The Solaris Irregulars
Part 12: Action Stations!

SLS Spirit Sight
Zenith Jump Point
System AHT-8372-3991
Federated Commonwealth

Cairo tried to run to his quarters, but the lack of gravity made it impossible: in the end he had to pall himself along a handrail. He ducked into his quarters and grabbed his knife from the closet: The curve-bladed kukri was a family heirloom that dated back from before the first Star League.

Seined was sat in a chair, holding Jane in her arms "Steven, what's going on?"

Cairo grabbed her arm and pulled her from her seat "Another WarShip is inbound. The WarBook says it's a Suffren class destroyer. Leroux is trying to coordinate an attack with the Melissa Davion, but most of her weapons are down. From what I can gather, the plan is for the Melissa Davion to hold-off the Suffren while the Spirit Sight hot-loads its jump-drive, then makes a run for it."

"I may just be a Mech-Jock, but I know for a fact that hot-loading a jump-drive is very dangerous!" Seined came to a stop, almost sending Cairo tumbling.

"Leroux said something about using the Lithium-Fusion battery's to take the stress off the drive core. Come on!"

Cairo lead Seined into the very heart of the Corvette. They finally reached a door marked Damage Control. Cairo opened the hatch and pushed his wife and daughter inside "This is the safest place on the ship. Stay here!" The hatch closed before Seined could say anything, the reassuring sound of heavy latches slamming into place told Cairo the hatch was sealed.

Cairo double-timed it back to the docking port, and into the Shimmering Star. He found the rest of the Irregulars hurriedly getting into body armour "Ok people: our job is to help repel any Word of Blake boarding parties that try and take over the Spirit Sight. We're split up into lances: Scout lance will take engineering. Battle Lance, the bridge. Command lance will act as a roving patrol, and will intercept the enemy if and when they latch on. Let's go!" He grabbed his armour and SMG, and then ran for the door.

Cairo called at stop when the command lance had reached the fighter bay. As he got into his body armour, Hawk-that-Settles turned to him "Sir, with your wife on medical leave, we're one body short."

Cairo shook his head and pointed down the corridor: Lenny Rodgers was ambling down a corridor with a shotgun slung over his shoulder.

"All set boss?" The Maori asked.

Cairo nodded and pulled a radio from his belt "Bridge, this is Defence One. We're in position."

Star-Commodore Ivan Leroux's voice came over the link "Rodger that Defence One. The WarShip has just jumped in. It's the Sword of Blake, one of the WarShips that attacked Kathil. I don't think she's seen us, but it is only a matter of time. Stand by to repel boarders."

TBC...