Dark Disciple(科幻战争)-第3部分

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twenty…three　million　strong　population　of　the　moon　had　been　in　shock。　Shock　had　quickly
descended　into　panic　as　rumours　spread　of　an　imminent　xenos　invasion；　rumours　that　were　not　in
any　way　refuted　by　the　Administratum。
Groups　of　the　Skyllan　Interdiction　Force　pushed　through　the　crowds；　attempting　to　maintain
order。　They　wore　their　customary　white　body　armour　over　sky…blue　uniforms；　and　held　highpowered
laslocks　across　their　chests。　Snarling；　shaggy…coated　mastiffs　with　gleaming　mechanical
eye…augments　strained　at　their　leashes；　sensing　the　tension　in　their　masters。
An　armoured　Catalan…class　squad　vehicle　moved　slowly　along　one　of　the　platforms；　its　white；
high…compound　plasteel　chassis　gleaming　beneath　the　humming　strip…lights　overhead。　Its　flashing
lights　and　blaring　siren　urged　people　out　of　its　path；　but　its　progress　was　slow；　for　there　was　no　room
to　allow　the　vehicle　through。
The　winged　emblem　of　the　mercenary　force　was　resplendent　across　the　broad　grill　on　the　front
of　the　heavy　vehicle；　and　a　pair　of　armoured　soldiers　stood　in　its　dual　turret　at　the　rear；　swinging　the
massive　twin…linked　heavy　bolters　left　and　right。　Their　faces　were　all　but　obscured　by　their　white
helmets；　and　black　visors　hid　their　eyes　from　view。
For　twenty…five　generations；　Perdus　Skylla　had　employed　the　Skyllan　Interdiction；　an　outside
mercenary　agency　funded　by　the　wealthy　mining　guild　conglomerates。　They　served　as　the　military
force　protecting　the　guilds’　assets　in　lieu　of　a　Planetary　Defence　Force；　while　simultaneously　acting
as　local　law　enforcement。　Better　trained　and　equipped　than　most　Imperial　Guard　regiments；　the
hiring　of　the　Skyllan　Interdiction　Forces　had　allowed　the　mining　guilds　to　concentrate　on　their
endeavours　without　having　to　draw　away　any　of　its　skilled　workforce　to　form　a　PDF。
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Still；　even　with　the　mercenaries　present　within　the　tunnel　to　help　restore　order；　the　flow　of
humanity　was　little　short　of　a　rout。
One　of　the　long…furred　mastiffs　let　out　a　long　growl；　eyes　locked　on　the　ceiling。　Seeing　nothing；
its　master　jerked　its　chain　hard；　silencing　the　beast。
A　creature　of　shadow　clung　to　the　ceiling　of　the　corridor；　virtually　undetectable　to　the　naked　eye
or　the　sophisticated　targeting　matrices　built　into　the　helmets　of　the　Skyllan　Interdiction　Force。　It
moved　like　a　spider；　making　its　way　across　the　ceiling　with　slow；　purposeful　movements。　Its　lean；
black　armoured　body　disappeared　for　a　second；　its　menacing　form　turning　as　insubstantial　as　smoke；
only　to　reappear　within　the　shadow　of　a　grilled　turbine　further　along　the　roof。
The　creature’s　skin　was　inky　black；　and　elegant　runes　of　alien　design　were　cut　into　its　flesh。　The
runes　glowed　with　a　cold；　inner　light。
Turning　its　gaze　downwards；　it　peered　malevolently　over　the　sea　of　humans　with　eyes　that　were
milky　white。　It　paid　particular　attention　to　the　armed　forces　of　the　Skyllan　Interdiction；　and　its　limbs
quivered　with　barely　contained　bloodlust。　The　blades　running　up　its　forearms　hummed　in
anticipation。
The　mastiffs　below　went　into　a　frenzy　of　barking　as　the　creature’s　scent　carried　to　them；　and
their　handlers　struggled　to　control　the　powerful　beasts。　The　creature　disappeared　into　shadow　once
more　as　eyes　scanned　the　ceilings；　straining　to　pick　out　what　had　disturbed　the　dogs。
The　air　recycling　turbines　cut　out；　abruptly。　The　few　who　registered　the　sudden　change　in　air
pressure　gazed　up　at　the　slowing　fans　in　concern。　Without　the　recycling　units；　the　air　in　the　tunnel
would　turn　to　poison　within　hours；　as　all　the　oxygen　was　used　up　and　replaced　with　the　toxic　carbon
dioxide　exhaled　by　the　masses。
Skyllan　Interdiction　Forces　tapped　their　helmets　as　their　communications　went　down；　as　if
jammed　by　interference。
Then　the　first　of　the　lights　went　out。
First；　one　of　the　lights　faded　to　darkness；　then　another。　The　strip　lights　began　to　fail；　one　after
another；　in　both　directions；　like　a　wave。　People　screamed　as　darkness　engulfed　them。　The　lights
were　going　dark　faster　than　a　man　could　run；　and　within　less　than　a　minute　every　light　in　sight　was
dead。
The　darkness　was　complete；　all　consuming　and　as　black　as　the　abyssal　depths　of　the　oceans
below。　People　clutched　at　one　another　in　panic；　unable　even　to　see　a　hand　waving　in　front　their　face；
and　the　crowd　surged。　Spotlights　on　the　Skyllan　armoured　vehicle　clicked　on；　and　they　wove　back
and　forth；　piercing　the　darkness　like　beacons。
People　pushed　towards　the　light　sources；　like　moths　being　drawn　to　an　open　flame；　and　their
panicked　faces　shone　like　ghosts　in　the　cold　light。　They　pressed　against　the　armoured　vehicle　as　if　it
was　a　talisman；　those　at　the　front　crushed　against　its　armoured　sides　by　those　pushing　from　behind。
Overhead；　the　nigh…on　invisible　figure　had　reappeared；　and　the　runes　carved　into　its　flesh　glowed
with　power。　Still　hugging　the　ceiling　in　defiance　of　gravity；　it　slid　a　curved；　double…bladed　punch
dagger　from　its　sheath。　Other　blades　slid　from　the　back　of　its　hands；　jutting　forward　over　its　fists　like
the　talons　of　a　great　cat；　and　a　low　hiss　of　anticipation　passed　its　lips　as　it　waited　for　its　dark　kin　to
arrive　in　response　to　its　summons。　It　did　not　have　to　wait　long。
A　ball　of　lightning　appeared；　hanging　in　mid…air　for　a　fraction　of　a　second　before　it　exploded
outwards；　blinding　those　nearby　with　the　sudden　burst　of　energy　and　throwing　them　to　the　ground。
The　crackling　energy　was　gone　in　an　instant；　and　an　impenetrable　void　was　left　in　its　wake。　It　was
like　an　inky　black　pool　of　water；　though　it　was　vertical　and　hung　in　mid…air；　a　plane　of　absolute
darkness　no　thicker　than　a　single　molecule。
Ripples　appeared　across　its　surface；　as　if　a　pebble　had　been　tossed　into　its　centre；　and　whining
shapes　sped　from　the　rent　in　real　space；　hurtling　up　the　access　corridor　at　tremendous　speed。　They
screamed　overhead；　slicing　like　knives　through　the　darkness。　Blades　cut　through　flesh；　and　hot　blood
splattered　into　the　faces　of　hundreds　of　people；　who　screamed　in　terror。　Many　threw　themselves　to
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the　ground　in　fear　and　were　trampled　to　death　by　their　brothers；　sisters　and　wives　in　their　panic　to
escape。　However；　with　no　lights；　and　with　the　tunnel　packed　from　wall　to　wall　with　terrified　people；
there　was　nowhere　to　run。
The　spotlights　atop　the　armoured　Skyllan　Interdiction　vehicle　turned　frantically；　trying　to　lock
onto　the　enemies　that　screamed　past　them；　but　they　could　only　hold　the　speeding　shapes　in　the　light
for　a　fraction　of　a　second。　A　shape　dropped　from　the　ceiling；　landing　lightly　atop　the　vehicle；　and　the
troopers　saw　a　shadowy　blur　in　the　rough　outline　of　a　humanoid　figure　perched　on　the　roof　of　the
armoured　car　before　the　spotlights　were　shattered。
The　panicked　troopers　manning　the　turret…mounted　heavy　bolters　opened　fire　into　the　darkness；
and　muzzle　flare　lit　the　area。
A　sleek　black　shape　hurtled　past；　and　the　mercenaries　chased　it　with　high…explosive　rounds。
They　hit　nothing　but　the　walls　and　pillars　of　the　tunnel；　ripping　away　head…sized　chunks　of
rockcrete。
The　troopers’　mastiffs　had　erupted　into　frantic　barking　and　were　fighting　at　their　chains。　Their
masters　turned　around　on　the　spot；　laslocks　held　to　shoulders　as　they　struggled　to　sight　the　enemy。
Dark　shapes　were　zooming　through　the　tunnel；　but　the　troopers’　targeting　systems　were　unable　to
lock　onto　the　targets。
There　was　a　blur　of　movement　and　one　of　the　troopers　was　sliced　open　from　groin　to　throat。　He
squeezed　the　trigger　of　his　weapon　as　he　fell；　blasting　into　the　crowd　of　surging　people；　cutting
several　of　them　down。
People　screamed　and　ran　as　the　sounds　of　gunfire　echoed　deafeningly；　fighting　each　other　in
their　desperation　to　get　to　safety。　The　other　troopers　turned　left　and　right；　trying　desperately　to　hold
their　targets　in　sight。　A　shape　screamed　overhead；　and　a　trooper’s　head　was　severed　from　its　body。
The　shape　was　a　hundred　metres　further　up　the　tunnel　before　the　head　hit　the　ground。
Streams　of　tiny　bladed　splinters　spat　out　of　the　darkness　towards　the　mercenaries　manning　the
turret　of　the　armoured　vehicle。　The　razor…sharp　shards　sliced　through　their　armour　and　flesh；　and
blood　sprayed　out　across　their　pristine　white　armour。
Their　gun　silenced；　the　darkness　was　once　more　complete。　Screams　of　terror　and　pain
accompanied　the　speeding　shapes；　invisible　in　the　darkness；　as　they　cut　through　the　air。　There　was　a
sudden　gust　of　displaced　air　as　another　high…speed　carriage　screamed　along　the　tracks　in　the　middle
of　the　tunnel；　the　lights　from　within　the　automated；　servitor…controlled　conveyance　shining　brightly；
sending　shadows　dancing。
Tall…helmeted　figures　were　visible　in　the　flash　of　light；　dragging　people　kicking　and　screaming
back　into　the　darkness。
A　beam　of　pure　darkness　stabbed　into　the　high…speed　transport；　rocking　it。　The　beam　tore
through　the　fore…carriage；　cutting　through　the　engine　block；　seats　and　half　a　dozen　occupants　before
passing　through　the　roof；　leaving　a　scorched　black　ring　on　the　ceiling　of　the　tunnel。
Two　more　searing　beams　struck　it；　and　the　front　carriage　was　knocked　off　the　rails。　With　the
squealing　of　protesting　metal；　it　slammed　into　the　side…barriers；　tearing　through　them　in　a　shower　of
sparks。　Striking　the　raised　platform　at　speed；　the　conveyance　tilted　up　on　its　nose；　and　the　second
and　third　carriages　buckled　behind　it　and　rolled　onto　their　sides。
The　whole　machine　flipped　onto　its　side　and　smashed　over　the　platform’s　edge；　tearing　the
barrier　fully　away　and　smashing　through　the　surging　masses。　Hundreds　were　crushed　as　the
carriages　flipped　across　the　platform　to　the　sickening　sound　of　metal　being　wrenched　out　of　shape
and　scraping　across　the　hard　platform　surface。　It　slammed　into　the　tunnel　wall；　crushing　more　people
between　its　bulk　and　the　rockcrete　walls；　and　finally　came　to　rest。　Electricity　discharged　across
mined　metal　wheels　and　sparked　from　the　rails　that　had　been　half…ripped　from　the　floor。
In　the　wake　of　the　mayhem　and　silhouetted　against　the　sparks；　more　black　figures　advanced
through　the　press　of　bodies；　smashing　people　to　the　ground　with　sharp　blows　before　dragging　their
semi…conscious　bodies　back　into　the　darkness。
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Mastiffs　yelped　as　they　were　torn　to　shreds　by　concentrated　bursts　of　deadly　fire。　A　blurred
shape；　little　more　than　a　vague；　hazy　outline；　moved　like　quicksilver　through　the　press　of　humanity；
slicing　and　cutting；　and　the　last　of　the　Skyllan　Indictment　Forces　were　slaughtered　without　holding
any　of　the　enemy　in　their　sights　long　enough　to　fire　upon　them。
A　trio　of　shapes；　in　tight　formation　and　moving　impossibly　fast；　veered　around　the　wreckage　of
the　mined　rail　conveyance；　banking　over　the　heads　of　the　terrified　masses　as　they　screamed　towards
the　rear　of　the　Catalan…class　armoured　vehicle。　It　was　peppered　with　spitting　gunfire　and　detonated
as　its　fuel　tanks　ruptured；　exploding　in　a　blinding　fireball　that　hurled　the　vehicle　across　the　seething
platform。
The　three　sleek　shapes　sped　through　the　inferno　unscathed　and　gunned　their　engines；　hurtling
once　more　up　the　tunnel　into　the　darkness；　travelling　hundreds　of　metres　in　seconds。
The　blades　of　the　turbine　fans　began　to　spin　once　more；　and　the　strip　lights　flickered　falteringly
before　humming　back　into　life。　The　carnage　un