Storm Of Iron(科幻战争)-第44部分

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siting　the
ordnance　in　newly　constructed　and　heavily　armoured　magazines。
Observers　watched　as　embrasures　were　cut　in　the　earthworks；　the　soil　left　in　place　until　such　time　as　the　tanks　were　ready　to
unleash　their　firepower　against　the　defenders。
Fresh　trenches　were　dug　backwards　from　the　third　parallel；　equipped　with　smaller　parallels　where　huge　numbers　of　soldiers　could
muster；　ready　to　hurl　themselves　at　the　walls。
A　sense　of　dread　began　to　permeate　the　garrison；　despite　the　officers'　attempts　to　raise　spirits　and　boost　morale。　The　sheer　scale　of
the　assault　soon　to　be　unleashed　upon　them　preyed　upon　the　minds　of　even　the　most　determined　Imperial　defenders。
Three　days　after　the　attack　on　the　tunnels　a　terrible　rumbling　rocked　the　walls　of　the　citadel；　like　the　beginnings　of　an　earthquake。
The　ground　beneath　the　fortress　heaved　upwards　and　cracks　split　the　roadways　throughout　the　inner　walls。
Along　the　edge　of　the　ditch；　a　huge　wall　of　fire　and　smoke　leapt　upwards　as　explosives　planted　there　blasted　its　crest　apart；
scattering　rubble　into　the　ditch　and　providing　a　means　for　infantry　to　descend　into　it。
But　barely　had　the　dust　settled　when　an　explosion　of　far　greater　magnitude　shook　the　ground。　Wide　galleries　that　ran　underneath
the　curtain　wall　linking　the　Destiny　Gate　and　the　right　flank　of　the　Mori　bastion　collapsed　as　vast　quantities　of　ordnance　detonated
and　vaporised　huge　swathes　of　the　wall's　foundations。
The　centre　section　of　the　great　wall　groaned　as　it　sagged；　the　noise　swelling　as　a　giant　crack　split　the　curtain　wall；　the　sound　like　a
deafening　gunshot。　Officers　shouted　at　their　men　to　clear　the　walls；　but　for　many　it　was　already　too　late　as　the　sixty…metre　high
wall　slid　ponderously　into　the　ground；　huge　chunks　of　rockcrete　shearing　away　and　tumbling　into　the　ditch。　Hundreds　of　men　were
carried　to　their　deaths　and　vast　clouds　of　dust　billowed　skywards。
As　more　of　the　wall　fell；　the　speed　of　its　collapse　increased　exponentially；　whole　sections　of　the　ramparts　toppling　into　the　ditch。
The　scale　of　the　destruction　was　incredible　and　it　seemed　inconceivable　that　such　a　mighty　edifice　could　be　so　thoroughly
annihilated。
By　the　time　the　collapse　had　ceased；　almost　the　entire　centre　of　the　wall　had　been　brought　down。　A　great　breach　some　thirty
metres　wide　had　been　torn　in　the　curtain　wall；　the　rubble　from　the　wall's　destruction　forming　a　debris　slope　that　ran　from　the　floor
of　the　ditch　to　the　crest　of　the　breach。
The　Iron　Warriors　had　broken　open　the　citadel。
Graham　McNeill　？Storm　of　Iron？
STORM　OF　IRON
ONE
As　THE　GREAT　wall　came　crashing　down　into　the　ditch；　a　swelling　roar　burst　from　the　thousands　of　Iron　Warriors'　human　soldiers
who　went　over　the　top　of　their　trenches　and　charged　the　citadel。　Despite　the　pleas　from　his　officers；　Leonid　stood　on　the　rubble　at
the　crest　of　the　breach；　his　power　sword　and　bolt　pistol　drawn。　His　bronze　breastplate　shone　like　new　and　his　uniform　was　freshly
pressed　and　immaculate。　Brother…Captain　Eshara　stood　alongside　him；　twin　swords　gripped　tightly　in　his　gauntlets。
Leonid　felt　the　fury　of　the　enemy　soldiers　strike　him　like　a　blow　and　its　intensity　stunned　him。
'They　hate　us　so；'　he　whispered　to　himself。　'Why？'
'They　are　heretics　and　hate　all　that　is　good；'　stated　Eshara　in　a　voice　that　brooked　no　argument。　The　Space　Marine　captain　swung
his　arms；　loosening　his　shoulder　muscles　and　rotating　his　neck。
The　guns　of　Mori　bastion　opened　fire　and　a　second　later　were　joined　by　those　in　the　Primus　Ravelin。　Hundreds　of　soldiers　were
scythed　down　in　the　murderous　crossfire；　their　bodies　torn　apart　in　a　hail　of　shells　and　lasers。
The　first　wave　was　almost　completely　annihilated；　but　thousands　more　followed；　spilling　down　into　the　ditch　and　swarming　across
the　rubble…strewn　ground。
The　floor　of　the　ditch　heaved　upwards；　obscuring　the　attackers　in　fire　and　shrapnel；　as　anti…personnel　mines　exploded　and　gouged
bloody　holes　in　the　charging　horde。　The　ditch　became　a　blood…soaked　killing　ground　as　soldiers　died　in　their　hundreds；　blown
apart　by　mines　or　shot　from　the　walls。　A　few　hardy　souls　managed　to　climb　to　the　top　of　the　ravelin　where　they　were　brutally
hacked　down　by　Guardsmen　with　long…bladed　poleaxes。　The　noise　of　gunfire；　screams　and　the　clash　of　steel　on　steel　echoed　from
the　valley　sides　as　the　slaughter　continued。
More　mines　exploded。　As　some　bloodied　survivors　managed　to　push　themselves　through　to　the　rubble　slopes　of　the　breach；　they
found　themselves　facing　a　barbed　and　spiked　barricade　of　twisted　girders　hurled　from　above。
The　attack　floundered　at　the　base　of　the　breach；　the　ditch　carpeted　with　bodies　and　blood。　In　the　re…entrant　angle　of　the　Mori
bastion；　where　the　arrowhead　shape　of　the　bastion　narrowed　before　rejoining　the　main　wall；　Leonid　had　placed　cannons　armed
with　shells　filled　with　ballbearings；　bolts　and　metal　fragments。　The　first　cannon　fired；　the　shell　bursting　apart　as　it　left　the　muzzle
and　spraying　lethal　fragments　in　an　expanding　cone。　The　remaining　cannons　fired　seconds　later　and　the　attackers　at　the　base　of　the
breach　were　snatched　away　in　the　bloody　storm；　torn　to　ribbons　by　the　guns'　discharge。
Leonid　shouted　a　warning　to　Major　Anders　in　the　Primus　Ravelin；　as　the　sheer　volume　of　soldiers　flooding　the　ditch　finally
managed　to　sweep　around　the　flanks　of　the　V…shaped　outwork。　But　Piet　Anders　was　ready　for　them；　leading　his　warriors　in　a
furious　counter…charge。　Battle　was　joined　within　the　ravelin　as　the　men　of　the　Jouran　Dragoons　crashed　into　the　disordered　mob　of
soldiers；　chopping　them　down　with　swords　and　bludgeoning　them　with　rifle　butts。　Major　Anders　hacked　a　bloody　path　through　the
attackers　with　his　blade；　the　ensigns　bearing　his　colours　fighting　to　keep　up　with　the　officer；　killing　anyone　who　came　near。
The　battle　for　the　walls　of　the　ravelin　became　fiercer　as　a　giant　of　a　man　with　a　huge　axe　gained　its　ramparts。　Huge　and　fat；　his
reach　was　long　and　he　killed　anyone　that　stood　against　him。　Enemy　soldiers　bunched　around　the　man；　beginning　to　fan　out　along
the　ramparts　in　a　fighting　wedge　that　would　allow　yet　more　warriors　to　climb　to　the　ramparts。
Leonid　watched　in　desperation　as　the　giant　slaughtered　the　ravelin's　defenders　until　a　squad　of　Imperial　Fists　on　the　eastern　wall
counterattacked。　A　volley　of　grenades　blasted　a　hole　in　the　wedge　and　the　squad's　sergeant　shot　the　axe…wielding　giant　dead；
blasting　his　head　from　his　shoulders　with　his　plasma　pistol。　The　defenders　rallied　and　pushed　the　last　of　the　enemy　from　the　walls。
Leonid　let　out　the　breath　he　hadn't　realised　he　was　holding。
The　carnage　below　was　terrible。　The　scale　of　such　killing　in　so　short　a　time　was　incredible。　But　despite　the　death…toll；　the　soldiers
in　red　kept　coming　at　the　etre　of　the　ditch　was　covered　in　blood　or　bodies。
'They　are　brave；　I'll　give　them　that；'　said　Leonid；　watching　as　another　enemy　soldier　was　shot　dead　as　he　clambered　across　the
barricades　below。
'No；'　snapped　Eshara；　raising　his　voice　to　be　heard　over　the　din　of　battle。　'They　are　not　brave。　Do　not　ever　give　voice　to　such
thoughts；　Castellan。　These　traitors　are　heretics　and　know　nothing　of　notions　such　as　bravery　and　honour。　They　keep　coming　at　our
walls　to　die　because　they　fear　the　wrath　of　their　masters　more　than　us。　Push　such　thoughts　from　your　mind。　You　must　not　allow
yourself　to　identify　with　this　scum　in　any　way；　lest　you　find　pity　staying　your　hand　and　pay　with　your　life　for　that　moment　of
laxity。'
Leonid　nodded　and　returned　his　gaze　to　the　massacre　below。　'What　purpose　is　served　here？'　he　asked。　'They　will　never　gain　a
foothold　on　the　walls　like　this。　It　is　madness。'
'They　gain　a　clearer　understanding　of　our　defences；　explode　our　minefields　and　clog　the　walls　with　dead。'
'Why　don't　the　Iron　Warriors　come；　damn　them？'
'Do　not　worry；　Castellan；　you　will　get　your　chance　to　fight　the　Iron　Warriors；　but　you　may　soon　regret　that　wish。'
'Perhaps；'　said　Leonid；　watching　as　a　dozen　soldiers　managed　to　survive　long　enough　to　traverse　the　barricades　below　and　begin
scrambling　up　the　breach。　To　either　side　of　him；　his　platoon　waited；　rifles　aimed　in　a　line　down　the　breach。　Leonid　swept　down　his
sword　and　shouted；　'Fire！'
Thirty　rifles　fired　in　a　perfect　volley　and　the　enemy　were　blasted　backwards；　flopping　like　boneless　puppets　as　they　cartwheeled
down　the　breach。
For　a　further　three　bloody　hours　the　enemy　threw　themselves　at　the　wall　before　pulling　back　at　some　unheard　signal；　leaving　over
Graham　McNeill　？Storm　of　Iron？
two　and　a　half　thousand　men　dead　in　the　ditch。　Not　a　single　traitor　had　managed　to　climb　the　breach。
A　hoarse　cheer　followed　the　traitors　back　to　their　lines　as　the　weary　Guardsmen　hurled　enemy　corpses　from　the　walls　of　the
ravelin；　and　orderlies　rushed　from　posterns　in　the　Destiny　Gate　to　carry　back　the　wounded。
'Well；　we　survived；'　said　Leonid。
'That　was　just　the　beginning；'　promised　Eshara。
CAPTAIN　ESHAKA'S　WORDS　were　to　prove　prophetic；　as　the　soldiers　of　the　Iron　Warriors　launched　another　two　assaults　on　the
walls。　Thousands　more　died　in　the　nightmare　hell　of　the　ditch；　shelled　to　bloody　rags；　shot　or　blown　apart　by　mines。　On　three
occasions；　the　Primus　Ravelin　almost　fell；　but　Piet　Anders　and　the　Space　Marines　managed　to　rally　the　defenders　every　time　and
take　back　the　walls　just　when　everything　seemed　lost。
Flanking　fire　from　the　face　of　the　Mori　bastion　swept　the　face　of　the　ravelin　clear　of　attackers　and　as　night　fell　on　the　first　day　of
the　escalade；　Leonid　guessed　that　some　five　thousand　enemy　soldiers　lay　dead　in　the　citadel's　ditch。　The　preliminary　butcher's　bill
amongst　his　own　men　for　today's　fighting　was　estimated　to　be　a　hundred　and　eighty　dead；　with　perhaps　twice　that　seriously
wounded。　Of　these　wounded；　perhaps　a　third　would　not　fight　again。
The　Iron　Warriors　could　afford　to　suffer　such　horrendous　loss　of　life　without　fear；　but　Leonid　could　not。
Even　if　the　Jourans　could　keep　up　such　an　impressive　kill…ratio；　the　Iron　Warriors　would　inevitably　wear　them　down。　Leonid　knew
he　could　not　allow　this　battle　to　become　one　of　attrition。
Under　cover　of　darkness；　he　and　Eshara　descended　from　the　walls；　leaving　the　citadel　through　the　Destiny　Gate's　postern　and
making　their　way　to　the　Primus　ravelin。　Here　they　found　Major　Anders；　his　face　blood　and　sweat　stained；　sitting　with　his　men
drinking　a　mug　of　caffeine。
'You've　done　well；　men；'　called　Leonid。　'Damn　well。'
The　soldiers　beamed　with　pride　at　their　commander's　words。
'But　tomorrow　will　be　just　as　hard；　and　I'll　need　your　very　best。'
'We　won't　let　you　down；　sir；'　said　a　soldier　from　the　ramparts　above。
Leonid　raised　his　voice　and　said；　'I　know　you　won't；　son。　You're　doing　fine　here；　and　I'm　damn　proud　of　you。　You've　shown　these
curs　what　it　means　to　take　on　the　383rd！'
The　soldiers　cheered　as　Leonid　turned　to　Piet　Anders　and　shook　his　hand。
'Nice　work；　Piet；　but　watch　your　left　flank；'　he　cautioned。　'With　the　breach　on　that　side；　we　can't　bring　enough　guns　to　bear　and
more　of　the　enemy　are　getting　around　it。'
Anders　saluted。　'Aye；　sir；　I'll　keep　an　eye　out。'
Leonid　nodded；　confident　in　his　officer's　ability　to　hold　the　ravelin。　He　returned　Anders'　salute　before　he　and　Eshara　returned　to
the　citadel。
They　visited　Vincare　bastion；　the　curtain　wall；　the　brea