Tukayyid City Spaceport,

Tukayyid,

Free Rasalhague Republic.

The Templar landed with all the grace you could expect from an 85-tone Mech, and Cairo was forced to compensate by bending it's knees and shifting the right to compensate for the loss of missing left arm. He straightened up, and joined Piecemaker in attacking a Smoke Jaguar Rifleman IIC. He glanced at his HUD: Vassili Dante was down, his BNC-5S Banshee lying across the street, slowing the enemy advance. Jack Cameron's Thor was resting against the side of a building, it's cockpit missing after the form Wolf's Dragoon had been forced to punch out. The remains of the Scout Lance where playing a deadly game of tag with two Smoke Jaguar light's and a point of Elementals. All in all, Cairo was down to 7 operational Mech's, 11 if you counted Piecemaker's lance. The Jaguars had lost 5 Mech's, but having started with 15, they where holding their own, if not winning.

The air was full of light and sound as the Smoke Jaguar Union-C DropShip exploded less than 200-meters to the west, showing the area with debris and burning fuel. The Broken Hammer was buffeted by the shockwave, and threatened crash, but the pilot piled on the power, and the Overload rocked up high into the air, leaving the Mech's to fight amongst themselves. Everything was braking down to a melee with no clear way of seeing who was fighting who. Cairo shrugged to himself as he linked his IFOF system to his HUD and started taking pot shots at random Mech's that registered as enemies. A Leaped class DropShip with unfamiliar marking screamed across the sky, firing wildly at the Smoke Jaguar Mech's, but also hitting Cairo's forces: He'd deal with the pilot later, if he lived.

A voice came over the radio: "This is Star Colonel Wade Showers. I wish to speak to the commanding officer of the ComStar force defending this facility" Cairo took a deep breath, ""This is Major Steven Cairo, commander of the Solaris Irregulars. What is it you wish to say?" He was careful to avoid contractions when he spoke, knowing it would just enrage the Clan officer. "This battle is costing both our forces dearly and destroying this base piece by piece… something neither of us wishes to see. I propose we settle this by zellbrigen…you are familiar with this form of combat, quiaff?" Showers continued.

Cairo's eyes narrowed, "I know the rules - we Freebirths are not as ignorant as you believe us to be" he started a trace program; trying to decipher which Mech the transmission was coming from. Showers seemed strangely happy, "Good. Very well, I shall order my forces to disengage and withdraw. I shall allow you time to make a decision. If I do not receive a reply within ten minutes I shall order them to resume their attack." Cairo knew he had no other choice, "Rest assured Star Colonel – you will have your reply. Cairo out."

Dancer voice cut-in on the company channel, "Are you out of your mind Steven? You're good, very good, but this guy's been trained to kill from birth! We don't have to win: we just have to keep them contained for a few minuets more while the Natures Wrath get's into position. We can do it!" Cairo sighed, "At the cost of how many more lives Rob?" Rix's voice came over the link, "Sir, I do not believe that this is a wise course of action: the Star Colonel has a reputation for being a formidable MechWarrior, and for never taking prisoners. If you face him, there is a good chance you will be killed. I told you one before that to lose a warrior in battle is expected; but to lose one due to personal feelings is unacceptable. You are allowing your personal feelings to cloud your judgment." The Elemental sounded uneasy, "I do not know how your wife would react to your death."

Cairo knew the man spoke the truth, "I know Rix, I know: I trust you to keep her safe if anything happens to me." He saw the Elemental raise his arm to his mid section, "As you command, sir." Cairo changed channels again, "Piecemaker, you're next senior: if anything happens to me, get everyone out and call down a orbital strike. The code word is Pegasus." The Shadow company commander acknowledge, his Awesome turning to face Cairo's Templar, "I will sir, I will."

Cairo cut back to the frequency Showers has used, "This is Major Cairo to Star Colonel Showers…I accept your challenge…"

To Be Continued