Dark Disciple(科幻战争)-第13部分

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Two　twin…linked　autocannon　turrets　guarded　the　approach　to　the　bastion　gates；　and　they　panned
back　and　forth　across　the　open　ground　before　them。　Each　was　restricted　to　a　ninety…degree　firing　arc；
though　the　arcs　of　the　two　turrets；　and　the　others　nearby；　were　overlapping；　ensuring　that　no　enemy
could　approach　the　bastion　from　any　angle　without　coming　under　fire。　Heavier　siege　cannons
protruded　from　the　rock　face　above　the　gates；　but　they　were　of　less　interest　to　Marduk；　for　he　was
below　their　arc　of　trajectory。　They　were　designed　to　fire　upon　enemy　two　hundred　metres　and
further　out；　not　at　a　foe　already　at　the　base　of　the　bastion。　Still；　he　opened　up　a　visual　feed　with　Kol
Badar；　allowing　the　Coryphaus　to　see　what　he　did；　so　that　the　war　leader　was　aware　of　what　he
would　be　riding　into　once　the　gates　were　breached。
“Brother　Namar…sin；”　said　Kol　Badar　in　a　growled　response　to　the　visual　feed。　“Move　your
coterie　into　position　and　target　the　turrets。　Fire　on　the　First　Acolyte’s　command。”
“So　it　shall　be；　Coryphaus；”　came　the　response。　Somewhere　behind　Marduk；　invisible　even　to
his　augmented　sight；　the　Havoc　Space　Marines　of　Namar…sin’s　coterie　would　be　targeting　the
autocannons　with　their　ancient　heavy　weapons。
Marduk　again　looked　up；　peering　through　the　blinding　ice　storm。
“Come　on；　Burias；”　he　hissed　in　impatience。
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Two　hundred　and　fifty　metres　up；　Burias　scaled　the　vertical　rock　face；　hauling　himself　up　hand　over
hand。
Kol　Badar　had　identified　one　last　possible　escape　route　from　the　bastion；　and　it　was　the　icon
bearer’s　duty　to　close　it　off。
He　had　allowed　the　change　to　come　over　him；　bringing　the　daemon　Drak’shal　to　the　fore；　and
great　horns　rose　from　his　head。　Hellfire　burnt　within　his　eyes；　and　his　teeth　were　bared；　exposing　a
double　row　of　serrated　shark…like　teeth。　Impossibly；　his　darkly　handsome；　immaculate　features　could
still　be　seen　beneath　the　image　of　the　daemon；　as　if　both　beings　were　coexisting　in　the　same　space。
Bunching　his　leg　muscles；　Burias　pushed　off　from　rock　face；　leaping　upwards。　He　grabbed　a
rocky　overhang　with　one　hand；　and　for　a　second　he　hung　there　over　the　vertical　drop。　The　ground
could　not　be　seen　below；　lost　in　the　swirling　storm；　though　the　glow　of　lascannons　could　be　dimly
discerned。　Hauling　himself　over　the　edge；　the　heat　of　his　breath　clouded　the　air　around　him；　and
feral　eyes　locked　onto　the　hateful　shape　of　the　giant　aquila　that　reared　above　him。　He　dug　his　taloned
hands　into　stone　carved　in　the　form　of　feathers　and　continued　his　ascent。
Up　above；　roughly　a　hundred　metres　away；　the　twin　eagle　heads　of　the　colossal　stone　aquila
glared　out　across　the　landscape；　one　facing　east；　and　the　other　west。　A　bright　light　shone　like　a
lighthouse　from　the　eye　of　the　right　eagle　head；　while　the　eye　of　the　left　head　was　dark　and　blind。
Burias　ascended　towards　the　shining　eye；　his　talons　easily　finding　handholds　between　the
massive　carved　feathers。　He　ascended　the　sheer　exterior　of　the　immense　statue；　swiftly；　barely
pausing　as　he　climbed；　like　a　dark　stain　upon　the　noble　eagle’s　body。　The　wind　howled　around　him；
buffeting　him　and　threatening　to　rip　him　loose；　and　ice　and　snow　drove　into　him　at　gale　force。
Climbing　swiftly　and　surely；　he　scurried　up　the　curving　neck　like　a　spider　until　he　was　directly
below　the　head。　With　a　snarl　he　sprang　out；　twisting　in　mid…air；　and　one　hand　locked　around　a
feathered　grip　three　metres　higher。　Without　pause；　he　continued　up　beneath　the　immense　head；
crawling　upside　down　along　the　underside　of　the　monolith。　He　paused　as　he　reached　the　beak；　for
the　stone　was　as　smooth　as　glass　and　there　were　no　handholds。　He　changed　the　angle　of　his　climb；
and　scrambled　up　the　vertical　eagle　head；　being　careful　to　stay　out　of　sight　of　the　shining　eye；　and
pulled　himself　atop　the　massive　structure。
Oblivious　to　the　danger　the　winds　presented　as　they　assailed　him；　Burias　threw　his　head　back
and　roared　into　the　gale。
Dropping　to　a　crouch；　Burias　made　his　way　on　all　fours　towards　the　eagle’s　shining　eye。
Cautiously；　he　peered　inside。
He　saw　a　man　sitting　at　a　desk；　an　almost　completely　empty　decanter　of　dark　liquid　in　front　of
him。　By　his　manner　of　dress；　he　was　clearly　a　high…ranking　official；　and　another　man；　young　and
awkward；　stood　at　his　side。　The　two　appeared　to　be　engrossed　in　conversation；　and　they　did　not
notice　the　daemonic　vision　of　the　possessed　warrior　glaring　in　at　them。　There　were　two　exits　from
the　room：　an　elevator　lift　that　would　descend　into　the　body　of　the　aquila；　and　a　heavy　blast　door。
Climbing　backwards；　Burias…Drak’shal　reached　the　top　once　more；　looking　down。　On　the　back
of　the　eagle　head；　fifteen　metres　lower；　was　a　protected　platform　where　a　small　shuttle　was　docked；
and　where　the　blast　door　led。
Burias…Drak’shal　perched　some　ten　metres　above　the　blast　door；　and　settled　down　to　wait。　If　any
eye　had　been　able　to　pierce　the　darkness　and　the　howling　gale　he　would　have　looked　like　a　malicious
gargoyle；　crouching　motionless　as　he　awaited　his　prey。
“In　position；”　he　growled；　his　fang…filled　mouth　forming　the　words　awkwardly。
“Received；　Burias…Drak’shal；”　replied　Marduk。　The　snow　settled　over　him；　so　that　only　his
baleful　skull…faced　visage　peered　from　beneath　the　white　blanket；　his　black　eyes　staring　hatefully　at
the　enemy　structure。
“217th　Havoc　coterie；　split；”　Kol　Badar　ordered。　“Heavy　weapons；　hold　position。　Namar…sin；
move　the　rest　of　your　squad　forward　to　support　the　First　Acolyte；　and　ready　melta…bombs。　Move　on
the　First　Acolyte’s　word。”
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“Forwards　on　me；”　motioned　Marduk　as　Namar…sin　and　three　of　his　coterie　emerged　from　the
blanketing　gale　behind　him；　crawling　stealthily　forwards；　their　horned　helmets　covered　in　a　thick
layer　of　snow。
Marduk　resumed　his　advance；　inching　his　way　forwards。　Imperial　sweeps　arced　across　the　ice
three　times；　and　the　Word　Bearers　froze　each　time；　instantly　cutting　relay　feeds　and　voxtransmissions
to　make　themselves　all　but　invisible。
The　distance　to　the　closest　turret　was　no　more　than　twenty　metres；　and　the　bastion　gate　was　less
than　forty。　Metre　by　metre；　Marduk　and　his　chosen　brethren　crept　forwards。　The　wind　suddenly
dropped；　and　warning　sensors　flashed　in　Marduk’s　helmet。　Without　the　interference　of　the　billowing
ice…crystals　in　the　air；　the　turrets　swung　towards　the　Word　Bearers　and　opened　fire。
A　fraction　of　a　second　before　the　autocannons　unleashed　their　fury；　Marduk　rolled　to　the　side
and　high…calibre　rounds　ripped　up　the　ground　where　he　had　lain。　One　of　the　Havoc　Space　Marines
was　hit　by　the　opening　salvo；　his　helmet　smashing　apart　beneath　the　heavy　weapons　fire；　staining　the
snow　with　his　blood。
“Now；”　barked　Marduk　into　his　vox…relay；　and　a　beam　of　light　stabbed　out　of　the　storm　as　one　of
the　heavy　weapon…armed　Havocs　of　the　217th　coterie　fired　his　las…cannon；　and　one　of　the　turrets　fell
silent。　A　stream　of　white…hot　plasma　engulfed　another　turret；　and　plasteel　and　rockcrete　ran　like
liquid　as　it　was　destroyed。
Marduk　was　up　and　running；　roaring　a　catechism　of　devotion　as　he　unslung　his　chainsword。
Autocannon　rounds　screamed　past　him；　and　one　of　them　clipped　his　shoulder；　jerking　him　to　the
side；　but　not　halting　his　progress。　Another　lascannon　beam　stabbed　from　the　gale；　and　a　third　turret
was　destroyed；　detonating　from　within　as　its　ammunition　cache　was　hit。　The　resulting　explosion
threw　chunks　of　rock　in　all　directions。　Marduk　swayed　his　head　to　the　side　as　a　piece　of　red…hot
rockcrete　the　size　of　a　man　hurtled　past　him。
Marduk　was　five　metres　from　the　last　remaining　turret；　and　he　threw　himself　forwards　into　a　roll
as　its　barrels　swung　towards　him；　spitting　a　torrent　of　high…velocity　rounds。　He　came　up　to　his　feet
beneath　it；　and　grabbed　one　of　the　barrels。　Servo…muscles　straining；　he　pushed　upwards　with　all　his
might；　overextending　the　automated　turret　housing；　exposing　cabling　and　ammo　feeds。　Sparks
spattered　off　Marduk’s　skull…faced　helmet；　and　he　slashed　his　chainsword　across　the　turret’s
internals。　The　whirring　chain　links　tore　through　the　cables；　and　oil　gushed　like　blood。　Releasing　his
grip　on　the　barrel　of　the　weapon；　the　turret　flopped　lifelessly　to　the　side。
More　turrets；　higher　up　on　the　bastion’s　face；　were　opening　fire；　raining　down　a　hail　of　gunfire；
which　was　answered　by　the　heavy　weapons　fire　of　those　warrior　brothers　further　back。　One　of
Namar…sin’s　coterie　was　caught　in　a　fusillade　from　two　directions；　and　fell　to　one　knee　as　his　body
was　pierced　a　dozen　times。　Still；　he　refused　to　fall；　and　pushing　himself　back　to　his　feet；　he　ran　on
towards　the　bastion　gates。
Bullets　glanced　off　Marduk’s　shoulder　plates；　and　a　round　caught　him　in　the　chest；　knocking　him
back　a　step；　though　it　did　not　penetrate　his　thick　ceramite　armour。　With　a　hiss　of　anger；　he　lurched
forwards；　running　down　the　incline　towards　the　bastion　gates。　Beneath　the　overhanging　lip；　he　was
protected　from　the　worst　of　the　fire；　and　Marduk　pulled　a　melta…bomb　loose　from　a　chain　around　his
waist。　He　whispered　a　prayer　to　the　Great　Changer　as　he　primed　the　potent　grenade　and　slammed　it
onto　the　thick　door；　placing　it　over　one　of　the　locking　mechanisms。　Electromagnets　held　it　firmly　in
place；　and　a　red　light　on　the　melta…bomb　began　to　flash。
“On　approach；”　said　Kol　Badar；　his　voice　overlaid　with　static　and　interference。
As　another　melta…bomb　was　slammed　into　place　by　a　warrior　of　the　217th　coterie；　the　champion
Namar…sin　staggered　into　the　protection　beneath　the　gateway；　smoking　bullet　craters　across　his
armour。　His　left　arm　was　gone；　blown　clear　by　autocannon　fire；　and　his　armour　was　awash　with
blood。
“You　took　your　time；”　growled　Marduk。
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“I　apologise；　my　lord；”　he　said。　The　powerful　anticoagulants　in　the　warrior’s　blood　had　already
stemmed　the　flow；　and　formed　a　thick　crust　around　the　shocking　wound。
“I　can　still　do　my　job；”　said　Namar…sin　defensively；　feeling　Marduk’s　gaze　on　his　injuries。
Gritting　his　teeth；　the　champion　primed　his　melta…bomb　somewhat　awkwardly　with　one　hand；　before
slamming　the　bulky　grenade　into　position。
More　lascannon　beams　stabbed　from　the　ice　storm　towards　the　bastion’s　defences　as　the　Land
Raiders　approached。　In　response；　the　first　of　the　battle　cannons　spoke；　firing　blindly　into　the　gale；
the　ensuing　reverberations　shaking　the　ground。
The　melta…bombs　detonated；　and　the　metre…thick　gates　buckled　inwards。　The　force　of　the　superheated
explosions　was　directed　inwards；　searing　through　the　reinforced　metal　barrier。　It　was　not
fully　breached；　but　as　he　lowered　the　arm　that　shielded　his　face；　Marduk　recognised　instantly　that　its
integrity　was　compromised。
“Twenty　seconds；”　said　Kol　Badar’s　voice　in　Marduk’s　helmet。
Lascannons　fired　from　the　blinding　gale；　and　then　the　dark　shadow　of　the　first　Land　Raider
could　be　seen；　driving　at　speed　for　the　gatehouse。　An　explosion　slammed　into　the　ice　beside　the
behemoth；　knocking　it　to　the　side；　and　for　a　second　its　left…hand　tracks　lifted；　spinning　wildly　before
it　slammed　back　on　the　ground　and　corrected　its　angle　of　approach。
Marduk　moved　to　the　side；　his　back　to　a　rockcrete　support　buttress；　as　the　immense　Land　Raider
gunned　its　engines。　Its　ancient　hide　was　inscribed　with　passages　from　the　books　of　Chaos；　and
symb