The Solaris Irregulars
Part 15: Unexpected help

SLS Spirit Sight
Zenith Jump Point
An Ting system
Draconis Combine

The mood in the mess hall was subdued: the damage done to the Spirit Sight by the Sword of Blake meant a long trip back to the Clan Nova Cat dockyards. Cairo had been able to secure the Irregulars some R&R time on Tukayyid while the repairs took place. He intended to use the time to help the replacement for Akira Takayama, Sylvester Darwin, get used to working with the rest of the scout lance.

Cairo looked at Darwin from over his cup of coffee: the tall, dark haired warrior had volunteered to join the Irregulars on New Avalon. He had been a lance-commander in the newly re-formed First Davion Guards, but had taken a demotion to Private to join up. His UZL-2S Uziel added considerable firepower to the under-gunned Scout Lance, but it lacked the same blend of agility and electronics that Akira's RVN-3L Raven had brought to the unit.

Star-Commodore Ivan Leroux entered the room and walked up to Cairo "I need to talk with you. Would you please come to my office?"

Cairo shrugged "Ok."

Leroux lead the way through the maze of corridors that made up the Spirit Sight's grav-deck. They finally reached the Star-Commodore's privet office, and sat in a pair of comfortable chairs. Leroux pulled a note-puter from his pocket and handed it to Cairo "In the last hour I have received 4 Priority-A HPG messages from the ComStar station on An Ting. The first one informed me that Word of Blake saboteurs have been able to severely damage my Clan's WarShip repair faculty in orbit of New Circe. The second told me that Clan Ghost Bear has offered to repair the Spirit Sight at their Alshain facility, but only if you where onboard. The third ordered me to go to Tukayyid after we have finished at Alshain. The forth was a request that we detour to Luthien and pickup two packages. I have no idea how this chain of events as taken place, but I have a feeling that it is important that we do as we are asked. The decision is yours."

Cairo was in shock: an invitation to the capital world of the Ghost Bear Domain was not something that happened everyday. He thought or a moment: he had helped the Ghost Bears on Constance, but that was four years ago, and he doubted that was the reason the Ghost Bears where willing to let a potentially hostile WarShip, even one as small as the Spirit Sight, enter such an important area.

He knew of Clan Nova Cat's tendency to follow signs and visions, and decided to trust Leroux on the matter "Ok, we will go to Alshain by way of Luthien." He stood to leave, "if you do not mind, I will inform my people."

The Clan officer nodded "And I will inform my crew."

TBC...