Rainforest, Mesa Region

Tharkad, Donegal Province

Lyran Alliance

"I think he's coming to Star Captain." A distance voice echoed around Cairo's head, "Can you hear me Colonel?"

"Huh?" He tried to open his eyes, but they wouldn't focus, "What's going on? What happened?"

"You sustained another concussion, as well as a bad break in your left arm." The voice continued.

"Where am I?"

"150-kilometers outside Costa Mesa."

"I see you have regained conciseness." A new voice interrupted.

"Star Captain Montague?" Cairo asked, recognising the former Smoke Jaguar officer, "What's the situation?

"Star Colonel Jake Kabrinski had us on patrol, trying to find you, when we started to get broken reports of fighting in the city. A scout Star was sent back to investigate, and they where shot at by Word of Blake forces inside the city."

"What!?!"

"All long-range communications are jammed, but we have sporadic contact with a small group of Militia hiding in the city: they report that General Spendlove has been deposed by his executive officer, Kommandant Alexia Grissum, who has instructed the civilian population not to resist the take over."

"Has anyone fought back?"

"There was sporadic fighting between Militia units and Word of Blake forces, and it appears that one of our DropShips tried to lift from the spaceport, but the invaders turned the base defences on it: they say it is still burning."

"How long have I been out? How the hell did I get here?"

"You have been out two days: the doctor thought it was best to keep you under while he re-set your arm. As for how you got here: you crashed the hover-bike into the foot of my Black Knight. We where planning to ambush the troop convoy that was chasing you, but we ended up rescuing you."

"What about the rest of the Irregulars?" Cairo managed to sit up, his head still spinning.

"Apart from Star Colonel Kabrinski's Trinary and a small detachment of Militia, the rest where in the city when Kommandant Grissum took over. our contacts in Costa Mesa report that the Word of Blake commandoes made the capturing of our base of operations a priority, and took them completely by surprise. We believe that they are being held in the main stockade with General Spendlove."

"I must insist that the Colonel rests." The Militia doctor stepped forward again, "I've done the best I can with what we have, but this isn't a proper hospital, or even a field hospital; the best I can do is little more than First Aid."

"I will come back later with more new." Montague nodded before leaving.

Cairo lay back down to sleep, the pain medication making him drowsy.

The Roadhouse, Mesa Region

Tharkad, Donegal Province

Lyran Alliance

Cairo woke early next morning, feeling thirsty and hungry, despite the intervenes drip attached to his arm. The Medic on duty confirmed that the doctor had said he was free to get up, and removed the drip from his arm and found him a clean set of civilian cloths.

"Colonel!" Bradley appeared in the doorway, "I'm glad to see you're up and about again."

"I'm fine Sara: just a little bruised and tender, but I'll live."

"I'm glad anyway: things have been getting a little tense around here…"

"How so?"

"Well, some of the Militia just want to go home, while others want to try and retake the city. Star Colonel Kabrinski's been trying to hold things together, but I don't think the Militia trust him."

"He's Clan: they don't feel happy taking orders from Clan officers."

"But he takes orders from you?"

"I was out cold: until the doc passes me as fit for duty, he's the senior officer."

"So what are we going to do?"

"We're retaking the city, and then I'm going to have a quite word with Kommandant Grissum…"

To Be Continued…