The Cairo Saga, Book 2: The Solaris Irregulars
Part 44: The Ultimatum

Callisto V
Lyran Alliance

Cairo managed to get an old pickup truck working, and drove Slone back to the field base. The Doctors took her away for proper treatment, and Cairo found himself facing a glum looking Jack Cameron, "We got a problem."

The command post was a hive of activity, and Cairo found his command staff clustered around a TV monitor. McCoy nodded when he saw Cairo, and pressed the replay button.

The image that appeared on the screen was that of a greying man in a Word of Blake uniform. He smiled at the camera; "This is a wide-band broadcast for Major Steven Cairo of the so-called Solaris Irregulars: If you do not surrender yourself to us by midnight tonight, we will detonate a nuclear device in a city chosen at random. We will do the same every day that passes until you comply." The man's eyes narrowed, "Be under no misconception: I will order the detonation if you don't comply." The screen went blank.

McCoy looked at Cairo, "That's been repeating every 15-minuets since 5 A.M."

Cairo just nodded before turning to leave.

Seined grabbed him by the arm, "Where are you going?"

"To hand myself in."

"The hell you are!"

Cairo looked past her, "Rix." The Elemental nodded solemnly, and placed his hands on Seined's shoulders holding her back as Cairo walked from the command vehicle. He posed at the door, "The Irregulars are yours Cameron: Look after them for me."

"I will." The former Wolfs Dragoons officer nodded.

Cairo found the old pickup where he had parked it earlier and got in. Some of the tech's watched him as he drove off: word of the ultimatum had obviously spread. He put the truck into top gear and tried his best not to think about what he had done: he had told Seined that he would rather die than be captured by Word of Blake again, but here he was, surrendering to them.

The drive to Callisto City took most of the day, with a short stop-off while Cairo prepared a little something for the mysteries grey-haired man from the TV. He had thought long and hard about how best to give himself up, but in the end decided to keep it simple.

He stopped the truck outside the HPG station and calmly walked up the steps to the front door. He stood before the receptionist, "Hello, my name is Steven Cairo. I believe your commander is looking for me."

To Be Continued…