The Ballad of Cairo

Part Six: Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Greeley Spaceport,

Greeley,

Federated Commonwealth.

Cairo sat in the bar overlooking the Spaceport. For two weeks he had been trying to find a DropShip going anywhere near Outreach, but there were none. As he sipped his drink, a Union Class DropShip came in to land. The emblem on the side of the ship was that of the Wolf's Dragoons, a unit known even in the Periphery as one of the best Mercenary units going. Cairo also knew that their home world was Outreach. The second emblem on the side of the DropShip he didn't recognise.

He called Jackson over from the jukebox in the corner of the bar. "Find out what unit that is. If they are going back to Outreach, we may be able to hitch a lift".

Jackson nodded, "I'm on it", he said.

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It was two hours before Jackson returned, accompanied by a tall, slender man in a Dragoon duty uniform. "This," Jackson started the introductions, "is Captain Jack Cameron of the Wolf Dragoons. Captain Cameron, this is Lieutenant Steven Cairo of the Los Alamos Defence Force".

Cairo shook the captain's hand, "A pleasure to meet you, Captain".

"Likewise, Lieutenant", replied the Dragoon warrior. "If you don't mind me asking, what are you doing so far from home?"

Cairo motioned to the seat across the table from himself, and the captain sat down. "I'm on a special assignment. Myself, Jackson here and a small tech unit have been sent to the Inner Sphere to try and find a MechWarrior who attacked our planet about five months ago. He or she is wanted on counts of mass-murder and piracy. Records 'recovered' from his employer point to Outreach as the place of initial contact between said employers and the mercenary".

Cairo sat back and let Cameron take in the information. "Well," the captain said after a minute, "I can certainly understand the reasons behind your mission and I may be able to help you. My unit has been out pirate hunting too and we are a Mech short. I can offer you a temporary contract that will last until we get back to Outreach. You will have to stick with us while we do a short mop-up operation in the Chaos March, but that won't take long. Jackson tells me you have an ON1-K Orion, and that it's old, but in good condition. We can help re-furbish it with some new weaponry. It's a six-month contract for you and your whole party and it will get you to Outreach with a bit of money in your pocket. What do you say?"

Cairo looked at Jackson, who nodded. "I think you have a deal there Captain", Cairo said smiling as he extended his hand to his new boss.

"Welcome to the Dragoons, Lieutenant", replied Cameron, shaking Cairo's hand.

To Be Continued…