Storm Of Iron(科幻战争)-第4章

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precious　equipment　available　to　the　Adeptus　Mechanicus。
Briefly　he　wondered　what　technologies　these　ships　had　and　how　it　worked；　but　shook　his　head　at　such　irrelevance。　He　had　more
important　things　to　worry　about。　The　defenders　at　the　citadel　must　be　warned　that　an　invasion　was　imminent。　He　opened　the　mindlink
to　Arch　Magos　Amaethon's　Machine　Temple　in　the　citadel　and　sent　the　psychic　alert　code。　The　astropaths　stationed　there
would　detect　it　and　send　a　more　powerful　psychic　distress　call　for　aid　to　Hydra　Cordatus。
Hurriedly　he　closed　off　his　mind…link　and　withdrew　his　digital　mechadendrites　from　the　monitoring　station；　opening　his　eyes　on　a
scene　of　controlled　efficiency。　System　operators　called　to　the　torpedo　outstations；　authenticating　launch　codes　and　feeding　their
operators　firing　solutions　towards　the　collection　of　starships　in　orbit。　Time　was　of　the　essence　now　and　they　had　to　get　the
torpedoes　in　the　air。
Alert　sirens　would　be　ringing　out　in　the　pilots'　barracks　by　now　and　soon　there　would　be　a　swarm　of　aircraft　in　the　air；　ready　to
meet　whatever　threat　was　approaching；　and　soldiers　from　the　Jouran　Dragoons　were　mustering　even　now　to　repel　the　attackers。
He　had　drilled　the　operators　here　for　this　eventuality　time　and　time　again；　and　now　that　it　was　happening　for　real；　he　was　pleased
to　note　the　calmness　evinced　by　his　staff。
'Adept　Cycerin！'　shouted　one　of　the　orbital　monitoring　operators。　'We　have　multiple　signals　detaching　from　several　contacts　in
orbit。'
'Identify　them！'　barked　Cycerin。
The　operator　nodded；　bowing　his　head　to　his　station；　running　his　finger　down　the　slate　beside　his　display。
'They're　too　fast　for　landing　craft；　I　believe　they　are　inbound　orbital　munitions。'
'Plot　their　vectors！　Quickly；　man！'　hissed　Cycerin；　though　he　feared　he　knew　the　answer　already。
The　man's　hands　danced　across　his　slate；　and　green　lines　extended　from　the　rapidly　moving　blips；　reaching　out　to　the
representation　of　the　planet's　surface。　Cycerin's　vox…amp　crackled　in　sudden　fear　as　he　saw　the　approach　vectors　of　the　incoming
bombs　matched　almost　exactly　the　locator　signals　being　broadcast　from　the　torpedo　launch　silos。
'How…？'　whispered　the　operator；　his　face　ashen。
Cycerin　lifted　his　eyes　to　the　armoured　glass　windows　of　the　Hope。
'There's　someone　out　there…'
NEARLY　A　THOUSAND　men　died　in　the　first　seconds　of　the　Iron　Warriors'　initial　bombardment　of　Jericho　Falls　spaceport。　The　battle
barge　Stonebreaker　fired　three　salvoes　of　magma　bombs　into　the　desolate　rocky　slopes　surrounding　the　spaceport；　blasting　vast
chunks　of　rock　hundreds　of　metres　into　the　air　and　flattening　almost　all　the　torpedo　silos　in　the　mountains　with　unerring　accuracy。
Alarm　sirens　screamed　and　the　spaceport's　weapon　batteries　rumbled　into　firing　positions　as　their　gunners　desperately　sought　to
acquire　targets　before　being　annihilated。　A　few　hastily　blessed　torpedoes　roared　upwards　through　the　orange　sky　on　pillars　of　fiery
smoke　and　powerful　beams　of　laser　energy　stabbed　through　the　perpetually　cloudless　heavens。
More　bombs　fell；　this　time　within　the　perimeter　of　Jericho　Falls；　demolishing　buildings；　gouging　great　craters　and　hurling
enormous　clouds　of　umber　ash　into　the　atmosphere。　Flames　from　burning　structures　lit　the　smoke　from　within　and　bodies　lay
aflame　in　the　wreckage　of　the　shattered　spaceport。　Smashed　aircraft　littered　the　ground　and　more　exploded　as　the　heat　from　the
fires　cooked　off　their　weapons　and　fuel　tanks。
Bombs　slammed　into　the　rockcrete；　scything　lethal　fragments　everywhere。　Others　smashed　into　the　runways；　cratering　them　and
melting　the　honeycombed　adamantium　with　the　heat　of　a　star。
The　Marauders　and　Lightnings　out　in　the　open　took　the　worst　of　the　barrage；　pulverised　by　the　force　of　the　explosions。
The　noise　and　confusion　were　unbelievable；　the　sky　was　red　with　flames　and　black　with　smoke。　Heavy　las…fire　blasted　upwards。
A　number　of　shells　impacted　on　the　main　hangar's　roof。　Its　armoured　structure　had　absorbed　the　damage　so　far；　though　vast　cracks
now　zigzagged　across　the　reinforced　walls　and　roof。
The　main　runway　was　engulfed　in　flames；　burning　pools　of　jet　fuel　spewing　thick　black　smoke　that　turned　day　into　night。
Hell　had　come　to　Hydra　Cordatus。
THREE
THE　FIRST　WAVE　of　drop…pods　fired　from　the　Stonebreaker　landed　in　clouds　of　fire　and　smoke　as　their　boosters　slowed　them　after
their　screaming　journey　through　the　atmosphere。　As　each　pod　hit　the　ground；　the　release　bolt　on　its　base　slammed　home　and　the
sides　unfolded　to　reveal　their　interiors。
Each　pod　in　this　wave　was　Deathwind　class；　equipped　with　an　auto…firing　heavy　gun　platform。　As　they　opened；　the　weapons　began
to　pour　their　lethal　fire　in　a　spinning；　circular　arc。　Fresh　explosions　erupted　across　the　ready　line　as　the　bolts　found　their　marks　in
the　exposed　attack　craft　and　pilots。　The　volleys　from　the　battle　barge　in　orbit　ceased　as　more　streaking　lines　of　fire　followed　the
first　wave。　Gun　turrets　mounted　on　armoured　bunkers　engaged　the　weapon　pods；　methodically　targeting　them　one　at　a　time　and
destroying　them　with　well…aimed　gunfire。　But　the　Deathwinds　had　done　their　job；　keeping　the　gunners　occupied　as　the　second
wave　of　drop…pods　slashed　downwards；　unmolested；　through　the　atmosphere　towards　the　base。
Graham　McNeill　？Storm　of　Iron？
KROEGER　GRIPPED　HIS　chainsword　tight　and　repeated　the　Iron　Warriors'　Litany　of　Hate　for　the　ninth　time　since　his　Dreadclaw
drop…pod　had　fired　from　the　belly　of　the　Stonebreaker。　The　pod　shook　with　the　fury　of　its　fiery　journey　through　the　atmosphere
and；　as　their　passage　became　smoother；　he　knew　that　the　curses　and　offerings　to　the　Powers　of　Chaos　had　appeased　their
monstrous　hunger。　He　grinned　beneath　his　helmet　as　he　watched　the　bone…rimmed　altimeter　unravel；　counting　the　seconds　to　their
landing。
They　would　now　be　within　the　lethal　range　of　the　spaceport's　guns；　but　if　the　half…breed；　Honsou；　had　successfully　completed　his
mission；　then　there　should　be　little　or　no　incoming　fire　to　meet　them。　His　lip　curled　in　contempt　as　he　thought　of　that　mongrel
leading　one　of　the　Warsmith's　grand　companies。　It　was　unseemly　for　a　half…breed　to　attain　such　responsibility；　and　Kroeger
despised　Honsou　with　every　fibre　of　his　being。
He　cast　his　gaze　over　the　armoured　warriors　who　sat　around　the　steel…panelled　walls　of　the　drop…pod's　interior。　Their　dented　power
armour　was　the　colour　of　dark　iron；　heavy　and　baroque；　none　less　than　ten　thousand　years　old。　Each　man's　weapon　had　been
anointed　with　the　blood　of　a　score　of　captives；　and　the　stench　of　death　filled　the　pod's　interior。　The　men　strained　at　the　harnesses
that　held　them　in　place；　eyes　fixed　on　the　iris　hatch　on　the　pod's　floor；　every　thought　slaved　to　the　slaughter　of　their　foes。
Kroeger　had　picked　these　killers　personally：　they　were　the　most　blood…soaked　berserkers　of　his　grand　company　of　the　Iron
Warriors；　those　who　had　trodden　the　path　of　Khorne　for　longer　than　most。　The　Blood　God's　hunger　for　death　and　skulls　had
become　the　driving　imperative　for　these　warriors；　and　it　was　doubtful　that　they　would　ever　break　from　the　cycle　of　murder　and
killing　that　had　swallowed　them。　Kroeger　himself　had　revelled　many　times　in　the　fierce　joy　of　slaughter　that　so　pleased　Khorne；
but　had　not　yet　fully　surrendered　to　the　frenzy　of　the　Blood　God。
Once　a　warrior　lost　himself　in　that　red　mist；　he　was　unlikely　to　survive　and　Kroeger　had　agendas　yet　to　follow；　paths　yet　to　tread。
For　Khorne　was　no　sanguineous　epicure。　He　cared　not　from　whence　the　blood　came　and　as　the　worshippers　of　the　Blood　God
often　discovered；　their　own　vital　fluid　was　as　welcome　as　that　of　the　enemy's。
The　drop…pod's　retros　fired；　filling　the　cramped　vessel　with　a　howling　shriek　like　a　banshee's　wail。　Kroeger　took　the　hateful
screaming　as　a　good　omen。
He　raised　his　sword　in　the　salute　of　the　warrior　and　roared；　'Let　blood　be　your　watchword；　death　your　companion　and　hate　your
strength。'
Barely　a　handful　of　the　warriors　acknowledged　him；　most　too　immersed　in　thoughts　of　the　blood　they　would　shed　to　even　register
that　he　had　spoken。　It　was　immaterial；　the　hated　Imperial　followers　of　the　corpse…god　would　die　screaming　as　he　ripped　their　souls
from　their　torn　flesh。　His　blood　sang　at　the　prospect　of　killing　yet　more　of　their　ancient　foes　and　he　prayed　to　the　Majesty　of　the
Warp　that　the　honour　of　the　first　kill　would　be　his。
He　felt　the　bone…jarring　impact　of　the　Dreadclaw　drop…pod　through　the　thick　ceramite　plates　of　his　power　armour　as　it　slammed
into　the　ground。　Scarcely　had　the　bottom　hatch　irised　open　than　he　dropped　through　it；　bending　his　knees　and　rolling　aside　as　the
next　warrior　followed　him　down。　Thick；　grey　smoke　from　the　retros　obscured　his　vision；　and　the　flames　burning　across　the
spaceport　rendered　the　heat　augurs　in　his　helmet　useless。
He　drew　his　pistol；　offering　his　thanks　to　the　power　of　Chaos　for　giving　him　such　a　chance　to　bring　death　to　his　enemies。
ADEPT　CYCERIN　WAS　close　to　panic。　He　had　had　no　response　to　his　pleas　for　aid　from　the　citadel；　though　they　must　surely　be
aware　of　their　plight。　The　thought　that　there　were　enemies　with　the　power　to　circumvent　their　surveyors　and　approach　their
fastness；　unseen　and　unknown；　had　all　but　unmanned　him。　He　cursed　the　weak；　organic　part　of　him　that　felt　such　bowel…loosening
terror　and　wished　again　for　the　emotional　detachment　of　his　superiors。
The　data…slate　on　the　wall　indicated　a　breach　in　the　outer　wall　and　garbled　contact　reports　howling　across　the　vox　circuits　told　of
giants　in　armour　of　burnished　iron　slaughtering　all　those　who　stood　before　them。　He　could　not　co…ordinate　a　defence　without　better
reports　and　the　chaos　of　battle　was…
Chaos。
The　very　word　sent　a　hot　jolt　of　fear　down　Cycerin's　spine　and　suddenly　he　knew　how　their　enemies　had　managed　to　elude　their
auguries。　Accursed；　warp…spawned　sorcery　must　have　confounded　the　spirits　of　the　machines　and　rendered　them　blind　to　the
monstrous　evil　that　approached　Hydra　Cordatus。　As　soon　as　this　first　thought　had　struck；　a　second　followed。
There　could　only　be　one　reason　the　followers　of　the　Ruinous　Powers　would　come　to　this　place　and　the　thought　made　him　shake
with　fear。　Confused　icons　flashed　on　the　holomap　of　the　base；　representing　friendly　forces　deploying　from