My Lord,

I have been studying the hieroglyphs within the pyramids as you requested. I have been logging my finds for future perusal as you instructed.   However, I believe you may find this of interest.

As I have reported in the past, we have been making slow but steady progress on deciphering Necrontyr hieroglyphs. This progress has been made by making holo-recordings of hieroglyphs and sketches, then adding these glyphs to a database that is connected to one of our Delta-Pattern Translation computers. This has allowed us to cross-reference glyphs and compare the Necrontyr’s language to that of other races within our database. It has given us a much better chance of getting a clear picture of the history and culture of the Necrontyr.

While studying a series of hieroglyphs close to the center of Pyramid IX-A (located in the southeastern quadrant on your map of the excavation site), I noticed a few key glyphs which had been repeated elsewhere. These glyphs tell the tale of the downfall of the Necrontyr race and why they were locked inside the great pyramids. As has been deduced, they were threatened by what we have termed a plague. Even though this is the common accepted explanation, I cannot help but think that what we have been calling a plague may have been something else entirely.

Close to the glyphs describing the plague were inscriptions illustrated by crude impressions of armoured creatures, using a form of weaponry that is linked to the creatures' bodies. Though they bear little resemblance otherwise to the monsters that are assaulting the Imperium at present, these creatures bear some resemblance to members of the Tyranid race.

I have formed my own theory regarding these glyphs and their relationship to the downfall of the Necrontyr race. It has been placed in another log file that I will send you later. However, I will summarize this theory for you below.   Please understand that these are only cursory theories, and there is little to back them.  However, I felt this matter was important enough to warrant further study, in the hopes that it may help us find a way to end the Tyranid threat.

My theory is that in the time of the Necrontyr empire the galaxy was assaulted by the Tyranid race. After having studied their methods of consumption (being the devouring of all bio-matter), the Necrontyr devised a plan to survive the 'plague' of the Tyranid race and its hunger rampage across the galaxy. The Necrontyr shed their biological bodies for purely mechanical bodies, no longer needing sustenance. The Necrontyr knew that to fight the Tyranids over time would spell the doom of their race. They built the stasis chambers to house their metal bodies until such time as the Tyranid threat, the 'plague', had passed, upon which time they could come out of stasis and rebuild their empire. The loss of all biological material would be of no consequence, for the Necrontyr were now above such mortal needs.

Somewhere in time, the Tyranids stopped assaulting the galaxy. This could have been due to severe warp storms. We are not certain, as we have yet to observe their effect on a Tyranid hive fleet, and it has possible conflicts with the 'Shadow in the Warp' theory. Regardless of why they stopped, some Tyranids were left stranded in this galaxy, on the worlds they had been charged with devouring, and others were left drifting in the void. I feel that this could explain why the Genestealers, a part of the Tyranid race, appeared on Ymgarl before the Tyranids came again, and this could also explain the presence of the 'sleeping' hive ships and hive fleets.

There are some flaws with this theory that I am at a loss to explain.  For example, why did the Tyranids stop assaulting?  Do warp storms really affect them?  What kept them from absorbing the Necrontyr's metal bodies?   We know that they require minerals as well as bio-matter.  There are too many questions to count this theory as being true, yet enough evidence to warrant further study.  I will look into this matter more and let you know if I find anything conclusive.