estellis
Ref: INQ.XB.13032/N
Collated by: Magos Biologis Urieth Malkar
| Use of Nanotechnology by the Necrontyr Race My Lord, As stated in my last report, I have been studying the Necrontyr's use of nanotechnology. It is really fascinating, though we have not made as much progress I would prefer. The Necrontyr use nanotechnology in a variety of ways. With their weaponry, they have used it to create smaller components, including miniature crystals that contain tremendous amounts of energy. This allows them to carry potent weapons. I have ordered a team of TechPriests to study this use of nanotechnology so that we may better understand it and, Machine God willing, incorporate it into our own equipment. Imagine the power that could be carried by our God Titans if we were to reduce the size needed for a turbolaser to one half or one quarter what it currently is! With less mass, we could also increase our God Titans' speed. The possibilities are staggering. Miniaturized drones have been found in some 'dissected' Necrontyr bodies as well. From the research we have done so far, we have determined that they serve multiple functions. First and foremost is the destruction of any foreign object or substance that enters the Necrontyr's body, allowing the Necrontyr to have no worries about 'infections' of any kind. (This is similar in function to human t-cells and Tyranid phage cells.) These drones also produce a slight electrical field which can be built up to astonishing levels in some instances, allowing them to momentarily stun an opponent in one on one combat. We believe it is this field that also produces the EMP-like bursts that disable weaponry within a 40m radius around a Necron. The drones also provide the Necrontyr with a self-diagnosis system. That is, they monitor the body and report any anomalies. Nanotechnology is also used to reduce the spatial and energy requirements of sensor and communication equipment, allowing such equipment to be installed in all warriors and drones. This gives the Necrontyr an excellent combat situational awareness. It also allows them to have almost hive-like connected communications within a settlement or army, allowing a single warrior to share his thoughts with the rest of his force almost simultaneously. As an example, if a Necrontyr army is being flanked, their units will sense the impending attack and instantly warn the rest of the force. We have found such abilities to be very dangerous to our forces in the case of the Tyranids. We have managed to create miniature communication jammers with a range of five meters, but we obviously need a greater range. We will continue to work on these devices. Nanotechnology is also applied within shielding and cloaking devices. This allows miniature shield generators and cloaking generators to be used that can work as far down as the personal level. Theoretically, even a Scarab can be cloaked or shielded. This brings about the very real danger of an entirely cloaked and/or shielded Necrontyr force. No evidence exists to indicated that such a force has been encountered, but that does not mean that it cannot exist. I have a team working on a method to reverse such devices and rob the Necrontyr of their protective abilities, but it may be some months before we make major progress in that field. These Necrontyr are a very real threat, sir. Their technology precludes anything we have seen before, and though it may be a great boon to our own devices, it is also a threat to the safety of our Imperium.
APPENDIX I I have attached this appendix to inform you of the resources used to create this report, including but not limited to: Explorator team studies, equipment found in excavations, and my own studies into the Necrontyr. Much of the information contained in this report comes from the study and 'dissection' of Necrontyr artifacts and specimens. I have received many various gauss weapons to study, and these have provided me with a great deal of insight into the means by which they work. I have not yet concluded my study, but when I am finished I will send you a report on my findings. The Necrontyr specimens arrived in varying states of disfigurement. Only two were whole, arriving from Graeto; all others were damaged in some way or another. It took many hours of labor to remove the outer shell of the Necrontyr with my tools (using mostly a high-density laser scalpel). Once opened, they provided a wondrous sight. The inner mechanisms were displayed for me to see. Bundles of wires ran through the Necrons' bodies like artificial nerves, eyes connected to a 'brain' made of crystal, and an internal ‘skeleton’ provided structural support. The things that caught my eye the most, however, were the nanoprobes. Most of them lay deactivated in eternal slumber with the Necrontyr whose body they inhabited. Yet others moved around, scurrying about eating dirt that had managed to settle into the body. Each had a slight electric field around it, and where two or more came together this field grew in size. I set apart ten of these drones for study, then had the others disabled with a pulse of electricity operating at a current opposite to their own. The drones took a long time to study. I tried many tests, and placed several objects and liquids into small containers with them. Each time they destroyed what was placed in the container. It was also very hard to move them around, as they would latch onto and begin 'eating' any probe that got too close to their 'mouth'. I recorded notes during each of these tests and came up with the theorized uses noted above. The Necrontyr specimens also provided me with the means to learn about their communications and sensors. These were very difficult to pick out from the many other devices present in the Necrontyr, and even more difficult to attach to testing equipment. After twelve days of working, I was blessed with the successful hook-up of four Necrontyr communications devices and three Necrontyr sensor packages. I attached several diagnostics machines to study this equipment and learned over the course of two weeks how they functioned. The results are included in the report. I have found much more use of nanotechnology within the Necrontyr themselves. Studying it will take many months, if not years. Your obedient servant, |