【戰(zhàn)錘40K·小說(shuō)節(jié)譯】遠(yuǎn)見(jiàn)的空育之道：西卡琉斯受擒記
本文節(jié)選自 Phil Kelly 所著英文小說(shuō)《Blades of Damocles》，該譯文作為練習(xí)僅為個(gè)人與交流使用，不用作商業(yè)用途。
在自由下落的八連被震至四散零落前的那一刻，努米托做好了準(zhǔn)備，當(dāng)下墜的矢量與壓力波撞到一起時(shí)，所有的連貫性都蕩然無(wú)存了。努米托的頭盔在劇烈地晃動(dòng)著，在一片紊亂的讀數(shù)中，他努力地試圖找回某種凝聚力。盡管他因自己的巨斧而失去了平衡，但他依然緊緊地將其握在手中。在花了一點(diǎn)時(shí)間找回平衡后，他回到了正在重組隊(duì)形的小隊(duì)之中。
Numitor braced himself a moment before the freefalling Eighth were scattered, all coherence lost as their drop vector was hit by the pressure wave. Flung high with his helm readouts haywire, Numitor fought to claw back some kind of cohesion. His greataxe was throwing his balance off, but he held it tight. It took him a moment to find his equilibrium and rejoin his squad as they pulled back into formation.
在一群同袍的伴隨下，只見(jiàn)那臺(tái)猩紅色的戰(zhàn)斗服從南邊的黑暗之中向他們直撲而來(lái)。這支精英小隊(duì)從一處屋頂上驟然升起，接著又是另一處，然后在一片飛揚(yáng)的塵土中，（它們）落到了第三個(gè)屋頂上。
The crimson warsuit, attended by a cluster of its fellows, was bounding towards them from the darkness of the south. The elite team blasted from one roof, then another, touching down on the third in a cloud of dust.
“西卡琉斯！” 努米托大聲喊道，“那個(gè)異形軍閥就在炮塔的后面！”
'Sicarius!' shouted Numitor. 'Behind the gun towers! The xenos warlord!'
“我看到他了，” 西卡琉斯冷酷的說(shuō)道，“正在進(jìn)行攔截?！?/strong>
'I see him,' said Sicarius grimly. 'Intercepting now.'
“跟我來(lái)，” 努米托在通話器里向自己的小隊(duì)如此說(shuō)道，他猛地張開(kāi)雙腿，然后啟動(dòng)了跳躍背包，從而好讓自己能夠向那座擁有圓形屋頂?shù)牧切吴佔(zhàn)遘娛陆ㄖw去。由背包中的渦輪機(jī)組所產(chǎn)生的強(qiáng)大動(dòng)力簡(jiǎn)直令人難以置信——?dú)W米德提供的燃料真是讓人大開(kāi)眼界。
'With me,' voxed Numitor to his squad. Flinging out his legs, he engaged his jump pack and hurtled towards the hex structure with the circular crest of the tau military. The sheer power of the pack's turbines was incredible – the fuel Omnid had provided was a revelation.
努米托的注意力暫時(shí)被吸引到了那一串正在高塔周圍無(wú)聲滑行的傳送器上。那里面有許多模糊的身影。其瘦長(zhǎng)的體型熟悉得令人感到有些不可思議。
Numitor's attention was drawn for a moment to the chain of transmotives sliding soundlessly around the perimeter of the tower. Indistinct figures massed inside. Something about their rangy silhouettes was strangely familiar.
接著，努米托的死亡信號(hào)開(kāi)始“嗶嗶”作響，然后兩發(fā)導(dǎo)彈便從他的身邊飛了過(guò)去，它們?cè)诎Ｄ嵬械淖o(hù)肩和髖胯上爆炸了。
Then Numitor's mortis signals blipped, and a pair of missiles shot past him, exploding upon Enitor's pauldron and hip.
只聽(tīng)這位老兵在失去控制的那一刻叫了一聲：“我被干掉了！”
The veteran cried out as he spiralled out of control. 'I'm down!'
“我們要讓他們付出代價(jià)，” 努米托惡狠狠地說(shuō)道。三臺(tái)鈦?zhàn)宓膽?zhàn)斗服正在向他們逼近，只見(jiàn)細(xì)小的菱狀等離子正從對(duì)方肩膀上的四聯(lián)加農(nóng)炮中疾噴而出。努米托扭轉(zhuǎn)身形試圖躲開(kāi)，但是對(duì)方打得很準(zhǔn)，因此那波齊射是避無(wú)可避的。
'We will make them pay,' said Numitor grimly. Three of the tau warsuits were boosting towards them, the quad-cannons on their shoulders spitting thin lozenges of plasma. Numitor twisted away, but their aim was sound, and the volleys were unavoidable.
“迎接沖擊！” 他大聲喊道。
'Brace!' he shouted.
一個(gè)閃耀的能量球驟然亮起，只見(jiàn)他毫發(fā)無(wú)傷地從（那波彈矢）中飛了過(guò)去。
A flaring sphere of energy, and he rocketed through, unscathed.
“是鐵光環(huán)，連長(zhǎng)，” 藥劑師德雷科斯如此說(shuō)道，“習(xí)慣了就好。”
'Iron halo, captain,' said Apothecary Drekos. 'Get used to it.'
努米托在自己的頭盔里深深地喘了一口氣，他因阿瑟斯的遺贈(zèng)之禮而向?qū)Ψ侥轮x。
Numitor released a deep breath inside his helm, silently thanking Atheus for the gift from beyond the grave.
又有兩發(fā)導(dǎo)彈從位于下方的那群戰(zhàn)斗服那里向他們疾馳而來(lái)。這一回努米托做好了準(zhǔn)備，只見(jiàn)他用巨斧橫揮闊掃，將兩枚導(dǎo)彈盡數(shù)拍開(kāi)，然后縱身從由此產(chǎn)生的焰云中穿了過(guò)去。由于斧頭的揮舞幅度實(shí)在是大的離譜，所以那股勁頭很可能會(huì)讓他就此失去平衡。然而這一次，努米托扭轉(zhuǎn)身體借勢(shì)而行，他就像一道藍(lán)色的閃電一樣，向著那三臺(tái)異形的戰(zhàn)斗服射了過(guò)去。
Another pair of missiles streaked up towards them from the warsuit group below. This time Numitor was ready, batting them both away with a wide sweep of his greataxe and bursting through the resultant cloud of flame. The axe's swing was absurdly heavy, and the momentum threatened to unbalance him. This time he went with it, twisting around as he shot like a bolt of blue lightning towards the three xenos warsuits.
抱著對(duì)直覺(jué)的信任，他將這把手工打造的武器掄成了一道圓弧。
He brought the artefact weapon around in a wide loop, trusting to his instincts.
戰(zhàn)斧的刃口狠狠地劈中了第一臺(tái)戰(zhàn)斗服，那股力道是如此之大，以至于對(duì)方的胸部被劈成了兩爿，里面的那位被砍中的駕駛員的肉質(zhì)殘軀頓時(shí)在一片鮮血與火花中從控制座椅上飛濺而出。片刻之后，努米托便一肩撞上了那臺(tái)機(jī)器的余骸。它往后飛了過(guò)去，然后將身后的那臺(tái)正試圖躲開(kāi)的戰(zhàn)斗服撞得失去了平衡?？吹竭@個(gè)破綻，努米托猛地伸出手去，將戰(zhàn)斧橫在了對(duì)方的飛行路徑上。斧刃的利緣將第二臺(tái)戰(zhàn)斗服的腦袋從脖子上割了下來(lái)，只見(jiàn)對(duì)方就像急速旋轉(zhuǎn)的紡錘一般一頭撞到了下方的高塔之上，然后在一團(tuán)炸起的巖塵的中迎來(lái)了自己的末日。
The axe's edge struck the first warsuit so hard it ripped the chest unit in two, the fleshy ruin of the hewn pilot inside flying out of the control seat in an explosion of blood and sparks. A split second later Numitor collided shoulder-first with the machine's remains. It flew backwards into the warsuit behind it, knocking it off-balance as it tried to dodge past. Numitor saw an opening and thrust the axe out one-handed right into its path. The edge of the blade clipped the second battlesuit's head unit from its neck, sending it spinning end over end to smash into the tower below in an explosion of rock dust.
“天鷹佑我，” 努米托驚訝地說(shuō)道。
'Blessed aquila,' said Numitor in surprise.
“對(duì)于我們新任的劊子手領(lǐng)主來(lái)說(shuō)，這還真是一個(gè)恰如其分的開(kāi)端！” 維爾魯一邊笑著用戰(zhàn)斗盾牌撞開(kāi)了一枚疾轉(zhuǎn)而至的導(dǎo)彈，一邊將動(dòng)力劍從那臺(tái)（朝他）開(kāi)火的戰(zhàn)斗服的脖子里捅了進(jìn)去。
'A fitting start for our new Lord Executioner!' laughed Vellu as he knocked a veering missile aside with his combat shield, thrusting his power sword down through the neck of the warsuit that had fired it.
“鼓勁的話等會(huì)再說(shuō)吧，維爾魯，” 德雷科斯如此說(shuō)道，“盯緊它們！”
'Time for back-slapping later, Vellu,' said Drekos. 'At them!'
在給出致命的一擊后，從高塔上一掠而過(guò)的努米托將自己的雙腳扎在了一座突兀的須狀列陣上。只見(jiàn)他一躍而起，從一座支離破碎的炮塔上跳了過(guò)去，他的指揮小隊(duì)隨即跟進(jìn)。
Numitor, overshooting the tower after his deadly strike, planted his feet on a jutting antennae array instead. He sprung upwards to bound over the remains of a shattered gun tower, his command squad following suit.
他們剛一踏上塔頂?shù)倪吘?，努米托的世界就炸成了一片亮光。一道撲面而?lái)的等離子風(fēng)暴向他的小隊(duì)襲了過(guò)去，在漫天飛舞的氣化血霧中，德雷科斯、維爾魯和扎埃圖斯被轟的從高塔的圓墻上翻了下去。努米托也被打了個(gè)正著，但是其鐵光環(huán)的能量讓第一波齊射化為了烏有，接著又驅(qū)散了第二波。而隨著一連串的沖擊，第三波齊射疼的就像是刀割一般。只見(jiàn)努米托十分難看地砸到了滿是瓦礫的地上，那股力道是如此之大，以至于他四腳朝天地倒在了一堆燃燒的殘肢上，連阿瑟斯的巨斧都（被震得）脫手而飛了。
As soon as they crested the lip, Numitor’s world exploded into light. A horizontal storm of plasma greeted his squad, blasting Drekos, Vellu and Zaetus back over the rounded wall of the tower in a shower of vaporised blood. Numitor was struck too, but the energies of his iron halo dissipated the first volley, then the second. The third hit with a series of stabbing, agonising impacts. Numitor crashed awkwardly to the rubble-strewn ground, his momentum sending him tumbling head over heels to land in a smoking pile of limbs as Atheus' greataxe skittered away.
那臺(tái)猩紅色的戰(zhàn)斗服從他上方赫然聳現(xiàn)，它的保鏢緊隨其后，而對(duì)方的圓柱形等離子槍管更是對(duì)準(zhǔn)了他的腦袋。
The crimson warsuit loomed over him, its bodyguards close behind and the barrel of its cylindrical plasma gun levelled at his head.
“真是令人失望，” 它用帶有口音的低哥特語(yǔ)如此說(shuō)道。
'Disappointing,' it said in accented Low Gothic.
只聽(tīng)西卡琉斯小隊(duì)咔噠一聲從上方?jīng)_進(jìn)了敵軍之中，緊接著，從他們的爆矢手槍中傳來(lái)了一連串的爆炸。雖然那臺(tái)猩紅色的戰(zhàn)斗服僅僅只是分心了片刻，但努米托早已滾了開(kāi)去。然后西卡琉斯便沖到了它們當(dāng)中，只見(jiàn)他回旋疾轉(zhuǎn)，其手中的塔拉薩之劍更是在斬?cái)鄬?duì)方的腿腳、手腕和武器時(shí)化成了一團(tuán)模糊不清的幻影。從他手槍中射出的那道等離子更是將第一臺(tái)戰(zhàn)斗服打得連連后退，其爭(zhēng)取到的時(shí)間之久足以讓他將利劍刺入對(duì)方腰部的萬(wàn)向節(jié)下方，然后就此捅進(jìn)了駕駛艙中。就在第二臺(tái)戰(zhàn)斗服的回旋式加農(nóng)炮準(zhǔn)備開(kāi)火的時(shí)候，它的腿上捱了一記猛踢。而西卡琉斯早已繞到了它的下方，在跳躍背包引擎的催谷下，他一個(gè)猛沖用肩膀?qū)?duì)方頂?shù)搅藟ι?。在它還沒(méi)來(lái)得及恢復(fù)正常之前，西卡琉斯就用自己的等離子手槍打穿了那玩意的觀察孔，那道斜射而出的藍(lán)色爆能光波標(biāo)志著駕駛員的死亡。
There was a clattering thud as Squad Sicarius slammed into the enemy from above, closely followed by a string of explosions from their bolt pistol fire. The crimson warsuit was only distracted for the briefest moment, but Numitor was already rolling away. Then Sicarius was in the thick of them, spinning and whirling, his Talassarian blade a blur as it cut through legs, wrists and weapons. A burst of plasma from his pistol knocked back the first warsuit long enough for him to ram his blade up under its waist gimbal and into the cockpit. A sharp kick took the leg from the second even as its rotary cannon spat fire. Sicarius was already under it, a shoulder-lunge boosted by his jump pack's engines slamming the thing into the wall. Before it could right itself Sicarius fired his plasma pistol through the thing's vision slit, a sidelong blast of blue light marking the pilot's demise.
一支由三臺(tái)戰(zhàn)斗服組成的小隊(duì)正在附近盤(pán)旋，只見(jiàn)它們的武器對(duì)準(zhǔn)了西卡琉斯的后背。登圖里斯就像一頭沖鋒的公牛一樣向它們一頭撞了過(guò)去，當(dāng)他的鏈鋸雙劍用噬穿金屬的方式將對(duì)手的炮管一一切下時(shí)，它們發(fā)出了刺耳的尖叫。維萊坦和科尼德一邊闊步前進(jìn)一邊用爆矢手槍向（戰(zhàn)斗服的）目鏡和關(guān)節(jié)開(kāi)火，猶豫不決的鈦?zhàn)鍛?zhàn)斗服紛紛被爆炸撕成了碎片。要是沒(méi)有凱托羅斯沖上前去的話，那么另一支小隊(duì)就會(huì)殺至眼前，只見(jiàn)他的火焰噴射器噴出了一道如同間歇泉一般的钷素之焰，其烈度是如此之強(qiáng)，以至于戰(zhàn)斗服被打得直往后退。它們那熊熊燃燒的軀體踉踉蹌蹌的走了開(kāi)去，其中兩臺(tái)就像噼啪作響的火球一樣從高塔的邊緣上掉了下去。第三臺(tái)開(kāi)始向上盤(pán)旋，它就像是一只在空中燃燒的惡魔一樣，然后，它便被西卡琉斯用一發(fā)等離子彈矢炸成了碎片。歐米德的燃料煉金術(shù)獲得了十幾倍的回報(bào)，對(duì)于這位殉道者來(lái)說(shuō) ，下方的鈦?zhàn)寤鹪岫咽且环萸∪缙浞值募榔贰?/strong>
A team of three warsuits hovered in close, weapons levelled at Sicarius’ back. Denturis hit them like a charging bull, twin chainswords shrieking as they gnawed through metal to take the barrels from their guns one after another. Veletan and Colnid fired bolt pistols at joints and sensors as they strode in, the explosions tearing the hesitating tau suits into pieces. Another team hove into view, only for Kaetoros to slam down in front of them, his flamer blasting a geyser of promethium flame so intense it knocked the warsuits backwards. Their blazing hulks staggered away, two falling back over the edge of the tower as crackling fireballs. The third hovered upward, a burning devil in the sky, before a plasma shot from Sicarius blasted it limb from limb. Omnid’s alchemy with the fuel had paid off a dozen times over, the pyre of dead tau below a fitting tribute to his martyrdom.
那臺(tái)猩紅色的戰(zhàn)斗服于突然之間一飛沖天，當(dāng)它飛到圍繞在至高六角塔樓周圍的藍(lán)色光圈上時(shí)，只見(jiàn)其跳躍背包上的飛行翼片以一定的角度傾了起來(lái)。
Suddenly the crimson warsuit shot upwards, the flight vanes on its jet pack angling as it soared up to the ring of blue lights circling the highest of the hex-towers.
“追上去！” 西卡琉斯大聲喊道，“把它圍起來(lái)！”
'After it!' shouted Sicarius. 'Surround it!'
一團(tuán)反向爆炸的火焰隨之燃起，然后便是一股钷素的惡臭，西卡琉斯小隊(duì)跟著異形指揮官?zèng)_進(jìn)了黑暗的天空之中。
A backblast of flame, a cloud of promethium stink, and Squad Sicarius hurtled after the xenos commander into the darkening skies.
努米托將自己的斧頭取了回來(lái)，他的脖子在戰(zhàn)甲進(jìn)行診斷的時(shí)候噼里啪啦地響個(gè)不停。雖然他受了傷，但還沒(méi)有到需要退出戰(zhàn)斗的程度，相比之下，扎埃圖斯和維爾魯?shù)膫獓?yán)重得多。他們的狀況徽記都顯示為遭受重創(chuàng)的紅色。德雷科斯發(fā)出了螺旋符文；他正在下面照料他們的傷口，然而在戰(zhàn)斗結(jié)束之前，他們是回不來(lái)的。
Numitor recovered his axe, cracking his neck as his battleplate ran diagnostics. He was hurt, but not out of the fight, more than could be said for Zaetus and Vellu. Their status sigils all showed the red of critical damage. Drekos sent the helix rune; he was down there attending to their wounds, but they would not be back in the fray before it was over.
“謝謝你，卡托，” 努米托對(duì)著正在上方夜空中漸漸消失的藍(lán)色火焰如此說(shuō)道，“總有一天我會(huì)還你這個(gè)人情的?！?/strong>
'Thank you, Cato,' said Numitor to the blue flames disappearing into the night above. 'I will repay the favour someday.'
“我們可是兄弟啊，難道不是嗎？”從通訊器里傳來(lái)了回復(fù)，“現(xiàn)在趕緊站起來(lái)，然后讓那把超大號(hào)的切肉刀派上點(diǎn)用場(chǎng)！”
'We are brothers, are we not?' came the reply over the vox. 'Now get back up and put that oversized meat cleaver to use!'
努米托自顧自地笑了起來(lái)，然后他乘著一道火柱縱身躍入了夜空之中。
Smiling to himself, Numitor leaped up into the night on a pillar of flame.
正當(dāng)喬魯斯·努米托扶搖直上之際，那座至高之塔的燈光開(kāi)始閃爍起來(lái)，它在黑暗中散發(fā)著金色的光芒。
The lights of the tallest tower flashed by, gold in the darkness, as Jorus Numitor shot upward.
“能獲準(zhǔn)加入你嗎，連長(zhǎng)？”
'Permission to join you, captain?'
只見(jiàn)馬格羅斯呼嘯著飛到了他的身邊，對(duì)方的腰際上扣著那頂紅色的士官頭盔，而特隆多利斯的那把六英尺長(zhǎng)的裂人鋸正橫在他的肩頭。
Magros roared up alongside him, the red helm of the sergeant clamped at his waist and Trondoris' six-foot eviscerator held across his shoulder.
“非常樂(lè)意，” 努米托如此說(shuō)道，“這次不打算戴頭盔了？”
'Very much so,' said Numitor. 'Decided against the helm this time?'
“理性處事了二十八年，” 馬格羅斯回答說(shuō)，“是該讓我的臉吹吹風(fēng)了?！?/strong>
'Twenty-eight years of doing things sensibly,' came the reply. 'It is time to feel the wind in my face.'
余下的馬庫(kù)拉格人呼嘯而上，他們紛紛趕來(lái)與努米托一同并肩奮戰(zhàn)。戈洛坦草草地敬了一個(gè)天行禮，其龜裂的陶鋼被遍及胸口、如同蛛網(wǎng)一般的焊紋接為了一體。
The rest of the Macraggians roared upwards, coming alongside Numitor as one. Golotan, his cracked ceramite welded whole in a spider-web tracery across his chest, sketched an aerial salute.
“由你來(lái)打前鋒實(shí)在是讓人安心不少，” 多洛爾如此說(shuō)道，他的那把正在充能的等離子手槍就握在自己的雙手之中，“能迎接你的歸來(lái)真是令人感到高興?！?/strong>
'To have you at the tip of the spear is a relief,' said Duolor, holding his plasma pistol in both hands at his side as it recharged. 'And to welcome you back is a pleasure.'
“那臺(tái)紅色的戰(zhàn)斗服將我們引入了一個(gè)垂直的陷阱之中，” 奧爾德斯如此說(shuō)道，他的跳躍背包在其俯沖至距六角高塔一掌之遙的地方時(shí)發(fā)出了亮光，“我們可不能變成輕易中招的靶子啊。”
'The red warsuit leads us into a vertical trap,' said Aordus, jump pack flaring as he swooped within a hand's breath of the hex-tower. 'Let us not make an easy target.'
“好建議，奧爾德斯，” 努米托如此說(shuō)道，“所有人靠近墻壁，把破片手雷準(zhǔn)備好?！?/strong>
'Good advice, Aordus,' said Numitor. 'Everyone close to the wall, and ready frags.'
連長(zhǎng)的油量計(jì)已經(jīng)降到了很低的位置，但（殘余的燃料）依然足以抵達(dá)塔頂。鈦?zhàn)宓闹笓]官一直都在指望限制星際戰(zhàn)士的接觸范圍，但他再一次低估了八連——而努米托要讓他為這個(gè)錯(cuò)誤付出高昂的代價(jià)。
The captain's fuel gauge was dropping low, but there was still enough to get to the top of the tower. The tau commander had been banking on the Assault Marines having limited reach, but once again he had underestimated the Eighth – and Numitor intended to make him pay dearly for the error.
或許，奧爾德斯是對(duì)的，努米托將會(huì)重蹈覆轍，那個(gè)錯(cuò)誤會(huì)讓他賠上整支指揮小隊(duì)。
Either that, or Aordus was right, and Numitor was about to repeat the mistake that had cost him his command squad.
至高塔樓的外部裝飾著閃閃發(fā)光的金色球體，接著便是一條類似于玻璃鋼的夜光條帶，除了燈光之外，遠(yuǎn)處的觀景長(zhǎng)廊里什么都沒(méi)有。
The giant gold orbs that studded the exterior of the tallest hex-tower flashed by, then a luminous strip of glasteel-analogue, the viewing gallery beyond empty of all but light.
“卡爾加的子民們！” 他大聲喊道，“讓我來(lái)承接第一波火力！剩下的就由你們慢慢燒掉！手榴彈聽(tīng)我號(hào)令！”
'Calgarians!' he shouted. 'Let me take the first volley! The rest of you burn slow! Grenades on my mark!'
突擊星際戰(zhàn)士往后退了一點(diǎn)，（其距離）足以讓他們聲稱自己已經(jīng)遵守了命令，但這樣一來(lái)的話，某些向努米托射去的彈矢就擋不住了。連長(zhǎng)懊惱地咬緊了牙關(guān)。沒(méi)時(shí)間去斥責(zé)他們了。
The Assault Marines fell back a little, enough to claim they had followed the order, but not enough to prevent them from taking some of the shots meant for Numitor if it came to it. The captain clenched his teeth in frustration. No time to reprimand them.
“扔！”
'Now!'
四枚破片手雷向上直擲而去，只見(jiàn)它們紛紛爆炸，將塔頂籠罩在了毀滅性的彈片之雹中。努米托攀上了高塔的邊緣，準(zhǔn)備迎接一場(chǎng)等離子風(fēng)暴。
Four frag grenades were flung upwards, cresting the tower's roof to detonate in a devastating hail of shrapnel. Numitor braced himself for a storm of plasma as he crested the lip of the tower.
然而什么事都沒(méi)有發(fā)生。
Nothing.
西卡琉斯站在塔頂?shù)闹醒?，他的風(fēng)暴之刃以持劍的架勢(shì)向外探出，而他的小隊(duì)則緊隨其后。那臺(tái)孤零零的猩紅色戰(zhàn)斗服就站在他的面前，大概隔了二十英尺的距離，其前臂上的箱型爆能槍架在了一根長(zhǎng)管等離子武器和一面閃閃發(fā)光的力場(chǎng)圓碟的后方。
Sicarius stood in the centre of the roof, his tempest blade held out wide with his squad close by. The crimson battlesuit stood alone before him, maybe twenty feet distant, the boxy blaster on its forearm held behind a long-barrelled plasma weapon and a shimmering disc of force.
努米托正要沖上去大開(kāi)殺戒，但他認(rèn)出了西卡琉斯中士擺出的架勢(shì)，他之前曾經(jīng)見(jiàn)過(guò)。
Numitor was about to hurtle in for the kill when he recognised when he had seen Sergeant Sicarius' stance before.
那是進(jìn)行塔拉薩榮譽(yù)對(duì)決的準(zhǔn)備姿勢(shì)。
It was the en garde of a Talassarian honour duel.
遠(yuǎn)見(jiàn)司令官仔細(xì)地打量著面前這位星際戰(zhàn)士身上的每一個(gè)細(xì)節(jié)。這個(gè)生物身材敦實(shí)，然而卻很有力量——盡管他只有戰(zhàn)斗服的一半大小，而且武器也沒(méi)有那么精良。但他曾經(jīng)見(jiàn)識(shí)過(guò)對(duì)方的戰(zhàn)斗。他們強(qiáng)壯有力，行動(dòng)迅速，而且意志堅(jiān)定；那些戴著染色頭盔的更是他們當(dāng)中最出色的精英。
Commander Farsight took in every detail of the Space Marine warrior that faced him. The creature was stocky, but powerful – half the size of a battlesuit and nowhere near as well armed. But he had seen these creatures fight. They were strong, fast, and determined; those that wore the coloured helms of their elite most of all.
這個(gè)家伙，從它的架勢(shì)來(lái)看，是想跟他單打獨(dú)斗啊。
This one, by its stance, wanted to fight him and him alone.
遠(yuǎn)見(jiàn)感受到了火焰圣典施加在他身上的分量。他還剩下一些應(yīng)急手段：事實(shí)上，有兩個(gè)。然而他根本就無(wú)法拒絕這場(chǎng)對(duì)決——哪怕在方圓百里之內(nèi)連一個(gè)活人都沒(méi)有——而他的戰(zhàn)士無(wú)論如何都不會(huì)對(duì)它進(jìn)行干涉的，因?yàn)槟鞘窃谶`反圣典。這是鈦星人與人類的對(duì)決，是上上善道與人類帝國(guó)的對(duì)抗。兩個(gè)太空帝國(guó)的沖突將由兩名敵對(duì)的戰(zhàn)斗化身概而括之。
Farsight felt the weight of the Code of Fire upon him. He had contingencies left: two of them, in fact. But there was no way he would refuse this duel, even if there were no other living soul within a hundred leagues – and no way his warriors would breach the code by interrupting it. This was tau against human, the Greater Good versus the Imperium of Man. The clash of two spacefaring empires epitomised by two rival avatars of battle.
這是沒(méi)法回絕的啊。
It could not be denied.
“你叫什么名字，劍士？”
'Your name, bladesman?'
“塔拉薩的卡托·西卡琉斯中士，（隸屬于）極限戰(zhàn)士第八連?！?/span>
'Sergeant Cato Sicarius of Talassar, Ultramarines Eighth Company.'
“我叫夏斯'歐·維歐'拉·肖瓦·凱斯·蒙特'耶爾，第二次星穹擴(kuò)張的司令官?！?/strong>
'I am called Shas'o Vior'la Shovah Kais Mont'yr, Commander of the Second Sphere.'
“對(duì)我而言那是毫無(wú)意義的噪音，異形。為了人類帝國(guó)和那些被你殺掉的手足兄弟，我要取下你的首級(jí)。”
'Meaningless noise to me, alien. I will take your head, for the Imperium and for those of my brothers you have killed.'
“那么你就叫我死神吧！”
'Then you may call me death!'
遠(yuǎn)見(jiàn)向前疾沖而去，他舉起了自己的步槍，然后朝著鳩'榮'剎打出了兩發(fā)等離子爆能波，只聽(tīng)一面面榮譽(yù)三角旗在他身后獵獵作響。就像司令官預(yù)想的那樣，他的對(duì)手朝一旁跳了過(guò)去。為了砍掉那名戰(zhàn)士的雙腿，遠(yuǎn)見(jiàn)將熱熔爆能槍的光束向著離地兩英尺左右的高度掃了過(guò)去，然而那名劍士已經(jīng)用跳躍背包的一記短噴讓自己從上方跳了過(guò)去。待與XV8的頭部齊平之后，那名星際戰(zhàn)士重腿出擊，差點(diǎn)就把傳感節(jié)點(diǎn)從戰(zhàn)斗服的脖子上踹下來(lái)，這讓遠(yuǎn)見(jiàn)控制繭艙里的屏幕在那極為關(guān)鍵的一秒鐘里發(fā)生了紊亂。
Farsight sprinted forward, honour pennants fluttering behind him as he raised his rifle and fired a double blast of plasma at the gue'ron'sha. His adversary was already leaping aside, just as the commander knew he would. Farsight swept his fusion blaster's beam around two feet from the ground to take the warrior's legs, but the bladesman was already leaping over it with a blast of his jump pack. Level with the XV8's head, the Space Marine kicked out hard, almost tearing the sensor node from the battlesuit's neck and sending Farsight's control cocoon screens haywire for a critical second.
遠(yuǎn)見(jiàn)聽(tīng)到了一陣如同犬吠一般的笑聲，他感受到了——而非看到了——那把疾劈而下的利劍。他舉起了盾牌，然后眨了眨眼睛將它的力場(chǎng)調(diào)至最大。當(dāng)分解性武器和護(hù)盾的科技碰撞在一起時(shí)，一股熾烈的相斥能量驟然爆發(fā)，但遠(yuǎn)見(jiàn)的發(fā)生器要強(qiáng)勁的多，于是利刃就此滑開(kāi)。
Farsight heard a barking laugh, and sensed rather than saw the sword descending. He raised his shield, eye-flicking its field to maximum. There was a blaze of warring energies as disruption weapon fought shield technology, but Farsight's generator was far more powerful, and the blade slid away.
星際戰(zhàn)士“砰”的一聲落在了地上，而遠(yuǎn)見(jiàn)則啟動(dòng)了他的反沖噴射器，他的戰(zhàn)斗服在離地?cái)?shù)英尺的高度上徐徐后滑。這名戰(zhàn)士舉起了一把槍管肥碩的等離子佩槍，然后在前沖之際抬手就是一槍，同時(shí)還用利劍劃出了一個(gè)8字型。這是一記狡猾的花招，遠(yuǎn)見(jiàn)的護(hù)盾發(fā)生器亮了一下，將那發(fā)等離子彈矢就此擋下，然而乘著重新充能的微小延遲，對(duì)方的利刃不僅從XV8的軀干砍下了一大塊，還斬掉了右側(cè)大腿的絕大部分。他的損害控制中心開(kāi)始閃爍起來(lái)，其戰(zhàn)斗服的微型全息影像更是在受傷之處亮起了紅光。在踉蹌后退的同時(shí)，遠(yuǎn)見(jiàn)橫心踢了一腳。令他稍感寬慰的是，這一腳重重地踢在了踴身而進(jìn)的星際戰(zhàn)士身上，對(duì)方頓時(shí)被踢得在以太高塔塔頂?shù)拇罄硎匣似饋?lái)。
The Space Marine landed with a thump, and Farsight triggered his repulsor jets, his battlesuit gliding backwards a few feet from the ground. Raising a fat-barrelled plasma sidearm, the warrior took a shot as he ran forward with his blade carving in a figure of eight. A canny ploy; Farsight's generator flared to prevent the plasma bolt, and in the miniscule lag of recharge his opponent's blade slashed away a big chunk of the XV8's torso and much of its right thigh. His damage control hub flashed, the tiny holographic doppelganger of his suit glowing red where the wounds had been inflicted. Farsight staggered backwards, kicking out in desperation. To his relief the blow connected as the Space Marine came in hard, sending him skidding along the white marble of the Ethereal Tower's roof.
隨著一陣跳躍噴射器的轟鳴，那名戰(zhàn)士返身逼了過(guò)來(lái)，于是遠(yuǎn)見(jiàn)射出了本打算在飛開(kāi)之后用來(lái)結(jié)束這場(chǎng)對(duì)決的等離子步槍彈。敵人將那柄閃閃發(fā)光的利刃再度劈下，司令官舉起了盾牌——卻發(fā)現(xiàn)這只是一場(chǎng)佯攻。星際戰(zhàn)士改變了他的劍勢(shì)，只見(jiàn)對(duì)方揮劍一斬，等離子步槍的槍管頓時(shí)應(yīng)聲而斷，仿佛它就像是一管紙筒一樣。緊接著一記直踢正中簇型艙蓋，遠(yuǎn)見(jiàn)（被踢的）向后轉(zhuǎn)了一下，他眨了下眼睛啟動(dòng)了反沖噴射器，以防自己就此倒下。
With a blast of jump jets the warrior was straight back in, the plasma rifle shots with which Farsight had intended to end the duel flying wide. His adversary's glowing blade came down again, and the commander raised his shield – only to realise it was a feint. The Space Marine reversed the sword's course, span it, and sheared the barrel from his plasma rifle with no more effort than if it had been a paper tube. A straight kick in the plexus followed, and Farsight reeled backwards, eye-flicking his repulsor jets to keep from going over.
這名對(duì)手的力量在于其好狠斗勇的性格、精湛的技巧和無(wú)限的自信之中。
This foe's strength was in aggression, skill and limitless confidence.
那個(gè)戰(zhàn)士以相同的路數(shù)再度沖了上來(lái)。失去平衡的遠(yuǎn)見(jiàn)在那柄利劍的劍尖上看到了自己的末日。這一回，（對(duì)方那）熱氣騰騰的等離子佩槍雖然發(fā)出了白光，但卻未能射出彈矢。處決被延期了。這時(shí)，一道靈光倏然乍現(xiàn)——與歐'凱斯在坎'吉山上的那場(chǎng)決斗，那記揮棍，時(shí)機(jī)恰到好處。歐'凱斯搖搖晃晃地從冰冷徹骨的河流中跋涉而過(guò)，他的臉上（就像）戴著一張憤怒的面具。
On the warrior came again, the same tactic. Off balance, Farsight saw his doom on the point of that sword. This time the plasma sidearm flared white, steaming, but did not fire. A stay of execution. Then a flash of insight – a duel with O'Kais upon Mount Kan'ji, a flick of the staff, well-timed. O'Kais staggering past to splash into the icy river, face a mask of fury.
那個(gè)鳩'榮'剎武士咒罵了一聲，然后驅(qū)身而近，對(duì)方的利劍發(fā)出了噼啪作響的藍(lán)光，他懷著人類的憎恨之力劈下了那記過(guò)頂而落的斬?fù)?。遠(yuǎn)見(jiàn)抬起了他的熱熔爆能槍，然后揮手就是一掃，打算以此取下對(duì)方的人頭，但他沒(méi)有拿捏好出手的時(shí)機(jī)。他的熱熔光束砍高了，所以只是劈斷了敵人的利劍。
The gue'ron'sha warrior shouted an oath and came in, his sword crackling blue in an overhead sweep with the strength of humanity's hatred behind it. Farsight brought his fusion blaster up in a warding sweep, intending to take his foe's head, but he mistimed the strike. His fusion beam went high, taking his enemy's blade instead.
利劍的上半截被燒得焦黑如炭，只聽(tīng)它咔噠一聲落到了塔頂上。這名粗野的星際戰(zhàn)士就像一頭受傷的克魯特猿獸一樣咆哮起來(lái)，他向前一跳，將膝蓋頂?shù)搅俗o(hù)盾發(fā)生器上，從而迫使其發(fā)出了脈沖波——然后那半截利劍便被他一把插進(jìn)了位于XV8胸口上方的觀察孔中。
The top half of the sword span away to clatter, scorched black, on the roof. The thuggish Space Marine roared like a wounded krootox, leaping forward, his knee coming up to force the shield generator's pulse – and then rammed his half-blade through the vision slit at the top of the XV8's chest.
那塊凹凸不平的金屬足有兩英尺長(zhǎng)，它就這樣刺穿了狹窄的半月形覆層，然后在金屬摩擦的尖叫聲中扎進(jìn)了遠(yuǎn)見(jiàn)的控制繭艙。其焦黑的尖端直取遠(yuǎn)見(jiàn)，當(dāng)它突然停下時(shí)，離歐'肖瓦的眼球就只剩下一根發(fā)絲的距離了。
Two feet of jagged metal burst through the slit's meniscus layer, entering Farsight's control cocoon with a scream of protesting metal. Its blackened tip rushed towards him, a hair’s breadth from his eyeball when it came to a sudden halt.
從塔頂?shù)牧硪欢藗鱽?lái)了一陣響動(dòng)。由于動(dòng)力劍分解核心那不斷衰減的能量令遠(yuǎn)見(jiàn)的屏幕陷入了半狂亂狀態(tài)，所以它什么都無(wú)法顯示出來(lái)。
There was a burst of noise and activity from the other side of the roof. Farsight's screens, half-crazed by the fading energies of the powered blade's disruption core, showed nothing conclusive.
但他依然活著。就目前而言，這已然足夠了。
But he was still alive. For now, that was enough.
努米托連長(zhǎng)是唯一一個(gè)沒(méi)有觀看這場(chǎng)對(duì)決的人，他用了極大的意志力才做到了這一點(diǎn)。正當(dāng)他默默地為下方的酣斗下達(dá)指令時(shí)，他在戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)的喧囂中聽(tīng)到了馬拉格雷雅那哀怨的聲音。
Captain Numitor was the only one not watching the duel, and even then, only with the greatest effort of willpower. Subvocalising orders to the battle raging below, he heard the plaintive voice of Malagrea over the din of war.
+喬魯斯·努米托，+ 只聽(tīng)她用喘息的語(yǔ)調(diào)如此說(shuō)道，那聲音就像癢苛一般在他的腦海中撓弄不已，+小心長(zhǎng)鷹。仰望群星。+
+Jorus Numitor,+ came her wheezing tones, tickling the back of his mind like an itch. +Beware the long-hawks. And look to the stars.+
愁眉不展的努米托立刻抬起頭來(lái)，只見(jiàn)達(dá)'利珊的瓦斯云被一個(gè)巨大的身影遮住了。那一道道在其下方閃爍明滅的細(xì)細(xì)光帶就像是某種海洋掠食動(dòng)物的生物光一樣。它大的就像一艘星界軍的空降船，然而卻幾乎沒(méi)有任何聲音。突然之間，兩臺(tái)異形戰(zhàn)斗服從天而降。它們當(dāng)中的一個(gè)更是向他劈來(lái)了（兩把）長(zhǎng)長(zhǎng)的光芒之刃。
Frowning, Numitor looked up in time to see a giant shape blot out the Dal'ythan gas cloud. Thin strips of light glittered on its underside like the bioluminescence of some ocean predator. It was as large as an Astra Militarum drop ship, yet almost entirely silent. Suddenly a pair of xenos warsuits dropped out of the sky. Long blades of light blazed down from one of them towards him.
努米托猛地朝一旁撲了過(guò)去，片刻之后，光束便在六角形高塔的塔頂上灼出了深深的黑洞，（它們）刻出了一個(gè)巨大的X紋樣，將奧爾德斯的所站之處分成了兩半。只見(jiàn)突擊星際戰(zhàn)士的兩爿殘尸在一陣令人作嘔的嘶嘶聲中驟然散落，然后便劈里啪啦地掉在了由大理石制成的塔頂之上。
Numitor threw himself aside a fraction of a second before the beams burned black holes deep into the hex-tower's roof, carving in a giant X pattern to bisect Aordus where he stood. The two halves of the Assault Marine's corpse fell apart with a disgusting hissing noise before clattering onto the marble roof.
X交叉斬是亮劍在自己亡故之后悟出的成名絕技
“攻擊！” 努米托大聲喊道，這既是警告也是命令。西卡琉斯雙腿一跨，從倒下的異形指揮官身上跳了開(kāi)去，然后便將等離子彈矢射向了那些正在朝他們俯撲而來(lái)的敵人。
'Attack!' shouted Numitor, both a warning and an imperative. Sicarius span around, leaping away from the fallen xenos commander to fire plasma bolts into those enemies dropping towards them.
隨著兩臺(tái)戰(zhàn)斗服轟然著陸，六角高塔的塔頂陷入了一片混亂之中。其中一臺(tái)用一道閃爍不已的力場(chǎng)之墻偏轉(zhuǎn)了馬格羅斯那如鐮斬至的裂人鋸，然后用一只熠熠生輝的拳套打中了對(duì)方的胸口。這一擊足足讓極限戰(zhàn)士在屋頂上飛出了三十英尺之遠(yuǎn)。另一臺(tái)戰(zhàn)斗服則用十二英尺長(zhǎng)的熱熔能量刀橫掃了西卡琉斯的小隊(duì)。當(dāng)它襲來(lái)時(shí)，大多數(shù)星際戰(zhàn)士都看出了這一擊，然后及時(shí)躲了開(kāi)去。
Chaos erupted atop the hex-tower as the two warsuits touched down. One deflected Magros' scything eviscerator with a shimmering wall of force before punching him in the chest with a glowing gauntlet. The blow sent the Ultramarine flying thirty feet across the roof. The other warsuit swiped twelve-foot long blades of fusion energy across Squad Sicarius. Most of the Space Marines read the blow as it came and evaded in time.
勇嵐的原型石弩拳套和后續(xù)的試做量產(chǎn)型在外觀上有很大的不同
而科尼德慢了半拍，他被由肩至臀剪作了兩截。
Colnid, a fraction slower, was shorn in two from hip to shoulder.
努米托大叫了起來(lái)，只見(jiàn)他揮著巨斧猱身而上。于是那臺(tái)手持護(hù)盾的戰(zhàn)斗服上前迎敵，在一陣?yán)坐Q一般的較力聲中，他用能量之墻接下了對(duì)方的動(dòng)力武器。由于失去了平衡，等努米托看到（敵人的）還擊時(shí)已經(jīng)太遲了。異形戰(zhàn)斗服將一個(gè)巨大的鉸接之拳打在了努米托的鐵光環(huán)力場(chǎng)上，這一擊是如此之重，以至于釋放出來(lái)的能量不僅讓他的雙眼一片蒼白，還將他跌跌撞撞地從屋頂上逼了回去。
Numitor cried out, hurtling in with his greataxe swinging. The shield-toting warsuit stepped forward to meet him, taking the power weapon on his energy wall in a thunderous boom of clashing forces. Off balance, Numitor saw the return blow too late. The xenos suit threw a massive articulated fist that crashed against the field of Numitor's iron halo so hard the energy discharge turned his vision grey and sent him stumbling back across the roof.
第二臺(tái)戰(zhàn)斗服緊隨其后。在努米托那紊亂的光學(xué)鏡頭下，對(duì)方就像是一幅單色相片，只見(jiàn)它將一把純光之刃揮向了努米托的頭顱。鐵光環(huán)頓時(shí)熊熊的燃燒了起來(lái)。這一回，連長(zhǎng)頭盔列陣上的力場(chǎng)圖標(biāo)全部消失了。
The second battlesuit followed up close behind. Rendered monochrome by Numitor's scrambled photolenses, it swung a blade of pure light at Numitor's head. The iron halo burned bright. This time, the force field's icon on the captain's helm array faded out altogether.
就在第一臺(tái)戰(zhàn)斗服揮舞巨拳相向而擊時(shí)，努米托的視力恢復(fù)到了正常的狀態(tài)。他就地一滾躲開(kāi)了那一拳，同時(shí)用一個(gè)蹴腿踢得那家伙折膝下屈，然后他的巨斧以很低的弧度往對(duì)方的護(hù)盾下面來(lái)了一下。這一斧劈得很重，鈦星人的盾臂被撕了下來(lái)，在巨力的摧持下，它從六角高塔的邊緣滑了下去。
Numitor's sight returned to normal just as the first warsuit swung its great fist. He rolled under the blow, kicking out to fold the thing's knee before coming up with the greataxe curving in a low arc underneath its shield. The blow connected, ripping the tau's shield arm away with such force it sailed out over the hex-tower's lip.
只見(jiàn)努米托惡狠狠地咧嘴一笑，他的戰(zhàn)斧劃出了一道致命的弧線。
Numitor grinned fiercely, swinging his axe around in a killing arc.
“我現(xiàn)在就要你死，” 他如此說(shuō)道。
'Now you die,' he said.
遠(yuǎn)見(jiàn)用手指按下了控制繭艙里的每一面屏幕上的失效保護(hù)和超馳控制按鈕，他拼命地試圖在自動(dòng)補(bǔ)償器令XV8重新站穩(wěn)腳跟的當(dāng)口讓它們重新上線。塔頂上的場(chǎng)景簡(jiǎn)直就是一場(chǎng)大屠殺。從表面上來(lái)看，勇嵐指揮官無(wú)視了對(duì)自己的不利因素，也沒(méi)有理會(huì)他們事先安排好的計(jì)劃，星際戰(zhàn)士劍客剛把利劍插進(jìn)遠(yuǎn)見(jiàn)的簇型艙蓋，他就投入了戰(zhàn)斗之中。和他在一起的那臺(tái)戰(zhàn)斗服毫無(wú)疑問(wèn)時(shí)亮劍指揮官的。他的熱熔爆能槍有著自槍管伸出的、仿佛永遠(yuǎn)都處于活動(dòng)狀態(tài)的錐形能量長(zhǎng)刀
Farsight finger-pushed failsafes and overrides on every screen of his control cocoon, desperately bringing them back online as his autocompensators got the XV8 back to its feet. The scene on the roof was utter carnage. By the look of it, as soon as the Space Marine bladesman's sword had plunged through Farsight's plexus hatch, Commander Bravestorm had dropped into the fight, heedless of the odds against him and regardless of their prearranged plan. With him was a battlesuit that was unmistakeably that of Commander Brightsword. His fusion blasters had long, tapering energy blades extending from their barrels that seemed permanently active.
一段往事在遠(yuǎn)見(jiàn)的腦海中倏然閃現(xiàn)——在歐'維薩的實(shí)驗(yàn)室深處有一具處于休眠狀態(tài)的克隆體，它（的長(zhǎng)相）與他死去的朋友亮劍驚人地相似?，F(xiàn)在沒(méi)時(shí)間來(lái)解開(kāi)這個(gè)心結(jié)了。星際戰(zhàn)士對(duì)鈦星人擁有三比一的數(shù)量?jī)?yōu)勢(shì)，他們就要獲勝了。
Farsight had a flash of memory – a dormant clone in the depths of O'Vesa's laboratory complex, its resemblance to his dead friend Brightsword uncanny. No time to untangle that mind-knot now. The Space Marines, outnumbering the tau three to one, were on the cusp of victory.
是時(shí)候平衡一下了。
Time to redress the balance.
“勇嵐，” 他如此傳訊道，“你和你的同伴必須立刻離開(kāi)這片區(qū)域，直至抵達(dá)追加距離。機(jī)蜂網(wǎng)絡(luò)，向我靠攏，進(jìn)行火力壓制。所有人員，準(zhǔn)備進(jìn)行冉拉'塔斯機(jī)動(dòng)。我們別無(wú)選擇?！?/strong>
'Bravestorm,' he transmitted. 'You and your companion must clear the zone immediately to the appended distance. Drone-net, come in close on my position, suppressive fire. All personnel, prepare for Rala'tas manoeuvre. We have no other choice.'
“不，司令官，” 勇嵐如此說(shuō)道，當(dāng)一名星際戰(zhàn)士將一把（大到）不實(shí)用的巨斧從他的簇型艙蓋上掃過(guò)時(shí)，他的XV8猛地向后轉(zhuǎn)了過(guò)去，“我不能離開(kāi)。我要和你并肩奮戰(zhàn)，至死方休！”
'No, commander,' said Bravestorm, his XV8 veering backwards as a Space Marine swept an impractically large axe a hand's breadth from his plexus hatch. 'I cannot leave. I will fight at your side until death!'
“勇嵐，” 遠(yuǎn)見(jiàn)如此說(shuō)道，“你影響了我的戰(zhàn)略計(jì)劃。立刻退下。”
'Bravestorm,' said Farsight. 'You are jeopardising my strategy. Leave immediately.'
這位無(wú)畏的指揮官一定聽(tīng)懂了他話語(yǔ)中的弦外之音，因?yàn)橛聧?“嗶” 的一聲敲響了表示確認(rèn)的金色信號(hào)，然后便從高塔的邊緣上飛了出去。
Something in his voice must have got through to the fearless commander, for Bravestorm blipped the gold sign of acknowledgement and launched from the lip of the tower.
“所有的克魯特族群，下車攀爬，” 遠(yuǎn)見(jiàn)如此說(shuō)道，“那個(gè)穿著亮劍英雄戰(zhàn)甲的家伙，不管你是誰(shuí)，（給我）飛高一點(diǎn)?！?/strong>
'All shaper kindreds, disembark and climb,' said Farsight. 'Whoever that is wearing Brightsword's mantle, go high.'
那名戰(zhàn)士立刻垂直急升，只見(jiàn)他在屋頂上劃了一個(gè)X，人類帝國(guó)的兵士紛紛躍身相避，以免重蹈其被殺戰(zhàn)友的覆轍。
The warrior shot vertical, carving an X into the roof that sent the Imperials diving to avoid the same fate as their slain comrades.
“暫此別過(guò)了，不足道哉的家伙們。”
'Farewell for now, unworthy ones.'
只見(jiàn)云霧一般的機(jī)蜂之網(wǎng)升到了高塔的塔緣，隨即脈沖卡賓槍的火力就像風(fēng)暴一樣猝然爆發(fā)，星際戰(zhàn)士們被逼的伏下了身子。鳩'榮'剎紛紛開(kāi)火還擊，數(shù)臺(tái)機(jī)蜂被打的從天上掉了下去，但這種分心之舉換來(lái)了預(yù)期所需的時(shí)間。當(dāng)戰(zhàn)斗服恢復(fù)正常后，遠(yuǎn)見(jiàn)看到勇嵐的圖標(biāo)已經(jīng)和（負(fù)責(zé)）善后的標(biāo)記連了起來(lái)，逆戟鯨正載著指揮官迅速離開(kāi)。
A storm of pulse carbine fire erupted as a drone-net cloud crested the lip of the tower, keeping the Space Marines low. The gue'ron'sha returned fire, blasting several of the drones out of the sky, but the distraction had bought the time intended. As his battlesuit righted itself, Farsight watched Bravestorm's icon connect with that of the Aftermath, the Orca bearing the commander away at speed.
（這時(shí)），一條優(yōu)先級(jí)為金色的協(xié)議信息從遠(yuǎn)見(jiàn)的指揮組件上流滑而過(guò)。他讀了一遍，然后露出了微笑。
A water caste accord message, priority gold, spooled across Farsight's command suite. He read it, and smiled.
幾名星際戰(zhàn)士從前方轉(zhuǎn)過(guò)身來(lái)面對(duì)著他，邊緣鑲有利齒的奇形兵刃正在對(duì)方的拳中咆哮不已。他可以感受到對(duì)方身上的憤怒之力，它是如此的純粹，以至于可以將一個(gè)帝國(guó)焚為飛灰。
Ahead, several of the Space Marines turned to face him, their strange tooth-edged blades roaring in their fists. He could feel the force of their anger, so pure it could burn an empire to ash.
“歐'維薩，” 遠(yuǎn)見(jiàn)一邊說(shuō)一邊踢了踢戰(zhàn)斗服艙口的手動(dòng)開(kāi)啟裝置，“開(kāi)始吧。”
'O'Vesa,' said Farsight, kicking the manual release of his suit's access hatch. 'Initiate.'
從遠(yuǎn)處的土氏六角塔樓那里傳來(lái)了沉悶的嗡鳴聲，在遠(yuǎn)見(jiàn)的顯示屏上，其顯示為一個(gè)緊湊的正弦波，當(dāng)一股交錯(cuò)相斥的電磁脈沖自塔樓的深處猝然爆發(fā)之際，正弦波的波峰一下子就升到了高處。只見(jiàn)那個(gè)紫色的半球向外延伸了一英里之遠(yuǎn)，然后變成了兩英里，其所過(guò)之處只留下了一片黑暗。
The distant thrum of the earth caste hex-tower, represented by a tight sine wave on Farsight's control display, spiked hard as an electromagnetic pulse of staggering force burst out from its depths. The purple hemisphere of its perimeter expanded out across one mile, then two, leaving nothing but darkness in its wake.
努米托舉起了他的巨斧，準(zhǔn)備為這位身披紅色戰(zhàn)甲的軍閥送上致命的最后一擊，正當(dāng)他的跳躍背包燃火欲發(fā)之際，一股由電磁力所發(fā)出的噼啪作響的紫色波紋席卷了他的全身。
Numitor raised his greataxe for the blow that would finally slay the crimson-armoured war leader, flaring his jump pack just as a purple wave of crackling electromagnetic force passed across him.
什么都沒(méi)有發(fā)生。他頭盔里的顯示器黯了下去，然后就此熄滅，他的戰(zhàn)視能力降低到了只能通過(guò)它的紅黑色透鏡來(lái)觀察事物為何的程度。
Nothing happened. His helm displays dimmed and disappeared, his warsight reduced to whatever he could make out through its reddish-black lenses.
當(dāng)努米托意識(shí)到他的裝甲系統(tǒng)已經(jīng)完全短路時(shí)，一股不安之情頓時(shí)油然而生。其背包中的序列發(fā)電機(jī)沉寂得就像墳?zāi)挂粯印＿B長(zhǎng)重重地朝前邁了一步，然后又是一步，但這實(shí)在是太費(fèi)勁了。他小隊(duì)中的許多成員也在做同樣的事情，只見(jiàn)他們不由自主地在塔頂上踩來(lái)踩去，就好像重力增加了三倍似的。維萊坦絆了一跤，然后便狠狠地摔在了地上。
A rising sense of unease swept over Numitor as he realised his armour's systems had shorted out entirely. The serial generators of his backpack were silent as the grave. The captain took a heavy step forward, then another, but it was real effort. Many of his squad did the same, stamping the roof involuntarily as if its gravity had increased threefold. Veletan stumbled, and fell with a heavy crash.
極限戰(zhàn)士戰(zhàn)甲中的機(jī)魂進(jìn)入了完全休眠狀態(tài)。它們?cè)?jīng)是機(jī)械神教設(shè)計(jì)出來(lái)的最為精良單兵戰(zhàn)具，然而現(xiàn)已淪為了累贅一般的存在。努米托的戰(zhàn)斧從僵硬的手指上落了下來(lái)，只聽(tīng)它“當(dāng)啷”一聲，重重地掉在了地上。
The machine-spirits of the Ultramarines' battleplate were utterly dormant. What had once been some of the finest personal wargear the Adeptus Mechanicus could devise was now little more than dead weight. Numitor's axe fell from stiff fingers to clang hard onto the roof.
當(dāng)他看到那些奇形怪狀、從高塔的邊緣蜷然而現(xiàn)的爪狀手掌時(shí)，連長(zhǎng)感到愈發(fā)不安。在黑暗中只能看見(jiàn)對(duì)方那如同禽鳥(niǎo)一般的、長(zhǎng)有喙嘴和羽毛的頭顱。只見(jiàn)那些瘦削的身影曳身而上，紛紛從塔頂?shù)倪吘壏诉^(guò)來(lái)——先是十幾個(gè)一打，然后變成了幾十個(gè)兩打。幾經(jīng)努力，連長(zhǎng)（終于）從槍套中拔出了自己的爆矢手槍，然后扣下了扳機(jī)。然而它也未能作出回應(yīng)，其好勇斗狠的小機(jī)魂被鈦星人的廢除巫術(shù)驅(qū)散了。
The captain's sense of rising disquiet increased as he saw strange, hooked hands curl over the lip of the tower. Avian heads, beaked and quilled, were just visible in the gloom. Gangly silhouettes hauled themselves up and over the edge of the roof – a dozen, then two. With a grinding effort, the captain unholstered his bolt pistol, aimed and pulled the trigger. It too did not respond, its belligerent little machine-spirit exorcised by the tau's nullifying witchery.
只見(jiàn)利爪一般的手指在努米托的目鏡上遮了一會(huì)兒，然后隨著一陣嘶嘶作響的減壓空氣，那些敏捷的爪子將外面的夾鎖解開(kāi)了。他的頭盔被掀了開(kāi)來(lái)。連長(zhǎng)用手肘使勁地往后抵著，然而（頭盔）并沒(méi)有接上。片刻之后，他感到有一把刀頂在了自己的咽喉上——它鋒利無(wú)比，而施于其上的力道更是足以（讓自己）流血。
Clawed fingers eclipsed Numitor's eye lenses for a moment, nimble talons disengaging the exterior clamps with a hiss of depressuring air. His helmet was lifted free. The captain elbowed back hard, but did not connect. In instant later he felt a blade at his throat – razor sharp, with enough pressure behind it to draw blood.
那是被稱之為克魯特人的異形雇傭兵，從對(duì)方身上傳來(lái)的那股油膩的惡臭充斥著他的鼻腔，那味道是如此的強(qiáng)烈，以至于讓他雙目流淚。
The oily stink of the xenos mercenaries known as the kroot filled his nostrils, so pungent it made his eyes water.
“連長(zhǎng)？” 馬格羅斯如此問(wèn)道。努米托用自己的余光看到了那名戰(zhàn)士。他的脖子上也抵著一把利刃。他們所有人都是。
'Captain?' asked Magros. Numitor saw the warrior in his peripheral vision. He too had a blade at his neck. All of them did.
“盡管殺了我們就是，” 西卡琉斯咆哮道。（1）
'Just kill us then,' growled Sicarius.
努米托回想起了馬拉格雷雅的警告。要小心長(zhǎng)鷹。那臺(tái)面朝他們的紅色戰(zhàn)斗服依然靜立在那里，（這是因?yàn)椋╇姶琶}沖讓它變得無(wú)法行動(dòng)。然而這些克魯特并不是土氏工廠里機(jī)械化復(fù)制人，他們就像禽鳥(niǎo)一樣行蹤詭秘。這些身材苗條的家伙是真實(shí)的（活物）——他們是噬肉者、剝皮匠和食人族。他們的狩獵技巧是用不著戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)技術(shù)裝備的。
Numitor thought back to Malagrea's warning. Beware the long-hawk. The red warsuit facing them was stock still, rendered inert by the electromagnetic pulse. But these kroot, avian and stealthy, were not robotic facsimiles like those in the earth caste facility. These were the real thing – slender eaters of flesh, skin-takers and cannibals. They needed no war-tech to work their hunter's arts.
前面的那臺(tái)戰(zhàn)斗服的艙門(mén)被踢開(kāi)了，只見(jiàn)一個(gè)高挑的鈦?zhàn)鍛?zhàn)士從里面退身而出，然后以一個(gè)獵人蹲姿翩然著陸。他緩緩地站起身來(lái)，然后鞠了一躬，但他的雙眼片刻都沒(méi)有從努米托的身上離開(kāi)。連長(zhǎng)本以為會(huì)在軍閥的那張扁平的面孔上見(jiàn)到異形獲勝時(shí)的得意表情，然而與之相反地，他看到了某種更像是悲傷的的東西。
Ahead, the warsuit's hatch was kicked open, and a slender tau warrior dropped out to land in a hunter's crouch. He stood slowly, and bowed without taking his eyes from Numitor's. The captain expected to see an alien expression of triumph on the flat slab of the warlord's face, but instead saw something that looked more like sadness.
“談判，我想你們是這么稱呼它的，” 那個(gè)異形如此說(shuō)道，雖然他的低哥特語(yǔ)帶有一絲奇特的抑揚(yáng)頓挫，但吐詞非常準(zhǔn)確。
'Parley, I think you call it,' said the xenos, his Low Gothic strangely lilting but accurate.
“非常好，” 努米托如此說(shuō)道，“只要讓你的寵物們把刀從我們的喉嚨上挪開(kāi)就行。”
'Very well,' replied Numitor. 'As soon as you have your pets take their blades from our throats.'
“我可不這么想，” 那個(gè)鈦?zhàn)遘婇y如此說(shuō)道，“現(xiàn)在還不行。榮耀的佩克之民啊，請(qǐng)暫且住手。但要是哪個(gè)鳩'榮'剎敢動(dòng)一下，就把他們?nèi)琢??！?/strong>
'I think not,' said the tau warlord. 'Not yet. Honoured citizens of Pech, please stay your hands. But if even one of these gue’ron’sha moves, kill them all.'
西卡琉斯朝鈦?zhàn)迨最I(lǐng)吐了一口酸性唾沫。只見(jiàn)它落在了距對(duì)方三趾蹄足一掌之遙的地方，然后便嘶嘶地灼進(jìn)了燒焦的屋頂之中。那個(gè)異形鎮(zhèn)定自若地往后退了一步，然后用雙手做了一個(gè)復(fù)雜的手勢(shì)。
Sicarius spat a gobbet of acidic saliva towards the xenos leader. It landed a hand's breath from his three-toed foot, hissing as it burnt into the scorched roof. The alien calmly took a step backwards, and made a complex gesture with his hands.
有什么東西正在努米托的腦海中低語(yǔ)。那個(gè)星語(yǔ)者，馬拉格雷雅。這一回，它是一種印象，而非僅僅只是文字——（那是）一萬(wàn)億雙邪惡的眼睛，它們都被一股吞噬銀河的饑餓感團(tuán)結(jié)在了一起。
Something whispered at the back of Numitor's mind. The astropath, Malagrea. This time, it was an impression, more than words – a trillion malevolent eyes, all united by a single, galaxy-devouring hunger.
有生以來(lái)，努米托第一次感受到了真正的恐懼。
For the first time in his life, Numitor felt true horror.
“你們已經(jīng)對(duì)達(dá)'利斯造成了很大的破壞，” 異形軍閥如此說(shuō)道，“當(dāng)你們?cè)跒樽约旱幕实壅鞣鼤r(shí)，你們給它留下了深深的傷口。盡管我不該這么說(shuō)，但我還是要向你們展示于此的技巧和力量致以敬意?！?/strong>
'You have inflicted much damage upon Dal'yth,' said the alien warlord. 'Scarred it deeply as you fought to conquer it for your Emperor. Though I should not say this, I respect you for the skill and strength you have shown here.'
努米托皺了皺眉頭，但一言未發(fā)?？諝庵谢\罩著一股迫在眉睫的暴力威脅，（那氣氛）濃厚的幾乎都可以聞得出來(lái)。但是，由于人類帝國(guó)的每一件戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)技術(shù)裝備都暫時(shí)陷入了休眠狀態(tài)，而鈦星人可以從電磁爆能區(qū)外引入增援部隊(duì)，所以（只要進(jìn)行）一項(xiàng)敵對(duì)行動(dòng)就會(huì)導(dǎo)致一場(chǎng)大屠殺。
Numitor frowned, but did not speak. The threat of imminent violence hung in the air, almost thick enough to taste. But with every piece of Imperial war-tech temporarily rendered dormant, and with the tau able to bring in reinforcements from outside the electromagnetic blast zone, a single hostile action could result in a massacre.
“你們?nèi)际呛翢o(wú)信仰的混蛋，” 西卡琉斯如此說(shuō)道，“總有一天，你們會(huì)被斬盡殺絕的，以皇帝的名義?！?/strong>
'You are faithless bastards all,' said Sicarius, 'and one day you will be put to death, in the name of the Emperor.'
“信仰確實(shí)是一股強(qiáng)大的力量，這庸置疑，” 遠(yuǎn)見(jiàn)如此說(shuō)道，“我們也有自己的信仰——但并不是信仰我們當(dāng)中的某位被奉為神明的個(gè)體，而是信仰一個(gè)不容否認(rèn)的天命共同體?！?/strong>
'Faith is a powerful force indeed, it is true,' said Farsight. 'We have our own faith – not in one of our number raised to godhood, but in a mutual destiny that cannot be denied.'
“在談?wù)撨@種事情前你先好好過(guò)過(guò)腦子，” 努米托如此說(shuō)道，“盡管這可能會(huì)讓我賠上性命，但我相信自己可以在失血過(guò)多之前將你一分為二?！?/strong>
'Think well before you talk of such things,' said Numitor. 'Though it may cost me my life, I feel sure I could snap you in two before I bled out.'
“你會(huì)攻擊一個(gè)手無(wú)寸鐵的敵人嗎？” 那個(gè)異形如此說(shuō)道，“你會(huì)置自己的手足弟兄于不必要的險(xiǎn)境之中嗎？我想你們這些極限戰(zhàn)士是有榮譽(yù)可言的。還是說(shuō)那（種榮譽(yù)感）是多恩之錘才會(huì)有的？”
'You would attack an unarmed opponent?' said the alien. 'You would put the lives of your brothers in unnecessary danger? I thought you had honour, you Ultramarines. Or is that the Hammers of Dorn?'
“你懂個(gè)錘子的榮譽(yù)，” 西卡琉斯氣急敗壞地吼道。
'What would you know of honour,' snarled Sicarius.
“我知道如果它受損的話，是無(wú)法輕易修復(fù)的。我們也有自己的戰(zhàn)士準(zhǔn)則。”
'I know that if it is broken, it cannot easily be repaired. We too have a warrior code.'
“撒謊，” 西卡琉斯如此說(shuō)道。
'Lies,' said Sicarius.
“譬如，” 那個(gè)異形如此說(shuō)道，“我認(rèn)為給自己的獵核下令去讓他們?nèi)カC殺你們的每一個(gè)身著白甲的醫(yī)護(hù)兵以確保能夠?qū)⑺麄兊乃纼x葬瓶踏在我們的軍靴之下會(huì)是一件不榮譽(yù)的行為。那會(huì)成為我靈魂上無(wú)法抹消的污點(diǎn)?！?/strong>
'For instance,' said the alien, 'I would consider it dishonourable to give my cadres the order to hunt down and kill every one of your white-armoured medics, ensuring their ritual death flasks are ground beneath our boots. That would be a stain upon my soul I could not erase.'
一想到散落于塵土之中的原體的遺贈(zèng)，努米托頓時(shí)感到怒不可遏，但他還是努力地讓自己的表現(xiàn)得波瀾不驚。
Numitor felt his gorge rise at the thought of the primarchs' legacy scattered in the dust, but struggled to keep his expression neutral.
“如果事情發(fā)展到那種程度，會(huì)是一種極大的恥辱，” 那個(gè)異形軍閥接著把話說(shuō)了下去，“已經(jīng)失去了足夠多的性命了，雙方都是，我們可以從中吸取到教訓(xùn)。但不久之前，我的顧問(wèn)告訴我，你們的主子已經(jīng)下令進(jìn)行撤退，因此，也許不需要采取這種極端手段了?！?/strong>
'It would be a great shame if matters came to that,' continued the xenos warlord. 'Enough lives have been lost, on both sides, for us to learn from this. But my advisors have recently told me your masters have ordered an evacuation, so perhaps such extreme measures are not needed after all.'
只見(jiàn)極限戰(zhàn)士們難以置信地互相打量著。努米托凝視著西卡琉斯的目光。他的手指，盡管在休眠的動(dòng)力甲中難以動(dòng)彈，但還是可以認(rèn)出它用塔拉薩人的海徒黑話發(fā)出了一條訊息。
The Ultramarines glanced at one another in disbelief. Numitor met Sicarius' gaze. His fingers, stiff with the effort of moving the dormant power armour, picked out a message in Talassarian sea-cant.
家·中·有·難。
Home. In. Danger.
“我明白了，” 西卡琉斯如此說(shuō)道，這話既是在跟努米托講，也是在說(shuō)給異形聽(tīng)，“ 就這樣吧。如果我們今天撤退的話，異形，你會(huì)就這樣簡(jiǎn)簡(jiǎn)單單地放我們離開(kāi)嗎？每一支軍隊(duì)，每一艘艦艇，每一個(gè)士兵？”（2）
'I see,' said Sicarius, speaking as much to Numitor as the alien. 'So be it. And if we do withdraw this day, alien, you will simply let us leave? Every last army, craft and trooper?'
“是的，” 異形軍閥如此說(shuō)道，“ 作為一名火氏的司令官，我向你保證?！?/strong>
'Yes,' said the xenos warlord. 'You have my word on that, as a commander of the fire caste.'
這一回，西卡琉斯沒(méi)有發(fā)出質(zhì)疑的嘟囔?！瓣?duì)員們，保持克制，” 中士如此說(shuō)道，“ 這個(gè)骯臟異形的所述之言遠(yuǎn)比你們想像的還要真實(shí)。”
This time, Sicarius did not grunt in disbelief. 'Stand down, squad,' said the sergeant. 'There is more truth to this foul alien's claim than you realise.'
一股令人震驚的沉默頓時(shí)在屋頂上彌漫開(kāi)來(lái)。有九雙眼睛望向了努米托，只見(jiàn)他緩慢而又憂郁地點(diǎn)了點(diǎn)頭。
A stunned silence pervaded across the roof. Nine pairs of eyes looked to Numitor, and he nodded, slowly and sombrely.
“千真萬(wàn)確，” 他如此說(shuō)道，“奧特瑪危在旦夕?！?/strong>
'It is true,' he said. 'Ultramar is in danger.'
“佩克的子民啊，” 那個(gè)軍閥如此說(shuō)道，“把這些人放了。他們處于休戰(zhàn)的庇護(hù)之下，而且他們還得回去保衛(wèi)自己的星球?！?span id="s0sssss00s" class="color-default font-size-12">（3）
'Citizens of Pech,' said the warlord, 'release these ones. They are under the shield of truce, and must return to defend their own planet.'
努米托感到匕首的鋒刃從自己的喉嚨上挪開(kāi)了，隨著克魯特人的臭味從附近逐漸消失，他的強(qiáng)化血液在幾秒鐘之內(nèi)（就將傷口）凝固住了。
Numitor felt the knife blade move from his throat, his augmented blood clotting within seconds as the stink of the kroot's proximity faded away.
“盟友是極為有用的存在，連長(zhǎng)，” 鈦?zhàn)逅玖罟僖贿呎f(shuō)一邊向努米托轉(zhuǎn)過(guò)身去，“有時(shí)候會(huì)在最為奇怪的地方找到（對(duì)方）?！?/strong>
'Allies can be most useful, captain,' said the tau commander as he turned to Numitor, 'and sometimes found in the strangest places.'
一艘從云層中探身而出的大型空降船開(kāi)始超低空飛行，當(dāng)其接近六角形高塔的塔頂時(shí)，它伸出了自己的登陸坡板。只見(jiàn)兩臺(tái)戰(zhàn)斗服優(yōu)雅地從飛船側(cè)面的入口處降了下來(lái)。它們將各自的操作護(hù)手伸到了那臺(tái)無(wú)法行動(dòng)的戰(zhàn)斗服下，于是在反沖推進(jìn)器那響亮的嗡鳴聲中，它被抬了上去。
A massive drop ship bellied down out of the clouds, its ramp extending as it neared the hex-tower's roof. A pairs of battlesuits descended gracefully from the portals on the side of the craft. Extending their manipulator gauntlets, they reached under the inert warsuit and bore it upwards with a loud thrum of repulsor jets.
那個(gè)正在等待飛船的登陸坡板接觸到高塔的邊緣、好讓自己登而踏之的異形軍閥在向后退去的時(shí)候用雙手作了一個(gè)更為復(fù)雜的手勢(shì)。
The alien warlord waited for the ship's ramp to touch the edge of the tower and stepped onto it, making another complex gesture with his hands as he backed away.
“我們的文明會(huì)再度交匯的，” 西卡琉斯如此說(shuō)道，“我向你保證，異形。而那一天，將會(huì)有血光之災(zāi)?！?/strong>
'Our civilisations will cross paths again,' said Sicarius. 'That I promise you, alien. And on that day, there will be blood.'
“我對(duì)此確信無(wú)疑，” 異形軍閥悲傷地說(shuō)道，他轉(zhuǎn)身緩緩地步入了飛船之中，然后就此飄向群星（4）。
'I am sure of it,' said the xenos warlord sadly, turning and walking slowly into the craft as it drifted towards the stars.
（1）之后，經(jīng)過(guò)二百五十多年的改進(jìn)，鈦星人的EMP技術(shù)得到了長(zhǎng)足的進(jìn)步，從第三次擴(kuò)張開(kāi)始，只需一枚拳頭大小特制手雷就能讓星際戰(zhàn)士的動(dòng)力甲徹底宕機(jī)。
他們的異形科技讓我一敗涂地。某種裝置被固定到了我的腿上。我反手一擊，將那個(gè)把那玩意裝上來(lái)的家伙打得四仰八叉的倒在了地上，他那巨大的肩甲被我打出了裂痕。要不是拿斧頭的是我的右手而非左手，我早就把他給宰了。我把我的爆矢手槍一扔，然后伸手去扯掉那個(gè)裝置。那個(gè)裝置呈圓形，大小和成人的拳頭差不多。只見(jiàn)光線迅速地閃爍著，它發(fā)出了一道逐漸增強(qiáng)的哀鳴。等我把手放上去的時(shí)候已經(jīng)太遲了。一股強(qiáng)大的電磁脈沖波將我動(dòng)力甲中的機(jī)魂驅(qū)離殆盡。我的運(yùn)行系統(tǒng)關(guān)閉了，從黑色甲殼的神經(jīng)接口那里傳來(lái)了陣陣刺痛，頭盔里的顯示器也隨之失效，世界似乎一下子就變小了，它被囿于我頭盔的目鏡之中。由于失去了輔助肌肉系統(tǒng)，動(dòng)力甲那突如其來(lái)的負(fù)重讓我失去了平衡。背上的動(dòng)力組件和冷卻單元拽得我踉踉蹌蹌的直往后退。在塑鋼和陶鋼的重壓之下，我跪了下來(lái)。
Their alien technologies prove my undoing. Some device is clamped to my leg. I knock he who placed it there sprawling with the back of my hand, cracking the large shoulder pad he wears with the power of my blow. If only I held my axe in my right rather than my left hand, I would have slain him. I drop my bolt pistol, and reach down to rip the device free. It is circular, the size of a man's fist. Lights blink a rapid pattern and it emits a building whine. I lay my hand upon it too late. A massive burst of electromagnetic energy drives the spirit from my armour. My systems go dark. I feel sharp stabs of pain through the neural interfaces in my black carapace. The displays in my helmet fail. The world seems suddenly smaller, framed by only the lenses of my helmet. The sudden burden of my armour without its supportive musculature has me off balance. I stagger backward, dragged at by the power plant and cooling unit upon my back. Driven down by the dead weight of plasteel and ceramite that clads and protects me, I fall to my knees.
（2）因?yàn)榇藭r(shí)的達(dá)摩克里斯遠(yuǎn)征軍已經(jīng)被打得一敗涂地：它的地面部隊(duì)（包括且不限于數(shù)以千計(jì)的星際戰(zhàn)士、數(shù)以億計(jì)的星界軍和至少一支的泰坦軍團(tuán)）已經(jīng)被鈦星人的地面反擊部隊(duì)壓縮到最后一塊防御區(qū)①；而足以將人類遠(yuǎn)征艦隊(duì)（戰(zhàn)列艦和戰(zhàn)斗母艦各有好幾艘）化骨揚(yáng)灰的鈦?zhàn)逶鲈炾?duì)也即將抵達(dá)達(dá)利斯的主星②。
①努米托在腦袋里聽(tīng)到了同樣的聲音，這一次遣詞文雅，語(yǔ)調(diào)流順?！扳佇侨送瑫r(shí)向每座城市的每一個(gè)帝國(guó)占領(lǐng)區(qū)發(fā)動(dòng)了襲擊，” 那個(gè)聲音如此說(shuō)道，靈能通訊的感覺(jué)實(shí)在是詭譎莫測(cè)，令人心神不安，“這是最后一個(gè)尚未陷落的陣地。一定要守住它?！?/span>
Numitor heard the same voice in his head, this time cultured and smooth. +The tau are launching simultaneous ambushes upon every Imperial zone in every city,+ it said, the feeling of psychic communication eerie and unsettling. +This is the last site still standing. It must hold.+
“用所有能讓對(duì)方料想未及的東西攻擊他們。我們只有一次機(jī)會(huì)。如果這里失守了，我們會(huì)被從這個(gè)星球的表面上抹去的?！?/span>
"Hit them with everything they won’t expect. We only have one chance. Fail here, and we will be wiped from the face of the planet."?
②我們的增援將從其它五個(gè)家門(mén)歸航，而柯'瓦恰確信，如果人類帝國(guó)的艦隊(duì)堅(jiān)守陣地，那么我們集結(jié)的機(jī)群數(shù)量將足以徹底摧毀對(duì)方。我們會(huì)贏得這場(chǎng)戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)，而且會(huì)很快。
We have reinforcements inbound from five other septs, and the kor'vattra is convinced its fighter shoals will be mustered in numbers enough to gut the Imperial fleet should it hold its position. We will win this war, commander, and soon.?
PS：所以不管是哪個(gè)版本，蟲(chóng)巢入侵都不是達(dá)摩克利斯遠(yuǎn)征軍撤退的真正原因——因?yàn)樵讷@知泰倫蟲(chóng)族的消息之前，他們實(shí)際上已經(jīng)被鈦星人徹底擊敗了，如果不撤退的話，等待他們的下場(chǎng)只有全滅。
（3）同樣是被電磁脈沖徹底癱瘓，但之前進(jìn)攻拉萊'塔斯城（Rala'tas）的星界軍裝甲團(tuán)就沒(méi)有那么幸運(yùn)了。
克魯特獵犬撲到了那些試圖逃跑的人，而克魯特猿獸則把艙蓋和車門(mén)從那些動(dòng)彈不得的坦克上撕了下來(lái)，好讓它們那兇殘的親族攀爬而進(jìn)。接下來(lái)發(fā)生的那場(chǎng)可怕的盛宴從來(lái)沒(méi)有在鈦星人的公開(kāi)頻道上播出過(guò)，不過(guò)據(jù)說(shuō)歐'肖瓦看了好幾遍。?
Kroot hounds ran down those who tried to flee whilst Krootoxen ripped open the hatches and doors of the silenced tanks, allowing their ferocious kin to climb inside. The grisly feast that followed has never been broadcast on open Tau channels, though it is said that O'Shovah watched it several times.
（4）這是因以太阻止了遠(yuǎn)見(jiàn)的計(jì)劃——他本來(lái)是想追上去將遠(yuǎn)征軍趕盡殺絕的。但在三年后，銨'瓦還是對(duì)他進(jìn)行了一些補(bǔ)償：遠(yuǎn)見(jiàn)率領(lǐng)著銨'瓦調(diào)撥給他的（至少）一千億人馬殺過(guò)了達(dá)摩克利斯灣，他不僅收復(fù)了全部的失地（甚至還開(kāi)拓了不少新世界），還殲滅了所有不肯投降的帝國(guó)部隊(duì)（光是Vior'los一役，遠(yuǎn)見(jiàn)軍就全殲了一整個(gè)戰(zhàn)團(tuán)的星際戰(zhàn)士，順帶還消滅了數(shù)十億的斯基塔里護(hù)教軍）。
