Storm Of Iron(科幻战争)-第21章

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combating　this　monster　from　the　dawn　of　time。　A　primal　battle　fought　between　two　ancient　foes。　The　honour　that　would　be　his　at
having　finally　brought　down　the　Legio's　most　ancient　nemesis　was　immeasurable。　Fierach　roared　in　battle　fury。
'Clavis　Regni；　Honoris　Causa　and　Battle　Group　Sword　with　me！　Ignatum！'
'Princeps？'　queried　Cullain；　'Are　you　sure？　Such　a　manoeuvre　will　leave　the　Jourans　dangerously　exposed。'
'Damn　the　Jourans！'　bellowed　Fierach；　'I　want　that　Titan！　Now　be　silent　and　follow　me！'
Fierach　bellowed　to　Engineer　Ulandro　for　more　speed　and　activated　the　Imperator　Bellum's　massive　chain　fist　as　he　charged　into
battle。
Graham　McNeill　？Storm　of　Iron？
TWO
As　THE　ARTILLERY　ceased　its　deafening　barrage；　the　battle　tanks　of　Leonid's　charge　spread　into　a　line　formation；　firing　everything
they　had。　The　traitor　lines　vanished　in　explosions　as　the　Imperial　weaponry　struck。　The　smoke　was　quick　to　disperse　though；
blown　clear　by　the　day's　breeze。
As　the　distance　between　the　two　forces　closed；　the　wedges　of　troop　carriers　unfolded　into　line　formation。　Several　of　the　heavier
tanks　halted　and　assumed　firing　positions；　their　mighty　battle　cannons　pounding　the　trench　line。　The　noise　was　deafening　as　laser
fire；　shell　fire　and　artillery　mingled　with　the　bass　rumble　of　straining　tank　engines。　Leonid　was　dismayed　to　see　how　little　an　effect
their　guns　were　having。
The　gap　between　the　two　enemies　closed　still　further。
Leonid　watched　the　manoeuvres　of　his　battalion　with　a　fierce　admiration。　He　had　seen　his　share　of　combat；　but　there　was　nothing
quite　so　inspiring　as　watching　an　armoured　cavalry　charge　across　open　ground。　They　were　almost　there　and　hundreds　of　tanks
belched　smoke　from　their　dispensers　to　confound　the　targeting　spirits　in　their　enemy's　weapons。
He　wondered　why　their　Titan　support　hadn't　opened　fire　yet　as　planned。　He　reached　for　the　vox　handset　to　request　a　fire　mission
when　a　shot　streaked　from　a　bunker　in　the　centre　of　the　traitor　line；　covering　the　distance　to　its　target　in　less　than　a　second。　A
Leman　Russ　was　slammed　sideways　as　the　missile　punched　through　its　frontal　armour。　The　superheated　core　of　the　missile　ignited
the　vehicle's　fuel　and　cooked　off　its　ammunition；　blowing　it　apart　in　a　greasy　black　fireball。
The　shot　was　the　signal　for　the　rest　of　the　Iron　Warriors　to　engage　and　the　line　erupted　in　a　flurry　of　lascannon　shots　and　missile
contrails　as　the　massed　firepower　of　the　traitor　legion　was　unleashed。
The　closest　vehicles　had　no　chance。
The　gunners　of　the　Iron　Warriors　picked　off　tanks　with　ease　and　huge　explosions　blossomed　along　the　Imperial　lines　as　lascannon
shots　and　missiles　found　their　targets。
The　screaming　of　soldiers　was　audible　even　over　the　continuous　thump　of　explosions　and　the　hiss　of　flashing　lasers。　Then　the
heavier　blasts　of　enemy　Titan　weapons　joined　the　fray；　blasting　tanks　to　atoms　with　the　unimaginable　power　of　their　weapons。
Trapped　by　the　burning　wreckage；　tank　drivers　attempted　to　ram　their　vehicles　to　safety；　the　crash　of　buckling　metal　adding　to　the
din。　A　Leman　Russ　smashed　into　the　remains　of　a　blackened　Chimera；　attempting　to　clear　a　path；　but　a　keen…eyed　gunner　spotted
the　breakout　and　despatched　the　battle　tank　with　a　well…placed　missile　to　the　vehicle's　rear。
The　doors　of　the　Leman　Russ　opened；　spewing　black　smoke　and　burning　Guardsmen　from　the　crew　compartment。　They　rolled
desperately　in　the　dust　while　screaming　in　agony　as　the　flames　consumed　them。
Leonid　held　on　for　dear　life　as　bright　spears　of　lascannon　fire　ripped　through　the　armoured　hulls　of　his　Chimeras　with　ease。
Vehicles　exploded　in　quick　succession；　slewing　from　the　line　and　belching　thick　plumes　of　smoke。
He　was　flung　sideways　as　his　driver　threw　the　Chimera　into　a　series　of　screeching　turns　in　an　effort　to　throw　off　the　enemy
gunners'　aim。　The　Chimera　crashed　into　the　rear　quarter　of　the　burning　tank　and　the　roaring　of　its　engine　intensified　as　the　frantic
driver　gunned　the　engine　and　attempted　to　barge　the　heavier　tank　out　of　his　way。　But　the　Leman　Russ　was　wedged　tight　and
immovable。
Leonid　dropped　into　the　Chimera's　crew　compartment　and　slammed　the　rear　ramp　release　lever；　yelling；　'Everybody　out！　Go！　Go！
Go！'
His　command　squad　needed　no　prompting。　To　stay　in　the　Chimera　was　to　die。　Leonid　hustled　his　men　down　the　ramp　before
following　them　into　the　confusion　of　the　battle。　He　had　barely　cleared　the　ramp　when　a　missile　ripped　through　the　side　of　the
Chimera。　With　the　rear　ramp　open；　much　of　the　force　of　the　explosion　was　vented　outwards；　but　still　the　tank　was　lifted　into　the
air　by　the　blast。　Leonid　staggered；　feeling　as　though　a　giant　fist　had　swatted　him　to　the　ground。　He　spat　dirt；　a　terrific　ringing　in　his
ears。　He　turned　to　see　Ellard；　his　sergeant；　yelling　at　him；　but　he　couldn't　make　out　the　words。　The　sergeant　pointed　towards　the
enemy　trench　line　and　Leonid　nodded；　hauling　himself　to　his　feet。
He　saw　Trooper　Corde　dragging　a　body；　its　sky　blue　jacket　splattered　red。　He　shouted；　but　realised　he　stood　little　chance　of　being
heard　over　the　roar　of　explosions　and　gunfire。
Confusion　reigned　supreme　as　he　saw　scores　of　tanks　and　Chimeras　belching　noxious　black　smoke。　A　hand　grabbed　his　shoulder
and　he　turned　as　Sergeant　Ellard　handed　him　his　rifle。　The　sergeant　had　already　fixed　the　bayonet　for　him　and　Leonid　nodded　his
thanks。
Bodies　lay　everywhere。　On　tanks。　On　the　ground。　Blood；　fire；　noise　and　screams。
All　he　could　smell　was　smoke；　burning　oil　and　flesh。
Another　vehicle　exploded　and　he　dropped　to　the　ground；　losing　his　grip　on　his　rifle　as　red　hot　fragments　scythed　overhead；　pinging
on　the　side　of　another　tank。
Dim　snatches　of　desperate　shouts　came　to　him。　Shouted　questions　that　made　no　sense。　Calls　for　support；　medics　and　extraction。
Soldiers　lay　all　around　in　the　oil…slick　dust　firing　their　rifles　at　the　trench　line。　Without　conscious　thought；　he　grabbed　his　rifle
from　the　ground；　shouldered　it　and　began　firing　until　the　charge　counter　read　empty。
He　removed　the　empty　power　cell　and　slammed　in　a　fresh　one。　It　took　him　two　attempts；　his　hands　were　shaking　so　much。
All　around　him；　surviving　tanks　fired　their　main　guns　whilst　their　drivers　desperately　zigzagged　in　an　attempt　to　evade　the　enemy
fire。　Some　succeeded　and　began　returning　fire　against　the　traitors。　Those　that　did　not　were　quickly　isolated　and　blown　apart。
Leonid　slithered　across　to　Sergeant　Ellard；　who　handed　him　a　vox…unit　as　he　ripped　off　his　helmet　and　put　the　handset　to　his
mouth。
'Princeps　Fierach？　We　need　a　fire　mission　now！　Come　in　please！　Where　are　you？'
The　vox　hissed　and　spat　static　at　Leonid　as　he　continued　to　call　for　help。　'Princeps　Fierach；　anybody；　come　in；　damn　it！
Graham　McNeill　？Storm　of　Iron？
Acknowledge　please！'
Garbled　voices　and　more　static　were　his　only　reply；　and　he　threw　down　the　handset　in　disgust。
'Colonel！'　screamed　Ellard；　'What's　happening？　Where　the　hell's　our　Titan　support？'
Leonid　scooped　up　his　helmet；　pushed　it　on　and　said；　'Damned　if　I　know；　sergeant。'
Another　explosion　rocked　the　earth　close　by。　'Sound　off！'　Leonid　shouted；　'Who's　missing？'
Corde　yelled；　'Commissar　Pasken　and　Lieutenant　Ballis　are　dead　and　Lonov　is　wounded。　I　doubt　he'll　make　it。'
Leonid　nodded　stoically　and　flinched　as　another　vehicle　exploded　nearby。　The　squad　was　in　bad　shape；　their　faces　blackened　and
terrified。　For　many　of　them；　it　was　their　first　real　taste　of　hard　combat　and　he　knew　that　one　of　two　emotions　would　win　out　here：
fear　or　courage。
In　the　first　heat　of　battle　an　infantryman　would　be　plunged　into　a　flash　flood　of　emotions。　Terror；　anger；　guilt　and　hate。　All　the
feelings　that　boiled　to　the　surface　when　confronted　with　the　prospect　of　dying　or　killing　another　human　being。　In　the　right
combination　they　would　carry　a　man　forwards　to　the　enemy；　as　a　fearsome；　merciless　killer。　But　equally　they　could　send　him
fleeing　in　terror　back　to　his　own　lines。　Some　men　were　born　with　the　right　combination；　others　needed　it　hammered　into　them。
It　was　his　job　to　make　sure　he　got　the　best　out　of　his　men　and　he　knew　that　they　were　close　to　going　either　way。　He'd　have　to　push
them　to　get　the　fires　of　anger　burning　in　their　hearts。　To　stay　here　would　drain　their　courage　to　the　point　that　not　even　the　threat　of
a　commissar　would　get　them　moving。
He　scrambled　to　the　edge　of　their　shelter　and　ducked　his　head　around　the　gutted　Chimera；　trying　to　get　a　feel　for　the　situation。
By　the　Emperor；　it　was　bad！　The　sky　blazed　red　and　black　as　scores　of　tanks　burned　fiercely　and　countless　bodies　littered　the
bloody　ground。　Heavy　weapons　fire　was　sporadic　now　as　the　drivers　whose　vehicles　had　escaped　the　initial　slaughter　took　refuge
behind　their　wrecked　comrades。　They　were　trapped；　realised　Leonid。
What　the　hell　had　happened　to　the　Titans？
'CYCLE　THE　AUTO　LOADERS！'　yelled　Princeps　Fierach；　'and　get　those　void　shields　back　up！'
The　Imperator　Bellum　was　closing　the　gap　between　it　and　the　Dies　Irae；　but　it　had　taken　a　punishing　barrage　from　the　leviathan's
hellstorm　cannon。　From　a　distance　the　massive　barrels　appeared　to　be　turning　at　a　leisurely　tempo；　but　the　rate　of　fire　was
deceptive　and　explosive　shells　had　almost　stripped　them　of　their　protective　void　shields　in　a　single　volley。
'Moderati　Setanto；　charge　the　plasma　generators！　Prepare　to　fire　plasma　cannon！'
'Yes；　princeps！'　replied　the　weapons　officer。
Fierach　knew　that　if　they　were　to　defeat　this　monster　they　had　to　quickly　knock　down　the　Dies　Irae's　shields　or　close　with　it　and
take　it　down　in　close　quarter　battle。　Neither　prospect　promised　to　be　easy。
Fierach　saw　the　Honoris　Causa　rock　under　a　volley　of　gunfire　from　the　enemy　Titan；　the　enormous　machine　reeling　under　the
ferocious　impacts。　The　Warlord　staggered；　one　massive　foot　slamming　down　on　the　salient　of　the　enemy　trench　system；　crushing
two　bunkers　and　a　score　of　men。　One　of　the　Titan's　arms　slammed　into　the　ground；　sending　up　a　tall　plume　of　dust；　the　other
flailing　wildly　as　Princeps　Daekian　fought　for　balance。
Fierach　stepped　forward　to　shield　the　Honoris　Causa　and　raised　his　weapon　arms　as　Moderati　Setanto　shouted；　'Plasma　cannon
fully　charged；　princeps！'
'I　have　you　now！'　snarled　Fierach　as　he　unleashed　a　torrent　of　white…hot　plasma　at　the　devil　machin