Storm Of Iron(科幻战争)-第43部分

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Forrix　shot　again；　swinging　his　power　fist。　The　warrior　ducked　and　rolled　aside；　Forrix's　blow　smashing　apart　an　iron　prop　and
pulverising　a　huge　section　of　wall。　Rock　and　dust　filled　the　air　as　he　rounded　on　his　opponent。　The　Imperial　Fist　drew　a　sword；　its
blade　wreathed　in　amber　fire；　but　die　tunnel　was　too　cramped　to　wield　it　effectively。
Forrix　batted　aside　the　blade　and　pistoned　his　fist　through　the　warrior's　chest；　smashing　his　ribcage　and　ripping　out　his　heart　and
lungs。　He　pushed　aside　the　bloody　corpse；　stepping　into　the　main　gallery　and　spraying　the　Imperial　Fists　with　bolter　fire。　One　man
dropped；　blood　washing　down　his　thigh　as　the　others　dived　for　cover。　Bolter　fire　blasted　the　rock　around　him　and　pounded　his
armour。
Somehow　a　bolt　found　its　way　through　his　shoulder　guard　and　blood　started　to　pour　from　a　wound　in　his　arm。　He　roared　in　anger
and　emptied　the　remainder　of　his　bolter's　magazine　into　the　nearest　Imperial　Fist；　the　snap　of　the　hammer　dropping　on　an　empty
chamber　shockingly　loud　in　the　cramped　tunnel。
Behind　him；　Forrix　could　hear　the　shouts　of　approaching　soldiers。　His　bolter　empty；　he　pulled　back　the　arming　slide　on　his　combiweapon's
other　armament　fixture。
The　last　Space　Marine　rose　from　his　cover　and　opened　fire；　hosing　Forrix　with　bullets。　Forrix　rocked　under　the　impacts；　bringing
his　weapon　to　bear　and　fired　the　underslung　melta　gun。　The　white…hot　blast　of　superheated　air　punched　into　the　Imperial　Fist；
incinerating　his　torso　with　a　hissing　detonation；　the　oxygen…rich　blood　in　his　body　flashing　to　a　stinking　red　steam。
A　pile　of　armoured　limbs　and　a　head　…　all　that　remained　of　the　Space　Marine　…　clattered　to　the　floor；　the　gory　stumps　cauterised
and　molten。　Forrix　dropped　his　weapon　and　swept　up　a　fallen　bolter　as　red…clad　human　soldiers　raced　to　join　him　from　the　surface。
Suddenly；　Forrix　caught　the　stench　of　something　vile　from　the　opening　in　the　cavern　roof　and　realised　he　had　to　get　out　of　here。
He　turned　from　the　rockface　and　ran　past　the　startled　soldiers　without　a　word。　He　ran　as　fast　as　he　could　back　towards　the　surface；
but　as　he　heard　the　roaring　thunder　behind　him；　he　realised　he　wouldn't　make　it　in　time。
Forrix　lurched　left　into　one　of　the　deception　tunnels。　He　heard　screams　from　behind　him　and　knew　that　every　soldier　down　here
was　a　dead　man。　The　roaring　grew　louder；　magnified　by　the　closeness　of　the　walls。
Forrix　continued　down　the　side　tunnel；　ducking　round　a　bend　as　the　first　rush　of　chemicals　swept　towards　him。
A　tidal　wave　of　poisoned　chemical　waste　thundered　through　the　tunnels；　diverted　from　every　culvert；　septic　tank；　latrine　and　nightsoil
pipe　in　the　citadel。　Forrix　had　smelled　the　reek　of　the　waste　and　the　acrid　tang　of　the　bio…toxins。　He　clung　onto　the　rough　walls
as　the　foul；　liquid　effluent　roared　through　the　tunnels；　sweeping　all　before　it。
Men　were　crashed　to　death　against　the　rocky　walls　as　the　vile　solution　pummelled　them；　filling　the　tunnels　with　excremental
fluids。　Those　not　killed　by　the　first　tidal　wave　were　drowned　or　poisoned　in　the　toxic　waste　as　it　rose　to　the　ceiling；　shorting　out
the　remaining　glow…globes　and　snuffing　them　out　one　by　one。
Sheltered　from　the　worst　of　the　flood　in　the　side　tunnel；　Forrix　hung　on　as　the　grey…brown　sludge　sloshed　around　him；　rising
higher　with　each　second　until　he　was　immersed　in　the　thick　tide。　He　knew　he　was　in　no　danger；　his　armour　was　proof　against　the
Graham　McNeill　？Storm　of　Iron？
hard　vacuum　of　space　and　it　had　suffered　worse　fates　than　this　in　its　long　life。
How　far　up　the　tunnel　the　flood　of　liquid　would　reach；　Forrix　had　no　idea；　but　guessed　it　could　not　be　too　far。　To　effectively　flood
the　tunnels；　this　amount　of　waste　would　have　had　to　have　been　diluted　with　much　of　the　garrison's　drinking　water。　Perhaps；
believing　their　salvation　had　arrived　in　the　shape　of　the　Imperial　Fists；　the　defenders　thought　they　could　afford　to　be　cavalier　with
their　water　supplies。
A　few　minutes　passed　before　the　tunnel　began　to　drain。　The　Imperials'　plan　had　failed。　Forrix　had　built　scores　of　such　mines　and
had　had　more　lethal　substances　than　toxic　waste　flooded　through　many　of　them。　Drainage　channels　diverted　much　of　the　water
into　specially　constructed　flood　chambers　and　the　natural　dryness　of　the　soil　absorbed　a　great　deal　of　moisture。　The　tunnel　would
survive；　but　there　would　need　to　be　additional　props　installed　to　keep　it　from　subsequently　collapsing。　Such　work　would　need　to
be　carried　out　by　the　Iron　Warriors；　since　these　toxins　would　remain　lethal　for　many　hundreds　of　years。　But　to　warriors　in　power
armour；　they　were　irrelevant。
Forrix　shook　his　helmet　clear　of　thick　sludgy　deposits　and　waded　back　through　the　waste…filled　darkness　to　the　main　tunnel；
knowing　what　must　happen　next。　Bones　crunched　beneath　his　heavy　tread　as　he　stepped　on　drowned　corpses。　The　toxic　waste　was
draining　rapidly。　As　he　made　his　way　back　to　the　rockface　he　checked　the　action　of　the　bolter；　clearing　it　of　obstructions。
Up　ahead　he　could　see　beams　of　light　stabbing　down　into　the　cavern　from　the　hole　in　the　roof　and　heard　the　first　splash　of
something　heavy　drop　from　above。　The　darkness　of　the　tunnel　was　no　impairment　to　Forrix；　and　he　saw　an　Imperial　Fist　rise　to　his
feet。　The　Space　Marine　moved　swiftly　through　the　knee…deep　sludge　towards　the　tunnel　mouth。
Forrix　shot　him　in　the　head　as　more　Imperial　Fists　dropped　to　the　cavern　floor；　spreading　out　as　the　echo　of　his　shot　faded。　Bullets
hammered　the　rock　around　him　and　ricocheted　from　his　armour。　He　raised　the　bolter　and　swept　its　fire　around　the　cavern；　gunning
down　Space　Marines　as　he　backed　into　the　relative　safety　of　the　tunnel　where　the　enemy　could　not　bring　their　superior　numbers　to
bear。　If　they　wanted　to　kill　him；　they　were　going　to　have　to　come　and　dig　him　out。
Shapes　darted　across　the　opening　and　he　fired　at　each　one　as　it　presented　itself。　Forrix　laughed　as　he　killed；　spraying　the　tunnel
mouth　with　bolter　fire。　Muzzle　flashes　lit　up　the　Stygian　darkness　as　gunfire　blasted　from　the　walls　of　the　tunnel。　He　felt　sharp
pain　in　his　side　and　shoulder　as　more　bolts　impacted　on　his　armour。　As　mighty　as　Terminator　armour　was；　it　could　still　be　brought
down　by　sheer　volume　of　fire。
The　bolter　he　carried　clicked　empty　and　he　dropped　it　into　the　effluent；　reactivating　his　power　fist　as　two　Imperial　Fists　rushed
him。　He　killed　the　first　with　a　mighty　punch　to　the　head；　and　the　second　with　a　reverse　stroke　that　tore　out　his　throat。
Another　two　warriors　charged。　Forrix　roared　in　battle　fury　as　he　felt　the　blade　of　a　crackling　sword　rip　through　his　armour；
between　his　ribs　and　into　his　primary　heart。　Angrily　he　slammed　his　fist　down　across　the　blade；　wrenching　it　from　the　Space
Marine's　grip　before　removing　his　arm　with　a　backhanded　blow。　He　shoulder　charged　the　other　warrior；　crushing　his　helmet
against　the　tunnel　wall　before　disembowelling　the　armed　Space　Marine　with　his　power　fist。
Gunfire　hammered　him　and　he　felt　the　bone　shield　within　his　chest　cavity　crack　as　a　bolter　shell　exploded　within　the　ceramite
plates　of　his　armour。　He　dropped　to　his　knees　as　the　Imperial　Fist　closed　the　gap；　firing　as　he　advanced。　Forrix　tore　out　the　sword
protruding　from　his　chest　and　hacked　the　warrior's　legs　out　from　under　him；　pitching　him　face…first　into　the　waste　matter。
He　pulled　himself　to　his　feet　as　more　bullets　hammered　him。　A　grenade　splashed　next　to　him　and　he　hurled　himself　back　as　it
detonated。　Muffled　by　the　water；　the　blast　threw　up　a　spray　of　liquid　and　debris；　but　its　lethal　force　was　spent　and　he　was
unharmed。
He　rose　to　his　knees　as　another　Imperial　Fist　charged　him。　A　bolt　took　Forrix　high　on　the　temple；　blasting　a　portion　of　his　helmet
clear　and　blood　streamed　down　his　face。　Something　slammed　into　his　visor；　ripping　the　helmet　from　his　head。　He　felt　his　jawbone
shatter。　Bright　lights　burst　before　his　eyes　and　he　splashed　backwards　into　the　water；　gagging　as　the　liquid　waste　poured　into　his
nose　and　open　mouth。
The　toxins　seared　his　eyes　and　blistered　his　skin　in　seconds。　He　lashed　out　with　his　fist；　feeling　it　connect　with　something　solid；
and　scrambled　back；　lifting　his　head　from　the　slime。　He　spat　a　froth　of　viscous　matter；　retching　as　his　body　fought　against　the
toxins　he　had　ingested。
He　blinked　through　the　searing　pain　in　his　eyes；　battling　to　focus　as　something　came　towards　him。　He　punched　out　blindly；　but
missed　and　bellowed　in　pain　as　he　felt　the　wide　blade　of　another　sword　pierce　his　chest；　tear　through　his　lungs　and　burst　through
the　backplate　of　his　armour。
He　gripped　the　sword　blade　and　kicked　out；　hearing　something　splinter　and　a　cry　of　pain。　Blindly；　he　groped　in　the　swirling；
bloody　water；　feeling　something　thrashing　in　front　of　him。　Forrix　roared　and　smashed　his　power　fist　down　upon　the　shape；
breaking　it　apart　in　a　flurry　of　crushing　blows。　His　chest　burned　with　hot　agony　as　his　secondary　heart　and　multi…lung　fought　to
keep　him　alive　despite　the　massive　traumas　his　body　had　suffered。
He　heard　more　shouts　behind　him；　but　he　had　lost　all　sense　of　direction　in　his　blindness。　Rescuers　or　killers？
'Iron　within！'　he　bellowed；　raising　his　power　fist；　the　pain　in　his　chest　more　intense　now。
'Iron　without！'　came　the　answering　shout　and　Forrix　lowered　his　arm　as　the　warriors　of　his　company　swept　past　him。　He　heard
echoes　of　bolter　fire　and　roars　of　hatred；　but　they　seemed　to　be　growing　more　and　more　distant　with　each　passing　second。
Forrix　tried　to　climb　to　his　feet；　but　his　strength　was　gone　and　he　could　not　move。
A　tremendous；　deafening　explosion　shook　the　tunnel。　Rocks　fell　from　above　him　and　orange　flames　briefly　lit　up　the　battle…scarred
tunnel　walls。
He　sagged　forward；　supporting　his　broken　body　on　shaking　arms。
He　heard　the　victory　chant　of　the　Iron　Warriors　coming　from　somewhere　that　seemed　impossibly　far　away。
Only　then　did　Forrix　allow　his　elbows　to　buckle；　collapsing　him　to　the　tunnel's　floor。
IN　THE　DAYS　following　the　abortive　attack　on　the　Iron　Warriors'　tunnel　system；　the　morale　of　the　citadel's　garrison　slumped　as　it
became　obvious　that　nothing　they　could　do　would　prevent　the　mine　from　reaching　the　walls。　Another　assault　was　mounted　through
Graham　McNeill　？Storm　of　Iron？
the　countermine　in　the　Primus　Ravelin；　but　it　was　repulsed　with　heavy　losses　by　a　strong　tunnel　guard　that　never　left　the　mine
workings。
Forrix　was　carried　back　to　his　dugout；　where　he　was　attended　by　the　Warsmith's　Chirumeks。　The　master　of　the　Iron　Warriors　made
it　very　clear　that　their　survival　was　directly　linked　to　that　of　his　war…captain。
While　Forrix　healed；　Honsou　volunteered　to　take　over　supervision　of　the　mining　operations。　Kroeger　had　not　emerged　from　his
dugout　for　days　and　Honsou　wondered　what　new　blood…madness　now　possessed　him。　The　Imperial　Fists　had　explosively　sealed
their　countermines　when　it　had　become　obvious　that　their　attacks　could　not　succeed。　Once　the　damage　done　by　the　sally　had　been
repaired；　the　undermining　works　progressed　once　more。
Siege　tanks　now　moved　up　through　the　saps　towards　the　third　parallel；　taking　their　positions　in　the　heavily　fortified　earthwork。
Day　and　night；　trucks　laden　with　shells　for　these　iron　behemoths　would　make　the　dangerous　trip　from　the　campsite；　depositing　the
ordnance　in　newly　cons