The Cairo Saga, Book 2: The Solaris Irregulars
Chapter 28: Jailbreak
Maria's Elegy
Hesperus II
Word of Blake occupation Zone
Lyran Alliance
Cairo's plan was simple, but given the time constraint, it was the only plan that could work. Cairo, Dancer, Dante and Cameron, dressed in Word of Blake security uniforms, escorted a handcuffed Katya Chaffee between them. As they approached the HPG station, Cairo turned to the 'prisoner', "This is your last chance to change your mind Major."
Katya shook her head, "I'm getting Archer out of there, one way or another."
Cairo nodded, "Then I hope you forgive me for this."
Before Katya could answer, Cairo swung the butt of his assault rifle round, catching her on the back of her head, "Move it!" he shouted in a gruff voice. The four 'guards' pulled their semi-conscious prisoner up the steps to the entrance of the HPG.
"Who is this prisoner?" The lieutenant in charge of the guard detail stopped them.
"Sir!" Cairo came to attention, "Her dog tags identifier her as Major Katya Chaffee of the 1st Thorin Regiment, LCAF. We were ordered to bring her here for interrogation."
The lieutenant nodded, and signalled for the doors to be opened.
A quick elevator ride took the raiders down to the prison level, and allowed Katya time to recover, "Was that really necessary, Captain?"
"Had to make it look good." Cairo shrugged, "That lieutenant was looking at us while we spoke before crossing the road. I needed him to think I was just a dumb thug."
Katya rubbed the back of her head with her now un-cuffed hands "Well, next time, tell me before you knock me out." The elevated reached its destination, and the raiding party drew their weapons.
The Word of Blake guard who sat facing the elevator died when a 9mm round from Cairo's silenced pistol hit him between the eyes. The other three guards in the corridor also died sudden, silent deaths, and soon the Irregulars had secured the prison block. Cairo checked a computer terminal, and was surprised to find that Christifori was the only prisoner. They quickly found the cell he was being kept in, and using a length of detonator-cord, blew the lock off.
Katya ran into the cell and lifted Christifori off of the floor, "Archer, it's me, Katya. Are you ok?"
The General focused his weary eyes "Katya! But how? Who are these people?"
Cairo pulled up the visor on his riot helmet and saluted "Captain Steven Cairo, Solaris Irregulars. We've been sent to rescue you. I suggest we get out of here now."
The rescue party made their way out to the back of the building, only to find the way blocked: the lieutenant from the front of the building stood at the centre of an entire platoon of infantry platoon. He pointed his gun straight at Cairo's head, "That's far enough. You thought that I would not be told of prisoner transfers? Drop your guns and raise your hands."
Cairo dropped his gun, followed by the other Irregulars.
Then he saw the glint of sunlight reflecting off of plexy-glass, and smiled.
"Plan B people." He whispered trough gritted-teeth. He flexed his wrists, and a pair of laser pistols appeared in his hands as if by magic. He brought them down and started firing just as the Elementals of the scout lance jumped over the compound wall, followed closely by Rebecca's Goshawk and Sylvester Darwin's Uziel.
TBC…