The Solaris Irregulars
Part 4: Ticket to Ride

Solaris Spaceport, International Zone
Solaris City, Solaris VII
Lyran Alliance

Clearwater led Cairo, Sinead, Jackson and McCoy across the fast landing field. They rounded a warehouse and stopped before a DropShip. Clearwater smiled "There's you new command Mr Jackson: The Shimmering Star. Union-C, formally property of Clan Smoke Jaguar, taken salvage during Operation Bulldog."

Jackson looked up at the massive DropShip: at 4,700 tonnes, it was more than twice the size of the Wataru, and unlike the old Leaped-class DropShip, it was of spherical design. "I've never flown a Union, or any other Sphere for that matter."

"Don't worry; we have a pilot for you." Clearwater patted him on the shoulder "You will be the captain."

The ComStar Precentor smiled to the four of them "Well, that's the first part of my surprise, the second is in orbit." He led them to a small shuttle with ComsGuards markings. The ride into Orbit was relatively smooth, and they where soon clear of the atmosphere. Clearwater turned from his seat next to the pilot and smiled at Cairo "Now this you're really going to love!" he nodded to the pilot, who rotated the shuttle through 90-degrees.

A massive shadow fell over the shuttle. Cairo looked out of the view port and gasped: a WarShip floated in space before him, the Star of Cameron painted on its side.

Clearwater chuckled "She's the Spirit Sight, a Fredasa class Corvette belonging to Clan Nova Cat. She was on patrol with the SLDF fleet in the Capellan March when all this started. I talked the Nova Cats into lending her to us for the duration."

Jackson got his voce back "What are her vitals?"

Clearwater handed over a note-puter "175,000-tonnes displaced, 415 meters long. She carries 4 NAC/10's, a NAC/40, 8 NL-45's, and a small arsenal of anti-fighter and anti-DropShip weapons. She has a Lithium-Fusion battery system, allowing her to make two jumps without recharging. She has a crew of 85, and is commanded by a Star-Commodore Ivan Leroux. Nice man, very friendly, but if you ask me, he's spent a little to long in space, if you know what I mean."

The shuttle banked to the side and lined up to dock with the WarShip.

To Be Continued...