The Solaris Irregulars
Part 11: Operation Running Start

SLS Spirit Sight
Zenith Jump Point
Bristol system
Federated Commonwealth

Cairo played the message from Clearwater for the fifth time, but still couldn't believe it. He sighed, and then called the Irregulars to the briefing room. Over the next few minuets they ambled through the door in ones and twos: even Sinead joined them, although she was still on leave after Jane's birth.

Cairo dimmed the lights and activated the holo-projector, displaying a map of the Inner Sphere "Ok people, this is a rush job, top priority. After the fall of Kathil, the remains of the defending forces fled towards New Avalon. On the last ship out was Jackson Davion, Marshal of the Armies of the Federated Suns, and cousin of First Princes Yvonne Steiner-Davion. That ship, the Avalon-class cruiser Melissa Davion, was badly damaged, and her jump-drive is off-line." Cairo punched a few controls, and the hologram zoomed in to the area surrounding Kathil. "She's stuck here, in a system halfway between Talcott and Chebanse. Word of Blake is looking for her, and I don't need to tell you what could happen if they manage to capture Marshal Davion alive." The Irregulars shudder at the thought.

The holo-projector shut-off and the lights came back on. Cairo looked at his assembled command "In a few minuets we will make the first of two jumps that will take us to the Melissa Davion. Once there, we will retrieve Marshal Davion, and escort him to New Avalon. The Spirit Sight is the only WarShip in range, and command is un-willing to risk such an important mission to a regular JumpShip. Word of Blake command has issued orders to capture Jackson Davion at any cost, so this is likely to get hairy." He turned to Lt. Scot, the former Clan pilot and commander of the Irregulars Aerospace assets "I need you and Janet to operate in conjunction with the Spirit Sight's fighters. I'm placing you under Star-Commodore Ivan Leroux's command for the duration of this mission." The Clan pilot nodded.

A klaxon sounded, warning of an imminent hyperspace jump: the room seemed to swirl as the Spirit Sight's Kearny-Fuchida drive tore a hole in the fabric of space-time and sent the ship 30 light-years across the Galaxy. No sooner had the room stopped spinning that the klaxon sounded for a second time, and the room again swirled as the Corvette's Lithium-Fusion battery system allowed it to make a second jump as soon as coordinates where feed into the guidance system.

Cairo made his way to the bridge. Star-Commodore Ivan Leroux turned to him "We have found the Melissa Davion, and have exchanged codeword. Marshal Davion is on his way over as we speak."

The Star-Commodore was cut-off by one of his crew "IR signature forming, 20-km off the port bow. War-Book says it is most likely a Suffren class destroyer."

Cairo and Leroux looked at each other: only Word of Blake used the 540,000-tonne Suffren. It out-weighed the Fredasa-class Spirit Sight almost 4 to 1. The Clan officer reacted quickly "Sound General-Quarters! Answer battle stations on all weapons! Launch the fighters! Lock the grav-deck in place! Seal all interior hatches."

The bridge came alive with activity as the Spirit Sight prepared to go into battle.

TBC...