The Ballad of Cairo

Part Fifteen: Travel plans

The Red Rose bar,

Wolcott City, Wolcott,

Draconis Combine

Cairo and O'Brien had retired to a table as far from the music as they could, while Jackson was taking advantage of the fact that they were not due to leave Wolcott for a few days and was propping up the bar.

Cairo took a long drink of beer and turned to O'Brien. "So Sinead, what's your story?"

O'Brien looked him square in the eye, "Took your time in asking didn't you Steve? I was born on Somerset in what is now the Jade Falcon Occupation Zone. My parents managed to get transport to New Exford when the Clans reached as far as Anywhere and I got a place at a MechWarrior training college. I didn't score enough to get a place in the LAAF, so I made my way to Outreach".

She re-filled her glass from a pitcher on the table, "There I met a young lieutenant in the Wolf Dragoons by the name of Jack Cameron, who had this crazy idea of creating a unit just to fight pirates. I needed a job, so I agreed to help him prepare his case to take to the Old Man. He got approval and a promotion to Captain. I got made Sergeant and his second in command. We managed to build up a reputation as one of the best anti-pirate units going. Then one day on Greeley, Captain Cameron meets a stranger from the Periphery who's on some damn-fool quest to find and kill a known pirate who has been able to keep just clean enough to avoid the law".

Cairo finished his drink. "Interesting. Any idea of how to get to Idlewind from here?"

O'Brien pulled out her note-puter and hit a few keys. "There is a route that goes by way of Albiero, Hanover, Brocchi's Cluster, Almunge and Rockland before arriving at Idlewind. It's long but we should get there before Cain gets back from Constance".

Cairo looked at his watch. "We'd better go get Jackson before he passes out and head back to the spaceport to book our passage to Idlewind. We're going to have to earn some money soon - it cost us most of our money to get here". O'Brien started to interrupt but Cairo held up his hand, "And I'm not asking your employers for any money. I'll do this my way. If you don't like that…go back to Outreach".

O'Brien smiled, "Oh, don't worry – I'm not going anywhere. I've told you before Steve, you're an interesting person to be around".

To Be Continued…