Storm Of Iron(科幻战争)-第24章

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battle。
Kroeger　stood　tall　and　raised　his　chainsword　for　all　his　warriors　to　see。
'Death　to　the　followers　of　the　False　Emperor！'
THREE
LEONID　WATCHED　THE　loping　forms　of　the　Warhounds　as　they　circled　his　position；　pouring　fire　from　their　Vulcan　bolters　onto　the
traitor　lines。　The　men　under　his　command　cheered　and　punched　the　air　at　this　show　of　defiance；　though　Leonid　knew　that　was　all
it　was。　The　Warhounds　would　buy　them　time　to　regroup；　but　nothing　more。
'All　units；　this　is　Colonel　Leonid。　Regroup　and　fall　back　to　the　rally　point　immediately。　Do　it　quickly；　we　don't　have　much　time；'
ordered　Leonid　as　the　deep　throated　roar　of　vehicles　swelled　from　the　traitor　lines。
PRINCEPS　CARLSEN　JINKED　his　agile　Warhound　Titan　from　side　to　side；　frantically　evading　enemy　shots　while　attempting　to
manoeuvre　into　a　favourable　firing　position　for　his　weapons　moderati。　Lie　and　Princeps　Jancer　in　the　Jure　Divinu　took　it　in　turns
to　dart　forwards　and　hose　the　trenches　with　their　Vulcan　bolters　and　turbo　lasers；　shredding　anything　that　dared　show　its　face；
before　rapidly　withdrawing　to　safety　in　the　smoke。　Their　height　made　a　mockery　of　the　protection　offered　by　the　firing　step；
killing　scores　of　men　with　each　volley；　but　he　knew　that　the　casualties　they　were　inflicting　were　largely　irrelevant。
Without　the　heavier　guns　of　Battle　Group　Sword；　their　efforts　here　were　purely　a　delaying　tactic。　Carlsen　had　not　believed　his　ears
when　he　heard　Princeps　Lierach　give　the　order　to　abandon　the　Jourans　in　favour　of　going　head　to　head　with　an　Emperor　class
Titan；　and　had　listened　with　growing　horror　to　the　vox　traffic　flashing　between　the　Battle　Titans　as　they　fought　for　their　lives。
He　and　his　brother　Warhound　were　too　far　east　to　go　to　the　aid　of　their　brethren；　and　had　had　to　content　themselves　with　following
the　Jouran　armoured　attack；　though　without　the　Reavers　they　had　been　forced　to　wait　until　the　Imperial　Guard　either　broke
through　or　were　repulsed。
Las…bolts　and　bolter　fire　flared　against　his　void　shields；　but　he　ignored　them　as　irrelevant。　It　was　the　enemy　tanks　that　gave　Carlsen
cause　for　concern。　Each　time　he'd　gone　forward；　he　had　seen　more　and　more　of　them　lurking　behind　the　trenches　and　knew　it　was
only　a　matter　of　time　until　the　enemy　commander　counterattacked。
Three　Land　Raiders　burst　from　the　smoke；　followed　by　a　wide　line　of　Rhinos　and　transports　that　looked　like　some　bizarre　cross
between　a　Chimera　and　a　flatbed　truck。　The　troops　crammed　into　them　screamed　as　they　bounced　along　the　ground　towards　the
retreating　Guard。
'Princeps　Jancer；　with　me！'　shouted　Carlsen　as　he　turned　his　Vulcan　bolter　on　the　lighter　vehicles　following　the　Land　Raiders。
Shells　tore　up　the　ground；　stitching　a　path　towards　them　and　sawing　three　apart　in　a　burst　of　flames　and　blood。　All　three　exploded；
the　shells　ringing　from　the　side　of　a　Land　Raider。　The　heavier　vehicle　lurched　sideways；　smashing　into　one　of　the　Chimera　trucks
and　flattening　it　with　a　shriek　of　tortured　metal。
The　Jure　Divinu　appeared　at　his　side；　its　guns　bellowing　with　thunder　and　raking　the　enemy　attack　with　deadly　shells。　Two　Land
Raiders　skidded　away　from　the　Titans；　attempting　to　evade　their　guns；　but　Carlsen　was　quicker；　lashing　out　with　his　Titan's　foot
and　catching　the　closest　vehicle　square　in　the　side　panels；　buckling　its　armoured　hull　with　ease　and　hurling　the　wreck　through　the
air。
The　second　slewed　around；　bringing　its　sponson　mounted　lascannon　to　bear　and　Carlsen　felt　the　painful　sensation　of　his　void
shields　collapsing　as　the　Land　Raider's　gunners　found　their　mark。
'Damn　you！'　yelled　Carlsen；　hauling　backwards　as　the　tank's　guns　fired　again；　the　deadly　beams　flashing　overhead。
'Moderati　Arkian；　get　those　shields　back　up！　Now！'
Carlsen　walked　his　Titan　backwards；　spraying　the　traitor　vehicles　with　fire；　careful　to　try　and　avoid　the　running　soldiers　of　the
Imperial　Guard。　Sweat　ran　in　runnels　from　his　face　as　the　strain　of　such　precise　piloting　took　its　toll。
The　Defensor　Fidei　stumbled　as　Carlsen　brought　one　of　its　feet　down　upon　the　smashed　hulk　of　a　Leman　Russ；　the　pilot's
compartment　swaying　dangerously　close　to　the　ground。　The　Jure　Divinu　stood　sentinel　over　its　brother　Titan；　firing　and　moving　as
the　enemy　advanced　more　cautiously　now。
'Arkian！'　bellowed　Carlsen；　'Where　are　my　damn　shields？'
'Working　on　it；　princeps！'
'Work　faster！'　demanded　Carlsen　as　he　saw　the　two　surviving　Land　Raiders　emerge　from　the　smoke　on　a　direct　course　for　him。
THE　IMPERATOR　BELLUM　was　dying；　but　Princeps　Fierach　was　not　about　to　give　up　just　yet。　Blood　and　sweat　coated　his　features
and　he　was　sure　Moderati　Yousen　was　dead。　The　Emperor　alone　knew　what　was　going　on　in　the　engineering　decks：　he　had　not
been　able　to　raise　anyone　down　there。　The　Dies　Irae　was　taking　him　apart　piece　by　piece；　but　Fierach　was　not　going　down　without
a　fight；　and　it　was　taking　terrible　damage。　The　tanks　that　had　accompanied　the　other　enemy　Titans　had　swept　past　him；　content　to
allow　their　war　god　to　destroy　him。
Fierach　just　hoped　that　the　survivors　of　Battle　Group　Sword　were　able　to　protect　the　Jourans　and　allow　them　to　escape。
Another　hammer　blow　fell　upon　him　and　shooting　bolts　of　fire　lanced　through　his　skull　in　sympathetic　pain。　What　the　Imperator
Bellum　felt；　he　felt。
He　brought　up　his　chainblade；　the　now　dulled　edge　scoring　across　the　barrel　of　the　Dies　Irae's　plasma　annihilator。　Gouts　of　searing
plasma　energy　spurted　from　the　enormous　gun；　hissing　clouds　of　superheated　vapour　geysering　downwards　and　vaporising　a
hundred　men　in　its　fury。
The　Dies　Irae　stepped　in　and　smashed　its　leg　against　Fierach's；　buckling　the　knee　joint　and　destroying　it　in　an　explosion　of　sparks。
Graham　McNeill　？Storm　of　Iron？
Warning　klaxons　blared　and　thick　ropes　of　blood　ran　from　Fierach's　mouth　as　he　bit　down　hard　on　his　tongue；　the　pain　almost
unbearable。　He　vainly　tried　to　step　away　from　the　enemy　Titan；　but　the　Imperator　Helium's　left　leg　was　fused　solid　and　he　could
not　escape。
The　Dies　Irae　advanced　again　and　hammered　one　of　its　weapon　arms　against　the　Imperator　Bellum　s　torso。　Fierach's　Titan　was
slammed　sideways　by　the　thunderous　blow　and　yet　more　warning　lights　flared　into　life　as　systems　failed　all　over　his　war　machine。
He　fought　for　balance；　but　the　external　gyros　were　smashed　and　he　was　forced　to　rely　on　his　own　reeling　senses　rather　than　those
of　the　Titan。
Amazingly；　he　was　able　to　recover　his　balance　and　faced　die　Dies　Irae　once　more；　swinging　his　chainfist；　the　one　system　he　knew
he　could　rely　on。
The　blade　shrieked　across　the　Dies　Irae's　midsection；　tearing　away　great　chunks　from　the　beast's　armour。　Fierach　knew　an
Emperor　class　Titan's　reactor　was　buried　deep　within　its　belly　and　if　he　could　but　hack　through　enough　of　its　armour；　then　others
might　later　have　a　chance　to　slay　the　monster。　The　Dies　Irae　stepped　aside　and　batted　away　the　chainblade　with　the　barrels　of　its
hellstorm　cannon；　planting　the　muzzle　of　its　weapon　flat　against　the　top　of　his　hissing　leg　joint。
Incandescent　fire　erupted　from　the　weapon；　explosive　shells　bursting　at　point　blank　range　against　his　already　damaged　leg。　The
joint　exploded；　the　metal　running　molten　like　mercurial　blood　down　the　war　machine's　leg。　Fierach　screamed　as　he　felt　his　Titan's
pain　as　his　own；　the　feedback　along　the　mind　impulse　unit　frying　much　of　his　cerebral　cortex。
The　mighty　war　machine　slumped　sideways；　the　Titan's　groin　hammering　into　the　severed　leg；　wedging　the　Imperator　Bellum
there　at　an　angle。
Fierach　laughed　hysterically　as　his　fall　was　arrested。
'Thank　you；　old　friend！'　he　screamed；　and　with　one　last　herculean　effort；　forced　his　dying　brain　to　command　the　Titan　in　one　last
act　of　defiance。
The　Imperator　Bellum　pushed　off　with　its　one　good　leg；　lurching　forward　to　smash　its　bridge　section　against　the　Dies　Irae's　head
with　terrifying　force。
The　impact　smashed　the　armoured　front　of　the　Imperial　Titan's　cockpit　and　Fierach's　last　sight　before　the　Imperator　Bellum's
reactor　went　critical　was　of　a　single；　burning　green　eye　as　he　was　crushed　against　its　surface。
FORRIX　WATCHED　THE　Warhound　in　front　of　them　back　off　through　the　smoke；　realising　its　shields　must　have　been　knocked　down。
'Follow　it！　Go　after　it！'　he　bellowed。　The　Titan　was　not　just　an　enemy　war　machine　to　him　now；　it　was　a　beast　from　the　Olympian
legends　and　he　felt　a　burning；　primal　desire　to　slay　it。　He　almost　laughed　aloud　at　the　passions　seething　within　him。　Emotions　and
desires　once　thought　lost　forever　rushed　to　the　surface　of　his　mind　like　a　drowning　man　clawing　for　oxygen。　He　felt　hate；　bright
and　keen；　battle…lust　hot　and　urgent；　and　desire　as　fervent　as　anything　he　had　ever　felt　in　his　long　life。
His　new…found　purpose　was　reawakening　in　all　its　visceral　glory。
Forrix　fixed　his　eyes　on　the　viewing　holo；　watching　the　chaos　of　the　battle　before　him。　Another　Land　Raider　roared　alongside　his
own；　its　lascannon　stabbing　into　the　smoke。　He　could　see　enemy　infantry　falling　back　towards　the　citadel；　some　carried　on
vehicles　or　grabbing　onto　their　running　boards。　Here　and　there；　pockets　of　resistance　fired　on　their　attackers；　buying　time　for　their
comrades　to　escape。
A　ringing　impact　slammed　into　the　Land　Raider；　throwing　Forrix　sideways　and　he　knew　they　had　been　hit　badly。　Smoke　and
flames　spewed　into　the　crew　compartment　and　as　he　looked　back；　Forrix　saw　a　great　hole　torn　in　the　side　of　the　vehicle's　side
armour。　Through　the　ragged　tear；　he　could　see　the　red　sky　and　the　looming　form　of　another　Warhound　Titan　coming　for　them。　Its
snarling　face　was　carved　in　an　expression　of　fury　and　Forrix　was　again　seized　by　the　desire　to　slay　one　of　these　beasts。
'Disembark　now！'　bellowed　Forrix；　as　the　frontal　ramp　dropped　and　four　giant　warriors；　similarly　clad　in　Terminator　armour；
debarked　from　the　Land　Raider　after　their　leader。
KROEGER　CHARGED　THROUGH　the　smoke；　screaming　a　bloodcurdling　battle　cry　as　he　scythed　the　head　from　an　Imperial
Guardsman　with　a　single　stroke　of　his　chainsword。　He　kicked　another　soldier　in　the　gut；　rupturing　his　belly　and　shattering　his
spine。　Terrified　faces　surrounded　him；　some　screaming；　some　begging　for　mercy。　Kroeger　laughed　at　them　all；　killing　anything
that　came　partiality。
Kroeger's　warriors　hacked　a　blo