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?

35. Cut off

The Cairo Saga, Book 2: The Solaris Irregulars
Chapter 35: Cut off

Field base X-Ray
Callisto V
Lyran Alliance

Cairo ran to the command vehicle that contained the surface-to-space communication system. The Tech at the controls flipped a few switches, "Connection's made Sir."

Cairo nodded as he grabbed the radio handset, trying to remember the code-words, "Stonewall, this is Traveller: party is compromised. Repeat: the party is compromised. Word of Blake forces have destroyed our wheels with fireworks. I repeat: Word of Blake forces have used fireworks. Traveller is stranded."

Cairo sat in silence and counted off the minuets it took for his message to reach the Task Force, and the time it took for General Christifori to respond. The radio crackled into life, "Traveller, this is Stonewall: party is still on for your location. Secure the house and prepare to receive guest."

It took Cairo time to decipher the message, "Negative Stonewall, the party is off, repeat, off. Gatecrashers have ruined the vibe. Scatter before the cops arrive."

Long minuets passed, but Christifori's reply finally came through, "Attention Traveller, this is Stonewall: party is officially bust. Unable to pick you up before cops arrive; keep low and good luck. Stonewall out."

Cairo dropped the radio mike. He turned to the Tech manning the communication array, "Turn it off. We can't risk the Wobblies triangulating our position."

Cairo almost walked straight into Star Captain Jake Kabrinski and Jack Cameron. He turned to his two company commanders, "Christifori's pulled the plug. He's not willing to risk another DropShip at this time, and I can't say I blame him. Organise your forces as best you can: we are going to be here for a while." His two subordinates nodded and walked off. Cairo turned to Sinead, "It's not good: we're on our own on a world that Word of Blake is about to role right over this planet. We are so screwed it isn't even funny."

Sinead put her arms around her husband's neck, offering him comfort and strength, "You'll come up with a plan: it's what you do, what you always do."

"I'd surrender in a heart-beat right now if I thought for a second that the Wobblies wouldn't just vaporize us."

"You're better than they are: you care about the people under your command. That's what makes you a good officer and an even better human being. You have reserves of strength that you've never tapped."

"I wish I could believe you."

TBC…