本文节选自 Phil Kelly 所著英文小说《Blades of Damocles》，该译文作为练习仅为个人与交流使用，不用作商业用途。

在自由下落的八连被震至四散零落前的那一刻，努米托做好了准备，当下坠的矢量与压力波撞到一起时，所有的连贯性都荡然无存了。努米托的头盔在剧烈地晃动着，在一片紊乱的读数中，他努力地试图找回某种凝聚力。尽管他因自己的巨斧而失去了平衡，但他依然紧紧地将其握在手中。在花了一点时间找回平衡后，他回到了正在重组队形的小队之中。

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.

在一群同袍的伴随下，只见那台猩红色的战斗服从南边的黑暗之中向他们直扑而来。这支精英小队从一处屋顶上骤然升起，接着又是另一处，然后在一片飞扬的尘土中，（它们）落到了第三个屋顶上。

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！” 努米托大声喊道，“那个异形军阀就在炮塔的后面！”

'Sicarius!' shouted Numitor. 'Behind the gun towers! The xenos warlord!'

“我看到他了，” 西卡琉斯冷酷的说道，“正在进行拦截。”

'I see him,' said Sicarius grimly. 'Intercepting now.'

“跟我来，” 努米托在通话器里向自己的小队如此说道，他猛地张开双腿，然后启动了跳跃背包，从而好让自己能够向那座拥有圆形屋顶的六角形钛族军事建筑飞去。由背包中的涡轮机组所产生的强大动力简直令人难以置信——欧米德提供的燃料真是让人大开眼界。

'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.

努米托的注意力暂时被吸引到了那一串正在高塔周围无声滑行的传送器上。那里面有许多模糊的身影。其瘦长的体型熟悉得令人感到有些不可思议。

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.

接着，努米托的死亡信号开始“哔哔”作响，然后两发导弹便从他的身边飞了过去，它们在埃尼托的护肩和髋胯上爆炸了。

Then Numitor's mortis signals blipped, and a pair of missiles shot past him, exploding upon Enitor's pauldron and hip.

只听这位老兵在失去控制的那一刻叫了一声：“我被干掉了！”

The veteran cried out as he spiralled out of control. 'I'm down!'

“我们要让他们付出代价，” 努米托恶狠狠地说道。三台钛族的战斗服正在向他们逼近，只见细小的菱状等离子正从对方肩膀上的四联加农炮中疾喷而出。努米托扭转身形试图躲开，但是对方打得很准，因此那波齐射是避无可避的。

'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.

“迎接冲击！” 他大声喊道。

'Brace!' he shouted.

一个闪耀的能量球骤然亮起，只见他毫发无伤地从（那波弹矢）中飞了过去。

A flaring sphere of energy, and he rocketed through, unscathed.

“是铁光环，连长，” 药剂师德雷科斯如此说道，“习惯了就好。”

'Iron halo, captain,' said Apothecary Drekos. 'Get used to it.'

努米托在自己的头盔里深深地喘了一口气，他因阿瑟斯的遗赠之礼而向对方默默致谢。

Numitor released a deep breath inside his helm, silently thanking Atheus for the gift from beyond the grave.

又有两发导弹从位于下方的那群战斗服那里向他们疾驰而来。这一回努米托做好了准备，只见他用巨斧横挥阔扫，将两枚导弹尽数拍开，然后纵身从由此产生的焰云中穿了过去。由于斧头的挥舞幅度实在是大的离谱，所以那股劲头很可能会让他就此失去平衡。然而这一次，努米托扭转身体借势而行，他就像一道蓝色的闪电一样，向着那三台异形的战斗服射了过去。

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.

抱着对直觉的信任，他将这把手工打造的武器抡成了一道圆弧。

He brought the artefact weapon around in a wide loop, trusting to his instincts.

战斧的刃口狠狠地劈中了第一台战斗服，那股力道是如此之大，以至于对方的胸部被劈成了两爿，里面的那位被砍中的驾驶员的肉质残躯顿时在一片鲜血与火花中从控制座椅上飞溅而出。片刻之后，努米托便一肩撞上了那台机器的余骸。它往后飞了过去，然后将身后的那台正试图躲开的战斗服撞得失去了平衡。看到这个破绽，努米托猛地伸出手去，将战斧横在了对方的飞行路径上。斧刃的利缘将第二台战斗服的脑袋从脖子上割了下来，只见对方就像急速旋转的纺锤一般一头撞到了下方的高塔之上，然后在一团炸起的岩尘的中迎来了自己的末日。

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.

“天鹰佑我，” 努米托惊讶地说道。

'Blessed aquila,' said Numitor in surprise.

“对于我们新任的刽子手领主来说，这还真是一个恰如其分的开端！” 维尔鲁一边笑着用战斗盾牌撞开了一枚疾转而至的导弹，一边将动力剑从那台（朝他）开火的战斗服的脖子里捅了进去。

'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.

“鼓劲的话等会再说吧，维尔鲁，” 德雷科斯如此说道，“盯紧它们！”

'Time for back-slapping later, Vellu,' said Drekos. 'At them!'

在给出致命的一击后，从高塔上一掠而过的努米托将自己的双脚扎在了一座突兀的须状列阵上。只见他一跃而起，从一座支离破碎的炮塔上跳了过去，他的指挥小队随即跟进。

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.

他们刚一踏上塔顶的边缘，努米托的世界就炸成了一片亮光。一道扑面而来的等离子风暴向他的小队袭了过去，在漫天飞舞的气化血雾中，德雷科斯、维尔鲁和扎埃图斯被轰的从高塔的圆墙上翻了下去。努米托也被打了个正着，但是其铁光环的能量让第一波齐射化为了乌有，接着又驱散了第二波。而随着一连串的冲击，第三波齐射疼的就像是刀割一般。只见努米托十分难看地砸到了满是瓦砾的地上，那股力道是如此之大，以至于他四脚朝天地倒在了一堆燃烧的残肢上，连阿瑟斯的巨斧都（被震得）脱手而飞了。

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.

那台猩红色的战斗服从他上方赫然耸现，它的保镖紧随其后，而对方的圆柱形等离子枪管更是对准了他的脑袋。

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，” 它用带有口音的低哥特语如此说道。

'Disappointing,' it said in accented Low Gothic.

只听西卡琉斯小队咔哒一声从上方冲进了敌军之中，紧接着，从他们的爆矢手枪中传来了一连串的爆炸。虽然那台猩红色的战斗服仅仅只是分心了片刻，但努米托早已滚了开去。然后西卡琉斯便冲到了它们当中，只见他回旋疾转，其手中的塔拉萨之剑更是在斩断对方的腿脚、手腕和武器时化成了一团模糊不清的幻影。从他手枪中射出的那道等离子更是将第一台战斗服打得连连后退，其争取到的时间之久足以让他将利剑刺入对方腰部的万向节下方，然后就此捅进了驾驶舱中。就在第二台战斗服的回旋式加农炮准备开火的时候，它的腿上捱了一记猛踢。而西卡琉斯早已绕到了它的下方，在跳跃背包引擎的催谷下，他一个猛冲用肩膀将对方顶到了墙上。在它还没来得及恢复正常之前，西卡琉斯就用自己的等离子手枪打穿了那玩意的观察孔，那道斜射而出的蓝色爆能光波标志着驾驶员的死亡。

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.

一支由三台战斗服组成的小队正在附近盘旋，只见它们的武器对准了西卡琉斯的后背。登图里斯就像一头冲锋的公牛一样向它们一头撞了过去，当他的链锯双剑用噬穿金属的方式将对手的炮管一一切下时，它们发出了刺耳的尖叫。维莱坦和科尼德一边阔步前进一边用爆矢手枪向（战斗服的）目镜和关节开火，犹豫不决的钛族战斗服纷纷被爆炸撕成了碎片。要是没有凯托罗斯冲上前去的话，那么另一支小队就会杀至眼前，只见他的火焰喷射器喷出了一道如同间歇泉一般的钷素之焰，其烈度是如此之强，以至于战斗服被打得直往后退。它们那熊熊燃烧的躯体踉踉跄跄的走了开去，其中两台就像噼啪作响的火球一样从高塔的边缘上掉了下去。第三台开始向上盘旋，它就像是一只在空中燃烧的恶魔一样，然后，它便被西卡琉斯用一发等离子弹矢炸成了碎片。欧米德的燃料炼金术获得了十几倍的回报，对于这位殉道者来说 ，下方的钛族火葬堆是一份恰如其分的祭品。

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.

那台猩红色的战斗服于突然之间一飞冲天，当它飞到围绕在至高六角塔楼周围的蓝色光圈上时，只见其跳跃背包上的飞行翼片以一定的角度倾了起来。

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！” 西卡琉斯大声喊道，“把它围起来！”

'After it!' shouted Sicarius. 'Surround it!'

一团反向爆炸的火焰随之燃起，然后便是一股钷素的恶臭，西卡琉斯小队跟着异形指挥官冲进了黑暗的天空之中。

A backblast of flame, a cloud of promethium stink, and Squad Sicarius hurtled after the xenos commander into the darkening skies.

努米托将自己的斧头取了回来，他的脖子在战甲进行诊断的时候噼里啪啦地响个不停。虽然他受了伤，但还没有到需要退出战斗的程度，相比之下，扎埃图斯和维尔鲁的伤要严重得多。他们的状况徽记都显示为遭受重创的红色。德雷科斯发出了螺旋符文；他正在下面照料他们的伤口，然而在战斗结束之前，他们是回不来的。

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.

“谢谢你，卡托，” 努米托对着正在上方夜空中渐渐消失的蓝色火焰如此说道，“总有一天我会还你这个人情的。”

'Thank you, Cato,' said Numitor to the blue flames disappearing into the night above. 'I will repay the favour someday.'

“我们可是兄弟啊，难道不是吗？”从通讯器里传来了回复，“现在赶紧站起来，然后让那把超大号的切肉刀派上点用场！”

'We are brothers, are we not?' came the reply over the vox. 'Now get back up and put that oversized meat cleaver to use!'

努米托自顾自地笑了起来，然后他乘着一道火柱纵身跃入了夜空之中。

Smiling to himself, Numitor leaped up into the night on a pillar of flame.

正当乔鲁斯·努米托扶摇直上之际，那座至高之塔的灯光开始闪烁起来，它在黑暗中散发着金色的光芒。

The lights of the tallest tower flashed by, gold in the darkness, as Jorus Numitor shot upward.

“能获准加入你吗，连长？”

'Permission to join you, captain?'

只见马格罗斯呼啸着飞到了他的身边，对方的腰际上扣着那顶红色的士官头盔，而特隆多利斯的那把六英尺长的裂人锯正横在他的肩头。

Magros roared up alongside him, the red helm of the sergeant clamped at his waist and Trondoris' six-foot eviscerator held across his shoulder.

“非常乐意，” 努米托如此说道，“这次不打算戴头盔了？”

'Very much so,' said Numitor. 'Decided against the helm this time?'

“理性处事了二十八年，” 马格罗斯回答说，“是该让我的脸吹吹风了。”

'Twenty-eight years of doing things sensibly,' came the reply. 'It is time to feel the wind in my face.'

余下的马库拉格人呼啸而上，他们纷纷赶来与努米托一同并肩奋战。戈洛坦草草地敬了一个天行礼，其龟裂的陶钢被遍及胸口、如同蛛网一般的焊纹接为了一体。

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.

“由你来打前锋实在是让人安心不少，” 多洛尔如此说道，他的那把正在充能的等离子手枪就握在自己的双手之中，“能迎接你的归来真是令人感到高兴。”

'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.'

“那台红色的战斗服将我们引入了一个垂直的陷阱之中，” 奥尔德斯如此说道，他的跳跃背包在其俯冲至距六角高塔一掌之遥的地方时发出了亮光，“我们可不能变成轻易中招的靶子啊。”

'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.'

“好建议，奥尔德斯，” 努米托如此说道，“所有人靠近墙壁，把破片手雷准备好。”

'Good advice, Aordus,' said Numitor. 'Everyone close to the wall, and ready frags.'

连长的油量计已经降到了很低的位置，但（残余的燃料）依然足以抵达塔顶。钛族的指挥官一直都在指望限制星际战士的接触范围，但他再一次低估了八连——而努米托要让他为这个错误付出高昂的代价。

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.

或许，奥尔德斯是对的，努米托将会重蹈覆辙，那个错误会让他赔上整支指挥小队。

Either that, or Aordus was right, and Numitor was about to repeat the mistake that had cost him his command squad.

至高塔楼的外部装饰着闪闪发光的金色球体，接着便是一条类似于玻璃钢的夜光条带，除了灯光之外，远处的观景长廊里什么都没有。

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.

“卡尔加的子民们！” 他大声喊道，“让我来承接第一波火力！剩下的就由你们慢慢烧掉！手榴弹听我号令！”

'Calgarians!' he shouted. 'Let me take the first volley! The rest of you burn slow! Grenades on my mark!'

突击星际战士往后退了一点，（其距离）足以让他们声称自己已经遵守了命令，但这样一来的话，某些向努米托射去的弹矢就挡不住了。连长懊恼地咬紧了牙关。没时间去斥责他们了。

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掷而去，只见它们纷纷爆炸，将塔顶笼罩在了毁灭性的弹片之雹中。努米托攀上了高塔的边缘，准备迎接一场等离子风暴。

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.

然而什么事都没有发生。

Nothing.

西卡琉斯站在塔顶的中央，他的风暴之刃以持剑的架势向外探出，而他的小队则紧随其后。那台孤零零的猩红色战斗服就站在他的面前，大概隔了二十英尺的距离，其前臂上的箱型爆能枪架在了一根长管等离子武器和一面闪闪发光的力场圆碟的后方。

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.

努米托正要冲上去大开杀戒，但他认出了西卡琉斯中士摆出的架势，他之前曾经见过。

Numitor was about to hurtle in for the kill when he recognised when he had seen Sergeant Sicarius' stance before.

那是进行塔拉萨荣誉对决的准备姿势。

It was the en garde of a Talassarian honour duel.

远见司令官仔细地打量着面前这位星际战士身上的每一个细节。这个生物身材敦实，然而却很有力量——尽管他只有战斗服的一半大小，而且武器也没有那么精良。但他曾经见识过对方的战斗。他们强壮有力，行动迅速，而且意志坚定；那些戴着染色头盔的更是他们当中最出色的精英。

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.

这个家伙，从它的架势来看，是想跟他单打独斗啊。

This one, by its stance, wanted to fight him and him alone.

远见感受到了火焰圣典施加在他身上的分量。他还剩下一些应急手段：事实上，有两个。然而他根本就无法拒绝这场对决——哪怕在方圆百里之内连一个活人都没有——而他的战士无论如何都不会对它进行干涉的，因为那是在违反圣典。这是钛星人与人类的对决，是上上善道与人类帝国的对抗。两个太空帝国的冲突将由两名敌对的战斗化身概而括之。

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.

这是没法回绝的啊。

It could not be denied.

“你叫什么名字，剑士？”

'Your name, bladesman?'

“塔拉萨的卡托·西卡琉斯中士，（隶属于）极限战士第八连。”

'Sergeant Cato Sicarius of Talassar, Ultramarines Eighth Company.'

“我叫夏斯'欧·维欧'拉·肖瓦·凯斯·蒙特'耶尔，第二次星穹扩张的司令官。”

'I am called Shas'o Vior'la Shovah Kais Mont'yr, Commander of the Second Sphere.'

“对我而言那是毫无意义的噪音，异形。为了人类帝国和那些被你杀掉的手足兄弟，我要取下你的首级。”

'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!'

远见向前疾冲而去，他举起了自己的步枪，然后朝着鸠'荣'刹打出了两发等离子爆能波，只听一面面荣誉三角旗在他身后猎猎作响。就像司令官预想的那样，他的对手朝一旁跳了过去。为了砍掉那名战士的双腿，远见将热熔爆能枪的光束向着离地两英尺左右的高度扫了过去，然而那名剑士已经用跳跃背包的一记短喷让自己从上方跳了过去。待与XV8的头部齐平之后，那名星际战士重腿出击，差点就把传感节点从战斗服的脖子上踹下来，这让远见控制茧舱里的屏幕在那极为关键的一秒钟里发生了紊乱。

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.

远见听到了一阵如同犬吠一般的笑声，他感受到了——而非看到了——那把疾劈而下的利剑。他举起了盾牌，然后眨了眨眼睛将它的力场调至最大。当分解性武器和护盾的科技碰撞在一起时，一股炽烈的相斥能量骤然爆发，但远见的发生器要强劲的多，于是利刃就此滑开。

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.

星际战士“砰”的一声落在了地上，而远见则启动了他的反冲喷射器，他的战斗服在离地数英尺的高度上徐徐后滑。这名战士举起了一把枪管肥硕的等离子佩枪，然后在前冲之际抬手就是一枪，同时还用利剑划出了一个8字型。这是一记狡猾的花招，远见的护盾发生器亮了一下，将那发等离子弹矢就此挡下，然而乘着重新充能的微小延迟，对方的利刃不仅从XV8的躯干砍下了一大块，还斩掉了右侧大腿的绝大部分。他的损害控制中心开始闪烁起来，其战斗服的微型全息影像更是在受伤之处亮起了红光。在踉跄后退的同时，远见横心踢了一脚。令他稍感宽慰的是，这一脚重重地踢在了踊身而进的星际战士身上，对方顿时被踢得在以太高塔塔顶的大理石上滑了起来。

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.

随着一阵跳跃喷射器的轰鸣，那名战士返身逼了过来，于是远见射出了本打算在飞开之后用来结束这场对决的等离子步枪弹。敌人将那柄闪闪发光的利刃再度劈下，司令官举起了盾牌——却发现这只是一场佯攻。星际战士改变了他的剑势，只见对方挥剑一斩，等离子步枪的枪管顿时应声而断，仿佛它就像是一管纸筒一样。紧接着一记直踢正中簇型舱盖，远见（被踢的）向后转了一下，他眨了下眼睛启动了反冲喷射器，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.

这名对手的力量在于其好狠斗勇的性格、精湛的技巧和无限的自信之中。

This foe's strength was in aggression, skill and limitless confidence.

那个战士以相同的路数再度冲了上来。失去平衡的远见在那柄利剑的剑尖上看到了自己的末日。这一回，（对方那）热气腾腾的等离子佩枪虽然发出了白光，但却未能射出弹矢。处决被延期了。这时，一道灵光倏然乍现——与欧'凯斯在坎'吉山上的那场决斗，那记挥棍，时机恰到好处。欧'凯斯摇摇晃晃地从冰冷彻骨的河流中跋涉而过，他的脸上（就像）戴着一张愤怒的面具。

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.

那个鸠'荣'刹武士咒骂了一声，然后驱身而近，对方的利剑发出了噼啪作响的蓝光，他怀着人类的憎恨之力劈下了那记过顶而落的斩击。远见抬起了他的热熔爆能枪，然后挥手就是一扫，打算以此取下对方的人头，但他没有拿捏好出手的时机。他的热熔光束砍高了，所以只是劈断了敌人的利剑。

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.

利剑的上半截被烧得焦黑如炭，只听它咔哒一声落到了塔顶上。这名粗野的星际战士就像一头受伤的克鲁特猿兽一样咆哮起来，他向前一跳，将膝盖顶到了护盾发生器上，从而迫使其发出了脉冲波——然后那半截利剑便被他一把插进了位于XV8胸口上方的观察孔中。

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.

那块凹凸不平的金属足有两英尺长，它就这样刺穿了狭窄的半月形覆层，然后在金属摩擦的尖叫声中扎进了远见的控制茧舱。其焦黑的尖端直取远见，当它突然停下时，离欧'肖瓦的眼球就只剩下一根发丝的距离了。

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.

从塔顶的另一端传来了一阵响动。由于动力剑分解核心那不断衰减的能量令远见的屏幕陷入了半狂乱状态，所以它什么都无法显示出来。

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.

但他依然活着。就目前而言，这已然足够了。

But he was still alive. For now, that was enough.

努米托连长是唯一一个没有观看这场对决的人，他用了极大的意志力才做到了这一点。正当他默默地为下方的酣斗下达指令时，他在战争的喧嚣中听到了马拉格雷雅那哀怨的声音。

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.

+乔鲁斯·努米托，+ 只听她用喘息的语调如此说道，那声音就像痒苛一般在他的脑海中挠弄不已，+小心长鹰。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头来，只见达'利珊的瓦斯云被一个巨大的身影遮住了。那一道道在其下方闪烁明灭的细细光带就像是某种海洋掠食动物的生物光一样。它大的就像一艘星界军的空降船，然而却几乎没有任何声音。突然之间，两台异形战斗服从天而降。它们当中的一个更是向他劈来了（两把）长长的光芒之刃。

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.

努米托猛地朝一旁扑了过去，片刻之后，光束便在六角形高塔的塔顶上灼出了深深的黑洞，（它们）刻出了一个巨大的X纹样，将奥尔德斯的所站之处分成了两半。只见突击星际战士的两爿残尸在一阵令人作呕的嘶嘶声中骤然散落，然后便劈里啪啦地掉在了由大理石制成的塔顶之上。

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交叉斩是亮剑在自己亡故之后悟出的成名绝技

“攻击！” 努米托大声喊道，这既是警告也是命令。西卡琉斯双腿一跨，从倒下的异形指挥官身上跳了开去，然后便将等离子弹矢射向了那些正在朝他们俯扑而来的敌人。

'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.

随着两台战斗服轰然着陆，六角高塔的塔顶陷入了一片混乱之中。其中一台用一道闪烁不已的力场之墙偏转了马格罗斯那如镰斩至的裂人锯，然后用一只熠熠生辉的拳套打中了对方的胸口。这一击足足让极限战士在屋顶上飞出了三十英尺之远。另一台战斗服则用十二英尺长的热熔能量刀横扫了西卡琉斯的小队。当它袭来时，大多数星际战士都看出了这一击，然后及时躲了开去。

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.

勇岚的原型石弩拳套和后续的试做量产型在外观上有很大的不同

而科尼德慢了半拍，他被由肩至臀剪作了两截。

Colnid, a fraction slower, was shorn in two from hip to shoulder.

努米托大叫了起来，只见他挥着巨斧猱身而上。于是那台手持护盾的战斗服上前迎敌，在一阵雷鸣一般的较力声中，他用能量之墙接下了对方的动力武器。由于失去了平衡，等努米托看到（敌人的）还击时已经太迟了。异形战斗服将一个巨大的铰接之拳打在了努米托的铁光环力场上，这一击是如此之重，以至于释放出来的能量不仅让他的双眼一片苍白，还将他跌跌撞撞地从屋顶上逼了回去。

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.

第二台战斗服紧随其后。在努米托那紊乱的光学镜头下，对方就像是一幅单色相片，只见它将一把纯光之刃挥向了努米托的头颅。铁光环顿时熊熊的燃烧了起来。这一回，连长头盔列阵上的力场图标全部消失了。

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.

就在第一台战斗服挥舞巨拳相向而击时，努米托的视力恢复到了正常的状态。他就地一滚躲开了那一拳，同时用一个蹴腿踢得那家伙折膝下屈，然后他的巨斧以很低的弧度往对方的护盾下面来了一下。这一斧劈得很重，钛星人的盾臂被撕了下来，在巨力的摧持下，它从六角高塔的边缘滑了下去。

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.

只见努米托恶狠狠地咧嘴一笑，他的战斧划出了一道致命的弧线。

Numitor grinned fiercely, swinging his axe around in a killing arc.

“我现在就要你死，” 他如此说道。

'Now you die,' he said.

远见用手指按下了控制茧舱里的每一面屏幕上的失效保护和超驰控制按钮，他拼命地试图在自动补偿器令XV8重新站稳脚跟的当口让它们重新上线。塔顶上的场景简直就是一场大屠杀。从表面上来看，勇岚指挥官无视了对自己的不利因素，也没有理会他们事先安排好的计划，星际战士剑客刚把利剑插进远见的簇型舱盖，他就投入了战斗之中。和他在一起的那台战斗服毫无疑问时亮剑指挥官的。他的热熔爆能枪有着自枪管伸出的、仿佛永远都处于活动状态的锥形能量长刀

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.

一段往事在远见的脑海中倏然闪现——在欧'维萨的实验室深处有一具处于休眠状态的克隆体，它（的长相）与他死去的朋友亮剑惊人地相似。现在没时间来解开这个心结了。星际战士对钛星人拥有三比一的数量优势，他们就要获胜了。

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.

是时候平衡一下了。

Time to redress the balance.

“勇岚，” 他如此传讯道，“你和你的同伴必须立刻离开这片区域，直至抵达追加距离。机蜂网络，向我靠拢，进行火力压制。所有人员，准备进行冉拉'塔斯机动。我们别无选择。”

'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，” 勇岚如此说道，当一名星际战士将一把（大到）不实用的巨斧从他的簇型舱盖上扫过时，他的XV8猛地向后转了过去，“我不能离开。我要和你并肩奋战，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!'

“勇岚，” 远见如此说道，“你影响了我的战略计划。立刻退下。”

'Bravestorm,' said Farsight. 'You are jeopardising my strategy. Leave immediately.'

这位无畏的指挥官一定听懂了他话语中的弦外之音，因为勇岚 “哔” 的一声敲响了表示确认的金色信号，然后便从高塔的边缘上飞了出去。

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.

“所有的克鲁特族群，下车攀爬，” 远见如此说道，“那个穿着亮剑英雄战甲的家伙，不管你是谁，（给我）飞高一点。”

'All shaper kindreds, disembark and climb,' said Farsight. 'Whoever that is wearing Brightsword's mantle, go high.'

那名战士立刻垂直急升，只见他在屋顶上划了一个X，人类帝国的兵士纷纷跃身相避，以免重蹈其被杀战友的覆辙。

The warrior shot vertical, carving an X into the roof that sent the Imperials diving to avoid the same fate as their slain comrades.

“暂此别过了，不足道哉的家伙们。”

'Farewell for now, unworthy ones.'

只见云雾一般的机蜂之网升到了高塔的塔缘，随即脉冲卡宾枪的火力就像风暴一样猝然爆发，星际战士们被逼的伏下了身子。鸠'荣'刹纷纷开火还击，数台机蜂被打的从天上掉了下去，但这种分心之举换来了预期所需的时间。当战斗服恢复正常后，远见看到勇岚的图标已经和（负责）善后的标记连了起来，逆戟鲸正载着指挥官迅速离开。

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.

（这时），一条优先级为金色的协议信息从远见的指挥组件上流滑而过。他读了一遍，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.

几名星际战士从前方转过身来面对着他，边缘镶有利齿的奇形兵刃正在对方的拳中咆哮不已。他可以感受到对方身上的愤怒之力，它是如此的纯粹，以至于可以将一个帝国焚为飞灰。

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.

“欧'维萨，” 远见一边说一边踢了踢战斗服舱口的手动开启装置，“开始吧。”

'O'Vesa,' said Farsight, kicking the manual release of his suit's access hatch. 'Initiate.'

从远处的土氏六角塔楼那里传来了沉闷的嗡鸣声，在远见的显示屏上，其显示为一个紧凑的正弦波，当一股交错相斥的电磁脉冲自塔楼的深处猝然爆发之际，正弦波的波峰一下子就升到了高处。只见那个紫色的半球向外延伸了一英里之远，然后变成了两英里，其所过之处只留下了一片黑暗。

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.

努米托举起了他的巨斧，准备为这位身披红色战甲的军阀送上致命的最后一击，正当他的跳跃背包燃火欲发之际，一股由电磁力所发出的噼啪作响的紫色波纹席卷了他的全身。

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.

什么都没有发生。他头盔里的显示器黯了下去，然后就此熄灭，他的战视能力降低到了只能通过它的红黑色透镜来观察事物为何的程度。

Nothing happened. His helm displays dimmed and disappeared, his warsight reduced to whatever he could make out through its reddish-black lenses.

当努米托意识到他的装甲系统已经完全短路时，一股不安之情顿时油然而生。其背包中的序列发电机沉寂得就像坟墓一样。连长重重地朝前迈了一步，然后又是一步，但这实在是太费劲了。他小队中的许多成员也在做同样的事情，只见他们不由自主地在塔顶上踩来踩去，就好像重力增加了三倍似的。维莱坦绊了一跤，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.

极限战士战甲中的机魂进入了完全休眠状态。它们曾经是机械神教设计出来的最为精良单兵战具，然而现已沦为了累赘一般的存在。努米托的战斧从僵硬的手指上落了下来，只听它“当啷”一声，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.

当他看到那些奇形怪状、从高塔的边缘蜷然而现的爪状手掌时，连长感到愈发不安。在黑暗中只能看见对方那如同禽鸟一般的、长有喙嘴和羽毛的头颅。只见那些瘦削的身影曳身而上，纷纷从塔顶的边缘翻了过来——先是十几个一打，然后变成了几十个两打。几经努力，连长（终于）从枪套中拔出了自己的爆矢手枪，然后扣下了扳机。然而它也未能作出回应，其好勇斗狠的小机魂被钛星人的废除巫术驱散了。

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.

只见利爪一般的手指在努米托的目镜上遮了一会儿，然后随着一阵嘶嘶作响的减压空气，那些敏捷的爪子将外面的夹锁解开了。他的头盔被掀了开来。连长用手肘使劲地往后抵着，然而（头盔）并没有接上。片刻之后，他感到有一把刀顶在了自己的咽喉上——它锋利无比，而施于其上的力道更是足以（让自己）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.

那是被称之为克鲁特人的异形雇佣兵，从对方身上传来的那股油腻的恶臭充斥着他的鼻腔，那味道是如此的强烈，以至于让他双目流泪。

The oily stink of the xenos mercenaries known as the kroot filled his nostrils, so pungent it made his eyes water.

“连长？” 马格罗斯如此问道。努米托用自己的余光看到了那名战士。他的脖子上也抵着一把利刃。他们所有人都是。

'Captain?' asked Magros. Numitor saw the warrior in his peripheral vision. He too had a blade at his neck. All of them did.

“尽管杀了我们就是，” 西卡琉斯咆哮道。（1）

'Just kill us then,' growled Sicarius.

努米托回想起了马拉格雷雅的警告。要小心长鹰。那台面朝他们的红色战斗服依然静立在那里，（这是因为）电磁脉冲让它变得无法行动。然而这些克鲁特并不是土氏工厂里机械化复制人，他们就像禽鸟一样行踪诡秘。这些身材苗条的家伙是真实的（活物）——他们是噬肉者、剥皮匠和食人族。他们的狩猎技巧是用不着战争技术装备的。

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.

前面的那台战斗服的舱门被踢开了，只见一个高挑的钛族战士从里面退身而出，然后以一个猎人蹲姿翩然着陆。他缓缓地站起身来，然后鞠了一躬，但他的双眼片刻都没有从努米托的身上离开。连长本以为会在军阀的那张扁平的面孔上见到异形获胜时的得意表情，然而与之相反地，他看到了某种更像是悲伤的的东西。

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.

“谈判，我想你们是这么称呼它的，” 那个异形如此说道，虽然他的低哥特语带有一丝奇特的抑扬顿挫，但吐词非常准确。

'Parley, I think you call it,' said the xenos, his Low Gothic strangely lilting but accurate.

“非常好，” 努米托如此说道，“只要让你的宠物们把刀从我们的喉咙上挪开就行。”

'Very well,' replied Numitor. 'As soon as you have your pets take their blades from our throats.'

“我可不这么想，” 那个钛族军阀如此说道，“现在还不行。荣耀的佩克之民啊，请暂且住手。但要是哪个鸠'荣'刹敢动一下，就把他们全宰了。”

'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.'

西卡琉斯朝钛族首领吐了一口酸性唾沫。只见它落在了距对方三趾蹄足一掌之遥的地方，然后便嘶嘶地灼进了烧焦的屋顶之中。那个异形镇定自若地往后退了一步，然后用双手做了一个复杂的手势。

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.

有什么东西正在努米托的脑海中低语。那个星语者，马拉格雷雅。这一回，它是一种印象，而非仅仅只是文字——（那是）一万亿双邪恶的眼睛，它们都被一股吞噬银河的饥饿感团结在了一起。

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.

有生以来，努米托第一次感受到了真正的恐惧。

For the first time in his life, Numitor felt true horror.

“你们已经对达'利斯造成了很大的破坏，” 异形军阀如此说道，“当你们在为自己的皇帝征服它时，你们给它留下了深深的伤口。尽管我不该这么说，但我还是要向你们展示于此的技巧和力量致以敬意。”

'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.'

努米托皱了皱眉头，但一言未发。空气中笼罩着一股迫在眉睫的暴力威胁，（那气氛）浓厚的几乎都可以闻得出来。但是，由于人类帝国的每一件战争技术装备都暂时陷入了休眠状态，而钛星人可以从电磁爆能区外引入增援部队，所以（只要进行）一项敌对行动就会导致一场大屠杀。

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.

“你们全都是毫无信仰的混蛋，” 西卡琉斯如此说道，“总有一天，你们会被斩尽杀绝的，以皇帝的名义。”

'You are faithless bastards all,' said Sicarius, 'and one day you will be put to death, in the name of the Emperor.'

“信仰确实是一股强大的力量，这庸置疑，” 远见如此说道，“我们也有自己的信仰——但并不是信仰我们当中的某位被奉为神明的个体，而是信仰一个不容否认的天命共同体。”

'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.'

“在谈论这种事情前你先好好过过脑子，” 努米托如此说道，“尽管这可能会让我赔上性命，但我相信自己可以在失血过多之前将你一分为二。”

'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.'

“你会攻击一个手无寸铁的敌人吗？” 那个异形如此说道，“你会置自己的手足弟兄于不必要的险境之中吗？我想你们这些极限战士是有荣誉可言的。还是说那（种荣誉感）是多恩之锤才会有的？”

'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?'

“你懂个锤子的荣誉，” 西卡琉斯气急败坏地吼道。

'What would you know of honour,' snarled Sicarius.

“我知道如果它受损的话，是无法轻易修复的。我们也有自己的战士准则。”

'I know that if it is broken, it cannot easily be repaired. We too have a warrior code.'

“撒谎，” 西卡琉斯如此说道。

'Lies,' said Sicarius.

“譬如，” 那个异形如此说道，“我认为给自己的猎核下令去让他们去猎杀你们的每一个身着白甲的医护兵以确保能够将他们的死仪葬瓶踏在我们的军靴之下会是一件不荣誉的行为。那会成为我灵魂上无法抹消的污点。”

'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.'

一想到散落于尘土之中的原体的遗赠，努米托顿时感到怒不可遏，但他还是努力地让自己的表现得波澜不惊。

Numitor felt his gorge rise at the thought of the primarchs' legacy scattered in the dust, but struggled to keep his expression neutral.

“如果事情发展到那种程度，会是一种极大的耻辱，” 那个异形军阀接着把话说了下去，“已经失去了足够多的性命了，双方都是，我们可以从中吸取到教训。但不久之前，我的顾问告诉我，你们的主子已经下令进行撤退，因此，也许不需要采取这种极端手段了。”

'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.'

只见极限战士们难以置信地互相打量着。努米托凝视着西卡琉斯的目光。他的手指，尽管在休眠的动力甲中难以动弹，但还是可以认出它用塔拉萨人的海徒黑话发出了一条讯息。

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·难。

Home. In. Danger.

“我明白了，” 西卡琉斯如此说道，这话既是在跟努米托讲，也是在说给异形听，“ 就这样吧。如果我们今天撤退的话，异形，你会就这样简简单单地放我们离开吗？每一支军队，每一艘舰艇，每一个士兵？”（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，” 异形军阀如此说道，“ 作为一名火氏的司令官，我向你保证。”

'Yes,' said the xenos warlord. 'You have my word on that, as a commander of the fire caste.'

这一回，西卡琉斯没有发出质疑的嘟囔。“队员们，保持克制，” 中士如此说道，“ 这个肮脏异形的所述之言远比你们想像的还要真实。”

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.'

一股令人震惊的沉默顿时在屋顶上弥漫开来。有九双眼睛望向了努米托，只见他缓慢而又忧郁地点了点头。

A stunned silence pervaded across the roof. Nine pairs of eyes looked to Numitor, and he nodded, slowly and sombrely.

“千真万确，” 他如此说道，“奥特玛危在旦夕。”

'It is true,' he said. 'Ultramar is in danger.'

“佩克的子民啊，” 那个军阀如此说道，“把这些人放了。他们处于休战的庇护之下，而且他们还得回去保卫自己的星球。”（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.'

努米托感到匕首的锋刃从自己的喉咙上挪开了，随着克鲁特人的臭味从附近逐渐消失，他的强化血液在几秒钟之内（就将伤口）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.

“盟友是极为有用的存在，连长，” 钛族司令官一边说一边向努米托转过身去，“有时候会在最为奇怪的地方找到（对方）。”

'Allies can be most useful, captain,' said the tau commander as he turned to Numitor, 'and sometimes found in the strangest places.'

一艘从云层中探身而出的大型空降船开始超低空飞行，当其接近六角形高塔的塔顶时，它伸出了自己的登陆坡板。只见两台战斗服优雅地从飞船侧面的入口处降了下来。它们将各自的操作护手伸到了那台无法行动的战斗服下，于是在反冲推进器那响亮的嗡鸣声中，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.

那个正在等待飞船的登陆坡板接触到高塔的边缘、好让自己登而踏之的异形军阀在向后退去的时候用双手作了一个更为复杂的手势。

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.

“我们的文明会再度交汇的，” 西卡琉斯如此说道，“我向你保证，异形。而那一天，将会有血光之灾。”

'Our civilisations will cross paths again,' said Sicarius. 'That I promise you, alien. And on that day, there will be blood.'

“我对此确信无疑，” 异形军阀悲伤地说道，他转身缓缓地步入了飞船之中，然后就此飘向群星（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，经过二百五十多年的改进，钛星人的EMP技术得到了长足的进步，从第三次扩张开始，只需一枚拳头大小特制手雷就能让星际战士的动力甲彻底宕机。

他们的异形科技让我一败涂地。某种装置被固定到了我的腿上。我反手一击，将那个把那玩意装上来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。要不是拿斧头的是我的右手而非左手，我早就把他给宰了。我把我的爆矢手枪一扔，然后伸手去扯掉那个装置。那个装置呈圆形，大小和成人的拳头差不多。只见光线迅速地闪烁着，它发出了一道逐渐增强的哀鸣。等我把手放上去的时候已经太迟了。一股强大的电磁脉冲波将我动力甲中的机魂驱离殆尽。我的运行系统关闭了，从黑色甲壳的神经接口那里传来了阵阵刺痛，头盔里的显示器也随之失效，世界似乎一下子就变小了，它被囿于我头盔的目镜之中。由于失去了辅助肌肉系统，动力甲那突如其来的负重让我失去了平衡。背上的动力组件和冷却单元拽得我踉踉跄跄的直往后退。在塑钢和陶钢的重压之下，我跪了下来。

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）因为此时的达摩克里斯远征军已经被打得一败涂地：它的地面部队（包括且不限于数以千计的星际战士、数以亿计的星界军和至少一支的泰坦军团）已经被钛星人的地面反击部队压缩到最后一块防御区①；而足以将人类远征舰队（战列舰和战斗母舰各有好几艘）化骨扬灰的钛族增援舰队也即将抵达达利斯的主星②。

①努米托在脑袋里听到了同样的声音，这一次遣词文雅，语调流顺。“钛星人同时向每座城市的每一个帝国占领区发动了袭击，” 那个声音如此说道，灵能通讯的感觉实在是诡谲莫测，令人心神不安，“这是最后一个尚未陷落的阵地。一定要守住它。”

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.+

“用所有能让对方料想未及的东西攻击他们。我们只有一次机会。如果这里失守了，我们会被从这个星球的表面上抹去的。”

"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我们的增援将从其它五个家门归航，而柯'瓦恰确信，如果人类帝国的舰队坚守阵地，那么我们集结的机群数量将足以彻底摧毁对方。我们会赢得这场战争，而且会很快。

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：所以不管是哪个版本，虫巢入侵都不是达摩克利斯远征军撤退的真正原因——因为在获知泰伦虫族的消息之前，他们实际上已经被钛星人彻底击败了，如果不撤退的话，等待他们的下场只有全灭。

（3）同样是被电磁脉冲彻底瘫痪，但之前进攻拉莱'塔斯城（Rala'tas）的星界军装甲团就没有那么幸运了。

克鲁特猎犬扑到了那些试图逃跑的人，而克鲁特猿兽则把舱盖和车门从那些动弹不得的坦克上撕了下来，好让它们那凶残的亲族攀爬而进。接下来发生的那场可怕的盛宴从来没有在钛星人的公开频道上播出过，不过据说欧'肖瓦看了好几遍。 

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）这是因以太阻止了远见的计划——他本来是想追上去将远征军赶尽杀绝的。但在三年后，铵'瓦还是对他进行了一些补偿：远见率领着铵'瓦调拨给他的（至少）一千亿人马杀过了达摩克利斯湾，他不仅收复了全部的失地（甚至还开拓了不少新世界），还歼灭了所有不肯投降的帝国部队（光是Vior'los一役，远见军就全歼了一整个战团的星际战士，顺带还消灭了数十亿的斯基塔里护教军）。