The Cairo Saga, Book 2: The Solaris Irregulars
Part 17: Into the Bears den
Inbound
Alshain system
Ghost Bear Dominion
The Spirit Sight emerged from hyperspace and entered the Clan space for the first time in eight years. Immediately, the White Fang and the White Claw, a pair of Essex class Destroyers, formed up on ever side of the smaller Fredasa class Corvette.
Cairo looked at the bridge view-screen, and then turned to Ivan Leroux "Well, it looks like we are here for the duration."
It took the Spirit Sight five days to reach Alshain itself and the defences were even more impressive then those at the jump-points: five Warships's, including a Leviathan-2 class Heavy Battleship, orbited the planet. Hundreds of fighters darted about.
"That is the Mountbatton, a Texas class Battleship, the Flagship of Clan Snow Raven." Star-Commodore Ivan Leroux pointed out one particular WarShip to Cairo, "I am surprised to see her here."
Cairo nodded "Something is definitely going on here, and I intend to find out what!"
Silverdale
Alshain
Ghost Bear Dominion
With a gentle hiss, the Shimmering Star's airlock slid open. Cairo, dressed in a ComsGuard uniform that Clearwater had given him on Luthien, slowly walked down the step to the spaceport landing-pad. Following him, Sinead, Robert Dancer, Rebecca, Paul Jackson and Ivan Leroux stepped out of the DropShip, all in full dress-uniform. Lenny Rodgers and Rix watched from the hatch, heavy weapons ready but hidden from sight.
An Elemental dressed in a simple field uniform stepped forwards from a line of assembled Mech's. He saluted Cairo " I am Star Captain Jake Kabrinski. I have been sent to escort you and your officers to Khan Jorgensson. If you will please follow me."
He motion to a ground car that sat weighting behind the line of Ghost Bear Mech's. Cairo turned to the DropShip, and signalled that all was well, then followed the Elemental to the car.
The drive to the Khan's office was smooth, and Cairo tried to relax, knowing that he should be safe if he watched his manners. He wished he had been able to convince his wife to stay on the DropShip, or better yet, back on New Avalon. But as ever, Sinead refused to leave his side, saying that she would not trust anyone else with his safety.
The ground-car pulled up in front of an imposing stone building, the Ghost Bear flag flying above it. They got out of the car, and Cairo turned to his subordinates "No matter what, stay cool. We don't know why we've been called here, but the last thing we want to do is start another war with the Clans. Let's deliver the package from Luthien, hear what Khan Jorgensson has to say, then get back to the DropShip in one piece, ok?" they all nodded, and then followed Kabrinski into the building.
To Be Continued...