Dark Disciple(科幻战争)-第54部分

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scrambling　to　his　feet　as　he　condemned　the　man　to　death；　crushed　to　pulp　beneath　the　surging
crowd。　Five　metres。
The　gates　were　grinding　closed；　but　Solon　was　so　close　it　was　painful。　He　pressed　forward　once
more；　and　made　good　progress；　battling　his　way　towards　the　gates。　He　reached　the　front　just　as　the
gates　slammed　shut　with　a　resounding　crash。　The　sound　struck　Solon　like　a　death　knell；　and　he
reached　forwards　and　grabbed　the　bars　of　the　gate；　crying　out　in　anguish。
The　soldiers　on　the　other　side　of　the　gates　were　backing　away；　eyeing　the　crowd　nervously。
Hundreds　of　people　threw　themselves　on　the　barred　gates；　clambering　up　onto　support　struts；
calling　after　the　soldiers　or　the　last　citizens　that　had　made　it　through。
“Open　the　gates；”　shouted　scores　of　voices。　Those　behind；　not　yet　realising　that　the　gates　had
been　sealed；　that　all　hope　had　evaporated；　continued　to　press　forwards；　crushing　those　at　the　front
against　the　thick　bars。
“Just　take　the　boy！”　roared　Solon；　his　voice　hoarse。　One　of　the　soldiers　heard　him；　but　shrugged
his　shoulders　and　turned　away。
“Squeeze　through；　Dios；”　urged　Solon　as　they　were　hammered　from　behind　and　drove　into　the
gate　with　crushing　force。　Dios　cried　out　as　his　small　body　was　pressed　against　the　bars。
“Push　through；　damn　it！”　shouted　Solon；　and　Dios　squeezed　one　arm　and　leg　through　the　narrow
gap　between　the　bars。　He　cried　out　as　he　got　stuck；　and　looked　around　frantically　for　Solon。
“Breathe　out；　boy；”　said　Solon。　“You　can　make　it。”
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Dios　exhaled　all　his　breath；　and　Solon　gave　him　a　push。　The　boy　was　stuck　tight；　and　he　feared
that　his　skull　or　hipbones　would　break　if　he　pushed　any　harder；　but　the　alternative　was　no　more
appealing。　Another　few　minutes　in　this　crush　and　the　boy　would　be　dead　anyway。
“Breathe　out；　Dios！”　he　shouted　again　and　gave　the　boy　another　shove。　Dios　cried　out　in　obvious
pain；　but　then　his　head　passed　through　the　bars　and　he　fell　to　his　knees　on　the　other　side。　His　head
was　bloody；　and　Solon　realised　that　it　was　the　blood　that　had　saved　the　boy’s　life；　for　it　had　probably
made　the　bars　more　slippery。
Dios　picked　himself　up；　and　looked　through　the　bars　at　Solon；　his　face　fearful。
“Go！”　screamed　Solon；　pointing　behind　Dios；　where　the　lucky　ones　who　had　managed　to　pass
through　the　gates　were　streaming　into　the　expansive　open　holds　of　the　mass　transport；　being　herded
by　soldiers。
Dios　turned　and　looked　towards　the　ship；　and　then　back　at　Solon。　Solon　saw　that　his　face　was　an
even　more　unhealthy　shade　of　blue；　and　his　eyes　still　burned　with　feverish　light。
“Go；　Dios！”　Solon　roared。　The　press　behind　him　was　intolerable；　and　he　clambered　up　the　bars；
stamping　on　faces　behind　him。
“Go！”　shouted　Solon　again；　and　the　boy　gave　him　one　last　look　before　he　turned　and　ran　towards
the　waiting　mass　transport。
Solon　remained　clinging　to　the　bars　until　he　saw　Dios　board　the　ship　safely；　and　the　transport’s
massive　bay　doors　were　locked　and　closed　behind　him。　He　felt　strangely　numb；　and　impossibly
weary。　The　crowds　were　dissipating；　wandering　aimlessly；　staring　around　with　hollow　eyes。　Some
sat　down；　numb　with　shock；　while　others　gathered　in　small　groups　to　pray。　Others　set　about　looting
and　destroying　anything　that　they　could；　while　some　merely　lay　down　on　the　ground　to　wait　for　the
end。
Solon　walked　through　the　crowd；　feeling　hollow　and　empty。　He　took　comfort　in　the　fact　that　he
had　got　Dios　to　safety；　though　he　knew　it　was　but　a　displacement　of　the　guilt　he　harboured　for　not
having　been　able　to　save　his　son。
He　avoided　the　frenzied　priests　screaming　of　the　end　times；　though　hundreds　flocked　to　hear
their　impassioned；　doom…laden　sermons。
With　no　real　destination　in　mind；　Solon　wandered　through　the　spaceport；　seeing　misery；　fear　and
resignation　everywhere　he　looked。　After　perhaps　an　hour　he　found　himself　at　the　windows　of　a
viewing　station；　and　watched　the　mass　transport　rise　from　its　dock；　as　the　flower…petal　segments　of
the　dome　overhead　parted　to　the　heavens。
Solon　watched　the　mass　transport　as　it　lifted　up　and　rose　from　the　dome；　and　he　breathed　out
deeply；　content　in　the　knowledge　that　Dios　was　safely　aboard。
He　had　no　way　of　knowing　that　the　boy　had　been　infected　by　a　genestealer　and　was；　even　now；
taking　that　taint　further　into　the　heart　of　the　Imperium。
Solon　found　a　place　that　overlooked　the　ice　flows；　and　settled　down　to　watch　the　world　die。
“Enemy　fighters　launched；”　croaked　the　daemon…servitor；　and　Kol　Badar　glared　at　the　pict　screens
that　showed　the　flock　of　Fury　interceptors　and　Starhawk　bombers　being　disgorged　by　the　closing
Imperial　Dictator…class　cruiser。　Sword　frigates　and　destroyers　were　moving　towards　the　Infidus
Diabolus　in　a　flanking　formation；　and　the　Coryphaus　slammed　his　fist　down　on　the　pict　screen。　The
plasglass　screen　shattered；　its　image　distorting　as　hundreds　of　spider…web　cracks　appeared　across　its
surface。
The　eldar　ship　was　slipping　out　of　range　of　the　Infidus　Diabolus’s　batteries；　and　Kol　Badar
reluctantly　ordered　the　Word　Bearers’　ship　to　pull　off　its　pursuit；　and　to　swing　around　to　face　the
new　threats。　He　watched　with　angry　eyes　as　the　eldar　vessel　darted　away；　taking　the　whoreson
bastard　Marduk　with　it。　He　would　have　felt　much　more　comfortable　knowing　that　the　First　Acolyte
was　dead；　but　he　would　have　to　content　himself　with　the　fact　that　the　eldar　had　probably　already
killed　him。
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“Launch　Thunderhawks　and　Stormbirds　to　intercept　the　enemy　fighters；”　said　Kol　Badar；　“and
come　to　new　heading；　CV19。　This　is　not　a　fight　we　can　win。”
Ikorus　Baranov　threw　the　Rapture　into　a　spiral　as　a　formation　of　Imperial　attack　craft　screamed　past
the　front　of　the　shuttle；　their　forward…mounted　lascannons　stabbing　through　the　darkness。
The　boxy　shapes　of　larger　assault　craft　the　colour　of　congealed　blood　roared　into　view；　battle
cannons　blasting　at　the　swiftly　moving　formations　of　Imperial　ships。　As　Baranov　hauled　on　his
controls；　he　saw　several　of　the　Fury　interceptors　explode　beneath　the　barrage　while　those　caught　on
the　edge　of　the　detonations　spun　crazily；　wing　thrusters　destroyed。
Larger　vessels　that　resembled　immense　birds　of　prey　swept　through　the　chaotic　space　battle；
weapons　flashing；　and　more　of　the　interceptors　were　destroyed。　The　birds　of　prey　were　slower　than
the　darting　Furies；　however；　and　as　Baranov　threw　the　Rapture　to　starboard　to　avoid　a　flurry　of
lascannon　fire；　he　saw　one　of　them　explode　in　a　fireball　as　numerous　strafing　runs　from　the　smaller
fighters　peppered　its　dark　red　hull。
Behind　the　streaking；　smaller　ships；　Baranov　saw　the　distinctive；　heavily　armoured　prow　of　an
Imperial　cruiser　in　the　distance；　a　flotilla　of　frigates　and　destroyers　fanning　out　to　its　sides。
Swearing；　Baranov　dragged　on　the　controls　of　his　labouring　ship；　and　an　immense　shape　hove　into
view。
This　ship　was　far　closer　than　the　Imperial　vessels；　and　its　deep　red　hull　was　powerful　and
bristling　with　weaponry　and　launch　bays。　It　lurched　as　it　turned　to　face　the　Imperial　battle　group；
and　Baranov　dragged　on　his　controls；　not　wanting　to　be　caught　between　them　when　they　began
firing。
“There；”　said　Marduk；　stabbing　a　finger　towards　the　familiar　shape　of　the　Infidus　Diabolus。　“Take
us　there。”
He　saw　the　human　wretch；　Baranov；　give　him　a　sidelong　glance；　and　bared　his　sharpened　teeth　at
the　man。　Baranov　paled；　and　dutifully　swung　the　Rapture　towards　the　mighty　vessel。
Attack　craft　sliced　across　the　nose　of　the　rogue　trader’s　ship；　pursued　by　the　powerful；　boxy
forms　of　Thunderhawks；　and　defence　turrets　on　the　sides　of　the　Infidus　Diabolus　spread　a　blanket　of
fire　out　towards　the　slower　moving　enemy　bombers　as　they　began　an　attack　run　against　the　strike
cruiser。
Baranov　dived　the　Rapture　down　towards　the　underside　of　the　Infidus　Diabolus；　taking　them　out
of　the　danger　zone　as　the　defence　turrets　increased　the　weight　of　their　fire　against　the　incoming
bombers。
“Towards　the　lower　launch　decks；”　said　Marduk；　pointing。　“There　are　fewer　defence　batteries
there；　and　they　have　already　locked　onto　the　Sunfires。　We　should　be　able　to　enter　the　hangar　bays
unmolested。”
Marduk　knew　that　the　enemy　bombers　and　interceptors　would　take　precedence　over　an　unarmed
shuttle；　and　that　the　automated　guidance　systems　of　the　Infidus　Diabolus　would　probably　not　fire
upon　them　while　being　assailed　by　other　more　pressing　targets。
“That’s　it；”　said　Marduk　as　they　drew　ever　closer。
A　Fury　wove　across　their　bow；　pursued　by　a　Thunderhawk　displaying　the　leering　daemon　face　of
the　Latros　Sanctum　splashed　across　its　hull；　and　Baranov　hauled　on　his　controls。　A　bank　of
lascannons　aimed　at　the　interceptor　struck　the　Rapture　in　its　port　thrusters；　sending　the　shuttle
careering　off　course。　Warning　lights　flashed　up；　and　fire　roared　through　the　rear　cabins。　The　air
within　the　shuttle　was　suddenly　sucked　from　the　ship；　and　only　the　safety　bulkheads　slamming
closed；　sealing　the　control　cabin　from　the　rest　of　the　ship；　stopped　Marduk　and　Baranov　from　being
dragged　out　into　space。
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“Take　it　in；　fast；”　shouted　Marduk；　and　Baranov　dragged　the　damaged　shuttle　back　under　his
control；　aiming　it　towards　the　gaping　launch　bay　that　was　looming　up　before　them；　filling　their
vision。
Assault　batteries　alongside　the　launch　bay　pivoted　towards　the　Rapture　as　she　screamed　towards
the　ship；　and　they　began　to　fire。　The　shuttle　was　struck　twice；　shearing　one　of　her　wings　off　in　an
explosion　of　sparks　and　flame；　and　then　the　Rapture　was　inside　the　Word　Bearers’　launch　bay。
Indentured　workers　scurried　from　their　path　as　the　Rapture　slammed　down　onto　the　launch　bay
landing　zone；　and　a　shower　of　sparks　rose　as　the　shuttle　skidded　and　spun　across　the　metal　flooring。
It　smashed　into　a　wall　and　ricocheted　off；　shearing　its　left　side　completely　away　before　coming　to　a
screeching　halt。
“Nice　landing；”　said　Marduk。
Two　full　coteries　of　Word　Bearers　Space　Marines　stood　with　bolters　trained　on　them　as　Marduk
and　Baranov　stumbled　from　the　twisted　wreckage　of　the　Rapture。　Marduk　grinned　and　slapped
Baranov　on　the　back　heavily；　knocking　the　man　to　his　knees。
“It’s　good　to　be　home；”　he　said。
The　First　Acolyte　was　still　naked　from　the　waist　up　and　his　flesh　was　a　tattered　ruin；　hanging
from　his　body　in　bloody　strips。　The　gathered　warrior　brothers　stood　with　bolters　levelled　at　Marduk；
for　a　moment；　not　recognising　him；　before　they　dropped　to　their　knees；　bowing　their　heads　to　the
ground　before　him。
“The　traitor　Astartes　are　attempting　to　disengage；　admiral；”　said　Gideon　Cortez；　flag…lieutenant　of
the　Hammer　of　Retribution。
“How　many　have　we　lost？”　asked　Admiral　Rutger　Augustine。
“Two　frigates　and　a　destroyer。　Another　two　destroyers　have　taken　severe　damage。　The　captain　of
the　Implacable　wishes　to　pursue。”
“Order　him　to　disengage；”　said　Augustine；　somewhat　reluctantly。　“We　need　those　ships　to
protect　the　line。”
“The　mass　transports　have　pulled　free　of　the　Perdus　moons’　atmospheres；”　said　Gideon；　reading
the　communiqué　from　a　data…wafer　that　was　passed　to　him　from　a　subordinate。
“Finally；”　said　Augustine。　He　looked　out　towards　the　moons。　A　fierce　battle　was　underway；　as
the　bulk　of　the　tyranid　fleet　converged　on　the　doomed　worlds；　moving　into　firing　range　of　the　m