The Ballad of Cairo

Part Five: Why We Do The Things We Do

DropShip Wandering Star

Inbound, Greeley System,

Federated Commonwealth

Cairo, Jackson and McCoy sat around a table in the DropShip's observation room. On the table were several empty bottles of strong whisky that McCoy said was reputed to help with jump-sickness.

McCoy put his glass down and looked at Jackson. "I know why the lieutenant here is on this mission, by why did you volunteer for it?"

The intelligence officer finished the last of his whisky and looked from Cairo to McCoy "My father was chief engineer on a DropShip, a Union, same as this. My mother was a schoolteacher and I'd spend most of my time with her, but during the holidays we'd all spend time together on the DropShip. My father taught me a lot about life, love and engines on those trips among the more friendly planets around Los Alamos. From the age of about six onwards, all I wanted to do was be an engineer like my dad. So, when I finished school I went to the technical collage in Los Alamos City."

Jackson refilled his glass with whisky, downed it in one and continued, "It was during my second year there that I was called to the Dean's office and he told me to take a seat. My father's DropShip, the Wild Rover, had been attacked by pirates while on a routine trip to the Santa Cruz system. The entire crew were killed when one of the main bulkheads gave way and vented the ship's air supply".

Jackson put his glass down and stared into space "I dropped out of college…started drinking. I was going down hill fast. Then, one day, I get a call. The Intelligence Directorate was looking for people to form a new anti-pirate unit. With my experience of DropShips, my technical knowledge and my 'personal interest' in pirates, I was offered the job of commanding a Leopard CV tasked with patrolling the systems where raids were most common. I doubt we ever went up against the ones that killed my dad, but it felt good to be striking back. When this mission came up, I gave my First Officer the ship and volunteered."

Cairo nodded as Jackson finished his story. He looked at McCoy "Why'd you sign on for this then? We all know you are one of the top Techs from back home. What made you give up a comfortable job and go pirate hunting?"

McCoy was now the one to down his glass of whisky in one go. "In a way, my story echoes yours. My son was the gunner on one of the tanks that was with you the night Cairo was attacked. He was killed, leaving a wife and young daughter behind. How could I sit by while the person responsible for killing my only son, making my daughter-in-law a widow and my grand-daughter cry herself to sleep every night, wondering why her daddy went away, get away? You came here seeking revenge for losing your family. Jackson has an anti-pirate vendetta. The Techs in my unit all lost someone to pirates or the raids on farms around Cairo. We all have scores to settle."

Jackson re-filled all three glasses and proposed a toast. "To absent friends, and making those responsible pay"

Cairo and McCoy raised their glasses "Absent friends".

To Be Continued…