Storm Of Iron(科幻战争)-第23部分

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A　massive　burst　of　light　from　ahead　told　Honsou　that　there　was　a　Titan　there；　one　of　its　void　shields　now　stripped　away。　He
grinned　as　he　imagined　the　desperate　crew　within；　frantically　trying　to　raise　that　shield　as　the　Iron　Warriors　continued　their　attack。
The　soldiers　pressed　into　their　service　sprinted　alongside　Honsou；　the　Warsmith　deeming　his　company　in　need　of　support　from
such　rabble。　It　angered　Honsou　that　these　scum　fought　beside　his　men；　but　he　would　not　lower　himself　to　voicing　his　outrage　at
this　latest　insult。
He　worked　the　fire　of　his　bolter　left　and　right；　deliberately　catching　a　few　of　the　red…clad　soldiers　in　his　volley；　and　rose　to　his　feet。
He　sprinted　forward；　joining　a　firing　squad　of　Iron　Warriors。　They　had　a　large　number　of　Imperial　Guardsmen　pinned　in　a　dusty
crater；　its　lip　wreathed　in　barbed　razorwire。　A　missile　slashed　from　the　crater；　slamming　into　a　rumbling　transport　vehicle　behind
him　and　blasting　it　open　with　a　ringing　clang。
Seconds　later　another　missile　streaked　from　the　crater；　but　foolishly；　the　weapon　team　had　not　displaced　before　firing　again　and　an
answering　volley　of　gunfire　ripped　the　two…man　team　apart　in　a　hail　of　bullets。
Keeping　low；　Honsou　ran　over　to　where　a　rabble　of　men　in　crimson　overalls　squatted　behind　shattered　rockcrete　tank　traps。　They
fired　crude；　bolt…action　rifles　over　their　tops　towards　the　crater。　Honsou　gripped　the　back　of　the　nearest　man's　overalls　and　hauled
him　level　with　his　helm。
'You　are　wasting　ammunition；　fool！　Dig　them　out　with　your　blades。'
The　man　nodded　frantically；　too　terrified　of　Honsou　to　reply。　Honsou　hurled　the　wretch　aside；　wiping　his　gauntlet　against　his　thigh
armour　and　returned　to　his　squad。
LIEUTENANT　COLONEL　LEONID　lay　on　the　slopes　of　a　cratered　ridge；　firing　his　lasgun　as　the　first　platoon　sprinted　back　to　the　next
rally　point。　His　face　was　blackened　and　lined　with　fear…induced　fatigue；　but　he　was　still　alive　and　fighting；　which　was　something
given　the　confused　nature　of　this　battle。　Sergeant　Ellard　lay　beside　him；　pumping　shot　after　shot　into　the　indistinct　shadows
running　through　the　smoke。　The　terror　and　threat　of　being　surrounded；　cut　off　and　overwhelmed　was　a　physical　thing；　and　Leonid
had　to　consciously　fight　to　remain　calm。
He　had　to　lead　by　example；　and　though　his　chest　was　a　knotted　mass　of　pain；　he　fought　it　to　set　a　good　one　to　his　men。
'Front　rank　fire！　Rear　rank　withdraw！'　he　shouted　as　Ellard　pushed　himself　to　his　feet　and　began　chivvying　the　rear　rank　back
towards　the　next　rally　point。　Volley　after　volley　of　las…gun　fire　hammered　through　the　ranks　of　the　red…coated　troopers　charging
through　the　madness　of　the　battle；　who　were　dropping　by　the　dozen。　So　far　he　was　holding　the　retreat　together；　but　it　was
balancing　on　a　knife…edge。　The　men　were　stretched　to　the　limits　of　their　courage　and　they　had　performed　as　well　as　he　could　ever
have　asked。　But　they　were　nearing　the　end　of　their　reserves　and　could　not　hold　forever。
It　was　a　race　against　time　as　much　as　anything　as　to　whether　they　could　get　back　within　the　cover　of　the　citadel's　guns　before　that
courage　was　exhausted。
Guardsman　Corde　crawled　over　to　him；　yelling　over　the　crack　of　gunfire　and　rumble　of　tanks　and　explosions。　The　vox　slithered
around　on　his　back　as　he　crawled　and　he　carried　a　hissing　plasma　gun；　steam　drifting　from　the　coolant　coils　on　its　barrel。
'Sergeant　Ellard　reports　they're　at　the　rally　point；　sir！'
'Very　good；　Corde；'　said　Leonid；　slinging　his　rifle　and　shouting；　'Front　rank；　let's　get　the　hell　out　of　here！'
The　Jourans　did　not　need　to　be　told　twice。　They　scrambled　back　down　the　slope　as　covering　volleys　of　lasgun　fire　from　Ellard's
section　stabbed　into　the　smoke。　Leonid　waited　until　the　last　of　his　men　had　withdrawn　before　he　and　Corde　moved　to　join　the　rest
of　the　platoon。
A　roar；　like　that　of　a　Jouran　carnosaur；　came　from　the　slope　behind　him　and　Leonid　turned　to　see　a　legion　of　horrifying　iron
behemoths　lurch　over　the　ridge；　slamming　down　with　teeth…loosening　force。　The　tanks　were　huge；　perverted　Leman　Russ　variants；
their　armoured　flanks　daubed　with　obscene　symbols　and　their　turrets　grinding　with　the　squeal　of　ancient　gears。　A　wide…barrelled
gun　mounted　on　the　nearest　tank's　forward　hull　chattered；　spewing　high　velocity　shells　down　the　slope　and　ripping　across　the
blasted　ground。　Leonid　grabbed　Corde　and　dropped；　bullets　sawing　through　the　air　above　them。
He　raised　his　head　and　terror　flooded　him　as　the　tank　rumbled　forwards；　ready　to　crush　him　under　its　bronze　tracks。　More　bullets
filled　the　air　and　the　main　gun　fired　with　an　ear…splitting　crack；　followed　seconds　later　by　a　distant　explosion。　The　track　rumbled
towards　Leonid　and　he　rolled　in　the　only　direction　he　could。
He　rolled　beneath　the　hull　of　the　tank；　its　roaring　metal　underside　passing　a　whisper　from　his　head。　Hot　gasses　and　stinking
exhaust　fumes　belched　and　he　gagged。　Something　splashed　him　and　he　felt　warm　wetness　cover　his　face　and　arms。　He　covered　his
ears　and　pressed　his　face　into　the　dust；　flattening　his　body　as　much　as　he　could。
'Emperor　protect　me…'　he　whispered　as　the　monstrous　tank　rumbled　overhead。　A　protruding　hook　of　metal　caught　on　a　fold　of　his
uniform　jacket　and　Leonid　grunted　in　pain　as　he　was　dragged　along　the　rough　ground　beneath　the　tank　for　several　metres　before　he
was　able　to　work　himself　free。
Suddenly　he　was　clear　and　the　tank　rumbled　onwards；　leaving　him　shaking　with　fear　and　relief。　He　took　a　deep　breath　and　crawled
back　to　Corde；　who　lay　unmoving　behind　him。
Leonid　felt　his　stomach　rise　and　vomited　explosively　at　the　sight　of　Corde's　mangled　corpse。　Corde　had　not　been　as　lucky　as　he
had；　his　lower　body　crushed　to　an　unrecognisable　pulp　by　the　tank's　mass。　Blood　still　flooded　from　his　mouth　and　Leonid　dryheaved；
realising　what　the　wetness　that　had　splashed　him　under　the　tank　had　been。
The　vox　was　crashed；　but　Corde's　weapon　was　still　intact　and　Leonid　snatched　it　from　the　dead　trooper's　hands。　A　towering　rage
filled　him　at　the　thought　that　Corde's　murderers　probably　didn't　even　know　that　they　had　killed　someone。　Leonid　pushed　himself　to
his　feet　and　staggered　drankenly　after　the　iron　monster。
The　thing　wasn't　hard　to　find；　it　was　rumbling　slowly　after　his　men；　slaughtering　them　with　bursts　of　gunfire　and　shells　from　its
main　gun。　Leonid　screamed　himself　hoarse　at　the　traitors　within；　skidding　to　a　halt　less　than　ten　metres　from　the　rear　of　the　tank
Graham　McNeill　？Storm　of　Iron？
and　raising　Corde's　plasma　gun。
He　squeezed　the　trigger　twice　in　quick　succession；　sending　bolts　of　white…hot　plasma　energy　towards　the　tank。　The　shots　impacted
squarely　on　the　thin　rear　armour　and　punched　through　it　easily；　instantaneously　igniting　the　tank's　fuel　and　ammo。　The　tank
exploded　in　a　red　fireball；　the　turret　buckling　from　the　pressure　of　internal　detonations。　The　Shockwave　swatted　Leonid　down；　his
chest　searing　in　pain　as　he　fell。
Black　smoke　plumed　from　the　ruptured　tank　and　Leonid　screamed　in　fury　as　another　shape　came　running　towards　him　through　the
battle。　He　swung　the　plasma　gun　up；　but　it　was　still　recharging。　Angrily；　he　tossed　the　weapon　aside　and　reached　for　his　lasgun　as
Sergeant　Ellard　emerged　from　the　smoke。
The　sergeant　didn't　waste　any　time；　hauling　his　commanding　officer　to　his　feet　and　dragging　him　away　from　the　blazing　wreck。
CARLSEN　CRUSHED　ANOTHER　vehicle　beneath　his　heavy　tread　and　sidestepped　as　another　tried　to　ram　him。　He　groaned　with　effort
as　he　spun　the　agile　Warhound　on　its　central　axis　and　unleashed　a　short　volley　into　the　tank's　rear。　The　ammo　requirements　for　his
main　guns　were　eating　into　the　reserve　hoppers　and　he　knew　that；　at　this　current　level　of　engagement；　his　guns　would　be　empty　in
minutes。
And　then　this　battle　would　be　all　over。　Moderati　Arkian　had　worked　miracles；　coaxing　the　Machine　Spirit　to　invest　their　shields
once　more；　and　without　a　second　to　spare　as　that　damned　Land　Raider　had　come　at　them　again。　Once　again　it　had　stripped　him　of
his　protective　shields　before　the　Jure　Divinu　had　flanked　it　and　blown　it　back　to　the　warp。　Some　warriors　had　gotten　out；　but
before　he　could　bring　his　weapons　to　bear　and　finish　them　off；　they　were　swallowed　up　in　the　smoke　and　confusion。
If　they　could　just　hold　on　a　little　longer；　then　they　would　be　back　within　the　visual　range　of　the　citadel　and　its　guns。　Then　they
would　be　safe。
FORRIX　CHARGED　ACROSS　a　crater；　a　loop　of　razor　wire　trailing　from　his　leg；　and　worked　the　fire　of　his　storm　bolter　across　the
backs　of　some　cowering　Guardsmen　sheltering　in　its　base。　Across　the　battlefield　he　could　see　Kroeger　slaughtering　a　clutch　of
soldiers　unlucky　enough　to　have　been　outpaced　and　cut　off。
Forrix　paused　in　his　charge　and　his　eyes　narrowed　as　he　watched　the　slaughter…maddened　frenzy　with　which　the　young…blood
butchered　the　enemy　soldiers。　His　silver　armour；　gleaming　and　pristine　before　the　battle；　was　now　soaked　in　gore；　its　iconography
obscured　by　glistening　blood。　Kroeger　was　going　too　far　now；　the　call　of　the　Blood　God　too　strong　for　him　to　resist。
Honsou　appeared　on　his　right　flank；　leading　his　men　forward　in　good　order；　firing　and　moving；　firing　and　moving。　Much　as　he
hated　to　admit　it；　the　half…breed　was　an　adept　commander；　despite　his　mixed　blood。
The　battle　had　devolved　into　a　series　of　smaller　engagements　now　that　the　main　Imperial　offensive　had　been　routed。　There　was
little　point　in　continuing　the　pursuit；　those　units　that　had　escaped　were　so　badly　mauled　that　they　were　unlikely　ever　to　regain　field
readiness。
All　that　remained　was　to　slay　the　Titan。
With　blissful　synchronicity；　the　smoke　parted　and　there　it　was　before　him；　its　red　and　yellow　carapace　blazing　in　the　sunlight。　Its
snarling　face　challenged　him　to　fight　it。
'You　task　me…'　he　whispered；　'You　task　me；'　and　set　off　to　meet　this　armoured　monster；　but　as　suddenly　as　it　had　appeared；　it
turned　and　set　off　at　speed　into　the　smoke。
Cheated　of　his　prey；　Forrix　halted　and　whispered；　'Another　time；　beast…'
LEONID　STUMBLED　AND　lurched　across　the　wasteland　before　the　citadel；　each　breath　hot　in　his　chest。　Were　it　not　for　Sergeant
Ellard's　support；　he　would　surely　have　collapsed。
He　could　hear　the　cries　of　the　enemy　close　behind；　and　the　screams　of　those　they　had　caught。
Suddenly　he　caught　sight　of　three　massive　forms　standing　just　at　the　edge　of　sight　before　him　and；　as　Ellard　continued　pushing
him　forward；　he　almost　laughed　with　relief　as　the　shapes　resolved　themselves　into　the　welcome　form　of　two　Reaver　Battle　Titans
and　a　Warlord。
But　as　he　drew　nearer　he　saw；　with　a　mounting　sense　of　horror；　that　the　Titans　were　horrendously　damaged。　Their　carapaces　were
buckled　and　scorched　by　repeated　weapon　impacts。　What　had　happened　to　these　war　machines？　As　he　took　in　the　scale　of　the
damage　he　realised　again　the　terrible　nature　of　the　foe　they　faced　here　and　the　folly　of　underestimating　them。　Flow　many　lives　had
been　lost　today　because　of　such　a　mistake？
Two　Warhounds　lurched　backwards　through　the　smoke　and　dust；　their　weapons　firing　controlled　bursts　into　the　ranks　of　the
enemy。　Both　were　damaged；　their　armoured　flanks　scored　and　burned；　but　both　were　still　fighting。
He　watched　as　the　Reavers　and　the　Warlord　opened　fire　and　the　air　exploded　with　the　shocking　n