Gunheads(科幻战争)-第37部分

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barely　recognisable　as　Leman　Russ　tanks；　sat　pouring　out　smoke　while　other　tanks　surged　past　them
to　continue　the　push。
The　orks　had　found　their　range；　and　Colonel　Vinnemann　ordered　all　companies　to　fan　out。
Bunching　together；　with　the　full　weight　of　the　ork　defences　raining　down　on　them；　was　suicide。
There　was　still　some　way　to　go　before　the　Cadians　entered　effective　firing　range。　Even　in
Golgotha’s　gravity；　a　standard　Leman　Russ　battle　cannon　could　take　out　targets　at　a　distance　of　over
two　kilometres　but　the　ork　artillery　was　pounding　them　from　twice　that。　Closing　the　gap　at　speed
was　paramount。
Like　her　sister　tanks；　Last　Rites　II　roared　over　the　low　dunes　with　all　her　hatches　closed。　Wulfe
sat　in　the　rear　of　the　turret　basket；　peering　through　the　vision　blocks　that　ringed　the　rim　of　his
cupola；　shouting　instructions　to　his　crew。　“That’s　it；　Metzger。　Keep　her　speed　up。”
Looking　left　along　the　Cadian　line；　he　saw　van　Droi’s　Foe…Breaker　to　his　immediate　right。
Beyond　her；　scores　of　other　tanks　raced　forwards。　It　was　quite　a　sight。　Suddenly；　bright　light　stabbed
at　his　eyes　and　he　grunted　in　pain。　When　he　opened　them　again；　he　was　glad　to　see　van　Droi’s　tank
still　at　his　side。　He　turned　to　look　behind　and　saw　a　burning　black　wreck。　Someone　else　had　been　hit。
Thick　black　smoke　poured　outwards　and　upwards。
That　could　have　been　us；　thought　Wulfe。
Metzger　was　squeezing　every　bit　of　speed　he　could　from　the　old　girl；　pushing　her　forward　at　full
tilt；　her　engine　roaring　like　a　mad　carnotaur；　her　suspension　bouncing　and　juddering；　tossing　the　men
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in　the　turret　basket　around　like　dolls。　There　were　more　flashes　of　light；　more　bone…shaking　booms。
Wulfe　saw　two　more　wrecks　drop　from　the　Cadian　line；　fountains　of　dirt　and　rock　exploding　on　all
sides　as　the　greenskins　continued　to　rain　shells　on　the　rapidly　advancing　Imperial　force。　Van　Droi’s
Vanquisher　had　pulled　ahead。　Wulfe　saw　her　swerve　violently　to　one　side；　just　missing　a　huge　pillar
of　fire　and　dust　that　geysered　upwards　into　the　air。　Van　Droi’s　driver；　Nalzigg；　really　was　good；
thought　Wulfe。　Foe…Breaker　had　escaped　destruction　by　a　hair’s　breadth。　Metzger　must　have　seen　it
too。　A　second　later；　he　swerved　to　avoid　ditching　Last　Rites　II　into　the　crater　caused　by　the
explosion。
Beans　banged　his　head　on　the　metal　housing　of　his　gun　scope。　“Damn　it！”
“Watch　yourself；”　shouted　Wulfe　over　the　cacophony　of　battle。　“Keep　your　eyes　pressed　to　the
scope’s　padding。”
Even　over　the　intercom；　it　was　difficult　to　hear　each　other。　The　artillery　fire；　explosions　and
engine　noise　were　deafening。
“I　want　this　crate　ready　to　fire　the　moment　we　make　range；”　said　Wulfe。　“High　explosives。
We’ve　got　to　take　out　those　wall…guns　so　the　infantry　don’t　get　minced　following　us　in。”
Up　ahead　and　to　the　left；　some　of　the　tanks　from　the　other　companies　had　pressed　forward　into
firing　range；　and　their　guns　began　to　answer　the　orks’。　The　tanks　were　travelling　too　fast　to　fire　with
any　real　accuracy；　but　Wulfe　saw　bright　blossoms　of　fire　burst　into　life　as　shells　hit　the　wall。　It
didn’t　look　like　they　were　very　effective。　The　orks’　answering　barrage；　however；　managed　to
destroy　a　number　of　tanks　from　the　5th　and　8th　Companies。
“By　the　frakking　Eye！”　spat　Wulfe。　“How　can　we　expect　to　hit　anything　in　a　full　sprint？　Who
conceived　this　bloody　plan？”
Metzger　spoke　over　the　intercom。　“We　just　made　range！”
“Beans；”　said　Wulfe；　“line　her　up　on　one　of　those　wall…guns。　The　bigger　the　better。”
“Got　one；”　said　Beans。　“Halfway　up　the　wall　on　our　two　o’clock。　How　about　it？　The　gun…port　to
the　upper　left　of　the　central　gate；　sarge？”
Wulfe　scanned　the　wall　and　found　it。　It　was　one　of　the　biggest　barrels　visible。　A　good　target。　The
muzzle　was　so　damned　wide　a　man　could　have　sat　comfortably　inside　it。
“Nice；”　said　Wulfe。　“Siegler；　high…explosive。　Beans；　zero　in。　It’ll　be　a　tough　shot。　We’ll　have　to
fire　on　the　move。”
“I　can　do　it；　sarge；”　said　Beans。
Siegler　slammed　a　shell　into　the　battle　cannon’s　breech；　yanked　the　locking　lever　and　yelled；
“She’s　lit！”
“Metzger；”　said　Wulfe；　“drop　her　down　into　third　but；　for　Throne’s　sake；　keep　us　moving。
Steady　as　you　can。”
“Aye；　sir；”　said　Metzger。
Last　Rites　II　slowed　abruptly；　and　the　tanks　on　either　side　began　to　pull　further　away　from　her。
Wulfe　barely　noticed。　His　eyes　were　locked　to　the　target。　When　he　felt　that　Metzger　had　her
steady　in　third；　he　called；　“Fire！”
“Brace；”　shouted　Beans；　and　he　stamped　on　the　firing　pedal　with　his　right　foot。　Last　Rites　II
rocked　backwards　with　the　blast。　Three　plumes　of　fire　burst　from　her　cannon；　one　from　the　mouth　of
the　barrel　and　one　from　each　of　the　apertures　in　either　side　of　the　muzzle　brake。
The　turret　basket　filled　with　the　coppery　stink　of　spent　fyceline　propellant。　Wulfe　didn’t　give　it　a
thought。　He　was　watching　the　ork　wall…cannon。　A　fraction　of　a　second　after　Last　Rites　II　spat　her
shell；　a　yellow　ball　of　fire　burst　into　existence　just　below　the　wall…cannon’s　firing　port。　Pieces　of
burning　metal　showered　the　sand　at　the　foot　of　the　wall。　Black　smoke　moved　on　the　breeze。　When　it
cleared；　Wulfe　saw…
Frak！
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“It’s　a　miss；”　he　reported　to　the　crew。　“Metzger！　Floor　it！　Take　her　back　up　to　full　speed。　We
have　to　keep　moving。”
He　took　his　eyes　away　from　the　vision　blocks　for　a　second　and　saw　Beans　hammering　a　fist　onto
his　thigh。
“Damn　it！”　shouted　the　youngster。　“By　the　blasted　Eye。”
Wulfe　leaned　forward　and　gripped　his　shoulder。　“Beat　yourself　up　later；　son。　Right　now；　I　want
another　shot　lined　up。　Siegler？　High…ex。　Now！”
The　loader　didn’t　waste　any　time　confirming。　He　rammed　another　shell　home；　yanked　the
locking　lever　and　shouted；　“Lit；　sarge！”
Come　on；　Beans；　thought　Wulfe。　Concentrate；　boy。
“Metzger；”　said　Wulfe；　“drop　to　third。”
“You’ve　got　it；　sarge；”　said　the　driver。
“Adjust　your　shot；　Beans；”　Wulfe　told　the　gunner。　“Up　a　little。　A　little　more。　We’re　closer　now。
You　ready？”
“I　have　the　shot；”　said　Beans。
“Take　it！”　said　Wulfe。
There　was　a　deep　boom　and　a　rush　of　pungent　smoke。　Last　Rites　II　reared　up　on　her　treads　with
the　power　of　the　recoil；　and　then　hit　the　sand　again　with　a　rough　bounce。　The　main　gun’s　breech　slid
back　and　dumped　the　spent　shell　casing　in　the　brass　catcher　on　the　floor。
Wulfe　held　on　tight；　eyes　scanning　the　wall　through　his　vision　blocks。　The　massive　gun…port
Beans　had　been　aiming　for　erupted　in　bright　red　flame　and　black　smoke。
Debris　exploded　outwards。　Whooping　and　cheering　filled　the　compartment。
“That’s　more　like　it！”　shouted　Wulfe。　“Metzger；　back　up　to　fifth；　now！”
The　engine　roared。　The　base　of　the　wall　was　no　more　than　a　kilometre　away。　The　other
companies　were　already　slowing　to　blast　every　last　gun…port　they　could　see。　Fire　and　smoke　poured
from　the　wall’s　gun…ports　and　toolishers　from　the　8th　and
9th　Companies　were　lobbing　shells　up　onto　the　parapets；　too；　desperate　to　take　out　the　artillery
pieces　before　they　could　shred　the　infantry　vehicles　that　would　follow　in　the　wake　of　the　tanks。
Black　smoke　billowed　up　into　the　sky　from　all　directions。　Angry　fires　blazed　all　around。
From　the　corner　of　his　eye；　Wulfe　saw　a　light　blinking　on　his　vox…board。　He　hit　the　toggle。　It
was　van　Droi。
“Company　leader　to　all　tanks。　We’ve　been　ordered　to　peel　right。　It　doesn’t　look　like　the　orks　are
coming　out　of　their　own　accord　after　all。　Colonel　Vinnemann　is　about　to　kick　their　door　in。”
“Metzger；”　said　Wulfe；　“take　us　right；　parallel　with　the　wall。　Angel　of　the　Apocalypse　is　moving
up。”
Vinnemann’s　massive　Shadowsword　had　so　far　enjoyed　the　cover　of　the　dust　clouds　kicked　up　by
the　other　machines　as　it　rolled　forward；　moving　into　position　to　attack　point　alpha。
One　shot；　thought　Vinnemann。　We’ll　have　one　shot　at　this。　We　absolutely　must　force　a　breach。
Over　the　vox；　he　head　Major　General　Bergen　say；　“Are　you　in　position；　colonel？”
“A　few　more　seconds；　sir；”　Vinnemann　replied。　Then　his　driver　reported　over　the　intercom　that
they　had　position。　The　gunner　confirmed　line…of…sight。　Vinnemann　voxed　back　to　Bergen。　“In
position　now；　sir。　Readying　to　fire。”
“We’re　counting　on　you；　Kochatkis；”　said　Bergen。
Vinnemann　heard　Bergen　notify　all　units　on　the　divisional　command　channel；　“Division　to　all
armour；　be　advised。　Angel　of　the　Apocalypse　is　about　to　fire。　I　repeat；　Angel　is　about　to　fire。”
On　the　tank’s　intercom；　Vinnemann　told　Schwartz；　his　engineer；　“Switch　all　power　to　main　gun。
Tell　me　when　she’s　charged。”
“Yes；　sir。”
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“Vamburg；”　said　Vinnemann；　addressing　his　gunner。　“Full　blast；　full　duration。　Let’s　turn　that
gate　to　vapour。”
“No　worries；　sir。　Ready　to　light　it　up。”
“Capacitors　full；　sir！”　reported　Schwartz。
“Right；　Vamburg；”　said　Vinnemann。　“You　heard　him。　Do　it！”
“Brace　for　firing！”　shouted　the　gunner。
A　hum　filled　the　air　inside　the　tank；　like　thousands　of　voices　joined　in　a　single　tone　that　rose
until　it　drowned　out　all　else。　A　charge　passed　through　Vinnemann’s　twisted　body　as　he　felt　the　space
around　him　vibrate。　The　pain　he　usually　felt　melted　away　for　a　moment　as　the　tone　rose　higher　and
higher。　Then；　suddenly；　the　whole　bulk　of　the　Shadowsword　shook　as　if　it　had　been　kicked　by　a
giant。　Blazing　white　light　burst　from　her　cannon；　lancing　straight　across　the　battlefield；　striking　the
massive　ork　gate　dead　centre。
The　air　shook　with　a　massive　thunderous　crack。　The　iron　gate　glowed　blindingly　bright　for　an
instant；　and　then　seemed　to　vanish　completely　just　as　if　it　had　never　been　there　at　all。　The　armoured
wall　all　around　it　glowed　white；　then　yellow；　then　orange　and　red。　Gobs　of　molten　metal　began　to
rain　down　on　the　ground。　Seconds　later；　the　armour…plating　had　cooled　again　and　solidified。　It
looked　like　melted　wax。
The　wall　was　breached。　The　18th　Army　Group　had　its　passage；　but　the　battle　was　just　beginning。
Beyond　the　hole；　ork　structures　burned；　damaged　by　the　destructive　energy　that　spilled　through　from
the　Shadowsword’s　powerful　blast。
Vinnemann　surveyed　the　results　of　his　crew’s　efforts　and　opened　a　vox…link　to　Major　General
Bergen。　“Objective　achieved；　sir。　Point　alpha　is　open。　The　wall　has　been　breached。　But　we　must
secure　it　at　once。”
Bergen；　in　turn；　voxed　the　rest　of　his　forces。　“Division　Command　to　all　units。　Move　up　and
secure　the　breach　at　all　costs。　I　repeat；　secure　the　breach　at　once。”
Through　his　vision　blocks；　Vinnemann　saw　scores　of　tanks　wheel　around　and　race　for　the　gap　he
had　just　made。
“Schwartz；”　he　called　over　his　intercom；　“all　power　to　the　main　drive。　We’ve　got　to　move。”
Already；　the　ork　artillery　had　started　cutting　a　deadly　path　of　dirt　and　fire　towards　Angel　of　the
Apocalypse。　More　and　more　of　the　ork　guns　swivelled　to　focus　on　her。
“Vamburg；”　said　Vinnemann。　“Fine　shot。　But　get　some　bloody　smoke　up；　will　you？　Bekker；　pull
us　straight　back　as　soon　as　you　can。　We’re　a　sitting　target　out　here。”
“All　power　back　to　main　drive；　sir；”　reported　Schwartz。　“Ready　to　move　her　on　your　say。”
“Good　man；”　said　Vinnemann。　“You　heard　him；　Bekker。　Get　us　out　of　here。”
A　trio　of　heavy　shells　struck　the　earth　just　in　front　of　the　Angel’s　hull；　making　a　tight　triple…beat
of　explosions。　The　blast　waves　ro