Storm Of Iron(科幻战争)-第29章

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Graham　McNeill　？Storm　of　Iron？
More　bodies　began　to　join　them　as　the　distant　thunder　of　Titan　footsteps　carried　through　the　afternoon　air。　Leonid　had　never　heard
a　more　welcome　sound　in　his　entire　life。
He　pushed　himself　painfully　to　his　feet　and　shouted　to　everyone　in　earshot；　his　parade…ground　voice　cutting　through　the　bark　of
sporadic　gunfire　and　the　thump　of　explosions。
'Right；　listen　up；　everybody！　We　have　Titans　coming　in；　so　everyone　on　your　feet！　As　soon　as　they　hit　I　want　everyone　back　to　the
citadel　in　double　time　or　better。　Make　sure　we　don't　leave　anybody　behind　and　we'll　get　out　of　this　in　one　piece；　okay？'
A　few　muted　affirmations　greeted　Leonid's　words；　but　the　survivors　of　the　attack　were　too　weary　and　shell…shocked　to　respond
with　much　enthusiasm。
Leonid　turned　his　gaze　to　the　north…west；　seeing　the　lumbering　shapes　of　Titans　approaching　through　the　smoke。　Despite　the　pain
in　his　chest；　he　grinned　to　himself。
The　god…machines　would　surely　turn　the　traitor　line　into　a　maelstrom　of　death　and　shredded　bodies。
KROEGER　WATCHED　THE　slaughter　before　the　trenches　with　fierce　longing；　his　fist　thumping　against　the　side　of　his　Rhino　in　time
with　the　crack　of　explosions。　The　carnage　was　pleasing　to　him；　though　he　was　disappointed　the　Imperials　had　not　had　the　courage
to　even　reach　their　lines。　His　sword　was　unsheathed　and　was　yet　to　draw　blood。　Its　spirit　would　be　angered　if　it　was　to　be
scabbarded　unwetted。　It　took　all　Kroeger's　willpower　not　to　climb　aboard　the　Rhino　and　order　a　full　advance；　but　he　could　not　do
so　unless　decreed　by　the　Warsmith。
Kroeger　stood　resplendent　in　his　freshly　polished　armour；　the　burnished　iron　gleaming　like　new。　The　female　prisoner　he　had
spared　from　the　initial　massacre　had　restored　his　armour's　lustre；　and　though　he　still　couldn't　say　why　he　had　not　killed　her；　it　was
pleasing　to　him　to　have　a　lackey　of　the　Emperor　serve　him。　There　was　more　to　it　than　that；　but　he　did　not　know　what；　and　the
feeling　that　the　decision　had　not　been　his　would　not　leave　him。　Kroeger　dismissed　the　woman　from　his　thoughts；　he　would
probably　kill　her　within　a　day　or　two。
The　din　of　battle　echoed　from　the　valley　sides　and　the　discordant　clash　of　steel　on　steel　was　music　to　Kroeger's　ears。　For　thousands
of　years；　Kroeger　had　lived　with　this　sound　and　he　wished　he　could　make　out　the　huge　shapes　battling　through　the　smoke　to　the
west；　where　the　Legio　Mortis　grappled　with　the　enemy　Titans。　There　was　a　battle　indeed！　To　fight　in　the　shadow　of　such　creations
was　to　fight　in　the　realm　of　true　death；　where　a　warrior's　life　hung　by　the　threads　of　chance　as　well　as　skill。
Kroeger　impatiently　stalked　to　the　edge　of　the　trench's　firing　step；　watching　the　wall　of　smoke　and　flames　with　hunger。　He　cast　his
gaze　over　the　troops　that　waited　either　side　of　him；　pitiful　humans　who　thought　that　by　their　service　to　the　Iron　Warriors　they
would　be　honoured　in　the　sight　of　Chaos。　He　despised　them。
Further　west；　Kroeger　could　see　Honsou　and　his　company　of　mongrels。　Honsou　also　looked　impatient　to　enter　the　fray；　and　in　this
at　least；　Kroeger　knew　they　shared　a　common　bond。
He　heard　the　rumbling　of　powerful　engines　behind　him　and　turned　to　see　three　massive　Land　Raiders　moving　into　position　at　the
main　gateway。　The　frontal　ramp　of　the　mighty　vehicle　in　the　lead　dropped　with　a　heavy　clang　and　a　powerful　figure；　clad　in　ornate
Terminator　armour　stepped　out　into　the　red；　afternoon　sun。
Forrix　marched　across　the　steel　decking　that　bridged　the　trench　and　joined　Kroeger　on　the　firing　step；　an　ancient　and　heavily
ornamented　combi…bolter　clutched　in　his　right　hand；　while　the　left　was　a　monstrous；　crackling　power　fist。
'The　Warsmith　has　decreed　that　we　are　to　attack；'　said　Forrix。
'We？'　asked　a　bemused　Kroeger。　Forrix　had　not　taken　to　the　field　of　battle　in　nearly　three　millennia。
'Yes；　we。　I　am　an　Iron　Warrior；　am　I　not？'
'You　are　that；　Forrix；'　nodded　Kroeger　as　Honsou　strode　across　to　join　them。
'Forrix？'　said　Honsou。　'You　fight　with　us　this　day？'
'Aye；　half…breed；　I　do。　You　have　something　to　say？'
'No…　brother。　You　do　us　honour　with　your　presence。'
'I　do；'　nodded　Forrix。
Kroeger　and　Honsou　shared　a　glance；　both　equally　puzzled　and　a　little　unsettled　by　this　latest　development。　Kroeger　laughed　and
slapped　a　gauntlet　across　Forrix's　shoulder　guards。
'Welcome　back；　Forrix。　It　has　been　too　long　since　you　shed　the　blood　of　the　enemy。　I'll　wager　that　power　fist　comes　back　with
more　blood　on　it　than　even　the　half…breed　or　I　can　shed　today。'
Forrix　nodded；　clearly　uncomfortable　with　Kroeger's　bonhomie。　He　shook　off　Kroeger's　hand　and　snapped；　'Stay　away　from　me；
Kroeger。　You　are　nothing　to　me。'
Kroeger　removed　his　hand　with　exaggerated　care　and　took　a　step　back。
'As　you　wish。'
Honsou　stepped　away　from　Forrix　and　returned　to　his　position　in　the　line　just　as　Kroeger　left　the　firing　step　to　rejoin　his　company。
He　cast　furtive　glances　back　towards　the　giant　figure　of　Forrix；　silhouetted　in　the　deep　red　of　the　sky。　Something　had　happened　to
Forrix　and　Kroeger　was　instantly　suspicious。　There　had　been　a　fire　in　the　ancient　veteran's　voice　that　Kroeger　had　not　heard　for
many　centuries。
Something　had　rekindled　Forrix's　spirit　and　Kroeger　suspected　that　the　old　general　was　privy　to　some　secret　that　both　he　and　I
Honsou　were　ignorant　of。　What　that　might　be　or　how　he　came　by　it；　Kroeger　could　not　guess；　but　he　would　make　it　his　business　to
find　out。
Further　speculation　was　ended　when　a　deafening　roar　sawed　through　the　front　ranks；　blasting　dozens　of　men　on　the　firing　step　to
shreds。　Heavy　calibre　shells　ripped　apart　the　lip　of　the　trench　in　a　hail　of　fire；　sending　earth　and　bodies　flying　in　all　directions　and
a　fierce　grin　broke　on　Kroeger's　face。
Through　the　billowing　smoke　he　could　make　out　the　blurred　outline　of　what　looked　like　a　Scout　Titan。　He　jogged　quickly　to　his
Rhino；　jumping　onto　the　running　boards　and　hammering　his　fist　upon　its　roof。
Graham　McNeill　？Storm　of　Iron？
The　Rhino's　engine　roared　as　it　powered　forwards；　following　Forrix's　Land　Raiders　through　the　gateway　and　into　the　smoke　of
battle。
Kroeger　stood　tall　and　raised　his　chainsword　for　all　his　warriors　to　see。
'Death　to　the　followers　of　the　False　Emperor！'
THREE
LEONID　WATCHED　THE　loping　forms　of　the　Warhounds　as　they　circled　his　position；　pouring　fire　from　their　Vulcan　bolters　onto　the
traitor　lines。　The　men　under　his　command　cheered　and　punched　the　air　at　this　show　of　defiance；　though　Leonid　knew　that　was　all
it　was。　The　Warhounds　would　buy　them　time　to　regroup；　but　nothing　more。
'All　units；　this　is　Colonel　Leonid。　Regroup　and　fall　back　to　the　rally　point　immediately。　Do　it　quickly；　we　don't　have　much　time；'
ordered　Leonid　as　the　deep　throated　roar　of　vehicles　swelled　from　the　traitor　lines。
PRINCEPS　CARLSEN　JINKED　his　agile　Warhound　Titan　from　side　to　side；　frantically　evading　enemy　shots　while　attempting　to
manoeuvre　into　a　favourable　firing　position　for　his　weapons　moderati。　Lie　and　Princeps　Jancer　in　the　Jure　Divinu　took　it　in　turns
to　dart　forwards　and　hose　the　trenches　with　their　Vulcan　bolters　and　turbo　lasers；　shredding　anything　that　dared　show　its　face；
before　rapidly　withdrawing　to　safety　in　the　smoke。　Their　height　made　a　mockery　of　the　protection　offered　by　the　firing　step；
killing　scores　of　men　with　each　volley；　but　he　knew　that　the　casualties　they　were　inflicting　were　largely　irrelevant。
Without　the　heavier　guns　of　Battle　Group　Sword；　their　efforts　here　were　purely　a　delaying　tactic。　Carlsen　had　not　believed　his　ears
when　he　heard　Princeps　Lierach　give　the　order　to　abandon　the　Jourans　in　favour　of　going　head　to　head　with　an　Emperor　class
Titan；　and　had　listened　with　growing　horror　to　the　vox　traffic　flashing　between　the　Battle　Titans　as　they　fought　for　their　lives。
He　and　his　brother　Warhound　were　too　far　east　to　go　to　the　aid　of　their　brethren；　and　had　had　to　content　themselves　with　following
the　Jouran　armoured　attack；　though　without　the　Reavers　they　had　been　forced　to　wait　until　the　Imperial　Guard　either　broke
through　or　were　repulsed。
Las…bolts　and　bolter　fire　flared　against　his　void　shields；　but　he　ignored　them　as　irrelevant。　It　was　the　enemy　tanks　that　gave　Carlsen
cause　for　concern。　Each　time　h