Storm Of Iron(科幻战争)-第22章

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fully　charged；　princeps！'
'I　have　you　now！'　snarled　Fierach　as　he　unleashed　a　torrent　of　white…hot　plasma　at　the　devil　machine　before　him。　The　viewscreen
darkened　as　the　bolts　struck　the　Dies　Irae；　its　void　shields　flaring　as　they　overloaded　under　the　onslaught　of　the　Imperator
Helium's　guns。　It　was　still　shielded；　but　the　range　was　closing。
The　Reavers　of　Battle　Group　Sword　circled　to　Fierach's　right；　using　their　superior　speed　to　flank　the　enemy　Titan。　A　flurry　of
powerful　laser　blasts　overloaded　the　void　shields　of　the　lead　Reaver　and　even　as　its　crew　realised　their　danger；　an　incandescent
pulse　of　energy　slashed　from　the　Dies　Irae's　plasma　annihilator　and　hammered　into　the　command　bridge　in　the　head　section。
Fierach　shouted　a　denial　as　he　saw　a　huge　explosion　rip　the　head　from　the　Reaver　and　topple　the　machine。　Gracefully；　the　Reaver
collapsed；　its　artificially　generated　muscle　movements　dying　with　its　princeps。　The　machine's　knees　buckled　and　it　smashed　into
the　ground　in　a　vast　cloud　of　red　ash。　The　remaining　four　Reavers　scattered　as　Fierach　shouted　for　more　speed。
As　though　sensing　that　the　Imperator　Bellum　was　the　leader　of　this　force；　the　Dies　Irae　turned　its　ponderous　upper　body　to　face
Fierach。
This　was　how　it　was　meant　to　be。　Man　against　daemon；　flesh；　bone　and　steel　against　whatever　horror　animated　the　daemonic
machine。
The　Clavis　Regni　charged　before　him；　its　void　shields　flaring　as　enemy　heavy　tanks　and　weapon　teams　added　their　fire　to　that　of
the　Dies　Irae。　Impacts　hit　his　own　Titan；　knocking　down　another　shield；　and；　as　he　saw　another　battle　group　of　enemy　Titans
emerge　from　the　smoke　with　hundreds　of　tanks　following　them；　Princeps　Fierach　knew　doubt　for　the　first　time　in　many　years。
It　was　not　for　nothing　that　this　foe　had　stalked　the　galaxy　with　impunity　these　last　ten　thousand　years。　It　was　a　deadly　enemy　and
many　a　vaunted　princeps　had　met　his　end　by　its　guns。
A　volley　of　cannon　fire　from　the　enemy　reinforcements　slammed　into　the　Clavis　Regni　and　Fierach　watched；　horrified；　as　his
brother　princeps　struggled　to　hold　his　Titan　upright。　Flames　roared　from　the　inferno　gun　mounted　on　its　arm　and　suddenly　the
weapon　exploded；　showering　the　Clavis　Regni　with　superheated　fuel。
Moderati　Yousen　shouted；　'Princeps！　Colonel　Leonid　requests　immediate　support。　He　reports　they　are　taking　heavy　casualties！'
Fierach　nodded；　too　busy　to　respond　as　he　sidestepped　a　powerful　blast　from　the　Dies　Irae's　defence　laser。　He　felt；　rather　than　saw；
another　of　the　Reavers　go　down；　the　war　machine　toppled　by　the　horrendous　firepower　arrayed　against　them。
One　of　the　enemy　Titans　lurched　towards　the　Imperator　Bellum；　shielding　it　from　the　fire　of　the　Dies　Irae；　its　monstrous　head
swinging　ponderously　from　side　to　side　as　it　charged。
Fierach　stepped　forward　to　meet　this　new　foe；　swinging　his　chainfist　at　the　Titan's　head。　The　vast　motorised　saw…blade　grazed　the
armoured　carapace　of　the　enemy　machine；　sliding　clear　in　a　shower　of　fat　orange　sparks。　In　reply；　the　monster　thrust　its　own
Graham　McNeill　？Storm　of　Iron？
roaring　chainblade　at　the　Imperator　Bellum's　midsection。　Fierach　felt　the　thunderous　impact；　the　shriek　of　tearing　metal　as　the
energised　blade　ripped　through　the　thick　armour　of　his　Titan　like　paper。
Screams　filled　the　internal　vox　as　men　below　died　and　Fierach　heard　Engineer　Ulandro　yell；　'Princeps！　We　have　a　reactor　breach
on　level　secundus！'
Fierach　didn't　reply；　desperately　fending　off　another　blow　from　the　enemy　Titan　and　stepping　inside　its　guard　to　deliver　a　mighty
stroke　across　its　neck。　Orange　fire　blasted　from　the　enemy　war　machine　as　the　Imperator　Bellum's　blade　sheared　through　its
armour　and　tore　its　head　from　its　body。　Fierach　roared　in　triumph　as　massive　secondary　explosions　ripped　through　the　falling
Titan。
Smoke　boiled　throughout　the　command　bridge　and　furious　red　warning　symbols　flashed　urgently　before　Fierach。　The　reactor　was
going　critical；　but　he　knew　that　Ulandro　was　the　best　there　was；　and　if　he　couldn't　prevent　an　overload；　then　no　one　could。
He　swung　the　Imperator　Bellum　around　in　time　to　see　the　death　of　the　Clavis　Regni；　its　void　shields　finally　collapsing　in　a
spectacular　pyrotechnic　display　as　its　generators　overloaded　and　massive　explosions　whiplashed　inside　the　machine。　The　Titan
convulsed　as　the　internal　detonations　ripped　it　apart　from　within　and　Fierach　bellowed　in　anger　to　see　such　a　heroic　Titan　die　in
such　a　manner。
A　thunderous　impact　shocked　him　from　his　fury　and　he　turned　to　see　the　Dies　Irae　in　all　its　hellish　glory；　its　leg　bastions　wreathed
in　flames。　He　snarled；　pushing　the　Imperator　Bellum　forwards　as　he　saw　yet　more　warning　runes　wink　into　life　on　the　reactor
panel。
Engineer　Ulandro　was　fighting　a　losing　battle　to　contain　the　reactor　breach；　and　as　Fierach　heard　the　desperate；　pleading　screams
of　the　Imperial　Guard　soldiers　over　the　vox；　he　knew　he　had　made　an　unforgivable　tactical　decision。
By　indulging　his　lust　for　vengeance　on　the　Legio　Mortis；　he　had　deserted　his　brother　soldiers；　and　Fierach　was　filled　with　shame。
The　Reavers　of　Battle　Group　Sword　had　defeated　the　supporting　enemy　Titans；　but　only　two　remained　standing；　flames　billowing
from　their　weapon　mounts　and　twisted　carapaces。
He　had　doomed　them　all。
The　Clams　Regni　was　gone；　but　the　Honoris　Causa　still　stood；　trading　shots　with　the　Dies　Irae　in　an　unequal　battle　that　could　have
but　one　outcome。
Fierach　opened　a　channel　to　Princeps　Daekian　as　he　marched　resolutely　towards　the　firefight。
'Daekian！　Pull　back　eastwards；　reinforce　the　Jouran　units。'
'Princeps？'　queried　a　breathless　Daekian。
'Do　it；　damn　your　eyes！　Take　what's　left　of　Sword　and　try　and　salvage　something　from　this　disaster！'
'Yes；　princeps；'　acknowledged　Daekian。
Fierach　saw　the　reactor　breach　was　getting　steadily　worse　and　felt　a　fatal　sluggishness　to　the　lmperator　Bellum's　movements。　The
god…machine　was　dying；　but　he　would　not　allow　such　a　mighty　warrior　to　walk　the　road　to　hell　alone　and　turned　his　Titan　to　face
the　towering　form　of　the　Dies　Irae。
Death　awaited　him　and　he　welcomed　it。
Suddenly　calm；　Fierach　said；　'Daekian；　I　ask　only　one　thing　of　you。　Avenge　us。'
LEONID'S　SQUAD　HUDDLED　in　the　dust；　glittering　with　the　sheen　of　spilt　engine　fuel；　and　kept　their　heads　down　as　the　constant
thump　of　heavy　weapon　fire　blasted　from　the　enemy　trenches。
Despite　shouted　promises　over　the　vox…net；　their　Titan　support　had　yet　to　materialise。　The　Chimera　rocked　with　the　Shockwaves
of　nearby　explosions　and　Leonid　had　to　shout　to　be　heard　over　the　noise　of　battle。
'Corde！　Any　news　on　those　Titans？'
Guardsman　Corde　shook　his　head　furiously　as　another　blast　shook　their　refuge　and　Leonid　knew　that　it　was　only　a　matter　of　time
before　the　Chimera　was　blown　to　bits。
The　entire　squad；　or　at　least　what　was　left　of　it；　was　filled　with　the　same　indignant　fury　as　Leonid；　and　even　the　normally　placid
Guardsman　Corde　was　hell…bent　on　getting　to　grips　with　the　enemy。
But；　courageous　as　they　were；　it　would　be　almost　impossible　for　them　to　charge　across　such　open　ground。　They　would　be　heroes；
but　not　even　heroes　could　take　a　missile　and　survive；　no　matter　how　brave　they　were。　Leonid　knew　that　they　had　to　do　something
and　realised　that　this　was　a　time　when　he　had　to　earn　the　rank　badge　on　his　shoulder　boards。　This　was　the　time　when；　as　a　leader；
he　had　to　do　just　that。　Lead。
His　mind　made　up　Leonid　turned　to　face　Ellard　and　shouted；　'Sergeant；　gather　the　men。　We're　going　forward！'
The　sergeant　looked　for　a　moment　as　though　he　hadn't　heard　Leonid；　then　nodded　sharply　and　started　shouting　at　the　men；
gathering　them　into　position。　Leonid　snatched　the　handset　of　the　vox　unit　carried　on　Corde's　back　and　opened　a　channel　to　the
units　under　his　command。
'All　units；　this　is　Lieutenant　Colonel　Leonid。　We　are　attacking　the　traitor　trench　line。　Be　ready　and　remember；　the　Emperor　expects
every　man　to　do　his　best！　Leonid　out。'
He　dropped　the　vox　and　locked　eyes　with　Ellard。
'Ready；　sergeant？'
Ellard　nodded。　'As　I'll　ever　be；　sir。　You？'
Leonid　grinned。　'I　guess　we're　about　to　find　out。'
He　reached　out　to　shake　Ellard's　hand；　saying；　'Good　luck；　sergeant。'
'You　too；　sir。'
Leonid　hefted　his　rifle　and；　after　taking　a　deep　breath　to　slow　his　pounding　heart；　burst　from　cover　with　a　roar　of　hatred。　His
command　squad　rose　and　followed　their　leader's　example；　charging　forwards　with　a　howling　battle　cry。
Gunfire　reached　out　to　them；　instantly　cutting　a　swathe　of　Guardsmen　down　and　scattering　the　rest。
Graham　McNeill　？Storm　of　Iron？
'Spread　out！　Spread　out！'　yelled　Leonid。
They　fired　their　lasguns　and　grenade　launchers；　but　the　range　was　too　great。
Despite　the　tiny　impact　Leonid's　command　squad　had　on　the　traitor　line；　the　effect　on　the　Imperial　troops　was　electric。
The　embers　of　a　fierce；　wounded　pride　and　a　towering　sense　of　outrage　were　stoked　amongst　his　soldiers。　The　men　of　the　Jouran
Dragoons　rose　and　followed　their　courageous　commanding　officer。
Leonid　and　Ellard　charged　forwards　together；　their　boots　throwing　up　great　clouds　of　ash　behind　them。　The　squad　followed　at　their
heels；　incoherent　yells　of　anger　and　fear　carrying　them　through　the　fire。
Hot　adrenaline　dumped　into　Leonid's　system。　As　he　fired　his　rifle；　he　was　engulfed　by　a　wash　of　emotions。　Mad　exuberance
gripped　him；　a　wild　sense　of　danger　and　excitement。　His　fear　was　swept　away　and　he　laughed　with　the　sheer　vitality　he　possessed。
The　sky　above　had　never　seemed　quite　so　red；　nor　his　eyes　so　preternaturally　sharp。　He　could　make　out　the　faces　of　the　enemy
before　him　in　graphic　detail。
He　felt　like　he　was　charging　in　slow　motion；　bullets　and　lasfire　flashing　past　him　like　bright　streamers；　and　he　turned　to　yell
encouragement　at　the　men　behind　him。　Explosions　burst　around　him；　but　he　ran　on；　invincible。
New　strength　filled　his　limbs　and　he　surged　ahead　of　the　others。
Firing　from　the　hip；　the　noise　was　incredible。　He　heard　wild　howling。　His　own？
Something　jerked　his　sleeve。　Sharp　red　pain　blossomed　up　his　arm；　but　he　didn't　care。
He　was　riding　a　wave　of　courage　and　insanity。
A　terrible　roaring；　ripping　sound　dopplered　in　and　out　and　he　saw　the　din　kicked　up　in　spurts　before　him。　The　line　of　fire　kinked
right　and　tore　amongst　the　squad　beside　him。　Four　me