The Ballard of Cairo
Part forty-six: Friends and Foes

The Final Approach, International zone
Solaris City, Solaris VII
Lyran Alliance

The Final was a small pub that catered to people who worked in the air traffic control centre for the Solaris City spaceport. The crew of the Wataru had taken it as their regular drinking hole as it was a five-minute walk from where the DropShip was parked.

Cairo was playing pool against Dancer when O'Brien came in, a look of despair on her face. She walked up to Cairo and handed him a note-puter. "Your next fight just got posted...you're up against Erika Silvesterson: She's a friend of Cain - they ran from the Combine together. She's piloting a SD1-O Sunder. There is no way your Orion can stand up to that, not even with the Clan weapons McCoy fitted".

Cairo looked at the note-puter, then at his fiancée. "If I don't fight her, I'm out of the tournament...and I don't get a shot at Cain. But you're right; going up against a 90-ton OmniMech in a 75-tonner is suicide". He sunk the 8-ball, winning the game.

The three of them walked over to a table in the corner. Cairo put his drink down. "Maybe if we sell the rest of the Clan-tech we've got, we could buy an assault Mech".

Dancer shook his head, "You'd need a lot more than what that salvage is worth to get an assault Mech. You'd have to sell the Wataru to get the sort of money we need".

Cairo finished his drink. "If I do that, we have nowhere to live and we lose the Mech repair facilities".

"Maybe I can help?" said a voice from behind them.

Cairo turned, "Clearwater? I'm getting you a bell: It's not safe to sneak up on people like that".

The Com-Star Precentor smiled. "I apologise, but as I said, I may be able to help you. The local Com Guard garrison force just received a brand-new TDK-7X Thunder Hawk. Due to your help on Whittington, we, that is to say ComStar, is willing to lend it to you for the duration of your stay on Solaris VII."

O'Brien stood toe to toe with Clearwater. "What's the catch? Is Word of Blake still after us?"

Clearwater rested his hands lightly on her shoulders. "I assure you Miss O'Brien, if Word of Blake were still after you, then I'd not be here alone - I'd have half of ROM with me. Mr Cain is suspected of being involved in attacks on several ComStar HPG stations in the Chaos March. We want him dead as much as any of you."

Cairo stood and shook the Precentor's hand, "When can I have a look at the Mech?"

Clearwater handed him three security passes, "0900 hours tomorrow. I'll see you there."

Com Guard compound, International Zone
Solaris City, Solaris VII
Lyran Alliance

Cairo looked up at the towering form of the Thunder Hawk. This Mech would get him to the Championship Final, but he would face Cain in his Orion, Retribution.

To Be Continued...