The Cairo Saga, Book 2: The Solaris Irregulars
Chapter 33: Back to the war

Tukayyid City
Tukayyid
Free Rasalhague Republic

Cairo examined the holo-tank in the centre of the briefing room: a 3D representation of the Inner Sphere slowly rotated. A large part of the map was red, indicating worlds that had fallen to the Word of Blake advance. Precenter Martail Davion stood before the assembled officers; "Our main concern at the moment is the Word of Blake push on the Lyran Capital, Tharkad." One of the worlds on the map became highlighted in gold. "At the moment, Word of Blake is here, on Whittington, but our intelligence leads us to believe that they are heading here, Callisto-V. If they take that world, they will be able to strike at Donegal and Tharkad."

The hologram faded, and the lights came on. Archer Christifori walked to the centre of the room, "Field Marshal Kell has assigned the defence of Callisto V to me. I will land over a dozen regiments to Callisto, and prepare the defence of the planet. The Precenter Martail has graciously agreed to send certain ComsGuard units to help. Theses units will be the 117th Division and the Solaris Irregulars. Captain Cairo, your unit are to be expanded to a battalion, and you are being promoted to Major. Captain Cameron will command your second company, while Clan Ghost Bear has offered to provide a Trinary to act as the third company. I believe you know the Star Captain, one Jake Kabrinski?"

"We met on Alshain." Cairo nodded.

Christifori smiled, "Good, then you know the people under your command. You will keep the DropShip Mary-Ellen Carter, as well as your Warship's: they would follow you into the jaws of death after your recent adventures and I don't want to break up the team. Your command will be the first to land on Callisto. I need you to scout the main landing zone before the bulk of the forces arrive. We have reports of Word of Blake cells causing trouble on worlds just before they are hit, and I need you to keep them busy."

"As you wish, Sir." Cairo nodded.

The meeting broke-up, and Cairo walked back to barracks. The Irregulars quickly came to attention. Cairo smiled, and called them to form a semicircle, "Ok, listen up and listen good: the Solaris Irregulars are now officially of battalion strength. Captain Cameron is building a company out of former Wolf Dragoon warriors, and our friends the Ghost Bears are lending us a Trinary." The room was filled with wolf-whistles and catcalls, but Cairo clamed them down, "As you know, a Battalion is commanded by a Major, so get used to me going up another rank. I'm still the same-old Steven Cairo you all know and love, and you can still talk to me if and when you need. Sinead is back as XO, so get used to her being back around. Get some rest: we ship-out for the front in two days."

There was the usual slaps on the back and congratulations about his promotion, but Cairo was able to get to his room relatively quickly. He collapsed into a chair as his wife walked-in.

"That was a brave face your put on for them Steven, but you don't need to do it for me." Sinead looked at him.

Cairo rested his head against the back of his chair and closed his eyes, "I don't want this promotion Sinead. I don't want to be responsible for all those extra lives."

TBC…