Storm Of Iron(科幻战争)-第52部分

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figure　that　had　killed　his　men。
The　gun　arms　had　changed　again；　morphing　into　long；　ribbed　cables　that　waved　like　serpents。　As　he　squinted　down　the　barrel；　the
figure's　ribs　cracked　wide　open；　spreading　apart　like　some　ancient　moss…covered　gateway。　A　dozen　grooved　tentacles　of　dripping
Graham　McNeill　？Storm　of　Iron？
green　metal　snaked　from　his　chest　cavity　and　spiralled　through　the　air　as　though　searching　for　something。
Leonid　squeezed　the　trigger；　the　las…blast　striking　the　figure　in　the　head。
But　a　blaze　of　green　light　flared　and　Leonid　saw　his　target　was　unharmed。
Leonid　fired　again　and　again；　but　his　shots　were　wasted。　The　thing　on　the　platform　was　invulnerable。　The　metallic　tentacles
continued　to　lengthen；　hooking　into　the　banks　of　machines　around　the　chamber's　centre。　More　tentacles　sprouted　from　the　writhing
mass　of　biomechanical　intestines；　slipping　through　the　air　like　branches　of　a　tree　and　attaching　themselves　to　the　life…preserving
mechanics　of　the　Machine　Temple　and　the　regulatory　systems　of　the　citadel。
Alarm　bells　chimed　and　warning　lights　flashed　around　the　chamber's　circumference。
Leonid　knew　he　could　do　nothing　to　stop　the　vile　creature　without　Eshara　and　rushed　towards　the　Space　Marine；　who　was　fighting
the　abhorrent　mutant。
Eshara　swung　his　sword　at　Naicin；　but　the　thing　moved　with　blinding　speed；　its　dripping　proboscises　swaying　aside　from　his　every
blow。　The　captain's　bolt　pistol　was　a　molten　pile　on　the　floor　and　Leonid　could　see　Eshara's　armour　was　pierced　by　several
smoking　round　holes　where　Naicin's　corrosive　proboscis　had　struck。　He　raised　his　pistol。
'Step　back；　Brother…Captain；'　ordered　Leonid。
Eshara　dodged　a　blow　aimed　at　his　heart　and　rapidly　backed　away　from　the　disgusting　mutant。　Naicin　drew　back　to　the　base　of　the
rhomboid　platform　as　the　chamber's　omnipresent　amber　light　dimmed；　changing　to　a　sickly　green。　Leonid　drew　a　bead　on　the
mutant's　head。
Naicin　chuckled；　the　sound　somewhere　between　slurping　and　gurgling。　'Fools！　You　cannot　win。　You　can　kill　me；　but　my　masters
will　trample　your　bones　within　the　day。'
'Why；　Naicin？'　asked　Leonid。
'I　could　ask　you　the　same　question；'　spat　Naicin。　'You　do　not　even　know　what　you　fight　to　protect。'
'We　fight　to　protect　a　world　of　the　Emperor；　mutant；'　snapped　Eshara。
Naicin　laughed；　a　horrible　retching　noise。　'You　think　your　Emperor　cares　about　this　world？　Look　around　you；　it　is　a　wasteland！　A
wasteland　created　by　human　hands。　This　was　once　a　fertile　and　bountiful　world　until　the　Adeptus　Mechanicus　sought　to　make　it
their　own。　Virus　bombs　killed　every　living　thing　on　the　surface　of　this　world　and　rendered　it　uninhabitable　for　centuries。'
'You　lie。　Why　should　the　Adeptus　Mechanicus　do　such　a　thing？'
'They　wanted　to　make　sure　no　one　ever　desired　this　world。　So　that　when　they　built　their　geno…labs　here；　they　would　be　undisturbed
and　forgotten。　You　stand　in　one　of　the　most　hallowed　places　of　the　Adeptus　Mechanicus　and　you　don't　even　know　it。　The　geneseed
you　prize　so　highly；　the　future　of　the　Space　Marines…　this　is　one　of　only　two　places　in　the　galaxy　where　it　is　created　and
stored。'
Seeing　the　look　of　horrified　shock　on　Eshara's　face；　Naicin　laughed。　'Yes；　captain；　when　the　Warsmith　and　the　Despoiler　have
your　gene…seed　they　will　use　it　to　create　Legions　of　Space　Marines　loyal　to　the　glory　of　Chaos！'
'But　you　won't　be　around　to　see　it；'　snarled　Eshara　plucking　the　pistol　from　Leonid's　hand　and　pulling　the　trigger。
Naicin's　head　exploded；　showering　the　platform　with　stinking　yellow　fluid　and　scraps　of　rubbery；　tentacled　flesh。　The　corpse
slumped　to　the　ground　as　Eshara　pumped　another　four　shots　into　the　body。
Eshara　wordlessly　handed　the　pistol　back　to　Leonid　as　alarms　began　shrieking　throughout　the　chamber。　Both　men　looked　up　as　the
figure　on　the　platform　was　lifted　from　its　feet；　its　arms　spreading　wide　in　a　cruciform　pattern。　More　and　more　cabled　tentacles
sprouted　from　its　body；　the　green　haze　that　filled　the　chamber　pulsing　from　deep　within　its　chest。
Explosions　of　jade　sparks　burst　from　the　edges　of　the　room；　flickering　lines　of　lethal　electricity　arcing　from　machine　to　machine　as
the　corruption　of　the　techno…virus　spread　to　every　system　of　the　citadel。
A　lashing　tongue　of　electrical　discharge　licked　the　ground　beside　Leonid　and　Eshara；　and　the　two　warriors　stumbled　away　from
the　monster　in　front　of　them。　Explosions　filled　the　chamber　and　a　crackling　storm　of　lightning　blazed　through　the　Machine
Temple。　Eshara　gathered　Leonid　into　the　shelter　of　his　body　as　he　sprinted　for　the　ragged　hole　of　the　door。　Spears　of　emerald
lightning　flashed　around　the　chamber。　A　bolt　struck　Eshara's　back　and　he　grunted　in　pain；　diving　through　the　doorway　as　forks　of
green　fire　blasted　behind　him。
Eshara　rolled　aside　as　the　unnatural　lightning　danced　across　the　door　to　the　Machine　Temple；　forming　a　crackling　electrical　web
that　completely　blocked　the　entrance。
The　two　scrambled　away　from　the　pulsing　green　light；　breathless　and　groaning　in　pain。
Eshara　pushed　himself　to　his　feet　and　offered　his　hand　to　Leonid；　who　gripped　his　wounded　shoulder　and　pulled　himself　upright。
Before　either　man　could　speak；　the　vox…bead　in　Eshara's　helmet　crackled　and　the　captain　listened　intently　to　the　message　he　was
receiving。
Leonid　could　tell　the　news　was　not　good。
'Well？'　he　asked；　expecting　the　worst。
'It　has　begun。　The　shield　has　gone　down　and　the　enemy　are　attacking　once　more。'
Leonid　nodded　and　looked　back　into　the　sealed　green　hell　of　the　Machine　Temple。
'Then　our　place　is　on　the　walls；'　he　said　grimly。
THE　REMAINING　TWO　Titans　of　the　Legio　Mortis　advanced　on　the　citadel　accompanied　by　a　wave　of　Vindicator　tanks　and　fortytwo
screaming　Dreadnoughts。　Nearly　six　thousand　battered　soldiers　in　red　uniforms　sprinted　amongst　this　armoured　thrust　and
dropped　into　the　ditch；　its　surfaces　smooth　and　vitrified　by　the　plasma　fire　from　the　downed　Titans。
Sunfire　shells　streaked　into　the　darkness　as　alarms　rang　from　the　citadel　and　scattered　shots　lanced　out　to　the　charging　horde。
Honsou　watched　from　the　bastions　mounted　atop　the　shoulders　of　the　Pater　Mortis；　nearly　thirty　metres　above　the　ground。　He　saw
the　Vindicators　pull　into　their　firing　revetments　along　the　third　parallel　and　pound　the　weakened　walls　of　the　citadel；　bringing
doasonry　as　the　Dreadnoughts　made　for　the　ditch。　He　gripped　the　edge　of　the　bastion's　iron　pallisading　as
Graham　McNeill　？Storm　of　Iron？
the　Titan　stepped　down　into　the　ditch；　the　rubble　claws　fitted　over　its　massive　feet　keeping　its　stride　sure。
Sixty…two　Iron　Warriors；　all　that　remained　of　his　company；　filled　the　bastions　either　side　of　the　Titan's　head；　ready　to　be　unleashed
upon　the　ramparts　of　the　inner　wall　of　the　citadel。　The　Imperial　defenders　had　abandoned　the　outer　wall　and　the　shield　was　down。
They　would　never　get　a　better　chance　than　this。
The　fire　against　the　bastions　and　curtain　wall　slackened　as　the　Titans　closed　with　the　walls；　now　little　more　than　shattered　piles　of
rubble。　Honsou　raised　his　sword　in　salute　to　the　Dies　Irae　as　they　passed　over　its　molten　remains。
Honsou　glanced　to　his　right；　making　out　the　shadow　of　the　Legio's　other　remaining　Titan；　its　bastions　crammed　with　Forrix's
warriors。　This　was　the　last　assault　and　it　could　not　afford　to　fail。　He　braced　himself　as　the　mighty　war　machine　battered　its　way
through　the　breach　torn　by　the　death　of　the　Dies　Irae　and　felt　the　rumbling　roar　of　fury　build　from　within　the　daemon　Titan。
Powerful　blasts　of　gunfire　ripped　from　both　war　machines；　blowing　great　chunks　from　the　inner　wall　and　demolishing　whole
sections　of　rampart。
The　gap　between　the　inner　and　outer　wall　was　empty　of　foes；　the　Warhounds　that　had　frustrated　the　first　assault　wisely　having
withdrawn　behind　the　inner　wall。　Soldiers　on　the　wall　opened　fire；　but　the　Titans'　shields　were　proof　against　such　pinpricks。
Flickering　green　fires　played　around　the　wall…mounted　guns。　Flonsou　could　not　understand　why　they　were　not　firing；　but　gave
thanks　to　the　dark　gods　for　their　silence。
As　the　two　Titans　thundered　forwards；　the　Vindicators　churned　over　the　breaches　in　the　outer　wall。　The　walls　shook　with
thunderous　impacts　from　the　siege　tanks；　the　inner　gate　pounded　by　shell　after　shell。　The　Dreadnoughts　added　their　own　weight　of
fire　to　the　barrage。　Three　of　the　insane　war　machines；　gripped　in　the　frenzy　of　battle；　lumbered　forward　to　attack　the　gate　with
their　massive　hammer　arms；　only　to　be　caught　in　the　Vindicators'　fire　and　blown　apart。
The　gap　closed　with　every　step　of　the　Pater　Mortis；　and　Honsou　could　clearly　see　the　faces　of　the　men　lining　the　walls。　Las…fire
slashed　towards　him；　but　he　laughed；　feeling　utterly　invincible。　He　swayed　forward　as　the　Titan's　arms　pistoned　into　the　walls；
bracing　hooks　punching　deep　within　the　rockcrete。
Seconds　later；　the　battle　drawbridges　slammed　down　from　the　shoulder　bastions；　crushing　the　rampart　beneath　them　as　they
dropped。
Honsou　raised　his　sword　and　charged　onto　the　walls；　shouting；　'This　place　is　ours！　Show　no　mercy！'
He　jumped　onto　the　rampart；　hacking　a　trio　of　Guardsmen　to　death　with　one　blow　and　firing　his　bolt　pistol　down　the　line　of　the
walls。　Hundreds　of　warriors　were　arrayed　against　them；　but　Honsou　faced　them　all　without　fear；　killing　with　preternatural　skill。
Iron　Warriors　fanned　out　from　the　Titan's　shoulder　bastions；　slaughtering　the　defenders　and　hurling　them　back。　The　noise　was
tremendous　as　the　ramparts　became　slick　with　blood　and　entrails。　Each　time　the　Iron　Warriors　came　close　to　breaking　through　the
defenders'　lines；　the　Imperial　Fists　would　lead　a　desperate　counterattack　and　push　them　back　and　hold　the　line　together。　Honsou
killed　another　Guardsman　and　risked　a　glance　to　where　Forrix　led　his　warriors。　Here　too；　the　Iron　Warriors　were　confronted　with
the　incredible　tenacity　and　stubborn　defiance　of　the　citadel's　defenders。
They　were　holding；　but　only　just；　and　Honsou　saw　they　were　close　to　breaking。
Honsou　blocked　a　blow　aimed　at　his　neck　and　disembowelled　his　attacker　as　a　monstrous；　black　shadow；　darker　than　the　blackest
night　fell　across　the　walls。　For　the　briefest　second；　the　fighting　slowed　as　heads　craned　upwards　to　see　what　new　devilment　had
been　unleashed。
With　a　thunder　that　cracked　the　walls；　the　Warsmith　crashed　down　on　the　rampart；　the　newborn　darkness　of　powerful　wings
spread　behind　him。　Guardsmen　around　him　dropped；　vomiting　blood　and　convulsing。　His　arms　swept　out；　his　taloned　hand　and
mighty　axe　killing　everything　within　reach。　The　darkness　enfolding　the　Warsmith's　head　billowed　and　spat　bolts　of　dark　light　that
dissolved　everything　it　struck。
Screams　of　terror　spread　along　the　walls　and　horrified　soldiers　turned　and　fled　before　this　diabolical　apparition。　The　Warsmith
reared　up　to　his　full　height；　his　armour　stretching　and　swelling；　the　keening　faces　bound　within　his　armour　straining　and　wailing　a
banshee's　choir。
Shaking　off　his　amazement；　Honsou　bellowed；　'We　have　them　now！'
He　charged　after　the　fleeing　mass　of　soldiers；　hacking　them　down　with　his　sword。　The　Imperial　front　line　collapsed　and　not　even
the　Imperial　Fists　could　halt　the　rout。
He　could　see　Forrix　slaughtering　fleeing　Guardsmen　by　the　dozen。　A　terrific　crash　echoed　from　below；　and　Honsou　knew　the
citadel's　inner　gate