Storm Of Iron(科幻战争)-第58章

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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　had　fallen。　The　Warsmith　took　to　the　air　once　more　as　the　carnage　on　the　walls　continued；　casting　his　pall　of
corruption　and　change　throughout　the　ramparts。
Honsou　kicked　down　the　iron　door　to　one　of　the　giant　towers　that　flanked　the　gate　and　dived　through；　firing　as　he　rolled。　The
soldiers　within　the　tower　screamed　in　terror　as　he　rose　to　his　feet。　They　were　no　threat；　but　he　killed　them　anyway。
He　swiftly　made　his　way　down　the　stairs；　his　blood　afire　and　singing　with　the　promise　of　victory。
'Iron　Warriors！　With　me！　The　citadel　is　ours！'
FORRIX　THUNDERED　DOWN　the　stairs　of　the　tower；　firing　as　he　went。　The　stair　spiralled　downwards　to　the　left；　bolter　shells
whining　and　ricocheting　from　the　walls。　On　two　levels　there　were　defensible　landings；　but　the　furious　assault　of　the　Iron　Warriors
could　not　be　stopped。　Forrix　and　his　Terminators　smashed　each　one　aside　with　ease。
Even　as　he　killed；　he　marvelled　at　the　appearance　of　the　Warsmith。　Their　leader　stood　at　the　very　cusp　of　daemon…hood；　the
changes　wracking　his　body　becoming　more　manifest。　Surely　his　final　ascension　was　at　hand？　Forrix　had　sensed　a　terrible　urgency
to　the　Warsmith；　and　knew　that　he　was　fighting　to　hold　his　form　coherent。　One　wrong　move　now　and　the　Warsmith　could　just　as
easily　explode　into　the　thrashing　riot　of　anatomies　of　a　Chaos　spawn；　doomed　for　an　eternal　life　of　mindless　mutation。
The　base　of　the　tower　levelled　into　a　wide　killing　zone；　but　it　had　been　designed　to　defend　against　attacks　from　outside；　not　inside；
and　the　defenders　had　nothing　to　shelter　behind。　Las…fire　raked　the　walls　beside　Forrix。　He　swept　his　combi…bolter　around　the
room；　slaughtering　Guardsmen　with　every　pull　of　the　trigger。
Graham　McNeill　？Storm　of　Iron？
Terminators　spilled　down　after　him；　their　horned　helmets　carved　in　the　masks　of　snarling　beasts　of　prey。　The　image　was　not
inappropriate；　thought　Forrix。　Narrow　doors　led　from　the　tower；　too　small　to　allow　a　Terminator　through；　but　Forrix　slammed　his
power　fist　into　the　stonework；　shattering　the　lintel　and　punching　his　way　through。　The　Terminators　followed　him　outside　into　the
citadel's　interior。
Forrix　grinned　as　he　watched　the　Warsmith　swooping　high　above　the　battlefield。　The　wings　at　his　back　were　becoming　more
substantial　and　his　form　rippled　and　blurred；　as　though　in　a　constant　state　of　flux。　Across　the　ruined　gateway；　he　could　see　Honsou
leading　his　warriors　from　the　opposite　tower；　hacking　down　a　mob　of　fleeing　Guardsmen。
Ahead；　across　a　wide　cobbled　esplanade；　he　could　make　out　a　cluster　of　ruined　buildings；　their　windows　gaping　like　blackened；
empty　eyesockets。　Human　soldiers；　Vindicators；　Dreadnoughts　and　Defilers　poured　through　the　blazing　remains　of　the　gate；
gunning　their　engines　as　they　spread　out　to　avoid　the　return　fire　coming　from　the　ruins。
Amidst　the　flames；　sporadic　volleys　of　las…fire　pierced　the　night；　but　it　was　disorganised　and　undirected。　Smoke　billowed　in　thick；
black　plumes　from　the　ruins　and　Forrix　heard　the　crash　of　massive　power　claws　tearing　at　the　curtain　wall　behind　him　as　the　two
Titans　of　the　Legio　Mortis　ripped　it　down；　eager　to　be　part　of　the　slaughter。
The　smoke　parted　and　the　high…pitched　blasts　of　Vulcan　bolter　fire　ripped　up　the　esplanade　in　a　line　towards　the　gate。　Three
Vindicators　exploded　and　a　Dreadnought　toppled；　thrashing　its　arms　in　frenzy　as　it　tried　to　right　itself。
Forrix　charged　across　the　courtyard　as　he　caught　sight　of　the　Warhound　he　had　marked　for　himself　earlier。　The　beast　darted
through　the　smoke；　pausing　only　long　enough　to　draw　a　bead　on　the　charging　Iron　Warriors。　But　in　the　open；　its　gunfire　was
nowhere　near　as　effective　as　it　had　been　in　the　breach。
'Spread　out！'　yelled　Forrix　as　he　gathered　his　Terminators　to　him　and　set　off　towards　the　Warhounds。
'You　escaped　me　once；　beast；　but　this　time　I　have　you；'　he　promised　his　prey。
'MARK　YOUR　TARGETS！'　yelled　Leonid　as　volleys　of　las…fire　lashed　the　Iron　Warriors　charging　from　burning　building　to　burning
building。　Smoke　filled　every　street。　None　of　their　attackers　were　falling；　and　Leonid　knew　they　must　make　every　shot　count。　The
Warhound　Defensor　Fidei　walked　backwards　behind　his　men　as　they　fell　back　from　this　assault；　firing　into　the　mass　of　the　enemy
as　they　pursued　the　Jourans。
Through　gaps　in　the　smoke　pouring　from　shelled　buildings；　he　could　see　massive　chunks　of　rockcrete　being　torn　from　the　wall　by
the　Titan　siege　towers；　and　knew　they　had　only　minutes　until　these　gargantuan　war　machines　joined　the　battle。　Tanks　and
grotesque；　multi…limbed　constructs；　with　turrets　adorned　with　hateful　runes；　poured　through　the　smashed　gate；　and　fear　was　visible
in　every　bloodied　face。
Brother…Captain　Eshara　had　regrouped　the　survivors　of　his　company；　thirty　Space　Marines；　and　fought　alongside　him；　firing　his
bolter　with　every　grudging　step　backwards。
Suddenly；　a　dozen　of　the　Iron　Warriors'　damnable　red　clad　soldiery　charged　through　the　smoke　to　their　side。　Shots　from　crude
rifles　felled　five　of　his　men　before　they　could　react。　Leonid　knelt；　jamming　his　rifle　to　his　shoulder　and　opening　up　on　full　auto；
spraying　the　smoke…filled　street　with　bright　lasbolts。　Three　enemy　soldiers　dropped　and　Eshara　killed　another　four　with　deadly
accurate　bolter　fire。　The　remainder　drew　a　bead　on　Leonid；　but　before　they　could　shoot；　the　ground　rocked　and　a　massive
adamantium　foot　slammed　down；　crushing　them　to　death。
The　Jure　Divinu　sprayed　the　building　across　from　Leonid　with　turbo　laser　fire　and　he　saw　six　enemy　soldiers　tumble　from　it；
burning　debris　crashing　down　as　its　already　unstable　structure　finally　gave　way。
From　the　smoke；　Leonid　saw　a　warrior　in　Terminator　armour　charging　straight　for　the　Jure　Divinu；　bright　hunger　etched　on　his
face。　His　dead　features　spoke　of　ancient　malice　and　bitter　hatred。
Leonid　had　no　time　to　think。　Eshara　grabbed　his　arm　and　hustled　him　back　through　the　burning　ruins　towards　the　northern　wall　of
the　citadel。　Space　Marines　ran　alongside　them；　the　men　of　the　Guard　having　already　passed　through　the　Valedictor　Gate　and
descended　into　the　caverns。
Built　flush　against　the　flank　of　the　mountain　with　two　armoured　blockhouses　to　either　side　of　it；　the　Valedictor　Gate　was　intended
to　bar　the　route　into　the　underground　caverns；　but　with　Naicin's　betrayal　in　the　Machine　Temple；　it　remained　treacherously　open。
Explosions　ripped　through　the　buildings　behind　Leonid　and　smashed　him　to　the　ground。
Eshara　dragged　him　to　his　feet　as　the　thirty　Imperial　Fists　formed　a　semi…circle　around　the　Valedictor　Gate；　facing　outwards。
The　Space　Marine　captain　lowered　his　dented　and　blackened　helm　level　with　Leonid's　and　said；　'Castellan；　you　must　get　below
and　destroy　the　gene…seed。'
'How？'　gasped　Leonid　breathlessly。　'The　Machine　Temple's　gone；　there's　no　way　to　do　it。'
Eshara　gripped　his　arm　tighter。　'Do　what　you　must；　find　flamer　units；　plasma　gunners；　anything；　but　do　not　let　even　a　scrap　of
gene…seed　fall　into　the　enemy's　hands。　It　is　better　that　it　all　be　destroyed　than　have　the　foe　claim　it。　Do　you　understand？'
'We　will　need　time　to　destroy　it　all；　my　friend。　Can　you　hold　them　here　for　long　enough？'　asked　Leonid；　fully　aware　of　the　price
that　time　would　be　bought　with。
The　two　warriors　locked　eyes　then　shook　hands　in　the　warrior's　grip；　wrist　to　wrist。
'We　will　hold　them　for　long　enough；'　nodded　Eshara　as　he　dropped　his　empty　bolter　and　drew　both　his　power　swords。
Leonid　said；　'Good　luck；　Brother…Captain　Eshara。'
'And　to　you；　Castellan　Leonid。'
Without　another　word；　Leonid　turned　and　sprinted　through　the　Valedictor　Gate。
FORRIX　WATCHED　THE　beast　stagger　as　a　shell　from　a　Vindicator　burst　against　its　leg。　The　Warhound　lurched；　its　weapon　mount
shearing　off　as　it　slammed　into　a　ruined　building。　They　had　it　now；　backed　into　a　corner　and　stripped　of　its　protection。
There　was　another　Warhound　nearby；　but　the　billowing　smoke　and　thump　of　explosions　obscured　its　whereabouts。
'It　is　time　for　a　reckoning；　beast！'　he　yelled　as　he　crashed　forward。　More　gunfire　hammered　the　armoured　carapace　of　the
Graham　McNeill　？Storm　of　Iron？
Warhound；　its　legs　buckling　under　the　weight　of　fire。　The　pilot's　comp