Storm Of Iron(科幻战争)-第24章

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Yet　more　Titans　of　the　Legio　Ignatum　joined　their　Warlords。　Five　Reaver　Titans；　smaller　cousins　to　their　leader's　war　machine；
took　up　rear　positions　and　four　Warhound　Scout　Titans　loped　alongside　the　Battle　Titans。　The　Warhounds　split　into　pairs；　each
taking　position　on　the　flanks　of　the　larger　machines。　The　Titans　waited　in　the　shadow　of　the　counterguard　wall　as　the　armoured
units　of　the　Jouran　Dragoons　rumbled　from　the　citadel　and　swarmed　around　the　massive　feet　of　the　Battle　Titans。
From　his　elevated　position　in　the　head　of　the　Imperator　Bellum；　Princeps　Fierach　watched　the　mustering　of　the　tanks　and　infantry
carriers　with　mixed　emotions。　He　was　glad　of　their　support；　but　knew　that；　with　enemy　Titans　in　the　field；　they　could　be　unreliable
allies。　Fierach　knew　how　easy　it　could　be　to　break　the　courage　of　an　enemy　with　the　unstoppable　power　of　a　Titan。　Like　many
princeps　who　had　commanded　a　Titan　for　a　considerable　time；　Fierach　had　a　scornful　disregard　for　those　not　able　to　take　to　the
field　of　battle　as　he　did。　To　have　such　destructive　power　at　his　fingertips　bred　arrogance　and　a　withering　contempt　for　the
insignificant　weapons　and　machines　employed　by　those　armed　forces　without　the　heritage　of　the　Titan　Legions。
Fierach　sat　within　the　head　of　the　Imperator　Bellum；　wired　into　its　every　system　via　the　ancient　technologies　of　a　mind　impulse
unit。　Only　by　becoming　part　of　the　god…machine's　consciousness　was　it　possible　to　take　command　of　these　awesome　machines；　to
feel　each　motion　of　its　limbs　and　surge　of　power　along　its　fibre　bundle　muscles　as　though　they　were　his　own。
To　have　such　power　to　command　was　an　intoxicating　sensation　and；　when　not　joined　with　the　god…machine；　Fierach　felt　weak；
shackled　to　the　limitations　of　his　mortal　body。
Fierach　shifted　in　his　seat　and　meshed　his　senses　with　those　of　the　Titan；　allowing　the　barrage　of　information　the　sensorium　of　the
Imperator　Bellum　was　receiving　to　wash　over　him。　He　closed　his　eyes；　feeling　the　sudden　vertigo　as　his　mind's　eye　shifted　into　a
top…down　view；　depicting　the　battlefield　as　a　series　of　bright　contours　and　pulsing　blips。　Icons　representing　his　own　forces　and
those　of　the　Jourans　continued　to　mass　in　the　ditch　before　the　counterscarp　that　protected　the　base　of　the　walls　and　bastions。
Concealed　tunnels　sloped　upwards　through　the　ground；　emerging　on　the　plains　before　the　citadel；　allowing　the　armoured　units　of
the　Guard　to　rapidly　deploy　and　support　the　Titans。　Five　hundred　vehicles；　a　mix　of　battle　tanks　and　armoured　fighting　vehicles；
formed　up　in　lines　along　the　length　of　the　ditch；　smoke　belching　in　blue　clouds　from　their　throbbing　exhausts。
Fierach　was　unhappy　with　this　attack　and　had　voiced　his　concerns　to　Castellan　Vauban　in　the　strongest　terms；　but　he　was　a　senior
princeps　of　the　Legio　Ignatum　and　pledges　of　servitude　had　been　sworn　many　millennia　ago　between　the　Legio　and　the
commanders　of　this　citadel；　and　Fierach　would　not　be　known　as　an　oath　breaker。
It　reeked　of　desperation　to　Fierach　to　gamble　so　much　on　the　word　of　a　poor　soldier；　but　if　this　Hawke　was　correct；　then　they　had
an　opportunity　to　take　the　fight　to　the　enemy　before　they　were　able　to　properly　deploy　their　Battle　Titans。　Despite　his　reservations；
Fierach　was　elated　at　the　prospect　of　taking　his　warriors　into　battle。　While　their　duty　to　protect　this　citadel　was　sacrosanct；　it　was
not　the　most　satisfying　of　postings　for　a　warrior　who　had　forged　his　reputation　on　countless　battlefields　throughout　the　galaxy。　The
honour　and　kill　banners　hanging　from　the　Imperator　Bellum　were　the　latest　in　a　long　line。　Many　that　had　previously　been　carried
into　battle　were　now　hanging　in　the　Chapel　of　Victory　on　the　Legion's　homeworld　of　Mars；　their　roll　of　honour　scarcely　able　to
contain　the　sheer　number　of　battles　won　and　enemies　slain。
Fierach　removed　his　senses　from　the　tactical　plot；　grunting　in　satisfaction　as　Moderati　Yousen　reported；　'Lieutenant　Colonel
Leonid　reports　that　Force　Anvil　is　in　position　and　ready　to　move　out　on　your　order。'
Fierach　acknowledged　the　information　with　a　raised　finger；　impressed　at　the　efficiency　of　Leonid。　He　had　always　liked　Vauban's
second…in…command　more　than　the　castellan　himself；　feeling　that　Leonid　was　far　more　a　natural　warrior　than　Vauban。
'Very　good；　Moderati。　Open　a　channel　to　all　Titans。'
Yousen's　finger　danced　across　the　panel　before　him。　He　nodded　towards　his　princeps。
Graham　McNeill　？Storm　of　Iron？
'All　princeps；　this　is　Fierach。　You　all　know　what　to　do；　so　carry　out　your　orders。　I　wish　you　joy　of　the　day　and　good　hunting。　May
the　Emperor　guide　your　aim。'
He　closed　the　channel　without　waiting　for　a　response　and　trained　his　eyes　on　the　red　expanse　of　plain　that　stretched　before　his
Titan；　noting　the　distant　plumes　of　smoke　that　marked　the　locations　of　the　enemy　camp。
Fierach　whispered　a　mantra　of　salute　to　the　spirit　of　the　Imperator　Bellum　and　said；　'Engineer　Ulandro；　give　me　striding　speed。　We
go　to　battle。'
PRINCEPS　CARLSEN　RELISHED　the　sense　of　speed　that　coursed　through　his　body　as　his　Warhound　Titan；　the　Defensor　Fidei；
sprinted　ahead　of　the　Legio's　Battle　Titans。　Less　than　half　the　size　of　a　Reaver　Titan；　the　Warhound　was　an　agile　Scout　Titan；　the
forward　eyes　and　ears　of　the　Legio。　Less　well　armed　and　protected；　it　was　no　match　for　larger　Titans；　but　could　tear　apart　infantry
formations　with　a　combination　of　its　deadly　assault　weaponry　and　speed。
His　wingman；　the　Jure　Divinu；　thundered　alongside　him；　keeping　pace　with　his　evasive　manoeuvres　to　throw　off　any　incoming
fire　that　might　be　directed　at　them。　There　was　none　at　the　moment；　but　it　never　paid　to　be　too　complacent　when　your　void　shields
could　be　taken　out　with　one　good　volley。
Carlsen　turned　to　Moderati　Arkian　and　said；　'Anything？'
Arkian　shook　his　head。　'No；　not　yet。　But　it　won't　be　long　now。'
Carlsen　nodded　and　returned　his　attention　to　the　ground　before　him。　A　spur　of　rock　from　the　valley　sides　some　five　hundred
metres　away　offered　some　protection　should　it　prove　necessary　to　take　shelter　from　incoming　fire。　The　enemy　line　was　a　kilometre
away　and　he　knew　their　speed　would　protect　them　from　all　but　a　desperately　lucky　shot。
Behind　him；　advancing　abreast；　came　a　portion　of　the　armoured　might　of　the　383rd　Jouran　Dragoons；　and　unlike　the　princeps　of
the　larger　Titans；　Carlsen　had　a　healthy　respect　for　infantry　and　armoured　vehicles。　Friendly　support　was　vital　for　a　Titan　of　his
size。　Enemy　infantry　and　vehicles　could　pose　a　serious　threat　to　a　Warhound。
'Have　they　even　seen　us　yet？'　he　wondered　aloud。
'Maybe　we　caught　them　at　meal　time；'　offered　Moderati　Arkian　with　a　grin。
'That　would　be　handy　indeed；　but　I　think　we've　just　disturbed　them；'　replied　Carlsen　as　he　spotted　tongues　of　flame　belch　skyward
from　artillery　behind　the　monstrous　earthworks　thrown　up　before　the　enemy　camp。
He　jinked　the　Defensor　Fidei　sideways；　keeping　close　to　the　valley　walls。
LIEUTENANT　COLONEL　LEONID　rode　in　the　top　of　his　command　Chimera；　the　wind　whipping　past　his　face。　His　goggles　and
bandana　kept　the　worst　of　the　dust　from　his　mouth　and　eyes；　and；　riding　at　the　head　of　his　tanks；　he　had　a　magnificent　view　of　the
battlefield。　His　bronze　breastplate　shone　gold　in　the　red　afternoon　sun　and　as　he　rode　to　battle　he　was　filled　with　a　fierce　pride　in
his　regiment。
Like　Fierach；　he　too　had　reservations　about　this　attack；　but　seeing　so　many　tanks　roaring　forward　at　speed　with　the　ground　shaking
to　the　tread　of　the　Legio　Ignatum；　he　was　swept　up　in　the　glory　of　this　charge。　Ahead　he　could　see　the　traitor　lines；　their　dark
fortifications　raised　high　in　an　impossibly　short　time。　Whoever　was　organising　this　operation　must　be　working　his　men　to　death。
Leonid　watched　the　two　Warhounds　tasked　to　his　storming　force　race　ahead；　their　speed　incongruous　for　such　large　machines。
Slower　moving　Reavers　strode　alongside　his　formation　while　the　majority　of　the　Legio　advanced　on　the　salient　angle　of　the
attackers'　trench　line　…　the　point　where　it　bent　towards　the　south…west　and　could　bring　the　least　amount　of　fire　to　bear。　The　Titans
were　to　smash　through　the　salient　with　the　guns　on　Tor　Christo　covering　their　exposed　right　flank　with　the　tanks　and　men　of　the
Jouran　Dragoons　cover