The Ballard of Cairo
Part twenty-eight: Batchall

50km outside Bagera
Huntress,Kerensky Cluster
Clan Space

Cairo's Orion was walking along the side of the road with Dancer's Centurion one his right and MechWarrior Rebecca's Goshawk on his left. Behind them, in a small ground car, Jackson and McCoy were discussing the recent changes in their boss. "I'm telling you Shamus, Steve's lost it big time. He's been simmering ever since the attack on his hometown. Just look at the evidence: the way he captured that Orion, changing his name from Clark to Cairo, naming his Mech 'Retribution', the way he dealt with those two muggers on Galatea".

McCoy nodded, "I know what you mean lad, but he seemed better after him and Sinead started seeing each other. If it were not for that letter, he would be okay. He was just beginning to trust Sinead when all this started".

Jackson shook his head, "I should never have shown him that communication from Outreach".

The old sergeant looked at the DropShip pilot-turned-spy, "Don't beat yourself up over it Paul, he had a right to know about that. She has a lot of explaining to do".

The radio crackled and Cairo's voice came over it. "Okay people, we are now starting to show up on the Wolves' sensors. Stay sharp, but don't do anything unless I tell you to". With that he switched to a general frequency. "Attention Clan Wolf garrison, this is Lt. Steven Cairo of the Los Alamos Defence Force. I have come to reclaim a bondswoman you took on Constance in the Ghost Bear Domain. I wish to challenge the MechWarrior who piloted the Hellbringer for the bondswoman Sinead O'Brien".

A voice full of scorn answered his call, "I am Star Commander Marcus. I captured the one you call Sinead. I will fight you and kill you with my bare hands for the insult of thinking you are my equal. I will be at your position in ten minutes". The radio went dead.

It was nine and a half minutes later that a star of Clan OmniMech's, followed by a hover-car, halted 100 metres from Cairo's Mech. The pilot of the Hellbringer dismounted and walked to the hover-car. Cairo climbed down from the cockpit of his Orion and walked halfway towards the Clan force.

A tall man in the uniform of Clan Wolf walked towards him, dragging O'Brien. To say that she had looked better would have been an understatement: her bottom lip was cut and her left eye was black. She was walking with a slight limp in her right leg and was holding her left arm.

The Clan warrior spoke, "You are the one called Cairo, Quiaff?"

Cairo nodded "Aff, I am the one who issued the challenge, do you accept?"

The Star Commander sneered, "Aff, I accept your 'challenge' and I will kill you for insulting my honour. Do you really think you are my equal?"

Cairo nodded, "And I'm going to kick your arse from one end of this clearing to the other. We fight: I win, I leave here with Sinead. You win, you keep Sinead, and you get me; Deal?"

The Clanner spat at Cairo's foot. "When I win it will be your death...freebirth scum".

Cairo smiled, "Then lets begin...trashborn". The Star Commander threw O'Brien to the ground and leapt at Cairo.

To Be Continued...