Storm Of Iron(科幻战争)-第14部分

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glimpsed　just　prior　to　the　commencement　of　the　barrage。
He　pressed　the　range　finder　button　on　the　armament　panel　and　cursed　as　he　realised　the　APCs　and　the　warriors　standing　before
them　were　some　hundred　metres　beyond　the　maximum　range　of　his　gun。　A　handful　of　stumbling　shapes　crawled　or　walked
towards　the　warriors。　As　he　increased　the　magnification　another　level；　Chu　was　suddenly　sick　to　the　pit　of　his　stomach　as　he　saw
the　stained　uniforms　their　targets　were　wearing。
Dust　covered　and　bloodstained；　but　unmistakably　the　sky　blue　of　the　383rd　Jouran　Dragoons。　Horrified；　he　spun　the　gunsight　back
to　the　cratered　desolation　his　gun　had　helped　to　create；　moaning　as　he　saw　more　and　more　familiar　uniforms　scattered　across　the
Graham　McNeill　？Storm　of　Iron？
ground；　lifeless　and　broken。
Chu　felt　his　gorge　rise　as　he　realised　what　they　had　just　done。　The　thought　of　winning　a　bottle　of　amasec　from　this　slaughter　made
him　want　to　weep。
HONSOU　WAS　PLEASED。　He　had　watched　the　barrage　from　the　hilltop　fort　with　calm　detachment；　noting　how　far　the　shells　reached；
how　long　they　had　taken　to　travel　to　their　targets　and　how　wide　each　bastion's　arc　of　fire　was。　The　southernmost　bastion　had　not
fired；　but　Honsou　knew　that；　at　this　range；　its　big　guns　were　irrelevant。　Its　artillery　pieces　could　only　cover　the　far　southern
approaches；　but　the　close…in　guns　and　soldiers　on　the　wall　could　sweep　the　face　of　the　centre　bastion　with　murderous　crossfire。
His　armour's　auto…senses　had　easily　penetrated　the　smoke　of　the　barrage　and；　despite　his　hatred　for　the　men　in　the　fort；　he
grudgingly　admitted　to　himself　that　they　were　competent　gunners。　Competent；　but　not　intelligent。　Honsou　now　had　an　exact　plan
of　the　fort's　fire　zones　mapped　out　in　his　head。　Normally　an　attacker　would　pay　a　fearsome　butcher's　bill　to　obtain　such
information；　but　where　was　the　cost　when　you　could　use　prisoners？
Honsou　watched　the　survivors　of　the　artillery　barrage　stagger　back　from　the　killing　ground　and　drew　back　the　hammer　on　his
bolter。　Looking　at　the　sorry　state　of　the　men　that　emerged　from　the　rolling　banks　of　smoke；　he　realised　that　there　was　little　point　in
letting　them　live。　Most　would　be　no　use　as　slaves；　for　how　could　a　deafened　man　understand　orders　or　obey　them？　What　use　was　a
man　with　one　arm？　How　could　he　dig　a　trench？　And　if　they　could　fulfill　no　useful　function　then　they　were　of　no　interest　to
Honsou。
He　nodded　to　his　men　and　in　perfect　concert；　the　Iron　Warriors　raised　their　bolters　and　opened　fire。
They　worked　their　weapons　left　and　right；　shredding　the　pitiful　survivors　in　a　hail　of　mass…reactive　bolts。　Pleading　faces　screamed
for　mercy；　but　the　Iron　Warriors　had　none　to　give。
Within　seconds　almost　every　last　one　of　the　five　thousand　prisoners　who　had　advanced　into　the　teeth　of　Tor　Christo's　guns　was
dead。
Honsou　watched　a　swaying　figure　emerge　from　the　smoke；　cradling　her　arm　close　to　her　chest；　and　levelled　his　bolter　at　the
woman's　head。
Before　he　could　pull　the　trigger；　a　gauntleted　hand　reached　up　and　slapped　aside　his　weapon。　Snarling；　Honsou　reached　for　his
sword。
Kroeger　whipped　his　own　sword　up　to　swipe　Honsou's　hand　from　the　scabbard。
Honsou　stepped　back；　his　pale　features　twisted　in　fury。
'Damn　you；　Kroeger！　You　go　too　far。'
Kroeger　chuckled　and　turned　his　back　on　Honsou；　gripping　the　tunic　of　the　sole　survivor　of　the　attack　and　hauling　her　level　with
his　face。
'Do　you　see　this　woman；　half…breed？　She　has　courage。　She　may　be　a　lapdog　of　the　False　Emperor；　but　she　has　courage。　Tell　this
mongrel　scum　your　name；　human。'
Honsou　watched　the　woman's　features　twist　in　incomprehension　until　Kroeger　repeated　his　order。　He　saw　the　woman's　eyes　focus
on　Kroeger's　lips　and　realised　she　was　probably　deafened　by　the　violence　of　the　shelling。
At　last　she　seemed　to　understand　Kroeger's　words　and　croaked；　'Lieutenant　Larana　Utorian；　383rd　Jouran　Dragoons。　And　you　gave
your　word—'
Kroeger　laughed　and　nodded。　'Yes；　I　did；　but　did　you　really　expect　me　to　keep　it？'
The　woman　shook　her　head　and　Honsou　was　surprised　when　Kroeger　threw　her　towards　one　of　his　squad　leaders　and　said；　'Take
her　to　the　Chirumeks　and　have　the　wounded　arm　removed。　Replace　it　and　bring　her　to　me。'
'You　are　sparing　her　life；　Kroeger？　Why？　Mercy　does　not　become　you。'
'My　reasons　are　my　own；　half…breed；'　snapped　Kroeger；　though　Honsou　could　see　that　he　seemed　just　as　surprised　himself。　'You
would　do　well　to　remember　that；　but　I　am　wasting　my　breath　on　you。　The　Warsmith　demands　you　lead　your　men　forward　and
obtain　information　regarding　the　defences　closer　in。　Now　that　I　have　the　guns　mapped　I　can　begin　the　first　parallel。'
'Before　we　know　the　sites　of　any　close…in　redoubts　or　traps？'
'Aye；　we　are　to　proceed　with　all　speed。　Or　did　you　think　that　the　Warsmith's　orders　did　not　apply　to　you？'
'You　are　unwise　to　begin　the　trenches　before　we　know　more；'　pointed　out　Honsou。
'And　you　are　a　mongrel　whelp；　not　fit　to　lead　a　company　of　the　Iron　Warriors。　I　can　smell　the　stench　of　the　ancient　enemy　upon
you。　You　and　your　disgusting　bastard　company。　It　is　an　affront　that　you　wear　the　symbol　of　the　Iron　Warriors　upon　your　shoulder
guard　and　I　weep　for　the　future　of　our　Legion　to　know　that　unclean　hybrids　like　you　are　counted　amongst　our　number。'
Honsou　fought　to　keep　his　bitter　rage　in　check；　clenching　his　knuckles　white　on　the　hilt　of　his　sword。　How　easy　it　would　be　to　rip
it　from　its　scabbard　and　attempt　to　strike　Kroeger　down；　but　that　was　just　what　his　rival　wanted；　for　him　to　prove　that　he　was　not
worthy　of　the　Iron　Warriors。　With　difficulty；　he　forced　down　his　anger；　seeing　the　disappointment　in　Kroeger's　eyes　as　he　realised
Honsou　was　not　about　to　rise　to　his　challenge。
'It　shall　be　as　the　Warsmith　commands；'　replied　Honsou　and　turned　away。
FIVE
NIGHT　HAD　CLOSED　in　completely　as　Honsou　crept　through　the　cratered　wasteland　before　the　walls　of　Tor　Christo。　The　sky　was　a
dull；　lustreless　orange；　streaked　with　scarlet　bands　drifting　in　the　upper　atmosphere。　But　to　Honsou；　the　ground　before　him　was　as
clear　as　though　he　walked　in　the　brightest　sunlight；　the　augmented　senses　of　his　armour　turning　night　into　day。
Far　behind　him；　the　warriors　of　Forrix's　company　pegged　out　the　arc　of　the　first　trench　to　be　dug　before　the　walls　of　the　hilltop
fortress。　Called　a　parallel；　it　was　dug　in　line　with　the　curtain　wall　of　the　fortress　to　be　attacked。　Deep；　but　narrow；　it　was　just
Graham　McNeill　？Storm　of　Iron？
outside　the　range　of　the　fort's　guns；　and　would　form　the　first　line　of　attack。　From　this　first　parallel　would　be　dug　the　attack
trenches；　known　as　saps。　These　would　be　driven　towards　the　fortress　on　a　line　which；　if　extended；　would　miss　the　fortress；　thus
preventing　the　garrison　from　firing　down　the　length　of　them。
When　the　sap　had　reached　a　point　where　the　Iron　Warriors'　artillery　pieces　had　the　range　to　the　hilltop　fortress；　a　second　parallel
would　be　dug　and　breaching　batteries　placed　to　batter　the　walls　to　rubble　in　preparation　for　an　escalade。　Should　it　prove　necessary；
more　saps　could　be　dug　forward　and　a　third　parallel　established　to　place　yet　more　batteries　that　would　lob　high　explosive　shells
over　the　walls　and　into　the　heart　of　the　garrison。
Honsou　doubted　that　such　a　thorough　siege　would　be　required　to　take　Tor　Christo。　The　garrison　would　clearly　be　able　to　see　the
progress　the　attackers　were　making　and　would；　in　all　likelihood；　abandon　the　fortress　and　pull　their　men　back　to　the　main　citadel。
Taking　Tor　Christo　was　a　necessary　precursor　to　any　assault　on　the　citadel；　but　it　was　sure　to　be　thankless；　bloody　work　and　there
would　be　little　glory　to　be　had　in　such　a　venture。
This　current　mission　was　a　prime　example　of　the　gritty　necessities　of　a　siege。　From　a　distance　it　was　all　too　easy　to　rely　only　on
what　you　could　see；　trusting　to　distant　observations　to　prepare　a　plan　of　attack　on　a　fortress。　Honsou　had　seen　dozens　of　attacks　on
fortifications　founder　due　to　lack　of　proper　reconnaissance　when　attackers　had　run　into　previously　unseen　traps　or　redoubts　that
rendered　their　plans　obsolete。
Honsou　kept　one　eye　on　the　watchtower　that　commanded　the　plateau　and　one　on　the　ground　before　him；　careful　to　avoid　any
fragments　of　shell　casings　or　discarded　weapons　and　battle　gear。　Sound　carried　further　at　night　and　the　last　thing　he　needed　was　to
be　caught　out　in　the　open　with　no　immediate　support　in　the　vicinity。　He　and　forty　warriors　from　his　company　crept　through　the
killing　zone　that　had　seen　thousands　of　men　die　that　very　day；　and　by　stealth；　managed　to　get　closer　than　any　of　the　prisoners　had
by　direct　assault。
Carefully；　he　stepped　around　a　mine　his　auto…senses　detected　and　dropped　a　marker　for　the　following　troops　to　avoid。　The
minefield　they　traversed　presented　no　significant　threat　to　the　Iron　Warriors；　but　it　would　slow　the　digging　if　the　prisoners　and
slaves　were　afraid　of　unexploded　munitions　every　step　of　the　way。　The　crack　of　metal　sounded　and　Honsou　cursed　silently　as　he
saw　the　ponderous　form　of　Brakar　Polonas；　one　of　Forrix's　senior　engineers；　step　around　the　mine；　marking　its　position　on　a　lightproofed
data…slate。　The　venerable　warrior　walked　with　an　awkward；　limping　gait；　his　left　leg　a　bionic　replacement。　It　seemed　this
augmentation　also　made　him　incapable　of　moving　quietly。　It　was　a　calculated　insult　by　Forrix　to　send　Polonas；　letting　Honsou
know　that　his　information　was　only　trustworthy　if　accompanied　by　verification。　It　was　just　another　entry　in　a　catalogue　of
carefully　measured　insults　to　his　prowess。　He　just　hoped　Forrix's　clumsy　insult　didn't　get　them　all　killed。
He　pushed　the　interloper　from　his　mind　as　they　continued　forward；　making　good　time　despite　their　caution　and　Polonas's　lack　of
stealth。
Honsou　was　now　less　than　two　hundred　metres　from　the　base　of　the　rocky　promontory　that　Tor　Christo　sat　upon。　Already　this
reconnaissance　was　bearing　fruit。　Ahead　he　could　see　three　concealed　artillery　pits　carved　into　the　base　of　the　hill。　Rock…sheathed
doors　led　within　and；　were　it　not　for　the　rails　that　would　carry　the　guns　forward　into　position；　he　might　never　have　spotted　them。
Again　he　was　forced　to　admire　the　cunning　of　the　architects　of　Hydra　Cordatus。　These　artillery　pits　were　designed　to　remain　silent
and　hidden　until　the　Christo's　attackers　believed　they　had　knocked　out　the　fort's　guns。　Once　attackers　had　established　their
breaching　batteries；　these　guns　would　unleash　deadly　salvoes　of　ordnance　to　destroy　their　artillery　pieces。
They　were　dug　at　an　angle　into　the　rock　face；　making　it　difficult；　if　not　impossible；　to　target　with　counter…battery　fire　and　Honsou
realised　that　with　this　information　he　had　a　chance　to　prove　his　worth　to　the　Warsmith。
He　waved　over　his　second…in…command；　Goran　Delau；　and　indicated　the　artillery　positions。
'Clever；'　observed　Delau。
'Aye；'　agreed　Honsou　darkly。　'It　will　be　a　devil　of　a　job　to　destroy　them。'
'Indeed。'
Honsou　glanced　round　as　the　scrape　of　metal　on　rock　sounded　again；　and　he　stifled　a　curse　as　Brakar　Polonas　noisily　joined　them。
'Why　do　we　stop？'　he　asked。
Honsou　didn't　answer；　he　simply　pointed　towards　the　concealed　artillery　positions。
Polonas　nodded；　studying　the　positions　with　his　practiced　eye。
'We　can　mark　their　positions　and　shell　them　once　the　first