The Ballard of Cairo
Part nineteen: Join the team

Garrison Hospital
Idlewind City
Idlewind
The Draconis Combine

Cairo walked along the ward, its beds full of soldiers injured in the pirate attack. O'Brien was sitting up in bed, reading the damage assessment of her downed Panther. She looked up as Cairo approached "It's a complete write-off. McCoy says the reactor gutted the torso and melted half the electronics and myomer. It'll never work again".

Cairo smiled as he sat on the end of her bed, "Don't worry about that Sinead, you're not getting out of this mission that easily. Tai-I Goto has kindly given us the rights to salvage the pirate Shadow Hawk. McCoy and his boys are loading her onto the Wataru as we speak. He say's it should not be too hard to fix her up".

O'Brien smiled. "Why are you so good to me Steve?"

Cairo kissed her on the forehead. "You're a good pilot and I've got used to having you around. You just get your back better and I'll deal with your new Mech". With that he walked off, ignoring O'Brien's shouts calling him back.

Garrison Situation Room
Idlewind City
Idlewind
The Draconis Combine

Cairo looked at the holo-tank before him and saw the last lance of pirate Mech's try to make for the presumed safety of Fakir's Canyon. He turned to Akira Goto. "Can the pursuit-force catch them?"

The Combine MechWarrior shook his head. "No, they can not. The pirates have to great a lead. They will be through the canyon at almost at the other DropShip before our forces catch up with them."

Cairo examined the holo-tank. He pointed at the image that represented the Wataru. "What if Jackson does a few strafing runs to slow them down a bit? Some of your units can jump up-and-over this out-crop here, get in front of the pirates and catch them in a crossfire."

Tai-I Goto rubbed his chin slowly. "If your pilot can hold them up for a few minutes, some of my Panthers can do as you say and cut the pirates off."

Cairo tapped his wrist-com "Paul, can you try and hold up the pirates a bit while the garrison Mech's try to cut them off."

The radio crackled as the holo-tank showed the Wataru change course, swinging towards the pirate force. "We'll have the pirates eating dirt in under a minute Steve."

Over the next few minutes, Cairo, Goto and Go-cho Dancer watched the holo-tank as the Wataru made pass after pass over the pirates, firing PPC's and LRM's at the Mech's in the canyon. Soon, the DCMS Panthers worked their way round behind the raiders and moved in for the kill. The Wataru started to circle; ready to pounce on any pirate that tried to escape. The remaining two enemy Mech's surrendered, their pilots powering down as a sign of submission.

Cairo turned to Goto and Dancer. "Well, gentlemen, I must be leaving. We have found a JumpShip that will take us to Constance. We will have to go and ask the Ghost Bears where Cain is. I only hope they don't do anything foolish like try to stop us".

As he turned to leave, Go-cho Dancer stepped forward. "Lt. Cairo sir; request permission to join you. I owe Sgt. O'Brien my life. The code of Bushido demands that I repay her. Any less would be a great dishonour".

Cairo shrugged. "Grab your gear and be on the Wataru by 07:45 tomorrow. I hope you know what you're getting yourself into - it's my turn to cook this week".

To Be Continued...