Storm Of Iron(科幻战争)-第6章

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with　fear。　Confused　icons　flashed　on　the　holomap　of　the　base；　representing　friendly　forces　deploying　from　barracks　and　attempting
to　engage　the　invaders。　Cycerin　could　see　that　it　would　not　be　enough；　there　had　simply　been　too　much　devastation　in　the　opening
moments　of　the　attack。
But　he　consoled　himself　that　he　and　his　staff　were　safe　enough　in　the　Hope。　Protected　high　within　its　armoured　structure；　there
was　no　way　an　enemy　could　penetrate　its　security。　No　way　at　all。
HONSOU　HACKED　HIS　sword　through　a　weeping　soldier's　torso；　separating　his　upper　and　lower　halves　with　a　single　blow。　Their
attack　through　the　breach　in　the　wall　had　caught　the　mustering　Imperial　soldiers　completely　by　surprise。　Most　were　already　dead；
crushed　by　masonry　blasted　from　the　wall　by　his　heavy　weapon　teams。
An　enemy　officer　attempted　to　rally　his　men　from　the　hatch　of　his　command　Chimera；　screaming　at　them　to　stand　firm。　Honsou
shot　him　in　the　face　and　vaulted　a　rebar…laced　chunk　of　rockcrete；　swinging　his　mighty　sword　amongst　the　horrified　soldiers。
Gunfire　raked　the　ground　beside　him；　explosions　of　ash　kicked　up　in　red　spurts　by　the　Chimera's　hull…mounted　heavy　bolter。
Honsou　rolled　aside　as　the　turret　began　traversing　in　his　direction。
'Take　that　vehicle　out！'　he　yelled。
Positioned　on　the　walls；　two　iron　giants　carrying　long　barrelled　cannons　on　their　shoulders　swung　their　heavy　weapons　to　bear。
Twin　streaks　of　incandescent　energy　blasted　into　the　vehicle。　Seconds　later；　it　vanished　in　an　orange　fireball；　raining　yet　more
Graham　McNeill　？Storm　of　Iron？
debris　down　upon　the　battlefield。　Honsou　picked　himself　up　as　another　Chimera　attempted　to　back　away　from　the　breach；　firing　its
weapons　as　it　retreated。　His　gunners　on　the　wall　methodically　swept　their　weapons　around　and　destroyed　it　with　contemptuous
ease。
The　base　was　in　flames；　but　Honsou's　practiced　eye　could　see　that　the　vital　runways　and　landing　platforms　had　escaped　most　of
the　violence　of　the　bombardment。　As　his　men　gathered　at　the　foot　of　the　wall；　he　aligned　himself　with　the　map　projected　on　the
inside　face　of　his　visor。　Through　the　smoke　and　billowing　flames；　he　could　see　the　faint　outline　of　a　tall　tower　with　a　flattened
circular　top。　This　must　be　the　control　tower　and　it　was　his　next　target。　Wreckage　and　bodies　littered　the　battlefield：　drop…pods；
aircraft　and　burning　vehicles；　their　crews　either　dead　or　battling　for　their　lives。
The　sky　was　streaked　with　lines　of　fire　as　more　Iron　Warriors　descended　to　the　planet。　His　fellow　company　commanders；　Kroeger
and　Forrix；　would　even　now　be　bringing　death　to　this　world。　He　could　not　be　seen　to　be　doing　less　in　the　eyes　of　the　Warsmith。
'We　have　them　now；　brothers；　and　there　is　death　yet　to　be　done。　Follow　me　and　I　will　give　you　victory！'
Honsou　raised　his　sword　and　set　off　at　a　sprint　towards　the　control　tower；　knowing　that　its　capture　would　earn　him　great　reward。
He　wove　a　zigzag　course　towards　the　tower；　pools　of　burning　fuel　and　wrecked　machines　forcing　him　into　frustrating　detours。
After　three　months　of　creeping　through　the　mountains；　it　was　a　cathartic　release　of　his　fury　to　be　amidst　such　brutality。　The　air　was
thick　with　death；　and　though　he　was　no　sorcerer；　even　he　could　feel　the　actinic　tang　of　slaughter　that　they　had　brought　to　Hydra
Cordatus。
Here　and　there；　they　met　pockets　of　resistance；　but　the　sight　of　his　thirty　blood…soaked　warriors　charging　towards　them　broke　the
courage　of　all　but　the　most　stalwart。　Honsou's　blade　was　dripping　with　gore　as　he　and　his　men　finally　reached　the　tower。
Grudgingly　he　was　forced　to　admit　that　its　construction　and　defences　were　formidable。　Soldiers　in　prepared　positions　surrounded
it　in　well…constructed；　angled　redoubts；　laying　down　a　hail　of　bright　las…bolts。　Behind　four　linked　and　high…walled　berms；　Honsou
could　see　the　aerials　of　tanks；　but　what　pattern　they　were　he　could　not　yet　tell。
Armoured　bunkers　at　each　of　the　compass　points　sprayed　the　area　in　front　of　the　tower　with　deadly　bullets；　turning　the　open
ground　into　a　killing　zone。
Honsou　and　his　men　moved　into　concealed　positions　behind　the　twisted　wreckage　of　a　Marauder　bomber；　as　the　thunderous　crack
of　a　tank's　main　gun　activated　the　dampers　on　his　armour's　auto…senses。　Clouds　of　dust　and　rubble　rained　down　and　Honsou　could
hear　the　cries　of　those　wounded　by　the　blast。　They　had　to　move　fast　or　the　citadel's　defenders　would　be　able　to　counterattack
before　the　Iron　Warriors　were　able　to　consolidate　their　position　here。
He　peered　through　a　ragged　hole　torn　in　the　side　of　the　aircraft；　wrenching　the　pilot's　bloody　corpse　out　of　the　way　and　pondered
the　situation。　The　corner　bunkers　were　the　key：　take　them　and　they　could　roll　up　the　Imperial　line　with　ease。　The　gunfire　sawing
from　the　bunkers　was　murderous；　anyone　who　attempted　to　charge　through　it　would　pay　the　price　for　such　stupidity。　He　grinned
wryly　as　he　saw　several　of　Kroeger's　men；　berserkers　by　the　look　of　them；　lying　torn　open；　their　blood　leeching　into　the　dusty
ground。　He　wondered　if　perhaps　Kroeger　himself　might　be　numbered　amongst　the　dead；　but　knew　that；　despite　his　recklessness；
Kroeger　was　no　fool　and　would　not　risk　his　own　neck　if　he　did　not　have　to。
Even　as　he　formed　the　thought；　he　caught　sight　of　his　nemesis　some　two　hundred　metres　away；　firing　his　pistol　ineffectually　at　the
Imperial　defenders。　Kroeger's　attack　on　the　tower　had　failed　and　Honsou　knew　that　this　was　his　chance。
He　crawled　along　to　his　heavy　weapon　gunners　and　hammered　his　fist　on　the　shoulder　guards　of　the　warriors　with　the　lascannons；
slung　across　their　shoulders　as　easily　as　a　human　soldier　might　carry　a　walking　cane。
The　gunners　turned；　acknowledging　their　leader　with　curt　nods。
Another　rain　of　debris　fell　around　them　as　a　tank　shell　exploded　nearby。　Honsou　pointed　towards　the　tower；　shouting；　'When　I　give
the　order；　aim　for　the　salient　angle　of　the　near　bunker；　and　keep　firing　until　you　break　it　open。'
The　gunners　nodded　and　Honsou　moved　further　down　the　line。　He　knew　he　was　condemning　those　men　to　death；　but　didn't　care。
Another　of　his　heavy　gunners　carried　a　hissing　weapon　with　a　wide；　flaring　barrel　etched　with　elaborate　traceries　of　flame。　The
gunner's　armour　was　dented　and　scorched　in　places；　but　the　weapon　was　pristine；　as　though　freshly　pressed　from　a　weapon　forge。
'When　the　lascannons　blow　open　the　bunker；　I　want　you　to　put　enough　melta　fire　into　that　bunker　to　make　the　rock　run　like　liquid。'
Without　waiting　for　a　response；　Honsou　rolled　over　towards　the　lascannons　and　jabbed　his　fist　towards　the　bunker；　voxing　the
order　to　stand　to　throughout　his　squads。　He　scrambled　to　the　edge　of　the　wrecked　Marauder；　watching　as　the　two　warriors　carrying
the　lascannons　moved　into　firing　positions　and　aimed　their　weapons。　Bolt　after　bolt　of　powerful　las…blasts　slammed　into　the
protruding　salient　angle　of　the　bunker；　blasting　away　huge　chunks　of　armaplas　and　rockcrete。　Realising　the　danger；　Imperial
gunners　switched　their　fire　to　the　two　heavy　gunners；　tearing　up　the　ground　in　a　storm　of　las…blasts　and　bolter　fire。
The　two　Iron　Warriors　paid　no　attention　to　the　incoming　fire；　sending　shot　after　shot　of　unimaginably　powerful　energy　into　their
target。　Honsou　watched　as　the　angled　corner　of　the　bunker　cracked　wide　open；　the　rockcrete　burning　orange　in　the　heat。　For　a
moment　it　appeared　that　the　gunners　might　survive　the　hail　of　shots　directed　at　them。
But　the　thunder　of　Imperial　battle　cannons　settled　the　matter；　obliterating　both　gunners　in　an　explosive　storm　of　ordnance。　Before
the　echoes　had　died；　the　Iron　Warrior　with　the　multi…melta　rose　from　his　concealment　and　charged　forwards　to　fire。　The　gun's
discharge　built　to　a　deafening　screech　before　erupting　from　the　barrels　in　a　searing　hiss。　The　warrior's　aim　was　true　and　the　air
within　the　bunker　ignited　with　atomic　fury；　spurts　of　vaporised　flesh　and　superheated　oxygen　blasting　from　the　weapon　slits。
A　huge　hole　had　been　blown　in　the　tower's　line　of　defence。　Honsou　rose　up　from　his　cover　and　screamed；　'Death　to　the　False
Emperor！'
He　leapt　over　the　Marauder's　fuselage　and　sprinted　towards　the　molten　hell　of　die　wrecked　bunker；　its　walls　now　flowing　like　wax
across　the　ground。　His　men　followed　him