Dark Disciple(科幻战争)-第31部分

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have　shrunk　to　a　tiny　fraction　of　its　previous　volume；　but　if　any　man…made　structure　could　withstand
the　immense　pressure　as　deep　as　this；　it　was　a　space…faring　cruiser。
The　submersibles　ploughed　inexorably　towards　the　ship　that　grew　ever　larger　in　the　small　pict
screen。　As　they　drew　closer；　Marduk　could　see　that　the　sides　of　the　ship　were　scarred。　Entire
sections　of　its　thick　armour　had　bubbled；　and　other　portions　looked　unnaturally　smooth；　like　the　skin
of　a　burn　victim；　or　as　if　they　had　been　splashed　with　corrosive；　high…grade　acid。
The　four　submersibles　drew　towards　the　immense　freighter；　dipping　down　towards　one　of　its
gaping；　water…filled　hangar　bays；　still　following　an　automated　route。
“At　least　they　seem　to　know　where　they　are　going；”　said　Marduk。
“Or　they　are　leading　us　into　a　trap；”　said　Burias；　angrily　flicking　switches　and　yanking　on　the
controls。
The　four　deep…sea　craft；　dwarfed　to　insignificance　by　the　sheer　size　of　the　Flame　of　Perdition；
entered　the　cavernous　hangar　bay。　It　was　a　surreal　experience　to　drift　through　the　submerged　bay；　to
pass　by　upturned　shuttles　that　had　clearly　been　tossed　around　the　expansive　hangar　bay　by　the　force
of　the　impact　with　the　ice；　or　the　chasm　sides。　The　four　submersibles　ghosted　through　the　massive
open　space；　leaving　a　swirling　wake　of　turbulence　behind　them　that　blurred　the　water。
They　began　to　ascend　vertically；　climbing　up　through　the　flooded　levels　of　the　ship；　the
automated　controls　carefully　navigating　them　safely　through　the　tangle　of　shattered　girders　and
twisted　metal。
The　corpse　of　a　man　dressed　in　naval　fatigues　reared　up　in　front　of　the　submersible；　filling　the
pict　screen　with　its　cadaverous　rictus　grin。　The　flesh　was　almost　completely　rotted　from　its　bones
and　as　the　submersible　bumped　the　corpse　out　of　the　way；　one　of　its　arms　came　loose。　A　host　of
wriggling　eel…creatures　squirmed　from　the　cavity；　thrashing　madly；　and　then　the　corpse　drifted　out　of
sight。
As　they　continued　to　ascend；　passing　through　flooded　cargo　bays　and　freight　holds；　they　passed
more　corpses；　all　being　slowly　devoured。　They　powered　along　a　wide　corridor；　the　tilt　that　the　ship
had　come　to　rest　at　forcing　the　submersible　to　travel　at　an　obtuse　angle。
They　entered　another　area　of　the　ship；　and　the　submersibles　bobbed　to　the　surface　of　the　water
like　corks。　Automated　pressurisation　systems　kicked　into　gear；　slowly　equalising　with　the　outside
pressure；　and　once　the　dials　began　to　flash　green；　the　access　hatch　began　to　release。　It　swung　wide
with　a　slight　vacuum　hiss；　and　Marduk　stepped　out　into　knee…deep　water。　The　submersible　had
brought　itself　up　to　a　raised　gantry　twenty　metres　above　what　appeared　to　be　a　holding　area。
Evidently；　the　upper　portion　of　the　ship　was　still　structurally　sound；　and　air　had　been　trapped　within
it。
Marduk’s　helmet　readouts　gave　him　a　flood　of　information　and　he　saw　that　the　air　was　unsafe
for　an　unprotected　human　to　breathe。　Astartes　warriors；　with　their　superior；　genhanced　physiology；
would　probably　last　around　an　hour　before　they　expired。
Marduk　saw　that　the　submersible　he　had　emerged　from　was　drawn　up　alongside　half　a　dozen
others。
“The　explorator　and　her　team’s　vessels；　presumably；”　said　Kol　Badar；　stamping　through　the
water　to　Marduk’s　side。
A　massive　doorway　yawned　behind　them；　leading　further　into　the　Imperial　freighter。　With　no
other　obvious　way　of　proceeding；　Marduk　led　the　warriors　through　its　arched　expanse。
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They　came　upon　a　series　of　bulkheads；　part　of　the　latticework　that　subdivided　the　ship　into
distinct　sections；　adding　strength　to　the　whole　and　allowing　areas　of　the　ship　to　be　isolated　from
each　other　in　the　event　of　hull　breach。
Though　there　was　no　power　within　the　ship—its　plasma　core　reactors　were　clearly　dead；　or　at
least　dormant—the　bulkheads　could　be　accessed　manually。　Kol　Badar　ripped　one　of　them　open　with
a　wrench；　half…expecting　to　be　washed　away　by　a　flood　of　water。　Once　all　the　warriors　had　passed
the　bulkhead　it　was　sealed　behind　them　once　more；　and　the　next　bulkhead　opened。　The　ship　beyond
was　dark；　but　the　air　was　breathable　without　danger；　and　Marduk　felt　certain　that　this　was　the　way
that　the　explorator　had　taken。
He　grinned　within　his　helmet。　He　could　almost　feel　the　presence　of　the　wretched　devotee　of　the
Machine…God。　He　had　but　to　reach　out　to　possess　her。
“She　is　here；　somewhere；”　said　Marduk。　“I　know　it。”
“She’d　better　be；”　growled　Kol　Badar。
Warily；　the　warriors　of　the　Host　began　to　move　further　into　the　wrecked　hulk　that　was　the　Flame
of　Perdition；　weapons　at　the　ready。
They　had　advanced　for　over　three　hours；　though　in　that　time　that　had　been　forced　to　retrace　their
steps　a　dozen　times　as　their　way　was　blocked　by　shattered　sections　of　the　ship；　or　by　bulkheads　that
led　back　into　the　flooded　lower　sections。
Burias’s　mood；　previously　buoyed　by　Marduk’s　optimism；　had　slowly　soured　as　the　sheer
improbability　of　finding　the　explorator　within　this　confusing　maze　was　driven　home。　Kol　Badar　was
right。　The　cursed　worshipper　of　the　profane　Machine…God　could　be　anywhere　within　the　ship；　if　she
were　here　at　all。　The　ship　was　over　two　kilometres　in　length　and　consisted　of　almost　fifty　deck
levels；　depending　on　where　within　the　ship　one　was　located。　In　addition；　a　myriad　of　air　ducts；　subfloor
tunnels　and　inter…deck　stowage　vaults　made　the　Flame　of　Perdition　a　veritable　labyrinth；　and
despite　the　fact　that　perhaps　seventy　per　cent　of　it　was　flooded　and　impassable；　it　would　take　a
Herculean　effort　and　incredible　luck　to　locate　a　single　individual　within　its　confines。
“There　is　no　such　thing　as　luck；”　Marduk　snapped　angrily；　picking　up　the　vagaries　of　the　icon
bearer’s　unfocused　thoughts。　This　was　a　test　of　his　faith；　the　First　Acolyte　reminded　himself；　ridding
his　thoughts　of　any　shadow　of　doubt。　The　explorator　would　be　delivered　to　him；　it　was　the　will　of
the　gods。　He　had　only　to　open　himself　up　to　the　powers　of　the　ether；　and　allow　his　earthly　flesh　to　be
guided。
“Keep　moving；”　said　Marduk。
Kol　Badar　and　two　of　his　Anointed　warriors　were　leading　the　advance；　walking　in　single　file；
their　massive　shoulders　sometimes　scraping　along　the　walls　of　the　narrow；　dark　corridors。
Terminator　armour　had　been　originally　constructed　with　brutal　ship…to…ship　boarding　actions　in
mind；　where　the　immense　protection　its　heavy　plates　provided　far　outweighed　its　lack　of　speed　and
manoeuvrability。　Within　the　flooded　hulk；　they　were　the　obvious　choice　to　lead　the　advance。
Khalaxis　walked　a　pace　behind　them；　a　blinking　auspex　held　before　him；　scanning　for
movement。　The　amount　of　interference　from　the　ship　was　playing　havoc　with　its　accuracy；　limiting
its　range　to　less　than　fifty　metres。　Anything　moving　within　the　range　of　its　sweeps　would　appear　as　a
blinking　icon；　but　thus　far　only　the　other　members　of　the　Host　had　appeared　on　its　blister　screen。
Marduk　walked　with　Burias　in　the　centre　of　the　group；　along　with　the　hulking　form　of　Darioq…
Grendh’al。　Members　of　Khalaxis’s　coterie　surrounded　them；　and　the　other　two　members　of　the
Anointed　brought　up　the　rear。
They　moved　with　well…practiced　discipline。　Despite　no　movement　or　heat　signatures　being
picked　up　by　the　auspex；　individual　warriors　peeled　off　to　lay　fields　of　over…watch　down　side
corridors　and　into　darkened　rooms。　Those　behind　moved　past　the　sentinels；　which　filed　back　into
line　towards　the　rear。　At　the　very　back　of　the　formation；　the　Anointed　ensured　that　no　enemy　was
able　to　approach　unannounced。　The　formation　was　in　constant　movement；　each　warrior　providing
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cover　for　his　brethren　before　moving　on；　and　though　their　progress　was　slow；　they　moved
inexorably　deeper　into　the　hulk。　It　was　standard　practice　in　unknown；　tight　confines　such　as　these；
and　centuries　of　drilled　combat　doctrine　ensured　that　everyone　knew　his　place。
The　air　within　the　ship　was　perfectly　still；　like　the　inside　of　a　mausoleum；　and　the　silence　was
oppressive。　The　darkness　was　all　consuming；　and　with　the　utter　absence　of　any　form　of　light；　even
the　enhanced　vision　of　the　Word　Bearers　was　impaired。　Their　footsteps　echoed　painfully　loudly
along　the　empty　corridors；　and　Marduk　ground　his　sharp　teeth　in　frustration；　drawing　blood。　In　the
desolate　silence　of　the　hulk；　sound　travelled　easily；　and　their　quarry　may　already　have　heard　their
advance　and　moved　deeper　into　the　freighter。
The　line　of　warriors　emerged　from　a　branching　corridor　into　a　room　that　might　once　have　been　a
thriving　workshop。　Piles　of　mechanics　and　engine　parts　were　strewn　across　the　grilled；　uneven
flooring；　and　heavy　machinery　that　would　have　taken　a　dozen　power…lifter　equipped　servitors　to
shift　lay　overturned；　like　the　discarded　toys　of　an　infant。
Half　a　dozen　dark；　uninviting　corridors　led　from　the　room；　as　well　as　at　least　four　closed；
powered　doors。　Warriors　had　taken　up　position　at　each　entrance；　auto…sensors　straining　to　locate　any
threat。
“Which　way？”　asked　Kol　Badar。
The　Coryphaus’s　tone　conveyed　the　warlord’s　thoughts　clearly；　without　need　for　words；　that　this
was　a　hopeless　venture；　but　Marduk　ignored　his　inference　and　paused；　calming　his　breathing　and
closing　his　eyes。
He　had　entered　this　half…trance　a　dozen　times　already　within　the　ship；　searching　for　any　residual
warp…trace　that　might　suggest　the　explorator　had　come　this　way；　but　so　far　had　found　nothing。　The
soul　of　every　living　creature　in　the　universe　was　a　flaring　beacon　within　the　warp—those　individuals
who　manifested　latent　psychic　powers　burning　the　most　fiercely—and　to　those　schooled　in　the
occult　teachings　of　the　Word　Bearer’s　priesthood；　it　was　possible　to　perceive　this　soul　glow　in　the
material　realm；　sensing　it　even　at　distance。
Marduk　strained　to　pick　up　anything；　and　had　almost　resigned　himself　to　failure　once　more　when
he　felt…
something。　It　was　very　faint；　like　the　fading　heat　image　that　surrounded　a　body　an　hour　dead；　but
it　was　definitely　there。　His　eyes　snapped　open。
“There；”　he　said；　pointing　towards　one　of　the　corridors。
Without　a　word；　the　Word　Bearers　continued　deeper　into　the　Flame　of　Perdition。
Somewhere　in　the　distance　there　was　an　echoing　clang。　It　was　impossible　to　gauge　the　distance
of　the　sound；　but　to　Marduk　he　felt　it　was　confirmation　of　the　whereabouts　of　the　explorator。
“Quickly；”　he　urged。
The　Anointed　were　leading　the　way；　their　combi…bolters　tracking　for　movement。　Khalaxis’s　auspex
throbbed　with　its　steady　light。
The　remainder　of　the　warriors　followed　single…file；　weapons　held　at　the　ready。
They　had　been　moving　within　the　Flame　of　Perdition　for　over　an　hour；　time　enough　to　have
walked　its　length　twice　over　had　their　path　not　been　so　circuitous　and　slow。　No　further　sound　had
been　heard　other　than　that　one；　distant　echo；　but　Marduk　was　confident　that　his　quarry　was　near。
The　First　Acolyte　was　lost　in　his　thoughts　when　it　happened。
A　sheet　metal　wall　panel　punched　inwards；　crumpling　like　synth…board；　and　a　blurred；　dark
shape　leapt　from　the　gaping　hole　in　the　wall。　A　clawed　limb　smashed　into　a　warrior　brother’s
helmet；　crumpling　it　like　paper；　and　hot　blood　spurted；　splashing　across　the　wall。
Marduk　saw　a　blur　of　limbs；　an　exoskeleton　of　dark　chitin；　and　another　warrior　brother　was
dead；　claws　tearing　an　arm　from　its