The Cairo Saga, Book 2: The Solaris Irregulars
Part 25: Rightful Masters
Zenith Jump point
Hesperus system
Word of Blake occupation Zone
Lyran Alliance
Spirit Sight and the Nature's Wrath timed their jumps so that they appeared in system at almost the same time. No sooner had the ship's finished the transit, then their proximity alarms went-off: another WarShip was in system. Cairo floated over the holo-tank on the Spirit Sight's bridge, "Who is she?" he asked Star-Commodore Leroux.
The veteran spacer rubbed his chin "Her beacon gives her name as Blake's True Disciple, a Fox class corvette, but her transponder code is Davion."
Cairo looked confused, so Leroux continued, "Over the years, ships change ownership, and people change the name as they see fit. But, to help identify a ships place of origin, each House and Clan has its own prefix-code. The Disciple's prefix is 403, witch is the code for the old Federated Commonwealth, but all Fed-Com ships that remained in the Federated Suns after the civil war changed back to 404, while the Lyran Alliance ships changed to 303, to old Lyran Commonwealth code."
Cairo looked at the raider-screen "So, she's a Fed-Com ship that was taken by Word of Blake at some point. What Foxes have gone missing?"
Leroux typed commands into the computer, and the screen flashed, "Only one; the FSS Arthur Steiner-Davion. She was last reported in the Coventry system, waiting to attack our old friend the Melissa Davion during the Civil War. She disappeared without trace."
"Well, we now know what happened to her." Cairo smiled grimly, "Signal the Nature's Wrath: I want her taken intact. Not only will it be a moral-boost to the entire Inner Sphere, but also it will help the Fed-Sun's to have another WarShip after the fall of Kathil."
The Irregular's two Warships advanced on the Word of Blake corvette. The Nature's Wrath began the battle with a spread of White Shark and Barracuda missiles.
The Blake's True Disciple returned fire with its own Barracuda missiles, but the faster Clan ships soon got within their effective range. The Spirit Sight and the Nature's Wrath where able to catch the Word of Blake ship in a deadly crossfire of Navel laser and Autocannon fire, disabling the Disciple while taking minimal damage.
Cairo smiled as he activated the ships caller "Lieutenant-Commander Jackson to the bridge."
It only took a few minuets for the DropShip captain to arrive, and he was smiling when he did: "Another WarShip? What are you doing Steven, starting a collection?"
"No, returning one." Cairo laughed, "She's the Arthur Steiner-Davion, formally of the Federated Commonwealth. Word of Blake captured her during the Davion Civil War. We're going to give her back. I want you to go over with the boarding party and take command of her for now. Get her working while I go rescue General Christifori, and we're take her back to Tukayyid with us."
Jackson nodded and ran off along the corridor.
Cairo turned to Leroux "Hold the jump-point as long as you can; If heavy Word of Blake reinforcements turn-up, signal us then jump to the pirate- point behind the forth planet. Stay alert; we may need to call you in- system if another WarShip turns up at the Nadir Jump point."
Leroux smiled, "Good luck Captain Cairo: you may need it."
To Be Continued...