The Ballard of Cairo
Part forty-two: Let the games begin!

Ishiyama, Kobe
Solaris City, Solaris VII
Lyran Alliance

Cairo walked Retribution through the twisting tunnels of the massive Draconis arena. This was his first battle in the Solaris VII league and if he wanted a shot at Cain, he needed to win. His opponent was piloting a PTR-4D Penetrator, a 75-ton Mech armed solely with energy weapons. In the confined spaces of the infamous "knot", the range advantage of his opponent's ER Large Lasers was nullified, but he still had to be wary of its six Medium Pulse Lasers. As he exited a tunnel that lead to an underground lake, the Penetrator leaped from the dark waters, firing all of its close-range weapons.

The old Orion rocked backwards as tons of armour plating vaporised instantly. He fired a brace of ATMs, and caught his opponent in the air. The high explosive warheads slammed into the Penetrator, knocking it backwards and into the far wall. A salvo from Cairo's LB 10-X, followed by a blast from his Heavy Large Laser, exposed then fused the Davion Mech's left knee. The Penetrator hit back with another series of shots from all six pulse lasers, but Retribution's Clan Ferro-Fibrous armour easily handled the onslaught.

A second flight of ATMs turned the left leg into scrap and the Penetrator fell. Its pilot raised his Mech's right arm as a sign of surrender and powered down.

DBC Studios, Silesia
Solaris City, Solaris VII
Lyran Alliance

Cairo detested having to do the talk shows, especially as the presenters kept talking about his battle with Star Commander Marcus on Huntress. That belonged to a time in his life when he had looked into the abyss and the abyss had threatened to swallow him. He had been more than a little crazy at the time and had driven O'Brien to try and kill herself: something he would never forgive himself for.

The replay of his battle in the Ishiyama "knot" ended and his host, Todd Richards, turned to him. "So, Lt. Cairo, you've fought your first battle on Solaris. How does it differ from your experience on the battlefield?"

Cairo shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "Well Todd, with the exception of my short battle on Constance, I've only fought people who wanted to kill me. Fighting in a situation where I can ask for - and normally receive - mercy is quite strange."

Richards changed tack. "Yes, but on Constance you defeated and captured a Clan MechWarrior - a young lady by the name of Rebecca. You have kept her as a bondswoman and she fought for you on Huntress, also helping Go-cho Dancer rescue you on Whittington after your run-in with Word of Blake. Can you really compare the two?"

Cairo shook his head. "Comparing Clan battle techniques and the sort of duelling that goes on here on Solaris is stupid: Had MechWarrior Rebecca defeated me, she would have claimed me as her bondsman. I know this because she has told me so. When I fought Tom Woodland in the Knot, it was not to kill him or make him my bondsman - it was just to progress in the competition. I have earned my place in the Open Melee for a place in the Championship...nothing more."

To Be Continued...