Storm Of Iron(科幻战争)-第39章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


solid　rockcrete　floor。　Hawke　was　not　a　happy　man。　He　steadied　his　breathing　and　spoke　into　the　vox。
'You　might　have　bloody　warned　me！'　he　complained。
'Is　it　done？'
'Yes；　it's　done。'
'Very　good；　you　have　now　armed　the　torpedo。'
Hawke　pushed　himself　back　along　the　gantry；　suddenly　very　alarmed　at　the　prospect　of　this　armed　behemoth　being　less　than　a
metre　from　his　head。　'It's　armed。　What　next？'
'Now　we　have　to　inform　the　war…spirit　within　the　torpedo　the　whereabouts　of　its　victim。'
'Uh…huh…'　shrugged　Hawke。　'And　how　exactly　do　I　do　that？'
'You　don't。　I　will　perform　that　sacred　task。　Now；　I　need　you　to　remove　a　red　and　gold　cable　embossed　with　the　rune　of　telemetry；
then—'
'The　what？　Just　tell　me　what　the　damn　thing　looks　like。'
Beauvais　sighed。　'It　resembles　a　winged　triangle　with　a　cog　at　its　centre。　It　is　connected　to　the　war…spirit's　seeker　chamber。　That's
the　gold　box　at　the　top　of　the　panel。　Once　you　have　the　cable；　plug　it　into　the　vox…unit's　remote　triangulation　output　socket　and
wait。　Once　the　lights　on　the　vox　stop　flashing；　reattach　the　cable　to　the　war…spirit's　seeker　chamber。'
Hawke　found　the　plug　and　pulled　it　from　the　panel。　He　swore　as　he　saw　it　would　only　extend　some　fifteen　centimetres　from　the
torpedo。　He　lifted　the　vox　unit　to　the　edge　of　the　gantry；　propping　it　against　one　of　the　uprights。　He　slotted　the　cable　home；
watching　as　the　front　panel　of　the　vox　unit　faded　and　the　lights　arranged　around　the　dial　flickered　in　strange　patterns。　As　the
sequence　continued　he　propped　himself　up　on　one　elbow；　looking　up　at　the　top　of　the　giant　torpedo。
The　top　of　the　giant　missile　was　rounded　and　strangely　irregular。　There　was　a　serrated；　spiral　groove　cut　in　the　warhead　and
Hawke　guessed　that　this　was　to　help　it　burrow　through　the　thick　hull　of　a　starship　before　detonating　deep　inside。
He　waited　for　several　minutes　before　the　clicking　sequence　of　lights　finally　stopped；　then　unplugged　the　cable　and　reconnected　it
to　the　torpedo。　He　thought　he　heard　a　noise　below　and　glanced　over　the　gantry。　Dismissing　it；　he　returned　his　attention　to　the
torpedo　as　Beauvais　came　back　on　the　vox。
'The　war…spirit　now　knows　its　prey；　Hawke。　Now　you　must　speak　the　Chant　of　Awakening　to　set　it　on　the　hunt。'
'Ok；　Chant　of　Awakening…　right。　And　after　that；　then　what？'
'Simply　strike　the　rune　of　firing　upon　the—'
Beauvais　never　finished　his　sentence　as　a　hail　of　bolter　fire　ripped　through　the　vox　and　blasted　it　to　fragments。　Hawke　jumped　in
shock；　grabbing　onto　the　upright；　very　nearly　going　over　the　edge　of　the　gantry。
'Emperor's　holy　blood！'　he　swore；　grabbing　his　rifle　and　pressing　his　back　against　the　cold　metal　grille　in　the　wall　behind　him。　His
breath　pounded　in　his　throat　and　his　heart　beat　wildly　against　his　chest。　What　the　hell　was　going　on？
He　risked　a　glance　over　the　gantry　and　saw　a　giant　in　iron…grey　power　armour　with　a　smoking　gun　and　a　mechanised　claw　snaking
over　his　shoulder。　Men　in　red　uniforms　clustered　around　the　warrior；　all　carrying　rifles　aimed　upwards。
A　deep　voice；　rich　and　full　of　threat　drifted　up　to　him。
'You　are　going　to　die；　little　man。　You　have　led　us　a　merry　dance；　but　now　it　is　over。'
Hawke　shut　his　eyes　tight　and　whispered；　'Oh　damn；　oh　damn；　oh　damn…'
INCANDESCENT　FIRE　ERUPTED　from　the　first　demolition　charges；　vaporising　the　chains　and　bindings　holding　the　first　daemon
engine　in　place。　Painstakingly　wrought　symbols　of　arcane　protection　were　incinerated　and　the　mechanical　components　of　the　war
machine　ran　molten　under　the　volcanic　heat　of　the　explosion。　The　scream　of　the　daemon　engine's　death　whiplashed　around　the
battery　as　the　terrifying　creature　bound　within　its　infernal　mechanisms　was　freed　by　the　blast。
Those　closest；　even　though　well　clear　of　the　explosives'　blast　radius；　were　swatted　to　the　floor　of　the　battery　by　its　shriek　of
release。　A　swirling　hurricane　of　etheric　energy；　insane　geometries　warping　through　its　daemonic　form；　tore　through　the　Jourans
with　the　power　of　the　immaterium；　turning　men　inside　out　and　exploding　others　from　within　as　it　shrieked　in　the　throes　of　its
dissolution。
HONSOU　HEARD　THE　screech　of　one　of　the　creatures　of　the　damned　and　cursed　Kroeger　again。　Where　were　the　men　from　his
company　tasked　with　guarding　these　precious　beasts？　Creatures　that　had　required　countless　thousands　of　lives　and　diabolical　pacts
to　conjure　into　being。　The　answer　came　easily　enough：　drunk　on　slaughter　somewhere；　slaking　their　thirst　for　blood　in　an　orgy　of
butchery。
He　ducked　as　a　hail　of　bullets　stitched　the　trench　wall　before　him　and　a　clutch　of　human　soldiers　fell；　their　bodies　blown　apart　by
the　burst。　He　racked　the　slide　on　his　own　weapon；　then　paused　as　he　realised　the　shots　he'd　heard　were　fired　from　a　bolter。　Honsou
stepped　over　their　bleeding　corpses　and　jerked　his　head　around　the　bend　in　the　trench。　He　was　stunned　to　see　a　Space　Marine　in
yellow　power　armour　firing　down　the　trench。　The　length　of　the　narrow　earthen　corridor　was　choked　with　bodies　and　there　was　no
way　through。
Hundreds　of　human　soldiers　gathered　behind　him；　fearfully　clutching　their　primitive　rifles　as　they　crouched　in　the　shelter　of　this
trench。　They　looked　to　him　for　guidance　and　Honsou　snarled　as　he　reached　back　and　grabbed　one　by　the　neck；　tossing　him　into　the
approach　trench。　The　man　landed　hard　and；　as　he　rose　to　his　feet；　bolter　fire　shredded　him。
Before　the　body　had　even　hit　the　ground；　Honsou　spun　low　around　the　corner　of　the　trench；　firing　controlled　bursts　at　the　Space
Graham　McNeill　？Storm　of　Iron？
Marine。　His　victim　crumpled；　his　armour　breached　by　his　shots。　Honsou's　jaw　hardened　as　he　saw　the　clenched；　black　fist　icon　on
the　warrior's　left　shoulder　guard。
Imperial　Fists！　The　ancient　enemy；　source　of　his　polluted　blood　and　cause　of　millennia　of　misery　at　the　hands　of　those　who　were
not　fit　even　to　serve　beside　him。
Blind　rage　took　Honsou　and　he　roared　in　hate；　charging　through　the　body…filled　trench；　the　desperate　need　to　kill　Imperial　Fists
driving　him　onwards。　Another　yellow…armoured　warrior　appeared　at　the　entrance　to　the　battery　and　levelled　his　bolter；　but　Honsou
was　quicker；　pulling　the　trigger　and　emptying　his　weapon's　magazine　at　the　hated　foe。
Sparks　and　earth　flew　as　his　shots　ricocheted　from　the　Space　Marine's　armour。
Honsou　screamed　in　fury；　throwing　aside　his　bolter　when　the　hammer　slammed　down　empty；　and　drew　his　sword　as　the　warrior
before　him　dropped　to　one　knee　and　took　careful　aim。
He　felt　impacts　slam　into　his　chest；　but　nothing；　not　even　death　itself　would　prevent　him　from　reaching　his　enemy。　Pain　ripped
through　him；　but　he　ignored　it；　hammering　his　boot　into　the　Space　Marine's　breastplate。　He　reversed　his　grip　on　his　sword　hilt　and
drove　it　downwards　through　the　chest　of　the　fallen　warrior；　hate…fuelled　strength　driving　it　hilt…deep　into　his　victim。
Blood　splashed　him　as　a　flaring　explosion　thundered　through　the　battery　and　another　daemon　engine　vanished　in　a　sheet　of　flames；
its　shriek　momentarily　drowning　out　the　noise　of　the　blast。　Psychic　Shockwaves　buffeted　Honsou　and　he　felt　the　ancient　malice　of
a　being　that　was　ancient　before　mankind　was　born　roar　through　him。　He　rejoiced　in　its　hate；　feeling　it　consume　him；　pouring　fresh
vigour　through　his　body　as　it　took　his　unworthy　flesh　for　its　own。　He　spread　wide　his　arms；　actinic　bolts　of　black　lightning　arcing
from　his　hands。
Destruction　ripped　through　the　battery　as　the　bolts　lashed　out；　indiscriminately　ripping　apart　banks　of　soil；　machinery　and　groups
of　soldiers　…　both　enemy　and　allied。
Honsou　revelled　in　such　carnage；　though　he　knew　that　it　was　but　borrowed　power。　Flaring　purple　afterimages　seared　across　his
retinas；　but　he　laughed；　hurling　spears　of　warp　energy　into　the　confused　mass　of　men　and　machines。　His　body　swelled　as　daemonic
power　poured　in。　His　armour　buckled　and　he　screamed　as　joints　and　sinews　stretched；　bones　cracked　and　his　jaw　stretched　wide　in
a　soundless　cry　of　agony。
More　thunderous　detonations　rocked　the　battery　and　Honsou　felt　yet　another　daemonic　presence　explode　from　within　its　iron
machine…prison。　He　dropped　to　his　knees　as　the　daemon　within　him　suddenly　withdrew；　feeling　its　hatred　of　the　newly…birthed
entity。　As　the　power　drained　from　him；　he　watched　the　two　daemonic　creatures　spiralling　heavenward；　locked　in　battle　and　fading
from　his　vision　even　as　he　watched。　He　ached　for　such　power　again；　even　though　he　knew　it　would　destroy　him。
He　groaned　in　pain　as　the　terrible　damage　done　to　him　by　the　daemon's　brief　occupancy　surged　through　his　nerve　endings。　He
pushed　himself　to　his　feet　as　the　human　soldiers　swarmed　around　him；　shooting　into　the　mass　of　Guardsmen　and　Space　Marines。
A　mad　shrieking　filled　the　battery　as　more　explosions　lit　up　the　night。　A　daemon　engine；　its　bindings　cracked　and　flailing；　howled
as　it　fought　to　finally　sever　the　magicks　that　bound　it　to　the　war　machine。　Men　were　crushed　beneath　its　bronze　treads；　and
Honsou　watched　as　its　mighty　gun　swung　ponderously　around　and　fired　repeatedly。　The　screaming　projectiles　sailed　over　his
head；　exploding　somewhere　deep　in　the　Iron　Warriors'　camp；　and　a　string　of　secondary　detonations　swiftly　followed。
Honsou　dragged　his　sword　from　the　body　beside　him；　wincing　as　his　tortured　muscles　protested。　There　were　still　Imperial　Fists　to
slay　and　he　set　off　into　the　fiery　hell　of　the　battery　to　find　them。
BOLTER　IMPACTS　RANG　from　the　walls；　almost　deafening；　and　Hawke　felt　the　impact　of　countless　bullets　hitting　the　underside　of
the　gantry。　Desperately　he　hammered　his　elbow　against　the　grille　behind　him；　firing　the　lasgun　blindly　over　the　edge。
Sparking　ricochets　spanged　from　the　torpedo　and　Hawke　filled　the　air　with　a　constant　stream　of　expletives；　expecting　the　damn
thing　to　blow　with　every　impact。　Fie　could　hear　the　metallic　thunk；　thunk；　of　boots　on　the　ladder　beside　him；　and　rolled　over　in
time　to　see　a　grizzled　face　atop　a　red　collar　appear　at　the　edge　of　the　gantry。
He　lashed　out；　his　elbow　smashing　the　man's　nose　across　his　face　in　a　spray　of　blood。　The　man's　hands　flew　to　his　face。　He
screamed　as　he　fell　from　the　ladder。
Hawke　yelled；　'And　stay　down！'　before　glancing　over　the　edge　of　the　gantry　to　watch　him　fall。　A　bullet　streaked　past　him；　grazing
his　temple　and　he　yelpe