400-km outside Tharkad City
Tharkad, Donegal Province
Lyran Alliance
A round from the Spirit Sights NAC struck the maglev line just in front of the speeding train, obliterating both in a huge explosion that was hared in the distant capital.
Militia HQ, Costa Mesa
Tharkad, Donegal Province
Lyran Alliance
Cairo shoulder-charged Grissum, knocking the gun from his hand. The two men hit the ground, exchanging punches, kicks, elbows and knees in a life-or-death struggle for the upper hand. Cairo grabbed Grissum by the shoulders and, mustering all the leverage he could, brought his head forward at blinding speed. The loud crack of connecting skulls echoed around the office, sending both men reeling with the force of impact.
Grissum recovered first, diving for the fallen gun. Cairo grabbed the other mans ankle, pulling him back as hard as he could. The Kommandant hit the floor hard, the pistol just out of reach. He kicked back with his other foot, shattering Cairo's nose, sending blood and teeth flying.
Fighting through the pain, Cairo twisted the captive ankle with all his might, twisting Grissum onto his back, and dislocating the joint at the same time. Getting his feet back under himself, he dived onto Grissum, both hands out ready for a hammer blow that would have knocked the other man out if not for his speed. Ignoring the pain of his dislocated ankle, Grissum brought both feet up, catching Cairo in the gut, before kicking out with all his might.
Cairo hit the low coffee table, the glass top shattering under the force of impact. He felt the air being driven from his lungs as thousands of glass shards cut through his tunic and into his back. Reaching out above his head, he grabbed the back of an upturned chair, and swung out with all his might, catching Grissum round the side of the head with enough force t send the man staggering back into a bookcase that collapsed under him.
But Grissum wasn't down for long: lifting a heavy metal trophy from the wreckage of the bookcase, he charged Cairo, winging his improvised weapon with both hands. The blow caught Cairo round the side of the head as he struggled to rise, sending him sprawling across the floor, his ears ringing.
Landing hard enough to re-brake several ribs, Cairo saw Grissum's fallen pistol just before his face. Grabbing it, he swung it round in line with the other man and pulled the trigger.
The hollow click of an empty chamber echoed around the office.
CNC Spirit Sight
High orbit, Tharkad
Donegal Province
Lyran Alliance
Star-Commodore Ivan Leroux collapse back into his seat, physically and mentally drained, "Helm; full reverse. Bring us into a geo-synchronous orbit over Costa Mesa. Guns; fire on any targets of opportunity outside the city limits. Coms; get me the Triad. Time to make this all the reasonability of some other than me."
Militia HQ, Costa Mesa
Tharkad, Donegal Province
Lyran Alliance
"What do you know; out of bullets." Grissum's ever-present grin was starting to show signs of his inner insanity, "Guess I used them all up on the others." He swung the heavy trophy like a club, braking Cairo's hand, and sending the useless gun flying.
Cairo doubled over, clutching his hand, making himself a perfect target for Grissum's booted foot as it kicked upward, hitting his already broken ribs with enough force to lift him off the ground by several centimetres. A second kick, this time connecting with Cairo's face, send him crashing into the wall.
Dragging his opponent to his feet, Grissum held Cairo against the wall, and pressed his thumb into the other mans eye, bursting it like a water-balloon. Cairo screamed in rage and anger, grabbing Grissum by the back of the head with his good hand, and slamming him face first into the wall.
Grissum hit back by grabbing an ornamental letter opener from the desk, and, holding it high over his head, prepared to stab down in what would surly be a killing blow. His body jerked suddenly, his eyes going wide as the knife dropped from his hand, a light smell of burnt flesh and clothe coming from his back. Dropping first to his knees, he fell to the floor, his lifeless eyes staring accusingly at Cairo.
"Sorry that took so long." General Spendlove sat in the doorway; laser pistol held tightly in his good hand, "I think I passed out with the pain."
To Be Continued…