I came back to awareness with the knowledge that Zototek wished to contact me. It was now 23 ish years from when I sent him out. I made a quick check, and yep, we had cleared out a large swath of green skin controlled planets.

  I gave a quick order to purge the the closest world to the capital of greenskins but to keep the spores. I was set on the organic testing idea. But I digress. I respond to Zototek by hailing him.

  "Ah, Zototek. Good. I presume that you've found something of note?" I question.

  "Yes, overlord. We first encountered non-ork buildings in sector 94772-01A. They were destroyed, orks of course. But it pointed to where we should go next. To cut out much of the tale, we found a world inhabited by non ork lifeforms. "

  It was heavily militarized both on ground and in void on all planets in system. A fortress world. Their technology, while still primitive, was notable for the lesser races. Speaking of, there did seem to be multiple types of ship's with rather notable design differences."

  "In all likelihood, there is a multi racial empire past the fortress. It also is likely that all the greenskin present in this sector is due to a failed 'Waaaagh'. At least, that is what they call it."

  "Did you see their ships fire at greenskin vessels?" I inquire.

  The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  "Yes overlord. Some used kinetic, others laser. Some few used plasma. The kinetics were rail based. The lasers wire shot, not beam. The plasma based were... acceptable for a race that's only 10000 years old. The rail cannons were acceptable for a race twice that number though." Zototek states.

  I ponder his words. It sounds like we have awoken before the crusade and the heresy. That was good. We had time to prepare. There were some concerns still, but I would handle them.

  "Very well. And the races? What of them. Have you seen them?" I ask.

  "No, but we did intercept their communications. We have pieced together 4 languages and perhaps 2 dialects there-in." He says.

  "Acceptable performance. Return to the capital. New orders will be given soon. New developments have occurred. Also, give this to the crypteks when you arive. This is to be their next project." I state.

  I send a data packet to Zototek, and with some final pleasantries, I return to my duties. I look over the map, and reaffirming my orders, call for a withdrawal. They had thinned the orks enough.

  With some slight orbital bombardment, I would be golden. With orders to reinforce 2 worlds out from each of our core worlds, it was time to return to the capital. Ah, that reminded him. He checked over the 11 planets in his domain.

  Yep, all were dead. No atmosphere, no life. Purged long ago. I ordered each tomb to have a small space for organics prepared. For guests of course. Heh, he had chambers for those... less inclined towards his view. But that was besides the point. There was preparation to be done, and not much time to do it in. The lanes between systems were few in number, and luckily, they were positioned well.

  Perhaps he should remove a few? Yes... narrow it, separate their cluster... Something to ponder. But yes. Defences and garrisons. And diplomacy with the lesser races. Joy.