The Cairo Saga, Book 2: The Solaris Irregulars
Chapter 34: Welcome to hell!

Europe planes
Callisto V
Lyran Alliance

Cairo turned his Orion to give him a better view of the landing-zone: his new battalion was busy unloading supplies from the DropShip Mary-Ellen Carter. The three new Mobile Field Base vehicles that Clearwater had secured for him were moving off to the abandoned quarry that was to serve as the Irregulars base of operations.

He watched as Star Captain Jake Kabrinski moved his Trinary out across the grassland, heading out on patrol. Sinead moved her SHD-5D Shadow Hawk up next to his older Mech, "Hell of a sight Steven."

"It is that Sinead, it is that." Cairo nodded, "Any news on Word of Blake cells on planet?"

"You have a meeting in two hours with the commander of the local garrison forces." Sinead punched a few commands into her Mech's computer, "He should have the report General Christifori requested."

The last supply vehicles left the DropShip and Cairo moved his Orion's arm after them, "Let's go."

Sinead closed up behind and to the side of Cairo's Mech, and was the first to spot the ATV's. She stopped her Mech to get a better view, "Steve, there are two 4X4's heading for the DropShip. They look like they're packing missile launchers."

Cairo groaned, "And I thought Wobblies where meant to be smart!" He changed his radio to the frequency used by the DropShip, "Paul, you have two missile-packing ATV's heading your way a high-speed, probable Word of Blake. Deal with them."

The radio crackled, "Rodger that Steve, we see them." Gun-turrets on the side of the massive Overlord class DropShip turned to face the charging vehicles: PPC blasts and missile filled the air between the DropShip and the ATV's, lifting one of the light- vehicles into the air on a pillar of flame. The second raider managed to avoid the defensive weapons, and fire a missile at the DropShip.

The Mary-Ellen Carter disappeared in a blinding flash of light.

Cairo felt his Mech being lifted off the ground and thrown across the ground. The old Orion landed heavily on it's back, crushing several small trees. Cairo blinked several times, trying to get the afterimage of the blast from his eyes. He stopped once he realized what had happened: the one missile had destroyed the DropShip.

"NUKES!" he screamed into his radio, "The Wobbly bastards used a Nuke!" The radio filled with chatter as lance commanders started taking roll calls to see who was missing. Cairo managed to raise him Mech to a sitting position. He looked back across the landing field: the skeletal remains of the DropShip were just visible through the smoke and flames. His voice broke, "Paul!"

Sinead's battered Shadow Hawk limed up next to his Orion, her taut voice filling his ears, "We better get out of here. There's no telling if they have any more of those around, and we have to warn the General."

Without answering, Cairo raised his Mech to its feet and followed his wife from the landing field.

TBC…