Dark Disciple(科幻战争)-第12部分

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Burias’s　mastery　over　Drak’shal　was　almost　complete。　Again；　Burias　let　Drak’shal　begin　to　rear
within　him；　and　his　hand　blurred　into　daemonic　talons；　before　he　reasserted　his　dominance　and
pushed　the　daemon　back　within　him。　Feeling　Marduk’s　gaze　upon　him；　Burias’s　eyes　flicked　up；　and
he　winked　at　the　First　Acolyte。
Darioq　stood　apart　from　the　brothers　of　the　Legion。　The　corrupted　magos　could　not　sit　even　had
he　wished　too；　his　mechanical　body　was　not　constructed　to　accommodate　such　luxury；　and　the　bulk
of　his　servo…harness　would　have　made　it　impossible。　The　activated　electromagnets　within　his　heavy；
augmented　boots　kept　him　locked　to　the　floor；　and　his　four　mechanical　servo…arms　were　braced
between　two　bulkheads。　Weighing　well　over　a　metric　tonne；　nothing　was　going　to　move　the　technomagos。
“You　have　a　wish　to　converse；　Marduk；　First　Acolyte　of　the　Word　Bearers　Legion　of　Astartes；
genetic　descendent　of　the　traitor　Primarch　Lorgar？”　said　the　magos。　The　timbre　of　his　voice　was
different；　a　growling；　daemonic　presence　underlying　his　usual　robotic　monotone。
“Speak　the　word　‘traitor’　once　more　when　referring　to　the　blessed　daemon…lord　of　our　Legion；
Darioq…Grendh’al；”　said　Marduk；　“and　I　shall　allow　Kol　Badar　to　rip　your　limbs　off　one　by　one；　and
no；　I　have　no　wish　to　converse　with　you。”
The　Idolator　made　its　way　through　the　darkness　across　the　featureless　surface　of　the　moon　for
two　hours；　and　as　they　drew　near　the　target；　Marduk　intoned　a　final　benediction；　and　the　warriors　of
the　Host　made　ready　to　disembark。　With　his　skull…faced　helmet　in　place；　Marduk　ritualistically　ran
through　his　final　diagnostics；　checking　his　life…systems　and　those　of　his　revered　power　armour。
At　last；　throbbing　blister…lights　warned　of　the　final　approach；　and　Marduk　rammed　a　fresh　sickleclip
into　his　bolt…pistol。　Retro…blasters　fired；　slowing　the　Idolator；　and　the　nose　of　the　transport　craft
lifted　as　its　momentum　dropped。
Kol　Badar　relayed　his　debarkation　orders　with　curt　commands；　ensuring　that　each　of　the　four
coteries　knew　their　position。
Restraint　harnesses　were　thrown　off　as　the　rear　landing　legs　touched　down；　and　the　vacuum　seals
of　the　rear　embarkation　ramp　were　released　with　a　hiss。　Before　the　Idolator　had　even　settled；　the
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ramp　was　thrown　outwards；　and　snow　and　ice　blasted　into　the　interior；　swirling　around　in　blinding
eddies。
“Get　him　moving；”　shouted　Kol　Badar　over　the　screaming　of　engines　and　the　howling　of　wind；
pointing　tobers　of　Namar…sin’s　coterie　urged　the　corrupted　magos
towards　the　lowering　ramp。
The　first　warriors　were　already　pounding　down　the　ramp；　moving　towards　their　allotted
positions；　filing　off　left　and　right。　Marduk　stomped　down　the　assault　ramp　and　stepped　onto　the
frozen　surface　of　Perdus　Skylla。　The　enhanced　auto…sensors　in　his　helmet　allowed　his　sight　to　pierce
the　raging　blizzard；　though　mere　mortal　eyes　would　have　seen　nothing　but　a　blinding　sheet　of　white。
Marduk　filed　off　to　the　right　just　as　the　Land　Raiders；　two　tucked　beneath　each　stubbed　wing；
were　lowered　onto　the　ice。　They　growled　like　angry　war…beasts　as　they　were　released　from　their
locking　clamps。　Their　engines　revved；　and　smoke　billowed　from　their　daemon…headed　exhaust
stacks。　Marduk　ducked　his　head　as　he　entered　the　armoured　hull　of　the　closest　Land　Raider　and
locked　himself　into　a　seat。　Burias　slammed　into　the　seat　opposite；　a　feral　grin　upon　his　features。　As
usual；　he　did　not　deign　to　wear　his　helmet；　his　witch…sight　easily　the　match　of　any　automated
sensors。　Long　strands　of　oiled　black　hair　that　had　escaped　their　binding　whipped　around　his　head
like　a　gorgon’s　serpents。
Brother　Sabtec　and　his　esteemed　13th　joined　them；　piling　into　the　Land　Raider　and　taking　their
seats；　and　the　assault　ramp　was　slammed　shut。　The　frenzied　wind　died　away　instantly；　and　the
shower　of　snow　and　ice　settled　on　shoulder　pads　and　greaves。
The　Land　Raider’s　massive　tracks　spun　on　the　ice　for　a　second　before　catching；　and　the　heavy
assault　tank　lurched　into　motion。　Less　than　thirty　seconds　after　the　Idolator　had　landed；　the　four
Land　Raiders；　each　filled　with　blessed　warriors　of　Lorgar；　were　speeding　across　the　surface　of
Perdus　Skylla。
Marduk　was　shaken　as　the　assault　tank　hit　a　bank　of　snow；　and　there　was　a　moment　of
weightlessness　as　the　front　of　the　vehicle　lifted　up　before　crashing　down　again　with　titanic　force。
“Twenty　minutes　to　target；”　growled　Kol　Badar　over　the　vox。
Burias’s　features　shimmered　like　a　faulty　pict　viewer；　and　the　face　of　the　daemon　Drak’shal　was
momentarily　superimposed　over　his　features。　Tall；　uneven　horns　rose　from　his　brow；　and　deeply
slanted；　hate…filled　eyes　blinked。　Then　Burias　shook　his　head；　pushing　the　daemon　back　within；　and
the　image　was　gone。
“Not　long；　Drak’shal；”　said　Marduk　in　the　guttural　tongue　of　the　daemons。　Burias　grinned　at　him
once　more。
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CHAPTER　FIVE
Hundred…kilometre　winds　whipped　across　the　ice　flow；　and　the　roar　of　the　storm　was　such　that　no
human　ear　would　have　heard　any　shout　or　the　staccato　reverberations　of　gunfire。　The　darkness
would　have　concealed　anything　from　the　naked　eye；　and　the　blinding　swirl　of　ice；　snow　and　fog　was
such　that　all　but　the　most　sophisticated　sensor　arrays　were　rendered　useless。　Still；　Marduk　was
taking　no　chances　as　he　elbowed　his　way　cautiously　forwards；　edging　nearer　to　the　Imperial　bastion。
He　could　see　the　dark　shadow　of　the　structure　rising　before　him；　though　even　his　advanced　autosensors
and　magnifier　auspexes　had　difficulty　piercing　the　blinding　gale。　It　was　built　into　a　massive
pinnacle　of　rock　that　pierced　the　thick　ice；　the　first　geological　landmark　that　the　Word　Bearers　had
thus　far　seen　on　Perdus　Skylla。　Marduk　snarled　up　at　the　hateful　silhouette　of　the　fortress。　It　had
been　constructed　in　the　form　of　an　immense　aquila；　the　two…headed　eagle　that　was　the　symbol　of　the
Imperium　and　the　Emperor’s　rule。
It　rose　some　three　hundred　and　fifty　metres　above　the　ice　plains；　the　highest　point　on　all　of
Perdus　Skylla。　If　the　weather　had　been　clearer；　it　could　have　been　seen　for　kilometres　all　around；　an
immense　structure　that　dominated　the　landscape。　Doubtless　it　had　been　built　to　remind　the　populace
of　Perdus　Skylla　of　the　Emperor’s　authority；　to　cow　the　people　it　loomed　over　and　never　let　them
forget　who　it　was　that　ruled　their　lives。
To　the　ignorant　people　of　Perdus　Skylla　it　might　have　been　a　symbol　of　reverence；　but　to
Marduk　it　represented　all　that　he　hated　about　the　Imperium；　all　that　he　desired　to　see　toppled。
What　sort　of　empire　would　allow　a　lifeless　corpse　to　be　venerated　as　a　god；　and　let　pompous
fools　and　bureaucrats　dictate　how　a　galaxy　was　to　be　run？　For　the　millionth　time；　he　cursed　the　holy
warmaster　for　being　laid　low　by　the　trickery　of　the　enemy。　Had　Horus　overthrown　the　Emperor；　the
galaxy　would　never　have　fallen　into　stagnation　and　torpor。　The　Great　Crusade　would　still　be
underway；　wiping　all　xenos　and　non…believers　from　the　universe。　Humanity　would　be　united　in　faith。
Marduk　froze；　pushing　himself　flat　to　the　ground　as　his　keen　auto…senses　flashed　a　warning
before　his　eyes。　The　massive　gates　of　the　bastion　began　to　open；　folding　in　upon　themselves　and
sliding　into　a　hidden　recess　within　the　rock。　Four　armoured　vehicles　emerged；　the　sound　of　their
engines　lost　in　the　howling　wind。
They　were　non…standard　template　vehicles　protected　by　thick　plates　of　white…painted　armour。
Marduk’s　targeting　arrays　locked　onto　the　foremost　vehicle；　and　a　flood　of　data　streamed　in　front　of
his　eyes。　A　heavy　weapons　sponson　unfolded　from　behind　the　main　engine　block；　sliding　forward
and　locking　into　place；　and　the　weapon　panned　left　and　right。　They　were　light　vehicles；　roughly　the
size　of　Rhino　APCs；　and　they　were　clearly　built　for　traversing　the　ice　flows；　with　heavy；　thick　tracks
at　the　rear　and　a　single　upwards　flaring　ski　as　broad　as　the　tank　at　the　front。
If　it　came　to　it；　they　would　easily　be　neutralised　by　his　Land　Raiders；　but　he　had　no　wish　for　the
enemy　to　know；　prematurely；　that　they　were　under　attack。
The　vehicles　moved　up　the　steep　ramp　of　ice　and　snow　that　led　from　within　the　bastion；　heavy
weapons　turrets　rotating　with　precise；　mechanical　movements。
They　turned　to　the　north…west；　and　soon　disappeared　into　the　storm。
“Do　not　engage；”　said　Marduk。
“Acknowledged；”　came　Kol　Badar’s　response；　his　voice　blurred　by　static。
Resuming　his　advance；　Marduk　elbowed　his　way　closer　to　the　enemy　fortification。
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The　aquila　fortress　reared　up　above　him；　its　twin　heads　glaring　out　into　the　darkness。　Despite　his
anger；　disdain　and　disgust　as　he　thought　of　what　could　have　been；　should　have　been；　it　gave　him
perverse　pleasure　to　see　how　far　the　Imperium　had　fallen。　This　world　was　evidence　of　its　failings。　It
was　being　abandoned；　as　was　the　entire　sub…system；　in　the　face　of　a　xenos　threat。　He　shook　his　head
in　mockery　at　such　weakness。
The　long；　insulated　barrels　of　defence　lasers　rose　up　behind　the　aquila　structure；　angled　towards
the　heavens。　He　knew　that　the　vast　power　source　for　the　formidable　weapons　would　be　located　deep
within　the　rock　below。　They　were　weapons　of　awesome　potency；　though　useless　against　an　enemy
that　had　already　landed。
Marduk　advanced　a　further　two　hundred　metres；　assailed　by　the　relentless　wind　and　biting　ice。
The　brutal　environmental　conditions　did　not　concern　him。　His　archaic　power　armour；　a　bastard
hybrid　of　marks　IV；　V　and　VI；　was　capable　of　withstanding　far　more　demanding　situations。
Within　fifty　metres　of　the　enemy　structure；　Marduk　hunkered　down　to　assess　the　defences　of　the
bastion。　Snow　began　to　settle　on　his　power　armour；　so　that　he　was　almost　completely　concealed。
Indeed；　a　human　could　have　stood　five　metres　away　and　not　have　seen　him；　blinded　by　the　gale　and
the　fog。
His　gleaming；　black；　reflective　eyepieces　panned　upwards；　targeters　locking　onto　autocannon
turrets　and　demolisher　cannons　built　into　the　sides　of　the　rock　face。　Had　the　weather　been　less
severe；　the　static　defences　would　have　taken　a　heavy　toll　on　the　Host　as　it　approached。　Such　a　thing
was　unacceptable；　for　Marduk　had　brought　less　than　thirty　warrior　brothers　with　him　on　the　mission
to　Perdus　Skylla。
In　ideal　circumstances；　he　would　have　descended　upon　the　moon　with　the　entire　Host；　and　the
taking　of　the　bastion　would　have　been　a　simple　thing。　However；　with　the　size　of　the　Imperial
blockade　in　the　sub…system　such　an　endeavour　would　have　been　folly；　for　the　Infidus　Diabolus
would　have　been　annihilated　long　before　it　reached　the　moon’s　atmosphere。　As　such；　he　had　chosen
to　lead　just　a　small　strike　force　onto　the　surface　of　the　moon；　and　slipped　unseen　through　the
Imperial　cordon。
It　was　not　the　way　that　he　would　have　liked　to　have　achieved　victory；　for　Marduk；　like　Kol
Badar；　would　have　been　more　pleased　to　have　laid　waste　the　Imperial　world；　to　unleash　the　full
force　of　the　Host　and　leave　nothing　but　corpses　and　edifices　to　the　great　gods　behind。　Victory　here
was　important；　however；　and　the　manner　in　which　it　was　achieved；　less　so。
Pushing　his　extraneous　thoughts　aside；　Marduk　turned　his　attention　to　the　task　at　hand。
Two　twin…linked　autocannon　turrets　guarded　the　approach　to　the　bastion　gates；　and　they　panned
back　and　forth　across　the　open　ground　before