The Ballad of Cairo

Part Four: A Warm Reception

Merchant Sector, Ferris,

Outworlds Alliance,

The Periphery

Cairo looked up at the sign that hung above the entrance to the tavern, announcing its name as 'The Centurion's Head'. Jackson had sent him a message that someone in the bar knew of the Mech that they where looking for. He pushed open the door and stepped into the dark, smoke-filled room. A few heads turned to look at him, but for the most part he was ignored. He walked to the bar and ordered a glass of the local ale. He scanned the room for Jackson, but the intelligence officer was nowhere to be seen.

He started on his drink, and was not surprised when Jackson suddenly appeared at his side. "There's a dock-worker over there who says he saw a jet-black Champion with skulls painted on the knees in the cargo bay of a DropShip bound for the Fed-Com border that passed through here six weeks ago."

"And you think he's telling the truth?" Cairo asked, trying not to get his hopes up to much.

"I told him I was a Mech-junkie who wanted to know about any that came through the spaceport. That…and a few drinks got him talking."

It was at this point that a drunken tavern customer slipped and fell against Cairo. "Hey, you spilt my drink you did! You're gonna' pay for that!" The drunk said, pushing Cairo against the bar.

"Look, we don't want any trouble, let us buy you a drink and we'll call it quits, ok?" suggested Jackson, not wanting any trouble. Cairo pointed at two equally drunk men wearing the same uniform as the troublemaker, now approaching them.

"You boys from the local garrison or something?" Cairo asked, seeking a way to defuse the situation.

"And if we are, what's it to you, pal?" the last word was more spat than spoken at Cairo. "Maybe he's a pirate, sent here to check out the defences before a raid." One of the two newcomers to the conversation suggested. Cairo and Jackson saw weapons being readied, knives and pool cues mainly.

Jackson reacted first, pulling a sawn-off shotgun from his long trench coat and pointing it at the ceiling. In the confined space of the bar, the blast from the shotgun was deafening. The pellets struck the ceiling, sending a shower of plaster over everyone at the bar. Cairo grabbed Jackson by the collar and pulled him behind an overturned table. A series of thumps and bangs told him he was just in time as several knives and bottles struck the tabletop.

Cairo looked over the top of the table, firing his service laser at some of the rioters. Many of them had managed to find cover behind the bar-top, and were trying to shoot back with a selection of slug-throwers, lasers and bottles. Cairo turned to Jackson. "How many shells you got left in that thing" he asked, pointing at the shotgun. Jackson examined his weapon. "Three, maybe four. What have you got in mind?"

Cairo pointed over the top of the barricade. "See if you can hit some of the bottles above the bar." Jackson looked round the end of the table. "Ok. Cover me." They came up shooting, Cairo keeping the heads of the rioters down while Jackson let rip on the drinks above the bar, shattering bottles. "Ok, why did I just do that?" asked Jackson, pulling out a small slug-thrower out of his pocket. "Watch and learn my friend, watch and learn." Cairo stood up and fired his laser at the shattered bottles. The heat from the laser beam set light to the alcohol that had spread over the top of the bar.

A sheet of flame covered the bar from end to end, sending the rioters running for their lives. Cairo looked down at Jackson. "I think we'd better get out of here."

"I'm with you on that!" replied the intelligence officer, picking up his shotgun and running for the door.

The small hover car that Cairo had rented was still where he had left it. He got behind the wheel while Jackson jumped into the passenger seat. Jackson turned to Cairo, "I think we'd better get off-planet as soon as we can. The local cops are going to be after us in no time."

"Don't worry there is a DropShip leaving for Inner End this afternoon. McCoy has got us tickets for it." Cairo replied.

Jackson smiled as he settled down, "Federated Commonwealth, here we come".

To Be Continued…