Dark Disciple(科幻战争)-第52部分

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into　air；　spinning；　and　slamming　first　one　foot　and　then　the　other　into　the　daemonette’s　face。　Blades
in　his　boots　sliced　through　infernal　skin；　spilling　more　steaming　ichor；　and　the　lord　stepped　back　as
his　incubi　bodyguards　finished　the　injured　creatures；　ripping　them　in　two　with　powerful　blows　of
their　punisher　glaives。
“I　come　for　you！”　roared　Marduk；　his　voice　still　that　of　the　daemon；　as　he　slashed　a　path　towards
the　dark　eldar　lord。
“It’s　moving　a　little　fast　for　a　freighter；　don’t　you　think？”　commented　Burias；　looking　with　narrowed
eyes　at　the　flickering　vid…screens　on　which　the　positions　of　the　fleets　blinked。
The　Imperial　vessel　that　Marduk　was　located　aboard　had　moved　swiftly　as　the　Infidus　Diabolus
had　swung　towards　it；　altering　its　trajectory　with　a　speed　and　manoeuvrability　that　seemed　far
beyond　that　of　a　simple　freighter；　indeed　it　came　about　to　a　new　heading　with　a　swiftness　that　was
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far　beyond　any　Imperial　ship。　Despite　its　surprising　swiftness；　the　sudden　movement　of　the　Infidus
Diabolus　would　surely　allow　at　least　one　barrage　upon　it　before　it　slipped　out　of　range。
“Targeting　matrices　locked　on；”　croaked　seven　daemon…servitor　symbiotes　in　unison。
“Fire；”　barked　Kol　Badar。
A　moment　later；　Burias　felt　the　reverberations　through　the　Infidus　Diabolus　as　a　full　broadside
salvo　was　launched　upon　the　curious　Imperial　freighter。
The　eldar　vessel　veered　to　starboard　as　hundreds　of　cannon　batteries　unleashed　their　devastating
fusillade；　displaying　a　speed　of　manoeuvrability　that　a　strike　craft　a　tenth　of　its　size　would　have
envied。　That　brutal　salvo　would　have　torn　through　the　void　shields　of　any　Imperial　ship　in　seconds；
and　smashed　apart　its　hull　armour　within　moments；　but　the　bulk　of　the　shots　went　screaming　past　the
shadowy　outline　of　the　dark　eldar　ship。　Its　mimic　engines　projected　an　outline　that　was　vastly
different　to　its　actual　proportions；　fooling　the　targeting　arrays　of　the　Infidus　Diabolus；　and　hundreds
of　tonnes　of　heavy　duty　ordnance　roared　past　the　ship；　screaming　wide　of　the　mark。
Even　with　the　naked　eye；　its　exact　position　was　impossible　to　discern　thanks　to　it　shadow　fields；
all　light　refracting　and　curving　around　its　hull　so　that　it　seemed　barely　there　at　all。
Still；　the　weight　of　cannon　fire　was　heavy　and　indiscriminate；　and　it　tore　through　the　bladed
membranes　of　the　back…swept　vanes　that　rose　like　a　ridge　across　the　back　of　the　dark　eldar　ship。
Several　barrages　also　slammed　into　its　hull　proper；　wreaking　terrible　damage。
Even　as　the　ship　dived　away　from　the　Infidus　Diabolus；　slicing　through　the　void　like　a　knife；　it
returned　fire；　and　stabbing　lances　of　dark　matter　slammed　into　the　Word　Bearers’　strike　cruiser。
A　dozen　broadside　cannon　batteries　were　destroyed　instantly；　and　tens　of　hundreds　of　indentured
slaves；　chained　together　in　long　worker　gangs；　whose　sole　existence　was　to　load　and　prepare　the
mighty　weapons　for　firing；　were　dragged　into　the　emptiness　of　space；　where　their　organs　imploded。
Fire　blossomed　across　the　strike　cruiser　as　its　hull　was　compromised　in　a　handful　of　places；　though
the　flames　almost　instantly　died　as　bulkheads　isolated　the　crippled　areas　and　the　air　within　was
sucked　into　space。
The　Astartes　cruiser　fired　again；　correcting　its　aim　now　that　the　mimic　engines　of　the　dark　eldar
vessel　had　been　nullified。
“Admiral！”　shouted　the　flag…captain　of　the　Hammer　of　Righteousness。
“What？”　snapped　Admiral　Rutger　Augustine。　His　knuckles　were　white　as　he　clenched　the　railing
before　his　view　screen　on　the　bridge　of　his　flag…ship。
“That　rogue　freighter…”　began　his　second　in　command；　Gideon　Cortez。
“What　about　it；　Gideon？　We　are　fighting　a　damn　engagement　here。”
“It’s…　it’s　not　an　Imperial　vessel；　lord。”
“What　are　you　talking　about？”
“The　scans；　they’ve　been　wrong。　It’s　a　xenos　vessel；　sir。　Eldar。　They　must　have　been
transmitting　a　false　signal　that’s　been　fooling　our　sensors。”
Augustine　swore。　He　had　his　hands　full　already　with　more　than　half　his　fleet　engaged　with　the
tyranids。　The　last　thing　he　needed　was　for　an　eldar　fleet　to　turn　up。　One　never　knew　what　their
intentions　were。　Were　they　here　to　fight　the　tyranids　for　their　own　benefit？　Or　would　they　attack　the
Imperial　fleet　while　it　was　engaged　with　the　xenos　foe？
“Is　its　disposition　hostile？”　he　asked。
“Negative；　sir；　it　is　moving　away　from　the　fleet。”
“Well　that　is　something　at　least。　Ignore　it。　I　have　no　wish　to　incur　the　wrath　of　the　eldar。　Not
here。”
“There　is　something　else；　Rutger；”　said　Gideon；　and　Augustine　could　hear　the　reticence　in　his
friend’s　voice。　It　must　be　bad；　he　thought　with　a　sigh。
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“Go　ahead；”　he　said　wearily。
“The　Adeptus　Astartes　cruiser　has　been　identified。　Its　signature　has　been　pulled　from　the　archive
banks　of　command　central。　It　is　the　Infidus　Diabolus；　lord。　Word　Bearers　Legion。”
“Traitors；”　said　Augustine。　He　cast　his　gaze　heavenwards；　and　barked　a　humourless　laugh。
“Tyranids；　eldar；　and　now　traitor　Space　Marines。　Perfect。”
“There　is　some　good　news；　sir；”　said　Gideon。
“Oh？”　replied　Augustine。
“It　would　appear　that　the　eldar　and　Chaos　ships　are　engaging　each　other。”
Augustine　shook　his　head。
“The　Emperor　works　in　mysterious　ways；”　he　said。
Eldar　were　one　thing；　as　often　friends　as　foes；　but　a　cruiser　of　traitor　Space　Marines？　They　were
the　enemy；　and　must　be　eliminated。
“Order　the　Implacable　to　move　up　in　support　of　the　eldar　vessel；”　order　Augustine。　“Order　them
to　engage　and　destroy　the　Infidus　Diabolus。”
Marduk　stumbled　as　the　entire　xenos　ship　was　rocked　by　a　second　series　of　impacts；　and　he　cursed。
He　had　to　get　off　the　ship。
He　saw　the　female；　flame…haired　wych　that　had　captured　him　cartwheel　through　the　melee；　her
whip　crackling　through　the　air　behind　her；　and　three　of　the　daemonettes　screamed　in　fury　as　their
earthly　bodies　were　slain；　disappearing　into　mist。
Another　daemonette　reared　up　behind　her　and　rammed　its　claws　through　her　slender；　tattooed
body。　Marduk　plunged　his　blade　into　the　wych’s　face；　spitting　her　head　on　its　length。　Face　to　face
with　the　daemonette；　Marduk　grinned。　The　daemon　licked　its　teeth　at　him　in　response；　and　ripping
its　claws　from　the　wych’s　body；　it　spun　lightly　on　its　heel；　claws　singing　through　the　air　to
decapitate　another　eldar；　sending　its　head　flying。
Marduk　whipped　the　blade　free；　spraying　blood　in　a　wide　arc　and　spun　to　his　right；　slashing　it
across　the　helmet　of　another　warrior；　the　slender　xenos　limb　slicing　through　the　armour　with
consummate　ease。
Another　barrage　struck　the　eldar　ship　and　Marduk　stumbled　again；　cursing。
Darts　spat　into　Marduk’s　chest；　and　he　hissed　as　debilitating　pain　wracked　his　body　for　a
moment；　before　the　power　of　the　warp　within　him　surged；　and　he　felt　the　pain　recede。　One　of　the
dark　lord’s　guardians　stood　before　him；　and　more　darts　were　fired　from　the　tip　of　its　backwardscurving
helmet；　which　resembled　a　scorpion’s　tail。
Marduk　lifted　a　hand；　the　movement　guided　by　the　power　of　Slaanesh　surging　within　him；　and
the　darts　were　halted　in　mid…air。　arduk　sent　them　slicing　off　to　the　side；
where　they　took　an　eldar　in　the　face。
The　bodyguard　darted　towards　Marduk；　swinging　its　glaive　with　surprising　swiftness；　forcing
him　to　leap　backwards　to　avoid　being　cut　in　two。　There　was　no　time　to　launch　a　riposte；　for　the　eldar
danced　after　him；　its　return　blow　striking　towards　his　neck。
Marduk　met　the　blow　with　one　of　his　own；　but　the　glaive　sheared　through　his　blade　as　if　it　were
not　there；　and　though　Marduk　swayed　to　the　side　at　the　last　moment　to　avoid　the　killing　blow；　the
blade　smashed　into　his　shoulder；　sinking　deep　into　his　flesh。
Grabbing　the　blade　with　one　hand；　keeping　the　eldar　from　pulling　it　clear；　the　First　Acolyte　and
the　eldar　were　momentarily　locked　together。　Marduk　stood　half　a　head　taller　than　the　slender
warrior；　and　over　twice　his　weight；　but　the　eldar　was　swift；　despite　its　heavy　armour。
The　eldar’s　foot　snapped　out；　hitting　Marduk　squarely　in　the　throat。　Again；　the　eldar　snapped　a
kick　to　his　neck；　but　this　time　the　Word　Bearer　met　its　force　with　his　arm；　clubbing　down　hard　on
the　leg　as　it　rose　towards　him。
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The　eldar　gave　a　reptilian　hiss　of　pain　as　its　leg　was　broken；　its　armour　crushed　beneath　the
blow。　Instantly；　Marduk　ripped　the　glaive　from　his　shoulder　and　whirled　it　through　the　air。　He　hit　the
eldar　in　the　back　as　it　fell　away　from　him；　severing　its　spinal　column。
The　weapon　was　phenomenally　light　in　his　hands；　and　he　slashed　it　to　the　right；　cleaving　the　arm
from　another　of　the　eldar　lord’s　bodyguard　as　it　despatched　another　daemonette。
There　was　no　order　to　the　battle。　The　eldar　were　completely　overrun　by　the　daemons　of
Slaanesh。　The　musk　had　a　powerful；　intoxicating　effect；　and　everything　was　brighter；　more　alive；
and　more　intense　than　in　any　battle　Marduk　had　experienced　before。　He　heard　every　groan；　scream
and　gasp；　and　every　splatter　of　blood　as　it　struck　the　flooring。　The　blood　being　spilled　was　the　most
entrancing；　vivid　colour　imaginable；　and　he　felt　a　savage　joy　at　the　play　of　light　across　the　armour　of
the　eldar　warriors；　the　alluring　smell　of　death；　and　the　feel　of　the　xenos　weapon　beneath　his　hands。
He　saw　the　guards　of　the　eldar　lord　fall　one　by　one；　dragged　down　into　the　mist；　until　the　blackarmoured
figure　stood　alone；　defiant　and　savage；　yet　hopelessly　overwhelmed。　This　one　moved　well；
and　Marduk　longed　to　test　his　strength　against　him；　but　it　was　not　to　be。
The　daemonettes　circled　in　around　the　eldar　lord；　snarling　and　hissing；　closing　off　any　chance　of
escape；　and　Marduk　had　no　wish　to　come　between　the　daemons　and　their　prey。
Another　series　of　detonations　rocked　the　eldar　ship；　and　Marduk　swung　away　from　the　doomed
eldar　lord；　leaving　him　to　his　fate。
“That　one　is　mine；”　said　a　voice；　and　Baranov　looked　up　to　see　the　Space　Marine　that　had　released
him　from　his　imprisonment　striding　towards　him　through　the　pink　mist；　eyes　blazing　with
dominating　power　as　he　glared　at　the　daemonette　that　held　Baranov　in　its　thrall。
The　daemonette　hissed　in　anger；　but　obediently　spun　away　from　Baranov；　who　cried　out　in
desire　and　pain　as　it　relinquished　its　hold　on　him。　Bloody；　stinging　welts　covered　Baranov’s　body；
and　his　eyes　lingered　on　the　fey　creature　as　it　spun　away　on　one　clawed　foot　and　slashed　its　arm
across　the　neck　of　a　slave；　who　was　standing　nearby；　mouth　agape。　Blood　fountained　from　the
mortal　wound；　yet　the　man　moaned　in　pleasure；　and　the　daemonette　bore　it　to　the　ground　in　its
embrace；　the　pair　disappearing　into　the　knee…high　mist。
Baranov　was　insensible；　shaking　and　gibbering　from　the　horrors　he　had　witnessed　as　the　Space
Marine　hauled　him　brutally　to　his　feet。
“Take　me　to　your　ship；”　growled　the　immense　figure；　eyes　blazing　with　fury　and　power。
“My　ship；”　muttered　Baranov；　his　sanity　in　tatters；　but　he　was　brought　back　into　reality　as　the
Space　Marine　slapped　him　across　the　side　of　the　head。　His　brain　was　rattled　inside　his　skull　by　the
force　of　the　blow。　The　immense　figure　grabbed　Baranov　by　the　front　of　his　shirt　and　pulled　him
towards　his　snarling；　bloody　face。
“Take　me　to　you　ship；　or　I’ll　gut　you　here；”　he　growled。
Dracon　Alith　Drazjaer　turned　on　the　spot；　his　eyes　darting　between　the　en