Storm Of Iron(科幻战争)-第31章

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astion　soon。　He
knew　the　images　he　was　seeing　on　the　remote　pict…viewers　did　not　capture　the　horror　and　carnage　taking　place　outside。　Thousands
of　men　were　streaming　over　the　walls　and　it　would　only　be　a　matter　of　time　until　the　Mars　and　Dragon　bastions　came　under　attack
from　their　vulnerable　rears。　If　he　let　them；　the　men　there　would　fight　bravely；　but　they　would　die；　and　Tedeski　would　have　no
more　deaths　on　his　conscience。
'Poulsen！'　sighed　Tedeski；　wiping　dust　and　sweat　from　his　brow。
'Sir？'
'Send　the　〃Heaven's　Fall〃　signal　to　all　company　commanders　and　Castellan　Vauban。'
'〃Heaven's　Fall〃；　sir？'　queried　Poulsen。
'Yes；　damn　you！'　snapped　Tedeski。　'Quickly；　man！'
'Y…yes；　sir；'　nodded　Poulsen　hurriedly　and　ran　off　to　pass　the　evacuation　code　to　the　vox　operators。
Tedeski　turned　from　his　aide…de…camp　and　straightened　his　duty　uniform　jacket　before　addressing　the　remaining　men　and　officers
standing　with　him　in　the　Christo's　command　centre。
'Gentlemen；　it　is　time　you　left　this　place。　It　grieves　me　to　say　that　Tor　Christo　is　about　to　fall。　As　the　commanding　officer；　I　am
ordering　you　to　lead　as　many　men　as　you　can　into　the　tunnels　and　make　your　way　to　the　citadel。　Castellan　Vauban　will　need　every
man　on　the　walls　in　the　coming　days　and　I　will　not　deny　him　those　men　by　sacrificing　them　needlessly　here。'
Silence　greeted　his　words　until　a　junior　officer　asked；　'Will　you　not　accompany　us；　sir？'
'No。　I　will　stay　to　overload　the　reactor　and　deny　our　foes　this　fortress。'
Tedeski　raised　his　arm　as　objections　were　shouted。　'I　have　made　up　my　mind　and　will　not　be　argued　with。　Now　go！　Time　is　of　the
essence！'
'THE　HEAVEN'S　FALL　signal　has　been　sent　from　Tor　Christo；　arch　magos；'　reported　Magos　Naicin；　staring　at　the　encrypted　voxthief
before　him。
'So　soon？'　hissed　Amaethon；　and　though　his　flesh　had　lost　any　true　emotive　qualities；　Naicin　saw　a　passable　approximation　of
genuine　alarm　cross　the　face　of　the　arch　magos。
'It　appears　that　the　men　of　the　Guard　are　weaker　than　even　I　feared；'　said　Naicin　sadly。
'We　must　protect　ourselves！　The　citadel　must　not　fall！'
'It　must　not；'　agreed　Naicin。　'What　would　you　have　me　do；　arch　magos？'
'Blow　the　tunnel；　Naicin！　Do　it　now！'
CAPTAIN　POULSEN　HURRIED　down　the　carved　steps；　clutching　bundles　of　paper　folders　and　an　armful　of　data…slates。　The　fear　was
unlike　anything　he　had　felt　before。　He'd　never　been　on　the　front　line　before；　his　talents　in　organisation　and　logistics　making　him
much　more　valuable　to　the　command　echelons　behind　the　line。
But　standing　on　the　walls　of　the　Kane　bastion　with　shells　exploding　all　around　him；　he'd　felt　the　bowel…loosening　terror　of　an
artillery　bombardment　and　was　desperately　grateful　he　had　been　spared　the　horror　of　combat。　Hundreds　of　men　thronged　the
tunnels　beneath　the　keep；　descending　into　the　depths　of　the　promontory　and　heading　for　the　wide　cavern…tunnel　that　led　back　to　the
citadel。　Similar　underground　passageways　allowed　the　men　from　the　flanking　bastions　to　escape；　though　it　was　too　late　for　the
men　in　Kane　bastion。
It　was　inevitable　that　some　men　would　have　to　die　so　that　the　others　might　live。
Graham　McNeill　？Storm　of　Iron？
Weak　illumination　from　the　glow…globes　strung　from　the　ceiling　cast　a　fitful　light　over　the　soldiers　around　him。　Fearful　and　guilty
expressions　were　writ　large　across　his　fellow　officers'　faces。　Dust　drifted　from　the　ceiling　and　sputtering　recyc…units　struggled　to
keep　the　air　moving　in　the　hot；　stagnant　underground。
Eventually；　the　steps　ended　and　the　tunnel　widened　into　a　large；　roughly　circular　cavern　with　passages　leading　off　into　the　rock
beneath　Tor　Christo。　Men　from　the　Dragon　and　Mars　bastions　were　already　streaming　from　these　tunnels；　yellow…coated　provosts
attempting　to　impose　a　semblance　of　order　of　the　retreat　with　limited　success。　Major　Tedeski's　order　to　withdraw　was　being
obeyed　with　speed。　Four　giant；　blast…shielded　elevator　doors　studded　one　wall　and；　ahead；　the　cavern　narrowed　to　a　well…lit
underground　highway；　nearly　twelve　metres　wide　and　seven　high。
Normally　this　level　of　the　fort　was　used　to　move　artillery　and　ordnance　between　Tor　Christo　and　the　citadel；　but　it　was　equally
well…suited　for　large　scale　movements　of　troops。　Poulsen　jostled　alongside　sweating　troopers；　the　shouts　of　fiie　provosts　and
soldiers　almost　deafening。　The　heaving　mass　of　men　moved　towards　the　main　tunnel　and　Poulsen　felt　himself　being　carried　along
with　it。　An　elbow　dug　painfully　into　his　side　and　he　yelped；　dropping　the　armful　of　data…slates　to　the　painted　floor。
The　bureaucrat　in　him　took　over　and　he　fell　to　his　knees　to　gather　up　the　fallen　slates；　cursing　under　his　breath　as　a　booted　foot
crunched　the　nearest　one　to　splinters。　A　hand　grabbed　him　and　hauled　him　roughly　upright。
'Leave　them！'　snarled　a　grim…faced　provost。　'Keep　moving。'
Poulsen　was　about　to　protest　at　this　rough　treatment；　when　the　ground　shook　and　cries　of　alarm　echoed　around　the　cavern。　A　rain
of　dust　dropped　from　the　roof　and　an　eerie　quiet　descended　upon　the　chamber。
'What　was　that？'　breathed　Poulsen。　'Artillery？'
'No；'　hissed　the　provost。　'We　wouldn't　hear　artillery　down　here。　That　was　something　else。'
'Then　what？'
'I　don't　know；　but　I　don't　like　the　sound　of　it。'
Another　louder　vibration　shook　the　cavern；　then　another。　Shouts　of　alarm　turned　to　cries　of　terror　as　Poulsen　saw　a　hellish　orange
glow　race　towards　them　down　the　main　tunnel；　followed　by　a　furious　whooshing　roar。　Poulsen　watched　the　approaching　glow　with
incomprehension。　What　was　happening？
His　unasked　question　was　suddenly　answered　as　someone　shouted；　'Emperor's　Blood；　they're　blowing　the　tunnel！'
Blowing　the　tunnel？　That　was　inconceivable！　While　there　were　men　still　here？　Castellan　Vauban　would　never　give　such　an　order。
This　couldn't　be　happening。　Hundreds　of　soldiers　turned　in　panic　and　attempted　to　race　back　into　the　tunnels　they　had　recently
fled；　pushing　their　comrades　aside　in　terror。　Men　fell　and　were　trampled　underfoot　as　the　terrified　men　of　the　Jourans　stampeded
back　from　the　collapsing　tunnel。
Poulsen　stumbled　backwards；　dropping　the　slates　he　had　collected　from　the　floor；　all　thoughts　of　their　worth　forgotten。　Explosions
of　demolition　charges　marched　their　way　along　the　tunnel；　bringing　down　thousands　of　tonnes　of　rock　upon　the　trapped　men　of　the
Guard　within　it。
He　staggered　back　towards　the　clogged　tunnel　he　had　just　come　from；　clawing　at　the　men　in　front　of　him；　desperate　to　escape。
The　main　tunnel　suddenly　exploded　in　fire　and　noise；　rubble　blasting　from　its　mouth；　crashing　and　burning　hundreds　of　men　in　an
instant。　Poulsen　wrenched　a　man　from　in　front　of　him；　and　pushed　his　way　forwards　as　he　heard　an　ominous　crack　from　the　ceiling
above　him。　A　demolition　charge　set　in　the　centre　of　the　cavern's　roof　exploded；　showering　the　soldiers　below　in　chunks　of　rock
and　collapsing　the　entire　cavern　roof。
Poulsen　screamed　as　falling　rocks　pummelled　him　to　the　ground；　smashing　his　skull　and　crashing　his　body　to　a　jellied　pulp。
Nearly　three　thousand　men　joined　him　in　death　as　the　tunnel　between　the　citadel　and　Tor　Christo　was　sealed。
MAJOR　TEDESKI　SWIGGED　from　a　bottle　of　amasec　as　he　stared　at　the　pict…viewer　displaying　the　exterior　of　the　keep；　watching
thousands　of　soldiers　in　red　swamp　the　walls　of　his　fortress。　Mars　and　Dragon　bastions　were　thronged　with　enemy　soldiers；　firing
their　weapons　into　the　air　and　cheering　at　their　victory。　He'd　watched　in　fury　as　his　captured　soldiers　were　lined　up　and　shot
against　the　bastion　walls　or　herded　into　the　trenches　and　set　alight　with　flamers。　Tedeski　had　never　felt　such　a　strong　hatred　before。
A　grim　smile　touched　his　lips　as　he　pictured　sending　these　bastards　to　hell。
He　took　another　drink　from　the　bottle　and　nodded　slowly。　The　command　centre　was　empty　except　for　himself　and　Magos　Yelede；
who　sat　dejectedly　in　the　corner。　The　machine　priest　had　protested　at　being　ordered　to　stay　behind；　but　Tedeski　had　told　him　that
he　would　either　stay　willingly　or　he　would　be　shot。
Tedeski　drained　the　last　of　the　bottle　and　turned　away　from　the　sickening　atrocities　being　committed　within　his　walls。　He　gripped
Magos　Yelede's　robes；　hauling　him　to　his　feet。
'Come　on；　Yelede。　Time　to　earn　your　keep。'
Tedeski　dragged　the　reluctant　magos　from　the　control　centre；　through　a　maze　of　corridors　and　security　sealed　barriers　before
descending　in　a　key…controlled　elevator　to　the　power　chamber　far　below　the　keep。　As　the　elevator　rumbled　downwards；　a
pounding　vibration　shook　the　elevator　car；　the　lights　flickering　and　metal　squealing　as　it　ground　against　the　walls　of　the　shaft。
'What　the　hell？'　began　Tedeski　as　the　elevator　began　its　downward　journey　again。
No　sooner　had　the　elevator　doors　opened　than　Tedeski　pushed　Magos　Yelede　out　into　the　featureless　grey　corridor　that　led
towards　the　reactor　chamber。　He　tried　to　raise　Captain　Poulsen　and　the　rest　of　his　company　commanders　on　the　vox；　but　met　with
no　success　and　his　worry　grew　with　each　step。
The　powerful　shockwave　had　felt　like　some　vast；　underground　detonation　and　as　far　as　he　knew　there　was　only　one　way　such　a
detonation　could　have　occurred。　But　surely　Castellan　Vauban　would　never　have　allowed　the　Adeptus　Mechanicus　to　destroy　the
tunnel　and　cut　off　thousands　of　men　from　their　retreat？　A　terrible　sinking　feeling　settled　in　his　gut　and　he　fervently　hoped　his
suspicions　were　unfounded。
At　last　they　arrived　at　the　main　doors　to　the　reactor　chamber　and　Tedeski　stood　aside　to　allow　the　machine　priest　to　access　the
entry　controls。
Graham　McNeill　？Storm　of　Iron？
'Open　the　damn　door！'　snapped　Tedeski　when　Yelede　failed　to　move。
'I　cannot；　Major　Tedeski。'
'What？　Why　the　hell　not？'
'I　have　been　given　instructions　not　to　allow　this　facility　to　be　destroyed。'
Tedeski　slammed　Yelede　against　the　wall　and　drew　his　bolt　pistol；　shouting；　'If　you　don't　open　that　door；　I　will　shoot　you　in　the
head！'
'Anything　you　can　threaten　me　with　is　irrelevant；　major；'　protested　Yelede。　'I　have　been　given　a　sacred　order　by　my　superiors　and　I
cannot　disobey　it。　Our　word　is　iron。'
'And　my　bolt　is　0。75　calibre；　diamantine　tipped　with　a　depleted　uranium　core　and　if　you　don't　open　this　bloody　door　right　now；　I
will　fire　it　through　your　poor　excuse　for　a　brain。　Now　open　the　damn　doo