The Cairo Saga, Book 2: The Solaris Irregulars
Chapter 27: Let's do what we came here to do
Word of Blake occupation Zone
Lyran Alliance
Cairo stepped his Orion out of the remains of the W.o.B Albatross, and began target still-standing enemy Mech's. He turned off his comm-unit and opened up the door in the back of his mind that kept the madness at bay. He gripped his controls so hard that his knuckles went white.
It is often said that people fight like demons when they are angry, but was not true of Cairo: he fought like a sane person. None of his shots went wide or missed. Despite being out numbered by the Word of Blake forces, Solaris Irregulars began a steady advance towards the remains of Christifori's command company, trapping the Wobblies between the two formations.
Cairo stalked the battlefield like a god, dealing death and destruction to all those who dared appose him. He surveyed the carnage: MechWarrior Josh was down, his Timber Wolf disabled with a blown knee-actuator. The Word of Blake Black Knight that dealt the damage crumpled when four Gauss Rifle round, courtesy of Robert Dancer, René Alphonse and Vassili Dante, hit it at once. The W.o.B Mech's tried to run, but where trapped like rats in a barrel, and one-by-one, they died.
Cairo opened turned his radio back on and set it to the frequency Clearwater had given him back on Tukayyid, "This is Captain Steven Cairo of the Solaris Irregulars calling Major General Archer Christifori."
A stocky Hunchback took a step forwards, "I am Major Katya Chaffee, General Christifori's second in command. We where told that a rescue mission would be launched, but we did not expect it to be by a unit with a reputation like the Solaris Irregulars. I am afraid that the General was capture two days ago. He is being held in the HPG station in Maria's Elegy, the planetary capital."
Cairo bit his lip, "Then we will have to get him back. Our DropShip is set to land 50-km north of here, I suggest we go meet it." He cut the comm-link and turned his Mech north. The remains of the 1st Thorin regiment's command company fell in behind, the Irregulars brought up the rear.
Major Chaffee brought her Hunchback up alongside Jack Cameron's Thor, and then activated a tight-beam communication system, "What's the deal with Cairo? I've never seen anyone fight like he did!"
The former Dragoon sounded hesitant, "It's a long story, but the most resent part of it is Word of Blake assassins just put his wife Sinead, my predecessor as XO, in hospital on Tukayyid. She was still in a coma when we jumped out to come here. He tends to take that sort of thing personally. Word is he shouted at Precenter Martail Davion when he was refused permission to lead the Irregulars on this mission."
"That must have taken some guts!"
"Cairo has guts, but it's anger the drives him now. Point him at any Word of Blake force and he'll take it down. He almost shot me, but that's a long story that I'm not proud of. Just be glad he's here to help."
The Major was left with her thoughts.
TBC…