Dark Disciple(科幻战争)-第3章

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in　which　wide…gauged　tracks　were　embedded。　People　pushed；　shoved　and　cried　out　as　they　were
carried　along　the　platforms　on　either　side　of　the　rail　tracks。
With　a　blast　of　solid　displaced　air；　a　high…speed　automated　carriage　sped　by；　gushing
superheated　steam　and　making　the　access　corridor　reverberate　as　it　screamed　along　the　slick；　steel
tracks。　Knocked　back　a　step　by　the　force　of　the　conveyance；　people　covered　their　eyes　and　gazed
ruefully　at　the　mirrored　sides　of　the　carriage　as　it　passed。　Only　the　wealthy　guild　masters　and　their
staff　had　the　funds　and　access　privileges　to　use　the　highspeed　conveyances。
It　was　a　two　hundred　kilometre　journey　to　Phorcys；　the　sole　starport　off　Perdus　Skylla　within
five　thousand　kilometres。　Access　tunnel　25X1　was　the　only　link　between　Antithon　Guild　and
Phorcys；　unless　one　wished　to　traverse　across　the　frozen　surface　of　the　moon。　Few　ventured　up　to
the　inhospitable　surface　of　Perdus　Skylla　other　than　outcasts；　those　unlucky　enough　not　to　be　born
into　any　of　the　great　guild…houses；　or　who　had　been　exiled　from　them　for　serious　infractions。
Twelve　other　mining　guilds　were　connected　to　Phorcys；　each　of　the　proud　guilds　situated　around
the　starport　like　the　points　of　a　compass　and　connected　by　artery　tunnels　like　the　spokes　of　a　great
wheel。
Most　of　the　people　of　Antithon　Guild　had　never　left　the　hab…blisters　deep　in　the　ice　other　than　to
commute　to　the　mining　facilities　some　five　thousand　kilometres　below。　Fewer　still　had　been　to
Phorcys；　and　few　amongst　the　tide　of　humanity　had　any　real　understanding　of　the　distance　involved。
To　them；　Antithon　Guild　and　its　environs　was　their　world　and　universe；　harsh　and　uncompromising；
but　familiar　and　safe；　and　they　had　no　need　to　know　of　anything　beyond　its　boundaries。
Or　at　least　it　had　been　safe　until　the　first　of　the　sirens　had　begun　to　wail　and　the　pict　broadcasts
had　declared　that　Perdus　Skylla　was　being　evacuated。
No　reason　for　the　evacuation　had　been　issued　from　the　guildmaster　general’s　office；　and　the
twenty…three　million　strong　population　of　the　moon　had　been　in　shock。　Shock　had　quickly
descended　into　panic　as　rumours　spread　of　an　imminent　xenos　invasion；　rumours　that　were　not　in
any　way　refuted　by　the　Administratum。
Groups　of　the　Skyllan　Interdiction　Force　pushed　through　the　crowds；　attempting　to　maintain
order。　They　wore　their　customary　white　body　armour　over　sky…blue　uniforms；　and　held　highpowered
laslocks　across　their　chests。　Snarling；　shaggy…coated　mastiffs　with　gleaming　mechanical
eye…augments　strained　at　their　leashes；　sensing　the　tension　in　their　masters。
An　armoured　Catalan…class　squad　vehicle　moved　slowly　along　one　of　the　platforms；　its　white；
high…compound　plasteel　chassis　gleaming　beneath　the　humming　strip…lights　overhead。　Its　flashing
lights　and　blaring　siren　urged　people　out　of　its　path；　but　its　progress　was　slow；　for　there　was　no　room
to　allow　the　vehicle　through。
The　winged　emblem　of　the　mercenary　force　was　resplendent　across　the　broad　grill　on　the　front
of　the　heavy　vehicle；　and　a　pair　of　armoured　soldiers　stood　in　its　dual　turret　at　the　rear；　swinging　the
massive　twin…linked　heavy　bolters　left　and　right。　Their　faces　were　all　but　obscured　by　their　white
helmets；　and　black　visors　hid　their　eyes　from　view。
For　twenty…five　generations；　Perdus　Skylla　had　employed　the　Skyllan　Interdiction；　an　outside
mercenary　agency　funded　by　the　wealthy　mining　guild　conglomerates。　They　served　as　the　military
force　protecting　the　guilds’　assets　in　lieu　of　a　Planetary　Defence　Force；　while　simultaneously　acting
as　local　law　enforcement。　Better　trained　and　equipped　than　most　Imperial　Guard　regiments；　the
hiring　of　the　Skyllan　Interdiction　Forces　had　allowed　the　mining　guilds　to　concentrate　on　their
endeavours　without　having　to　draw　away　any　of　its　skilled　workforce　to　form　a　PDF。
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Still；　even　with　the　mercenaries　present　within　the　tunnel　to　help　restore　order；　the　flow　of
humanity　was　little　short　of　a　rout。
One　of　the　long…furred　mastiffs　let　out　a　long　growl；　eyes　locked　on　the　ceiling。　Seeing　nothing；
its　master　jerked　its　chain　hard；　silencing　the　beast。
A　creature　of　shadow　clung　to　the　ceiling　of　the　corridor；　virtually　undetectable　to　the　naked　eye
or　the　sophisticated　targeting　matrices　built　into　the　helmets　of　the　Skyllan　Interdiction　Force。　It
moved　like　a　spider；　making　its　way　across　the　ceiling　with　slow；　purposeful　movements。　Its　lean；
black　armoured　body　disappeared　for　a　second；　its　menacing　form　turning　as　insubstantial　as　smoke；
only　to　reappear　within　the　shadow　of　a　grilled　turbine　further　along　the　roof。
The　creature’s　skin　was　inky　black；　and　elegant　runes　of　alien　design　were　cut　into　its　flesh。　The
runes　glowed　with　a　cold；　inner　light。
Turning　its　gaze　downwards；　it　peered　malevolently　over　the　sea　of　humans　with　eyes　that　were
milky　white。　It　paid　particular　attention　to　the　armed　forces　of　the　Skyllan　Interdiction；　and　its　limbs
quivered　with　barely　contained　bloodlust。　The　blades　running　up　its　forearms　hummed　in
anticipation。
The　mastiffs　below　went　into　a　frenzy　of　barking　as　the　creature’s　scent　carried　to　them；　and
their　handlers　struggled　to　control　the　powerful　beasts。　The　creature　disappeared　into　shadow　once
more　as　eyes　scanned　the　ceilings；　straining　to　pick　out　what　had　disturbed　the　dogs。
The　air　recycling　turbines　cut　out；　abruptly。　The　few　who　registered　the　sudden　change　in　air
pressure　gazed　up　at　the　slowing　fans　in　concern。　Without　the　recycling　units；　the　air　in　the　tunnel
would　turn　to　poison　within　hours；　as　all　the　oxygen　was　used　up　and　replaced　with　the　toxic　carbon
dioxide　exhaled　by　the　masses。
Skyllan　Interdiction　Forces　tapped　their　helmets　as　their　communications　went　down；　as　if
jammed　by　interference。
Then　the　first　of　the　lights　went　out。
First；　one　of　the　lights　faded　to　darkness；　then　another。　The　strip　lights　began　to　fail；　one　after
another；　in　both　directions；　like　a　wave。　People　screamed　as　darkness　engulfed　them。　The　lights
were　going　dark　faster　than　a　man　could　run；　and　within　less　than　a　minute　every　light　in　sight　was
dead。
The　darkness　was　complete；　all　consuming　and　as　black　as　the　abyssal　depths　of　the　oceans
below。　People　clutched　at　one　another　in　panic；　unable　even　to　see　a　hand　waving　in　front　their　face；
and　the　crowd　surged。　Spotlights　on　the　Skyllan　armoured　vehicle　clicked　on；　and　they　wove　back
and　forth；　piercing　the　darkness　like　beacons。
People　pushed　towards　the　light　sources；　like　moths　being　drawn　to　an　open　flame；　and　their
panicked　faces　shone　like　ghosts　in　the　cold　light。　They　pressed　against　the　armoured　vehicle　as　if　it
was　a　talisman；　those　at　the　front　crushed　against　its　armoured　sides　by　those　pushing　from　behind。
Overhead；　the　nigh…on　invisible　figure　had　reappeared；　and　the　runes　carved　into　its　flesh　glowed
with　power。　Still　hugging　the　ceiling　in　defiance　of　gravity；　it　slid　a　curved；　double…bladed　punch
dagger　from　its　sheath。　Other　blades　slid　from　the　back　of　its　hands；　jutting　forward　over　its　fists　like
the　talons　of　a　great　cat；　and　a　low　hiss　of　anticipation　passed　its　lips　as　it　waited　for　its　dark　kin　to
arrive　in　response　to　its　summons。　It　did　not　have　to　wait　long。
A　ball　of　lightning　appeared；　hanging　in　mid…air　for　a　fraction　of　a　second　before　it　exploded
outwards；　blinding　those　nearby　with　the　sudden　burst　of　energy　and　throwing　them　to　the　ground。
The　crackling　energy　was　gone　in　an　instant；　and　an　impenetrable　void　was　left　in　its　wake。　It　was
like　an　inky　black　pool　of　water；　though　it　was　vertical　and　hung　in　mid…air；　a　plane　of　absolute
darkness　no　thicker　than　a　single　molecule。
Ripples　appeared　across　its　surface；　as　if　a　pebble　had　been　tossed　into　its　centre；　and　whining
shapes　sped　from　the　rent　in　real　space；　hurtling　up　the　access　corridor　at　tremendous　speed。　They
screamed　overhead；　slicing　like　knives　through　the　darkness。　Blades　cut　through　flesh；　and　hot　blood
splattered　into　the　faces　of　hundreds　of　people；　who　screamed　in　terror。　Many　threw　themselves　to
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the　ground　in　fear　and　were　trampled　to　death　by　their　brothers；　sisters　and　wives　in　their　panic　to
escape。　However；　with　no　lights；　and　with　the　tunnel　packed　from　wall　to　wall　with　terrified　people；
there　was　nowhere　to　run。
The　spotlights　atop　the　armoured　Skyllan　Interdiction　vehicle　turned　frantically；　trying　to　lock
onto　the　enemies　that　screamed　past　them；　but　they　could　only　hold　the　speeding　shapes　in　the　light
for　a　fraction　of　a　second。　A　shape　dropped　from　the　ceiling；　landing　lightly　atop　the　vehicle；　and　the
troopers　saw　a　shadowy　blur　in　the　rough　outline　of　a　humanoid　figure　perched　on　the　roof　of　the
armoured　car　before　the　spotlights　were　shattered。
The　panicked　troopers　manning　the　turret…mounted　heavy　bolters　opened　fire　into　the　darkness；
and　muzzle　flare　lit　the　area。
A　sleek　black　shape　hurtled　past；　and　the　mercenaries　chased　it　with　high…explosive　rounds。
They　hit　nothing　but　the　walls　and　pillars　of　the　tunnel；　ripping　away　head…sized　chunks　of
rockcrete。
The　troopers’　mastiffs　had　erupted　into　frantic　barking　and　were　fighting　at　their　chains。　Their
masters　turned　around　on　the　spot；　laslocks　held　to　shoulders　as　they　struggled　to　sight　the　enemy。
Dark　shapes　were　zooming　through　the　tunnel；　but　the　troopers’　targeting　systems　were　unable　to
lock　onto　the　targets。
There　was　a　blur　of　movement　and　one　of　the　troopers　was　sliced　open　from　groin　to　throat。　He
squeezed　the　trigger　of　his　weapon　as　he　fell；　blasting　into　the　crowd　of　surging　people；　cutting
several　of　them　down。
People　screamed　and　ran　as　the　sounds　of　gunfire　echoed　deafeningly；　fighting　each　other　in
their　desperation　to　get　to　safety。　The　other　troopers　turned　left　and　right；　trying　desperately　to　hold
their　targets　in　sight。　A　shape　screamed　overhead；　and　a　trooper’s　head　was　severed　from　its　body。
The　shape　was　a　hundred　metres　further　up　the　tunnel　before　the　head　hit　the　ground。
Streams　of　tiny　bladed　splinters　spat　out　of　the　darkness　towards　the　mercenaries　manning　the
turret　of　the　armoured　vehicle。　The　razor…sharp　shards　sliced　through　their　armour　and　flesh；　and
blood　sprayed　out　across　their　pristine　white　armour。
Their　gun　silenced；　the　darkness　was