Dark Disciple(科幻战争)-第14部分

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gunned　its　engines。　Its　ancient　hide　was　inscribed　with　passages　from　the　books　of　Chaos；　and
symbols　of　devotion　and　allegiance　marred　its　clotted…blood　coloured　armour　plates。　Autocannon
rounds　ricocheted　off　the　Land　Raider；　unable　to　penetrate；　and　heavy　bolter　rounds　were　deflected
off　its　angled　plates。　Its　side　sponsons　lit　up　the　darkness　as　they　stabbed　into　the　gates；　further
weakening　them；　and　Marduk　pressed　himself　backwards　so　as　not　to　be　struck　by　the　monstrous
battle　tank　as　it　dropped　down　the　incline　towards　the　entrance　to　the　bastion。
It　slammed　into　the　weakened　gates　with　the　force　of　a　battering　ram；　and　they　collapsed
inwards。　Another　Land　Raider　bedecked　with　chains　from　which　severed　heads　and　limbs　hung
followed　the　first；　its　daemon…headed　exhausts　spewing　black　smoke　as　it　roared　down　the　incline
and　into　the　belly　of　the　bastion；　followed　by　the　third。　The　last　of　the　Land　Raiders　would　hold
position；　scanning　for　any　sign　of　the　enemy　out　on　the　plain。　With　the　enemy　bastion　breached；　the
heavy　weapons　toting　Havocs　of　the　217th　coterie　pulled　back　towards　the　Land　Raider；　as　per　Kol
Badar’s　orders；　though　their　champion　Namar…sin　was　to　enter　the　bastion　alongside　the　First
Acolyte。
As　the　third　Land　Raider　roared　past；　Marduk　broke　into　a　run　behind　it；　using　it　as　moving
cover。　He　drew　his　chainsword　as　he　ran；　and　felt　the　impatience　of　the　daemon　Borhg’ash　within
the　daemon　weapon。
Already　he　could　hear　the　sounds　of　gunfire；　the　hiss　of　lasguns　and　the　whine　as　they　repowered；
and　the　deep　percussive　boom　of　heavy　bolter　fire。
The　ramp　descended　into　the　interior　of　the　bastion；　which　had　been　carved　into　the　solid　rock。
The　interior　was　not　unlike　the　hangar　deck　of　the　Infidus　Diabolus；　with　high　ceilings　and　various
levels　and　gantries　running　around　its　walls。　Around　thirty　APCs；　light　scout　vehicles　and　a　couple
of　heavier　tanks；　all　armoured　in　the　same　uniform　white　plates；　were　lined　up　in　serried　ranks；　and
white…armoured　soldiers　were　running　forwards。　Officers　were　shouting；　and　men　were　running　in
from　portals　in　the　north　and　south。　Others　were　taking　up　positions　upon　the　gantries　lining　the
walls；　firing　down　at　the　Word　Bearers。
The　two　Land　Raiders　had　ground　to　a　halt；　heavy…bolters　built　into　their　hulls　pumping
explosive　rounds　into　the　enemy；　ripping　men　apart　in　bloody　detonations。　The　frontal　assault　ramps
slammed　down　onto　the　rockcrete　floor；　and　the　bulky　forms　of　the　warriors　of　the　Host　appeared
from　the　red…lit　interiors；　smoke　billowing　around　them。
Kol　Badar　strode　from　the　lead　Land　Raider；　his　face　hidden　beneath　his　quad…tusked　helmet　and
fire　spitting　from　the　barrels　of　his　archaic　combi…bolter。　The　Coryphaus　roared；　the　daemonic　sound
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resounding　from　vox…grills　as　he　cut　a　white…armoured　man　in　half　with　bolter　fire。　Behind　him；　the
four　warriors　of　the　Anointed；　the　warrior　elite　of　the　Host；　stalked　forwards　heavily。　The　servos　of
their　ancient　Terminator　armour　hissed　and　vented　steam　as　the　Anointed　advanced　from　the　interior
of　the　battle　tank；　their　weapons　roaring。
Sabtec　and　Khalaxis　emerged　from　the　other　Land　Raiders；　leading　their　respective　coteries。　The
13th　instantly　took　cover；　bolters　spitting　death　as　they　coolly　split　into　two　teams　and　manoeuvred
into　good　firing　positions。　As　Sabtec’s　warriors　laid　down　their　hail　of　suppressing　fire；　Khalaxis
and　his　17th　coterie　disdained　any　attempt　to　seek　cover；　and　raced　headlong　towards　the　enemy；
revving　the　motors　of　their　chainblades　and　snapping　off　shots　with　their　pistols。
A　portal　lifted　beside　Marduk；　and　he　swung　his　bolt　pistol　around　and　fired。　A　troop　of　whitearmoured
soldiers　ran　at　him；　and　his　first　rounds　took　one　of　them　in　the　chest。　He　fell　with　a
strangled　cry　as　his　ribcage　was　shattered。　A　second　enemy　dropped　as　his　head　exploded；　and
Marduk　pumped　another　pair　of　shots　into　the　body　of　a　third　warrior。
The　soldiers　halted；　those　in　front　dropping　to　one　knee　as　they　raised　their　lasguns。　Others
sought　cover　against　the　pipes　protruding　into　the　corridor；　and　they　fired　as　their　sergeant　shouted
an　order。
Las…rounds　impacted　with　Marduk’s　chest　and　shoulder　pads；　knocking　him　back　half　a　step。
They　left　blackened　scorch　marks　on　his　armoured　plates；　and　Marduk　snarled　in　fury　as　he　leapt
forwards；　his　chainsword　roaring。
More　las…rounds　pinged　off　his　armour　as　he　closed　the　distance；　and　he　began　to　recite　the
Litanies　of　Hate　and　Vengeance；　barking　the　words　like　a　mantra。　Several　of　the　enemy　soldiers
baulked　and　stumbled　back　from　his　charge　as　his　vox…enhanced　voice　made　their　eardrums　bleed。
Marduk　blew　the　arm　off　one　of　them　with　his　bolt　pistol　fired　at　close　range；　and　then　he　was
amongst　them。
His　chainsword　hacked　into　the　neck　of　the　first；　teeth　biting　through　armour；　flesh　and　bone；
and　hot　blood　splashed　across　Marduk’s　tabard。　Blood　ran　down　the　feeder　grooves　carved　into　the
sides　of　the　chainsword　and　was　sucked　into　the　internals　of　the　weapon；　and　Marduk　felt　fresh
power　and　strength　flow　through　him　as　the　daemon　Borhg’ash　fed。　Veins　pulsed　along　the　length　of
the　ancient　weapon；　and　the　daemon　urged　Marduk　on　to　feed　it　further。
He　dropped　to　one　knee；　and　a　las…bolt　seared　above　him　where　his　head　had　been　a　fraction　of　a
second　earlier。　He　hacked　out　again；　cutting　through　another　soldier’s　leg；　the　bone　ripped　apart　by
Borhg’ash’s　eager　teeth。　He　fired　his　bolt　pistol；　and　another　enemy　was　slammed　backwards　into　its
comrades　as　the　back　of　its　head　exploded　outwards。
Brother　Namar…sin　was　at　Marduk’s　side；　and　he　buried　his　axe　in　the　chest　of　another　of　the
soldiers；　the　pain　of　his　severed　arm　lending　him　additional　strength　and　fervour。　He　planted　his
boot　on　the　chest　of　the　man　and　ripped　his　axe　free；　kicking　the　soldier　to　the　ground。　He　hacked
his　axe　into　another　man；　severing　his　arm　and　cutting　half　way　through　his　torso。
Another　warrior　of　Namar…sin’s　217th　fired　his　bolter　at　point　blank　range；　blasting　the　soldiers
back；　chunks　of　flesh　and　blood　spraying　in　all　directions。　One　man；　his　lifeblood　running　from　his
wounds；　was　on　his　knees　before　the　warrior　brother；　and　his　skull　was　pulverised　by　the　butt　of　a
bolter。
Marduk　continued　reciting　from　the　Litanies　of　Hate　and　Vengeance　and　rammed　his
chainsword　into　the　gut　of　another　enemy。　The　whirring；　barbed　links　of　the　weapon　ripped　the
soldier　in　two；　cutting　off　his　pitiful　cries　of　agony。
Borhg’ash　was　gorged　with　blood；　and　it　leaked　from　the　internals　of　the　chainsword　like　a
syrup；　but　the　daemon　still　hungered　for　more。　Marduk　felt　the　sentience　within　the　chainsword
urging　him　to　kill　again；　and　he　gladly　indulged　its　will。
Having　emptied　his　bolt　pistol　clip；　he　holstered　the　weapon　as　he　hacked　a　lasgun　being
levelled　at　him　in　two　with　a　backhand　sweep　of　his　chainsword。　The　sparking　halves　of　the　lasgun
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were　ripped　from　the　terrified　soldier’s　hands；　and　as　he　staggered　backwards　in　shock；　Marduk
cleaved　him　from　shoulder　to　hip　with　a　powerful　two…handed　blow　with　his　chainsword。
There　were　no　more　living　threats；　and　Borhg’ash　revved　its　engine；　expressing　its　desire　for
more　blood。　Seeing　one　soldier　on　the　ground　still　living；　though　he　was　dying　fast　as　his　blood
pumped　from　his　severed　leg；　Marduk　reversed　his　grip　on　his　chainsword　and　drove　it　downwards
into　the　man。　The　soldier　shuddered　as　the　sharp　teeth　of　the　weapon　ripped　apart　his　flesh；　and
Borhg’ash　greedily　sucked　up　the　gore。
Marduk　loaded　a　fresh　sickle…clip　into　his　bolt　pistol　as　he　marched　back　out　onto　the　main
concourse。　A　frantic　gun　battle　was　still　underway；　with　enemy　soldiers　high　up　on　gantries　sniping
down　at　the　Word　Bearers　below。　Scores　of　white…armoured　men　were　lying　dead　or　dying
throughout　the　area；　some　crawling　vainly　for　the　futile　safety　of　cover。
Sabtec’s　13th　coterie　was　taking　cover　behind　the　bulk　of　the　Land　Raiders；　positioned　at
corners　and　snapping　off　beams　at　the　enemy　soldiers。　Lasgun　shots　impacted　uselessly　against　the
armoured　hulls　of　the　massive　vehicles；　and　those　few　Word　Bearers　that　were　struck　shrugged　off
the　las…fire　as　if　they　were　irritating　mosquito　bites。
One　of　the　13th　dropped　to　one　knee；　aiming　his　stubby；　daemon…headed　missile　launcher　up
high；　and　smoke　billowed　out　the　back　of　the　missile　tube　as　he　fired。　The　missile　screamed　upwards
and　struck　the　underside　of　one　of　the　gantries　where　a　cluster　of　snipers　was　positioned；　exploding
in　a　billowing　cloud　of　flame。　The　flesh　of　the　soldiers　was　sliced　apart　as　super…heated　fragments　of
metal　lacerated　them；　and　the　metal　grid　gave　way。　Those　not　killed　by　the　explosion　dropped　ten
metres　to　the　next　level　of　gantries；　and　were　crushed　as　metal　bracings　were　wrenched　out　of　shape
and　pulled　down　in　their　wake。
Khalaxis　and　his　warriors　stormed　across　the　gantries；　unstoppable　juggernauts　of　muscle　and
power　armour　that　smashed　through　the　enemy；　throwing　them　over　railings　to　fall　fifteen　metres　to
the　ground；　hacking　limbs　from　bodies　with　sweeps　of　chainswords　and　killing　everything　in　their
path。
Three　of　the　light　armoured　vehicles　of　the　enemy　were　thrown　upwards　as　a　lascannon　ignited
fuel　cells；　and　a　mushroom　of　fierce　orange　flame　billowed　upwards；　black；　oily　smoke　licking　at　its
edges。　One　of　the　vehicles　spun　end　over　end　and　slammed　into　a　wall；　while　the　other　two　came
crushing　down　onto　other　unmanned　vehicles　behind　which　more　enemy　soldiers　were　hunkered
down。　They　staggered　back　away　from　the　inferno；　and　were　dutifully　gunned　down　by　concentrated
bolter　fire。
Kol　Badar　strode　through　the　firefight　snapping　off　shots　with　his　combi…bolter；　his　entourage　of
Anointed　warriors　walking　steadily　alongside　him。　They　eschewed　any　attempt　to　take　cover；　the
ancient；　ceramite　and　adamantium　plates　of　their　Terminator　armour　offering　them　more　protection
than　rockcrete　or　steel。
One　of　the　Anointed　swung　the　heavy　twin　barrels　of　his　reaper　autocannon　before　him　like　a
scythe；　laying　down　a　withering　hail　of　high…calibre　fire　that　ripped　everything　apart
indiscriminately：　armour；　men；　vehicles　and　rockcrete。
A　body　landed　in　front　of　Marduk；　having　been　hurled　from　a　gantry　above。　The　soldier’s　helmet
was　smashed；　and　his　eyes　stared　blankly　up　at　the　First　Acolyte。　Marduk　kicked　the　man　in　the
head；　splashing　blood　and　brain　matter　across　the　floor。
More　enemy　soldiers　were　appearing；　assailing　the　Word　Bearers　from　all　directions。　They　were
caught　in　the　middle　of　a　crossfire；　but　were　cutting　the　enemy　down　ruthlessly。　Marduk　saw　that
two　Word　Bearers　had　fallen；　though　their　injuries　were　not　mortal　and　they　continued　to　fight　on。
At　least　fifty　enemy　soldiers　had　been　slain；　and　the　casualties　were　mounting。
Under　Kol　Badar’s　direction；　Sabtec’s　13th　began　advancing　up　through　the　hail　of　fire　towards
the　gantries；　while　the　Anointed　laid　down　a　hail　of　fire　that　kept　the　enemy’s　heads　down。　The
Land　Raiders　pivoted　on　the　spot；　their　lascannons　destroying　everything　they　targeted；　and　their
heavy　bolters　ripping　paths　across　the　rock　walls　as　they　chased　the　enemy　soldiers。
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Marduk　raced　up　a　steel　staircase；　taking　the　steps　four　at　a　tim