Storm Of Iron(科幻战争)-第15章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


cab　of　the　vehicle；　severed　through　the　torso　by　the　track's　fall。　Larana　could　see　the　corpse　wore　the　crimson　overalls　of　their
captors　and　felt　a　burning　hatred　light　in　her　belly。　She　snarled　in　fear　and　anger；　pounding　her　rifle　butt　against　the　corpse's　skull；
smashing　it　to　destruction；　fresh　sobs　bursting　from　her　lips　with　every　blow。　She　threw　aside　the　bloody　weapon　and　took　what
shelter　she　could　from　the　burning　truck。　Tyre　tracks　from　the　vehicle　led　back　through　the　smoke　towards　the　place　where　…
presumably　…　this　insane　venture　had　begun。　Taking　a　deep　breath　she　waited　until　another　barrage　of　shells　landed。
Knowing　that　there　was　no　way　she　could　survive；　but　unwilling　to　give　up；　Larana　Utorian　set　off　to　find　a　way　out　of　this　hell。
ACRID　PROPELLANT　FILLED　Kane　bastion；　but　Dervlan　Chu　was　exultant　despite　the　sting　in　his　eyes　and　the　ringing　in　his　ears。
The　attack　had　been　stopped　in　its　tracks　before　it　had　covered　even　half　the　distance　to　the　Christo。　They　had　comprehensively
bracketed　the　enemy　force　within　their　fire　zones　and　put　their　entire　load　on　target。　He　knew　for　a　fact　that　his　crew　had　laid　more
shells　on　target　and　in　a　faster　time　than　Jephen；　and　looked　forward　to　receiving　his　bottle　of　amasec　in　the　mess　hall　tonight。
Night　was　drawing　in　and　drifting　smoke　obscured　much　of　the　shattered　battle　line　of　what　had　once　been　hundreds　of　vehicles。
Major　Tedeski　had　called　a　halt　to　the　barrage　until　the　smoke　cleared；　unwilling　to　waste　ordnance　on　a　foe　that　was　already
destroyed。
He　sat　back　on　the　railings　of　the　gun　platform　and　pulled　out　a　silver　case　of　cheroots；　lighting　one　and　tossing　the　case　down　to
his　loader　and　breechman。
'Well　done；　men；　I　think　we　managed　to　put　a　sizeable　dent　in　the　foe　this　time。'
His　crew　smiled；　teeth　gleaming　in　their　soot…stained　faces　as　he　said；　'When　I　get　that　bottle　of　amasec　from　Jephen；　I'll　be　sure　to
share　it　with　you。'
He　took　a　satisfied　draw　on　his　cheroot；　and　took　another　look　through　the　gunsight　of　the　Basilisk。　The　smoke　was　clearing　and
his　professional　eye　was　pleased　with　the　utter　destruction　he　saw。　Hundreds　of　burning　wrecks　littered　the　ground；　flames　licking
skyward　as　they　and　their　traitorous　passengers　burned。　Their　fire　zones　were　cratered　wastelands；　the　ground　churned
unrecognisably　by　the　sheer　power　and　fury　of　the　barrage。
As　he　swivelled　the　gunsight　around；　he　saw　that　the　guns　mounted　in　Mars　bastion　had　been　equally　thorough。　The　guns　of　the
Dragon　bastion　covered　the　southern　approaches　to　the　Christo；　and　Chu　could　well　imagine　the　frustration　of　its　commander　that
the　gunners　in　the　Kane　and　Mars　bastions　had　got　the　glory　of　the　first　kills。
Chu　returned　the　gunsight　to　his　own　fire　zone。　The　wind　was　beginning　to　clear　the　smoke　more　rapidly　and　he　could　make　out
shapes　moving　in　the　dusk。　Chu　was　surprised　there　was　anything　left　alive　down　there。　He　switched　up　a　level　of　magnification
as　the　smoke　cleared　still　further　and　saw　more　vehicles　through　the　haze：　the　armoured　personnel　carriers　that　he　had　briefly
glimpsed　just　prior　to　the　commencement　of　the　barrage。
He　pressed　the　range　finder　button　on　the　armament　panel　and　cursed　as　he　realised　the　APCs　and　the　warriors　standing　before
them　were　some　hundred　metres　beyond　the　maximum　range　of　his　gun。　A　handful　of　stumbling　shapes　crawled　or　walked
towards　the　warriors。　As　he　increased　the　magnification　another　level；　Chu　was　suddenly　sick　to　the　pit　of　his　stomach　as　he　saw
the　stained　uniforms　their　targets　were　wearing。
Dust　covered　and　bloodstained；　but　unmistakably　the　sky　blue　of　the　383rd　Jouran　Dragoons。　Horrified；　he　spun　the　gunsight　back
to　the　cratered　desolation　his　gun　had　helped　to　create；　moaning　as　he　saw　more　and　more　familiar　uniforms　scattered　across　the
Graham　McNeill　？Storm　of　Iron？
ground；　lifeless　and　broken。
Chu　felt　his　gorge　rise　as　he　realised　what　they　had　just　done。　The　thought　of　winning　a　bottle　of　amasec　from　this　slaughter　made
him　want　to　weep。
HONSOU　WAS　PLEASED。　He　had　watched　the　barrage　from　the　hilltop　fort　with　calm　detachment；　noting　how　far　the　shells　reached；
how　long　they　had　taken　to　travel　to　their　targets　and　how　wide　each　bastion's　arc　of　fire　was。　The　southernmost　bastion　had　not
fired；　but　Honsou　knew　that；　at　this　range；　its　big　guns　were　irrelevant。　Its　artillery　pieces　could　only　cover　the　far　southern
approaches；　but　the　close…in　guns　and　soldiers　on　the　wall　could　sweep　the　face　of　the　centre　bastion　with　murderous　crossfire。
His　armour's　auto…senses　had　easily　penetrated　the　smoke　of　the　barrage　and；　despite　his　hatred　for　the　men　in　the　fort；　he
grudgingly　admitted　to　himself　that　they　were　competent　gunners。　Competent；　but　not　intelligent。　Honsou　now　had　an　exact　plan
of　the　fort's　fire　zones　mapped　out　in　his　head。　Normally　an　attacker　would　pay　a　fearsome　butcher's　bill　to　obtain　such
information；　but　where　was　the　cost　when　you　could　use　prisoners？
Honsou　watched　the　survivors　of　the　artillery　barrage　stagger　back　from　the　killing　ground　and　drew　back　the　hammer　on　his
bolter。　Looking　at　the　sorry　state　of　the　men　that　emerged　from　the　rolling　banks　of　smoke；　he　realised　that　there　was　little　point　in
letting　them　live。　Most　would　be　no　use　as　slaves；　for　how　could　a　deafened　man　understand　orders　or　obey　them？　What　use　was　a
man　with　one　arm？　How　could　he　dig　a　trench？　And　if　they　could　fulfill　no　useful　function　then　they　were　of　no　interest　to
Honsou。
He　nodded　to　his　men　and　in　perfect　concert；　the　Iron　Warriors　raised　their　bolters　and　opened　fire。
They　worked　their　weapons　left　and　right；　shredding　the　pitiful　survivors　in　a　hail　of　mass…reactive　bolts。　Pleading　faces　screamed
for　mercy；　but　the　Iron　Warriors　had　none　to　give。
Within　seconds　almost　every　last　one　of　the　five　thousand　prisoners　who　had　advanced　into　the　teeth　of　Tor　Christo's　guns　was
dead。
Honsou　watched　a　swaying　figure　emerge　from　the　smoke；　cradling　her　arm　close　to　her　chest；　and　levelled　his　bolter　at　the
woman's　head。
Before　he　could　pull　the　trigger；　a　gauntleted　hand　reached　up　and　slapped　aside　his　weapon。　Snarling；　Honsou　reached　for　his
sword。
Kroeger　whipped　his　own　sword　up　to　swipe　Honsou's　hand　from　the　scabbard。
Honsou　stepped　back；　his　pale　features　twisted　in　fury。
'Damn　you；　Kroeger！　You　go　too　far。'
Kroeger　chuckled　and　turned　his　back　on　Honsou；　gripping　the　tunic　of　the　sole　survivor　of　the　attack　and　hauling　her　level　with
his　face。
'Do　you　see　this　woman；　half…breed？　She　has　courage。　She　may　be　a　lapdog　of　the　False　Emperor；　but　she　has　courage。　Tell　this
mongrel　scum　your　name；　human。'
Honsou　watched　the　woman's　features　twist　in　incomprehension　until　Kroeger　repeated　his　order。　He　saw　the　woman's　eyes　focus
on　Kroeger's　lips　and　realised　she　was　probably　deafened　by　the　violence　of　the　shelling。
At　last　she　seemed　to　understand　Kroeger's　words　and　croaked；　'Lieutenant　Larana　Utorian；　383rd　Jouran　Dragoons。　And　you　gave
your　word—'
Kroeger　laughed　and　nodded。　'Yes；　I　did；　but　did　you　really　expect　me　to　keep　it？'
The　woman　shook　her　head　and　Honsou　was　surprised　when　Kroeger　threw　her　towards　one　of　his　squad　leaders　and　said；　'Take
her　to　the　Chirumeks　and　have　the　wounded　arm　removed。　Replace　it　and　bring　her　to　me。'
'You　are　sparing　her　life；　Kroeger？　Why？　Mercy　does　not　become　you。'
'My　reasons　are　my　own；　half…breed；'　snapped　Kroeger；　though　Honsou　could　see　that　he　seemed　just　as　surprised　himself。　'You
would　do　well　to　remember　that；　but　I　am　wasting　my　breath　on　you。　The　Warsmith　demands　you　lead　your　men　forward　and
obtain　information　regarding　the　defences　closer　in。　Now　that　I　have　the　guns　mapped　I　can　begin　the　first　parallel。'
'Before　we　know　the　sites　of　any　close…in　redoubts　or　traps？'
'Aye；　we　are　to　proceed　with　all　speed。　Or　did　you　think　that　the　Warsmith's　orders　did　not　apply　to　you？'
'You　are　unwise　to　begin　the　trenches　before　we　know　more；'　pointed　out　Honsou。
'And　you　are　a　mongrel　whelp；　not　fit　to　lead　a　company　of　the　Iron　Warriors。　I　can　smell　the　stench　of　the　ancient　enemy　upon
you。　You　and　your　disgusting　bastard　company。　It　is　an　affront　that　you　wear　the　symbol　of　the　Iron　Warriors　upon　your　shoulder
guard　and　I　weep　for　the　future　of　our　Legion　to　know　that　unclean　hybrids　like　you　are　counted　amongst　our　number。'
Honsou　fought　to　keep　his　bitter　rage　in　check；　clenching　his　knuckles　white　on　the　hilt　of　his　sword。　How　easy　it　would　be　to　rip
it　from　its　scabbard　and　attempt　to　strike　Kroeger　down；　but　that　was　just　what　his　rival　wanted；　for　him　to　prove　that　he　was　not
worthy　of　the　Iron　Warriors。　With　difficulty；　he　forced　down　his　anger；　seeing　the　disappointment　in　Kroeger's　eyes　as　he　realised
Honsou　was　not　about　to　rise　to　his　challenge。
'It　shall　be　as　the　Warsmith　commands；'　replied　Honsou　and　turned　away。
FIVE
NIGHT　HAD　CLOSED　in　completely　as　Honsou　crept　through　the　cratered　wasteland　before　the　walls　of　Tor　Christo。　The　sky　was　a
dull；　lustreless　orange；　streaked　with　scarlet　bands　drifting　in　the　upper　atmosphere。　But　to　Honsou；　the　ground　before　him　was　as
clear　as　though　he　walked　in　the　brightest　sunlight；　the　augmented　senses　of　his　armour　turning　night　into　day。
Far　behind　him；　the　warriors　of　Forrix's　company　pegged　out　the　arc　of　the　first　trench　to　be　dug　before　the　walls　of　the　hilltop
fortress。　Called　a　parallel；　it　was　dug　in　line　with　the　curtain　wall　of　the　fortress　to　be　attacked。　Deep；　but　narrow；　it　was　just
Graham　McNeill　？Storm　of　Iron？
outside　the　range　of　the　fort's　guns；　and　would　form　the　first　line　of　attack。　From　this　first　parallel　would　be　dug　the　attack
trenches；　known　as　saps。　These　would　be　driven　towards　the　fortress　on　a　line　which；　if　extended；　would　miss　the　fortress；　thus
preventing　the　garrison　from　firing　down　the　length　of　them。
When　the　sap　had　reached　a　point　where　the　Iron　Warriors'　artillery　pieces　had　the　range　to　the　hilltop　fortress；　a　second　parallel
would　be　dug　and　breaching　batteries　placed　to　batter　the　walls　to　rubble　in　preparation　for　an　escalade。　Should　it　prove　necessary；
more　saps　could　be　dug　forward　and　a　third　parallel　established　to　place　yet　more　batteries　that　would　lob　high　explosive　shells
over　t