Storm Of Iron(科幻战争)-第52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！


he　siege　tanks
of　the　Iron　Warriors；　throwing　up　plumes　of　earth　and　smoke。　It　was　an　unequal　struggle　as　the　siege　tanks　methodically
dismounted　the　citadel's　guns　one　by　one。
Honsou　crouched　with　his　warriors　behind　the　siege　tanks。　The　noise　was　phenomenal　and　the　ground　shook　with　the　violence　of
their　firing。　In　moments　he　would　unleash　his　warriors　over　the　earthworks　and　attack　the　Primus　Ravelin；　capturing　the　outwork
and　preventing　its　guns　from　flanking　warriors　from　Forrix　and　Kroeger's　companies　to　his　right。　Forrix　had　been　granted　the
honour　of　attacking　the　breach　in　the　curtain　wall；　while　Kroeger　and　his　berserkers　were　poised　to　storm　the　tear　blasted　in　the
Mori　bastion。　But　both　attacks　would　surely　founder　without　the　fall　of　the　ravelin。
Once　the　ravelin　had　fallen；　he　was　to　lead　his　men　across　the　ditch　and　follow　Forrix　through　the　breach。　After　that；　any　strategy
or　plan　was　irrelevant　as　the　soldiers　who　had　fought　through　the　hell　of　a　storming　would　be　so　blood…maddened　that　almost
nothing　could　stop　a　rampage　of　colossal　proportions。　Honsou　looked　forward　to　it。
Forrix　and　his　men　gathered　in　the　approach　trench　that　zigzagged　its　way　back　from　the　third　parallel；　and　Honsou　could　see　the
veteran　captain　was　becoming　more　used　to　his　mechanised　body　with　each　step。　At　the　far　end　of　the　parallel；　Kroeger　stood
motionless　before　the　firing　step　of　the　earthwork；　staring　intently　towards　the　breach　he　would　soon　be　attacking。　Normally
Kroeger　would　be　strutting　up　and　down　the　length　of　the　parallel；　boasting　of　his　prowess　and　heaping　scorn　upon　Honsou；　but
there　was　nothing　now；　merely　a　sinister　silence。
Honsou　had　approached　Kroeger　as　dawn　had　broken；　sensing　the　change　that　had　overtaken　his　nemesis　more　clearly　than　ever。
'The　Warsmith　honours　you；　Kroeger；'　he　had　said；　but　Kroeger　had　not　answered　him；　nor　even　acknowledged　his　presence。
'Kroeger？'　repeated　Honsou；　reaching　up　to　grip　the　edge　of　Kroeger's　shoulder　guard。
As　soon　as　Honsou's　hand　touched　the　metal　of　the　armour；　Kroeger's　hand　shot　up　and　gripped　his　wrist；　wrenching　it　away　and
pushing　him　back。　Honsou　snarled；　drawing　his　sword　partway　from　its　scabbard；　but　Kroeger　turned；　and　Honsou　was　seized　by　a
Graham　McNeill　？Storm　of　Iron？
dire　premonition　that　to　attack　Kroeger　would　be　to　die。　A　pale　nimbus　of　light　played　around　Kroeger's　helmet　and；　though　he
couldn't　be　sure；　Honsou　thought　he　could　see　that　same　light　seeping　through　the　visor　of　Kroeger's　helm。　The　light　carried　hints
of　an　ancient　malevolence　and　Honsou　had　slowly　sheathed　his　sword；　turning　on　his　heel　and　returning　to　his　company。
He　shook　his　head　free　of　the　memory；　shifting　his　weight　from　foot　to　foot；　impatient　for　the　attack　to　begin。　The　boom　of　the
Vindicators　suddenly　ceased　and；　with　a　huge　revving　roar；　the　siege　tanks　pulled　back　from　the　earthworks。　This　was　the　signal
he　had　been　waiting　for。　Honsou　rose　to　his　feet；　raising　his　pistol　and　sword　high　above　him。
'Death　to　the　False　Emperor！'　he　roared　and　sprinted　through　the　embrasure　in　the　earthwork。　He　scrambled　down　its　blasted　front；
his　warriors　following　him　through　this　and　other　gaps　fashioned　in　the　earthwork。
The　rubble　slope　of　the　ditch　was　less　than　ten　metres　away　and　Honsou　ran　towards　it　as　the　crack　of　small　arms　fire　snapped
from　the　crumbling　ramparts　of　the　curtain　wall　and　the　flanks　of　both　bastions。　Shots　slashed　through　the　air　beside　him；　bright
streamers　of　las…fire　plucking　at　his　armour　or　vaporising　nearby　patches　of　earth。　A　roar　of　hate　built　in　Honsou's　throat　as　he　slid
down　the　rocky　slope　into　the　ditch。
A　sea　of　red　bodies；　already　beginning　to　rot　in　the　heat；　carpeted　the　trench。　He　charged　across　the　multitude　of　corpses；　crushing
bones　and　pulverising　soft；　decaying　tissue　underfoot　as　yet　more　fire　was　directed　at　them。　The　soldiers　on　the　Primus　Ravelin
had　fought　hard　these　last　few　days；　but　they　had　faced　only　the　chaff　of　the　Iron　Warriors'　army。　Now　they　would　fight　the　best。
Heavier　blasts　of　las…fire　speared　from　the　ramparts；　blasting　craters　in　the　floor　of　the　ditch　and　tossing　severed　limbs　and　gasbloated
corpses　high　into　the　air。　But　Honsou　could　see　the　inferior　quality　of　the　Imperial　soldiers　was　telling　now　as　the　majority
of　their　shots　flew　high。　Without　a　huge　mass　of　targets　to　aim　at；　their　shooting　was　woefully　inaccurate　and　barely　a　handful　of
Iron　Warriors　had　fallen。
Honsou　reached　the　blasted　foot　of　the　ravelin；　its　once…smooth　face　now　cracked；　broken　and　easily　climbed。　He　fired　at　the　top
of　the　ravelin　and　began　scrambling　his　way　up　the　slope。　A　shot　struck　the　top　of　his　shoulder　guard；　but　he　ignored　the　impact
and　kept　climbing。
Withering　hails　of　bullets　and　las…bolts　from　the　flank　of　the　Mori　bastion　hammered　the　walls　of　the　ravelin。　He　heard　a　roar　of
warriors　unleashed　far　to　his　right　and　knew　that　Forrix　and　Kroeger　were　beginning　their　attack。
Dozens　of　warriors　were　clambering　up　the　slopes　of　the　ravelin　amid　the　explosion　of　grenades　and　constant　snap　of　lasgun　fire。
The　Iron　Warrior　beside　him　lost　his　grip　as　a　shell　burst　above　him；　tearing　his　head　off　in　a　fountain　of　blood。　His　heavy　corpse
smashed　half　a　dozen　warriors　from　the　wall　as　he　fell。
Honsou　shook　his　helmet　clear　of　blood；　punching　his　fist　deep　into　the　wall　and　gripping　onto　a　reinforcement　bar　as　he　saw　a
cluster　of　grenades　slither　down　the　wall　towards　him。　He　pressed　his　body　flat　against　the　wall　as　they　detonated；　blowing　clear　a
chunk　of　grey　rockcrete。　Torn　ligaments　in　his　arms　shrieked　as　the　force　of　the　blast　lifted　him　from　the　wall；　but　his　grip　on　the
rebar　held　him　firm。
Red　runes　winked　into　life　on　his　visor；　and　he　felt　blood　flowing　along　his　limbs；　but　he　pushed　upwards；　dragging　himself　up　the
wall。
The　slope　grew　less　steep　as　he　climbed；　reaching　the　broken　sections　of　the　wall　pulverised　by　the　siege　tanks。　Gunfire　from
below　slackened　as　the　Iron　Warriors　firing　at　the　parapet　now　holstered　their　weapons　and　began　climbing。
A　face　appeared　above　Honsou。　He　put　a　bolt　through　it　and　carried　on　upwards。　He　risked　a　glance　behind　him。　Perhaps　a　dozen
Iron　Warriors　were　dead　and　they　had　yet　to　clear　the　ramparts。　Honsou　turned　in　time　to　see　an　Imperial　Fist　swing　the　crackling
edge　of　a　power　sword　towards　his　head。　He　threw　himself　flat　against　the　wall；　feeling　the　sword　blade　hack　a　portion　of　his
shoulder　guard　away。　He　rolled　as　the　sword　swung　again；　cutting　through　the　rockcrete　and　sliding　free　in　a　shower　of　orange
sparks　as　it　struck　an　embedded　reinforcement　bar。
Honsou　dragged　his　own　sword　from　its　scabbard　and　rolled　as　he　saw　the　Imperial　Fist　on　the　rampart　draw　back　his　sword　for
another　strike。　Honsou　lunged；　spearing　his　foe　through　the　chest　with　his　sword。　He　hurled　himself　over　the　parapet；　barrelling
into　a　group　of　Guardsmen　rushing　to　plug　the　gap　in　the　walls　and　landing　in　a　tangle　of　limbs。
Honsou　battered　his　elbows　downward；　hearing　screams；　feeling　bones　break　and　skulls　cracking　open。
He　rolled　to　his　knees；　slashing　low　with　his　sword　at　a　charging　Imperial　Fist；　hacking　his　legs　out　from　under　him。　Honsou
reversed　the　grip　on　his　sword　and　hammered　the　blade　through　the　Space　Marine's　helm；　dragging　it　free　in　time　to　block　the
swing　of　another　sword；　this　time　swung　by　an　Imperial　officer　with　a　major's　star　on　his　chest。
Honsou　blocked　a　clumsy　thrust　and　kicked　the　man　in　the　groin；　shattering　his　pelvis　and　dropping　him　screaming　to　the　ground。
'Iron　Warriors　to　me！'　he　bellowed；　clearing　a　space　around　him　with　wide　sweeps　of　his　sword。　Bullets　and　las…bolts　ricocheted
from　his　armour。
Another　two　Iron　Warriors　climbed　over　the　lip　of　the　parapet；　forming　a　wedge　with　Honsou　at　its　point。　Together；　the　Iron
Warriors　hacked　a　path　through　the　Imperial　Guardsmen；　splashing　their　silver　armour　with　blood。
An　Imperial　Fist　sergeant　saw　the　danger　and　charged　towards　Honsou；　firing　his　plasma　pistol　as　he　ran。　Honsou　swayed　aside；
the　beam　streaking　past　him　and　punching　through　the　helmet　of　an　Iron　Warrior　as　he　pulled　himself　over　the　parapet。
Honsou　gripped　his　sword　two…handed　and　charged　to　meet　the　Space　Marine；　diving　forward　and　rolling　beneath　the　swing　of　his
opponent's　blade。　He　rose　to　his　feet　and　cut　high；　decapitating　the　Space　Marine　in　a　single　blow。
Perhaps　a　dozen　Iron　Warriors　had　gained　the　ramparts　and　more　were　flooding　the　walls　as　Honsou's　wedge　pushed　further　into
the　ravelin；　pushing　the　enemy　back　before　them。　Honsou　yelled　in　triumph　as　his　men　spread　out　along　the　walls；　killing
everything　in　their　path。　The　Guardsmen　fell　back　in　the　face　of　such　savagery　and　the　ramparts　were　his。　The　enemy　retreat　was
practically　a　rout；　a　few　Imperial　Fists　all　that　held　it　from　collapsing　completely。
Honsou　leapt　from　the　ramparts　as　he　saw　a　reserve　of　Guardsmen　with　heavy　weapons；　commanded　by　a　junior　officer；　lying　in
wait　in　the　centre　of　the　ravelin。　He　hit　the　ground　and　rolled；　watching　the　officer　gauging　the　correct　moment　to　fire。
The　officer's　sword　swept　down　and　heavy　weapon　fire　raked　the　inner　faces　of　the　ravelin；　pitching　four　Iron　Warriors　from　the
walls。　Bolter　fire　answered　them　and　a　handful　of　men　fell；　clutching　gaping　wounds　in　their　bodies。
Graham　McNeill　？Storm　of　Iron？
The　crescendo　of　guns　and　screaming　soldiers　was　powerful　in　its　intensity　as　battle　was　joined　across　the　walls　and　bastions。
Smoke　billowed　from　fires　set　by　shell　impacts　and　gunfire　that　had　ignited　the　uniforms　of　the　fallen。
More　bolter　shots　tore　amongst　the　Guardsmen　as　the　officer　swept　his　sword　down　again；　but　it　was　too　late。　Honsou　was
amongst　them；　hacking　and　killing　with　frenzied　abandon。　Blood　spurted；　limbs　were　severed　and　entrails　spilled　as　he　tore　the
beating　heart　from　the　defence。
Dozens　more　Iron　Warriors　were　spilling　into　the　ravelin　itself。　Yellow　armoured　Space　Marines　were　like　tiny　islands　of　stubborn
resistance；　but　Honsou　could　see　they　would　soon　be　overwhelmed。
Ahead　he　could　see　the　massive　golden　gate　of　the　citadel；　flanked　by　two　high　towers　and　topped　with　battered　gun　turrets。
Without　siege　tanks　it　was　inviolable；　but　to　the　right　of　the　gate　w