Dark Disciple(科幻战争)-第50章

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limbs　from　the　spikes　impaling　them。　His　efforts　were　hopeless。　His　muscles　bulged　with　all　his
hyper…enhanced　strength；　but　he　was　powerless　against　the　slender　blades　that　held　his　crucified
form。
What　if　the　gods　had　deserted　them；　thought　Marduk　with　a　stab　of　terror？
Silence　such　thoughts；　Marduk　raged。　Such　doubts　are　poison。　Fortify　your　soul；　he　reminded
himself；　your　faith　will　be　rewarded。
Patience；　he　told　himself。
His　time　would　come；　and　he　would　be　ready。
“You　left　him　behind；”　said　Burias　flatly；　his　eyes　glinting　dangerously。
“Am　I　going　to　have　a　problem　with　you；　Burias？”　growled　Kol　Badar。
Burias　pursed　his　lips；　not　taking　his　eyes　off　the　Coryphaus。　He　took　a　deep　breath；　repressing
his　violent　urge　to　leap　across　the　shuttle　cabin　and　tear　the　older　warrior’s　head　from　his　shoulders。
He　had　always　fought　at　Marduk’s　side。　Even　as　an　acolyte；　Burias　had　recognised　that　Marduk
was　destined　for　great　things；　and　he　was　honest　enough　to　admit　that　that　he　had　befriended　him　in
the　hope　that　he　would　be　dragged　up　the　chain　of　command　with　him。　Burias　had　never　made　any
secret　of　this　fact；　and　he　had　enjoyed　the　success　he　had　achieved；　and　the　privilege　he　had　gained；
as　Marduk　had　risen　to　First　Acolyte。　With　Jarulek　dead　and　gone；　it　was　surely　just　a　formality
before　Marduk　became　a　Dark　Apostle；　and　then　Burias’s　position　would　become　even　more
influential。　He　was　Marduk’s　confidant；　his　brother；　his　friend；　and　he　would　have　had　the　ear　of　a
Dark　Apostle　at　his　disposal。
In　one　swift；　opportunistic　move；　Kol　Badar　had　eliminated　that　future；　and　for　that　Burias
would　dearly　love　to　rip　his　hearts　from　his　chest。
“You　think　he　is　dead？”　asked　Burias　in　a　low　voice。
“He’s　gone；”　said　Kol　Badar。　“The　dark　eldar　took　him。　There　is　no　coming　back。”
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Burias　scowled；　all　his　years　of　comradeship　with　Marduk；　wasted。　Once　again；　he　let　his　eyes
roll　back　into　his　head　and　the　deafening　tumult　that　was　the　immaterium　screamed　into　him。
Drak’shal　had　a　bond　with　the　First　Acolyte；　stronger　than　any　bond　between　Burias　and　Marduk；　a
bond　of　servitude；　a　bond　of　command。　It　was；　after　all；　Marduk　who　had　first　summoned　Drak’shal
into　the　icon　bearer’s　flesh。
Drak’shal　reached　out　at　Burias’s　urging；　searching　for　Marduk’s　soul…fire；　for　some　hint　of　its
existence。　The　daemon　found　nothing。　Of　course；　it　would　take　days；　weeks　even；　to　properly　scour
the　turbulence　of　the　empyrean；　despite　the　bond　the　First　Acolyte　and　the　daemon　shared；　but　a
shadow　presence　should　have　been　simple　to　locate。　It　was　as　if　everything　that　Marduk　was　had
been　snuffed　out。　Slowly；　Burias　opened　his　eyes。
“He　is　truly　gone；”　he　muttered　in　disbelief。
“As　I　said；”　said　Kol　Badar。
This　changed　everything。　If　Marduk　truly　was　dead；　and　what　other　explanation　could　there　be；
then　Burias　would　have　to　quickly　reassess　his　position。　Without　the　First　Acolyte’s　backing　and
favour；　his　position　within　the　Host　was　tenuous。　Kol　Badar；　as　Coryphaus；　was　the　most　powerful
individual　within　the　Host；　and　would；　as　protocol　demanded；　take　over　the　leadership　role。　Burias
would　be　foolish　to　take　that　lightly。　Without　the　First　Acolyte　to　shield　him；　Kol　Badar　could　do
with　him　as　his　wished　with　impunity。
“What　of　the　Council？”　asked　Burias；　his　mind　whirring。　“The　life　of　a　Coryphaus　that　has
allowed　his　Dark　Apostle　to　die　is　a　tenuous　thing；　but　a　Coryphaus　that　has　allowed　his　Dark
Apostle　and　First　Acolyte　to　fall？　You’ll　be　made　to　suffer；　and　I　have　no　wish　to　fall　with　you。”
“Walk　with　me；”　commanded　the　Coryphaus；　releasing　the　harness　clamping　him　into　his　seat；
and　making　his　way　towards　the　control　cabin　of　the　Idolator；　fighting　the　angle　of　the　ship’s　assent
and　the　G…forces　that　pushed　against　his　massive　frame。　Clearly；　Kol　Badar　wished　to　continue　the
discussion　out　of　the　earshot　of　the　other　warrior　brothers　of　the　Host；　which　made　Burias　at　once
both　suspicious　and　intrigued。
Burias　threw　off　his　harness　and　stood　up　unsteadily。　Using　the　rail…holds　above　his　head　he
hauled　himself　hand　over　hand　towards　the　front　of　the　shuttle。　Once　inside　the　control　cabin；　Kol
Badar　punched　a　blister…rune　and　the　hatch　was　sealed　behind　them。
The　crew　of　the　Idolator　had　long　been　fused　with　their　controls；　and　what　remained　of　their
flesh　was　covered　in　runes　and　sigils　of　binding。　They　stared　ahead　with　sightless　eyes；　their　entire
existence　dedicated　to　serving　their　infernal　masters。　They　would　not　repeat　what　words　were
spoken　in　their　presence　even　were　they　capable　of　speech。
“The　Council　need　not　know　all　the　details；”　said　Kol　Badar　slowly；　his　eyes　intense。
“They　will　need　to　be　told　something；”　Burias　hissed；　“unless　we　do　not　return　to　Sicarus　at　all。”
“No；　that　is　not　an　option。　No　warrior　of　Lorgar　has　ever　turned　from　the　XVII　Legion。　No；　we
tell　the　Council　the　truth。”
“The　truth？”　asked　Burias。
“Yes；　that　the　Dark　Apostle　Jarulek　was　treacherously　cut　down　by　the　traitor　Marduk；　who　was
envious　and　covetous　of　his　hallowed　role；”　said　Kol　Badar；　“and　that　Marduk　was　subsequently
slain　for　his　misdeed。”
“You　wish　to　lie　to　the　Council？”　asked　Burias；　his　voice　incredulous。
Kol　Badar　did　not　have　a　chance　to　answer；　as　warning　lights　lit　up　across　the　consoles　of　the
shuttle。　The　Coryphaus　moved　swiftly　towards　the　pict　screens　flashing　with　a　stream　of　data；　and
swore。
“What　is　it？”　asked　Burias　in　alarm。
“A　tyranid　spore　shower；”　answered　the　Coryphaus。
It　was　heading　right　towards　them。
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“Admiral；”　said　Gideon　Cortez；　flag…lieutenant　of　the　Hammer　of　Righteousness。　“The　master　of
ordnance　has　a　firing　solution。　Request　approval　to　launch　torpedoes。”
“Approved；”　said　Admiral　Rutger　Augustine。
He　was　standing　at　the　forward　observation　deck　with　his　hands　on　his　hips；　watching　the　battle
unfold　before　him。　The　strategy　of　maintaining　a　blockade　in　front　of　the　encroaching　tyranid
menace　and　decimating　any　world；　inhabited　or　not；　in　its　path　still　rankled　with　Augustine；　but　such
were　his　orders。
Most　of　the　enemy　hive　ships　were　still　tens　of　thousands　of　kilometres　away；　but　he　could　see
them：　immense；　sentient　creatures　kilometres　long　with　skin　thick　enough　to　endure　living　in　deep
space；　their　vile　bodies　armoured　in　segmented　carapace　easily　as　strong　as　the　hull　of　the　mighty
Retribution…class　battleship　he　stood　in。　It　almost　defied　logic　that　creatures　as　large　as　this　could
exist　in　the　universe。　The　largest　of　the　bio…ships　was　easily　a　match　for　the　Hammer　of
Righteousness；　and　rivalled　her　for　size；　and　there　were　hundreds　of　smaller　living　ships　that　shoaled
around　the　largest　organisms。　The　smaller　creatures　ranged　from　the　size　of　light　cruisers　all　the　way
down　to　the　size　of　attack　craft　and　interceptors。　The　smallest　bio…ships　flew　in　dense　clouds　around
the　large　hive　ships；　like　swarms　of　angry　bees　around　their　mother…hive；　and　several　Cobra…class
escorts　had　already　been　destroyed　by　them　when　they　had　ventured　too　close。
The　tyranid　fleet　was　a　terrifying　prospect　to　face　at　close　range；　and　Augustine　had　decreed　that
no　Imperial　vessel　approach　within　six　thousand　kilometres　of　it。　Even　so；　the　xenos　bio…ships　were
capable　of　startling　bursts　of　speed　that　had　at　first　taken　the　Imperials　by　surprise；　and　Augustine
had　lost　the　light　cruiser　Dominae　Noctus　and　its　entourage　of　frigates　and　escorts　due　to　this
unexpected　trait。
A　pair　of　hive　ships　had　swung　towards　the　Dauntless…class　light　cruiser　as　she　had　been　turning
to　starboard　to　make　a　strafing　run　across　the　flank　of　the　hive　fleet；　breaking　from　the　formation　of
bio…ships。
Though　the　commander　of　the　Dominae　Noctus　had　seen　the　danger；　he　had　been　powerless　to
pull　away　fast　enough。　The　cruiser　had　desperately　unleashed　the　fury　of　a　full　broadside　into　the
two　bio…ships　training　in　on　him。　Augustine　had　watched　the　destruction　unleashed　on　the　living
organisms　on　one　of　his　flickering　pict　screens；　and　had　seen　the　carapaced　hides　of　the　beasts
rupture　beneath　the　barrage；　spilling　bio…fluids　into　space。　Still；　the　bio…ships　had　continued　on；
spitting　streams　of　acid　that　melted　the　side　of　the　Dauntless　light　cruiser　and　launching　swarms　of
smaller　creatures；　exhaling　them　from　gill…like　rents　in　their　sides。
A　trio　of　Sword　frigates　had　nobly　moved　into　the　path　of　the　behemoths；　seeking　to　draw　them
away　from　the　floundering　light　cruiser；　and　two　of　them　were　overwhelmed　as　boarding　chrysalides
were　excreted　from　the　hive　ships；　clamping　onto　and　cutting　through　their　hulls　before　overrunning
their　decks　with　swarms　of　warrior　organisms。
One　of　the　bio…ships　was　drawn　by　the　bait；　and　turned　on　the　last　remaining　Sword　frigate；
while　its　twin　closed　on　the　doomed　Dominae　Noctus。　The　rest　of　the　fleet　had　watched　in　growing
horror　as　immense　hooked　tentacles　shot　forth　from　the　prow　of　the　bio…ships；　locking　onto　the　hulls
of　the　light　cruiser　and　the　frigate；　drawing　them　into　the　immense　living　beasts。　More　tentacles
wrapped　around　their　hulls。　The　Sword　frigate　was　crushed　utterly　beneath　the　pressure　and　ripped
in　half。　The　Dominae　Noctus　lasted　little　longer；　for　the　tentacles　drew　it　in　close　to　the　hive　ship；
and　its　hull　was　rent　by　the　immense；　bony　beak　concealed　at　the　heart　of　the　mass　of　tentacles。　For
an　hour；　the　creature　gorged　upon　the　light　cruiser；　its　hull　almost　entirely　obscured　by　the　tentacles
that　wrapped　around　it；　and　Augustine　had　listened　in　stoic　silence　to　the　screams　of　the　dying　as
bio…acid　and　feeder　organisms　had　been　spewed　into　the　interior　of　the　compromised　ship。
Augustine　had　no　intention　of　losing　any　more　of　his　fleet　to　the　xenos　fleet；　and　the　Imperials
were　engaging　the　tyranids　only　at　medium　to　long　range。
The　Hammer　of　Righteousness’s　dorsal　lance　batteries　had　taken　a　heavy　toll　on　the　advancing
tyranid　fleet；　but　the　xenos　ships　continued　on　relentlessly；　absorbing　the　casualties　they　suffered
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and　pushing　ever　forwards。　The　bio…ships　mortally　wounded　by　the　long　distance　barrages　were
devoured　by　the　other　hive…ships；　who　would　doubtless　use　the　genetic　material　to　spawn　more　of
their　foul　kind。
Augustine　f