The Cairo Saga, Book 2: The Solaris Irregulars

by JA Baker

The Word of Blake Jihad has begun, and Steven Cairo must form a band of MechWarrior dedicated to stopping the deadly fanatics. But, in a universe full of plots and intrigue, who can you really trust?

29. Making an exit

The Cairo Saga, Book 2: The Solaris Irregulars
Chapter 29: Making an exit

Maria's Elegy
Hesperus II
Word of Blake occupation Zone
Lyran Alliance

The arrival of the Goshawk and the Uziel tipped the balance completely into the Irregulars' favour: the heavy machineguns the light Mech's carried ripped the un-armoured Word of Blake soldiers to shreds. Cairo's lasers burned those who had been able to find cover from the rain of death.

The wooden gates exploded inwards as a ground car hit them at high-speed. Cairo could see Lenny Rodgers behind the wheel. He turned to the rest of the raiders, "Let's get the hell out of Dodge before the local garrison gets here."

Dancer and Cameron helped the still groggy Christifori into the back of the car, while Dante lobbed a bag of grenades into the HPG station: the resulting explosion gutted the ground floor.

Cairo ran to the ground car, and pulling a GPMG from the passenger seat, stood-up through the sunroof and sprayed the remaining Wobblies with tracer- fire. The armour-piecing rounds set off a Jeep's full tank, and it was blown 50-feet into the air. Cairo looked down at Rodgers, "DRIVE!" He managed to drop down to the passenger seat as the car lurched-off at break-neck speed. The Mech's and Elementals of the scout lance ran cover for the fleeing car as it raced from town.

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Myoo Highlands
Hesperus II
Word of Blake occupation Zone
Lyran Alliance

Rodgers didn't stop the ground car, but drove it into the cargo-bay of the Mary-Ellen Carter at such a speed that he barely had time to hit the brakes. As soon as the last Mech was onboard, the DropShip took of at maximum speed: the G-forces pinned the occupants of the cars into their seats.

The DropShip rocked several times as fighters from the local Word of Blake garrison tested their mettle against the Overlord's armour: none of them survived the battle with the DropShip's impressive armament.

Eventually, the acceleration decreased, and Cairo was able to turn to Christifori, "Well General, I hope you where not inconvenienced by your sudden check-out of your accommodations back on Hesperus II?"

Christifori laughed, "Believe me captain, that is one hotel that will not get any stars from me."

"Well all we have to do now is: reach the jump-point, jump back to friendly space and deliver you to Tukayyid." Cairo smiled, "Easy."

TBC…