Gunheads(科幻战争)-第17部分

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been　like　for　the　crew　inside；　struggling　to　free　themselves　while　the　flames　devoured　them。　It
seemed　like　every　time　Wulfe　faced　the　orks；　he　came　away　mourning　lost　men。
He　ordered　Metzger　to　keep　them　rolling　backwards；　and　Holtz　to　keep　the　autocannon　firing。
Moments　later；　they　were　back　in　line　with　van　Droi’s　Foe…Breaker　and　the　tanks　of　Sergeant
Richter’s　Hammer　Squadron。　The　New　Champion　had　beaten　them　to　it。　Lenck　hadn’t　wasted　time
venting　anger　on　the　orks。　Maybe　Siemens’　death　didn’t　really　bother　the　cold…hearted　son…of…abitch。
With　the　tanks　pulling　up　into　a　horizontal　firing　line；　Colonel　Stromm　ordered　his　able…bodied
men　to　help　their　wounded　brothers　down　from　the　track…guards　and　lead　them　back　to　cover　behind
the　vehicles。　There　was　little　left　for　them　to　do；　and　it　was　better　for　them　to　stay　well　back　from
the　main　guns　if　they　didn’t　want　their　eardrums　ruptured。
Rhaimes　and　the　rest　of　Spear　Squadron　were　visible　on　the　left；　pressing　the　orks　into　a
crossfire。　Last　Rites　II　and　the　New　Champion　were　ordered　to　edge　right；　the　better　to　cover　any
attempt　by　the　orks　to　break　and　run　in　that　direction。　The　greenskins　seemed　emboldened　by　their
tank…kill　and　eagerly　charged　straight　on；　a　mad　howling　mass　of　flesh　and　metal。　Soon；　they　were
exactly　where　van　Droi　wanted　them。　He　gave　the　order。
“Fire　main　guns！”
What　followed　was　no　battle。　It　was　the　grisliest　sort　of　massacre。
Against　the　full；　unrestrained　fury　of　the　Gunheads；　the　mindless　greenskins　never　stood　a
chance。
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CHAPTER　SEVEN
Gossefried　van　Droi　stood　looking　up　at　the　ruin　of　the　naval　drop…ship；　chewing　on　the　end　of　a
damp　cigar　while；　all　around　him；　Colonel　Stromm’s　infantry　went　about　the　business　of　identifying
their　dead；　stripping　the　bodies　of　anything　that　could　still　be　put　to　use。　Grim　work；　yes；　but　van
Droi　knew　that　it　was　essential。　Out　here　in　the　desert；　the　supplies　they　had　brought　with　them　were
all　the　supplies　they　would　be　getting。　Speaking　over　the　vox；　Stromm　had　already　confirmed　van
Droi’s　worst　fears：　no；　there　had　not　been　word　from　anyone　else。　Exolon’s　status　remained　a
bloody　mystery。
Dark　days；　these；　thought　van　Droi；　and　darker　ones　ahead。　Saints　guide　you；　Siemens。　You
were　a　good　man。　I　hope　you　find　peace　with　the　Emperor。
The　drop…ship　that　had　carried　six　companies　of　The　Fighting　98th　to　Golgotha　was　in　a　sorry
state；　even　worse　than　the　one　that　had　carried　van　Droi’s　Gunheads。　It　looked　like　a　carcass；　the
decaying　body　of　a　giant　beast；　huge　and　grey；　landing　legs　twisted　and　bent；　the　bones　of　its
titanium　superstructure　shining　through　where　the　hull　had　been　ripped　or　blasted　away。　It　was　a
wonder　that　any　of　Stromm’s　men　had　survived　the　crash。　It　was　another　wonder　they’d　lasted　out
the　ork　assaults　as　long　as　they　had。　Van　Droi　wondered　how　many　men　and　machines　he　would
have　lost　if　he　had　ordered　his　Gunheads　to　dig　in　back　at　their　own　crash　site？　Might　an　Exolon
reconnaissance　patrol　have　found　them？　Or　would　the　orks　have　got　there　first？
He　chided　himself。　There　was　nothing　to　be　gained　by　such　speculation。　He　had　made　the
decision　to　move　out；　and　he　stood　by　it。　Throne　above；　if　he　hadn’t；　the　infantrymen　scurrying
busily　back　and　forth　all　around　him　would　be　corpses；　probably　headless　ones；　given　the
greenskins’　propensity　for　taking　grisly　trophies。
Siemens’　death　weighed　heavy　on　him。　Ten　tanks　had　become　nine。　A　full　crew　had　been　lost。
Morale　had　taken　a　beating；　too；　though　his　tankers　were　understandably　glad　to　have　found　others
who　had　made　planetfall　more　or　less　intact。
Van　Droi　was　still　looking　up　at　the　ruined　ship　when　he　heard　boot　heels　grinding　the　sand　just
behind　him。　He　turned　and　found　himself　looking　into　the　scarred　and　weathered　face　of　a　man　he
judged　to　be　about　twenty　years　older　than　himself。　He　was　wrong。　There　was　barely　ten　years
between　them。　Even　covered　in　blood　and　dust；　though；　Colonel　Stromm　somehow　managed　to　look
dignified。
“Colonel；”　said　van　Droi。
The　colonel　was　a　little　shorter　than　van　Droi。　He　filled　his　uniform　well　—　muscular　—　fit　to
fight；　and　van　Droi　found　himself　nursing　a　hunch　that　Stromm　had　once　been　Kasrkin。　That　seemed
to　fit；　but　he　wasn’t　about　to　ask。　None　of　his　business。　Instead；　he　gave　a　sharp　salute　and　received
one　back。
Formalities　over；　the　colonel’s　face　immediately　broke　into　a　wide　grin。
“You　know；　van　Droi；　I’d　shake　your　hand　if　my　right　arm　wasn’t　in　pieces；”　he　said；　glancing
down　at　the　limb　in　question。　It　was　cradled　in　a　white　sling　stained　with　dust。　“Bloody　orks。
Damned　good　to　see　you　and　your　boys　come　out　of　the　desert　like　that。　Like　Saint　Ignatius　riding
into　Persipe。　I　thought　I　was　dreaming。”
Van　Droi　grinned　back。　“You　won’t　find　any　saints　among　my　lot；　sir；　but　I’ll　bet　we　were　as
glad　to　find　you　as　you　were　to　be　found。　Five　days　without　a　trace　of　anyone；　and　we　only　came
across　you　by　sheer　luck。”
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“Luck　or　the　Emperor’s　hand；”　said　Stromm。　Gesturing　up　at　the　wrecked　ship；　he　continued；　“A
proper　mess；　this。　The　cogboys　should　have　warned　us　it　would　be　so　rough　coming　down。　I　know
they　mentioned　the　storms；　but　they　didn’t　say　anything　about　them　knocking　our　ships　out　of　the
sky。　And　why　the　hell　weren’t　we　told　about　vox…range　limitations？　I’d　love　some　bloody　answers。”
“I　wish　I　had　some　for　you；　sir。　Hundreds　of　drop…ships　launched。　Where　the　others　ended　up　is
anyone’s　guess；　but　some　of　them　must　have　touched　down　safely　at　Hadron。　If　we　could　just　see
the　damned　stars　clearly　for　one　night；　we　might　be　able　to　navigate　our　way　there。”
Stromm　nodded　gravely；　and　then　gestured　for　van　Droi　to　walk　with　him。　Together；　they　moved
off　towards　a　large　tent　that　was　doubling　as　a　temporary　command　centre。　Stromm’s　adjutant；
Lieutenant　Kassel；　was　inside。　When　the　colonel　and　van　Droi　entered；　he　turned　and　saluted。
“Good　to　meet　you；　lieutenant；”　said　van　Droi　after　a　brief　introduction。　The　two　men；　equal　in
rank；　shook　hands　while　Stromm　walked　over　to　a　munitions　crate　and　sat　down。
“Damned　heroes；　those　tankers。　Eh；　Kassel？”
“Heroes；　sir；”　answered　Kassel　with　a　smile。　He　produced　two　glasses　of　water　and　set　them
down　on　a　large　crate　that　was　doubling　as　a　table。
“That’s　the　next　big　problem；”　said　Stromm；　looking　down　at　the　glasses　before　glancing　up　at
van　Droi。　“How　are　you　fixed　for　water；　lieutenant？”
Van　Droi　frowned。　“Not　good；　colonel。　Not　good　at　all。　Fuel　is　another　thing　we’ll　have　to　worry
about　soon。　Food；　not　so　much。　I’ve　had　my　lads　on　half　rations　since　the　crash。　But　we’ll　be　dead
men　before　long　if　we　don’t　get　water　and　fuel。”
Stromm　nodded。　“You’ve　done　a　hell　of　a　job　keeping　your　boys　alive　and　on　the　move。　Throne
knows；　if　it　weren’t　for　you；　my　men　would　be　dead。　I’d　be　dead。　So；　I　don’t　want　you　to　think　of
me　as　pulling　rank—”
“But　you　want　to　fold　us　into　your　unit；”　said　van　Droi；　finishing　the　thought。　He　had　anticipated
this。　It　made　sense。
“Just　for　the　time　being；　and　for　the　sake　of　having　a　clear　command　structure　more　than
anything　else。”
“No　complaints　here。　Tanks　and　infantry　work　a　lot　better　together　than　they　do　apart。”
“My　thoughts　exactly。　I’m　not　a　tyrant；　van　Droi。　I’ll　consult　you　at　every　turn。　You’ll　be　kept　in
the　loop。”
“You　have　a　plan；　sir？”
“It’s　not　much　of　one；　but　it’s　clear　that　staying　here　is　out　of　the　question。　If　Army　Group
Command　hasn’t　found　us　by　now；　odds　are　they　aren’t　going　to。　It’s　high　time　we　moved　on。　The
day　we　came　down；　I　sent　a　number　of　scouting　parties　out。　Most　never　returned；　but　one　of　the
recon　squads　that　did　make　it　back　reported　seeing　rocky　uplands　about　two　hundred　clicks
eastwards。　The　orks　started　hitting　us　before　we　could　follow　up　on　it；　but　I’m　sure　we’ll　have　a
better　chance　of　establishing　vox…contact　with　someone　if　we　can　get　to　higher　ground。　Thoughts？”
“It　could　be　the　feet　of　the　Ishawar　Mountains；　sir；　which　would　suggest　that　we　came　down
much　further　to　the　south…east　than　I　originally　estimated。　If　it　is　the　Ishawar　range；　following　the
foothills　north…east　should　take　us　within　a　few　days’　travel　of　Balkar。　Sooner　or　later；　if　Operation
Thunderstorm　is　still　rolling；　the　rest　of　Exolon　will　deploy　near　there。　The　Fortress　of　Arrogance
was　lost　in　the　north…east　Hadar　region。　So　yes；　sir。　I’d　say　that’s　about　the　best　plan　we’ve　got。”
“Knew　you’d　see　it　my　way；”　said　Stromm。　“Let’s　talk　about　numbers。　What　exactly　are　you
fielding？”
“Nine　tanks；　all　Leman　Russ　variants；　all　crewed；　plus　four　Heracles　halftracks　and　eight　trucks。
Five　of　those　are　packed　with　ammunition　and　supplies。　Most　of　our　personnel　are　crammed　into　the
halftracks。”
“How　many　personnel？”　asked　Stromm。
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“One　hundred　and　twenty…nine；　sir。　Forty　of　those　are　tank　crew。　The　rest　are　reserve　crews　and
battlefield　support。　Half　a　dozen　are　wounded　men；　two　of　which　are　critical。”
Stromm　turned　to　Kassel　and　said；　“There　go　our　worries　about　transportation　then；　Hans。”
Kassel　nodded。
“Sir？”　said　van　Droi。
Stromm　sat　forward　and　lifted　one　of　the　glasses　from　the　top　of　the　crate　in　front　of　him。　“We
have　a　few　Chimeras；　mostly　machines　from　the　Kasrkin　Armoured　Fist　squads；　and　a　couple　of
halftracks　and　trucks。　Seventy　per　cent　of　our　vehicles　were　wrecked　in　the　crash。”　Stromm　looked
down　at　the　water　in　his　glass。　“It　was　one　of　the　factors　in　my　decision　to　stay　put；　that　and　our
wounded。”
“Even　if　we　had　the　transports；”　said　Kassel；　“it’s　not　much　good　moving　our　people　out　of　here
if　we　don’t　have　enough　trucks　to　carry　the　supplies　we’re　going　to　need。”
“My　support　crews　are　pretty　talented；　colonel；”　said　van　Droi。　“The　vehicles　you　say　are
wrecked；　are　they　still　in　the　drop…ship？”
Stromm　grinned。　“Think　your　men　can　fix　some　of　them　up；　van　Droi？”
“Not　like　the　cogboys　could；　sir；　but　I’d　say　it’s　worth　a　try；　wouldn’t　you？”
“Get　them　on　it　right　away；　then。　Kassel；　make　sure　they　get　everything　they　need。”
“Of　course；　sir。”
Stromm　stood　and　walked　to　the　entrance　of　the　tent。　“We’ve　got　lots　to　do；　gentlemen。　Let’s　be
about　it。”
Having　been　dismissed；　van　Droi　and　Kassel　followed　the　colonel　out　into　the　open　air。　Van
Droi　judged　that　there　were　just　a　few　hours　of　daylight　left。　His　crews　would　have　to　work　under
lamps。　It　would　be　a　long　night　for　them；　but　there　would　be　time　enough　for　rest　once　they　were
under　way　again。
“If　you’ll　follow　me；　lieutenant；”　said　Kassel；　“I’ll　show　you　what　there　is　to　work　with。”
“Lead　the　way；”　said　van　Droi；　and　together；　he　and　Kassel　moved　off；　walking　around　to　the　far
side　of　the　crashed　ship　to　enter　via　the　massive　rent　in　its　main　hold。
With　the　two　lieutenants　gone；　an　exhausted　Stromm　let　his　facade　slip；　just　for　a　moment。　His
shoulders　sagged　and　he　blew　out　a　deep；　exhausted　breath。　His　arm　still　hurt　like　hell　despite
injections　of　anaesthesium。　Sure　that　no　one　else　was　within　earshot；　he　took　a　tiny；　handcrafted
icon　of　the　Emperor　from　a　side　pocket　in　his　fatigues；　raised　it　level　with　his　face　and　said；　“Light
of　all　Mankind；　there’s　nothing　I　wouldn’t　do　f