The Avenging Son must delay his return home and head to the galactic south, taking a large part of the crusade with him, for the menace of the necrons is gathering strength. Battlefleet Kallides, despatched into the dangerous null space of the Pariah Nexus some years before, is feared lost. A greater unity is being forged between the necron dynasties, and with it come whispers of a power from the ancient past returned to rule them all... Whispers of the Silent King.