Storm Of Iron(科幻战争)-第9部分

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m；
meticulously　noting　down　their　master's　every　movement　and　utterance。
Beside　Adept　Naicin；　a　brass…rimmed；　holo…slate　displayed　a　flickering　image　of　an　ashen　face；　haloed　by　wires　and　gurgling
tubing。　The　face　twitched　as　half…remembered　muscle　memories　flickered　across　its　features；　their　organic　nature　now　subservient
to　the　pulse　of　the　machines　around　them。　Arch　Magos　Caer　Amaethon；　Master　of　the　Citadel　of　Hydra　Cordatus；　frowned　from
the　depths　of　his　machine…temple　where　he　was　forever　linked　to　the　beating；　mechanical　heart　of　the　citadel；　interfaced　with　every
facet　of　its　operation。　So　immersed　in　the　internal　matrix　of　the　citadel；　the　scant　remnants　of　Amaethon's　body　could　never　leave
his　mechanised　womb　buried　deep　in　the　heart　of　the　fortress。
Junior　officers　circled　the　table　pouring　caffeine　and　handing　out　briefing　notes　packed　with　columns　of　numbers　listing
operational　strengths　of　units　and　supply　readiness。
Vauban　grunted　with　distaste。　'There's　three　kinds　of　lies'　he　said；　quickly　scanning　the　document；　'lies；　damn　lies　and　statistics！'
Behind　the　table；　tonsured　technicians　prepared　the　view…slate　for　the　graphics　Vauban　had　ordered　and　a　gunmetal　grey　lectern
was　set　up　slightly　to　the　side。
As　the　last　of　the　techs　and　aides　left　the　room；　Vauban　rose　from　his　seat　and　moved　to　stand　behind　the　lectern。　The　brusque
commander　exhaled　a　prodigious　cloud　of　smoke　and　addressed　the　council　of　war。
'Well；　gentlemen；　we've　been　hit　badly　and　the　situation's　probably　only　going　to　get　worse　before　it　gets　better。'
A　few　scowls　crossed　the　faces　of　his　junior　officers　at　this　apparently　defeatist　statement。　Vauban　ignored　them　and　continued。
'We　don't　have　a　lot　of　time；　so　I　want　to　keep　this　as　brief　as　possible。　Then　we　can　start　getting　even。　We've　taken　a　hit；　and　a
damn　bad　one　at　that；　but　if　we　act　now；　I　think　we've　got　a　good　chance　of　kicking　the　enemy　right　in　the　teeth。
'First；　I'm　going　to　give　you　all　a　rundown　on　what　we've　been　seeing　from　here。　Now；　I'll　be　fast；　so　keep　up；　and　if　I　ask　a
question　you'd　better　answer　me　quickly。　But　if　you　want　to　ask　any　questions；　wait　until　I'm　done。'
Taking　the　officers'　silence　as　assent；　Vauban　turned　to　a　large　scale　map　of　the　citadel　and　its　surrounding　environs　that　had
appeared　on　the　slate　behind　him。　Jericho　Falls　was　highlighted　in　red；　while　the　citadel；　Tor　Christo　and　the　underground　tunnel
between　the　two　were　picked　out　in　green。
'As　you　can　see；　the　enemy　have　taken　Jericho　Falls　and　has　denied　us　any　hope　of　utilising　the　facilities　there。　This　also　precludes
us　from　expecting　any　air　cover　or　superiority。'
Vauban　turned　to　face　Gunnar　Tedeski。　'How　many　aircraft　were　based　there；　Major　Tedeski？'
The　stocky　major　was　a　small　man；　an　ex…Marauder　pilot　with　one　arm　and　a　crudely　cauterised　right　eye　socket　of　burnt　flesh。
Shot　down　whilst　strafing　an　ork　convoy；　he　had　been　taken　prisoner　and　tortured　by　the　greenskins　before　being　rescued　by
warriors　from　the　Ultramarines　Fourth　company。
Tedeski　answered　without　consulting　his　notes。　'Five　squadrons　of　Lightnings　and　four　of　Marauders。　A　total　of　one　hundred　and
twelve　aircraft；　mostly　air　interceptors　and；　we　suspect；　mostly　destroyed。'
'Very　well；　so　at　least　we　can　be　fairly　sure　that　the　enemy　won't　be　using　our　own　craft　against　us。　Anyway；　putting　that　to　one
side　for　now；　we　still　have　the　logistical　and　strategic　advantage。　How　long　that　con—'
'Excuse　me；　Colonel　Vauban；'　interrupted　Magos　Naicin；　'but　can　you　explain　how　you　arrived　at　such　a　conclusion？　It　is　my
understanding　that　we　have　lost　the　one　lifeline　we　had　to　the　outside　world　and　now　the　enemy　is　using　our　own　facilities　to　land
yet　more　troops　and　war　machines。　I　fail　to　see　how　this　is　to　our　advantage。'
Vauban　didn't　bother　to　hide　his　annoyance；　leaning　on　the　lectern　and　speaking　as　though　to　a　particularly　stupid　junior　officer。
'Magos　Naicin；　you　are　a　man　of　science；　not　war；　so　you　cannot　be　expected　to　understand；　but　it　is　plain　to　me　that　this　attack　on
our　citadel　cannot　succeed。　We　have　over　20；000　soldiers；　a　brigade　of　armoured　vehicles　and　a　demi…legion　of　the　Legio　Ignatum
at　our　disposal。　I　know　this　fortress　and　have　read　the　journals　of　its　former　castellans。　The　kill　ratio　for　the　citadel's　bastions　is；　at
worst；　four　to　one　and　I　am　sure　that　even　you　will　admit　that　such　numbers　are　beyond　the　pale　of　what　we　can　expect　from　any
opposition。'
Naicin　bristled　at　such　a　dismissive　answer；　and　Vauban　returned　to　the　view…slate。　Troop　dispositions　flashed　up　onto　the　screen；
and　Vauban　pointed　to　each　glowing　icon　in　turn。　'Our　forces　are　dispersed　throughout　the　main　commands。　Battalion　C　is　based
here　along　with　Battalion　B；　altogether　some　12；000　soldiers　and　900　armoured　vehicles。　Battalion　A　was　split　between　Jericho
Falls　and　Tor　Christo；　and；　taking　into　account　the　losses　suffered　at　Jericho　Falls；　the　battalion　now　stands　at　a　little　under　7；000
men；　all　currently　based　in　Tor　Christo。'
The　viewscreen　changed　again　as　enemy　troop　positions　and　strengths　were　overlaid　on　the　map。
'As　to　the　enemy；　we　know　that　since　the　battle　at　the　Falls；　very　little　has　moved　out　of　the　spaceport。　As　to　their　numbers　we　can
only　guess；　but　we're　assuming　they　can't　have　more　than　30　to　40；000　soldiers；　well　armed　and；　right　now；　well　motivated　and
led。'
Vauban　paused　to　let　the　hugeness　of　the　number　sink　in；　pleased　to　note　the　absence　of　any　fear　in　his　audience。
'Right　then；　so　that's　the　situation；　as　far　as　we　can　understand　it。　Now　I　want　each　of　you　to　give　the　rest　of　us　a　quick　update　on
your　commands。　Nothing　fancy；　and　be　honest。　If　your　unit's　a　mess；　short　of　supplies　or　otherwise　below　par　then　I　need　to　know
about　it。　Understood？'
Vauban　addressed　the　flickering；　holographic　figure　of　Magos　Amaethon　at　the　end　of　the　table。　'Arch　Magos　Amaethon；　you　are
Graham　McNeill　？Storm　of　Iron？
closer　to　the　workings　of　this　fort　than　most　men；　is　there　anything　I　need　to　know？'
The　image　of　the　arch　magos　fluttered　on　the　holo　and　Vauban　was　about　to　repeat　his　question　when　Amaethon　answered；　his
voice　wavering　and　unsure。
'I　believe　we　must　hit　hard　and　hit　quickly…　yes。　This　citadel　is　strong…　but　any　fortress　will　ultimately　fall　unless　it　is　assured　of
relief；　you　see。　We　are　on　borrowed　time　unless　we　know　that　reinforcements　are　on　their　way　to　us。　We　must　strive　to　hold　out
until　reinforcements　can　arrive。'
'Very　well；　you　all　heard　the　magos。　I　want　full　ammo　inventories　by　tomorrow　morning　from　every　station。　Now　normally　I　don't
like　reacting　to　an　enemy's　moves；　it　gives　him　the　initiative　and　keeps　us　on　our　back　foot。　However；　in　this　instance；　I　don't　think
we've　got　much　choice。'
Vauban　turned　to　his　battalion　commanders。　'Gunnar；　Piet；　Morgan？　What's　the　status　of　your　units？'
Piet　Anders　was　the　first　to　answer。　'Sir；　we'll　teach　those　curs　a　thing　or　two　about　fighting；　upon　my　soul　we　shall！　Battalion　C
will　send　those　heretic　dogs　packing　with　their　tails　between　their　legs　before　they　even　get　to　see　the　walls　of　the　citadel。'
'As　will　Battalion　A；'　snapped　Tedeski。
Vauban　smiled；　pleased　at　the　aggressive　spirit　of　his　officers。
'Very　well。　Good　work。'
The　officers　saluted；　eager　to　please　their　commanding　officer　and　anxious　to　see　some　action。
The　castellan　of　the　citadel　continued　his　briefing；　emphasising　each　point　with　a　jab　of　his　fist　as　he　circled　the　table。
'Major　Tedeski　will　continue　to　hold　Tor　Christo；　reinforced　by　two　artillery　platoons　from　each　of　the　other　battalions。　I　want　to
lay　as　much　ordnance　on　these　fraggers　as　we　can　before　they　even　get　near　the　citadel。　Major　Kristan；　you　will　hold　the　Vincare
bastion　while　Major　Anders　holds　the　Mori　bastion。　Elements　from　both　your　battalions　will　take　rotations　in　the　Primus　Ravelin；
falling　under　the　command　of　Lieutenant　Colonel　Leonid。'
Vauban's　officers　nodded　as　he　outlined　more　of　his　plans。
'We　are　in　for　a　hard　fight；　gentlemen；　and　we　won't　do　ourselves　any　favours　by　giving　the　enemy　any　respite。　Assuming　I　can　get
Princeps　Fierach　of　the　Legio　Ignatum　to　agree　to　my　proposals；　I　intend　to　use　his　Titans　and　our　armoured　companies　to　take　the
fight　to　the　enemy　when　a　suitable　opportunity　arises　and　allow　them　neither　time　nor　peace　to　complete　their　works。　The　longer
we　can　delay　the　enemy's　advance　and　keep　him　from　reaching　the　walls　of　the　citadel；　the　more　time　we　give　reinforcements　to
arrive。'
Leonid　leaned　forwards；　resting　his　elbows　on　the　table　and　said；　'How　soon　before　we　can　reasonably　expect　reinforcements　to
arrive？'
'I　can　answer　that；'　replied　Magos　Naicin。　'With　your　permission；　Castellan　Vauban？'
Vauban　nodded　his　assent　and　the　magos　continued。
'Before　the　capture　of　Jericho　Falls；　the　Adeptus　Magos　stationed　there　was　able　to　despatch　a　coded　communique　with　the　highest
priority　prefix。　This　will　be　received　by　all　nearby　Adeptus　Mechanicus　outposts　very　soon。　The　security　prefix　I　detected　on　the
message　should　engender　the　swiftest　response。'
'And　how　soon　will　that　be？'　pressed　Leonid。
'It　is　impossible　to　say　with　any　degree　of　certainty。　Travel　over　such　distances　is　fraught　with　all　manner　of　variables　and　there
are　many　factors　that　could　adversely　affect　the　arrival　of　our　reinforcements。'
'Your　best　guess　then。'
Naicin　shrugged　and　sighed；　the　sound　like　a　burst　of　static　from　his　vox…amp。
'Perhaps　seventy　days；　no　more　than　one　hundred。'
Leonid　nodded；　though　he　was　clearly　unhappy　with　the　answer　he'd　received。
'Have　we　despatched　another　message　from　the　Star　Chamber　here？　In　case　the　first　message　does　not　get　through。'
Magos　Naicin　shuffled　uncomfortably；　glancing　over　at　the　holographic　form　of　his　master　before　continuing。　'Unfortunately　we
have　been　having　some　problems　with　encoding　messages　for　transit　recently　and　the　Star　Chamber　is…　currently　unavailable　to
us　at　this　time。'
Regaining　his　composure；　Naicin　said；　'Do　not　let　this　concern　you；　major。　It　may　be　that　our　foes　can　defeat　us　by　sheer　weight　of
numbers；　but　that　will　take　them　time。　Time　they　do　not　have　if　we　have　reinforcements　on　the　way。　They　will　be　reckless　with　the
knowledge　that　time　presses　upon　them；　making　them　careless。　This　works　to　our　advantage。'
Naicin　sat　back　as　Vauban　returned　to　his　seat。
'Alright；　gentlemen；　are　we　clear　on　what　we're　all　doing？　We're　going　to　have　to　be　sharp　and　quick。　And　we　can't　afford　any
mistakes；　so　keep　your　rifle　close　and　your　sword　sharp。　Any　questions？'
There　were　none；　and　Vauban　continued。　'Make　no　mistake；　the　threat　we　face　here　is　very　real。　The　coming　conflict　will　demand
the　best　of　you　and　your　men。　The　price　of　victory　will　be　high；　damnably　high；　and　it　is　a　sacrifice　we　must　all　be　willing　to
make。　Now　let's　go。　We　have　a　battle　to　fight。'
Graham　McNeill　？Storm　of　Iron？
THE　FIRST　PARALLEL
ONE
BLOODY；　BROKEN　AND　dejected；　the　column　of　men　and　women　shuffled　up　the　road　that　led　from　Jericho　Falls　spaceport　to　the
plateau　above。　Their　heads　were　cast　down：　many　were　grievously　wounded　and　would　soon　be　dead　without　medical　attention。
The　Iron　Warriors　that　herded　them　to　their　deaths　cared　not　for　the　condition　of　their　charges。　That